Keep Calm and Craft On...

 

I am currently elbow deep in Shrek. Working on the production team I have been selected to come up with costumes. My biggest challenge currently is making Dragon. The prototypes for the head were shot down however as they want them BIGGER! We formed them around milk containers and the jumbo sized dishing soap bottle. Our new form is going to be made of wire coat hangers, chicken wire and paper mache. Here is to crossing my fingers I can pull it off.

 

 

I did get the pattern from these at cRAfter chick however the link is not working at the moment. Hopefully it will be back up soon if you would like to make these for your little ogre at home.

I am also going to make some fingerless gloves for the big green man from this pattern. Lots to do!

 

This whole production will take up a good chunk of my time but I did sign up for a Waldorf Swap with a rainbow birthday theme so I will have those started soon too.

What are you crafting?

linking up with KCCO and Yarn along

Split Road

Photo by Beanie

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Robert Frost

Grateful

Some time to reflect on the last week and share some things that have made me grateful.
No time to be depressed when you are happy for what you have.








...a successful meeting for our summer play.




... Shrek's ear looking like a ogre and pattern found for FREE

...surviving the Blackhawk's rally downtown. The crowds were absolutely nuts.

...Koda having a first photographer "gig" tonight. Here is to hoping it doesn't rain them out.

...Ryguy has acquired the chicken pox so I am happy he is handling it fairly well and getting it out of the way while he is so little. He isn't too miserable but eating like a BEAST.

...homeschool planning has been going fairly well.

...a cup of chamomile tea from homegrown flowers. It is so much better than the store bought stuff.

... Mostly sunny weather anticipated for the Play in the Park day I am helping host.

...pumpkin plants growing huge.

...tiny flowers on my tomatoes.

... trying not to laugh while scolding your son for drinking straight from the water spikot in our home.

What things are you grateful for this week?

  

Gratefulness... A few weeks recap

Some time to reflect on the last few weeks ( since it has been that long) and share some things that have made me grateful.






... rain. As painful as it is for me, I don't have to carry around the watering can for my garden and it's soaking up all the goodness.

...a successful graduation party.

... a trip to Iowa with my husband to go see the National Motorcycle museum. Made for a happy husband.

... a hotel with a hot tub in the room. It was totally worth the extra money.

... a safe car ride.

... a friend finally getting her black belt.

... finding a homeopathic doctor willing to see me.

... kids enjoying 6 flags.

... Koda meeting her German buddy Anton.

... new haircuts for hubby and Marshall.

...seeing that our local strawberry patch is now open for picking.

photo is from last years picking

The Butterfly Upon The Sky

all photos by Koda

The Butterfly Upon The Sky 

The Butterfly upon the Sky,

That doesn't know its Name

And hasn't any tax to pay

And hasn't any Home

Is just as high as you and I,

And higher, I believe,

So soar away and never sigh

And that's the way to grieve - 

 by Emily Dickinson

KCCO: a birthday gift

 My littles have a birthday party coming up for a friend. This friend is the only one that does birthday parties so our kids are always excited. The family is a bit more mainstream than us so we are the oddballs that give handmade gifts. This is going to be a troll/ogre house when completed. I'm still unsure if I will stuff the roof to give it more shape or leave it flopping depending on time constraints. We will be painting a peg guy or 2 to go along with it.

Since we can't have only one project at once I am practicing me knit and purl stiches for washcloths with some cheapo rainbow cotton from Walmart.

 

What's on your hooks/needles today? 

Gratefulness: a goal to be pain free

This grateful day is a little bit different than most. A peek into "mom world".

 For years I've struggled with pain and fatigue. My joints pop and crack more than most people double or triple my age. In high school the running joke was I was going to need a hip replacement before age 25, getting close but not there yet. Even while dating my now husband would text me and it would be 3 hours until I responded simply because I laid down and slept at 5pm. Its frustrating and to be honest sucks many days as I can't be the mother and wife I need to be.

The final straw was a few months ago when I was so exhausted I ended up needing to sleep 16-17 hours a day in order to think straight and function. Laying so still to avoid the pain. I was frustrated, upset and depressed. I called my doctor and said " Something has got to give".

About 30 vials of blood and several physicals later all the doctors looked at me the same...

"There is nothing physically wrong with you".

What do you mean NOTHING is wrong with me? I finally got some good referrals and last week ended up in a neurologists office. Sitting next to my little Asian doctor my husband and I went through everything. He finally looked at me and said " Your blood work and all neuro tests are good. The dx that you have is Fibromyalgia and beginning stages of arthritis and carpel tunnel . Although you hate medications you have been dealing with this for over 6 years. It will be years before you are off medications and might be a good while until we can get it fully under control and manageable."

As bitter and straightforward as it was I appreciated his honesty. I appreciated knowing he will be there for the haul but it will take awhile. It kills me to have to give in and realize that right now my natural remedies aren't enough. It is a personal battle of mine, not that I view I am weak for taking medications, but that there is something so wrong with my body that I can't help myself. I feel as if my body has failed me and my family as I can't be who I need to be for them.

This grateful Sunday is me trying to be hopeful. Grateful that we might possibly have solutions to make everyday living possible for me again. Grateful we have medications available to try even though it will be a very hard battle as I react horribly to them.

Hopeful that I can do a 2 hour shopping trip without needing a 3 hour nap to recover.

Hopeful that I can take my kids to the zoo and enjoy walking and being with them.

Hopeful that I can spend a night awake past 8 pm to spend time with my husband after all my little have gone to bed.

So I ask, please pray for me. Pray that these meds will not kick my tail too bad. Pray I can look at this as an opportunity to be there for my family again. Pray that my husband remains patient during this hard time as it has taken a toll on him with me not being there.