First I have to send out a very special thanks to Dee at Tangled Up In Sticks and String. I won her wonderful cross stitch give away.
I have never cross stitched, although I am always amazed at all of you who do. This will give me the opportunity to try it out. Because what I really need in life is more projects to do! Dee made a beautiful bookmark from this book, she included all the supplies for me to make one, and this beautiful towel to cross stitch on. If indeed I do master this, and I make something on this towel, no one is allowed to touch it, I am just saying.
The talented Dee, made this magnet especially for me! It even has beautiful beads on it, so lovely. Thanks Dee for all of your generosity, and a big thanks to Dee's husband Steve, for picking my name.
This weekend I have been consumed with blue. I have started this baby blanket for my new great nephew. I am loving this pattern, although it seems to be taking some time. I am joining as I go, really I can't even imagine doing it another way now that I have, well for lack of a better term, mastered it.
I took these photos in my kitchen this morning before the sun was out, so they are a bit dark. The colors are very vivid, perfect for a baby I think. I am making this from Berroco Weekend yarn, not the softest yarn in the world, I tested it on my cheek in the store and found it acceptable, but once I got it home, well I am not in love with it. Hopefully it will soften up a bit with washing.
The blue Malabrigo sweater came out of the Feel Good Basket one evening. I added about 2 inches to the sweater before I got the idea to make the baby blanket. Now I won't take it out until the blanket is done, because this yarn is the absolute yummiest yarn in the world, and now that I am working with yarn that is a bit yuck, well I can't tempt myself.
This blue swing is a new addition to our patio. I LOVE swings, I always have. I have always wanted a porch swing, and only lived in one home, very briefly years ago, where I could have one. We needed to replace some outside furniture that was literally disintegrating before our eyes. So much for life time warranties on wicker furniture. It only covered the frame, not the wicker or cushions. I was so sick of washing the wicker/cushions with mildew cleaner and seeing the pieces break apart we got rid of them. We added recycled plastic Adirondack chairs around our fireplace. They are really heavy so they won't blow around and they are easy to clean. This swing is made from the same material. I am in love with it and as the weather has been a bit cooler this weekend I have spent some quiet time outside swinging and crocheting.
Speaking of quiet time, my husband has been gone for that past two days visiting his family in Wisconsin. Can I tell you how blissful it has been without sounding nasty? Forty-eight hours of time almost to myself. My youngest is still here, but he entertains himself with is friends, his Xbox and movies upstairs in his man cave. I have watched baseball with no one flipping the channels, watching three or four minutes of ten different shows before switching back.. I have crocheted and swung without having to go run errands, clean up dishes and counters that have been left messy with lunch, or have someone calling me because they can not find the peanut butter that is always located in the exact same place. My house has stayed relatively clean and organized. And I have not been woken up 5 times a night by very loud snoring. Yes my husband is a good man, and I would not want this to be permanent or anything, but this alone time has been a gift. Men are funny I think, they don't seem to need the same amount of alone time as women. Is it because we women dedicate so much time to our families, our homes and work? My husband does not understand why I want to be alone or have my own space. I think he would like to be together 24/7. As I get older I need more and more time alone, and it seems the more I need the less I get. My husband works from home, a lot. So when I get home from work he is here, talking loudly on the phone, putting on ESPN while he makes his lunch, things that should not annoy me but they do. I like quiet, and peace and so I am thankful I have had it for the last day or two.
Do you feel the same or do you think I am a bit crazy in my menopausal state?
44 comments:
Hi Meredith
This sounds like a heavenly weekend (no, you don't sound nasty at all). Just what I would need too. I feel sick, in an emotional, mental ar psychological way), but nobody understands me. Can I just stay at home for a day? I'm always doing my job and am so tired ... Sigh! But no, I don't have a fever, a sore throat, a headache, nothing.
Your swing is great! I've wanted one since I saw one the first time in my life, which was when I was about 6 years old. In fact, two weeks ago, while driving by at a wood-carpentery-outdoor-furniture-little-house-exhibition that I should buy a swing for me this year eventually. :-) Have a good week.
Your post today is so deja vu! I started blogging to vent my emotions and feelings and even deleted my 200 friend list down to just 5 who were my daughters and family.
You must give yourself time and space. It's an interesting fact of life that will make you stronger in the end. Love your new swing. We have a recycled plastic milk jug glider and love it. It has sat outside now for the last 4 years and is good as new! Expensive - but worth it in the long run. Take care of yourself and do smell the roses and whatever else you dad-gum feel like doing :-}}
What a sweet blanket you are working on.
I love your swing :)
Happy sunday to you :)
Oh, yes, how I love quiet time in my own house. And like you, I worry that makes me sound bad, or worse, that I will regret it if my husband wasn't here anymore. But I think it's normal, at least I hope so. Beautiful blanket!
Lucky you, to have that precious alone time. I adore it. I rarely get it, but when I do, I adore it!!!
LOVE the swing!!! Wow! I have a glider on my front porch, and it gets so much use. Then we have a free standing swing out on the front lawn. We brought it home from the cabin when my folks sold it a few years back. And we have a swing out in the grove by the sport court too. They all get used.
The baby blanket is going to be darling! And you amaze me with your speedy knitting!!!
Enjoy the rest of your quiet time. I am envious!!!!!
xo Kris
Glad you enjoy you little gift package. Have fun with it.
In answer to your question, YES! I love when Steve takes a short business trip. I eat the things he doesn't care for. I have the TV on or off as I wish. I spread out all over the bed with magazines, books and listen to my music in bed. HEAVEN ON EARTH. Then a few days later I'm ready for him to come home again.
OMG you sound so like me. I defo like my 'alone' time and my husband seems to be getting noisier and more of a 'nuisance' with every passing day. Must be menopausal????
As for the swing, I simply love it. The colour is so bright. Perfect for swinging in. Loving the blanket even if it is a bit 'scratchy', x
Nope, you're not crazy or menopausal on this one. just normal! My DH travels for his job, always have, and I value my time alone when he's gone. Love him to pieces (except that he's a snorer too!) but it keeps me sane when he's away. WHen he is here, I love to get up super early with my hounds and have my coffee, a little hooky time before any daily activity starts. IT's A GOOD THING :)
My husband works away all week, although I do miss him loads it does work out rather well...and makes the weekends special too!
You will love cross stitching, I do quite a bit of it. Very soothing!
Helenxx
Love the color of that wonderful swing! And being a granny square addict, the baby blanket was great to see! I used to do a lot of cross-stitch, but when I tried it again last year, my eyes had gotten too bad to work on something so small! Now that I have new reading glasses, I'm thinking of giving it another try. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Meredith, what a lovely giveaway you won. Cross-stitching is fun, and it's not difficult at all. What a beautiful baby blanket you are making. I've never made a granny square blanket or anything else because I'm intimidated by the idea of joining all the pieces together, lol. I'm making motifs for a table cloth, but I think I'll ask my mom to join them, he-he.
How nice to have a swing. I always have wanted one too, but I don't really have any room for it. And how wonderful that you had some time alone. Sometimes a bit of solitude is exactly what ones need to relax and recharge the battery.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Olga
I love cross stitching but haven't done any in quite some time. My husband is at home most of the time during the day and though I love having him around almost all the time, the time that I spend alone is PRECIOUS to me.
Well, you and I are definitely on the same page. :) I feel the same way and wouldn't mind if my husband traveled a little more for business. I do like my alone time more and more.
I'm sure you will master cross-stitching in no time. I learned when I was about 17 and it's all I ever used to do, but now crocheting is much easier. At least I don't need to wear my reading glasses to crochet.
Have a great day! Tammy
LOVE your swing, it's fab....I could quite see myself sitting in one, crocheting, with a waiter to bring me an occasional snack or drink...oooh, and let's put it somewhere a good deal warmer! realistic d'you think?
Your baby blanket is looking lovely, I'm sure a good wash will soften it up....great giveaway gift!
I love your swing, so pretty! And how lovely you won a giveaway, cross stitch is pretty addictive when you start...!
M x
I know what you mean. I love my alone time also. After working at my job I just like it to be quiet at home.
Your husband certainly didn't have the best weather here in Wisconsin. Yesterday was pretty nice though, at least nice enough out to get out for a walk. Today is rainier, which of course you probably heard about already. I hope he is having a good time with his family.
Your products looks great. You are always so busy creating!
I have never done counted cross-stitch. My eyes would never take the strain. But I have sisters who have stitched and it is so beautiful. I have embroidered and done stamped x-stitch, but not for awhile.
Have a great day, Teresa
I ADORE my hubby but I also enjoy my time alone. I think that's why I like our trailer so much. I'm pretty much guaranteed at least one night a week to myself.
Love your gift. I used to cross stitch a lot until my eyes started getting old! :-). Have fun and relax in the sweet swing.
Blessings,
Betsy
I totally understand you needing some alone time, as well as quiet time. My husband can't sit in the lounge room without turning the TV on, ugh! I like TV too, just not first thing in the morning on the weekend!
I love your swing! I have swing envy!
Time almost alone is always good time..and when he comes back, it's even better.
I love that blue swing.
Jen
My man was away for 2 nights last week and it was bliss. No being woken up by the snoring and no being woken up at5.45am. What's wrong with 6.30?
I suspect he had a nice time away from me too though!
Cute baby blanket - the colors are sweet. I love join as a go now with granny sqaures, it makes the whole process less tedious at the end otherwise I'm left with a bunch of granny squares and no will to sew them all together :)
I know what you mean about the yummy yarn too - yarn like that is always special but when you've been working with one that's not as nice it's liek heaven to go back to a soft yarn again ;)
Lovely swing and congratulations on the win! x
Hi Meredith, I'm here couldn't comment on weekend, we actually had the sun and I was outside as much as possible! I LOVE your new BLUE swing! You wouldn't be able to get me out of it! I also adore the baby afghan, the colors are great and I love the pattern design layout. And the sweater on the needles too, you are going full speed ahead. AND yes I do love alone time too, and I love my husband dearly BUT I like my alone time. I actually get quite a bit of it because my Hb works long days, so I'm happy to see him when he is home (most of the time hahaha)
I hope you have a great week, xoRobin
Oh, can I relate....you know, with the husband thing. I am right there with you. I know this might be NOT the best thing to say, but I am so happy when he leaves for work...he's gone four straight days at a time. The house stays clean and things are in order. All your projects are looking great...you sure are on a roll...and congrats on winning the cross stitch package....I love that kind of stuff also!
xx Shari!
I understand just how you feel about needing your own space I thought maybe it was virgo trait but no the more you talk to other women the more you realise you are not alone. I need my own space and time alone to so much more than my husband I love him to bits but sometimes It can be to much. So no you embrace and enjoy it when you get your time and don't ever feel guilty :-) Enjoy your cross stitch and I have to say I love your crochet blanket the colours are gorgeous along with your pattern design. dee x
Oh, I am TOTALLY with you on alone time! Men don't seem to really need it, but I go bonkers if I don't get it. I think it's especially hard with a husband who snores. Mine does too--plus getting up multiple times in the middle of the night and flopping back into bed and if he can't sleep, then he has to roll and flop and kick like it's some sort of olympic tryout. He got really upset when I finally moved into our guest room so I could get one uninterrupted night of sleep--but at the same time, I tend to snore when I take Nyquil, so if I take it, he automatically moves into the guest room lest he potentially be disturbed by me snoring once or twice a year. While I've been going through the back issues, we've just had to sleep in separate rooms because I can't take being woken up over and over every night and part of me will REALLY miss that uninterrupted sleep.......
Mere
i would never want it permanently, but YES I love a day all to myself. Zach is very quiet and only interferes in that he takes the good TV room for his shows.
Fireman LOVES company .....He admits he Hates to be alone even a bit.
I love love love love it. A day or two of ME time is so fun.
No Meredith, you are not crazy. My husband keeps himself busy with chores and things when he is here (he works out of town during the week but is home nights and weekends)and the house is quiet most of the time. I spend my days in a quiet peaceful place. Weekends are different not bad just different. When he is here, I get interrupted and have to get up to see something he wants to show me. Then I have to settle back down and find my place again. But I love him, bless his heart and I love having him around. He doesn't mind being alone but when he wants my attention, he wants it now! *smile*. Funny but lovable.
Hugs,
Sharon
I can definitely relate to your appreciation of quiet, Meredith. ;) The baby blanket is very pretty; even if the yarn is not your favorite, looks like it is going to turn out great! And, the yummy yarn... well, I think that is one of life's great treats. blessings ~ tanna
ps love the swing!
Hello, Meredith! I am a swing-lover too! Love yours. I am making do with gliders on our porch, but I do want a swing too. AND...my hubby and his family are from Wisconsin too! Are you copying me?? hahahaha
No wonder the Borroco yarn doesn't feel good after using the Malabrigo. I've used some Borroco only once before for a shawl, but it was more of a heavy thread weight and was soft.
Love your baby blanket! I will always use the join-as-you-go for granny squares now that I know how. It was worth taking the time to learn it. Have fun with it!
Mere, you could never sound nasty, you are just too sweet.
I think all women need some alone time. To replenish the soul and spirit. I know I do.
Hugs and blessings always dear friend.
oh, love the baby blanket.
I am so glad you are trying cross stitching. You can never have too many hobbies. :)
Blessings always
OH MY GOSH! I could have written that last bit ... are you channelling me? :)
(In fact I just read it out loud to Mr. M, who indignantly replied "I know where the peanut butter is!" I was hoping he might pick up on the part about women needing SOLITUDE.)
He is going away next week for a few days and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it.... shame on me.
I love swings too - they're so soothing. Yours is a lovely colour, so cheerful and bright.
I wonder how you will like cross stitching - it's one craft I never fell in love with. Probably because I always felt I should be designing my own projects (which is very silly). I did design a few but when I finished them had no desire to do more.
Have a lovely rest of the week and I hope you get some more alone time! :)
Years ago during lunch one of my co-workers mentioned her husband's annoying channel flipping habit with the TV remote. The rest of us chimed in with anecdotes about our husbands' TV channel flipping behaviors. Our sisterhood of suffering was evident and enlightening for me :-) Men and women are not just physically different! But both my husband and I enjoyed alone time as well as together time, and I think we appreciated each other more after our times apart. After Louis died I realized that this was the longest "business trip" he had ever been on in the 38 years we had been together and I miss him...but not his snoring so much :-) Life is full of contrasts, but common bonds as well, Meredith, yes? I am glad for the common bonds we share and the contrasts that challenge us to grow together. Love with hugs from Gracie
Hi Love the swing.....even managed a sit on ours this last week.....roll on swing weather hey?...although you, without doubt, have a lot more of that than we get lol
Hugs x
Meredith - I had to chuckle about your comments about alone time...I agree completely. While I love weekends when we are all home together, I don't plan on getting anything done around the house. LOL I save that for the few days a month that I have a weekday off. The kids are in school and he is at work and I can work at my own pace.
Ahhh cross stitch, you're making me want to dig up my needle and floss!! Enjoy that swing too...I sit in mine almost every day, yours is so cheerful, love it!!
Jennifer @ Fiber Flux
No you are definitely not crazy! I really rather enjoy it when my husband goes away too. Not that I get any piece and quite with two young kids, but the quantity of food than needs cooking when he's away is greatly reduced!!
Your blanket is beautiful, I've never tried joining as you go, bet it beats all that sewing at the end!
Love the swing, especially the color. Perfect spot for some cross-stitching. I'm about to try and teach myself to embroider.
I think you started a whole new conversation about being alone when our husbands are off traveling for work or whatever. I feel exactly like you do. I am happy when he gets home but I do love that little bit of time for just me. I hope that doesn't sound selfish but I think we all can use time to ourselves. Love your little project for your nephew! Colors are so pretty and I like how you mixed the blocks like a quilt. I have a really good start on another wave, one very similiar to Lucy's that you told me about. I am doing it in the ocean colors like that one I pinned. Hope you are having a good week! I have my youngest granddaughter with me for a few days. ~Hugs, Patti
Forgot to mention your swing! I love that color and I know that material it is made of is very durable. I have had a swing in every home I have lived in. I start using it as soon as the weather breaks until it has to be stored away for the winter. It is very soothing and relaxing for me.~P
I think we all need time alone sometimes ... and with a new swing to wear in I would imagine being able to call your time your own is a positive blessing!
You'll love cross stitch :D
I feel exactly the same.I love peace and quiet whilst I work or do housework etc! My husband can't understand yet...and we've been married almost 47 years! After I came out of hospital end of Dec neither of us were allowed to drive so here were the 2 of us, stuck out on a farm in the country with just each other...oh joy...and just what I wanted when we were courting!
The baby shawl is lovely and I'm sure it will be just right!
I just love the blue swing. I've always fancied one of those...just to sit and dream! Wouldn't have happened when the kids were young though
Thanks for sharing ....I hope things have settled down now that Hubbie's home?! Joan
Hey Meredith, I'm lovin' the swing ......that blue is just gorgeous. How wonderful to sit outside and enjoy it.
Have fun with the x stitch, that's one sweet little magnet too.
There are only 3 of us in this household and i do get plenty of time to myself throughout the week. Hubby and son are often travelling to gigs on the weekends and I love the time to myself when they are away.
Mind you when it's gets to about the 3rd day I'm craving a little human company, so I might head into town for a coffee and chat to whoever is around.
It does seem to be a female trait and no you're not crazy. It takes all sorts to make up this world.
Claire x
Never crazy Meredith and you are not alone with this feeling on reading the other comments here. I think we do need our own space,some quiet peaceful quality time. I know I do. My husband respects this and I respect his quality time too. I genuinely believe this is the success of our 41 years together (yes 41 years next month!!!) Love that baby blanket! It continues to amaze me just how versatile granny squares are . I never seem to see any ugly ones they always turn out so very nice whatever they are used for.
Remember we are not born mothers Mere we learn as we go along. Although, being a woman we have mother genes and nature inspires us to do the mothering thing right. I am a strong believer in a mother's instinct to guide us and have kept to that over the years. We also have to count on help from our mothers or grandmothers which is the bonus. Obviously you and your husband must have done something right if you have such a son to be proud of.....so wonderful,isn't it?
keep well
Amanda :-)
Oh, I loooove that swing. I have been searching for a painted or colored swing for two months now. Where ever did you find it?
I know exactly how you feel. Michael works out of town Mon-Thurs every week and I enjoy it. I know that sounds mean but it is much more peaceful around here. When he gets home on Thurs evenings, I have to get used to his talking which irritates me at times. That Did sound mean, oh well;) So No, you are not crazy
Post a Comment