SOME DAYS

Only you can 
control your future.

~ Dr.Seuss

 Some days, some hours
and even some minutes
are hard,

and when my world becomes
a little too much for me to
handle I step back, exhale,
and try to find the quiet.

 I walk my land
and soak in all
the goodness that
surrounds me.

My Mike celebrated his
53rd trip round the sun
this past weekend. With
the passing of his mama
his days have been hard,
but he always manages
to smile.

I baked his favorite
cake, German Chocolate,
from scratch that I only
bake once a year.

 While Mike had lawyerly stuff
to do in town I slipped away and
spent a few hours at my LYS,

 And now have a new pair of
socks on the needles,

 and yarn for another pair.
Andi, I found pink yarn ;)

 I've spent some time playing
with the camera and trying
to capture Miss Bette Davis's
eyes, aren't they pretty?

My sweet Twinkie even
had a few photos taken.

 I have so much to learn about
the photography thing, but it's
fun practicing each day.

My daughter Erin, son in love John,
and my favorite girl Emerson are in
Barcelona, Spain for spring break,
staying on a boat and taking in the
sights, I love this photo so much
and wanted to share it with you.

Have a most beautiful weekend my
friends,

Much love,
Tracey
XO

WEEKENDING

The world only exists in your eyes
You can make it as big or as small
as you want.

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

It's been a quiet weekend,
a good weekend.

My home was loved from
top to bottom, even moving
all the furniture to clean deep;
not something others notice, but
I know.

I've been having fun on Instagram
and can finally appreciate it's appeal.
Are you there? Let me know so I
can find you.

The rain came, but nothing like
what we experienced last weekend,
although any rain at this point just
adds to the mess.

I cast on a cowl and once that was
cast off I wound some pretty yarn
from Quince & Co. and am working
on a little hat design.

I have consumed gallons of hot tea,
sweet with raw honey and just a touch
of homemade almond milk. I do love
this cooler weather.

I tried to play with my camera, but the
mosquitoes were so bad I gave in and
headed for the indoors. That will have
to wait for another day.

I finished my book, The House We Grew Up In.
I only gave it three stars, and was sadly
disappointed.  I've started a book, Station
Eleven, something I wouldn't normally
pick up, but I've heard good things so
my hopes are high.

I laughed at the chicken harness photo
my sister sent. I wonder just how my
girls would take to being walked with one?
I need to check to see if they make an extra
large one because I have a feeling Daisy May
the turkey would do well.

I was able to see lots of photos of my daughter,
son in love and Emerson! Gosh I miss her.

Weekending with Karen

A GOOD LIFE

A good life is when
you assume nothing,
do more, need less,
smile often, dream big,
laugh a lot, and realize
how blessed you are.

The weather has been amazing
here, so much so that on my
morning walks I have needed
to wear long sleeves, and while
I know it won't last I am loving
it!

A good friend came for a visit
and brought over the prettiest
pot of mums that I tried to
photograph, but  Flat Kevin kept
photo bombing my pictures.

Because of the cooler temperatures
I spent a lot of time this week in
the kitchen puttering around.
Cheesy grits, leftover oatmeal-
chocolate chip muffins[ well, these
were for Alex, I don't eat chocolate
chips, I just don't like the taste],chai tea,
vegetable fried rice. Heavier dishes
than I normally eat, but my body
seems to be craving them and I try to
listen to what my body needs,
when I do I feel better.

The pears are ripe and I am happy
to say the squirrels left me quite
a few. I have plans to put a few
jars away for a cold winter's day.

I pulled out the never ending blanket
and maybe this year will be the year
I finally cast off.

I was able to spend some time with three
of my guys which doesn't happen often
since they all work so much. They
always bring a smile to my face and
make laugh, just wish the rest of my
family could have been here too.

I talked with my daughter, and Emerson
on the phone. They are loving Germany
and are very happy so that makes my
mama [Olie] heart happy.

I don't have any plans for the weekend,
I will just have to wait to see what
the world brings.

Enjoy your days my friends!

Much love,
Tracey
XO

PIECES OF MY LIFE

The past is always present;
our memories and experiences,
dreams and struggles, the good
and not so good, create the mythology,
the amazing stories, of our lives.

                                      [Erin posted this photo of Emerson while she is on the phone with me]

                                                              [My paternal grandmother]

It's been a week filled with::

* Just laid duck eggs still warm
    in my hand.

* A cat who thinks she can read
   and gets a little testy if you try
   to move her off the book.

* Watching the sunrise every morning,
 
* Then watching it set at night.

* Celebrating National Dog Appreciation
   Day with my almost almost 11 year old
   chihuahua Twinkie.

* Talking with Emerson on the phone, hearing
   all about her pet snail named Rascal, then
   getting a photo of her talking on the phone
   with me.

* Receiving a huge box filled with family photos,
   letters, cards and other bits of family members
   that are no longer here. Reading letters in my Dad's
   handwriting, seeing my grandmother's school memory
   book and photos of great grand parents I never knew
   except thru stories, old passports, my grandparents
   marriage license, it's a lot. My table is still piled high
   and in between the tears I am sorting it all out. I didn't
   expect to be so emotional, but for some reason I
   am a wreck.

Enjoy your weekend my friends, the last one of August.

Much love,
Tracey
XO
 
    

WEEKENDING

I came to a point where I  needed solitude
and just stop the machine of thinking and
enjoying what they call living. I just wanted
to lie in the grass and look at the clouds

~ Jack Kerouac

This weekend I did not do
the first thing on my to do
list, instead I walked, sat in
the grass and cloud watched,
knit, and dreamed.

I drove the "jeep" that is in my
care while part of my family is
in Germany up and down the
dirt road. It's like driving a tank!

I discovered "Flat Kevin" on
the floor board of the mentioned
jeep so decided he is going to hang
with me and we will send photos
of our adventures to Emerson and
then he will fly over to Germany
with me.

I played with dye and  dyed a skirt
and a shirt, I see a lot more of this
in my future.

I worked on the journal I ordered for
Emerson and I to send back and forth
to each other. Thank you for the idea
dear friend.

I talked to my mama several times on
the phone, today is her birthday and I
am lucky to have her.

Tomorrow Alex will be a Senior, he is
excited to begin, I'd rather go to the
beach ;)

Weekending with Karen

A VERY LONG WEEK

"Everyday is a new beginning, 
Take a deep breath, smile and 
start again."

Oh my goodness, between Emerson moving
to Germany with my daughter and son in love,
and then having issues with not being able to
upload photos it has been a very long week.
We won't even go into the issues I had when
I tried to start a new blog, argh! Thank goodness
I still have Google Chrome on my computer
besides Windows 10 so I am back in my space. :)

Emerson is now in Germany and they are loving
it.  I miss her so much. Thank you for the phone
calls and emails checking on me, you are the best!

I have been keeping busy to pass the time...

I did a lot of house loving [I clean when I am upset]

I finished knitting a shawl [and started a hat]

I am reading a new book [it's okay, not great, but okay]

I am doing a little Bible Journaling  [thank you Stephanie]

Baking cakes [thank you Karen]

And watching the above video over and over and over....

I hope your weekend is all that  you need it to be.

Much love,
Tracey
XO