Burst of energy!

Yesterday I was hit with a burst of energy.  It was the first day since this year started where I didn't feel sluggish and icky so I took full advantage of it.  I deep cleaned my house from top to bottom and it felt so good to sit down and enjoy it all sparkly fresh and tidy that evening.  Just look at my living room -

My asthma and allergies may have been hating it but I absolutely love the final result of a clean house.

I sat down, to enjoy the fruits of my labor and work on my latest project when the unthinkable happened...

I ran out of yarn!

Pokey is coming home for lunch so I can have the car and go get more this afternoon.  I had handed him the ball band and asked the get one of each color but he said it was too much pressure to get the right thing so it was just easier to do the swap at lunch.  I had to giggle but appreciate that he takes it very seriously for me.

For supper last night, I made a delicious full roaster chicken that had hints of lemon, celery, garlic, and the standard salt and pepper.  It was so tasty and I had a full pound leftover so that next week, I can try my first ever curry!  Yep, that's right, I'm going to make Butter Chicken to serve over rice for supper on next Wednesday.  I promise to tell you all about on Thursday.  I've been wanting to try curry for a long time and I heard that this is mild one is a good place to start - it was Gordon's first experience with it too during his Great Escape series when he went to India.

Apparently Pokey is on his way home now so I better get my shoes on and make us some lunch so we can eat and I can get him back to work.  Here's a fabulous song to get you through the day since we didn't do our Tuesday Tunes this week...

338 days

That's how long it will have been since I've been to my happy place but guess what - on Sunday, the clock will start over!  Oh yes, today is a happy day in the PMM house and to make it even better, we haven't shared with Hobbit so when we go in 6 days time she will be surprised.

This event has been months in the making and through careful financial planning, stern resolve, and a money-mindset makeover it is coming to pass.  I am honestly very proud of myself for sticking to my plan and learning how to be a better financial officer for our family.

The proof, well it's a lot like real estate because for our family it's all about location, location, location...

Oh my castle... how I've missed you!

Sunday Snaps

One of my dear Slytherin nestmates sent me a Feel Better Box that had this cute Minnie Mouse...

some decaf teas, some cocoas, and a movie that I have been searching for for ages!

I also finished my 6th class - Muggle Studies - so I can focus on my Mission for the rest of the month.

Not too shabby for a week where I've spent a good portion of it sick as a dog and only just now feel about 95% human.  Imagine what it'll be like when I get the other 5% back!!

How to make a mama proud...

Attend fancy dress supper at school Solarium every month for fun...

and wear the perfect crocheted capelet from your mama with pride.

Coughs and sniffles

I've been down with a horrible cold/flu this past week but today I am starting to feel like a human again so I thought I would share what all has been going on in between the coughs and sniffles.

I made a hat, just for me...

I designed and made some slippers, just for me...

I finished a chicken purse, just for me.

Apparently, being laid up on the sofa makes me a selfish crafter but at least it makes me kind of a productive one.  I should get back before I wear myself out again... wonder what project I can take with me...

That's what I get for planning

Yesterday I had a most awesome day planned.  I was going to spend it crafting.  All of it.  It was going to be glorious... and then, it began.

First Pokey sent me a message on Skype stating that their office drama queen had to leave early (the day before her vacation started, how convenient) which would leave one person at the office and they requested that he stay.  Normally not an issue but we had plans after supper to run some necessary errands and such, plus Pokey wasn't feeling well and had hoped that since he opened that day at 7:45 that he might able to scoot out after the girls had all had their lunches.  Apparently not and he ended up being roped into the overtime which would be welcomed but begrudgingly since he was ill.

Then the school clinic called and Hobbit needed her inhaler, which she forgot on her desk after a visit to Nana's house over the weekend.  This meant that Pokey had to take lunch an hour earlier, pick me up and take me to her school with the inhaler.  Hobbit was a nervous wreck but did her best, worried the entire time which I totally understand because I have had an asthma attack with no inhaler on me and it can be scary until you can get to it.

After that crisis was remedied, I went with Pokey back to work so I could have the car for errands once Hobbit got home.  We swung through a drive-thru for lunch, he ate in the car as he drove back, and then I took the car home and had my lunch.  It was delicious but my day was officially half over by now and not a single stitch was made.

Once lunch was finished my mama called to talk for a bit.  We had a lovely conversation and placed a friendly bet on how many butterflies she will have quilted by the time she is done with the extension on my wedding quilt.  Afterwards, I was getting my daily overtired, lack of caffeine headache so I set the kitchen timer and laid down for a quick 30 minute catnap.

When the timer went off, it was black as night outside.  The wind was whipping around everywhere and the temperature dropped tremendously.  I was worried that I had not set the alarm correctly, Hobbit wasn't home and things were just wrong.  I checked the clocks - yes, more than one because I wanted to be sure and you never know when a clock will lie to you because they can be cruel like that - and immediately went to the computer to check the weather.  We were under a severe thunderstorm warning and Hobbit was just about to be dismissed and placed on the school bus.  I did a quick calculation and debate in my head about going to get her but it was too late.  By the time I got there, she would have been placed on the bus so the only thing I could do was wait it out.

She's afraid of thunderstorms.  I'm afraid of thunderstorms.  We are both worriers so this was not good.  To make it worse, a little boy told her that there were tornadoes in our neighborhood and at Pokey's office, showing her radar from his cell phone and saying the red was all tornadoes. She was worried the whole way home for her mommy and daddy. Hobbit got off the bus and broke down in fresh tears, telling me what happened. I wanted to wring that little boy's neck when she told me.  Thankfully, her bus driver is an angel of a man.  He called her to the front and asked if she was okay so she told him all what the little boy had said and Mr. K told her that everything was going to be okay, she would be home soon to see herself. He also spoke to the little boy when he was getting off the bus to let him know that what he did was cruel - and that cell phones were not permitted on the bus so he got a referral.

Once I got her in, dry and settled, I sent Pokey a Skype note to let him know Hobbit was home - and the events on the bus.  He then said that his lead was able to be at the office so he could leave at his normally scheduled time.  So I piled Hobbit in the car and we left to go get him, dodging horrible pockets of heavy rain and thunderstorms the entire way.  Once we collected him and made it back home, I was worn out.  We had our chicken nugget salad with tortilla strip toppings and I had the two of them in bed by 8 o'clock.

The house was quiet so I did what I had planned to do all day, I finally sat down to craft and the end result was well worth it to me.  While I was watching the finale in pairs figure skating, I finished up a hat that I had started at the end of my shift the day before and it was just in time too because it is a whopping 55*F with 23 mph winds.  Here is the fruit of my labors, in all it's glory, along with my cheesy self being tickled with the hat and the hair...

I turned the hat in for my History of Magic assignment and double duty as my first Disneylmpic item!

 So my day did not got according to plan but at least I now have an awesome slouch hat that I love made from yarn that was a complete surprise and two classes away from hitting all six again this month over at HPKCHC.  I can't say that it was a complete bust but I can say, that's what I get for planning because it never fails.  I make arrangements for a 'me day' full of crafting and the end result is never that... sigh.

Today though, I'm not planning on anything but laundry so maybe I can sneak in some crafting under the cosmic radar.  Fingers crossed, a row or two can get done before everyone gets home and the chaos begins anew.

Old school

Feeling a bit old school today. I'm thinking a bit of Cary Grant or Doris Day before work sounds perfect.  I hope you have a day that makes a smile creep across your face for no particular reason other than your heart is happy.

Now that's service!

This is super cool - I had written to Red Heart about a disappointing experience with two skeins of yarn in Team Spirit colors. They were rough and knotted in strange sections for joins. It was just an all around disappointing experience.  I was just letting them know that their new line needed a bit of work and wasn’t expecting anything or asking for anything. It was just feedback so that they could make some improvements and adjustments.

Y'all know I love me some Red Heart yarns - they are affordable, durable, and the variety is amazing... and apparently, so is their Customer Service.  Hobbit came in from the bus with a box and it was from Coats and Clark, Red Heart's parent company - it had four huge skeins of their With Love yarn inside - one Burgundy, one Gold, on Green, and one White to replace the icky and disappointing Team Spirit yarn I bought!

Now that is awesome service.

Weekend Wonderment

This is going to be my focus this weekend.  I have to work and we've got a road trip, perfect project.

Relief and thankfulness

See, happy face... this is what tickled looks like

Y'all know that I wasn't feeling right back at the beginning of the year - at one point I even went to the ER for a scary episode.  Then I had a bunch of appointments, no answers, even refused testing and took control... and I'm glad that I did because that was when we found the answer.

Let me start by saying that I have the most amazing doctor in the universe.  She brings the heart back into practicing medicine, just like Hobbit's pediatrician.  They believe in the old school way of doing things - listening to patients, talking to them, working through things together instead of just tossing medicine and odd tests at it simply because insurance will pay for it.

By listening to me, asking me questions and honestly hearing the answers, she figured out what is wrong me.  It's something that does need to be monitored but it's not something as horrible as what I was originally fearing.  I have Essential Thrombocythemia caused by a mutated gene handed down from my Poppaw.  I've linked it up but the skinny of it is that I have too many platelets in my blood which can cause clots which is the reason it needs to be monitored.

When I was talking to my doctor about my hands and feet going numb or tingling and burning, or my headaches, or my vision getting wonky, or my fluttering in my chest she listened.  She did not have me go through painful unnecessary testing - some of which was going to be really invasive but all of it was unnecessary because the results of my other testing showed that I was structurally sound - performed, looked, and sounded perfect.  She agreed that there was no need to go poking at my heart straight off the bat when all of those factors were present. Instead, she pulled a full blood work up which ruled out several things and confirmed others.  I am healthy as a horse sans this uncommon blood disorder - but I can manage it with a low does aspirin a day right now.  That's it.  Granted, she said to continue to omit the caffeine and that I should try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise in a day as well. 

That sucker is just over 13" long!

To mark my thankfulness, I gave back today.  I found a super sweet haircut that I really liked and made an appointment to have my hair done.  It wasn't just any old appointment though.  You see, I had them braid my hair very neatly and I donated it to Locks of Love.  I pray that my hair makes a child equally as tickled when they receive their new custom made wig.  To me, it’s just hair… but for them, it means so much more. I hope that my little gift will help them feel special - or even better, normal.

Busy day ahead

Got my bags all packed for a day full of hurry up and wait.

It's days like these that make me thankful that I am a crafter.  Sure, I may have to carry around an extra bag but at least I won't be constantly staring at my watching, heaving a heavy sigh, and glaring at everyone who walks by because I'm bored to death and tired of waiting.

Nope, I'll be sitting there with my bags at my feet and happily tying knots into neon yarn and hoping that it's not my name they'll be calling because I'd like to finish this particular round so I can  be ready for the next color change.  I won't be looking at my watch at all, my sighs will be contented ones, and I will be far from bored because I'll be doing what I love while I wait.  In all honesty, I'll probably be the happiest person in the room... unlike this room, where the happiest person is furry and has puppy breath...

I love my Buddy dog and his big cheesy smiles.  Seriously, I've never met a happier oversized puppy in my entire life.

Honestly, truly, and deeply

Not only is this a beautiful song, there is a beautiful moment between them at the end that brings me to tears. The love these two share, it's inspirational. Next December they celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary but watching them, listening to them, you know they are still newlyweds and always will be so. They respect each other, appreciate each other, motivate and encourage each other. They are truly bonded together and no one will be able to tear them apart.

I have loved them long before they loved each other but to see how honestly, truly, and deeply they love one another just brings me such joy. Enjoy.

It really is that simple

Life really is that simple... or at least it should be.  If it's not, make it so... if it is, rejoice in the glory of it all.

I think this is something that we crafters may already know.  We may not know it outright but we know it because we constantly create.  Have you ever lost your "crafting mojo"?  It's horrible, isn't it.  I've lost it once or twice and they were agonizing days for me.  I wanted to craft but nothing was catching my eye or coming out right so I put everything down for a few days... and those few days were gut-wrenching.

But when I got that spark back, oh my stars was it amazing.  I felt like I could do anything.  It was wonderful.  I think everyone should have that feeling - probably why I'm always bragging on Peanut's drawings or Hobbit's attempts at crochet.  I know that feeling of accomplishment and I hope with all my being that they feel that feeling every day of their lives... like they can conquer the world because they made that - be it a fabulous piece of drawn or fiber art.  They made it with their own two hands and it is unique and beautiful and fabulous.

So if you only do one thing this week, create.  A beautiful crafted item, a delicious meal, a fabulous story, or even a clean room.  Create.  Use your hands and your mind.  Work up a good sweat, literal and figurative.  Get dirty, literally and figuratively.  Scared?  Yep, it's okay because so am I every time I cast on a new pattern idea but I go for it because it's only yarn and I can frog it as many times as I need to in order to get it just right.

Create... because we should have those moments of glory where we can sit back and admire our work, beaming with pride and simply thinking, "I did that".

Love

February is a mushy gushy month and I'm okay with that.  There are lots of things I can get mushy gushy over - here are a few...

My latest design project - yes, that's neon yarn... and yes, I'm writing the pattern down for y'all.

HPKCHC - I love being a professor and I made this image and wrote the corresponding class prompt this month!

My insanely talented girls.  Hobbit designed and made her jewelry...

Peanut drew this self-portrait for her homework at university.

The love of my life, Pokey.  I could gush about him all day, every day.  My favorite shot from our honeymoon.

I thought today would be the perfect day to share a little love.  I hope you take a moment or two today to share a bit of love with the ones you love and the things you love.

That's why I spent some time with y'all today too!

Little happy moments

Last night, while I was working one of the most horrible shifts I've had to date, Pokey brought in a package for me.  I didn't recognize the handwriting and it was posted all the way from the U.K.  I was immediately tickled because who doesn't love surprise post?  Once I got it opened and read the sweet card, I was overwhelmed by the sweetness of it all.  Here, this is what all I received...

All of this loveliness came for me from a very sweet reader named Laura - and I adore all of it!

My owl, tag, and magnet are on my desk lamp so I can see them all the time.

My awesome Union Jack inspired square is on my desk, waiting for my next cuppa to get me through the night.

All of my stitch markers used to be in this pathetic little case that I have had for almost 20 years...

Now they are kept in fabulous style!  I know the stamp one should hang off a phone or zipper but I don't have one.

How awesome is this little purse?  I love the pattern and it just makes me so very happy to look at it.

Thank you very much, Laura.  I absolutely love every single bit of it and you have cheered my heart right up with your random act of kindness.  Every time I glance over at my little owl or place my mug on my square, I smile and think of a super kind and generous soul so many miles away.  I honestly do love every bit of it.

This morning, the happy moments continued, as I went to my doctor's office because the PA wanted me to tell about the situation that happened with the other PA to the Medical Director... who turns out to be my doctor!  I was floored - and so was she when she heard about it.  We talked about what our game plan is to figure all this out and she was her usual awesome self.  She even hugged me and said how sorry she was, even apologizing to Pokey.  I love her.

While we were there, the PA asked if I wanted her to draw my blood.  We told her about how I have deep veins and they don't always cooperate but she was determined to try so I said why not.  Worst case scenario is that she can't and we go on about with our original plan.  Let me just say, she was awesome!  She got it in, got all the vials filled that she needed and was out - no pain or nothing.  Normally it takes forever and the only horrible bruise I have now is due to ripping off the tape (it's all purple like a blood blister).

I got my appointment set up for next Wednesday with my doctor to go over it all and I'm feeling a bit of relief and even a bit of hope that we're going to make some progress.  She even agreed that there was no medical need for the tests that I cancelled - why poke it if it's not presenting itself as needing to be poked was what she said... man, I swear I have the greatest doctor ever.  Funny thing is, I didn't want to go to her to begin with simply because she was a woman and I had never had a good experience with a female doctor... until now.

After we were done, Pokey and I had an amazing dinner at Panera Bread (broccoli cheese soup and half of a smoked turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato) and then we ran a few errands.  He even bought me some Starbucks (decaf only now) which made the morning most wonderful.

So that's been my day.  I'm going to go work on my neon poncho/cape/chilldefyingthingiemagigie that I started last night.  I'll share once I decided if I need to tweak it or not... still pondering.  I hope y'all are finding a ton of happy little moments in your day today too!

Blessings and peacefulness

I love Garth and sometimes, when another artist you love does a cover of a song, it just feels off. Not this one. Scotty does an incredible job with it and tweaks it just enough to make it his own - a note here, a note there. Nothing extravagant or extreme and I'm betting that is because he loves and respects that song, along with it's original artist, too much to do anything but honor it.

This song has been calling to me today and I wanted to share.  I toyed with posting the original but sometimes in life, you can find peacefulness in paths that you've never taken as long as you travel with someone you trust and love.  If your traveling companion is a blessing in your life then nothing in life is too scary to handle.

I embark on an unknown, and albeit a bit scary, road tomorrow but my traveling companion is the biggest blessing in my life so by simply holding his hand and looking into his loving eyes, I will find my peacefulness.  Hopefully this round of testing will give us some answers and a direction.  I don't know if it will but by taking control and ticking off things that it isn't brings a bit of peace to it all as well. 

I get mushy and emotional when I'm nervous so I just wanted to take a minute to honor my heart, my rock, my one true love... my Pokey.  Tomorrow may be scary but with him by my side, holding my hand, I can do anything.

Change of scenery

You know what the downfall to working from home is... you grow tired of being at the computer in your office.  What once was a haven for fun and goofing off has now become a place where you must focus and work diligently.  This ultimately has your brain screaming for a change of scenery on your time off when you really would like to fiddle around on the computer but you really don't want to be in your office.  It's a true conundrum considering that I am now on a desktop and not a laptop.

Before when I felt this way, I would simply unplug my laptop and go to the living room or front porch to write but now, I can't do that.  I will figure out a system - it's what I do - but today is just one of those days where I don't want to be in my office, especially since I have to work tonight.

Oh well, such is life, right.  Anywho, I spent the weekend with the family because it was my last full weekend for at least a month.  My February schedule has me working Saturdays but the trade off is that I'm off on Sundays, Wednesday and Thursdays.  As long as I have a 2/2/2/1 kind of schedule, I'm good.  It's when I get the split 4/3 that I grow weary.

I don't think I had much to share for the week anyway.  Let's take a gander for the sake of argument...

I made another owl - this one has attitude and sits on my desk. Her name is Owlriley.

I got hacked off at the medical world, took control of my testing and treatments, and started some socks for Pokey.

I started, and have some more progress on, a chicken purse.  Yes, I did say a chicken purse.  It will be epic.

I ate cookies... because when the world seems topsy turvey, nothing sets it straight faster than a cookie.

I made some serious progress on my bear that I'm making for my OWL.  I may still be behind but not as far now.

Yep, just as I thought.  I didn't do anything that y'all weren't already totally aware of anyway.  I also frogged a few projects yesterday.  I love frogging stuff.  It honestly makes me happy to reclaim the yarn for something that I just may like better because obviously I'm not liking it now or else I would be finished.  I give my projects a four month rest period and revisit.  If I've not had the fire rekindled to start up again, I frog it.  You should try it, it's very freeing.

Also known as "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming", thanks Dory!

Off to either play a bit of Lord of the Rings Online or watch some "Almost Human" that I have recorded.  Not sure which - depends if I've shaken the "Office Aversion" for the day.

I hope you have a beautiful day.  Here's the quote that I've been thinking of lately and just wanted to share.  You never know, it just might motivate you to keep going too.

Some bigger projects and a fabulous cheat

Morning y'all!  It's chilly here - currently 34*F and will only get to 54*F with a wicked wind that whips things up.  At least the sun is shining.

I really need to get cracking on making some African Flowers for my OWL bear because I'm behind schedule so I think that will be my office project instead of my Mission chicken bag like I had been doing.  I've got a good bit of the bottom done but it's not as mindless for me as the flowers have become so I need to switch anyway.  So, knowing me then you know I have no other choice than to say... guess what...

Here is my project page if you are curious or want to keep tabs on it - it will be epic when it's done!

CHICKEN BUTT!!

Yep, I have the humor of a toddler.. lol.  To offset the silliness, here is a serious photo on my African Flower progress - of which I need 56 and there are 28 days available so it means I have to do two a day (plus seaming together) in order to make it on time right now for my midway check in points -

Here is the project page for this one too because it is going to be one massive bear when I'm finished.

I have to finish this one and do my two for today, if not more to build my sanity cushion.  I like how it's coming together though.  I worried a bit that it wouldn't look nice but I have to say, I really do like it.

Last night, around 11:15 pm, I was dying for something sweet and I really just wanted a cookie.  We didn't have any in the house so I was very thankful that I had some cheaters in the fridge.  Y'all know that I am not a food snob in the least so let me tell you that I have no shame in keeping one package of cheater cookies in the fridge for such emergencies.  So I pulled out a cookie sheet, preheated the oven to 350, broke out the little squares of premade cookie goodness and when the oven was ready, I popped them in.  Ten minutes later I had some fabulous cookies.

If you are super curious who makes my cheater emergency cookie dough, click here.

Right, time to get off here and get busy on my day.  Hugs to all - stay warm... it's a rather blustery day in these parts.  I think it is best for me to stay in with a good movie, a decaf cuppa and some cookies to nibble on while I craft the hours away until I have to go to work tonight.

Strength through music

I've been asked why I take a day to do a music post instead of just sticking to crafting or family stuff.  The reason is simple - music gives me strength.  It lifts me up and heals me, though I am sure that last bit is confusing for some.  The easiest way to explain it is like this - you know how you can get lost or swept away in a good book or movie or the rhythm of your crafting?  I get the same effect through music too.  Songs can capture a moment and let you keep it with you just like a photograph or favorite smell.  Melodies can lift your spirits or break you down to tears.

I have loved music for years - my entire school career found me in choir and even now, I don't go a single day without singing or humming something at some point.  So for as long as I am blessed to be on this Earth, I will have music in my life and I love to share my music with everyone... and with that - here is a fabulous song that captures these past few days for me.  Enjoy.

Hey you

How have you been?  Me?  Not too shabby, all things considered.  I took a little time because I had a little scare but now that I've got my bearings, I'm getting better by the minute.

I thought I would have a ton of answers today and everything would be set right but the only answer I have is that a lot of the heart is missing from the heath care field.  I have never felt more like a bit of cattle than I have in the past few days.  A faceless chart number just passing through for stamping, tagging, and being talked about or around instead of directly to - and it was awful.

The end result, regardless of my patience at being kept waiting for hours on end, was nothing.  I have no new information but just today alone I lost three hours of my life that I won't get back.  I haven't lost faith in health care professionals as a whole, just those few that I have had the 'pleasure' of dealing with these past few days.

No answers.  Vague replies.  Annoyed glares at being asked a question and then being asked again but for the answer to not be in medical terms but instead to use words that make more sense to me because I have a BS in Business Administration, not an PhD in any medical field.  My favorite to date has been being told that everything is structurally sound - it looks goods, it reads good, it sounds good - so let's poke it until we find something wrong.  No thank you!

I am not an experiment, a number, a faceless chart in an endless day.  I am a patient who is scared, worried, confused and looking for you to be my steadying anchor of information to make it less scary and confusing which will make me worry less.  Smile at me.  Acknowledge me.  Talk to me.  Take a moment to honestly inquire about me.  Look at me.  Don't rush me.

So in the past week, the things that I have learned are these -

1. Not all tests are medically necessary and I have the right to say no.
2. Not all medicine is necessary and I have the right to not take it.
3. Knowledge is power and power is needed to take control of treatments.
4. My time is just as important as their time and deserves the same respect.
5. I can do something as amazing as this -

Yep, that's a sock on a super cute and super tiny 2.75mm circular needle with a 9" cord!