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...