Amazing Lace Challenge #1

Pssst.

Over here.

Greetings. My name is Kata (sometimes lovingly known as the Blessing Scarf). I overheard my knitter, mamamarce, talking about a knitting challenge she read about on the Knitting Help forum recently…something called The Amazing Lace. I immediately thought “oooo – A summer knitting challenge?! I just KNOW she can’t resist ANYthing with the words knitting and challenge, and we’ve been making such great progress together that I would…err…I mean WE would be a shoe in for this.” I mean, since we met on the pages of Mindful Knitting a few weeks ago, we’ve been like stitch mates ever since. Sure the first few reads through my chart were tough, and there were even a few moments of miscounted rows that I thought would bring about a panicked total frogging for sure. But we stuck through all that. Loops pulled through loops and we pressed on. Why just last week we spent some time out on the porch together, enjoying an evening breeze, and I thrilled at how wide she grinned when she realized she didn’t even have to look at the pattern any more. My stitches just flowed from one needle to the other, and the warm humid air was a dream blowing through my lovely eyelets. With each soothing YO and every calming SK2P, the promise of meditation through lace became a reality. A team like this was made for a summer knitting challenge, right?

Not so apparently. Hmph. Just when you think you know your knitter. Wham! Blindsided.

I waited so patiently, believing that she would enter us in the challenge any day now. But as the deadline neared, and no such entry was made, I grew more and more confused. I’m lace, she’s a knitter who loves a challenge and we both agree that lace is, indeed, amazing. What could be the hold up? I got my answer when I heard her telling another knit buddy in a distressed tone that she would love to join the Amazing Lace (with a Branching Out scarf no less!!), but she was really starting to feel the pressure of all the different projects she already had on the needles, and just couldn’t justify taking on yet another knitting deadline. The outrage! I had a good mind to slide right off my size 8 needles and bury myself in the bottom of her knitting bag right on top of that melting breath mint. Branching Out indeed. Bah!

But I was not to be so easily deterred. There comes a time in every project’s life when it must stand up, tuck in its unwoven ends, and push itself to the front of the knitting triage and be heard! So it is with this keen determination (and just a wee smidge of sassy-tude) that I would like to humbly submit myself and my (reluctant) knitter for the Amazing Lace Challenge. True, I am but a simple knit, with no pattern complexities to boast, but my meditative qualities and my freedom from any restriction of gauge or exclusive yarn is a knitter’s dream. My yarn is Jo Sharps’ Silkroad Aran Tweed in Brindle; nothing pricey, just a scrumptious wool blend with a sprinkle of cashmere and silk.

As the challenge goes on, I will continue to use some subtle (subliminal) techniques to encourage my faithful knitter in this quest. Most recently I’ve found that our conversations during her nap time are working quite effectively. In fact, two more balls of my yarn are on their way in the mail as we speak. Heh heh heh.



It is our pleasure to greet you knitters and non-knitters alike. We are a strong team that is (soon to be) united in this adventure. We look forward to the coming challenges, and to marveling at the bravery and creativity of our fellow competitors.

Oh. Um…If mamamarce happens to find out about this and pitches a hissy fit, my plan is to deny everything and say that the Homespun forced me into it at needle point. Namaste.

Status Report

Fasting Day 2
Feeling pretty good today. Down 2lbs already. Now that I have several hours under my belt and hub has joined in the madness, my outlook is pretty good.

I likely won't overload the blog with fasting talk (no promises), but rather I'll just share snippets from a separate daily journal I'm keeping.

Here's a short entry from yesterday:
6:29pm- Not hungry right now, but really mellow. We sat out on the front stoop with the girls, they picked flowers and played in some rain water, then we all watched a rabbit take care of some weeds beneath the fire bush plants for us – nature at it’s best. Imagine having to eat like a rabbit…wouldn’t be much to clog up your system. I thought aloud that he must be so glad that we don’t spray any kind of horrible herbicide in our Florida native shrubbery. No hunger pains, but not much energy right now either.

In knit land, I've started and made some good progress on a "Kata " Felicity scarf:

Yarn stats - Jo Sharp Aran Tweed wool/silk/cashmere blend in Brindle #121)

This pattern is a very simple lace repeat pattern from the book Mindful Knitting by Tara Jon Manning (see sidebar link). Per the book "In Buddhist culture, the [Kata scarf] is given as an expression of gratitude, a blessing or greeting presented as a sign of deep respect. The literal meaning of Kata is 'cloth that binds'." How could I NOT knit that? It says this symbolizes a bond between the giver and the recipient, so I'm going to have fun choosing from my multitude of friends and family for a giftee. I think I'll have to knit several.

My clever chicks are at it again, crafting and spoiling mommy with flowers from our garden. I am SO blessed to be able to work from home when I'm not traveling so that I can see their darling faces most of the day (when I'm not shooing them becaues mommy has another conference call of course). And what good is excess cuteness if you can't share it? Enjoy.

Master Cleanser...Take 2 (Day 1 Log)

Ahem...The information in this post is not intended as medical advice. Its intention is solely informational and educational. And also a shameless plug for fasting and cleansing in general.

So it's Q2 already, can you believe it? Companies are releasing their earnings, the trees are releasing their buds and new leaves, and here at the estate, well, we've got our own release planned. It's spring cleaning people, lemonade diet style. For those of you who want to take a look back at our Q1 foray into this practice, you can read this and maybe also this (and all the stuff in between really).

Nothing like some visual stimulation to sum up:

That's a shot of my diet for the next 10 days. Water, organic lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper (not pictured), and some Yogi Tea. And - I must quality something here, this is not in fact a "diet"...it's acually a very thorough cleansing program and healing fast. But you can clearly see that with a liquid only list of ingredients that include "Get Regular" tea, weight loss is inevitable.

The Master Cleanser book was written by Dr. Stanley Burroughs in 1976 and has become pretty popular in the last decade or so. This will be my 4th time doing the fast over the last few years, and hub is joining me once again (what a trooper! he darn near wasted away last time :P). We made a committment to do this 4 times this year, at the beginning of each quarter. This time, I'm much more optimistic about what awaits us - better sleep, less back pain, a feeling of lightness, and an incredible amount of "free" time not spent, buying, preparing and consuming meals.

Join us if you like! And if you do - please track your feelings and progress in writing...you'll be amazed at what you discover about yourself, your eating habits, and the amazing things are bodies can do naturally. I"m happy to get out my pom-poms and cheer you on, even if you just want to try it for 1 day.

You can purchase the book here or at your friendly neighborhood health food store. A really good read even if you don't do the cleanse. And you can read more about the cleanse online here and also here.

Project Spectrum - May is GREEN

Yes indeed. The color of the month for Project Spectrum is green, and boy is it ever showing all around here. Green is one of those colors full of balance...and it does run it's own spectrum.

Green can show life and vibrance, or it can be mold, and decay. It's hopeful and it can represent envy. It's the color of commerce, and uniforms of war. Yin and Yang.

My preference for greens tend to the milder and deeper tones, more sage than lime; more forest than neon, but that's just the great thing about color! It has no true definition, but so many possibilities.

Here's some more green from the corners of my home - I hope you enjoy the view as much as I do.


Check out Project Spectrum, and if you're already signed up, be good to your pal, share some of your favorite color feelings with them and enjoy your share of theirs too.

I'd love to hear what green is to you. What shades and what mood? Share away...

Mmmm Mmmm Good

So I finally finished hub's second sock upon my return from Boston (/bwoss'tin/) and let me tell you...I was proud enough to pop my collar, ok? Not only did they actually fit him, but I had also escaped the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and knit an acutal pair of socks. Now granted, 1/2 way through the foot on sock #2 I realized that I was knitting with a completely different dye lot of yarn (READ YOUR LABELS darlings...it will save many tears). I thought for a few seconds that I would go into coniption mode...but I didn't. *Yoga breathing*. One must remember, sometimes DONE is better than perfect...and so I knit on. Here's a glance...

The best compliment I've received so far today has to be this one...

Kelli: and they look like SOCKS!

That is music to a crafter's ears!! Trust me, when you're new to a craft like this one, you could be completley crushed in this kind of situation if someone said something like "Ooooo - golf club cozies!! Neat!!" I definitely see more socks in the future too; I can already feel the itch to start the next pair and naked feet are plentiful around here.

I had such a FANTASTIC Mother's Day weekend that I can't even begin to write it all down. Here's the short of it: slumber party, BBQ, babies, small brush fire, 5 foot water moccasin, lobster tails, 20+ family members and in-laws, and dishes (yes - I was even happy about doing the dishes...that's how good it was).

Here's a photo toast to my darling mom, without whom this cooky little brown girl would be nothing (literally).

Love you Ma.

What was your weekend like? Tell me about your mom, or your Mom's day adventures -- I'd love to hear about it! And if you've tried or finished anything lately that makes you want to prance around like a peacock - share!! Until next time, SMOOCHES!

Technical Difficulties

Please excuse the current nekkid-ness of my sidebar.
I don't have the energy to explain at the moment, but just know that all my links and rings and little extras will be restored within a few days.

Thanks for your patience.

As you were.

This is a test

Had this been a real post - we would have had a melt down moment and moved off of blogger immediately

Clever Chicks (or "How Not to Waste a Saturday")

I just had to share a few photos of our last 24 hours. Days like yesterday and today remind me how great it is to just get down to the business of mommying (and being mommy-ed for that matter). Last night I went to a scrapbooking night at a church my mom attends. WEEEEEEEE!! Too much fun! I've got the cropping itch back, look out. In the mean time, Grandma Winsome entertained the girls at her house, and I went back there afterward to spend the night. To give you an idea of the saintliness of my mother, she and Pops insisted on sleeping on the blow up bed that I had brought, and had the girls and I sleep in their bed. *sigh* I'm not worthy.

My little ones and I were up early this morning because I had a plan to take them to story time at the Main Library, then maybe the park. Um...Public Service Announcemnt: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. Thank you.

As luck (and early bird-itude) would have it - we got to library right when it opened, then we browsed for an hour and played subtraction games with the librarian at the Reference Desk, which then put us first in line for story time. Turns out we weren't just the first ones in line - we were the ONLY. For one whole hour Ms. Maribella read the girls 5 stories about roosters, hens, and chicks. They did a bean bag dance, a craft, AND watched a movie about Rosie the Hen. Whew!!! I don't think I could have grinned any bigger to see the girls having such fun.

FOR FREE. Just had to point that out.

Afterward, we lugged our 3 heavy bags of books to the car high on life, and floating our way to one of our favorite parks. Since you know I love a photo recap just as much as the next girl, so have at it (and you can click the flickr badge on the right sidebar if you just can't get enough - I'll meet you over there, we can ogle together):

Show & Tell (but no knitting)

Like all parents, I'm pretty well convinced that my children are the smartest, most beautiful, most loving and brilliant little people who are absolutely destined for some inevitable greatness. And this notion is only further supported by the fact that it is completely true. And the best thing about being a parent is that you can feel this way about your own little (and big) ones, and it would STILL be true.

I thought I should do some show and tell about my girls, who's faces appear here every now and then (all the time) and some of things that they do, and don't do anymore.

My youngest, Mizan used to suck her index and middle finger...like ALL the time. In the ever present irony of parenting, we thought we were doing ourselves a favor by not introducing her to a pacifier as an infant. Naturally, she used her innate resourcefulness and found something else to pacify her - her own fingers. Those of you with thumb-suckers out there or who were one in your youth know the perils of this habit as well as the severe withdrawal that results when trying to break it. When Hubby and I discussed trying to make Meezee forgo the fingers, we feared a repeat of the 2 weeks of bawling from a desperate wild-eyed toddler that we went through when Adachi had to throw her binky in the trash.

Not so for our Meezee. After a visit to the pediatrician and confirmation that she could in fact damage her super gorgeous smile, daddy had a "talk" with her about sucking her fingers (I'm not ashamed to say it involved threats of basting the fingers in vinegar)...she quit. Cold Turkey. No weeping, no pleading or bargaining. She just stopped. So typical of this child of strength (whose name is Nigerian for "balance" - I'll say.)

So she went from using her fingers to do this















To using them for things like this















Now Adachi has taken to using her fingers for something quite astounding as well. We're already thrilled that at 4 she is reading books by herself (including words like "shoulder" and "subtraction"), but she's also taken to writing stories and love notes. Here are a couple samples, which are spelled out phonetically as one would expect:


Translation: "We missed you Daddy. Adachi Mizan Mommy Hugs & Kisses"




Translation: "Mommy we love you . Hugs & Kisses Adachi Mizan (From) "

And when they put their hands and heads together - they come up with things like this:

*Sigh*. I know. I feel the same way.

If you have some show and tell - be sure to comment about it and point me to some pictures.

We're Baaaaaaack

The Smith-Selas contingent are back from our 5-day road trip to Augusta, Ga. We drove up to Jacksonville Thursday and stayed overnight with my dearest friend Kiesha (what a sweetheart!). Friday we continued the drive up to Augusta to attend Kamau and Felicia's wedding.

Come...join me in this brief road trip photo recap.

While my hubby did this...

I did quite a bit of this..

Until it finally looked like THIS!

And in the mean time, the girls did GREAT riding in the back seat. Mizan had plenty of these to offer....



And Adachi entertained us with a little of this...


(Apparently this is called "The crazy car seat dance")

We had So.Much.Fun. I thnk I might turn family road trips into my newest hobby. (that's hobby #456b-01 for those of you keeping track) I'll share some wedding photos just as soon as I get them developed and loaded to CD. And if you want more of a photo fix, check out the picture link on the sidebar. Missed Ya!! Wished you were there :-)

What's New Pussycat?

Just a quickie, and when you have young children, it's best done late at night really... ::cough::

My friend Neicey let me have her digital cam today because it wasn't working right, and since it was my gift to her, I offered to take it in and have it checked out. Turns out it just needed a different type of battery, so I brought it home with me and well...As Crazy Aunt Purl says, Y'all Know.

Let's begin with the cuteness shall we?
This is a shot of my munchkins after our girls day out today at my friend Akanksha's. Seriously, could you just moosh them?

And here's my latest knitting adventure in all it's unfinished glory. Socks...I feel the fever, and I can tell already, Drew is going to be one warm footed so-and-so let me tell you.

Here are the close up of the starting of the heel and the 6+" cuff. Heh heh heh - see this is how I KNOW my husband doesn't read this blog. Ever.

These socks are a surprise for him for Father's Day, and I guarantee he will be none the wiser. Hmph.

I've saved today's best for last...you know, keep you scrolling. I went to a Handbag Party today to support Neicey and hang out with some of my coolest girlfriends. Well, our hostess Akanksha...I can't even begin to list all her skills and talents. She paints, she makes gorgeous jewelry, she's a great mom, she's a software programmer, she has impeccable design taste and talents, and, as I found out for the first time today...

She Knits.

She made that gorgeous sweater for Meezee's 3rd birthday and I tell you my eyes got teary and my jaw dropped. I've been so caught up in what I'm going to make for who and how many more jobs I need to afford my yarn habit. So to be handed something handmade, knit no less as a gift completely threw me for a loop (nice pun). Phew! A warm fuzzy feeling I tell you - THANK YOU AKANKSHA! It's just the right size for Meezee to wear when things cool off again 'round here.

I Have a Soft Spot for Niceness

I've been a bit discouraged about posting recently because (a) I just don't want to blather on about uninteresting or useless things...well, not this week anyway, and (b) uploading pictures to blogger is a true exercise in patience and great practice for my yoga breathing relaxation techniques. That being said, I would be remiss not to send a cyber shout out to the ladies of Uncommon Threads in York, PA. Yes, I was traveling up north again, and Yes I did managed to find yet another local yarn shop that I love, and YES....I bought stuff. Moving on...

Uncommon Threads is owned by Beth, and Kathy (who I didn't meet, but it was the phone conversation with her that convinced me to drive 35 minutes from my hotel to go and love on some yarn in their shop).

Here's the email I got from Beth after my visit there (Note: this message has not been edited or altered in any way to exaggerate the niceness of said yarn shop owner, they really were just this sweet!):

Hi Marce, It was SO nice to meet you last Wednesday night. We all had a great time, but that's not unusual. I hope your work brings you back to the Central PA area again. We'll expect to see you!
Beth Lutz
Uncommon Threads
www.uncommonthreads-pa.com

The Alpaca Yarn Company1-866-440-PACA (7222)
www.thealpacayarnco.com (Beth's Yarn Co.)

And here is the picture Beth took for me (since my phone cam battery was DOA). Beth and Kim are at the far right standing:

Other things from that night that I'm still gushing on and on about...

- the afore-mentioned loveliness of Beth and Kim (as helpful to me as to their Wednesday night regulars)

-the multitude of yarns I have never fondled before...*sigh* It's the little things. During this trip I found out that I actuallly DO like to window shop! Just long enough to decide what I'm going to buy.

-my acquisition of new sock yarn. Yes - I said SOCKS. I'm going there people. You can't leave me alone for a second!!

-Kim's teenage daughters, who in my opinion could run their own yarn store right now and make me want to teach the girls to knit and quick; one of them has even modeled for a magazine promo of The Alpaca Yarn Company

-one of their customers finished THE most gorgeous sweater/jacket that night (shown in the middle of the table in the picture) pretty trim and all. I tell you, when she put that sweater on...you'd think I'd been watching her knit it stitch by stitch all along. That's how thrilled I was for her. She got big hugs and kudos from the knitting gurus there too. It was lovely. We had a moment. Wish you could have been there.

So...I was inspired yet again to start compiling these stories for my dream publishing of the "Yarn Tour of America" book..but apparently, that book already exists. Ah well...back to the fantasy career drawing board.

I wonder if Beth would loan me a couple of Alpacas?

Take the Color Quiz If You Dare

Okay,

I'm admittedly a sucker for these things...but I read on another blog how accurate this Color Quiz is and I just had to find out for myself. Let's just say it's like the person who created this got me very very drunk and then persuaded me to let them read my journal.



Your Existing Situation
Volatile and outgoing. Needs to feel that events are developing along desired lines, otherwise irritation can lead to changeability or superficial activities.

Your Stress Sources
Feels that life has far more to offer and that there are still important things to be achieved--that life must be experienced to the fullest. As a result, she pursues her objectives with a fierce intensity that will not let go of things. Becomes deeply involved and runs the risk of being unable to view things with sufficient objectivity, or calmly enough; is therefore in danger of becoming agitated and of exhausting her nervous energy. Cannot leave things alone and feels she can only be at peace when she has finally reached her goal.
(tapping my nose - spot on)

Your Restrained Characteristics
Feels rather isolated and alone, but is too reserved to allow herself to form deep attachments. Egocentric and therefore quick to take offense.
Circumstances are forcing her to compromise, to restrain her demands and hopes, and to forgo for the time being some of the things she wants.

Your Desired Objective
Seeks freedom from problems and a secure state of physical ease in which to relax and recover.
(yes!! the pursuits of conventional adult life are really quite taxing for me!)

Your Actual Problem (ugh - didn't even take me to dinner first)
The fear that she might be prevented from achieving the things she wants increases her need for security and freedom from conflict. Is therefore seeking stability and an environment in which she can relax.

Whew!! You gotta love free cyber therapy. Try it out - let's jibber jabber about what you find out about YOU.

Stash 'n WIPs and Edna Jones

Seven whole days, without a word from you..." - Toni Braxton

I don't have anything witty or profound to write about in today's post (now you're scrolling back on the sidebar thinking "Hold up! When did she write something witty or profound!?? Did I miss that post???")

Just wanted to flash my stash and show what's on the needles...Ry Diggy was here for a visit, digital camera in tow...so I took advantage of that fact and borrowed it to take these (don't worry, I fed him, s'all good) :

This 3-level shelf shows the mounds and bags of yarn that my darling hubby expects I should use up completley before I buy any more yarn. If you knit or crochet, or have a "stash" of any kind...you know exactly how laughable that is. I do know that Target has good deals on some other space saver shelving and Rubbermaid tubs though...It's a sickness - don't try to understand.

Your eyes do not deceive you...on the left side of Adachi's Top Down Cardigan, that is in fact a sleeve. Well, it's the start of a sleeve. My goal for this one is to add my own touches in the coloring (the pattern shows a solid, but that much stockinette with no changes would make me batty). I'm just coming up with striping as a I go. I'm also going to attempt intarsia by making a big heart on the back. Cross your fingers. Oh - and let me just say for the record...I've had it up to here with cotton yarn. Historical references not withstanding, I don't think I was meant to handle this much cotton in this short a span of time.....And so, if you can't be with the yarn you love honey, start lovin' on some NEW yarn!

This is my Booga Bag. If you do a search for this pattern online, I would bet you come up with a thousand hits easily. Seems like I read about it so much that the Noro yarn actually called to me from the shelf in the Knutty Knitter yarn store in Harrisburg, PA last week. Can I just say - wool is where it's AT! I have been missing out. This is going to be my first felting adventure too, so this shot will serve as the before picture. When it's felted and dried I'll model it for ya.

That does it for the crafty bizness. I leave you with this...When I'm in my 50's, I wanna be charismatic and gorgeous like Oprah (I won't kid myself by coveting the cash). When I'm in my 60's, gimme some of that Tina Turner shimmy shake, and I'll take the legs too, thank you very much. And when I'm 80...I want the courage of Mrs. Edna Jones. Edna Jones was seated right behind me last week when I flew from Harrisburg, PA on my way home. She and her daughter were flying to Atlanta to see Edna's grandson...but get this, this was Edna's FIRST flight EVER!! She will be 80 years old this November (good month) and she told her daughter that she wanted to "try something new". I was so struck by that kind of gumption and adventurousness that I had to take her picture.

Thanks Edna & Bonita for letting me be so nosey, and inspiring me to keep on trying new things. I hope you had an amazing trip and that you get the chance to take many more together!

Some Finished Objects & Other Babbling

So...minus some crocheted picot edging, the Cotton Classic Jumper is now wearable! Naturally I didn't finish it in the insane 16-day marathon knitting triumph I had planned, but it's done, and I love the way Mizan looks in it. She kept asking me "when are you going to put it over my head mommy?"I have to say that, contrary to what I would have thought, the knitting went faster on this as I got closer to the end. Lots of stockinette stitching though, and honestly, I think I'm getting weary of cotton yarn, though it is mui kid and Florida friendly. I learned too that I will be more creative (and significantly braver) next time and ask more questions about manipulating patterns. It turns out I could have finished this much sooner and with much less seaming had I knit it in the round. Knit 'n learn my friends, knit 'n learn!

Here's a crocheted little ditty that I'm happy with (oooh...with which I am happy?...). Not because it was especially difficult, but because I didn't use any pattern to make it, and I finished it in less than an hour. I was the Game Leader at my sister's baby shower this past weekend, and so I stayed with her to help put everything together and keep her happy and hydrated (it's getting hot y'all!). I haven't picked up a crochet hook in quite some time, but the rhythm came back strong once I got started. I learned about crocheting in the round a while back, and now I know that you can pretty much make a hat (beenie, roll brim, or otherwise) very quickly this way. No fuss, no muss, no seaming. Love it.

In other knitting news (yes this is a fiber- heavy post, the queue was backed up).

I am making serious headway on Adachi's cardigan. I finally finished a ball of the lilac yarn and now I'm on a bright pink stripe. Again on this one, I'm doing something a little different than what the pattern calls for (oh dear, there's that preposition again). I'm a dangerously ambitious newbie - watch out there now! I saw in a post on my favorite knitting forum that someone suggested to skip the button holes on a child's cardigan and just sew buttons directly on the button band, then put snaps underneath them. In that way the wearer has the satisfaction of opening and closing the sweater all by themselves (and they love that!). I actually wish more of my own clothes just had snaps...but I digress.

All is well, and I'm traveling again this week. I'll be in Harrisburg, PA browsing new yarn stores...err --cough--meeting some potential clients that is. This is not a long flight, but even on the short ones I seem to have a very soothing effect on my airline seat neighbors, so the view to my right will most likely look something like this...

Blessings on ya - send me a shout out with some of your latest works, musings, and even works in progress that you just know you're going to get done very very soon. MWAH

I'm Surrounded

Like many of you, I visit certain people's blogs daily. Somehow, in this blogging ether, we can still find connections with the people we thought we already knew well, and discover new and amazing reasons to admire them even more. I have some knitting stuff waiting in the queue to post about, but I want to take a "time out" to spotlight a few of the entries I was blessed to read just today...

From the Stairway...My girl Kelli has Seinfeld beat down! She writes about things that we take for granted, but by turning a phrase she makes these mundane fer instances and situations into profound observations that are the other side of hilarious. Check out her latest post for a good chin scratch and giggle (I laughed right out loud).

On Emerald Lane...I cannot tell a lie...I literally close my eyes right before Nancy's blog loads so that the pictures of her latest sewn creations will just smack me in the eyes; she never fails to amaze me. One of her latest posts that I really enjoyed talks about what inspires her. Her modesty is so becoming, and I love reading about her feelings on what she takes in, and how it shows in what she puts out. (Oh and you must read all about Scatter and Petunia)

You've got to hear from Mau...I dubbed him the information broker. He turns research into an art form, literally.
In one of his recent entries, he talks about a significant work from the late Ralph Ellison. There is a passage near the end of the post that I had to read twice. It was just that powerful. Here's just a snippet: "What does American society mean when regarded out of my own eyes, when informed by my own sense of the past and viewed by my own complex sense of the present?" Please read the whole thing, you won't regret it.

I'm surrounded by talent, and inspiration, and beauty, and the warmth that comes through friendship with brilliant people who share their gifts and add small chunks of wonderful to my day.

Miles, Maladies, Middle Seats & Mountains

That pretty much sums up my last week. I travel for work...let me rephrase, I travel ALOT for work, which I didn't actually realize until the last 5 days. I left Florida on Monday morning at 9:30AM. It's now 12:55AM Friday morning (ET) and in that nearly 5 day span I have been from West Palm Beach to Atlanta to Chicago to Milwaukee back to Chicago to Salt Lake City and heading back to Atlanta for a lay over before I fly back home to West Palm Beach.
Yeah....I know. Thank God for the consistency of Marriott's across the nation.

But aside from the miles I've covered, I've been through an entire range of emotions on this trip as well. Anger at my flight disruption (I was supposed to leave Sunday), joy at the extra time I ended up having at home as a result. Fear of that tickle in my sinus that meant a cold was coming on just as I boarded my first flight. Delight at reaching Chicago and connecting with a new friend. Anxiety just before our Tuesday morning client meeting ("You'll have to excuse me...AAAAACHOOO...I seem to have a bit of a ::cough::cough:: sniffle coming on, so you'll forgive me Mr. Client if I don't -AA-CHOO - shake your hand ::cringe::"). Loneliness and misery during the "bad" night - you know the one you always get when the cold turns into a flu and you realize you're in the stage where your body just has to work it's way through the virus battle? Yeah - it's amplified to the nth degree when you can't even cry into the pillows on your own bed. Adoration and love for a hubby who answers the phone at 4AM like he's been awake just waiting for my "I can't take this anymore and I want to come home NOW" desperation call. Pride and relief when the flu symptoms subside and the second client meeting goes off with a bang. Wonder at the sight of the Wasatch Mountain Range of Utah - can that enormity really be part of the same country as the pines and sandy beaches I left back home? Joy and anticipation at the thought of squeezing my girls and telling them - now it's zero sleeps until mommy gets home my darlings, I'm finally here.

Seems like there were as many thoughts and feelings and memorable moments as there were miles this week. Thanks for stopping by on your own journey through your week. Enjoy these photos of my trip to the breathtaking mountains of Utah. For kicks, why not write and tell me about some of the ground you covered this week (emotionally, physically, and otherwise). I'd love to hear about it. Until next time!

Welcome Janaya Lugg !

Here are some pictures my newest niece!!! I'm just giddy with excitement about her arrival.

Please welcome Janaya Samira Najma Lugg, a most adorable addition to the family. Mommy - Tenika Brown and Daddy - Jermaine Lugg are thrilled. She was born Friday, March 10th at 1:15pm in the Northwest Broward hospital.

After 27 hours of labor and a last minute C-section, Mommy and baby are at home now and doing very well. I'll try to get a shot of her in the umbilical hat I knit for her when we go for a visit ;-)

A Crochet Creation

I found out about The Crochet Dude (Drew Emborsky) early in 2005 while I was struggling with my first "fer really real" crochet pattern. I was having a really tough time understanding the pattern repeats, and apparently this dress was just rows and rows of the same confusing 5 or 6 lines. It was seriously like learning a strange new language (ch3, sc in the next ch-3 spc, ch3, skip the next sc, dc in the ch3 spc from the prev row, cont for 8 patt rows, ch 3, turn, repeat). Como se llama whoo-what??! I finally gave in and did a google search for "crochet" (or "crochet + HELP ME"...something like that) and I found Drew's site. I used his contact link to email him the segment of the pattern that was confounding me - this after 3 failed attempts and ripping out no less than 15 or so rows to re-start each time. I didn't really think I'd hear back, but he emailed the pattern back to me with his "English" translation below each line. The result...my first non-potholder crochet creation in all it's camera phone fuzziness -










The pattern is called "Sheer Delight" from a Family Circle knitting and crochet book I found in the library.


Special thanks to my girl Kiesha who helped me find just the right "cover your bi'ness camisole". And Dude - MWAH! (fan for life)

Flowers for Kelli

My sister-girl Kelli is moving away.
Thousands of miles away.
And I'm not sure I'm able to tell her how sad, and thrilled, and devastated and excited I am about it . When in doubt...write it out.

My mother says "give people their flowers before they're gone".

Kel, these flowers are for you, in no particular order:

10 Things I Love About You:
1. You are a friend I can say anything to; you listen, but never judge.
2. You're stunning...and you don't even know it, which just adds to your beauty.
3. You hardly ever speak without thinking through your words first.
4. Your love for your mom is award-worthy. I hope you get that back one day in triplicate.
5. There isn't much you won't try, but you are steadfast in your convictions.
6. You do things at just the right time.
7. You have never given a bad gift. Ever.
8. Your hugs speak louder than your words.
9. You are loyal...so much so that you inspire loyalty in others.
10. You do friendship right, just by being your beautiful self.

We miss you already...