Pick Up Sticks

Getting Organized

We live in a tiny house...really tiny house.  It is a Cape Cod that has 2 bedrooms on the first floor, a living room, bathroom, kitchen and a new addition - we call the sunroom.  The second floor has two bedrooms - a large master bedroom and a tiny additional bedroom we once used as a nursery and then as an office.

As our boys got older and moved out - well one is out and has his own house while one is at college - the use of the 4 bedrooms has changed.  Our oldest son's room became our youngest son's room.  The youngest's room became the guest room/office.  My husband expanded the closet in the small bedroom upstairs for himself while the rest of the room became a storage area by default.  I decided to switch closets with my husband and claim the whole small bedroom for myself. 

We started decluttering the room and switched out closets - which forced us to go through clothes and shoes.  We donated quite a bit to the local thrift shop.  Now the room will become my craft studio.  I am so excited...to have a space to get all my supplies organized in one place.  Right now things are stored through out the house.

I started by painting the tiny room a sunny yellow...just the perfect color...not too bright.  I LOVE it...the room glows...and since there is only one window...it needs all the brightness it can get.  I found a floral fabric that I also love...it is very modern and graphic looking...with large flowers in various shades of yellow and black and grey.  I plan on using it to create panels on the doors of the armoire - which right now have a wire mesh...and you can see all the bins of yarn in it.

This past weekend we had our new bed delivered - a king size to replace the full size we have had for years - and share with our dog - ugh.....  Now our upstairs is all torn apart - as we had to move furniture around to have the bed delivered.  The progress I was making on my craft room has been displaced with lots of items temporarily moved in there - that coupled with the need to drag out some bins of warmer clothes has made for more clutter - it never seems to end.

It is a work in progress...but is getting there....more to come.

Parent Weekend

Our youngest son is in his senior year of college.  He goes to a small college about 1.25 hours from home.  I am thrilled that he has found his niche at this college - and is very involved on campus - as well as works 2 part-time jobs on campus - a math tutor and TA in a lab.

Parent's weekend is scheduled for this weekend and like most college kids he wasn't sure if he wanted us to come up.  His freshman year he said no, sophomore year he said yes and we did lots of events on campus.  Last year he had to work at parent's weekend so we only went up and took him and some friends out to dinner.  This year he wasn't sure what he wanted to do but finally called and said he had a whole day planned and would we come up.  We jumped at the chance - especially since this is his senior year - and who knows where he will be in a year's time - so we will take all the time we can get with him.

His GF's mother is coming from NY and we are all going out for lunch, then some on campus activities and then his fraternity is hosting a BBQ for their parents - with the guys doing all the cooking.  Sounds like fun!

Busy

I seem to have quite a few posts about being busy.  Life never seems to slow down.

I did receive the promotion at work!  It was a long process as they had 52 applicants and I was luckily chosen for the position.  Now it is a matter of getting us fully staffed so I am not working 70 hour weeks. 

Amongst all this we went on vacation...planned long before all the hassles at work.  And it was greatly needed.  We camped in NH in the White Mountains and had a wonderful, relaxing time - just me and the hubby.  We biked and hiked a little - hit up several microbreweries and had wonderful fall-like weather.  Daytime temps were in the 70's and night time in the 40's.  I night the whole ride up on Traveling Woman - and ended up using it as soon as it came off the needles - unblocked and no ends woven in.  I had knit it in DK weight yarn and it was so warm and cozy to wear at night around the campfire.

This picture was of the creek 10 foot from our campsite...so peaceful! 

Then we headed to VT to stay with my aunt and uncle for a few days...they live just outside Burlington.  Again we had wonderful weather and had a great time.  We went to Stowe one day for the Taste of Stowe Festival - with great food and wonderful artisans.  I celebrated my new promotion with lots of purchases including some great pottery pieces.

We spent Friday evening on a dinner cruise on Lake Champlain.  They served a NE Lobster dinner - so good!  And then we headed out on the upper deck to watch the sunset over the Lake.

 This vacation was so relaxing...we had no set plans except for the number of days wew wanted to spend in each place.

I visited 2 lovely yarn shops - one in NH - Yarn Garden - and one on VT - Kaleidescope Yarns. Of course I bought something from each shop - I try to buy yans I can't get in my area. 

The highlight of the trip was taking the Cog Railroad to the top of Mt Washington in NH.  The views were spectacular!  Unfortunately our pictures do not do it justice.

 

Adventure Days

When our boys were younger we would have what we called adventure days.  Usually on a Sunday after church we would pack a cooler with drinks and a picnic lunch and head off in the van.  We would drive until the boys said stop...finding parks and hikes and creeks...all sorts of fun places that boys like.  They would pick a place for our picnic and we would end up back home tired and happy...lots of fun times and memories!  Little did the boys know that these adventures came from lack of funds at the time...lol...when all it cost was the cost of a few gallons of gas...back when it was cheap!

Yesterday we had a grown up adventure day!  Our youngest son is home for the summer and we decided to get in the truck and start driving...and while we had somewhat of an agenda in mind...we drove where the mood struck us.  Here is my cutie pie hubby...no pictures of me or Matt...we are camera shy!

 

Our first stop was Spring House Brewery - a local microbrew -  for a sample and a growler fill - yummy Goofy Foot Summer Wheat. 

Then we headed to Tudbink's Greenhouses.  We had fun wandering through the greenhouses and bought a boxful of annuals to fill on old 10 gallon crock.  I usually pick out annuals each summer for the crock but the guys were really interested in the plants yesterday so I let them pick out a whole boxful.  My favorite part - their sheep!

 

Then we headed out again...this time meandering along the country roads of Lancaster County...enjoying the old houses and all the gorgeous gardens...the fun part about having a GPS is that we had plugged in our next destination and despite all of our turns and detours...it always recalculated and got us to our destination.  We kept waiting for the calm voice to say "I TOLD you to turn left!"

Our next destination was Moondancer Winery...I know it sounds like an alcoholic trip but it really wasn't!  We had a quick tasting...and while the wines were good...it was so humid we didn't stay long...but we will be back as it was a gorgeous setting.

Next we drove along the Susquehanna River and crossed the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge and ended up in Wrightsville.  We stopped in at the John Wright Shop and Restaurant in the old foundry building...we had hoped to have an early dinner there overlooking the river but we were too early as the restaurant didn't open until 4 and we were early.  We did walk down to the river and enjoyed the views of the old bridge.

 We headed back to the Harrisburg area and ended up at Chili's for dinner.

Our grown-up adventure day was fun!  Reminded me of old time with our boys...good memories! 

Easter Goodies

Last night I came home to a rather large box on my front porch.  I knew I hadn't ordered anything so I hurried to find out what it was.  The return address belonged to my aunt.  We had talked on the phone the week before after she received my knitted memory gift.  She asked me about Easter and whether I made the traditional foods we usually had growing up for a Ukranian Easter.    I told her yes - mostly although I did not make Paska - a sweet egg rich Easter bread - or nut rolls.  She promised to look for an extra cookbook from her church - the church I grew up in.  It would have the recipes I wanted to make these traditional foods.

I thought maybe the box contained the cookbook - but it was larger and heavier than that.  I opened it up to find a beautiful loaf of Paska - the traditional round loaf with braids crossed over the top - a huge nut roll, and kielbasa - the good kind I can't find in my area.

picture from wikipedia
Ok...this isn't a picture of my Aunt's...I popped hers in the freezer until next weekend...but it looks similar to hers...although hers was more golden and perfectly round.  It is a wonderful bread filled with sweetness and eggs and raisins to break the long fast of lent.  

I love keeping up the traditions of my family.  It is funny because my husband is also Ukranian so we have the same holiday traditions.

Easter dinner at my grandparents was always wonderful - my grandparents were quiet unassuming people who loved family and tradition.  Easter dinner consisted of ham, kielbasa, beets ground with horseradish, paska, hrudka - which is a sweet bland cheese custard, butter that had been softened and shaped into a lamb, Pysanky eggs, poppyseed and nut rolls and so much more.  It was a tradition to place your Easter foods in a beautiful basket lined with embroidered linens and to take this to the church to be blessed. 

picture from learnpysanky.com  

Each food item was symbolic - for instance the paska or bread is symbolic of Christ Himself, He Who is our Bread of life. It is usually baked as a round loaf with a golden crust decorated with some symbol indicative of Christ, such as a braided cross. Sometimes a cross of dough is placed on top, and the entire loaf rimmed with a braided plait of dough giving it a crowned effect.  Sometimes the abbreviation XB is used (in Cyrillic writing - the initials for "Khrystos Voskrese!" - "Christ is Risen!").

On Easter morning after mass we would walk back to my grandparents. The meal would begin with a prayer and then my grandfather would cut one of the blessed eggs into portions - one for each person at the meal.  This ritual symbolized family unity and the hopes for a happy and prosperous year until next Easter. 

We have a speciall meal also for Christmas Eve and Christmas - again filled with Ukranian traditions.  What I love is that my children - my boys - love these traditions and have learned to make some of the traditional Ukranian foods - like pirogis and halupki (cabbage filled with meat and rice).  My grandparents didn't live long enough to see my children as adults and to see them carry on the traditions of our families - but I know they would be proud.

Matt's Nose

Matt-nose 001
Originally uploaded by hearts812

Here is a picture of Matt post-surgery. A lot of the swelling had gone down by this time...he was actually able to see out of his eyes by this time. The bruising extended all the way down to his jawline.

Last week he went to the doctor to get the drainage tubes, packing and splint removed. The doctor talked about how pleased he was with how the surgery went. Matt has broken his nose multiple times over the years...all due to soccer. The doctor described his nasal bones as rice-crispy-like...meaning the bones had been crushed and healed over so many times they looked like rice crsipy treats....yuck!

And despite quite a bit of residual swelling, his nose is so straight! His girlfriend commented that this was going to take some getting use to...she has never seen him with a straight nose! Once all the swelling goes down I'll post another picture and try to find a 'before' picture of the crookedness.

He headed back to school yesterday and the house is unbelievably quiet...too quiet. Sending him back to college never gets any easier...it was the same with our oldest...I never get use to it.

But he will be home in a few weeks for a long Easter weekend...maybe sooner...as he celebrates a 'big' birthday in 8 days!

Love you Matt! Miss you much!

Back to Normal

cabled neckwarmer
Originally uploaded by hearts812

Well today is back to reality...I head back to work...except for leaving a little early to take Matt to the doctor. He gets his splint, drainage tubes and packing out...he can't wait. He will spend the day with his girlfriend...who is here for a few days over Spring break.

I hate that weekends seem to go so fast. I spent Saturday morning working on my craft studio...trying to make everything fit in my tiny space...but it's getting there. I also took some pictures of finished knitting.

This is a cabled neckwarmer I made after the last big snow storm. It was so windy and my scarf kept blowing off so I decided to try some neckwarmers... one for me and one for my husband. We have been wearing them when we walk and they are toasty.

Here is a picture of mine...hubby's is the same except in a back tweedy yarn. I didn't use a pattern just cast on and figured how to make the cables work in the round.

Tired

We are all tired.  Yesterday was a much longer day than expected.  Surgery went fine but the recovery room was interesting.  Matt struggled to come out of anesthesia, his blood pressure was elevated, he kept getting strange splotches all over his upper body that came and went with a spiky heart rate. He developed a huge goose egg on his forehead late in the afternoon (it appeared like magic - one glance it wasn't there and then it was) and the bleeding was more intense then expected.  So we were 10 minutes from being admitted...something about being in recovery more than 4 hours after outpatient surgery..but in the end all was well and we were sent home with a follow up appointment early this morning. 

After the appointment this morning he is resting again...he was shaky after having to be dragged out of bed to go to the doctors.  But things are looking good...except his face which looks like he was beaten up.  I don't think he was prepared for the amount of swelling and bruising. He wants us to take a picture...too funny.

I was up with him every 90 minutes or so to change his dressing but that slowed down immensely this morning...so hopefully we will all sleep better tonight. Mom may take a nap later!

We are blessed that this isn't anything serious...just the need to fix the blockage from multiple nose breaks.  He's had nose surgery before but not to this extend.  But he will heal...and hopefully have a slightly straighter nose and better breathing.

Music

I have always loved music...all types of music.  But I have not one iota of musical talent in my body...not one.  My husband has a lovely singing voice and our youngest son inherited it from him.  But somewhere along the way sports took precedence and he gave up singing for soccer and basketball and golf.  Maybe it was because the egotistical choir director at our local high school made students chose between sports and choir...he only wanted kids who made choir their life in his groups.

So Matt gave up singing...which is sad...because he loved it.  Enter Jess...his college girlfriend...a music ed major.  She has brought music back into his life.  Because of her deep involvement in all things musical Matt has a renewed interest in it.  He was home a few weekends ago and proceeded to tell us that he was taking voice lessons at school...free voice lessons.  Music students taking vocalization have to do some type of teaching...beyond their student teaching...and a friend was looking for someone who wanted voice lessons and Matt signed up.  He is loving it and having so much fun. This from my sports minded, computer/math/science geek.......well he really isn't a geek...

So at then end of the semester he will have to sing in front of the music ed kids as part of his friend's lesson...that part he is a little nervous about.

His girlfriend also has him attending lots of different musical events at his school...we love to see him take advantage of all his small university has to offer.

Jess - his girlfriend - had a recital last night - as part of her curriculum.  She is a flautist - I believe that is the technical term for a flute player.  She and another girl performed for about 1 1/2 hours - the other student was a soprano.  They performed together as well as separate pieces.  It was fabulous!  Jess did a wonderful job and despite being nervous at the beginning you could see her confidence grow as the night went on and she just glowed as she performed. 

This also gave us the opportunity to meet her family.  We had met her mother already but yesterday met her father and brother.  We all went out for dinner together after wards and had a lovely evening with lots of laughs.  It seemed liked we had know each other for years.  We mutually agreed that we loved each other's children and that they were very sweet together - bringing out the best in each other.

I know for a fact that Jess brings out the best in Matt - especially the music.

***not the best picture...stolen from Matt's facebook page. 

In Memory

Usually I knit quite a few gifts for Christmas.  This year I made a decision to concentrate on only 3 gifts - and I had some disappointed people - my niece for one.  I asked her on New Year's if she noticed there were no handknits...and she stated "But of course...."

My decision was so I could make gifts in memory of my grandmother who passed away this summer after years in a nursing home with Alzheimer's.  She was the person who taught me to knit as a child and because of this I feel like I have her with me everyday...as I knit every day.  Unfortunately she did not really know this as I only took up knitting again in the past 6 years or so.  For the past 8 years she did not know any of us...lost in her world of Alzheimer's.

I decided to knit my dad and his two sisters gifts in her memory...of their mother.  My aunts were easy as I decided to make scarves - an Irish Hiking scarf for one and a Feather and Fan for another...both in lovely blue wools...the color of my grandmother's eyes.  My dad was harder...he lives in the south and doesn't really have the need for too many handknits.  My mom talked me into a vest...one he could wear golfing on cooler days.  I found a yarn that is a wool blend that was lovely to knit with. 

We celebrated Christmas early with my parents and when he opened up his gift and read the note I enclosed - about it being in memory of his mother - he got up and ran from the room.  I knew he was teary eyed...but he surprised me by coming back into the room proudly wearing the new vest...with a huge smile on his face.  He loved it!  And it fit perfectly!

I haven't sent off the scarves yet...I just haven't made it to the post office when it was open...but hopefully my aunts will be pleased with their presents as well.