This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Wonder

Some days I wonder why I do some of what I do.  Is there happiness in the process or is it just routine?  Is it even important.  I think that once your children are older, and don't need you as much, it's not uncommon for women to question their purpose.  Am I only here for a meal...a paycheck...a clean house? Is what I'm doing even matter anymore? What is the purpose?

I know some of my younger friends don't understand this feeling so much.  They are young and so full of life and adventure...it's all starting for them. They are looking for that special someone or waiting for that child they've always wanted or raising the little ones they already have.  The are just discovering their purpose.  What happens when that purpose changes?

That's where I find myself now.  Trying to figure it all out again.  Wondering...or wandering...not sure which.  So much of my adult life has been for my children, and let's face it, I'm pretty much done.  Not quite, but mostly.  That leaves a hollow spot.  It's a bit sad and exciting at the same time.  Now I get to do for me.  Does that sound selfish? Oh, I hope not.

So this season, possibly my favorite of seasons, brings change in the world around us.  A beginning of dormancy and hibernation for some.  Hopefully it will be the beginning...an awakening of sorts. Maybe I'll finally get to decide who I want to be when I grow up.

Poor Kitty...

Hello all.  This week has not started out well.  My poor Smokey appears to have a bladder infection.  Evidently, this is not uncommon for a cat that has had urinary tract crystals.  He doesn't appear to be in pain, but since I took him to the vet's office this morning, I'm sure he won't be happy with me later today.

I awoke this morning to the smell of the heater working for the first time this season...you know, the burnt dust smell?  I know that if the heater has kicked in, then the tempuratures have gone below fifty degrees.  This meant I was able to pull out one of my favorite cardigans and my boots....

I live in these babies throughout the cooler months.  They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable things I can wear on my feet.

I know I've said it before, but I am so ready for fall! In anticipation of the cooler temps, I bought some stew beef last night.  I will be making beef tips and gravy for dinner tonight...yum!  Good ol' comfort food.

You know you've found kindred spirits when everyone responds so positively to a fiber festival!

The countdown is officially on. This is an app I have on my phone so that I always know "how much longer."  We've been making grocery lists and issuing last minute invitations.  Our attitude is the more the merrier.  So hang in there, I'll be back with a more interesting post tomorrow!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Wow...just wow.

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Things to Come

I have so enjoyed seeing the fall weather emerge everywhere with everyone's posts.  I am a fall/winter kind of gal.  I love the smells of change that come with the fall...the crispness and the eventual slow down that comes with winter. I so look forward to the burrowing in. No one looks at you cross eyed when you are working on woolen wear when it's 40 degrees or below. And of course, there is also the wearing of said woolens.  There is such a joy in being toasty warm in something of your own making...or better yet, seeing your loved ones wrapped up in a hand made hug.

The leaves are changing and the temps are dropping....and the countdown is on.  For the next 35 days you will get to hear me wax poetic with anticipation for the adventures known as SAFF - Did you hear that Biscuits?!?!! 35 Days!!!  A weekend of wine, food, chocolate, fiber and friends...it doesn't get much better than that I tell you. Throw on top of all that, there is an amazing shoe warehouse that totally ROCKS!

Thanks to my wonderful family and a perfectly timed birthday, the trip is now paid for and I have spending money...a generous amount. But I will still be scrimping and saving because there is never enough money for this experience...Hello? Yarn AND shoes...ahem....it's a girl's version of heaven.

I hope I don't bore you with the details.  If I do, just contact Car Guy...he will be in total sympathy with you...if he can unglaze his eyes and bring his brain out of the coma I've put him in....Bless his heart.

Continuing Celebrations!

Thank you all for your birthday wishes!  I particularly like that Steph thinks I should celebrate all month long....who am I to argue? She's a very smart lady.  I just wanted to pop in and show you what arrived from California yesterday....In one piece I might add...

Isn't it gorgeous?  My dear sister sent it to me for my birthday.  She also admitted that she gave it a test drive....you know, just to make sure it worked and she can happily say that it kept the kitty hair off her yarn.  However.....

The same can't be said for me.  The funniest part is that the kitty hair on the yarn belongs to her cat Piggy!  It came all this way just for me.  Piggy wanted to be part of the celebration as well.  Works for me!

{Magic of the Mundane}

Today, I am joining Sofia over at Sofia's Ideas for Magic of the Mundane. I so love this idea because it totally falls in line with my desire to get back to simple. It can be a picture, a poem or song, a short video or anything else that celebrates the Magic. So often, we get caught up in "where we're going" that we forget to look at the beauty of "where we are."

Birthdays

This past Friday, I celebrated my forty-fourth birthday.  

And as birthdays go, it was pretty good.

I had a wonderful dinner with my family prepared for me by my Sainted Mother.  In my forty-four years, she has NEVER missed a birthday....ever. There were tons of birthday wishes from friends and family and even a phone call from New Orleans from Annie and Suz...love you guys! On Sunday, my Dad came up and took me, Car Guy and Number Two Son to lunch.  We had a lovely time.  And even though Number One Son couldn't be there, he didn't forget me.  I think this is possibly my most favorite facebook post ever.

It really is the simple things that make a birthday grand!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Frank, my Sainted Mother and Me!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Visiting Santiago

I'm finally getting around to showing you some of Car Guy's pictures from Santiago Chile. We'll start with the view out of his window...

As I said in a previous post, those are the Andes Mountains in the back ground.

 

There is color all over the place..the buildings, outdoor art...

 

 

 

 

He also got to visit some beautiful spots.

Postcard pretty.

And some very dry places.

Hi Car Guy!  Doesn't it look like he's photoshopped into the picture!

And this wouldn't be a trip by Car Guy if there wasn't....

A car.

 

He has so many more pictures. These are just the highlights. There were dogs everywhere, but they were sweet, tame ones.  He was at an outdoor restaurant and one just walked over and curled up at his feet, under his chair. And of course there was food...tons of food.  If facebook was any indication, all he did was eat while he was there...that and have a few beers.  All in all though, the trip was a success.

 

I'm waiting for him to download his pictures from Dubai.  We might not be able to go on the trips with him, but we should be able to enjoy them all the same.  Don't you agree?

{Magic of the Mundane}

Today, I am joining Sofia over at Sofia's Ideas for Magic of the Mundane. I so love this idea because it totally falls in line with my desire to get back to simple. It can be a picture, a poem or song, a short video or anything else that celebrates the Magic. So often, we get caught up in "where we're going" that we forget to look at the beauty of "where we are."

Connections

This weekend was all about connections for me, of the family kind.  My lovely cousin Katie was married on Saturday - to her high school sweetheart - after a long separation.  They went their separate ways for college and lost touch.  He married someone else, had children, and things didn't work out. Move forward to present day and facebook and who reconnects?  Yup.  And the magic was still there.  It's just so sweet...connections.

The beautiful couple!

Katie is my cousin from my maternal Grandmother's side of the family.  We actually only met a few years back.  My Grandmother was one of ten (yes I said ten) children, so the cousins got a bit scattered.  This weekend, I met more cousins.  Maybe we'll get to know each other, maybe not.  But it's nice to know they're out there...connections.

I also thought it was pretty neat that I was down there for a wedding on my mother's side of the family, but I stayed in a house that belonged to my paternal Grandparents...connections. 

As I was getting ready, I was texting with my sister...the conversations we have...

Yes, I admit it. I wore a girdle shape wear. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. 

But this text is just part of that connection.  My sister and I spent many summer weeks at this house. We searched for shells and sand dollars, played cribbage, went fishing, built houses out of cards, played board games and probably drove each other nuts.  But I look around this house and I remember.  And I smile. And I know that I am the sum of the parts that these connections make and they enrich me and make me whole.

I returned home yesterday to Car Guy.  He's home from Dubai.  He had a wonderful trip, but is glad to be home again.  And I'm glad to have him home...connections.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Oh, this boy makes me laugh!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Bits of Dubai

So, in great space cadet fashion, I didn't get to writing about Car Guy's photos from Chile....slacker, I know.  And, of course, all the photos are on the home computer, so....you have to wait to see them.  I thought that I'd try to appease you with a few pictures from Dubai that he as shared with me.

The buildings there are so unique and impressive.  I'm sure you've all seen the building that looks like a giant sail from a boat.  I have it on good authority (cause he looked it up not because he's staying there) that it is a 7 (that's right SEVEN) star hotel. The only one in existence. Go check it out - it is insane and G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S! The one that Car Guy is staying at is nice though. It has a roof top pool.

See...told you.  This is Car Guy trying to make me jealous....I think it's working.  Seriously though, how pretty is that?  I hope he remembers to take pictures of his hotel room.  I have to live vicariously through him and appreciate the luxury from afar...sigh.

And now, what you've all been waiting for....it really does exist....drum roll please.....

Ski Dubai. That's right folks...they have a ski slope inside. You know, so the snow won't melt in the desert. It really does just boggle my mind. 

Well, hope you enjoyed those.  I'll try to get myself organized (HA!) and maybe next week I'll do a Chile via Dubai post?  Thoughts?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Various Sundry Items

So you all know that Car Guy spent a couple of weeks in Chile.  He came back tired but very enthusiastic. He said that the area is beautiful and the people are friendly....I'll show you pictures in the next post.  This post is about the loot...some of it anyway. Just a few photos.  I'm afraid my model was studying for his AP American History test (yes, a test the second week of school!) and was unavailable.

Can you say yummy, soft, and warm?  I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly what it is because Number One Son has not received his yet. I don't want to spoil the surprise because you know he checks my blog on a daily basis just to see what his crazy old mother is up to....NOT. But you see, I've been picking on him and told him he had to come home and visit his crazy old mother in order to get his gift - bribery, it's a wonderful thing.  AND I didn't tell him what the gift actually is.  I just told him it was from San Pedro, De Atacama....say it five times fast, just so I can giggle. Anyway, it's driving him nuts.  I don't know how to take pictures of our text conversations, but they are pretty funny.  You just get "the typed by me" version....

First text conversation:
Crazy Old Mom: Miss you
Number One Son: I miss y'all too. I might come home within the next 3 weeks
(Crazy Old Mom does really scary happy dance here)
Crazy Old Mom (totally blase here): Cool.  Look forward to it.  Your dad brought you something back from Chile
Number One Son: What is it
Crazy Old Mom: It came from San Pedro Deattacoma
Number One Son:  Okay what is it
Crazy Old Mom: De Atacama...THAT is the correct spelling...not telling, but I know you will love it.
Number One Son: Oh Okay haha.

A couple of days later, the second text conversation:
Number One Son: Where did you say my gift from dad was from?
Crazy Old Mom: San Pedro, De Atacama
Number One Son: Can you tell me what it is?
Crazy Old Mom doesn't answer at which point she becomes Mean Crazy Old Mom...it's the simple things in life that give me pleasure.

He also brought me back some yummy, soft, snugly, alpaca wonderfulness....

It looks a little abstract, but it is actually a wrap made with the softest of alpaca wool.  And it is warm!  I put it on in our lovely 90 degree weather....for about five seconds.  I didn't want to spontaneously combust and ruin it. I have a pretty good idea that once the weather starts cooling off, it will get a lot of use.

He also brought back a really neat hand crafted miniature of one of the buildings.  It's really cool and even has a working street light....and I forgot to take a picture of it.  I'll do that and show it with some of the pictures that Car Guy took.

On the knitting front, I've been experimenting.  Since I have total control of the TV right now, I've been in total girl bliss by watching Season Two of Downton Abby and knitting - yes, I'm a little behind.  I think I'm half in love with Mr. Bates....don't know why, but I am.  Here are a couple of pictures..of the knitting, not Mr. Bates:

I'm not going to tell you what it is...I'll leave you with a little mystery.  Because I've been playing with this, I'd rather show you the finished product, once I've figured everything out. And maybe, by then, my model will be available...since he does such a fine job. Let me know what you think it is...

Long Weekend!

The amazing Blue Moon...so beautiful!

Hello all!  Hope you doing well and enjoyed your long weekend.  Ours was kind of quiet.  Car Guy came home Friday after spending two weeks in Santiago, Chile.  He was tired and glad to be back.  However, cause you know there is one, he hopped on a plane again yesterday and I am happy to say he's safely landed in Dubai....that's right, I said Dubai.

So my weekend was spent with my man.  Running errands, watching the Formula One Race (why is everyone ignoring Mark Webber?  I know I can't. Ahem..shameless, I know), text conversations with Number One Son and general quite time around the house with Number Two Son. All so that the poor man could recover. Talk about tired!

I'll show you all the cool stuff he brought back tomorrow...the dear man does know what I like.