And so Christmas is done Once Again

The more years you are this earth the more the feeling of "Didn't we just do this yesterday?" Happens more and more frequently.
That is how I felt about Christmas this year.  I enjoyed it but.... didn't we just have Christmas,

This year our little nuclear family stayed home after a couple of years in a row of traveling to Windsor...which I am so glad we did.  2 years ago it was the last time we got to spend time with 2 members of the family and last year it was the last one with Nana and Papa.  It was good to have a quiet one this year.

Even if we had not decided to be home for the holidays we would have had no choice but to stay put anyways.  We were right in the middle of the Southern Ontario Ice Storm of 2013.  Luckily we were only without power for 14 hours.  Some people are still without nearly a week later!

Look at all the trees snapped on our street!  Spring is going to be so barren on our street in 2014. These photos were taken the morning after the storm.

We lost 3 whole trees on our court end.  Looking across the court is depressing!

Our neighbourhood pulled together so amazingly!  Snapped branches and trees were dealt with by a group of 14 to 15 men.  With 2 chainsaws and manpower all dangers were taken care of.  Branches removed, trees taken down, and every thing stacked at the side of the road.  It looks like we are in the middle of a lumber camp!  Others came out with generators and coffee and snacks.

And so the New Year is around the corner.  Rhea is having her 22 birthday on New Years Eve.  Again...wasn't she just born?

Look at my amazing children!  Children no more!

One Saturday Evening

I am home after a slowish Saturday in the shop.
And it was/is a beautiful spring day.  I am really hoping that the weather holds the next 2 days so I can finally make it out into the back 40 and clean up winter.

Oh!  My DH just walked past me with something to go on the BBQ.  Wonder what it is?  (just found out...Italian Sausage!)

Son is home for a few days.  It is good to have all the babies under the same roof as me.  It is hard having them away.  Well not hard really.  It just feels like something is missing when they are gone. Parenting is a strange job.  From the moment children are born it is a parents job to start setting them free slowly but surely.  The last few years happen too quickly it seems.

Was teaching a sock knitting class this morning and now I want to start a new pair of socks BUT I have too many projects on the go already.  I have 2 commissions on the go. I am knitting 1 sample for the shop. I am test knitting a pair of Entrelac hand warmers.

I have a shawl on the needles. SO that is ...5.  Well I have been up to 10 before so not bad.
 Projects waiting in the wings are another sweater commission which I also have to design, small items for the Peony Festival booth and I have a shawl design percolating that I will have to start swatching for soon.

Supper was good. It is 7:30 PM and still sunny. Hockey is on the TV. My knitting awaits,
Til next time.

Sponteneity

“The essence of pleasure is spontaneity”

Right now I am laughing at myself because I am being so un-spontanious about writing about Sponteneity.

I am not a natural sponteneity-ite! I have had to learn how to enjoy and participate in spur of the moment activities.

I have been thinking about Sponteneity because a friend of mine who is a mother of 2 young children was lamenting at the loss of her freedom to be so. Children do change you. Much more so if you are a person who is used to making last minute decisions about things.

You can't just go out for the evening or go on a trip. Planning is an essential!

Book the time, book the babysitter, plan for the funds to both do what you want and pay for child care. Or, take the children with you. Which entails all sorts of planning and organizing!

I found that children increased my ability to be spontaneous. I learned to go with the flow and enjoy the moment. To sing and dance just because! To laugh without reserve. To be part of a game because it is there. These are things I learned from my children. In turn this ability has transferred over to my creative and, dare I say, social pursuits.

So to my friend I say "Yes sponteneity still can exist while raising children" It exists in very different ways than it can when without the encumbrance of the responsibilies of raising a family. It is smaller and more immediate. And, on so many levels, so much more fulfilling.

If the essence of pleasure is sponteneity then it is something we should plan to practice every day.

I know I do. And I enjoy a well planned day!

Big Changes!

Yes, these past few weeks have been full of changes.

The biggest by far was the departure of our oldest child. Rhea has left for college. She is set up in a dorm on Loyalist College Campus. She is studying Photojournalism for the next 2 years. Here she is setting up her room. My but rez rooms are tiny! As you can see the blanket I was making her made it to the finished stage. Although it is a bit smaller than I had planned. It is good and warm and I know she'll love cuddling in it.

The house is emptier. With Patrick's active social life Jim and I are eating alone more often.

The other changes are purchases of new laptops for all family members. Ca-ching!!

It all started when Rhea's refurbished died just prior to her departure. That sent us to the local big box electronics store where we purchased the last sale laptop for her.

We then found out that the sale was on for 1 more day and that they were expecting another shipment in the morning.

WELLL...of course the one at the shop was on its last legs. The desk top computer at home died a while ago and Patrick's cheepo desktop was wheezing.

Back we were to pick up 2 more of the same laptops as Rhea's the next day for the shop and Patrick.... Poor Jim all left out!

But... today he is poor no more. Or should I say he is more poor...

We are all cyber connected now and loving it.

The other change? Patrick is now in a new-to-him bedroom. His old bedroom is now where Rhea will sleep when she is home and an office for Jim. Oh...and Patrick is now in grade 12.

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The Week Before the Prom

At the end of every High School year the graduates get to go to a formal outing to celebrate the passage of their teenageness as they grow into young adults.


This year it is my daughter's turn.



Where does the time go?

I remember sending her off to her first party in her Belle Dress and now

she is ready to head off to the party that marks the end of her need to have me sending her off.

It is a good thing. I keep telling myself that.


This weekend was the marathon Prom Dress Making weekend. Louise came over and created magic with Dupioni silk and 2 sewing machines.


Louise is my very closest of friends. We have shared all the ups and downs of our lives with each other for about 30 years.


She was one of the first people after family to meet Rhea and now she is helping her grow some more!

And now for the dress in rehearsal. The first complete try on!

Sometimes you just have to look at your children and wonder how you managed to be a part of making something so beautiful.

Sometimes you just have to wonder why an amazing woman thinks she is not longer photo worthy!

The Big Prom is this Friday. I will make sure to post the photos!