Pouches, Potholders and Pincushions

Oh! I like the way that sounds. And, I like the way that these turned out. I think I'll make several more for my friends at work. I found the pattern here, courtesy of Heather Bailey. I really love her website, you should visit!

More on potholders and pouches very soon. Very soon. I promise.

Cheers!
~Lee

Remember when

I started these?




They're finally done! They're a lot of fun to make, but those zippers are a bugger. It should snow more often, I'm catching up!

It doesn't snow in Seattle!

This beautiful tree was once, much taller. We didn't hear a thing! And this is before the major, icky stuff that rumored to be rolling in tonight and tomorrow. Saoirse is convinced that Universe has sent this gift just for her; so that she'd feel at home. Shall I repeat to you my response to her?

Being snowed in does have it's advantages. I did finish this:



Can you see the dragonfly? Lest I give the impression that I just whipped this one out, let me tell you that I lost count (haha!)of how many times I frogged it to begin again. You'd think that at my age, counting never higher than 39 wouldn't be such a chore. I managed two of these, for Fran, who collects dragonflies. I bought the soap from this wonderful Etsy shop. Her package was beautifully wrapped, arrived quickly and the soap smells so heavenly that Fran will be lucky if it makes it into her stocking. She also included the most delicious samples. I hope you drop by and visit her shop.

If the snow continues, I should be able to show you two Zune pouches knit from the most beautiful, sensual, cotton yarn I've ever felt. These two, I have also frogged more than a dozen times, but I don't mind because it's such much fun to hold this yarn and feel the pouch takes form. There are also a dozen magnets which Saoirse put together from odds and ends of my supplies. She's mimicing the ATCs which I've shared with her and they are really adorable. Oh, and not to forget, I think the dreamcatcher project ran its course at about 20 or so.

We made fudge and we're baking tonight. The tree is decked out. You know, I've lived alone for awhile and I kept thinking that my grandsons might not be so thrilled with my tiny little tree. Unable to hold Christmas back until my budget was ready to spring for a "real" tree, we pulled out my special tree. I was thinking that it would look nice in a corner after the "real" tree appeared. From the looks of it, I think Cash isn't at all disappointed with our tiny sprite of a tree. And, it's a good thing because it doesn't look like we're going anywhere soon!



Merry Christmas to everyone - I hope you are all warm and safe. There is truly much to be grateful ~Lee

Good Journey, Bob

I have received news this morning that a wonderful man, someone I consider a role model has passed from us.

Bob Landman, of Indianapolis, owned Good Earth for as long as I can remember. And, Good Earth has been as much a part of my life as any church or organization in which I have participated. I started shopping at Good Earth when I was 20. Bob's little store has seen all of my children through their births and the scrapes and bruises of childhood. When I divorced, Bob was there in a quiet and friendly way. When I was broke, Bob made sure that my family had the necessities. Bob was able to dialoge about herbs, and though he had an opinion, he was always respectful of the conclusions drawn by others. I cannot recall a time when I spoke with him that he did not have a smile, or a kind glance. And, he was rarely without a joke, or an impromptu silly song.

I remember once, when Bob explained to me how he derived the proper retail price, he explained exactly how he put the concept of the "mark-up" into practice and I know it was quite different, and much less, than other retailers. I believe Bob was fair and honest with his employees, as evidenced by the fact that several of them have been with Bob since the very early days. I call Bob, and many of these employees, my friends, my community. Bob supported local midwives and their clients. And, over the years, my adult children have been nourished by not only the wholesome goods that Bob provided, but have also grown into this community of friends.

At a time when larger retailers have been popular, Bob remained a neighborhood shop. With integrity, creativity, some really hard work, and a whole lot of fun Bob succeeded in a difficult business. I will miss him. When I go back to visit Indy, Good Earth is always one of the first places that I stop, and I return to Seattle with bags full of little treats. But more, I carry the memory of this friend and all that he has given me.

Good Journey, Bob. We will all miss you.

What's up in the world!?!?!

Has the world passed through some cosmic energy field and found itself in some new and unfamiliar territory?

I have a friend at work, he is normally calm and rational. He is definitely not prone to flights of New Age babble as some might say that I may be. He sees a very practical world. He spoke with me the other day and explained that he woke up feeling great and had planned his day. Mid-morning he was overcome with such an intense feeling of sorrow that he scoured the Internet looking for news of some cataclysm. In the last few days, he's not the only person that's mentioned similar feelings.

Other friends at work today were pink slipped. Others seem confused and uncomfortable in their own skin. I personally am living through the most intense period of chaos that I have experienced in my life. And! This time, I cannot, no matter how hard I try, find some failing in my own behavior or judgment which accounts for the destruction and negativity outside around me and inside, filling me. I plan the many projects that I would like to create, for minutes I feel eager to begin, then, I stand, prepare and just feel an emptiness and wonder why in the world I am contemplating pincushions and little dollies in the first place.

I'll spare you my New Age babble but for a brief remark that there are those who say, the ones sent to help the planet in her Ascension will feel these things intently, as though there has been a separation from our homeland. I am told that extreme devotion and practice are required. Some days, I can only breathe - and that, just barely. I keep looking for the Light.

Whatever it is, I hope we find our way through it quickly.

Together Again

My sewing room is functional again! Yeah! You can see the corner of the little chair that I re-covered, and the chair in front of my sewing table. I'm still not so wild about all the pink...but I'm hoping it will help to change the energy a little bit. Maybe the world will take on a tinge of roses as the year draws to a close.



I celebrated by finishing up this little pincushion that I'd begun months ago.


It turned out a little bigger than I imagined it would be, and the stuffing could be a little tighter but, I plan to make several more of these for a craft fair at my school next weekend.

We also started on some little dreamcatchers to make as Christmas gifts.



This isn't the best one so far. Dreamcatchers are a fun, little project to make when I want to be in a dreamy mood. I can do the weaving and let my mind wander in almost a meditative state. We used vines growing in my yard - I really like that. I feel as though I'll be giving gifts that carry bits of my heart, and my home with them.

When I finally got my sewing room together I felt this bit of peace and some ease; I felt certain that I'd be looking forward to many nights working and creating. Moments after the room came together, I got notice that my landlord has, at the 11th hour, declined to sign the new agreement which we had so carefully crafted. Once again, I am in a state of not knowing what my future holds. Perhaps the dreamcatchers will work their magic.

I hope all of you are looking forward to a peaceful, fulfilling holy season.

~Lee

News

I keep avoiding this post. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right to share this information here but it also seems quite right. Some of you read my blog, I think of you as friends. And even though this information is not about sewing, or crafting, spiritual AHA! or even librarianing - I feel like I want to share this event in my life as an explanation for my absence. And, just because I want to. So there.

In late August, I asked my landlord's permission for my daughter, and her two children to come and stay with me. Those posts about her arrival were some of my happiest writing. He agreed and for the two months following her arrival he and his wife visited with her, offered to provide childcare when she achieved full-time work and in every way, affirmed their approval for her living here. Despite all that, last Monday night, he served us with notice to vacate tenancy. The notice said that I had ten days to get my daughter "out" or to surrender the property.

Of course, my daughter and I have been in a state of panic. I don't know about your finances, but mine certainly don't include extra cash laying around to front a move. Especially in ten days! Besides, I like my house! After a storm of emails, my landlord actually said to me that he never had any intention of evicting anyone, and that he does approve of my daughter's living with me. He just thinks that if I pay an extra sum of money each month, "this won't be a big issue."

I feel extorted. I feel threatened. And, I am angry. For several days, my daughter and I went through the emotional journey of being homeless. And, it's still not quite over. Turns out, that our duplex is an illegal duplex, only zoned for a single family unit. During this time, our kitchen sink has been backed up and that turns out to be the result of inadequately installed plumbing. So, while we've been experiencing all this emotional turmoil, we've been bailing water and doing dishes in the bathtub. Then, to make matters worse, our toilet stopped working as well. After hours and hours of attempts, nothing has succeeded and to this day, I have been bailing water for 14 days now.


Of course, this added tension has done nothing to support and strengthen my relationship with my daughter who feels a grave responsibility - she thinks this is all her fault. None of it is her fault, the improper plumbing would have ultimately failed anyway and an in trouble landlord would have turned my direction at some point in time in order to ease his financial burdens. Nevertheless, she and I have been arguing an awful lot and then we have our moments of solidarity and peace which have usually been short-lived as yet another plumbing crisis or new bit of information has come to light.

There may be solutions, some of them very difficult, maybe a few less difficult, but none of them easy. Our City's Code Enforcement department is now involved (they were already investigating another matter) and I'm not really sure how things are going to go from here on out. If he's illegally rented me an apartment, I'm not sure how he can ask for any rent at all, much less any extra rent. At any rate, I'm exhausted and I for sure have not been thinking about pincushions, dottie dolls or even knitting. I hope you'll stick around for the few posts that I manage and I look forward to joining you again soon on a more regular basis. I do read all your blogs, even if I don't comment - that distraction has kept me calm and I do thank you.

~Lee

Some people just have all the luck

Hi everyone - how long has it been since I last posted? I think it's been forever and there is much to show and tell. For today though, I'll just do this short, little post. Isn't that a fabulous looking car? It's mine. He's really, really old but he looks great, the ride is smooth and he's almost perfect.....except....

Well...some of you recall this post from way back. One day my Oldsmobile overheated and the engine siezed. Not 3 days later, my spare tire truck, my beloved Cochise overheated too and blew up! So, I ended up with Bennie here. A few weeks after I purchased Bennie, he also started overheating. Insert your favorite explicatives here. Since sometime mid July I've been borrowing my daughter's car and begging rides from others. Bennie hasn't run for all that time.

Today, I just couldn't stand it any more and rather than ask more kind friends to examine him yet again; I decided to force the budget and take Bennie to a pro. My pals have tried everything, and no one could discover the source of Bennie's leak. Aha! Today's mechanic discovered the problem immediately and showed me a perfect puncture hole in the thermostat hose. Wow.

Do I just have the greatest luck, or what? Hopefully I can have the hose replaced pretty soon and be on the road again.

There's lots more to share, complete with photos. But hopefully soon some of the stresses will be resolved and I'll be on the road again so to speak.

Cheers!!

~Lee

Weekend Review

WOW! I feel like I've been going all weekend but I know that's not so. I took a look at my To-Do list and tried to figure out where all my energy went.

• Friday night is a cleaning night. I'd like to get a handle on all those piles of things here and there. You know the ones - a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I did get through all those piles. I feel so much lighter now


• Really clean the bird cages and mats beneath them. I'm facing a reality that it may be time to consider re-homing my birdies. I don't much like that reality, but with kids and activities they just aren't getting much attention. Yup! This got done...now it's ready to be done again!


• Maybe re-till the garden spot and cover in newspaper. I'm coming around to the PNW mentality that comfrey is a nuisance. It's EVERYWHERE. Ha! Not a prayer - maybe next weekend


• Really, still on my list is to re-cover the sewing room chairs and put together the vintage highchair that I brought home for Chase. The reality is that he'll likely never sit there but I still want the project completed. Does anyone else do that? Uh huh! The highchair did get finished. Photos tomorrow. My camera has disappeared. The sewing room chairs are still waiting too. Geeze, one step forward and two back.


• Water and prune my houseplants - they're looking kind of sorry. Everything got watered and a few things got pruned. Doesn't look much better yet but I think the next few days will show some improvement


• Put the proper bed frame on my bed and attach the footboard. Ummm that will be different, sleeping with a footboard. I wonder if I'll like it? Oh gosh this got done - but I didn't do it!


• Finish getting my winter clothes in order and doing the last bit of organizing in my sewing room. I'll have something to do next weekend.

There much have been more. Oh! I know! We spent most of Saturday doing a wonderful birthday day with Cash. There was bowling, and shopping, and cooking, and eating, and singing. It was a wonderful day. Then I did laundry forever it seemed. I swept the front porch. And I watched two really fun movies, way late into the night on Saturday. What a fun weekend, and productive it was. Hope yours was too. ~Lee

Five Good Things

I had a look at my last weekend's To-Do List and realized that I accomplished almost everything on the list! That certainly started my day of right and once smiling, I was thinking about Five Good Things without even telling myself I needed to focus. And, my friends, I wasn't even thinking about writing my list for you; just me, thinking about some good things in my life.

• My Grandson, new to kindergarten and new to a whole new life, has been having nightly melt-downs before bed. Daughter and I decided on a plan to hopefully avoid this unpleasant evening habit and last night it sure seemed like it worked. Daughter and son spent some alone time doing some special things and it was a fun, sweet evening all around. What a relief.
• Oldest daughter sent a text message asking for the names of any she might forget from my family so that they can be invited to her wedding. She's planning ahead - a very good thing.
• The air this morning is crisp and alive. That aliveness balances the cold, grey Seattle sky.
• I had a fabulous time teaching yesterday. I love teaching.
• The clematis outside my window has been slowly turning from white to pink over the last few days. I see now that I've gotten closer to take the photo, it's not really pink at all. From my window though, it looks pink. The yard is otherwise fairly drab and that soft pink haze draws my eyes each morning. It's beautiful to see as I sit here, it lends a pink glow to my thoughts and these days, that glow is profoundly welcome.

I think this is clematis. My Mother had several different kinds of this flower and this is the same thing which she called clematis, but I'm not sure she had that right. It doesn't look at all like the other flowering kinds she grew which I know are clematis. It's more like a wispy, delicate flower. From a distance, it almost looks like a vining astillbe. I think I'll try to confirm today that it is really clematis. And, I think this weekend that I'll turn some of it into wreaths. Whatever it is called, my mother used to make beautiful, fall wreaths from it and share with all her friends and family.

I hope your weekend is filled with Autumn delights. Apple cider sounds just right, don't you think? ~Lee

Weekend To-Do

Looks like a stay-at-home most of the time weekend. I like those. Things have been slipping around here and I'm anxious to get caught up again.

• Friday night is a cleaning night. I'd like to get a handle on all those piles of things here and there. You know the ones - a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
• Really clean the bird cages and mats beneath them. I'm facing a reality that it may be time to consider re-homing my birdies. I don't much like that reality, but with kids and activities they just aren't getting much attention.
• Maybe re-till the garden spot and cover in newspaper. I'm coming around to the PNW mentality that comfrey is a nuisance. It's EVERYWHERE.
• Really, still on my list is to re-cover the sewing room chairs and put together the vintage highchair that I brought home for Chase. The reality is that he'll likely never sit there but I still want the project completed. Does anyone else do that?
• Water and prune my houseplants - they're looking kind of sorry.
• Put the proper bed frame on my bed and attach the footboard. Ummm that will be different, sleeping with a footboard. I wonder if I'll like it?
• Finish getting my winter clothes in order and doing the last bit of organizing in my sewing room

Sounds like a lot! I hope to get most of it done on Friday night so that I can focus on some cupcakes for Cash' birthday. If I stick to it Friday night we can have most of the weekend for fun, relaxed family time. This is pretty interesting to see which items stay on my list from week to week. We'll see.

Cheers!

Such a Boob!

OH man....I got this Beautiful ATC in the mail today. Isn't that just the cutest thing? I'm always so touched when I get sweet little gifts in the mail. And, in this case, a tiny bit humiliated.

You see, my mother for several years in her life, made lovely little "paintings" by using dried flowers. I remember at the time being awestruck by these small trasures and I so wish that I had one now to remember her. I had not known, as a teenager (gasp!) that my mother had ever sewn anything by hand. She did all sorts of crafts - mostly using dried flowers. She made baskets and taught basket weaving, she did floral arranging and had beautiful gardens. But, somehow, in all of her talents and gifts, I'd never seen her hand sew not one single item. Even suddenly torn hems were oft repaired with a bit of whatever kind of tape she could find at hand. So, when I glimpsed by mother, hand sewing tiny, delicate dried flowers onto a fabric background, I was awestruck. So, when I saw the swap for beginners flower ATC; I was anxious to join in.

Did I mention that I have never yet, no not once, created a paper craft that I've been pleased to call my own? Okay, I've made a couple of pretty passable Christmas cards but in general, I've no talent, skill or experience at paper crafts. But, I so wanted to try my hand at this flower gig. I fancied myself creating something like my mother had so beautifully crafted - only on a much smaller scale. Truly, a beginner's attempt.

The more I thought about it - the more intimadated I became. I thought perhaps I'd make a fabric ATC...but I let myself run out of time. I thought about it and worried about it, considered this design and that; looked all over the web for designs I might copy and finally simply had to "do SOMETHING." My swap was late to go into the mail, and then returned as I'd copied the address incorrectly. By the time my item was returned, I'd received my swap in the mail.

This is what I created


I almost didn't put it into the mail that second time around. Almost. But then I remembered this. My mother was doing flowers for a very large wedding. She asked me to help. We sat, she and I, in the empty hall behind the church where the affair was to take place. I watched her and I sweated. With just a few twists of her wrist, reaching here, tying there, grabbing this and that, she created just perfect bouquets and arrangements. She must have seen me struggle, she must have sensed my doubt. I knew well enough about floral tape and wire and how to technically create a bouquet. But! Hers were so beautiful! Finally, time running out, and exasperated with my hesitation she said to me (with more than a slight edge to her voice), "Relax, LeeAnn! How can you go wrong with flowers and ribbon?"

Indeed.

Weekend To-Do List

My boarder has secured his own living situation. It's amazing how the absence of just one quiet person can make such a difference! Maybe by Sunday night my sewing room can look (almost) like this again and my daughter and I can re-organize our space. I am eager to begin to making this place our home. I'm hoping that very soon I can get back to some un-finished projects. There's that pincushion with little teeny, tiny stitches that I started, and of course, the Chase blanket and a couple of over-due swap ATCs. So! Off we go, organizing again so that life can get back to normal - whatever that is. Hopefully pics of FOs coming soon.

Finish washing all the bedding left behind by my boarder - this requires a trip to the laundromat I think

CLEAN really CLEAN the bathroom

Get all my books back on the bookshelves which are now back in my sewing room (I already tried to get Grandson Number One to organize cookbooks and not cookbooks - he made a laudable attempt!)

Re-build the shelves in my sewing room which were emptied to create a bedroom for my grandsons

Finish bringing down the items from the upstairs closet which were once in my sewing room and get the onto the shelves

Move my sewing table back into place

Move my cutting table back into place

Clean bird cages (no bold, no caps!)

Make something yummy for dinner at least once this weekend

Finish covering the sewing room chairs

Finish putting the highchair together

It's not as bad as it sounds. The grandsons will help!

I hope you're all having a splendid weekend, that it's not too rainy and that you visit your local farmer's market before it's too late.

Everybody's Doin' It

I wonder how often my mother heard that phrase? I can't count how many times I heard it. My mother gave answers like, "Good thing I'm not Everybody's Mother." And I, less funny than my own mother, said things like, "I'm not responsible for Everybody; just you." But, the more and more I live in the world, the more I think Somebody's Mother forgot to let them know these phrases because it seems that some things, that Everybody does - Everybody else does too. Strength in numbers, might makes right seem to have, in so many cases, won the day. Know what I mean, Vern?

Some of the things that Everybody's doing seem fine by me - even right that Everybody's doin it. Everybody's eating better - or so it seems to me; everybody's more health conscious; everybody's more conscious about name-calling; everybody's more tolerant of women's rights...or so it sometimes seems, at least to me. I guess it's the 100th Monkey at work and I'm really glad for so many things Everybody does that were harder "back in the day." All my girls played Little League, while girls were not allowed to join up when I was a girl. But there are a couple of things that Everbody's doin' that I'm not so happy about.

So are you ready for my Everybody's doin it jab? It seems to me like almost Everybody's smokin' pot. Except me. Or so it seems. What's up with that? Is it really okay now that some of our heroes have 'fessed up? Now, I don't mean a recreational joint now and again either. I mean, all those Everybody's seem to be smoking pot like some folks smoked cigarettes (except Everybody isn't smoking cigarettes anymore because you can't even have a smoke with your occasional shot at the corner tavern now because Everybody's aware now of the hazards of cigarette smoke and so Everybody isn't smoking, at least in pubic, anymore).

Hello, people. Last time I checked pot-smoking was still illegal. Now, I'm not arguing that it should be. In fact, I can see loads of reasons why it shouldn't be. I'm not making a judgment about the rightness, or the wrongness of pot-smoking. I'm only acknowledging that it's illegal. We seem to take this so lightly. "Lemme smoke a bowl first," seems to be a common phrase. How did this happen? How does it come to be that my apartment can fill up with pot smoke, usually twice daily, pretty often, seven days a week and I know that calling the police would be futile. Does Everybody have a bank account sturdy enough to pay the fines and associated legal costs? Does Everybody have such disregard for their professions, their reputations and their neighbor's comfort? I don't.

Maybe some time I wish I was more like Everybody. I'm told I'm too uptight and I need to relax more. Ummmmm then I could be like Everybody else. But to tell you the truth, sometimes Everybody else doesn't look so pretty.

Maybe if I smoked a bowl.....

Five Good Things

Yesterday morning I had the feeling that nothing could go wrong. The world was fresh and new and washed in innocence. Today, I step from the shower and soft pink outlines the mountains south. I stood for long minutes in the silence of my kitchen, filled with gratitude for the grandeur of the Universe. Once in awhile I am sure that this place is paradise.

• My grandson's face as we left him on his first day of school. He was practically radiant and all around him seemed to be kind and helpful faces.
• What could have been a nearly perilous project at work seems to be going along just dandy and will be finished in less than half the time I anticipated.
• My household is sleeping peacefully - everyone is where they should be.
• In a moment, the day will erupt with life; there is business to be done and all are about attending to it.
• I feel atonement this morning and I am grateful for all that I have learned and the fleeting wisdom that occasionally presents itself . I know that the past has brought me to precisely this moment.

I hope your week is peaceful and filled with clarity.

~Lee

Meme

I am Mary Poppins you know; so coming up with 6 Quirky Things when Amanda, over at Violiceous tagged me was tough! Heck, I even asked my daughter about my quirks and here’s what she said, “You don’t like laundry in the bathroom.” When I gave her a quizzical look she explained, “Mom; the washer and dryer are in the bathroom.”

Here are some quirky things about me and the rules.
1) Link to the person who tagged you2) Mention the rules3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself4) Tag six other bloggers by linking to them5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged
6 Quirky Things about Me

I often wear mis-matched earrings on purpose

I really hate, hate, hate wearing tennis shoes without socks. How do the rest of you do that??

Even in the summer, I make my bed with a gazillion blankets. And! I usually sleep under them, at least start the night out that way no matter how hot it is.

At over 50, I still cry in the dentist’s chair. Even if it’s only a tear or two – every single time.

I am known to exclaim, “Oh! That’s my favorite song!” Probably twenty times a week to twenty different songs. I can’t identify a real favorite when asked.

I only like white sheets on the bed. Colors are beautiful but to sleep on, it needs to be white.

Now of course that I've written the post (sorry that I had to think about it for so long Amanda!) and let it set for several days; I can think of many more quirks. Just do me a favor, okay? Don't ask my family about my quirks.

OH! Who do I want to tag? ummmmm...I have to think about that part. How about this? If you're willing to do the meme would you leave a comment so I can tag you? I know that's backwards - another quirk of mine...I could never be the captain on any team in school because I couldn't choose my players! Oh man now I'm all in a tizzy thinking about having to choose! Leave me a danged comment wouldja?

~Lee

Battleground

This is my house. There are still some renovations going on, and there's not much of a yard yet, but doesn't it look sweet? Doesn't it look peaceful? This house appeared to be a lovely, tranquil house. It's not. My home, of late, has become such a battleground that were it not for the sweetness of grandsons and daughter, I would hate coming home. Hate it.

There is Irate Neighbor, there's Broken Leg Boy, there's yet another tenant living in the back of the property out of the camera's eye. There are missing dishes, purchased and purchased again, there are fighting cats, hostile glances, sharp voices and when those are absent, silence. There are backed-up sump pumps and soaring utilities. The tenants are left to fairly divide the utility costs amongst themselves and of course, each of us feels that no solution is fair. There is the arrival of my daughter and her sons, thought to overload the home's services, resulting in the backed-up sump pump. This, I am quite sure, is not true, but......others see things as they will. Each of us, myself included see through our own lens. My camera lens did not capture Old Indian in the back, and I wonder how much my interior lens fails to capture.

My days are a constant struggle between taking care of myself, and self-righteousness. I wallow in the turmoil of whether I am "right" and whether I am inconsiderate of others. What are a few dime-store plastic glasses, a few dollars in utility costs? Cats fight, misunderstandings arise - how much of that have I created? This night, and during the nights of interior turmoil, others have lost home and loved ones. Others live in chaos and still others did not enjoy the wonderful meal that my family shared this evening. How selfish am I? Have I really done enough to be compassionate and forgiving? Or, have I become a doormat? I rarely can land on one side or the other of that sandy line.

And then, I read something like this in my daily email which sorts itself automatically into a folder that I have labeled, "inspiration."

"A superior being does not render evil for evil. Never harm the wicked or the good or even criminals meeting death. A noble soul is always compassionate, even toward those who enjoy injuring others or who are actually committing cruel deeds--for who is without fault?" ~Ramayana (Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus," edited by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press.)

And, I am reminded, the only battleground is inside of me. "...Who is without fault?" Certianly not I. I am humbled, and inspired. Just as the only battleground is inside of me; peace can only be found inside of me. Everyone is exactly where they should be, and everyone is doing exactly what they should be doing. I will return to practice.

Be still and know that I am God.

Thank you Mary Frances.

~Lee

She's Here, She's Here!!!

Ahhh, it is so good to be with your children after a long absence. What is that motherhood thing? What is it that makes us crave the presence of our children; whether or not they are the perfect children we want them to be? Can that be tracked to a hormone? Is it culturally inspired? Or, am I the only one? I can't be.

As I told you before, my daughter is beautiful, funny, hard-working, devoted, passionate and so much more. But it is almost as though none of those things matter, all of her wonderful qualities, and perhaps all of her not-so-wonderful qualities are irrelevant. At just the sight of her, my heart exploded, I felt like I'd had a long, cool drink of the purest water after a long, dry night. I feel like all good things are possible. Then there's this mysterious feeling that I have for my grandsons; they are delicious! They are innocent and pure and I could just wallow in the delight of their presence. Where does that come from? What instinct could account for my attachment to these young boys? Wherever it comes from; it is there and I am reeling in its strong, heady grip.

Now, there have been bumps in the path. There have been short words and hot breath. There has been confusion and chaos without doubt. But even so, it just feels right, even when it's not perfect.

The first night, I was so excited to see them, so high, so jubilant. I forgot the time. The plane, delayed by East Coast hurricane threat, arrived more than two hours late at nearly midnight. The children were wired, and we simply forgot ourselves. Ummm, I taught them to slide the hardwood floors on their socks - it was after 2 AM! Wince. I had no clue what time it was until my irate neighbor banged on the door. Man, was I embarrassed. But, I was so drunk with their presence, so lost in love that I just forgot the hour and the environment. Nothing existed but these precious humans.

I think we've done some better since that first night. I think my drunkness has passed(some anyways). We are getting more accustomed to a proper bedtime and it gets a touch earlier each night. I'm learning to let my daughter parent her children and to hold my tongue. I'm also learning that it's okay for me to grandparent. How different that is! Do you remember saying, "NO!" to your children and the onset of wailing? Well..when mama says "No!" there is indeed, wailing. When malee says,"No!" there is wide-eyed wonder. I can just hear that little brain whirling with, "Ummm what do I do now???" But there is no wailing. And, I get kisses and hugs and smiles. Sure, I also get nasty looks, and stubborn faces too...but it's all just perfect.

Ahh, I could continue long about this new experience. And, I probably will in days to come - or maybe over at MamaleeA. For now, they're here! We've done several touristy things, Snoqualmie Falls (the second touristy thing that all tourists do in Seattle - Pike Place being the first, but we are saving that for a more prosperous weekend), the ferry to an Island and shoving our feet in the warm sand at Alki Beach. Here they are at Snoqualmie. Were I a decent photographer she'd not be standing in front of those gorgeous falls. Eh, I picked the more beautiful subject I think.

Really, it's all good!

~Lee

Eeek!

That’s my bathtub. That’s not my pet spider.

Where does the day go from here??

Is killing spiders really bad luck?

I didn't kill it. I just sent it on vacation. A fine place with a nice swimming pool.

I missed 100!

I noticed it a few days ago. "Oh man, I've completed 99 blog entries!" I made a note to myself that 100 should be something special, meaningful and then I blinked and now I'm at 101. So, I skimmed over the posts in between reading other blogs and I glimpsed an idea. I started off exploring in several posts why I blog. I have shared my To-Do Lists, thanks to Lynn, and I've continued to share "Five Good Things" thanks to Liz, and I'm played around with Attitude of Gratitude and Sacred Life Sunday (which I never really managed to pull off and I find that quite meaningful; I want Sunday to be more than Laundry Day!) And for just a brief moment something came together for me.

What I want to think about today:

• I want to remember today that people are always more important than things
• I want to remember today that I trust my Creator and I believe in the process even when I can't see it
• I will remember today that my thoughts, as much as my actions, bear fruit tomorrow
• I will remember today that it's all good - it really is
• I will walk in the knowing that Five Good Things are really 10,000 good things and that it is not necessary for me to name them all; but to allow them to become part of my thoughts and actions in each fluid moment

I wonder what happens to my To-Do List if I create this list first? Lately, the thought has been introduced to me that my life isn't exactly as pretty as my blog. I fail often to be the person that I am when I blog. Perhaps if I sometimes use this space to consciously remember who I want to be, and the life I wish to live, I can create a balance between who I really am and who I blog to be. My list of "things that bug me" is probably far more realistic than my lists of Five Good Things. It's not that I intend to be dishonest - and I'm not even convinced that I am. But very often, I blog as I wish to be and not so often as I really am. Today, I will look in the mirror, accept all of me and grow into the best parts of me, manifest more fully all that we are created to be. Today I will be the Creator of my life and not merely a respondant to it.

What a long, strange trip it's been. Happy Friday everyone; and fruitful, loving and exciting weekend.

Cheers! ~Lee

Doll

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight.
I will sew tight little stitches
She won’t ever fall apart

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I’ll hold her gently in my palm
She will be birthed in safety and warmth.

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I’ll weep the tears for weeping into her softness
She will be wise and compassionate

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I will sew a delicate smile and soft brown eyes
She will be lovely

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I’ll cradle her while I stitch tiny beads and shiney sequins
She will know her worth

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I’ll sing my soul into hers
She will sing with Creator the joy of life

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
I’ll send her out to the world
A treasure and a gift

I think I’ll make a dollie tonight
And fill my soul

Push 'em back, shove 'em back, wayyyyyyyyyyyy Back!

I have never posted about political events. Maybe we’ll find out why after this first toe-in-the-water post. Let me preface by saying that I did not watch the Democratic Convention speeches. I will find the text of those speeches before hitting “publish” here. I did, however, watch the Republican speeches last evening after being urged to do so. I didn’t listen much until Ms. Palin came to the podium. What an attractive woman. She’s a really fine speaker, she handles herself well; she’s sure no push-over. And for a moment (a short one!) I found myself wishing that I could vote for her. Really. I did. She, of course, gives voice to some of my own concerns. She clearly is devoted to her family. She’s funny, she’s bright. I felt that I LIKED her. Until…she did it. Now, I am told that Obama did it too. We’ll see; I’ll go look for his speech. I sure hope it’s not true. But I saw Sara do it and I’m appalled.

She had to condescend to me. She had to reduce what had begun as a dignified speech to wise cracks and general fun-making. Why did she have to do that? She stooped to the same sort of fun-making, wise cracking that I can hear on any street corner in my old neighborhood. If I wanted wise cracks and fun-making, I can hang out there. She behaved like the cheerleader at a football game rousing her team’s supporters to crush the other team. All she lacked were the pompoms. (But oddly, I kept seeing them on the screen after about her half-way point) .She made fun of Obama the man, and she reduced the concerns of a wide swath of Americans to little more than childish fancy. I felt belittled. I felt patronized; and it was worse because it was a woman doing the patronizing. The concerns of parents, scientists, business-people, and entrepreneurs were dismissed with easy one-liners. It’s not just that she doesn’t agree with us; it’s that we’re dumb, silly, not worthy of attention. We don’t belong at the table. Surely there was no sign of conciliation, no sign of compromise and working together, not a hint of respect for those who dissent. And, I think this is a dangerous thing. Baby, we’re right and we’ll just steam-roll right over those silly idiots who dare to disagree. How does this unite a country? Or a community? Oh yeah, that’s right – community organization is a trivial thing. I forgot.

~Lee.

P.S. If Obama "did it"; I can't find it in the text of his Convention speech. Quite the contrary, he praised his opponent the man, and disagreed with his positions. There is no name-calling, no fun-making. There was respectful dissent.

Five Good Things

Life has been such a mixed bag lately of wonderful, awesome things - and some not so good things. I'm having a playful night, it's nearing autumn, my daughter is arriving, my school quarter is winding down. Life has a delicious rhythm and I'm enjoying the dance. (And Maggie has married; did I mention that?) Five good things seems fun to write this evening - and fun is very much under-rated!

• Fresh, new, white curtains with blue trim (not red!) hanging as a backdrop to mis-matched pieces of blue glass. How beautiful! (and straight)
• Beautiful, dark stain on my re-finished coffee table.
• Soon to be restored vintage high chair for baby Chase. This unbelievable find, matching the Cosco pieces I'd already re-finished, comes through Freecycle. I heart Freecycle - check it out please!
• Splendid mums reminding me that even as winter whispers; flowers bloom.
• Tasty dinner, not cooked by me, and peaceful companionship while dishes are not done by me!

I hope you have five wonderful things; and many, many more!

~Lee

Who Did This?

It couldn't have been me. Nope, no way. It could not have been me, because I've been sewing for more than 27 years now (I had to think about that for a split second as I typed) and I would never, ever, no certainly not, sew curtains that hang a full 3 (count 'em, 3!!) full inches lower on one side than the other. Nah, could not have been me. And, if I were to make such an unbelievable mistake, I'd surely not do it while sewing in red thread, using a zig zag stitch, against a white background in order to accentuate this gross error.

They look all right with the sewing machine desk in front though.




Cheers!

~Lee

Dilemma

I wonder if others worry about themselves as often as I do? Maybe I just like to worry...but here's the deal...

There's a young fellow in my environment. Now, I don't especially enjoy his company; especially when I get the feeling he's been drinking. He talks a lot. And, when he talks a lot, most of it is how grateful that he is to have me in his life; how special and wonderful I am and how much I've done for him. It makes me uncomfortable. It makes me feel like he wants something from me. I want him to hush and leave me alone.

Did I mention that he has a broken leg? So, tonight, I have come home from work and I am anxious to spend several hours being ALONE. By alone; I mean ALONE. Really. Alone. Solitude. Quiet. And by quiet, I mean QUIET. No sound. Perhaps I am an unusual individual; or perhaps I am just the mother of six grown daughters and quite frankly, I'm not so hot on lots of trivial chatter. I crave solitude. And, now that my daughters are grown, I can really have some. I can have some solitude without guilt that I am neglecting someone or that I am leaving something undone. I protect my solitude fiercely.

First, he wants me to take him to the store. I'm guessing that he doesn't want to buy food. I'm being judgmental. I said that I thought I was going out shortly. Now, Broken Leg Boy wants to cook. I know, that I was supposed to get up and help him cook. I was, wasn't I? I didn't.

The noises in my kitchen get louder and louder. The guilt is setting in. He stops frequently, he's telling me what an angel I am, how he feels like God sent me to him. All this while I am sitting here thinking, "SHUT UP!" How rotten is that? So I suppose his cooking has reached a break-time. My computer room is just really a corner off the living room. There's no door. So, he sits down on the couch and turns the television on. Did I mention, when I so snarkily wrote a list of things that bug me, that the television really is at the top of my list? Once in awhile there are a few shows I enjoy - (any other 24 fans out there?) and I like a good, okay, sometimes a bad one will do, movie on Saturday night. But mostly, the television is just noise. And I wanted......

QUIET

So, being the passive/aggressive individual that I've been accused of being, and perhaps am; I walked over, got my Zune and put in the headphones and cranked it way up. Randy Travis. No one else likes Randy but me. He left. He keeps coming back as if to check up on me. Once in awhile I sing along. You know Randy sings in a deep, bass voice, right? So of COURSE, I'm singing badly, crackling and off-key. NO ONE in their right mind wants to listen to me sing Randy Travis. He's gone now. Sitting outside on the porch alone. What a (insert rotten pronoun here) I am.

How rotten am I? The poor kid, shut up all day, with a broken leg, just wanted to talk. And I, the one who likes to imagine that she is compassionate and loving, ignored him, rebuffed him, put out really crappy vibes that must have screamed, "I DO NOT LIKE YOU GO AWAY!" Was this my chance to practice lovingkindness? Was this my chance to offer some support and guidance to a young man who could surely use some? Was I really supposed to help him cook; show him a trick or two? (Like I'm a good cook - not.)

Now, instead of my quiet few hours respite before a week of preparing for my daughter's arrival, instead of peace and selfishly wallowing in my last weekend of solitude, I am sitting here feeling guilty, like I've let down my vows or something.

Sigh.

Okay - I'll turn this weekend around. I will. I promise. Hoping you have a fantastic long, lazy weekend yourself!

~Lee

The Real To-Do List

Have you ever had that feeling...you know, the one where you just need "something." I need to hug my daughter, I need to snatch up my grandson and twirl around, I need to sweep the blinkin floor, I need to have a nice, burning shot of Jameson's, I need to sing at the top of my lungs, rake the yard and jump over the fire. I need to knit a sweater tonight and I need to sculpt and I need to write poetry without words. I need to climb mountains, sleep under pine trees and shout down the holler. You know the kind of need I mean?

Alas. So, I started to make my To-Do list. It's such a comfort that list. Thanks, Lynn. Those lists are stability, consistency, order, accomplishment. I know I won't go jumpin over the fire or playing hookey from work to twirl the grandbabies. And there's something just a little melancholy about letting go those needs. And while I was lingering on the sweet goodbye kiss, I came across this over at Savoring the Details. Perfect. Zippidy Do Dah!

I did it! I did it!

These have become a pie, cooling on the stove. No, I did not take photographs of the pie. I have never made a pretty pie in my life. But, I'm betting it tastes fabulous. Okay, I'm hoping it tastes fabulous, how can you go wrong with berries and sugar, eh? Now, during the process of making my Friday Pie I had an occasion to visit an issue which I have visited too many times of late.



I try not to think about this. Really. I try hard. But, I just can't help myself! And....the issue is.....THINGS THAT BUG ME. I'd really like to pepper that statement with some "language" but, since I wish it wasn't true, since I wish things didn't bug me, I'll leave it as is. You want to hear some of the things which bug me? No? Ummmm, maybe you should stop reading because I'm going to tell you.

• The towels hanging on the stove are "nice" towels. They are for drying clean hands and looking pretty. The towels for mopping up chocolate are over THERE
• Soap belongs in the soap dish, not in the corners of the tub
• The coffee table should be mostly clear, a few necessary pretties are on the coffee table but if one wishes to have coffee, there should be a place to do so
• Used washclothes should be hung, or laid flat, not left in a heap where they will mildew fast
• Pictures should hang straight on the wall
• Chairs should be pushed in, under the table
• Knives are not screwdrivers
• Screwdrivers are in the toolchest - that's where they live
• Muddy boots should be left outside the door
• Last thing at night, when I put away the last few dishes, wipe up the last few crumbs and "close the kitchen" there should be X - X (people in the household) number of forks, spoons, glasses, cups and plates in the cupboard. That way, I do not discover come breakfast that there are X-X(100%)

I'm sure there's more. I think, somewhere along the line, that I assumed that everyone has the same rules that I have. My rules make sense to me. My rules also make it difficult when I attempt to live with other people and I'm getting this clue that people ought to be more important than rules. But, I just can't quite let go of my rules. How do you do that?

I got so annoyed with stuff that I got stopped mid-blog. It's Monday and I'm all better. Nothing is bugging me, I had a very sweet lunch-time and now an afternoon of ordering books and balancing budgets lies ahead. The pie, eaten over the weekend, was indeed tastey and there are blackberries still to pick.

~Lee

Five Good Things

I'm coming down with "something." You know the drill, sore throat, I've sneezed 96 times in the last hour, stiff neck. And, I've been really crabby for the last few days. So, it seemed like a good time to re-visit some good things.

• Touch-me-not (jewelweed). It's so pretty! And, have you ever just jumped a little when the tinyflower pops? Even though you know it's going to pop! And, jewelweed is a sure-fire cure for poison ivy. Honest! "They" say that touch-me-nots are always growing somewhere around poison ivy. Well, in Indiana that's quite true but I've not seen it so here in Seattle. So, part B of this very good thing is the mature wisdom of knowing to do a little research before I plant those seeds and release a scourge in the Pacific Northwest.
• It's no longer 95 degrees outside. YEAH!!
• My daughter is coming to live with me in just about two weeks. Yes, I'm choosing to include that in five good things! I can't wait. This girl is riotously funny, quirky, smart, HARD WORKING. She's a lot of other things too - some of which you would stumble upon if you happen to ask why the grown daughter is coming home to mom at 27 years old. Confronting squarely life's difficulties is always a good thing don't you think? No picnic ahead I suspect; but a good thing for certain.
• The loving support of the one who made this homecoming possible. Thank you.
• A quiet night, a comfy bed and knowing tomorrow will be a safe adventure.

Oh! And did I mention, Maggie is married??

Hoping your weekend is juicy, warm but not hot and filled with good things (Like the blackberry pie I'm determined to make!)

Just a few more words about the wedding

Not sure who I'm kidding about that - I'll probably post tons more about this event. But, I really wanted to share Maggie and Aaron's vows. I'd imagined, I think anyway that I imagined, that Maggie would have a Catholic service. Now, I'm not sure why exactly I imagined that; my family is as much Catholic as they are a variety of other spiritual disciplines. My daughters know the rhythm of pipe ceremony as well as they know the Sunday Mass, and they would be just as well at home in the Russian Orthodox liturgy as the Catholic. They can also sing the songs of their grandparents Baptist Wednesday night prayer meeting almost as well as I can. So, though it threw me for a moment, I was not at all disappointed. The following service and vows, are taken from The Course in Miracles which I have studied, and from which I draw many of my beliefs. Somehow, I had never seen these vows and I was delighted to hear them spoken. I hope you enjoy them also.

On behalf of Maggie and Aaron: Greetings to all of you and welcome. Thank you for coming. Maggie and Aaron are very grateful for your support, friendship, and love. Thank you to the six of you up here in the wedding party – who have the honor and duty of standing for these two today.

My name is Thomas Hendrickson and being a longtime friend of the family and having graduated from divinity school, the couple has asked me to officiate. And so it is with great honor and joy that I share of few of my thoughts and blessings with Maggie, Aaron and all of you, as well as guide this ceremony along.

This is the second wedding I’ve presided over. The first one was the wedding of my Cousin and his fiancé, in Colorado. Before I flew out there, I told the master of my Tae Kwon Do school that I would be gone for a week. He asked what I was doing and I told him I would be marrying my cousin in Denver. With a confused look on his face he carefully asked if she was my second cousin!

I am honored to assist you two dear people in joining forces. I have no doubts that this union will be much greater than the sum of its parts.

You are committing to a lifetime of humble, gentle, loyal service to each other. There is no more noble or spiritual path. For in serving each other, you are also serving yourselves and God.

Friends and family, will you all join me in silent prayer as I recite what I consider to be the “Servant’s Prayer” from A Course in Miracles…

“We are here only to be truly helpful.
We are here to represent Him Who sent us.
We do not have to worry about what to say or what to do for He Who sent us will direct us.
We are content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with us.
We will be healed as we let Him teach us to heal.”

Marriage is a Holy relationship. It is a powerful path to enlightenment. If the golden rule is “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”, then the Diamond rule is “The other is you”. In marriage, and all your relationships, practice seeing the other as perfectly innocent, for that is the truth about you. This is your personal and mutual path to love and peace.

If you wonder what innocence looks like, you have the perfect example right in your arms, - your beautiful baby Kael.

Please face each other…
Do you Maggie, take Aaron as your husband, to love and care for him, to accept him as he is, to daily choose him above all others, and to be his true friend?
If so, please say, “I DO”
Do you Aaron, take Maggie as your wife, to love and care for her, to accept her as she is, to daily choose her above all others and to be her true friend?
If so, please say, “I DO”

THE BLESSING OF THE RINGS
AND NOW I BLESS THESE RINGS AND SET THE INTENTION THAT THEY NOW BECOME SYMBOLS OF YOUR DEVOTION TO EACH OTHER AND YOUR EVERLASTING BOND OF HARMONIOUS MATRIMONY.
WILL YOU NOW FACE EACH OTHER?

You two have expressed mutual desire in creating a beautiful and holy partnership of love and spirit based upon growth, honor, loyalty.

Aaron, I would like you to take Maggie’s left hand in yours and place this ring on Maggie’s third finger. Now, as you hold it there and look into her eyes, please repeat after me:
· I promise to open and reveal to you my important joys and concerns;
· I promise to acknowledge the divinity within you
· I promise to share laughter and smiles with you more and more each day;
· I promise to share a listening ear.
· I promise to love you heart and soul, mind and spirit.


Maggie, I would like you to take Aaron’s left hand in yours and place this ring on Aaron’s third finger. Now, as you hold it there and look into his eyes, please repeat after me:

· I promise to open and reveal to you, my important joys and concerns;
· I promise to acknowledge the divinity within you – lifting it up as a beacon to steer us continually towards an uplifting union,
· I promise to cherish you, your roots, purpose and the person you are becoming as we go through life together;
· I promise to share laughter and smiles with you more and more each day;
· I promise to share a listening ear.
· I promise to love you heart and soul, mind and spirit, by the still pond, raging river, mountains and the great ocean.

THE PRONOUNCEMENT
Now that you, Maggie, and you Aaron, have made these promises to yourselves, God, and one another for what may come through thick and thin: By your sacred vows and through the giving and receiving of these rings, by your own solemnization and the blessing of everyone here, including myself; I hereby witness and declare that you are now husband and wife.

Aaron: You may now kiss the bride.

Your daily life is your temple and your religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with you - your all…
And if you would know God, be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather, look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in the flowers, then rising and waving His hands in the trees.

Good people of this union, I present:
Maggie and Aaron Solenberg, husband and wife.

And I add, so may it be.

~Lee

I bet you were holding your breath.....

For wedding photos; yes? There she is, my Maggie. Even now it's hard to write about it without tears. Maggie has married. Really. She has. Somehow I want to share photos from five years ago when Maggie did her Goth thing...this photo is better though and one we never thought we'd see. That's her twin sister, Fran, the Maid of Honor, and, incidentally, catcher of the bouquet - and her beau caught the garter. I've a feeling another wedding is in the works. I told Meg to take care of that dress!

The officiate is an old friend of mine...more than twenty years. He and I spoke about the changes Meg's been through and one of his comments was, "Wow, I sure put my mom through some STUFF!" Yeah, I know, I was there. And look at him now, a minister. I've been thinking of that a lot since then. We live in the moment, but the moment, is only the moment - it is not writing in stone; it is not solid, it is not something we can grasp and perhaps we should not. I think we do that often - this moment is how it will always be, but never is that so. The moment is always changing. One moment my little girl is my little girl, the next an angry, near violent, rebelling and troubled teen, and the next, a smiling bride filled with confidence. Once, my friend was equally rebellious, his hair nearly to his waist, I think he changed his name three times in a few years, he lived out on the land, and did all those things we hippies did and sometimes still do. Now, he stands with my daughter, in a suit, speaking sacred words. Who could have imagined. Surely not me. His presence was a blessing, a reminder and a comfort.

And I think, let me dance in the moment, let me breathe through the moment and grant me confidence and faith as the moment flows. It's all good and I am grateful.

Not my usual kind of post

Okay - You all know that I have a whole list of meaningful, insightful, substantive posts being composed in the corners of my mind. Really. I do. You saw the list. So, I intended, today, really today, to get to putting those thoughts on screen (gosh that just does not have the same FEEL as "pen to paper" does it?) Today was the day. If only I hadn't taken that turn first and decided to get inspiration by reading a few blogs first. My pal Dana, over there, is totally responsible for distracting me into the realm of fantasy. Well, of course it's not fantasy, it's just a different meaningful and insightful than I'd planned....after all, it makes me sound pretty darned cool - someone I'd like to get to know I think. I enjoyed this diversion, and I hope you do too and I promise, really promise to get back to serious blogging tonight, tomorrow, after Maggie's wedding, (Did I mention that kidlet #5 is getting married this weekend?) soon.

Heh. Idealistic? Me?

Your result for Which Chess Piece are You Test?...

The Queen's Knight

Congrats! Only 4-5% of the population score this!

The Queen’s Knight is armed with rose-colored glasses. The mundane comes to life and nature becomes expressive of spirit. The interesting thing about this Knight is the ability to switch from fantasy to reality. There are exceptions to the rule, but this is the type that may have had imaginary friends as a youngster. Their stuffed animals also were great companions. The Queen’s Knight will see the good in almost anyone or anything – but their depth of emotion can remain hidden even from themselves. Circumstances tend to reveal sudden responses.

Not all life is rosy and this Knight is not exempt from disappointment or frustration with humanity. They may feel incompetence when dealing with their own ethical values. Things aren’t simply white black, but a grand battle of Good versus Evil. Evil must be reckoned with but Good shall eventually win. It is not that they fight evil, but that they fight for the essence of moral good. Doing something good is quite satisfactory for them and indeed increases their happiness. It is when something is not reciprocated to them that they are saddened and disappointed by others. They learn that others aren’t as self-sacrificing.

The Queen's Knight is dominated by an inner world of intense feeling and deeply rooted ethics. They seek to form their life based on their views. They are highly curious of those around them so are readily accepting of others unless their values are being threatened. They promote insight and understanding amongst others and contribute well thought ideas. They however can be a bit too idealistic.

Take Which Chess Piece are You Test? at HelloQuizzy

Domino Swap

Today I got these lovely dominoes in the mail. She wrote, "I find little more fascinating than the human face." And, I think she might be right. These are just way cool! Thank you Tracy! I do apologize for the glare. Learning to properly photograph the world is on my BIG! ToDo List.

I made these for my swap partner; they're still in the mail so I won't say her name just yet in case she looks. I had wanted to do so much more for this swap...I had an idea that would be just great for my partner's interests but that will just have to wait a little while. I really want to send them off to her shortly; I hope these will suffice until then. And, I promised to tell you all that Fran is really the painter of these particular dominoes.



So, I've made quite a start on my weekend ToDo list. I only cut one pincushion. I think I should give this a try before I cut out more than one. I think it will be very pretty. The chores are mostly done; there's laundry and bird wings, but I think I'll settle back with a cold glass of wine, maybe knit a few rows and enjoy the peacefulness of a dusk falling on a very productive day. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend too!

TGIF

Oh man! I have been not very focused lately. I have half a dozen posts that I'd like to write - they're written in my mind. I didn't want to write another post sans photos though - it's looking pretty drab around here don't you think? I made a plan for going to take some photos and then, I realized that most of the photos which are in my mind are also on my camera! Am I a little mixed up now or what?

So, what does Lee do when she's feeling unfocused? Well! She writes a list of course. So here it is; my weekend list which will hopefully lead to some right fine posts coming soon.

• Dust in my bedroom - oh ick! How come all the dust in the world ends up behind my pillows?
• Sweep, mop, clean birdcages and water plants - those are "musts."
• Write these posts: Eubonics, Crash, Boom, Bang!, Spinning Day, The Alpaca Farm, So Much Yarn in downtown Seattle, and Mama's Necklace.
• Organize photos and take a couple more.
• Work in the someday garden.
• Cut out two pincushions - They're so cute! You should see them. And, you could if you could read my mind - along with those posts I'm so skillfully crafting in my mind too.
• Cast on (again) the Zune pouch that I'm knitting. This is also primarily in my mind because I've cast it on 10 times, knit almost 4 rows about 6 times and pulled all of it off 10 times. It's such beautiful yarn and I've never knit before something on such small needles with a pattern that must be carefully counted. Maybe I'll at least show you the yarn soon.
• Finish that sewing room chair - Which means I need to add getting some foam to the list.
• Finish off and mail my dominoes for swapping. I'll show you those too - they're quite lovely and Fran makes me promise to tell everyone that we actually did end up choosing, from our tin of "Fun with Mom doing Dominoes Day", dominoes that she actually painted.

Looks like a lot. But you see, it's so simple really...according to my mind that is. I hope you're having a fabulous weekend filled with bright and sunny things. Oh, I forgot - clip the bird wings and do LAUNDRY! Whew.

Chicken or Egg?

I thought, that when making changes, the advice is to start simple, don't change too many things at once. I remember when I was 20, deciding to "eat healthy" and maintain a vegetarian diet. Ha! I changed everything at once, no sugar, no meat, no artificial "stuff." How long did that last? About long enough for me to purchase 3 million dollars worth of vitamins that were later tossed. I had to back up and switch to changing one thing, or at best, a couple of things at a time. I started with white flour, then red meat, you know...a gradual change. In a year I was up to lecithin, bee pollen and chlorophyll shakes!

I imagined that this would work with my morning routine as "one thing" in changing the overall flavor of my life. (Gee, yesterday my soul had a taste and today my life has a flavor, anyone else notice? What's up with that?) So, it was a few minutes after 6 when I woke this morning. Yes, you guessed, I DID turn over to go back to sleep but then I remembered how much I want to change things. I was up and about by 19 after. The first thing I noticed was the lack of written agenda. This shouldn't be that complex! On the other hand, this bleery eyed woman needed DIRECTION! I wanted BIG LETTERS and arrows on the walls.

Now, we can write a very funny post about the shower's anemic trickle, searching first here, then there, then in the laundry basket (by now swearing) for the ONLY pair of black pants I wanted to wear, only to return to "here" (the first place I looked) where I found them. Well, at least I disproved the addage that, "it's always in the last place you look!" And, I could also tell you about squawking birds as I attempted to stretchhhhhhhhhh while chatting. They weren't keen on this chatting business even though I used my very sweetest morning voice. And, something about bird feathers and other bird stuff on the floor when I tried to do The Cat. You don't want to hear about that, do you? Then we move on to hard butter on toast. Ok!

Morning meditation gets positive points. I mean, I figure if there is "Walking Meditation, and "Laughing Meditation." That I can have "Staring at the Sun and Smiling Meditation." That part was really good. All the fumbles and grumbles were worth those moments of just standing and staring at the morning sun.

Still...there was something lacking and I know what it was. The morning routine is dependent on the evening routine. Which comes first? Morning or evening? Evening or morning? Evening must include things like leaving the butter out so it's not hard and cold, and making sure proper pants are where they should be. No, that's not right, they WERE where they should have been; I was just stormy. And, as I wrote this, I had an, "AHA!"

It is my consciousness I want to change.

Routine might work for someone else; and I'm sure I will develop a routine. Actually, I'm betting the someone else didn't draw up an agenda, but rather wrote what had become his routine, what worked for his mornings after he had danced into it and knew the right ingredients for his pace and his heart. So, dare I say it? I'm backing off. The idea was to get up earlier, to greet the day with cheerful, organized consciousness. So tomorrow, I intend to rise at 6, smile for the coming of the day and see where that leads me. I have a loose plan, it includes things like water, food and some meditation. It includes remembering the Creator and asking to be of Service. It includes stretching and getting limber and learning to love the morning.

But, I'll take the butter out just in case. And, I need to see what can be done about that shower!
~Lee

To the Morning

That's one of my favorite Dan Fogelberg songs. "Yes, it's going to be a day, there is really nothing left to say but c'mon morning." I think Dan's sentiments were more lofty than mine; to me, it's always felt like, "well damn, I guess I have to face the day now." And I grudgingly stumbled out of sleep.

I’m lately realizing, perhaps accepting, because I’ve known it for a long time; that I do not like my mornings. Generally, lacking in self-discipline, my habit has been to sleep until the last possible moment, jump up, stumble to the computer, then have a hot bath, drip dry for a minute, throw on something (who knows what) and race out the door. I leave without pulling myself together spiritually or emotionally. I’m not physically ready and I’ve no plan for the day. We won't even discuss what I look like! This, obviously, is not a great way to begin daily creation. And, we can look at those (rotten) habits and see so many pitfalls. I don’t eat, then complain about having no energy, I don’t prepare lunch, then complain about having to eat fast food and I grab a soda to make up the energy deficit. All the while I tell myself and everyone else, that I’m trying to stop drinking soda. Not a plan for success, eh?

I’ve read many different books, essays, blogs and heck, I’m sure I’ve even seen infomercials about how to organize the day, how to setup for success. Why am I still sleeping until the last possible minute and wasting what little time is left sitting at my computer? I’d like to tell you that’s when I read blogs, get myself inspired and tap in to Universal energy but that would be a lie. Truth is, I play freecell! Shameful, huh? I have realized that I play freecell because I’m not yet clear enough to do anything else. So, something has to change because I carry this unclarity with me throughout the day often only coming to life sometime after noon.

Irritated with myself today I put some thought into this dilemma and I recalled having seen mention of Zen Habits over at Desperately Seeking Serenity – so I went there and did I little search. Wow! Okay, I’m not getting up at 4:30 in the morning. Nope, not gonna happen, not now anyway! But I did like reading his morning routine. I was inspired; that routine looks doable once I got past the 4:30 AM part. Then I drilled down further and found some other inspiring suggestions. I married those with my own thoughts and came up with this: The morning sets the tone. Can it be that it’s taken me 50 years to realize that? So, it doesn’t matter so much that I can’t do a whole yoga routine or meditate for an hour, I don't have to do Tai Chi dancing in the front yard ala' Al Huang – but it does matter that I do it…something, anything to put a sweet and centered taste in my heart. Here’s the plan I’ve created – it’s only in my heart right now, but I am determined to see it become reality.

1. 6 AM – wake

I do this already, I just usually glance at the clock and go back to sleep. I tried to fool myself in the past that I was meditating.

2. Drink water

I haven’t been doing this; I’ve often started but it never “sticks”

3. Feed birds

I can chat with them a few minutes while I’m drinking my water and stretching

4. Stretch

Even if it’s just a minute or two, I find that opening the door to the outside encourages me

5. Meditate

Honestly, I don’t have a lot of hope for this, so, I’ve labeled it “meditate” but I have a backup plan – I will find Five Good Things if stillness evades me

6. Shower

I like baths, not showers, but you all know that a bath is relaxing while a shower is invigorating and goodness knows, I need some invigorating!

7. Eat breakfast

I am never going to make eggs, even oatmeal is sometimes too challenging for me in the morning; but I can manage toast and yogurt!

8. Plan my MIT

I lifted this from Zen Habits – MIT - Most Important Things. For me, one personal, one professional and one “other” thing that MUST be done – you know those things, and I don’t mean scrub the toilet either)

9. 7 AM - check email and blogs

This is my reward but I also draw inspriation from your blogs; I believe I'm becoming more centered and creative since I've been reading "you." And, I feel a sense of community and connectedness. Nice reward.

10. Dress

I'll not say much about this - I'm not fond of "trying to look nice" for work but perhaps this will improve as I iron out my mornin routine.

11. Go outside

I find this soothing, cheering and who knows, maybe it will develop into CONSISTENTLY going for a walk

12. 7:40 Leave for work

Of course, I think success here is tied to having a good evening routine. For instance, I did not pack my lunch in this schedule; hopefully I will get inspired enough to do that in the evening. As I look at it, the schedule seems to be balanced with things that should be done, and things I want to do. What are your morning routines? Are you happy with it? I’d love to get some inspiration from your routines.

Five Good Things with a Twist

Hey! I read what's on my reader, don't you? Mostly crafty type blogs, knitting blogs, sewing, recipes - once in awhile I follow a link to something "else" but I get to something else from a knitting/sewing/crafty blog. I like it. So today, here are five blogs I think you might like. A little crafty but some are quite different....I think it's the photos that so capitivate me. I want to get better at photos. And, these blogs inspire me in all sorts of ways. Enjoy!

BirdsNest on the Ground (are those hibiscus? Right? I'm right, aren't they? Just makes me swoon they're so beautiful!)

Be Present...Be Here (always, always inspiring to me, this is a blog that supports and nurtures me, I am so grateful)

My Birds Blog (these photos! oh gosh they're just so ummm perfect?)

Savoring the Details (I love dropping by here for a little pick me up!)

Attitude of Gratitude (His first item to be grateful for today cracked me up so hard I'm still laughing!!)

How cool is this?!?!?!?!?!?

Now, case you don't know, didn't see...that's daughter #6 and well...okay, I'm being considerate...no search engine will find that name here...but is that cool or what? Does he not look like just the gentlest soul? This kid of mine...wow...

More about my Saturday spinning retreat later. Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Surprise!

This my friends, while it may not look like much to you, is a bonanza, an absolute bonanza I tell you! Pie-in-the-sky, gift from the Goddess, is-this-my-lucky-day-or-what!!

This I found growing, in several stands, at my new house! At first, I couldn’t believe it – it doesn’t, that I know of, grow wild and who would have planted it. Well, I used to plant it. I think it’s beautiful – and so so useful! Some other resident here must also have agreed! Most folks think it has few visual charms. Can it be that someone else, someone who once lived here before me, found value in my miracle plant? Maybe she used it for medicines too? Ahhh, there it is, that connection, that connection to Mama, and Grandma, Aunt Eller and the rest of a long line of women who took care of the sick and injured, knew just where to find what plant for a variety of ailments. Yet, as much as I wish to step off into that topic, I will happily confine myself to a discussion of my wild garden's gift......

Its name, which sounds quite regal to me is, comfrey. From Wikipedia, “Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) is a perennial herb of the family Boraginaceae with a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that bears small bell-shaped white, cream, purple or pink flowers. It is native to Europe, growing in damp, grassy places, and is widespread throughout the British Isles on river banks and ditches. Comfrey has long been recognized by both organic gardeners and herbalists for its great usefulness and versatility;…” This explains why, after not having seen a proper stand of comfrey for more than five years, doubting seriously that anyone but me would have planted it, and sure it would not be growing wild; I was uncertain that I might be looking at Borage. But now, after some extra caution, I have ascertained that this is, in fact, my much loved comfrey.

Comfrey, if nothing else, makes a pleasant tea. Though it tastes well enough, it should not be consumed in great quantities given some nasty little rumor started by the FDA that comfrey is a carcinogen (caused by the symphytine). Then, there’s that other rumor about liver toxicity. I actually do sometimes pay attention to such rumors and so, I don’t any longer serve pitchers of iced comfrey, but I do not hesitate to make a nice pot of comfrey tea now and again (toss in some peppermint, chamomile and ahhhhhhhh!). I do this with slightly less frequency than I might have a shot of Jameson’s – tis relaxing, tasty and nasty rumors are not so compelling as to avoid these charms altogether. But, nasty rumors do encourage caution and thus, we do not gulp down copious quantities of iced comfrey any more than we might any other beverage other than water.

But! were I to discover that I have ulcers? Pass the comfrey, please! I’d be right there, washing down daily cups of comfrey tea, iced, or hot. Comfrey makes a nice tonic for a sore throat too. But comfrey’s most prized gift to us comes in healing wounds and even breaks. Comfrey’s traditional name, “knitbone” attests to his healing powers. There is rumored to have been a slow motion film demonstrating comfrey’s miraculous powers to regenerate wounded flesh. In the film, a serving or so of steak has been cut and both pieces set lain in comfrey tea. Miraculously, the cut steak grows knits very nearly back into one, whole piece. Getting onward of years as I am (you’re supposed to laugh and disagree), I cannot now say whether I have seen this film, or have only heard of it and dreamt the rest – for I cannot locate a properly documented source of such film now. Nonetheless, I absolutely believe that these are true healing properties of comfrey. Comfrey contains allantoin, which speeds up cell reproduction. Susun Weed (who I want to be when I grow up) speaks of comfrey’s great powers, along with Juliette de Barclay Levy and of course, the famous Culpepper.

Someday should we meet; I will show you just the tiniest of scars on my ring finger. When we’re really good friends, I shall tell you how this scar came to be beneath my wedding ring but for now, I’ll tell you that it was once a great, long and deep gash and that it should not have healed so nicely, especially since I did actually attempt to stitch it closed myself. Having stitched crooked stitches, I was forced to ask for help (you should have seen the mess I made!). My friend and I soaked my now misshapen finger, (wince, fast!) sort of slid the crooked tissue over and into place, butterflied me up and then soaked me in comfrey tea. You can hardly see the scar now; just enough so that I know it’s there.

Comfrey is great in your compost heap, does wonders laid atop potato trenches/mounds and makes a really nice garden mulch. Also, unlike other plants, comfrey tolerates fresh urine. Okay, that sounds gross to you but…do you have a place where birds, cats or other animals always seem to “go?” Plant a stand of comfrey there!

I make a wonderful salve from comfrey and plantain– I’ll share the recipe sometime; but there are many available on the internet. I add calendula when I have it. Okay! I promised myself just a short entry about the regal comfrey – not a soapbox about self-reliance and herbal healing. Maybe another time for that.


Comfrey is miraculous. Aunt Eller never taught me about comfrey – she taught me horehound, slippery elm, squaw vine, coltsfoot and many others, and I for sure am grateful. But she never showed me comfrey – perhaps because it doesn’t grow wild in the Eastern states. Yet, comfrey is the one herb I would not be without, the one, single herb that I could choose if I could only have one. And here it is! It is growing without aid at my new house. I couldn’t feel luckier!