Baby Has a New Dress!

I have finally conquered a dress pattern.....I actually followed a PATTERN!  Now, I realize it is in the miniature, but Lily is thrilled with it, and wants me to “make more!” My gathering wishes to be a bit more even, but this was great practice, and it sounds like I’ll have more practice as Christmas is knocking at the calendar door. I would love to make Lily a bunch of dolly outfits, I think she would be thrilled.  We’ll see how it turns out....we have that thing called “college application deadlines” looming overhead.

Fall Update

Well, it is Autumn for sure around here! That can only mean that you pay an exorbitant amount of money to get into the local orchard’s little Fall Festival, which than gives you the privilege of paying to ride a pony, pick a tiny pumpkin and grab a small bag of apples!  I can’t tell the girl “No!”  She has been talking about riding a pony and getting her pumpkin for weeks.  I remember last year at this time, we were anxiously awaiting Lily getting her trach out. It was a moment of thanksgiving to walk around a cold, windy fall festival that had a smokey fire at a warming station, and not freak out because my kid with a trach could NOT be around smoke....or much animal dander...So while I did pay a little bit today for all of this...it was worth it to remember what we were longing for last year, and this year....we have it!

 This last picture is of our latest server.  Gabe joined his brothers tonight at Mass as a server. He has served before at a pretty low key Divine Liturgy, but not an English Mass before.  What a handsome, sweet young man!

Enjoy your Fall!  Enjoy pumpkins, apples, cider, doughnuts (if they are vegan, that is what we are up to lately), and smokey fires!

The Fulfillment of All Desire, go get it!

By the way, one fruit of the previously mentioned visit from my friends were the varied spiritual books we shared that we have read recently.  One mentioned was http://www.amazon.com/Fulfillment-All-Desire-Ralph-Martin/dp/1931018367  It is a powerhouse.  Ralph Martin has done a terrific job of guiding us to the saints....and all of their wisdom.  His writing is so approachable.  I highly recommend this book and thanks to Maria for my gift of this book.  I love it!

Little Linen Bags

Just so you know that I still craft, and thus can still claim the word “craft” in my blog title....I am posting pictures of little gift bags I made for my girlfriends that came from my hometown to spend the weekend a few months ago.  I had a lot of fun making these linen drawstring bags that I put sample shampoos, tooth paste, etc....they loved it.  I free motioned embroidered their names on the front of their bag, and then put “My vocation is Love” with a nod to St. Therese, one of our collective favorite saints.  I also made each trim with fabric that had roses in it.  We all love our Little Flower.  I think she truly smiled on us the whole time, it was a blessed weekend.  FIve women spending the entire time together, and everyone got along splendidly.  It was fabulous.  I am so thankful for their friendship and love, and grateful to call them all my friends.

Heard in My House at 12am.....

In a tree, wondering how to be nocturnal.

Lily has a real hard time going to sleep if she has had a nap during the afternoon....so at nearly Midnight, she is still up, and having a bit of a whiny session in the floor of her bedroom as I am sitting in her chair, trying to conjole her to sleep....Older brother comes in and says, with great compassion “Oh, Lily, what’s the matter??” She blurts out in her best indignant almost four year old whine...”I want to be NOCTURNAL!! I want to stay up all night and sleep all day, but I am TIRED!”  Oh MY.  I asked her if certain animals were nocturnal...like possums vs dogs kind of thing...and she got them all correct.  Who is teaching this kid these things????

Poetry Friday

Tattoo

What once was meant to be a statement—
a dripping dagger held in the fist
of a shuddering heart—is now just a bruise
on a bony old shoulder, the spot
where vanity once punched him hard
and the ache lingered on. He looks like
someone you had to reckon with,
strong as a stallion, fast and ornery,
but on this chilly morning, as he walks
between the tables at a yard sale
with the sleeves of his tight black T-shirt
rolled up to show us who he was,
he is only another old man, picking up
broken tools and putting them back,
his heart gone soft and blue with stories. 


--Ted Kooser


So, Karen is hosting Poetry Friday, and I had to post one of my favorite Ted Kooser poems that was short enough to post here....if you aren’t familiar with Mr. Kooser, please go get one of him books....now.  He is a past Poet Laureate and amazing.  I sent him a few of my poems, I got back a handwritten postcard saying, “Hey, you know, I am sort of busy being a poet here...nice of you to write, but read my book, and you’ll hear what I would say to you anyway....read and write poetry...a lot.”  Isn’t that great? I’m just glad to get some response....gosh, it used to be The Police, now it’s some old poet....I’m getting old. 


Thanks, Karen, I wouldn’t have seen this but saw your reminder on Twitter.....cool!

Poetry

It isn’t often that I write poetry.  I love it when I do.  It is such a rush to put words together that stand off the page and paint a picture that, when I step back and look, leaves me quiet and thoughtful.  I am not sure if I write good poetry......but I write what I know.

I showed the poem below to Peter, who you will recognize as the little man I was writing about.  He read the poem, started chuckling, and said, “That is about me?”  I looked at him, as he was looking and grinning at the computer screen...with tears in his eyes.  I love poetry.

Fine Day For a Walk

It was a long day in a dark winter

and having enough of gray

we went to the local upscale mall

to soak in 

artificial happiness of the bright lights

and snappy clothes.

You, little determined man,

had a bigger plan that 

day.

Equipped with new orthodics, 

(we called them "helpers" 

for your weak ankles and low tone legs)

you decided it was a fine day 

of gray 

to walk 

Not holding onto anything, 

you marched along

in a glorious parade 

surrounded by your biggest admirers

your older brothers

who determined a long time ago

you were no sick baby.

They circled around you, 

only helping with their cheers

Propelling your tiny body down that

mall corridor as if you owned it

because you did

I held my breath

as I often have

saving it up

to expend my energy on big things

like jumping up and down

crying

as you crossed the finish line of your 

impromptu race

beating both Neil and Lance Armstrong

at two years old.

--DK