Hoppy Holidays!

While gearing up for the Holidays I knit up a little Santa Bunny hat. Iliad has been a good sport wearing it to Hands On Knitting Center and to school with me. He's been a hit everywhere he goes.
More bunny news: We have baby bunnies this morning! I had just started wondering if Max was sterile. Then Inkling kindled. They appear to be dark colors. Inkling is being very protective so I haven't dug in to see them too well yet. Two didn't make it through the birthing process. I think there may be 4 or so wiggling in the nest. I'll check in a little while.
Here they are. At least 5 little faces...

How fast 18 years go by...

Today Alex is 18! The age of majority. He has been an inspiration to me since the day he was born. He is a loving person. He is brilliant, curious, inventive, and creative. The music in his soul has been a joy to all who have known him. I am lucky to know such a wonderful young man, let alone having spent almost every day of his life with him. I hope he continues to have a wonderful life. He has so many interests and talents. May they continue to serve him well. I can't wait to see what else is in store from him.
Happy Birthday Alex! I love you!

Back to School

Summer seemed especially short this year. Paul went off for a new job in North Creek NY. The kids stayed home. There were lots of things to catch up with around the house. I've started a veggie garden again after several years of not having one. With the bunnies I wanted to make sure the poop wasn't laying around smelling up the place. The plants are loving the fertilizer. I am loving the fresh vegetables and herbs.

Claire and Justin had big birthdays this year... 16 and 30. Where has the time gone?
I waited and waited for my car to be fixed, finally gave up, and flew to New York. Good thing Paul picked up the antique spinning wheel in Arizona and drove it to NY for Stella. Without driving there was no way for me to take it. I was only at Innisfree for about 10 days. Paul's job did not work out so we had the time together. We never have time together so I guess the Universe gifted us. I guess having time alone at camp is just not in the cards for me yet.

Stella Boyer came up to pick up her gorgeous blue spinning wheel and brought the 2 bunnies I reserved from her earlier. We so enjoyed having Stella, her son, and friend Tina at camp for the day. The ladies and I have decided to get together for a spinning/knitting/crafting weekend next summer.

My birthday was spent driving into Utica/Whitesboro to pick up a little buck from Kim in Canada and two does from Joan Hastings. We were now up to 5 bunnies to drive cross country to California with us. We left camp for Ohio where Lisa from Somerhill Farm lives. We picked up Maximo, a red satin angora buck who is beautiful and so personable. In Ohio we got the remaining health certificates for bringing them into California and then got headed west again.
We had 6 rabbits stacked behind us in the Mustang convertible. Illiad, the little buck who traveled from Canada, liked putting his paws in his water dish, shaking them off, and then licking his paws instead of drinking out of the bowl. He cooled us off many a time on the way. These bunnies have such funny sweet personalities. They had a lovely time riding in and out of the hotels on the brass luggage carts. So cute.

It was so hot while we were gone, my daughter brought the 2 rabbits at home into the house. Both adult, one doe, one buck. Guess who is pulling fur and making a nest tonight... We may have baby bunnies in the morning.

I have had students for 5 days now. I was moved to a new school for the year. Our district is trying two schools as K-6 schools this year so several of our 6th grade teachers have moved to the elementary schools. It is working out well, I think. I have also been changed from a math/science teacher to a language arts/social studies teacher. I wasn't thrilled about either change to begin with, but now believe I got the better end of the deal than the teachers left behind at my old school. The reward for getting named one of the 6 "Middle Schools to Watch" in California was to have our 6th grade team broken up and get a new principal who is a micromanager and is very pushy when it comes to standardized test performance. (Not that it was needed, our school was the only middle school in the district that has passed the 800 mark. I guess the inflated CST scores the students have been coming to middle school with will be continued to be inflated in the middles school as well...

Well, hope the school year goes well for you all. I am looking forward to it. Also looking forward to puttering around the yard again, finish the bunny hutch for the new rabbits and expanding the garden around the new cages. Now I just need to get rid of the gopher...

Ahhh Summer

Let's see...what have I been doing. School for me got out the end of May. It is now July 11th and I haven't left for New York yet.
I have been working outside around the pool, patio, and garden for six or more hours a day since school got out. It's starting to look nice. The pool is filled again and the kids are using it. I have ignored my plants and yard for so long now. I lost all interest in most everything for the last couple of years. If feels good to get something in shape. Now that I finally got water that will reach where I garden I am out watering and planting like crazy. Good thing too because it is really hot.

My car is being fixed. Three people hit it in it's first year. Hope that's the charm. I am going to drive it to New York. It should be out of the shop in the next couple of days, then I hit the road. I have to carry a carrying cage for my bunnies. I am bringing back four Satin Angora bunnies. I have told a woman I will pick up her spinning wheel in Philadelphia. I am driving a Miata. Hope the weather is good because I may just need to keep the top down from Philadelphia to New York once I get the spinning wheel.
Needless to say I am traveling light. That's not something easily done for me. At least I have a spinning wheel, circular sock knitter, and sewing machine at camp already. I have to remember to take a couple of the bobbins and some fiber, and some basics for the sock knitter. Of course I need to take a couple of knitting projects too. Clothes you say? I don't remember what I left, but I do have some there. One bag with enough clothes and toiletries to get across the country and that's that.

The kids are not going to camp this year-Summer School, though they weren't offering the classes my daughter needs to take. Paul is already in New York, about an hour away from Innisfree/Cool-Shag-Na. He got a job in North Creek as Chief Mechanical Officer of a new railroad. Start-up is next week if they can get everything done. Jobs appropriate for him just aren't available in California. He's finally got a job that he deserves and can shine. Unfortunately it's on the other side of the country. Well, he or we can visit.

Before I go I still need to get two cars registered and one more fixed. It needs some suspension work and the muffler separated on Saturday. It sounds like an airplane. It's checked out and arrangements are made except for the welding of the muffler. Still need to get to the dentist and make appointments for kids to get their whooping cough shots so they can go back to school in August.
I am essentially a single parent again and hitting the road for three weeks. At least there is another mom available. Jessica, a friend of Claire's who has been living with us since before Christmas will have her mom staying with the kids while I am gone. Justin and Audra will be checking in and hopefully swimming and taking some veggies from my garden. I think all will be alright. I hope so because I really need to get away from it all for a while. I just don't know who I am anymore and need to be away from my regular life to get a grip on where I am going. The Adirondack Park is a good place for reflection on the natural world. Or should I say real world?

Ta Ta For Now...

Mother's Day a year later...

I am still blessed with a loving family. Alex and Claire are busy highschoolers. Justin and Audra are together in their own apartment and have added to the family. I have my first grandbaby, Gemma Nicole. She is the most adorable baby on Earth. I love her sweet smiles and goos. I am trying to get her to say Grandma since she has already got the 'G' sound down. I am knitting her lots of things.
I still miss Nicole. I was blessed to have her for as long as I did. Life is not and will never be the same without her.

Happy Mother's Day all!

Mother's Day 2010

Today I count my blessings. Justin, Alex and Claire are beautiful, intelligent, healthy, involved children. Audra has become a cherished member of the family as well. Though it all feels precarious with Nicole gone and my husband relocating for work for the time being. I hope all goes well for him. I hope we fare well too. As essentially a single parent again, I'll have to stay on my toes.
I really have so much to be thankful for. Friends and family have helped me get this far. I am indebted to them for their love and support. I have a steady job even if it has become harder and we've had a pay cut. We have a home. I am blessed.
Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Break is not too soon...

Here it is Spring already. I went back to work in December. Work is something to do, though stressful. Life is a whirlwind. It's all too much. Grief ebbs and flows through the days. I miss my baby. I feel lucky that I got to spend her life with her, but I still want more. Justin, Alex and Claire are wonderful children so I have a reason to still be here. It's joyful to see them progress and experience their lives. I am as lucky to be able to spend time with them. I'll just never fill the hole in my heart.

So I am planning to have a little fun for Spring Break. I've got lots to do too. The kids are playing musical bedrooms. Time to clean, paint and move furniture. Justin and Audra are fixing up the Carriage House to stay in. I want to finish painting our Spinning Headquarters and have a meet up next Sunday. I need to go to Laguna to throw a red glass heart into the sea. I'll be driving my new car with the top down if the weather permits. I hope to visit my brother and sister-in-law in San Diego too. Maybe I'll even do a little work in the yard. I am just so glad to have some time off again.

Giving Thanks

This was my hardest Thanksgiving ever. No Holiday will ever be the same without Nicole. All I have ever wanted for holidays was to have all my children home and safe. It was hard when Justin was in Afghanistan, but this is so much worse. There is a huge hole in my heart that will never be filled.
It's strange the way such acute pain can highlight the love felt for those still here. I am so blessed to have my family and friends. So many rallied around me to help me through Thanksgiving. Audra came over to bake cookies, Alex had the house full of friends, Em came to check on me, Claire secretly invited her, Takara tried to enfold us in her family's love to get us through and my brother's family Rick, Monica and Melissa hosted us at their first Thanksgiving ever in their house. We were bombarded with Thanksgiving greetings, by e-mail and snail mail. It was a wonderful couple of days. I am grateful for the loves in my life here and gone. I was so lucky to have had my parents and daughter even if I will not get more time with them. They were so amazing. I am so much the better for having known them and still loving them.
Happy Thanksgiving my friends.

Happy 16th Alex!!!

I don't know how the time has gone so fast. You were a happy, funny baby. Now a young man. I am excited to watch you grow and curious to see where your interests and achievements will take you. You make me proud. I love you <3

Happy Birthday my precious Nicole

We celebrated your life with your friends today. We all wish you were here with us. I am glad to be getting to know the people you loved and loved you better.
I miss you. It is so unfair I only had you for 25 years. I was so looking forward to the coming years as you continued to bloom. You were an amazing young woman. I couldn't wait to see where your potential would take you. You were so smart and beautiful. I wanted to have the time to hang out and just be together. Your absence leaves such an enormous hole in our lives. The world is poorer without you. Your spirit was inspiring. No one will ever forget you. I love you my darling girl.

Been in the Woods for a Week

We are still settling in. Lots of things to do. The boys have jobs now. This is their 3rd day. They are working at a Riding Stable. This is supposed to be a busy weekend. It's rained every day they have worked so far. They get there at 8 am and have been coming home about 12ish. The people running the place are going to give them riding lessons and show them the ins and outs of being a guide when they take tourists out on the trail. I would have loved that as a first job. They are doing some shoveling too. After all they are the new guys and there is tons of "fertilizer" in a horse barn...

Went yard sale-ing yesterday. Came home with a bicycle and a boat. The boys negotiated a deal on an 8 foot dinghy which we had to carry back to camp in the Expedition. Needless to say there was very little room for the kids on the way back. Alex and Mike squeezed themselves around the boat to get home. Alex literally was draped across the bottom of the boat (it was upside down). Fun stuff. I posted a picture on my Facebook page.

Happy 4th of July everybody. Hope your adventures are as good as the ones we're having at the moment.
Love Ya!!!