curls & chubby knees

Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, “She is a kind person” or “He surely was kind to me,” we express a very warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it we know that we are blessed. Is it possible to grow in kindness, to become a kind person? Yes, but it requires discipline. To be kind means to treat another person as your “kin,” your intimate relative. We say, “We are kin” or “He is next of kin.” To be kind is to reach out to someone as being of “kindred” spirit.

Here is the great challenge: All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are called to be kind to one another, treating one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.

-Henri Nouwen

My relationship with the internet seems to be at the very least on a prolonged hiatus. At this time I have no desire to blog, post at Flickr, record my reading habits at Goodreads, read a forum, or anything else webby. I’m still checking in at Facebook, but there’s no saying if I’ll continue.
Maybe this will change, but I don’t see it happening any time soon.

I desperately want to be sewing. There are so many ideas running around in my head. Being sick and slow is such a bummer when my brain is working overtime.

Okay, I really shouldn’t complain. I’m doing a bit better overall. Yesterday I cooked three meals, did some laundry, and cleaned the kitchen. This morning I made the dreaded oatmeal (I hate oatmeal but try to eat it while pregnant) and moderately enjoyed it with some sugar and blueberries. Later I’m going to try to get in some exercise! Yeah. Hopefully I’m not pushing things. That tends to be my way.

It’ll be awesome if I’m feeling well at Christmas. I want to bake some cookies tomorrow. Nothing fancy. Maybe some Mexican/Danish wedding cookies or chocolate chip. Usually we bake for days, but we aren’t doing that this year.

It’s been quite cold here for days on end. We get a couple of days of break and then freezing again. I’m not complaining. I’m just astonished. Wednesday things are supposed to warm up considerably and be in the 70s through Christmas.  That should be nice for travel if it really happens.

Maybe it’s the nausea, but I’m having a difficult time conjuring up an appropriate level of excitement over the Blur reunion. I can’t even feign proper jealousy of all my friends headed to London mere days before my due date. I’m jealous of the meet up to end all meet ups that will occur within a segment of my social circle, but I’m not too worked up over missing out on spending hundreds of dollars to watch a pin-sized Damon drunkenly swagger around a pencil thin Graham whilst I get crushed by crazed fanboys and scenesters. God bless ‘em, though.

To be honest, I think of Happiness in Magazines as sort of the “lost” Blur album, and I’d be fine with no new material from them (I’m scared it will be disastrous). This is so Blur-ry I expect Damon to come out wearing a tophat and bouncing on a pogo stick, Alex to sway by tossing his hair, and Dave to…. oh well, you know, lie in the grass or something…

I’d much rather go see Woodsboss, but they are always doing shows past my bedtime. Come on! One Jovita’s show is all I’m asking for. 8-10 pm and I can take the kiddo and eat!

This video is awesome. All the energy of the Weary Boys really. And why not? It’s basically the same band. Haven’t been to the Hole in the Wall since 2004! Used to leave there with lungs full of tar. Wonder what it’s like since the smoking ban.

so incredibly ill, though

This silly ratty (I believe it’s a Marsh Rice Rat) got himself chased up a tree in the backyard by the eager beagle.

Doesn’t he know that there are much better ways to spend his days?

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. - Kenneth Grahame

This is from the Henri Nouwen Society’s current weekly reflection:

Sometimes all our education fails to make us fully human. - SUE MOSTELLER

New Hotel Lights!

Also, I finished an easy knit, which is nice for my sore toes - Amy March Slippers. The pattern is by Tiny Owl Knits.

The early autumn weather here is typically bipolar. Nights dip into the low 60s and early evenings toy with the low 90s. I’ve been drinking a lot of spiced chai tea made with almond milk since cow’s milk doesn’t agree with me in large quantities. I simply brew the tea in cold almond milk and boiling water. It turns out delicious and doesn’t separate as it would if I added the almond milk after brewing.

Flicka and I have been watching lots of Road to Avonlea and cuddling under blankets in the evening. I’m working on a nursery rhyme themed vintage cardigan for her (Hey Diddle-Diddle). I will post more about when I’m done. We’ve been shopping for Halloween stuff, baking cupcakes, and adjusting to my husband’s new telecommuting job, which keeps him home but has him working long, hard hours. My desire to write has been increasing, and how pleasant a surprise that is!

Last night I broke two of my toes, and after a long day on my feet, I have to take it easy this evening. Not an easy task with a toddler, but she’s being surprisingly tame.

Coco Dal in a dress I made from a Puchi Collective pattern.

Toadstool made for the Ravelympics. My design.

Roly-Poly Mouse made for Ravelympics. My design.

Tiny Dachshund for Ravelympics. Pattern found on Ravelry.

Oscar Leroy of Corner Gas for Ravelympics. My design.

Phlox Ai in a garden party dress. My design.