I know, I know!

This was supposed to show Ddasha smushing Mona down between the mattress, and footboard, but this is what happened when the camera finally focused.

So.  Not a lot has been happening, which means I have no excuse for being a blog slacker.  I have also been a camera slacker, which is why, mostly, I've been so lousy about posting here.  I can say that I have gotten a ton of small chores done... You know, repotting plants, starting the seeds for the garden, not just dusting, but actually washing the things on the shelves...  And I've been doing a lot of yarn work.

My main client has been put in a nursing home, so I'm starting a whole new crop this next week, *that* ought to be interesting.
I hope to be able to remember to have my camera at the ready, and in the meantime, I'll be continuing to enjoy having open windows again!

Welcome spring!
And as usual,

Thanks for Noticing me!

Brrr!

I dare you to say "pretty bird" One. More. Time!

So I'm sitting here, on Sunday afternoon freezing myself out because I cannot bear One. More. Day. with closed windows.  It isn't even 40 degrees out there, but the sun is shining, and *most* of the snow is gone, and I find myself NEEDING the sight of green, and the smell of fresh, moist earth.  Apparently I'm not the only one, because my 2 sun- stealin', heat-suckin', insane cats, are sitting on the windowsills enjoying every breeze, and every scent.

I have *not* seen one of these yet.

The Solstice has come, and gone, and still there's snow on the ground, and Jack Frost is riding every zephyr, and I'm heartily sick of it!  Part of me wishes it would warm up already, and part of me is thinking, "Well, as long as when spring comes, we don't get a sneaky week of winter half-way through it this year!"  It may help if the tv ads weren't all about summer, and playing in the warm...

Oh well, enough musing on the weather, time to get some work done!  Happy Spring Peeps!
And as usual,

Thanks for Noticing me!

Our own pinstrosity.  Balloon ice marbles, didn't work out so hot.

Jealousy

I'd like to insert a link to the song *here*, but I'm not technically savvy enough to do it.

 I have too many interests, and not enough time, or ambition.  So I'd *like* to learn how to do that, and I'd *like* to learn how to sew and design well enough to make some costumes, (my mom was AWESOME at that when I was a kid), and I'd *like* to be the geek I know is in me.

I have piles of patterns in both knit and crochet, that I'd like to make, and books full of new stitches, and techniques.  I also have just enough agoraphobia to keep me home nights, and weekends, but not so much that I can't go shopping, or to work.

I have jealousy against those people that go out and do the things they love.  I'm always sure that the next time the opportunity arises, is the time I go and *DO IT*.  But there's always an excuse.  There are too many things to do, too many things that *need* to be done first, not enough time, not enough money, but it all boils down to finding my ambition.

The one thing I dislike most about my ordinary, dull life, is that I don't get to have cool stories.  If someone wrote my life as a book, there would be no takers.  Nothing exciting happened, or happens.  Which normally makes me extremely happy.  Exciting things are usually only pleasant after the fact, or exciting after the fact, or uplifting after the fact.  The fact is, that when the interesting thing is happening, it's usually pretty terrifying.  Sickness, action, adventure, travel....  Once you've overcome, and rested up, it's a great story to tell, but as it's happening, all you usually want is to go home.  Sleep in your own bed, have a decent cup of coffee, take a shower.

But there's still that niggle in the back of my head....  I want to go to a geek con, and meet actors that I admire, (or admired their characters) and other people that share my brand of oddness... I'd like to go to a big amusement park, and ride all the cool rides, just for the experience.  I'd like to try the color run, just because it sounds fun, (of course I don't want to die, so that's probably one of the most far out things that have passed through my brain).  I'd *really* like to make money doing things I love, and carrying out cool ideas I've had, but again, there are so many things involved in doing that, that I have no idea where I'd even start.

So instead, I sit here at my computer, and I blog about it, and I feel jealousy, not searing, all-encompassing, jealousy, but just a small bit, against those that go out and *do*.  All the well wishes in the world, and the "you can do it"s, won't be able to change me, or my situation.  I'm just glad I have a great imagination, a love of reading, and books, and blogs, to take me anywhere I'd like to go.

Happy Spring!  And...

Thanks for Noticing me!

Bad, bad, bad girl.

No excuse, I'm a slacker!  

So, Here are the obligatory cute kitties.

Looks like *I* am not allowed to change the station.

The elusive Misticus, Fatticus. Or as we like to call her, Mystique.

I Keep losing my cursor!

So, I've been busy...  I promise! 

FINALLY!!

I finished the shawl on Valentines day!!  Just a little late.  hee!

This tray used to have an ugly bottom, Thank you Aunt Lydias!

 

I used something too harsh on this tray the first time I tried to polish it, and it's apparently plate.  For *years* I have been trying to hide it, but I decided to finally make a mat for it.  This is Aunt Lydias crochet thread, in silver.  *love it*!

I'm not fond of the green, it was supposed to be a sage color, which would have been gorgeous, instead it's merely pretty.

 I finally finished My blanket!  It's MINE.  I took some time after finishing the shawl, the last of the Holiday gifts, to do some stuff I planned to make for myself, that has been sitting around, languishing in bags, waiting for me to make them.  I *was* working on a vest, in Chenille, that was supposed to be a partner to one I made for my mom YEARS ago!  But now, I'm volunteering 2 projects for the high school play, and I've finally been given clearance to make the sweater, and the yarn is in, and ready for pick up.

Red Wine Cupcakes... You've never had fluffier cupcakes in your life!

This is the easiest!  Just substitute a sweet red wine for the water in the boxed chocolate cake mix.    Oh, and make sure, when you buy red frosting, that you get enough for all the cupcakes, not *just under half* of them.   LOL!

So, that has been my month, How about you?

Thanks for Noticing me!

Whooopsie!

Yeah, I knew I'd be a slacker, but,  umm,  WOW!

 In my defense, before Christmas, aside from the shawl, (which *still* isn't finished!)  I made 6 pairs of slippers, 3 infinity scarves, and 2 hats.

Okay, okay, I know....

I'd love to know what they heard out there, because they went from dead asleep, to looking out the window in a nanosecond!

Of course I never got any pictures of the work I did! I'm going to have to get one of at least one pair.  I also haven't gone through the paltry Christmas pictures I have to edit them either.  Yes, yes, slacker, I know.  And now I've been commissioned to make a mobius type sweater!   Soooo, Woohoo!

So, how were your Holidaze?

As usual...

Thanks for Noticing me!

           

The mess

I started out planning on a fun, and self congratulatory post, but since it was about Christmas presents, it got me to thinking...

The Holidays are such a stressful time, and usually it isn't even on our own behalf.  We want it all perfect, *for everyone else*.

I've come to the conclusion, that I'm not perfect.  Therefore, nothing about my holiday is going to be perfect. My kids will make me nuts, my food will be tasty, but not outstanding, someone will be less than thrilled with whatever gift I give them.  But here's the deal...

I'm sharing these days with my family, and with my friends.  They accept that I am not perfect.  They understand that I can't afford to buy them some of the things I want to give them, for the same reason they can't afford to buy them for themselves.  But they know that what I can give them is my undying, and unconditional love.  Behind every meal, behind every gift, behind every snark, giggle, and joke, is my affection for them.

I guess the moral here, is, why the hell are we stressing?  Let it go.  If the food isn't edible, does it matter? Will they hate you? No!
If there are only 1 dozen cookies left, will they hate you?  Ok, maybe, but still!

Let it go, and just enjoy being with the people you love, and who love you too.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today, I am thankful for so very many things.
 For the opportunity to express my views without persecution.
For the love of my family and friends.
For the laughter shared.
For the roof over my head, and the food in my stomach.
For my girls...
For my boys.
I am thankful that the place where I live, here in the N.E., was undisturbed by Sandy.

Today, while lighting the candles on my overfull table, I will think of the people I know, and that I never knew, that have no warm home,  no table left to gather around, and hope that very soon, they will be able to go back to their normal lives.

I will think of loved ones gone, never to share our table again.  And once again...

Be thankful for so very many things.

Happy, Healthy, Holiday to you all... Wherever you may be.

Much love,

Amanda