Good Bye 2012

   

My last post was about how hard it is to say good bye.  I find it ironic that I have no problem at all saying good bye to the year 2012.  I have been so stressed out and worried this year. I have found that some things in my life that I always thought would be stable, turned out to be very unstable and unpredictable.  My word for the year 2012 was "Change", because I knew so much change was coming my way, whether I liked it or not.  Well more change came than I bargained for, so for next year I am choosing my word more wisely. So as I bid 2012 good bye, I have been thinking of a new word for 2013.  At first I thought about Happy, maybe trying to concentrate on things to do to that make me happy, but I realized there are still too many things that are out of my control at the moment for that word to really work.  So I have decided on Peace.  I like it, because what I think I am searching for through all the ups and downs of life is Peace.  I know things will occur that make me worry, I am a Mother after all, and a worrier by nature.  I guess what I want to do is be grounded and more in control emotionally when life throws me a curve ball.  I think my catchers mitt is almost worn out by now after 2012, I'd like to give it a bit of rest.  

I have done my share of things to be ready for 2013.  All my Christmas decorations are nestled back in their boxes in the attic.  My house is relatively clean and the laundry is almost done.  I have worked the last two days and completed my paperwork.  I don't want anything hanging over my head that isn't done.  I like to start the year with a fresh clean slate.  I am going to bed early so when I wake up in the morning I am hoping to not be tired.  I am not a drinker so I never have to worry about a hangover.  I have veggies and brown rice to make a stir fry so my first few meals of the New Year are going to be nutritious.  I know I can't control everything, boy that was sure the lesson I learned last year, but what I can do to make life healthier and more Peaceful, by gosh I am going to try to do.

So I want to close 2012 with a special wish for all of you.  I wish you a safe New Year, I wish you health and prosperity in all areas of your life.  I wish you happiness and PEACE!

And of course I want to thank you for always stopping by my little corner of the blogging world and sharing your lives and your friendship.  One thing I am so grateful for this past year is the growth of the friendships I have made on this blog.  We may have been friends for longer that a year, but I feel the depth of my friendship with all of you has grown.

So Happy New Year to all of you.

Max also sends his love.

Do goodbyes get easier?

Mr 19 year old has been dropped off at the airport and is on his way back to Columbus, OH.  Gosh I just have to say I am so sad.  I know I will get over it quickly (probably with help from a visit to the yarn store), but it is just so hard to see him go.  He was home for 8 whole days!  And of those days he was actually at home a lot, another respiratory illness has side tracked him, again.  I am so grateful he was home when it reared its ugly head, at least this time we could get it treated the right way from a Doctor who has known him forever.  This stinking cough of his has been present since September, it gets worse, he gets antibiotics, it settles down but never goes away.  Then it acts back up again.  He is now on three medications, and a new inhaler.  No wonder swimming has been rather difficult, it is hard to swim when working with only 75% lung capacity. Now if I can trust him to finish off all his meds like he is supposed to, he isn't that great with follow through.

So while I am so glad he was home, I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, sounds ridiculous I know. I just have to remember the love I was able to give him, and remember how he never picks up a thing and puts it away.  I have to remember dirty dishes next to the dishwasher, but not placed in the dishwasher.  I have to remember wet towels on the floor, maybe I should be glad he is on his way to his messy dorm room!

I haven't posted since Christmas, I have been a bit lax.  Working, and of course non stop appointments for Mr 19 year old and his slightly faulty lungs have kept me busy.  It looks like everyone had a lovely, relaxing Holiday, we sure did.  My Dad came for dinner, we visited the nursing home where my Mom is, boy she was having a very difficult and confusing day on Christmas.  It is difficult to see her like this, and sad for my boys to witness of course. We opened up presents and had a nice time just relaxing.   My husband and I do not exchange presents, especially this year when we are trying to be more careful with our finances.  But Max gives presents every year and he out did himself this year.  He apparently went yarn shopping. How he snuck out of the house I will never know, maybe he just ordered online, only Max knows the truth.

He picked out 460 yards of beautiful sock yarn in four different colorways.  Bless him for knowing that his Mom would like yarn.  The only issue is I have sworn off making socks for the rest of my life!  I know I am being a bit dramatic, but socks are not my thing.  I have been checking out other patterns that use sock yarn, mostly shawls or scarves.  Do you have any other ideas?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful friends.  I hope the Holidays are filled with peace and love.  My best wishes go out to all of you for a safe and happy Holiday.

A sheep for Christmas

My wonderful sister Claudia sent me this fantastic sheep.  She is the creation of Marsha Fletcher of Wool-In-Legends one of a kind wool art. Isn't she adorable?  Claudia has one and featured it recently on her blog, of course as her little sister I had to have one, too.  You see I LOVE sheep.  I collect sheep or anything sheepish, so this sweet little lamb is just perfect.  Her little face is so cute and her bell, I just adore her. 

Claudia also loves sheep, funny how sisters are like that, liking the same things.  

The stockings are out ready for St. Nick to pay a visit.  If you do not believe in our house then Santa will pass you by.  Claudia made these for my boys right after each of them was born, she is a wonderful Aunt.

The Queen has decided to bloom just in time for Christmas.  She was more of a Thanksgiving cactus last year.  She did not grow that much this year, I made need to replant her after her blooming days are over.

Her Highness may not have as many blooms this year, I am not sure why, but she seems to be showing her age a bit.  Just like all of us I guess. Regardless of her  age I am still very proud of her.

Christmas is almost here.  All the planning and prepping will soon come to an end.  If for some reason I can not make it on the computer tomorrow I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.  It can be a wonderful day for some, and a hard day for others.  I wish you peace, love and friendship.  I pray for those affected by tragedy and loss this year, and I pray for a peaceful 2013.  You all bless me with your friendship.  Each and every time you visit me I am thrilled and I feel a wonderful bond with you all.  Merry Christmas to you and your families.

The big day is almost here!

Decorations are up, gifts have been purchased, boxes and cards have been mailed, I am almost ready.  But the tree is not decorated....... Those gift for my family have not been wrapped..... there is plenty of time left, right?  So what am I doing instead of getting more done, well posting and reading blogs of course.  Actually I was just going to jump in the car to deliver my SIL's to the airport for their flight to Milwaukee, but it was canceled due to poor weather up north, so I just gained an hour of free time! Enough jabbering.  I have this thing for Santa.  Besides trying to be a good girl and hoping I do not get clumps of coal in my stocking I find the big guy fascinating.  For many years I have had a Santa display on my mantel, would you like to take a look?  It changes every year and it looks really lovely at night with the garland lights on, but daytime was the best for blog photos so here you go. 

Hope you enjoyed the quick tour, and hope you are all finding some downtime during this crazy time of year.

Can you get the flu over the phone?

I am able to sit up at my computer today which is certainly not where you would have found me yesterday.  Yesterday I was in bed, I could not even watch TV, read or KNIT!!!!! Now that is sick.  I had the flu and let me tell you I am happy it is on the way out!  You see Mr. 19 year old got a very bad flu virus on Tuesday in the middle of the night.  He had to have a swimmer take him to the doctor because he could not keep down a thing.  He was much better by Thursday, but the unfortunate thing is he missed flying with his team to his training trip.  He was all alone in his dorm, and I mean all alone, until Friday when he flew out to meet his team.  I think I was so worried about him I caught his flu!  I know that is not a reasonable thought but I was sick just the same.  An hour or so after he landed he called to say he had lost his wallet.  The cab driver told him he didn't take credit cards (although a credit card sign was posted), and he had to go get cash.  I believe the taxi driver was seriously taking advantage of a young man, by the cash only and the price of the ride! When Mr. 19 year old called to tell us my husband in true Father fashion, went nuts raising his voice and carrying on.  He was going on and on about how Mr. 19 year old would lose his head if it wasn't attached, he might be right.  But the thing is this happened on Friday, and my son was safe.  He wasn't shot by some crazed maniac.  He was safe.  My other son was home and he was safe, too.  Mr. 19 year old was with his team, he flew on a plane that landed safely, he got in a cab that took advantage of him, but got him to his destination safely.  He was alive.  After the events on Friday in Connecticut, really isn't that all that really matters.  A wallet we can replace, money that is lost is gone but that is okay.  A life we can't.  It puts it all in perspective.  I am at a loss why we still do not have better gun laws in this country.  I am at a loss at what to say about this horrible tragedy.  I am at a loss trying to figure out how this community is going to go on.  It is just so sad.  All we can do is pray for all the families that have been affected and pray that our policy makers finally do something about it.

A Christmas Gift

Just when you are feeling completely overwhelmed with life sometimes a little Angel speaks in your ear, or through your email sending you a lovely message.  My Angel is Deb at Posted From Home.  A few weeks back Deb (Angel) sent me an email asking me for my address, she had a handmade ornament to send to me, if I was interested.  Me interested?  Of course I was, because Deb's blog is so spectacular, I knew this ornament would be extra special.  

 It came in the mail on Wednesday, I get home late on Wednesday's so I wanted to wait until I was home and settled, with the sun shining before I opened it.  The packaging was ingenious!  You see Deb is an artist, and quite an amazing one.  She makes all sorts of amazing mixed media pieces of art, she paints, and just wait until you see her amazing photography.  Her favorite subject is Archer her rescue dog, oh and is he beautiful.  Those eyes of his are so deep and soulful.

I was so excited to open it up.  Inside was a lovely card and............

 

This beautiful ornament.  I am a spoiled girl!  Deb, can I just tell you how thrilled I am to have a piece of you here with me!

  

So in the mist of my Grinchness, my overloaded work schedule, my crazy hormones (yes those are not any better), and my absolute ridiculous week, an Angel sent me a lovely ornament to make me remember kindness, friendship and Christmas Spirit.

Thanks Deb, you have made my day.  Please visit Deb so you can see for yourself what an amazing artist, photographer, and friend she is.

How are you holding up?

This is one crazy time of year.  How do you keep it all together?  Every year I think it is going to be better, but I get overwhelmed, it is as simple as that.  For some reason Christmas is not my favorite Holiday.  I love to observe it from afar, but doing most of it myself gets to be too much.  I love to see decorations, but I am a not thrilled decorating or cleaning up.  I love the look of a beautiful Christmas tree but I just can't stand decorating or once again, cleaning it all up.  Just call me Grinch, or Scrooge.  Oh and don't even get me started on shopping...I am not very good at that one either.  I miss the excitement of when my kids were younger, I miss their thrill at seeing unopened presents and how excited they were to present me with something they made at school.  I don't forget the reason for the season, believe me I don't, I just have to admit that Christmas is not my favorite.

And for some reason, year after year I am presented with a new patient or two during the busiest time of year.  That adds loads more work to my crazy schedule, lots more driving and paperwork, but I can't say no to a baby in need.  So I think I am going to call myself Grinch for the remainder of the Season.

I was able to finish my last star project.  This one took way too long to complete, (please see busy and extra work above).

This is a star shawl for my very good friend Terri.   Twenty four stars, each 6 1/2 inches wide.  Terri is a dear friend, and believe it or not she is psychic, and boy is she good.  She has a beautiful smile and I just love her to pieces.  So when I was making the star table runner I came across the same yarn in this purplish-pink, and I knew it would be perfect for her.  There are nine stars in the first row, eight in the second, and seven in the third.  Terri was one of my patients, ages ago.  She used to talk to me while I was working on her saying things totally out of the blue like, "I know you are worried about your son's swim meet but he will do fine." She used to freak me out, but I got used to her unique ways very quickly.

 

 Terri and I have been friends for years, I hope she likes her Christmas present.

It does look like Christmas  at my house, so even though I am a Grinch I try to make it festive for my family. I will post more photos another time, the skies are dark gray which does not help my lacking photography skills. 

Now that my last Christmas present has been completed, I intend to get busy on something new.  

This yarn is just begging me to get started, a sweater for ME!  But it will have to wait until I finish this new patients evaluation, get started on my Christmas cards, wrap and ship.  I am trying to be grateful, I have a job I love, Christmas is beautiful, I have family that will be together during the Holiday, I have a house to decorate, still the Grinch in me is flying high today.  How are you holding up?

A Tough One

Thanks so much for all your wonderful well wishes My boy had a very hard weekend.  There is a science to swimming that I don't quite understand.  You train really hard, then you ease up right before a big meet. This is called tapering and it is not the same for every swimmer.  When it hits correctly you are lightning fast, when it doesn't you are slow as molasses, and there is nothing you can do about it.  You can swim your heart out, and yet people are passing you by.  So Mr. 19 year old had one of those weekends.  When kids he was beating by a landslide before began passing him by it was frustrating.  Well more than frustrating.....  So as hard as it is to see your son struggle, I am so glad we could be there to help him through this rough patch.  I have never seen him quite so despondent about his performance.  After Saturday mornings session he was ready to throw in the towel.  But soon after talking, and some intense Mother love, he began to move through this and that is all you can ask.  Take a deep breath and move on.  There will be more meets, there is another chance, keep your focus, have fun and move on.  It is easy to be with someone when they are doing great, but it is more important to be with someone when they aren't, that is when they need you the most.  So onto a new week, more work for which I am thankful and shopping for Christmas, it is coming up way too fast for my liking.

Max is exhausted from worrying about his parents and entertaining his Aunt's.  He needs a vacation.

Have a wonderful week.