Monday, October 27, 2014

I have this lovely daughter who is now a Married Woman.    Dr. K reminded me I have not "blogged the wedding" as of yet and so here it is (along with some other random fall things) 


Kate and Patrick got married on October 11 at 11-ish in the morning.  They planned to have their ceremony in the woods but the weather made that a bit difficult (rain, rain and more rain) so the ceremony took place at the hall where the reception was to be held.

It all started on Friday night when Kate and Patrick and friends and family showed up to decorate the hall.  It was a nice space and a perfect size for the number of people.  Not too big so that it felt imposing but not too small so that you felt crowded.  We swathed the walls and doorways with tulle and flowers and put some centerpieces made of natural elements (wood and candles in glass jars) and then left for the night.



Kate is radiant

There was cake!


On Saturday morning I was expecting 7 or 8 young women at my house to get dressed and gussied up.  I was a bit concerned-one bathroom/one mirror and all those young women.  Somehow it all worked out and the day was beautiful.  I'll let the photos tell the story.

And dancing! (Kate loved her dress)

And family. 


 There was an amazing well written and performed Toast by Emily.  She based it on D&D (which Kate and Patrick play each week). 

It was a wonderful day and a Good Time Was Had By All.


Kate practices being a sheet rock lifter

The next day, Pk and I went out for brunch to celebrate our anniversary.  We had a great time eating good food and then walking around a flea market where I found a replacement bowl for the one that got broken last week (a Depression Glass bowl that belonged to my grandmother) for 5 dollars!


We bought a pumpkin
Peter Kevin has been hanging sheetrock while he waits for someone in the business world to recognize  that he is brillliant and they should be giving him a job..



Sweaters
And the parade of babies continues to move forward at work.  Here are two more cardigans for infants.  The top one is a cotton/acrylic blend and the bottom is Kroy sock with accent stripes.  It was a good way to use up some leftover sock yarn.

I started one more in neon green, neon purple and white stripes.  I love it but Peter Kevin says it's "interesting".

A bit of insomnia last night is making me fight to keep my eyes open today so I'll sign off.  Have a great Monday!







Monday, October 6, 2014

It's Monday and it's only 45 degrees this morning.  Since the a/c is still on in our building, I am so very grateful for the small space heater that lives under my desk. 

It is bathing my legs with heat which helps to keep the rest of me a bit warmer.  I also have a small triangle shawl draped over my shoulders.  It will be another week before the a/c goes off and the heat comes on.

This is more ArtWalk Sock yarn.  It's called Sold and is inspired by Justyna Kopania.  I really like the painting and the colors the dyer picked up are really perfect.  And of course there is the glittery bits.

I have been quietly plugging away at holiday gift socks while working on other things.  I still have a shawl otn but it's patterned in both directions and takes a bit of concentration.  I also started a pair of mittens for Pk called The Gates of Moria (he was not thrilled with the other pair and frankly, neither was I)

And because I have more ambition than brains, I signed up for Spinzilla.  It's a spinning marathon where length of thread spun is calculated and the longest wins.  I was a Rogue Spinner (I am so not a rogue anything but I li ked the image) but was asked to join a team to help them fill out their numbers.  So I am not a Flying Fibers Spindoll.  This means I have teammates and will have to actually put some effort into this whole thing so as not to let my team down.  Every day after work I can put in an hour or two and since I don't have anything to do for the wedding on Saturday, I should be good.  Kate tried the dress on for one last fitting with shoes and proper underwear and it looks gorgeous.  Everyone has clean dress clothes and shoes and various underpinnings so we're all good.

Friday, Pk and I will have been married 33 years and together as a couple 39.  We are going to spend the day together and have lunch somewhere nice.  I expect the weekend will be a bit hectic.

Someone sent this to me today and I like it so much that I am sharing it with y'all.  It's taken from a quote by Teresa of Avila.  It fills me with peace and good feeling every time I read it.  I hope it does the same for you.  Have a good Monday.

 "Today may there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly  where you are meant to be.    May you not forget the infinite  possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. " 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

I have sat at the computer several times since August to post but for some reason, I closed the page each time with only a partial post completed.  There is no real reason for this.  I think I have just been feeling a bit blah, a feeling that I don't usually hang on to for more than a day or so.  Mixed with the blah is a growing anxiety.


No, Peter Kevin has not found a job yet and therein lies the anxiety.  He sends out countless resumes and gets called for an occasional interview (there are so many applicants for each job!) but so far,  no joy.  Unemployment insurance runs out in 3 weeks and although I know we'll survive, things will be tight. 


Kate's wedding is next week.  I have finished my Fir Cone Shawl in time to wear it should the weather be cool.  It is huge.  When you knit something that doesn't get blocked much, you can get away with fudging a stitch here and there.  but when it's something that gets blocked, every stitch shows.  I love this.  It wraps around me and I can feel the softness of the merino and there is the slightest sheen from the silk.  It's a softly spun single and was so lovely to work with.  I have a 540 yd skein and about a third of another so it could become a scarf/hat or even some luxrious mittens.


Here is a sneak peak at Kate's dress.  It fits her like a dream and she is very happy with it so I can feel relieved.   It's completely finished and just waiting for next Saturday.

I have finished another baby sweater and learned there is another baby due!  I'm telling you, it's something in the water.

In a similar vein, I was at the gyn for my annual visit and it went fine.  I really like my doctor and was afraid the change of insurance was going to mean a change of doctor for me but they take my new insurance so all is good.  I am well and truly deep into menopause and some days it's all I can do not to scream from the irritation I feel.  HRT is not a possiblity for me so I am relying on natural supplements and for once the supplements have lived up to their hype.  I am taking Evening Primrose Oil, an extra Vitamin B complex and some black cohosh.  In combination they are making the power surges more bearable and my energy levels are improved and my sleep is more consistent.  I am also less irritable (which is good for everyone around me!)  Now if they could help me with the weight gain.....

 We are starting the downward slide into the holiday season.  We will celebrate the holidays as always- just a bit less extravagantly.  Pete has contacted local temp agencies and will take any job they offer.  I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the holidays but we were in the DIY store yesterday and the lights and decorations are out and I felt the light flutterings of excitement inside that I usually feel this time of year.  I think everything will work out.

Pk and I are celebrating our 33rd anniversary on the 10th.  Our gift to ourselves was to upgrade our phones to iphone6.  I was not a techie until I met him and now I am becoming intolerant of old technology.  I'm not sure that it's a good thing but I love my new phone.  

And finally, a thought for today

"If I am only happy for myself, many fewer chances for happiness. If I am happy when good things happen to other people, billions more chances to be happy. "

~Dalai Lama XIV

Just think, billions of chances to be happy.  I like that thought and I'm going to remember it and try to be happy as often as I can whether for myself or for those around me.

Sunrise on Monday morning.  The mornings are dark when I get up and the sunrises are spectacular.  Makes getting up that early totally worth it.


   

Happy Sunday!  I am sitting here working on my sweater made with the cashmere yarn my husband gave me for my birthday last year. I’m further...