Bad to Blog?

It is possible, just possible, that reading all of the cool blogs that I do is messing with my brain right now. Why? Well, everyone has such fantastic stuff they are designing, knitting, sewing and actually finishing and I can't seem to get my butt in gear long enough to finish the laundry. I'm stuck.

Stuck in the "we-can't-move-for-another-month-and-a-half-and-it's-really-too-soon-to-
get-serious-about-packing-so-why- bother-cleaning-anyhow" rut.

This is paired with the "I-really-don't-like-to-clean-this-big-unruly-house-but-do-actually-take-some-
pride-in-it-when-its-clean-but-can't-relax-or-really-enjoy-doing-much-of-
anything-if-its-not-clean" phase that I'm going through.

It's a toxic combination. I need a game plan. I need to just dive in and get started. Our church is having a rummage sale in two weeks and they are getting the bulk of my "treasures". Two weeks to purge and then the packing can begin. It's just such a daunting task. It's so messy. It's so disorderly. I don't do messy or disorderly very well, although my life as a pastor's wife with four children tends to be messy and disorderly.

Breathe.

It will all get done, right?

Right?

Jimmy

This was drawn by Jimmy (James) Elston, one of my husband's dearest friends. Don't you love this picture? You can see a lot more here (his blog) or here (his web site). Yay Jimmy!

Warming Grace

Here's the square I knit for the Warming Grace project.

It is the Berry Stitch I found in Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasure of Knitting Patterns (reviewed by Anny here). I would like to send more squares, but for now this represents the only wool I have left in my stash. As I come across more I will send more squares. Unfortunately there will be a need to comfort children with cancer for a very long time. Finding these projects in which to participate helps me to have hope. Hope that there are people out there doing good for other people...often people they don't even know. We have to have faith.

If you would like more information about Warming Grace, please click on the button in the side bar.

One. Day. At. A. Time.

Well, I did it. I managed to stay on my (enter expletive of your choice here) diet for one day. Yesterday, actually. I did really well. I ate my targeted amount of points, drank a lot of water, had several fruits and veggies, passed up the Snickers Easter egg (even though I had enough points to eat it) and opted for fat-free pudding instead, and walked with hubby on the Yough trail. So why doesn't it seem to matter? Why am I so darn impatient? Why am I so hard on myself? I haven't weighed this much since I lost 60 pounds 3 years ago, but so what? I haven't gained it all back and I intend to take it back off, so why am I so obsessed? Hopefully after tonight's meeting I will be able to put the past behind me and just forge ahead. Remember, I plan to accomplish great things in this next month. (Read this.) How did I manage to stay on my diet yesterday? Look closely at this picture.

We put up the gate to keep the dog from the extra food we had in the pantry over Easter. But, in reality, I think it's higher purpose was to keep me away from this...

Every time I had to step over that (enter expletive of your choice here) gate I remembered to eat well. Maybe I should set up gates all over my house! Imagine the workout I could get jumping from room to room!

Took these pictures to find out what color Kathy prefers for her daughter's bear sweater. I think they're pretty.

When is purple month for Project Spectrum? I'm also going to knit up a square or two for Warming Grace. I don't have a lot of wool, so I'll have to see what I can come up with. Gee, I might just have to go to the yarn store!

Let In the Light!

This is a picture of the rainbows cast on my stairwell by the sunlight shining through the front door.

See the illuminated words?

Cool.

A gentle reminder.

Who's In?

I have to get serious about my diet. It's just that simple. Can't call it "eating healthier" or anything like that...it's a diet. I will still use the Weight Watchers program (which I highly recommend) and I absolutely have to get to my meetings. This may be a challenge with the moving and packing and such, but I really need to do it.

So, the question is...who's in? What do you want to accomplish in one month?

In one month I will be going to Kennywood Park for the school's picnic day. This is a super-fun tradition that means a lot to my family. I went to Kennywood at least once a year as a kid because I lived just about 10 minutes away. Now we go each year on the school picnic day. I will be absolutely miserable if I don't lose some weight before then. I will beat myself up for not looking nice, won't have anything to wear and will probably drive my poor family nuts.

In the next month I will...

1) Follow the Weight Watchers program which includes eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water

2) Stop thinking about "last year this time" and think about one day, one meal, one moment at a time

3) Not consider every occasion a special occasion; I can celebrate without pigging out

4) Turn my thoughts to other things when I am freaking out about my weight

5) Lose weight. I will consider all weight losses a success...a step in the right direction.

6) Spend some time looking for help in the right places. I really need to get into prayer and my bible every single day. I have Almighty God at my disposal and I'm not even checking in. Duh.

I found this in a devotional book many, many years ago. The book, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, is a must have for the women in my family. My grandmother read hers every day, my mom reads hers every day and I, sadly, have a copy, but do not read mine every day. I will.

This is my favorite entry (October 4)

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
-Joshua 1:9

By Thine unerring Spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray;
We shall not full direction need,
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While love, almight love, is near.
-Charles Wesley

(and this is my favorite part)

Watch your way then, as a cautious traveller; and don't be gazing at that mountain or river in the distance, and saying, "How shall I ever get over them?" but keep to the present little inch that is before you, and accomplish that in the little moment that belongs to it. The mountain and the river can only be passed in the same way; and, when you come to them, you will come to the light and strength that belong to them.
-M.A. Kelty

Let not future things disturb thee, for thou wilt come to them, if it shall be necessary, having with thee the same reason which thou now usest for present things.

-Marcus Antoninus

Are you in?

Happy Easter!

In honor of Project Spectrum, here are some orange and yellow Easter eggs the kids made this evening. The egg cups were my Grandma's. Aren't they fabulous?!! I hope you all have a blessed Easter!

One Down, Two to Go

I finished the first of three bear sweaters I'm making for Kathy. I think the pale blue is really pretty. They are getting easier to make, and I finally feel like I know what I'm doing! I was even thinking of making the next two different, but I'm not sure what Kathy wants. What do you want, Kathy???

No one has commented on my quest for cool sock yarn. I'm in between projects and feel a bit antsy. I'll probably just get back to work on the bear sweaters since I don't know how much moving will interfere with my knitting. Has anyone figured out a way to move to a new home without having to pack and clean the old one?? If someone can tell me that, I'll pay big bucks. Uggh!

Gotta get going. We just finished up Holy Thursday services and have Good Friday services tomorrow. Happy Easter everyone!

P.S. Check out Yarn Harlot's most recent post! She loved Pittsburgh (my hometown)! I wish she could have seen it at night. Read "Duh" to see why I didn't make it to the book signing myself.

Question

Let me know what you think...

What is your favorite sock yarn?

I'm looking for something that is washable (as close to 7 sts/in as possible) and in this case pretty brightly colored...striped or an otherwise funky pattern. I want to make a pair of socks for Kate's friend, Carlie...she'll probably be wearing them with her Chuck Taylors. Think fun! This is a girl who wore this to church on Super Bowl Sunday!

Comment here or e-mail me your ideas.

The Eagle Has Landed

Safe, happy and tan!

Christian is back from Disney World and had a wonderful time. I feel so proud that he was able to manage all of that on his own, came home with money (!), didn't get lost, chose thoughtful gifts for everyone, didn't lose anything, isn't banned from Disney World, didn't have a huge fight with his friends, isn't burnt to a crisp, hasn't taken up smoking or drinking and is willing (and anxious) to travel again. It's a strange feeling to have one of your children have an experience that is completely seperate from you. Does that make sense? This was completely his . I'm very happy for him.

Duh

By the way, guess who was at Knit One in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania (as in, less than an hour from me) Friday night? That's right, the Yarn Harlot herself, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Guess who didn't even bother to check her tour schedule until Friday night? Yep, that would be me. Duh.

Exhale

Now I can finally share the news. We found out about a week ago that we are being reappointed to a different church. For those of you unfamiliar with "Methodist-speak", this means we're moving. The new church is in the South Hills of Pittsburgh...Jefferson UMC. Today is the first day I can really talk about the whole thing because we only just told our own churches yesterday, Palm Sunday. It was a very emotional day...lots of tears and hugging. It will be up and down for the next two months and very difficult when we leave. So, that's enough about that for now...sniff.

On a lighter note...I'd like to take back everything I said about the Demon Socks. I just tried them on for fun after their first run through the wash (don't look back and see when they were finished and how long it's taken them to be washed...it's not pretty) and they are the softest socks I have ever worn! Too bad they're Kate's. They washed up so nicely and there is no sign of any ladders or too many imperfections. I thought I'd model them for you...laying on my bed with my feet in the air. Aren't they pretty? Very nice for Spring and certainly not too heavy to wear any time.

I haven't been knitting too much with all of the running around of the past week (checking out the new place, mom's surgery) and I actually tossed the back of the bear sweater that I had already done. I knew I had counted the rows wrong and would have to fudge it when I made the front to match. It didn't really take that long to make anyhow, so I just started it over. Besides, I somehow ended up at the JoAnn Fabrics near my mom's hospital and got some new bamboo knitting needles. I don't like them as well as the Brittany DPNs I got a while back, but they are still really nice. They are shorter than my other needles which is alright for this small project.

Look who's peeking at me through the window. Isn't he cute? Elliot and I went to the park today after preschool. We really had a nice time. I kept wishing I'd had my camera with me, but I probably would have worried more about capturing the moment than enjoying the moment. Why do I feel like I accomplished such a big thing just taking him to the playground? I guess because I'm always running here or there and don't get to do some of these small things with him. Just seems like park-going should be one of those things we do more often. There is a playground just up the road (but we'll have to drive because the street is quite heavily traveled) at the new house, so maybe we'll get there more often. In case you were wondering he's this tall.

Christian, my oldest, has just landed at the Pittsburgh International Airport. He has been in Florida at Walt Disney World since Thursday. He went with the Connellsville High School marching band and from all reports, has been having a fantastic time. I was a little freaked out about him flying (didn't tell him, of course), but I was checking his flights on the Internet and knew he'd landed safely. I'm sure he'll have a lot of stories for us tonight.

Gotta go. The dryer just buzzed and I think that means I'm supposed to do something with the stuff in it...is that right? What's that? "Fold it and put it away", you say? Gotcha.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This is just a short post to acknowledge that I haven't posted at all since Thursday. Quite unexpectedly things got very, very busy and I just haven't been able to sit down to say hello. I didn't even go to Weight Watchers on Thursday night, so I don't know if all of that hard work paid off or not! However, I've been pretty much eating non-stop since Thursday evening so I have my work cut out for me. Boy is it hard to get back on track! I guess there's nothing to be done but keep trying. Sure is tiring, though.

Mom's knee-replacement surgery yesterday went very well. The doctor said that he doesn't know how she went as long as she did with the horrible condition of her knee. Once the recovery is over she should feel so much better. We were at the hospital at 7:45 AM for her scheduled surgery at 10 AM. They didn't even take her to surgery until 11:30 AM and she was finished at 2 PM. She didn't get into a room until 7:30 PM!!!! I guess they didn't have any rooms available. Grrrrr! Frustrating. It made for a very long day...but I did get half of Bear Sweater #1 done.

I made a mistake in the Moss Stitch pattern near the top of the sleeve...can you see it? Guess I'll need to fix that up. I also think I made this sweater a bit longer than the first, but I guess that's OK. I must have counted the rows differently or something.

Finished the Socks from Hell on Saturday evening (well, actually only the first sock was from Hell; the second went much better). I'll post a picture when I can find them...Kate has taken them and I don't have the guts to go into her room to look for them. They are fraternal twins as Anny mentioned, but I think I like them that way.

That's it for now...more exciting news to follow.