The Big Pleated Bag...handmande cuteness

howdy do...I decided to finish a task, you know, to make myself feel better about life and my ability to complete a few things.

It came out cute.  

Inside lining with pockets.

I'm my own worst critic...

so to me, it's not perfect, but if I saw someone else carrying it I would think, 

"wow, that is a cute bag....I bet I could make that".

You too can make it....

Warehouse Fabrics Big Pleated Bag.

Dont say I never do anything for you.

Yeah for me, I finfished something.

OCD.... i have anxiety.

I'm having anxiety.
I wake up in a freaked out state.
I'm counting.
shit
It started when one of the girls at work said we should all go back to school.
Immediately I stressed.  We?  I started feeling that feeling of being behind.  I am behind.  I am behind in life, i am behind in everything.
Then the kids.
Am I reflecting my "behindness" on them?
Of course I am.
I am stressed they will fail....
Because I am failing.
Bigger stress...Not sure what I am failing.
SEEEEEE?


I paid the bills.
I vacuumed.
I worked out....then I realized I have not RUN
I have not run in a month?
What if I can't run anymore?
of course I can run...right?

knitting.  i cant knit because I can't finish anything.
Last night I cooked the worst dinner in my life.
I have anxiety.

fuck

later
m

Raising a Smart Teen is a Pain in the Ass

Raising a teen is weird.  

I'm not sure if we can really call it "raising"…it's more like push, shove, yell, cry, threaten and a shit ton of praying.

no kid comes with a guide book and honestly, teens are super scary bizarre.

This book would do my family no good.

Here are a few of the reasons:

1.  They have access to everything.  and I mean everything.  

When we were kids we had to use the Dewey Decimal System and if you were slightly lazy or dyslexic you gave up on finding out information first hand pretty quickly. Easiest ways were National Geographic and friend of a friend system.  You had to wait for a friend to fill you in from either their big sister's experience or their own personal…and sometimes even from a friend of a friend.  You remember. " My cousin's older sister's best friend, said if you smoke Virginia Slim Menthols they taste like candy"   

Now they just google it, or learn about it on Grand Theft Auto.

2. same genre. 

 I had to read every stinking one of Judy Blume's books to learn how to semi french kiss then when it was time I still did it wrong.  Same with my period.  If I didn't have Judy Blume I would have died in 7th grade not knowing if I would EVER get my period and why did all my friends get theirs first!?

now?  they just google it and half the girls are so GMO'd up they have boobies and start their periods in 4th grade.

Let's not even talk abut the porn factor and the search for Playboys in the woods. (and don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about)

3. Drugs they have now are bad ass.  

Sure we had coke, pills and acid…pot too.  We did our share and honestly Jungle Juice and Mad Dog were probably the most dangerous for our group.  Now I have to worry about Molly, Meth and her little sister Heroin.  It's one of my favorite thoughts.  My all ready slightly stupid teen decides to try out a lil toke on a meth pipe.  Guarantees basement living and no brain growth.   That's what we need.  Let's keep the Grand Theft Auto empire alive.  Whatever happened to just eating some shrooms, getting blasted and saying…."man I'm not doing that again….well at least not for a while!"       ?

Another thing is I now have access to everything.  I liked the days when my mom said, "Have a good day at school , Honey" and that was it.  She wouldn't have known if I was dead until the street lights came home and I wasn't there.  Now with all the electronics I can track my kids every move; and honestly….I don't want to.  Some things are better off not knowing.  My mom often had an idea, but hardly ever any hard evidence and that, my, friends is exactly what kept us friendly to each other.

I'm blessed with one of those kind, smart, artsy type teens.  He is sensitive, but his own person.  He thinks in his own way and I can no longer micro- manage that.  This is where the hardest part of parenting comes in.  Letting them learn their own lessons and make their own path, even if I see it may be a hard path.  No pushing or yelling will change that when they have their own brains.  

Sometimes my kid is right and I can't outwardly agree because I am the parent.  

 Like the other day when he says, "Why do I get a zero for not taking notes in class?  That is stupid.  I'm listening…. I don't like to write and listen at that the same time…I shouldn't get a zero for that, that is stupid"  

Yes, it is stupid.  It is stupid for an AP teacher to pass out Zeros to a kid who makes A's on the tests, but that is the rule and you have to follow rules.   That is the lesson.

"Yeah, well, whatever…I guess I'm going to fail then".

Smart kid.  Honors and AP and he may just fail, not because of tests, but because of marching to the beat of his own drummer with anarchy sticks in his hands.  Learn your own lessons kid.  I'm right there with you in my mind.

Alopecia Sucks.  

plus try your teen age years with no hair.

xo,

m

When I ride, I ride

Harley and Me…I ride…sometimes I don't feel like it , but I do anyways.  I always feel better after.

Yeah, I ride in shorts.  I ride in short sleeves…sometimes I ride in heels.   Today shorts and converse.

check out the other chicks that ride

Women's Motorcycle Exhibit

Beautiful Ride...

Getting Laid on the wrong side of the age gap

The truth of the matter is…I need to get laid.  

There I said it.

If it's too much info for you, stop reading now, because knowing me it will only get worse and I dont often have control over my brain,mouth and writing.

See, I'm 44.  

I make an effort to be healthy.  I eat properly, I work out…I may not be super pretty, but I take care of myself.

I pride myself in being in pretty good shape.  

I even occasionaly shave my legs.

well, if I think someone may touch them or the sun my reflect off the length.

Back to my point.

My other half has lost interest.  I'm pretty sure it is in me, but could possibly in general.

When I asked the other day, he said…Yeah, I'm too tired…. rather just relax.

hmphf.

well…where does that leave me?

Short of getting a house boy, it leaves me to my own devices, which is never good…

or leaves me to finding another non sexual hobby…such as buying new furniture or vacationing.

Either one is fine.

Maybe I need a girlfriend.

well….

I guess I will shop online for some new shoes…

run around the lake and knit some more.

that should fix it.

I'm leaving you with a picture to make you think…it could be worse.

I'm Back, Screw you

I haven't checked in for a while.  Maybe even long enough that people have stopped reading and I can write what I want and fuck the " oooh I offended someone" bullshit.

I have brought myself down to the shitty little computer room to google a few things but first let me introduce you to Boulder Beer Mojo IPA.  This awesome hippified place has been making micro brews since 1979.  Yes, Micro brews, and they still stand up to the new brews.  I love them.  So try one.

This is Mojo IPA alc 7.2%.  mmmmm

Also, I do realize there is way too much red/orange in this picture but this is what happens when you are  redhead.  Every thing clashes.

Let's see, this week my neighborhood was flooded out, natural disaster FEMA style.  Wow…it was unbelievable.  Mother Nature is PISSED OFF and we better think about changing that situation because if she keeps this shit up, we are all in trouble.

 My area of Longmont, Co.

I have survivor guilt because I live on a damn hill.  Nothing flooded and even better yet, my flipping grass is greener than the best day in spring.  So, If I didn't have any friends before I surely have none now.

It is very strange how disasters happen and time stands still for people involved but keeps right on going for un involved.  I tried to help as much as I could for friends.  we even went down and helped random people shovel, literally, shit out of their basement. 

Most people were very thankful…but I'm going to tell you something.  There was one house in the Greens we were helping and they acted like we were their maids.  They didn't even thank my son or me.  We SHOVELED SHIT while they argued with each other about what to do with the 3 motorcycles, golf cart and BMW.  Fuck them.  I did keep it together for my 16 year old because I was trying to show him the value of volunteering and helping people out…but when they said , "ok now move this pile to that pile, we need it done in the next 45 minutes because the truck is coming".  No thank you or smile...I did it then left,(note that I did what they asked like an idiot)  with steam coming outta my ears.  

I then decided, the great mentor I am to my son….I'm not helping anyone else.  screw it.  

Survivor guilt my ass.  

Not to all reading.  

Thank you and a bottle of water goes a long way.  A hug even farther.

When situations like this arise I wonder who would come to my aide when disaster struck me?  Zen type thinking tells me immediately I should not think this way.  Yet I do.  

When my other half was in the hospital for 9 days a few years ago, I had some calls and one person actually came and took my lil kid for the day (bless her, she knows who she is)….but other than that….nothing.

you live alone you die alone you better be able to survive on your own.

I cant even imagine dealing with a natural disaster. 

Well that's my update.

I hopefully will be back soon

xo,

m

Test knit disaster

Test knit disaster, originally uploaded by v8grrl.

Bad bad dogs

Summer Vacay…what a fun time to be young

  Olive and Isobel, cousins and newly discovered best buds.

Olive went away for a trip to MI, without us.  

She met many of her cousins and fell in love with this girl.  

They were very much alike from what I heard.  

I wish we lived closer so that Olive could experience family love like I did at that age.

I can just look at these two and imagine the fun, troubles, love and teen stuff they could experience together.  

Man, to be young again and eat ice-cream in the hot midwestern heat, catch fire flys and giggle all night long at the lake.

love love love

xo,

m

they come and go

It's been a while.  

I posted this today because I am cleaning house.

Learning to let go

A skill I do not have

But a skill I am learning to practice

I need and must get on track.

Healthy mind and heart = healthy soul

So let the cleaning and learning begin.

xo 

m

Me and , well, just me

Try to make it good….do good….be good.

We can do this 

:)

this is me.  I dont take very many pics of myself, but because of the new hair, I went for it.

I always look so big in pics.  Actually I'm 5 foot tall.  This new hair added 7 inches.

The Gknight ride for Oskar Blues in Longmont.  I got a bit dressed up.

Any way, thought I would just let you know I am still alive.

I'm getting older by the minute and apparently nothing can slow down time….

Not even a great big albino afro

Friends over forty

Not sure how to say it without hurting my feelings.   But here it goes...." You are a bitch". Outspoken,  easily riled, passionate, and loyal... You will never be accepted for the fiery red head you are.
The truth : everyone wants to be a part, but no one for the long haul.  it's heartbreaking.  Hush, hush...

I can't keep friends, never could.  I'm too much.  I was raised to be independent, too independent.  As a 20 something I always kept my mouth shut.  I watched ,people do crazy things.  I watched people, cheat, lie, steal, and die and i kept quiet.  One day I said, if that was me ...I'd want my friend to say something, I'd want my friend to tell me I was going to die, or that I was doing shit that would eventually kill me...and if I heard someone in distress I would never walk away...I would help...I would call 911, because you never know.

Now at 40 something I am virtually friendless.  I have the drive bys.  The friends who call for a beer, a favor, or if they need someone to do something crazy with, but not a single friend who would stop by if something was up.  Not a friend who could look at me and say, " hey, what's up?  You look like there is something going on".

Here's a little funny humor.  I wanted to run away and leave my hubby one night ( long story) and I had no where to go.  NO WHERE!   I drove around the block, sat  in the car and cried...then went home and apologized .

I am the fun one, the vocal one and the one you can count on for pretty much anything.  I'll be there for you, even if I haven't seen you in months, because I care.  I will tell you if your new boyfriend is an asshole and that I saw him at the bar with another girl...because I care.  
But what I need ? Is a friend .  A friend to go to dinner with, sit on the couch with, laugh with and go a Vegas trip with.
A friend I know who will show up when I least expect it.

I'm here.

Write ya later
M

Knitting Aidez slowly

Yesterday we took atrip with the LYS to Mitchell, NE to do a tour of the Brown Sheep Wool Factory.  Very interesting to see how wool yarn is spun at large quantities.
We took a tour bus, which is a story in itself.  I swear to God the driver lady was drunk.  She got lost twice…yes, not once, but twice! She played Elvis on the player and drove like a bat outta hell and there was no suspension on that bus.  At one point my friend sitting next to me, looked at me and with a slight smile said, "We are going to die, aren't we?  This is going to be it, our families are going to see us on FOX news…Bus full of knitters flipped in the ditch in Wyoming "  
We laughed for a minute then both fell quiet and continued to frantically knit while trying to ignore when the drive drove onto the 'braille' sides of the road.

My project for the bus had been Aidez.  My god, I have been working on the thing for a year and still have one sleeve left to do.  It's a great cardigan pattern, one of the popular ones on Ravelry.  When I started I had thought I would try to do it in the round, but then decided to just follow the pattern, because…I never follow the pattern.  It is 3 panels and raglan sleeves.  The pattern itself has been done in many modifications and all are awesome.  It is easy although it looks daunting and although I just said that I will be happy to be done with it and move onto another.

I used KnitPicks wool of the andes bulky in a cool orange/rust color.
Here is the first parts getting blocked.  Like I said I still have one sleeve to complete, but I just wanted to see it…and see it stretched.

I did do the sleeves partially in the round then went back to flat to save time with stitching it all together.  Some of the pro knitters scoffed at that, but I like to think outside the box

I will keep you posted on the completion of this beast!

Write ya later 

m

20 day later of Alopecia….Bald

Just so you know…here it is.  20 days after the last post.

If you know any other bald young boys, send them our way.  we could start a gang.

Wait a minute, I think we had gangs like that in the 80's.  

Well, this would be the non combat boot wearing type of gangs

hahaha

xo, 

m

alopecia is a cruel friend

Alopecia sucks, update ..no hair

It pains me to post the pics, but I want other people to see that it happens, it happens quickly and they are not alone.

Although Ilin B has not come to terms, nor most likely will he ever come to terms with it, he still lets me take pics for documenting.

People always tell him to "just go bald"  

He hates it.

As he points out,  this is not "normal bald, this is odd bald" 

 Here is one of the only patches of hair that grows on the back side.  The front he has not cut for 3 years.

 You can see how smooth it is….you can also see the Native American he has in him with that nose.  Funny how 1/4 of Cherokee, or whatever it was passed right down from his dad.

 Any other small hair growth is white and fuzzy, like duck baby feathers.

He told me last night he hasn't shaved his head in 4 months, and this is it.

So the Dr was probably right.  He is heading to Total Alopecia.

This was less than 3 months ago
click the link

Well, I'm thankful for Ilin Blue that beanie hats are in style for this age group.

Not sure what he will do for any other age.

I would say: This too shall pass, but…I think I'll stick with:

It is what it is

write ya later,

m

Alopecia Sucks Update…. bummer

His hair started to come back.  

It apparently is on a 4 month schedule.

Well here's is the beginning of the next  round

These photos are right before we went to Studio Boom to get it shaved.

He left just a little in the front so that when he wears his hat , there is a bit of fringe in the front.

The third picture is the worst.

It is the first time it has started to fall out all connected istead of patches.

He tries to not be efected by it.  Plays the tough guy, but his grades are starting to reflect other wise.

It's hard to watch and not try to micro manage.

16 years old…it should be about making out and goofing off.

Not worrying about if your hat will stay on.

Veggie Pot Pies with Olive (the kid)

 So we decided to make some good hearty food for the -1 degree weather we finally got here in Colorado.  It was cold and I wanted Pot Pie.  I wanted the kind that comes in the cardboard box from when I was young.  The peas were bright green and the carrots unnaturally orange, but to me….ohhhh so good.

I searched for recipes but most were meat, or vegetarian and way too complicated, I mean, I don't want bok choy or fennel in my pot pie.  I just want yummy, thick, burn your mouth pot pie.

I took the best recipes I could find and used the basics then went ol' free form on it.

Here's the pics…(the recipe will be below)

 Get your stuff together.  Fresh chopped, but feel free to use frozen…I'm not eating it, you are.

Saute, have the kids help…more likely to eat/try it.

This looks like…well, I'm guessing if you are still reading this you know what it looks like.

It taste good, I swear.

Olive..helping.

 Make your own crust if you want, but I had 2 in the freezer.

Each pie crust (cut one…ball up and re roll) makes 2 tops.

Plop them on…brush some cream/milk on top

they don't need to be perfect…they are "rustic"

Don't forget to poke holes

Done…and HOT.mmmmmm

Recipe (give or take)  

3 large carrots chopped

3 potatoes cubed 

1 Cup frozen peas 

1 onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

1 container of button mushrooms

(feel free to use whatever you want, but this is POT PIE NORMAL)

1 box (15 oz) veggie broth

3 T. flour

Butter (yes butter)

Milk or cream

2 frozen pie shells thawed but kept cool in fridge.

sage, thyme, salt  and pepper

white vinegar

preheat oven to 350

use dutch oven or heavy bottomed sauce pot

Add butter, let melt.  add onion, sautee until translucent.  add celery and carrots, sautee for about 5 minutes until cooked al dente.  Add mushrooms and potatoes.  Now add the flour and 3T butter stir over medium heat for about a minute or so, turn the heat down if you need to.  Don't burn the flour!  just cook it until it gets kind of gloppy and coats everything.  Don't panic, It looks bad but just keep going.

 At this point I added enough veggie broth to make it look like filling.  I believe I used the entire box.  

The broth will start to thicken due to the flour.  I then added about a 1/2 C of milk/cream.

as the filling cooks it should thicken.  If it thickens too much add more milk or broth or water, watever you have.  Turn the heat down to low and add the peas….mmmmm peas. 

Now season with the seasonings to taste.  Please taste it.  Your tongue will know what it needs.

It should look about like that gross picture up there.

I turned the heat off and let it sit.

I had 4 new bowls I got from Target Home section at $1.37 a piece on sale.  They were a little big for the average kid, but Ilin, Bobby and I thought it was an ok size.  they probably hold 2 cups.

Throw what ever oven proof container over the pie shell, cut out with about an inch extra. Set aside.  Do this for all 4 dishes.  I had to re roll the dough and cut again.

Put the dishes on a cookie sheet to save you a mess.

Take a ladle and put the filling into each cup.  I left about 3/4 inch from the top.  Put the crusts on top of each dish and pinch it at the top, around the bowl edge.  Be fancy if you want, but these little buggers are impressive no matter what you do.  

brush with a little bit of milk (makes them shiny)

Poke holes in top for venting.  I put each persons initial on theirs.

cook for 45 minutes.

Take out and let sit for 10-15 minutes

Enjoy!

(be careful, they are atomic hot)

have a salad on the side to balance.

PS: if you want to make these vegen…I don't know.  sorry  If you want to add meat.  add rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken.  ( I did that for Bobby)

write ya later 

m

spread the love

365 days give or take 1/12/13 & 1/13/13

Boys will be boys.

Smells like Teen Spirit…

Or Something

365 days, look a shoulder

Sorry for the non makeup look but I have a shoulder.  Barely.

But that thing poppin there, it's an actual muscle, and with the correct lighting it would look great.

There is also a bicep but with the pasty skin it just doesn't POP like it should.  

I'm not trying to be super woman here, I'm just trying to show you the 40's aren't so bad.

Jillian Michaels and I have an understanding in my basement.

I show up for the 30 minutes and try not to quit and she will continue to tell me, "you can do ANYTHING for one minute"  which I scoff at and call her a C#*@, and continue to carry on.

Because feasibly, you really should be able to do anything for one minute, and even though I am all by myself, except for Eddie, in the basement…I don't want Jillian or Eddie to think I'm a quitter.

I also want to acknowledge that I had a wine last night at bday dinner and then at knitting the night before….so, now I have to start my clean slate over…it's not quitting it's just a hitch in my giddy up …and for the record, my giddy up is a little saggy so the hitch doesn't always hitch properly.  

But it's pretty good…trying to sober up all alone, with Jillian yelling at me, a sick kid, a teen boy who is shedding like a malamute in Georgia heat, and a husband who has taken up space on the couch and the garage.

It's all good.

It's allllll good

xo,

m

Ps spread the word…

40 is hot, and not in a cougar kinda way…

In a smart, I've been there kind a way.

The 40's rock, just earlier…and usually on the couch

365 days of my so called life

16 years ago,

this happened.

Happy Birffday, Bubba

love

m

365 days of my life

Pistol Packin Mamma part 1

I'm so frightened of guns I can hardly stand having a gun in the room…or house, or anywhere around me, unless it is strapped to an officer or military personel.
With that said I headed out to complete one of my bucket list check offs.  I realize many people have shot guns.
BANG!!! hit a plate
BANG…hit a watermelon….
drink some Schlitz…
PING….hit a Schlitz can.
That is the norm, but I'm not always normal.  I shot a shotgun ONCE in my life.
I was 10 years old or so, and my redneck hunting brothers said, "here, shoot this rifle".  There was no gun safety, I'm pretty sure there were people all over.
"Where do I shoot it?"
"Just aim down the dirt road and shoot."
Hindsight is amazing.  Aim down the road and shoot….seemed perfectly A-OK back then.  Who gives a shit if a car is coming.  This is redneckville Florida, they probably have bullet proof windows.

I remember the weight of the rifle.  Not a clue in my mind as to what I was doing.  KABaaaaAAAm!
Rifle UP…
Ass on the ground
Hysterical laughter from the brothers and
the screaming of me " I'M TELLING MOMMMMMM!"  It took at least 2 weeks for the bruise to fade.

It has been many years, and my fear of guns has never faded.  I'm very serious about not having guns around.  They scare the shit out of me.  With that in my back pocket I set out to conquer one part of my bucket list: To learn how to really shoot a gun…really, like if someone was after me, I could Angelina Jolie their ass and curve that bullet right into their head, looking all sexy and stuff. .. so I headed to the Defensive HandgunTraining of Colorado…without a gun and without a damn clue.

 Up to this weekend I had never had a gun in my hand, except for the rifle at 10.  I picked up an airsoft gun a few months ago and shot 2 shots then started demanding, "Everyone be careful…You can put a goddamn eye out with that thing!!!!"  Ruining the party that was so much fun 7 minutes ago.
I signed up and recieved a list of the equipment to bring to class.  First on the list:  150 rounds of 9mm shot.   Hmmmm . The List suggested I head to Walmart (of course it did).  This, on its own, is a nightmare for me.  I go to Walmart as often as I buy ammo or shoot a gun…But, I put my big girl panties on, checked myself in the mirror to make sure I wouldn't end up on "People of Walmart" and headed out.  I arrived at the 3rd World Country Parking Lot, parked where my car wouldn't get dinged, opened the car door, checked the ground outside my door for melted chocolate churros, gum, or vomit…and carefully made my way inside to the "sporting goods" section.
Pre Walmart, a friend had clued me in," They won't sell you Ammo if you wear a bra." (thanks Kelli)
So, I was hoping Mr Eighteen Zitty would not notice I had a bra on because I needed this stuff for my class.
I had to wait in line because apparently the ammo counter is the busiest place within Walmart, short of the $4 prescription counter and the Icee machine.  Mr Zitty looked at me and I stood up tall ,without giving away the bra fact and said, "Bullets, please."
"Um, yeah….what kind?"
"For a gun…I'm taking a class"
silence….dumb look….me, shuffling a bit….
"Wait, a minute, here…I have a list."
I hand him my neatly folded list, with nothing checked off.
As I hand it over I wonder, is this the list of a serial killer?  Shit!  No, this is Walmart, they are good with this stuff.  I watch Mr. Zitty….He does not appear to reach his hand under the counter to hit a special button.  I relax a bit.  He acknowledges the list with a small nod.
"Ok, cool.  How many you want?"
"I don't know, how do they come?"  I think to myself, do they come in packs of 3 or do you buy 1 bullet at a time?
The guy behind me starts making weird noises.  "look, I DON'T know.  What do you think?  How much are they?"  He starts pulling out boxes of 9mm shot, explaining what they do, what they are good for and the price. He never once mentions what they will kill.   "jeeeeesus, just give me the cheapies and give me 3 boxes. "  I turn around and smile at the guy behind me who apparently is irritated.
"52$"
I pay and think how that is not too much for 3 boxes of bullets. I walk out of the store feeling weird.  Like I have commited a crime, but I haven't.  I glance at my list.  It says I need a gun belt and glasses.  I'm not going back in there, no way.  I'm all ready in the parking lot…groovy cool belt and Chanel shades will have to work.
I get to my car and throw the bullets in the side seat.  I start the car and glance over.  Hmmm.  I turn the car off, grab the bag, then put the bullets in the back of the car. You know, just in case they implode, better chance of survival…plus I have a 6 pack of beer in the back seat if I get pulled over the beer, Walmart bag, and 3 boxes of bullets are not what I want on my first criminal record.
Home safely, I unpack everything and leave it on the kitchen table.  All day I walk by it thinking about how bad ass I am.  I have bullets on the table.
"It wasn't me".  I come down the stairs to see the teen in the kitchen holding a box of bullets.
"put those down! you might drop them!"  he laughs and puts them back on the table, "Why, you don't really think they will blow up do you?"  "of course not, just don't touch them….they are for my class"
"Cool, what are you shooting?"
"Damnit Ilin, I don't know…just put them down, you are making me nervous"
"ok, Ok…tell them you want to shoot Zombies."
I put the bullets back in the bag and then decide to put them back into the back of the car.  Locked.
I'm never going to make it to this class.
Yeah, shoot Zombies.  perfect.
Little did I know…Zombies.

…to be continued

New Year's and Green Juice

Happy New Year, 2013.  I slept right through it.  I did wake at 11:58, just in time to hear a few gunshots ,then right back to sleep.  

Today we started the day with cleaning of the teen's room.  2 hours of inhaling his dead skin flakes ,lost hair, and forcing him to part with clothes he has had since 7th grade.  He was finally able to sit in a clean area and start the New Year fresh.

We lounged about in our jammies, read, played the ukeleles and knit.  It was glorious.

In order to keep with the spirit ofthe new year we had our daily juice., which I am going to share .

it is kale, apple and carrot

Even the kids will drink that one.

It's a good way to get dark green veggies in.

so far this year, Life is good

xo,

m