Choices

We have been home for a week now after another trip to Colorado. This time we went to the beautiful town of Loveland for a wedding. I enjoyed seeing my college friends and roomies, if only for one day. I have to admit, however, that I'm looking forward to spending the rest of the summer at home.

Starting about a month ago I started getting the urge to clean out my house and try to simplify. "Simple living" is a common theme among many of the blogs I read, especially of the crafting category. A part of me feels a bit like I'm joining a bandwagon, but the other part feels like saying, "so what?! This is a worth-while bandwagon to join!" So, I'm hopping on.

For me, this all started when I'd walk into a room in my home, or have some time to do something, but I had so many choices I didn't know where to begin: I'd walk into the kitchen and be so overwhelmed by cluttered counters and dishes piling up that I wouldn't bother cleaning; when I tried to pack for our trip to Durango I felt like I had "nothing to wear," yet brought ten outfits for a five-day trip (and six pairs of shoes!); I wouldn't know what I should work on for my crafting time--Pat's sweater, Pat's cross-stitch, finish Matt's cloth diapers, perhaps start a new project that wouldn't get finished and would end up hanging over my head? Choices are good, don't get me wrong, but sometimes too many choices can be overwhelming and make life unproductive and stressful.

I logged onto Ravelry, went to the Simple Living group, and perused their references. I checked out Plain and Simple by Sue Bender and Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin at the library, and read them both before and during my Durango trip. Plain and Simple is a short read about one woman's journey to the Amish. I've studied the Amish before, and as with any society, I understand that no one group lives an ideal and perfect life. I found much value in the author's comments regarding choice. To summarize, sometimes having fewer choices brings clearer answers and more confidence in the choices that are made. This made me think, "what in my life can I decrease or eliminate so that I may be free to make valuable choices of careful choosing instead of in the midst of being overwhelmed and flustered?"

Voluntary Simplicity was first written in the mid-1980s with a second edition published about ten years later. I liked how Elgin highlighted the theme of simplicity in every major (and many minor) religions/philosophies in the world. I also liked the stress placed on voluntary: if simplicity isn't voluntary, it can often be viewed as poverty. Again, choice is so important. Would you rather ride a bicycle to work because you like the exercise and not adding to the pollution in the environment, or would you rather ride a bicycle because your car was reposessed and you have no other choice?

This discussion will most likely be ongoing for me. I have already had setbacks, like frivolously adding to my son's toy pile that is almost always passed up for a ball of yarn lying on the floor, but that happens. I also hope to have a few finished projects up shortly!

By the way, for you knitters/crocheters out there, Knit Picks is having a 40% off sale on ALL of their in-stock books. Trying...to...resist...

You've Come a Long Way, Baby

Today we celebrated Matthew's first birthday with family, a picnic, and strawberry shortcake. We are blessed to have both sets of grandparents in town, as well as a great aunt and uncle and second cousin, and a great-grandfather 45 minutes away. This year has gone by so quickly. Everyone told me it would, but I think it's one of those things that you're not ever really prepared for. As I think about the challenges and blessings of the past year, I really believe that they are one and the same. The challenges have been the blessings--they've made me stronger, more patient, and more appreciative. My husband gave me a wonderful compliment when he said, "I think that a child's birthday should be a celebration of the mother--after all, she did all the work on the birth day." Pat's definitely not in the dog house tonight! :)

Durango was wonderful. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. We were about a mile from a lake (really a dammed-up river), and our cabin was surrounded by pine trees and mountain views. I especially enjoyed watching Matthew interact with my parents and brother. When we came back home he was really upset--he kept walking around the house looking for everyone and crying. Poor little guy. Sometimes it's hard to come home from vacation.

I was able to make it to Yarn-Durango, and didn't walk away empty-handed. The store is moving, so there were great sales. I added some kidsilk haze, Berroco alpaca, Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton and alpaca silk to my stash. Now, I just need to find some projects...just one more reason why I love Ravelry--I can search a particular yarn and see the projects others have made with it. I already have some good ideas!

Update: I am almost done with Pat's cross-stitch, but there is no way Cobblestone will be done before Father's Day. Hey, at least I'm trying. :)

Off to the Woods

I don't have too much time, but I thought I'd give a little update: we're leaving tomorrow for a five-day vacation to Durango, Colorado. I can't wait! My parents rented a cabin for all of us, plus my brother who is flying in from Boston. I have projects packed, books on loan from the library, and the best babysitter for the whole trip (thanks, mom)! :) I hope to come back rejuvinated, in high spirits, and a little further on Pat's sweater and cross-stitch. Of course, there'll be pictures...

Take care!

ABCs

I was tagged by Paula of Splitted Yarns! Here are the rules:

Tag the ABCs about you. Each player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: I don't have one "best" friend, but there are many people I love and care about from different times in my life
C-Cake or Pie: Pie
D-Day: Thursday--the weekend is just around the corner, plus Grey's Anatomy is on! :)
E- Essential Item: a Boppy (all you nursing moms out there will understand)
F- Favorite Color: blue
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: worms--I like to bite them where the colors change and eat them a little at a time (one of my OCD traits) :)
H-Home town: Los Alamos, New Mexico
I- Indulgences: wine--I like both white and red
J- January or July?: January. We tend to get a lot of snow in January, which I really enjoy
K-Kids: one son, two cats, and two dogs
L-Life is incomplete without: hope
M- Marriage Date: July 8, 2005
N- Number of Siblings: one younger brother
O- Oranges or Apples: apples (especially with peanut butter), but I also enjoy a good orange
P- Phobias or Fears: clowns and old dolls (especially the one at my grandparents' house with little teeth and human hair--yikes!). I am also afraid of flying.
Q- Quote: "All of the darkness in the world can't put out the light of one small flame"--anonymous
R- Reason To Smile: My son
S- Season: Fall--the leaves changing, more inside time for crafting, wearing sweaters again...
T- Tag Three: Ellie of EllieBelle, Britton of One Sew Sweet, and Julia of First Years
U- Unknown fact about me: I have had three piercings in my nose. Not all at once, though! I kept taking them out for one reason or another, then would get another piercing.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Oppressor of animals, but I do try to be informed about the meat I buy. I just love a good steak or burger (will green chili of course!)
W- Worst Habit: This is a weird one--when I'm nervous or stressed I pull on my eyebrow hair!Y-Your favorite food: Chips and salsa
Z: Zodiac Sign: Taurus, which does fit me pretty well.

Have a super weekend, everyone!

My first Mother's Day was quiet and relaxing (similar to my birthday), but again, it's just what I wanted: sleeping in, going to church, finishing up my mom's present, having a small BBQ with my parents, having a movie night with my husband. We watched Juno, which I think was an appropriate Mother's Day film. Now I know why the movie received such high praise--I had much sympathy for all of the characters, and I liked how the issue of adoption was explored. I could relate to Vanessa, the adoptive mom, and her longing for a child. The director did a great job presenting a delicate issue.

Last night I finished my first crocheted garment: "Ring a Round the Posie" from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2008. It was a pretty fast project, and I enjoyed working on something different. About half-way through I didn't think I would like it, let alone actually wear it, but after I finished, my opinion changed. It actually doesn't look half-bad on! (I did take some pics of it being worn, but they were horrible--consider yourselves "spared").

Now I have finished two larger projects for myself while Pat has been waiting for a sweater for about a year and a half. I also owe him a completed counted cross stitch piece that I started over a year ago. So, next up: the Cobblestone Pullover. My goal is to complete it, as well as the cross stitch, by Father's Day. Hopefully I won't get side-tracked! :)

Swap Bag Received!

Today I received my swap bag in the mail, and I absolutely love it! Joanna did a fabulous job, and I can't wait to use it and show it off! It has a double pocket inside plus a magnetic closure (a very good idea for this bag). Joanna also generously included extra fabric and trims, Japanese incense, a coin purse, and a recipe for strawberry shortcake. I am one lucky gal! Also, I wanted to maintain the element of surprise so I couldn't mention this before, but my swap partner, Ellie, received her bag on Monday. Coincidentally, she lives near some relatives I have in Wisconsin. It is such a small world... Definitely check out both swappers' blogs--there are sure some talented and artistic women out there!

Receiving my swap bag was perfect timing today as it is my birthday. I had a very peaceful and quiet day. We had dinner with my parents last night at one of my favorite New Mexican restaurants, I talked to some special relatives today, and of course there were a few presents. :) My favorite was a necklace from my husband. He bought it at the local craft fair over the weekend, and it's just perfect. I love handmade gifts--they're so unique and special. This is NOT the best angle of me, but I wanted to get a shot in of the necklace:

Thank you for all of your comments on my "mother guilt" post. Even my "little" brother left a sweet and helpful comment! I am feeling much better about it all. I think that happens sometimes--the highs and lows of motherhood. I know that I love my son, I'm not perfect, and I'm doing the best I can. I don't believe there's much more I can do than that. I'm also trying not to obsess over the news, but I'm trying to make small changes in my life for the better. That helps me as well becuase then I don't feel so helpless.

Now I'm off to share some cake and wine with my husband and watch The Milagro Beanfield War (and excellent movie!).

Show and Tell!

On my last post I promised some finished projects, and here they are! I've been quite busy! First, I have the "Pleated Beauty" bag I made for my swap partner. I hope that she likes it. Even though I made a test Pleated Beauty bag, I still made some pretty stupid mistakes this time around. I know that I should view each mistake as a learning experience, but really, I don't think I'll ever make this "Pleated Beast" (as another swap member called it) again! It is a cute design, but the instructions are a little difficult to follow, especially for a beginner like me (no offense, Amy Karol!). I wanted to throw in a little something extra for my swap partner, so I decided on this knitted washcloth along with a bar of juniper-scented soap I picked up at a craft fair a while back. The washcloth pattern is from Weekend Knitting (a book I highly recommend as much for the commentary and pictures as the patterns), and I used Knit Picks Crayon. I really enjoyed the yarn--a very economical, yet soft and natural, alternative to the suggested yarn.

I also used some stash yarn to quickly knit up a flower to felt and pin on the swap bag. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the right shade of red. I'll save it to embellish something else down the road...

A couple of weeks ago I picked up Simple Crochet from the library. The projects are all, well, very simple, so I probably wouldn't buy the book. The fibers suggested, however, are unusual and surprising. I love Ericka Knight's ideas of using cloth strips, kitchen string from the hardware store, raffia, and leather. I made the following remote-control holder (now being used for keys instead) using one ball of kitchen string. Pretty good for 5 bucks!

Finally, my obsession with cloth diapers continues. It's been a long journey, so I won't go through it all again, but basically Matthew does best in pocket diapers as they wick the moisture away from his skin. Unfortunately, most pocket diapers cost at least $18 each! I would really like to cloth diaper him full time again, but our budget just doesn't allow for the upfront purchase right now. So, for the past week I've been searching the internet for pocket diaper patterns and doing some research about fabric. I ended up placing an order of PUL, microfiber and Aplix from Very Baby, which I received today. The PUL feels just like that of my name-brand diaper, and the microfiber is very soft. I decided to do a test run first on some fleece I had lying around. The pattern I used is for Rita's Rump Cover, but I did my own thing for the elastic casing. I'm glad I did a test run on some less-expensive fabric first, as there are definitely some things I'll do differently next time! Hopefully this will all work out with the PUL and microfleece. I'm just so excited about cloth diapers, especially the prospect of making my own, that I think my husband thinks I'm nuts. Hey, he won't think so when I save us hundreds of dollars, right? Riiiiight.