Quotable Athena (Updated)

Update: I forgot to enter this favorite of mine.
Athena: Mama will it rain today?
Me: I am not sure, lets check the forecast.
Athena: It doesn't matter. Mother Nature does what she wants.

This girl cracks me up. Sometimes I don't know where she comes up with this stuff. Sometimes I do.In the past week she has said all of the following:

Dad is singing in a goofy voice. She hears him and says "Dad, stop singing!"

Dad: "Are you gonna beat me up?"

Athena: "Yes I am."

Dad: "Bring it on Buckwheat." (she hates when he calls her Buckwheat)

Athena: "Well I don't want to. I changed my mind cuz I love you."

A few days prior Athena was playing on her monkey bars and I told her that it was almost time for bath. I was just going to water my herbs and then I would go up to run the bath.

Mama: "I am going to run your bath. I expect you to come inside in a minute or two." Then I walk past her to go into the house.

Athena:" Don't look at me like that!"

Mama: "I am not even looking at you."

Athena: "Well you were going to, I know it."

Mama: ignores sassiness and goes upstairs, runs bath.

Athena: Comes up right away and says "Sorry Mama."

Mama: "Sorry for what?"

Athena: "Talking back to you. Its the first time I've done it and I didn't like it."

Yesterday:

A: "Mama, remember Lauryn has my stuffed up kitten named Oliver?" ( I love that she says "stuffed up" instead of stuffed.)

M:"Yes."

A: "I want it back."

M: "So go get it."

A:"By myself?"

M:"Yes. Just be very careful and watch for cars when you cross the street."

A:"Okay Mama. I'll be careful. I won't let you down!"

And just the other day, while drawing a picture she says:

"An artist draws what she wants WITHOUT anyone else telling her what to do. Right?"

Yes, you are right.

And this is the scene I encountered when I walked into the kitchen yesterday. Do you think this girl wants a pet? The one on the left is Oliver.

Stumpy

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you will know two things about me.

Number one: I love soup. Homemade soup.

Number two: I do NOT love Grackles. At all. I like nothing about them.

But... I do have a heart. And this is the ONLY Grackle I don't chase away from my feeders.

We call him Stumpy.

I wonder what happened to the poor little fellow?

Summer Studio Five

My wool order from Knit Picks has arrived. The store has so much to choose from my head was spinning first time I went to their website. And the prices! A lot cheaper than our local knitting shop, even less expensive than Michael's craft store as well. I have a lot of knitting plans this fall to squeeze in between homeschooling, housework, yoga and oh yeah, actually being a wife!

I am using this beautiful Superwash 100% Merino worsted wool for a sweater for Athena. I chose the color Avocado because green is my favorite color and I think that it will bring out Athena's green eyes as well. The pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's book Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. It is a pullover and looks simple enough for this novice knitter.

From the same book, I plan to make Athena a winter hat with ear flaps using this bulky weight Superwash Merino in the color Merlot Heather. Mmmmmm, Merlot.

And finally I chose this Wool of the Andes bulky hand-dyed 100% Peruvian Highland Wool in the colorway Avenue to make myself a Tomten jacket from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Without Tears. I liked making Athena's so much that I wanted to make one for myself.

Those are very lofty goals for the fall. I know that already. But with beautiful wool like this sitting in my front room calling out to me, how can I not knit? I may even watch a few movies while I am doing so.

A Message from Athena

Thank you Auntie Tammy

for the stuffed up dog.

I love him!

Love

Athena

All For Me

What a glorious Sunday morning I just spent. Long long overdue. I woke up around 6:30 and got my running shoes on. I was out the door well before 7 and I started my run. Actually, more like a run/walk cycle as I am just a week into the program. (two of my daughters, the ones pictured a few posts back, and I are attempting to run a 5k charity race together in October) The air was cool, the town was quiet, except for the birdsong. I encountered two women walking a dog and that was it.

I came home to a quiet house. Paul and Athena were still fast asleep. I put the coffee on and headed to the deck with... wait for it... a book. A novel. No homeschooling manual, no parenting book and no cookbook. An honest to goodness for pure pleasure only novel. The Elegance of the Hedgehog if you must know. I read, drank my coffee, watched the birds at the feeders all alone. It was pure tranquility. I did this for almost 2 straight hours. They chose this day to stay in bed past 9! A gift, just for me.I can't tell you how much this little moment in time did for my soul. I can't remember the last time I have been alone and done something for myself. I think I'll do it more often.

The rest of the weekend has been great too. My only brother and his family stopped in for dinner, golf and an overnight stay on their way to a family reunion. Athena played with her cousin for hours on end. She just turned 3 and she is something else!

They had a great time together. It is so nice to have company just one family at a time. Athena gets to know her cousins one on one. So far she has spent large amounts of time with Renee and Matthieu, Olivia and Ebony, Eric, Kenadee, Pearce and now Ella, besides the usual suspects of Abby, Josie and Eden. This makes me happy. I would like her to have close relationships with her cousins as she is technically an "only child".

To top off this fantastic weekend, so far, is the fact that we here in Saskatchewan have a long weekend. Saskatchewan Day. First Monday in August. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to plunge my 45 year old head in a bucket of ice water. It is so @#$%^& hot! And as a woman who prefers fall and winter, I can't handle the heat so I'd best get out of the kitchen.