Reflecting on Saturday morning

I wake each morning with the thrill of expectation

and the joy of being alive. And I'm thankful for this day.

~Angela L. Wozniak

Up and moving on this early Saturday morning. Darkness still blankets the sky and so does a thin layer of clouds - and the full moon provides enough light to see the roses in the backyard. Fog and Full moon do not create a good situation for one who wanted to view a flyby of the space station or try to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower. Bummer, it is! However, since I am up I will get in my early morning spin on the stationary bike while catching up on my blog reading and posting. Why not, right?

Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now

without wishing it were different;

enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will);

being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won't).

- James Baraz

The last 9 days of summer break are here for the boys; August 22 they go back to school - Robert will be in 10th and Matthew in 7th. I look at them everyday (basically I look up to them as they both have surpassed me in height) and I am in awe of how they change daily. Physically they have gotten taller, have filled out, look more "manly" and less "boyish". Mentally they continue to mature, to ask about "grown up" things and have discussions that seem more "adult-like" versus "kiddish". Little by little, they take steps toward independence - not needing their mommy or daddy as much as they use to; yet upset if we aren't there to help out when they need it.

As mentioned in a previous post - this summer wasn't like other summer for there seem to be no "down" time. With both boys signed up for different activities, DH working in *The Stores* and I working my part-time job as well as playing taxi driver...gone are the days of the long family vacations, the days of little boys going fishing with their daddy & grandfather in Colorado; the day trips to the beach where little curious fingers try to pick up a little crab only to get pinched. While it is ok to look back, to open all those photo albums of summer vacations and times spent looking for dinosaurs...it is ok to know that those are memories to last a life time and those that we make now are just as important.

Yes, the summer break activities change - they change with the times, they change as the boys change and as DH and I change. It isn't a bad thing at all...it just is. And talking with the boys, while they miss a day trip to the pond for a little fishing or to the beach for a little exploring, they said that there wasn't anything that they would have changed this summer (except the fact that Robert had some summer homework, which he wishes he would have started earlier in the summer).

Robert enjoyed the hockey clinic that he participated in, which took up much of the summer vacation as it ended July 28th. He not only got to play with some of his hockey teammates, but enjoyed playing around with some of the older boys who have moved on to Junior leagues and were home for the summer. He also has enjoyed getting back into the school track program during the last few week (although his feet, I am not so sure they were happy about it, as blisters tell that story). Matthew enjoyed being a junior camp counselor, working with 3-5 year olds as well as elementary school age kids. He learned responsibility - calling the director if he was going to be late or asking for more volunteer hours when he wasn't scheduled. I am proud of my boys!

So as Summer Break 2011 comes to a close - this last week will be filled with school registration days, ortho & dentist appointments and evening hockey practices. I will be taking vacation days from my part-time job to get all the school preparation activities complete as well as work in some time to do some things that we haven't made time for yet - get in a little bowling, maybe work  in a trip up to the pool, sneak in a hike at a nature reserve or just have a quiet lunch together.

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. 

When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.        

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Well, I will conclude this post. I am grateful that you stopped by for a visit. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Monday's Mumbling

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

And now Monday has arrived...
My alarm clock went off this morning - @ 4:30am - which is my bewitching hour for getting up and exercising. It is my "ME" time that I have to make for myself; otherwise this quiet time - time to do whatever I want to do - time for a good long sweaty spin on my stationary bike to refresh my self for the upcoming day - is time that I don't get as the day goes on. However, lately when that clock announces "morning" with the noise of static radio, I have been hitting that OFF button unconsciously. Due to the craziness of my life with all the activities going on, I am sure that the new routine off turning off the alarm by my body is a good message that I need my sleep. However, when I sleep through that alarm I don't get in my sweaty spin and then I become the dreaded "Mean Old Mom"
 
Any way...alarm went off and I am up and spinning - good start to the day.
 
"But what day is it?" That is the thought that popped into my head when that static radio noise came on this morning. DH nugged me, after I hit that OFF button, to help me achieve my goal of my early morning "ME" time. But it took me a few moments to figure out what day of the week it was, something that is occuring more and more as I have been working in *The Store* on the weekends. The days all seem to blend together lately. Do you ever feel that way? That no matter what day of the week it is, they all seem the same?
 
Oh, well...I am up and going - Yahoo!
 
This week is the last week of school for the boys - hard to believe that on Friday, Robert will have finished his first year of high school and Matthew will have completed his first year of middle school. It has been a wonderful year for both! Yet, with the start of summer vacation in sight, I don't think that it will be any less busy for us all. Both boys have hockey clinics to attend and Robert has some summer assignments to accomplish before the beginning of the next school year for his Honors English class. We are waiting to hear if Matthew will get the summer Jr. Leader camp counselor (volunteer - nonpaid) position he applied and interviewed for...this is something that Robert has done for the last few years but can't do this year because he has aged out. Well, we just take things a day at a time around here.
 
Well, even though life is busy and quick around here, I did manage to find time to plant my butt and stitch on Saturday evening. Progress is being made on the pineapple (unfortunately my camera was downstairs this morning, so I couldn't get a progress photo taken to show you today). I visited our new Jo-Ann fabrics on Friday afternoon - they opened a new larger one in our city while closing the smaller one down - and got some greenish fabric, which matches the different green shades of the pineapple foliage. I am planning to make the pineapple into a pillow.
 
It is time to stop all this mumbling and sign off so that I can catch up with all of you out there in blog world. I have skimming through a lot of your blogs, trying to keep up to date on all of your activities and stitching project, but just haven't had a lot of time to comment. Hope that is ok?
 
Take care, my friends, and remember...
 

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

 

The count down to craziness...

Well, for some reason August seems to feel the need to rush by...last weekend was the last weekend without any hockey commitments. So, we utilized Saturday as a stay home day to get caught up on a few things as well as start some of the "back-to-school" tasks. But first up was a little sleeping in (at least for the boys) - followed by a long run. To keep in shape after tryouts, Robert (older son) and I have been doing a little jogging together in the mornings to compliment his hockey skill workouts. We started just going for a 3-5 mile jog during the week and then added a long one on the weekend. Saturday we ended up jogging 9 miles in an hour and fifteen minutes (he probably could have finished it in less than an hour, but he had his old hockey mom to jogging behind him). So, last week I logged over 30 miles, not too bad for an over 40 year old mother who just put on her running shoes :) Now I have the jogging bug.

Yesterday, we decided to do a day trip to the beach. We had a hard time decided where to go because there has been a constant fog bank on the coast...but decided to drive up to Stintson Beach which is near the famous Muir Woods, for the weather forecast for this region was 75 and sunny. This drive always puts the fear of goodness in Matthew because of the twisty-turvy-ups-and-downs of Hwy 1. Well, as soon as we turned into the beach parking lot...not only did the disappointment of a foggy, misty day hit us all, but Matthew had to deal with the after effects the drive. Once his stomach was satisfied and he was cleaned up, we decided not to disappoint the boys. So, we got a little of the beach equipment out of the car and set up a spot where DH & I could plop down while the boys played in the sand & surf for a couple of hours. When DH and I had enough of being misted on, we packed up and headed north a little further on Hwy 1...first to find a place for lunch and second, to find a cut off that would take us to one of the main highways so we didn't have to drive back all the twisty-turvy-ups-and-downs again. I don't know if our last beach day was a good celebration to the "almost" end of summer, but it definitely was an adventure!

This week is the last week of summer camps for the boys. Matthew (younger son) really enjoyed his afternoon camp this year - and even when given the choice of staying home to "veg out" - he opted to go to the camp and play. This is the last year that he can attend this camp, for he will have aged out after this summer. The only way for him to attend next year is if he participates in the Junior Leader program...which is what Robert (older son) has been doing for the last three years. Robert's Jr. Leader schedule this year has included working at the afternoon camp Matthew attended, as well as work at a preschool camp and a Nature Day Camp. As in the past, being a Jr. Leader has been a wonderful experience for Robert and I think that this year was his most enjoyable because of the variety of camps he worked at. I believe that this is his last year for participating in the Jr. Leader program...next year I think he has the ability of actually applying for a Leader position, which is a paid position. But we will cross that bridge when it is time.

Starting the weekend of Aug. 14-15, the hockey practices start up for both boys. This is the first step to the beginning of our craziness. With both boys in a higher level of hockey that comes with higher expectations of development on and off ice, there will be ice time and fitness room time to deal with...most of the time the "off ice" skills will be scheduled for days/evenings when they also have ice - thus, making the most out of our drive to the rink.

Anyway...as hockey practices start up next weekend...school registration/orientation for Matthew (6th grader - first year of middle school) and Robert (9th grader - freshman in high school) also take place, as we gear up for the start of school on Aug. 24th.

So, while it does sound like we have a lot going on here, it is somewhat a gradual process of adding on the different activities which is much better than waking up one day and having both hockey & new school hours hit at one time. At least that is one way of looking at the next 2 weeks. :)

Stitching News...
Aside from all the daily events that occur in my house, I have decided to give "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" a little rest. Since the last time I posted a photo, I have added a few new stitches and buttons, but just need a break from it. There are a few more areas of white spaces that I am not satisfied leaving blank, but don't know what I want to do right now. So, I have put it aside and brought Mary Wigham out of hibernation over the weekend. It was like having a good friend over for a visit! I got to stitch for a couple of hours on Saturday while watching the Blues Brothers and will have a motif done soon, so will post a status photo soon.

Well, that is about it from the house of craziness. Take care my blogging friend, and remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

It is Friday - yahoo!

I thought I would start out my Friday post with a status snap of "Eat, Sleep, Stitch", especially the band at the bottom I have been working on this week. The pattern for this (information regarding the pattern can be found on my post titled: Tuesday) does call for all cross-stitches, but I have been having fun playing with some specialty stitches, which might show up in the photo (you might be able to click on it to enlarge if interested). I think that they are called Rhodes Stitch (?).
I have also been playing around with the size of the x-stitches...the majority of the motif-band design was stitched 2-over-2, with some stitched 1-over-1. So, again just having fun using some different stitches, while using some quaker-like motif patterns I have in my stash, to create my own sampler-of-sorts around the inital "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" design.
Did any of that make sense?

So, we find ourselves at Friday...the end of the week and the end of another month. We will say 'good-bye' to July and 'hello' to August over the weekend...and with the beginning of August, the smell of change is growing stronger. Summer camp for the boys will be concluding soon, the first hockey practices will be starting up, paperwork and dues for the upcoming school year will be turned in. And when the sun comes up on August 24th and the school bell rings - summer vacation will be over.

But let's not rush it, for we still have 3.5 weeks left - which we plan to enjoy and make the best of every moment!

I hope that you can find enjoyment in every moment today, tomorrow and beyond.

Until next time, remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

And now we are headed into the "quiet" summer routine

Hello Blogging Friends,
Welcome to Monday. How was your weekend? Mine consisted of hockey tryouts - which went very well! For Robert (older son) made the Bantam AAA team...which is the age division and the level he skated at last year; I would have said "the same team" as last year, but with 95% new kids and a new coach it seems more like a new team within the same age/same level as last year. For Matthew (younger son) made the Peewee AA 99 team...he moved up to the Peewee level this year, for he is 11 years old, but this is his first year at a AA level, or Tier hockey as they call it.

DH and I were very proud of our boys, they both had good skates all three days of the tryout. I only really watch 1 full day - for Friday and Sunday, I played a true "hockeymom" which is doing more of the behind the scenes work (providing shuttle service from home to rink and back so one kid didn't have to sit at rink long and/or was able to sleep in longer and/or was able to get to bed earlier; go to the parent meetings after the announcement were made...basically to sign the financial agreements, etc.).My DH stayed in the rink and watched all the skating sessions and would text reports to me, letting me know how the boys were doing. How did we ever survive with our texting?

With a new hockey season, comes with a new opportunity to volunteer...which I have already stated I would be a team manager of Robert's team this year to help with the paperwork and travel arrangements for the group. Been doing this for so long, it is hard to stop now!

Since the weekend was all about "Eating, Sleeping and Hockey-ing"...to keep my sanity, I did find time to counteract it with some stitching!

If you are familiar with this design (there are 3-4 different layouts noted in this project) - I am not really following any of the layouts designed or really following the colors called for...just kind of using the designs and creating my own thing. After stitching "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" I did notice that my count was a little off and it didn't center perfectly under the other words - but I wasn't too worried because I knew that I wanted to stitch the daisy...even though I had some concern that the white petals of the flower might not show up well on white fabric. So, when it was time to start the daisy, I remembered the DMC overdyed white/ecru color that I used on the Quaker Patriotic Heart, I decided to use that...which I am happy I did. For I love the way the petals are coming out...they kind of look like they have some depth to them...and I love the way the middle of the flower came out. I used a NeedleNecessity overdyed thread that consisted of yellows flowing into reddish color; and I stitched it going around from the outside to the inside creating the effect of outlining it. My plan is to finish the daisy, add some back stitching leaf-like design around it and then stitch some kind of border around the whole thing. So stay tuned :)

As the title says, we are headed into a "quiet" summer routine this week and maybe for the next couple of weeks. I head off to work in the mornings while DH and the boys are home doing their morning routine of: breakfast, followed by some hockey skills practice in the garage for a hour or so, ending with a brisk walk with the dog. Then, after they cool off and wash up, they get in a hour of reading before lunch...then it is off to their afternoon summer camp down the street. And in the evening...we have no HOCKEY! All of the major summer hockey camps/clinics are prior to tryouts - so now that the tryouts for the boys are over, there is a little break until the weekend of Aug. 14 when practices start up. And with school not starting until the 24th of August, we can have a little taste of a summer vacation...just enough that there shouldn't be any whining about being bored.

Take care my friends and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

First week of summer vacation

With the boys out of school, I guess you can say that summer vacation has started. Nevertheless, with DH home, I will be able to keep my "normal" routine of getting up in the mornings, working out and then going into work...leaving Mr. Mom home with the boys in the morning. In summers past, when DH was working, I would flip my work hours to afternoon while the boys attended an afternoon summer camp. The boys will still attend an afternoon camp, which starts up in a few weeks...so I guess I will get those afternoons to spend with my DH :)

This week brings some travelling before those summer camps start. Robert (older son) and I will be leaving in a couple of days, heading to Minnesota. He is on a summer hockey team who will be playing in a tournament there. We are actually going in a few days early to spend some time with one of my sisters and her family...the rest of my family is on vacation in South Carolina and are "bummed" as they will miss us when we get to town. I am also trying to set up some "get togethers" with old high school mates (I grew up in MN) whom I have re-connected with via Facebook.

On the stitching side of things...I finished the other patriotic heart (didn't have time to take a photo of it this morning, but will try to do that soon) and started on my Ornament Swap exchange. The next exchange for this group is due to be mailed the end of July, so I thought since MW was kind of taking a nap that I would get a start on this exchange so that I didn't feel the need to rush it. It also makes it easier to pack small stitching projects for a plane ride than larger one.

Did you notice the subtle changes to the look of my blog? Blogger has come up with new design templates as well as an advanced way to change the look and feel of the blog. They even have 3 column layouts...which I tried and it just didn't look right; I probably need to play around with some of the font sizes and column sizes more if I want to go with 3 columns. Anyway, as I was searching through the pre-created background designs I found the one that had watermelons...and that is one fruit I eat a lot of! I love watermelon! At our local grocery store I have become known as the "watermelon lady" for I don't walk out of there without at least 2-3 large watermelons. And I have been known to help customers choose watermelons while standing in the produce section - I thumb the watermelon and listen for that hollow sound, then pick it up to make sure that it feels slightly heavy.

Well...enough rambling for today. Hope you have a great week! Remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often! Lisa

Friday's show and tell...

Yesterday I received an my personal exchange from Heather - a pinkeep that reminds us to "Wear a Smile...one size fits all". In her card she said that this was her first pinkeep. She did an awesome job! The colors go very well with those in my room, as seen by the bedspread that I photographed it on. Even the fabric used for the backing is perfect! Heather seemed to have captured my liking of neutral, earthy colors very well! Thank you Heather - I love it! You should be receiving your package early next week!









Other Stitching News...
First project...L*K Exchange due in the mail at the end of the month. I am putting the "finishing" touches on the "finished" piece...as you see by the photo of the piece of fabric on the sewing machine. I am really enjoying this new toy. I can't say that my pieces look "professional" but the things I have been making with it seem to be looking very nice and those on the receiving end have expressed positive comments. And the finished work that I have mailed out, are pieces that I am proud of and would enjoy receiving too - so I guess they do look good.

Second Stitch...tomorrow I am planning to attend a get together at my "not so" LNS. It is a get together of the Stitchers by the bay Yahoo Group, which Valerie got me interested in joining. And, what is cool, is I might get to meet Valerie and other fellow stitchers in the Bay Area (as well as go shopping for more stash). I am looking forward to this!

In the backyard...
I think that we finally beat our bird problem, as I spotted on strawberry in our strawberry garden (under the bird netting). Hopefully the little mice we have scurring around the neighborhood will not find this morsel. I probably should pick it as it does look ripe. We also have a little bean plant out in the garden and there are 2 green beans (not much for a family meal tonight, but still pretty cool). Our orange tree seems to be putting out some young looking oranges (yes, that is the little green thing on the end of the branch in the last photo). We'll see if any of them actually grow big enough and ripen into edible fruit. As transplants to California from Minnesota, we have a lot to learn about growing citrus fruit, but it is definitely fun to try and grow oranges, grapefruit and lemons. Actually our lemon tree does very well without much work. We have enjoyed homemade lemonade, lemon wedges on our fresh grilled fish and have even shared our lemons with distant friends & family!

At the rink...
We have had NO hockey this week! Yahoo! So the boys have been going to their camp in the afternoon and I have been able to go to work and stay a little later. In the evenings, the whole family has been home together. I can't say that we have done anything productive - just enjoyed vegging out at home together (boys and DH playing their favorite on-line computer game; boys have also done some of their summer reading; I have been stitching or just plan resting). However, the hockey clinics start up again on Sunday afternoon - so starting Monday, I will be driving down to San Jose (about a 45 minute one way trip) for the evening clinic. Next Friday, Robert tries out already for the next season. He is trying out for a AAA team...we will see how he does. Either he will make that and he will be set for the season...or not make that team and try out for the AA the following weekend. Matthew's tryouts are July 31-Aug 2.

Can't believe how quickly summer goes when you measure it by sports and school events! Nevertheless, we still have time to find somethings...other than vegging at home, hockey, work and camp...to do before school starts. Mmmm, I will have to put my thinking cap on and get out the calendar.

Hope everyone had a good week! Take care and remember...
Live, Love, Laugh and stitch often! Lisa

PS Exchange made it across the ocean!

After a visit to the Year Long Prairie Schooler Exchange, I read a post from yesterday that announced Elisabeth received the pillow I sent her...yeah! I was really getting worried as I did send it out on May 28 (unfortunately I sent it regular air mail because anything quicker was about 3x more...and it had to travel to France). So, now I get to post the photos I took before I wrapped it up and sent it out the door.

The pattern I stitched is from Book 137 - Summer Breeze. I used the DMC colors it called for. I stitched as per the pattern, except for the lines that separated the small squares - it was suppose to be backstitched, but I decided to to 2 lines of xstitch. I think that I used a 32ct evenweave, but don't remember exactally. I finished it as a pillow (this was my first pillow finish, too, using my new sewing machine). Since I forgot to stitch a piece with my name/initials and the date, I attached a tag I had designed several years ago. All in all, I was very pleased with the way it turned out and I hope that Elisabeth enjoys it. The photos I took of it included the Orchid plant I got from the hockey team back in May at the year-end team party. It is still alive after a month (yahoo).

This was my first completed exchange...one of my goals for 2009 was to sign up for an exchange and complete it...so now I have. And I am very pleased with the way this has gone and very excited that my first one was with someone who was outside of US, as it makes it more "exciting". Those outside of the needlework community, who have never heard of exchanges or round-robins, were amazed that I was stitching something for someone I didn't know and sending it off to France. But what I like about exchanges is...it allows me to stitch things and then give them away to someone. I know that I do this for my family, but they don't always find enjoyment in my stitched pieces as someone who stitches themselves and has more of an appreciation for the amount of work that goes in to it. I have now signed up for the 3rd Round of the PS Exchange and will be finishing a couple of L*K Exchange pieces for mail date of July 1 and Aug 1.

Today is day 4 of Summer Vacation...the boys and I are enjoying quiet relaxing mornings. Around lunchtime we typically run a few errands and then it is hockey in the evening. On todays list of errands...Robert will need to turn in some paperwork for his Jr. Leader/counselor position he is doing at the city camp starting next week. He is too old for the camps, but too young to get a job...so the city has this wonderful program where they take "volunteers" to staff "junior" positions, helping out the counselors. In addition, this program also educates the Jr. Leaders about the job finding process...teaching them about writing resumes, going through interviews, writing a "thank you" letter after the interview, filling out job applications, taking responsiblity for their own schedule & communicating to their leader when they need to change the schedule, and then there is an exit interview at the end of the summer. It is a great program. In addition, there are leaders who have gone through the program themselves when they were in middle school and have been hired as soon as they were old enough for camp conselors and other positions with the city recreation program throughout the year.

Hope all is well with you.
Take care and remember: Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Summertime is here...and new stash has arrived too!

As far as I am concerned, summer is here - as I define it's start with the boys out of school. Yesterday was their last day and as my previous post, we celebrated all the good things that came with its end (good grades, sports medals) with a take out meal while watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs (fun to see the sacred trophy handed to the youngest NHL team captain - Sidney Crosby).
Mother Nature hasn't decided that it is summer yet - as we have been starting the mornings here with a heavy cloud cover/foggy which comes in from the bay and sometimes doesn't burn off until early afternoon. The temps have been in the mid-60s to 70s. It really isn't too bad and I shouldn't complain, but thoughts of going to the pool next week aren't too exciting with cloud cover. Maybe things will change by Monday.

On the stitching side of things, I have been focused on stitching my Friendship Sampler RR and will be re-introducing that into the RR mail cycle. As I have been putting the finishing touches on my hearts to start this piece again, resentment creeps into my body when I think that my first RR is sitting in someone else's house (I have used the word "hostage" to explain this situation previously)...but as I will be putting in the last few stitches of the first hearts over the weekend, I will be able to "let go" of the resentment especially when it is all packaged up and on its way to Karen (the recipient of all my mailings for this RR). After my RR and Karin's RR are in the mail, next on my stitching list is to work on my L*K personal exchange I am doing with Heather - which is due in the mail on or before July 1. I have some ideas after reading her "wish" list...so that will be my start next week!

Well, I haven't been a saint when it has come to stash dieting lately. After 2 trips into my "not-so" LNS (one was Mother's Day, so I shouldn't count that as I believe that I deserved this gift, right?) and a couple of orders from 123stitch.com my stash has grown. However, some of the items I definitely needed - like the thread and patterns for the personal L*K exchange and the "big" L*K exchange . But is it is hard to rationize the other items I guess: both are from Little House Designs and have a watermelon theme. I eat a lot of watermelon - in fact at our local Safeway grocery store, they know me as the watermelon Lady. So, once I saw these I knew that I had to add them to my stash along with my L*K watermelon (July flip-it) and a few other watermelon themed designs. Crazy, huh? Oh well...








Anyway...first up - finish the RRs and get them in the mail. Next, work on Heather L*K exchange...then I should take out Hockey Rivalry (UFO) and stitch on that a little. Well, my plate is full so with that I will sign off now! Hope everyone has a good and productive summer weekend!
Remember - live, love, laugh and stitch often! Lisa