G*R*A*T*I*T*U*D*E S*U*N*D*A*Y

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

I think playing with my kids is the only thing that matters any more. Without these two small people here in my life, everything would be colorless. I am ultimately grateful to the universe for finding me my mate and to my mate for giving me these Littles.

I am grateful to Jump4Joy for helping our family be whole again.

I am thankful to my parents for thinking the Pacific Coast was a better place to grow up than the desert.

I am grateful to the State of Nevada for not having food tax. $100 in California = 3 bags of groceries (if you stick with organic products). $100 in Nevada gets you all of the stock in the Trader Joe's.

I am grateful that I found the most amazing used book store right next to the TJ's. I did a happy dance.

Thanks, Taryn. These posts always make me feel better.

Phone Pics From the Last Many Moons

These pictures have no real order, they aren't even all from my phone... But going thru them was fun, and I liked seeing all these memories. I have more stashed, with plans of a moving post, a new house post, several spinning an knitting posts, as well as various blog role topics. Love having all my pics on my hard drive instead of my phone... it'll make updates more efficient... maybe

On the Skunk Train, pregnant with The Man Child.

 

 

Puppy Isis, pregnant with KaBean

KaBean, fresh outta Momma. They didn't like her being in my bed, but every time the nurses left I put her back next to me. 

"Are you done yet? How 'bout now?"

They both fell asleep in the Bike trailer... they're sooooo heavy....

Dancing with Melinda. One of the most wonderful people ever in the world. She was my doula at The Birth Of The Man Child... she really made a huge difference.

She wad sending Miss Melinda a hug while she was in India... I just think it's too cute.

You can never have too many pics of your kids sleeping.

She was Up Very High. 

RAIN IN A WHEELBARROW!!!!!! oh my god, kid heaven.

Friends on the tire swing at grandma's.

Too Many Lemons.

Moss on Log Pile

Viking Village.

I have a feeling those Huckleberry bushes will be amazing this year :(

My Girl, the Tree Climber. She would climb anything she could. Logs, stumps, benches, buildings... Pretty much anything. Just today she was scaling the highest, most complicated ladder at the big kid playground. The tree she's climbing in these pics is a maple of some variety, growing in the front of my parents house. When I was a kids, it was a wimpy baby tree, with the leaves just high enough to block the view from the front room. Now it is a kid friendly climbing tree... just for my Littles...

Fruit Blossom

Isis in the Dada World Services shirt. Thanks Set.

All the spinning I could collect before I started packing.

Laundry has never been as much fun!

OK, So Yesterday When I Said "Tomorrow..."

Maybe I was being a little... ummm... optimistic...

In all fairness, I did write the post before I knew Huz had loaned his money maker (aka the pro camera) to a "student of his..." wtf? for real, if this student breaks, looses, or sells this camera how are we supposed to feed the kids? Any way, I thought that since I wont be getting the camera today, I should start by organizing the Stash and WIPs (works in progress) to make the shoot more efficient... plus, I like fondling wool. Here are a few pics of my Fiber Room, from the floor, with my laptop camera...

As you can see, over turned baskets, projects and needles strewn everywhere... It's probably a good thing I can't use the camera today...

I'm About To Go Ravelry Crazy

if i can remember my password. shit.

Ohhhh, just watch. When Huz is home tomorrow I'm making him do a pro photo shoot of everything in my Fiber Room. It's gonna be amazing. You guys are going to be blown away by the awesomeness that is my stash... It's not very big, but oooohhhh it sure is glorious. I'm going to update my RavProfile, RavStash, RavNoteBook, RavLibrary, maybe even my RavNeedleKit...  I figure, the best way to increase my inspiration and interest with in my Stash is to make it all look new and sexy.

I'm going to do a quick project rundawn, just to give you guys an idea of what the near future holds for the knitting aspect of this blog...

* 3 Pairs of Socks-
          -Huz Socks, the oddest looking socks you'll ever see, what with Huz having the most tragic ankles ever... about 1/4 done
          -Me Socks, super cute! 3/4 done... but i can't remember how many rows I put in the heel and my most lacking basic knitting skill is row counting.
          -Aunty Socks... so, um, I've knit the swatch? wait'll you see it, the yarn is beautiful!

* Pam's BlanketShawl
          -I started it a while ago, love it, and keep running out of yarn... I have to wait till I can order more yarn. wait'll you see it, the yarn is beautiful!

* The Odd Sweater
          -It's really boring. But learning how to shape the neck and make a shoulder/chest/back thing, also known as a "yoke," is pretty cool. but the sleeves are long and boring... so I'm sort of over it.

* Zoey's Hand Spun Hat
          -It's about to get frogged.

* The Aunty Hat
          -I think the pattern sucks, but I kind of Love the hat. about 3/4 done.


It's late, I think that's all, what do I know, I'm pooped... There is probably more... plus the spinning projects like the 3 ply cotton, or the super fine meri.... . .  .   .    .             .      Ravelry

Inspiration, I Need Some

It's too hot.
My spinning wheel is temporarily out of commission.
Both kids are under the weather.
The whole family is dissatisfied with our move.
I am bored by my yarn stash.
Little B will not stop nursing. Which in it's own way is adorable, he walks up to me and says "mommy, boobies? Need boobies, pease? Momma! Boobies. Have it!" But he's been nursing more since the move than he has since babyhood.
Huz and I are having a hard time reconnecting. He's having a hard time shifting into full time family mode. Which makes sense, really it does. He could be Working Man Artist Guy on the Grind Non Stop whenever he left and Full Time Awesome Daddy when he was home. Now he has to be Working Upstairs Daddy Downstairs. He is amazing, he does the best he can, and his best is surprisingly amazing. Turns out that I'm rather fond of him. who knew?

And then there's this... A few days ago Little A finally gave a hint as to why we have been so disconnected... It should have been obvious, we just moved from the northern california coast to the dry nevada desert. We'd been here about 9 days, but off the coast for 2 weeks. Since we got here, every single one of us, including Huz, has gotten sick. This dry air, the heat... any way, like I said, it should have been obvious. She stopped talking yesterday. Responding only to things in grunts and wails. Crying at the drop of a hat. literally, she dropped a hat and it was the end of the world. And to make it all worse, I have been reacting in the worst ways... well, not this again, but tons of shame, "why would you do that? what were you thinking?" lots of with holding "no candyland till..." and just my over all vibe of unhappiness at the location of our new home. And she can tell. Of corse she can. She's doing what I want to be doing, but i can't because I'm supposed to be the mom. *but i'm sick too, and i just want to be taken care of...* oh what, by your 4 year old? So you know what I did that morning when she woke up grunting and being very sad and withdrawn? I put myself on the floor with her and whined and grunted and thrashed about every time she did. But I started to put words to my emotions to help her understand... 
Her: grunt, thrash, sad 
Me: "i'm so sad because I miss my friends, and we have no one to play with here." 
Then she'd lay still and think about that (or so it seemed...). Then more...
whine/ grunt, thrash, sad
"I'm frustrated because I want to outside and play but it is too hot and there is no yard."
Quiet thinking... then grunt whine thrash
"I'm lonely because I miss my mom and dad. And their house..."
"I miss grandma's house."


There were other things too, but I've forgotten them now... it's been a long few days...


Then she was very quiet, but still not really responding and at this point I had to go feed Little B. I told her we were going downstairs for breakfast and she could come if she wanted... I hated leaving her there, especially after trying to get her to open up, but nothing would be solved with a hungry toddler in the room. About 15-20 minutes I went back up to check on her and found her eating cereal and laughing with Huz. That day was much better, we went to the aquarium... which is a hole other story...


We're still adjusting and I'm still not always reacting the way I want to, but things are getting better for us. Life is a learning process, no technique, no tool, no parenting strategy works all the time. I'll figure this one out just in time for the next emotional catastrophe, because that is what happens when you allow your children to feel and express emotions rather than suppress them.

Goodby, Cabin.

We didn't get to do as much as I had wanted in our last month on the coast, but just living in the forest and letting the kids soak up nature every day was bliss. I already miss our quiet cabin in the woods. The desert heat and dry air has succeeded in making all of us sick. So I huddle around these pictures, and the other pics of the kids in nature and I try my best to remember what fog feels like... what rain smells like... the sound of the ocean... the frogs... man, why do people choose to live here?

This is the ladder to the loft and where the kids sleep and watch movies... You can see my wheel tucked behind the ladder and the sleeping mat and pillows and stuff all piled up. One sleeps on the couch, one sleeps on the mat. It's a good set up.

Wood burning stove. Best. Ever.

Kitchen and front door. OK, only door. but it's kind of cool...

Kitchen window... 

Fire place window... I like the look of the ax and the bobbins... I think it's like my version of leather and lace. lol

Bad pic, but this is the only view from the loft pic I have. :(

And this... maybe my favorite thing ever... The View From The Toilet. Honestly, nothing is more awesome than watching nature when nature calls.

posted from Bloggeroid

We've Made It

We're here in our new digs in the desert. The window I look out while spin looks right into the bedroom of my neighbor's kid, no more than 4 feet away. Being on the ground floor of this "house" feels like being underground. It's nice enough, this McMansion we have found ourselves in, but it is stuffed so close to the neighbors here. I am so grateful we have this place and blessed that Huz got the job, but I can't imagine why anyone would chose to live like this. Huz tells me to think of it like living in an apartment... a big apartment... I guess... Hopefully, we wont be here more than 6 months, even if we do stay in the desert, we'll probably find a different house.

I'm setting up a whole post of the cabin life and our road trip and how my poor wheel fared thru it all, but we're still settling in and finding our rhythm. For now though, let me share how amazing it is to have Huz here with us, he's downstairs cooking breakfast for the kids, I'm upstairs writing and spinning... I dug out my very first drop spindle and mini cards last night. The wool made my hands sweaty, but the action of twirling and pulling and wrapping and twisting was so relaxing...

See you soon, bare with me, there will be pictures soon.