I'm a knitter!

I have been working on my knitting today. I chickened out of making the fancier scarf. I am messing up the transition between the stitches. I need help from a professional knitter.
But, I must say that the part that I do have done is quite impressive. My hand is crampy, but not in a bad way. I might do dishes to soak it in some hot water. That would feel like heaven.

I am crafty

I had so much fun on Tuesday looking at all of the fun craft books at Borders. I looked at knitting books, sewing books, and just general use-what-you-have-on-hand craft books. I wanted to buy them all! I love doing things like that. I have since I was a little girl. We were always working on some project or another. And we had tons of paints, felt scraps, sequins and bottles of glue to support our love affair. When my kids were little, we had entire kitchen cabinets dedicated to craft supplies that they could use as they wanted.

This one book that I looked at, Crafternoon, cracked me up. I want it. It is about doing a craft day with your friends. The introduction to it is dedicated to her mom. It is so funny (and touching) the way she writes it. You can tell that she truly loves her mom and the times they had as children and are still having today. She is about our age, I think. I hope that my kids grow up and think of me like this. I love her blog too. The pictures are fun. I would love to have a life of crafting, hanging out with friends, writing about it, and getting paid. How sweet would that be?

I can't wait to start knitting. Hopefully I can figure out the basics this weekend. I can easily see myself becoming nuts about it. And seriously, with all the time I have at work, it is perfect to be working on things like that. I guess in that sense I will be getting paid to do some crafting! And with Laura being able to mentor me it will be even more fun. I may reawaken her knitting persona! I know there are two little stores in town that have yarn to buy. Some of it is even organic. I've even seen bamboo yarn! How exciting is that???!
Plus I have the other Christmas presents I want to make on my to-do list. Aprons and either potholders or towels to match. Only a few (3?) are getting those.

And I want to go in the basement and rearrange all of my paper. I love just moving it from pile to pile. Touching it makes me happy. I don't think you can truly understand how hard it is for me to actually use that paper! What if I want it later for a different page? What if I can't get anymore of it? I need to break out of that way of thinking because it does truly make me happy to see it on actual finished pages! What good is a pile of vintage paper going to do for my ancestors if there are no pictures and words on it? I could probably finish 5+ albums with just what I already have. It is not uncommon in the scrapbooking world to hoard supplies and to overbuy. I can say that I will try not to do that, but when I have extra money I always tend to make a trip to the Scrapbook store. There is one in Bloomington that I am wanting to take a class at. It is so much nicer than Scrapadoodle. Well, at least more my style. And there are tons of challenge sites that are fun to play with. I need to get back to how it was last winter and dedicate at least an hour an evening to my basement studio and just play. I feel so much better when I do. I don't even care if I finish anything, just making that time makes me happy.

I can't wait until you are here and can hopefully find some pleasure in the basement also. I really think those artist trading cards sound right up your alley! I love that you have a creative brain also. I look forward to seeing the things that you share with me! We are going to have so much fun! I hope you don't mind wearing the first thing I knit! I promise an upgrade after I get the hang of it, but regardless, it will be made with so much love!

When I grow up...

I have been thinking about what I want to be when I grow up. I feel in many ways like it is way past time for me to have this figured out. I had so much potential coming out of high school and I let all of that go. No excuse, really. And don't get me wrong, raising the children to be as great as they are has been a labor of love. I couldn't think of a better career besides Super Mom. I've just been feeling like there is so much that I could do that would be a benefit to other people.
I do not want to work hard. That is no secret. I hate schedules, having to be somewhere at a certain time to make a profit for someone else. Not my style. I don't play into the whole "work drama" environment, tending to mind my own business. Some people would say that I am snobby, I choose selective.
Some things that I think I would like to do:
Foster parent. I probably could not stay home and do this as a career. It would be another labor of love, but I would like to take this on at some point in our lives. I think that we would make a great spot for kids to blossom. Especially those that need a little extra tending. I am very accepting of people's issues and I think we could make a difference for these "left-behind" children.
Children's book author. You seem to think that this would be something I could do. Now that I have found the rhyming dictionary, maybe it is possible. It would be a job that I could do at home in my pajamas...or not in my pajamas:) It is a very tough area to succeed in, but goodness knows that I have read a ton of bad books that have still been published. Maybe something to try? I'll try to come up with a good topic.
Hospice worker. Sometimes I feel pulled to work with the dying. I would hope that I could ease this transition for people and help them feel less fear. I wonder if I could help them be less scared of something that I myself am so terrified of. But, I know that I can send a certain peacefulness out of my self that people find comfort in. I could help them with scrapbooks and things to make them feel remembered. I need to sign up to do some volunteer work in this field, who knows what it will lead to.
Teacher. Of course this is what I was pursuing my degree in. I don't have that much interest in being a teacher. I never would have gone for it if I didn't have my children. I would have pursued something in psychology or politics/law. I would have fun being a jr. high math teacher. But I would also work well with autistic students. I don't know if I would want to get my special ed degree though, I have zero desire to work with behavior disorder children (translation = children of behavior disorder parents, for I don't believe much of a child's behavior is their own when they are young).
Sex boutique owner. We have talked about this. Having a classy place for people to learn, explore, and express their sensual side. There is so much oppourtunity in this area, but we know that nothing like what I dream of would ever work around this area. People are too close-minded, too judgemental. Still, maybe someday?
Best partner EVER. My most important goal is to be the best partner you have ever had. I want you to always know that you can count on me for anything. I want to be the reason for your smiles and I will never stop spoiling you! I am crazy about you and look forward to a bright bright future by your side!
I LOVE YOU!! xoxo

Baby me!

I am so excited to think of a future family with you! I imagine seeing you holding our child and seeing the love in your eyes. I want to see the delight in every new thing we teach the baby. I want to see the tenderness that you kiss owies with. I want to hear you sing lullabies,the voices you use to read bedtime stories with.
It will be something new for me to share the joy of a child with a partner that finds the same happiness in them. Our home will be so full of love that our babies will grow up so confident and sure. They will be so smart!

Just for laughs, I thought I would add this picture of me when I was 10. Can you believe how long my legs are?