Beautiful Saturday!

The weather is gorgeous here and I might get a chance to do some yardwork. There are some overgrown shrubs in my yard that really need to be cut back before the snow flies. And a neglected rosebush, that has gotten punier and more pathetic every year. It's on a side of the house I rarely go to, and I have sort of given up on it. I guess I'll have to read up on what I can do for it. Probably just cut it way back, mulch it, cover it and see what I can do next spring...probably need to feed it something.....
I looooove roses, but don't have a particularly green thumb. What I really mean to say is that even though I think I love them, apparently I don't love them enough to learn what they want from me, and consistently nurture them along. A few years ago, I put about 5 of them in the ground one fall when they were on sale at the nursery, and it took me only 2 years to kill them with neglect. I never did figure out if it was the deer who were eating the blossoms just as they opened, or my dog, who seems to be obsessed with any flowers with a terrific scent. But I never actually caught her in the act of chewing on them, just suspected. Since we got the cocker spaniels and the yard has their...ummmm...scent, the deer seem to be leaving my hosta and yews alone. Our yard used to be right on a major path for them and there are lots of them around here. Now we're a little off the beaten path so to speak!

Have you noticed?

That I started by talking about roses, but my pictures (thanks to Google images) have been trending back to lavender? Not the color, the plant.

This summer, I planted 3 lavender plants around my granite lamp post. Then I almost killed them by not watering them. The Gaillardia that I planted with them didn't mind, and we for a while had regular enough rainfall that garden-neglecters like myself were able to get away with our woefully wayward ways. Then we had a dry spell, and the lavender began to look more and more pitiful, or so I would think in a passing way as I pulled out of the driveway in the morning. I have finally salvaged with aggressive sprinkling in the last couple of weeks and next year will be the test as to whether I have learned my lesson that the lavender doesn't like to go dry.

A few years ago, I developed an obsession with scent of lavender. It seemed so old-fashioned and I love all things old-fashioned... I have never been particularly drawn to the color purple (except in flowers: violets, lilacs, pansies), favoring blues and greens, particularly soft, muted pastel shades and blends. I am nauseated by the stereotypical purply-pink combos that dominate the toy market for little girls, but I do like pinks, especially if they trend toward coral and peachy tones.

I have a tiny little project I'm developing. And it involves lavender. When I first got the idea, I was a bit discouraged because I am trying to be mindful of working out of my stash, but in not being a purply person, I doubted that I had much suitable.

But apparently at some point I picked up a collection of fat quarters!

And a few other remnants suitable for my project!

I wasn't giving my stash enough credit!

*******************************

Oh, and BTW, did you see the lovely begonia in the pic with the lavender fragrance items? So lush and pretty and I haven't killed it yet.... I think you can keep those, right? I'll have to go google "Care of Begonias"..............

Jumping back in

Hi, I'm back! I won't bore you with explanations as to why I dropped off the blogosphere. Suffice it to say that I am not a true blogger. I have no future as as blook-writer or anything else impressive growing out of my musings. I am unreliable as a blogger; I get caught completely caught up in living my busy life.
Which brings us to today -- a Sunday evening. I used to haaaate Sunday evenings. I'd be anxious about the week ahead, and filled with self-loathing for not getting my life into perfect order by Sunday eve. It's less traumatic for me now. My job, while stressful, is far less so than the one I used to have. My children aren't so young anymore, and so, not so dependent on me for every little thing. I also have completely lowered by expectations about what can and cannot and what should and should not be accomplished in a weekend.

Gearing up

I'm working on making a comeback! Life overtook me for a while there. Biggest thing was Ian (my eldest) graduating from high school. I'm not sure I can explain why this been so hard for me (i.e. devastating). I'm still processing what has happened, and what is happening. The going-away-to-college thing. I mean, seriously? One of my favorite people in the whole world is going to move away? And I'm supposed to be celebrating? Uh-uh. Mourning is more like it. Make no mistake, this is a loss. I know that I am crazy, and I'm supposed to be looking forward to the day that my kids leave. Yes, I got the memo. But I can't seem to embrace it. Anyway, welcome to my world...needlecrafts? Well, I had made some progress on the projects that I had been blogging about, but eventually I dropped everything, unfinished and took care of the more demanding things. I have not weathered this period the way I would have liked to, but it is what it is.
I'm getting ready to start posting again more regularly. I just hope I have some interesting things to say, and not just mommy-whining. See you soon.

Unsung Hero

Tonight, I am watching West Side Story. Again. What is it about Hollywood musicals? I try not to get drawn in because after all, I think I have seen them all at least a dozen times. But how can I help it? They have it all, light romance, light comedy, beautiful costumes and scenery. And then there's the display of talent: the music, the singing, the dancing. I used to marvel at how lucky some of these beautiful stars were. They had not only beauty and acting talent, but wow, they all seemed to sing like an angel. "Now is that fair?", I'd wonder....

Then one day, I remember thinking how I enjoyed listening to Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" as much I marveled at Deborah Kerr in "The King and I". I googled their biographies, mainly to find out why, if they had such lovely voices, didn't they do more with a singing career.

Do you know what I found out?

They were dubbed. Yes, dubbed. And it was the same singer for Audrey, Deborah, and Natalie!

Who, you may ask was this unsung singing heroine?

An enormously talented lady named Marni Nixon. I have become a huge fan. It has gotten so I think of them as her movies, and sometimes watch them just for the chance to hear her sing. I don't think any less of Audrey, Deborah, or Natalie. I just think how lucky they were to play the roles and have a nightingale's voice seem to come from them, to the enjoyment of millions.

Oh, swoon, Tony and Maria are out on the balcony singing the duet: "Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night...."

And to think that I could be sitting downstairs with my male-types watching the Military Channel, or Top Gear or Dirtiest Jobs. What a burden it is to be a Hopeless Romantic.

Oh, and one more note: Here's a lady who got it all- beauty, brains and talent.

Rita Moreno

Has won a Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy. Some stuff, eh?

(And I bet she throws like a girl...)

I throw like a girl..........

Wow, have we been living life around here lately. We have Olympics on the TV all the time, and so, I often retreat to the bedroom to see what's playing on TCM. (They are showing all Oscar winners this month.) Like when, say, curling is on. I tell the sports fans they are welcome to be inspired and wield brooms around here anytime. After all, we are having an early mud season. And we have dogs who go in and out, and in and out, you get the picture.
Right now, I have the USA/Canada hockey game on. I am not completely impervious to the draw of a spirited athletic competition. I am actually an athletic wanna-be. I'm not naturally particularly muscular or quick or coordinated. I am very flexible and somewhat motivated. As a child, despite my height, I was a miserable basketball player as I had no aggression to play offense. I was always so afraid to advance into the key with the ball. I might bump into somebody, or heaven forbid, commit a foul. I was a bit of a shrinking violet. Well, a tall shrinking violet.
I think if I had been petite, I'd have made a passable gymnast. I'm fascinated by the sport, and love the challenge to discipline your body to perform very specific and perfectly-timed and balanced feats. I took ballet classes a few times growing up, and loved them. I remember being very sorry when a 2-hour class was over.
My sport of choice of the winter games is speed skating. I don't get too involved in watching the events, but I just love watching any skater skate. I still feel like I would like to try out a pair of the skates someday on a large frozen lake. All that wide open space, where I could really get up some speed, and not have to watch our for other skaters. I could really push myself and develop the rhythm. It makes me think of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, and people being able to travel long distances on frozen canals in Holland. Do you remember that story? How incredibly cool.
And then of course, there is the figure skating and the ice dancing. Who wouldn't want to do that? But again, my height limits me. I'm too tall for pairs (nearly 5'8"), and probably for ice dancing too... I wonder if, like gymnastics, it is harder for tall people to maneuver the jumps and spins, etc.
Oh, and the title of this post? Of course, I throw like a girl. How else would I throw? Here's something I'd like to see Olympic Snowball fighting....that has got to be the ultimate winter sport.Someone made fun of my snowball throw the other day when I playfully lobbed one over his shoulder. "You throw like a girl!", he crowed, with his usual arrogant superiority.
The next one hit him -smack!- right between the eyes....
'Nuff said.
ETA: Okay, I just saw a Coca-Cola commercial of a snowball fight breaking out in the Olympic village. I promise you I have never seen this ad before. What a comforting thought that I am now channeling Coca-Cola moments. Gotta go, I'm thirsty.

Progress, in all its forms

Cooking? Yes, cooking. When have you ever seen me post about cooking? Take it easy...I told you I was trying to increase my efforts in the kitchen. In this picture, my DS Evan is dipping his Triscuit into Chicken and Rice soup.
But don't be too impressed...I just made a broth of "Better than Bouillon" chicken flavor and cut up some carrots. (didn't have any celery on hand) Then I cut up the leftover skinless boneless chicken breasts which Jeff made for supper on Friday, and threw those in and then finally the leftover brown rice we had served with them. I threw in some ground thyme (liberally), a little fresh-ground black pepper, and a mild-to-moderate sprinkle of nutmeg. Now, if I were really devoted to impressing my family, I would have made biscuits or dumplings or something. Sounds messy. Oh well, this will do for a post-church Sunday lunch.

Here's the first half of the Filet Heart Runner. Oh well, there's always next Valentine's Day... (And Sweetest Day in October, a Hallmark invention, I think.)

And here's the Dapper Chap Vest. Last time I posted it, I hadn't yet added the blue. The colorwork came out just okay, not great. I just couldn't get the tension right between the knitting yarns and the carried colors. I hold out hope that when I block it, I can work it all out..

I have started the armhole shaping on the left front (see that little backwards "J" about midway at the top?). In the meantime, the back and right front wait patiently having been left at the chest level. Once the left front, back, and right front are finished separately, I will weave the shoulder seams with the much-maligned Kitchener stitch, and add the separating zipper that I have yet to purchase. I am dreading going to the craft store and seeing that none of the available colors match or complement my colors. Which will mean an online purchase.

I still haven't gotten to the CS for the iron-on transfer pen, so now I really need to find the time for the trip. (That explains why this post has no Embroidery Project update.)

Soooooo busy!

I have missed blogging! I have been so busy living my real life that I had to let blogging go for a little while. And I'm back today. I hope this means I'm back to regular blogging but I'm not sure. Some exciting opportunities have come our way at work. My husband and I work together for the same company, which has had a marathon struggle in this economy. It's beginning to look like we are turning a corner, and that means the opportunity to do the real work. And that means adjustments for me in my daily life, and continuing to look for the balance to live it all healthfully and richly.

Recently, Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality posted about balancing blogging with her real life. Would you believe it? I didn't read that post. I didn't want to. Because I didn't want to think about what was working and what was not working. Not just yet. Now I think I am ready.

Today, I rejoined FLY Lady. Do you know her? It's Marla Cilley, who wrote a book and runs a website entirely devoted to helping people gain control of their lives and households. She stresses getting rid of clutter, developing healthy habits, and making household chores into quick and relatively effortless routines. She is a cheerleader for you when you are hard on yourself for your "failures". I had adopted many of her methods a few years ago, but I have gradually let one thing after another slide.
I don't know what the trigger is when I decide to change something big. What about you? What makes anyone decide to do better at something? Why quit smoking? Eat more nutritiously? Get regular exercise? Maybe I'm just being a late bloomer. Again. I didn't (and never do) make out New Year's resolutions. But maybe they have been percolating in the back of my brain. Maybe because of the beginning of Lent? I've never committed to a Lenten sacrifice, although as a Lutheran, I do observe Lent. I considered giving up chocolate, or sweets. But I must admit, I feared failure, as I am surrounded by temptations as we entertained international clients last week, and have more arriving this week. I have a terrible sweet tooth, and I know that giving up sweets would be a very effective sacrifice. But I also really think you have to have your mind very focused on why you are doing it, and right now, I think I would be doing it to impress myself with how "good" I can be. Which, besides missing the point of making a sacrifice, is a set-up to beat myself up should I give in to temptation, and be "bad". So I am not going there this year.

So that's where my head has been in the last few days. Thinking about busyness, clutter, Lent, and doing a better job taking care of myself, my family and our home.

Well, that and wishing the temperature would get colder so I could get outside and go skating at the outdoor skating rink.