Sun Rise

Just a couple of pics of the sunrise after the winter solstice.  Then I promise, back to the present moment.

Yule/Winter Solstice Celebration

I know this is wayyyy past date, but it was such a wonderful circle I wanted to post about it.  This was the very first time I have ever shared a circle with my friends, and been sort of leading the circle.  My oracle card for the day was to share my gifts with family and friends, so how appropriate, a gentle nudge to spread out, and share.

We have family circles all the time, but never one with friends.  This year a friend planned a party on the winter solstice so I asked if we could bring our celebration with us and share, for those interested.  My boys did not participate this year, they were with their friends having fun. That was a little sad, but I realize that time with friends doing things you love is such a happy time.  Many of my friends participated.  We had a circle, created a sacred space, had candles, and each person brought something close to them to add to our altar and bless the space.  We shared poems, readings, thoughts for the upcoming year, lit candles and had a nice time sharing and being together.

We did decorate and burn a yule log, so that was wonderful. It just turned out so beautiful, and burned so brightly!  Here are a few pictures from our evening.

I am so grateful to have such amazing, open, sharing friends.  And I hope we can share more circles in the future!

Gratitude

I am having a hard time being completely joyful this morning.  After the Boston Marathon bombing, yes I was sad for those that were experiencing loss.  I know what it is like to experience loss, but can only imagine experiencing it that tragically, and in the public eye as well.  And don't get me wrong I am happy that the final suspect is in custody, I think the Boston PD and everyone else involved did an amazing job.

BUT I am not resting peacefully and I need to work today to find that place again.  My dh was glued to the TV yesterday from the time he arrived home from work.  I couldn't watch it.  I tuned in for a few minutes twice yesterday to catch updates on what was going on.  But I couldn't watch it over and over and over again.  I just kept thinking that this boy was my oldest sons age.  Actually just a little older as my oldest will be 19 in July.  I kept thinking how scared he must be, how sad he must be at the loss of his brother, how alone he must feel without family around.

I don't know why he did what he did, or anything really about this boy, but he is my sons age.  And someone, somewhere loves him.

So I am grateful this day that my boys are home, safe, and sleeping in their own beds. Grateful I am here to love them and care for them, and that they feel that love every day.

Foggy Morning

I took these pictures earlier in January, it was such a sunny morning and the fog was thick!  It looked beautiful and creepy at the same time.  I love these kind of mornings, although I do enjoy when the fog burns off and we have a wonderfully sunny, nice, work-in-the-garden type of day.  I see these mornings more frequently now than a few years ago.  When the puppies arrived, back a few years, I had to switch my sleeping, and became an early riser.  And am still an early riser, LOL.  So seeing these types of mornings when everything is quiet and still outside is a side of the day that still amazes me.

Popcorn Afghan Pattern

I made this small Afghan at Christmas for a friend's mother. She is in a care facility and I know it can get chilly this time of year.  It's not really a popcorn stitch but it kind of looked like popcorn. It is a really easy pattern for the base of it, and I will probably be using it again.  I used the LARGEST circular needle I have and I think I could have used an even larger one and been fine. So pick out the largest circular needle you have.  I doubled my yard, so it took 2 of the one pound skeins of Red Heart yarn.  I cast on 75 stitches, using both skeins and double yarn, but I think next time I will make it larger and use probably 125 stitches.  Then you knit one, purl one all the way across for the first row.  Then you knit one, purl one for row 2.  EVERY ROW IS THE SAME. Can't beat that.  So however many stitches you decide to cast on just make it an odd number and you are all set.  Here is a closer look:

The pattern is very striking up close.  For the edging I changed color, and decided to crochet some.  So I did a reverse crochet around the edge to give it a little texture, that is the stitch that almost looks like rope.  I crocheted three reverse crochet stitches in each corner.  Then I did just a row of single crochet, again three stitches in each corner so the corners turn right and don't curl up.  Then to finish it off I did a shell stitch, 5 double crochets in one stitch, then skip 2 stitches, then 5 double crochets in one stitch, skip 2 stitches etc.  For the corners I just kind of played with each corner to make it lay flat, skipping only one stitch on each side of the corner shell or added a few extra double crochets to the corner shell, or you can see in the first picture I put two shells close together, until it was flat and looked like a nice corner.

Easy, and fun, and fast, and pretty!

November

OK I am up to November with my pictures now.  This picture is of my son Dallen.  Two major events for him this year, as he turned 18.  He signed up for Selective Service and he registered to vote.  Amazing how fast they grow up!  And even more fantastic is that it is a presidential election!  How cool is that.  He is such a conscientious, thoughtful citizen.  He looked up the sample ballot for our county online then he and I looked up every single candidate, in every single race and read about each and every one.  He and I both had printed out the sample ballot so we could check the people we each wanted to vote for, and take that in with us.  It even brought tears to my eyes, tears of joy, to watch him cast his ballot.  Here in Burke County NC it is all computerized, so it was easy.  We voted early so it was in and out.  Waited in line maybe 15 seconds.  And he was so proud to be voting.

(Dallen after voting in his first election)

In stark contrast I was at the Driver's License Office today and heard a young woman next to me, she was renewing her driver's license.  The man behind the desk asked her if she was registered to vote, she said no. He asked her if she wanted to register to vote, she again said no.  Sigh.  I have to believe that people know what is best for themselves.  So maybe it is a good thing she isn't voting.

Snow Boarding and Accomplishments

This is, I believe, the third year the boys have been snow boarding, and this year they are really seeing their efforts pay off. This is really one of the only sports that they have both taken an interest in, worked on and kept up.  I have seen progress over time, but sometimes I don't think they see the progress.  It looks so easy when you see someone glide down the slopes doing tricks, turning around, coming to an award winning (by my standard) stop, spraying snow up in an arching wave you could surf on.  It just looks so effortless.  And I can totally understand the bit of discouragement as it isn't so easy just starting out.  But they have really stuck with it, no pressure at all from me or their dad, but out of a desire to get better.  And today I could revel in their joy as they really saw the progress they have made.  Turns are easier, getting better every time we make that trip up the mountain.  They were just so...so....happy, and I love watching them feel so confident, and proud of themselves.

These are some of the moments that add to the richness of my life.  It also reinforces my belief that I don't need to "push" my children into anything, or to finish anything.  That when they find something interesting, by their own definition, their own inner voice will drive them on.  Their on self motivation is more than enough.  Their hard work is meaningful to them, and their progress joy-filled.  Something we can all celebrate with them.  What a wonderful self directed, passionate life.

Sorry no pictures today, too busy watching my wonderful, joyful  boys glide down the mountain.