Charlotte and I have been reading "The Little House on the Prairie." I love reading to my little Bug just before bed. I decided last summer that she was ready for longer more involved books. Our first big girl read was, "Because of Winn-Dixie." It was cute and I was just as excited as Charlotte to watch the movie when we were done because the beautiful and talented Dave Matthews is in it.
The next book that caught my eye was our current selection by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I picked it up with excitement at an used book store and was immediately reminded of how much I had loved the series as a child. So it came home with me and two weeks ago we dove in.
But reading the book as a grown woman has brought out different emotions in me. Like this one for example, "Why the hell did Caroline allow her husband to drag them so far away from everyone that she held dear into dangerous territory?" or more recently "I think that I would have told Pa to shove it." Of course I have not been sharing my thoughts with Charlotte but I am afraid that my modern feminist sensibilities are getting in the way of my pleasure in the story.
I think I am more Anne of Green Gables (yes I realize that she was a fictional character) than Caroline Wilder. My husband pointed out that it is likely that Caroline did not have any choice in the matter of her families migration west, which is true. Or perhaps she found Pa's wanderlust and shenanigans endearing? Whatever the matter, I think I may have to go dye my hair red and walk the ridge-pole of a roof. Has anyone seen Diana Barry?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tis' the season
This time last year I was knitting my little fingers to the bone. I had set lofty goals and wanted to knit about 6 gifts. This turned into the two darkest knitting months that I hope to ever experience. This year I am learning from the mistakes of my past. No knitted Christmas gifts. Period. I have decided that knitting gifts are going to be used for birthdays and general wishes of good will. So this year I am finishing a cardigan for a friend's little girl, and then casting on a cowl (for whom I have not yet decided). In the sea of holiday craziness knitting is going to remain my quiet sea of calm.
Now if I could only talk myself out of the crazy 48 hour bakeapalooza that I do every year. Small steps, right?
Now if I could only talk myself out of the crazy 48 hour bakeapalooza that I do every year. Small steps, right?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
About me
1. I LOVE LISTS. I have been caught making a list of lists to make. Seriously, it runs that deep.
2. Dave Matthews Band is my most favorite band of all time. The obsession began in the ninth grade when my Dad played "Satellite," for me.
3. Becoming a mom is by far the best choice I ever made.
4.. I love to cook. I am forever looking for new recipes and I promise to share some of my favorites here. Such as this one, perfect for fall or winter- Roasted Tomato Basil Soup (it is heaven!).
5. My BFF is my Grandma. She and I are like two peas in a pod, well not really, but we accept eachother nevertheless.
6. I am a raging Liberal. This can make living in Idaho a bit annoying at times but I am proud to say that all of my friends know my political beliefs and that I am willing to engage in an intelligent conversation at any given time.
7. My husband and I are currently obsessed with the show Dexter.
8. I believe with my whole heart in God but not so much with organized religion.
9. My favorite exercise besides running is the practice of Bikram Yoga. I like my yoga hot and really hard, anything less is just boring.
10. I not so secretly want to be Anne of Green Gables. I met my Gilbert in the 5th grade and married him when I was 23.
11. Our dream is to have a farm house on some property.
12. I want to raise Chickens on said property.
13. My favorite cake is Red Velvet.
14. I love being an ICU nurse. I thought forever that I wanted to be a labor/delivery nurse but have realized that I really enjoy taking care of elderly people.
15.I am a ridiculously fast knitter. I may be an idiot savant where knitting is concerned.
16. I have three beautiful, smart sisters. They are the reason that I do not accumulate too many friends. God already gave me 3 that are stuck with me for the rest of their lives!
17. I love Sex and the City but thought the second movie was CRAP!
18. I can swear like a sailor, but am really trying hard to curb this habit.
19. I LOVE clothes. Love them.
20. I have a hate/hate relationship with my straight brown hair. Really hoping to accept it one day.
21. I love to read. Am trying to decide if I am for or against this Kindle thing. Might miss the smell of books too much.
22. I started blogging because I was inspired by all of the amazing bloggers out there. Haven't decided yet if I need to be one of them, decided to tinker with it while I make up my mind.
23. I have run out of semi-interesting things to say.
2. Dave Matthews Band is my most favorite band of all time. The obsession began in the ninth grade when my Dad played "Satellite," for me.
3. Becoming a mom is by far the best choice I ever made.
4.. I love to cook. I am forever looking for new recipes and I promise to share some of my favorites here. Such as this one, perfect for fall or winter- Roasted Tomato Basil Soup (it is heaven!).
5. My BFF is my Grandma. She and I are like two peas in a pod, well not really, but we accept eachother nevertheless.
6. I am a raging Liberal. This can make living in Idaho a bit annoying at times but I am proud to say that all of my friends know my political beliefs and that I am willing to engage in an intelligent conversation at any given time.
7. My husband and I are currently obsessed with the show Dexter.
8. I believe with my whole heart in God but not so much with organized religion.
9. My favorite exercise besides running is the practice of Bikram Yoga. I like my yoga hot and really hard, anything less is just boring.
10. I not so secretly want to be Anne of Green Gables. I met my Gilbert in the 5th grade and married him when I was 23.
11. Our dream is to have a farm house on some property.
12. I want to raise Chickens on said property.
13. My favorite cake is Red Velvet.
14. I love being an ICU nurse. I thought forever that I wanted to be a labor/delivery nurse but have realized that I really enjoy taking care of elderly people.
15.I am a ridiculously fast knitter. I may be an idiot savant where knitting is concerned.
16. I have three beautiful, smart sisters. They are the reason that I do not accumulate too many friends. God already gave me 3 that are stuck with me for the rest of their lives!
17. I love Sex and the City but thought the second movie was CRAP!
18. I can swear like a sailor, but am really trying hard to curb this habit.
19. I LOVE clothes. Love them.
20. I have a hate/hate relationship with my straight brown hair. Really hoping to accept it one day.
21. I love to read. Am trying to decide if I am for or against this Kindle thing. Might miss the smell of books too much.
22. I started blogging because I was inspired by all of the amazing bloggers out there. Haven't decided yet if I need to be one of them, decided to tinker with it while I make up my mind.
23. I have run out of semi-interesting things to say.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Running
Last weekend I ran a half marathon with two of my sisters, and it was amazing. Not only do I get the privilege of sharing the same gene pool with these two beautiful women but I also got to cross a finish line with them.
What does one think about while they are out running for nearly 2 hours? Everything. My mind tends to wander into the strangest places while I am running. I am pretty sure that I discovered the solution for world peace while I was out there....at the very least I remembered that I can do ANYTHING that I want to. ANYTHING. And so can you.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Healing
Sometimes being an ICU nurse can be really sad. We always see the worst case scenario, and very few of our patients return to their previous quality of life. Which can make one tend to wonder what is it all for? It can feel like running in quick sand.
But then sometimes a patient that you thought would never leave the hospital alive walks into the unit to thank people that she cannot even remember for saving her life. It isn't the thank you that makes this story special it is the walking and smiling part. That alone gives me enough hope to keep doing this job for another five years.
But then sometimes a patient that you thought would never leave the hospital alive walks into the unit to thank people that she cannot even remember for saving her life. It isn't the thank you that makes this story special it is the walking and smiling part. That alone gives me enough hope to keep doing this job for another five years.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Happiness is.....
in the small moments. Today while I was running an elderly man saw me from his garden, smiled and yelled, "Keep going you can do it!!" That is the closest that I have ever come to kissing a stranger (ok first lie, but the last time that I kissed a stranger I was drunk and 22 so it must be forgiven and stricken from the record). I was on mile 7 of 8.5 and not loving it. But after the encouragement of the morning gardener I found some extra pep in my step and continued merrily on my way.
Then later I took my four year old daughter to run errands with me. She has developed a fondness for the music of ABBA, I have no idea how it happened (second blatant lie, I did it, I fostered her love of Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, etc. but their music is so damn happy how could you not love it?). Anyways we were riding in the car on this beautiful sunny day singing at the top of our lungs and I felt it, complete euphoria. There is nothing like being a Mom, even on the hardest days it is amazing and sweet.
I continue to work on a sweater for my Dad's birthday present. I think that the monotony of a man's sweater may be slowly killing me. I am so tired of knitting it that I almost allowed a known mistake to remain. Thankfully I came to my senses, got my act together, ripped out the little sucker that was causing me so much mental strife and have continued on my way. I think that I am going to have to cheat on knitting with sewing, just a little bit to preserve what sanity and love for the craft I have left.
I am reading the book Run by Ann Patchett. I am about 70 pages in and it is amazing! It has been a long time since I have been able to read a book of my choosing for pleasure. I still feel like I am going to find out that I have a looming assignment that I have forgotten about, a fear that will probably persist until I get my diploma in the mail.
Hope that everyone is enjoying their Sunday before the weekdays grab hold of us all again! I am off to get into some trouble............trouble of the crafty kind!
Then later I took my four year old daughter to run errands with me. She has developed a fondness for the music of ABBA, I have no idea how it happened (second blatant lie, I did it, I fostered her love of Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, etc. but their music is so damn happy how could you not love it?). Anyways we were riding in the car on this beautiful sunny day singing at the top of our lungs and I felt it, complete euphoria. There is nothing like being a Mom, even on the hardest days it is amazing and sweet.
I continue to work on a sweater for my Dad's birthday present. I think that the monotony of a man's sweater may be slowly killing me. I am so tired of knitting it that I almost allowed a known mistake to remain. Thankfully I came to my senses, got my act together, ripped out the little sucker that was causing me so much mental strife and have continued on my way. I think that I am going to have to cheat on knitting with sewing, just a little bit to preserve what sanity and love for the craft I have left.
I am reading the book Run by Ann Patchett. I am about 70 pages in and it is amazing! It has been a long time since I have been able to read a book of my choosing for pleasure. I still feel like I am going to find out that I have a looming assignment that I have forgotten about, a fear that will probably persist until I get my diploma in the mail.
Hope that everyone is enjoying their Sunday before the weekdays grab hold of us all again! I am off to get into some trouble............trouble of the crafty kind!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Check that off the list
The last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic for me. I finally finished my bachelor's degree in nursing. I have been a nurse for 7 years now, the first three as an LPN and the latter 4 as an RN. The end of my college career has been fairly anticlimactic, I am already working as an RN, and since I finished my degree online and approximately 600 miles away from the college I won't be participating in graduation. The best part is though, that I am no longer writing essays (or feeling guilty for procrastinating the writing of essays). This has given me some freedom that I haven't had in a long time. It is amazing the energy that I have found in the wake of graduation. I was able to weed and till my garden finally (my very first garden....really hoping that it turns out!) and am enjoying not feeling like a zombie Mom.
I also finished my first lace knitting project. I have taught myself how to knit using only the internet as my tutor. This has led to some ugly knitting moments but also a huge sense of accomplishments when I tackle something and am successful at it. Now that I have the lace bug I may not be able to stop.
Last weekend I ran the Montana Women's race. It was awesome. I did the fastest 5 miles that I have ever done. There is something about being at a race and surrounded by other runners that always tugs at my heart. And there is something about seeing morons standing at the sidelines smoking that makes me irate. But I choose to not digress.
The most important thing that happened in the last few weeks was my daughter's fourth birthday. It seems completely impossible that this little blonde happy go lucky child is the baby that I held in my arms four years ago. I catch myself looking at her in amazement. I now understand what my mom meant when she used to say that we would always be her babies. There are moments when I want to swaddle Charlotte up in a blanket and hold her close as long as she will let me, which would not be long. It seems as though the ADHD is in the genes, I just need to teach her to channel it. I see knitting lessons in our future.
I also finished my first lace knitting project. I have taught myself how to knit using only the internet as my tutor. This has led to some ugly knitting moments but also a huge sense of accomplishments when I tackle something and am successful at it. Now that I have the lace bug I may not be able to stop.
Last weekend I ran the Montana Women's race. It was awesome. I did the fastest 5 miles that I have ever done. There is something about being at a race and surrounded by other runners that always tugs at my heart. And there is something about seeing morons standing at the sidelines smoking that makes me irate. But I choose to not digress.
The most important thing that happened in the last few weeks was my daughter's fourth birthday. It seems completely impossible that this little blonde happy go lucky child is the baby that I held in my arms four years ago. I catch myself looking at her in amazement. I now understand what my mom meant when she used to say that we would always be her babies. There are moments when I want to swaddle Charlotte up in a blanket and hold her close as long as she will let me, which would not be long. It seems as though the ADHD is in the genes, I just need to teach her to channel it. I see knitting lessons in our future.
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