Someone remind me that planning to depart for vacation the day after a big event or holiday is a bad idea.  I need the reminders because it is something I keep doing.  And of course, I had to make our Halloween costumes this year – thank God, for my mother.   Tonight I just finished knitting Chris a hat for winter and for his costume.   Now I need to get directions for our treks..um, might be important.  Today was the cooking marathon because tomorrow is the Halloween marathon….

I wish you all could read the fab blog in my head – I post to it all the time – I even have photos with the post.  If only that would trigger a post to this blog….

With that, Happy Halloween to you all and Happy Election Day – we will be in the woods hoping to get cell phone reception so we can find out who are next leader is.  Depending on the outcome, we may stay in the woods!  :-p

If you have some time and want to read a fascinating article with great depth, read this one about the Democratic Party and Obama.  It talks about his passion for building organizations (a passion I deeply share) and how Clinton was alternatively focused on the ideology of the party.  I was amazed at how much goes into making a presidential candidate.  The organization itself is massive.  Also seeing how a political party operates.  Even if you are not a Democrat – the article is well-written with some great background.  I guess in an election year where we are getting stump speeches, sound bites and a complete lack of depth – this article is a breath of fresh air.

….and regardless of who you are going to vote for, please vote!!  It is an amazing right we have and the best way to celebrate it is to use it!

Don’t forget to check out a sample ballot in your part of the country as in addition to president there are local elections and propositions to vote on.   The outcomes will be interesting  – have you seen this “personhood” amendment?

And while we are in the midst of election, a global financial meltdown and one of the worst recessions ever, keep the Democratic Republic of Congo in your thoughts.  The rebels are closing in and things are so bad there.  They are saying that this conflict may end up being the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II.  I am saddened that given all the tragedy – especially the abominable scale on which woman have been raped and enslaved – we haven’t done more to end this.

*sigh*  Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.  With that, I am signing off to finish packing and go hide out in the woods for a week.  Here’s hoping the election doesn’t end up in the courts again!   Love to you all!

So I was getting Quinn read for bed tonight.  I don’t remember what she said, but whatever it was prompted me to respond with, “Quinny, you crack me up!”.

Quinn then says, “I not crack you up Mama, I love you.”    My sweet, sweet angel girl.

I haven’t time now, but man, life feel so heavy.  The weight on my shoulders was unbearable at the beginning of this week.   The rain and the cold front helped shift and free some things and now I feel more able to breathe.   But there is still so much.  Chris job has become a life suck and is affecting everything.  He wants a change now and I hope he can find one given the tanking economy.  Tyler was having crazy anxiety about school that culminated in full-blown screaming meltdowns that had him grabbing my leg as I left him at school.  Talk about emotionally draining.   The co-op that I started way more stressful that I thought it would be.   I recently visited my Dad for only the second time in his Alzheimer’s home.   I have been so tired lately that I have no energy at night.   And the world just seems a mess.

I don’t know – sometimes I absorb too much.  Thankfully, as we near the end of the week, I feel hopeful.  And hope is the antidote to stress.   Still, is sucks that this weight comes with getting older.   I see why people talk about college being the best time of their lives – I think it is simply that we were so carefree.  I also see why people say ignorance is bliss….

His play is expanding so much now. Some days I am blown away by his creativity. This was taken on a recent morning. All I know is that the skinny log on the wood block in the background is a smokestack.

While I was away, I was knitting up a storm.  I am really proud of my work as every project challenged me in a new way and taught me something new.  Right now I am loving knitting socks!  I took a class and now I am off and running!! I have one more bouquest hat to finish and then I will complete the vest in the picture below.  The weather right now is perfect for it and I want to wear it!! 
So let the runway show begin!  (I am a huge Project Runway fan!! )

So once I get a better photo of our entire autumn nature table..which is a gnome garden, I will post that.  For now though, here are two gnomes that are working hard in their garden.  Well, it looks as if they are taking a break at the moment!  :-p   I want to make two more.   They are little pipe cleaner figures made with a doll head and some awesome wool felt.  The feet per directions seemed quite strange to me, so I came up with my own thing.  It isn’t perfect as it doesn’t help in the standing department, which they should be able to do.  Nevertheless, they serve my purposes and I am really happy with these little fellas! 

We have had a blast collecting the natural treasures of autumn – we have tons of acorns and I have been collection and pressing some beautiful yellow leaves.   Another idea I got for the acorns from a Petra Berger craft book was an acorn snake!  I drilled holes through the acorns, Tyler threaded them on some wire, we added eyes with a permanent pen and glued on a bit of a red leaf for a tongue and voila!    There is also a recently made felt mouse near the snake.  He will soon have a friend and after I procure some grey yarn, they will have have lovely little tails.

Next on the docket – some needle felted hedgehogs and a wet felted pumpkin whose top comes off.  A great little container for natural treasures!

{cough}  {hack}  {cough}   Wow, it has been a while hasn’t it?  I haven’t even looked at the date of my last post, but judging by all the dust around here it has been a very long time.  So much thanks to my friend, the fabulous Jennifer, for lighting a fire under my butt.   As she said, how can she lurk if I don’t post?

I have been insanely busy.  The transitions that began in September haven’t really ended – they actually seem ongoing.  And if I may be so blunt – transitions suck.   Quinn decided that she was not ready for school and so she is back home with me.

I didn’t figure on that one, so that kind of changed the idea that, “I will do most of my work when the kids are in school”.  So now I do that work at night which, as you have experienced, seriously affects my time to blog.

On top of that – the co-op in my house on Mondays has taken up a considerable amount of time.  And while I am fine with most of it, there are some challenges I didn’t predict and those issues have been hogging many brain cells lately.

In good news, I have been a crafting diva and I plan to wow and amazing you with my crafty creations.   When things are crazy, crafting is a bright spot.  And in the fall it is so much fun!!  So I will give you another post with photos of my crafting craziness!!

Oh and by the way – great to see all of you again! You look fabulous and haven’t aged a bit.  And yeah, I know, I need to get around to cleaning this place up….at least dust it….