Full Stocks

In cleaning up a bit today, I had another pair of mittens to pin together and put away for charity.  I keep two plastic Rubbermaid bins in the closet in Sean's room for stuff that I knit for either charity or Christmas gifts.  Well, they're both full to the gills.   (Why store them in Sean's room?  His closet was the only one that had any room.  Storage space in this house is minimally ridiculous.)  I knit mittens from stash yarn, mostly leftovers from projects that I have already completed.  Once I get to a baker's dozen I'll ship these sweeties off to Knit for Boston, along with a couple of stash hats that I've made.  There are also a couple of baby blankets and some pink baby-girl hats for Stitches from the Heart put together, I plan on sending them after Christmas.

I have so, so many things I want to knit before the end of the year!  According to my little widget, I've knit about six and a half miles already since January first.  WOW!!  And I only add projects to that widget once they're finished, so with half a sweater and a few other things on the needles, I've done even more.  I still have at least two Christmas gifts to go, plus a couple of babies on the way.  And I know that I said that I would never make any animals or amigurimi, but Will fell in love with a stuffed snake toy at Webs, so I want to make him one for his birthday.

Hmm.  Think I need to plan on buying another box.  :)

Comfort Food

Day Five of Blog Challenge:  What are your favorite comfort foods, and why?

Ice Cream:  to me this is the ultimate treat.  Sugary, creamy, cold and sweet, it puts a smile on my face instantly.  I used to eat it every night, but curbed that a while ago in order to lose weight.  Now it's only a weekend treat, but when stressed it's the thing that I crave most.  Coffee is my favorite, but I love cookies n cream, chocolate, black raspberry, well, just about anything except Mint.  And I was sooooo sad when Hood stopped making "Heavenly Hash" ice cream:  chocolate, marshmallow, chips and nuts. 

Roast Beef:  the smell of a roast in the oven instantly brings me back to childhood Christmases, where my grandfather would carve the beef in front of everyone.  He had such showmanship!  And it was always perfect, melt-in-your-mouth with just a little pink.  If I could eat that again with my mom's mashed potatoes, I would be the happiest girl alive. 

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese:  'nuff said.  I expect that this will show up on lots of people's lists!!

A stack of banana pancakes:  toasted pecans and whipped cream optional. 

Religious Views

Blog Challenge, Day Four:  What are your views on religion?


My brother and I grew up in a Catholic Family.  We both went through CCD, made our sacraments, and I went on to a Catholic university.  I consider myself to be a spiritual person.   I believe in God but don't believe that Catholicism is better than any of the other many faiths out there.  Our boys were baptized, but we don't go to church.  This may change later, but then again it may not.

I also respect other religions, and am curious.  I wish that I had taken a "World Religions" class in college when it was offered, since I feel that I don't know much about Judaism, Islam and Buddhism.  I am open to new things, and I appreciate an open mind over trying to force religion onto people.  That's about it in a nutshell.

What's Buggin' You?

Day Three of Blog Challenge:  What are your five top pet peeves?

You mean I can only pick five?  Just kidding, I'm a pretty easy-going person and I don't have hundreds.  But the ones that I do have a deep-rooted.  Some are small and silly, some a HUGE.

The top five things that drive me beserk, from small to big:

1.  Not putting food back in cabinets.  For example, the cereal box after you're finished pouring a bowl.  Although then I have to be irritated with myself, because I famously leave out the peanut butter almost every day!

2.  Stuff that at doesn't belong in the dryer going there.  I tend to get a little testy when I find my sweaters or a bra in the dryer.

3.  Bad grammar and spelling.  Wait, let me clarify:  It's OK to not have great spelling skills.  But if you know that your spelling skills aren't up to par, take the time to proofread!!  Sometimes it's tough to live in the age of texting.  But really, text talk belongs in texts, and nowhere else.

4.  Going to the beach or the park, and seeing a kid running around with a sunburn.  In this day and age where many places offer sunscreen, there really is no excuse.

5.  People who blame everything on everyone else, but don't take any of the blame.  At some point, you have to take some control over your life and be responsible for what you want to get out of it.  You're bored?  Not happy with how things are turning out?  Do something about it.  I'm not talking about venting, or periods of unhappiness, I'm taking about perpetual victims of society.

Talk to me:  what bugs you?

The Sentinel

I've got a miserable cold.   Summer colds are the worst, no?  I felt crappy enough to come home from knitting early last night, which NEVER happens!  And even rarer, I was in bed before 9pm.  I am a total night owl, so now I really know that I was sick.  The boys went to bed right before me, and since I hadn't stopped for milk on the way home, Hubby came into our room and announced that he was running down to CVS to get it.

No sooner had he closed the door and headed out into the driveway, our dog Joey jumped onto our bed and placed himself, snuggled against me.  Whenever Brian or I aren't feeling well, he stands guard.  The window was open, since it was a cooler night.  Every little sound, his ears would prick upwards as if to say, "Hey, my Mom's sick.  Let her rest!"  When Will came flying into our room at 11pm because "he couldn't sleep" Joey gave him a sidewise glance that said "Are you kidding me?  Mom needs her rest, dude!"  And at four AM when I got out of bed for more medicine, he followed me right at my heels to keep me company.

That's Joey, our protector.  I often describe him as a "honey of a dog."  And he really is.

Ten Years Down the Road

Day Two of Blog Challenge:  Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hmmmm.   I have a tough time looking into the future but let's give this a try. In ten years I will be in my mid-forties.  I will have a younger teenager and a pre-teen.  (Gahhhhhhh!)  Brian, boys and I will be in a different home than we are now, as we are seriously outgrowing the home that we have now and intend to put it on the market in about two years.  Hopefully we will be living in the same area as we are now, since we like it and it has a great school system. 

As for myself, I expect that I will be an older, softer version of myself.   Hopefully I'll still have a sense of humor about life's little ironies, and will have learned not to take things so personally sometimes.  Will I still be in Property Management?  Yeah, I think so.  Perhaps not working on an apartment site, doing the day-to-day tasks and dealing with the (sometimes)  daily drama.  My, that was a lot of D's.  :)  I am happy with what I do for a living, though I will be MUCH happier when I eventually (Finally!!) get back to working in elderly housing.  Other than that, who knows what the future holds. 

What does your ten year path look like?

A Little Challenge

My friend Magee posted a little challenge on her blog this morning, a thirty day challenge of topics to write about.  She, like me, is often wanting to write but out of subjects.  Here's a list...I tried to change the small print but am having a tough time:

Day 1:  Your Current Relationship.

I met my husband in 1998, at a seedy dance club in downtown Providence, RI.  We were married 2.5 years later.  He and I compliment each other perfectly and make for great partners.  We love to cook together, and have a similar sense of humor.  Because you HAVE to have a good sense of humor in this thing called parenthood, right?   I have a bit of a fiery temper, and he is usually the cooler head that prevails.  He keeps me calm, he keeps me sane, and he keeps me in stitches.  I wouldn't want to know what life would be like without him.  He's my rock, and he is a great husband and father.