The Never-Ending Cardigan...

This is the baby cardigan that is almost as old as Joseph. I strategically began making the 18 month size last February so I would have plenty of time to finish it. Ha! Famous last words or what?! Here we are...Joseph will be 18 months in May...the cold weather has past...and I am knitting away on my little project. Call me the Little Engine That Could. (I think I can, I think I can...)

I didn't work on it routinely or I could have knocked it out. Obviously. But knitting really is enjoyable and I took a liking to it. I'd pick up the needles every now and again, enough times until now when I decided to finish it off - that I don't have that much left. I've made big progress over the past week and last night finished off my first ever button holes! See above! I am pretty darn proud of those button holes! Now, they may look just like regular old holes to you - like maybe I just skipped a stitch or something...but don't tell an amateur knitter something like that. They were planned just so...and I executed it perfectly!! ;)

Ha! And this is my row from binding off. Beautiful!! Knitting is a crazy cool hobby. I catch myself really following the thread from the needles trying to figure out how it makes patterns. This is the right front of the sweater and it's all finished. I am pretty sure I can finish off the back and left front today.

Here's a shot of the whole body in the works. Again, the right front (on the right in the picture) is finished and has the button holes. I'll add a hoodie too.

...and my attempt at a sleeve. I was pretty proud of learning how to increase a stitch, which I did every few rows to make it wider at the top. Then it'll be sewn together to form a sleeve, the narrow end being for the wrist. BUT, sadly, I didn't make it right so it'll need to be pulled allllll out and I'll start over. I didn't count my rows right and this sleeve is waaay to big.

Joseph may not ever wear this little gem, but it's staying in the family. It's my first sweater after all! Hopefully we'll have another little baby that can wear it.

I've started a knitting class on Wednesday's for four weeks and I am totally stoked. Tonight is my second class and I've been thinking about it all day! Just like a kid! There is something so homey and warm about a knitting store - it just feels right being in there.

Now off to get that cardigan body finished up so I can start on your Christmas presents! Scarfs for everyone! ;)

Everyday is Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day. In celebration of Earth Day, I am going to throw my banana peel out the window instead of in the trash can and into a landfill. It can return to that from which it was born. Ha. Just kidding!

I got my RecycleBank points email today for the last week. I thought this little widget was fun! Plus pigs are my favorite so I had to post it...

We went to the Live Green Expo last weekend...in the rain...and the cold...and snow...both ways up hill...wait, I think I am getting my stories mixed up. It was only raining last weekend. I think if it had been clear outside there would have been much more space in the main hall, which was really crowded. There supposed to be kite demonstrations and we saw only one guy when the rain slowed to a sprinkle. I couldn't help but think that those kite guys aren't very hardcore. I mean, a little rain and lightening scares them? Joseph did like watching the one guy from a covered spot and stretching his legs from being strolled around the expo.

Anyway, the green cars were very cool. We all liked looking at them. They had several SmartCars and some old cars that had been converted to electric. I wasn't impressed with the setup of the composting area and just skimmed over it. I wanted to learn more, but it was muddy and hard to tell what table was what. So with that and having the stroller I didn't spend much time there. I was also hoping there would be more landscaping areas but I only saw a lecture area for it.

Sure does make me want to green up the house, though. We can get one of those rainwater barrels, radiant barrier, more insulation, more efficient appliances and water heater, weather stripping, go organic in the garden and yard...ahhh, and here I thought I was a green gal. I guess using cloth grocery bags, compact florescent light bulbs, and practicing recycling just isn't going to cut it anymore. But that's what I can do without spending hundreds of dollars, so what can I say? Josh has been talking about radiant barrier for the attic for awhile now and I have the number of a place that I am going to try to call today. I hope we go ahead and go for it. Should cut our energy bills by 30%.

We made the rounds and had to head back for lunch and nap time. It was overall very nice! A new idea that was planted in my head are these electric lawnmowers. I may not be able to afford an electric car but the sort of thing like a lawnmower we can look in to for someday. Joseph's big news is that he got to ride a Dart Bus from the off site parking to the Expo! I was pretty unsure about it because more times than not he doesn't sit still, but he did great! Even seemed to enjoy himself a little. He stared out the big windows and touched the little girl's curly hair in front of us. She didn't notice so I let him keep doing it. ;) Ha.

Now if we can just stop those polar ice caps from melting. It's getting way too scary, guys...

Happy Belated Passover!

We celebrated the first two nights of Passover at Josh's mom's with a delicious seder - can't go wrong when Edie is cooking! A "seder" is a festive meal celebrated in the home and we read from the haggadah, a traditional "guidebook" for Passover. The haggadah tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols of the holiday. It's the most commonly observed Jewish holiday, I think even for those who don't normally observe other holidays. Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II (Exodus, Ch 1-15). It refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.


This is from Wikipedia: "In the story of The Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Hebrew slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of firstborn sons. The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover". When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread". Matza (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called Matzo."

Oh yeah...and that whole parting of the red seas incident happened. ;)


Edie had a beautiful seder plate - I loved the fiesta-wareness of it. I'm sure that kind of Earthenware has a name but I don't know what it is. Maybe, um, Earthenware. Anyway...each item represents something and the egg here represents mourning over the destruction of the Temple, OR according to other sources it represents spring. There is so much that goes into Passover it's hard to touch on it all here.


All are welcomed to a Passover Seder, no matter what creed, race, or religion you are. For me, it's always been a time to gather family and friends and remind myself where we came from. Each year it amazes me how forgiving and accepting and full of insight the Jewish religion is...it makes me very happy to be a part of it.

The Dallas Zoo

Thank you Ticia. Even after all this time, he still LOVES the bag of blocks you gave him...

Today is much better! In fact, yesterday finished up nicely. Nap time gave us that much needed break and time to recharge. Today we met cousins Connor and Cayden at White Rock Lake and had some GREAT play time. We played at the play ground, but also walked all over the place - fed the ducks and ran around on the big bridge by Tee Pee Hill Park by the boat houses. It was perfect out and I couldn't have asked for a nicer day. Joseph had his first Taco Bell for lunch today! I got him 7-layer nachos and he ate almost every last one. And some cinnamon sticks, of course! ;)

I was reading in my Simple Abundance book (Daybook of Comfort and Joy for Women) and it asked me if I could do anything, what would it be? I thought about how easily this answer changes. Depending on the day and circumstances, it's always changing! Sometimes it's to have land and a ranch house. Sometimes it's to have my whole family living on the same block. Sometimes it's to be on vacation (somewhere warm). Sometimes it's any other of a variety of personal goals...to have a working craft room, go back to school, lose weight, etc, etc...you know how it is. The point was that in each of us lies a deeply personal dream waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. Within us lies the seeds of opportunity and when we cherish our dream and then invest love, creative energy, perseverance, and passion in ourselves, we will achieve authentic success. I like thinking of my dreams and especially of being successful in making them come true. Without our dreams there would be nothing to strive for and things would be a lot more boring. It gives me time to be better at being me too.

I saw a guy at Taco Bell today playing a horn on the corner by the parking lot. He was really good! I don't know if he was homeless or just eccentric or what his story was...but in reflecting on dreams and life I wondered what his dreams were. I wondered if once upon a time he had aspired to be in a band, and how he learned to play in the first place. I bet he was self taught. But maybe he learned sitting on the front porch from his grandfather years and years ago. Whatever his story, I can only assume that he didn't think he would be playing his bugle on a street corner in Dallas. Or is his life such that playing his ear catching music for strangers in cars with their windows rolled down is his dream...and he is perfectly happy playing there for us. He may be an eccentric retired man who walks to the corner just to see the smiles on others faces when we pass and catch a note in the wind. I hope he is fulfilling his dream! And probably like me, it changes daily with the circumstances of the moment. At least in that moment, he looked pretty satisfied with everything and I am too.

Someone save me. This has been a hard morning...but it's only 1:30 so as I see it, there is still time for a big turn around. I woke up in a bad mood and it was downhill from there. I woke up in a bad mood yesterday too, but luckily Josh was around so it wasn't just me taking care of the the munchkin and struggling through. I think I just get caught up in the mundane side of motherhood and end up going through phases where I am SO irritable. Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the barometric pressure in the atmosphere...who knows. All I know is I hate it! I want to be happy and set a good example for Joseph. I don't want him to pick up my anger, sighs, "grrr's"....foulness...and I think that is really what bothers me the most - that I don't want him to learn how to be foul...from ME.

I know I am allowed bad moods, but man, what a waste of time. I could be working on solutions instead of dwelling on what is pissing me off. Why do we do that to ourselves? I could have cleaned the kitchen 10 times by now, instead of getting mad when I can't find something on the counter or have to clear a space to cut apple slices. I wish that I had better CONTROL of my feelings . When I feel mad about something I need to be able to confront it, acknowledge that it's valid to feel that way, but then let it go and move on. Don't let it build too much pressure! Come on, you're a grown woman!

So how about a little gratitude to finish this post off? How about ending on a positive note? Today I am grateful for my sanity. I could be a lot worse off, eh? I am grateful for my sons beautiful hair and that he lets me run my hand through it when we cuddle. I am grateful for apples that taste delicious and nourish our hungry tummies. I am grateful for the opportunity to stay home with Joseph instead of sending him to day care and heading off to a job that doesn't feed my soul. And mostly I am grateful for the big blue eyes that look up at me, and want to be picked up and hugged, even after I have a mommy breakdown and get kind of crazy. Talk about unconditional love...that's all he knows how to do. He's has no concept of hate or rage or feeling out of control. All he knows how to do is love, and if that isn't enough for me to be grateful about for a long time, then I don't know what is.

My Little Picasso

Joseph has been having so much fun with the chalk I got him. I wasn't too sure how he was going to take to it, but he loves marking up anything he can get his hands on...



...the door, the wall, the plant stands...the table, the chairs...I should have gotten a picture of the front of his jacket! (And my pants!) But how can you call yourself an 'artist' if you don't submerge yourself in your work? You certainly can't worry about staying clean!

He was busy drawing for probably a good 45 minutes before it was time to go in to start dinner. One of my favorite memories is chalking with my nephew, David, out at Grandma's when I was probably around 14. She had a big circle concrete slab at the bottom of the stairs coming out the back door. I can *almost* remember the way the sunshine felt on my skin that day; it wasn't too hot yet - like a nice spring day. So we drew and ended up decorating the whole slab with a colorful abstract of swirls and little doodles.

It was pretty chilly this day with Joseph...but as long as we sat in the sun it felt ok. I loved the way these shots turned out with contrast of the deep shadows and bright light.

The classic Joseph face these days. I would snatch that little wrinkled nose and stick it in my pocket to keep for all times if I could. My own little bunny nose! And I can't quite tell...but it seems like his hair has been lightening up some. I guess all the sunshine has something to do with it. He loves to go outside these days, and much to Josh's chagrin, I'll leave the back door open and let him wander in and out on nice afternoons. (Well, to my own chagrin too because I hate having to hunt down the mayflies and other bugs that fly in.)

Just this week Joseph has started copying everything we say! It's been really funny! Our favorite so far is "Uh-0h"...I'll take that and put it in my pocket with the wrinkled bunny nose. Since pretty much forever, I've been waiting patiently for this day so I can teach my children "please" and "thank-you". I hold good manners so high in my book that I pray I can instill that in Joseph and he can learn to appreciate how important they are.

But until then, I am going to take this sweet profile and stick it in my pocket with "Uh-oh" and the wrinkled bunny nose so I have it forever and ever. Life is good.

Score!

Who's the real monkey here? Does he resemble the monkey or does the monkey resemble him?!

I looked over this morning and Joseph had Josh's old case of cars right smack in between his legs, like a real little boy! He loves those cars! Each night I put them away back into the carrying case and each morning he dumps them out to play with them. I love to watch him play, but when I saw that case with a leg on each side like that, it was just too much!