Porch Fiber Festival

The second annual Holly Lane Porch Fiber Festival was this past weekend and it was a blast. Just like those other fiber festivals, this one has all the same things.

Animals:

Hands on demonstrations:

Adult beverages, (gluten free of course!!):

And fiber, fiber, fiber!

Word of this event has spread so much that this years attendance increased over last year by 33%. Amazing as we had NO advertising or marketing budget (despite being married to a VP of the same!)

Jealous yet?? Well there was food too!

J

. . . Junk Desk

Many people have something the refer to as their junk drawer. I have, instead, a junk desk. What's sad is that it is right in the center of our kitchen. I've been in the habit of letting things accumulate on the desk all week and then dealing with it on Friday. It doesn't always work. Much to the dismay of the male inhabitant of the house.

On the left we have a coaster, a big envelope of junk left over for Kid's College, the cords to plug everything into the computer, some Box Tops, and a Target receipt for, let me see here .... medication. On the right is Zyrtec, A Delta Dental benefits thing I have to call on, my Headache Calendar, Kathryn's Learnia test results (clueless as to what these actually mean). By the end of today, with any luck, this junk will be sorted through and put or thrown away.

Problem is, it'll likely go to one of these three places:

Junk drawer 1 - on the theory that you just can't have enough rosaries around the house, there are three in this drawer alone! Three flavors of chap stick, pens, pencils, credit cards, green Chibi, an emery board. Your basic Junk drawer. Or Junk drawer 2. It has tape, paper, envelopes, pencils, a replacement feather chaser for a cat toy of Sammy's, an old cell phone and it's charger, school notes. Your basic re-stock for Junk drawer 1.

Or Junk slots one and two. This is the last Junk stop before trash can. If it goes here and I don't look for it for say, a year, then it gets tossed. I pretty much don't even know what's in there now. Except I recognize one thing as a PedEgg. Impulse buy at Target. If you're thinking of it - don't. It rips the skin off your feet. Probably why it never made it upstairs to the bathroom with the other pedicure products.

Oh, but Trek, I'm too late for our school with these!! There yours now. I just have to dig up the address. I hope it's not in with this junk anywhere!

My 10 Minutes

Inspired by Carole, and her 10 minutes a day, I've also decided to spend 10 minutes a day with my wheel. Not because I have an enormous fiber stash, but more because it's been a while since we've spent quality time together. Like anything, it takes practice, practice, practice.

But rather than spin down in the studio, I thought today would be a good day to bring the wheel upstairs an take her out on to the porch.

So, I gave her a good spring cleaning and oiling (yes Shelley, I remembered to oil her!!).

OK - for any actual spinning to take place today, I'll actually go in to next week's allotment of 10 minute chunks. But that just seems right for a Thursday with not much on the calendar. And these guys happily snoozing away. . .

. . . nowhere near the "Cat Wheel of Fun" I might add!

New Digs

The Cat "Wheel of Fun". It took Jon, Kathryn and I about two hours to put this together; it's rather unsteady and wobbly. At 14 pounds, Tigger would be well advised to stay on the bottom level of the two-story condo.
However, once it was in place, and we threw away the box that they REALLY loved, the "Fun" in "Cat Fun Wheel" began. Countless minutes of kitty-swat have been observed. Or "bop the butt" of the kitty above you - now there's a game the whole family can play - for a few seconds or two. Once, a wild game of "Queen of the Condo" was played - Sammy was the only player. But she defended her turf honorably.

I'm thinking of getting the box out of the recycling bin.

Blog Brag

I have to take today and brag about Kid's College. I was dreading this event. It was a ton of work and I really thought that the kids wouldn't quite appreciate the curriculum - much less the effort. I was wrong. It was great fun. Of course I only had a fully charged camera for the second day and So I missed the Middle School. But the Elementary School day was better for pictures.

We had our local police on hand to talk to the about safety and 9-1-1 and stranger danger. The kids got to play in the cruiser, sound the siren and flash the lights. And really, isn't a always a hoot to see a sister driving a cruiser. That's our beloved Sr. Lucy. She wants us to sent this home to her family in India. I hope they have a sense of humor. "Hey kids, how many of you have seen your mom and dad back here?" kept ringing through my head.

Just in time for the New Indiana Jones movie, we brought in a real archaeologist and the kids dug for buried treasure in boxes of sand. He even had a British accent.

There were some high flying kicks thanks to a local Karate studio and some high flying kites thanks to a school mom - volunteers both! Um, why yes, that is my daughter flying that kite. My program, my kid in the picture.

Two craft classes, sewing and scrap booking (taught by our own blogger, Connie) which produced some awesome results. And - boys attended both!! I think that teaching this class was the best part of Connie's very hard day. Please pop over give her kitty hugs on the loss of her beloved Miss Ellie

A "Dog Whisperer" was on hand to teach basics of dog safety and dog training. Um, why yes, that's my dog and my dog whisperer. Ah, nepotism. I believe in hiring the best.

"Fun with Food" - or - "Am I Really Gonna Have to Eat That??"

A total surprise was the city recycling manager who brought lots of examples of things made from items which can (and should) be recycled. His giveaways were awesome - pencils made from recycled jeans, or money and or plastic!

A yoga class to help them through their stressful day!

And finally, a visit from the Animal Humane Society. A strategic error. Gather all the small kids for a 50 minute presentation by this lovely young lady. Start off with a few opening comments about who they are, what they do etc. Then ask if the kids have any questions before she gets started.

Anyone know what the question is?

Yeah - "What's in the cage?" For 45 minutes. That's all they wanted to know. It drove them nuts. They could hear it and smell it and it was killing them. "What's in the cage?" "When can we see what's in the cage" "Will we be able ti pet what ever is in the cage?"

It was a great two days. I'm glad they had fun and even learned some stuff. Thanks for letting me brag.

Off To College

The extra cars driving up and down our street at all hours of the night means that the college age kids (boys in the case of our neighborhood) are home for the summer. Falling asleep at night to the sweet sounds of bouncing basketballs, from the boys behind us and across the street, is almost as fun as the nightly serenade of "How Much Bass Can Your Car Put Out 'Cuz I Bet Mine Can Do Bettah!"



So while these guys are all coming home to live off their parents for a few months, I'm headed to college. Yep, college. "Lucky Deb" you're probably thinking. "I hope she's taking something really fun, or intellectual, or deeply meaningful for her." Yep, college.

Kid's College. At Kathryn's school. The time suck of all time sucks volunteer project which has taken over my life, kitchen, free time, and my family will all come to fruition today and tomorrow. It's sort of like "Career Day". The kids get to spend time with visiting "professors" from all walks of life and decide at the tender age of anywhere from 7 -13 on a career path. It's also sort of like Career Day in that I've decided I really don't want to do ANYTHING like this EVER for a real job. But it's for the kids..... 6:

See you next week!

I Did, I Do

Kathryn had to do the math for me this morning, it seems like we've been married forever. I thought this was our 14th anniversary. "No, Mom. It's your Golden Anniversary." We had a little conversation about the difference between golden birthdays and anniversaries.

In all actuality, it is the time before I met Jon that seems like it lasted an eternity. That time you where you wander aimlessly through life; searching for something, finding all the wrong things, making all the wrong choices, turning left when you shouldn't even have been driving. And just when you think your life is about tho fall apart, it does. And you're a mess for a few years. But you fix yourself up and meet "this guy". He likes the "new and improved", on-the-path-to-self-actualization you. At some point you'll tell him about the you that you left in a heap over in South Minneapolis! He is strong and wise, witty and charming, and well past self actualization - but before egotistic. He may be the most amazing person you've ever met.

One day, he asks you to marry him. And so, I did. I said, "I Do."

Thirteen years ago today. I said "I Do." So did Jon. I have never regretted those words. I love my husband more every time I look at him. He didn't rescue me from something or fix me or save me. He was the first person to see the real and true me and to know the potential in me. I will love him forever for that. He is my husband, the father of Kathryn, a gentleman, a friend, a caring and giving human. If you've met Jon, you know of his sense of humor. Frankly - he is one of the best people I know. And he's mine. I'm resisting saying "I don't deserve him" because that would negate all the years of therapy - so, let me just say - and I DO deserve it.

Jon: I did marry you; I do love you, I would (and will!!) marry you again. Happy Anniversary!

Mother's Day

I never met my mother-in-law. She passed away before I met Jon. We've had many discussions about how she would have felt about me had we been able to share some part of our lives together. We always come back to the same scenario: she wouldn't have taken to me at first. "She's a bit too old for you isn't she?" "Well, she's been married before, she has baggage." We agree that in time, she would have come around. And what would have eventually brought her around, is when I became a mother. She would have adored and worshiped Kathryn and she would have approved of me as the mother of her precious granddaughter, and therefore as the wife of her beloved son.

We always bring flowers; at Christmas, a wreath. Sometimes we only stay for a few moments. Other times we stay for a long time and just sit quietly. Sometimes Jon tells us stories about what she was like.

On the day we were married (14 years ago tomorrow!) it rained all day. We stopped to visit her briefly and drop off flowers. As we pulled up in the limo and walked up, the sun poured out, and a huge rainbow appeared.
There are times when we laugh and times when we just pray quietly. Often we give Jon time to just be in her presence and Kathryn and I will wander around and look at the flowers. Then there are times we just hug and cry.
They say you can't miss something you've never had. Don't tell that to her granddaughter. Or her daughter-in-law. Happy Mother's Day to the other Mom.

I

. . . I is for Intarsia

As in, not interested. Don't even want to try. I am not opposed to other color work, but I just find intarsia, well, icky, and kind of grandma-like. When I think of intarsia I think of giant snowmen, pumpkins, or those collectible dolls with the big heads knit into giant sweaters. Sure, I've seen smaller, more lovely designs, but nothing that has ever seemed worth the effort. All those bobbins and tails and beginnings and ends and - ENOUGH!! I do not like them Sam I am. I do not like green eggs and intarsia.

Where's Mom

"Is Mom ever coming back, Big Doggy?" - Tigger

"Yes, she told the little girl she wanted to volunteer more at her school." - Holli

"Does that mean she doesn't love us anymore you guys? What's a volunteer? What is school? Which one is Mom? Which one of you is the dog? Who will feed us if she doesn't come back? What about...."

"SHUT UP, Sammy" - Holli & Tigger

Prom

It's not just for high school kids. Sometimes grown-ups get all dressed up on Saturday nights and go out to fancy places for dinner and dancing too.
Such was the case for these beautiful people this past Saturday night when we attended a benefit for the TCGMC. I was thrilled to learn that the attire was "upscale tropical". I bought this dress in Florida for my brother's wedding this coming June. First time EVER I've actually had something to wear when one of these events popped up on the calendar.

We had a blast; danced a ton; stayed out way to late. And all too soon my date left for Phoenix. That rarely happens in high school I suspect.