The Inevitable Need for Groceries...

may trump The Unbearable Lightness of Being. For the moment.

I'd no idea, until yesterday, that's it been nearly 8 weeks since I've blogged...so that faint sense of relief you've been experiencing? The reprieve you've had from quirky music and senseless ramblings? That beautiful silence? Over. Again, for the moment...

I've actually spent the last weeks deciding what I might want to do with my life. Like a job or something. This is what I came up with....

• a hospice chaplain
• a hospice nurse
• a nail tech., specifically for hospice patients, nursing homes, etc.
• a teacher

So the chaplain thing...I suppose if no one I know, personally, ends up in hospice I might be able to pull that off (after all, I did work as a medical assistant one summer while pursuing a degree in acting....). A hospice nurse? IVs and 16 hour shifts wouldn't really "work", I'm afraid. ( I HATE all that is intravenous with near phobic intensity...IVs...blood draws. Anything vein-ish. I get grey...sweaty....sometimes I sing...). I did discover that if you drink a LOT of water right before-hand, the blood spurts out a bit quicker (yick-yick-yick!!!!). But then of course, you still have all the sweaty-groaning-grey-singing with an incredible urge to pee...

Needle Lady: Miss Wommack, are you okay?

Meg: (moaning and humming, head lolling on her sweaty neck....) Oh, fine....la-la-la...really fine...are you done yet?

Needle Lady: Almost. (we both know she's a liar. a freaking bad liar, at that.)

Meg: (between singing snatches of Hank William's "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive")....(croak)...weather...two girls...(watery gasp)...are you almost done?

Why do they ask you questions during a time like this?! Yeah Needle Lady...I want to recount all that is dear and wonderful and beautiful about my life. Because, that's really the sort of thing I like to do before I moan, sweat, turn grey, pee my pants, pass out, and eventually die-die-DIE! We both know this is going to kill me. Why is it going to kill me? Have you seen that movie about the kids-who-don't-get-on-the-plane-that-blows-up and then the rest of the movie they're-all-dying-and-stuff because they've cheated-a-horrible-death? HAVE YOU?! No, I thought not...because, if you had read any of my charts, then you, Miss Needle Lady--or whatever you call yourself nowadays!--if you had read, then you would know, the clock is TICKING. TICKING!!! Ticking for me, personally--and this could darn well be the last TOCK, that's just my freaking luck. My destiny, if you will...

She passed away while getting a blood-draw...yes...very rare....the Needle Lady used a needle that was way too long and it stuck right through Meg's arm and into the electrical socket on the far wall...the Needle Lady was wearing Crocs, of course, so she was not shocked....but Meg in her flowered clogs. Well. No, no...it's okay to say it. She never did wear sensible shoes...the most terrible part--that haunts me to this day--is that the tourniquet inexplicably popped off her arm and blinded her. She died, blind and electrocuted...and you know, her veins did blow up, there at the last--just after they'd been sucked up through the needle and squished back the wrong way. She'd always said that would happen, and I never did give that notion of her's much credence... Ah, poor mite. Would that I had known...

(casual laughter) No, no, no...I don't really think all that. (she said, abashed and slightly emberassed at her deepest fears being displayed for all to see...).* ** (some college)

I watched a nail tech. appointment. It was mind-numbing, and apparently you have to be nice allllll day long. In person. Face to face. Creepy chemicals. There's hand contact. And I can't maintain, nor do I desire to maintain, "pretty" nails for any amount of time--in fact, I do believe it's been a solid sixteen+ years since my unfortunate first--and last--attempt at "nails". And I just don't think that would make a very good impression on my potential victims? It smacks of un-trustworthiness. Like if I owned a restaurant and never ate there? Or a swimming instructor who can't [swim]. Then too, I kind of avoid make-up that's colored. (Yes, I know how that sounds...). You see an appropriate, subtle, shade of eyeshadow. I see a Crayola Box of 64--can't help it.

And the teaching thing...again, with the nice-ness. Ah, well... The only idea I've had which I've actually considered is a Master Gardener certification. Which is all volunteer work, which sort of defeats the purpose of the whole job quest.... Although, I must say, it would be completely expected for me to spend a lot of time doing something that adds no income whatsoever to my household (oh baby, don't say that!).

So a week or so ago? I decided to just go ahead and be an artist. Which leads to all sorts of questions...what to make, etc., blah-blah-blah.... Does a girl just ignore the economy and proceed? In truth, I really do miss dollies...but the dollie-dreams in my noggin have grown wicked time-consuming and complex. The figurative is at that place--I know you know what I mean--where you grow, learn, get better, or scrap it altogether out of respect for the medium. If I'm "stuck" because I don't want to grow, that's one thing...but if it's simply because no one has money to buy art, that's not a good enough reason. In my book. (Book of Meg, Chapter 2)

I actually polled the living room last night--and I so wish I could remember what Chloe had to say about "what mom should make"! It was her wonderfully "usual" follow your heart speech. But hilarious, too. Ah, that girl... She wants me to make "felt mascots" from the Japanese craft book she got for her birthday. (I suspect her advice is not completely altruistic.)

So. I'm as excited as you are to see what the heck I come up with....and just for kicks, there's a poll. Because I've never had one on my blog...unless it's not there. Because every time I threaten a poll, I can't get it to "show up".

What I am sure of, what I am certain I have learned--the artist's non-creating cycle can be just as vital as the art itself. Though that sounds a bit nonsensical and psycho-babbley, it's true... I know I gather everything--every moment, every image, every face, every song or poem or book...even a word--artists of any sort gather all of these trinkets of inspiration, every day, and store them away. Sometimes I feel I'm a peddler doll--but nothing's for sale, aside from the results of my dream-hoarding. (okay...I'm certain I've lost Sherry at this point...."Nutmeg...it's wonderful...but how do you come up with this stuff?!..." And that's a comment pertaining to my work, and the drugs. Or lack thereof-- not Sherry.)

I'm seeing girls in masks with little wool caps...flowing hair...small hands that are still large enough to hold fast to what's important--elaborate costumes, aged and worn...unexpected patterns and forgotten colors...they might have pet ravens or cats or little poppets of their own? I think all of them are on some sort of journey...and they may "meet", intersect, as travelers will do.... There will be that tentative moment of inspection, the hopes of a million little-girl's-journey-hearts will hang in the balance of an unsettling universe; a world that is cold, palest grey, and fraught with existential angst...and then the cats will eat the birds? Stay tuned, if only for the blood-shed.

blessings,

meg

(the dream-hoarder)

*Joe might beg to differ a bit with this particular disclaimer...after plasmapheresis, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy, two delieveries (ah, that was easy!--I got a prize at the end!)...one nasty cat bite, and--though I did not require medical attention--an incident involving a discarded croc which bounced the bathroom door into my head...it smacked my noggin so hard that there was a noise (so take your sensible shoes and sell stupid elsewhere). Well, after all that--he might have his own opinions. But he's not the most verbose fella (yes, that quality was attractive to me, for various reasons.)

**The Needle Lady will definately disagree with this passage--like I'm scared. Are you going to listen to the girl in the really cool shoes or The Lady With All of Those Needles in the Garfield scrubs? Yeah. That's what I thought. Oh, snap.

P.S....It occurs to me that some of my frequent-flier doctor's offices' actually read this blog. No...it's not you, I promise. The scrubs are a coincidence...an unfortunate, regrettable, coincidence...

twilight

Okay...I admit it. I'm a book-snob. (But I am NOT an art snob!!)...and, to be quite frank, I've been known to watch all manner of drivel on the glass teat* while I'm working. We were in Barnes Noble to get loot with our Christmas money and gift cards and I saw Twilight (which is everywhere!)--I had the book in hand and listened to some young women in front of me talking about it. It's teen fiction. I put the book back. (snob!)

But then, more and more, I began to hear of reasonable, smart, interesting, people reading and talking about The Twilight Saga. And though the name in itself may imply something along the lines of Flowers in the Attic, I assure you, gentle reader...it is not something along those lines!! In a word, Stephanie Meyers is a brilliant writer. Of course, I enjoyed her stay-at-home-mom how-did-you-ever-do-something-like-this!? story on her site--that's always "nice to hear" when stay-at-home mamas prove their talents and skills....but. Ms. Meyers is a brilliant author!

*****************************************

I noted--and if you read it perhaps you'll note as well?--that Bella (main character) is never completely "described" to the reader. Sort of. She can turn in to whatever the reader wants, or so it seemed to me. Which was a bit of a struggle for me...I'm really well past the teen-age years!...and i couldn't imagine my daughter falling in love with a vampire! (She's 7. And, well, I should hope she'll meet a nice boy without fangs...). It seemed a transient characterization--Bella can be "any girl" who's reading the book. Which is a darn good thing for teen fiction! (and certainly didn't "lessen" my experience...)

by the way please remember that i have scars on my brain and if the book does thoroughly describe Bella and i'm dead wrong don't send me any plastic vampire teeth or leave a snarky comment. thanks. :)

I got the book Saturday afternoon and instantly devoured it (heh-heh). I was reading the part where the vampires play baseball as my husband and I were travelling Sunday afternoon, and it was so cool!, I read it to Joe as we were driving...now we're going to read Twilight aloud together. (We did that with the first Harry Potter books....how sweet, huh? Why did we ever stop reading to each other??? We haven't done that in, like, 6 years! Why would we--oh, right. Chloe's 7. We had kids.)

So then, Monday, I traded in some stuff to get New Moon, the second book. And, um, yeah. I really don't have time for all of this reading!--However, at present I can count on at least one or two out-of-commission days... I'm going to send Ms. Meyers some roses!

I will say too, after finishing the second book (no, it's not like an addiction. I read fast. really. i did those classes where they have the little rolly-machines and questions at the end and....okay. I admit it. I really need to do some laundry. And I need to clean---wait! enough about me, let's keep going with my book review....).

Alright. Second book. New Moon. Meyers totally avoids the usual ennui and angst of the vampire quandary~~the whole damnation conundrum, if you will. I mean, sure-sure (inside joke), there's some of that...all vampires everywhere could be, quite possibly, darned to heck. Or maybe they're in heck now??? hmmmmmm.............. But, so far, The Twilight Saga doesn't "do" that. There's action, not too much violence, not any "language", and a sweet, beautiful, love story (no sex)....I'm doing that whole parent-rating thing, aren't I?

The first song on my playlist is "Bella's Lullaby"... But I can't tell you anymore than that. Go read the book! And yes, I hope to see the film soon....

It seems to be very well done (clips are here!

If you've read it, tell me what you thought!!

blessings,

meg

*Stephen King refers to Television as "the glass teat" in On Writing. I think. Again...the scars...

*Fast away the old year passes....*

We had an absolutely lovely Christmas...and I do hope you had the same! And, as some of you may expect, Maggie inspired thee Christmas Picture of 2008:

On Christmas Eve, every year, we go to Joe's Mother's house...wonderful, yummy, food...lots of presents...and legendary stockings. And Maggie received some play money, which came darn handy that night when we returned home to leave Santa his cookie and eggnog!

Me: Maggie....why are you leaving money for Santa??

Maggie:....oh....I just want him to have a Merry Christmas.

Yeah, right. Magdalen was completely horrid on Christmas Eve and had a freakitin' melt-down when she had to wait to did into her stocking. She was seriously naughty. Naughty. And was most likely a bit nervous, waiting for the big guy...and rightly so. Maggie is naughty AND smart.

But our reindeer food worked:

(and the 20 bucks)

...that's the naughty elf herself, to the right....she had a rather jaded Christmas season, altogether, I suppose....she realized if you should happen to get a "barbie jammin' jeep" (which she did not) you still can't drive yourself around wherever you want to go. And too, Jesus didn't show up for his Birthday party at Sunday School. Baffling.

Her big sister, on the other hand, is a sweet-pea. Mostly. I can't believe how much she's grown!

Here she is twirling in her Christmas skirt I made for her.... I've actually sewn some useful items as of late! (oh yes, it's true!!) Mostly skirts and aprons...the Christmas skirts are made from Alexander Henry's "Sprites of Tillbrook"...you can find the fabric on etsy from Lucky Kaeru Fabric & Supplies.


Maggie really enjoyed the accidental wonderful gift from Fran of Cloth Doll Supply....some fake hair.



She's had no end of fun with the swatch of hair (actually, the hair might be real...i'm not sure...)

And then, if you have a cutie gnome hat from Arfeinel. Well.

More news soon...I have "thank you owls" in the etsy shoppes & a Hansel & Gretel paper doll to upload this aft'! (she's sooooooo....something. I dunno. You'll just have to see!)

Happy New Year Blessings,

meg

a wee goblin....

...has been lurking in my tiny atelier....can you see her?? Known to pilfer and pillage through my supplies...to sneakily spirit rare spun-cotton mushrooms away to the dollies' house and hide them in the attic! Sequins, beads, charms~~beware! Fabric, paper, pencils....and MARKERS!~~hide yourselves and hope to spare the tiny goblin!!!


Some days I lonnnng for a space to work (the above photo is our small kitchen table...)~~but other days, I enjoy small hands to "help"...I know the girls are learning, all the time, and best of all watching Mama make stuff. We've all lost that simple privilege, somewhere along the way. I want my girls to know, too, that you can have a "job" that makes you happy! Really. I mean seriously...is this a job!?

Sitting at the kitchen table, cozy with the snow and cold outside our nest...Christmas music, a pine scented candle burning, and coloring...painting, cutting, glittering...making.

Once more, Chloe (7), has inspired a whole new collection of work...(she is entirely responsible for the Christmas Gnomes, and all of the gnomes to follow...)


She's just enchanted with The Nutcracker, and did a wonderful job of painting her very own!!

By the by...the first song on my blog is "Red Clay Halo" by Gillian Welch!

Her CD, Time (The Revelator), is tippity-top on my Christmas Wish List....okay...to be dead honest, it's "tied" with Alicia Paulson's book~~Stitched in Time. I didn't know about this sweet posy!! Can't wait to open it on Christmas morn'...(Joe's excellent about sticking to the wish list...!)



I heard Gillian Welch on the Audrey Eclectic blog....is that some fancy folk art or what?! :)



Just one last thing to share with you....a lovely "gift" was waiting outside the door of our nest this morning, just waiting for me to capture it in a picture...just look at these beautiful winter roses!






Now, I really must fly from the nest~~to the post office! EVERYTHING is going out today...I can breathe and stitch on dollies to play with~~how fun! And I must say, the final trip to the post before Christmas is becoming one of my favorite traditions....good-bye little boxes!!

We'll chat again soon~~we had a rather hilarious Saint Lucia celebration...more on that tomorrow?

Blessings,
Meg

hope won

"...in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope...."

Barack Obama

blogs are buzzing...there's celebration...there's hope...when General Colin Powell endorsed President-elect Barack Obama, I began to get excited!!! and lo and behold, hope won....

tuesday night, joe had to work an over-night...i sat up, alone, eating wayyyyy too much halloween candy--i was a bundle of nerves...the first few electoral wins were Kerry alllll over again. i knew i shouldn't get crazy-mad-excited....finally, i put in season one of the x-files. then joe called--Obama won! we won...chloe woke up the next morning and the first thing she said:

"mom! did Rock Obama win????" (maggie "voted" for Bush...sigh.)

this was a shoe-leather, $5 donation campaign--somehow, we combated the non-sense in our inbox (snopes is a beautiful, beautiful, thing!)...somehow, we spoke truth...even to angry family members & friends...somehow, we stayed the course and ducked the "spin"--somehow, hope won!

i am 33 years old--this is the first President I've voted for who won. this is the first election that, when it was allll over, i feel it's only just begun! instead of "oh well..." (that's the delicate way of putting it!) i am asking....

what next? how can i help? what can i do? what's the first thing we are going to change??? and to allll of you naysayers who think that's just an idealistic, naive, "young" hope---YES WE CAN! because we did.

blessings,
meg
ps--i may need an invite to holiday dinner. :)

Home again, home again....

*October Cottage*

We are home from Illinois!! The little rug above was hooked some weeks ago and posted on eBay...I had resigned myself--happily--to it's not selling...this little "October Cottage" looks just like our wee nest, scarlet mums and all. The color "planning" was completely fun--I'd received a beautiful piece of wool from Lisa, a fellow PRHG member, in our "Great Pumpkin Swap"~~I began cutting the wool that very day. (the little cottage and the roof were hooked with Lisa's wool.) Then I just tossed "worms" together (worms are the strips of wool), checking my values and contrast as I went along. The crocheted binding was complete serendipity~~some old yarn from my crochet stash that was perfect!
But then at the last there was a bid! The sweetest customer...this is what she wrote when she received the rug...
"hello meg,
just a quick note to say how much i love the rug. i hook rugs and very seldom buy them but when i saw this i knew i had to have it, the colors are so gorgeous. thank you for a beautiful rug that i will enjoy for years to come....you have a true talent for colors. i simply adore the colors in the rug i purchased, it's whimsical and beautiful. it sits right on my living table for everyone to enjoy. thanks again for a lovely, lovely rug!..."
Wasn't that so kind?! I am so happy that my little cottage went to a good home... :)

And speaking of home--we are home! We have been to visit Papa 'Nois and all of our friends and family who live in beautiful, rural, Southern Illinois...we had a wonderful time--and I have just a few--well, quite a few!--pictures to share with you...

Ashley and Chloe

Ashley is my cousin's daughter...it was so cool, such a blessing, to have our families all together--happy and full of gratitude... I confess, I had a few "tears of joy", a couple of times.
We were in Pinckneyville Illinois...that's where I'm "from". Pinckneyville has the fabulous Mardi Gras celebration, the last weekend in October. Candy, costumes, a parade, rides...and funnel cake, of course!! These are the kiddos (and Jenny!) waiting for the parade to start....my girls came home with 3 bags of candy and we've a week to go before trick or treating!!! YIKES!

Ashley marched in the parade...she's in the Color Guard for her school in DuQuoin Illinois...isn't that a cool picture? Jayden is the little boy mouse next to Maggie-mouse (above). He must have had a close call, because whenever the color guards approached he'd yell:

WATCH OUT--HERE COME THE FLAGS!!!

The OLD guy below is my Uncle Frank & his wife, Aunt Diane...he restored that car himself--it's the same make and model of the car he courted my Aunt Judy in so many, many, years ago...(snicker). Judy passed away in 1997--she was my aunt and my friend, and sometimes,

...my mom when I was visiting in Illinois and away from my own mom...I'm always a bit nervous to visit IL. because she's not there anymore...it just seems like we should "go in to Judy's"--but she isn't there. This visit was the first time I've visited with Uncle Frank and Diane since they were married--and it was so good to see them so happy and so perfect together. I know Aunt Judy would approve....I do. :) And too, there's new faces...our family fills in with more blessings, and though people have passed away, we still have a full and wonderful bunch of people. Doug and his wife Jenny (she's so sweet), her little boy Jayden and his Big Sis. Reece (so cute!) and the baby every one's waiting for...Scott, Laura, and Kirsten, Grandma Darlene, and of course, Papa 'Nois--he cut a rug right there on the street during the parade. (And no, I will not show you a picture.) Papa Great and Grandma Reca Lee, Great Aunt Gege, Uncle Jack and Aunt Mary...Julie and her wonderful family...Grandpa Harold and Grandma Ina, Gramma and Pa...Debbie and Verlin...Uncle Jerry, Aunt Sharon, Heather and her beautiful girls...so many of us. A quilt of blessings sewn up with gratitude and remembrance.

I was very lucky to come home with a box of old pictures (with Grandma's blessing)...I poured through old photos of people and houses and horses and cows...! And now and then, a snapshot that I remember, or people that I do know. I think there's always a tug, from deep inside, when you "go home"--and yes, you can go home again...just down the road from my Dad's place is an old barn that was converted into a house. This is the road it's on:
Barely one lane, and canopied in oak trees...definitely a "road less travelled by"--and yes, I would love to live there. My Dad lives 7 miles out from town--they are surrounded by forest and fields of corn and soybeans...that land itself seems to nestle into my heart...to make a place of memory and reverence for such beauty. This was taken right outside the back door at my dad's house:

No matter where we were this past week, we were home.

Blessings,

Meg

Crafty Christmas Challenge...

What, pray-tell, is that nutty little song playing on your blog Nutmeg??? Wellllll....it's off the Juno soundtrack. Juno is one of thee best movies I have seen in a very, very, long time. A few months ago Joe and I watched some of the Oscar Winning/Nominated movies. Whatever. I was heartily un-impressed. Then my mother-in-law told me to check out Juno--mostly for the weird music factor. Anywho. You should watch it. Now.

You're back?? Super!! :)

The main point of this post is the Crafty Christmas Challenge--but I've been meaning to tell you all about that little indie flick. So what's the challenge? Well, I'd blogged on the 12th about making my gifts this year, and asking other artists and crafters to play along...it's not super-structured or anything, not especially organized...I just thought it would be fun, for all of us who would like, to maybe share our pics. and progress with the blog community. Most importantly, I wanted to share with everyone why it's so darn important to buy handmade and to make things your very own self! You can read more here ...but one of the "finer points", imho:

Buying handmade is better for people.
"The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect...."

Hear, hear!! Just over the past few months, I have acquired some new convictions--this "stuff" is so important...to grow your own, make your own, and teach others (especially kiddos!) along the way. I have three quilt-tops from the 1930s--they belonged to my great grandmother, Ida Rice.

I have no idea how to quilt them! And oh, if I could only grow tomatoes the way Mom Chapman did!--I know full well she didn't pop down to the local big-box store and pick up a box of strange, neon, grainy, "fertilizer". These traditions, crafts, homesteading skills...they've simply disappeared for so many of us. The recovery of our loss is GREEN and it's a revolution! And of course, with those two words, I've lost a few of you...crazy Nutmeg rides again. :) Ah well...we'll be back to simple look-at-my-auction entries soon...

Anywho. Now that both girls are in some sort of school, I'll have a few hours each week to work on their gifts--in secret, un-interrupted. This vintage dollie is definitely on the list:

(You can get this pattern at Cloth Doll Supply.)

I also found a TON of freebie patterns at Lion Brand's website, for those of you who knit or crochet...

So. Spread the word!! And then, as you wish to, you can email me pics. of your Christmas goodies, and at some point in December I'll upload them to this blog, or, of course, you can load your own and link to everyone's lovely creations!! :) And do let me know if you'd like to play...and I'll add links and names to this blog entry...

I found this pic. this am and wanted to share it with you...that's my husband's Grandma and Grandpa--her name was Dollie, and I do all of my sewing on her sewing table...cool huh? I also have a treadle machine from Grandma Francie--not brave enough to try that out yet, but it's definitely on my "someday..." list!

Have a wonderful Sunday,

Blessings,

Meg

Homemade, Handmade, Christmas...

It's been years since I've made all of our gifts to give--about 5 years, to be exact!! But one lovely Christmas I crocheted mittens, hats, scarves...some were a bit ill-fitting, occasionally a mitten thumb grew wonky round by round, gauge tightened and released without my effort or realization...2001? was indeed "better to give than to receive"! :) However, I feel I have grown a bit in the area of craftsmanship, and I shall give it another whirl! Is my post a bit "early"--well yes, but there are only...

Christmas countdown at FlashBannerNow.com

How's that for the ol' blood pressure??? Truth be told, I love the flashy, ticking, seconds...it seems most everyone celebrates something during the winter season...Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwaanza...or just plain and simple commercialism, falling prey to every ad. and sale that flashes before our collective eyes as we vegetate in front of our screen of choice...and that, my friends, is a tradition I would like to avoid. I want to teach my kiddos the value of creating, and receiving, homemade goodness. So--what are my plans, my ideas? What's on my wonderful list? (And aren't Christmas Lists just FUN!! To carefully scribe a name on pretty paper and thoughtfully pen the perfect gift???) Well. So far I've thought of the following...all to make my very own self:

1. 
   
   Waldorf dollies--I've made a few of these, and the ones that float around our nest seem to remain...they rise above their plastic cousins and remain timeless and more dear as the years go by. Tattered and loved, they are some of the most confident and secure toys in the girls' room....they know they will live with us forever!


2. Hooked Rugs...and purses! Those little 5"X7" bags with a longer strap are soooo popular now! I am quite certain there are gals on my list that would enjoy carrying them! And then, of course, larger rugs for all of the parents??? There are MANY of Lori Brechlin's designs that I would like to try...and Karen Kahle...and, and...!!!
3. Boiled Wool...stuff. Slippers, hats, potholders & mitts...all embellished with needle felting...
4. And, of course, CROCHET!! :) I got this very cool pattern from etsy seller thnkdfrent. Fashionable for kiddos and grown-ups...anywho.

From week to week I'll try to apprise you of my progress (or lack thereof)...both girls will be in school this year, as Mags is starting pre-school--whatever shall I do with myself??? Make Christmas gifts! And yes, the early start is necessary because of allll the orders, shows, auctions, and everything else that keeps me so very, very, busy! But hopefully, my early start will "plant a seed" and inspire you to begin your own homemade handmade list...and we can burn the midnight oil together, come December!

blessings,

meg

It was the best of times...

...it was the best of times.

We have just returned from our annual foray to Grand Lake Colorado--the 2008 expedition topped 'em all!! Were it not for my ripening tomatoes, my spot on the couch 'neath a fancy ol' lamp, my favorite jeans that i couldn't-possibly- wear-one-more-time without washing, were it not for ice cream and old epsiodes of "law & order"--were it not for those little "homey" things you don't miss before you're away from them--were it not for all that, i'd be yearnin' for a dirt nap due to geographical depression. Simply put, we had a blast. This was the view from the "back porch":

Our first evening, gathered around the table, I excitedly told 6 other people who really didn't care that our house on the lake reminded me of Stephen King's BEST story EVER--Bag of Bones. And sure enough....look what was right outside our little veranda/deck thing??!!



That's right, sister. An owl decoy!!!

Do I remember anything about the owl decoys in the book? Nope. Could i find a reference on wikipedia to explain the spine-tingling penny-in-yer-mouth-taste fear that rippled up my twacked spine? Not at all. Could i be mistaken? sure....i'll have to read up on it. But, i knew we were in for a good time! I mean, any house that reminds you of your favorite Stephen King is just a sure bet for entertainment!!

We stayed at ____________. Now, i could tell you where it was, but the thing is...we might be felons. We are not "fishermen"...not even "fisherwomyns", or "fisherpersons". No, no. We are fishkillers. My children tell everyone: We killed a FISH!!! (sigh) Our lake was "catch and release"--which meant any and all of us could fish, without a license, but we couldn't keep our...quarry? I dunno. Upon reflection, maybe there's a reason people have to have a license for all that. Instead of catch-and-release, it was...catch-and.....and....this was kind of how it went...

JOE: where's that thing??? MEGAN: what thing???JOE: in-the-box-in-the-box-in-the-box!!!! MEGAN: Where's the CAMERA!!! It's her first FISH!!! (like this is any sort of "rite of passage" for Wommacks???)JOE:...did my mug go in the lake?MEGAN: (muttering) ooooohhhh! hope-hope!!!
SUSAN: Put those dogs AWAY!!!
MAGGIE: AAA-eeeeee!!!! aaaa-EEEEEEE!!! (Maggie made this strange high keening sound...the whole time there was a fish out of the water....it was a "happy" sound...just very, very, weird...)
CHLOE: Get MY picture!!! MOM!! Here...here's my fish picture...(with enormous toothless smile...)
SUSAN: JOHN! WILL YOU COME HERE?????
DANIEL: wow. you caught (read: killed) another one. great. (he was the fish-cleaner...)JOHN: (sotto voice) I think we should STOP FISHING!!

But we couldn't. It was a compulsion...a slimy scaled addiction we could not "kick". We could not admit we were powerless in the face of such mad, crazy, fun...poles came apart, worms pooped, lines tangled, dogs snorted lake water and ate weird stuff...and we all screamed with glee at each slip-slapping trout we stealthily landed. Except me. I can't catch poop-for-applesauce in the trout dept. So, I rescued the fish...catch-and-release-and-a-little-fishy-CPR. I would canoe or pontoon (sort of...it's hard to describe what i did...)...float out to the fish we'd nearly killed, and gently run them through the water...I revived 3 in this compassionate, floating, manner. I am a trout-whisperer.




And what else did we do??? hmmmmmmmmmm....let me seeeee....Made pancakes:




One of us lost another tooth!!









Saw "nature stuff":


















And every now and then....when we absolutely had to...we finally.....slept. :)

We were chatting in the garden with our neighbors today...and i said, "Maggie...can you tell them what happened when we were camping?" (because i'm just sure she'll proudly brag about her 14" trout she caught....)

MAGGIE: CHLOE THREW UP IN THE CAR.

Until next time...remember:

"God doesn't close a door without throwing you out the window."

E.P., 2000

Blessings,

Meg

PS--owl decoys really are creepy...SK or no.

PPS--Guess what Maggie says before she plants zucchini seeds?

"Alllllriiight, ladies. Hold onto yer' hats!"

?

"Nothing gold can stay..."

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost~~

Frances May Arnold

May 1st 1927 ~ June 4th 2008

Banned from most K-Marts in Weld County...wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt...and friend. Such a wonderful list of credentials to carry away with you!

Grampa Francie will be so missed~~

...and her memory lives on in the sparkling eyes of her grandchildren~~

Frances was a firecracker. Absolutely. Her strength, character, and personality were exactly like the beautiful flashes of flower shaped sparks that light up summer skies in early July--I'm sure she's still that way. I am certain.

Now, the little gal in the green sweater (above left) is Maggie and she is 4. She is Francie's great-granddaughter. While Frances was passing, beginning her journey, Maggie was blocks away at a play date with her buddies...and one little fella she didn't quite "take to". She would sweetly tell the little boy,

"okay...that's enough....

OKAY...THAT'S ENOUGH!

OKAY!!! THAT'S. ENOUGH!!"

Francie lives on...in so many ways. :)

I could be a complete milk-toast, and still raise strong, beautiful, daughters. It’s genetically destined.

It rained here all day yesterday. It's still raining...it's grey and cold and dismal outside....but when Frances passed, it was in a room filled with light, with peace. A room filled with love as she was surrounded by her family...

It was airy, the light seemed a very pure, pale, blue...the back-drop for a rainbow's promise.

A few moments after, I found my husband and his uncle in a small coffee-kitchen in our hospice. The three of us just stood there, looking out a picture window at the grey and stormy sky....Uncle Gino noted that this was not the sky that Grandma Francie was seeing...her sky is blue and full of beautiful white clouds...no more storms of pain, no more grey. We stood looking at the sky....and then, there was this vibrant, powerful flash of lightening...the kind that's pure light...the sort of lightening that illuminates the entire world...

...at that moment, I knew all was well and as it should be. I turned to Joe and said:

"She just got there."

I have only known Francie for about 9 years--while I admired her strength, her humor, her spirit, I did not know her as well as I would have wished. My sorrow is, mostly, for her wonderful family. A family that is becoming my own, over the years, as we share in the joy of birth and celebration--and now, share the grief of death. The emotions in my "heart" today are a perfect mixture of grief and joy. Francie is cutting a rug on a carpet of clouds, while we all sit here--quite blue--on a cold and lonely earth. How well we know~~nothing gold can stay.

The one thing, a memory, I have gone over and over again these past few weeks, is when Francie and Duane came to see our new little house, years ago. I had planted "just a bit" of mint in the flower beds. Francie told me that I'd better dig it up, pot it, and re-plant it in the pots...otherwise it would spread everywhere. I was 20-something, so what did she know? A lot, as it turns out. That freakitin' mint is everywhere. And now, it's wonderful nuisance-of-a-memory....Francie was right, she always is...

With the single exception of the song, “yellow bird”, which Harry Belafonte did not record…but I know Harry did sing that song...somewhere, somehow—my abundant mint is proof.

You can probably tell what she thought of me:

goodbye, "Grampa Francie"~~

your are loved and missed, quite dearly.

Blessings,

Meg

The scariest fun I ever had...

...that I remember. I went through this phase in the mid to late 90s where I absolutely had to climb on buildings, high roofs, etc... and I'm sure I must of had fun if I kept doing it, I just don't particularly remember... but a few weeks back, we had the most scary fun ever, and it has been emblazoned upon my inner noggin, for all time....i went...4-wheeling...with my husband and kids!... that's "Pa", in his jeep, ahead of ours as we drove into "Carnage" (big red flag!!) in Left Hand Canyon near Boulder Colorado.

As some of you know, I did not have a driver's license until I was 25 years old. I only got one then because we were months away from Chloe, our first daughter. (I am only 4"11" and was soooo pregnant I looked like an alien pod when I went to the exam. Oh yeah, baby, I played the pregnant-girl card...at one point, Joe could see the test guy yelling at me and waving his arms as we drove by the DMV.) Anyway. I don't drive well, I don't really enjoy driving (not much creative license), and I fail to understand why you would make your journey more "interesting" by driving over big rocks to get to your destination. However, I'm quite certain that my husband doesn't understand my newest fascination--rug hooking, my latest thing I want to know everything about--perma-culture, or why I really must wear red shoes. But he's so swell, he does a passable job of feigning interest!! So...I thought that a family outing, a foray into all things jeep, would be a lovely gesture of returned, feigned, interest.

See this is what I mean. Do you see those 2 areas on either side of the jeep where you could just drive on through, slick as a whistle??? (sigh)

Now, I searched My Playlist for that song...is it "Sugar High"? From Empire Records...because on the way to Carnage, Pa gave Chloe and Maggie one whole dollar each to spend at the gas station!!! And lo and behold, they had bags of candy...2 for $1!!! (yeah...can't post that song on this family blog...not nearly as bad as the Italian Leather Sofa blog entry...but it was a close call.)

So that set the, uh, "physiological tone" for the day.

Maggie road in the jeep for a few...yards...and then it was "scary!" (no kidding!!!)

The key to understanding the experience is to note the scale of the picture. That little guy driving over that big rock is my husband. And that tiny woman in the passenger seat is me...the wee tots in the back, our precious children.

I really like Maggie's HUGE eyeball in this pic.! LOL (she's right behind her Dad...)

The girls and I got out and walked.

Chloe the Fearless was fine, of course--the kid has no sense of mortality...but I think us girls were all missing the little river spot where the boys had done "stuff" to their jeeps before we started into the canyon...

It was the sweetest little mountain nook...a tiny river, picnic table, pretty river rocks and this beautiful little tuft of moss... the girls got to sit on a rock in the river! That was pretty cool, of course.

Doesn't the moss look like a little faerie seat? It had these tiny little yellow star shapes...

...the girls and I walked up the canyon to the side of the line of jeeps going up with, and behind, our jeep...a few moments later, Joe got stuck on 2 really big rocks. It was absolutely dreadful and amazing, all at the same time. And I did not get a picture!...the moment I raised the camera and zeroed in was exactly when he crashed to the earth, un-scathed of course...

Those jeep fellas (and gals too!) are an interesting community...you end up in a sort of caravan, and if the ride behind you is stuck, you don't go forward until they're free, out of courtesy. They do the same for you. When Joe was on the 2 big rocks, we ended up with a whole group of people standing around watching, taking pictures and video. Now, you'd think that seeing my husband do that would discourage others from taking "that line"...but oh no. Pa did the exact same thing, on purpose, a few days later. Just to see. It ends up being this whole geometry thing, with figuring out the angles, etc. etc. Which I do find fascinating--it's the same with drafting a new bear pattern--I am just much more invested in the "math" of it if I am safely observing. Who knew I'd grow up to be such a sissy??? It's true, I am no longer "Megan the Fearless"--and no need to be, as I have Chloe. :)

And speaking of drafting patterns--another, flawless, segue! Look what I made!!!

This 7" mushroom is sewn from wool felt, with needle felted details...it's a little pinkeeper that will be home to a couple of owlies I'm working on. But I just might offer this as an ePattern, with a 5" and 3.5" version too...that is, if I can brave the 40mph winds to go borrow a scanner! I needed something to show the scale of it...because it seems larger to me than 7", but it really does measure to that. Now, I told you last post that Joe's helping run the biz now...and so, we arrived at his first helpful task:

Please don't mind the blackness on the wall behind his head...it's really not a big squashed spider--it's Maggie's art...she hasn't decided on a specific medium yet--it's between murals or tattoos, at present. (sigh)

What a guy, huh? And guess what? I've had a crush on him for 10 years. :)

New work in a few days...a new bear design--1930s style, a Mother's Day pinkeeper, and my FIRST Halloween offering of 2008!! I can't wait! Be sure to vote on our new poll...

Blessings,

Meg