Off to the spa

2008 has been a rough year and so I do not feel guilty about spending the last few days of this year being pampered at the Heartland Spa in Gilman, Illinois. http://www.heartlandspa.com/ Take a look for yourself!

I'm going with Karen. She has been my spa companion on our two previous spa trips and from past experience, I know this will be fun. And relaxing. And inspirational in terms of getting me back on track in the self care arena.

Good healthy food, lots of activity choices, massages and facials, swimming pool and sauna, time with a best friend....aaaah! Time to pack. And I don't have to pack much because the Heartland provides all clothing and toiletry items. What a great place!

Secret Christmas knitting

Whew! Finally I can talk about knitting again! Since I had so many secret projects going, I was unable to even mention what I was working on...like this Misti Alpaca scarf for Kate.

And then there were Kate's "I want another pair" socks.

And Ellen's challenging Fibonacci Striped socks. Loved the yarn but striping caused me some headaches.

I found a way to prevent Second Sock Syndrome: make socks for three people and do one sock for each first before finishing any pair! Now it's time to bite the bullet and finish the pairs for Kate and El, as well as Gail's Obama Victory Socks. At least each project feels almost brand new after the time lapse!

Merry Christmas

After surviving the last two months with illness and death and responsibilities and wacky weather, it feels so good to be here in our house on the eve of Christmas.

Everything is ready. Stew, Ellen and I went out to supper and watched a movie. We picked out funny gifts for the traditional Silly Sissy Gift Exchange (this is the first year for this tradition but already I like it). Poundcakes and Aunt Kate's Jello and cheeseballs and rolls and pumpkin pie...all are just waiting for tomorrow's feast.I wasn't sure I'd be in a Christmas mood this year but I am. I'm ready.

Back home!

Finally! After four full days away from home, we are back!

There is a lot that needs to be done but we're getting there. The carpet in the living room where the radiator exploded is now clean and good as new. Every room is slowly heating up to a comfortable temperature. Faucets run, toilets flush...just a slow drain in the downstairs bathroom and a new kitchen faucet left for Chad to install and then our plumbing will be back in working order. It's good to be home.

And today is December 23! This was not a fun way to spend the days leading up to Christmas but it certainly helped the time pass quickly.
Our giant sympathy-gift poinsettia is maybe our saddest disaster from the big freeze. I should have taken it with me to Kate's....it's looking a bit frostbitten and bedraggled now. But Ellen comes home today and I feel so much better.

Thanks to Kate and Chad. We felt perfectly at home and that's the sign of loving hosts. There were a lot of good moments in this adventure and they were a big part of that.

Still no electricity

We are settled in at Kate and Chad's until our electricity is back on. Weatherwise, it's getting worse. The temperature is falling and winds are rising. Wind on icy branches could mean more limbs breaking, more electric lines snapping, longer without power. Oh dear...




We are safe, we are warm, we are entertained, we are fed. Really, I have nothing to complain about. But it's hard not to worry about what's happening over in our dark cold little house.

Temporary relocation

An ice storm scares me as much as any other storm. It is beautiful but dangerous and damaging. We had a whopper of an ice storm last night and 15 hours later, we are still without power.

Luckily, we can afford to pick up and move to a local motel where there is plenty of power and all the things electricity make possible...like writing in my blog. But I keep thinking about home. Did any more branches fall? We already had quite a few big one down. Is the redbud tree going to make it? It was terribly stressed by the weight of the ice and had developed a crack in its trunk. If it stays this cold for another week like the weather people are saying, will the ice build up do even more damage as it sits on the tree branches for days? Will our pipes freeze? Our house is cold and dark. I don't like that thought.

I'm not a person who dislikes winter but this...this is something different. And scary.

Two hour delay

I feel a little guilty about loving today's two hour delay as much as I do. But there it is...I love this delay.

I need to spend time with my students and this is cutting into that time. However, the joy of coffee and knitting during an impromptu vacation is so strong that it runs over all of my professional considerations.

I'm going to go get ready for school and I'm going to work hard to give my students what they need the rest of this day...but I sure did love my extra two hours to myself.

More Mid December

It's cozy here. No wonder it's so hard to leave home.

Mid December

...favorite and familiar ornaments...

Dad

Ever since my mom died almost 12 years ago, I've been part of the team that cared for my dad. He lived alone and was able to be by himself most of that time but he still needed to be cared for...first because of his grief, then because he needed the companionship, gradually because he needed help with everyday tasks. I didn't do anywhere near as much as Beth and Amy but spending time with him was part of the rhythm of my week.

He was very sick when he died two weeks ago. Thank God he was only sick for about three weeks at the very end. It was so hard to see him in such pain and I said more than once that I hoped he would die. Then he did. I was expecting relief and there is relief but I have been surprised by the depth of my sorrow.

I'm glad that he is at rest. I even think that in some way I don't understand, he is with his Peggy and all of his family who have died. But I'm sad for me. And I'm sad for our family. This is sad.
But these eight grandkids...I can see parts of him in all of them. And I tell you...my dad was really something. He will be remembered for a long time.

Staying home (I wish)

It's wintry cold even though the calendar still claims that it is autumn. There is still a lot to do to get ready for my dad's memorial party next weekend but all I want to do is cozy up at home and knit.

Sad times

Taking care of all the details following my dad's death...

Two posts in one day?

Apparently every year the President pardons a Thanksgiving turkey (?). I know. I've missed it too. Well, I'm all for some Presidential high jinx if it provides a photo opportunity like this one:
Is that turkey (the bird) doing what I think he is?

Too many things to mention!

It's Thanksgiving. Time to stop and think what I am thankful for. Today...or any day when I stop to think about it...there are too many things to mention.

But number one on the list is always: my family.

Plum tuckered out

It was a good day at school but I can tell...I'm still not up to snuff. I'm trying to decide just how early is too early to go to bed. 6:30PM? Sounds good to me.

Instead

I have a long To-Do list after a week of lopping around, sick and tired.

Instead, I chose to mess around with making this blog look prettier. A good time! And now...back to my list. I have things to do!

Can't write

Also can't teach (been home two and a half days already this week and it's just Thursday).

However, can knit. Finished scarf. Worked on many Christmas surprises.

...must lay down now....

Quick knitting news

I don't knit quickly but I'm chugging steadily along on my projects.

I know, I know...what am I doing starting something else! But I bought Ruth this yarn for her birthday last April so it seems like I really should start her scarf! The yarn is called Lumpy Bumpy and that is an apt description.
My number one priority project is of course the hooded bag for our Cincy baby...and I am working on the hood! I figured our how to fix the too-short problem so no need for the baby to keep his/her knees flexed at all times.

And I always keep a pair of socks with me in the car or my school bag. This is #1 of Gail's Sober Socks. The yarn is a tweedy gray. Very nice and sober enough for any Quaker.
This here sock will always be special to me. I passed my hour waiting to vote working on it. Hmmm...Gail's Obama Victory Socks?

Hey! My vote counted!

I guess 11th time is the charm! My vote is actually going to go to the Electoral College and then it's actually going to be one of the votes that selects the next President.

It's pretty exciting when Indiana goes for the Democrats! Let's hear it for President-elect Obama!

The first of November

Yesterday on November 1st, I saw this dandelion peeking out from among the fallen leaves. I'm thinking that November is my favorite month.

I have to love October...it's my birthday month and Halloween makes my students and my grand kids so happy.

But November means that the school year is really rolling. We all know each other and we know what we are doing. This year November means Sam and Gail are home from a trip to Europe. I can tell by the way their faces beam in every shot that they had a wonderful time. November means they are getting closer to meeting their baby. November means Thanksgiving and maybe another family concert...if we are lucky.

I'm feeling lucky...we haven't had a hard frost yet and while flowers are few, things are still green and growing if you look hard enough. November is feeling good.

Great weekend!

After a hard week that included leading six Round Table Discussion parent groups in six different elementaries within a twenty-four hour period, Stew and I headed to Indy for some fun. While he attended an Indiana State Teacher's Association conference, El and I took advantage of the fall weather. We took a walk on the Monon Trail.

It was so beautiful! At points we were in such a fun shopping district, obviously in the middle of a city. But then we'd walk just a way further and be in a forested area. I can't wait to spend more time exploring the Trail.
Back at El's, we took stock of her collection of scarves...she has plenty...but we decided that I need to knit her some socks and knit some mittens for me.

We went to Mass Ave Knit Shop, a wonderful place, and stocked up on the supplies. New yarn to look forward to using!

Here is El enjoying a weekend with her parents! Besides the fore mentioned activities, we ate a lot and laughed a lot....a good time.