2012 Recap

Usually a person considers the past year before setting goals for the one to come but there's really no reason why it can't be done in the reverse. It's especially true since there was so much going on this year.  Some of it was well covered like the major home renovation we did.



I think I also covered Stinkerbelle's Bat Mitzvah.  It was a wonderful day and it made me so proud.



But, in a year when I only posted 79 times - that's about 1.5 per week - there was a lot that I never got around to blogging about.  One of those things was the big interfaith service that the Girl Scouts held at the National Cathedral where DQ was one of the featured speakers.  It was part of the centennial celebration and it made me so proud that she was invited to contribute and that she did so beautifully.



And let's not forget Miss M's first Birthday.  What a day it was!  I turned out to be the day we got back in our completed home.  It was also the day the big derecho hit our area, knocking out power and felling trees all over.



As with any year it was not all high notes.  Last February we celebrated my grandparents 70th anniversary with a party that my sister and I insisted on.  I'm so glad that we did because we lost my grandmother in October.  It was the end of one of the best love stories ever.



If all that wasn't enough, two other events altered life as we know it forever.  DQ got her driver's license and I got reading glasses.  I guess we're both getting older.

And now I'm looking forward to the new year.  You never know what it may bring.

The Tile that Ate My Weekend

It seems that the process of finishing off the house goes on and on.  While it's certainly lovely and livable there are all these little details and I really want them to be just right so I'm going very slowly.



This weekend (and the one before) was consumed by tile.  This is some of the tile that I used for the backsplash in the kitchen.  I knew that it was the one as soon as I saw it and now that it's up on the wall I am so happy.  Part of the happy is that I'm the one who put it up.  I took 3 colors and mixed them up a bit.  It satisfies my need to literally have a hand in the renovation. 

One note about this picture.  The bright blue bits were unexpected when I took the picture.  They are the reflection of blue glass bottles that line the window ledge above my kitchen sink.  They add a pop of color to my kitchen just as they do in this picture.  Very cool!

Committed

This is the post where I demonstrate how serious I was in my list yesterday. I am beyond busy. I have meetings to go to, trips to plan, construction to prepare for, events to plan, and of course work to do and a family to care for. I yearn for a less chaotic time.

Yet, here I am blogging again. Not only that, I'm blogging about stuff I baked. Cinnamon rolls! Yum.



On New Years Day I decided that fresh cinnamon rolls would be just the thing to start the year off right. Sadly, they're not the easiest or quickest thing to make. The first attempt at the dough went in the trash and I'm not sure these rose as much as I'd like but, they were yummy and nobody was complaining. Let's hope that the sweet cinnamon rolls bring a sweet new year for all of us.

Softball, softball, softball

As you may imagine, there is actually quite a lot going on around my house but sometimes it feels like softball, softball, softball. For my anniversary weekend Stinkette played in the All Star game for her league and, like any good mom, I watched every minute. I thought that would be it for the season.

Then we got the notice that she was selected to represent the league in the All Star tournament where the different house leagues played against each other. That was this past weekend - all weekend long! They played 2 games Saturday and 2 on Sunday. They weren't the Tournament Champs but they did come out on top of the loser bracket and that was no small feat. Stink made some really good plays. She's improving all the time.

And just because we hadn't gotten enough softball yet, she's now been chosen to play on a select team for the summer so my future still reads "softball, softball, softball". It's a good thing that I like to watch her play and even better that I like the other parents in the stands with me.

So what else are we up to? Well, I've been taking DQ out for semi-regular driving practice and so far, so good. We went to the county fair a week ago and saw Third Eye Blind play. I got the final stamp of approval on a family matter that has been stressing me for ages. We've been straightening up and streamlining all the stuff and generally getting our house - literally and figuratively - in order.



Last week we also marked a bit of a milestone as Stinkette graduated from elementary school. We were all thrilled when her name was called for making the Honor Roll. I think that she was as surprised as we were - in the best possible way. Above is a picture of my girl that duplicates one I took of her on her first day of school all those years ago. How time flies!

As if that wasn't enough, we're preparing for the arrival of Peanut. Talk about time flying! In just over a week we'll be a family of 5. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one.

Just Like I knew it Would Be

Have you ever seen a place from a distance, or maybe even read about it, and just knew that you'd love it? I bet most of us have. I have driven over the bridge in the picture below so many times and every time I think that I would love Occoquan and I just have to go there one day. Both the park and the historic town call to me and remind me of the harbors on Long Island.



This Saturday Stinkette attended a birthday party right near Occoquan so I decided to take advantage of proximity and took a short detour into the park. It was a glorious day - warm and sunny and the park was full of people picnicing, launching boats, fishing and so much more. I'm not much for hiking and long walks these days (the humongous belly takes a lot out of a person) but I did walk around a little bit and I will definitely go back. It felt exactly the way I hoped it would and as always I felt so good being near the water.



Thankfully Stinkaroonie had a fabulous time atthe party and may go back to the place where it was held for classes which would give me a wonderful excuse to go exploring in the area. Win - win!

Transitional

It's been a really challenging week. I'm still trying really hard to avoid stress but it's finding me anyway. Sometimes it's unavoidable.



There is no knitting at all to report. How sad is it when you can't even get a silly little hat done? Ugh!

It's kind of a weird time because things are changing rapidly. Situations are resolving themselves, and not all for the better. Still, resolution of any sort can be a relief.

I really can't wait for Spring to come. It'll be so nice to see the first buds on the trees and know that the ice is behind us.

Still Looking for Upholstered Perfection

you know how sometimes you go to the store for bread and come home with everything but? Well, this weekend we had our own version of that but on a way bigger scale.

It's no secret that I hate my couch but the truth is that I could cheerfully see most of my living room/dining room furniture disappear without one bit of regret. But, since the couch is the worst eyesore I've been diligently going out to various stores in search of the perfect seating for most of January. Do you know how hard it is to find the perfect seating?

Too soft.

Too formal.

Not the right shape.

Not the right color.

Not sturdy enough.

Every time I think I'm close, those little doubts come back. We thought that we'd figured it out a week ago but then I worried that what we'd chosen wasn't "inviting" looking. People tend to come to our house, make themselves comfortable, and stay and stay and stay. And I like it that way.

So the great couch hunt continues and on Saturday my girls and I popped into a store on our way to paint some pottery. Just as we were headed to the door having decided that they didn't have a couch that was quite right for us something caught my eye and I was in love. Love, love, love.

It's round and a deep, rich, nearly black brown. It's also very simple and can seat 6 when closed or 10 when we open it up using the lovely gears than make it glide so smoothly. Dare I say sexily? And we're going a little eclectic with the seating, choosing 3 pairs of chairs instead of 6 of a kind.

Sunday Bruce went back with me and we spent way too much on a fabulous table and chairs that I know I'll love every time we set it for a holiday or a party or anything. It's fabulous! You can see the vast difference between old and new here. The nearly black on in the foreground and the old, lighter, wood in the back.

But it's not a couch. Still working on that one.

Just Because You're Paranoid...

This weekend was exactly as I planned. Lot's of knitting and relaxing. In fact, we were so busy relaxing this weekend that by the time we finally stepped out on Saturday, most of the wee bit of snow that fell the night before was already gone.



The most interesting thing about this weekend ocurred when the girls and I did the grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon. We ran into a teacher from Stinkette's school who came up to me and said that she'd heard a rumor. Is it true? Well, of course it was and after a brief conversation I walked away with the girls and commented to DQ that I feel like everyone is talking about me.

"They are!" was her response. So helpful.

Then she observed that suburbia is kind of like High School in the way everyone talks about everyone and word travels like wildfire. She has a point.

No Pictures

It was another insanely busy weekend. DQ had a birthday party at our house on Friday night and I took no pictures at all. No pictures of the cake, no pictures of the Chinese food, no pictures of the kids playing Twister... nothing.

Saturday Stinkaroonie and I did a bunch of shopping and then we attended a Hanukkah party as a family. So many good friends, so much good food... no pictures at all.

Sunday I took Stinkette's Girl Scout Troop to visit a veterinarian and the girls had a great time. Then, we went to another party and ate more good food and... wait for it... didn't take a single picture.

Oh, my poor neglected camera.

The Monday Before Thanksgiving

It is a generally accepted fact that Mondays suck... except when it's the only full day that you expect to be in the office all week and many other's have already left for vacation. Then Mondays aren't half bad. It's a day to get your office in order and... shhhh... catch a quick cat nap if you're lucky.



This weekend was DQ's first play as a High Schooler. She was doing what she loved best - the techie stuff. In fact, my girl was the House Manager and Assistant Technical Director which is quite a responsibility for a freshman. I loved seeing her name in the program with all her titles and I loved watching her manage her staff even more. At one point there were some people near us having trouble with their seats and I directed them to DQ and then sat and glowed as she calmly took care of it.

After the show, which was the last of this run, I was convinced by my girl to help with strike. that's what they call it when they take all the sets apart, return the costumes and props to their place, retrieve all the signage and generally erase all evidence that a show took place. What a huge job! We were there until 2 am! Then I took DQ to the cast party (she got home from it at 8am) and drove a friend of hers home to the other end of the county.

I am exhausted but in a really good way!

Afternoon at the Park

You have to wonder how much longer this beautiful fall weather can last. I did errands, saw friends and went for a walk in a park with Stinkette. I haven't gone to the park just to hang out in ages.


It was sunday afternoon and it seemed like everyone was there. The were fishing, playing frisbee, picnicing, riding bicycles and just relaxing.



Stinkaroonie and I both brought our cameras and we had so much fun wandering around with them until the light changed and it became less favorable for picture taking. We can't wait to go do it again.

Perfect Fall Weekends

How did you spend this lovely fall weekend? We enjoyed the kind of weekend that makes you feel so good.

On Saturday, while DQ was busy at the school preparing for the upcoming play, Stinkette and I did errands, saw Toy Story 3 and generally enjoyed each other's company. That night she had a blast at a sleepover party at her softball coaches house. The adults stayed at the party for a while too and enjoyed sitting out by the fire pit huddled under blankets. There were smores too. Yum!



On Sunday Stinkette's Girl Scout troop met and together we prepared 38 boxes full of nuts, candy, drink mixes and other treats that the girls decorated and we'll send to the Marines in Afghanistan. They got so into it and I have to say that seeing the large pile of boxes covered with stickers and ribbons and uplifting messages make you feel so good. I felt so proud of them.

I imagine the soldiers receiving these boxes and knowing that we're thinking of them. I hope they make them smile.

Hitting the Wall

It would appear that I hit a wall last week and the wall won. I'm talking about a figurative wall of course but it left it's mark on me just the same. Whatever it was that I hit left me voiceless and exhausted so, with the exception of a few essential errands (groceries, mani/pedi & yarn) I stayed home and relaxed all weekend.



I didn't mind that it was overcast on Saturday or that it was wet and dreary on Sunday because I was on the couch watching HGTV, reading books, knitting, and crocheting while drinking hot tea. It would've been better to relax and recouperate by the pool but then I would've been voiceless and sunburnt and that's no good at all.

Happily, today I'm well-rested and my voice is showing signs of returning soon. It's not there yet so I'm still drinking lots of tea.

Nothing Better

Metro still sucks. It seems like there is an inverse relationship between the fares and the service - the higher the rates go, the worse the service gets. But I don't care today.

It's supposed to rain off and on this evening. Even though I hate driving in the rain I don't mind this much at all.

Speaking of driving, I'll be on the road through most of this afternoon and late into the evening. I don't mind this at all.

Tomorrow morning I will be picking up my girls from camp and there is nothing in the world better than that!

Momcation Plateau

The momcation continues although this weekend was more balanced, which is to say that there were a few fails mixed in with the good stuff. I think I'd prefer to have my weekends a little less balanced and more weighted towards all good.

The fails weren't huge, more annoying than problematic. The movie we saw Saturday night was not quite as good as I thought/expected it to be. I drove a bit over a half hour (in nasty traffic) to get a light fixture at IK** (after checking the availability online on Friday) only to find them sold out. Apparently they were very popular because another woman was looking for one too.

I also went to get my car inspected yesterday and got there just a little too late and saw the "Last Car for Today" sign posted. That was probably my fault because I was feeling lazy and couldn't tear myself away from the project I was working on.

Speaking of that project - I wouldn't call it a fail but it isn't making me wildly happy either. It's a hat (seen below) that should've taken a day but due to mistakes it's still not done.



On the postive side, I did finish another project this weekend and went to my favorite button store where I scored the perfect finishing touch. A quick stop at the yarn store also scored good stuff.

Add a lovely dip in the pool and a great dinner with friends and the weekend balanced out nicely bu I still wish it had been a bit more good and less balanced.

In Awe of Norman

Last night we went to see Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg at the American Art Museum here in DC. It was wonderful. The four of us (we went with friends) loved the pictures and the short film accompanying it. It was interesting to hear what appealed to Lucas and Spielberg about the paintings. They see each picture as single frame stories and as you look at them you really get it. The connection between Rockwell and these directors becomes so clear.



Unfortunately you're not allowed to take pictures inside the exhibit so the closest I can show you is this picture of the courtyard outside it. I really love the undulating roof. If you're in the area I hope that you'll go see the exhibit and tell me what you think. It'll be here until January and I hope to go again. If you do go here's a piece of advice, they are apparently expecting crowds and long waits on the weekends but on a Tuesday night we were able to go right in. Just sayin'.

Week One

One week ago today I dropped my girls off at camp.

Since then I've received 2 notes from each of them. They say that they're missing me. They also say that they're having a blast and that's really good because I am too.

Don't get me wrong, I miss them terribly. But there is something wonderful about waking up in the morning and having nobody to take care of but myself. Nobody needs money for anything and nobody needs to be dropped off anywhere. I just need to get myself where I need to be.

Since they've been gone I've seen a movie, been to the pool, read books and magazines. I've even done something totally shocking - I went to the gym to work out on Sunday morning. Simply shocking!



Of course I'm knitting too. These are one of the 2 pairs of socks that are on the needles right now. Clearly this one has a way to go but there are other projects that are nearing completion. It would seem that all this relaxation is really good for knitting progress.

2010 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is one of those things that makes DC a great place for families. Each year there are 3 areas, each focusing on a different state, region or theme and the displays they offer can be fantastic. You see architecture, crafts, food, and other aspects of a culture and it's very interactive.

This year even the Folklife Festival was hit by the recession. Alabama, the state that was going to be featured had to pull out and the themes that were represented had much smaller exhibits.

Even with the cutbacks there was still a lot to see at the festival that made it worth braving the triple-digit temperatures. One of the themes was Mexico and they had amazing stuff. These dancers called Chinelos performed in their full costume including velvet gowns. They must've been so hot.


In one of the tents we saw this woman spinning. They said that she'd been doing it since she was 7. I was impressed! I can barely spin without screwing up but she'd turning the crank on the wheel with one hand and controlling the fiber with the other.


In the same tent as the spinner they had a cool display of wool and dyeing materials.


Some of these skeins had been dyed during demonstrations earlier in the festival. It would've been interesting to watch but the day we were there it hit 100 - way too hot to be dyeing.


The coolest thing we saw had to be the Voladores. The Teenek of Tamaleton performed the Danza del Bixom Tiiw ceremony. Four men representing the 4 directions climb a pole and fly down attached by ropes in honor of Dhipaak, the Lord of Corn. They said they weren't really performing as much as they were sharing the blessings on the corn. They said a lot of other things too but much of it was in Spanish so DQ understood everything but me... not so much. Still cool though.

Life on the Deck

Yesterday was glorious. The heat finally broke and, more importantly, the humidity disappeared - at least for a little while. We took full advantage of it by eating dinner on the deck. I love that deck so much.

Having a usuable yard has inspired me so this year I planted a bunch of stuff in boxes around the deck. Look at the sweet little slowers on my tomato plants. There are actual tomatoes growing on another plant too. We should do well if we can remember to water them.



We also put up a few birdhouses and feeders around the yard. It's such a kick to watch the birds come and go. There are all kinds of birds and I we're starting to get curious about what they all are.



Then there's this guy. I hate him! It took him a few days to find the feeder but now that he has he's not going away. There is a tree with limbs that reach towards the deck and he hangs out in there and watches. Every time we chase him away he retreats there but he keeps coming back.

He's a messy sucker too. The first sign of his arrival was a huge mess of half eaten seed all over the deck.



Look at the theiving little punk. He's ruining all my fun.



I think he knows it too.

Beware the Twihards

• You might be a Twihard if you have all the books in the Twilight series - especially if you have more than one copy of most of them.
• You might be a Twihard if your copies of the books have tabs in them - for the good stuff ya know.
• You might be a Twihard if you have special issues of magazines that discuss the Twilight serie in depth.
• You might be a Twihard if you've see the 2 previous movies.
• And if you saw either of them at the midnight showing - you could be a Twihard
• You might be a Twihard if you have both of those movies on DVD and watch them over and over and over...
• You might be a Twihard if you have t-shirts, posters and other Twilight tchotchkes.
• You might be a Twihard if you spent the days leading up to the premiere of the latest movie watching the movies back to back yet again while rereading and comparing the books.
• You might be a Twihard if you went to the midnight showing of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse last night.
• You are definitely a Twihard if all of the above apply AND you went to a special invitation only showing at 9pm last night before going to the midnight showing.

And if you're the parent who transported the 4 loudly hysterical Twihards on the 20 minute drive from one theatre to the other then this morning you are still laughing at how ridiculously excited (and loud - did I mention loud) they were.

Ask me how I know.