Baby Boy

In February I showed you a project I was working on while off enjoying a snow day.   I couldn't go into much detail;  I didn't want to spoil the surprise.  I never know who is lurking around my blog.

Be honest, I bet you knew all along it was a baby blanket.

This was so much fun to knit because I didn't know if I was knitting for a boy or a girl.  I love to think about the baby and the family while I am knitting.  Sometimes I would imagine a little girl dressed in pink all wrapped up in the blanket.  Other times I would think of a little boy napping on the blanket holding a favorite "lovey".

The wait is over.  A precious baby boy was born Wednesday.  All that was left for me to do was to gently lay the blanket in a box.

Wrap it in the perfect paper and ribbon fit for a Prince

and deliver it to my dear friend.

Welcome to the world precious baby boy.  May you always sleep peacefully  and have sweet dreams.   With Love!

(I can't tell you how much enjoyment I receive from this.)

Neglectful!

I've been busy and neglectful.   I have been hiding in my work room (I would love to call it a studio, but, I don't know, that seems a little bit like I am elevating it a little higher  than it really is.)  buried under glitter, glue, photographs and construction paper putting together memory books for my children.  They are now bound, tied up with ribbons and hiding in my cabinets at school (the books, not the children) waiting to be handed out to parents tomorrow morning (our last day).  The books are a lot of work, but it is the last thing I do for my children and their parents.  So, I suppose what I am saying is, at the end of the day, it is a project of which I am quite proud.

I have neglected my writing the last two weeks.  I have checked in on everyone and occasionally left a comment or two, but not as often as I should have, or would have liked.  I follow some really fabulous blogs; I look forward to catching up each evening when everything is settling down.  I have a lot of "catching up" up to do.

Last night after proofing the last book, tying it up with aqua and royal blue curling ribbon and attaching my special "bluebird" tag, I opened  my laptop to catch-up on some emails.  Waiting at the top of my queue was a letter of congratulations for receiving a Versatile  Blogger Award.  Debbie at It's all about Purple! honored me with the award.   This is what she wrote about me, "She is a lover of words with a very versitle blog. She is also a very kind soul!!!!"  I am humbled!

I am not for sure I know how the awards work.  I think I am suppose to tell you a few things about myself you might not have learned from previous posts.  I believe I am also suppose to pass it on to one or more bloggers of my choosing.  If I need to know more, someone please let me know. 

 While I think about what information I will share (I have been pretty open) and of who to share this with, I hope you will visit Debbie.  I will not tell you her story.  It is hers to tell.  I will say she is a woman of great strength, courage and spirit (and she loves to have a good adventure).  Thank you Debbie!  I am truly flattered!

Attitude

"Attitude is a little thing, that makes a big difference."  Winston Churchill

In the early fall I shared with you the news my Dad had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  The tumor had invaded the wall of the lower part of his throat.  Under the best of circumstances the prognoses is usually not good; when you factor in his age the future looked pretty bleak. 

Daddy chose to fight.  He took chemotherapy one day a week and had radiation sessions five days a week for about eight weeks.  I frequently chatted with him on the phone.  Whenever I ask how he was doing he always said well I guess I'm okay.  It wasn't until the last half of the radiation I could tell it was taking its toll.   

Throughout his treatment he not once complained.  He had a good day if he was able to get outside and do something.  He put out his tomato plants and complained about not getting enough rain.  He never complained about feeling bad.  He never questioned his illness.  Many times when we talked he would tell me, " Susie, you have to walk the path put in front of you." 

I am not for sure what he thought the outcome would be.  He once said to me if the doctors learn something about treating this cancer it was worth it.

This journey began last October.  Earlier in the week my Dad called to tell me the Doctors didn't find anything in his throat at his last examination.  He will have to go in for scanning every three months.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring; today, I offer up thanksgiving and breath a little easier.
 
My Dad's attitude continues to amaze and inspire me.

Thank you to everyone who held him in your thoughts and prayers.

In Seclusion

It is just that time in the school year when every teacher, no matter what level, becomes a little crazy.   Everything is winding down.  There is no more putting it off till "later";  later is no longer a date on the calendar.   While we smile at parents and talk sweetly to the children, we can and sometimes do become a little snippy with our families and one another.  I am fortunate, the teachers I work with are family.  And like family, the barbs can hurt, but they are usually quickly forgiven. 

Yesterday our children sang and performed for parents and grandparents in our end of the year program.  As always it was spectacular.   With that milestone behind us it is now what we call "book time".

We gather all the pictures of the children and all the artwork we have saved and we put it together so that each child has his own memory book.  We each tackle this task differently.  The really with it teachers work on their books throughout the year.  Some stay at school late and work on them.  Some have someone else put their books together.   Many of us work on them at home. Each teacher's  books are as individual as the way we work on them.

I am placing myself in seclusion for the next few days to finish my books.  Everything is organized.  Pictures and artwork are separated.  I will go through around eight bottles of rubber cement, at  least as many rolls of double sided tape and a half dozen glue sticks.  I will use scads (yes that is an acceptable form of  measurement, at least in my vocabulary) construction paper.  I will take breaks to run to have a photograph copied and go to the craft store  to pick up some little doo-dad needed to finish off a page.

I'll be repeating my mantra "bird by bird" a lot in the next few days.

I can't leave without updating you on my landscaping.  It is at the stage when you pray they know what they are doing.  Here is a little of what has been happening.

newly extended bed and border

path from driveway to door through the garden

this will be the creek bed

See what I mean?  I am keeping my fingers crossed.  While that chaos unfolds outside, I will be sequestered amid my own chaos.

It seems I only show you this room while in the throws  of creating.  Seriously, I do straighten up between projects, but there are no good stories to tell about a nicely straightened work spaces. Have a great weekend!

Wish me luck, I'm going in...have a great weekend!

p.s .  Sorry I don't have the time to edit!  Love ya!

Mother's Day

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day!

I have to admit I am never comfortable being on the "celebrated" side of a day.  I am much more at ease doing the planning and searching for the perfect gift.  My Mother passed away twenty years ago and my Mother-in-law passed away last year;  I am now the oldest mother.  This has been the hardest concept to wrap my mind around.

My daughter surprised me this morning with a skype call.  We talked and had coffee together.  It was a very special morning and one of the best Mother's Day ever!

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

 - - Hans Christian Anderson

Do you see it?  Do you see the sunshine?   I had to pop outside this morning before heading off to school to snap a couple pictures.

So much to dry out and clean up (so please excuse the dirt splattered planter), but isn't it  beautiful?

We've been promised sunshine for the next four days.  I am not usually a gusher, but oh yes, I am gushing. 

I hope everyone saw a little sunshine today.

Sun...Tomorrow?...

Noah's Ark, oil on canvas painting by Edward Hicks, 1846 Philadelphia Museum of Art

It is amazing how much rain we have received in the last 48 hours and the last two week.  Hopefully the sun will be out this time tomorrow.

  Got my fingers crossed!

image from wikimedia