Violet's Secret Garden

Lovely and Amazing

2012-04-27T10:04:06Z

Yesterday was Peter's and my 5th anniversary. Yep, I don't regret marrying this man. He is sweet and loving and stable and sometimes the absent minded professor. I'm less gentle than say Rosemary West to Rev John Meredith, but he does not hold that against me (I hope).

Due to the extreme generosity of my sister Treloar who babysat the kids, Peter and I got to go have an adult dinner at Blue C Sushi and then we went to the movies together for the first time since Ingrid was about 15 months old. We saw the Hunger Games (my 2nd time) We were joking that we didn't even remember what movie we saw the last time we got to go, though I do know that it was at the Crest theater and that Danielle and Eric watched her. I did look back in my journal and we saw The Dark Knight. We thought it was a Batman movie.

Apparently the kids were awesome for my sister and went to bed without a hitch. Horray!

Hiding inside

2012-04-24T10:04:11Z

The weather has been glorious the last bit, but it has its drawbacks. The biggest problem is the dry weather that is ever-increasing the pollen count. The pollen is so bad that this morning, after washing it yesterday afternoon, my car is covered in a fairly thick patina of yellow pollen. I might as well have not bothered doing it at all and just wiped my windows down so I can see clearly through them.

The increase of pollen has us all miserable. The kids are snotty all the time and cranky because of being stuffed up all the time. My fuse is shorter than normal, and even though it's been lovely outside, we've been slightly lethargic and wanting to stay inside. It's so bad that even the seasonal allergy meds like Claritin and Zyrtec are not working for any of us.

I've been looking for places that sell locally hived honey, but the store they told me about at the vitamin store is unfindable by me and the local farm that sells what may or may not be thier own hived honey is only open on weekends. We shall see if we can find something in Redmond or Woodinville, but I may have to wait until farmer's market season, which is, thankfully, soon.

Small victories

2012-04-18T11:04:20Z

We finally got the queen bed home from my mother in law's house. It only took about 2 months. First it was the rain, then the truck had a dead battery. I fixed the truck battery very easily and then it took until the weekend to do the deed.

We got to go out to visit with people and have dinner while Megan watched the kids for us. I can't even express how appreciative I am that she can and will watch the kids for us. And they love her.

We are going to go over with food to my mother in law's house for her birthday tomorrow. Apparently she's been telling Peter that she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday this year, but I think the boys have a different idea. Anyway, I thought if a good gift and need to head out of the house today to get it and run an errand.

My sister Treloar and my closest in age cousin on my dad's side, Aurora are coming over for dinner tonight. I haven't seen Aurora in far too long. We're having tacos.

I've been working on Spring cleaning the last couple of days. I got my bedroom cleaned up mostly. I need to put away laundry. While cleaning I found my favorite dress, which I thought got lost in the move and I danced with glee.

Missing

2012-04-06T04:04:00Z

I don't evenknow where my mind has been lately. I was feeling like the on-line world was really slow and no one was posting anywhere...

I was trying to figure out why my mail icon was up for having unread mail and realized that for about 2 months I've had my RSS feeds closed and so I haven't been reading them. How could I miss that?

So now I have a lot of catching up to do. That should take me a day.

On health and family

2012-04-01T06:04:01Z

My stomach has been upset a lot lately for no good reason. I've been slightly less tired than I was, but still a bit lathargic.

I got my sorry butt out of the house today. We were all going to go to Marymoor and fly a kite, but Ingrid had a meltdown and so I took Finn to the mall to play. He fell asleep as soon as we got into the car, so I took the long way and he woke up as we pulled into the parking lot. He had a good time playing with the loads and loads of kids there.

We headed home and since Ingrid was feeling better, Peter took her to the park down the street, and I met them there for the kids to play. It was very sweet. She saw Finn running toward her, and ran to meet him and gave him a hug and a kiss. Alas, Finn took off into the grass and took a faceplant, which resulted in him being COMPLETELY covered in mud. Face, rainjacket, pants, hands, all smushed into him.

I brought the poor tike home and gave him a bath.

Then my lovely husband made us a dinner of chicken quesedillas. They were good.

Clone Required

2012-03-20T11:03:03Z

I was talking to a friend today and I realized something big! My life would be so much fuller and I could be as helpful as I like to be if only I had a clone of myself.

That's right, I went there, A CLONE!

What could I do differently, you ask? Well for starters, I could have one of me take care of my children while the other gets sleep, so I wouldn't be overtired. But that is not all, oh not, that is not ALL!

I could also watch my own kids while I ventured out with friends for tea or lunch or drinks... it's not that I don't like to take them places, but there is a time and place for everything, and having relaxig tea and a good chat with someone while trying to keep track of two squirmy noisy kids isn't fun for anyone!

I could quickly go to the store to buy groceries or whatever is needed, as well as dropping Ingrid off at school and picking her up,without having the big production entourage.

I could help out a friend that needs housesitting if I were cloned, as well. I could go to Reiki share even if Peter isn't home. I could play with my kids and take a nap at the same time. I could take my husband out on a date!

It's not that I can't get a babysitter for any of those things, but sometimes it'd be vastly more convenient if it was just me, here already, knowing exactly what I want or needing nothing beyond an "I'm leaving now."

Better Citizen

2012-02-29T02:02:06Z

I must say, there's really no excuse for how complacent I have become on so many subjects. I just took a small step to becoming a better citizen of my community and of the world. I am aware that it is a very small step, but all roads have to start somewhere.

What did I do, you ask? I started ordering organic produce from a farm. I suppose I'd do one better if I just got on the bus, went to Pike Place and got organic produce from there. I say, maybe one day, but my baby steps make it less convenient for me to pack the kids in the car, try to find parking, and all that hub bub.

On top of the trying to consume more locally, I am also pondering making other changes. We're almost in a position to pay a premium for humanely made/distributed items and I'd certainly rather have less than know that I was contributing to the horrific conditions I've been reading about in the past few days which is degrading our society.

I'm not going to be all high and mighty and say that everyone should stop consuming things in the US that aren't made ethically, but I don't want to be part of the problem, so I'm thinking from here on out, whether something is cheaper on Amazon.com or not. I'll try to find it locally from a non-box store before I look there. I just wish there was a simple solution to make our communities take car of the people that support them, instead of exploiting the people that support them.

Time to start shopping more at the local PCC, and Orange Blossom, and Farmer's Market. As always I'm open to suggestions on how to change for the better.

2 years old

2012-02-07T02:02:40Z

Today I went to the party store and got some decorations for the boychild's second birthday party on Saturday. I think I'm going to try and make something resembling a Blue's Clues paw print for a cake. I'd have just bought one, but apparently they don't sell those in stores anymore, that I can find. That's okay though. I am the cake master!

We've been sso lucky with the spring-like weather that I feel like I'm going to be all sad if it goes back to being super cold. It's not predicted to be as warm over the weekend. I was hoping the kids could play outside.

ABOSAA Crossword Puzzle

2012-01-31T05:01:33Z

Sadness

2012-01-27T04:01:50Z

I have been reading the Hunger Games series and just finished it within the last hour. Then I commenced a half an hour cry.

It wasn't because it was sad really. Just some days I feel utterly cold to the world around me.

Some days I don't know why I read dystopian fiction, but I always seem to find it and read it and get wrapped up in it. I'm sure there's a lot of it out there that I haven't read, but I have read a lot of it and even taken a class in college on it.

I wonder if I read it because I had a screwed up childhood and I try to remind myself that as bad as it was, there are worse things that could happen? I wonder if I read it because I wish I could figure out what would make a utopia work and so you have to delve into all the things that DON'T work? Some days I feel utterly detatched from the world. Is reading dystopian fiction a way to make the inner feelings feel more normal?

Or it could make me so sad because I so identify with the character...Had to grow up before she was supposed to, very poor, not particularly friendly or trusting of stangers, abrasive or ill spoken words when trying to help, someone people followed, naieve, used as a pawn, never wanted to have kids so that what was done to her was not done to her kids... I'm sure there's a bunch more.

But this is all the energy I have to talk about now.

Cabin Fever

2012-01-18T11:01:23Z

it has not let up snowing since at least 6 am. That's when I woke and saw that it was snowing. The flakes are super tiny but they're coming down rapidly.

I needed some air so much, and Peter was busy with work, so I bundled up the kids and took them out to play int he snow. It took me 10-15 minutes to get over the FU world of snow feelings and stop yelling at the kids for taking mittens off. I notice when I actually just let go, I have a much better time. Who knew, right?

The snow is really tying in with my knitting right now. I got to wear my super warm newly knit snow hat and it was lovely, I think. It sort of kept slipping on my head and tilting to the side. it is mostly slipery bamboo and tencel, so I'm not too surprised it's slick.

I started a mitten last night and lo, I had to put Peter's gloves on Finn in order to keep him from taking off the mitts and having his poor little hands freeze.

I have been knitting a LOT lately. I have, since January 1, finished 2 sweaters (albeit short and sleeveless) a hat, and 4 dishcloths. I am going to finish these mitts and then I think I'm going to work on a raglan t shirt. I don't have the yarn to work on a smaller remake of the last sweater I knit, and don't think I'll be able to get to the yarn shop any time soon. Well, actually I could hope that the roads will be clear by Friday, but I don't know.

ABOSAA Swap Ravatars

2012-01-04T05:01:42Z

Hey ladies! Here's the most popular picture made into ravatar form. If you want any of the other pictures , or can't dl yours from here, let me know and I'll e-mail you.

Happy Christmas to all

2011-12-25T10:12:02Z

Feliz navidad and all that. I have to say that my children are really enjoying Christmas this year and thankfully are very appreciative. Ingrid by saying thank you a lot, and Finn with the look of glee in his eyes when he gets to play with his new toys.

Last night I put the kids to bed by getting a cookie plate for Santa and Ingrid wanted it outside the front door, so that's where we put it, and then off to bed for a listening to Twas the Night Before Christmas poem.

Then Peter and I worked on getting the gifts from the Christmas Eve gathering at his parent's house into the living room and setting up the santa gift stuff.

Ingrid woke at just after 7am and since Finn isn't as adept at opening and stuff, and was still asleep we looked to see if Sanata had eaten his cookies and got the plate off the porch and then let Ingrid open her Santa gifts. She got a ballerina leotard, ballerina shoes, and a backdrop with a castle tower, a fountian with a swan in it, and tulips. When she opened her ballerina leotard she was open mouthed awe! and the shoes the same, and then she saw the backdrop and said something super cute that I can't remember. She was so excited about that stuff that she didn't notice there was another present for her gfrom Peter and I, a puzzle with the space shuttle on it and some planets. "I LOVE space puzzles!" She loves toys and even her brother's toys he got.

He finally woke up and we let him open his tool chest and car track and train track set. He's in the Lightening McQueen pjs his Aunt Tre gave him and he got a wooden puzzle.

It's so sweet to watch the kids full of joy for new toys and games. Makes those days when I have to say, "I love my children, I love my children, I love my children," a little more tolerable.

Ravelry Swap ABOSAA

2011-12-14T01:12:01Z

Many plans, no follow through

2011-12-14T12:12:24Z

My grand idea to have neighborhoods come over and string popcorn and/or cranberries never got further than here.

I could blame my lack of good sleep, or Finn being sick, but really it's just me not doing the things I think that would be cool to do because it either is too much effort or I don't make time for them.

So let's see, what's been happinging. . .

I had plans to go out with my husband that fell through because his mother was in the ER with chest pains. She's doing much better, it wasn't a heart attack, but rather inflamation of the sack either around her heart or her lungs.

I met a bunch of the other parents at Ingrid's preschool and was informed that a little boy told his mother he was going to marry Ingrid.

We got our Christmas tree at a u-cut place. It was fun. We were going to go get one from the forest service, but they said there was 3 feet of snow blocking the way to the cutting area.

My sister and friend Megan are coming over on Saturday to make cookies and holiday treats. I might try making small popcorn balls this year on my own as well.

I did get some christmas shopping done. I have it pretty easy this year. We have spending limits and assigned giftees on my side and spending limits on Peter's side.

Megan mentioned she read The Hunger Games a few times and since I got a Kindle Fire for my birthday and it comes with a month of Amazon Prime, I used the Amazon Library and got the book to read. I am really liking it so far. I mean it's a grim sort of dystopian fiction, but it's an engaging story.

I'm still plugging away on A Breath of Snow and Ashes for the Ravelry swap that starts the first of the year. I've been asked to be the Murray Clan Chieftess and so I am.