Rachel tagged me to give five reasons why I blog...and since my brain is a little slow from the painkillers, I am going to think about it for a bit. I am writing it down here so I don't forget! There's one good reason to blog right there. :)

How Embarassing...

My foot surgery over, now I just get to agonize over the fact that I spent the entire surgery trying to get my hands unhooked so I could pull the curtain down and watch the surgery. I remember more than one person telling me, "You'll have to watch it on the Discovery Channel."

Last night I cooked a ton of lasagna for Annie's birthday party today. And I cooked a chicken dinner at the same time. Then I sat down to finish sewing a cushion. Very homemaker-ish.

Today we have the party, tomorrow the actual Birthday Day. Then Monday, I have my foot surgery.

They gave me the boot that I have to wear for six weeks, and I started thinking of ways to get out of the surgery. I have no idea how I am supposed to get up and down stairs wearing that thing.

And Tim just found out he needs his pacemaker replaced, so I picture him going for heart surgery while I am still clomping around in that boot. Neither one of us will be able to drive. Hopefully, friends and family will take pity on us.

Flowers & Puppies

My very badly hand-sewn chair cushion. I love the fabric so much...


My puppies sleeping in their crate...

A Day in the Sun

We drove out to Palm Desert yesterday to see my inlaws. It was 80º, and we sat in the sun and watched the birds in the birdbath and the golfers on the green. I didn't get much sleep the night before, so I spent the entire day almost falling asleep in my chair.


The kids got to see their Great Aunt Cindy for only the second time in their lives, and she told them amazing stories about her life in Colorado. After her husband died, she and her four children ran their ranch, raising pigs, bunnies, goats and a poor little calf named Sir Loin. She also told us of growing vegetables and canning and selling them, and about her beautiful horses and cocker spaniels. It was quite exciting to find out that we have our very own pioneer woman!



We had a wonderful lunch and dinner, and after my mother-in-law packed all of the food in the house into our car, we drove home.

Teenagers...

My 14-year-old son and I get along so well. We have probably had maybe five major arguments in his entire life. Well, the stresses of life all combined over the weekend to find me shouting at my firstborn, my little preemie baby, "I can't wait until you move out!" To which he dutifully responded, "I can't wait, either!" Except apparently he included a "look" with his comment, which resulted in my mild-mannered husband yelling at him for the first time ever. My girls were upstairs with wide eyes. They had never heard their daddy yell. (I married a good one.)

Now, I forget my point. Except to say that it is unbelievable how a teenager can get to you. I suppose it is part of growing up, the way they slowly make it clear that they have nothing but disdain for the way you live.

My son has expressed many times, the desire he has to get away from all the "emotions" of living with three females. I remember when he was four-years-old he told me all about the yellow jeep he wanted to drive when he grew up.

"And who will be in the passenger seat," I asked coyly.

"My backpack," he responded.

What?

From a knitting pattern:

This pattern incorporates many short rows, most of which are only a few stitches long. Turning your work this frequently can be cumbersome and tedious, so the technique of knitting backwards is recommended.

Knitting backwards? I cannot even imagine what that means. My little brain is spinning.

It All Turns

We found out last week that my father-in-law has cancer. It has spread, and the doctors made it clear that there would be no cure, just treatment to prolong life and ease his pain.

I cried all night the first night we found out. It surprised me how hard it hit me.

Today we had a baby shower for my sister. Her baby is due in April.

So life right now is a strange mix of joy and sorrow, hope and fear.

The lines from the song "It All Turns" by Billy Crockett keep running through my head:

It all turns, doesn't it
The world goes 'round today
The tide hangs like a trailer on the moon

It all turns, doesn't it
The grass beneath the snow
One day will be growing green and new

And when you have to say good-bye
I wonder if it isn't wise to know
That in some holy sense
The circle brings it round again

It all turns, doesn't it
A tooth becomes a space
That whistles when you face into the wind

It all turns, doesn't it
On graduation day
One world fades away
And one begins

So when you have to let it go
Somewhere in your heart
And know there is a river deep and true
That runs beneath all time and you

Cause it all turns, doesn't it turn
Never hold on to where you've been
It all turns, doesn't it turn
Daylight to darkness and then
Daylight back again

It all turns, doesn't it
The wrinkle of the skin
The graying of a thinner lock of hair

It all turns, doesn't it
And in the tiny bed
The newborn lays her head
And dreams a prayer

And when it's time to let it go
Somewhere in your heart
You know there is a river deep and true
That runs beneath all time and you

It all turns
A pendulum of grace
Moving hands across the face
Of all these days

It turns
And every then and now
We will raise the cup
And bow the heart in praise

I Loved This Post...

You might appreciate it, too. Take a look.

Licorice Pizza

When I was sixteen years old, I got a job at a record store. It was back in the olden days when there were records. Young and naive, I was thrilled to be working with grown-ups. Not boring grown-ups like my parents. These grown-ups sucked helium straight from the tank.

It was a funky, cool store that gave away free licorice at the front counter. Everyone who worked there was cool and fun and aspiring to be something else. I was the dorky teenager, oddly out of place in such an amazing group.

I replaced a beloved employee that had been killed in an accident the week before. I remember Bob sitting out on the curb in front of the store during his breaks. He had just lost his best friend, and I had no idea what that meant at the time.

There was Mr. Mike, absolutely the funniest man alive. I don't remember the jokes, but my stomach always ached from laughing whenever he was around.

Gail and Keri were the older, "cool" girls who actually were nice to me and invited me to parties and the beach. Gail dated Jerry, the comedian, who would try out new material on me while we were working at the cash registers.

Melissa singing Sondheim. Jeff telling me sordid stories in the lunchroom. Monica, who looked like a dresden doll. The two Pauls. Sue, Patty, Jill, Holly...and people whose names I have forgotten, but I still remember their faces.

Then the dreaded communists Big Corporation bought the store. Slowly, the funny, cool people were replaced by men wearing ties and ladies wearing dresses. The magic was lost and so was the licorice.

Recall Alert!

You might have noticed that I feature recent product recalls in the sidebar. I thoroughly enjoy reading about new recalls and imagining the tragedy and mayhem that prompted the recall for such products as home candle-making kits and circular saws. I know, I have a problem. I also obsess over earthquakes and other natural disasters. I enjoy a break in the monotony. And a little bit of excitement.

But seriously, easy bake ovens are being recalled for entrapment and burn hazards. That does not sound fun. So if you know anyone with a newer model easy bake oven, point them to the link at the cpsc.

Photos For A Monday Afternoon

Strange California sunset:



Cute dog:


My attempt to crochet during the super bowl:

Yorkie Love

This is my neighbor's adorable yorkie. The one I covet. He is seven months old and such a sweetheart. So cute.

Knitty Love

I am completely obsessed with knitting. Thus, I have not written any posts. I haven't even read my favorite blogs. I did check Google News to make sure the world was not ending, then went back to knitting. My hands are swelling and aching, and I have ten loads of laundry to do, but I am happy.