Breakfast Was Good

I love avocados! I can eat them with anything. This however, was my first time eating them with breakfast but it won't be last! 

I wonder if the boys or my grand kids, or heck even great grand kids will read my blog and wonder why the heck I posted my breakfast. They will probably think I was crazy, but at least they will know I loved avocados. And on this date in history, what I had for breakfast. 

I would like to see a meal my Mom prepared, what she ate on a certain day. her thoughts, dreams, fears. Everyday little things. Maybe generations from now, my kids, kids, kids will want to see some of my life too. And through this blog, they will get a glimpse. 

So for those great, great, grand kids.....breakfast was good today! And if you happen to love avocados, this is where you got it from! 

Doll - Done!

And...done!

In the start of this new year, I set a goal for myself. Not a resolution because Lord knows I can't seem to keep resolutions. But quietly, to myself, I said I wanted to make at least one doll a month. With this doll, I am ahead of schedule! 2 dolls finished and it's not even February! Woohoo!

I have several dolls floating around in my head and I'm excited to get started. I've had requests for dolls since posting these 2, and have several dolls needed for Christmas, (yes, I'm taking Christmas orders already) and would like to get a few dolls listed in my Etsy shop.

This truly is going to be the year of Dolls!

Make Cake

I decided to make myself a late birthday cake. Carrot cake. I'm really not a cake person, but if I do have cake, my favorite right now is carrot cake. I've gone on a Pinterest spree of pinning cake recipes, so I could find a new favorite. I'm thinking a chocolate/peanut butter cake would be good. Only problem, Fonzy and the boys do not like chocolate or peanut butter cake! So I'd have a whole cake to eat. Not good!

Currently On the Needles

Almost done with another doll!

I had to redo her body and legs. I used off white for the dress and white for her undies and socks and didn't like how it looked. So redoing them. a small setback, but I should have her done by Friday! I loved the buttons I found for her dress and shoes. They are made from coconut! I can't wait to see how she will look when done. All the dolls I make have such different personalities.

Check out Valentina - the Valentine doll I made.

Joining in Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams.

Sunshiny Day

The sun is back! And it feels so good!

Today Instagram was filled with snow pictures from the blizzard in NYC and surrounding areas. It's all so pretty. I miss the snow sometimes. Growing up in Dunkirk, NY I hated it, never thought I would miss it. Trudging through the snow everyday to school was no fun....then. But now that it's in the past, nostalgia sets in and I long for it. I'm hoping before the winter is over we get at least one snow day. Please.....

Valentina - A Valentines Doll

Meet Valentina!

I normally don't do themed dolls, but Valentina was begging to be created. I was working on another doll, when I got the urge to knit a Valentines doll. I saw red, pink white and hearts. And I just couldn't finish the other doll until I created her. She was so much fun to make!

As you can see, she went through a little hair color change. Customer wanted golden hair to match her own. I think she's cute either way. And even though it's the same doll, her personality changed with the new hair color. Do you see it? Maybe it's just me since I created her, but I'm thinking she is saying blondes have more fun! Even though I don't believe that to be true, I still think she's saying it.

My favorite on Valentina is her little red shoes. I see more stripey socks and colored shoes in my future doll making.

Monday Blues....uh......Greys

Today was grey, dreary Monday. I guess grey and dreary are perfect words to go along with a Monday. Monday's are my least favorite day. But you know what made this Monday a tab bit better?

Steak Fajitas!

This was the steak I was raving about yesterday. The leftovers were perfect for fajitas. And the fajitas were pretty awesome also! I really should have paid better attention to the cut of steak I got and what exactly I marinated it in. If I'm not following a recipe, I'm more of sprinkle ALL the seasoning until it looks and smells just right. I used soy and Worcestershire sauce in the marinate, but as for spices, a little of this, a little of that. I have a cabinet full of spices and I like to use them all. My steak will probably never taste this good again. I feel like Donna Summer.

Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again.

Yep - I'm singing this song right now in my head! And I'll never have that recipe again! Again.........

Weekending

The weekend is dwindling away......it goes by so fast!

Karen (sister) came over after church for dinner. I decided to throw some steaks on the grill since it was in the mid 50's today. I love steak, but for some reason, I can't seem to get it just the way I like it. I like it med rare, juicy and seasoned just right. Maybe it's the cut of steak I buy, but I've tried all different cuts and the result is always the same. A steak that's so so.

Today was different!

I can't remember the cut of steak I bought, but I let it marinate for a few hours, threw it on the grill and it was sooo good! I made baked sweet potatoes, HUGE sweet potatoes, and they were delish. I normally don't eat sweet potatoes, but these were so good I plan on making more!

While the sweet potatoes were baking, Karen and I took Titus walking around the neighborhood, searching for houses for sale. Karen wants to sell her townhome and buy a house near us! I pray the right house comes along and in her price range. It would be awesome to have my little sister living right around the corner. Or at least just 5 minutes away. We talked of all the meals we'd share, the exercising we would do together (we are! for real!) the gas we would save carpooling to work together. We have it all planned out. Now we just need her townhome to sell and the perfect house to become available. I'm claiming it now. It's going to happen!

Today was a good day. And the only picture I have to share of the day? The one above of brookies (brownie/cookies) we made. No picture of the perfect steak. No picture of the HUGE sweet potatoes. No pictures of our walk around the hood. Man....I was slacking today in the picture department!

Saturdays

I love Saturdays.

There's normally no schedule, no rushing to do anything, a whole day to just be. Saturdays are also the day I always cook breakfast. The smell of fresh coffee, and bacon sizzling in the oven are a given most Saturdays. The menu switches up with pancakes, waffles, burritos, whatever Fonzy and the boys want, but coffee and bacon are a must! And of course no Saturday is complete without knitting. No day is complete without knitting. The little green dress is almost complete! Need to find the perfect button!

Rainy Friday

Today was a rainy, dreary day. The kind of day you don't want to leave the house. Plenty of coffee this morning to keep warm. Had lunch plans with a friend I haven't seen in a while, but unfortunately, we had to cancel due to work obligations. I was bummed, because I was so looking forward to the chicken and waffles I planned on having, but will have to wait until next Friday.

Even though lunch was canceled I had to run out for a few errands, but rushed back home to put on colorful socks and leggings. These seem to be my go to outfit lately. There's nothing better on a rainy day than soft, thick colorful socks and a puppy to keep you company.

I'm working on another doll, hoping to have her done by early next week. I think this is going to be my year of dolls. Of course I plan on knitting other things, but dolls are whispering to be made and I must answer.

44

44

God has blessed me to be on this earth for 44 years. Not everyone get's this chance. I know this all too well, but I'm still here and that means my work on earth is not done.

Some thoughts I'm having today:

~ I am blessed with the life I have. So many people long for what I already have. A husband who loves me, and 4 beautiful boys. Even though my oldest Samuel left this earth at 19, I still had him for those precious years, and I'm thankful.

~ I have a beautiful home. It's not a mansion, but it's MY home, filled with people I love, and a dog :) and more than I could ever ask for.

~ I had a great childhood, filled with people who loved me, and so many great memories, I often take trips down memory lane just to visit.

~ I've finally come to a point that I am happy with who I am. It's taken many years, but I'm comfortable in my skin. So many years I wanted to look like someone else, be someone else, prettier, skinnier, just not me. No longer do I wish that. I'm happy to be me, in all my imperfectness!

~ I'm a country girl at heart! I would much rather be in the country, sitting on a porch swing, sipping coffee, enjoying the simple things in life.

~ I've had more happy in my life than sad. Yes, I've had heartache, one of my worst nightmares come true, but through it all, God never left my side and neither did the people who love me. I've always had someone to lean on, to cry on, to scream, to just listen and be there. 

~  I love being a knitter and sharing my craft. I wish for this year to make many more dolls and have people love them, cherish them, pass them on through generations and remember me fondly when they hug and cuddle with them. They all have a little piece of me in the stitches.

I don't know how many more years I will be on this earth. I pray I have many more to spend with the ones I love, but if God decides to take me, even today, I've been loved, have loved, and I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Your Story Matters

I've often wondered what people will say of me once I'm gone. What memories they will hold on to. Do you ever wonder that?

We are on this earth for such a short time. Whether we get  1 yr. or 100, in the scheme of things, its just a dot of time.

Will my boys remember my laugh? Will they remember me knitting? What will they hold dear? What pictures will they cherish?  I think about Manuel, far from me in Texas. What will his memories be? Will it be our disagreements? Our arguments? Will he remember I love him, even though we do fight? Is there something I can do now to change what he remembers?

If I go before Fonzy, what will he miss most about me? Will he see a tree in Fall, with the vibrant oranges, reds and yellows, and remember how much I love Fall. Sunsets, and clouds. Will he miss putting his hand under me while we sleep? The love we make, the fights we have, the life we live?

I think about this often. Maybe it's because I find myself forgetting....forgetting things about my Mom....forgetting things about Samuel. I want to hold onto those memories so tightly, but no matter how tight I hold on, they slip through my clenched hands...and I hate it.

Their stories mattered. My story matters. Our stories matter. And I don't want to forget them.

Holiday Over

Man, the Monday after holiday break is rough! It was hard for all of us to roll out of bed this morning. Plenty of coffee was consumed!

My drive into work takes me past horses in a field. The horses were one of the reasons we picked the subdivision in which we live. I love riding past them everyday. Such beautiful creatures. This morning, the moon, full, and yellow hung low as the horses grazed in the field. I wanted so much to pull over and take a picture, but I didn't have my big camera, and my iPhone just wouldn't have done the scene justice. I thought about turning around, but by the time I went back home, the scene wouldn't have been the same. I wish I could have pulled over and just sat there, enjoying the view, but I was already running late for work,

Titus missed us today. He was so excited when I got home, and hasn't left my side since.

Caught the sunset tonight. I love the silhouette of bare branches against the sunset. The day is winding down, and I think it's early to bed for us. Monday - you really weren't too bad.

Did She Like Carrots

Chopping carrots for our Sunday pot roast, my mind wandered to the news that Stuart Scott, a longtime ESPN Sportscaster, had passed away from cancer at the age of 49. Too young to die. Whenever I hear of someone passing away from cancer, and at such a young age, my mind goes to my Mom. She was 31 when she lost her battle to cancer, I was 15. I have more memories of her being sick, than well. My heart goes out to Stuart's daughters and his family. I pray they remember all the good times, and not so much the sick.

I don't remember Mommy ever cooking carrots. I wonder if she liked them.

Cancer sucks ya'll.

Rainy

Today has been a rainy day. It's rained a lot this break. I normally don't mind the rain, but longing for a little sunshine. The dark days make me so lazy. I'm ALMOST ready to go back to work.To have some structure to our days.

Chicken potpie is baking as I type this, surrounded by cookbooks. So many recipes, and I make one of my usual. I couldn't decide what I wanted to cook, so went to what I know. Comfort food on a rainy day.

Knitting a doll. It's sitting in the knitting basket, calling my name. Guess I will go answer.

Some

This Christmas break is about done! Just the weekend left and it's back to life - school and work. When the break started, I had all these plans. Oh....all the things I was going to cook, bake and knit. I did accomplish some of it, but I wanted to do more. Always more.

I sip my coffee and think I could have done so much more if I had gotten up earlier, watched less TV, not lounged so much. But you know what....I accomplished some. And right now, some is ok.

Savor

2015

A brand spankin' New Year! Full of promise!

Packed away the Christmas decorations, along with 2014. and thought about what I want in 2015.

Savor

noun

1.

the quality in a substance that affects the sense of taste or of smell.

2.

a particular taste or smell.

3.

distinctive quality or property.

4.

power to excite or interest.

verb (used with object)

5.

to give a savor to; season; flavor.

6.

to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish:

to savor the garden's odors.

7.

to give oneself to the enjoyment of:

to savor the best in life.

7 is my favorite. Yep, that's what I want. I want to savor this life. All the little everyday moments, the people I share it with. The food I cook. The things I knit. Everything!

Savor