Running Stitch

But you can improve your corner.”

Yesterday I picked up a dear friend and we went to the memorial service for another mutual dear friend. It seems to me that it isn’t until a person’s memorial service that you gain a greater picture of what their live held, and oftentimes even regret never having had a chance to talk with them about this or that facet, but my experience with this woman was echoed in the words of one of the speakers, “this person’s very breath was kindness.”

She was what I would consider in many ways a wealthy woman. Her granddaughter read from a letter she wrote to her future husband, probably while he was away in the war, in which she told him that she felt nowhere as comfortable and safe as in his arms or beside him, of how much she loved him, and of all the things they would do together and all the fun they would have – picnics, dances, mountain climbing, skating and many more. By all accounts they had that love for the next fifty years, and they raised five children together. To find your best friend, that person who time away from is time wasted and then have the joy of children with that person is certainly the greatest emotion I’ve known in my life. In her later years she wrote, “What is a person? What is a life but all the experiences you have and what you have left when they have gone. My legacy is my children. I have to stay as close to them as I can without smothering them. And I have to clean out these closets…”

Her husband became a senator and many described how she was a strong and unceasing proponent of active and strong government. Several fifty year olds remembered wearing hand-lettered tee shirts at the county fair that said, “Vote for my dad.” Several of the names in attendance have buildings named for them in our community and several spoke of very real and concrete initiatives and drives she had been behind.

After the children were raised, gone, and the grandchildren started coming back and political life receded somewhat, she had thirty years that she devoted in a large part in her art and supporting the local art community. She was one of the founding members of the local artist’s cooperative gallery. She has inspired uncounted younger artists to persevere and her work hangs in offices and homes of many in our community and beyond it.

As I looked around the large room at all the faces that were there for one reason I found inspiration. Love the ones you love. Don’t waste the time or hand you’ve been dealt. Keep trying. Keep playing. Go around obstacles. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

I probably slept 20 of the past 24 hours, which I’ve only ever done, well, never, but I’m feeling much better today. The fever broke in the night and I’m definitely on the mend.

Here is a picture of what I’ll have to give to the boys when I see them.

I don’t get the credit though. A coworker picked them up for the boys on a recent trip. We heart her.

I caught a wicked case of food poisoning yesterday, laid me low starting at about 2 AM and I just now had some crackers that seem to be staying down. Most of the rest of the time between then and now I’ve been under a blanket, coming in and out of consciousness – I love my vacation!

One thing I did get out of bed for was the delivery of a load of mill ends (firewood).

I took a picture of Brit standing next to them for scale along with the new Jeep I bought last week with my lotto winnings.

The mill ends driver couldn’t get my receipt to me and get out of there fast enough. Dude, its not like cooties. You can’t catch food poisoning from me. You have to make poor food choices like I did.

OK, next I’m going to try a little yogurt and more water.

Today I really didn’t have anywhere I had to be, which was really nice. First thing when I woke up, I got in the car and drove out to Willow Grove to help a friend with a project. I wanted to get that done today and enjoyed crossing it off my list first thing. List? What list? Well anyway, after that I went to Wally World to pick up a little guilty pleasure:

One thing about the family being gone is I’m not ever really in a hurry to get home. I just sort of wandered the store and looked at random stuff, acting exactly like the people that usually irritate me when they are in my way and I’m on a mission.

Jonah says, “I miss the boys!” Lily says, “I wiggle my ears if I gets me a little hot dog!” Sorry, no unfinished hot dogs with the boys gone.

After getting home, I went out and did some more carving. I spent about an hour on a cup for my uncle who broke his cup from me last week and wrote to tell me about it. That was a nice feeling. Then I did another bowl before taking a short break. After my short break it was dinner time. Hey, wait, how did that happen? Oh right, I got a new game and have the house to myself. Productivity, smoditivity…

Frac the cat misses everybody too:

OK, thats a lie. She is a one guy kinda kitty.

A crazy googly eyed kitty!

My hops are bearing some nice buds. They won’t be good for brewing for another couple of seasons but they look cool.

Did I mention that it rained pretty steadily today? Look at this shot of the yard. Today is August 27th and we don’t water the grass. Ridiculous! Don’t think that means I’m mowing it though. It is August. I try to have some standards – set boundaries with your yard is my motto.

OK, that is all the news from the burrow that is fit to print. Tune in tomorrow when I may regain you with fascinating tales of firewood stacking.

SD

Today my son, met his great-grandmother, who died, before his father was born.

I’m not sure whether that picture or this one, touched me more.

Lunch…so very tiring

This weekend was just as hot as last week. As much as I complain about our house, I love it. I love the setting, I love the look. I love the wood stove in winter and the way our house feels like our home. It is by no means an Ikea perfect or Pottery Barn-esque picture (though I salivate over those to be sure) but it is us. And as I grow older, and I hope wiser I am happy that our home reflects us, that I love the ‘things’ that make it our home (even the the leaks) as much as I love my family. Sure, they can drive me crazy, but they are home to me.

Our yard is the perfect example. It’s not flat, it doesn’t have grass, it’s half gravel, half weeds (or mud in the winter) there are toys strewn about that hide under the pseudo morning glory that is constantly warring with the blackberry bushes in their attempts to be the first to engulf the yard. The hedges are too high to trim without serious lawn equipment, the giant cedar tree blocks my view of the yard from my sewing room, and my wall garden is too wet to do anything until July and by August it’s overrun with the pseudo morning glory.

But I love our yard. It is the perfect yard for us. The hedge blocks the road, the perfect natural privacy screen, that Giant Cedar that blocks my view, shades my pale Celtic skinned babes from the orb that will likely freckle them by the time they are six. It covers their fort and sandbox from the rain in the winter, and provides the perfect setting for “Let’s run in circles around something! Forever!”

That brick wall that I had hopes would have a fabulous garden is just chest high to a two year old and his trains. Tunnels, and muck are in abundance and Alfie, Jack, Max and Monty never tire of escapades among the weeds.

This weekend in 100 degree weather my husband build me this tea table that I requested. It’s perfect for working on the laptop (I am a WAHM now..must remember!). It was perfect for keeping shady (not cool) while they boys frolicked in the pool.

And I see it coming in super handy this winter, when those little boys who’s desire for outdoor time can not be dampened by a little rain (ha!) will still want to muck around in their rubber boots. Their Mama can stay all dry (not warm) on the porch, perched at her hand made tea table, clutching hot tea and earning the money, or more likely watching her netflix…what? Those little red envelopes of goodness are so cheery on a cold, dark rainy winter’s day.

(look there, past the teacups…see the table?)

The Man. He’s a keeper. I totally rewarded him for making me this table by allowing him to hang the track lighting I bought for my studio/office. I know, sometimes? I’m just too nice.

Special thanks to Sarah who directed me to this site. Biscuits! cobblers! and Cookies. Oh my!

Today is our Eighth Wedding Anniversary

The traditional gift is Pottery. But I think we’ve got that covered. The traditional flowers are Clematis, but I’m too old to get a social disease so we went with dinner and..well, dinner is a lot. I love my children, but I loved their dad first and it is a special treat to sit at a table with him and finish sentence and thoughts and to sit in silence.

Watching the rain travel the length of the window pane.

Typical Pacific Northwest. Rainy. And very much like our wedding day. What I didn’t know then was that I was marrying my best friend. The person I turn to for comfort and compassion and sometimes for a kick in the rear. I didn’t know that I was marrying my perfect companion, someone who would push me when I didn’t want to be pushed only to find a new level of me that I loved. Someone willing to hold my hand through troubles but also likely to call me on the carpet when I’m feeling sorry for myself.

I had an idea then, of where our life would travel, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy the trip. How being married to someone who challenges to be the best person you can be would be so fulfilling. Someone who champions your causes, band aids your bruises and is always there on the other end of the telephone line, email message, or knowing look.

I think Jerry Maguire may have summed it up when he uttered the phrase “you complete me” but Emily Dickinson said it more eloquently when she penned

I find it shelter to speak to you.

Happy Anniversary baby.

Today was bizarre. We had two thunderstorms. In the 21 years I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest I remember exactly three thunder and lightening storms. The other one? Was Saturday night. Weird.

I’m an East Coast Girl, my memory of hot summer nights are vividly colored with violent purple skies and electrical storms. But here? Not so much. And you know who really doesn’t like Thunderstorms?

Lily puts Thunderstorms on things I really could live with out thank you list. She was quite happy to be under Moo’s blanket. Although it didn’t stop her from whimpering.

Moo attends to all her needs making sure she is all covered

Saturday night she actually slept on our bed, which she never,ever does. But I woke up Sunday morning to extra heavy blankets on my legs and there she was.

Wah and I used the time alone to make some scones. It was that kind of morning, slow to unfold, wet in places and louder than usual. Pretty much a Monday.

This week I was tired of the grumpy girl I’ve been lately and so I endeavored to get my rear in gear. And not surprisingly my attitude has been great this week. I am totally a victim of sluggish behavior leads to grumpiness.

Monday-Met up with Lunch Buddy and her now walking babe (strollered for this outing) we did our Lake walk, and flew off more than steam…we hadn’t walked in a while and had more then one lake outing’s worth of news.

Wednesday- 16 mile bike ride with the man. More like a Race, really.

Thursday- It was 106 degrees this day! MF and I headed out early for a four miler, which turned into a 3 and some change miler when we forgot the Garmin and then attempted to add in our heads while running. Never works for me.

Sunday-(Turtledash Training) We were supposed to run 6.2 miles today but due to some hijinks with our car (we locked ourselves out) we spent the majority of the time getting rides to and fro and picking up the car. *sigh*

I clung to the hope that I would go for a bike ride at least this afternoon but the reality of undecided weather 9sun, rain, wind, we got it all) and nap schedule means its now 7:39 and not a hint of exercise in my future…maybe tomorrow.

I’m annoyed with my weight this summer as I haven’t been able to shake ten pounds, but I attribute this to not running (boys. heavy. ack.) I had planned to do more riding (easier with the boys) but I’m not doing as much as I like. However, I’m looking at a few weeks on the East Coast with many, many excited babysitters so I should be able to work out to my heart’s content!

Speaking of my heart, (super slick segue) I’m still raising money for Lee’s New Heart. My goal is 2,000. Every dollar helps, I know (I KNOW) we can’t all contribute but some of my biggest contributors have come from perfect strangers (to me, and Lee) who have been directed to my This is Lee post by an amazing post on your site..Thank you and feel free to link to me and help me along!