Mama needs a new phone...

Seriously~ my current cellphone is about 5 years old, the battery has trouble holding a charge for more than a day, and the browser is so out-of-data, I can't retrieve my hotmail anymore.
I more than qualify for an upgrade & I would really like to get a smartphone~ web browsing, camera, Qwerty keyboard are the minimum requirements, but my budget is under $100.00.
So I need advice~





Blackberry





or...







iPhone?

Surprise

Mother forwarded an email to us yesterday which contained a very pleasant surprise~ my older brother is making a fly-by visit this weekend!
I haven't seen Bil in about 4 years, since our Christmas trip to New Mexico, though we've passed emails & e-cards since then. He'll only be here Friday through Sunday, so we're planning to get together for dinner on Saturday.
Sam lucked out & has the whole weekend off, but unfortunately Jessica has to work~ I hope she won't be too upset, since she hasn't seen her uncle in quite some time.
We also learned that my in-laws are all going to be in the Bay Area for Christmas~ Chris' Mom will be staying with us, while his brother & family will be with my sister-in-law's relatives. I will be filling in for two vacationing co-workers thru the holidays, so time off for me is out of the question, but Chris was able to take time off to spend with his family. I believe we'll be hosting everyone here on Boxing Day, so I won't miss out on the festivities or the chance to show off my new home!

Ready, set, KNIT!!!

I participated in this project a couple years ago~ very satisfying. This year, they are encouraging people to make scarves (knit or crochet) for their regional Special Olympics event; go to the website & click the "Projects Guidelines" tab~ all the details for each state can be found, & they even list a few free pattern downloads. There's plenty of time~ deadlines generally are for the end of January, since most of the events aren't held until February or March. Of course, you could send scarves to any of the 35 games being held in the US during 2011 (Northern California is held in March & needs at least 1200!)
If you consider yourself as being "non-crafty", there is an area where you can donate to support the Special Olympics with your financial gifts. But you know what? This would be a great opportunity to learn yarn craft~ you know you want to, right?

A Holiday Tradition

Join in the fun!

I'd rather be napping...

I am not a morning person.

Never have been, don’t plan on ever being one.

I really need at least two hours to get going in the morning~ shower, dress, feed the animals, eat breakfast, read the paper, finish my tea, before heading out for the day~ but even then, I don’t feel like all cylinders are firing until about 10:00 am.

Too bad I’m expected to start working at 8:30.

In the past couple months, I’ve been waking up at 5:30 (more commonly known around here as “the butt-crack of dawn”), look at the clock in disgust, & attempt to go back to sleep. A little voice in my head says…

”You could take a walk”

Yeah, right.

But you know what?

After 2 weeks of this nonsense, I did.

Really.

Been getting up & heading out the door by 5:45 am~ not every day, just 3 or 4 mornings a week~ & walking for 35 minutes.

Did you know that the stars are still out at 5:45 am?

Can’t say I’m too fond of it, especially now that it’s gotten cold, but I keep going (unless I talk myself out of it when it’s wet out, or I have to go in early).

Hopefully, I’ll see a difference someday.

But I’ll never be a morning person.

Gifts

This is what we first saw

Figured we would take it out when we moved in

Two weeks later, we found it covered with small, bright green leaves

Decided to leave it & see what would happen

Went on our trip to Washington DC & returned to clouds of white blossoms

Before we knew it,

we were surrounded by glowing red fruit

Bushels of it

Fresh, frozen, canned, gifted

I can hardly wait for next spring

I'm finally feeling it...

“Feeling what?” you may ask.

~Routine

~Settled

~Centered

~Anticipation

~Peace

~Joy

~Home

Six months of change and transition took a toll on me, set me on autopilot in most areas of my life for a long time.

Several things were set aside~ things I enjoy and find fulfillment in doing~ mostly because it took too much energy to even think about.

Now, I am through the proverbial tunnel, back in the light and looking forward to all the good things God has in store for me.

It’s good to be back.

My hands ...

have been kept very busy knitting precious little things.
October has turned into "Baby Bonanza" in my little world.
Two ladies from my office gave birth to sons earlier this month.
Wednesday morning, my blogging (and face-to-face) friend, Bek & her husband, Matt, welcomed their first child~ a darling boy named Wyatt (see "Bek Life" in my side bar)
But the capper for me? The birth of my first niece, Malia Mei, Thursday morning! This is the first baby to come into my immediate family in nearly twenty years, when my own dearest Sam was born (Heavens! Has it really been twenty years?) My brother & his wife were blessed through open adoption, and have been allowed to be part of the last two month's of Malia's journey into the world by her generous birth parents. Please lift them up in prayer~ they've taken a brave, but difficult path, and will need love & support over the weeks to come.
I can hardly wait until next Saturday, when we are having a family gathering at Mother's~ since I'll most likely become a grandmother in the next three years, I need to brush up on my baby skills!

Summer wanes...

Goodness~ has it really been that long since I last posted?

Wish I could say it’s because I’ve been off having fascinating adventures, but the reality is that I’ve been butt lazy this summer! The new job, while interesting and challenging, leaves me mentally drained by the end of the day; most evenings find me indulging in frivolous recreation. I tend my virtual farm, dig for pirate treasure, queue up some old movies, or simply sprawl about in my pleasantly cool bedroom reading light mysteries.

 

 

With the waning of summer comes an end to most of our indolence and idleness; Sam started classes last week and has been making the most of his bicycle and bus pass, since he just completed another rite of passage into the adult world~ a speeding ticket. Driving privileges have been suspended until several criteria are met:

1.      Makes his court appearance

2.    Pays us back for the ticket and driving school

3.    Replaces the car key that he lost on a fishing trip with his friends last month

4.    Begins to pay 1/3 of the car insurance and his own gas

 

Knowing that his mother is a hard case and doesn’t back down on her edicts, he got very motivated and even more lucky, landing himself his first job after 3 years of “casual” looking. He will be doing security at one of the retailers in our old hometown mall; it’s the job he’s been hoping for, since his intention is to go into law enforcement.

We’ve recently been attending a church closer to home, wanting to get to know people in the area and plug into the local ministries, although TCC remains our church home. One of the ministries that this church recently initiated was a community garden, something Chris and I have talked about for a number of years. Phase One is family and charity plots, tended by individuals for the benefit of their own homes or others who are physically unable to participate themselves; Phase Two will be community fruit and nut trees, and a meditation garden to be tended by everyone; and Phase Three is a large area (roughly 2 acres) dedicated to producing crops for the local food bank. We leased a 12X12 family plot, and Chris has been having a great time building the beds and planning the late season garden.

My latest endeavor has been some informal knitting classes for a couple co-workers and their friends. We’ve only met a couple times so far, but I’m enjoying teaching and have been writing up future lesson plans and projects to help them progress in the craft if they choose. I’m finding it difficult to get together with my old knitting group on Friday evenings, since I don’t get off until 5:30 pm and it’s at least a 40 minute drive back to Tracy, so this is somewhat filling the social void.

Lastly, let me introduce our newest family member~

Sir Angus of Lower ChickenButt

 

  

More about this charming gentleman later~    

Transitions

This is the story of my life; practically every facet of my orderly little world either has, is, or is shortly going to undergo fairly radical change.
The best part is of all: I'm not freaked out in the least.
Really, I'm not; aside from an intermittent twitch in my right eyelid when I'm tired, I'm feeling pretty terrific.
We're enjoying getting to know our new hometown, 15 miles north-east of where we lived before, & feeling very comfortable with the change. We're settled into our home, aside from the guest/craft room~ it's still stacked in boxes, but not for long. I still smile when I tell people we finally bought a house; coming home has taken on a whole new meaning. Every day, I walk around touching my walls, look in the linen closet (enormous!), marvel at the empty cabinets & full pantry in the kitchen, just to assure myself that it isn't a dream. Bits of home improvement get done every week, including getting a bit of garden planted. I'm in no rush~ I want to do some soil improvement & planning before committing anything major into the ground. The patio is filled with planters, the front has a bed of geraniums & marigolds, & we put in tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, & cantaloupes this past weekend.
My career has taken a new & exciting turn. The company that took over is much larger, with multiple locations, great benefits, & a central administration building in another town. I was officially transferred over to the accounting department on June 2nd & have spent the past month assisting with merger cleanup & taking on familiar, but expanded, duties in my new workplace. The commute is the same distance, just east instead of west, with the added benefit of being the opposite direction of the daily exodus to the Bay Area. It's in a mostly residential area, with a large park one block over, so several of the ladies head over there at lunch time to eat & take a walk. Most of all, I'm enjoying the challenge of the work & getting to know my new co-workers; nearly everyone already knew my name & have welcomed me warmly~ a good thing for me, since you know I'm pretty shy & have trouble making the first move.
Our family is also in major transition~ Mother & Stepdad are actually talking about retiring; my brother & his wife are in the adoption process to start their family; & my dear Robb has proposed to his Beloved, so next year, there is going to be a wedding! I knew for a quite a while that is was coming; when we'd talk, Robb could only focus on two subjects~ his search for a house, & how much Stacy meant to him~ within 6 months, it went from "If we ever get married..." to "When we get married..." Well, Robb closed on his first house 2 weeks after we did, moving in the same day, & Stacy has moved into the same area to finish her bachelor's degree, so I knew it was just a matter of time until the announcement. He called me 2 weeks ago, having given her a ring the previous weekend while on a trip to the Keys; he is so happy & excited about the next phase of his life.

Chris & I are planning a trip to Florida in November to meet Stacy & her family, plus have a little vacation time after the busy season; we'll probably even be spending time with my former husband & his new wife, dicussing our role in the coming nuptials.
Life is never dull!