graceful designs

Empowerment via An Afghan Scarf

The most common way people give up their power
is by thinking they don't have any. ~ Alice Walker

So I saw this gorgeous scarf.

 
Then I saw the price tag. $88.00!!

Then I read the reviews:

"I waited at least 3-4 years to get my hands on this scarf. Every time I tried, it was sold out. So, this time, I was determined to get it this year, and I did!"

"I wanted this scarf SO BAD. I tried to get it last year and tried to get it backordered but it didn't happen. So I have checked back weekly for months to see if it would come back. Last week suddenly it did and I jumped at ordering it."

"I wanted it last year, ordered it, but I was too late, all sold out. I was hoping someone would return theirs, but that didn't happen. I was so hoping it would be available this year, so I checked on-line every month, then all of a sudden it was there."

And I started wondering... If these women wanted this scarf so badly, why didn't they just make one? Why wait years for it? If they couldn't crochet, why not learn?

Which is what I decided to do.

I found this fabulous hexagon crochet tutorial. A beginner can follow along, with maybe a little bit of help from youtube. And I started crocheting with bit of yarn. This is what I have so far. My hexagons are too big for the scarf pictured, but they are hexagons. And now I can make as many as I want, in whatever colors I want, whenever I want.

 
It's not a scarf yet, but it will be.

I always thought crocheting was old-fashioned. Something my grandmother was incredibly talented at, but didn't quite apply to my life. I never would have thought I would feel so empowered by the act of gathering my yarns and a crochet hook. I don't need to wait for someone else. I don't need to hope that good fortune will come my way. I don't need to find a way to justify the money. I can just create. What a good feeling!

Today's Entertainment

I'm not sure which is more enjoyable~

Watching the birds

Or watching the cats watch the birds.

A frugal (free!) furniture makeover

 
We have a shortage of quality furniture in our home. We used to have some nice pieces, but then we had kids. And dogs. And cats, and rabbits, and an occasional chicken in the house... We are pretty rough on things. 

But we needed some more seating for the living room. I found an armchair on the side of the road, and brought it home. It's not lovely, but it works. Next I found this table at the dump.

Yuck. But then, I took some fabric that I found... on the side of the road (for real!) and some foam from the basement, and recovered the table.

And now we have a comfy, cozy little reading spot right by the window.  I think I might head over there right now. The sunshine is calling me...

A New Year

One of my favorite views. How lucky I feel to live here!

Looking back, it has been a crazy year. One of growth and change.

It's been a year of good health (Thank you Zoloft, No thank you dairy), and new challenges (elected to School Board, and I learned how to knit. Like actually make something other than a scarf). Lots and lots of other stuff thrown in too, making me crave silence and privacy. I've struggled to find balance with new commitments, and I think I am finally getting there. 

I am eager to start a new year, feeling confident and creative, and ready to learn and love.

Solstice Solicitations

Today I am thankful for my family, and the many, many blessings in our life.  The sun has been shining brilliantly, and we are soaking it up.

May the return of the light on this Solstice Monday bring you hope, and beautiful dreams for the future.

Whatever you dream you can do - begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Begin it now. ~Goethe

Blueberries

When we had the fire I was distaught. Scared, angry, anxious...I was so upset at the devastation caused by a probable cigarette, carelessy tossed. Then someone mentioned blueberries. How they would thrive in the charred remains, and I became slightly hopeful. As the seasons have changed I've been watching the terrain, wondering if there would be a blueberry bounty.

Yesterday Braeden and I went to check it out.

It was a glorious sight, a mountain carpeted in blueberries.


They are simply everywhere. Stand and look up the mountain~blueberries. Look down the mountain~blueberries. Look down at your feet~blueberries. And not the blueberries that I am accustomed to picking, where you search the forest floor, looking for bright spots of blue. These berries are growing in huge clusters. I simply held the basket under the bush and ran my hands along the branches, and fistfuls fell into the basket.

It was overwhelming, to be surrounded by such beauty. To have a neverending supply of organic deliciousness right at my fingertips.

Can you guess where I will be spending today?

A Wee Ball of Fluff

There's lots of cuddling going on around here today...

If you are looking for me...

I am probably in a garden.

Most likely with a child.

Some love it,

others have mixed feelings.

Personally, I find playing in dirt deeply satisfying. Many hours have been spent in the school garden, digging, planting, reading, weeding, singing...

Many, many more hours have been spent in the family veggie patch.

Laura has created her own garden this year, and I am so excited to spend time with her there.

I'll be back soon, with much more to say.

A scary bear

 

 

 

It was fun.

Fun  hasn't been a frequent word in my vocabulary lately. If you've talked to me lately, I've been using words like stressed. anxious. tense. frustrated.

This weekend was different though. I was more relaxed, and really enjoyed my time with family.
Gavin and I ran in our first race together, and we had a blast. The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, lots of family ran with us, and it was just fun. It felt so good to be outside and happy, with people I loved.

I am hoping to carry these good feelings over into the next few days.

For the locals, we plan to run the Lowes 5K and the  Kingston Classic. We would love to have more running partners.