Big changes

And yet the little things stay the same.

This past year has been...  Interesting.  To say the least.  Being unemployed is not the hardship for me, that it is for some, I live simply and U.I. covers me pretty well, it's just the lack of savings that sets me on edge.  I tried to get into the field I wanted for years, but was too complacent to try for, and when I got no nibbles, I decided to try for my second choice, because I have more of a chance of getting into it.  And this is where things started tipping.

I started getting things like requests for meetings with college people, #1's graduation gown, plans for graduation dinners, and celebrations, and ceremonies, and it finally hit me that this is it.  My first born is going to be viewed as a man in the eyes of the rest of the world.  Why does he still look like a 10 year old to me?

My cat, the only one in the house that will let me baby her, *HAD* to go and get her breathing checked out, and we still don't know what is wrong...  And pick her up from the vet, only to get the news that my father died.
  Don't Panic.

 My dad and I weren't very close.  Don't get me wrong, he's my daddy, and I love him.  But we did much better living several hundred miles apart than we did living in the same house.  We had the same temperament, and opposite views on almost everything.

It was the little things... Only one month from now, he could've seen his first grandchild graduate from High School, and get good pictures, (unlike the ones of mine, where I hid, or stuck my tongue out),  I never finished scanning those pics for him, instead, doing things that had "due by" dates, never realizing there might be a "due by" date on sending out those pictures...

But, I promised pictures last time....

He did *not* like me following him!

So cute! Yes people, this *is* my back yard.

So what's new with you?  And as usual,

Thanks for Noticing me!

This guy obligingly sat there for 5 minutes while I found my camera

I guess this is why they call it a d. a. haircut... look at that tush!

I swear I'm not slacking!

So, This is what I made for Mothers Day this year... A BBQ set, service for 12. I crocheted the coasters, and trivet, and hot pads, and made the napkins.

 Everything is in Red, White, and Blue, because that's what my mommy likes. (:  It took a while of searching, but she finally has enough for everyone without resorting to mis-matched sets!

  #2 took this pic, just the right angle, and lighting. Amazing isn't it?  

  Lookie! We have a calico bunny living here!  You can't see in this pic, but the backs of his legs are that rust color too.  I love this time of year!  We have wild ducks on our property right now, pics next time...

I had been trying to set up an Etsy shop, but their policies aren't what I'm looking for.  So, I set up a fb page called

 'scuse me Dear

Look it up, (PLEASE???)

I'm still working on things to sell, but plan on a lot of it being made to order stuff.

I've been slacking on a lot of things because I'm trying to finish my graduation gift to #1.  I can't believe my first born is going to be a high school graduate in a few short weeks!  It's freaking me out!  (and what's worse is I think I'm going to have to frog everything I've done on it, and start over....)  

My spring has been filled with wildlife watching, yarning, and some job searching too.  Almost time to tend the garden and brave the creepy crawlers out there too.  *shudder*!

What have y'all been up to?  And as usual...

Thanks for Noticing me!

I was right!

Broken off branch

I knew winter wasn't going to leave us alone.  It was just waiting for the worst moment to strike!  

Another, on top of our garden plot

The lilac bush

We *don't* have weeping anythings!

Just crazy how heavy the snow was!

Nostalgia.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
This is where I grew up.  It's quite changed from the days when a 5 year old could go play outside with nothing but mom on the porch.

If you zoom in on Nichols rd, at the corner of Montauk Hyw, You'll see the apartments I grew up in.  Most of us knew each other, visited each other, sat outside and socialized.

I just did an entire page on how it was either our parents, or theirs, that forgot how to teach respect.  I'd have been terrified to send my kids out the way I did when I was a kid.  And that has entirely to do with the fact that somewhere along the way, too many people forgot to teach their kids to respect others, and themselves.

  Thankfully we moved out halfway to the back of beyond, and I feel a bit better.  They have nowhere to go unless they get a ride into town which gives me so much more control over what happens to them.

I wonder, if someone had told my mom, when I was out playing somewhere (in her sight) at 6 or 7 years old, that her grandchildren would never have the kinds of freedom I had at that moment, what she would have said to them.

Share your favorite childhood memory?

 And as usual,
Thanks for Noticing me!

UPDATE;  Apparently the link takes you to your own personal google maps page.  *sigh*  It was supposed to take you to Bayport NY..........

Blog slacker

But I have an excuse!  I've actually been working on things!

A Glade, and bath tissue cover.  I wish the air freshener cover could have looked more alike, but with having to expand, it just wasn't cooperating.

 A lap blanket made of granny squares I made out of the left over yarn from the Christmas doll.
I also have piles of coasters, but I'm having difficulty matching one of the colors for the border, and I don't want to show just some of them.  I've discovered I *love* working with cotton!

I also had a bibliophile moment, and dove head-first into the Eve Duncan series, from beginning to end.  So at least half my time, I have my face in a book.

Aaaaand, the *DRAMA*.  All I can say, is #2 is durned lucky I don't have the contact info for any of my in-laws, because he nearly sent me over the edge this week.  I have never beaten my children, but I was having happy UFC fantasies!  (And there are no words for the depth of hatred I have for all things = televised fighting).  The drama continues, and the crimes keep-a-coming.  

Dear ADHD, 

*SUCKIT*!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxo
 

So, have you been reading?

Thanks for Noticing me!

Huh.

My Booger baby

#1, 5th birthday

My bi-monthly pity party has arrived.   Every now and then, something triggers it, and all the little things that I've shrugged off since the last one, gang up on me, and I spend a half hour mopey, and weepy.  

These are my rotten, willful, never listen to me, teenagers.  *I WANT MY BABIES BACK!*  Scanning old pictures into the computer from my own childhood and on, for my dad, and I came across these.

 I was so excited because I ordered a new all in one scanner/ printer.  I wanted to print out some of the pictures to send to less tech minded family members, (less than me?!) and my old one, no matter how often I clean it, makes lines on pics, so... It came! and I put it on the table to unpack it, and thought, "Well, that's an odd sound...." only to open it and find that the entire scanning bed was nothing but glass shards.  Now I have to wait for the sender to get it back, credit my account, and order, and wait for delivery of a new one.  *sigh*

I have also discovered that I *hate* looking for, and applying for, a new job.  

Okay, I knew that one.

All that, and the daily aggravations, kids, cleaning, etc...
I've decided a small pity party every other month, is a good way to clean up, and get rid of all that stuff for a while to keep your mood up the rest of the time.  I know that I don't have a lot of problems, and the ones I have pale in comparison to others issues.  

But you feel what you feel, and it's okay to acknowledge it now and then.

Anyone up for a pity party?  The table is large, and misery loves company. (:

As usual, 

Thanks for Noticing me!

I did it!

I found a new camera for a helluvalot less money than the one I *really* wanted, but it's just as good, and OMG! THE PICS!

My old baby 

This would normally be an evening picture,  No idea what got into them.

The ripple blanket I made for a friend, expecting a girl!

Have you ever seen a cat sleep like this?!

Todays stormy sky... Cloudy, bright sun, and snow. 

I look forward to using this camera a lot more often.  No more blur! 

I'm working on a few things, more coasters, and this skirt too...   http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4914

 And what have you been up to?

As usual, Thanks for Noticing me!