I Did It

I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator's. I have written a few children's stories and have wanted to get them published. I met a woman Saturday night who was a published author, and she was the spark that gave me the courage to set this dream in motion. I have learned quite a lot from just visiting their website.

My Aunt Barbara was a writer of children's books and has always inspired me. My Aunt was also a very good illustrator who could make her stories come to life. Illustrating is one thing I don't know how to do, which is frustrating because I see the illustrations in my mind and want to put them to paper. Maybe I will take a drawing class.

I want this dream to come true and will do what is takes to get published.

Wish Me Luck!

It is a beautiful day today. I had to get up early to take Hubby to pick up a rental car, so we went out to breakfast. I wasn't much fun because I was still asleep. The weather is suppose to be beautiful, the weather mans words, but a little to warm for me at this time of year. I can't wait until Wednesday when we are to get rain and temperatures back to normal for this time of year. I will have to say that the frosty air this morning was wonderful.

I am coming along on my sweater and have knitted a gauge swatch for another sweater. This sweater will be out of Blue Sky Baby Alpaca in a chestnut brown. I can't wait to get started. One problem I am having is counting the number of stitches, my eyes are getting old and the dark color makes it difficult. I think I will have some one else check my gauge to be sure I am on gauge.

Our daughter will be with us for a little while longer. Even though she qualifies for a sizable mortgage, after looking at her finances and the college loans, it would be tight buying a house right now. She is relieved, I know she wants to get closer to work, but I don't think she likes the idea of living so far away from home. If she could find a house in Urbana, it would cut about 20 minutes off her commute. Not much but better then right now. One of these days we will know what empty nesting is, but not now.

Well I think I am going to rest a little and then do some knitting or sewing.

PS: I sent five preemie hats with my daughter down to the NICU at Bethesda Naval. I am working on more. They are so cute.

An Exciting Time of Year

This is right down the street from me.

This time of year I love. Except for this nasty warm, yes I said warm weather. It needs to be cold now. Things can get busy now, but I have to be careful I don't over do it and end up in the hospital again.

My thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and the dinner. I am hosting and love to do it. I enjoy decorating the house and the tables.

Christmas is just around the corner and I already have some gifts. I just have to make sure what I got for whom. My knitting is coming along. I need to finish the sleeves on my sweater so I can wear it. I love knitting the preemie caps for the NICU at Bethesda Naval. They are quick and so cute. I want to start on a cardigan with my Blue Sky Alpaca.

Enjoy the fall.

Fall

It is raining and cold today, I love it. If I didn't have to go out it would be perfect. I am moving along on my cardigan and can't wait to finish it. I need to work on my shawl/wrap in the alpaca. Everything has kind of been put on the back burner because of the wedding and then me going into the hospital.

I want to make some applesauce so maybe this weekend I can convince my husband to drive to the mountains and get some apples. My kids only like homemade applesauce, I guess I spoiled them in that way.

I had my 15 minutes of fame recently. Many months ago I had contributed money to the podcast Cogknitive, as I was catching up on my listening, Dr. Gemma announced that the month of August was sponsored by Susieknitster of New Market, MD.. Louise called and told me about it, so I quickly downloaded the podcasts and started listening to them. With everything that was going on I had stopped listening to podcasts. I usually listened in the car and since I couldn't drive I got out of the habit of listening to them.

I love this time of year and look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The colors on the trees are becoming prettier by the day, a drive in the mountains is called for.

Ahh Fall

The wedding went off without a hitch, the bride was beautiful and so was everyone else. I can't believe my little boy is married. We had a wonderful time in Williamsburg, VA on vacation with Darby's sister Catherine and her husband Jack. We are planning on making this a yearly thing. Next year we are going to Myrtle Beach sometime in October.

Life is getting back to normal, vacations are nice, but as Dorothy said, there is no place like home. I can now concentrate on our Study of the Catholic Church and enjoy my knitting get together's on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings.

We even got some Christmas shopping done in Williamsburg, there are only 90 some days left until the Big Day. The many Christmas Shops told us that. Thank heavens for the cool weather, I am not a summer person. I love the Fall and yes, even the winter. I just finished my shawl for the Shalimar Early Fall KAL, once I get my computer back, I need to take a picture and post it. The shawl is so warm and cozy I can't wait until it gets a little cooler.

I guess that is about it for now. With the wedding behind us, things are a little slow, but that is OK.

Today in History

I remember vividly that morning. I was watching the Today show and saw it happen. My neighbor came over and we couldn't believe it. I tried in vane to get in touch with Darby and couldn't. When I finally went upstairs to get dressed and turned on the TV I was in for a bigger shock. They were reporting on NY and the local station switch to the Pentagon, I knew it was the Pentagon before they even said anything. Darby had worked there for years and still had meetings there on occasion. Since I couldn't get in touch with him I really panicked. This was before we all had cell phones. He could have been at the Pentagon. I did finally get in touch with him and we tried to figure out how to get him home, the metro was not running. When they finally reopened metro he got home.

I will never forget the feelings of that day. I sat on my porch waiting for my daughter to get home from school. It was eerily quiet. No planes were in the air. We are over the flight path for Frederick Airport, so this really was eerie.

It changed our lives. We all got cell phones after that. We all felt a little closer to each other. It didn't bring us back to church because we always went to church, but I would say church was a little fuller after that.

Will we ever not remember I don't think so. I think this will be with us for the rest of our lives. Let us not forget to tell those who were to young to remember so it is never forgotten.

Mid Month Ramblings

The wedding is almost here, and we are glad. It will be a wonderful day, but at this point we just want it over. DH and I are going to Williamsburg, VA the Tuesday after, with DH sister and her husband. We are really looking forward to this.

My Tropical Tee is done, but a little big. I have to figure out how to pull it in. I have some ideas. I am now knitting on a shawl in Blue Sky Alpace, it is so yummy. I am also going to do the Shalimar Early Fall KAL. I am doing my favorite shawl in Missy, in the colorway Billowy.

Our daughter is just waiting to hear that the first mortgage bank has signed off on her offer for the house in Germantown, hopefully she will be a homeowner in the next week or two. Of course that means, painting, putting up fans, replacine flooring, etc. She is excited but I am sure a little scared. The house is really beautiful, it has a porch and flower garden in the front. I am sure we will helping build a deck next spring.

I am looking forward to the weather cooling down. I don't like hot weather!!

Well I am sure you won't hear from me until after the wedding, so tata for know.