Won't You Be My Neighbor?

An Era is coming to an end. We are getting ready to move from our first home to a new home. This is a very exciting time, but also a time of sadness. We moved into this house in January of 2004, I think. I know it was January. We had heard great things about our neighborhood, but no one could have prepared me for the wonderful people who surrounded us. They have become more like family than neighbors. We have numerous annual parties like a lot of great streets, but we also have Friday Night Cocktail Hour and countless impromptu nights of advice, venting, and simple laughter. I brought both of my babies home to this house and would not survived new-motherhood had it not been to the love and support and presence of my street. Today our neighbors across the street, know to most of us as "the boys", are closing on the sale of their house. We close at the end of the month. I will never forget this time or these people and since they are more family than neighbor's, I am expecting many more memories in the future.

Better Late than Never

I was tagged by Knitterista and Living to Tell the Tale to list seven random facts about myself. So, here goes....
1. I do not like waiting in line for food. It makes me feel like cattle. I will wait and wait for a line to go down before I get up at a buffet. This has always been a small issue for me, but lately I just can't stand it. I really don't like to wait on a table, but for a really good meal I will make an exception.
2. I have several (well, how do I put this....most people call them hobbies) that I treat like career's. It makes me happy so....whatever. Knitting. Writing. Photography. Design. Just to name a few.
3. I have anxiety attacks with the slightest bit of change in my life.....Did I mention we are moving?
4. I am obsessed with downtown/urban living. Ask any of my friends....I drive them crazy telling them how much I love living downtown and I will never, never, never move out......I am sure someday I will eat my words. :) And, yes, I live in Oklahoma City......not New York, but it is still urban.
5. I never forward on chain e-mails and I have yet to have anything really bad happen to me as a result.
6. I have a recent obsession with road runners....I don't know why, but I do.
7. Well.....I am really struggling here.....I don't ever wear pantyhose. Yuck... they make me itch. (They make my legs itch....get your mind out of the gutter.)

It is my turn to say TAG to a few bloggers I keep up with:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaanyhoo
Owen's World
Voice of an Angel
The Edmison Adoption Adventure
Ocean of Creativity
Threaded Thoughts
Madelinetosh

A Little of this and a Lot of that

A lot has been going on at our house lately.  I have been very focused on preparing our home to sell so most of my knitting, sewing, crafting supplies have been packed.  Apparently not everyone sees them as esthetically pleasing as I do.  But, the house is looking great and I am getting more excited everyday about our new home.  

I have also spent excessive amounts of time planning my renovations to my summer home in New Mexico.  I have this dream to (inexpensively) take it back to the eclectic style my great grandmother dreamed it would be.  My dad gave me a great book for my birthday called Santa Fe Style by Christine Mather and Sharon Woods.  It has given me a lot of great ideas and provided endless inspiration.  I will post more soon.....I am also working to develop a blog that focuses on this unique style.

I am still keeping up with my regular reading, writing, photography, knitting and listening to podcasts.  This really does help me keep my mind fertile for new ideas while I am loving the time I have at home with my kiddo's.  I am currently reading and loving The Ten Year Nap.  I am listening to Cast On, Creative Mom Podcast, and Craftsanity.  I am also blogging here, here, and here.  As for the pictures and the knitting.  I will post pictures when I have some finished products.  

I am really hoping to create a larger readership, so if you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to leave them here as a comment or e-mail me.  

A Great New Site

I have been on a serious hiatus from sewing.  I don't think I have even looked at my sewing machine since Christmas.  But, soon I will have a "studio" in my new house and I plan to set up my machine and start sewing again.  I can't wait.  I was further inspired when I stumbled upon this great new site.  True Up.....All Fabric, All the Time.  Here is just one of the vintage fabrics featured on the site.  

Ongoing Projects

I have been very busy with several ongoing projects. I have three UFO on the needles; a pair of wrist warmers, a hat and a baby blanket. I am constantly trying to remember to take a picture of myself. I can't seem to take a creative self portrait with such pressure....so, right now, I am going for just a picture. Here are a couple.....maybe just one.
You can see more here. I am working on a photography project for my dad. He wants to document the stained glass windows from our home church and put the photos together with the notes from the committee who designed the church in the early 1900's. It is turning out great! I will post more as it progresses. Finally, I am helping my dad put together a book for my grandmother's 80-something birthday. He found a stash of letters and photographs from over the years. One is a letter from my dad to his parents from camp as a child. She also has the Christmas card she sent her grandparents telling them about her first child. The idea is to put together a book that has the documents paired with a picture of the people from the time the letters were written. I think it is coming out really great. Here are a couple of the goodies inside.

The Christmas Card

My great grandmother as a child.

My Great grandmother and her four daughters.

I *Heart* Art

This week is the annual Festival of the Arts here in Oklahoma City. It feels like heaven on earth to me. I love to check out all of the art, sample the food, and just hang out and people watch. Yesterday I took the boys and we spent 3 hours milling around. I made them try an indian taco (the little guy loved it, the older one....not so much). Then we hit the creation station and the kids art tent.
We walked away with balloons, masks, spirit sticks, and mosaics made by each of the boys.

Today I hit the festival again with a friend. I had to try the fish taco's and look at the booths without the fear that my little tornado's would rip through a canvas. I give the fish taco an A+++ and I found a couple of pieces that I really wanted, but since we are in the process of buying a house, I held back.

Yes, you read that right.....we are moving. Not far, just a few blocks actually, but it is still an adjustment. We currently live in our first house where we brought both of our children home from the hospital. Did I mention that our neighbors are more like family than neighbors. That will be hard to replace.

I love this house....I always have. But, we need more room and I really want my children to experience public school and we are not in the greatest district. So......we are moving. We still need to sell our current home, but that will happen. At least that is what I tell myself so I can sleep at night :).

Yesterday I was catching up with Amy from the Creative Mom Podcast. She was talking about the school her boys attend. It focuses a lot on integrating art into the curriculum. I have heard only good things about our new school and most of all about its focus on art. This got me so excited....then, I think it was fate. The new school was hosting the fish taco booth at the Art's Festival. It was meant to be. Random....I know, but life has been crazy and my mind is spinning. I thought that you might want to experience some of this insanity.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is the big day. It was 30 years ago that two CPA's had a precious little girl the day before tax day.....God's little jab at mom and dad.

I love my birthday. It is almost always beautiful here in Oklahoma. Everything is new and crisp; a great way to start a new year. Today is no exception.

Saturday morning Dillon and I got up before the boys and quietly made pancakes with strawberries. We had to be sly, there was only enough for two. Then, Saturday night Dillon hosted an intimate party for me at Kam's Kookery. It was perfect. What a great husband.




I have not forgotten the gift I promised to give myself. 365 pictures of yours truly. So, here is the first shot(s). I will post many of these on my blog in different forms, but if you would like to keep better track, you can find me on Flickr.



Have a great day in honor of me! :)