31 December, 2009

Peace for the New Year


This year seems to have gone by with incredible speed. It has brought changes in my life that I never could have imagined on the last day of 2008. I have felt a depth of despair deeper than I have ever known, and the joy of accomplishing the impossible beyond what I ever thought I could do. I have learned more about myself in these past 12 months than I have in the past 35 years. I want to tell my family thank you, for without them I would not be where I am. I want to tell my friends thank you, for teaching my the true meaning of friendship. I have taken alot of first steps this year, and each one gives me the courage to take another. And I want to thank the people who have not given me what I asked for. Sometimes when you don't get what you thought you wanted( or needed), you realize that there are many doors open, and all you need to do is walk through, because at that point, it can't hurt.Happy New Year, everyone!~ And Happy Birthday to my sister, Sarah! Love you!

27 December, 2009

Deck the halls...

Frozen fog on the mountain behind my house
I filled my feeders that morning, the chickadees were happy!

Hunter, deep in baseball lore


a small sampling of my favorite people



picking just the right tree, it was Very Cold that day!




So we're at that mid-point of the holidays.( Anyone who says they're over at Christmas does not know my family!) Two days of Christmas around here, always the big gift -opening on Eve, to the tune of about 32 people, and a Nana who insists on buys lots of ( admittedly wonderful) gifts for everyone. Of course, there is nothing that you can get for her. I really prefer the next morning at our house, jusat the small thing we got for each other, but chosen with great care, because if you're only going to get/make a few things, they had better be good. I do like to give pictures out as gifts, all year I'll chase the little kids around with my camera, set to black and white. There is always one that jumps out at me. Lots of baking this year as well. As I was in school right up to the week before, there wasen't much room in my head for holiday stuff. This was actually one of the more low stress holidays for me. I just realized that whatever I did would be enough. Christmas cards? Not this year. sewing projects? only two pairs of jammie pants for my boys. The list of what I wanted to do was a bit more involved than what I really got done. That's alright. Too many Christmases have been spent with tears and yelling, frayed nerves and tight shoulders from trying to "do it all", and still be happy. If there are people out there who can do it all, more power to them. I am not one. Oh, I suppose if I didn't have a job, and homework, and kids who play JV basketball, and ice skate, then sure I could. But in real life, not so much. I've learned that it is really okay to cut myself a little slack. It took a looong time to sink in, but now its lodged in my brain, and there it will stay. As far as I am concerned, there is no bad time to get gifts, so if my handmade dolls do not get to my sisters till February, that's fine. In fact, it might be just the thing to perk up their day. That always works for me.

21 December, 2009

Tap,Tap. Is this thing on?

I wonder if anyone reads this at all. Not that it matters. I just like to do it for myself, I guess. I figure that I've spent sooo much time reading other blogs, that it seemed natural to have my own. I know that I would not be the person I am without those wonderful women sharing their words, thoughts, photos, ideas, and even heartbreaks. Some I still read every day( Soulemama, anyone?), and some when the mood strikes( mad organica is often inspiring). Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own lives, personal dramas, the little things that threaten to overwhelm us. These friends, as they really are to me, help me to remember that there is more to it than that.So, this was not the direction I meant to take with this post, it was meant to be more of a "End of term, getting ready for Xmas, I found an awesome new CD( Sarah Jarozs), type of thing. Of course, as I have two pairs of Christmas jammie pants to get made this week, and last minute wrapping and getting-ready-to-ship-to-Florida, I guess that I ought to get off the computer.
Everyone have a wonderful holiday!!!


** one last thing~ if these links don't work, just type the names into your search engine, its worth it!

06 December, 2009

Tis the season...


Well, I am meant to be writing a six page paper for my Tuesday class, and a 5 page paper for my Thursday class. But instead here I am, trying to get in the spirit of the season just a little. These are my neighbors lights, ours went up today. I keep forgetting its almost Xmas, there's so much I still need to do. But only 2 weeks left till term ends! I am more than overdue for a break. But the snow we got yesterday helped, if only it will stick around now...