Stop, Breath, and Knit

It's a BOY!

2012-01-31T17:20:00.002-05:00

My daughter went for her ultrasound last Thursday. I had been dreaming of knitting little sweaters and dresses, Pink blankets and bonnets! Sweet little booties etc.

I was surprised, however, that when she told me that my new grand baby is another boy, I wasn't the least bit disappointed!! I do have a ton of girlie yarns and patterns but that is ok. I am sure I will find someone with a girl.

My new grandson, whom will be named Hendrik Ray, will arrive in June. Just in time for Grammy to help out during Summer vacation. Ryan will be 2 1/2 so it will be nice to have two boys close in age.

Things are still crazy here. Between school and my mom and the stresses of life in general and DH still looking for work, there has not been blogging time. I hope everyone is well and I do enjoy reading everyone else's blogs!!

This girl is a Keeper!!

2011-12-29T08:03:00.002-05:00

I hope Santa was good to each and everyone of you! We had a very nice Christmas. It was different for us but it was still very nice.

DH has been out of work for 10 months and finally got a part time 24 hour job as an independent contractor. The ironic thing is he is working at the company that laid him off last February! They called begging him to do this work for them. Time will tell if it leads to a full time job there or if he decides to just go into business for himself as an Independent Corporate Credit Solutionist!

Needless to say, my Christmas budget was quite small. Small for me but still large to others probably. We spoil our kids rotten at Christmas and ourselves. This year I went with one large special gift for each of my kids and a few small items. DH and I decided on no more than $50 with the promise of sometime next year a new laptop if he gets a job. I did well on not going overboard with our grandson which is easy as he is only 2 and loves anything! I was able to finish wrapping, decorating, baking, cleaning etc long before the family party on Christmas Eve!! I was a bit disappointed NOT to give my kids the numbers of gift cards I usually do to supplement their likes but it was a very nice holiday!

We face the New Year with three ill family members. My mom is failing more and more. We had a rough few weeks of UTI's and Pneumonia and test after test with her. My BIL has been in hospital now a few weeks. Long story, 'nuf said there. My future SIL is battling Testicular Cancer, seeing Oncologist today. He has a rarer type and will need more surgery, chemo, etc. God was working though when he let them conceive their second child BEFORE he found the cancer. Now I just pray the baby will be perfect as they won't be getting another chance at another baby.

The coolest thing of my Christmas was that my oldest son's new girlfriend gave me a wonderful gift. You will all understand why I say, "This Girl is a Keeper"! She gave me two skeins of Cascades Chunky Baby Alpaca Yarn! One is cream and one in baby blue!!! No one else could understand how I loved it so much but you will all understand! I guess she made my son go with her to a LYS in Boston to get it and she asked the proprietor to pick it out for me!! I love her already!!

I wish you all a Happy New Year! May health and wealth be on your plates this year.

Merry Christmas Season

2011-12-23T08:36:00.002-05:00

Another month gone by and crazy events in my life have kept me from blogging. I do however read all of your blogs every post you make!! I will have more time after the holiday and plan to return. I wanted to make sure to wish you all a very Merry Christmas Season and I wish good health for the New Year!!

I truly believe!

2011-11-14T15:26:00.002-05:00

I truly believe that all things happen for reasons. Sometimes we don't know what the reasons are but eventually we figure them out. As you know my DH has been looking for work since February. Still nothing on the horizon for him yet and it has begun to make me a wee bit nervous to say the least. Between my wonderful job that has turned into a stressful nightmare, taking care of my Alzheimer's mom, and natures way of reminding me I am now in my 50's with night sweats and hot flashes, I have a hard time sleeping and a lot to deal with. Christmas is looming and we are afraid to spend money so it will be a different holiday for us this year.

However, just when I felt doom and gloom, God came along and blessed us with great news that I am going to be a Grammy again!! My adorable grandson Ryan will be two in December. Remember my "Judge Judy" daughter? Well she and her boyfriend are giving Ryan a sibling! For once in her life something worked out for her and her little one will be born in June. A perfect time between school years for her and for Grammy to help out this Summer!

Needless to say, I am ecstatic. She wants to wait until Thanksgiving to tell everyone else so for now I have the secret I want so much to share. I figured you were all safe to tell!!!

You won't tell, will you???

Once a Month now it seems

2011-10-19T05:54:00.000-04:00

After reading several blogs where I am finding my friends are all saying goodbye and giving up their blogs, I have decided to take a look at mine. It surely isn't what I had intended it to be when I started out but I am not quite ready to give it up yet! I love to still check out my favorites on my blog roll so I will remain for a bit longer and see if the blog bug can bite me again!

Knitting wise I am in a good place but so tired at the end of the day that I can't even pick up my needles most of the time. Healthy non-processed foods is coming along well. I typically now make everything from scratch and it not only tastes better but costs less in the long run. I am saving every penny possible as DH is still out of work. I think I've read every tip on how to cut my budget and finally I am at the point where there seems to be no more to learn so even my blog reading of frugality has diminished.

My new job is really keeping me busy and exhausting. I am not complaining, just trying to learn a whole new curriculum with new frameworks. I was in my last teaching job for 9 years same class, same grade etc.

Well...off to work for me. I hope you all have had great day!

Knitting Patterns save the Day! (along with cooler weather)

2011-09-16T05:39:00.003-04:00

For months now I have been searching for the copy of my mom's will. I know the lawyer has it but I really did not want to pay to get it. I switching her to an elder care lawyer and we just wanted to peruse the will she has on file. It is of no substance as far as any monies to inherit since I have used all of the equity in the house and most of her minimal investments to keep her home until we can't take care of her anymore safely. The issue came up because evidently although I have Durable Power of Attorney, Health Proxy etc, if she should die, those end immediately and the will takes over. It was made so long ago, we had no idea what it said.

Anyway the weather changed yesterday and got quite cooler. Made me decide to find that sweater I was going to make for my grandsons second birthday. I had some time so I spent it looking through old patterns. I figured the old ones are just as good as any new fancy ones for a little boys sweater. Recently I brought home all of my mom's old old old knitting things. Needles, started projects, yarn, and her old patterns. She was like me. She had a million different books etc.

I was going through one of the unfinished sweaters she had started for me when I was in high school (I am 50 now!)and lo and behold...there it was!!!! Now I have the peace of mind to know where it is and that I am the executor which is going to make life so much easier when the terrible time comes that we are fear most about our parents. (Although, Alzheimer's has already taken her away from us already.)

So...lesson learned. KNITTING FIXING EVERYTHING!! :-)

When did that happen???

2011-09-01T16:44:00.002-04:00

I can not believe it is September already!! When did that happen? Same issues going on in my house except I've been getting a lot of knitting done in the evening. I am making Slouchy Hats, neck warmers, and wrist warmers for all of the girls on my list at Christmas. I am also planning a few scarves for the boys!! DH still has no luck with work and now will look into something temporary if it comes along.

I started back to school this week. Monday was already a "snow day" due to Hurricane Irene's arrival on Sunday. We were spared at my house but others were not so lucky.
I've been moved to 8th grade ELA and today was the best first day with kids ever in my whole career!! I just have to maintain a coolness around DH because I don't want to brag that I went to work today.

Happy September!!

The best laid plans sometimes go astray!

2011-07-28T10:29:00.002-04:00

I just got back from taking a short trip to Wilkes-Barre, PA to visit my favorite family in the whole world. My dad's two sisters and brother live there and the plan was they were going to babysit my mom for the next few weeks to give me a break from worry so we could take our annual family vacation to York, Maine. This year is going to be exciting because my grandson is 19 months now and he is going to just love the beach and the fun with the waves. (I hope.)

Plans had to change though because my mom could not handle the visit. I thought it would be perfect because she always loved it there and was so sad when she couldn't drive there herself anymore and had to wait for me to take her down. Well, that damn Alzeimer's has gotten worse and she would not sleep there. Not one bit. She spent the first night roaming the house so much that one of my aunt's got up and stayed up with her to let me sleep. The second night we thought my mom would be tired but she wasn't and she was all confused and wanted to go home. So....we made her get in bed and then she finally went to sleep. I brought her home yesterday morning. She was so happy to be home! My aunt will drive up her on Wednesday to watch her until we get back but I need to find someone to check on her for the first few days.

I took a lot of yarn and things to knit. We always have so much porch time and knitting time but I could't sit still long enough to really do much. I am off now to make calls to resume her meals on wheels and her home health aide who comes to clean. Then......I am going to go sit on my porch for one half hour and knit away!!

What a dreadful disease. Terrible for her and for all of us.

A trip to Michael's and Jo-ann's in the same day!

2011-07-18T16:26:00.002-04:00

Summer is quickly passing me by and I am well aware that I will not get the things done on my to do list. This morning I was feeling particularly stressed at my lack of time in my day even though I am on Summer break. With DH home 24/7 it really makes a difference. I find myself lazier in the morning, not finishing anything I start in the house, basically I feel like I am treading water. I've been knitting or crocheting dishcloths to use for gifts this fall and Christmas but nothing more than that. I've struggled making needed appointments so things will work out around DH's schedule etc.

I guess this is a sample life of what retirement is going to be like with the exception that I won't have to return to work the end of August and DH won't be so worried about not finding work. It;s not bad really, just different and takes a little getting used to. I am actually thinking that it could be quite nice to have him home all the time now that I am getting used to the changes.

Today I had to take my mom to the dentist so I allowed myself a little shopping trip. She and I used to make these Mall trips every so often and we would shop and eat and shop some more. Well today I shopped but had to keep an eye on her like she is my child (alzheimer's will do that do you). The highlight though was when we hit both Jo-ann's and Michael's. My mom was encouraging to my spending and that was fun! I tried to be good though. I bought several different yarns with gifts in mind all the while telling my mom and myself I shouldn't buy them. She kept saying why not so I figured I had her blessing. Ha ha.....wonder what DH would think about that!

We went to Barnes and Noble and I bought a book to surprise my son. Something I would have done if DH was working. It felt good and was just the boost I needed from my doldrums!

I will leave you with a promise to use the new yarns soon and even perhaps tonight start a project to share with you asap! I am off now to sort blueberries for the freezer that I picked this morning and then I will try to figure out how to get a picture from my cell phone to my blog to show you pics of a bear that came to visit at my mom's last week!!

Happy 4th of July and Happy Canada Day

2011-07-03T09:25:00.002-04:00

I am two days late and one day early but wishes are the same. I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend no matter what country you are celebrating! The weather here is absolutely fabulous for our annual Lobster Cook-out at my SIL's house.

I haven't posted in a long time because nothing has really changed. My school year finally ended on 6/24 but it takes a week to settle in to Summer after a long school year. I also actually worked a few days last week at my school on a training class so I could get paid to learn how to use the state assessment data available to me on my students. I have signed up for every class possible that I will get paid to take since DH is still out of work. No prospects in sight and unemployment will run out by end of Summer. Time to tighten the budget even more. I am trying to think of anything and everything I can make for Christmas gifts this year and where I can make cuts to our already slim budget.

I've been knitting a bit but mostly just dishcloths still. I want to fill up my basket with a ton of them to use as gifts this coming Christmas or for other holidays. I have a large stash of cottons to use so it's a no-brainer for me to do this now. Also they are great summer projects in the heat. I started to crochet some because they are even faster to produce!!

A lot of my time is spent with my grandson. He is now 1 1/2 and curious about everything. He especially loves eat fresh peas from Grampa's garden!!

We did get to celebrate our 30th Anniversary at MGM at Foxwoods in CT. I was able to use airline miles saved on my credit card to pay the bill!! Plus we brought home about $70 and that was after paying cash to eat for three days!!

So...life isn't all that bad. I am guessing we will make it through this.

I hope everyone is having a great summer and has a great holiday weekend!!

Another Month gone by

2011-05-31T04:46:00.003-04:00

Happy to say I've been knitting quite a bit but only a basic dishcloth pattern. I've been making them like crazy while I watch the NHL Hockey play-offs since they are so easy I can knit them with my eyes on the tv. Our Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs and DD and her BF are huge fans. They were at Game 5 of the Bruins/Lightning Playoff 4th row from the ice. They got a hold of someone's season tickets and were sitting seven rows in front of Boston Celtics player Rajon Rondo. Pretty exciting for a small home town girl!

The job front is bleak and DH has had not even one interview. We are coming up on 4 months now. With not knowing if Obama will extend unemployment, it's going to get a bit scary. But never as scary as the many tornadoes that have been happening in the US recently. My heart goes out to those victims. I am blessed that I do not live in such an area.

DH is trying like crazy though to find something and in the mean time had to rebuild our screen porch because of water rot. Maybe that is the reason he is out of work, so he could find the damage and rebuild it. If left unfixed who knows what would have happened. The addition is 12 feet off the ground on sauna piers and attached to the house and roof of our sun room.

This past weekend we honored DD with a graduation and house warming party in one. She finished her Bachelor of Science in Education. At the same time growing, delivering, and raising my now 17 month old grandson. Also, house hunting and buying her first home with her BF.

I am off now to the gym and then work. 4 weeks left of school and then Summer can officially start for me! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Find something to be thankful for today! I am thankful for my family and that I have a job! How about you???

Happy Mother's Day!!

2011-05-08T10:28:00.002-04:00

That's all I have. Couldn't miss the chance to say it!!

Spring has finally arrived!

2011-04-27T09:36:00.002-04:00

Why is it that when you stop to look at what day it is, it appears time is flying by but when you are in the middle of NOT thinking about it, time seems to drag on and on. Weird.

Nothing, nada, zilch, zero on the job hunting for DH. This is week 12 I believe on Unemployment and I know he is getting discouraged. I fear that once his 30 weeks are up that there will be no extensions due to the fact the president's Stimulus monies are dried up and gone. 30 weeks sounded like such a long time 12 weeks ago!! Nothing really on the horizon. I am willing to move but with the drop in house valuations we owe more on our home of 25 years then we could sell it for right now. That would leave nothing, nada, zilch, zero to put down on a new house. We could rent if need be but who would think, on the verge of celebrating our 30th Anniversary we would be moving backwards instead of forwards.

Somehow I still feel blessed. We have our health. Dh had a health scare recently but everything is good. The C word is no longer part of our issue. Praise God.

Fun things have happened in the past four weeks. I turned 50 and had a wonderful birthday month! My children arranged a surprise dinner for our immediate family, grandson included, at a local restaurant. I was nervous about the bill but my kids picked it up!! Then my SIL sent us to the York Harbor Inn for a weekend to celebrate my birthday. We go to York several times a year but never have we stayed there. It was absolutely beautiful and now we are spoiled. My oldest son gave me a $250 gift card to Mohegan Sun Casino in CT so we will use it for our 30th Anniversary in June!! Trip to Vegas was cancelled with DH was no longer employed.

My DD and her BF bought, closed on and moved into their first home.

Easter was a smaller family gathering this year but still wonderful. DH's Aunt of 91 years joined us and my grandson was a blast.

I've been knitting a lot due to watching the HOCKEY playoffs. Tonight the Canadians play my BRUINS and since it is game 7 we will know who is moving on for the Stanley Cup. My DD got me into the Bruins because her little family is all about the Boston Bruins. Even my grandson has Bruins attire.

I found a sweater pattern from Lion Brand and I am knitting it in Bruins colors for my grandson for his 2nd birthday. Thank you everyone for your tips and suggestions!

My co-worker finally went home from the hospital yesterday after surviving Strep Pneumonia. Same thing that killed Jim Hensen the Muppet Man. Doctors said it was a miracle that she lived.

See......if I look around I find others with problems worse than mine!! I am blessed.

Sweater Help?

2011-03-28T09:54:00.001-04:00

We are still waiting on Spring around here in New England. The time change is of no use to us when it is light out at 7:00 PM but so cold you wouldn't want to step foot outdoors! I still have snow in my yard. DH is out looking for extra wood pellets today to keep our stove running without having to resort to Oil at $3.69 a gallon in these here parts!

I have finished a lace scarf for a friend and gifted it to her without a picture. I am so bad at the picture thing, I know. Sorry. I am amazed that anyone wants to even visit this blog because there are never or hardly ever any pictures. Now with DH home 24/7 while on the job hunt, I have virtually no free time to be messing around with pictures. When I get home from work, he has been so bored all day that I find he needs my undivided attention!

Anyway, I am looking for some help please. I want to knit my grandson a sweater for his birthday in December. He will be 2 then. He currently wears size 18 months clothing. I need some suggestions for patterns as I am having a struggle at finding some good ones. Does anyone have any suggestions???

Back on my feet

2011-03-16T05:20:00.003-04:00

It appears that I am getting back on my feet from being knocked down once again by the world. The tragedy in Japan has put my life in perspective. DH may be out of work, but I am working and we have a roof over our head and food on our table! God always has a way of slapping me back to reality. I am sickened by the destruction these people are going through and thanking God for every blessing I have. I may yet be celebrating another milestone birthday and anniversary this year without any hoopla or special vacation, but I am here to do so and my husband is here with me to do so.

'Nuf said!!

Not Quite Sure What to Call it?

2011-02-16T11:18:00.002-05:00

I sit here and wonder exactly what I should title this post. It's been a while again since I've posted. The storm we had expected didn't end up being as bad as they predicted, however it did give us yet another snow day. We are now counting the days this week because after 2:10 on Friday, we will be officially on Winter Break for one week. The snow has stopped arriving to wreak havoc with our school schedule so that has been a blessing. Cold, frigid temperatures have started to warm a bit. We've been burning through bags of pellets like a hot knife through butter and I think we may just run out.

I finished a baby blanket and another dish cloth and hope to take a pic this weekend. I will then start a new project.

Although I was hoping to spend most of my week next week cleaning out more junk at home, a lot of my time will be spent working out a manageable budget. It seems that once again, just when I think we are making considerable progress on getting money in the bank and even planing a few days of a 'real' vacation to celebrate my 50th birthday and our 30th Anniversary, something comes along to take the wind out of my sails.

Eureeka! That should be the title of the post. The Wind Taken From My Sails!!

Dh was laid off (half) unexpectedly on the 4th. Seeing as there are just no jobs in his field out there and we really can't move due to the drop in housing evaluations, we appear to be in a tough situation.

Fortunately my kids are grown and I have learned so many ways to stretch my buck. I've had a lot of practice at it and I have even turned it into a sort of hobby.

I have my job. So far. Cuts are looming but I think I am safe but then again no one really knows.

Most importantly though is I have 5 bins full of yarn to continue to play with!!

Nuff Said

2011-01-31T04:56:00.002-05:00

Of course this is our weather forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday!

Guess What?

2011-01-27T12:05:00.001-05:00

I guess it seems I only post when I have a snow day. Today makes Snow Day #4. We really could have gone to school with a 2 Hour delay but there was a panic I guess because one of the towns in our regional district had a few broken down plows. So, we had to change from a delay to no school.

The saddest part is, I hear snow is forecast for Tuesday of next week!!

On a happier note, I have been working along at taking my life back and getting rid of or dealing better with the major stressors in my life. I've been crocheting, knitting, and reading every day! My craft/office room is coming along. I got a few things done in there today and will go work some more before supper time.

I hope everyone is staying warm and finding some enjoyment in the this winter weather! The weekend is almost upon us. What fun things do you have planned?

Happy Thursday!

Good Start!

2011-01-21T15:47:00.002-05:00

Today we had the 3rd Snow Day of our school year. All 3 have now happened within the last two weeks!! After a bit of maintenance cleaning and room pickup for the weekend, I started to tackle that extra bedroom that was suppose to become my craft/office room may times over.

I started hoeing out the mess. What a mess indeed. DH calls it a junk room and though I used to take offense, it most certainly was. No longer as I have made a lot of progress this afternoon. I listed about 35 books on Paperbackswap. I've been using this for a long time now to trade my paperbacks or hardcovers for others. All you pay is the Media Mail postage! Within 15 minutes of listing the books I actually had someone request one from me. Hooray!! Once I mail it and the person marks it as received, I get credit to order a book from the website for free.

I now have a sewing area and an office supply area, as well as, a loveseat/sofa bed with end table and lamp and tv. It's not quite finished but definitely have made more progress today than in years!

I am finding so much joy in Decluttering! It is so amazing how much happier I feel with rooms that have been alleviated of junk.

My grandson is here watching Elmo while his mom is off to her waitress job. She started Student Teaching in Kindergarten this week and really enjoyed this Snow Day as much as I did. Maybe better because she won't have to make it up the end of June like I.

Hope everyone has a Happy Friday and stays warm this weekend. We are going to have below 0 and teen temperatures for the next several days!!

My Third Test

2011-01-18T09:46:00.002-05:00

After having yesterday off from school to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, today we have our second snow day of the year. One nasty storm is blowing out there and eventually the snow is expected to turn to freezing rain and perhaps create power outages. Of course this brings back memories of our horrible Ice Storm in 2008 when many were without power for two weeks or more. We were only without for 5 days but it felt like a lifetime.

I took my own advice and had a bit of fun yesterday instead of work work work. I slept in, hit the gym, and then took my daughter and grandson to the mall! We got Cashmere sweaters for 80% off! DD starts student teaching tomorrow and needed some nice clothes. We had fun. I also hit Joann Fabrics and purchase baby yarn for two afghans and some really pretty silky bamboo yarn in a sea mist to make a lacy scarf. I will get pics of these later today. I even purchased quilt batting to start quilting again.

I made a pair of slippers. An old fashion pattern long before felting that my grandma used to knit up for everyone. They fit DD and she took them home. That did my heart a lot of good. Usually she doesn't like the stuff I make. It made my Sunday. Because the Patriot's certainly did not when they lost to the Jets!!

Supper is cooking in the crock pot. A no salt crock pot chicken pot pie recipe from Family Circle this month. The ingredients are ready for a Pasta Fagioli soup later today also. I found this in the magazine also. No salt of course for us in our house. I am not missing it now that I use man herbs and spices.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday. I will do some work today, catch up on correcting and grades, but there is knitting time on my to do list for sure!

My Second Test

2011-01-12T12:23:00.002-05:00

Today we are having our first 'snow day' of this school year. School was called off for today by 1:45pm yesterday before even a flake had fallen. Once I knew my husband was safely at work and that my children were safe where they are, I settled in to my day! I used to typically use this type of day to do all kinds of chores or school related work.

Today I got up and gave myself a deadline of 1pm. If it isn't done by 1:00pm too bad. After that, I get from 1:00pm to 5:00pm to enjoy a snow day. I am going to finish my book, "Death by Cashmere", perhaps knit on my slipper, and maybe sort through yarn to come up with my next pattern. I have material in the dryer to iron that will become cloth napkins for my daughter.

Happy Wednesday to all!

My First Test

2011-01-10T16:42:00.003-05:00

So, today I find myself facing my first test of my new life! My principal has honored me by 'inviting' me to participate in the process of writing a school altering grant for our school. Of course this comes with a large stipend for the work. The problem is we are talking 30-40 hours to research, write, and submit a grant by 5:00 January 28th. This grant would extend our school day and allow afford us the ability to hire more staff and hopefully increase our state testing (MCAS) scores.

My first thought was wow.....is he on crack?

I sat through the meeting without saying word until he told me my silence was scaring him. I explained that while it's an awesome idea, I just don't think I have enough of me to spread around to work on it. He would not listen. I guess people are so used to me doing everything that this new life of sitting back a bit and enjoying my family and the kids in my own classroom is going to be a shocker to some. I plan to pass this test with a letter of gee thanks for thinking of me but I regretfully decline.

On a weekend note, while there wasn't too much knitting, there were non-processed food groceries purchased and items cooked that make me feel great about. We are trying to kick the deli meat habit and plus we shouldn't eat so much salt, so I purchased an eye of the round roast beef and a boneless pork loin. Cooked them both and sliced them very very thin. Not only better for us cold meat, but much cheaper. Our deli was charging $11.99 pound for low salt roast beef and I paid $5.49 a pound for the roast. The pork was $1.99 lb.

Christmas stuffs put away and reorganized house now means that the impending snow day I see on the horizon for Wednesday means I can do a lot of crafting!!!

Happy Monday!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T08:14:00.002-05:00

The holidays came and went as quickly as a blink of an eye. I guess we really shouldn't be surprised because it happens like this every year and every year I say the same thing! I hope the New Year is treating everyone well. As far as resolutions, I have decided this year to make 'positive change' my resolution. I read somewhere that someone is using 'modification' and I like the wording of that also. I took a long hard look at what my year last year was like. It was a very difficult year. While I have no idea what this year has in store, I can at least make my life a bit more enjoyable.

I am rediscovering the things that make me happiest: family time, knitting, reading, cooking, finding ways to save money. I am trying to eliminate the noises in my day. Instead of putting the tv on and leaving it on from AM to PM when I am home (for noise) I am either having silence or listening to music. I am trying really hard to keep organized the spaces in my home that I worked so hard on last year. It is so much nicer to return home after work and have things in order.

I am determined to craft a lot this year! My craft room is in the process of being set up. I have several projects on needles or in my head to start. I am finding the joy again in homemade. I don't care if it's craft homemade or food homemade. I am enjoying putting non-processed foods on my table for my family because not only is it good for us but it makes me feel good.

There will be ups and downs but if I can rebuild my home into a peaceful place that makes me happy, then it will all be good. If I can take the time to enjoy the nature around me, then it will all be good.

I learned the hard way that it takes a conscious effort to live like this. Time to do so again!!

Have a great weekend!! I plan to get in a lot of knitting time.

The Big Man is on His Way!!

2010-12-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to All of my Blogger Friends!! I wish you all a Happy Holiday! Thank you for all of your wonderful comments this year and for your blogs to read! You help to keep me sane. Merry Christmas.

Holy Guacamole! and a year recap!

2010-12-07T07:52:00.003-05:00

All I can say is, Wow! I cannot believe it has been three months since I've posted. It has been a crazy start to a new year and a crazy end to the year as far as my life goes. There was a bit of time when I felt like getting on a train to somewhere and leaving the world behind! Things seem to be falling back into a good place. I would like to say that there has been a lot of knitting taking place but the truth is, there has not. I still maintain many projects in my mind if that counts!

Last New Year's Eve as we were toasting the new year to come, my husband made a remark about it wasn't going to be a good year. I told him he was crazy! We had just celebrated the birth of our first grandchild, Ryan! Then in January, poof, my beloved boy Jake died. He was our Golden companion literally. What a perfect dog, if you don't mind a bit of old age odors from an old dog! Then there were ups and downs with youngest son's career dilemmas. Add to that the discovery of a sister I never knew I had!! Wow, that was something to deal with. Not only did I find out I had a sister, but a nephew who shares the same name as my grandson! Mom continued to decline and the workload taking care of her house, needs, etc grew. I applied for home health care only to be told she qualified but the budget was so weak that it would be a six month wait. Summer was pretty good though. A lot of cleaning out of the house and reorganizing. I've kept up with what I've cleaned so that is a huge positive for this year. While we enjoyed our annual vacation in Maine and had fun introducing our grandson to our beach vacation, there was a mess up in reservations and we got a different week than we were suppose to so our extended family vacationed the week before us. :-(

A new school year came and it has been an up hill battle trying to settle in with new kids and a part time job I took on adding to my stress. I thought it would be great to add to the old check book but it is seeming to be well unworth the hassle. I will finish the contract out until the end of the school year, but I won't take the job again. Mom got home health care finally so that has helped. She gets Meals on Wheels 5 days a week and one day a week a woman comes to clean and do her laundry. I am feeling like I can breath again finally. Things are looking up!

I've started to actually feel like myself again and I am starting to like getting up in the morning again. The holiday season is shaping up to be a wonderful time of the year for our family. The house is decorated, the tree is up, presents are bought. Most need to be wrapped but that will happen. We will celebrate my grandson's first birthday this weekend. We are blessed.

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. I have kept up with the reading of everyone's posts. I just haven't had the time to do much else other than that. I have learned what is important and what is not important to my life, my families, and my sanity!! I wish the same for everyone, that you find what makes you happiest and you enjoy it. I am looking forward to the week between Christmas and New Year's. DH has the week off also so we can spend the week together doing nothing!! and hopefully, I can find my knitting mojo again!

Still breathing and knitting!

2010-09-15T15:03:00.003-04:00

Hello strangers! It appears that I have been away. Actually, I've been here all along, but just very quiet. It's been a really really busy August and first half of September around here.

August is a blur now. We took our annual vacation in York Maine. This year was extra special because we got to experience Ryan's first trip to the Ocean and to our favorite place in the world, York Beach, Maine. He was a trooper considering he had a cold. It didn't keep him from his share of sand and water on the beach. Luckily he had not learned to crawl yet so he sat under the beach cabana playing in the sand with a pan of water and his toys. We had a great week, but I was ready to return home. It had been quite a crazy emotional Summer.

After returning from the beach, I spent a lot of time finishing up some projects around the house that were neglected all Summer. I am proud to say, and prouder to say even now, that all of my laundry was caught up and is still caught up. I finally got it to a point where I could do it every Sunday!!

The 24th of August found me taking my mom to PA to visit relatives. It was a wonderful, but short, trip to Wilkes-Barre to visit my dad's family. I wish we lived closer because I love my family so much but rarely get to see them.

After returning home, it was back to reality and School!! We started the week of the 30th and it's been a whirlwind since. Labor Day weekend was busy busy busy. My wonderful niece got married and we celebrated for two days. The day after that DH and I attended the PGA Tournament, walking a few holes with Charley Hoffman! The highlight of my day was not seeing Tiger Woods but getting to meet and talk to Charley's wife. What a nice man and a wonderful down to earth better half he has.

School's been crazy. Trying to get into the routine again and figure out what my kids need for help with their English. It's always crazy to start off. Add to that trying to babysit my grandson as much as possible and taking care of my mom and it means one tired tired gal at the end of the day when it's my knitting time. Many projects fill my head right now but they are only in my dreams until I can find some time.

For now......I do the best I can to do all I can for everyone and leave a little time for myself at the end of the time. Happy Fall!!

Snowtoes and George

2010-07-29T15:07:00.005-04:00

The lazy hazy crazy days of Summer are wonderful here around my house! Our yard is beautiful this year. Partly because I have finally realized I need to water my flowers every night! We have the most beautiful hummingbirds that come to visit after supper. My favorite time of day is turning into 7:00-8:00pm when DH and I sit on the porch with a coffee watching for the little birds. Our garden is bountiful. It was so nice to pick my own lettuce for about 4 weeks! Now the squash is abundant and the tomatoes are starting to turn red. I have frozen 3 meals of green beans too.

Ryan is growing like crazy. He is a little over 7 months now. He loves loves loves Curious George! He can sit now and is teething like a crazy beaver gnawing on everything in sight.

Ryan is in love with our new addition, "Snowtoes". My son's name for the little kitten he brought home to me two weeks ago. Our Siamese disappeared and so he brought me home this little guy. Ryan wants to squeeze him every chance he gets. In the picture here Snowtoes is resting after his first trip to the vet.

I have been knitting and crocheting a bit. I've almost finished a Neck Gaiter for a gift for someone for Christmas. I used some yarn I got on ebay that is I believe alpaca mix but it had no label. It was easy and fun to do. I work on dishcloths whenever I have nothing else going or if it is too hot for wool. I also started a baby blanket for a cousin's baby in November.

In case anyone is wondering, I did meet my sister. My Uncle (I guess hers too) brought her up to meet our mom. Mary drove from NJ where she lives to Scranton Pa and from there my Uncle drove her. She stayed two nights. I hosted a family dinner here one evening that went well. All of my kids but one could make it. My FIL and SIL and BIL all came too. The next day I took them and my mom out to Yankee Candle for the day. We had a great time and a great lunch. Then they left.

I was a stressed out wreck before the meeting. I don't know why because I was not unhappy about it. I just have so much to deal with already. However, so does my sister. She lost both her adoptive parents and most recently her DH a year ago to cancer. It will take time but I think we can meld both families together.

I am still stressed though over not being able to do more for my mom. It seems like I am torn in so many different directions. If it's not my mom, then it's wanting to do more for Ryan, or do more for work, or do more around here. It's tiring. And add to that the normal maladies of turning 50 in several months.....oh geez!

I think I will go play with Ryan right now and watch Curious George!! Life is too short to worry.

Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

2010-07-16T07:45:00.002-04:00

I just noticed the date. I cannot believe it is July 16th already. The days here have been hot and humid with a second heat wave coming in today. We have not had summer weather like this in years. I must say that I am enjoying it, although I used to despise the heat. Of course, it does get to me a bit late in the afternoon, but I remember how cold winter will be and then just choose to do nothing but stay cool so that helps.

In past summers, as soon as DH got home, we would go out and walk 3 miles. Even though he and I had both been to the gym, he hated to sit still after work and believed in exercise, exercise, exercise. Lately we've taken up a much more restful hobby of sitting on our front porch until the mosquitoes come out and watching the hummingbirds at our new feeder. I really love this time of day. We can talk about our day and watch the three little friends that have found our feeder. After that we water the gardens and then I get my cool shower for the evening. It's been a great stress reducer.

Since my last post, I've knit little. It's so hot here that even small projects are not appreciated on my lap. I've taken up playing too much "Bubble Island" on Facebook! while the fan blows on me.

We've had Ryan for two weekends over night while his parents had plans. Last weekend we had him from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. He is so much fun, but so much work. DD and I took him swimming two afternoons this week and he loves the water. He is sitting up now and can wave. I have to get some new pics posted.

I have been checking out new projects as I have two babies to knit for. They both arrive in late November. I also would like to make something for Ryan for Christmas. Maybe even some socks. So many ideas in my head.

As for my 'sister', she arrives on Monday to meet us. She is driving from NJ to PA and then my Aunt and Uncle will be bringing her up to meet us. It's been a hard thing to get used to. While I don't have any illwill toward my mom for what she went through as a teen, I am really apprehensive to meet this person who has already started to tell me how much she loves me when we have never even met. She looks just like my mom too so that is weird. Anyway, I hope it all works out well. With mom's Alzheimer's I never know what to expect anymore.

Speaking of Alzheimer's, I took my mom to Sears for a new bathing suit and while she was in the changing room, she needed help and walked out in her underwear to get me!! Definitely NOT my mom......I sent her back in but then she had trouble with some suits. We lost a piece of one and I thought that it was left back on the rack and thought nothing of it. Later in the store, looking at baby things for Ryan, my mom asked me why she had a tag sticking out of her pants!! She had on a bottom to one of the bathing suits, under her underwear!! We had to go to the changing room again. I have to laugh about the whole thing or I will cry.

Well, it's time to start my day. I wish everyone a wonderful summer weekend! Looks like a beauty here in New England.

The Heat Is On......

2010-07-05T08:42:00.002-04:00

We are in for a long long stretch of 90 degree weather. I know that people in the southern United States are used to this but here in New England, we are not. That is why so many Florida winter people come back here for the summer. We are more, 80's, people in the summer. We felt the heat roll in on Saturday evening. It was very hot yesterday but cloudy so it wasn't to bad. Today through Saturday is suppose to be 90's with humidity rolling in by tomorrow!

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. We had a cookout at my SIL's and were gone all day and then capped the day off with S'mores by the fire we used to cook lobsters!!

I better get some chores done early now before the heat comes in and I melt into a chair in the shade out back under a tree!

Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian Friends

2010-07-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

As we get ready here in the United States for our Fourth of July celebrations this weekend, let me take a moment to wish all my Canadian friends a happy Canada Day!

Our weather here is a bit chilly but the heat is coming back this weekend in time for our celebrations. It should be 90 and humid again here on Sunday. We go to my SIL's for an annual Lobster Bake and she has a pool. It will be the first time bringing my grandson. I got him a little baby float for my daughter to take him in the pool.

Mom's appointment went well. She agreed to services, even personal care services. They will be at a minimum right now but she agreed. The only problem is that there have been so many budget cuts, even though she qualifies and they agreed she needs them now, it will be about 5-6 months of waiting on a list. If she becomes hospitalized over night she qualifies immediately or if her status changes she may be moved up the list. I guess now I will look into our "Meals on Wheels" program for when I go back to school the end of August.

I am working on a "Gaiter". It is kind of like a cowl but smaller. I figure I can finish it and a part of Irish Hiking fingerless gloves for my SIL for her birthday. I will try to get pics today!

Happy Thursday

Be Careful What you Wish for!

2010-06-30T09:54:00.002-04:00

No thunderstorms but much cooler weather arrived. Now I am chilly! It's good cleaning weather though so it will be good to run the vacuum and do some household chores before the heat comes again. Perhaps my knitting mojo will return this afternoon too!

Home Health evaluation for my mom today at 4:00. I am dreading this as she feels she needs no help, but I know otherwise. She would be happy for me to just do everything and I feel like I am drowning. I need the help whether she likes it or not. Sounds mean but I have to stay sane.

Happy Wednesday!

Where are those thunderstorms they keep promising?

2010-06-29T07:58:00.002-04:00

I am happy to report, should anyone want to know, that I feel a bit better today. I went to lunch yesterday with two wonderful ladies I met in Grad school. We had not seen each other since last August. It was a great time. We set another date for July 26th. We meet at a wonderful Irish restaurant because one of the ladies is from Ireland and just loves to go there. I also love to hear her speak as well as the people that work at the restaurant.

After lunch I came home and did nothing. Well not nothing. I knit a bit on the back porch and DD brought Ryan over to hang with me while she did a few errands. He can sit now and is such a happy boy. He puts a smile on my face. So, he and I sat on my screen porch and watched Oprah together! After supper, for the first time, DH and I sat on our little front porch and just sat and enjoyed the evening. DD came back with Ryan to visit a little. What a wonderful day!

Summer is surely here. It has been hot and humid. I don't mind it when we have it for a day and then a break but it's been going on now for quite some time. We are promised thunderstorms to cool the day but so far we have missed them. Last week DH and I went to the beach for one day and had to leave by 2:00 because it was 94 at the Ocean!! too hot to sit in the sun and even sitting in the water did not cool us.

I am off to get a to-do list done. I find that I feel better about my world around me when I have one.

Thanks for letting me vent yesterday!

Out of Sorts or ???

2010-06-28T08:32:00.003-04:00

I am not quite sure what is going on lately with me. The time just before I get up in the morning when I wake up maybe an hour before I really have to get up, I lay there thinking how nice it would be to just stay in bed, bring the covers over my head, and go back to dreamland instead of getting up to real land! I think that is what it must be like for people who are depressed. I do get up though so that is a good thing.

Perhaps it's dealing with my mom's Alzheimer's, add to that a 'sister' that appears in my life that all of a sudden is saying she loves me when she doesn't really know me. (While I understand how long she's been searching for her birth mom, I do feel I should be a bit reserved in this whole getting to know each other relationship.) As if dealing with the Alzheimer's wasn't enough now this. She is coming for a visit to meet us on July 18th. She is driving from her home in NJ to Scranton, PA and 'our' Aunt and Uncle will bring her up here to meet her mom and me and my family.

I have a ton of knitting projects in my head but can't seem to get many accomplished. What kind of knitter am I now that I can't get my projects done? I have so much yarn it isn't even funny! It takes up almost a whole room! What kind of knitting blog is this if there is no knitting?

I guess I am just Out of Sorts. Hopefully with the passing of expected thunderstorms later, it will pass with the humidity!! After all, I have a wonderful life, job, husband, children, etc.

Now that I am rambling, I will go gt my morning coffee and be quiet!

6 Months Already

2010-06-17T08:54:00.002-04:00

I can't believe that 6 months ago today, this little guy was placed in my arms! I get all the fun without most of the work!!!!! still no teeth but he is trying like crazy to get them. It's really the only time he is fussy. Otherwise he is such a good baby. He has quite the laugh now too. His Grampa can get him roaring.

My Niece Jumped from her out of control car!

2010-06-15T19:08:00.003-04:00

We are thanking God today for a miracle. My niece, Rebecca Storm, survived abandoning her speeding car on a major highway in New Hampshire. She could not stop the car and was coming up on an on ramp with 3 lanes of traffic at rush hour on Friday afternoon. She didn't want to kill anyone so she aimed her car toward a pole and jumped out.

She is alive and bruised but alive. The car hit a bridge embankment but she is ok and no one else was hurt.

Oh and NO it was NOT A TOYOTA!!

Not sure how long the link will last but it is here from Good Morning America:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/woman-survives-runaway-car-10908748

wow....a complete surprise!!

2010-06-14T17:06:00.002-04:00

I am very happy and surprised to discover that I have been nominated for a beautiful blogger award! I have never received such an honor and wonder if anyone really cares about what I have to say! Reading blogs has been a huge was to relieve the stresses of dealing with growing (grown up) children, taking care of a mom with Alzheimer's, spending my days with 7th graders and all the other curve balls life seems to throw my way! Thank you very much to Restless Needles for the honor.

I am imagining I guess you want to know some things that you may not know about me. If that is how this works.

1. I would have loved being a wife and mother in the 50's and 60's. I bet I could
wear pearls and heels like June Cleaver anyday!
2. I can't function without a book in my possession and something on my needles, even if I do not read or knit for weeks.
3. I feel blessed to have a job that I dreamed about.
4. I can't swim; but I love the Ocean too!
5. I always wanted a houseful of kids but settled on three (good thing as I am exhausted by them!)
6. I also love money saving and cooking blogs as much as knitting ones.
7. I sometimes think I was meant to live in Canada! Seriously. I adore Nova Scotia.
8. I secretly can't wait for my youngest son to get into the Navy so I only have
to grocery shop and do laundry for me and my DH.
9. I went to Bermuda twice and would go again in a heartbeat.
10. I am obessed with the show "Deadliest Catch" and my son's friend's boyfriend is a new deckhand (green horn) on the Kodiak this year and he is on TV!!! and I know him!!!!!!

I would like to pass this honor on to the following bloggers I look forward to reading, in no particular order:

Marissa
Wine and Needles
life as mom
Not sure if I am suppose to include the names of the duplicates named along with me! There were quite a few...

Hooray for Friday!!

2010-06-04T09:42:00.002-04:00

Friday Fill-in Time Again:

1. York Beach Maine is my favorite place to travel to.

2. When I think about my childhood, I often remember all the good food my mom could cook.

3. A good listener without passing judgement makes for a good friend.

4. The wind in the trees, the rain on my skin, a hot coffee in my hand.

5. Being a grandma is so exciting!

6. My best friend knows when to say nothing.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to babysitting and knitting, tomorrow my plans include getting the chores done early so I can babysit and pack for a getaway and Sunday, I want to win some money at Foxwoods!

There's Something About Mary

2010-06-01T09:42:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful weather weekend we had here in New England. All three days were beautiful, ending with a great day yesterday for a cookout and 70th birthday celebration.

I am here to report that my 'sister', Mary, received my letter and immediately sent me a friend message on Facebook! I accepted, of course, and then she phoned. We talked for quite a while. I told all three of my kids and they seem ok with the situation. They all feel badly that their grandma had to live with this her whole life. I appreciate their compassionate sides.

I sent Mary pictures and she sent me some pictures and now we are just taking it slowly.

My mom fluctuates I think between remembering that I know and that I don't know. She seems relieved but at the same time it brings up some seriously bad times in her life that she can't get out of her Alzheimer diseased mind. It is just so sad! Yesterday she read the same birthday card out loud twice and never realized she had just read it a few minutes before. It took me taking it out of her hands and giving her the next card to get her to stop rereading it. So damn sad!

Ryan was a funny little guy though and kept us all smiling!! I will have to post some new pics soon!

On the knitting front, I am looking for a cowl/scarf to knit for my SIL for her birthday. I need a new project. Any ideas?? I need to get back into my old knitting routine. I need it for stress relief! My DH is taking me to Foxwoods and we are staying at the MGM Grand next Sunday for our 29th Anniversary. That should help me to have a break from my brain, I hope!!

Happy Tuesday!

Hooray for Friday After a Emotional Week

2010-05-28T08:11:00.003-04:00

Finally Friday is here. This has been a long week. I have a feeling though it is going to be longer this weekend waiting to see if I hear from my sister!! Anyway, positive thoughts and positive plans for the weekend!!

Friday Fill-In Time ( I am going to try and keep up with this again every Friday but then again I am the Master of best intentions!)

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all who celebrate it :-)

And...here we go!

1. Wine and Cheese -- the best food to take on a picnic.

2. Summer Rocks.

3. I need new flip flops.

4. To love someone is bound to make you crazy at times.

5. I would welcome a nice hot bath after a long hike.

6. When I crave food, it's usually some type of potatoe.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the Celtics tonight with Nachos and Margaritas, tomorrow my plans include regular Saturday chores and a movie to watch at night with hubby and Sunday, I want to get caught up on the laundry and cleaning around the house!

8. I am adding my own #8. Monday I plan to host a cookout for my mom's 70th Birthday!!!!!!!

There's No Going Back

2010-05-27T08:19:00.002-04:00

The letter to my sister is in the mail! There is no going back now. I hope she wants a sister.
The process of losing my mom has already started, that's why they call Alzheimer's the Long Goodbye. I think this
is God's way of not only bringing peace to my mom but giving me a sister because otherwise once mom is gone
I am all that is left.

Of course, I have a wonderful husband and three great kid and an adorable grandson. I just mean, as far as my own identity to my side of my family.

And the Rest of the Story!

2010-05-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

So...Yes, I have a sister. My poor mum had to give her up because she was only 14 when she was pregnant. Her Aunt wanted to adopt the baby but the state was in control and said no, my mum had to go to the state assigned facility and then give the baby up once it was born, due to immediately family circumstances. Of which I will not go into detail except to say I know the whole story now. Sad.

I did talk to my mom. I bought us each a milk shake and sat her down and talked. She told me what happened and was finally relieved to know that I know and that I want a sister! She wants to meet her oldest daughter and so....I am now going to make that happen.

Wish me Luck!!

I started knitting a couple of dishcloths. I am thinking of including one in the letter I send later this week telling her that she has a sister and yes, her biological mom wants to meet her.

I figure, knitting always helps, whether you are the knitter or the knitee!! Doesn't it?

My Surprised Life

2010-05-25T11:52:00.004-04:00

It should come as no surprise that my knitting has been lacking lately. I have tried a few more recipes from scratch so as to
eliminate more processed foods. In fact, over the last two weeks stress levels made my reach for more processed foods and I actually started to gain weight! I think it was the salt and empty calories. Made me have NO knitting mojo at all. Well, enough is enough. I've jumped back on my own bandwagon and decreased the bad foods and increased the water and WALAAH! (How do you spell that anyway?) Knitting mojo is back and outlook is better.

Until.............

Another life changing surprise....

I am getting much better at these life changing surprises. Really. I should be years deep into therapy and prescription drugs by now, but I still remain on an even keel, I think.

Ok, so, I survived a son wearing a dress to his prom in 2001, (when I was a teacher in his high school to boot)! I survived losing my dad and my wonderful MIL, and my most favorite Uncle's death in 2008. I survived so far my mom's diagnosis of Alzheimer's although it is taking it's toll on me now and I am looking forward to some help now from Home Health Care.

I survived losing my best friend, Jake, in January. I still look for him every morning and when I get home from school and after supper when I need someone to help me clean the pans!! lol

I survived a daughter up and leaving for Colorado and then coming back almost as soon as she left. We got through her car accident two hours outside Fort Collins, Colorado on her way moving home. She was ok but her car was not and she was stranded four days before Christmas in a remote town. We got her home and then three months later paid to have her car transported back to Mass.

I survived my daughter appearing on Judge Judy!! I survived a ton of other things, such as DH's Unemployment three times, heavy credit card debt that we are finally out from under thanks to a surprise inheritance, one son quitting college to join the navy, and let's see.....life in general.

Someone told me that no one would believe me if I told them everything I've gone through....

So, on Friday when I discovered this latest 'thing', Geez, I don't know....

Pardon the length but I need to explain just a bit more before I tell you the latest. Please know I am my mom's only caregiver. I am incharge of her house, finances, medical conditions and bills, her groceries, laundry, cooking etc. I get her mail and weed out what she is capable to understanding and what won't up set her. So...on Friday when I got her mail, I have to say I felt it was ok to open the envelope that was in her mailbox. It was pink so maybe it was a birthday card but I was not sure so I opened it to protect her from anything that she could not handle....turns out, I needed the help handling it.

Inside was a Mother's Day card from..........from.........her first born daughter!!!!! My mom had a baby in the 50's as a teenager and had to give her up. It was from my 'sister' asking to meet my mom. I immediately felt so badly for my mom. I was not and am not angry but so sorry she had to live with this her whole life without telling me. I am excited to think I have a sister. I even found her on Facebook.

The scariest thing about it, is her picture on Facebook looks 100% identical to my mom. I kid you not. Identical. Absolutely.

(There is enough information that has come together over the weekend to confirm this too.)

Strangely she has one son, named ironically, Ryan. Same name as my grandson! So I have a nephew!

Now....the problem was, my mom was in El Paso on a trip, I was home for the weekend not knowing what to do. I've decided to tell my mom incase she wants to get it off her chest. I hope she does. I want her to have closure and know I am not angry. My mom's ALzheimer's will allow her to know what is going on, but if she wants to meet my sister, she will need to do to quickly because her disease is progressing.

So, My Life continues to surprise me. I think this was the biggest surprise of all.

I darn not ask, "What could top this?"

Happy Mother's Day to Everyone!

2010-05-08T17:12:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is Mother's Day! I have discovered over the years that it is best for me to plan my own Mother's Day. I am not feeling sorry for myself that no one really has made a fuss for me on the holiday, I am content now in knowing that I can do my own thing if I want to...and for me...it is much better if I do.

Today I baked brownies for brownie sundaes for after dinner tomorrow. I also made blueberry muffins and fruit salad for my breakfast. I then marinated chicken for the grill for dinner and invited my FIL and mom for dinner. My two sons will be here too. Since DD has to work, I delivered her some muffins and fruit for breakfast and invited her to supper! It's her very FIRST Mother's Day and I want it to be nice, considering she has to wait on everyone bringing their Mom's out to brunch!!

I am planning to sneak in a little crochet time as I try and finish an afghan for a baby gift. I ended up ditching the bridal shower afghan and buying a pressure cooker! I guess I have to finish the afghan for someone else!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow; whether you are a mom or not!!

After all, each day is a gift from God to enjoy in some way!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2010-05-05T10:39:00.001-04:00

Cinco de Mayo today! How did it become May already? How did 1/3 of the year pass by already?

Happy Earth Day or Knit from Stash Day??

2010-04-22T08:21:00.003-04:00

Even if you are not an Earth Day enthusiast, if you knit from your stash today then I think you are kinder to our planet!! Just think of the money you are saving too.

I am usually not excited about Earth Day. Over the past few years, however, I have jumped on the Earth Awareness Bandwagon thanks to my own kids involvement.

I am now recycling everything that I can possibly recycle. Guess what? I am amazed at how little 'trash' we have weekly now and how our recycling is over flowing! I can't imagine that we used to put all of that stuff into trash.

I try to buy items that are eco friendly and I try to limit my use of electricity etc. Our electric bill has gone down since I typically only wash laundry in cold water now and I use only half the amount of detergents they say.

This Earth Friendly idea has really saved me money!

What do you do for the earth or your pocketbook? Anything you can share?

Can I call it knitting? or is it crafting?

2010-04-19T07:46:00.002-04:00

We've had a busy start to my Spring vacation because my youngest, my baby, turned 21 on Friday! I am not sad at all. I am happy to move into that segment of my life where all my children are in their 20's. I've learned that my life is sectioned. There was the childhood years, then the teenage years when I met my husband, then the college and dating years, then the first years of marriage (those were tough), then the giving birth years (3 kiddos within 6 years), then the small child years, the teenager years, the college kid years, and now seems to be even best....the grandparent years but still young enough to have a life!! I have friends a little younger than me having children for the first time and I am so thankful that mine are grown. I do miss them as little ones but I guess that is how life is.

Anyway, my oldest is a funny guy. Now that he is on his own and not with his ex anymore (remember though how much I still adore her) he had to have my birthday gift shipped to his office. When he came a few weeks back for my birthday, he was apologethic because he had left it at the office where he had it shipped (as he still has no address right now).

Well, he brought it yesterday when he came for his little brother's birthday. It was something I would never purchase but always thought was cool to try. I had it on my Amazon Wish list. Which by the way is the best way to have a gift list to get things you would really really like! Anyway its Knitting Board. I loved playing with it yesterday and hope to get a few spare moments today. It is going to take a while for me to get the right tension but it is kind of fun to do something a bit different. It came with a dvd to show me how which was good because the directions were a bit difficult and I may have just packed it in the box and put it in the closet! My intentions are to make a scarf for my son.

I was playing with old fashioned Red Heart Acrylic yarn, that I usually left kids at school or my own kids play with..(I am a yarn snob at times!)...the Red Heart acrylic felt really soft when I was using it. I have a ton to use up so it will be good to use the knitting board for it.

I plan to make placemats. You can make small rugs too!

For now, I will go unplug the freezer and start the washer and spend the first day of my vacation getting some much needed housework done!!

Here we go; Spring break!

2010-04-16T14:43:00.002-04:00

A long awaited Spring Break has arrived. It couldn't come soon enough. Don't get me wrong, I feel blessed to have the time because many people with normal jobs do not get two weeks off at Christmas, one week off in February and one week off in April and then on top of that about 10 weeks off in the summer! What a racket this teaching thing is!!! You don't have to tell me that I am lucky. I know it.

I am going to try to make my to-do list short. I have some things to accomplish around my house, such as defrost the freezer, clean out the food cabinets etc. Now that I am into money saving and eat non-processed foods, these places are quickly becoming my friends and lifeline. I hope to have my grandson a bit. He started Day Care so I will have limited time with him. I have appointments to take my mom to and I hope to get a lunch with two old friends.

Other than that, I sure hope to find something to knit. I haven't been very into it with all the sadness around. I hope to find my way back.

And the Eggs were.....

2010-04-12T11:29:00.002-04:00

If anyone cares, my egg sandwich was perfect this morning for breakfast at school. I go to the gym at 5:15 in the morning and I don't get to school until 7:00. I am usually starving and have to grab something really quick. The egg, with cheese on an english muffin was perfect. I toasted the muffin last night and wrapped it in foil. I grabbed one egg square and one piece of american cheese from the fridge. When I got to school I put the egg and cheese on the muffin, wrapped it in a paper towel and microwaved for 1 minute. I then rewrapped it in the foil for a minute or two and then ate it!! Finally something to keep me full until lunch so I didn't scrounge for junk in my desk!!

I need to come up with another knitting project as I was knitting a scarf for my son's now ex-girlfriend and I just can't bear to finish it, even if it is for someone else. :-(

Bad Mom but at least I have a new breakfast egg to go recipe!

2010-04-11T16:34:00.004-04:00

My first born son has a broken heart right now and my heart is also broken. Of course you would think that I would be siding with my son, but...no, my heart want him to take his girlfriend back! What I have been told is that there was a cheating incident by his GF and it blew him away. She realizes she made a huge huge mistake. They've been together over 8 years now and currently reside together. They've been through college, her going away for 2 years for grad school, first jobs, etc.

He went to stay with friends to think it through on his mom's urging, because after all, 8 years is a long time. I told him he needed to get rid of the anger and decide if it was something they could work out or not. I didn't want him to make rash decision but now I fear it was my subconscious mind wanting him NOT to break up.

Three weeks have gone by and a few conversations and he has decided it best to part ways. I think I am suppose to hate her and be angry. My daughter is a bit tiffed at me for still liking the GF. I just can't feel angry, instead I feel the worst kind of emptiness, like someone died in our family! I feel like a traitor wishing they get back together because I still think they make a perfect match for each other. What a bad mom I must be.

I am a firm believe in things happen for reasons, but we don't usually know what they are at the time. Somehow, somewhere, something good will come of this at sometime.

I've been cooking today from a new book I purchased in order to try and eliminate processed foods in our house. The ironic thing is that the first person I wanted to share this book with is my son's GF because she is the one who got me into healthy eating and living a greener earth friendly lifestyle. She changed my outlook on so many things. I want so much to call her or email her about my eggs.

I never thought about doing this before this book but if you take 12 eggs and 2 Tbs of water for each egg, (in this case then 24 Tbs), you can bake them in a 9X13 pan that you have greased lightly at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Let them cool and then cut into 12 pieces. Wrap in plastic wrap individually and then freeze or refrigerate. Heat in microwave to put on an english muffin and add cheese if you want and you have a really really cheap breakfast sandwich!!!

A Sick Day!

2010-04-08T06:49:00.005-04:00

Today I am home sick from school. Well, not really sick like physically sick, but let's say mental health sick. There is not big news or no big reason except I needed a day to spend babysitting my grandson because he starts Day Care next week. I can't believe it! He will be 4 months next week and DD thought is was time for 2 days a week so she can finish her school for this semester. His other grandma was babysitting but every week there was always an issue and DD was left with no one. Fortunately she found a day care that she is happy with and one that has web cams. My grandson's cousins go there so she got good feedback from their mom and dad.

So.....today she needed a sitter and I needed a break from life mentally and so I am home 'sick' with my baby!!

I am posting pics of Ryan from yesterday when he was playing in his "Bounce Bounce Baby" by Brite Star. I have no idea how to get rid of the incorrect date on the camera however. These were taken 4/7/10, not in 2004!!

Also a pic of the afghan I am making for my niece's bridal shower May 1st. I fall asleep at night working on it because it is just so boring. I can't pick up any other projects though until this is done. Maybe today I will schedule some time to work on it.

We are having unusually warm weather here these past few days. What a joy it has been to sit on the screen porch again after the long winter!!

Money saving ways to use up Easter Candy!

2010-04-06T13:41:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I told you to go buy up Easter decorations but not candy! Well, now I must say, I am going to go buy some candy!! If you go here you will find suggestions for the Easter Confections that you either have leftover or you can purchase at discount prices now. I agree, a bag of chocolate chips around here is over $2.00. I think I will go look for some cheap candy to chop up instead!!

Money Saving Mom is one of my favorite websites for saving ideas! Check it out.

On the knitting front, I spent so many days getting ready for Easter that I haven't touched my knitting. I have tried to crochet some of the afghan I am trying to make my niece for her wedding shower May 1st. DH and I bought her and her fiance a set of Cutco Knives for her wedding gift. That means a really really cheaply priced Shower gift!! The pattern is the boring but easy ripple and I am using a varigated yarn. As soon as I can, I will take a pic. Now that I know how to take them and post them, I just need to do it!!

I am not feeling as sad as yesterday about my mom issues. It comes and goes. I have a feeling it is going to come a lot though as the next months advance! Thank you for listening to me. Some days I feel like a bad daughter. Since I am an only child and my dad died in 1992 and we have no other family here, it is extra hard on me. Luckily I have an awesome husband and kids and an amazing grandson. I think God gave him to me just at the right time. (Not exactly in my daughter's plans.)

Excuse the language but

2010-04-05T18:25:00.002-04:00

Alzheimer's sucks. Especially when your mom has it and it's your birthday and everyone is there showering you with cards and she has no idea it's your birthday. I would have traded all my gifts for my mom's awareness!

Post-Holiday Sales

2010-04-05T15:22:00.002-04:00

Now is the time! Time to shop for Easter 2011. You will save so much now if you buy for next year. Shop for baskets and grass and toys! Easter decorations are also on sale. Post holiday sales are not just for Christmas! This is one way that I have accumulated so many decorations over the years.

Just don't buy the marked down candy and save it until next year.

Also, make sure you remember where you stored the things for next year! There was a time I would go out and come home with great deals, only to lose them before the next year and then find them at the wrong holiday!!

Happy Easter Everyone! and Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-04-04T08:25:00.002-04:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter! As luck would have it, my birthday fell on Easter this year so I get the pleasure of prejavascript:void(0)paring Easter for 15 people!! Wahoo!

Red Sox opening night tonight and we play the Yankees! What a busy day ahead we have!!

Friday Fill-ins

2010-04-02T07:14:00.002-04:00

So, it appears I may just be getting my blogging mojo back. I haven't done Friday Fill-ins in a very long time!! Spent a great day yesterday babysitting Ryan all day because DD was stuck for a sitter. I got a great start on some Easter Surprises that put me in a festive mood. With all the stress right now in my life, I think getting back into my blog and taking a new direction should help.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today!!

1. All you need is LOVE.

2. LAUGHING CHILDREN fill me with laughter.

3. Each generation, as it grows up, HAS TO LEARN THROUGH HARD TIMES.

4. MY MOM'S ALZHEIMER'S is something I have a hard time dealing with.

5. A trip to MAINE is what I need.

6. I BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER YOU GIVE (and) you get back.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MADMEN Disc 2 Year 2, tomorrow my plans include Getting ready for Easter and maybe doing some birthday celebration for ME and Sunday, I want to ENJOY MY FAMILY ON EASTER!

Trying a new thing!

2010-03-30T16:42:00.003-04:00

So, I am going to try something new. I have not been overly faithful to making this a pure knitting blog. I have also not been overly faithful at creating the money saving blog that I wanted either. So...I am going to try and combine the two. Some may not care, some may think I am crazy, but maybe someone might find what I say interesting. I guess a blog is really for the writer, similar to a journal. It doesn't have to be read. I do hope though that you find something I say useful. I have read so many great blogs over the past two years, some of which have really transformed how I cook, shop, and budget my money. I have also read some great knitting blogs that keep me sane in my insane world.

Of course, my latest rant though is processed foods and my new obsession with trying to eliminate as many as possible from me and my family's diet. I might just have to throw in a thing or two about this.

For now, I will leave you with my latest obsession. I never pay for toothpaste! Nope... never ever ever. When my adult kids need some, they come to my closet and pick out a new tube! I do not steal it. It's called CVS Extra Care Bucks! For an excellent explanation (hey, why invent the wheel) try heading over here find out how to do this! It is addicting! and very economical. Enjoy!!

Here we go; It's a start!!

2010-03-28T13:19:00.004-04:00

So, after months of promises, it feels so good to be able to make good. Of course, these were test pictures but now that I know how, I will be posting pics a lot more!!
I just have to learn how to post a pic and put the description right next to it. For now, you can see one of these is the half finished baby sweater and a pinwheel dishcloth. Thrown in is a recent pic of Ryan of course!!

Polka Dot Blanket

2010-03-25T17:39:00.003-04:00

3 Months already! Here is one of the reasons I seem to be blogging less. I guess he's a pretty good reason! Ryan's is starting to teeth now so when I have him here I am sure that will mean more cuddling time. I forgot just how much work it is to have a little one around.

My students are in the middle of their state testing. Hopefully once that is over next week, things will slow down a bit at school (and the prep at home).

Happy Friday Everyone!!

MIA

2010-03-19T15:31:00.003-04:00

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I have posted. I have checked everyone else's blogs daily, yet have found nothing to say on mine. This being a knitting blog, and me promising knitting, how can I say anything. I now have the cord for my camera and can't figure out how to upload the pics. I am going to have to ask DH to show me. He then asks me a million questions like do I really need to do this? Hopefully I will have time this weekend do have him show me. Then there will be no stopping me! You will see pictures like crazy!

I have been knitting, quite a bit. I have a baby sweater almost finished in a beautiful apricot, pink, and yellow varigated color. I've been working on a crocheted afghan for my niece's bridal shower, and a few dish clothes for a birthday gift.

I continue to use my knitting to help keep me sane. I still miss my beloved Jake like crazy but my grandson keeps me happy when I am said about Jake. My grandson is growing fast and is three months old as of yesterday!! He officially has his first cold and is a bit miserable, along with his mum who is sick too. I've been watching him a few afternoons after school and I tell you, though I love the time like crazy, it is tiring!! He is still so small that he needs constant attention and so I have neglected many other things.

These things lead to more stress in my life because they are all things that have to do with my own mum. As you probably know from previous posts, my mom has Early On-set Alzheimer's. She is still living in her own home but it is getting really hard to let her live there. There is no way she can come move in with us. (Oil and Water do not mix well even if you shake it a ton!) I have to make sure she baths now and wears clean clothes when I take her out. Since she doesn't drive anymore (Thank God), I am the only one to take her out and I have been so bad and haven't gotten her out lately due to work and babysitting schedules. Today I had to go swipe her laundry, which by the way, she hides or throws away her clothes, so she would wear clean clothes tonight when I take her out to her bowling league tonight. (I am so sneaky!) I left her house giving her point blank directions to shower but I have a feeling as soon as I walked out she forgot. I will call her probably in about 15 minutes to remind her. Her memory is now usually about 10 minutes long, unless you ask her to tell you about something from 1958!!

Enough ranting, by the way, friends from Canada...you have one great country! Jump over to read Harlot's post about what constitutes an emergency in Canada for renewal of a passport ASAP!! Gotta love it!

How do you ladies (and gents) do it?

2010-02-18T13:30:00.001-05:00

I am amazed at all of the knitting you all accomplish! How do you do it? I am constantly taken away from my knitting by chores and routine mundane things.

Never wake a sleeping baby? and Roxio Software

2010-02-16T09:57:00.003-05:00

I have the pleasure of babysitting today and Thursday for my grandson because I have school vacation week! He arrived here this morning and all he's really done is slept. I am sooooo tempted to wake him up. I know better though so I will just sit and stare at him until he does wake up! Of course I better have a bottle ready for the second he does awaken.

I finished a few dishcloths for my husband's 90 year old aunt. Her daughters are throwing her a big party this Saturday. Thing is, what do you get someone who is 90 and has everything! She doesn't want presents but how do you go to a party without them! So.....she loves my dishcloths and that is what she will be getting. Good Lord willing she will be washing dishes for many more years!

I think I should go hunting for that camera download cord! Hopefully I will be back soon with it.

We purchased this yesterday. We've made one DVD and it looks like it is going to be a wonderful tool to have. Over the years we collected so many home videos on VHS that are becoming old and discolored. This software and connection will preserve the memories of my children growing up! I think it's worth the money for sure!!!!!

A Snow Day Without Snow??

2010-02-10T08:13:00.002-05:00

There is a big storm creeping up the East Coast toward us. All of the weather reports say we will miss the biggest part of the storm where we are and we will get between 2-4 inches. Some say 3-6. It isn't suppose to start around here until noon.

At 5:00 a.m. this morning I got a call from my school district saying there is NO SCHOOL today. How odd since it hasn't started to snow at all, and the kids only had a half-day already! We had professional development in the afternoon but that could easily be canceled without causing chaos with kids as they are going home before lunch.

So.....I am happy to have the time off, but, I don't understand. I guess it's one of those things where I'll never know the Superintendent's mindset.

I am getting to babysit this afternoon and that is exciting. DD has to work at 3:30 and her BF doesn't get home until 4:30. I get the pleasure of spending time with my grandson. Of course, I am not thrilled that I will be driving over in snow but it's only 2 miles away! I hope for DD's sake she gets called out of work though and can just stay home in the storm.

I've been knitting. I actually took a few pics this morning and if I can find the cord to my camera I am going to post the pics. I finally found the camera, now I just have to locate the cord!!

Breaking Stash Rules

2010-02-02T05:06:00.003-05:00

If you know me you know I've been knitting from Stash now for over a year! I still have 5 large plastic bins of yarn, however, I decided I needed a little pick me up. I purchased some Paton's Merino Wool on line Friday and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. It's given me my knitting mojo back!

I think I've turned the corner from grieving for me Jake to just remembering him with a smile! I still find myself talking to him or going to check on him, but it's getting easier. Of course, this little someone here is helping tremendously

Thank you to everyone who has sent me kind comments and wishes. They are truly appreciated!

Spending the afternoon with my grandson!

2010-01-27T15:31:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I think I hit my low point missing my Jake. I spent a while on the phone with a favorite Aunt in PA and I am feeling a bit better and accepting more.

Today I am lucky enough to have this little guy to keep me company!

In a Funk; partly winter; partly Jake

2010-01-26T15:52:00.002-05:00

I am having a really hard time shaking the 'funk' that I am in. I never thought I would be this sad about Jake's passing. He had a great life, we had a great life with him, and it was his time because he was old. What the heck is wrong with me?

I didn't do the laundry this past weekend so now I am scrambling mid-week. I put my knitting aside. My sewing/craft room is full of trash and junk from the family dinner on Sunday. I just sit and feel sad.

Oh, and I keep eating the most useless foods. I made Macaroni and Cheese and we ate that. I've been eating cookies, and pasta, and chocolate. Then I feel really sick. Yesterday I didn't go to the gym because I felt I deserved the morning off. Today I got up and drove half way there and DH called to say my gym bag was at home! Although I did turn around and retrieve it, the workout was useless and too short.

I've given my kids at school too much free time in the past week too! That won't teach them what they need to know for state testing in the spring! I've never been this depressed, even when my dad or my MIL passed away.

Who is this person in my body? It isn't me!

Jake

2010-01-22T17:22:00.001-05:00

Found some pictures of Jake. Haven't found my camera yet to post the knitting pics but I will this weekend I hope. I've been cleaning up the dog hair and giving away Jake's things. It is really lonely without him, but I know he had a good life and it was his time. Still hurts like crazy though.

My Broken Heart (or something we all go through when we love a pet)

2010-01-21T05:57:00.002-05:00

My heart is officially broken. Yup....no doubt about it. I just hope I can keep it together in school today because the last thing I want to do is upset my kids. They are 13 so they would be understanding but I don't want to make them sad.

My dearest friend, Jake, passed away last night at the age of 12 years, 3 months. He was a huge teddy bear of a Golden Retriever and his old body just couldn't hang on anymore. We ended up taking him to our wonderful Veterinarian's Office last night because we thought he may be in pain, even though he seemed to have lapsed into a coma.

DH and I kept remembering all things about when he was younger. Good memories helps so much! If you would indulge me so I can share a few before I head off to my classroom, it might help.

We pretty much picked "Jake" out at about 3 weeks. We visited his family a few times until we brought him home the day after Thanksgiving when he was 7 weeks old. I slept on the floor in the kitchen for about 6 weeks with him because he hated his crate. I think I was just too soft to let him cry. He was one of 10 puppies so he was lonely!

When he was in his prime, I think he logged a trillion miles on his feet walking with DH or me or my kids. He was even a jogger at one point! Two years ago he decided to stop taking those walks himself by parking his butt in the road and refusing to continue, thus turning around to walk home instead. Last summer he stayed home when we walked each night.

He loved to steal napkins! He would not take your food, but he would swipe your napkin! Jake never chewed things, but he would steal them and tease you with them. One of the amazing things he did was he was sit in the front yard and DH would throw his tennis ball over the roof of the house and he would run and get it.

He loved rides in the old truck we had but couldn't swim because he would get ear infections.

He saw us through my MIL's illness and death and through the emptying of our nest by two of our three children. He saw my husband through two job losses. He was a constant friend and companion and he did his job to the utmost best any dog could!

He will be missed but I know he had a great life! I know taking him to the vet last night was our thank you to him so he would not suffer. But why does it have to hurt so much?

I promised a picture and I will get one today!

2010-01-18T12:24:00.002-05:00

That is if I can find the camera! haha. I will though, I promise.

Okay, so it is now 5:30pm and I really have not been able to find my camera! I know where DH's is but I cannot find mine! There must be a conspiracy to keep my blog totally knit free!

3-Day Weekend

2010-01-15T17:02:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe that I have embarked on a three day weekend due to the Martin Luther King Holiday on Monday! Seems like we just got back to school! I am making it my goal to post pics of actual real knitting on Monday. I chose a sweater pattern from the ones suggested and it is coming out beautifully! I should have enough started by Monday to show!

Until then, I will practice my picture up loading skills with a picture of my 4 week old grandson! I fall in love with him all over every day I see him!

Can anyone help?

2010-01-12T15:10:00.003-05:00

As most of you know, I have been using my stash for the past year. I still have a ton of it to use! I have the most beautiful yarn. It is a soft acrylic nylon blend, perfect for a baby sweater since it will wash well, yet will be super soft. It says on the label that the recommended needle is 4mm of US 5. I have been trying to find a pattern for a simple baby cardigan. I seem to have old patterns that use fingering yarn or heavier yarns, nothing in between.

The yarn is called "Candy" by King Cole Ltd in Silsden, U.K.. It's a beautiful peach/pink/yellow varigated....I got in when my LYS was going out of business and I had over $100 in gift certificates. I got it half price.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a pattern for a baby sweater or something that I can use this yarn with? I have several balls of it. There are 320 yards on each.
I don't care if it's a pattern I need to pay for if someone can point me in the right direction. I just don't have time to search and search.

Thanks so much if anyone can help!! If not, I may just make an afghan instead.

How can it be 1/08/10 already?

2010-01-08T15:28:00.003-05:00

I find is so hard to believe that we have already surpassed the first week of the new year! Where did the time go? I know I was busy in December with a little guy who decided to take the most difficult route to be born, but come on.....we are heading toward the middle of January already. I guess that is good though since I despise winter now. There used to be a time when it didn't bother me but now I dislike being cold.

I have started two projects and am contemplating one more. My resolution was to begin the 2010 Christmas Knitting NOW and I have done that. I also have a baby gift to make before the end of March so I am contemplating casting on a sweater for the little baby girl I am gifting it to.

School started back this week and my seventh graders are having a tough time realizing that the party is over. It was a long week, though it flew by. I spent a few afternoons holding my little grandson for awhile so his mom could run errands and that made the whole world seem like a great place again!

Have a great weekend!

Look at those eyes!

2009-12-30T14:47:00.003-05:00

Darling daughter and my amazing granson!

I am on my way over to my daughter's house to bring her some groceries and see if I can get a picture of my grandson in the sweater that I made for him. I was there earlier to pick up her grocery list and she was putting it on him. Trouble was though, I didn't have my camera and I was running late to pick my mom up.

I tell you, after taking mom grocery shopping to keep her active (she has alzheimer's) I need a grandson hug to help me get back into a better mood. I get upset with my mom and then I feel so guilty because it isn't her fault she got this horrible disease!

For the first time.....

2009-12-29T08:03:00.002-05:00

For the first time that I can remember, I actually kept a New Year's resolution! Last New Year's, due to the economy, I decided to knit only from stash this past year. Combine the economy with the fact I have no time to drive the 25 minutes to Michael's since my LYS closed, it made sense. I did pretty well. I only splurged twice on dishcloth yarn to make dishcloths. Everything else I made, I made from stash. I also relearned how to Coupon shop again and I began utilizing CVS Extra Care Bucks routinely, never paying for toothpaste, etc out of pocket again!

Here we are once more...on the verge of a New Year's Eve and a brand new year! So many things have changed over the year. Last year at this time, money was a huge worry on my mind. Those damn credit card companies had me by the the you know what! I was able to pay those off with an unexpected inheritance and it made life matter again! Even though, I have maintained my frugal ways and look forward to seeing how much I can save in this new year! For the first time in probably 25 years, I had saved money for Christmas and didn't throw things on a charge card that I assumed I would pay off later.

The most unexpected event of 2009 was when we found out we were to be grandparents. It has truly been an unbelievable experience! I look forward to this first year with little Ryan.

So....my resolution for this year....I say this every year. (Just like the knit from stash one)...I am making a resolution to start NOW on my Christmas Knitting for next year. With the exception of one or two gifts that I need for a new baby in April and a Wedding in September, I am starting now so all of my significant family members will receive something hand made from me. I love the feeling of wrapping and giving handmade gifts. My family said they missed that this year. I didn't make any gifts because I kept putting them off.

I received a new sewing machine for Christmas (two actually, one from DH an one from the oldest son....I will return one today). I intend to make some sewn items also.

So....there are my resolutions...pick up the coupons again and CVS bucks and begin my Christmas List for 2010...

What will your resolutions be???

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-24T06:48:00.002-05:00

I have a quick few minutes while my crepe batter is resting! I am up early to make our traditional "Florentine Egg Cups" for breakfast tomorrow morning! With 18 people coming for dinner tonight, it will be a busy day. I figured it best to send my Christmas wishes now....so....

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you want you wished for. Most of all, I hope you are spending tonight with family or friends. I got my gift when my grandson was born 1 week ago today! He is healthy and appears to be very happy right now being spoiled by everyone. Thank you everyone for the kind words and well wishes. Being a grandma is really amazing. Watching my daughter become a mom is comforting. Now.....what should I knit next. I know now that I learned how to use the camera, my resolution will be to post my knitting pics!

I wonder if I look older?

2009-12-19T09:13:00.001-05:00

Ryan made his appearance finally by emergency C-Section after 4 days of off and on labor and 4 hours of pushing! Now they tell DD that she will never be able to deliver the old fashion way due to her bone structure. The poor little guy even had a cut on his head.

Anyway,

He is adorable, at least to me! He weighed in at 8 lbs, 9 oz and is 21 inches long! Big boy!

Mom's had a rough two days and I am on my way to sit with her for the afternoon.

I am so excited I could burst...now what to knit now!

Two Hospital Trips but No Baby Yet

2009-12-16T15:52:00.002-05:00

DD is here right now trying to occupy some time. They are inducing her on Friday at 7:00AM. She took a trip to the Dr on Monday. The doctor said she is ready to go. Baby is as low as he can get and she was already at 2 centimeters. If she hit 3, they'd break her water. She's been having contractions for days. Monday night things got rough and so Tuesday AM she called the Dr. They said to head to the hospital even though contractions were only 15 minutes apart. If she was 3 they'd break her water. Well.....she spent 4 hours at the hospital all ready to go and they sent her home because she was not at 3. On the way home, sure enough, contractions went to 7 minutes and strong. They stayed that way for hours and then....poof again! back to 15.

Today she had to head back for an ultrasound. She knows for sure he is most definitely, positively a boy. She also knows he has a big nose. (her words) She also knows everything is fine and that foot she feels has long toes under her rib cage. (she is a short girl) After the tests, back home she went. I picked her up to come over for a bit.

So....we wait some more. She is cleaning my family room right now for Christmas!

Nesting....I believe. I think I will go Knit and let her clean. After all, it would be mean to interrupt Nature.....haha

Still Waiting!

2009-12-11T17:02:00.002-05:00

Ok, so.....the doctor said any day about two weeks ago. DD is not officially due until this Sunday, Dec 13th but it appeared two weeks ago she would have that little guy any second. She's had contractions almost every night and then during the days. They get to 5 minutes apart and then...POOF.....stop!

She is now done her shopping, wrapping, done school, done work.....and waiting.

So is Grammy! Hurry up Ryan.

As for knitting, I knit up a pair of Fingerless Irish Hiking Gloves. I should make more but I am so tired at the end of the day, I fall asleep.

We made a huge mistake getting a Blue Spruce Tree this year. It is now dubbed the tree from hell in our house. No one told us the needles were like, 'Needles'. They hurt. I had to wear workgloves to decorate it. Then I got a rash all over my arms from touching it! Add to that, the trunk is too small and it fell over three times so far. I had to don the gloves and tie it to the wall, so, I got a rash again! It is beautiful though!

Today is the anniversary of our Horrible Ice Storm of last winter that left most of our area over a week without power. We also had no heat. Today there is no ice but it feels as cold.

Happy Friday!

Any day now!

2009-12-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

My daughter's doctor has said she would be surprised if she goes to her due date! The baby's head is engaged and he is just waiting there in the birth canal making it more and more difficult for his mom to walk! I made all my lesson plans for the next three weeks until Christmas break so I can call out without scrambling with plans for my classes.

Now....we wait.....for Ryan to decide to make his appearance. I would like to remind him that Santa is also waiting!

I finish a pair of socks for him and decided that as a tradition I will make something for him each Christmas. Not sure what that will be when he is 13 but I have a long long time to figure that out! This year, it is socks.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2009-11-26T09:20:00.002-05:00

I still can't believe it is Thanksgiving already! Hubby says it's because we had no summer to speak of. Anyway,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Enjoy your families and those of you with little ones, especially enjoy them even when they drive you nuts because they are underfoot while you are frantically trying to do the whole Thanksgiving meal deal. They grow soooo fast!

My Christmas knitting begins tonight.

Should I feel so guilty?

2009-11-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

I just swiped a package of frozen raw peanuts from my mother's freezer!

Ok, in most cases, this would be stealing. It would be wrong. Believe me I feel so guilty and even have heartburn right now as I tucked them under my arm and scooted out the door as quickly as possible. I just got them home and while I should just throw them out, I feel even more guilty doing that.

You may ask why did I swipe these peanuts?

Well, my mom has early on-set Alzheimer's. She is probably starting in the Moderate stages now. Miracle drugs kept her on an even keel here for a while and she even still lives in her own home. However, I am seeing a big decrease now in working memory, not just short term but the memory you need to function safely.

Christmas for my whole life until my mom's diagnosis meant homemade Peanut Brittle. She would cook it for everyone in the world. Getting her Raw Peanuts was an even that happened in early October and we had to get them from relatives in Pennsylvania because they don't sell them any where here in Massachusetts that we have found.

Last year I asked people to conveniently NOT find her any peanuts. Well, I guess well meaning relatives delivered to her door, a big bag of them. In the middle of the night one night she made her peanut brittle. It was not the same. It was too dark so she obviously didn't pay attention while boiling sugar and Karo syrup on the stove. I threw out what she sent home with me as it was not right.

She is starting her usual talk of peanut brittle and I have most family members convinced to tell her there was a peanut shortage because of the wet summer! Another lie, I know. I am afraid she will make it and burn the house down or burn herself. I know she won't wait for me to make it with her or I would. She is up all night and sleeps all day and she will definitely just go ahead and make it on her own.

SO......as I was putting her Ice cream away, I saw the bag. I didn't think, I just grabbed it and ran.

Am I being a good daughter or bad daughter right now?

Only 38 more days!

2009-11-23T09:09:00.004-05:00

No, not until Christmas, that is even less.

I find it hard to believe that it is Thanksgiving Week already here in the US. Where did the year go? I heard today that there are only 38 more days left in the year. How can this possibly be?

I guess is our haste to accomplish so many things we lose track of all time. I am thinking that I am losing track of what is important also. I feel the urge for New Year Resolutions already!! Perhaps I could make Thanksgiving Resolutions so that I am able to enjoy the upcoming holiday season fully. I have tried to slow down enough to finish a few knits for Christmas gifts. I have the second sock half finished for my new grandson. His mom said no gifts for Christmas since he will be newborn and he doesn't need anything. Now tell me how a new grandma, and a first time grandma to boot, is going to skip Christmas for her grandbaby? It isn't going to happen.

So back to resolutions......My resolution then would be to slow down. Learn to say no more. And, to find something in each day to be thankful for and not just at Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful that my school is having a H1N1 Flu clinic and my students will be vaccinated. WIth a little luck, I will be too!

Thankful Thursday

2009-11-19T17:38:00.002-05:00

I am going to jump on the Thankful Thursday Bandwagon. I read this last week on Georgi's blog and thought it was a wonderful idea. I can't believe it's been a week though already since I saw her posting!

I am very thankful for many things in my life. I am thankful that my husband and I have jobs. It is a tough time out there for many people especially with the holiday season arriving.

I am thankful for all of the bloggers who have put up with my 'non-knitting' related Knitting Blog. How many times can one person promise to figure out how to use a camera and post pics of her knitting and still have people read her blog? Thank you!

I am thankful that my mom is still with us with enough of her memory to know who we are. I am thankful she will know her great grandson before her memory slips into that Alzheimer black hole. He will be here soon so it is good timing.

I am thankful to have a job I absolutely love, even if it is sucking every last ounce of strength out of me right now.

Finally for today, I am thankful for a huge stash of yarn because I don't even have time to drive to any place to buy yarn!

Happy Thankful Thursday everyone!

Thank you all Veteran's and Military Families

2009-11-11T16:56:00.001-05:00

Thank to all of you for helping to keep America's freedoms. Whether you are a soldier, the wife or mother of a soldier, husband or father of a soldier, son or daughter of a soldier, you are appreciated!!

It's Arriving Today!

2009-11-07T13:13:00.001-05:00

While my crazy school schedule leaves me little time to blog or knit or do anything other than work and sleep lately, today is a very busy FUN day finally for me! My son is on his way to us with my Laptop! I am so excited. I can't believe how much I have missed it. After the excitement of getting it back, DH and I are going on a date! We are headed into the city for dinner and a hockey game!

I don't know how I will handle all of this in one day!

The Road to H*** is paved with good intentions!

2009-10-28T17:07:00.003-04:00

My father used to say this, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". I am beginning to think that perhaps my good intentions are not good enough! I have such good intentions. I always mean to send out those birthday cards on time. After all I buy them weeks in advance. Then the darn date comes and I don't mail them until AFTER the birthday, or anniversary or whatever.

I promised to post knitting pics. As you all know, that really hasn't happened. I have a pile of grading to do so I can post my grades this weekend. I came home intending to sit and grade. That didn't happen. I did create a new lesson for tomorrow's Reading class.

I enjoy watching the Food Network. I figure if I can get lunches made for tomorrow and the dishes cleaned up from breakfast etc, I can give myself a half hour before supper. Well, that didn't happen. I am forever intending to do things. I have a to-do list a mile long. I have drapes for every room in my house to winterize and they are mostly still in the boxes.

What is wrong with me!! Someone at school today said that dreaded "M" word. Afterall, I am at that age and having those darn hot flashes. Could my brain be mush because of dare I say Menopausal symptoms?? I guess it sounds better than blaming it on laziness.

I hope you are all accomplishing things! I only seem to be accomplishing nothing and I seem to do it well. Calgon.....

I cannot believe it is October 16th! and lack of motivation

2009-10-16T15:54:00.003-04:00

I knew that not having my laptop would hinder my ability to get on a computer and check my favorite blogs. However, I didn't realize just how busy I would be with my job also that would keep me away so long.

My son continues to work on my computer and may have it fixed. We have already decided to start shopping to get one AFTER Windows 7 comes out if he can't fix my old one. I've been knitting away and just when I finally get my own camera and learn how to put on pics, I don't have my laptop. So...once again, I have a broken promise with regards to knitting pics. I am making it my priority once I get up and running again on a routine basis.

I've been knitting for my grandson. I made a hat and mittens for him to wear in December and probably through the winter. I have two sweaters finished and a hat and two pair of booties. I crocheted a blanket in the colors of the nursery. Right now I am knitting mittens for my daughter. She was happy with the ones for "Ryan" but then told me she didn't have any of her own....so, I led her to the stash bin and she picked out a wool and that's what I am working on now.

That is...when I don't fall asleep from exhaustion!

I am still hitting the gym most mornings before school at 5:20AM. I love it actually except I do tend to take Friday mornings off. The problem is by 8:00 I am wiped. I love it though. My clothes fit better and I feel physically better than before.

I still have my mom in her own home so that is a lot more work. But, I want to keep her there as long as possible. She is starting to do weird things though so I don't know how long that will be. She insists on filling every grape juice jug up with water and putting it in her fridge now after she finishes the juice. When I told her I had to empty some (there were 10 last week) she was not happy. I told her that if I didn't empty any then I couldn't buy her more juice!

School this year is so busy. There are just so many more very needy kids. I am trying to reinvent lessons to try and get kids motivated and it is taking so much time. They still look at me like I am crazy. I want them to learn what they need to and I really put my heart and soul into teaching. Every year though it seems more and more kids come in and could care less. Their parents don't care either. There is NO motivation anymore just to do well.

Well......I am not going to be doom and gloom on a Friday. Hooray for Friday and Chinese food for supper. After taking mom to bowl and returning her home for the evening, I may just get a chance to knit before my eyes shut!

A Welcome Shower and a broken Laptop

2009-09-28T17:03:00.002-04:00

I have been soooo busy lately with school and getting ready for my daughter's baby shower! I am happy to report that the shower was a huge success yesterday and I took a suggestion for a fellow knitting blogger and had a decorating party! I prewashed 26 bibs and 50 t-shirts of various sizes from onesies to pullovers etc. I then used a giftbag for each center piece with a poem written on the side of the bag. Inside the bag were fabric markers, card stock inserts and the t-shirts and bibs. While guests awaited DD's arrival, they began to decorate their products. We designated a table for drying and showing off and what fun we had!!! I had the caterer serve cheese and crackers and fruit with coffee and punch right off the bat. They continued to work on them throughout the afternoon in between two games of baby shower bingo and a chance to guess at how big DD's belly was! (38" was the answer) Once all of the gifts were opened there was a light lunch of salad rolls, salads, and cake! Of course there was too much so we had to call the guys, (Great Grampa, Grampa to be, and the Uncles) to come eat. In return we had THEM load the cars with all the loot.

Today I ran right over to her apartment after work to see all of her gifts since I was too busy playing hostess yesterday. Sadly I didn't get a picture of the sweater I made. Just as well because Saturday my laptop decided it had lived out it's life to the fullest and quietly passed away in the night. My oldest son came home and tried to revive it but to no avail. So, it is now in Boston with him so he can back up my harddrive and have it ready when I get a new one. DH and I talked and it won' t be until November because I am going to wait for Windows 7 to come out and I am looking for a Black Friday deal!! For now, I have to suffer through the next two months using DH's slow ancient desktop and it's going to be tough. Real tough. But they say things like this make us stronger! ha ha. I can't believe how much stuff I had on my laptop!

BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS TO A THUMB DRIVE TODAY PEOPLE!

Really, I always said I was going to do it but I never did it!

Here's to hoping all of you are well and I hope to find links to your blogs. I have a few on my favorites scroll but there were so many more I am going to miss!

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T06:23:00.002-04:00

Today is a solem day in the USA. Today we all remember eight years ago, at 8:46am. I am thinking about the families who lost loved ones and hoping they have found some sort of peace and have been able to carry on their lives. I don't know how I could have. Toby Keith's song that says we took a "sucker punch" really sums it up. I don't think we will be sucker punched again. God Bless our Military as they perform their jobs!

We all must always remember 9/11

My blogging mojo has been gone for a bit because I have been sooooo busy with starting a new school year, planning a shower, and my daughter has been sick. She contracted the flu and was very ill last week. She had to keep checking for a temperature. She had the sore throat and the body aches. She could barely move. She has asthma so she was wheezing. Not a good thing when you are 6 months pregnant. She ended up in the hospital for one night and is now on the road to recovery, thank God. The baby is fine and I am thankful for that too. In fact, he is strong because last night she told me she feels like she has a bruised rib from his kicking her all the time in that spot!!

44 New Ones Arrived Today!

2009-08-26T16:24:00.002-04:00

I have been really busy since my last post weeks ago getting ready for a new school year. The change from not working to working again has been a hard one this summer for me. I really enjoyed the not working days. I started back on Monday with two days of meetings etc and working in my classroom. Today 44 new kids arrived on my team. Don't worry, I do not have all 44 in one class. These are the kids on my team that are split up between me and another teacher.

This was the best "First Day" of school I've every worked. The schedule went pretty smoothly. This is the honeymoon period however. Those of you that are teachers know what I mean. The kids are excellent for a week or two until their true colors shine through!! lol

My baby shower preparations are almost finished. I just have a few more things to do before the end of September. I've been working on a sweater set and have the booties to knit. Then I will look for some other sweater or maybe a winter hat for my little grandson.

The hurricane missed us here and we had nothing but excruciatingly hot weather. Today it finally broke and I feel a cool breeze on my back porch! Yipee.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the last times of summer!

Summertime and the livin is easy!

2009-08-10T06:38:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted. I haven't worked on much of anything with regards to knitting. I did work some on a baby blanket for our new little one. We got back Saturday from our annual vacation in York Beach, Maine. Those of you that read about last year's vacation will remember that it rained every day last year. At one point there was even a leak in our ceiling in our apartment and ceiling tiles came crashing down!

This year the weather was perfect! One foggy day but no rain to speak of. The remaining six days were full of sunshine. The biggest decision each day was between sitting under the umbrella, outside the umbrella, or with our chairs in the water! Coming back to reality is a tough one! We were exhausted from doing nothing, which I guess means, the less you do, the more you want to do less!

Now, I am trying to catch up laundry, get the house in order for school coming up (8/24), and finalize plans for that baby shower the end of September! I am actually on my way into school today to work for awhile in my new classroom.

I am hoping to start a sweater tonight for little 'Ryan'. I've been working on a crocheted blanket and am missing the knitting needles in my hands! One of the to-do things on my summer list was to get to know how to use my camera to post pics. I promise, I really do, to do that before I start back to work.

Happy Monday!

It's a Boy!

2009-07-28T17:02:00.003-04:00

Today would have been my dad's 75th Birthday. I miss him terribly since he passed away in 1992. Today was the day also that my daughter had to go to have tests done on her baby. I knew that Dad would watch over his granddaughter and his great-grandchild and he did.

The sophistated ultrasound revealed that the little guy has no signs of any spinal abnormality. His heart looks great, all four chambers. His brain is right on track for 20 weeks. He has 10 fingers and 10 toes and 2 arms and legs. He has a cute little nose!

They did say that he is still at risk for Downe's Syndrome. I guess now it is 1 in 400. DD opted NOT to have the amnio. Which is fine with me since it is invasive and could cause problems on its own. At this point, we are very happy campers!

SO.....now I can start knitting for a BOY!

You would think that I would learn my lesson the first time!

2009-07-24T08:14:00.002-04:00

If you read what I ramble on about, you probably know that I feel I am a positive, glass half full person. However, occasionally I seem to lose that confidence and start to get mad over trivial things. God, however, slaps me in the face to get my temper tantrum back under control.

The first thing that I have been angry about is the rain. Oh the rain.....It absolutely POURED for hours here last night into this morning. While the sun is trying to come out, the air is cold and you can swim in our backyard. We can't even go sit by the fire out back because it is so soggy previous rain. The garden is a bust. Either the seeds rotted or the sun never comes out to grow the tomatoes. Also, there are a lot of different bugs this year and they ate almost all of my flowers! Unbelievable.

The second thing is I have a new boss at work, a new principal who is coming in with changes in mind (most are great and needed). She has decided to back a plan by the Asst. Principal to move several classrooms around. We are basically playing move one room over all around the hallway! It makes no sense. NONE......so after 8 years in my room that I loved and had just about perfect now for me and my seventh graders, I have to move! After a sort of argument with the custodians over who is responsible to move my things, with the Principal intervening, I was moving my personal items when the call came from my daughter.

SLAP........

Her tests came back abnormal and they need to send her to Worcester to further testing. The test is the blood work she agreed to have tested for birth defects etc. She is 20 weeks along and has no plan to terminate the pregnancy but she wanted to be sure her baby was ok. The test can show false positives and that is why she is being sent to a larger hospital with highly sophisticated ultra sound equipment and amnio read if she needs it (agrees to it). I neglected to let her know that I had a brother born before me who died at 7 months that had Downe's Syndrome. I didn't want to worry her even more, so as usual mom takes on the stress. I don't think that it would be an inherited defect though.

I left my room to return in August after my week in York, Maine. I left 'stuff' behind and if I have to move it, so be it. (after all, I have a job that I love....why should I complain)

Slap.....

I need to follow my own words of advice, Stop, Breath, and Knit.

Summer Perhaps

2009-07-16T07:58:00.003-04:00

I must say I have been enjoying my time off from teaching this summer. Well, the caledar says summer but it doesn't feel too much like it. I am, however, appreciating every second of the time off but also every second we see some sun! Today we are getting humidity finally but it is going to be gray and thunderstorm with it. The nights have been in the 50's. Some nights have been down to 48. Thus, no growing Gardens here, at least no tomatoes!

I am finally almost done with the market bag for my SIL's birthday next week and then it's all Baby Knitting Baby! I finally got enough cleaning done here that I was able to justify gathering all of my yarn stashes around the house and I sorted all of it. I have enough baby yarn to make a ton of items for this new little baby that will join us in December. I also can make enough socks to put socks on everyone I think in the town I live in. I have enough Cascade 200 (is that what it was?) to make winter hats and scarves and mittens for at least 20 people!

I must say, my vow to banish myself from buying yarn was justified!

The only yarns I need now are pretty bright cotton colors to make some baby washcloths. My DD wants bright colors such as primary colors for her baby. She doesn't want pastels so......I have one excuse to at least buy some!

I could be quarrantined to my home and I would be all set for a year with all the yarn and needles I have!

Does anyone have any suggestions for quick knit baby items?

Happy Thursday!

Shower Questions

2009-07-09T09:01:00.002-04:00

We actually had 4 days without rain over the long 4th of July weekend. Lately we've returned to the weather pattern of rain everyday again. I guess this could be the summer that wasn't. I have a friend who just returned from visiting family in Ireland and she said it was 80 degrees there. Very unheard of in Ireland this time of year. Perhaps Global Warming is switching weather patterns on the continents??

I am almost done with the market bag for my SIL's birthday in two weeks. Then it will be knitting for baby....

DD used a test kit called "Intelligender" this morning for fun to see what it says. She will of course go for her ultra sound in a few weeks and if the baby cooperates she will find out then for sure(or almost for sure!). The test was similar to a preganancy test and it claimed she is having a little boy. We got a little laugh from it and now will wait and see. If anything, it was fun to do.

Besides summer cleaning I have been Baby Shower Planning. I am wondering if anyone out there has any ideas for any games or favors or invitations.

My son's girlfriend and I are making favors and so far right now we are thinking of making "cupcakes" with (blue or pink) frosting and placing them in a wrapping with a thank you for coming note. My question is, do you think that will be good? Neither of us want to buy something that is just going to be thrown away! and we want to save money. Cupcakes are cheap to make. Then we thought about filled canning jars with cupcake mixes and directions and cupcakes papers and then we will raffle them off. They would be on the tables with corresponding blue or pink ribbons and garnishments. How does that sound?

I like practical things, not things that are just "Stuff". (We thought of the cookie route but there won't be enough time for making cookies. ) So, would this be different and cute or different and dumb? I value your opinions out there!

Any other suggestions I will gladly take.

"I woke up in Sun (love) this Morning!"

2009-07-03T11:56:00.002-04:00

I could not believe my eyes when I awoke this morning. The Sun was beaming through my windows. I am still in awe of it all! There are clouds now since it is afternoon but the sun still shines through every now and then. Even the dog was looking for sun spots to lay in!

Last night I had on socks, long pants, a heavy bathrobe and was still cold. Not quite right for July! I just got back from my July 4th shopping for tomorrow and everyone everywhere is talking about the sun!

Happy 4th of July to all my US friends.
Happy belated Candada Day to all of my Canadian friends.

Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day"

2009-07-02T08:42:00.003-04:00

Again I awoke to thunder and rain. It is now pouring so hard I can hear the rain without my windows open. July 2nd and all the windows are closed! This never happens here in July. Last night I had on my late fall, early spring PJ's with warm slipper socks.

We did see sun yesterday. We saw it from 6:10pm to about 7:00. Right after we decided not to go out and walk and so we started grilling turkey burgers. After we ate, the sun left again and that was all we got.

In the fall I teach a short story unit and one of the author's is Ray Bradbury. We read his short story, "All Summer in a Day". It's about a girl that lives on Venus and the sun comes out for a short short time every seven years. It pours the rest of the time.

Now I know how Margot feels!

I did abandon the Market Bag to knit a pair of booties. I am almost done with the second one! It will be finished this morning.

The things that mulitply in the fridge

2009-06-30T09:24:00.002-04:00

How can I have 3 openned jars of pickles, 3 openned bottle of bleu cheese dressing, 2 open bottles of ceasar dressing, 2 open jars of relish......

No wonder there is no room to put any new groceries in the fridge.

Today, it all goes!

And another year is over!

2009-06-29T15:04:00.001-04:00

Those of you that know me, know that my New Year's starts the end of August when I head back to a classroom full of new faces! Today marks the end of another year. I will have 7 1/2 weeks now to recuperate and tackle the extremely lengthly to-do list that I have accumulated when everything was pushed to "I'll do it in the summer!". I am not complaining, I do realize how lucky I am to have 7 1/2 weeks off from work......

Oh the knitting projects that are filling my head....I plan to make a sweater set for DD as well as at least one afghan. I also have quilt squares all cut out purchased on Ebay to sew up a colorful baby quilt. I would like to make extra booties or socks to keep my winter grandbaby warm, as well as, finish the outfit I started. First I am plugging away at the market bag for my SIL's birthday in July. Once that is done....watch out because it will be Baby knitting only around here!

I guess I will start off my summer by making a pot of iced tea. I make it in my drip coffee maker. I put the tea bags instead of the coffee and brew it like that! I used to have an "Iced Tea Maker" but who needs the extra appliance on the counter when this works. Then I check out the gym's website and see about signing up for the summer........no excuses now! Have to keep my knitting hands and arms in shape!

Happy Monday!

This is why the world is in trouble....what do you think?

2009-06-25T16:48:00.003-04:00

Ok, I am a teacher and a mother. I work with some excellent teachers. We all teach seventh grade and the students are all 13 by this time of the year. We struggle with students coming to us with a lack of morals and values each year. It seems to get worse each year. Just a week ago, after a seventh grade honors lunch...I repeat, Honors Lunch, one of my students was walking out with a centerpiece that held balloons. I told him that I was sorry but he could not take the centerpiece because we reuse them each year, but he could take the balloons. His mother came over and asked me what my problem was. I explained that we reuse these pieces each year for many school functions. She sighed and said she thinks the kids should get to take them home and she walked out. This child was not doing anything wrong in his eyes because he was taught that this was ok by mom.

Fast forward a week later. You know it's been raining non-stop for weeks. We realized we had a lot of money left over in our treasury from our fundraiser because of a theatre cancellation in May. We decided to take the kids to the movies. The whole grade, (115 kids), would get a movie, a soda, and a popcorn for FREE. Yes, this would take place on our Field Day day so we would not even miss academic classes...The principal thought it was a great idea. He approved a PG-13 movie as long as the kids had permission slips signed that parents knew it was PG-13. The kids are all 13 but we wanted to inform parents. We checked reviews but there weren't too many since it was a new movie. The principal was offered "UP" which was PG but he figured they'd all seen it and since they were all 13, with permission slips it would be a nice end of year treat.

We got into the movie and about 1/2 way through it decided to stop the movie. The 8 adults chaperoning took a stand that this was in no way appropriate for the kids. Way too much sexual inuendos for even 17 year olds. The teachers all agreed and we took this stand and the movie theatre manager was great and put on a different movie. We only got to see 1/2 of that movie but we got to see some of it.

We got complaints. We expected complaints. We expected parents to be up in arms that there were too many sexual inuendos in the movie. But.......guess what?

That is not why they complained. They complained because their kid didn't get to see the whole movie and they signed the permission slip for a whole movie!!!!!!
(they didn't pay for anything)

It doesn't matter that it was inappropriate for them. It doesn't matter that we used our best judgement and stopped the movie. no, they wrote letters complaining we took away their field day and showed them only 1/2 a movie!!!!!

so...what do you think?

What is that bright spot in the sky?

2009-06-25T15:28:00.003-04:00

I cannot believe that the sun is out! I can't even complain about the humidity because I am so happy to see sunshine. I am also remembering the freezing ice storm last December that has kept us in school until next Monday. So as far as I am concerned, bring on the sun and humidity.

Although I do think it's time to put in my AC in my bedroom.

We had a rainy getaway to York Beach just like I thought. On our way there Thursday is was gray. We stopped in Hampton Beach to see the start of the Master Sand Castle competition. I had never seen anything like it before. After a short time there we continued up 1A on the coast until we got into York. First stop....of course, "When Pigs Fly" Bakery. The best bread ever!

We got to our hotel and it started to pour. And pour it did until Friday night. Friday we shopped the Kittery outlets for shoes and running shoes for me. I found some new Nike's for running but no shoes for school this fall. I also found an Osh'Kosh Outlet but we decided to wait until our trip up in August when we know what the darling grandchild will be....well, is since it already is a boy or girl we just don't know it yet. We returned to our hotel and I watched the stormy ocean. We also went to Nubble Light and watched the storm there with our raincoats on. I knitted and read.

The sun came out while we walked to dinner. We had certificates for dinner. We each could order $25 for free. I had twin lobsters and muzzles! Yum-O.

Saturday was pretty nice. We drove up Mt. Agamenticus and watched some of an "Aggieman Race". (running up the mountain). I didn't join in with my new running shoes. Infact, I have not become to run yet!

We headed back to Hampton and caught the all most finished sand castle projects. Amazing. We sat near the water for a couple hours and headed home. All in all, it was a good trip despite the rain. I am so used to rain when we go anyway, that I am not shocked or disappointed anymore. each time we go I ask myself why we don't go there more often or even move there.

As for the knitting, I gave the baby set away and the mom to be loved it. Now I am finishing a market bag for my SIL and then, then it will be baby knitting all the time!!

Now let's do the happy sun dance!