An Unexpected Gift

This has been an odd year for weather. I think anyone in Canada can vouch for me. I hear the north eastern United States has been affected too. Cool spring, summer long in coming. Then it was really the summer that wasn't.

And now, we are halfway through September. We are nearing the Autumnal Equinox and the weather couldn't be nicer. In a usual year, my bedding plants would have been well past their prime. Gone to seed and likely pulled out. The perennials, too, would be long past their bloom period. But not this year.

My front flower beds are looking wonderful. The pots on the deck, still in full bloom. And this lovely unexpected gift greeted me this morning:

A late season bloom on a climbing rose. A flower just for me.

Don't You Wish?

Don't you wish you could protect your children forever? From everything?

Don't you wish you could keep them from skinning their knees when they learn to run? From falling when they learn to climb? From getting their fingers pinched in the closet doors?

Don't you wish you could protect them from the inevitable nasty comments from other kids? When they are chosen last for the team in gym class? When they answer a question wrong in school and the other children chuckle under their breath?

Don't you wish you could save your girls from the pain when that special boy doesn't call when he said he would? When she stands at the front window waiting for his car to show up, and it never does? When she doesn't get asked to the school dance? When she doesn't make the team?

Don't you wish you could save her from making mistakes as a young woman? From choosing the wrong path? From seeing the wrong guy?

Don't you wish that when these things happen to her that you could take all the grief, all the hurt, all the pain upon yourself? To save her from it? Don't you wish that she could have all of your life experience in her young life and learn from it? To trust that you know because you have been there?

But, we can't. They will fall. They will have hurt feelings. They will not be chosen. They will be laughed at. They will get the answers wrong. They will make the wrong choices. They will get hurt. Just like you did. And you will love them anyway.They will be stronger women on account of it.

And they will think these same thoughts when they have children of their own.

Yoga Update

My yoga practice has been going quite well. I manage to get on the mat about every other day.

A woeful thing happened though. My Yoga Practice for Energy VHS (yes, I still use the old format) does not work anymore. It got rewound a few too many times. Alas, it is in the garbage. Sigh.

So, I have been doing another tape called Yoga Conditioning for Your Life, again by Rodney Yee. It is about 80 minutes long. I has Sun Salutations and almost more standing poses than I can handle in one session. There are back bends, twists, seated poses as well. A very well rounded practice. In fact, during the practice I found my legs to be tested to their limit. Just as I was about to give up, we moved to some seated poses and twists.

The next morning, my glutes were oh so sore. My legs, moderately achy and my upper chest and triceps a little touchy. All confirming that I was indeed working the entire body. I am having a recurrent tightness down the right side of my neck and down across my collar bone. It is getting a bit better as the days go by but I'll have to watch it.

Twists are improving. One reason is that I am actually beginning the twist at the waist first, which is the correct way and another reason is my belly is shrinking so it is not in the way as much. This makes me happy. In fact, even in deep forward bending it isn't in the way. Yay me!!

Stamina is coming as well. I am not where I was years ago but I am slowly getting back there. One day at a time. Which, after all, is as it should be.

Namaste.

As Seen On TV

Wow, what a week. I go this new note pad from Michael's called Mom's Weekly Planner. It has changed my life! I'm not kidding.

It has ample space for filling in the little things one must do every day just to keep the family unit running smoothly. At the bottom there is another section for other notes you may need. Thanks Jen, my lovely daughter, for mentioning this too me. I LOVE IT!

I scheduled my weekly chores, added Athena's school days, a haircut, dance registration, and even exercise. The bottom section is filled with incidental jot notes. For instance, this week I have written:

*Send Lyse (sister in North Carolina) mahi mahi and salmon recipes

*Book suggestions from same sister : Water for Elephants, Happy Marriage, Fingersmith

*Listen to song by Jess (another lovely daughter) and Dann (her man)

*Eden and Jill (Lovely daughter #3 and Granddaughter respectively) over for dinner and golf on Sunday.

Have I mentioned that I love this notepad? Yes, okay, sorry.Only trouble with it is that I over scheduled my week. No fear though as there is a weekend entry spot as well. Pull tomatoes, empty Athena's pool, finish Athena's dress, knitting, groceries, library.

Moving on...

I was hanging up some ironing Athena engaged me in a conversation. It went like this:

A- "Mom, are those regular hangers?"

M-"Yes. Plastic hangers. Why?"

A- "Well you should use Wonder Hanger. It makes much more room in your closet. And if you use Bend a Hanger you can even shake your clothes and they won't fall off. They are the best hangers to get. We should buy them."

Then, in Walmart, another statement comes from that little 5 year old mouth:

"Oh, there is Smooth Away. Did you know it is good for guys too? Then you won't ever have to shave again!"

And this morning, while I was reading the paper she looked over at one of the flyers and said:

"Is that the Shark? Cuz that is the best thing you can have to keep your floors sparkling clean."

Ahem. I guess watching Scooby Doo on Teletoon Retro ain't the best idea. This is the first time she has ever seen commercials and she believes every word. That, my friends, is the power of advertising.

And I leave you with that. Have a nice weekend, and go out and get yourself a "Mom's Weekly Planner" notepad. Only 77 cents at your nearest Michael's craft store. ;)

Knitting Woes

So, I was so excited to start a new knitting project. After discussing some things with Melody, I got the necessary supplies and started out to make a fall hat for Athena. Athena chose the color which luckily enough will match her snow suit.

I had to cast on twice, due to incorrect counting and a ribbing that just didn't work out. (Of course it didn't if the number of stitches was uneven.) Anyway, after I was sure the total of stitches was correct, I set off on my first project that wasn't a scarf or slippers or leg warmers. I was eager to see how it would turn out.

I bought the wrong size of circular needles and since I don't live in a city, I decided that I would do the round by using 4 double pointed needles instead. Fine by me. I kind of got the hang of them when I made these legwarmers for Athena thanks to some over the phone tutoring from my Mother. So off I went. Stealing little moments to do a few more rows. I had just begun really. I am not the fastest knitter. Yet.

I was sitting in the front room admiring the stitches. Pretty, straight rows. Not one error. Then it occurred to me that this hat looked way too small. I picked it all up, went up to Athena, who was already in bed and tried in vain to stretch it to fit on her little head. OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!

Now here it sits. All unwound. Waiting for me to cast on again. Ughhh! I know some of you knitters can see the tell tale sign of wool that has been unwound. Can't you? Tell me I am not the only one.

If I cross my fingers, maybe the third time will be the charm.