The Finer Things

This past weekend my sister, Paige, was in Denver for my niece's Volleyball Tournament.  The tournament took place in the Denver Convention Center that was configured to hold 60 courts, each team playing multiple games (2 or 3) per day.  What a busy time!  I was fortunate enough to steal her away for a lovely  Afternoon Tea in the Brown Palace Lobby.



Of course there was the lovely decor, piano music, and the tea tray piled high with goodies

And the personal pots of Jasmine Cloud green tea, that were never left unattended.  All these things were simply lovely.  But the nicest, most lovely part of all, was the time to linger and visit.  I only see my family every so often, we are a far flung bunch, all residing in different parts of the US.  So when we do have the good fortune to be together, why not make it quality time?

Two Steps Forward . . .

and One Step Back.  Sounds a bit like a line dance instruction, more like life.  This past week I've had the pleasure (?) of slowing down in order to allow myself to recover from "the Crud."  You know, the stuff that settles in to make you realize just how slowly the days are warming?  But, I've turned the corner and no longer am having that lovely "out of body"/ "moving under water" experience when climbing out of bed in the morning.

The silver lining of being sick?  I did make some good headway on my Spring Shrug.  I've completed one sleeve and am cruising through the back, almost halfway!

The knitted fabric is a little womply, but hopefully some blocking will take care of that.  The first part (beginning of sleeve) was a bit tricky and fiddly, but once I completed 3-4 inches of knitting it got a lot easier.  Or maybe I just got over my fear that lace weight yarn was fragile?  It's amazingly tough for such a dainty thing.  Kinda' like snowdrops.

Another plus, I had the excuse to lay in bed and indulge in one of my all time favorite movies:

The gorgeous scenery helps allay my impatience with Spring's slow arrival here in Colorado.  The costumes are simply to die for.  And the story, ah well, Jane Austen knows how to tweak my soul.  I feel more about this film than I dare share in this space, trust me.  I do so enjoy thinking about the intricacies of love.

That being said, I was able to peruse the garden on my way to the hen house yesterday.  That in itself felt very productive!  I snapped a few pictures of the early spring bulbs to share and as a note to myself for the fall season.  I do so like to plant bulbs in the fall.  A panacea for the upcoming long, dark Winter, knowing that promise is buried in the ground.  These pictures will hopefully act as a map later when I try to find some places to stash hope!

Iris Reticulata and Crocus

Soul Therapy

The weather this morning was not fit for fowl nor beast.  As evidence my hens wouldn't venture out of their coop, and the pups weren't begging to play outside.  Spring was indeed coming in like a lion, roaring so hard tree limbs were down in the garden and outdoor furniture was being blown about.  Good time for some indoor pursuits.  Since it is Friday, the one weekday that I do not go into work, I thought I would give myself a little self care:

Ginger Foot Soak
Grate a cup of ginger*
Put Ginger into an old T shirt rag or cheesecloth or muslin (whatever you have on hand) and squeeze the liquid into a basin, I use my Homedics Sole Therapy Foot Bath.
Add 2 generous teaspoons of olive oil.
Now pour in hot water and soak.
Towel off and slip into a pair of your favorite socks.

*Ginger is one of the Trinity Bulbs in Eastern medicine, the others being Onion and Garlic.  Use these liberally, especially during the colder months to enjoy optimal health.

This is an incredible treatment.  I soaked long enough to finish a swatch for my Spring Shrug (45 min?)

Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud - Tide Pool

and my feet kept tingling for another 45 minutes or so.

Bliss!

Learning to Shrug

Taking a peek in a favorite book, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sara Ban Breathnach, I was reminded how to complain.  Or rather, how to not complain.  Or something like that.  This book is full of great reminders, and this day my take-away was "Learning to shrug is the beginning of Wisdom."  Which got me thinking, of course.  But not just on how to live life more fully, but about SHRUGS!

I have to admit, I don't follow these day books like most ordinary folk out there.  I don't thumb through until I find "today's date."  I like to use my intuition and open the book at random and see what pops out at me.  And of course, my intution never fails me.

Wouldn't knittng a shrug be the perfect Spring project?  AND I just so happened to have the perfect yarn in my stash.  Now at this point I like to play my "Is the Universe Trying to Tell Me Something?" game.  Go ahead, roll your eyes, I know my family does.  But really, if I was meant to committ to this project I would have enough yardage of the yarn required, etc. . .

(fingers crossed, drumroll please)

Yup!  Guess I have a new knitting project.

Really?

I don't know, maybe I'm not all that different from most of you, but every now and then I say to myself, "Really?  Is this what I natter on about?"  And I know that whatever I natter on about basically comprises my life.  You know, where your thoughts go, the energy flows?  But I can't help myself actually. I really do care about the little things.  It does indeed make my heart fit to burst putting together my little care packages full of a feast for the senses.

Lemon Cumin Tea Cookies

Such a weekend I had!  12 Lemons, really, do you know what 12 Lemons can add to a life?  Well I'll tell you, LOTS!  I zested and juiced all those suckers.  I now have a freezer bag full of ice cube sized fresh lemon juice just waiting to be made into lemonade, dropped into tea, or added to any number of recipes calling for some acid.  And the zest?  Well, I have my first ever batch of Limoncello in the works.  The zest is infusing some Vodka which will then be strained before adding a simple syrup.  And . . .Walla!   or Ta Dah!

Limoncello in the Works

But I think the best of all was looking at those emptied rinds and knowing that I couldn't just chuck them.  They are too acidic for the compost so I had to come up with something.  Done!  Little Fire Starters :)  I dehydrated them in a low oven overnight, now they are crispy, little shells that I am stuffing with dryer lint.  Perhaps before they are put to use I will melt leftover candles and pour the wax in them.

Some of you may think "Wow, she has way too much time on her hands" or "She must be crazy."  And who knows, you may be right?  For you anyway.  But I say, "Crazy is as crazy does."

From Auguries of Innocence
By William Blake
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

Was I Dreaming?

How can it be that the memory of Winter slips so quietly from the mind?  Was it really here?  Or was it a dream?  And in that dreaming, was there a life awakening?  I will miss you Winter.  Time of quiet.  Time of reflection.  For the time of doing is upon us.  There is much to do (about nothing?) in Spring.

But look, someone has a jump start on me.  How can this be?

To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; ~ Shakespeare

When Life Hands You Lemons

There's something about this time of year.  The season seems to say "Wake Up!"  I find myself a little more enegized.  Housework doesn't seem like such a chore.  In fact, it's a pleasure to care for the home that sheltered me so beautifully through the long, dark Winter.  Funny enough I find my senses wake up and start to crave lemons.  I must not be the only one because the magazines are full of their images and ideas for cooking and cleaning with them.

 

So the question is, "What will it be?  Lemon Cumin Tea Cookies? Lemon Coconut Bars?  Limoncello?"  Yes, it will!  I'm almost done with my Trader Joe's Lemon Thins, and I do so enjoy cookies and tea.  Then again as Rachel would say, "Mom, you think EVERYTHING would be good with a cup of tea!"

Considering how many lemons I have on hand I will start with the Lemon Cumin Tea Cookies and move onto the Lemon Coconut Bars. 

Sara Raven's Lemon Cumin Tea Cookies

Cream 1 stick butter (unsalted) & 1 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy.

Gradually beat in 2 egg yolks, finely grated zest of 2 lemons and 4Tbspn.s of juice, and 2 teaspoons of Cumin.

Sift together 2 1/4 cups flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda.  Fold into wet mixture.

Place dough onto waxed paper and roll into 2" cylinder.  Freeze until hard, 1 to 2 hours.

Then preheat oven to 350  and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Cut 1/4" slices and place onto sheet allowing space for spreading.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes until firm to touch.  Cool on wire rack.

*

I'm sure Brad is wondering "What on Earth are we going to do with all these sweeties in the house?," but I'm actually planning on sending a Birthday Box to someone special who just happens to have a love affair with the little darlings.  Then, once I pop into our local Kings for 10 LEMONS, I can give Limoncello a try.  It needs to set for awhile so it should be ready by the time I board a plane for Texas in April.  Now, how to get the stuff through security?

And The Winner Is . . .

It's a tradition in our family to watch the Oscars.  So, we jumped in the car early Sunday to make it home in time.  Not hard to do when the weather in Steamboat Springs had delivered. We had an easy drive up Thursday afternoon, and were tucked in our cozy condo before the snow started to fly.  And boy did it ever!

One of the many special things about the place is their Aspen Glades.  I've skied trees all over Colorado, but never in an Aspen forest, until now!

I'm so happy I got to share this with my boys,

Boyz in the Trees

Missy in Powder

and the Hot Springs with my girl.

But, as I'm fond of saying, "sometimes enough is enough." So with car loaded, and memories made we wound our way through the mountains back to our home on the front range.

And Oscar night?  It did not disappoint, lots of oohs and ahhs from our girl over the beautiful dresses and people.  The highlight for me?  The last quote shared in memorandum:

“It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.” Lena Horne b. 1917

I guess she knew what she was talking about, seeing that she lived to 93 years young.  May you all have what is takes to lessen your loads, lots and lots of love!

Away We Go!

Exciting day here today.  Going on an adventure.  A family adventure.  In a car.  Two mountain passes away.  Yes, we're headed to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  So exciting!  I've lived in Colorado for 25 years and although I've visited Steamboat in the Summer, I've never skiied there.  Until Now.

I almost thought I would be hanging up the downhill skiis last season, and pursue a gentler, more contemplative snow sport like snowshoeing or Nordic skiing?  But Max had other plans for us.  He is as passionate about this Winter sport as his grandfather, Bumpy.  When he's not skiing, he is reading up on world class resorts, watching Free Skiing Vids online, or entering contests to win cool gear.  Here is a photo he took to enter a contest for the best picture of an animal and skiis:

Looks like a winner to me!

So, we'll load up the Pilot, and head out after school today.  I don't know what will be more fun, the skiing, or the road trip.  We've had some great ones in our days, always a book on "tape", snacks, handwork, and yes the occasional (ahem) squabble, but what would a road trip be without one, or two, or ?  Well you get the idea.

I'm not sure what access I'll have to my Laptop while away, seeing as this was a major bargaining chip for Rachel, and I wouldn't want to rock her world, when at all possible!  So rather than love you and leave you, I will share this little diddy that has been living with me and hopefully can live with you until we meet again.

"If I had but two loaves of bread, I would sell one and buy hyacinths, for they would feed my soul."
- Prophet Muhammad

Winter's Slow Demise

I can feel it, can you?  I feel it as a little quickening in my step.  The early mornings don't seem so early anymore.  Bedtimes sometimes stretch a little later, sometimes.  But, I'm in no rush.  Too soon my energy will be pulled outside, and I'm still enjoying this inside time.  And yet, here I find myself doing the oddest things.  Yesterday I caught myself DUSTING.  What?  How can that be?  Not only dusting, but ENJOYING the process.

I have this lovely craft cabinet (converted TV cabinet) in my bedroom that houses a collection of my bits and bobs inside and on the top.  I do love my collections.  I walk past it everyday on my way to the bathroom, so there's no chance in not seeing it.  And how dusty it gets.  And sometimes, enough is enough.

Yesterday was just such a day.  Now I'm the first to admit I lack discipline.  Who wants to maintain something "old" when you can be starting something new?!  But I'm trying.  So rather than begrudgingly tackle this little bit of chaos, I took the time to relish it.  As Gradpa would say, "If you can't get out of something, get into it!"

Each piece, a photo, a ring, a necklace, a hankie, a bottle of perfume, is a connection to someone I love.  Taking the time to touch each one (well almost each one), lovingly clean off the dust, and carefully find its new place was a moment to remember and revisit that love.  As you can see, I have a lot to be grateful for.

An Open Heart Watches and Receives

Redwing blackbird song, Buds swell.

A Northern Flicker cries.

The Maple sheds her tears of joy,

A squirrel's sweet surprise.

Even the pussywillow cannot sleep,

Winter's slow demise.

Simply Be

What can I say?  Sometimes I get to thinking.  I've often thought this was my gift, my ability to "connect the dots."  Something happens, a written thought is read, a friend shares a story, a teacher shares an insight or learning, and boom, here I go off to the races.  Connecting the dots of my life.  And although this is a fun pursuit, and I do love a good puzzle, else times its just nice to let go and trust and know that, yes, everything is connected, and yes, it is fun to think about, but really, don't spend too much of my precious time wrapping things up in tidy, pretty little packages.

"True wealth is the ability to let go of your possessions." Yogi Bahjan

I always interpretted this quote literally, as in, ok, so if I'm not attached to "my possessions" I won't own them, or more likely, they won't own me.  But now, I'm realizing "my possessions" could mean my thoughts as well.  Maybe that's why I enjoy handwork, gardening, and yoga so much.  Through these pursuits I'm able to visit a beautiful, simple, empty-of-thought kind-of place to be.

Imagine that?  Just being.  So simple.  But sometimes so hard to achieve.  As Benjamin Hoff in the Tao of Pooh states,

"The essence of the principle of the Uncarved Block (P'u) is that things in their original simplicity contain their own power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed."

Here's wishing you all a simply beautiful day.

Happy Valentines Day!

I'm celebrating Valentines Day by cooking a, hopefully, favorite meal for my husband and children (not so much?).  Pulled Pork Bar-B-Q sandwiches, homemade coleslaw, sweet and sour beans, and vanilla strawberry cake with ice cream for desert. 

ALSO, I wanted to offer this little Valentine's Keepsake Tutorial for you friends in blogland.

Start by crocheting a heart.  I used natural hemp cord because I thought it's earthiness made a good juxtaposition to the heart's frilliness.

Using a size H/8 5.00mm hook

• Chain 2.
• Row 1: 2 single crochet (sc) in first chain. Chain 1, turn.
• Row 2: 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next stitch. Chain 1, turn.
• Rows 3 to 6: 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in each remaining stitch. Chain 1, turn.
• After row 6, you will have 7 stitches.
• Row 7: Skip first stitch. In second stitch: 1 half double crochet, three double crochet, 1 half double crochet. Skip one stitch, slip stitch in next stitch. Skip one stitch. In next stitch: 1 half double crochet, three double crochet, 1 half double crochet. Skip one stitch, slip stitch in next stitch.

I just love this simple heart, but wanted to add a little embelishment.  I do like to layer texture and color!  So I got out my handy dandy Yo Yo maker and scraps of fabric from a bag I sewed for Rachel.

And Voila!  Layers of loveliness!

Just have to add one last little punch of GREEN

from some little GREEN buttons off a favorite shirt that I ripped.  I do love reusing my favorite things (cue Julie Andrews!).

The possibilities are endless. You can adorn this little sweet heart to your choosing.  Here's another idea:

Quite a nice addition to the Valentine's Altar.  I will be bringing these keepsakes to a Valentine's Exchange at our Handwork Circle on Thursday, so perhaps there will be time to embelish some more?  I hope you enjoy a very Happy Heart Day!

My Ridiculous Obsession With Love

1 minute and 57 seconds into this medley, gives me the chills everytime!

A Clever Little Idea

Good things come in small packages, right?  And the more the merrier, yes?  With that in mind, I look at my workspace and think, gosh, I have bits and bobs, flotsam and jetsam, kibbles and bits ALL OVER!  For the most part I enjoy my melange of color, it's what inspires me you know?  But sometimes, enough is ENOUGH!

The other day when I was Socked In, an opportunity presented itself for me to try out this Clever Little Idea (CLI).  If you're like me, you probably have little mounds of embroidery floss stashed here and there, hither and yon.  If so, why not try this out?  Clever Little Embroidery Spools.  Here is the short, but hopefully sweet tutorial:

Start with an old manilla file folder (does anyone use these anymore?) and trace spools all around.  Next, cut them out.  This step reminded me of cutting out hearts when I was in elementary school, or  even when my kids were!

 

Then, relish in the winding up of all your happy little blobs of color knowing that they will be at your fingertips at the ready.

Lastly, you can punch holes in the tops in order to string them into a pretty lamp necklace,

 

or pin them up with min clips and create your own colorful bunting, stash them in a plastic "tackle" box, or even file them away in a binder filled with plastic sleeves meant to hold baseball cards (but who wants to hide their colors anyway?)

"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong."
— Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Socked" In

Another snowy day here.  Seems like the snow has come to stay.  One could say we're "socked in!"

What say you?  Yes!  Speaking of Socks, at last, a Ta Dah moment!

Rachel cozy in her socks!



Max cozy in his

Interesting thing, this "Ta Dah!" stuff.  While in yoga yesterday, my teacher explained the meaning of "Tadasana" or mountain pose.  Did you know "Ta Da" means "I am that?"  Maybe that's what is feeding my desire to create?  Striking when you think of it.  Each sock knit, each cookie baked, each blog posted, each relationship shared, a connection to "I am that."  A connection to the creative spark that got us on this journey in the first place.

Makes me want to stand tall, feet firmly planted and centered on the earth, and with my heart open, take a deep breathe and go out into the world.

Missy has her Ta Da! moment

What about you?

Right Then

Okay, so no more "wallowing in the mire."  I sure do like to throw myself pity parties, don't I?  Wait, don't answer that.  If I'm sick of my moping I can only imagine how my family and friends feel.  So, onward and upward!  It was a beautiful, snowy afternoon here in Boulder, again.
Today would probably be a great ski day at the local ski hill, Eldora, but I will probably be helping my husband, Brad, get off for their scout weekend.  Actually, he is very well prepared.  My help will be more along the encouragement and reassurance lines.  You see they are going to Klondike Days in Winter Park which involves Dog Sled Racing, Dutch Oven Cooking and sleeping in a tent.  In the winter.  In the snow.  And cold.  Bless his heart, he's a better man than me!

So the girls are left to our own imaginations as to how we will pass the time.  My favorite!  I know it will involve watching movies, but . . . I have a sneaky suspicion that this would be a good weekend for some sewing.  Rachel and I saw some incredible Plum colored jersey knit the last time we were at the fabric store, and boy oh boy it would make a great swingy cardigan.  Something like this, only more purple!

Fast and pretty.  With any luck, I'll have pictures to post of our joint project.  In the meantime, I continue to look forward to Spring, and want to share what's inspiring me now:

I love these tops, so swingy, so 70's, and green is my color! (I seem to like the word "swingy" today :])

 I love them all, well, the blue doesn't really appeal to me, but hey, cute cute cute anyway!

 Can you say "ruffles?" Oh how I love them!

 

Love these skirts, something about the bold print and clean lines of the bias tape.

 

I hope you all enjoy a great weekend as well!

Tangled Up In Blue

Today was not an easy day.  I guess we're all bound to have them.  Seems the emotions were running freely with my tears and nose.  Yesterday we started some family counseling, after much urging from our 15 year old.  At the time it felt like such a relief to be putting time aside to put it all on the table.  But, today, well, I'm feeling just a little overwhelmned, just a little tender.  You see, all I ever really wanted in life was a family of my own.  I have such great memories of growing up with 3 older sisters and 2 very active and engaging parents.  Summer trips to our family cabin, holidays shared with relatives, pets, hikes outdoors, and ski vacations.  Who wouldn't want that?

So the idea that what we've attempted to create, with all the required striving and sacrafice, is no good?  That's it's broken?  Somehow that just breaks my heart, you know?  I wish I had my daughter's perspective. She's able to look forward to where we'll end up.  She doesn't get caught up in what happened, what was said.  I admire that.  Now if I can only live it.  See what I mean when I say she is one of my teachers?

Buckets of rain
Buckets of tears
Got all them buckets coming out of my ears
Buckets of moonbeams in my hand
You got all the love honey baby
I can stand. Bob Dylan