Sunday, May 17, 2020

Moving My Cheese

I've recently read a book recommended by a dear friend. It was short, sweet, and definitely a good read. I will not say it was life changing, but I will say it was life affirming and life confirming, as it was another layer of confirmation that I am headed in the right direction. The book is called Who Moved My Cheese? and I highly recommend it. In short it is a parable about dealing with changes in your life, whether it be work, education, or personal. The ideas could be applied to anything. I will not spoil any part of the book, but it is a quick read (I read it in a day). It is a book I know I will read again.

It was quite timely, as my life has been full of changes in the past year or so. Changes in jobs, relationships, children, locations. Changes in how and why I craft. This book helped me to see I was already on the right path, and was already making good choices. My perspective on dealing with change and how I view it was what was affected the most. It made me stop and consider how I view change, whether it is good, bad, ugly, planned, or unexpected. 

I am and have always been a big picture kind of person, having the practice and ability to put my current situation into a bigger picture and gaining a perspective in context of other things that are occurring. A bigger picture has always helped me see that things in my life are nearly always temporary and things that happen are nearly always things that are transitory and can be overcome or lived through. Who Moved My Cheese? helped me see that yes, things are temporary, but that changes will always come and my attitude in how I deal with any change can help me grow or it can help me wither and stagnate. 

Some big changes that were quite challenging and hard and I haven't like to talk about include the total disintegration of my marriage and the loss of my home. More changes in recent years came in the form of transitioning from a well-educated happy stay-at-home mom to a well-educated struggling working mom. I was fortunate to find decent work, but the process was a challenge. All is good and will continue to be so. My family is good and we have a lot to be thankful for. In the process of all that change, my crafting life went into a hibernation of sorts, a kind of unplanned sabbatical. A necessary trimming of everything that was not necessary to bring calm and stability to my family occurred. 

Now, just now, in 2020 (and don't they say hindsight is 20/20?), I am finding a measure of calm that comes with new dreams and new directions. In the middle of this pandemic. In the middle of this quarantine. In the middle of all these life altering historical events. All things cancelled. Travel restrictions in my state, country, and globally. Mask wearing in public places. Most shopping places either closed, or highly altered. Everyone is zooming and facetiming and staying connected in the most innovative ways.....but all this is a rabbit trail. 

In the fall I will start yet another new journey, as I will begin another level in my education as a graduate student finally. I consider this an investment in myself, and no one can comprehend my level of excitement. 

I hope above all things that my children know they are loved and that I would do anything to be the best example to them. I hope to show them strength and vulnerability. I hope they see determination and contentment in me, and also the ability to adapt and change as needed. I hope they learn love and grace in dealing with each other and the world. 

Music and crafting and good friends and family have been paramount to my healing and growing process. Music and crochet are still my main escapes and coping mechanisms, and I am totally fine with that. One change since last year is that I have added music to my crafting adventures, odd as that sounds. It is often imperfect and spontaneous, but it is real and it is me. 

So much of my current life feels like coming out of a fog and finding all sorts of things that I have somehow missed along the way. These are not regrets or disappointments. They are small joys. New music. New books. New friends. All joys. I do not live a lifestyle of regret or think back to the past and wish things had been or could have been different. I am glad of all that has happened so far, good and bad, the joys and the heartbreaks. All good. All me. 

Don't laugh, but here is a song that is fairly new to me, but I love it. 




Carnival
Well, I've walked these streets
A virtual stage, it seemed to me
Makeup on their faces
Actors took their places next to me
Well, I've walked these streets
In a carnival, of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers
They crowded around me
Have I been blind have I been lost
Inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized, mesmerized by what my eyes have seen?
Well, I've walked these streets
In a spectacle of wealth and poverty
In the diamond markets the scarlet welcome carpet
That they just rolled out for me
And I've walked these streets
In the madhouse asylum they can be
Where a wild-eyed misfit prophet
On a traffic island stopped and he raved of saving me
Have I been blind, have I been lost
Inside myself and my own mind
Hypnotized, mesmerized
Source: LyricFind

I will close with this, me singing to you. And I do ask myself:
Have I been blind?
Have I been lost?
Inside myself and my own mind?
Hypnotized, mesmerized
By what my eyes have seen
Have I been wrong?
Have I been wise?
To shut my eyes and play along?

Have I been wrong? (lots of times)
Have I been wise? (not always)
Have I been strong (yes)
These are songs from my KittenYarn page on facebook,  You can get to my main KittenYarn facebook page here. 

sending you blessings and peace and much love







Saturday, July 27, 2019

Just No



I am just thinking about lots of things these days. I am thinking about how naive and trusting I've always been. How I tend to believe people when they talk to me and choose to see the best in people.

  I tend to get my heart broken and crushed and find out too late that people don't always mean what they say. It has always been a shock to me.


And yet....

I have come to a conclusion, one among many. I will not regret being gentle. I will not regret being kind. I will not regret trusting and believing and will continue to do so. I will always choose to forgive and overlook things, and I will always choose to see the best in people.

And I will not regret it. It is who I am. I may give my whole heart and have people still hurt me and walk away, but that is their choice. I can still care. I can still love. And I will.

I will still sing. I will still be thankful. I will still be glad when people are happy and doing well, and I will be sad when things are not going well. You cannot stop me from caring and loving.

You cannot stop me. Just no.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Songs in My Head- Tom Waits- Please Call Me, Baby


Tom Waits- Please Call Me, Baby
The evening fell just like a star
Left a trail behind
You spit as you slammed out the door
If this is love we're crazy
As we fight like cats and dogs
But I just know there's got to be more

So please call me, baby
Wherever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
I don't want you catching your death of cold
Out walking in the rain

I admit that I ain't no angel
I admit that I ain't no saint
I'm selfish and I'm cruel but you're blind
If I exorcise my devils
Well my angels may leave too
When they leave they're so hard to find

Please call me, baby
Wherever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
I don't want you catching your death of cold
Out walking in the rain

We're always at each others throats
You know, it drives me up the wall
Most of the time I'm just blowing off steam
And I wish to God you'd leave me
Baby, I wish to God you'd stay
Life's so different than it is in your dreams

Please call me, baby
Wherever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
I don't want you catching your death of cold
Out walking in the rain


Saturday, June 15, 2019

Long Time, No See

Hey, guys!! It's past time for an update. I'm just going to post some pics for now and one of my current favorite songs. This one is by a friend who used to be in orchestra with me, way back. I think it's pretty cool what he's doing with music now. Check it out. That's my friend Jonas Scott Cowan, and that is his song Testify.

 Other news. My baby girl graduated from high school. I'm so proud of her.

I started practicing again. Good news.
Still crocheting. Still have several cat supervisors. That's about it for now. More craft pics and updates later.
Much love and peace to you all.

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

2017 Pics

just a few pics from 2017, including some custom orders and some from the farmers market
















Friday, January 08, 2016

Songs in My Head--Style and True Colors

Woke up with 2 songs running through my head simultaneously....never had that happen before. Style and True Colors....maybe I've been listening to too much Anthem Lights with my daughters? They are really good at putting several songs together and making one song out of it. Too sleepy to remember what that's called haha

Got up to look up the songs and got sidetracked pretty bad.....ended up here watching this super cool Tiger Cake recipe. Love it! Guessing I'll be attempting this sometime this year.

on to the songs...Here's the first one

Midnight,
You come and pick me up, no headlights
A long drive,
Could end in burning flames or paradise
Fade into view, oh, it's been a while since I have even heard from you (heard from you)
I should just tell you to leave 'cause I
Know exactly where it leads but I
Watch us go 'round and 'round each time
You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt
And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style.
So it goes
He can't keep his wild eyes on the road
Takes me home
Lights are off, he's taking off his coat, hmm, yeah.
I say, "I heard, oh, that you've been out and about with some other girl, some other girl."
He says, "What you've heard is true but I
Can't stop thinking about you, " and I...
I said, "I've been there, too, a few times."
'Cause you got that James Dean daydream look in your eye
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt
And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt (tight little skirt)
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
Take me home
Just take me home, yeah.
Just take me home
(out of style)
You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style

I even like the video for this song.

The other song, True Colors, is one I've posted before. It probably popped in my head because I was listening to songs I posted on my blog last night....here it is again.



Saturday, November 07, 2015

Fun Projects




Here are a couple of fun projects I've been working on. First is a baby blanket and dress set. The second is a set of cat and bear cotton bath mitts.







Friday, October 30, 2015

Buckle Up and Enjoy the Ride

A Valentine Bear for my daughter wearing a sweater I made for it. 
Bear buckles up for safety when he goes on trips.

We're cheering for the marching band at all their competitions.

So proud of all the band's hard work.


The band is on their way to the state marching band competition. This is my oldest daughter holding the sax. She loves band! (she takes after me) Good luck, Tiger Band!!



This is a blanket I made years ago for my husband's Nana. After she passed away, it came back to our house with us. It is very warm and snuggly. Here one of my daughters snuggles with her green bunny and our grey kitty. Being 11 is hard work.


A whole bunch of handmade dishcloths, ready for a craft fair in my hometown.
This is the result of a whole lot of hours of work, and just a small amount of the items I took to sell. It went pretty well. My favorite part of that weekend was seeing and hugging friends and spending the weekend with my mom and dad. I got to watch movies with mom and have some good talks with my dad. Good times



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

The Songs in My Head-- Count on Me, Bruno Mars

Woke up with this song running through my head :). Count on Me, by Bruno Mars



[Verse 1:]
Oh uh-huh
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you

We find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

[Verse 2:]
If you're tossin' and you're turnin'
And you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you

Oooh
We find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You know...

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

Friday, September 25, 2015

Getting Ready for Fall Craft Shows

 Lots of things I've been working on lately :)


















I'll be selling again this year at the Christmas in Marion Arts & Crafts Show in Marion, KY on Saturday October 17, from 9-4