This moment

Note to self

"Mama, maybe one day we could buy some land in the Gatineau Hills and build two houses on it - one for me one for you. Then we could farm and play and have animals and we would never have to move away and the Abbey and Raine could come and stay when they wanted to."
Hazel Grace Houston Hanlan - March 2011
from the mouth of a babe, and without a doubt echoing my views. Yes, my love that would be lovely.

Spring all wrapped up in a skirt

As if some sort of premonition came my way last fall, I ordered some fabric with the idea of making a couple of skirts for my spring and summer wardrobe. After borrowing the book "Sew What! Skirts" by Francesca DenHartog from the library I have a standing order pattern for a basic drawstring waist skirt based entirely on my specific measurements. Add to this some free time, skirt number one was born...


Alexander Henry in the Farmdale line....ordered from Fabricworm.


Orange bias trim with appliqued bird made from felted sweaters


The end result. Now if the cold wind would go away....
Happy Tuesday.

Where have I been? How has a whole week gone by? Well, let's just say I was otherwise occupied....with kind of planning a two day weekend of nothing but time for me and myself and I. I say "kind of" planning because it was all done without actually acknowledging that it was a possibility because that would have had the certain effect of it not actually happening. I was keeping my excitement at bay so as not to be too disappointed if one or the other or both came down with something on the morning they were set to leave. I made a mental list instead of writing anything down, I didn't tell anyone what the plan was...I am bordering on ridiculous I realize that now....the benefit of hindsight, and the elation that comes from a couple of days and one night alone in my home. The big girls were around but had their own plans and required very little from me. We had a nice breakfast the three of us which was great.
As for me, I spent Friday getting all the chores done....laundry, cleaning and groceries. Friday night I sewed myself a perfect little spring skirt...Saturday I met a new friend for coffee and went to a garage sale. Wow, I have forgotten how much a chunk of "me" time changes ones' outlook.
Monday??? I'm down with that!

Good times

If anyone would have told me as a teenager that one day I would love the sight of laundry hanging on the line, I would have told them that clearly they were mistaken. Why would I ever spend time thinking about such things??? But I do. While I try and hang some laundry out in the winter, for the most part it hangs on our bannister upstairs, on the shower rods and anywhere else it will fit. Today was the first day this year that it was hung outside and actually dried in one day. And it smells great in the house. Like fresh air. After a long season of closed up windows, of course I would look forward to spring, and one of the main harbingers I know of....laundry flapping in the breeze.
There you have it. It is out there. I love laundry hanging on the line.

Note to self

Don't let the lack of tangible proof rule out the possibility of magic.
Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't true.
(Actually two notes, just variations on the same theme).

This moment

A moment I want to remember forever and ever.

Note to self

Spring is coming. Spring is coming. Now say it out loud "Spring is coming".
Take a deep breath...and repeat slowly this time "Spring is coming".
A big pileated woodpecker told you.

Hmmmm.....I wonder

The words bring forth a sense of just that....wonder....infinite possibilities...."reality" aside. Interestingly enough, when kept inside my head they don't provoke the same feelings as they do when they are spoken out loud. Somehow, the process of talking to myself helps clarify things in my world. Is it like that for you?
In the opening lines of my profile I state basically that I am a work in progress. Recently, I have felt a pressure to figure myself out. What is it exactly that I want to do? Is it realistic to expect to be able to earn enough money while doing something that you love? I am thinking that there aren't simple answers. And sometimes I am not expected to find the answers...which brings me back to "work in progress"....maybe changed slightly to "work in process".
Just some light words for a wintry Sunday night.
Sleep well.

This moment

Note to self

"Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have". Garrison Keillor

Keep the faith that the above is true....that you are on a path despite that it sometimes feels a bit too meandering to suit the desires of a person who prides herself on organization and practicality.

Markers of time

Despite the fact that Mother Nature saw fit to dump a whole lot of snow on us yesterday, there other indicators that remind me that winters' days are numbered. Not the least of which is the spontaneous wish to sew up some sheep. Nothing says spring like furry sheep....I just need to disregard the snow piled up outside.