as cozy as spring

Heads up, Typepad users.

When you reply to comments through email now, it is published on your site.  That could have been really embarrassing!  I frequently am much more candid in what I think is a private email.  HT: Grace

And also?  This wasn't an obvious change.  I replied to several comments and never noticed that they were published.  Grrrr.

Anyway.  Here are a couple of photos from a super lazy Sunday.  

Chocolate chip muffins made from the Joy of Cooking all purpose muffins recipe.

Knitting (yarn is Sublime Organic Cotton DK) and this week's Amazon order.  

Links

Two blog posts I enjoyed recently.  These blogs aren't on my Google Reader just yet, so here are proper links:

Cicada Summer at The Magnifying Glass

I hear the rattling in the trees all day.  It's the sound of summer.

and 

Golden Fleece? at Needled 

A post on Scottish cashmere.  If you like tiny details and yarn (and I do) this is fascinating.

It's my three year blog birthday.  I wanted to put up a new design with a new blogroll and pretty new sidebars, but I haven't gotten myself together to focus on that just yet.  The idea of a list of all my favorite blogs intimidates me and I'm feeling very lazy today.  This blog has taken me to some places I never expected and I humbly thank you for all the comments, laughs, and inspiration over the past three years.  

Patterns in blogging

I don't have much to say.  I'm very excited about our third grade curriculum and our pre-K curriculum (which is: teach him to read).  I'm knitting and sewing quite a bit.  I'm trying to keep the weeds to a minimum out in the garden while also trying to keep everything watered - futile to be sure, but I try still.  My grandfather, my gardening hero, was raking leaves in his front yard one day while more leaves showered all around him.  "How do you stay motivated, Papa?" I asked.  He replied that he took it one leaf at a time.  Even if two or three leaves took its place, he wouldn't have to pick up each leaf more than once.  

That was an unexpected tangent, but there you have it.

Getting to the point!  Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I had a miniature anxiety attack over the responsibility of my children's education?  I received an email from Charlotte essentially telling me to "Relax.  Look through your archives. You panic every year at this time."  Oh that made me laugh.  It's embarrassing enough to see your own emotional patterns emerging but to know that you've documented it all publicly so that everyone else can see it too!  But I did relax and everything fell into place rather quickly.  

So when I started to feel a little bored with blogging and wasn't motivated to write, I checked my archives again and saw this.  It is just summer, just the heat sucking the spark out of all of us.  That's not to say things aren't pleasant.  They are, but pleasantly mellow.  It's funny what you can find when you peruse your archives, patterns in nature notes, patterns in attitudes.  And it's even better that I've made some wonderful friends along the way.

I hesitate to mention this - it rained yesterday, but almost exclusively in our backyard.  Heaven sent, quite literally.

I really do smell like coffee and barf.

But hopefully, that's just this morning.

My sister laughed at my last post claiming that orchids are easy to grow.  I think she thinks I'm obnoxious (and as my older sister, she's has plenty of evidence to support her opinion).  But I was trying to dispel the myth that all orchids are difficult.  Phalaenopsis are not (really!).  My husband has also mentioned I'm making things sound awfully nice here at 'as cozy as spring'.  

So here's a snapshot of this morning.  I'm wobbling a little as I type this because I didn't sleep at all last night.  My son is sick.  Being extraordinarily dense, I thought the best place for him to throw up would be in his bed.  I'm looking at several piles of laundry right now.  He still has a fever so we had to cancel our long awaited field trip today with a local homeschooling group - and it's a beautiful day outside for field tripping. :(

I could go on and on about the little things - the bill I can't remember if I paid or not, how my neighbors all sort of laugh at how much my children yell at one another when they play outside, how I seem to always have a basket of laundry that needs to be ironed.  And eight years after purchasing our house, we still have tile missing from our kitchen floor.  Partially exposed, bare, stained concrete - it's a classy look. 

But I can't imagine that all of this makes for inspiring reading.  One of the best parts of the book Stitched in Time is when Alicia discusses how blogging has made her see things in a more creative and beautiful light.  I wholeheartedly agree.  In fact when my daughter is feeling particularly mopey, I give her the camera and instructions to wander around taking photos of things that make her happy.

So I take my own photos and write about it here.  I look at the pretty orchid pictures and forget about how many times a day they fall over on my counter and how badly I need to repot them in something more attractive.   Glass half full.  

I need a shower.

Housekeeping

Hi there.  I thought I would do my yearly sidebar sorting, stealing Lissa's idea of Google Reader folder share link.  It's not complete because not everyone I read is easily sorted into "Homeschooling and or Catholic" and "Knitting and or Sewing".  So this list still is incomplete and still giant.  WIP, I'm trying, I'm trying.  And my husband is pacing behind me because he wants to use the computer.  

So yes.  I know you are waiting on the edge of your seat.  Please be patient. 

ETA: It's not working for me.  Not the tech part - the idea part.  There's too much over there.  I took it down for now.  I'll figure something else out.  Sorry that I have no fun links.  It's hard to do this without leaving someone out and that makes me very sad.  

Friendly Readers

The lovely Michele gave me an "I Love Your Blog Award".  And I must tell you something about Michele.  I was completely intimidated by her for a really long time. She's so lovely and talented and faithful.  But she's also charming and sweet and lovely.  Thank you Michele.  I'm honored that you read here.

*Oh no!  I just finished this and checked back at Michele's to make sure I had done it right.  I was only supposed to use one word.  Whoops!  I'm not so sharp after 8:00 PM.  But I'm not redoing it because Anderson Cooper just started.  So you'll just have to deal with chatty me.

1. Where is your cell phone? I don't have one.
2. Where is dh? on the couch
3. Your hair color? very, very dark brown
4. Your mother? Dancing with the Stars (I asked my dad what to say the first thing that popped into his head when I said, "Mom")  I would say Talented
5. Your father? best friend
6. Your favorite thing? my babies
7. Your dream last night? eh?
8. Your dream/goal? salvation for myself and my family
9. The room you’re in? dining room
10. Your hobby? gardening
11. Your fear? loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? I'm pretty happy here though I'd take another baby or two to fill up my home.
13. Where were you last night? in my toddler's bed - he calls it "our" bed now.  
14. What you’re not? tall 
15. One of your wish-list items? new jeans... and shoes.... and a really great cardigan...and a dress... and some cute flannel jammies...
16. Where you grew up? Texas
17. The last thing you did? put my baby to bed
18. What are you wearing? a hockey t-shirt and boxer shorts 
19. Your TV? a history channel program on diamond mining - my husband is watching it.
20. Your pet? none
21. Your computer? Mac
22. Your mood? grateful
23. Missing someone? yes, my brother, just a few more weeks until he's home!
24. Your car? blue
25. Something you’re not wearing? shoes?
26. Favorite store? fabric - I second Michele's choice.
27. Your summer? broken
28. Love someone? lots of someones
29. Your favorite color? violet
30. When is the last time you laughed? on the phone with my dad, just minutes ago.
31. Last time you cried? this morning

And in turn:

Now, for you recipients of this award, here’s the deal:
* Display your award. (ah, I haven't figured out how to do this on Iphoto)
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 3 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

I chose two new-to-me blogs and an old favorite who inspires me daily.

Juli at Brooks Academy Catholic Homeschool

Cici at Cici Designs

Sarah at Knitting the Wind  (ooh, great music there)

Some days

Some days I want to write about my faith.  But I don't because it's so personal and misinformed criticism doesn't just roll off my back, but troubles me greatly.  I hope you assume I pray, even if I don't always write about it.

Some days I want to write a thoughtful analysis of current events.  But I don't because doing so would require research and a strong opinion.  I see both sides of almost every argument and have little time to research anything.  I hope you assume I'm not as shallow as I may appear here.

Some days I want to link to all the picture books I've been reading with my son.  He finally craves story time as a part of his day, which is wonderful.  But I'd rather spend my time reading them than linking to them.

Some days I want to write about all of our lessons and how well they are going.  But we are too busy doing them.  

Some days I want to share all the sewing projects Lucy and I are working on, but taking and uploading photographs takes too much time away from our time spent together.

Some days I want to spend outside enjoying the first cool September morning we've had, sipping coffee and appreciating the bright flowers blooming again, flowers I thought had died in the summer heat.

Every day I hope you understand that what I post here is only a very small part of my life.  Most days what I post here are the least important parts.  The most important pieces of our lives I keep to myself, choosing only to post the more amusing or lovely stories.   Our lives are suddenly quite a bit busier and I'm having a hard time sculpting our days into posts.  There's certainly nothing wrong, on the contrary, I just want to enjoy these days and free myself from feeling obligated to post every little thing we do.  And I know no one expects me to (except maybe my dad) but I expect me to.  And I'm not taking a break but just accepting that the backlog of posts in my head are not going to be written.  

 And zero days do I have the inclination to proofread.

The Word-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named

(The word being "blogoversary")

This word bugs me - and here's why: 

•  Because I've studied a foreign language or two and if you take the anni our of the word "anniversary" you take the meaning of "year" and it no longer make sense.  Am I annoyingly fussy?  My husband says yes. 
• Furthermore, I don't really know how to spell "blogoversary".  I'm just guessing.
• And finally, by acknowledging that today is my "blogoversary" (shudder) there is the off chance that someone will go back into my archives and find that first post.  Please don't bother!  I only sleep peacefully at night by imagining that no one ever pages through my archives.

So it's two years!  Woo-hoo.  Thanks for all the big bunches of comments, support, and smiles you've given me over the past two years.  I'm so happy I did take the plunge.  An online diary sounds like a nightmare, but alas, it's been almost all good.  Not my writing necessarily.   I'm quite certain those published authors/readers out there sob into their coffee at my liberal application of adverbs, random, commas, and tenuous grasp of how to "quote" "correctly".  

But remember, every typo represents a child that was properly tended to, thus interrupting my train of thought.  Every hastily slopped together post was published before that last proofreading in an effort to return to my dear family.  

And return I shall.  I would like to insert a lovely photo, but  I have a hot cup of coffee and the weather is cloudy and invigorating.  See you tomorrow, friends.  Thanks again for being just that!

One Word Meme

1. Where is your cell phone? Non-existent

2. Your significant other? Work

3. Your hair? Puffy

4. Your mother? Nurse

5. Your father? Hero

6. Your favorite thing? Plants

7. Your dream last night? None

8. Your favorite drink? Water

9. Your dream/goal? Mountains

10. The room you’re in? Dining

11. Your church? Catholic

12. Your fear? Loss

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Mountains

14. Where were you last night? Home

15. What you’re not? Writer

16. Muffins? Chocolate

17. One of your wish list items? DSLR

18. Where you grew up? Texas

19. The last thing you did? Phone

20. What are you wearing? Shoe

21. Your TV?  Peanuts

22. Your pets? None

23. Your computer? Happy

24. Your life? Amazing

25. Your mood? Happy

26. Missing someone? Brother

27. Your car? Chrysler

28. Something you’re not wearing? Um...

29. Favorite store? LQS

30. Your summer? Loooooong

31. Like(love) someone? Babies

32. Your favorite color? Lilac

33. Last time you laughed? Phone

34. Last time you cried? Phone!

35. Who will re post this? Margaret

See, I cheated.  Because Margaret actually posted it before me.  The tagging anxiety, it paralyzes me.

  

HT: Bookworm

And my brother (deployed) called me this morning.  I think I damaged his ears with my squealing, "Who is this?".  That, my friends, is a very nice start to the day.  Even though the children were scrambling to make their own breakfast (cookies) and entertain themselves (Charlie Brown on the TV) while I chatted.

Blush. And a winner! And a movie review!

Well, that was nice.  I asked my sister if the post sounded egotistical.  She said, "No not egotistical.  It sounded needy."  Sisters are right up there with brothers on some of the most precious gifts from God (and Mom and Dad, thanks to you too!).  Especially honest sisters who elicit hysterical laughter whilst insulting you.  

Now, I mostly asked because if 99% of you are homeschoolers or 99% of you are Catholic or 99% of you are knitters, than I can post more about those particular topics.  I hope that was clear.  I wasn't exactly begging for affirmation.  Nor will I turn it down.

And the winner is (via Random Number Generator).... {heather}!  I'll be emailing you in a minute to get your shipping info. 

And really, thanks for every last comment.  It was so nice to chat with everyone.  Especially you lurkers.  I was one of you once. 

Segueing into actual content:

We saw Wall-E yesterday.  It was recommended by every single person on the blogosphere, I think.  So I agreed to go, even though I'm the sort of fun gal who would prefer to be scrubbing the bath tub.  

I say this timidly, for I am certainly in the minority.  We hated this movie.  I normally shy away from such strong words, but that is how strongly we all felt.  I was begging my son halfway through to have to go potty just so I could escape.  It was depressing.  The animation was uncomfortable.  The robot noises grated on my very last nerve.  Shudder.  And yeah, I get the message.  I got the message before I entered the movie (which is why we spend most weekends playing baseball in the backyard rather than sitting in a theater)  "We're all doomed.  Plant some flowers."  I'm not bashing the theme (because I agree with it), but the plot was slow, weak and boring... oh it was just bad!

As I'm not so much known as the fun one around here, I was going to keep my opinion to myself, but my husband began verbally abusing the movie as soon as we left the theater.  My daughter wishes she "could forget that it ever happened".  My son kept curling his head into my chest, cowering from the screen.

Again - minority opinion.  Am I the only one who wants to see Mamma Mia!?  Oh that looks like a fun movie.  And I think it goes without saying that I am counting the days til November.    

And also:  For my Gymboree addicted friends.  We stopped in last night and were greeted with the bin sale - &0.99 socks, tights, leggings and the cutest little baby hats.  Even if the leggings don't match anything, they're great for hanging around the house.  And socks with tiny tulips and cupcakes!  $0.99!  Yay!

Thanks again, everyone!