Winter and Wedding

It has been months since I blogged last. So much for resolutions and the sort. It seems that the winter doldrums combined with school days leave me with little to say and less energy to say it.  I am beginning to feel myself emerge from my winter hibernation and I'm ready to share what has been happening during these long months. 

I have been knitting, but not taking the time to photograph my results.  I made a basket weave blanket and hoodie sweater for my friend, Doreen's, daughter's baby shower.  The gorgeous little man was born on April 5th.  I was so honored that they chose to use the blanket I made for his newborn pictures!  I made a beaded scarf for Doreen's sister.  I did take a pic of that.

Gayle bought the materials for me to make a second scarf for myself in exchange for making the red one for her.  The second one is black with iridescent beads.



I have some other baby gear in progress for another babe to be born in June. There's another on the way in July that I have yet to begin.

The biggest thing that happened in the previous months was that my niece, Amanda, was married in Phoenix, AZ. Most of my family was in attendance, and I did take many photos during our trip.  It was Hubbub's first jet airplane ride(s).  We flew out of Minneapolis and had a plane change in Denver both coming and going.  Although we had but a very few days in Arizona, we had a great time.  We got in very late on Friday night for the Saturday wedding. 

It was difficult to get good pictures of the ceremony because our flash wouldn't reach, but this is the moment when Mandie was saying her vows.  Here is a better pic of the bride and the groom that I "borrowed" off their Facebook page.

After the ceremony, there was a gathering of family in the lobby of the church.  My family was enjoying the day.  For those readers that might not know, my brothers Tom and Tim are twins who are only 10 months younger than I.  We went all through school in the same grade (like triplets.) They have lived in Arizona for years, and although we don't see each other but one week a year, we remain very close. Here is Tim and I.  I always try to take a picture of us when we are together, but rarely have both our heads in the picture at the same time.  I had help on this shot. He is the father of the bride.

You can see that I am just a little bit shorter than my brothers.

My daughter, Katie on the left, and my niece, Jenny on the right, the sister of the bride.

Brothers Mike on left, and Tom on right. They like to make strange faces when a camera is aimed at them.  This is about the only "normal" picture of Mike that I got.  Normal is a relative term.

Tom (nice face, bro), my very thin father, and my son, Ryan.  I don't remember my dad ever being this thin. He lost 35 pounds for the wedding and looked svelte!

We played a great joke on Tim. Thirty years ago, when he and Barb got married, he wore the stripe-topped tube socks that were the fashion in the 70's beneath his white wedding tux. When he was standing in the front of the church, everyone could see the stripes under his pants. It was a memorable part of his wedding. His response at the time was that Mom told him to wear white socks with his white tux, and they were the only white socks he had.  Since my family can never let a good story go, Mike came up with the idea of presenting Tim and the groom, Matt, with some tube socks for this wedding.  After all, tradition is tradition.  When we were standing for our family photo, Mike asked if everybody remembered to wear their white wedding socks.  Sure enough, we all did!  Since I was wearing sandals, I could only wear the top of my white socks, but I didn't forget to wear them! Matt was in on the joke, and thought it was a great idea.

Tim laughed so hard, he had tears streaming down his face. We definitely got him on this one! 

My family has very nice, gentle, polite ways of telling me when it is time to put the camera down for awhile.

Oh dear.

Mike was a fabulous help and served punch to everyone during the appetizers. He pitched right in!

The reception had a Lego theme, complete with a Lego wedding cake!

Tom and I.

Three generations. Me, Mom, Katie.

My wonderful kids!

With our remaining time in Arizona, we took in a spring training game between the Diamondbacks and the Cincy Reds at Goodyear Stadium. We had dinner at Tom and D's house and a nice evening with them.

The last day, we went to artists' tents and out for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, The Horny Toad.  I was beginning to get the subtle hints again that it was time for the camera to go away.

Ryan was a bit toasted from the Arizona sun.

Kate's characteristic pretty smile had given way to her "make it stop" look.

Mike was..... well...... Mike.......

Bob was anxiously awaiting his very first Horny Toad's famous strawberry shortcake, which is anything but short.

DEEEEEEEE LICOUS!

Our four days in Arizona went by much, much too quickly.  Although we don't all get together but once a year, we always have such a good time.  We had a steak fry with Tim and Barb at Mom and Dad's on our final evening. We sat out on the bug-free, pleasantly warm patio and had a nice, relaxing visit.  I'll close with one last photo. The desert was just beginning to come into bloom while we were there. This is a blossom on a little barrel cactus that I snapped at the artists' tents.

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!

Happiness Project, Monday of Week 2

Well, it was a Monday today, but not a bad Monday.  We had our Kindergartener's in the Computer Lab and I got quite a bit more benchmark testing done.  I went grocery shopping after work, picked up a prescription, unloaded groceries and put them away, made a meatloaf and baked potato dinner and changed out the dishwasher.

I downloaded a chapter of a book I saw mentioned by Kelly P. from Knit Picks onto my Kindle.  The premise of the book is making some sort of craft item every day for a year.  Kelly was asking how the idea of the book might be transferred to knitting or spinning.  Easy, I thought, just knit every day.  So, knit I have.

This is what I've been knitting on this evening. 

This was an unexpected project.  My friend asked me for a little help with a scarf she was knitting.  I looked over her scarf, and I was having a bit of trouble figuring out exactly what was happening on her project.  I knew that she had ripped out this project a few times (fifteen, to be exact) and was getting a bit frustrated with it. I decided that I needed to try knitting the lace pattern to see if I could identify the problem.   I went into my stash and found this relatively inexpensive yarn and started the pattern.  I was surprised to find that I really enjoy this simple lace pattern, and I was liking the yarn way more than I thought I would.  I figured out my friend's issue with her scarf, and decided to keep going with my own.  I've knit on it for three evenings now, and I'm still really loving it.  I love the reversability of the lace and the way this yarn drapes, yet has a rustic feel to it.  The pattern is the Spectrum Scarf  by Eunny Jung from Interweave Knits. The yarn is Lion Brand's Fisherman's Wool in the oatmeal color. This is a great "carry-along" project that fits nicely into my bag.

Here's a close up of the lace pattern.  It's basically just a K1P1 rib with a yarn over between each rib.  I like it! Thanks, Doreen, and I still think you should finish your scarf with the Bavarian Twist Stitch!

The motivational quote of the day:

Just remember, the only people who don't make mistakes are those who aren't doing anything.

~Tim W. Welborn

This quote speaks to me because I often feel "stuck" because I'm afraid to make mistakes.  I have crafting materials that I've had for years because I'm afraid to use them and mess them up. I need to remember this quote to try to get past this and give myself permission to make mistakes.

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!

Happiness Project, Week 1

Well, the first full week of January, and the first full week of my New Year's Resolution of blogging every day has come and gone.  Nope, I didn't even make it past day 2 before the resolution was broken.  However; I don't feel that the intent of the resolution was broken. Perhaps I just need to tweak the wording a bit, or maybe week two will be better.  Here's what happened:

Last week was extremely busy around the old homestead.  I had something going on every single evening that took up free moments.  They were the kinds of events that made blogging very difficult, like having guests sitting in my living room, or being away from home and computer. 

The intent of the resolution was to work on my personal Happiness Project in 2011, and to that intent, it has been a successful week.  The fact that I am in the process of reading Gretchen Rubin's book; receiving her tweets, Facebook posts, and such; has very much kept my Happiness Project on my mind.  I am taking my motivational quote directly off The Happiness Project web site today because it pertains to exactly that which I am discussing:

“If you look at a thing, the very fact of your looking changes it…if you think about yourself, that very fact changes you.”

~ Robert Penn Warren

So the very fact that I am reading about Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project every day, and thinking about my own Project daily has caused me to already notice some changes in my outlook.  My post today will highlight some things I've found in the past few days that make me happy.

Starting my day with a lovely mug of herbal tea is a great pleasure.  I love all the things in this photo.  The teapot was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law for my birthday a couple of months ago.  I love everything about it.  The size is perfect for a cup and a half of my favorite tea. It keeps it piping hot, and it is the kind of stoneware that I adore.  The stoneware mug is one of five that I have.  They are different colors, but they are my favorite cups.  The sugar-free Torani caramel flavoring is my sweetner and is one of my favorite flavors.  The Twinings Winter Spice tea is a recent find, and I fear was a seasonal flavor.  Camomille teas are my favorites, and this one is blended with apple, cardamom and cloves. It is subtle yet flavorful and calming. The caramel goes perfectly with the hint of apple.  Celestial Seasonings also has an apple/camomille tea which I really like.

This photo highlights three things that make me happy.  It has been a very cold week, the kind of cold that makes a person just want to hunker down and get cozy.  That's exactly what I did on Saturday morning.  While enjoying my stoneware cup of Winter Spice tea, I was snug and warm in my fleecy lounge pants.  They are pink with Tweety Birds on them, which make me smile.  I kept my feet warm with SmartWool socks. SmartWool socks or handmade wool socks are my absolute favorite. There is just no comparison to cotton when you slip on a pair of comfy wool socks.  And the third thing that makes me happy in this picture is enjoying my new Kindle that I received from HubBub for Christmas.  The page that is showing is from The Happiness Project book, and the chapter that is about blogging. Gretchen's resolution, and mine.

 Having a salad for lunch usually makes me happy.  It makes me feel like I am eating a lunch that is good for me.  The extended crunching time makes me feel like I'm eating a lot of food. This particular salad makes me happy because it reminds me of my daughter.  It is her recipe; baby spinach, very veggie mix, grape tomatoes, dried cranberries, and unsalted peanuts.  I added cucumbers (which I like) and dressed it with a light Italian dressing.  It was delicious and reminded me of my daughter.

As much as it pains me to admit it, I love diet pop. I know it is terrible for me, so I limit my intake to an average of 1-2 cans per day.  This is my favorite cola. It has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and 0 sodium. I'm not sure what it has besides some nasty artificial sweetner that sometimes gives me an asthma attack, but I love it nonetheless. I like it over a big glass of ice, and I sometimes put a wedge of lemon in it. Somehow, limiting myself to a can or two a day makes the moment when I take my first sip a time of happiness for me.

Nice yarn and knitting most definitely make me happy.  This particular yarn really made me smile because of the connection to our last name.  The spelling is different, but pronounciation is the same.  It also makes me think of Linus who is Charley Brown and Snoopy's buddy.  When I am stressed out, or life throws some bumps into my road, knitting always makes me feel happier.  This ball of Linus was going into a new pair of mittens to keep my hands warm in this cold weather.

And here they are! The mittens that I began a week ago are finished, in spite of my busy week.  The are warm and fit my hands perfectly. The are a nice match for my red with black trim winter jacket.  FO's (Finished Objects in the world of knitters) always make me happy!

I am looking forward to the second week of my personal Happiness Project.  I'm not sure exactly what will happen, but I do realize that just having the intent of having a happy week seems to make a difference.

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!

Adios Christmas

In spite of starting the day with a migraine, which put me back into bed for 3 1/2 hours, it was a productive day.  HubBub got the laundry and vacuuming done. We put away the Christmas decorations and put the house back into order.  I watched Brett Farvre's last day on an NFL field in another painful loss.  The Packers pulled out a victory over the Bears and put themselves in the playoffs. I transferred the Christmas pictures from the camera into the computer.  Here's my favorite picture from Christmas

Although there were many fun pictures from our Christmas, it seems that the shots with Penny in are always the cutest.

Here is the inspirational quote of the day:

Happiness is where we find it,

but rarely where we seek it.

~J. Petit Senn

I think this quote is appropriate as I undertake my Happiness Project.  It is important to remember that if you believe you are happy, the chances are that you will be happy.  We tend to think the grass is always greener elsewhere, and happiness lies just beyond our grasp.  If we change our perspective and believe that happiness exists right where we are, that will be where it is found.

Since I find happiness whenever I am creating, I will close with a couple of pictures of the wristers that I completed yesterday.

And here is the mitten that I started to knit this evening.  It's COLD out!

We're back to work tomorrow!  The holiday break flew by...

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!

A New Year, A New Start

Welcome, 2011!

It seems that every year I start with ambitious New Year's resolutions, and every year they fall by the wayside.  Often within the first week of going back to work.  In preparation for this year's resolutions, I have been reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

on my new Christmas Kindle.  ( I love my Kindle. )  Ms. Rubin offers many suggestions for making and keeping resolutions which should make your new year a happy one.  I am only about one-third of the way through her book, but I am making a commitment here to my first resolution for 2011.  Ms. Rubin and Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way

 both suggest that I should be keeping a daily journal.  This seems like a goal which is both achievable and pleasant.  I like writing, and I like posting to my blog, and that leads me to a reasonable first resolution.  Ms. Rubin suggests that participants should limit themselves to a single sentence per day, therefore; that is my resolution :

"One sentence per day in my blog."

That said, I really enjoy writing in my blog, Ms. Cameron suggests three handwritten pages per day, and I imagine that once I sit down with the computer, I may end up writing more than one sentence.  Additionally, I hope to research and incorporate a motivational or inspirational quote into my blog posts several times per week. These quotes are only intended to give my spirit a lift and perhaps to make a daily writing assignment more palatable. Here is the quote I have chosen for today, New Year's Day 2011:

When the world says, "Give up,"

Hope whispers, "Give it one more try."

~Author Unknown

http://www.desiwalls.com/wallpapers/winter-wallpapers/



I thought this quote was apropos because of my history of making resolutions and failing to keep them.  Here I am, giving it one more try.

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!

Frankenmuth, Part Deux

So, we continue with our trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan.  We walked up and down the street, visiting many shops.  The Visitor's Center / Chamber of Commerce is about a block away from the Bavarian Inn.  The fountain featuring children dancing around the maypole was beautiful.

The Visitor's Center is centrally located, with plenty of information and clean public restrooms.

There was a Scarecrow Festival this weekend, and the there were many scarecrows in the commons area in front of the Visitor's Center.  They also featured a giant bride and groom made from round bails.

The Frankenmuth Historical Museum is just across the street.

It featured a description of the founding of Frankenmuth and a photograph in the front window.  The reflection makes it a bit difficult to see, but if you look closely, you can read what the sign says.

There are an abundance of unique shops.

This sign was outside a boutique called It's Raining Cats and Dogs, which featured things for pets.

There was a Cheese Shop...

that was trying to make a point.

There were several candy, taffy, and fudge shops.

We watched some turtle fudge being made, and bought a little to bring home. I bought some tea...

but none of these flavors. I got maple and blackberry instead. I had a cup at school this morning, and it is delicious.

We visited two Woolen Mills.

This shop specialized in wool batted quilts.

It had a pretty Bo Peep mural.

And... I've lost my sheep... as well as my marbles, apparently.

We had a fantastic tour of the Zeilinger Wool Company mill.  I bought a half pound of gorgeous 70 alpaca/30 wool combed top in a royal blue and black mix.

It was pouring rain when we were there, so I didn't get any pictures.

With a quick stop in the rain to check out the River Place shops

we decided it was time to head north once again.  Get it?  Clock? TIME to head north?

Pun intended.

We took our time heading toward home.  We drove around Mackinac City, which is the town you pass through just before going back over the Mackinac Bridge.  There is an old fort where they have recreations.  There are cute shops with a lighthouse theme.

And a couple of real lighthouses to visit.

This is the McGulpin Point lighthouse.

This is the view of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Michigan from the beach behind the McGulpin Lighthouse.

This is the Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

It is located at the foot of the bridge.

I really like this shot that I took out of the car window in the rain.  I love the trees framing the buoy in front of the bridge.  The colors are muted to black and gray by the rain.

I had read about a cute little Mom and Pop type of motel in Munising, Michigan that got great reviews.  We drove on into night to get there.  Our room was literally on the shore of Lake Superior.  It had a cabin feeling, with a kitchenette, sofa, separate bedroom, and bathroom  It was cozy while it was cold and raining outside.  We ordered a delivery pizza and watched a ballgame on TV.

We were in 104.

And this was the view to the east from our room.

And the view to the west, toward home.  I'd definitely stay here again.

In spite of thick fog, rain, 46 degrees and wind; we had to stop in Ishpeming to visit Da Yoopers Tourist Trap.  Some of you may be familiar with Da Yoopers from their "Thirdy Point Buck" song and others.  Their Tourist Trap is full of pure corn type humor. 

This big gun "Big Ernie" is in the Guinness Book of World Records,

as is "Big Gus" the world's largest operational chain saw.

If you would prefer a more manual chainsaw, they have that, too.

Of course, they have a snowplow.  Christine on steroids.

This is a snowblower to be used only by the manliest of Yoopers.  If you don't believe me, just read this sign.

There are a few months of the year when Yoopers need a lawn mower.  Check out this rig.

And if a Yooper wants to bag a nice squirrel or rabbit for dinner, try this weapon on for size.

It's a double barreled Yooper slingshot.  I've got to believe the under wire gives it a little extra pop.

All told, we traveled 1,400 miles in four days; and saw an awful lot.  We had a terrific time. 

As long as I have my "travel necessities" of a lovely Pumpkin Spice cappuccino and some nice wool to knit; I'm always ready to go!

Hope you enjoyed our mini-vacay!

Be grateful and see the beauty in each day!