:(

Well, both kittens are now gone.  I can only hope that Mom Cat moved them and they weren't eaten by another animal (Possum or Raccoon).  I haven't seen either of them around our barn and it seems odd they would come around in the middle of the day, but I suppose one never knows.  I'm sad about losing them because I have always wanted a litter of kittens.  I thought these two had been dropped off to me by the grace of God, but I guess I was wrong about that.  I'm thinking next time my order will be doubled and I will take them in rather than chance losing them again.

Kitten update

So it looks like Momma cat has moved one of the kittens.  This makes me very sad, but really not much I can do about it.  She is too wild to let us get close to her so there's no telling where she has moved it too.  She did this during the night last night.  The other kitten is right where it we found it and healthy.  Le sigh.

A few minutes...

Every once in a while my job is such that I have a few minutes to spare.  Right now is one of those minutes and since it's been so long since my last post I wanted to touch base.

I hope everyone is doing well.  I am.  A long time while in the service I learned something that for me holds true - if things are going good at work, then something is amiss at home.  And vice versa.  Such is the case indeed with me.  Home is wonderful; work not so much.  I won't dwell on that.  Don't be surprised if changes aren't in the mix.

Over the weekend I got the most wonderful surprise.  The DH and I kept seeing a cat run in and out of our barn.  Neither of us thought much about it (silly of us), so Saturday when I was messing around with some hay I found the most adorable baby kitten right on top of the hay!  Eyes not even open yet but in really good health.  I got to thinking about it and started looking around for more.  I felt around between the bales and found another warm body!  I didn't find any others, so right now we have two new additions to our ranch - Straw and Hay.  I would guess they are about 3 weeks old.  Their eyes are just opening and they are super cute!!!  The mom isn't very trusting and runs off when we are close.  But we have started leaving her food out to entice her to nurse the kittens and she's been eating.  Here is a pic of our babies:

At first the DH wasn't thrilled with them, but he picked the names and by Sunday evening he was all about making sure they are doing alright.  :)  Not sure yet what to do with them.  I really want to bring them inside and make them not feral - I'm guessing mom is feral by her actions.  I would love to catch her and get her spayed as well so she doesn't have more. 

Okay, that's all I have time for today!  Just had to share!! 

Random Thursday

I do believe I have started such an update 3 times this week only to have to abandon it due to work.  This morning, however, I am making time because I just feel like I need to get something out there. 

I'm not sure if anyone else experiences this, but if you do I would appreciate your thoughts...  My work allows us to work from home 2 days a month.  As you can imagine choosing those two days can be a challenge.  I try very hard to look at my calendar and pick a date that does not take me away from important meetings and training.  Even when I don't feel like dragging my rear into work and want to take a work from home day on the spur of the moment, I do not.  I force myself to get in to the office because I think my coworkers are depending on me to be "present".  So when I come to work only to find 1) my schedule has freed up and 2) my coworkers are not here, I get a little miffed.  And I know I shouldn't.  People are people and they are looking out for themselves.  I get that.  So why is it I cannot do the same for myself but feel such a strong sense of "duty" by coming to work?  Does anyone else feel this?  Does anyone else feel like you sacrifice way more than others?  Is this just "normal" and everyone feels this way?

I am still working on the two blankets for the very nice woman in TX.  In between I make a dishcloth or two.  Here is one I finished up last night.  Not sure why I chose black yarn, but it sure makes the other two colors stand up. 

I never tire of this pattern.  It seems to be part of me now. 

I spent the night in town Tuesday night, so my kitty seemed to relieved and happy to have me home.  Here she is looking quite exhausted.  Ah, the life of a cat...

I don't know what to say about the Boston attack, so I will just say my heart goes out to the city and to those people who were injured and the families of the ones that were killed.  The support the rest of the nation is showing is tremendous to me and gives me chills.  Why can't we live like that every day?

Driving in to work this morning was refreshing.  I didn't leave at my normal "0 dark thirty" so I actually had some daylight.  It started to sprinkle on my hour commute about 15 minutes and then a good downpour.  The best part was the smell of the earth coming through my car vent.  The freshly plowed fields and the rain made for a great combination!  I should have been a farmer.  Something about the even rows makes this Libra heart faint with delight. 

The power of positive thinking

Lately my DH has been making me crazy with his negativity.  He's normally a negative person, although he will tell you he's a realist.  He believes in hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.  I beg to differ.  When I am at my wits end with him I tend to shut down and simply not engage in his negative banter.  That, of course, makes him question me which inevitably leads to a "discussion" about his negativity, er...realistic point of view.  No kidding; he's the type of person that if a dump truck filled with money pulled into our driveway and dumped the entire load on our driveway he would complain because it wasn't stacked and counted.  My outlook is completely different which often times leaves us at a disagreement.  Me, being the Libra, will often "give in" and not continue the discussion to the point of nauseum.  He's also notorious for beating a dead horse.  I mean, really beating it.  I didn't want this to turn into a DH bashing.  Honestly.  Just at times his overbearing and seemingly endless rants do get to me.   I just want to scream at him to STFU.  Is it any wonder I crave "me" time? 

So tonight I get a little of that - me time.  I'm staying in town tonight so I get a quiet hotel room all to myself.  I'm having dinner with my sister at Cheesecake Factory, too, so double bonus! 

The temperatures have warmed up considerably.  In fact, so much that a jacket is not required. Tomorrow is actually supposed to be in the 80's.  Our property is drying up nicely and with the DH's work adding up we will be able to start more pasture, the paddock and hay barn very soon.  We rode the horses on Saturday.  It was a nice, albeit short ride.  The girls seemed happy to be out and about. 

As always, I am keeping with the power of positive thinking.  No negative vibes my way, please!

Finally Friday

There I go, wishing my life away again.  Seems the weekends are all I live for.  Shouldn't every day?  I suppose it's really all about the quality of time.  I mean, work is a means to an end.  Without it there is no extras - no horses, no Harleys and probably a serious reduction in the amount of yarn I would be able to have.  So work consumes time and everyone knows there's never enough of that.  So the weekend is when I feel like I get some of my time back.  We don't celebrate Easter, per say...  The kids are all grown so no egg coloring or baskets around our house.  We aren't really religious either - although we do believe.  So this weekend is a time to spend it together - doing what we want and enjoying each other's company. 

I am filling in for a coworker today and Monday.  Normally she facilitates an important meeting for our boss.  That's following on my shoulders. Today has been nothing but prep for this meeting - which occurs Monday.  I understand my coworker's frustration now a little better.  Others don't have the same sense of urgency around providing the correct documents in a timely fashion, which pushes my deliverables back, which delays the pre-read, etc., etc.  I'm all about deadlines and organization.  Why can't others be as well?

Any Jason Aldean fans out there?  Or just country music fans?  Are you loving his new release - "1994"???  I LOVE this song.  I can't get enough of THIS SONG. 

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

Thoughtful Thursday

Every once in a while the pensive, serious side of me can't help but rear it's head.  Notice I didn't say "ugly" head.  I'm trying NOT to go down that road with myself.  Lately looking in the mirror has been painful for me.  It seems that in a matter of months I have aged years.  I'm not kidding folks.  It's like I woke up and suddenly I have wrinkles and my skin looks saggy.  Normally I am not so vain, but perhaps that's because in the past I've not looked so old.  I have been on a hunt to find a good wrinkle cream and get into a routine to fend off looking even older.  The DH has been so sweet telling me I'm gorgeous and don't look any older than when we met.  Ha! 

Work has been a challenge but also I think a breakthrough was reached this week.  A breakthrough that brought me and coworkers closer, which was a much needed event for me.  I was seriously thinking I had made a big mistake with this position but now I feel better about that. I have a tendency to want to solve and fix issues and this week a light came on and I realized I can't fix it.  I can only solve for the things I have direct control over.  Now I know this might sound obvious, but sometimes you hear it over and over and for whatever reason it doesn't sink in and then suddenly you have a revelation and there it is.  I had that revelation. 

Crochet has been going well.  The Spring blanket is almost complete and that wonderful lady in Texas has already put dibs on it.  So there you have it.  I plan on getting it boxed up this weekend and starting the next two.  I can't wait to dive into those two new ones.  One lilac/deep purple and one rust/gray.  Can't you picture them??  As Mereknits says ... Heaven! 

Where's Spring and Farmhouse Porch Chat #86

Patrice, I'm with you - Spring?  We've about 6 inches of snow since Sunday and we have flurries this morning.  You know me - I love the white stuff - but it's time for a change of seasons!  My horse, Dolly, is a lot like Wendell.  She loves to eat the tiny bits of grass coming up and will do so in any weather.  She, too, smells like a wet horse! 

Questions

1. Melanie asks "What kinds of seafood have you tried and liked? What is the most unique seafood you've eaten?
2. Anne says, "An unforgettable holiday moment is_____________________. (She's on the other side of that BIG pond. I believe a holiday is a vacation on this side. )
3. Arlene wants to know, "When was the last time you tried something new?"
4. Becky asks, "Who or what inspires you?"
5. Madonna wants to know," How did you chose the names of your children. Wendell adds,"If you don't have kids, how do you choose pet names?"

1.  I am not a seafood fan, but I have tried most of the basics - lobster, crab, salmon, sushi...  The strangest was definitely squid and I just don't care for it.  Texture seems to be my biggest issue with seafood.  Shrimp has a unique texture, along with lobster.  I just don't care for it.

2.  Unforgettable holiday moment...  Hmmmm...  This is not an easy for me.  I would have to say it was one Thanksgiving that I had the place to myself.  Some of you may know that before moving to OH my DH would go to AZ on a 4x4 trip and I would have the house to myself!  This was glorious.  Not because I wanted to be away from the DH, but because I NEVER get the house to myself and this was my time.  Loved it.

3.  Actually it was Saturday.  I picked up a good wrinkle cream.  Normally I don't spend a lot of money on beauty items but this time I did because, well, I need it. 

4.  The girls in my Craft Club are my inspiration right now.  They are all so talented and every time we get together I am amazed at what they create and how quickly they do it!

5.  I wanted something different for my son, but not something weird.  I remember seeing his name in a book, but I also heard it somewhere and thought it sounded strong and different and cool. 

Farmhouse Porch Chat #85

QUESTIONS

1. Furry Bottoms asks: Did you grow up in a small town, or a big town? Did you like it?
2. Lisa wants to know: If you could pick one song to hear for the rest of your life, what would it be?
3. Karen asks: What are your pet peeves?
4. Colletta says: Do you remember your dreams? Are they in color or black and white? What is the craziest dream you've ever had?
5. Rachel asks: What is the perfect pair of shoes for you?

1.  Compared to other places, it's small, but I've seen smaller.  I liked it a lot.  I live in a smaller town now and would have liked growing up here more than where I actually did grow up.

2.  I have so many favorites, but there is one song - "Brandy (You're a fine girl)" by Looking Glass.  For me, that song speaks volumes. 

3.  Mistreatment of animals and lying.  The first one is obvious, the second one I feel needs clarification.  I don't like two sides of a story.  To me there is one - the truth.  Many people see the truth and yet they ignore it so that they can twist and turn it to fit their needs.  Some people can't or won't face the truth and they make that my problem with their lying.

4.  I do, but only right after I wake up and recount them.  If I wait too long I barely can recall a detail.  The strangest dream....  Is a recurring one in which I am about the size of an ant.  I do not understand why this dream keeps recurring or the significance.  I have tried looking it up but to no avail.

5.  Slip ons.  I have 3 pairs of a moc-type shoe I got from Lands End a while ago and I love them.  They are so comfortable.  They are not good around horses though so I try not to wear them in the barn area.

Hooray for Friday

No one is happier than this girl that today is Friday.  Today marks the end of a very long and difficult week at work.  Personality struggles, too much work, unproductive meetings.  Blah.  I'm ready to put this one behind me.  Far behind me.

On a happier note; last night was hotel night.  I actually went to the fitness center and got on the treadmill.  It was a nice one!  I had my own TV screen and could select whatever I wanted to watch.  I chose the Weather Channel, of course!  I didn't have my headphones, so no volume, but really who needs volume with the Weather Channel?  Their maps and stats are plenty to clue me in on what's going on.  I concentrated on getting to 2 miles.  Not so much on how fast I got there or how many calories burned, just making it to 2 miles.  For me it was a good goal.  Not a great goal as I could have pushed myself a little bit more, but I don't want to get injured being dumb so I gave myself that goal and was happy with myself when I reached it.  The DH and I are tossing around the idea of buying a treadmill.  Mostly for me.  Because of my commute if I stayed to access the fitness center at work that would mean I would get home around 7 each night.  If I went to the gym in the morning before work that would mean hauling in my clothes/shower gear and leaving the house at 4:45.  Neither of those options sound appealing.  7PM is just too late to get home.  It would leave me no time at all to spend with the DH, horses, crochet.  And after a workout driving home an hour sounds like a recipe for me being overly tired.  A lot of negatives in all that, I know.  If my work had lockers it might be a different story.  I could bring in clothes for say three days instead of dragging in everything everyday.  I don't know about you, but I find that really super annoying.  A small locker would suffice for my personal items and then hang a few outfits, but no such option exists in the company. 

I've had two treadmills in the past.  One I used quite a bit until it became a dust magnet.  Not sure what happened but I suddenly just stopped using it.  Then we got another one with the plan I would use it and I didn't.  I remember my DH getting mad at me over it, which made me NOT want to use it even more.  There's something about the way he hovers over me while I am working out; coming up to me every 15 minutes or so and asking if I need anything?  Am I okay?  How far have you gotten?  Yeah, all those things bug the crap out of me.  I like to think of this as "my time".  I don't need anything.  Unless you hear me yelling for help I am fine.  I'll tell you my stats when I finish my workout.  Needless to say, IF we do plan on getting another one I want to set those ground rules at the very beginning.  In a nice way, of course.  :)

The very nice lady that bought the blanket I didn't think would sell wants a couple more.  Her daughter grabbed this last one and decided to take it to her house, so the lady had it for about 5 minutes!  Did I tell you I got the entry form for the County Fair?  I can submit anything I want really, under just the general category of Crocheted Item.  They have specific categories for granny, ripple and Navajo afghans.  They have "fancy" hotpad (not sure what that means).  They have baby sweater, shawl....  I can submit the same item every 3rd year, so no repeat items the same year, which I think is a good rule.  I want to submit a dishcloth and an afghan - both in the general category.  I think I will enter one of my signature throws, it's just the colors are tripping me up.  My gut tells me to go Americana (country blue, red and off white).  The other side of me goes crazy - bright yellow and black, etc.  Decisions, decisions....

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

Step Up to the Plate

I'm not sure why some people are afraid to take ownership in life.  Whether it's their own personal life, work, etc.  I find it especially annoying in the work area.  If you are being paid to do a job then by golly - do it!  I find that most of the time people are looking for a leader.  In meetings I attend it's easy from the very beginning if the meeting has a leader or if it's just a free for all.  Free for all = nonproductive.  There's a part of me that wants to step up when others do not.  However, I have to remember a couple of things. 

1.  I'm not getting paid to do that.  It's not always about the money.  It's about the position I've been hired to do.  Taking the leader role isn't in my pervue and especially not when someone who is supposed to be the leader is present.

2. If I do step up I have to be ready to follow it through - to the very end.  This could mean I get a lot more responsibility and headaches.

3.  Some things are just not under my control.  I have to allow that to happen because otherwise the gaps won't be discovered and fixed.

Now that I have that out of the way....  I found a cool thing on another blog.  I wish I had seen this on March 1, but I'm not going to let that stop me.  I am going to start with Day 1 today...or tomorrow. 

Farmhouse Porch Chat #84

QUESTIONS

1. Beth asks:What's your favorite movie of all times? The one you've seen multiple times.
2. Clairity says: Name three things that are permanent residents in your handbag or purse.
3. Red asks: What's the best way to your heart?
4. Mamaw wants to know: Do you like going to yard sales?
5. Cathy says: If you could slide down a rainbow, what do you think you'd find on the other side?

1.  I have two; "My Friend Flicka" - with Roddy McDowell.  Love it.  Love the horses, the scenery, Roddy.  My other favorite is "The Party" with Peter Sellers.  Funniest, silliest movie ever - I love it.

2.  I don't carry a purse every day; but when I do I have my wallet, cell phone and lip gloss. 

3.  My question!  Love of animals.  Not just liking them; but really putting their care and well being ahead of everything else.  To me animals rely on us because we have domesticated them. 

4.  I do, but I'm not good at it...  I don't get to do it often either, so maybe if I were a regular I would get better at it.

5.  I'd love to find a pot of gold.  My luck I'd find a bucket full of more of life's mysteries.

Creativity and Relationships

I think that title sounds daunting.  I didn't mean it to be.  Much of my life is done compartmentalized so I often have things side by side.  In thought, in food, in music, in life.  Sign of a true Libra.  Absolutely. 

Sunday we had our 3rd meeting of the Craft Club.  This time we met at "B's" house and she really overdid it.  Spoiling us on fried chicken and homemade mac & cheese.  C1 brought corn pudding.  To.  Die.  For.  C2 brought a veggie tray just to keep us honest.  Or tried to.  I made my lemon bars and they were a success.  Starting this club I really didn't know what to expect from one another.  I was pleased as punch when C1 presented a folder this month with her corn pudding recipe along with some super cute patterns she printed for us all.  She thought we could use the folders to add new patterns we'd get throughout our time together.  Brought a smile to my face.  It's hard to explain what's happening to the four of us.  It's a bonding, for sure.  It's a creative explosion that goes without saying. 

I know why

It's been easy lately to question why we moved here.  We left everyone and everything behind for a new life in Ohio.  As most of you know it was to be closer to family and the painful lesson of betrayal and being hurt by those you thought had your best interest in mind has really spoiled the taste.  Luckily there are still a few family member I like being around and we are making this work.

Tuesday evening/night we got about 4 inches of beautiful snow.  Many of you know what I'm talking about when I say it was the good kind - heavy flakes that immediately stuck to whatever surface they hit so the inches grew quickly.  Looking out over our property it was so glorious to see how the snow had fallen.  The drifts in places were almost a foot high!  Trekking through the drifts to reach the barn was an adventure!  Wednesday I worked from home due to the road conditions, so yesterday as I drove into work I literally was awestruck at how beautiful the trees were.  I tried to take photos with my iPhone but that was a joke, so the pic here is NOT my own, but it's close enough to what I saw all along my drive in yesterday. 

This morning's drive wasn't as pretty because of the warm temps we had yesterday.  The snow on the trees is gone, but the images I have from yesterday still linger in my minds eye and I know, once again, why we came here. 

Tuesday

Not a very creative title, is it?  I think that's the hardest part of posting! 

We are expecting a good amount of snow starting this evening and through the night.  I came in to work today, and there's a chance I'll be leaving early to make it home before things get too treacherous.  The DH is manning the homefront and battening down the hatches (so to speak).  I'm looking forward to it, although admittedly I am also anxious for Spring and warmer weather.  I hope this snow storm is the last for this winter. 

I sold the blanket I didn't would sell!  Amazingly enough the woman that bought the dark green and orange one also bought the ocean blue/light blue one and she thinks she might like 2 more.  Go figure!  She seems very nice and I have enjoyed exchanging emails with her.  One request she has is a blanket in nothing but black, white and greys to go in a particular room.  I'm playing with some ideas in my head for that one.  She thinks she doesn't want the random color stripes (to stick to the room theme), so we'll see what I come up. 

I've been working on getting some dishcloths finished for the next Craft Club gathering on Sunday the 10th.  I'm putting together an Easter basket for the hostess and wanted to include dishcloths.  I have to bring a snack/treat in the containers I talked about - the DH wants to "contribute" and bought a bag of Oreos.  The girls will get a laugh out of that, but I still need to make something...and I am drawing a blank.  Lemon bars sounded good but I don't know if the others like them.  What am I saying?  Doesn't everyone love lemon bars?  LOL

Over the weekend the DH and I were talking about my retirement date.  After some thought we decided between 3-4 years, but I started thinking about it and came up with April 1, 2019.  Now I know this probably seems random and odd, but we have certain goals we need to meet before I can leave the work force and this gives us the chance to meet those goals and then some additional time to save a little extra on top of everything else. 

I hope everyone has a marvelous day and if you are expecting snow - be safe and stay warm!

Let's Chat! #83

Head on over to Everyday Ruralty for some good coffee and a nice chat on the farmhouse porch!

Here are the day's questions (and they are good ones!):

1. Who has the most outgoing personality in your family?
2. How did you name your blog?
3. What's your favorite topping for ice cream?
4. Tell me about someone you know who would make a wonderful character for a book. Oops- please.
5. Please tell me up to three questions that you think I should ask on future farmhouse chats.

1.  Hands down, my husband.  Although both our daughter and youngest son could easily take over that position on any given day. 

2.  Well, my nickname is Red.  Everyone calls me that - except family and coworkers.  And since I crochet....It just seemed to fit.

3.  Hot fudge, although DQ's peanut butter sauce is sneaking up! 

4.  I think this would be a toss up between my DH and my son.  Both are funny, interesting and a constant source of entertainment.

5.  Hmmm, this is a little tougher for me because I can't ever think of good questions to ask.  I think the more random the better - which is why I like YOUR questions!  But I'll give it a shot...

     1)  What's the best way to your heart?
     2)  Do you believe in love at first sight?
     3)  What's your favorite personality trait you like about yourself?

Gotta be Thursday

If I could look at my work calendar without seeing the day of the week I would know it was Thursday by the lack of meetings and by the reminders about reports being due.  I call Thursday my admin day although technically Friday is supposed to be.  All of my reports are due this afternoon so how can Friday be my admin day?  With luck nothing will interfere with my admin day today and I can knock out the reports.

Looks like we have an ice storm heading our way tonight.  I am scheduled to work from home tomorrow - again since I have no meetings scheduled - and I hope nothing comes up to change that.  I've spent two nights this week away from home and I'm ready to be home. 

I started another messenger bag on Tuesday evening.  I'm trying to use up the balls of yarn I have rather than new full skeins.  So it's a mix of colors.  Navy, teal and white.  This one will have a flap as well.  Here is a pic of the first side. 

Not sure what my weekend plans are other than relaxing.  Work has me pretty stressed right now and it's just the nature of the beast I suppose although it sure feels like for every step forward I take I must take 5 back.  Everyone is saying we are making progress but I'm not feeling it.  Sometimes I long for that job I had where I had an inbox and an outbox.  It was so easy to measure my productivity day to day.  Not with this job - it's very difficult to measure progress!

Okay enough whining!  Have a super day!!

Craft Club Yo

That title was my attempt at humor.  Just saying "Yo" at the end of "Craft Club" made me giggle.  Yesterday was my day to host our second meeting.  I think it was great!  We all seemed to have a wonderful time just sharing our craft and talking about our lives!  We had some yummy food, too!  Next month's we are meeting on the 10th and I'm so looking forward to it.  We started a tradition of sorts.  The first visit one of the girls made brownies in two containers and she left them with the girl that was hosting.  This time that girl made cookies in the two containers and they got left at my house.  So you guessed it - next time I make something and put them in the two containers for the next girl!  Fun, right?  Now what to make....  I'm leaning towards lemon bars and ....?

We had great weekend.  I really hated waking up to the reality of Monday morning.  I know this may sound crazy coming from me, but I'm wishing for some warmer weather.  Go ahead and gasp. Get it out of your system.  :D  I moved here for the SEASONS - not just the snow!  LOL 

I hope everyone has a super week! 

Just for Wendell

I missed giving this to Wendell over at Everyday Rurality yesterday.  Hopefully he won't be too full and will enjoy this bowl of carrot love!

Spring - y

With the crazy winter weather all over the north eastern area and us getting rain I thought I'd post a pic of my current project.  At first I didn't think it was going to work.  The flow was hitting me and I almost discarded it, but I'm glad I continued because I now think it flows nicely and the colors have a rhthymn.  I've named it Spring because, well, it reminds me of Spring with the green/yellow. 

This weekend we are going to pull out some final boxes with trinkets we've saved through the years.  It's all in the effort of emptying out the train room so the DH can start his train room.  We also have boxes (and I mean boxes) of old letters and cards we exchanged when I was in Okinawa for a year that we feel can now be destroyed, so we are planning on burning them Sunday.  We have saved them since 1997 and not once have we brought them out to read them, and well, some of them are not necessarily anything anyone would want to see/read due to their content so we feel like burning them together is the right thing to do. 

This move to Ohio has been a cleansing of sort.  Definitely one of soul searching.  I can honestly say I am closer to my DH now than I have ever been which I find odd because we have been together for a long time.  Opening up and really trusting someone with what's in your heart can be a tricky thing. 

I hope everyone has a marvelous weekend!

This too shall pass

I've been so good.  Honest.  I have been thinking good thoughts in spite of others trying to dump on my wonderful world.  It's not easy because they are really trying.  There are days I wonder why I thought I wanted to be close to family.  I know that sounds awful, but when the good Lord gently guided me towards the military He knew what He was doing.  Silly of me to think I knew what I was doing.  For those of you that don't know I am not in contact with mother - haven't been since May.  Her sharp tongue and self-absorbed outlook finally took it's toll on me.  I said, "No more".  I have felt a great sense of inner peace and satisfaction since I made that decision.  Something difficult for a Libra to do, but I made that decision and I am very happy with it.  The hurtful things she said to me and about my family were unacceptable.  I wouldn't continue to be friends with anyone who spoke those words to me and I'll be damned if I will allow a member of my family to.  My mother fell and broke her pelvis on Sunday.  For some reason everyone believes I should be rushing to her hospital bed to set up a vigilence.  Hmmm...  Well, sorry - that's not going to happen.  It doesn't change anything.  Nothing.  Mean?  Harsh?  Probably.  But walk in my shoes and tell me how you'd feel.  I made my decision.  The only way that will change is if my sister asks me to make a change in order to help her out - not my mother.  Don't tell me it's the right thing to do or the Christian thing to do or to be the better person.  I've tried all of that for years and I should have done what I finally did years ago.  Don't tell me I will regret my decisions later when she's gone.  I know what I've decided and I'm not naive. 

So in spite of everything and everyone trying to run my life and tell me how mean and horrible I am, I have really accomplished some cool things lately.  First off here's a pic of our most recent snow storm from last Thursday.  This is looking from our deck out to the front yard.  It's practically a whiteout.  Beautiful.

This is my newly organized yarn area!  It was great going through my stash!

I had a lot of yarn I could roll into balls and do I have a bunch!!!  Just look at this collection!

Remember the knitted poncho I bought online?  The vintage one?  Here it is!!  I love it so much I want to wear it every day. 

The next Craft Club meeting is at my house and we are welcoming two new members.  I don't have my menu locked down completely but I am leaning towards homemade Sloppy Joes/BBQ.  It's the 17th of February. 

Okay, that's it for now!  Hope everyone is doing well!!

Super Tuesday

This has been a very ... interesting week and it's only Tuesday!  Yesterday was a bizarre day at work.  It was a day for things that never happen, happening.  Luckily they were small things and nothing critical - just annoying.  I will be happy when this week is over. Not to wish my life away, but just so I can get this crazy week done and over.

Last night I gave a crochet lesson to a beginner.  I was nervous about it because as many times as I have talked about crocheting I haven't really been a "teacher" of crochet.  All the way home I was talking to myself about what to say.  I don't think I did a great job, but my student seemed to think so.  I sent her home with 3 balls of yarn and a hook and the ability to chain stitch and do a single crochet.  Next time we'll do HDC and DC.  It's all about tension and rhthym, don't you think? 

I wish I could crochet all day long. 

Farmhouse Porch Chat #78

 

Another Farmhouse Porch Chat with the gang over at Everyday Rurality!  Go check them out for some great conversation and fun!

  Questions

1. Have you ever been on a boat? (Motor boat, sail boat, cruise ship, ark, or Good Ship Lollipop)
2. Do you need an alarm to wake up in the morning, or do you wake up naturally? If you have an alarm, tell us what type.
3. Have you ever had a yard sale?
4. Do you like kitchen gadgets? What are some of your favorite?
5. Do you read labels at the grocery store?

1.  I have been on a few boats.  Out on the water isn't my favorite place to be although it can be fun and relaxing.  My favorite memories of boating is on trips to Lake Havasu.  Our friends have a small boat and we could zip across the lake into the channel or into the cove for a day of fun!

2.  After so many years in the military and waking up early I have an internal alarm.  I don't need one, but I set my iPhone just in case I oversleep.  Right now the alarm plays the song "5-1-5-0" by Dierks Bentley.  :)

3.  We have had a couple of garage sales and I find them really annoying.  I am not good at dealing with "customers" because they want something for nothing.  The last one we had in CA I put out a set of dishes I no longer used.  It was a complete set, stacked nicely in a box and I think it was marked $15.  A lady actually asked me if I had the set in a different color.  Uhm, hello?  This is a yard sale, not Pier 1.  Then she decided since I only had it in the one color I should sell it for $5.  Needless to say she left without the dishes.

4.  I do not care for kitchen gadgets.  I'm not big on cooking anything other than ordinary dishes for me and DH.  We are simple people and don't need fancy gadgets. 

5.  I very rarely do. 



Farmhouse Porch Chat #77

Howdy!  I'm participating in Everyday Rurality's Farmhouse Porch Chat #77.  Visit everyone over there! 



Here are the questions and my answers!

QUESTIONS

1.Do you eat eggs? What is your favorite way to serve them?

I love eggs.  I love them overmedium.  NO icky runny stuff please!!  I also like them scrambled with cheese.  Me and DH love to make breakfast burritoes with scrambled eggs. 

2.Do you have a favorite item that you really like having around? (a pillow, a chair, a sweater, a teddy bear, etc.)

I'm going to say my yarn.  I find great comfort when I can see it.  A work in progress is never far from my reach.

3.Is most of the furniture in your home dark wood, light wood, painted, lacquered, or distressed?

I'd say medium wood finish.  Nothing matches completely.  We have some light oak pieces and then we have some medium darker pieces. 

4.Please fill in the rest of this sentence. "I could write a book about____________."

I could write a book about a love story...  Still working on it!

5.If money and calendar/family obligations weren't an issue, would you prefer to spend next weekend at a Bed and Breakfast, a posh hotel, a cabin in the woods, or on a sailboat on a calm body of water? I guess the last thing, the sailboat, would have to be someplace warm. :) (It's 30+ degrees here.)

A cabin in the woods.  I love the idea of looking out and seeing nothing but nature.  No cars driving past, no car horns, maybe not even seeing another person.  I wouldn't even mind no technology. 

Yarn ball heaven

So as planned I did indeed reorganize the craft room.  The DH was kind enough to purchase and put together some neat shelving that make fine bins.  The wood is laquered so as not to snag and one of them is bright white, which really looks great when filled with bright, colorful yarn.  I am quite pleased with the results in more ways than one.  I knew I could consolidate quite a bit of yarn because it had been a while since my last reorg and I also knew I could make balls out of some of the skeins due to their size.  Now, I know it's nuts but I LOVE to roll yarn.  If I could get paid to do it I would do it 10 hours a day.  No joke - I love it.  I have so many yarn balls now!  I absolutely love it.  I am going to take a pic this evening of them and share because I know you won't believe how many I have. 

I finished up the Ocean Blue Signature afghan and it's posted on Etsy.  I started another based on the colors I have in my stash and decided to go with a Spring theme - using pale yellow, spring green and a kelly green.  So far it's working up fast and really nice. 

Yesterday a cousin of mine asked if I would consider making her a poncho.  She sent me the pics and it's really a nice poncho. Come to find out it belongs to a friend of hers who got it from her MIL - who happens to be a Native American with tons of talent.  Gulp.  I'm not sure I can duplicate this gorgeous poncho to my cousin's liking.  I will try and get the pics and post so you guys can take a look. 

It's supposed to get super cold today and tonight.  The girls will be blanketed and tucked into their stalls for sure.  I know they are not as cold as I believe them to be, but putting the blankets on makes me sleep better at night. 

We have a new Craft Club member!  That makes officially 6 now.  The next meeting is at my house on Feb 17th.  I'm excited to get together with my fellow crafters! 

Well I hope everyone has a marvelous week!

Craft Room Makeover

This weekend I am reorganizing my craft room.  Not really a room because it doesn't have a door and four walls.  It's the formal living room area of our house - which is never used.  Our family room (right off the kitchen) is the location for all things "living" so when we moved in we decided I would have that area and the DH would have the 3rd room for his train/man cave.  He needs a door because we are certain one of our cats will find it necessary to carry off his train "stuff".  Anyway, for some time now we have been talking about our lack of bookshelves and my yarn is currently occupying two of our bookshelves.  So we are buying bins and I will commence to go through my stash.  Saturday morning is the target time frame.  The sooner I get started the better.  I'm anxious to get started.  It's a great way to take inventory of exactly what I do have and who doesn't like a freshly organized area?

Couple of things that have been making me a little crazy lately I just have to get off my chest. 

1.  Who cares about the Kardashians?  I cannot believe she got famous from a video.  I mean, really?  And now it seems like all of Hollywood is ga-ga over the whole darn family.  She's pregnant, but not by her still husband.  She has zero talent - none of them have any talent.  Yet they are LOADED.  Really?  I need to let go of stuff like this because it's just nonsense, but to me it shows how screwed up our society really is.

2.  I'm ready to declare a new political affiliation. 

Okay.  I feel much better now.  Hope you all have a marvelous Friday!!!!  Let's give it hell!!!

Trickle down effect

I have always thought it was my DH that set the tone for the household.  Because I am a Libra my sole purpose in life is basically about harmony and balance.  As long as everyone else is happy then I can be happy.  I am a true Libra.  I strive for this balance in EVERYTHING I do - it even reflects in the crochet items I make.  At least it feels that way to me.

Yesterday I realized that my DH actually feeds off of my attitude.  Imagine my surprise!  Because I have been feeling down lately about my work and not feeling very much reward or satisfaction it has trickled down to him.  He began to feel badly about me driving to work every day and being the sole bread winner in the family.  He thought perhaps it was beginning to become a chore with my long commute.  He was worried I would get burnt out.  My first thought was, "How sweet!"  And then I thought, "How terrible of me to be negative when I try so hard to be positive!" 

So I am changing my tune and attitude.  I have many, many things to be thankful and grateful for.  So my work isn't EXACTLY how I'd like it to be.  Maybe it's up to me to shape that role into something I find more rewarding.  I have a great job and I work with some wonderful people.  I get paid a good wage and really, what more can a girl ask for?  Sure, it would be great to be able to crochet for a living, but that's not what Fate had in store for me.  I know God has a plan and I need to let that play out. 

Trickle down effect...  This morning my DH was in a better mood and his emails were considerably more lighthearted knowing I am "okay".  Trickle down effect...

The sun don't shine on a moonshine still

That's one of my favorite lines of all time.  How revealing and secretive all at the same time, right?  It's a line from a bluegrass song called Good Corn Liquor by The Steeldrivers.  If you're a bluegrass fan (or even if you aren't) you should check it out.

So driving in to work this morning I was trying to get my second wind.  I have been feeling like things aren't right with me and I am trying to fix them.  Or fix me.  I can't figure out which at the moment isn't right...  I had my iPod on and this song came on.  Every time I hear it I get a little daring.  That wild hair stands straight up and all I can think about is being more alive than whatever I am doing right now.  It doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to break any laws.  Then again it doesn't mean I won't either.  It's just this feeling I get deep down - wanting everything life has to offer.

Tonight is "hotel" night for me.  After work I am going to use the fitness center here at work to walk on the treadmill.  It's difficult to want to do too much, but I know realistically I need to start slow.  So my goal today is to walk 1 mile on the treadmill.  That doesn't sound like much but it's a start and I shall work up from there.  My goal is to do the same in the morning at the hotel's fitness center - walk for 1 mile.  Then I will shower and come to work.  My goal is to do that for one month - walking 2x a week on a treadmill.  Depending on how I feel next week I will increase the distance. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday! 

Farmhouse Porch Chat #76

Here are the questions for today's chat, brought to you by Everyday Rurality.

 QUESTIONS

1. What was your favorite game as a child?
2. Have you ever had your own business? (home business, a shop, Etsy, lemon-aid stand, etc)
3. How's your spelling?
4. How are you about going to the dentist?
5. Do you enjoy board games?

1.  Depends on how old...  When I was younger (5) I loved pretending to be a horse.  As I got older I loved kickball with the neighbor kids. 

2.  I have a shop on Etsy now.  It's the only business I have owned.  I would love to eventually open a shop.  Time will tell.

3.  I'm rather anal about spelling....  It annoys me when things aren't correct.

4.  I love the dentist.  I actually fall asleep in the chair.  Wierd, I know.

5.  I love board games.  We used to have 24 hour Monopoly game days with our 3 kids growing up.  During that time you could eat whatever was in the house and sleep where you wanted.  If you were out quick you could watch TV while the game finished out.  Then we'd start up another for a full 24 hours.  It was a lot of fun and something the kids remember to this day.  Now I love the game Apples to Apples. 

Wake up

There are times during the day when I wonder who I am kidding about my skillset.  Honestly; is there anything I know anything about?  I am beginning to think not.  Have you wanted so badly to be "that" person everyone goes to for insight and answers?  The last time I felt like that was in the job I had prior to moving.  Everyone came to me because the work I did was something I owned.  It was my creation and I was involved in it's every detail.  I knew why something existed and where to find it. 

Here, not so much.  I just do not have a grasp as to our mission and goals.  Actually, that's not correct.  The real truth is I don't feel invested in either.  Or perhaps the real issue is interest. It's just not very interesting to me.  Everyone else's emails are so enlightening and "smart".  Mine are generic and brief.  Don't get me wrong - I do my job and I do it very well.  But there is just that spark that is missing.  I think much of it had to do with my connection to the Marines in that job.  It was a job I felt like was important. 

Oops, I did it again...

I just can't seem to find my way to this darn computer when I am home.  I had such good intentions of posting every day that I have been off.  No such luck. 

I have enjoyed my time off though.  I have crocheted quite a bit and am about 2/3's finished with a scrap throw.  I tried to upload a pic of it for you but for some reason it's not working....  Maybe next time.  It's "okay" - although everyone that sees it seems to love it.  Funny how that works sometimes.

The snow is melting and that makes things quite messy, but I honestly don't mind.  It's funny to look out over our property at the areas where the snow is untouched.  We are not expecting any snow or rain for the next week and temps might actually reach the mid 40's.  That would be a warm up for sure considering we've barely made it into the 30's. 

We have started a craft club!  Some of my friends from high school on FB have been chatting about getting together to crochet and we finally made the first "meeting".  We decided not to limit it to just crocheters so are calling it a craft club!  I'm excited!  The first meetup is the 13th.

I have also made the decision to enter a crocheted item to the County Fair this year.  I need to get the rules and find out where I can fit something I make in.  From the entries last year I think it's obvious there are only a few ladies that submit work. I plan on shaking things up a bit this year with my entry(s).  :)

Okay, off to muck stalls and then do some post Christmas organizing!  Enjoy your day!!!