I’m having problems getting and staying online at the moment – I need to run some anti-virus software, I guess. So I’ll keep this short. Nineteen stitchers asked to be included in the newest drawing for the Sisterhood pattern, and I entered everyone in the randomizer and came up with Anna. Congratulations, Anna!! I’ve contacted both Anna and Sara by email so they’ll be able to work out all the details. 
Lots of stuff to share as soon as I get the Internet Explorer issue solved.
When I thought of k as I dropped off to sleep the other night, I remembered that it had been my favorite letter when I was a kid. I always thought it would be so cool to have a k in my name. I don’t know why, it just did. LOL. I’m sure it had nothing to do with my choice of a spouse or the name of my second child. 
The second thing to occur to me about the letter k is that it begins the word kindness – without which, where would any of us be? I think the world is in seriously short supply of simple kindnesses. Everyone’s in such a hurry, believes that his/her own problems come before anyone else’s, feels angry or shortchanged by the the system, etc. We no longer bother with the simple kindnesses that can be like balm to an open wound. I’m not saying everyone overlooks being kind – not at all! – but that, generally speaking, being kind is too often neglected. How great has it made you feel to be smiled at by someone you may not even know, for no reason at all? Haven’t you breathed a sigh of relief as someone held the door for you when you were loaded down with shopping or trying to steer your children in the same direction at the same time? And what about when someone’s given up his/her seat for you when you’d reached that point where your feet hurt so badly that you didn’t think you could bear it for a moment longer? I’d absolutely love it if everyone who reads this post would go around being kind for absolutely no reason to everyone you run into during your day. Just imagine the effect! You’ll obviously feel better (remember yesterday’s post about the joy of giving?), and all these people will be surprised out of their ordinary complacency by a kind word or gesture … that perhaps they will pass along to the next person they encounter. It’s such a cool thought, isn’t it?
On a stitchy side note, don’t forget to leave a comment if you’d like to be included in the drawing for The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern! Please state clearly in your comment that you want to be included in the drawing, which will take place on Monday at 6 pm EST (9 pm my time).
Although I do love cartoons, Ren & Stimpy never really appealed to me. Nevertheless, I think saying ‘happy, happy, joy, joy’ is a lot of fun.
Today we have j for joy! There’s the joy of giving, of course, which I’ve been indulging in a bit with unbirthday gifts. And then there’s the joy of receiving – and look what I’ve just received! Sonya totally surprised me with this wonderful Act-of-Kindness package that includes a book I’d mentioned wanting, her favorite novel, many pieces of finishing fabric, a scented envelope, a handmade bag, and a terrifically funny note. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Sonya, you’ve totally bowled me over. Everyone, take a look at the crafts(wo)manship of this wee bag; it’s incredible!
There’s also the joy of stitching – we can’t forget that! Sara has enjoyed stitching The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern, and as you saw yesterday, she’s already finished it! Here’s another picture in case you didn’t see yesterday’s.
This means that The Sisterhood is ready to move on! Please leave a comment if you are interested in being in the drawing – let Sara indulge in the joy of giving, and make it possible for yourself to joyously leap around if you’re chosen as the winner! Anyone who comments on any post from now until Monday at 9 pm my time (3 pm EST) will be included. But please, make sure you specifically say you want to be included in the drawing!! A winner will be chosen at random.
This weekend, I’m indulging in the joy of spending some uninterrupted time with my family. We’ve snuck away to a vacation bungalow in the same region where we spent last weekend with Niek’s family (although we are in a different town). This is probably my favorite region in the Netherlands – there are some gently rolling hills and the trees are not totally dissimilar to those growing in Maine. There are also vast heather fields, which is a special aspect of the Dutch landscape. Where the glaciers left blueberry barrens in their wake as they rolled over Maine in the last ice age, here they left behind this uniquely beautiful landscape. In the autumn, when the leaves fall and the wild mushrooms come out, it’s a place of magic. 
I’ll be offline till Monday evening, though my blog will continue to post in my absence. Aren’t scheduled posts the coolest? LOL! Wishing you a wonderful, joyous weekend!
PS: Have you noticed that I’m beginning to get the hang of the new WP template for creating blog entries? LOL!
Things which are put together are both whole and not whole, brought together and taken apart, in harmony and out of harmony; one thing arises from all things, and all things arise from one thing. (Heraclitus)
If you start searching online, there are a lot of meanings for harmony – musical, philosophical, cultural, etc. To me, it ’simply’ means existing in balance with the world around you. Where something is lacking, you give; where you are lacking, something fills you. Easier said than done, of course, and I suppose the desire to exist in harmony can lead us along many a wandering path.
What I’ve learned of Chinese philosophy (again, from my acupuncture studies), harmony is gained by finding and adhering to your true path in life. What do you do, though, if your true path in life – when you find it – conflicts with the life you’ve been creating up until that point? Do you get a second true path? Do you abandon what you’ve built up until that point? This is a point that worries me, whether we’re talking about Chinese philosophy or Western religion. What if the life you’ve created doesn’t fit the “rules” of the path you believe is the right one for you?
Most days, I feel reasonably harmonious with many aspects of my life – but in all honesty, I rarely feel harmonious on all levels. What does that mean? Do you feel harmonious with all aspects of your life, or do you suspect you may have veered off your true path at some point? Is there some correction possible, or do we just make the best of the situation at hand? Deep thoughts ….
Happiness is an easier concept for me to grasp. Not that I always feel happy, but I have a clearer idea of what happiness is. I feel very fortunate that I’m happy most days … but that hasn’t always been the case, and I’m all too familiar with what it feels like when happiness is as unattainable as capturing stardust or sunbeams. I was first diagnosed with chronic depression when I was 23, and the psychiatrist said I’d likely been suffering from it for most of my life. I’ve tried to accept it as just one more facet of who I am, but a couple of years ago, it got bad enough that I finally consented to take medication for it in addition to therapy. I’ve been off the meds for a little over a year now, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some skirmishes with those dark feelings since then.
Health exists on so many levels. There’s obviously physical health, but there are also emotional health and spiritual health to name two others. I think that health is something we need before we can begin to cultivate harmony and happiness, but I’ve heard of chronically ill people who could debate that assumption. All I can say is that when my health falters, it becomes increasingly difficult to focus on anything other than that. I’m very fortunate in that my health issues have been mild ones. I’m also very grateful for the gift of health!
Thanks for reading my ramblings on today’s letter h for harmony, happiness, and health. I wish you an abundance of all three!
We all greatly enjoyed Max’s birthday party – he chose bowling, after the candle-making plans fell through (only four children are allowed to participate in the workshop, and he had a group of five). Naturally, Nicky, Rowen and Arden were present in addition to Max and his friends, so we were a fairly large group. I was amazed by how much older Max’s friends seemed this year in comparison to last year. I was also really proud of Max for choosing such great friends – parents always hope to like their childrens’ friends, but all too often, that isn’t really the case. In closing, here are a few fun pictures that show what a good time was enjoyed by all.
Look at where Sara is with the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern! Oh my gosh, her needles must be hot to the touch!!
As for me, I haven’t forgotten how to stitch, it’s just been one of those periods where other things have been coming before it.
We’ve been away for a long weekend, enjoying the hospitality of Niek’s parents as they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at a vacation park in the western part of the country. My blog has been taking care of itself with posts that I wrote before we left. I’m so glad that you’ve been enjoying my look-through-the-letters so far, and I’ve really enjoyed your suggestions as to what other words would’ve been good choices. My favorite suggestion was Jim’s “uplifting” for the letter u.
If we had not been away, c would be for Carl, my maternal grandfather. I just loved my Gramps – he was such a beacon of strength and solidity in my youth. He hardly spoke at all, but being with him made me feel so peaceful and safe … There aren’t many pictures of me with him, but I do have this one that I can share.
But I have been away, and there is just so much to share with you – lots of catching-up to do! I’ll start with Sara’s progress with The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern. Sara tells me she’s done more since this picture, and will continue to share her progress as it’s possible to do so.
We had a really wonderful time with Niek’s family – I do love big family celebrations, and this one was not a disappointment! Niek’s parents arrangingd on-site housing for all their children (and the partners and children of said children!) with family dinners every night. There was also a big party for extended family on Saturday that included lots of cousins, aunts & uncles, and people I didn’t know – lots of fun! I didn’t take my camera to the party or the dinners, for fear of losing it (I am frightfully absent minded these days!) but I do have some fun pictures to share of an impromptu pancake party and of a covered-wagon horse ride we took through the countryside.
An important bit of catching up that I’ve forgotten too many times (and even now, I don’t have a photo!) is a thank you to Helen for the lovely clothes she sent Arden. Helen, Arden’s worn the shoes several times already, and if the sun ever comes out, he’ll love the warm-weather wear just as much! Thank you!!
Other catching up which must be done concerns some unbirthday presents – they’ve now all arrived at their homes, except Coral’s. I’m afraid I just don’t have any luck at all with the South African post. 
Here are the bookmarks I made for Kathryn, who is another bibliophile.
And Jennifer’s bookmark, which she assures me was absolutely to her tastes. Hooray!
And Mary’s Bent Creek cushion. Mary is a new-ish reader and blogger, and I had a harder time figuring out what to make for her.
Although Coral’s gift has not arrived, I’m going to show it anyway. I fear it may turn out to be like her birthday gift, and simply never get there.
I don’t have any recent catching-up stitching-related pictures to share with you because I didn’t get any stitching done this weekend - I had too much fun doing other stuff! Now I’m off to catch up on all the stitching you’ve been busy with! Thanks for coming to visit!!
Please excuse the lack of links in this post. WordPress has completely changed their layout for writing new posts and I’m absolutely lost at the moment ….
I’m tempted to tease and make you wait till the end of the post. What can I say – I do have a streak of wickedness that pops up now and again. But I’ll be good – after writing all the names down and cutting them on equally-sized pieces of paper, Rowen drew Sara’s name! Sara doesn’t have a blog, but I’ve asked her to send me WIP photos and to keep everyone notified here – or to start her own blog!
I finished stitching this little beauty while the comments poured in and the list lengthened. She was so fun to stitch, and I enjoyed being part of this chain of Sisters so much! I’ve finished her as a small pillow – the backside is a rough, dark gold silk. I still need to add the corded trim, but the kids have friends over today and it is a zoo here!
Waxing Moon Designs
My Needle and My Floss
stitched on 36 ct Silkweaver Porcelain using House of Embroidery and Dye Is Cast fibers
finished with ric-rak, silk and cording as a small pillow
In addition to stitching, some time was also spent goofing off and wasting time at the ‘puter. I did the quiz on Marita’s blog and came out as Piglet … I’m still mulling that one over. I’ve also added a couple of new-to-me blogs to my bloglines account, and I’ve finally made it into the realms of royalty:
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My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Reverend Countess Barbara the Extemporaneous of Heffton St Mallet Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
It’s been quite the weekend – I’m glad we didn’t have any obligations for out-of-the-house things. Personally, I’m ready for a nap, but it’s not in the cards.
I stayed up too late on Friday setting up the bookmark tutorial at the Focus on Finishing blog. I wanted it ready for people in other time zones. I had everything pretty much ready by Friday afternoon, but then I decided that I just had to create one more style – the magnetic one – and I’m glad I did, as that is the one that’s received the most comments. It was fun to do, as always, and I really applaud the efforts of Karen V. and Anne S. for getting this blog set up and of Anne for keeping it running. It is such a wonderful resource for finishing ideas and methods.
One of the bookmarks I made is actually – gasp! – staying in the family. I used Tanya’s freebie, Hedwig’s Four Patch, to create a cushion & tassle style bookmark for Max to use as we read our way through the complete series. He was surprised and pleased to find it there after school on Friday.
On Saturday, I started The Sisterhood of the Travelling pattern! Here’s the shot I took after stitching the first letter. For the colors, I chose those that give me a feeling of comfort - very warm earth tones. The fat skeins are from House of Embroidery and the skinny ones are my meagre leftovers from The Dye is Cast (now sadly defunct). The linen is a piece of 36 ct Porcelain from Silkweaver.
Anyone interested in the drawing for this pattern has from now until Tuesday 9 a.m. EST to leave a comment saying that he or she wants to be in the drawing. At 3 p.m. (my time) when the kids come home from school, I’ll have one of them draw a name and will announce it here. I will not post again till that time to ensure that all the names are in the same comments section.
Arden’s been in a bit of a growth spurt this weekend. He’s drinking down the milk as fast as he can get it into him, and I swear he’s noticeably heavier. At Thursday’s pediatric appointment, the doctor said he’s doing great – but the back of his head is kind of flat because he will only sleep flat on his back. She said if we haven’t had any luck getting him to try other positions, we’ll need to see a child physical therapist to ensure he doesn’t wind up with a weird-shaped head. Anyway, I’ve tried putting him in his stroller, tilted to one side (and then later, the other side) and that’s been working pretty well. However, another family member decided to try the stroller on for size, too, and was quite difficult to dislodge! LOL!
On the reading front, I’ve finished Stephen King’s surprising mystery novella, The Colorado Kid, and I enjoyed it enormously! It was such a change from his usual genre and it really brought back the feeling of those great black & white mysteries of the 50’s.
I hope your weekend has been lovely – full of happy happenings, laughter, sleep (!), and stitching. I’ll see you again on Tuesday. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you want to be considered for the drawing!!
It’s here!! I know I said I’d start it immediately, but I do have a bookmark to finish for this weekend’s Focus on Finishing tutorial … So how about ‘almost immediately’? In her accompanying note, Lizzy mentions her woes with international mailing (and boy, can I sympathize!) but this came through in super-fast time.
Lizzy spoiled and surprised me, too. She not only sent the pattern, but she also kitted up Mocking Bird by La-D-Da – silks and linen! And she sent me a skein of luscious silk and this beautiful needleminder with the explanation, ‘it reminded me of sisters and … I hope we can become stitching sisters of the heart’. Oh, Lizzy, I’d be delighted to call you sister!!
Lizzy saw the Mockingbird chart on my wishlist, but there’s a very sentimental reason it was there. Hush little baby is one of Nicky’s favorite bedtime songs – one he asks for over and over, and one which I’ve overheard him singing to himself. So not only do I love the design, but there’s an emotional aspect to it, too. Since Lizzy’s also the proud mama of some fantastic (grown) children, I thought she might like to know.
No home improvements were undertaken today (thank you for your kind words about the dining nook!). After the kids got out of school at noon, we drove over to a small city about half an hour from here to get passport photos made of Nicky and Arden. There are, of course, scores of passport photo places here, but the US government is very picky about that passport photo and I’ve actually been turned down from having a passport renewed because the photos I’d brought didn’t absolutely adhere to the regulations (which are different than the regs for European passports). So we had to drive to the nearest US-approved passport photo shop. You should see the pictures – it’s a good thing we all know how cute the boys are, because their passport pictures are so ugly they’re almost cute! After getting the pictures out of the way, we also had lunch there and wandered around the unfamiliar streets to enjoy the sunshine.
As for the continuing journey of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern, I will create a special post when I’m nearly done with the stitching so everyone who is interested can leave their name, and then I’ll have one of the kids choose a name out of a hat. I know several people have already emailed me about their interest … but my memory right now is so bad (I am so distracted!) that it’s better to have all the names in the same place at the same time. Sound reasonable?
