a load off

something has shifted in my world. i'm feeling less pressure, and more possibility. i think it has something to do with all the housecleaning i've been doing...it gives you a huge feeling of accomplishment and it makes everything lighter around you. i still haven't mastered the need for a sewing corner in the living room, but i've got a somewhat workable station set up that quickens the set-up process. there's no way to have the ironing board at the ready, though, it's just too baby and puppy unfriendly. i'd like to say that's not an obstacle, but last night jubal was sleeping and i could have at least sewed some napkins, but the thought of setting up the board and iron and then maybe he'd wake up and there'd be this hot, spindly legged danger all set up--it turned me off. i was tired already form cleaning house and mothering all day, but still. as usual, it's a work-in-progress.

dad took me to my MRI results appointment, at which we learned that i have a beautiful, healthy-looking brain. no MS, no cysts, no tumors, no unexplained lumps or shadows. it appears that i really do just have an adult-onset simple tic disorder. okay. i can live with that. the doctor said they don't really know what causes it and that it might go away. i can live with that, too. the doctors at the neurology clinic were so awesome and wonderful that i plan to send a thank you card.

yesterday i turned over the pea bed and vesta planted the peas. jubal and i planted some more primroses and had fun getting our hands in the dirt. it feels great to have some spots of color and the promise of future peas. i'm excited to start the garden season!

i am grateful for:
1. my new kitchen aid food processor (my other one broke months ago--it was a cheapy one--and i've really missed the quick slicing and shredding and butter cutting in....by the way this is the Best. Food Processor. Ever. it's like driving a pinto and then someone gives you a porsche. highly recommended)
2. the earthworms in my garden
3. my sewing machine (still! i love it! and i got a free motion foot for it, which will be awesome once i get used to using it)
4. my clean floors (thank you, self)
5. the spring-like quality to the air

and some recommended reading:
the graveyard book, by neil gaiman (available here: http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234974489&sr=1-1 ) this is a book for the whole family if your kids aren't teeny tiny, as it could be a little scary. it's about a boy who is raised by ghosts in a graveyard, and his experiences and misadventures and what happens to him as he grows up in such an unlikely setting. and it's by neil gaiman, so you KNOW it's going to be good. and it was. we were all sad to have it end, it was one of those books. i think we'll be reading the princess bride next.

outliers: the story of success by malcolm gladwell (available here: http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017922). i LOVE malcolm gladwell and all of his books (the tipping point and blink), because they are damn fascinating. i plan to make a shirt with a line drawing of his face that says "malcolm gladwell excites me"). this one is about how success happens and why it is never a one-person thing--we have this American Myth that people pull themselves up by their bootstraps and by their own sheer tenacity create wealth and success for themselves...don't get me wrong--it takes amazing skill, a force of will, determination, etc., etc.--but it also takes some amazing circumstances to be set in place around the future successful being. some examples of success stories in the book are the beatles, bill joy, bill gates, and canadian A-team hockey guys. read it!

i (heart) valentine's day

happy st. valentine's day! this morning the girls woke up early (insuring they'd do so by borrowing our alarm clock last night) and straightened up the living room/dining area...they hung some continuous heart shaped bunting from the ceiling, brought us our tea and coffee (me in bed and rodney doing homework in the office), made an excellent breakfast of egg (vesta) and toast (hazel), as well as some tasty "chocolate croissants" (hershey's bits embedded in cresent rolls--pretty good, actually). they had gifts and cards for everyone--including a valentine balloon for jubal ("ball! ball!") and a card vesta made him with a cute little duck swimming in some wavy water. they both had aprons on and were so proud and pleased with themselves. hazel kept popping into my room saying "be excited!"...it was awesome! they are the best kids EVER.
i gave rodney his home-made valentine listing the top ten things i love about him today (top ten lists are one of my things--i randomly give him top ten lists to let him know the things i love). and i gave the girls little valentine bags i made by hole-punching some pretty scrapbooking paper and threading two hearts together with yarn--i put some tissue wrapped hair ties (they were both in dire need of some), a valentine note telling how much i love and cherish them, and a gift certificate for a zip pouch sewing lesson from me.
and rodney and hazel just came back from a quick trip out...rodney has presented me with a lovely bouquet from the local flower shop and hazel gave me a single long-stemmed rose.
and i'm all squidgered up and gonna cry from it.
oh yes, and vesta stripped jubal of all his clothes and taped some wings to his back and fashioned him a little bow and arrow. our in-house cupid.
it's a good day.

i am grateful for:
love
my family
scotch tape
thoughtfulness
joy

PS!!! scroll down for lots of valentine's day pictures of the love

spring is springing

ah, it feels like spring is springing! my fingers are itching to plant peas and the fire dies out by eleven a.m. there's something in the air, and a sweetness fills your nose when you walk outside--primroses and warmed earth.
i've been doing the seasonal cleaning thing, which has been awesome. i cleaned the laundry room and re-organized my food cupboards and shelves. there's a long list left to go, but i'm looking forward to it, as i already feel lighter and less busy, just having the space and light around me, knowing where everything is and being free from clutter (in those two places, i mean, the rest of the house is still a batcave. heh) i've achieved the extra time to do my cleaning by not taking my afternoon nap, though...and that is a steep price.
i recently got to do a little sewing and made myself some pants out of an old sheet...and when i say "old sheet" i mean it--this sheet was on my bed as a child and i suspect that my dad got it from his mom...so, these pants are vintage. they're white with blue daisies on them that have green centers, and i've put cuffs along the bottoms of the pant legs with the decorative piece that was at the top of the sheet (big daisies in the alternating colors of blue/green/blue/green). i've been plotting bags, as well.
i've been trying to figure out a way to have a constantly set-up work station for sewing in the living room--since that is where most of the action happens in our house, and thusly where i need to be most of the time. if everything is set up and i don't have to spend five or ten minutes gathering all my tools together and de-cluttering a work surface, i think it will be easier to sew more. i won't feel as bad if i have to stop mid-project, because it's all right there for me and i can more easily get back to it. but, you've seen our living room--it's not exactly spacious--i haven't quite figured out the grand solution yet.
and here is jubal to tell me to get off the computer!
oh--a health p.s.: i went for an MRI a couple of days ago--that's a strange experience, eh? try to be totally still when you have a tic that is triggered by loud sounds and vibrations! anyways, i get the results on the 16th. and thanks to dad for going with me to the neurologist and planning to go back with me for the results.

i am grateful for:
hot cocoa
the amazing technology of the MRI machine
the resilience of toddlers
the gym membership
simple food