Me in a dress

...it has been known to happen. I love this outfit which just sings "Spring" to me. I bought it in Sacramento right before I moved away.

Serenity (now) Sunday

Ah, Seinfeld. Yesterday I had "these pretzels are making me thirsty" going 'round my head.

The first hot day

Reading The Unforgiving Minute. Finally finishing up the reorg and clean up of the pantry (file under no one else here but me cares). Knitting the second sock for Cap. Watching Owen and Bridget's stop motion movies with the kids. Sag making his own. Enjoying mango. Slathering soy butter on slices of choco chip banana bread. Watching the Red Sox-Yankees series. Listening to Three Birds and loving it. Catching up with Silke. Planning the menu for Wednesday's common meal. Anticipating tomorrow's full day. Hoping to get to bed earlier tonight.

What a day

Grace's Great Riddles. Authored and published by our home schooled friend, Grace. She was gracious enough to sign it for Sag and Gem for whom I brought this home as a gift. What a bargain for 50¢.

A rock pendant made by Lucy, a home and Free Schooled 10 year old friend. She drilled the hole herself. I'm going to string it and wear it around my neck. Love it.

Crocheted hat by Sam, a homeschooled teen whose hand-dyed yarn had sold out by the time I arrived to the craft fair (dammit). She was charging $4 for this hat. I gave her $5. A steal.

Meridian, a homeschooled 10 year old that I know, made this notebook, inspired by the work of Leonardo DaVinci. Gorgeous. I love me my textiles and paper products.

I stopped in to the going-out-of-business sale at one of my LYSs. Picked up these lovelies. I've quietly lusted after this yarn for a long time because of the stunning color. Between the sale price and some birthday money hoarded for just such an occasion, I took the plunge. I may have to go back for some more...

I ended up having a lot of time to myself today. So rejuvenating to simply be able to think and move and feel on my own for a bit. Seeing friends at the homeschool bake sale/craft fair was wonderful. I rarely see these friends because Sag and Gem don't like crowds and the weekly Fiber Arts gatherings tend to be quite rambunctious :-) I love these kids and their moms and dads are pretty cool, too. I feel lucky to be part of such a creative and vibrant group that loves being together.

I got some writing time in this morning...it's been awesome directing some of my creative energy in a new direction. Writing is therapeutic for me, as well. My style is essay-ish and bringing form to my experiences and observations helps me to make sense of them and put them "out".

The yarn shopping was...amazing. I haven't shopped for yarn in a long while and it's something I truly enjoy. I was happy to find the perfect something to pick up for myself.

My afternoon reverie ended with a good browse at my local bookshop. I needed some gifts, today is Owen's birthday and Lisa's birthday was last week, and as always, they came through and I found some good things. I love this shop. I inhale deeply when I step through their front door. It is such an essential smell for me. I always wonder if I could work there part-time, but never ask. I almost did today, big gall bladder and all, but didn't :-)

Oh, I almost forgot, I stopped at the music store to rent a cello. They had a 3/4 size in stock, but I had no idea if that was the correct size for me. So, I need to find out about what size I need, and continue working on finding a teacher. So close. Sigh.

Honorable mentions go to the strong spring sun that nourished many a spirit 'round these parts today (temps expected to go into the 80s this weekend) and to Meridian's black bottom cupcake (and Kelly's choco chip oatmeal cookie). So delicious :-)

Such a life

...to wake up to this.

Friday 5x5

colors: orange, violet, magenta, red, citrine green

foods: Bosc pear, avocado, scrambled eggs w/garden chives, pesto, prosciutto

outside: walk, the wind on my face, greeting individuals in the community, the magnolias, undeniable Spring

songs/music: Closer (mpPA), In A Big Country (Big Country), In The Upper Room, Goldberg Variations (Glenn Gould playing J.S. Bach), Let Me Know (Locksley)

grooves: Photo Booth, Cap's socks, Diva Cup, the kids singing, qi gong

B/W Photo Booth

Park

Thursday

Feeling much better today. Still needing some quiet. But, Vinny's mad skills did more of its thing yesterday afternoon and I feel so good. He marveled again at how responsive my body is these days. I can feel it.

I'm heading out for a walk once I finish my tea. Dinner at Donna's was wonderful last night. Cap made it back safe and sound from Louisville. I'm cruising along on Cap's sock. Knitting and hanging out with the kids has been just about all I can muster these last few days.

Wednesday wall

The wall-of-hump over which we will leap. Third day of rain and gray today. I did sleep better... was hoping for a later wake up than I got.

Happy birthday to Erika, my bright-eyed big-hearted Sacramento kindred.

My body is gearing up to flush out an egg not touched by a miracle. And the system is feeling like it needs a tune-up. You never know what the Universe is going to toss into your lap next. I did not expect this. I feel better upright than I did as I moved back into consciousness in bed. I see Vinny later, which will be a help.

I will use today's wall to rest against. Work and rest, work and rest, work and rest. (Move slow and do not overtax...the women at the "red" hut would be beckoning to me to come and take a load off if there was one around.)

• kitchen floor
• cook up some veggies
• toilet
• Cap's socks (self-striping yarn? so cool)
• the household bookkeeping...those numbers don't crunch themselves when left alone...

Dinner at Donna's tonight, always nourishing and tasty. I may come home with some sugar snap seedlings :-)

Then a night time run to the airport to pick up Cap. The skies have been stormy the last two nights, including hail last night. More storm predicted for tonight. Here's hoping to complete the landing on the other side of Wednesday's wall without any flight delays...

Trudgey tuesday

I am enjoying my explorations of self-portraiture thanks to Photo Booth. The not getting enough sleep these past few nights, not so much. Tonight should be different.

I kept dropping things in the kitchen this morning. My brain on "sluggish". I managed to go food shopping. Dropped the kids off at Danielle's, drank in smile after dimpled smile from Leo, and was happy to be able to pick things up for Danielle and Renée (our downstairs neighbor who donated a kidney to a friend last week).

Cleaning will be slow going with my mind and body so tired. I can only knit a few rows before my eyes start to cross. I'm going to try writing and maybe reading.

It's quiet here at the moment. The kids engaged in mellow pursuits.

Mellow monday

The kids and I had a great night. After we dropped Cap off at the airport, we moseyed home in Sunday evening parkway traffic which gave us enough time to decide what to do for dinner. We went to Yoshi's for sushi.

I love Yoshi's. The woman who owns it is friendly and sweet and remembers details. The place is so family-friendly, the kids feel absolutely comfortable there. Last night when we walked in, all the other patrons, three families, were there with kids. I enjoyed overhearing a dad talking with his teenaged son about turntables, offering support and advice to a fledgling DJ.

Once home the kids played their computer game for awhile and then joined me and my knitting on the couch for Amazing Race. I opened up the big bed to them and they read and chatted for about an hour in there before falling asleep.

This morning. Cold and overcast. I'm probably going to have to turn the heat back on. The high is expected to be about 45º. I made them banana pancakes, practically getting stoned on the bits of banana I scraped off the pan between batches. So good.

I've been wondering if I will ever not feel physically tight when I practice qi gong in the morning. Life just settles on the body, doesn't it.

Lukas and Owen are coming over after lunch. Swimming is over and the kids have decided to take off the next session.

I called Barbra this morning, impulsively, and managed to talk to her for a bit. One of the topics that came up was my writing and she dropped a bombshell on me: my writing reminds her of May Sarton. Oh. My. God. That is serious high praise for me and sent me out into the stratosphere.

Psst. Life is good. Pass it on.

Moments moving along

A touch of insomnia woke me at 4am and has kept me up since. I've been occupying myself with dawn-dreams, Facebook (shared that funny funny Eddie Izzard Death Star canteen bit), qi gong, e-mail, The Unforgiving Minute, chatting with Gem, and knitting.

I restarted Cap's sock. Moved down a needle size and am much happier with the tighter look.

Today's plans include: haircuts, a show at the New Vic, and Cap leaving for Louisville this evening. Not a day which will allow for much catnapping...

Homemade honey

This morning, after qi gong and maple syrup-scented Gem kisses, I wanted walnuts with honey. Ahh, a shift away from wanting eggs. I knew it was time to crack open the precious jar of Plympton honey harvested by Pops and Evie earlier this spring.

The anticipation built deliciously as the Goldberg Variations moved me along in the kitchen. Emptying the dishwasher, vessels and utensils from the night before back in its place, the electric kettle performing its duties in shifts: first tea for the kids, then tea for me, a sweep of the floor, and then...

Blue and white Japanese bowl from my aunt containing walnuts likely grown in the Central Valley of the Golden State, drizzled with honey from the homestead. Satisfying and life-giving in so many ways. I am grateful.

I look up and there smiling at me is my Easter Cheerilie, colored and bestowed on me with reverence from Olivia. That's love right there.

New knitting and reading

Hypoteneuse in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (45% wool, 35% silk, 20% nylon).

The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney (saw the author on The Daily Show and became interested in reading his book).

Brothers

He and she socks

They are wonderful and fabulous. Putting them on my feet completely transformed the experience of them. Suddenly, they were perfect. (Well, except for the tiny hole right next to the gusset which needs to be pulled shut :-)

Knit in Colinette Jitterbug "Fire", 100% merino wool.

Walkabout

Put my ear buds in and walked out the door. "Together Again" by Janet Jackson. The sun, the air, the magnolias, the cherry blossoms, the smile plastered on my face.

I walked to the library. Leisurely. Talked to Julia at long last, dear, dear, friend. I sat on a bench in front of the library while we continued talking. Feeling so wide open and happy. Seeing the various folk walking in and out of the building, milling about.

Returned "American Widow" (which was heart-wrenching and moving and beautifully illustrated) and a dvd the kids' had out. Continued on to Whole Foods for some mayo. It felt so good to just walk. Qi gong does that...in part it has to do with tendons, I think.

I was surprised to see a celebrity on Bloomfield. So surreal to see an actor who portrayed a character who was once very real for you. Our eyes met and before I could think, "holy crow, that's Erv Burrell!", he had slinked on by.

Groceries jostling in my Sacramento Zoo bag, I starting walking home. I passed the guitar shop. Then I turned and walked back and in to see if they had any leads on a cello teacher. The guy inside working on repairing a guitar with a plastic back which didn't look like a guitar to me, did have a lead and so I left my name and number.

I walked under some branches laden with cherry blossoms a block away from home. Part of me floated right up into them. I thought of Totoro. If I had enough innocence left in me, I swear, I would have ended up in the sky with him and his sidekicks, blowing on an earthen ocarina.

Puddle

Anytime I have a deadline of any significance (which is not very often for which I am grateful), my adrenalin surges as I finish the task. Then, I'm done, and the surge plows right out of me. And then? I'm a puddle.

I finished the taxes this morning. No sweat, really, since I'd been working on them on and off since last weekend. But, not to my body, apparently. The adrenalin has had its way.

In my puddlehood I've made some calls. My mid-life awakening continues and I am approaching a dream I've had my eyes trained on for years. Learning how to play the cello. I can rent one from a local music studio for about $400 for a year (initial 3 month outlay an affordable $140). I am looking for a teacher and, in the fall, may switch over to the university music prep conservatory where I can get a bit of a "family" discount.

A happy puddle am I.

Yesterday's treat

I took a walk with Danielle and Leo. The air, the sun, the company, the colors: glorious.