A Remembrance

This week my sister's dog, Mandy died. We actually found out recently that she was older than we had initially realized. We took Mandy (a siberian husky) in because someone we knew could no longer take care of her. So, we never really knew much about her birth until our mother asked about it this year when we were able to see our friend again. Mandy was almost 13 years when she died this week.

We found out last week she had cancer. The following week it took her.

On Tuesday when my mom returned from her walk in the morning they found Mandy expiring (with a typical Mandy rowl) and it was only moments until she died.

My little sister was distraught at the event for obvious reasons. I decided to make her a little talisman in remembrance of Mandy. So I scrounged up some things around the house quick before I saw her (45 minutes later?). I used some of my favorite (you guessed it...ORANGE) beads and a little sheee shell I found in the OBX that I brought home. I don't usually like to bring sheee shells home : ) because I don't do anything with them, but I took this one. I suppose that shell knew it needed to hang around Suzy (literally).

This was the final product.

Cheers Mandy!

I swear I AM creating!

It did actually occur to me that it seems like I have been doing absolutely NO crafting whatsoever due to vacationing bliss. I would like to dispel that myth by giving updates on unfinished projects.

Knitting takes serious time and squinting that requires an individual to devote all energy and attention to the task at hand. This is extremely difficult to someone like myself who would split herself in order to go in different directions (if you haven't seen "Multiplicity" with Michael Keaton, go see it and you'll get the image I have!). You can't read a book and knit at the same time! This has been my real conundrum as I started reading "Eat, Pray, Love" for a bookclub (which incidentally is on my List: Book Club). It is really good and I whole-heartedly recommend reading this book even though I am only 2/3 of the way through it. Its a book you can read lightly or put emotion and energy into it if you wish. I am doing the former, which also takes away from the knitting. Golly!

Anyways, I have two knitting projects going on. My fearlessly tough, yet extremely sensitive nephew asked me to make him a blanket (he also asked my mom, and she already finished...arrgh). I told him, "I'll make you a blanket, but it is going to take FOREVER to make, and I mean FOREVER!" He said "That's okay, I asked Mumma too."

"Well, what kind of colors do you want me to use?"

"I like ARMY colors, Aunt Jax...and RED."

"Alright, don't forget....FOREVER."

SO...I'm not even close to finished and he asked me before Christmas, I think. I'm knitting up squares. Then, I am stitching them all together. This, I thought would be easiest...very tedious though.

This is how much I have done since Christmas...

Which is actually this much...

And this is how much yarn I still have to use...

You should be thinking what I am thinking right now...Oh dear!

And I fully anticipate not liking the color black after this particular blanket!

Now, if my fingers weren't getting enough exercise, I decided to use this pretty multicolored yarn to make another blanket...why? I was bored (heaven knows why?) and it kept staring at me saying, "You bought me! Why aren't you making me into something awesome!?" Total guilt trip=another project! 2 projects @ one time = slow movin'.

But check out this yarn...it IS pretty and soft and lovely:

This is how far I have gotten on project number two:

Definitely not blanket status yet! Oh how do people attain all this patience?

So, in conclusion, I am catching up on my discovery channel documentaries when I am not reading my book and trying desperately to knit away the summer. Thusly, my house has not been cleaned since medieval times, my living room resembles a chinese sweatshop,and Bert keeps staring at me like a Discovery Channel camera man poised to capture some amazing natural phenomenon with no hope of actualization. Sorry Bert.

Vacation...Oh how I love thee!

I've just returned from a marathon of vacationing. I miss it! I have now added "Spending an entire Summer at the shore" to my LIST. Maybe next year I will rent a shore house with my doggy, Bert.

Bert couldn't make it this time. I did miss him, and he tackled me Flinstones style when I got back. BUT, I did get to enjoy some quality time with my non-related families this month. I have been blessed with many families that I actually do care and adore. I spent some time in Boston with my work family. I really love where I work and who I work with. I couldn't imagine teaching without my support group of teachers.

Just strolling the streets with these people and discussing anything that is on our minds (and I mean ANYTHING!) is such a relief from the pressures of teaching.

Of course, it wouldn't be fun if we didn't see the sights! South Market was wonderful and SO full of life. It reminded me so much of my favorite town, Annapolis. It was definitely MUCH bigger, but no less "towny!" I was able to get a drink at the first tavern in the U.S., the "Bell in Hand" (which I was extremely excited about!) and then walked across the cobble stones to the Green Dragon, where the Revolutionary War was planned. I had a drink in the very same walls as Sam Adams, John Hancock and a host of other incredible Americans!

I spent approximately 7 hours in the car from Boston to Reading only to throw all my dirty clothes on the floor and pack my BEACH clothes! An hour later, I jumped back in the car for 3 more hours to meet up with my Maryland family. My greatest friends who I latched onto unwittingly in high school.

The next morning we spent 9 hours in the car, almost became certifiable, and finally saw that ocean that just seems to bring life to everything, including the sea breeze. This was probably the greatest vacation I have ever experienced. It was so relaxing it took me 2 days to wake up out of the trance I experienced and actually go out and DO something (i.e. write on a blog, send out the mail, do some knitting)

I was able to wake up at 5:30 one morning and experience the sunrise out of the water and watch the pelicans fish (who were in such abundance no one else seemed to notice them!). While we were there we saw dolphins, sand crabs, we even swam with little Moondogs (which are basically jellyfish). A little deer even walked through the shrubberies outside of our porch while we were indulging in some vacation libations! It was lovely in every way. I miss my Maryland family!

I hope everyone is enjoying the sun and letting life inspire you at every turn. I certainly am inspired this summer! New projects on the way!

Fun in the Sun...and Sky.

To celebrate month #2 of vacation I did what any normal teacher would do. I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. Here are some pictures to represent what students can drive teachers to do : )

I took a reliable and certifiable friend along with me. Angela is the greatest! We were suited up and ready to get started...we thought!

When they opened the door to the teeny tiny plane this is what we saw! No worries : )

Here...WE...GOOOOOOOOO!

It was SUCH a rush for the FreeFall...

Yet so peaceful floating to the ground like a leaf on a calm fall day...

Happy Summer Everyone! Hope you are enjoying yours as much as I am enjoying mine!