Just a quick post

The holidays are more or less over, at least the more hectic part of them is finished, and I'm still winding down.

It's been a little hard. I spent Christmas with my dad, and then spent New Years with my mom. Payroll at work made a mistake, and until I know what's going on I'm on edge. I'd still tired and I'm more than a little peeved with a lot of people.

Sometimes, people get so upset over things that are just facts of life. And I understand, on some level, because I agree that it's wrong, and I don't see any reason why these things should be true, but as long as humans are imperfect creatures, then these particular problems will exist.

There will always be liars, there will always be judgmental Christians (regardless of denomination), and so on and so forth, and no place is free of them, so when people use those as excuses for moving I tend to think it's a bit naive. No matter where you go those people will exist, so why let them make the decisions for you? If you're happy at this church, and you like it, then make yourself at home and ignore Sister Bertha Better-than-you and the others in the Amen Pew. (yes, I am referencing the Mississippi Squirrel Revival, but it works)

And I'm all for people helping each other, but if some one doesn't want to help or can't help, you can't just automatically assume you know why! Especially if you know that person has anxiety or something! And dear God! Yes, I believe God protects His children, but I also think that sometimes He protects us by our own actions. If you know that an area of town is not safe after 5pm, you probably shouldn't go there because yeah, sure, St. Michael could escort you down the street with a flaming sword or something, but why make him? Do you really need to be there after 5pm? No? Then why go? Why put yourself in danger when you don't need to?

I'm not trying to be unfeeling, or difficult, but in this, I'm a fairly logical person. Sometimes God sends a miracle, and sometimes, God sends a boat and expects us to have to good sense to get in before we drown!

It is okay for you to do things for yourself, and guess what? If it's okay for you to do something for yourself, it's okay for other people to do something for themselves as well!

Ugh.

I love my family....but sometimes, I get a little annoyed.

Love you all,
Tara

The day before Thanksgiving (At least if you're American)

It's Wednesday night, and tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in my little corner of the world. This time, last year, I had two friends, neither of whom lived near me, was working as a janitor (a thankless job that barely paid for the gas my truck needed), was stressed over college, and was lying to myself about the damage my parents' divorce had caused for the third year in a row.

I've come a long ways from there. Now, I have five friends (yay!), two of whom live within a short distance from me, a different job that pays better, no college (though I really do need to go back) and while I'm still trying to work through my problems, I'm doing a lot better. I also have a new baby sister, my relationship with my mother is better, and my journey into the Catholic church is well under-way.

I'm still a little stressed, but I imagine I'll be stressed until they put me in my grave, so I'm really not to worried about that. I feel a lot better, even with all of my ranting.

So, how do I plan on spending my Thanksgiving? Well, I'm going to help Granma cook and clean, I'm going to watch the parade and the Muppet Christmas Carol, I'm going to read A Christmas Carol, set up my Christmas playlist for work, work on my knitting, and just generally enjoy the day.

Thanksgiving officially marks the start of my holiday season, and I'm really looking forward to it.

This year is also the first year that I'll be celebrating Advent. I've got a nice little wreath and candles, and two books, the Magnificat Advent companion and The Little way of Advent. While I don't feel the same kinship to St. Therese that so many seem to, I do find her Little Way to be lovely in it's openness. Both books look promising, and I'm hoping they help me celebrate my first Advent properly.

Anyway, I'm just on to wish all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Yours always,
Tara

A tiny Irish apparition and the dramatics that can come with my job

I've recently added a few new things to my little ( for now) collection of Catholic odds and ends. I've bought a small statue of Our Lady of Grace, the Shining Lights doll version of Our Lady of Knock, and tomorrow or Monday (depending on when I make it over there) I'm going to pick up a small statue of St. Patrick from Saints and Shamrocks. I'm actually kind of hoping they'll have St. Barbara as well, but if not, that's fine.

I also bought a second Shining Lights St. Nicholas. I figured it would be a good gift for Little Bird, while not being too Catholic, which would bother my mom. St. Nicholas and St. Patrick, she could probably live with. Maybe even St. Francis, though I'm not willing to bet on it. But um....any one else? Especially one of the Apparition dolls (Marian apparitions from around the world)....yeah, no. That's just a little too Catholic for my mother, I'm sure.

She gave away Christmas ornaments from Ettal Abbey because they had the Madonna and Child on them! I mean, okay, so they went to a friend whose family is Catholic, but still! Simple gold colored ornaments with the Madonna and Child. They were a set, two royal blue ones with the Abbey on them, two gold ones with the Madonna and Child. Explain to me why the Abbey is acceptable but the Madonna and Child is not?

Anyway, my huffing and puffing aside, I'm hoping that I didn't make a mistake and misjudge it....but mom knows I like the more traditional St. Nicholas figure (and always have) so hopefully it won't be a problem.

Oh! The drama of my job! So, first off, I'm not a secretary, but, for some reason, the wisdom of the people here says I am to answer the phone. Keep in mind, I don't know half of what we offer here, and I have trouble finding everything for the other half. So, I had a lady call wanting information I didn't have, and instead of someone taking and picking up the phone to take the call, I'm given a convoluted set of instructions on how to get to the information. Needless to say, it didn't work. And then! Not to long ago, I had a lady call her ride, loudly, asking where where they and didn't they realize she needed to be picked up 40 minutes ago, and they know that's when she needed to be picked up!

Ah, such fun.

I'll be honest, I like my job, even if the climate control leaves something to be desired and the communication breakdown is of epic proportions. I do still like my job, but some days.....some days would be better with something stronger than coffee.

Yours always,
Tara

Almost ready to open shop and parish social events as a non-social person

I've started getting things ready to open my etsy shop soon. Getting pictures taken, figuring out what to make next, and adding other little details to the mix. This isn't the most difficult thing I've done, but it's not easy, especially since I'm not all that good at pricing things. I don't want to price it too low, but at the same time, I definitely don't want to price it too high either.

So far I have several pairs of guitar pick earrings, a necklace and earrings set, a St. Patrick chaplet, and the Pieta Rosary. The rosary was a struggle to make because the wire didn't always want to do what I wanted it too. I'm actually thinking about taking and re-doing a one whole decade because it's a little too long. Don't get me wrong, I loved making it, and it turned out really well, all things considered, but it was a little difficult.

The chaplet also caused me a little trouble because the only St. Patrick medal that I had available was a double sided St. Patrick/St. Brigid medal. Still, I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Oh, and I finally made my book music box.

I went a little overboard with the stickers, but I don't think it turned out badly. I've also got a few things in mind for the background on future boxes. The cross statue is actually for those little fairy gardens, I just cut the stake that held in up in the ground off and it was perfect. No lights on this one, just a lot of stickers and a music box movement hidden under that green fabric. It plays When Irish Eyes are Smiling.

I'd like to be able to make some for the store as well, later on. I'm hoping I've just about figured out what I'm doing with them, but you never know.

It's been cooler here the past few days, although the forecast promises that this lovely fall weather won't last. I'm not upset about the nights warming up, but I like wearing long sleeves and jackets so the days warming back up does bother me slightly.

I have a follow up appointment with the doctor tomorrow, which promises to be lots of fun. Actually, it shouldn't be too bad, I just have to whine about it as a principle. At least this time they shouldn't need to stick me with needles.....I hope.

Another thing I'm doing tomorrow is baking. I'm making three batches of Chocolate pumpkin muffins to (hopefully) take to my RCIA class to share. Food sort of acts as a conversation starter, which means I can socialize without feeling awkward.

Speaking of feeling awkward! Last night was the parish Stewardship Appreciation dinner in the park by the cathedral. I went. Thankfully, Aunt D showed up before I could get so uncomfortable as to leave, but it was a close thing. I'm not a social person by nature. I mean, I love people, I like being around people, if I didn't work second shift (and was Catholic instead of "becoming Catholic") I'd be trying to do a lot more. Unfortunately I also have a really hard time socializing.

I'm not comfortable starting conversations, I'm not comfortable taking point, as it were. I need to get to know people....then I never shut up, so be fore-warned, I'm bad about talking too much with people I'm comfortable with.

It makes things like the dinner really hard to enjoy because I'm literally just standing out there in limbo! I knew exactly three people there, and two of them were priests! (Not that that's a bad thing, quite the opposite, it's good to know one's parish's priests.) I managed to relax when Aunt D arrived, but still. It's absolutely terrible.

I'm hoping to visit my Dad this year at Christmas time. It's kind of hard because I have to figure out when I can go, how much it'll cost, and how long I can stay. I looks like I'd really only be able to be there for 5 days, not including travel time. I also would need to get a carry on bag to go for my stuff. Working takes the fun out of travel because if you take time off, you lose pay, and then what? I don't get paid enough as it is, which is why I'm so grateful that I live with my Granma. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be able to afford a place to live.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll talk to ya'll again tomorrow.

Yours always,
Tara

Knit, purl, and a very tiny person

I'm hard at work on that baby blanket still. I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it at this rate. It's beginning to drive me nuts. Especially since I still have so much more to work on. A dress, a scarf, a shawl, socks, and on and on and on goes the list. Next year, I'm starting in January!

I spent some time with Mom and Little Bird today. Not as much as I would have liked, but still, some time. I had to run into Savannah to try to find something to make it easier for Mom to nurse, only for the store to be out. And, to add to it, the local Walmart had it. I drove in circles, but it was fine.

Little bird is so tiny. Unfortunately, she's just too long for the preemie onesies to fit her. The newborn stuff swallows her. She does have a few outfits, but still. She's just so tiny!

It's been a rather dull day. I went to mass this morning, which was lovely, and spent time with my Mom and sister, which was great. I'm getting better at admitting that, yes, I do want to hold her. Once I'm holding her, I'm fine, it's just saying that I want to hold her that I have trouble with.

Hey, nobody said I was normal.

Other than that though, it's been a dull day. I worked on my room some, made some tentative plans to get another book shelf and maybe a hat stand, if I can find one. I'm waiting for the beads to arrive for the St. Francis of Assisi/Pope Francis rosary I'm planning.

My computer and I continue to be at odds over Catholic TV. It's getting a bit ridiculous. Hopefully I'll be able to work it out soon, because this constant struggle to get it to do what I want is more than a little frustrating.

So far, I've been doing pretty well with praying the rosary nightly. I'm struggling with the bedtime/morning alarm a bit, but we're getting there. Slowly, but with prayers, surely, we're getting there.

I'm not sure if I want to randomly generate a saint tomorrow, or if I want to do something a little different. I'm tempted to do a post on St. Francis, but I'm thinking about finding a saintly Franciscan instead. I'll figure it out, and if you want to leave a comment with your opinion, I'd love to hear it.

Yours always,
Tara

Long days, poor internet connections, and disappointing schedules

I've been up since this 6 this morning, which I'm sure to many of you is hardly worth note, but given that I usually don't get to bed until midnight/1am, it's a bit of a thing to me. Truthfully, I need to start getting up earlier. I like watching sunrises, though I prefer to be inside to watch during the winter months, but that's not the point here!

Anyway, I was up early today, and I'll be up early tomorrow as well, because I'm going to swing by my mom's and make sure my brothers get off to school while mom takes Little Bird to her first doctor's appointment. Little Bird is doing quite well, especially given that she was just over three weeks early entering the world. She's tiny though, just a few ounces shy of six pounds, and no fat whatsoever on her tiny body. We had to buy some preemie clothes, because all mom had was newborn size. She's really sweet though, and the boys love her.

In other news, the internet connection on my personal computer here at work is continually mercurial and difficult. I can't listen to Catholic Answers Live, or watch EWTN without skipping, pausing, and glitching. Youtube works fine. Oh! And tonight I tried to watch Catholic TV (a new discovery, which is brilliant) and had worse luck with it than I do EWTN! This is getting ridiculous!

My work schedule is more than a little disappointing this week. I guess that's what happens when you can't work a full week, they cut your hours even more, but I'm hoping it's just a temporary thing. I'm going to talk to my supervisor this week and see what's going on with the schedule. The good news here, I guess, is that I'll be opening the shop a bit sooner than I originally planned. A friend of mine is coming over to help me take pictures of the items I'll be listing. I need to finish the Pieta rosary and the St. Patrick chaplet.

I've also got beads coming for the St. Francis of Assisi/Pope Francis rosary coming soon. I ordered some lovely dark wood beads for it. I've got my eye on some other items, including some resin for jewelry making and some drill bits for bottle lamps, but everything is due time. No rush.

I'm hoping, since my last few plans have fallen through, that I'll be able to make my trip to St. Augustine on the 11th. I don't really want to go alone though, and that looks increasingly like it might be the case. I'm used to this, truthfully, my parents, though they tried, were never very good at planning trips like that (hence, why we never went to Paris, Rome, Whittenburg, or the Medieval jousting in Worms despite living in Germany for 6 years.) Even with the trip to Disney we took before my Papa died. That was me planning that, thanks, and if Papa and Granma hadn't been the primary monetary force behind it, we still would never have made it.

Anyway, all of that aside, I'm looking forward to the week. I'm basically broke, and tired, but I think this week will be a good week.

Yours always,
Tara

Little Bird is Here!

So, I was supposed to write a post of St. Nicholas of Tolentino for today's edition of Saturdays with the Saints. This, obviously did not happen because my little sister decided she'd waited long enough and she was going to come, dang it, whether we liked it or not.

This means it's a very good thing I didn't go to St. Augustine today, though, given how long it took, I probably could have made it. Even so, I'm glad I didn't go because I'd have been a mess....well, more than I already was.

Despite saying that I was going to hide out at DQ, I actually did go. No, I did not watch, and no, I did not drink (though God knows I really wanted a whiskey!). What I did do was knit, pace, pray, cook, and clean.

I also got to dress my sister in her first outfit, which wasn't as awkward as I had thought it would be. It's been a long time since I dressed a baby, and I've never dressed a newborn before. I was 12 when P was born, and I think he was 3 or 4 months old before I helped change and dress him.

She was really tiny, Much tinier than I've ever held, being just shy of 6lbs, and so incredibly adorable.

The hat that I made to match her outfit did fit, but because she was nursing, it kept falling off.

Anyway, the birth went well, according to the midwife. Both mom and sister are doing good, and assuming I get to bed in the next hour or so, I'll still get to mass tomorrow.

Good night all!

Yours always,
Tara

Babies, blankets, and the fun of waiting

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know my mother is pregnant and ready to deliver any day now. This means a lot of waiting, and a lot of worrying. Because, you know, that's kind of what I do. Especially when family is involved. There's still no news on that front, but we're literally waiting for her to go any second now. Oh the joy.

In other news, I think I've just about finished the blanket that I started at the end of last month. I had hoped to finish it quickly, but I've been knitting non-stop since she found out she was pregnant and I'm having trouble slogging through projects. Even my socks, which I'm thrilled to be working on, aren't coming along as fast as they should be, even with me working on them sporadically. 

Adding to the problem is the fact that my knitting isn't done. One of my brother's requested a pocket watch for Christmas, so I abandoned the thought of knitting him socks in favor of the watch. That still leaves me with four pairs of socks, because my mom wants a pair, a baby dress, a shawl, a scarf, my socks, a large afghan (made in pieces) and a scarf that I've got rattling around in my brain. 

I've also got my eyes on some resin for jewelry making, more rosaries, and a knitted advent calender. 

Suffice to say, I'm a little anxious. 

I've also got my music boxes. 

The good news, I guess, is that I'm not going to St. Augustine this weekend. Like a lot of plans I try to make, it fell through. Aunt D won't be back from her home town until early in the morning, and she won't feel up to going all the way down to St. Augustine. 

This, truthfully, is probably a good thing. With Little Bird waiting in the wings for her grand entrance into the world, it's probably best I stay close to home. Even so, I am still a little disappointed. Instead, I figure I'll run into Savannah and do a little shopping, then get some craft projects hopefully knocked out, and see if I can't finally get the enormous box out of the middle of my room. 

My step-dad has a mini-fridge that he's going to let me have, so I also want to get a piece of vinyl or stone tile for it to sit on so it's not sitting on the carpet in my bedroom. This is fantastic because I'll finally be able to have a cold drink when I get home without having my alcohol in my grandmother's fridge. Given that she's a tee-to-taler, I generally prefer to keep my drinking to a minimum, and keep it out of her space. 

I might also stop by Goodwill, and see if I can't find any good jackets, cardigans, skirts, and jewelry that I can recycle and reuse. I've got a million ideas, and a million things I need for them, and very little money to spend on them. My hope is that, once I get the shop up and running, hopefully in late October/early November, just in time for the holidays, I'll be able to turn the money that comes in around and sink it into more crafts. Making things is almost addicting because there's always a new idea running through your head, a different way to color it, a different stitch pattern, or even a new technique that you're dying to try out. 

So yeah, hopefully, that's what I'll get out of it.

Yours always,

Tara

Long days and sitting on edge

Last night was a longer than usual night, which means that today has been a very long and tiring day. I have been tired and short tempered all day, and my vocabulary has sounded like a drunken sailors....sadly, no alcohol was imbibed to aid my colorful language. Nor will it be for a few days, at most, because my mother is expecting to go into labor either tonight or tomorrow.

Apparently, my little sister has decided that she's waited long enough, thank you very much, and she's quite tired of waiting. Mom hasn't gone into labor yet, but she's in the early stages, so she's expecting it to start up very soon.

I'm both excited, and terrified.

I like kids. I will swear up and down, left and right, that children are monsters and I want nothing to do with them, but the truth is a little more complicated.

Truth is, until my parent's got divorced, it literally never occurred to me that I might not get married and have kids. I certainly didn't plan on going out and settling with the first fellow I found and having a litter of little people, but I did think that, one day, I would find some one and have an undetermined number of kids.

My parents got divorced, forcing me to question pretty much everything I thought I knew about love and marriage, and I swore left, right, and center that I was never getting married and never having kids to any one who even remotely suggested that I might one day want that.

Honest truth. I want that. I want to get married and have kids. I want to have that. Especially now, as I'm entering the Catholic church, because there's so much that I would love to experience. Christening and first communion and all those lovely little milestones that parents prepare their kids for and that I'd like, God willing, to one day prepare my own kids for.

The thing is, it's been so long, and I've said it for so long, that I actually feel a little awkward around kids now. And I'm not willing to admit it out loud to my family that, yes, I would one day like to have kids. But I'm going to have a little sister and I'm torn between being excited and being scared out of my mind because I haven't taken care of a baby since P was born ten years ago, and yeah, I won't be taking care of her all the time, but I will take care of her occasionally.

I want her to grow up to be what I'm not. I want her to be strong, and confident, and easy-going, and to be the kind of person that people love to love. I want her to have every opportunity in life because there are so many things that I never got to try and I wish that I could have tried them.

I want her to be the person who always makes the world better.

I also don't want to step on my mother's toes any because we already have a slightly precarious relationship, largely because we just don't operate on the same wave-length. My mother is emotional, and I'm more logical, and the two do not always go well together.

All the fun.

In other news, tonight was the second night of RCIA classes. Monsignor O'Neal was teaching us tonight. It was actually really nice. The teaching bit was a bit dull, we were going over the order of mass, but not in a way that really helps me. What would help me is a comprehensive understanding of when to sit and when to stand. I've about got the standing and kneeling bit figured out completely. I don't always have to look at the people around me for that part, but the earlier part I haven't got a figured out. Anyway, it was more of a breakdown of the different parts of the mass. The best part was the Monsignor himself. He's an older Irish gentleman, and he's got a great sense of humor.

Anyway, I'll talk to ya'll again tomorrow.

Yours always,
Tara

Busy Thursdays and Awkward Appointments

So I wasn't able to post yesterday due to not having a computer available. I spent the entire morning with Aunt D, which was lovely, and then went to work, expecting to use the computer there as I normally do. No dice.

Some idjit had put in the wrong password enough times that the computer locked us all out. Until Tech comes out and fixes it, we're S.O.L.

So I brought my personal laptop today. This has the added benefit of having my kindle app on it (since I don't have an e-reader) and all my bookmarked web-pages.

Next Tuesday, the same day RCIA classes start, I'm supposed to drive with Aunt D to her old place (about 5 hrs. away) to pick up her stuff. We're going to attend noon mass at her old parish, and then head back, arriving with (hopefully) an hour to spare before class-time. I like to be early. But anyway, other than making sure Baby has all her fluids where they should be and checking her tires, she should be all ready to go. It's not quite time for another oil change, and I just got the front-end alignment fixed (with tire-rotation), so like I said, we shouldn't have any problems.

I went to the doctor today. Nothing to bad, no worries. She thinks I might have acid re-flux and basically told me to cut back on everything I enjoy in life. I'm kidding, it's not that bad. She did advise I cut back on the sodas (I didn't have the heart to tell her I've already cut my consumption by more than half. I went from going through a 12-pack in 4 days to going through one in two weeks. Progress has been made) and also to take it easy on spicy foods (I refuse to give up Indian food) and fats (she couldn't possibly mean my shepherd's pie). Truthfully, everything she told me I already knew and have already started working on, despite my jests.

Of course, as with any visit, they're doing some tests, just to verify that everything is, indeed, fine. Fech!

I'm reminded why I don't go to see doctors unless I absolutely have to. So many tests and so many ridiculous questions. I spent fifteen minutes answering the questions in the paper work I filled out!

Oh well, Que sera sera.

I bought a few new e-books recently. Thankfully Amazon has a kindle app for computers, since it will likely be a while before I give in an buy any sort of e-reader. I had a tablet, but I could never quite get it to work to my liking, so it was retired.

I've got just about everything for the music boxes. I just need to grab a few pieces of sturdy scrapbook paper and a stapler that I can lay flat. Well, that's all I need to do the one for Little Bird. I still need another set of lights and a small celtic cross to go inside mine. I'm really pleased with the lights. They came in today and are just the right size, really bright, and operated by a small battery pack. In all, I'm thrilled.

I might still check the craft store while I'm there though, just in case they have anything better there.

Anyway, that's all there is to tell for now. I'm back down to 36 hrs because of the RCIA, but I'm hoping I can pick up Saturdays in the future, and even so, I'll still be doing pretty well. I'll buy the yarn for mom's socks soon, and probably P's as well. H and Step-dad are both getting plain grey socks, so that won't be hard, and as soon as Little Bird is born I'll get started on the dress. Hopefully Granma's shawl won't be too hard, and I've already got more than enough yarn for the advent calender.

I'm hoping to open an Etsy store following the holidays, where I'll sell rosaries and chaplets, and maybe music boxes too. We'll see how it all works out. Look for more info in the future!

Yours always,
Tara

Minor frustrations, schedule changes, and why I treat holidays with kid gloves

I decided, looking at my progress and looking at how far I had still to go, that I would not be able to finish this blanket before the baby shower, though I should still have it finished before Little Bird is born....assuming she goes to term, that is. Therefore the new project is the music box. While this project does have some unique challenges of it's own, I'm fairly confident that I can get this finished by Sunday evening. I've got the music box movement, the book box, the little toy dragons, plenty of cardboard to hide the movement, and some nice paper to make the whole thing look a little more polished.

However, it occurred to me that it might be a tad bit dark inside the box, so I decided to look for a set of small, battery operated led string lights to illuminate it. It took forever to find a set that didn't cost a ridiculous amount and that would arrive before Saturday! I kept finding 7' and 3 meter sets. I need three feet not thirty feet! Ridiculous. Of course, now I have to borrow one of my mom's staplers which lays flat (so I can staple them in.) I also will probably do that with the little dragon that's going to be hanging from the top of the book, along with a little dab of hot glue, just to make sure he doesn't fly out of the box.

I have four or five little dragons and a tiny bird to go inside. I haven't even started on mine, but that's okay. I don't think mine's going to be as labor intensive. I've made backgrounds to go inside the boxes, and I'll measure tomorrow to make sure I size them just right before I print them.

Aunt D called me yesterday to let me know that, due to some up-coming event, our parish is only holding mass in the afternoons. I sort of already previous plans, so no mass today. I don't like that, not one bit, but I'll be going tomorrow, and that's what's important. Missing mass really does irritate me though. I like morning mass. It starts the day off nicely.

Of course, as mentioned in various posts, the holidays approach swiftly, and already I've begun to pace myself because if I don't, I'll burn out before the season even gets here, and then be even more of a Grinch than I naturally am. (Think about it, a largely introverted individual during the holiday season....yeah, nope.) I'm hoping that I can get this blanket off the needles and get my mother's Christmas gift on, then do Stepda's, and H's before Little Bird is born. Hopefully I can get P's knocked out too. I also have Granma's (which will take longer) and Hazel's. L's, Cas', and K's. Lots of knitting, very little time, and knitting burn out on the horizon. Here's praying that I'll finish it all.

I also have a stocking, an advent calender and all it's little ornaments, my socks, and a shawl that I'd really like to make!

It's enough to drive a gal mad!

Yours always,
Tara

THe Approach of Autumn

It's September (not that anyone didn't already know that) and autumn is here! It is, technically, a little too early to start on Halloween decorating, not that that stops people. Almost every store is drenched in orange, brown, red, and yellow in one corner, and Orange, slime green, vibrant purples, and black. There's pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, leaves and creepy looking dead trees, empty fields and full grave-yards.

Now, I am a huge fan of Halloween. I love acting, love dressing up, and love an excuse to watch dorky kid movies (Scary Godmother! It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Spookable Pooh! The Nightmare Before Christmas!...good for two holidays, that one!) So Halloween, with costumes, candy, and a decent number of kiddie movies, is brilliant! This year, I won't be able to take part in my favorite tradition of passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. I love passing out candy to kids in costumes! So cute. Any way! Not the point!

The point is, my favorite season swiftly approaches. The annual torrential down-pour we get every winter hasn't started, the humidity has blessedly retreated. (This fact can make even hardened atheist praise God). The weather cools off and I can wear long sleeves, cardigans, sweaters, and leggings without risking heat stroke.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the Christmas season (which, in my mind, officially begins at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade because that's when my mother would permit Christmas carols and movies to be dusted off and brought out for our enjoyment.) all come in autumn. 

Also accompanying autumn is Christmas shopping, frantic knitting, school (SCHOOL! *sobbing*) and an over abundance of sweets that demand to be tasted.

I love food. And the foods that are best for the colder months, soups, stews, roasts, heavy pastas, and almost anything with pumpkins or potatoes are my favorites. This is why I fight year round to maintain my (fairly) slim figure. I've already mentioned my great love of Irish food, which tends, as a general rule, to be hot, heavy on potatoes, and made with (really yummy) cheap cuts of meat. Although I may argue that last point on the basis of the price of stew meat the last time I went to the store.

My point is, autumn is here! (basically) and there's a lot to love about the wonderful season we find ourselves in. There's also the impending birth of my sister, the birthdays of both my parents (within a week of each other) and plenty of time to bake as many desserts with pumpkin as I can stand.

This has been an ode to autumn from your friendly neighborhood blogger. Regular posting will resume tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.

Yours always,
Tara Hills

Knitting, music boxes, and missing Sunday mass

Let's start with the last point.

I missed mass on Sunday. Actually, I missed the last half of mass on Sunday, due to indigestion. My breakfast, consumed as I dashed out the door 1 hour and 10 minutes before mass, just did not sit well, and I had to leave. I absolutely hated it, especially given the fact that I had no problems for the rest of the day. However at the time, while I suspected that was the problem, I wasn't sure, and felt it best I go home.

I hate that I missed mass. The entire thing irritates me just a tad, because I genuinely look forward to mass every week. I plan my Wednesday around being able to attend the morning mass, and my Sunday around the 10am mass. RCIA classes are starting soon, and my Tuesdays will be planned around RCIA. So missing, even if it's necessary, is not something I like doing.

Now, of course, on a weekday morning, I don't have to leave quite so early, only 40 minutes. I also don't have to drive around for 10 minutes to find a parking spot on weekday mornings, and traffic (though having slower speeds in some areas due to school zones) is better. Truthfully, if I just wanted to drive past the Cathedral it would only take 30 minutes. The extra time is to park, get inside, and have a few minutes to pray, meditate....and locate today's entry in the missal.

In other news, I'm still working on the baby blanket. I've made some slight adjustments to my mental plan for the next square, and hopefully it'll knit up faster, allowing me to move on to the next squares. I think I only need four more squares. I might do six more squares, plus the edging, but it depends on how it looks and how long it takes.

I also got my music box movements in the mail today. I ordered two music box movements in white cases the other day, "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" and "Puff the Magic Dragon". I'm going to get two of those boxes that look like books, and cut a slit in the "binding" for the windup knob to stick out. Then I'll build a little cover so that the movement doesn't rattle around, and it's hidden. Finish it with a little decorating and voila! a lovely little music box. Puff  the Magic Dragon is for Little Bird...or maybe I should say it's for Mom? either way, it's for them. I'm shamelessly admitting that "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" is for me. I love that song, and I think it'd be lots of fun.

Aunt D is back in town. I'll see her Wednesday at mass, which will be nice. I also have to stop by the college afterwards to see about registering for classes in the coming mini-mester. I don't know what all I'll need, and I hate calling them because I can never get through! And I'm not the only one! Sometimes they take weeks to get back to you....sometimes they never get back to you! Absolutely infuriating!

I'm hoping to stick to online classes, since I can work on them at work. They also tend to be a little easier in regards to quizzes and essays. I'll be honest though, I don't like school. I hate how people build college up, I hate how political it can be, I hate how many terrible professors have tenur (WHY?!) and how many of them can make your life miserable, and I hate how many people don't listen before they shoot off their mouth! I'm not speaking Greek, for crying out loud! We're in college! I shouldn't have to hold your hand and lead you through what I just said!

It's a pet peeve that was born in college-level English, when one of my class-mates would literally try to argue with me while saying the exact same thing that I was saying! I mean, okay, so sometimes I sound like I swallowed a thesaurus, but I do try to keep the more advanced words back because there's only so many times you can say "elucidate" before you realize that, apparently, this word was removed from the common lexicon. ("Lexicon" has probably been removed as well, come to think of it.)

It also doesn't help that the teacher had terrible tastes in short stories. The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. Ugh! And we had to write an essay about an underlying theme! There is no underlying theme in that story! There's not enough in it for there to be an underlying message or theme. I apologize if any of you like it, but it's really not a good choice for that. Especially since she said she didn't want "thirty papers about the same thing"! Pick something else for the love of all that is good! Edgar Allen Poe would have been brilliant. Hans Christian Anderson, the Brothers Grimm, for crying out loud Aesop's fables have more meat to their stories! At least with those you can go with the main plot, or with the symbolism (the fox being chosen because it is commonly believed to be a "sly" animal, ect.)

The other problem is simply that people with degrees get better jobs, and get paid better, but I've met people with Doctorates and masters degrees and they're dumber than a brick! They have no common sense or practical knowledge. They test well, and maybe can bullshit a good paper (be honest! If you have ever written a 6 page+ paper, it's about two paragraphs of real information and six or more pages of utter tripe!) but they are completely unable to operate beyond that. But these people manage to get, and keep, good jobs with good pay!

Meanwhile, my dad knows a guy who's taught people to do a job for 10 years, and worked in that job in the military for 20+ years, who's being let  go because he "does not met the required qualifications" because now, after 10 years, they require a college degree! I just don't understand. I really don't. He knows what he's doing, he knows better than any one, and he's good at what he does. He's not that old, and he's in great health!

I don't understand a lot about our world. I don't understand why people can't pay their employees what they need to live, and not just survive. I don't understand why people make a big deal out of small things, and treat big things like they're trivial matters. I don't understand our world.

Anyway, I'm signing off for now. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Yours always,
Tara Hills

A Truly Brilliant morning!

I decided to go to mass this morning, despite a late night (12:50) and having gone yesterday and I'm so glad that I did!

Immediately following mass I ran outside to put a quarter in the meter (mass ends about 7 minutes before 8, which is when the meter starts to really be an issue) and met a lovely lady who I shall simply refer to as Aunt D. Aunt D is new, and moving here shortly. I actually saw her at mass yesterday, but I was in a rush yesterday (bad Tara!) and didn't say anything. Today though, it turned out really well.

While we where talking, I was led to give her the Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet that I made. I paid the meter and went inside to sit in front of Mother Mary and finish the rosary I had started to say before mass began (I can usual get a decade or so in before mass starts), and then Aunt D and I went to breakfast.

There's this really nice Parker's on Drayton that I call the Fancy Parker's because it's got all sorts of little gourmet or really high quality food items, and we went there and had breakfast. It was really nice because we sat and talked for about an hour before I showed her where Saints and Shamrocks (the closest thing we have to a Catholic bookstore, as far as I know) and then parted ways.

There are two things that make this whole thing so fantastic! Number one is how happy Aunt D was! She loved the chaplet! And was so happy to just sit and talk over breakfast. Second great thing is that I got an aunt out of it! I love when you just click with people and become friends! And when you become family? Brilliant!

Of course, I'm at work now. Speaking of! I just picked up 8 more hours so I am officially full time again! Isn't that great? And my boss and I have already talked about me having Tuesdays off come September for the RCIA classes.

There's also a place not to far from the church that has beginner's Irish dance classes about an hour before the RCIA classes, so I'm hoping I can take that, and the RCIA, plus pick up a class or two for the fall mini-mester at STC.

Yeah, I gave up on trying to be really sneaky about where I'm at. Anyone who knows South Georgia worth a fig knows where the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is. No point hiding it. I live within easy driving distance of Savannah, Ga.

Anyway. Aunt D and I also saw the strangest thing while in the Fancy Parker's. Giant Wooden Rosary beads. And I don't mean like the ones you get for teaching toddlers to pray the rosary (no, I'm not secretly looking at baby stuff in the hopes of one day having progeny of my own despite telling my parents and everyone else that I am "never having kids", not at all *pfft*) I mean like 4 1/2- 5 ft long rosaries made of 1/4 in to 1/2in wooden beads and a 2 1/2 in long crucifix. And it was white.

Weirdo that I am, I'm tempted to go back and get one, just because it's such an interesting rosary, though I'll be honest, I'd probably have it a week before attacking it with brightly colored acrylics. Either way, I'm leaving it be for now. I can probably make one myself, or find one else where cheaper.

Aunt D also gave me a lovely turquois and gold rosary over breakfast. We were talking about it (because of the giant wooden ones) and I mentioned my strange relationship with rosaries (I partially blame them for the fact that I'm converting) and she just pulled it out and gave it to me. It was nice. I'm going to pray with it tonight just for her.

We talked about a lot of things. Her daughter, my mother, my pub that I want to open, her parents, and it was brilliant! I'm so glad that it happened. Nothing like this ever happened while I was attending the Baptist church. I feel like today is just a taste of what might be in my future if I allow it to be.

I'm also incredibly thankful for second chances, because I could have given it to her yesterday, but because of my nervousness and rushing I missed the chance. But God and Mother Mary (yes, I know she had a hand in this whole thing, it's got her name written all over it!) knew that we both needed this, and it all worked out!

Aunt D is headed back to her home to tie up lose ends, and then she'll be moving to Savannah and I'm so excited! It'll be nice to know someone at the Cathedral when I go (Besides Mr. J, I mean. I don't see him every time). I'm thinking about maybe inviting Father Shrek over for dinner one day, but that I think can wait for a little while. It's not like I live alone, after all, and my granma might be opposed to that. I don't think she would be, but it's best to make sure, you know?

Downside to the new hours is that I have to reschedule my appointment with the tattoo artist. I don't really mind to much, I mean, those hours will help me out a lot, but at the same time, I'm really interested in seeing what she did with my (really pitiful) rough draft. and to talk color. Of course, H is still a little disappointed that I haven't gone to see her guy (because he's the best, obviously) but I like this place. It's where I got my first tattoo (same artist too) and I was really pleased with it. It's also really close to the mall, so when I (inevitably) get the munchies after getting inked, I have lots of options.

Also, I'm almost finished with the stole! I'm a little more than half-way through the crocheted edging and boy does that make me feel like I'm all thumbs! I miss my knitting needles! It's been a while since I last crocheted anything, so I feel so awkward! But it's good practice for that sweater I really want to make. As soon as I finish I'm going to finish the other bootie and then make my socks! Then a pair of mittens and a hat, followed by Christmas knitting! I've got the yarn and the pattern for a lovely butterfly shawl for my granma (she loves butterflies) and that's where I'll start. Then socks for Sasquatch, and part one of the knitted advent calendar, that is to say, the garland it sits on. Hopefully by then I'll have money again and can buy the yarn for Little Bird's Christmas stocking and P's socks, as well as the eyelash yarn for Little Bird's dress. I've also still got to make her pumpkin hat. That, thankfully, will not be as bad as that awful cabbage patch hat.

Wow, I've written a lot tonight. I am so sorry. You are all wonderful for reading this far!

So, question time! Have you ever had something happen that just had Mother Mary's hand-writing all over it? Have you ever had a priest over for dinner before? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Yours always,
Tara

Powered by egg-rolls

Or at least my step-dad seems to think we are.

I went over to my mom's this morning after mass to make egg-rolls and just spend time with her. She scared the crap out of me, with her standing on her head and all. Apparently, Little Bird is still laying sideways when she needs to turn her little tail feathers around and lay head down, you know, to get ready? And so the mid-wife had advised my mother to lie with her butt up on the couch and her body on pillows on the floor. While she was doing this, my mother started laughing, which apparently hurt really badly and scared the tar out of little old me.

Did I mention that I don't do well with loved ones in pain?

Thankfully she was okay and she no longer has to do that.

The egg-rolls turned out good. The recipe is a traditional Vietnamese recipe that my mom got from a friend of hers who's husband was Vietnamese. Apparently it's his family's recipe. Either way, we've been making them forever and they are delicious. No photo's I'm afraid, but believe me when I say these are better than any egg-roll you've ever had a you local Chinese place.

My mother ate 3 and then had a energy boost, so to speak, P ate a belly full of them, and I ate 3 and got a move on myself, hence why my step-dad thinks that egg-rolls are apparently a power-boost.

I didn't get around to the boxty or the onion marmalade, so I'll have to do those tomorrow.

Sunday we're celebrating my birthday. We're going to go out for lunch after church, so that'll be nice. I spent  about an hour trying to decide where to go because I live for food that's good and cheap, and sadly that's not something you find in restaurants. I've settled on an Italian joint in Savannah, but I won't say where until Monday.

I went to mass this morning, although I almost didn't. For some reason I had a really hard time getting to bed last night and I did not want to get up this morning. I did though, and as always I'm glad that I did.

I'm headed to bed now, but I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Yours always,
Tara

I wonder if this is how my dinner feels

We have no air conditioning tonight, which means that the internal temperature of the building is a balmy 95*F and slowly dropping as it gets later.....and I do mean slowly.

Roasting alive aside, (which makes me wonder if this is what it feel like to be a chicken baking in the oven), let's talk about everything that's happened since Saturday. Well, Friday, really, since I didn't do a personal post on Saturday. Mainly because nothing really happened on Saturday. I got a birthday card from my dad (Thanks Daddy!) and got started on going through the enormous amount of clothes I have amassed.

Sunday was much more interesting. I went to the Latin mass at the Cathedral. It was really interesting, and I'll probably continue to go occasionally, but I enjoy the regular mass service as well. Next time, I'll be sure to grab one of the missals on the back table. I didn't even know they had them until right as service was beginning. Great time for them to make that announcement.

I stopped by the mall after church and had a gyro, then hit the craft store and bought some ribbon for the Cabbage Patch baby hat my mom asked for. I'll post pictures of it tomorrow. After that it was home for dinner (pizza) and a movie. I mixed up a quick little drink that I'm calling the Irish Mob. It's a twist on the Godfather (Amaretto and Scotch) that I made with Amaretto and Irish Whiskey. After eating, I settled down with my drink and The Boondock Saints for a late evening in.

This morning, I went with my mom and her friend to a 4D ultrasound. I don't know if any of you have seen a 4D ultrasound before, but it's really cool! You can see so much detail! We also found out that Little Bird isn't all that little! My sister is so long that she's pretty much folded double across my mom! She literally always had her knees up on her chest and had no where else to put them!

It was really cool though! She has a head full of hair, and a button nose and chubby cheeks and pudgy hands and it was awesome!

How cool is it that we have the technology to do that? To actually look into the womb and see a child with that much detail! We could see that she had her eyes open for crying out loud! We could see and recognize all of her little fingers and toes! We could see her face! Every little feature of her face, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, her cheeks, her chin, her ears!

Sorry, I didn't do much gushing at the time because I was too busy watching the screen. It was really cool.

Of course, now I'm a little worried that none of the mittens I made will fit...might need to buy a little more yarn for the Christmas dress too.

But! Little Bird is healthy, active, and adorable!

Anyway, I'm listening to Catholic Answers Live while sitting here waiting to go home. I've got two pairs of booties, one pair of mittens, and another hat to make for Shawna, a chaplet for Our Lady Star of the Sea to make, I'm planning on making a Christmas rosary, and all of my Christmas knitting. I'm going to start on Granma's shawl as soon as I finish Shawna's baby knitting, which will hopefully be Friday, and hopefully I'll be able to start on the Angel dress for Little Bird after she's born, give me a little bit better idea of what the size will need to be, and until then, I've got five pairs of socks to knit.

Still haven't figured out what to do for mom, and I've got a shawl I'd like to make for myself. Plus a hat to go with my yellow socks.

The good news is that I have plenty to do when there's nothing going on at work. The bad news is that yarn can be expensive. I've got my eye on some yarn at knitpicks. Next time they have a sale, I'm stocking up!

Yours always,
Tara

Tiny Saints, Bad Catholics, and Cabbage patch dolls

My Shining Light Dolls came today. I left St. Nicholas at home, but I brought St. Patrick with me. It's nice to have him sitting on the computer smiling at me while I work. It's silly, but it makes me smile every time I look at him.

I've also been reading more of my Bad Catholic's Guide series. I haven't finished Wine, Whiskey, and Song yet, but I'm also reading a little bit of Good Living. I adore the writing. The humor alone is worth the price, and you don't have to be Catholic, or even considering Catholicism to really enjoy them.

In other news, I've also started on a hat for Little Bird that looks like a Cabbage Patch Dolls hair. Pigtails and yarn loop bangs. Yarn loops! Do you have any idea how hard it was to get that awful loop stitch? Ugh! I was so thankful that St. Patrick is the patron of Ireland and has heard far worse than my grumbling as I tried to make this stupid stitch work. I finally got it right, and I apologized for my less than charitable thoughts toward the inventor of the Loop stitch, the writer of the pattern, and my yarn, but still.

While my tiny Saint keeps smiling, I'm sure St. Patrick himself is continually rolling his eyes at me.

I'm hoping to finish this hat before I drop my truck off to get the alignment fixed, that way I can give it to my mom along with the blanket I bought for Little Bird. It's purple and green and has two little birds at the bottom. It's so cute! And not pink!

Why is EVERYTHING for little girls pink? You have to wait until they hit 1yr. before you get other color options! (Unless you're buying green or yellow, green and yellow are, apparently, gender neutral.) It's a color! Why? Have I mentioned how much I hate assigning genders to colors?

Do you realize that pink was considered a boy color up until the 1950s? and that the only reason it changes is because the Nazis had homosexuals in the concentration camps wear pink triangles? Blue was a girl color, because it was considered calming and delicate.

They are colors! It doesn't matter pink or blue! It's a color! How ridiculous!

Not that I'm against pink. I mean, it's not my favorite color or anything, but I don't mind it. It's just that I find it ridiculous how all that you can find, for the most part, is a wall of pastel pink!

It's a bit much, by my way of thinking.

I did make an appointment with the doctor. It's not until September, but I'll be able to make it until then. I'm hoping that, if I watch what I'm eating, I might be able to avoid a repeat performance of this morning.

Truthfully, it was easier to make the appointment than I had thought it would be. The lady on the other line was very helpful, and it made it easier. I'm still not happy about it, but such is life.

I would appreciate your prayers, especially since I have to get up early tomorrow morning. I'm praying for a good day tomorrow. If I make it to morning mass, I usually have a good day after wards.

I'm going to call it a night, and get to work on that Cabbage patch hat.
Yours always,
Tara

Ouch!

Last night, or really, this morning, was not fun. I woke up at 2am to fairly bad pain in my abdomen, just below the rib cage. The pain persisted until about 5:20, making it impossible to get back to sleep. I'm planning, much to my displeasure, to make an appointment with a doctor and see about getting it checked out. This isn't the first time that this has happened, so I figure it's something that has to be looked at.

I have no real desire to do so, mind you. I hate doctors, hospitals, and pretty much anything related to the medical profession as it applies to living, breathing human beings. Medical examiners are cool, and the anatomy of the human body is fascinating, but hospitals make me anxious. Also, the last time I was at a hospital, it was because Mom was there because of a scare with Little Bird and the chapel was closed! Who closes a chapel in a hospital? I mean, ok, so maybe the good priest can't be there all the time, need to get a little sleep himself, but seriously?

I ended up leaning against a wall in a hallway, praying for my family, and that I'd remain undisturbed while falling apart. I don't do well when family members are in danger. I actually scared the living daylights out of the poor fellow I asked about the hours for the chapel. He thought someone had died! I mean, I'm sure someone had, but not any of my someones.

I digress. Point is, I'm not a fan of hospitals. At. ALL.

I fixed my poor teddy bear before bed last night. After 20 yrs of dedicated service, my beloved Teddy (yes, his name is Teddy) has begun to show his age. I'd send him to a stuffed animal doctor, but I don't trust people. And this is a highly important member of the Ursa Fluffus family! He's been there through illness, through injuries, through moves, through new family members, through funerals, he's even talked me out of running away! (I was and continue to be a weird kid.) And yes, I do still snuggle with my teddy bear at night!

Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to morning mass for the Feast of the Assumption, and then taking my truck in to get the front end alignment fixed. After that, I'm cleaning the house. I'm hoping I'll get the chance to make a short trip down to St. Augustine Saturday. There's a mission there I'd like to see for Nuestra Señora de La Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of Milk and Happy Delivery). Maybe she'll accept prayers from a concerned older sister.

It'd also be a good chance to get some great photos. Last time I went, I didn't take any pictures. Well, okay, I took a few, but since I was there to see a friend, they weren't really pictures of St. Augustine.

My mother tends to be the shutter happy one, a fact which induced misery as a child (and I count that all the way up to the present day and beyond, truthfully. As long as I'm her child) but I enjoy taking pictures as well. I'm usually content with a simple digital camera, while my mom like the bulky professional models. Of course, I've never stopped loving the old Polaroids that spit the picture out and develop it in 10 seconds. Those cameras, and their film, should always be available to the public.

I think my writing highlights a problem I have with life very well. I'll be 22 at the end of this month....and I still feel like a kid. I have a job, responsibilities, bills...and I still feel like a kid. Nobody tells you that being a 20-something is terrifying because you're expected to "be an adult" and you barely even feel like a teenager most of the time, let alone an adult. But then I wonder if that's just what adulthood is? A bunch of people who still feel like kids, but they have a little more experience in life, and so humanity fumbles along.

Except for that weirdo who literally never smiles. Like, they are the human personification of dour, imposing old buildings, that call to mind horror stories of Nuns with rulers and pinched faces, who you can literally never imagine as children because they are made out of stone!

I don't mean the Eeyore people. The gloomy people who are really good, and sweet, and want to help, but just can't help but be a Marshwiggle and sigh. You know, those people are actually really nice, because they're love little things. Eeyore was thrilled (in his own way) to receive a popped balloon and an empty jar from his friends, even if it wasn't what they'd meant to give him, because they'd tried really hard, and they did it because they loved him.

Nor do I mean the people like Rabbit, who grouse about boisterous people, who like the quiet, who like their work, and would rather not be interrupted when they're working because it's important. They can be very generous, and really do love their friends, even if they don't always want to be around them. They're a bit fussy, and a bit stuck-up some times, but they don't mean any harm.

I mean the people who are just the human personification of stoic, and that's their entire personality. Stoic, mature, reserved. These aren't bad traits, but in this sort of person, they're stifling!

Meanwhile, I'm over here as something of a cross between all the Hundred Acre Woods' beloved inhabitants. But Piglet and Eeyore are still my favorites. I'm sure that says something about my personality (paging: Dr. Freud?) but I'm not going to look to deeply into it.

Anyway, that's all for now! I'm going to get something to eat.
Yours always,
Tara

Robin Williams, baby knits, and staying up past midnight

I got home from work last night to the news that Robin Williams is dead. Of course, everybody has to die at some time, but it's not really something I was expecting to happen. Now, I'm not a huge fan, there are actually several of his movies that I didn't like, but there were many that I loved. Regardless of whether I loved all his movies, or just a few, he was a part of my childhood, and truly it was a good part. So here's hoping.

Moving on to the next topic, baby knits! So I bought and printed off the pattern for the angel dress I'm wanting to make for Little Bird for Christmas. Now, most of the pattern make sense, but the neck band part does not. I think I understand it, but I'm not positive. Hopefully once I get to that part of the pattern it will all make sense.

I don't have to worry about it for a while though. I've got bigger things to worry about. I ordered the yarn for the shawl I'm going to make my granma, and I need to look at the patterns to see what type of yarn I need for the other gifts. I want something annoying bright for P, but that's not the point. I'm hoping to finish up the knitting for Shawna by next week, so I can move on to the pumpkin hat for Little Bird, and the Irish ale socks for me.

Also, I've been having a hard time getting to sleep before midnight. Which, of course, means I don't want to get up in the mornings. I have to tomorrow, because I always go to morning mass on Wednesday, and then I have some errands to run, including a trip back to the little Catholic store to pick up a few things. I also have to pick up my Serve safe certificate and swing into the craft shop for some more yarn. Mom wants a cabbage patch baby hat. I'm happy to oblige.

Even so, I hate when my sleep cycle inevitably hit this point. I have a hard time going to sleep, and a hard time getting out of bed.

My day today is going to be filled primarily with cleaning, and hopefully boxing some stuff up to go to Goodwill. I've got a few things to set aside, but there's a lot I just need to get rid of. There's also some stuff I need to organize, like the t-shirts for the quilt that I want to make.  Right now, they're all over my room, and they need to be together, and out of the way. At least until I'm ready to use them.

Anyway, here's hoping you have a good day, dear readers.
Yours always,
Tara

A finished chaplet, and a truck load of books

Starting with the first thing, I finally finished the chaplet of St. Dymphna that I was making for my sister.

 

The picture quality isn't the best, but you can still see it fairly well. I wasn't sure what to use as the center, since the only St. Dymphna center I could find was more than I could afford, so I ended up using a Sacred Heart center. The book My Treasury of Chaplets says "This  chaplet in honor of St. Dymphna is made up of 17 beads, 15 for the 15 years of her life and 2 for the Holy Father's intentions. This chaplet comes in red, white, or green. The red chaplet is recited in honor of her martyrdom, the white in honor of her virginity, and the green for the hope of relief of emotional disorders." 

I'm really hoping it helps her. I mean, I know it's too much to expect her to magically get better because of it, but still. Maybe it can help ground her when she's overwhelmed, you know?

I ordered a bunch of books from Amazon earlier. I think the final count was 7 or 8, not including the four Let Us Keep the Feast books that I bought in the Kindle section (a purchase I lay square at the feet of the Catholic Librarian). Most of the books were Catholic lifestyle and apologetics, though I'm pretty sure I bought a knitting book too. Yeah, I know, it's terrible that I can't remember.

I also made another purchase from knitpicks, but this time it's all pre-wound into handy little balls. Does anyone know if they'll do that for you? Because the best I can do at home it stretch the hank of yarn across two chairs and pray. 

I'm just about done with the baby knitting for Shawna. She wants me to make two extra pair of booties that are a little bit longer, so that they last a couple of months. I feel like a terrible person, but I kind of wanted to toss the yarn at her when she said that. I mean, I know those booties aren't huge or anything, but baby feet aren't that big! They probably will last two or three months, but oh well. What's one more pair of booties, right? At least until I can get started on the angel dress for little bird, that has booties with it too. Hopefully by then I won't hate knitting little shoes.

It's Monday, and so far, I still haven't heard from the Priest. I did call the Cathedral to find out when RCIA classes started. I'd really rather not go that route because I hate causing trouble for other people (i.e. my boss) but at the same time, maybe the difficulty I've been having is God's way of telling me to go to the classes. 

Anyway, that's it for right now, I'll be back on later, as usual.

Yours always,

Tara