I've been reading blogs today, between prodding children, and I've found a lot of people feeling restless, unfinished. We're all antsy. Things to be done, faced, finished and we don't know how, don't have the means, or don't want to do it.
I'm there with ya.
We are racing to finish the school year, but neither the kids nor I really feel like sitting down and doing it. We've been doing marathons of work to get to that completion percentage, but no one kid is completely finished with anything yet.
All the schoolwork is getting in the way of me finishing anything else. The house is a mess. (Believe me, with four kids and a non-neatnik husband, the house is rarely up to snuff.) I want to organize, I want to paint things. I want to GET THINGS DONE!
It's not happening. I have to just plod along on what we're doing and remember that the summer fun will come soon enough.
(Please don't tell me I'm a freak for thinking summer fun includes organizing and painting. I like it. And I particularly like it when it's done and looking lovely.)
I also want to have people over and drink icy, fruity drinks and grill things and hang out in the sun.
I want to get the school books out of my dining room and gear the kids up for the fall when they will be attending new schools.
There is so much I want, and so little is happening.
That song from Santa Claus is Coming to Town keeps popping into my head. "Put one foot in front of the other."
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door
You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door
If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door
If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn
(repeat chorus twice)
See how it says "repeat chorus twice"? Yes, I know it's the construction of the song, but I think it's a good reminder that we have to just keep going. We'll get past it and soon we'll look back and see what we accomplished.
Keep on going, everyone!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Baa, baa, black sheep . . .
Have you any wool?
Yessir, yessir, TWO bags full!
Yessir, yessir, TWO bags full!
These are my first raw fleeces, from two Icelandic sheep named Carry and Alle. The fleeces were already very clean, but they still get a bath.
They are currently making my hall bathroom smell all sheepy while soaking in some hot water and Dawn dish soap. Once they're clean, I'm going to have to figure out where the cats won't try to attack them while drying. :p
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
I may be predictable.
A package came in the mail today. Q ran out to grab the mail from the mail carrier. He came running in and said, "Mommy! I think you got yarn!"
"Noo,"I said, "it's not yarn."
"It's squishy like yarn."
I told him to open it up and see what it was. He opened it and said, "It is yarn!"
I said, "Noooo."
A said, "No! It's wool! That wool stuff mom spins into yarn!" (Making little spinning movements with her hands.)
I said, "Nooooo. Open it up the rest of the way."
"Oh. It's a blanket. Why did you order a blanket?"
"It was free with my order of our TV cabinet and patio panel."
"Oh, OK. I thought it was yarn."
"Noo,"I said, "it's not yarn."
"It's squishy like yarn."
I told him to open it up and see what it was. He opened it and said, "It is yarn!"
I said, "Noooo."
A said, "No! It's wool! That wool stuff mom spins into yarn!" (Making little spinning movements with her hands.)
I said, "Nooooo. Open it up the rest of the way."
"Oh. It's a blanket. Why did you order a blanket?"
"It was free with my order of our TV cabinet and patio panel."
"Oh, OK. I thought it was yarn."
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tractors, ugh!
There are tractors working behind my fence. They are noisy and annoying. Our backyard backs up to what used to be railroad tracks. The tracks have been removed and the resulting trail covered with gravel. Sometimes we see people walking or running or riding bikes back there. The kids and I did a bit of all three evening before last.
Last week, there were surveyors back there one day. Yesterday, some trucks came and dropped large yellow pipes along the (former) tracks. Today, there are tractors and diggers. Noisy. Annoying. I have no idea what they're doing. I wonder if they notified people about it before we moved in. I should ask the neighbors.
We have a wooden platform in our back yard that looks like a half-built kids' playhouse. My kids like to climb up on it and see what is going on behind the fence. It's rainy today. (And NOISY. And ANNOYING.) So the kids have not gone out there.
Ugh.
Oh, I have a new digital camera. I love it! Except for one thing. It holds three pictures at a time. Three. I need to buy a memory card for it. :p Maybe I could then take pictures of the NOISY, ANNOYING TRACTORS!!!!!!!
(And my house.)
(And my knitting . . .)
Last week, there were surveyors back there one day. Yesterday, some trucks came and dropped large yellow pipes along the (former) tracks. Today, there are tractors and diggers. Noisy. Annoying. I have no idea what they're doing. I wonder if they notified people about it before we moved in. I should ask the neighbors.
We have a wooden platform in our back yard that looks like a half-built kids' playhouse. My kids like to climb up on it and see what is going on behind the fence. It's rainy today. (And NOISY. And ANNOYING.) So the kids have not gone out there.
Ugh.
Oh, I have a new digital camera. I love it! Except for one thing. It holds three pictures at a time. Three. I need to buy a memory card for it. :p Maybe I could then take pictures of the NOISY, ANNOYING TRACTORS!!!!!!!
(And my house.)
(And my knitting . . .)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Habits of the Modern Stitcher
I haven't been stitching a lot lately, but unpacking my completed, framed pieces and finding homes for them in the new house has me thinking about it. So, here's a meme I found on V's blog.
Habits of the Modern Stitcher
1.How do you hold your fabric?
I stitch in-hand (no hoops or frames) so I just hold the fabric in my left hand, rolled up if it's a large piece.
2.Floss licker?
Sometimes
3.How do you thread your needle?
I pinch the end of the floss between the thumb and forefinger of my left hand and kind of squeeze it into the eye of the needle.
4.What needle do you like best?
For the fabrics I use most often, a 26.
5.Are you a needle loser?
No.
6.What fabric do you prefer to stitch on?
Linen, 32 ct or higher.
7.Bobbins or floss bags?
I use the DMC stitchbows.
8.Are you a scissors collector?
Not really. I have maybe three pairs of embroidery scissors and none are anything amazing.
9.Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin?
Yes. I usually lace. I used to pin.
10.Are you a floss floozy?
What did you call me? :p I do have a lot of floss.
11.Silk?
Yes. But I have my preferences. A good cotton can have as much sheen and smoothness as a rough silk.
12.Railroader?
Not usually.
13.Are you a pattern or designer snob?
No. But I do have my preferences, of course.
14.Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift?
Rarely. I only stitch for people who I know will love it.
15.Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.?
Does it really matter?
16.Do you wash your projects?
Yes.
Habits of the Modern Stitcher
1.How do you hold your fabric?
I stitch in-hand (no hoops or frames) so I just hold the fabric in my left hand, rolled up if it's a large piece.
2.Floss licker?
Sometimes
3.How do you thread your needle?
I pinch the end of the floss between the thumb and forefinger of my left hand and kind of squeeze it into the eye of the needle.
4.What needle do you like best?
For the fabrics I use most often, a 26.
5.Are you a needle loser?
No.
6.What fabric do you prefer to stitch on?
Linen, 32 ct or higher.
7.Bobbins or floss bags?
I use the DMC stitchbows.
8.Are you a scissors collector?
Not really. I have maybe three pairs of embroidery scissors and none are anything amazing.
9.Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin?
Yes. I usually lace. I used to pin.
10.Are you a floss floozy?
What did you call me? :p I do have a lot of floss.
11.Silk?
Yes. But I have my preferences. A good cotton can have as much sheen and smoothness as a rough silk.
12.Railroader?
Not usually.
13.Are you a pattern or designer snob?
No. But I do have my preferences, of course.
14.Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift?
Rarely. I only stitch for people who I know will love it.
15.Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.?
Does it really matter?
16.Do you wash your projects?
Yes.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Long time no see!
Organizing after a move is a lot of work! I'm up to my ears in it!
Yes, we moved! And there is now a contract on the old house. Cross your fingers that everything goes smoothly with that. It only took 4 days after we moved out to get a contract.
I've also been dealing with the fact that some of our furniture just doesn't fit right here. lol. We didn't move any of the stuff we didn't like. The old computer desk, an armoire from our room, some storage shelves in the basement. They're all being picked up by Amvets. But I have some nice oak bookshelves and they just don't fit anywhere upstairs! I managed to find a decent spot for them in the basement, but I think I'm going to need something else for upstairs, too. Also, our TV armoire ended up going to the basement rec room, so there's no TV in the living room. I thought I might like that, but now I realize I really would prefer to have a TV up here. I found a TV armoire on clearance at Domestications that is the right height. A little tricky because it needs to be short enough to go in front of a half wall by the stairs. And it was the mission style I like, in real wood. I got the shipping notice on it today. This way I can still close the armoire and pretend there's no TV when I don't want to see it.
The sellers here took all the curtains the week before we closed on the house. Honestly, I didn't make a big deal about it because I was planning change them. The living room curtains had jungle animals on them. :p They took the rods, too, which is fine because they weren't to my taste. All the bedrooms have blinds, but we've been living without window coverings over the patio door and the living room window. That window is almost 10 feet wide! I had been having a hard time finding a curtain rod that would be long enough. Well, I was at Super Target over the weekend and they had a nice hefty rubbed bronze one long enough. And it was on clearance! $24 for a nice curtain rod. I ordered some drapes from JCPenney.com, on sale, and used a coupon code. I ordered Monday, they came Wednesday morning! I need to buy the rings now. All told, it's going to be less than $200 to have this window treatment done and it will look so nice. I also ordered a patio panel from Domestications for the patio door. After I have it up, I'll have to decide if I want some kind of tailored valance over the top of it. No ruffles!
I have a goal to have no boxes in the living room by Saturday. But, I just tracked my new TV armoire and it should be here tomorrow. :p I'd better get back to work.
Yes, we moved! And there is now a contract on the old house. Cross your fingers that everything goes smoothly with that. It only took 4 days after we moved out to get a contract.
I've also been dealing with the fact that some of our furniture just doesn't fit right here. lol. We didn't move any of the stuff we didn't like. The old computer desk, an armoire from our room, some storage shelves in the basement. They're all being picked up by Amvets. But I have some nice oak bookshelves and they just don't fit anywhere upstairs! I managed to find a decent spot for them in the basement, but I think I'm going to need something else for upstairs, too. Also, our TV armoire ended up going to the basement rec room, so there's no TV in the living room. I thought I might like that, but now I realize I really would prefer to have a TV up here. I found a TV armoire on clearance at Domestications that is the right height. A little tricky because it needs to be short enough to go in front of a half wall by the stairs. And it was the mission style I like, in real wood. I got the shipping notice on it today. This way I can still close the armoire and pretend there's no TV when I don't want to see it.
The sellers here took all the curtains the week before we closed on the house. Honestly, I didn't make a big deal about it because I was planning change them. The living room curtains had jungle animals on them. :p They took the rods, too, which is fine because they weren't to my taste. All the bedrooms have blinds, but we've been living without window coverings over the patio door and the living room window. That window is almost 10 feet wide! I had been having a hard time finding a curtain rod that would be long enough. Well, I was at Super Target over the weekend and they had a nice hefty rubbed bronze one long enough. And it was on clearance! $24 for a nice curtain rod. I ordered some drapes from JCPenney.com, on sale, and used a coupon code. I ordered Monday, they came Wednesday morning! I need to buy the rings now. All told, it's going to be less than $200 to have this window treatment done and it will look so nice. I also ordered a patio panel from Domestications for the patio door. After I have it up, I'll have to decide if I want some kind of tailored valance over the top of it. No ruffles!
I have a goal to have no boxes in the living room by Saturday. But, I just tracked my new TV armoire and it should be here tomorrow. :p I'd better get back to work.
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