Forgetful Me

So, I received my new Knit Picks catalog on Friday. To my delight, there was a photo of a kit for making some beautiful mittens. Aren't they lovely?

When I saw the picture, I suddenly remembered that I already ordered this kit! I'd better pull it out and get knitting on those if I have any hope of making some for holiday gifts!

Also, we attended my best friend from college's son's wedding yesterday. I got to be the photographer and I took one of the funnest shots I've gotten at a wedding yet of the gals in the bridal party.

My friend (& mother of the groom) sewed not only the bridal gown, but the two ruby bridesmaids dresses and her own gown for the occassion!

I think she's amazing!!

Clarity

Never doubt that the universe is capable of sending out moments of sheer clarity and a sense of peace even in the midst of chaos, confusion, pain or dysfunction.

In fact, I have discovered that's often the most likely moment you will receive what you need, if only you're open to it.

Friday Finale

Boundless Talent

This post is entirely me bragging about my DS who is nearly 18 and a senior in high school. I won't be offended if you decide to visit another of your favorited bookmarks and skip this post altogether.

We've known for many years that he's a super bright kid. His GPA puts him in the top 1% of his class. The first digit of his ACT score was a 3. He will graduate with over a semester's worth of college credit. Math and science are, to my way of thinking, shockingly easy/natural for him. He has already written code for several computer games and programmed his calculator to do shortcuts for him. And he also has a great sense of wit and the driest sense of humor you're likely to find.

And although he does "doodle" while he's watching tv sometimes, I was still caught off guard when his art teacher sent us an email to let us know that she is amazed by his artistic talents too. She is taking some of his work to an art show this spring, so photographed his self-portrait done in charcoal.

I agree with her, it's simply wonderful!!

Love ya' Bud! Couldn't be more proud of you!

It's A GiveAway!

My blog-o-sphere friend at Caffeine Girl Knits is having a give-away on her blog to celebrate the "Back-to-School" season. I won this give away a couple years ago, and I can tell you, it's pretty darned amazing!

(Never underestimate a state that specializes in cheese products to also know how to make some truly delicious milk-chocolate goodness in those cow pies! YUMMO!!!!!)

So head on over to Caffeine Girl Knits and leave a comment on her post. You'll be registered for some wonderful goodies! While you're there take a little time to look around. She's not only a talented knitter, but an awesome bead and jewelry designer and dedicated special ed teacher. You're sure to find some inspirational stuff!

A Rockin' Good Time!

We went over to the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa last night to attend the opening night concert in the grandstand. What an awesome evening!

We saw Huey Lewis and The News! The performed several from their hits list (Heart of Rock-n-Roll, Power of Love, A New Drug, Working For A Living, etc.) They also performed some acapella, including "60 Minute Man" which was fun! And they performed two or three from their new soul/R&B album. Wowza! Fantastic!!
It was really nice to have a mini-"get-away" evening for just DH & myself. It was nice to see a concert again after nearly 18 years! And it was super sweet to be among the "younger" folks in the crowd!! (Who new folks in their 60's and 70's would turn out in droves to see Huey Lewis??!!)

For those in the area, Huey will be performing in Omaha in October!! If you have the chance, go see them!!

Friday Finale - Sept. 9

Apologies

I think I may need to send out one of those apologies to the Universe for every bad thought I've ever had about any kid's parent(s) based on the way the kid was behaving or what the kid was saying at the time I encountered the kid. Because I'm pretty sure I did not raise my own kids to do or say some of the things they do and say to and around me. (Or their general attitude at certain times.) I am sorry, Universe. Truly. Deeply. (and if the Universe would like to see fit to somehow let me know in the next few days that I am, in fact, NOT the worst, most dispicable parent ever, that would be just super.)

Fall's Promise

I have always said that autumn is my favorite season. It is still true. I enoy fall. In fact, I relish it! We had a bit of a cool down over the Labor Day weekend. (Which is great because we got out of school early due to heat indices over 100*F just before the weekend. And I don't do heat very well!) It was lovely enough that on Saturday DH and I went to a road near the local airport to watch the annual skydiving event. The breeze was cool, the sun was bright and our spirits were soaring nearly as high as the planes and parachutes! Fall always puts me in the mood to get active. After having been relegated to the realm of air conditioning, it is my chance to get outdoors once more. I'm eager to go caching and letterboxing again! I'm looking forward to visits to the orchard and walks around the neighborhood. And fall always puts me in the mood to visit a great Rennaissance Festival!

Of course the cooler weather also inspires me to get going on all that knitting too! (Now I have a definited date for a baby shower, so we'll see if the baby blanket gets completed in time, or becomes a birth day present.) (There's also the ability to fire up the oven just around the corner too! Oh what goodness comes from there! Homemade cookies and bread! Casseroles for supper! Baked squash and roasted vegetables! Yum!) What special joys does the change in seasons bring to you?

We Are Family

My father-in-law passed away early in the week. His funeral was held yesterday, September 2. While it's a loss which brings us together, I am still grateful for the chance to spend some time with family we don't get to see very often. It's fun to watch my children in the presence of cousins, most of whom they were meeting for the very first time. It was really nice to see my DH enjoying his siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he hadn't seen for years. The music at the funeral was just what my FIL would have liked. Mostly, it leaves me wishing we all lived just a bit closer so that we could be together like this more often....and for no special reason. I love them all!

My DH (far right) and his sibs.