Just a picture

Quotable Sunday

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

{Joni Mitchel}

Happy 69th to you, Daddy!

Sock Knitting

I make one pair of socks every year and they are always for my brother. I don't know of anyone else that would appreciate a pair of handknit wool socks like my brother, in the same way that I don't know of anyone but my husband who loves his handmade hats more. The thing is knitting socks takes so long and I just feel as though the returns are not that grand. I mean knitting a prayer shawl takes a long time too, but wow! in the end is it worth it.

So for the third year in a row I have made my brother a pair of socks. I use patterns that are simple repetitions as this is the kind of knitting that is portable and needs to be mindless--much of one sock this year was knit waiting in car line to either pick up or drop off my daughter. I did try a lace pattern last year and it did. not.work.at.all.

This time around, I made him the blueberry waffle socks out of a Koigu Painter's Pallette green. One sock is slightly bigger than the other and I guess that is what makes them homemade.

Candlelight and The Kiddos

We had one of those days a few weeks ago--Dada was out of town and had been out of town for days, it was rainy, we were sick, we were tired, we were grumpy and we had the evening ahead of us. I had a flash of brilliance (motivated by sheer desperation and a dining room table that was doubling as a sewing station!)--a candlelight dinner for three (+1 on a play mat and several dollies) in the playroom. We dined on leftover pasta, drank wine (water with lemon and ice), and amused ourselves quite nicely.

It was actually just what we needed on this particular day--a jolt to our system, a slight change in our routine but in keeping with our rhythm. There are times when it is so clear to me how to "save the day." There are other times when it is clear to me but I simply do not have the energy or the patience or the stamina to turn around a day that is headed south. And there are still other times when I truly have no idea except to hold me breath until bed time and look forward to a better tomorrow. Here's to more candlelight dinners and kiddos.

Thankful

Today I am thankful for
{cornbread dressing}
{little plastic pets--25 of them}
{champagne}
{the snortling of our infant}
{Texas in November}
{flat land and running}
and {acorns} of course

Getting OUT

With the winter months coming up, we are beginning to hunker down. Darkness is coming earlier these days and much of our activity is centered in and around the home. I have to constantly remind myself (unless of course I am reminded by the kids--their tantrums or their general grumpiness) how important it is to get outside each and every day if even for just a few minutes. It is harder now on this other side of the country where nature walks are just a bit further away and not as breathtaking. But there is beauty still. The seasons on the east coast are a real wonder to behold. I am looking forward to exploring the woods around us in the winter. Kyrie's post was just the inspiration that I needed to take the kids out over the next few days while we are here in the warmth of Texas.

Good Reads

Ahhh, the pleasure of reading. I had almost forgotten it. Two babies in nearly one year, a move across the country, some sadness, a move back and another baby--nearly three years spent not doing one of the things I love doing the most. Oh books of mine, don't ever let me leave you for such a long time again.

I finished Elkind's book Miseducation a few days agoa dn found it to be very informative--another angle on the importance of play in early childhood. This book was written in the 80's and some of it is irrelevant today. For instance, nearly all of the preschools these days are play-based rather than driven by a "curriculum." However, just Sunday, the NY Times featured an article on test prep for nursery schoolers. David Elkind would certainly classify this as "miseducation." The book helped give me a language for suspicions I already had. Very glad to have read it.

I have just recently picked up The Happiness Trap. My therapists recommended this book to me over a year ago; I was a bit scared off by the "self-helpiness" of the cover. However, recent events and a fundamental trust in what the books espouses (ACT-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) have led me back to it. I love the book so far.

And many more book reviews to come...