Movin' Right Along

I love the Muppets. The original ones, from the 70's & early 80's, with Kermit & Gonzo & Miss Piggy & Fozzie & Waldorf & Statler & Dr. Bunson Honeydew & Beaker & Scooter. The original "Muppet Show" with Pigs in Space & the Swedish Chef. The movies "The Muppet Movie" and "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and "The Great Muppet Caper." I love the music and the stories and the lessons I learned - it's not easy being green (or red or yellow or blue), but it's ok & it's beautiful and I like it and it's what I want to be; never agree to help Fozzie with a joke because more often than not it will backfire or just plain not work; don't try to figure out the Gonzos in the world, just appreciate them for who they are; sometimes there are going to be people who heckle you & pick on you regardless of what you say or do; and singing loudly (in-key or out) can make a bad day better and a good day great.

How did I get on this subject again?

Oh yeah. I was going to post about how it's the end of summer and school will be starting next week here. Changes are coming, ds is going into 5th grade and dd into first. I'll be volunteering again, dance and tae kwon do will start soon, girl scouts and boy scouts will keep us hopping, and just for fun I've decided to take ballet. No, I'm never going to be a ballerina, never wanted to. It just sounded fun, and I really like the woman teaching the class. Anyway, changes are coming & I'm not sure how often I'll be posting... but having said that, I'm kind of a random blogger anyway, and I like it like that.

"Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection...
the lovers, the dreamers, and me."

I'm famous!

Well, no actually I'm not. But I did answer a survey about craft blogs and I'm one of 3 craft bloggers in South Dakota, which I think is pretty cool. Here's the link to the results, and by the way the survey is still open just in case anyone wants to add their two cents:
Craft Book Project
This survey is actually part of a woman's thesis, which I find quite amazing. I never could have imagined, years and years (and years, if you must know) ago when I was in college this strange thing called The Internet would be this big, this important, this much a part of everyday life. Way back in The Dark Ages (ie, when I was in college) the World Wide Web was young and kind of scary, and many of us weren't sure it would be around for long. I remember working at the front desk in my dorm and a friend being in the office behind me, claiming to be talking with someone in Russia. I didn't believe her, I thought it was probably someone much closer who said they were in Russia but trying to scam her. Fast forward to now and not only do I talk with people around the world but I absolutely love reading craft blogs from Norway, England, and anywhere they post in English. I salute the creator of the project and her effort, what a neat idea and wonderful execution. Great job, Alicia de los Reyes!

Aren't I crafty?

Well, no actually, I'm not. I like doing crafts, but I don't think of myself as crafty. Having said that, here are some things I've made or done semi-recently.

               Painting a bathroom should count, right?

               Family bracelet

               Gift bag

               Lanyard

               Monster for graduation gift

               Wall Organizer

Hmmmmm... maybe I am crafty after all :)

Look at what I found!

While meandering around the internet looking at anything that could keep me from doing housework, I found this wonderful post, which I am going to 100% try to figure out how to add as a button or catch or whatever it's called... someday. It's titled "Blogging without Obligation" which makes perfect sense to me - this is not a business or a necessity, but something fun to do when I have the time. Simple & to the point. Great, ain't it? Don't you wish more of life were like this?

Update before Coffee & Presents

I've been wanting to log some finished projects and haven't taken the time yet, so while the coffee is brewing and the kids & dh are playing I'm going to do just that.

Fruit Cozies

Little Piggy

Rasta Hat

Bella's Howl

Slip On Down Hat

Spike's Howl

There are a couple more, but they're wrapped so I need to get pics as they're opened. I'm pleased with how much knitting I've gotten done, and what's more I've really enjoyed it.

The coffee is done, the kids are waiting patiently, and it's a beautiful day to celebrate Christ's birth. Merry Christmas.

Updating my FOs

Short post just to catch up on my Finished Objects (FOs):

Braided Cable Handle Tote

Fetching Miten

Cafe Au Lait Beret

Octopus

Respect

"Do you work?"  Yes. I am a SAHM.

"Oh that's important."  Yes, it is. 

"It must be nice to be able to afford to do that."  Yes, I am blessed that my husband's job provides enough for me to be able to be in my chosen life work. Did you know that there are many women whose husbands make much less than mine does and stay at home also?

"I'll bet your house is always clean."  Actually I'm a horrible housekeeper. I'm ok with that.

"I'll bet you get so much done during the school day while the kids are away."  Actually I seem to find myself more away from home than at home.

"I could never do that, the kids would drive me crazy."  Even if it were what you were meant to do, they would still drive you crazy. That's their job. Mine is being at home with them.

I hear the above or variations on it a great deal, and I honestly don't get it. All parents are important. When you have children it's not a 9-5 or 7-3 or even 6-10 kind of job, it's 24/7/365 for life. It doesn't matter if you work outside or inside or beside the home, parenting is parenting. Having said that, I did always want to be a SAHM. I'm not Becky Home-Ecky or June Cleaver or Wonder Woman. I'm just me. This is my job. I enjoy it, I get annoyed by it, I have deadlines and assignments and get bonuses and have to juggle a schedule and do bookkeeping. I am a counselor, a nurse, a firefighter, a mechanic, a teacher, a janitor, a referee, a cook, a plumber, a taxi driver, a police officer, a judge, a jailer, a parole officer, a pastor, a handywoman. Can I do everything? No, of course not. No one can. I respect women who have families and work outside the home. I couldn't imagine doing your job either. But I respect that it's what you do. Please respect what I do.

PS - Becky Home-Ecky, June Cleaver, and Wonder Woman all have one thing in common: they all came from someone's imagination.