This and That

 Happy Saturday everyone!  I wanted to show you a picture of my early Mother's Day and Birthday present.  A new bike.  I just love it.  It is a big, heavy, three speed. 

 It has this very fun basket I can carry all my knitting and crocheting in.  I filled it with knitting magazines and delivered them to my friend Cathy's house on my first ride.

 And look at this, it has a bell!!!!  My oldest son thinks I look a, "bit like a loser" on it, but I just think he is jealous.  Because it is purple, cute and it moves slowly.  When I ride it time slows down, and that is something I love.  I had forgotten how much you notice when you are on a bike just riding for the fun of riding, not racing or exercising, just riding.  Yesterday, I saw a blue heron catch a fish, a hawk on a lamp post, and an older man pull his car over to rescue a turtle.  I saw the beautiful green leaves against a brilliant blue sky, and two squirrels running around playing with each other.  I plan to get in some nice  rides before it gets way too hot and humid here.

I just finished the most wonderful book and I would like to recommend it to all of you.  It is called A Gift of an Ordinary Day, by Katrina Kenison.  It is available through Amazon.  This is a true story of a wonderful woman with two teenage boys, (this I can relate to), transitioning into her midlife.  Watching these boys getting ready to leave her, and questioning who she is now that they are growing up.  This isn't a book for  mothers only, we all are transitioning through the stages of our lives.  Change is happening all the time, and I think that Katrina Kenison helps to find the beauty, peace and gratitude in the every day aspects of our lives.  For some reason this book is staying with me even after I have finished it several days ago.  That tells me that it really hits home, so read it if you can, you won't be disappointed.  See what not knitting or crocheting is doing to me, it is making me read and now write up a little book recommendation.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts on my oldest son, and on my wrists.   He has decided to join the swim team where his high school coach is.  She is a wonderful woman and frankly kicked his butt in practice last week.  He is sore, tired, and happy that the decision has been made.  He seems lighter, if that is possible for a brooding 17 year old.  We won't be spending 3 hours in the car a day to get to Sarasota, so that is a huge relief to me.  I know this sounds bad and I don't mean it to, but I think a woman will help to heal him.  Men, bless them, just don't get it most of the time.  A woman does, and she will try to help heal him on every level, then he can move on, and believe in himself again.  As for my wrists we are making progress.  No tingling today, but also no knitting or crochet.  I am giving it a few more days before I start back slowly.  Surgery is not an option yet.  I need my hands to work with the babies I have, they need help more than I do.

My oldest also let me pick up his very lovely girlfriend and bring her to a swim meet this morning.  This must be serious as I had to be in the car with her for 45 minutes, alone.  She is adorable, and they are just so sweet looking at each other, chatting, and laughing.  He is in Heaven, and it appears she might be, too.

And look what I found today in my garden.  The first gardenia of the year.  I promise I won't go all gardenia crazy on you this year.  But remember they are my favorite flower, and I have 6 bushes of them, and I look forward to this time of year when they bloom, and my house is filled with their beautiful scent.  So I might go a little crazy.

Have a wonderful weekend.