So it happens.  I come and go.  The last few months have been busy, hot and I just haven't been motivated to blog. No good excuse.  But then it really is no big loss.  We all know I do this for me.  I am just grateful for those who humor me and look at my ramblings.  I do have a few things I would like to say and pictures to share so I am going to try to do some catch up in the coming weeks.  Today I am going to start by sharing pictures from dad's 80th birthday.  Dad turned 80 on July 6th and on the 3rd Mom and I surprised dad with a little cake party at the club house in their senior subdivision. We were all surprised by the turn out of 60 plus people.  Though we weren't sure when dad first arrived if he appreciated our efforts, he seemed to really enjoy the celebration.  As always mom was very thoughtful in her planning and did a great job putting this together. There were folks representing many aspects of dad's life including current and past neighbors, co workers from several jobs, friends from church, and other people who have been a part of our lives here in Gainesville.  Thanks Tammy for the great pictures that documented the event so well.

Hermie is Dead

Today I discovered that Hermie my hermit crab has "bit the dust," "kicked the bucket," "crossed over the rainbow bridge," "entered that big sand dune in the sky" etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if he died of a broken heart.  I told Peter in Hermie's presence, " I am not going to take you to the beach!' No hope of going to the beach may have been what brought his life to an end (or the fact I can't remember when I last cleaned his cage.)

I am pretty certain Hermie would want to be buried at sea.

So it looks like Hermie and I may be headed out on a beach trip after all.

Scary

Today I did the scariest thing I think I have ever done.

• Scarier than climbing to the top of the high ropes course
• Scarier than moving to Africa alone to live
• Scarier than driving in Uganda

Today I rode in the passenger seat while Peter drove my car around the neighbor! WHOOOAAA

He actually did well but I had to quit after about 20 minutes to get my heart rate to slow down! 

blah blah blah plus request

So since  my last post I have written many post in my head.  I have told you about some of my daily celebration adventures, quotes that I have made up, and other random stories.  But as is often the case, they have not reached the keyboard.  There is no real excuse, just not the priority.  I am trying to get back into running and some regular exercise.  Actually rising early in the morning to run a 5K tomorrow.  I am trying to readjust my sleeping schedule to "early to bed and early to rise" which is a whole new concept or me.  The past two weeks I was obsessed with redecorating my bathroom.  Now I am knitting little baby hats.  I am also making plans to sell my recycled gift card guitar picks and jewelry at an upcycle market at the end of April.  So lots of things to consume time and energy.  But there are a couple of things I want to share as well as ask of you so I am writing this little entry.

 

As stated above, I am working on some recycled item crafts.  For the April 30th market I need all the used, empty gift cards (the ones you spent and are going to throw away) that I can get my hands on. So if you have any just hanging around and want to send them my way, I am happy to give them new life.  I have another project (actually for Christmas) and am gathering wine corks.  So for those who like me hate to throw those kind of things away and want them to be useful, I would like to help.

 

The second request is for prayer for Peter.  I know many of you do or have prayed regularly for him.  I just felt the need to ask for a renewed effort.  It is hard to explain to you what is going on and many would respond that it is typical teenager.  I am not convinced that it is.  It definitely seems like more. His motivation is practically nil.  His expectations and perception of life are extremely skewed.  There is no evidence that he has any real friends.  A few weeks ago he made a choice that was extremely dangerous but he was oblivious and totally in denial when it was addressed.  He does not listen to advice or accept instruction.  I am aware that some of the stuff going on is because I enable it.  And I am working to break the cycle but it is not without a lot of yuck.  It is scary to watch the path he is currently on because  the current course  is certainly not headed upward.  Again many would tell me not to be alarmed but I am.  It has made me more prayerful and it made me want to ask others to pray for him as well.

 

This Wednesday March 16th is Saint Larry's day.  It will mark one year since my brother Larry's death.  In honor of this day I am taking the day off to spend with my folks.  The current plan is to have a work day in Mom and Dad's yard preparing their backyard flower garden.  The plan is to make this a day of celebration of family.  So if you think of it say a little prayer for us and share a favorite Larry memory if you have one.

more days of the year

So as recently mentioned, I like celebrating the more obscure holidays as I find on Days of Year.com.  So here is a little update on my celebrations.


On February 11th I did wear white.  I did spill the milk without crying about it.  I did make new friends, Daysi and Rebel.   I gave out guitar picks to my co workers.  And I was satisfied staying single for that day as well.

On February 13th to celebrate "Get a New Name" day, I gave myself a new name for the day.  Indigo Blu (Indie for short).  But I was home alone most of the day so I am the only one that called me that.

Monday February 15th was Single Awareness Day.  I had planned my second annual SAD party to take place at a local Mexican restaurant however due to expected bad weather (that never happened by the way) I postponed it.  So I spent the evening crafting and watching movies. 

Tuesday February 16th was "Do a Grouch a Favor" day.  I didn't give Peter any chores that day.  I figured that counted.

On Wednesday February 17th I celebrated "Random Acts of Kindness Day."  I did an act so random that I am not sure who benefited. Someone out there got a $20 bill when unknown to me it fell out of my pocket.  When discovered I decided that counted for my random act of kindness.  Can't get much more random than that.

Thursday February 18th was "Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast." Since it was also my co-worker's birthday, it was a convenient way for our preschool kids and I to celebrate her while having ice cream for breakfast. 

Though not found on the Days of the Year website, Friday marked mine and Peter's 13th anniversary of when we became family by his coming to live with me.  I bought Chinese take out to celebrate.

Today is Sticky Bun day so I baked a can of cinnamon rolls that I had in the fridge.  I bought and baked them for Peter yet managed to eat two already.

Looking ahead . . .
Tomorrow the 22nd  is Margarita Day.

Tuesday the 23rd is International Dog Biscuit Day.  I don't have a dog but recently found some "Scooby Snacks" that are graham crackers shaped like dog biscuits.  Seems like Tuesday will be a good day to share with the kids at the preschool.

The 24th is Tortilla Chip Day.  That is Peter's staple food!  And since the fourth Wednesday in February is also "Inconvenience Yourself Day" maybe I will do so and go buy Peter a bag of tortilla chips and throw in some salsa.

This one wasn't on the website either but Thursday the 25th is my friend Debbie's birthday!

Friday is my favorite this week.  It is "For Pete's Sake Day."  And since I have a Pete(r) in my life, I am sure I can find something to do for his sake that day.  Maybe more Chinese take out.

Saturday is Kahlua Day.  I have a good Kahlua cake recipe - hmmmm. 

Sunday is Floral design day.

Monday February 29th is Leap Day.  When I canceled the Single Awareness Day party I rescheduled it for Monday February 29th making it a "Leap for Joy, We're Single" party. I was amused to recently discover that on Days of the Year it is marked as Bachelor Day.  I guess I wasn't that far off.

May all your days be a celebration.

Thursday February 11th

I think I have mentioned this before but I am a fan of celebrating obscure holidays.

 

I get a weekly e-mail from a website called Days of the Year that highlights that weeks holidays along with links to information on other celebrations.  I have started taking a few minutes on Sunday to look at the holidays that I can celebrate for that week.  I have been known to make Chocolate Cake simply because it was Chocolate Cake Day.  Well as I looked at this weeks options I realized that February 11th is a humdinger of a day for celebrating.  Thursday is "Wear a White Shirt" while I "Don't cry over spilt milk" and then go out and "Make a Friend" by "Getting out my guitar" and all along be "Satisfied Staying Single (S3)" Day. 

 

This is a great day of celebrating for me. I have several white shirts.  I often spill the milk while serving the preschoolers breakfast. Although I don't have a guitar I might be able to convince others to get theirs out while I make friends by handing out guitar picks that I made.  And hey I am single.  Lets here it for February 11th!

Write a Book

If I have talked about this before, forgive me.

 

So when I was a freshman in college, my English professor told my mom that I should be a an English major as I "had a lot of potential."  My mom laughed as she knew the state of my spelling and grammar skills.  Even before the arrival of spellcheck, the professor assured her that was a minor detail.  In spite of the affirmation, I majored in Home Economics. Somewhere along the line mom must have decided that the English professor had a point.  She has been telling me for many years now that I should write a book.  My usual response is "Mom, the world doesn't need any more books, have you seen the clearance racks at the book store?!"  I do not feel like people are lacking in material to read but that isn't the real reason I decline.

 

It is a patience and persistence issue.  I do better with quick and easy projects.  That is why when I look at the daily 'All About Knitting' e-mails, I look at the patterns that say "2 hour project" or "fast and easy." I don't knit sweaters with details, blankets with multiple rows, or even socks with fine yarn.  Geez, that last dish cloth with the cotton yarn and #5 needles almost did me in.  I like to make head warmers, scarves with thick yarn, small dish scrubbies and itty bitty gnome hats.  I enjoy the creative process but I better have a product soon or I lose interest and it becomes part of a pile in the corner. It is for this reason that my friends did not receive Christmas cards.  I designed a homemade card at Thanksgiving time and got as far as printing the inside sentiment. But because the outside embellishment was taking longer than I hoped, I never finished them.  I have been collecting empty gift cards to make recycled art.  Currently I am making guitar picks and guitar pick jewelry.  I have tools and have made a few prototypes.  They are fun and easy.  But thanks to friends and kind clerks at Target and Starbucks, I have accumulated a large pile of gift cards.  And I feel it happening, this little craft is becoming BIG and overwhelming and I am getting itchy.  I fear this could be another craft in the corner.

 

Therefore the thought of writing something makes me nervous.  It seems so big and I can't get started.  The truth is sometimes these projects don't really take that long, but in my mind it is so big that I can't begin.  For several years I wanted to write my mom a personalized poem.  At her urging I made one for Dad the first time he retired.  Therefore I felt it was fitting to do so for mom after her retirement.  It was probably five years after her retirement that I finally did it after much thinking, talking  and guilt for not doing it.  Then one Christmas Eve I sat down and wrote it within half an hour.  It took five years to do something that really only took thirty minutes. 

 

With the knitting I have learned to tackle smaller projects and enjoy the process with it's quick outcome.  In a way I am learning to do the same with the writing.  It is one of the reason's I have this blog. There even was a time that I wrote "jacket covers" of novels.  It gave me a chance to create characters and scenarios with little commitment.  Recently when a friend text me that she wanted a hymn about Jesus' Love being sweeter than brownies, I wrote her one in 20 minutes. She had low expectations and there was no pressure. (Also I was probably procrastinating something else at the time.)  One of the hobbies that I have had for many years is creating song and book titles.  In fact the name of this blog is inspired by one of my early book titles.  I used to say that the autobiography about my life before Uganda was going to be titled "Where is Yonder?" The book about my life in Uganda was going to be "I Found Yonder." And the book about post Africa life would be titled "To Yonder and Back." 

 

Recently I have come up with a new set of autobiographical titles.  To help you understand context though I need to talk about hair for a moment.  I have long brown hair and these strands can be found throughout the house.  It has often annoyed Peter when he comes across one.  I personally am not very happy either when I find one on my kitchen counter.  Peter's hair is different.  When his short curly hair falls out on the sink in the bathroom it is in the form of dark black circles. And now as it is being grown out because Peter is no longer in Military School and mom has decided to let go, it falls out in fuzz balls. So back to the book.  From the time Peter and I became a family I have thought the autobiography of life with Peter would be called "For Pete's Sake." Then a few years ago I decide instead that it should be called "Circles In My Sink."  Recently I decided to make it a two part series.  The early years would be "Circles In My Sink" with the adolescent years falling under the title, "Fuzz on the Floor."

 

The truth is sometimes I feel compelled to embark on a project that requires patience and perseverance.  Remember the Half Marathon?  I did knit dad a blanket once.  Okay so it did use big chunky needles and multiple strands of yarn. I desire to make longer projects really.  I want to finish and send out the Christmas Cards for next year.  I want to make a weather inspired throw blanket.  And so who knows maybe some day I will write a book.  You can look for it on the clearance rack.