tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87071827789729056002023-11-16T08:31:49.175-05:00Typing SunflowersI write. I make stuff. And I travel. Sometimes all at the same time. Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.comBlogger287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-91009368642038099462021-09-11T23:07:00.002-04:002021-09-11T23:36:09.453-04:00Twenty Years Ago<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Twenty years ago today, I was working onboard a ship docked in Germany. I spent the day with a friend visiting from the States — we had been out buying bunches of flowers for a colleague’s birthday that afternoon. We arrived back onboard with arms full of roses, innocently oblivious to what was happening an ocean away. <br /><br />We didn’t have reliable internet onboard at the time, and I’m still not sure how the news traveled to the ship, but I do remember feeling like we were the last people onboard to find out that planes were crashing into buildings in America. As soon as we realized the severity, we dashed to my cabin, calculating time zones to call home. <br /><br />New York City and Washington DC were each three hours from my family’s house by car. If you were to draw an isosceles triangle between the towers, the Pentagon and where the plane went down in Shanksville, my childhood hometown in Pennsylvania was pretty much smack in the middle. It felt like forever until I finally got through to my mother, who got to work that morning, only to be sent home early. The next day, she went out to purchase her first-ever cell phone — she never wanted to be unreachable again. <br /><br />The next morning, I awoke in my cocoon of a bunk bed onboard, a map of Europe pinned next to my head, with the sobering realization that the world I lived in had changed forever. Later that day, I put my visiting friend on a train bound for another part of Europe — as we clutched each other goodbye in this larger than life station, whispering for fear of our accents being overheard, we both eerily felt like we were living out some twisted scene from World War II. <br /><br />Friends that I knew in and around NYC were shaken but safe, while story after story slowly emerged of both heartbreak and heroism. <br /><br />The ship sailed to Gibraltar weeks later, picking up a satellite system which would eventually provide the crew with 24/7 Internet access. As soon as it was installed, I was at my computer each morning before my daily run to check the news headlines. I didn’t want to be caught off guard again by not knowing the news. (I’m sure 9/11 is the reason I always scan the headlines of a number of news networks on my phone before I even check my email when I wake up in the mornings.) <br /><br />We later sailed to Sierra Leone, West Africa, and as a writer there, I felt like I was drowning in stories of death and destruction from the moment we arrived. I have however, always had a wonderfully horrific way of detaching myself from a scene in order to get a story. I can interview people who have had their arms chopped off by rebel soldiers, or who are missing half their face from a medical issue, and show zero emotion while asking questions and writing notes. It is both a gift and a curse. It is what made me a good reporter in many ways for years. It has also portrayed me as a somewhat callous and non-compassionate person on the outside. <br /><br />I do still have feelings on the inside, however, and sometimes they come crashing out clumsily when nobody is watching — hours after an interview, or perhaps after five interviews and only five minutes, when I’m all alone with my notes and I replay the stories I’ve heard, in my head. <br /><br />Words carry a tremendous amount of weight. I know, because I can I feel the heaviness on my keyboard in the words as I type, depending on the subject matter. Even as a fast writer, I have always carefully considered how — and when and even why — to tell a story. I’m telling you this one because words matter — whether they are spoken, written as a story, or made in a comment on a social media post. <br /><br />I can look at 1,000 photos of the destruction of what happened on September 11th, but at the end of the day, the words spoken between Todd Beamer on United Flight #93 and the 911 dispatcher are what make me crumble. Hours after the planes crashed, we crowded into a tiny room onboard the ship to listen to the Voice of America. The words spoken over a radio are what made that day very real to a scared 26-year-old on the other side of the world.<br /><br />Because I was overseas, I didn’t necessarily experience the unwavering patriotism and the united feeling that most Americans felt immediately in the days and weeks following 9/11. What I did experience was the compassion and unity of a crew from 40 plus countries coming together to pray for a nation — and the world — to pray for peace, to pray for comfort, to speak words of life over those who survived. We didn’t have all of the information coming at us at rapid speed like we do today, firing at us from all directions, but what we did have was the knowledge that people had died, and a nation was hurting. <br /><br />That’s all we needed to know in that moment. We (even people like me) had compassion on people we did not even know. We showed kindness and love to each other, and to complete strangers. We spoke words of encouragement and support. <br /><br />So much in the world was uncertain and so much more has changed since that day — we can’t imagine life without cell phones and social media, and yet there were no cell phone photos of 9/11 as it happened — no live tweets, no Instagram posts, no Facebook status updates for people to mark themselves as ‘safe’. <br /><br />Twenty years later, the world continues to remain uncertain. <br /><br />Twenty years later, people all over the world are still hurting — not only from the scars of 9/11, but from a myriad of other tragedies — people in your own neighborhood, people across the US, people in countries most of us have never heard of with names we can’t pronounce. <br /><br />Twenty years later, our words still matter — to ourselves, to our friends, to complete strangers. That too, is something to never forget. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-8080742442929281302018-11-07T21:55:00.000-05:002018-11-07T22:01:35.742-05:00Typing Stories<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided not to do <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a> this year. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it. I have three posters advertising the month-long literary pursuit hanging in my house </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">— one for each year I 'won' </span>NaNoWriMo. For the <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-novel-idea.html" target="_blank">past three years</a>, I proved (mainly to myself) that I can crank out 50,000 words in 30 days with a loose story in between, and still survive. <br /><br />This year, though, I didn’t really feel like writing an entire novel in November. Perhaps subliminally, I didn't want to be the writer who <i>only</i> did NaNoWriMo and then never bothered to get a book published. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have also just been uncannily grumpy for a long time. I suspected that piling 50,000 words onto my schedule (and not getting paid for it) would add to my overall bad mood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve always had a cranky side to me, but motherhood has brought it out in full force. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I blame the lack of sleep and the numerous stressful events in my life, including, but not limited to, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/02/no-regrets.html" target="_blank">my brother's death</a>, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/06/moving-chaos.html" target="_blank">moving</a> to a new city (and <a href="https://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/getting-organized/moving-mayhem-tried-true-tricks-mom-whos-back/" target="_blank">moving two more times</a> within that city), having a baby, the Sailor’s promotion to Captain and haphazard schedule, a <a href="https://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/miscarriage/twins-vanish-miscarriage-memory/" target="_blank">twin miscarriage</a> and the hospitalization of my mom. (<i>Pro tip: when a crisis happens to someone you know, <a href="https://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/community/just-show-up-ways-to-show-you-care-during-times-of-change/" target="_blank">just show up</a>.</i>)<br /><br />I tried to blame my mood on everyone and everything, but in the end, the Sailor told me I needed to find my purpose. I found myself tearing up at his words, but he was right. He often is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I have been foundering for a long time, and even though deep down I knew I was sinking, he offered me a life ring. <br /><br />A year ago, I <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2017/10/pyrex-purging-and-motherhood-musings.html" target="_blank">purged a ton of Pyrex</a> and started selling stuff I no longer wanted around the house. In doing so, I realized not only how much junk I’ve accumulated over my life, but how many jobs I’ve had and how many identities I’ve carried around with me. <br /><br />I have been, among many other things, a runner, traveler, writer, thrifter, maker, crafter, daughter, caretaker, teacher, canoe instructor, cook, server, journalist, volunteer, friend, soccer player, photographer, wife. <br /><br />And then <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/03/life-expecting.html" target="_blank">I added mom</a> to that list, and everything else seemed to dissolve away, because, well — kids are intense. Of course I <i>know</i> that children are the greatest gift. But sometimes our identity gets so wrapped up in mommyhood that we forget who we were before this child came into our life. It almost feels like someone stole my identity and left me with a sleep-deprived, angry, grumpy one in its place. <br /><br /><i>Motherhood does that to a person. </i><br /><br />The Sailor told me to pray about it. And while I have always had a deep faith, over the years I have been somewhat blasé about it. For fear of offending people, I have shied away from even admitting that I am a praying person because of the reputation sometimes cast upon believers these days. <br /><br /><i>Living in the South will do that to a person. </i><br /><br />So I silently prayed for my purpose. I knew the answer before I saw the literal sign. I have a framed picture of a typewriter on my wall, near my desk that reads, ‘Your story matters... Share it with the world.’ </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Your story matters. </b></span></span><br /><br />There's a lot of truth in those three words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Within every ‘identity’ I’ve carried, I have always been a storyteller. Often the story is mine, although for years I wrote other people’s stories — tales of incredible people in far away places you’d have trouble finding on a traditional map. <br /><br />I don’t know exactly when I stopped telling stories. Mine. Yours. God’s. I think it started when <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/10/no-words.html" target="_blank">my mentor died</a>. Not many people championed my writing like he did and when he died, a little of my soul seemed to go with him. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writing is one of the few things that has stayed consistent in my life when everything else has changed. I have lived in numerous places and countries, taken on various jobs and roles, but I have always had <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/journals.html" target="_blank">my journals</a>, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-journals.html" target="_blank">my stories</a>. And for nearly 20 years, I always had JH to tell me I was on the right track — whether I needed to pursue the story or scrap it. <br /><br />Then, he was gone. And I felt like nobody reminded me to keep writing — to keep chasing stories. For over a year, I neglected this blog, not really knowing <i>what</i> to share. I wondered if people even read personal blogs anymore. Staying silent is not</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> exactly a good way to honor the legacy of the man who taught me so much about writing, however. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual writer's block.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Over these past few weeks, I tried to think back on the times when I felt the most alive, when life seemed to have the most meaning. Immediately, I saw myself in far away places. I’ve traveled a lot and it’s natural that I have amazing memories from the many locations I’ve lived. I’ve always assumed that a portion of my crankiness lately is because I live in the States now, and even though we do still travel a lot, I find myself pulling clothes out of a closet more often than a suitcase these days. <br /><br />(I do prefer suitcases.) <br /><br />For this walk down memory lane though, the location didn't matter so much as what I was actually <i>doing</i> in each of them. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> a hostel on the hill in Budapest. I had an amazing view of the city from my window, but what I remember even more is how my fingers flew over my keyboard, racing to make a deadline. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> staying up late in my shared office in Mercy Ships, somewhere off the coast of West Africa, so I’d have a moment of quiet clarity to finalize a story. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> stumbling into a cafe, stunned, scribbling notes in a rain-soaked journal after a moving visit to Auschwitz. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> drinking super strong coffee from a tiny ceramic cup, listening to the sounds of rain, while writing in a mission building in Transcarpathia, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2012/12/cyrillic-signatures.html" target="_blank">Ukraine</a>. <br /><br /><i>I remember </i>wandering to my favorite cafe in the Canary Islands, tucking myself into a corner with </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a <i>café con leche</i>, </span>while I wrote in my journal with a fountain pen. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> cradling my 3-month-old in a sling in this city where I now live, while I wrote my own eulogy to my former boss through a tear-filled haze. <br /><br /><i>I remember</i> typing out random scenes in NaNoWriMo while the Peanut slept next to me, hoping he wouldn’t kick the keyboard and delete 10,000 words. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I remember all of these things because I felt alive. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oddly, many of the things I experienced and later wrote about were not all rosy and cosy. They were messy, distressing, uncomfortable, annoying. Kind of like my life on certain days. Yet writing about them made me feel alive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been a rough few years. This past year especially has been a doozy, and I have felt less than alive, most days. Lately though, something seems to be changing. Maybe it’s God. Maybe it’s the literal sign on my wall. Maybe it’s just me unearthing what was always there. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /><br />I remember now, that I have a story to tell. </i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">MY</span></span></span></span></b></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> story matters. <br /><br />My <i>STORY</i> matters. <br /><br />My story <i>MATTERS</i>.</span></span></span> </b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />I
may not have actually published a book by the age I wanted. But I have lived more in my years than many
people ever will and I have the stories to prove it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This month, I won't get any bragging rights to 'winning' NaNoWriMo, but I am still writing a story. My story. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you'll stick around to read it. </span></span></span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-72437909654467882942017-10-31T22:56:00.000-04:002017-10-31T23:41:22.490-04:00Pyrex Purging and Motherhood Musings<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I broke a Pyrex dish about a month ago. It was only my second <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/07/pyrex-casualty.html" target="_blank">Pyrex casualty</a> ever, but it was one of my favorite patterns and dishes. In that moment, as I stared at the shards of the Butterprint refrigerator dish scattered across my kitchen floor, I decided to sell off most of my collection.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />In fact, I've gotten rid of lots of stuff lately. </span>I have never been a hoarder, but after <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/getting-organized/moving-mayhem-tried-true-tricks-mom-whos-back/" target="_blank">moving</a> (again) this summer, the thought of packing up <i>everything</i> about did me in. There was absolutely no reason to keep my Girl Scout sash from the early 1980s. (<i>You'd be amazed at what people bid on eBay for stuff like that. Clean out your closets and storage areas!</i>) And so, most of the Pyrex went off to auction, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I went a little crazy on the Pyrex collecting over the years, mainly because I traveled so much and never really had my own kitchen until later in life. While sorting photos from eons ago, I realized I took a LOT of pictures of my Pyrex. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It reminded me to pick up my camera and to actually take pictures with something other than my phone. It also reminded me that it's been forever since I posted anything on here. I started this blog five years ago — back when I seemed to have more hours in the day to take photos of stationary things like Pyrex, and to make crafty stuff to later blog about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These days of mine now are filled to the brim with cooking, cleaning, train track construction and Lego building with the Peanut, puzzles and books, mud painting and coloring, piles of laundry and dishes, and lots of refusals to nap. He is exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I can still remember my life pre-Peanut (<i>oh sleep... I still miss you...</i>) it's hard to fathom that this blog is older than he is. I feel like so much of my life has changed, not only since I started this blog, but since having the Peanut. I am now introduced as my child's mother. (<i>People never seem to remember the mother's name at child-friendly events.</i>) I just ripped apart the last thing I crocheted because I hated it, leaving me to wonder if I'm ever going to use my stash of yarn again. I serve boxed mac 'n cheese for lunch more times than I care to admit. I live for nap time, on the rare occasion it happens. I find myself constantly repeating things like 'put your pants back on'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I look back over parts of this blog and some days I'm not sure what ever happened to the old me. Well, actually the younger me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got a glimpse of her earlier in the week though, when I met someone moving overseas. Her son is the same age as mine, and she and her husband will be moving to a country near and dear to me in just a few months. She wanted to know about any helpful tips and tricks for adjusting to an international life. She was of course apprehensive, but also excited. I never asked her age, but I'm guessing it was a lot younger than mine, and I realized with a bit of a shock that I've now become that older person who doles out advice to people half my age. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw part of my former self in her though, and it made me smile. </span>I too was nervous before I moved overseas for the first time, but I also remember the excitement </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">— </span>the anticipation of adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's something I want to continue to instill in the Peanut, even when I feel old(er) and more tired than I ever have in my life. I hauled him to Scotland this summer because we had travel vouchers to use and because I wanted him to experience this incredible place where I've had countless laughs and adventures for over two decades. I hadn't been back for years, and I <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/07/wellington-wishes.html" target="_blank">missed it fiercely</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Besides the phenomenal amount of rain and mud, the acquisition of a stomach bug, and general fatigue that comes from traveling and camping with a newly minted three-year-old, the trip was pretty amazing. In all of the summers I've spent on the shores of Loch Lomond, this was certainly the most challenging, but also one of the most rewarding. I got to show my little guy one of my favorite places on the planet and he reminded me that sometimes you just need to throw a rock into a loch to feel better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He still talks about camping and canoeing in Scotland and months later, he's completely enamored with the Thunderbird rockets that his 'Aunty and Uncle' from England sent to him after our trip. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(After
at least two dozen flights to several countries
and continents with a child, I finally decided to write some travel tips <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/fly-travel-tips-tot-tow/" target="_blank">here</a>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When he wakes up an hour after falling asleep because he's overly tired from not napping earlier, I have to remember that these days are fleeting, even when I too am struggling to keep my eyes open. I have to remember that he already views life as an adventure. It's exciting for him to help make pancakes or waffles, to pour the milk, to help me put away the groceries, to wrap yarn around a tree, or to build a rocket house with sticks and leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He's
not going to care if we mix those pancakes in a vintage Pyrex bowl. He's only
going to care that I let him sit on the counter and crack the eggs. And
those are the images that I will probably never get on camera, but they'll
be imprinted on my heart forever. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We don't always have to travel far to see what an adventure life can truly be. And we don't always need a photo to show everyone where we've been. There are days when I miss my old life, but I still wouldn't trade it for the world, because I've already seen it. And now I'm seeing it through the eyes of my son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just hope he sleeps long enough for me to actually publish this post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PS: National Novel Writing Month, or <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>, starts in a mere matter of minutes! EEK! This is my third year participating and hopefully my third win. The story of why I started this insane tradition can be found <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-novel-idea.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PPS: The holidays will be here before we all know it. If you're visiting friends or family, or hosting anyone, brush up on how to be a charming hostess and gracious guest <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/vacation-2/guest-charming-hostess-gracious-guest/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-72362238918667136352017-05-14T08:42:00.003-04:002017-05-14T08:42:44.837-04:00Another Hallmark Holiday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not opposed to Mother's Day, but I certainly am not a fan of the hype we produce as a society for the day. I believe it's one of those days that kind of just keeps Hallmark cards in business. Let's face it, I'm pretty sure the Peanut did not buy me a thing, and the Sailor left only a few days ago. I'll be lucky to get a meltdown-free day from the former, and a crackly phone call off the coast of Africa from the latter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, moms should certainly be celebrated! Read my <a href="https://colorcloudhammocks.com/2017/05/born-to-float/" target="_blank">guest post</a> over at my favorite hammocking site: <a href="https://colorcloudhammocks.com/" target="_blank">Color Cloud Hammocks</a>. It's too late to order a hammock for Mother's Day itself, but really, is it ever too late to actually hammock? Get <i>yourself</i> one today. These things are awesome. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDlGLiXyHOyt0qPGsBCypzha3T9dt9qA3VVN7AsFCl4NP7cJd9tYRIXNOF0T9lzqfWMtasOs2p5CkqNDlIVc6neyaT5IgdUo_rGO1ieLH308gSxfxJZKDoA0H8jXuF3h4k-flMJw54iT7/s1600/04082011456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDlGLiXyHOyt0qPGsBCypzha3T9dt9qA3VVN7AsFCl4NP7cJd9tYRIXNOF0T9lzqfWMtasOs2p5CkqNDlIVc6neyaT5IgdUo_rGO1ieLH308gSxfxJZKDoA0H8jXuF3h4k-flMJw54iT7/s640/04082011456.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throwback to a camping trip when I didn't have to share my hammock with the Peanut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also still blogging over at the Chattanooga City Moms Blog. My latest piece is all about how <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/10-realities-older-moms/" target="_blank">I'm an older mom</a>, and the difference it makes. (<i>Hint: I'm a lot more tired than I used to be!</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, since I'm feeling a little nostalgic now as a mom myself, here's one my favorite past posts about <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day.html" target="_blank">Mother's Day</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make some paper flowers for my own mom, since I left it a little too late to grab real ones at the store. </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-46221440107140261442017-04-21T08:54:00.004-04:002017-04-21T13:14:16.717-04:00Let's Talk About Breastfeeding, Baby<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Full confession <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">time</span>: I'm a mommy. <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/shower-every-day-come-may/" target="_blank">I still shower daily</a>. I feed my kid gol<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">dfish (the crac<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">kers! Not the real fish). A</span>nd I do lots of other things I swore I'd never do as a mom. <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/eating-words-one-goldfish-time/" target="_blank">I'm eating my words, one goldfish at a time</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AND</span> I breastfeed my toddler<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span>hile I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">thought </span>breastfeeding <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">would be</span> the most natural thing on the planet (like giving birth <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span> see how <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my 'plan'</span> went sideways <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/birth-stories/10-things-wish-known-c-sections-one/" target="_blank">here</a>), there was <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NO WAY</span> I was going to nurse past one year. I didn’t really know <i>anyone</i> who nursed their babes past 12 months... if I did, they were <i>very</i> secretive about it.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I tried to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">recollect</span> friends who had babies<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> before me, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">mostly</span> remembered bottles. </span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I think about it, there are a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lot</span> of things I didn't know<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>before I had a baby. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And t</span>here's a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lot I wish I had known about breastfeeding<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, specifically. </span>So, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided it's time to be </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">honest and share my <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">story with you<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span> plus</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a few</span> things I wish I had known beforehand.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. It might <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">not be as 'natural' as you <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pictured</span>.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember that first awkward nursing session<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> with <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my son</span></span></span>. I had these grand visions of some lovely bonding moment<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">: there would be tears in my eyes from joy, my baby would be suckling like a pro<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, fairies would dance in the air, sprin<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">kling pixie dust. I jest on the latter, but </span></span>I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> did imagine a <i>magical</i> moment. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In reality<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, t</span></span>here was nothing magical about it. I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was wheeled into</span> a room full of other women </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span></span> some of whom seemed to be laboring behind curtains. I had just been sliced <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">open and stitched back to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gether, and this was the first time I was actually allowed to hold my child. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was screeching like a banshee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a hungry <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one at that. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>ailor <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">awk<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wardly <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tried</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to stand clear of the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hustle</span></span></span>, while a nurse bark<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed</span> at me<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>to hold my breast like a hamburger so <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my</span> baby could <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">get a mouthful. <i>(A</i></span><i>t this point, I hadn't eaten anything for over eight hours. I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">secretly <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">salivated over the imaginary floppy burger I found <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in my hand</span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Peanut <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">squealed and writhed and st<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ruggled</span></span> to latch and suddenly <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my illusion of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'nat<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ural breastfeeding'</span></span></span> seemed <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to vanish into thin air</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a complete hot mess (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">seriously, blazing hot one minute, freezing the next. H<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ormones, you <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">also get the blame.)</span></span></span> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nurses then stressed me out for the next few days, telling me <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that my baby needed to nurse more than five minutes at a time</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ('<i>snacking' is fin</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>e</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>, by</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> t</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>he way</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span></span></span></span></span>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I started to panic when the nurses harp<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed on about his</span></span> weight loss (<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a certain amount of weight loss is normal, particularly if mama <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">has had IV fluids <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">beforehand</span></span></span></i>). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, they made me feel like <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my baby needed for<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">mula</span></span>. (<i>I was pretty <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">adamant</span> about breast</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>feeding only<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sometimes you <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DO </span>need some help. <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/babies/breast-isnt-best-formula-feeding-clear-conscience/" target="_blank">Fed is best</a>. And if I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">needed to make a decision <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to supplement <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or if I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> wasn't able to breastfeed at all</span></span></span>, I'd mos<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t likely </span>choose an organic brand like the <a href="https://www.honest.com/feeding" target="_blank">Honest Company's non-GMO formula</a>.</span></span></span></span></i>)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2. I wish I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">had known that breastfeeding a baby wo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">uldn't</span> always take <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>F-O-R-E<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-V-E-R.</span></i></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those first few weeks, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt like I only got up from the chair to go t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o the bathroom <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">even then, I often had the Peanut with me in one hand)</span></span></span></span>. Sure, I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">caught up on books and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">television and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">news of the world<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wondered how I woul<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d ever make it</span> to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my initial g<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oal of one year,</span></span></span> with <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a child who could take up to 45 minutes to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">chow<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> down<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, only to want a snack soon after. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wish someone had told me that eventually, babies and breasts get more efficient with the process, and that I wouldn't be pinned to a chair forever. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NRMW3L6MVnURYJ132oCBDr60wfYPAsEnNhw2d2dZioCrtB4O8lfS_ODSo4l_ERtBQMOS78VD7VUcKkAE5Vq6MY9rguR-Ejm8u93SlUWCQIhTsBvZjU5HGWklGus5kPnVSZeyeN0aq00h/s1600/IMG_5088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NRMW3L6MVnURYJ132oCBDr60wfYPAsEnNhw2d2dZioCrtB4O8lfS_ODSo4l_ERtBQMOS78VD7VUcKkAE5Vq6MY9rguR-Ejm8u93SlUWCQIhTsBvZjU5HGWklGus5kPnVSZeyeN0aq00h/s640/IMG_5088.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A milk drunk Peanut passed out in Singapore. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Event<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ually, I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">did figure</span> that out, and as the Peanut and I got into a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rhythm, I learned to take <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it one day at a time. </span></span></span></span>As a stay-at-home mom, I rarely stayed home. I made sure to get out of the house <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">often:</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">shop<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ping, walking, sitting in the park, or <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">meeting a fr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iend</span></span> for coffee</span></span>. <br />
<br />
I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> found it easy</span> to simply pack a small cover or scarf, or to ensure I was wearing a nursing tank top under a shirt so that I could discreetly lift the outer shirt up<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">shirt under it</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> down (a trick a friend told me about) </span></span>and not expose<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> much at all</span>. I’m all for public nursing, but personally, I’m pretty discreet about it. You see far more of my body while I'm at the pool than you will ever see of me nursing my kid. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span> took the Peanut to <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/happy-earth-day.html" target="_blank">South Africa</a>, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/summer-recap.html" target="_blank">Singapore</a> and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/03/pictures-are-worth-1000-words.html" target="_blank">across America</a>, I never worried about <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">carting</span> around enough food. I carried the food right inside my body. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long nursing sessions or not, breastfeeding can be very convenient. </span><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. I wish someone had told me <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that schedules<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> stink</span> and that feeding on demand is totally fine</span>. </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Actually, someone did tell me this early on in my mommy game.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>One of the night nurses, seeing my <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">exasperation at the Peanut's haphazard feeding schedule (initially, he liked to s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nack often for only a few minutes at a time)</span> told <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">me to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">forget the clock<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and just feed him when he was hungry, even if it was more often than the prescribed 'every three hours'.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>I rem<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ember feeling my <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wh<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ole body rel<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ax when she told me that. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I just wish someone had reminded me daily for th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ose first few weeks,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> when I felt like gouging my eyeballs out wi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">th th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e same pen I used to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">keep track of the </span>Peanut's eating ha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bits</span></span></span>. </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Fina<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">l<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ly, </span></span>I wish I </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>had known earlier that I wasn't alone in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nursing a toddler</span>. </b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Peanut will be three years old in just a few short months and yes,
he’s still nursing. I don’t make a big deal out of it, and honestly,
sometimes I’m embarrassed to admit it, depending on who I'm talking to. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There still seems to be</span> a stigma attached to it that needs to be
eliminated, which is why I wanted to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">share</span> my story. While breastfeeding
advocates shout <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that</span> breast is best for baby, people often give the
side eye when they hear your walking talking toddler still has
‘milkies’. And the Internet trolls! Don't even get me started. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
reasons for me still nursing him are vast and varied. Believe me, I
certainly didn’t expect to go quite this long. Then again, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/03/life-expecting.html" target="_blank">I didn't even expect to have a baby</a>, so there's that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our
lives are far from conventional and we are often in a state of flux.
The Sailor is gone for months and then he returns home for months. In
the Peanut’s short life, he’s already lived in a several different
places, traveled <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to</span> three continents and slept in numerous <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">countries, states and beds</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
one thing has been consistent throughout: milkies from mommy. Does he drink milk from a
cup? Absolutely. Does he eat food like a champ. Um, yes. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since he took his first bite of 'real' food, he has technically been in the process of slowly weaning himself. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, it may seem like I'm bragging to you about nursing my <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/toddlers/little-one-big-one/" target="_blank">no</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/toddlers/little-one-big-one/" target="_blank">t-so-little guy</a> when I meet you at the library, but in reali<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ty, I just saw your <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">own toddler</span> stick his hand down <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">your shirt, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">whi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">le you <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">quickly l<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ooked around to see if anyone noticed. I know the official<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unoffic<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ial) </span></span>baby sign language for 'more milk'<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and I want you to feel like you'<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">re not the only one. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm the one who will give you details for <a href="http://www.llli.org/" target="_blank">La Leche League</a>, bec<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ause those <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ladies saved my sanity on m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ore than one <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">occasion<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">overheard you say yo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">u're <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">afraid to nurse a toddler. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I'm the one telling you all about <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">various Fa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cebook groups you should join, because sometimes, late at night<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> during a nursing session, I too needed to know that whatever I was doing w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as normal, and Google and other web<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sites were making m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e </span></span>feel like a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">freak</span> instead. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Peanut</span> doesn't <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nurse much now, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and I know </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that one of these days it will be <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the last time</span>,
perhaps without any warning. While I'm kind of looking forward to that
day (because let's face it, mama could use some new bras...) I also know
it will be bittersweet. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope I always remember how much the Peanut sometimes giggle<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s when he asks for <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'milkies'. Or when he <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reaches out and pats me on the chest, then gives me a giant <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hug<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I especially hope I will always <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">remember what a miracle <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it's been to offer him such <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nutrit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ion</span> from my own body. </span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My little guy has taken me on a journey I never imagined I'd be on, and while it hasn't always <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gone <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the way I expected</span></span>, there <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">have certainly been some of those 'magical' moments<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> — </span>even if it took us a while to get there. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-1149264224991641002017-04-18T16:06:00.001-04:002017-04-18T16:06:11.135-04:00Let's Party. Really. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not much of a betting woman, but I'm going to take a chance and assume that you have been invited to at least one party lately. It's the new 'party' of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">today</span>, where you're surrounded by people you may or may not know, nibbling on snacks (and if you're lucky, downing a glass of wine) while you listen to a friend of your hostess tell you <i>why</i> you desperately need this, that or the other, in your life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, you may have recently 'attended' a Facebook party, where someone is trying to get you to purchase books you've never flipped through, or essential oils you can't actually sample because smell-a-vision hasn't yet evolved. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I have little proof that I partied in my earlier years... the photos are (<i>thankfully</i>) rare. But I know that nearly every weekend when I lived in England, I was off to any number of friends' houses for whatever party they were throwing. Sometimes it was an actual costume party, or a sit-down fancy dress event. All I had to do was show up. Occasionally I had a bottle of wine or flowers in my hand. But I never in all of my years remember being asked to <i>buy</i> anything at the party, or even to host a party to get perks of my own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Times are changing folks, and I'm not sure I like where it's all going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every time I turn around, I have a Facebook notification for an online party. Occasionally there's an <i>actual</i> event at someone's house where wine is offered. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwlZ55RZm8DiAN-rgkYOQgCorJb96dVkhtBMPRxb_odMjM7EAwJNbO57HApSMHNQjoqmmaeomk-gz76WWqqOXhxTtKisQtJJzjvVXUHFeK7-PB657GikqTGUuwJYOKBVvicY1Y9X9rieL/s1600/IMG_2370+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwlZ55RZm8DiAN-rgkYOQgCorJb96dVkhtBMPRxb_odMjM7EAwJNbO57HApSMHNQjoqmmaeomk-gz76WWqqOXhxTtKisQtJJzjvVXUHFeK7-PB657GikqTGUuwJYOKBVvicY1Y9X9rieL/s400/IMG_2370+-+Version+2.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Don't get me wrong. I love that so many people, especially women and moms, are in business for themselves nowadays. I get it — there is a certain amount of freedom that comes with the hustle of selling stuff. I've even looked into selling some of the stuff myself for a little side income. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But now, the <i>only</i> parties I seem to get invited to are ones where people want to sell something. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am inundated with invitations from people who sell things and from friends who are hosting parties <i>for</i> those same people selling things. My eyes immediately start to gloss over my Facebook feed after a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I long for the days when a party meant I would be gathering at someone's home for an afternoon or evening of
mingling, eating and drinking with both friends and strangers. Nothing to sell, no pressure to purchase. No
photos to log on Facebook, Instagram or even a blog. There would be a slim chance someone would have an old-fashioned camera there and <i>maybe</i> you'd end up getting
a copy of a photo as proof that you wore a pink feather boa once to someone's party. (<i>As if that really happened...</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have already been sucked down a rabbit hole by a few companies... (buttery leggings, I have no use for you outside of my apartment, but by golly, I could live in you all day when I'm at home.) I have an expensive outfit not available in stores that I do not regret buying, because I live in it when I'm not wearing those buttery leggings, and I have just placed an order for some kind of elixir that is supposed to knock the Peanut out for a week straight. (<i>Just kidding... but it is supposed to help him sleep better.</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So clearly I'm not at all opposed to these parties... or else I wouldn't own some of the products. Sell on people! Good for you! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And really, who wouldn't want the perks of hosting one of these parties? Want jewelry half price? Host a
posh clothing sale. Want some buttery leggings for free? Host an online
party. Want to get your essential oils at wholesale price? Bring your
neighbors and friends to a poolside party. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I miss the days of having people over <i>just</i> to have a party. Even as an introvert, I love them. I love to throw them and I love to attend them. Our poor parking situation and apartment living (plus the Peanut's haphazard sleeping schedule) means I haven't had people over as often as I'd like to... but I really do need to remedy that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can count on one hand the number of times I've been invited over to someone's house for a non-sales 'party', or even just dinner, over the last few years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's not that I don't know anyone. I know PLENTY of people in this town. It's just that everyone seems busy selling stuff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I texted a friend the other day and said I was weary of getting invited to party after party where something was for sale — sometimes by people I hardly knew. I told her I simply wanted to have a party where people ate, drank and <i>talked</i>. No pressure to buy and sell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm thinking the invitation might go along the lines of something like this: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Remember the days when people got together to eat, drink and be merry, and the only thing you had to purchase was a bottle of something to share? </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Yeah, neither do I...) </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Which is why I'm hosting a flashback-to-another-decade-party where all you do is show up. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's right. Wear whatever clothing you want, use whatever 18-hour-stay-put lipstick you want, read whatever book you want that offers party tips, get ready to party by diffusing whatever oil you want, but leave your products to sell at home, your catalogues in the car, and your phone in your handbag. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We're going to party like it's 1999. </span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJd8f_KlxWXStIMYr_ZG87lOlvgApffqevGCZ1qyVwLxXWBd7T6-laSBHcYkn0HoGTkIoK1SoyL4rnLnxN58tA-pJsZMi3gAIGgimgA30kOBRoC75yQmHl1aR7GVPUOI9Sc1JfjUue662/s1600/IMG_1142+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJd8f_KlxWXStIMYr_ZG87lOlvgApffqevGCZ1qyVwLxXWBd7T6-laSBHcYkn0HoGTkIoK1SoyL4rnLnxN58tA-pJsZMi3gAIGgimgA30kOBRoC75yQmHl1aR7GVPUOI9Sc1JfjUue662/s400/IMG_1142+-+Version+2.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br />(And by party here, I don't mean raging crazy parties where people get into all kinds of mischief and trash my house... I mean a group of people who get together to mingle, eat and drink and maybe even dance. Card playing and/or a puzzle might also be involved, but let's not get too crazy here.) </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So who's with me on this one? <i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>PS: A word of advice, if you are in Direct Marketing, <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/fashion/how-to-not-be-that-girl-direct-sales-edition/" target="_blank">don't be that girl</a>. </i> </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-16230111154126590842017-03-17T14:10:00.002-04:002017-03-17T14:43:30.462-04:00Ocean Crossings, Cross-Stitch and Stitch Fix<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems like I haven't shared much recently at least on this blog (you can read how I'm not teaching the Peanut to share <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/child-development/im-not-teaching-child-share/" target="_blank">here</a>...) but I have to remind myself that the only deadlines I impose on this blog are the ones I make for myself. Sometimes there's simply not much to say. And sometimes I'm just saying it elsewhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, in case you've missed out on my life elsewhere, here's a recap of what's going on in my world: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:: The Sailor arrived home just in time for us to all fly to South Africa together! It has been two years since the Peanut and I were <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/happy-earth-day.html" target="_blank">there</a>. This time, he had his own seat, rather than my lap, which is a good thing because <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/toddlers/little-one-big-one/" target="_blank">he's a giant</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He's a big fan of flying, although he's still not a great fan of sleeping... anywhere. Nevertheless, we spent several weeks hanging out with Ouma and Oupa and enjoying<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>sunshine and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. We spent a lot of time outside, playing in the dirt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:: Cross-stitch. I still don't know what I was thinking of when I picked out this cross-stitch design for the Peanut's room. I started it back <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/summer-recap.html" target="_blank">in Singapore</a> over a year and a half ago, and then I barely touched it until over the holidays. I decided not to pack any knitting or crochet projects for our overseas trip <GASP> and instead, I just brought the safari stitching. I made some serious progress during the Peanut's nap time. And because he spent so much time simply playing outside, I got to sit under the tree and stitch without him wanting me to play with him every minute. Win win. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW3HlOZv-KM3-haCrzvG85WfHDC3ojPr4JdGXN3xd2UR34vUHv3WUZ18BsMXMAXl6I-xy8MCqT48I8KDIUyBRYbigUeVcLB8u3_M0XdODEnSnJWwkih6ihxSlAVqrEAtXxQsm4XWuoTdu/s1600/DSC_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW3HlOZv-KM3-haCrzvG85WfHDC3ojPr4JdGXN3xd2UR34vUHv3WUZ18BsMXMAXl6I-xy8MCqT48I8KDIUyBRYbigUeVcLB8u3_M0XdODEnSnJWwkih6ihxSlAVqrEAtXxQsm4XWuoTdu/s640/DSC_2049.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And when my mother-in-law tried to pawn off some half-finished stitching she'd started when the Sailor was younger, on me, I promised myself to finish this thing by the time the Peanut's 5th birthday rolled around. At least I have a few year's buffer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:: I signed up for <a href="http://stitchfix.com/referral/10990466" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>. My guilty pleasure TV binge used to be TLC's '<a href="https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/what-not-to-wear/" target="_blank">What Not to Wear</a>' show. I secretly hoped someone would sign me up so I could get a new wardrobe. (<i>Let's face it, I've also lived in places where I wanted to nominate the whole town simply to get people out of their pajamas.</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, with a new post-baby body, and after changing my diet and losing more weight, nothing from my former life fits. I'm not quite sure how to dress a 40-something body, while chasing after a toddler without simply wearing athletic gear all day. So for $20, I hired a stylist! I just got my first shipment and I LOVED having items handpicked just for me that actually FIT and are geared towards my life. I'm not going to lie... the stuff was pricier than I would have paid if I had nabbed it off the rack at TJMaxx, but I'm not sure I can put a price on getting the perfect pair of skinny jeans mailed right to my door without having to try on 46 other pairs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(If new clothes <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">aren't </span>your thing, feel free to read my latest post on the <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/" target="_blank">Chattanooga Mom's Blog</a> on <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/budget/savvy-secondhand-shopper-thrifting-tips-self-proclaimed-professional/" target="_blank">How to Be a Savvy Secondhand Shopper</a>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:: <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sail<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and I are mere days away from <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">celeb<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rating our 10th wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe it's been a decade since we tied th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e knot.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We've done a lot of <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/11/live-laugh-love.html" target="_blank">living, laughing and loving</a> since then.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'm excited to see where the next d<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecade of adventures take us. If you missed <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our story, you can read it <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/marriage/stories-love-love-boat/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, a word on writing. There's a lot going on in my head about the state of the world lately and I haven't really written about it publicly. I decided one day to pull out my sadly neglected journal and I scribbled pages and pages of chicken scratch (<i>seriously, if someone ever finds my journals, good luck deciphering them</i>) about my thoughts. I felt so much better afterwards and it reminded me again to regularly write in my journal more often. It really does wonders for my soul. It also reminded me to keep pursuing more writing outlets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I did. In February, I had <a href="http://www.citymomsblog.com/blog/just-wait/" target="_blank">this story</a> published in the <a href="http://www.citymomsblog.com/" target="_blank">City Mom's Blog Network</a>, the parent site of the local Chattanooga blog I now write for. I know there's a lot more in me that needs to be said. Some of it will stay in the journal. The rest though, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">time will tell</span>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy (almost!) <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spring. I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. </span> </span></div>
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Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-6197064795984202632016-12-31T16:05:00.000-05:002016-12-31T16:06:34.557-05:00Bye, Bye, 2016! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had this l<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eng<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">thy post <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nearly read<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y to go, detailing the high<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lights of our year<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. All I had to do w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as sort out photos to insert into the post. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2016/09/itching-for-fall.html" target="_blank">techn</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2016/09/itching-for-fall.html" target="_blank">ology hates me</a> in 2016, because I seem to have lost the whole thing. I p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">roba<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bly just didn't hit save when the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peanut pulled me away to read a book about cars for the 87th time. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib07Fd3IYNyeiEr4thIuHlMHA0GUz1fGbxnfKs3t4JmdECg5GBgCx0zcuZfdoA6Fsn_b59oryDXJnF9F1X2Sw-APekYHWu0kiH2jtp0fYfK3UnQWnRPDLaZvMhW4YmCHK7wmnDHga1YhG1/s1600/IMG_7965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib07Fd3IYNyeiEr4thIuHlMHA0GUz1fGbxnfKs3t4JmdECg5GBgCx0zcuZfdoA6Fsn_b59oryDXJnF9F1X2Sw-APekYHWu0kiH2jtp0fYfK3UnQWnRPDLaZvMhW4YmCHK7wmnDHga1YhG1/s640/IMG_7965.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that's okay. Because you really didn't need to rea<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d all about <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">year<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (do you really care abou<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t the mundane stuff in my life?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">!)</span></span></span> It's about to be in the past, in only a few hours! And I don't know a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bout you, but I am looking <i>forward</i> to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">saying goodbye to 2016, an<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d welcoming a new year</span></span>. And inste<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ad of detailing all of my resolutions and goals <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">right here, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">write</span></span> them into a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> planner. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>o far my only resolution is that <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going to plan more stuff. And write it down. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plus</span> just write in general<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which I have been doing. <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-novel-idea.html" target="_blank">I 'won' NaNoWriMo again</a> this November<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and although my novel wa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s laughab<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">le (and not because it was a comedy) I'm proud <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of myself for sticking it out and getting another 50,000 words done. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plus I've been contr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ibu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ing regularly to the <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/" target="_blank">Chattanooga Mom's Blog</a>. </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can read my latest post <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about my love <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of traditional snail mail Christmas gre<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">etings</span></span></span> <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/simple-living/seasons-greetings-long-live-snail-mail/" target="_blank">here</a>.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> any of you soon-to-be-<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">parents</span></span></span></span>, you can read all about how not to break the bank <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/new-mom/buying-baby-without-breaking-budget-mom-thing-cheaply/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you'll excu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">se me, that planner is calling<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, not to mention the Peanut. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year! May 2017 be ama<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">zing<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for you!</span> </span> </span></span></span> </span></div>
<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-78371221190576272272016-10-31T14:08:00.003-04:002016-10-31T14:13:31.332-04:00Unraveling<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Ya'll... </i>I questioned our move <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span>outh <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ALL</span> summer. Our city ranked in the top 5 in the nation for hottest summer. We had 90 plus days of 90 degree weather. It FINALLY cooled off <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">last</span> week<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">only to have the temperatures rise back into the 80s this week. We STILL have the AC on at night. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other day, the Sailor wanted to <i>braai</i> some lamb chops we <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">received</span> from our farm CSA. I said we could do it<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> later in the week</span>. He looked at me earnestly and said the weather would be changing: he'd better do it that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seriously, folks. He acted like Snowmaggedon was coming <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to the South</span>. The weather did drop, it got windy, but it wasn't <i>that</i> bad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, it did at least turn<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> the leave<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s their gl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">orious colors. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">E</span>ven though we went <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to a local farm and it was bla<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">zing <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hot out, the Peanut still looked super cute<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> trying to find a pum<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pkin</span></span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do love a good seasonal change<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (even though it heated right back up!)</span> It makes me want to purge closets, sort craft supplies and start cooking new <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">meals, in between our days spent at the park, the zoo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and the aquarium. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm also sorting digital data. I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> menti<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oned in <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2016/09/itching-for-fall.html" target="_blank">my last post</a> that </span></span>Walter, my beloved <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iMac of six years, finally <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">packed up<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>(RIP). The Sailor managed to get the hard drive out of him, and I've been sorting t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hrough the innumerable pho<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tos I had stored on the compu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ter. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a TON. I was heavily into <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the camera club, photo shows, and a new iPhone, not to mention a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> vintage craze, </span>and I ha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n <i>insane</i></span> amount of pictures taking up space. So, this past week, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been sorting<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">shu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ffling and<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> delet<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ing. (<i>Seriously, why do I have s</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>ooo many photos of Pyrex bowls I </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>no longer even own?!</i>) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also decided to ge<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t a few cool weather items <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">out of</span> the closet,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> when</span></span></span> I found <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/12/bedtime-beading.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">this </span>scarf</a> I'd made, full of holes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moth holes. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<i>Insert s</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>hriek of horror.</i>)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was not impressed. I'm <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">quite <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tidy and t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he</span></span></span> thought of having moths in our closet freaked me out. (<i>Not unlike the mold fiasco of a few years ago, in our tiny<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and fairly </span>grotty, PA apartment.</i>) I am meticulous about keeping my wool yarn and other goodies storied in plastic and away from moth potential. I guess I'd forgotten about this beaded scarf. In fact, I took it out and wondered if I shouldn't just give it away, because I never wore it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span>he holes answered the question for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems to be a theme here... nearly everything I've knitted over the past few years, I've <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unraveled</span>. Apart from the toys and sweaters I've made for the Peanut, I've ripped apart countless sweaters and things that I made for myself. And then I s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tare at that pile of spaghetti yarn and wonder <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">if it was all worth it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes my life feels a bit the same. I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">often seem <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2016/03/spring-reset.html" target="_blank">to be unraveling something</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for one reason or another. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes stuff I wanted to accomplish goes by the wayside. The Sailor could <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ret<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">urn to work a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ny day, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">without much notice, giving us occasional grief with planning anything. My attempt to create deep friendships <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">here has so fa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r failed miserabl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>The slipper business I hoped to start by the end of the year has taken a backseat<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for the mom<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ent.</span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, I need to make my mom a new pair, because <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2012/12/felt-clogs.html" target="_blank">her<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> slippers</span></a> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">are nearly four years old, and </span>have been well-loved</span>. (<i>Sidenote</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>: until the moth issue is under contr</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>ol, I'm freaking out about having ANY wool </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>laying around<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, plastic bags <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or not</span></span></i>.) </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So instead of k<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nitting much these days,</span></span> I'm working on <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">this</span> cross stitch monstrosity I started last year <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/summer-recap.html" target="_blank">in Singapore</a>. I decided I needed a little break from <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">yarn <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">projects,</span> and I want<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to finish this before the Peanut turns 16. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been thinking a lot about how seasons change <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">— not only <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with the w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eather, but in life. When I started this blog, I was crafting <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and taking photos like crazy. I was part of a knitting guild and a camera clu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">b</span>. I had time to thrift and hunt for vintage treasures, and I s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pent long days at coffee shops planning p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rojects<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. My giant archive of photos is a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">testament<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to the cop<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ious cups of coffee I drank, the Pyrex I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">collected and the crafts I created. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmXlXMlK5TUvh_4d2nNkBJ2LC5cIkfpWUi0W7fpxihXGlhnJw38Dqow8hWZIvMICsWngyPZKgcyXnKvhA4p_9dnk9EJrlGxml1rvodWvnY3_YAuXn58rXTxRKB02yKSAXAo0DAcbINdQU/s1600/IMG_8454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmXlXMlK5TUvh_4d2nNkBJ2LC5cIkfpWUi0W7fpxihXGlhnJw38Dqow8hWZIvMICsWngyPZKgcyXnKvhA4p_9dnk9EJrlGxml1rvodWvnY3_YAuXn58rXTxRKB02yKSAXAo0DAcbINdQU/s640/IMG_8454.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously, when the Pean<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ut came a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">long, so much changed. Pyrex got pur<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ged (although <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still have a serious <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stash of it that I use daily!) <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Half of the craft closet w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ent to a thrift store (<i>simpl</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>ify, simpli</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>fy, simp</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>lify!</i>) and lots of to do projects went by the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wayside. Now we spend our days <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">taking walks, throwing balls, watching the animals at the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">zoo, and trying to say<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, 'fish'<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">aquarium<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, before I col<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lapse into a heap on the sofa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> post-Peanut bedtime. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">though picked up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>I'm writing a LOT more, which let's face it, is all I've e<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ver really wanted to do some days</span> and it's the real reason <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/p/typing-sunflowers.html" target="_blank">why I started </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/p/typing-sunflowers.html" target="_blank">this blog</a> in the first plac<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span></span></span> to give me a platform <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to write. </span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I may not be writing <i>here</i> that regularly, but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm still writing. </span>If you want to know more about the Peanut's birth and how I knew nothing about c-sections and then <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">had</span> one, you can go <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/birth-stories/10-things-wish-known-c-sections-one/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Birth stories aren't for everyone though; loves stories are a different tale altogether. For a more detailed version of how the Sailor and I met, you can read that <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/marriage/stories-love-love-boat/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Novem<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ber <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> her<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">alds the starts of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">2016 NaNoWriMo</a> (Nat<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ional Nov<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">el Writing Month). <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last year <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-novel-idea.html" target="_blank">I participated</a> and managed to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eek</span> out a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I'm going to attempt to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">do the same this year, even though I seem busier, the Peanut seems needier, and I'll be traveling for half of the mo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nth of November. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wish me luck<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and I'll <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">plan to</span> see you again in D<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecember! Hopefully nothing will come unraveled in the meantim<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-58259467351526806372016-09-18T14:22:00.001-04:002016-09-18T14:22:27.396-04:00Itching for Fall<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All around me, people are itching for Fall to begin, in more ways than one. (<i>Heat rash, anyone?!</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This summer has been a crazy hot one... and although I'm usually a little sad to be packing up swimsuits, the reality is that this summer was almost too hot to even go to the pool, so I find myself yearning for cool days constantly. The Peanut and I stayed inside more often than not, and we spent a lot of time at indoor play areas (<i>those outdoor playgrounds get insanely HOT. I still don't know why more playgrounds aren't built in the shade</i>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can remember walking past mall play areas thinking that even if I had kids, I probably wouldn't ever take them to such a loud crazy place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet, at least once I week, I find myself smiling as the Peanut clamors to get to the steps and slide, running around like he has a firecracker in his pants. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've eaten a lot of my words about motherhood in these past two years. I swore I'd never become a mommy blogger and yet you can read my first official mom blog post over <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/motherhood/eating-words-one-goldfish-time/" target="_blank">here</a>, where I air my confessions. I will be blogging regularly at <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/" target="_blank">Chattanooga City Moms Blog</a> for at least the next six months, so be sure to subscribe to their posts if you don't want to miss out! There are quite a few of us contributors on the site, so it's been neat to read different local mom perspectives. Plus, it will give me a chance to be a mommy voice in the community, without turning <i>Typing Sunflowers</i> into the latest mom blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Besides chaos, I'm still making stuff. Like these adorable <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-vertebrae" target="_blank">vertebrae sweaters</a> for ALL OF THE BABIES friends are having. (<i>Seriously ya'll... is it something in the water?!</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also still breaking stuff. Walter, my dear companion and iMac of the past six years, refuses to show me anything on his screen, and it's a costly repair. I'm pretty sure we're going to have to simply bury him somehow in the recycling bin. Until I can get Walter's second brain (aka, my backup hard drive) picked apart, I don't have many other photos to prove any other craftiness to you at the moment, but I can assure you, I've made more of those cardigans than I can count this summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are now mere days away from the official start of Fall. It's finally raining outside, there is a slight chill in the air, the Sailor is home watching British football (soccer) and the Peanut is sleeping soundly. I can feel the seasons changing. And that's always a good thing. </span><br />
<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-41045546919205101262016-08-18T18:15:00.000-04:002016-08-18T18:15:40.831-04:00Welcome back? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A lifetime ago, when I worked for Mercy Ships, I waved goodbye to their flagship from an ice cold dock in Germany. I spent a few weeks in England and then returned to the States to assimilate back into American culture. I slept late, recovered from jet-lag, wrote in my journal and tried to figure out pop culture nuances I had missed over the last few years in Africa. <br /><br />Then I started job hunting. In the end, I took a land job with Mercy Ships. I worked as a grant writer in their short-lived DC office. When I calculated the time that I officially left Mercy Ships to the time I took the job, it had been exactly three months. <br /><br />I didn’t need to <i>leave</i> Mercy Ships. I simply need a Leave of Absence. All long-term crew were afforded a three month break every three years. I neglected to take mine. And I should have. I was burnt out and simply needed a break. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maybe I just needed a Leave of Absence from blogging for the summer (again). Who knows. But I'm back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m a
little like those Olympic athletes and coaches who say they’re retiring
and then they come back for just one more season. (<i>Okay, that's a stretch. But hey, the summer Olympics ARE on.</i>)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpNRVDFyOHvdCwiHRZ_OuPG7pGXIC2h0TCDCdnxEknWvOepK_P0ZWVplUdRIJ0bDbcexYtfRPgwYNkezHBAO80yFs3w46s_FB8qwveHxwO_SztQlNBTx0Ys67Bd-I4miRs5PwzGMcd5vq/s1600/DSC_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpNRVDFyOHvdCwiHRZ_OuPG7pGXIC2h0TCDCdnxEknWvOepK_P0ZWVplUdRIJ0bDbcexYtfRPgwYNkezHBAO80yFs3w46s_FB8qwveHxwO_SztQlNBTx0Ys67Bd-I4miRs5PwzGMcd5vq/s320/DSC_1962.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And while I did indeed take the summer off from blogging, I certainly have not had a summer off. <br /><br />So let’s have a little recap, shall we? <br /><br />:: The Sailor arrived home in May, after passing his Master’s Unlimited exam! Those of you familiar with sea life will understand what a HUGE and monumental deal this is. The Sailor studied and put hours of hard work into this and had to endure a grueling three and a half hour oral exam. Not for the faint of heart. I’m so proud of my captain! <br /><br />:: In May, I attended a fantastic sweater unraveling workshop on an alpaca farm. The workshop was hosted by <a href="http://www.reunionyarn.com/" target="_blank">Reunion Yarn</a>, a great startup focusing on recycling and reusing fiber. It combines my love of thrifting with my love of yarn. Unraveling thrifted or old sweaters? Sign me up! I even hauled my dear mother with me and together we attempted to dismantle a few cardigans I had previously made for both her and myself. The yarn stash is now overflowing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />:: While the Sailor was home, we took a trip to Legoland in Atlanta. The Peanut has been obsessed with his $2 blocks from Goodwill. We figured it was time to introduce him to Legos. He LOVED it. <br /><br />:: In June and on a whim, I mentioned to the Sailor that I wanted to start looking seriously into selling my handmade knit and crocheted items. The following week, <a href="http://colab.co/programs/costarters/" target="_blank">Co.Starters</a> was starting their summer cohort, a</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> nine-week course aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to startup a business. The first week I sat there wondering what on earth I got myself into, but this past week we had our pitch night and graduation celebration and I'm pretty proud of myself for taking such a giant leap forward. <br /><br />While I'm still very much </span>in the beginning stages and taking it VERY slow, I do feel far more equipped to eventually launch a small business selling hand knit slippers (of course.) Stay tuned for more info on this exciting endeavor! <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5bER4mHadXXvQ2sdsADM9UHWJTmzvlSb_GvCXHhuenPOZue844oYqY32pjGdX5rjfpb2ECU7QFVaUMJ1Nc34ML4Ts_JMR1L1VB14oJyVE_ZidrWqWVBJkE7_yLvjFNa5qqBLPIZh2Oz_/s1600/IMG_7752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5bER4mHadXXvQ2sdsADM9UHWJTmzvlSb_GvCXHhuenPOZue844oYqY32pjGdX5rjfpb2ECU7QFVaUMJ1Nc34ML4Ts_JMR1L1VB14oJyVE_ZidrWqWVBJkE7_yLvjFNa5qqBLPIZh2Oz_/s320/IMG_7752.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />:: In July, the Peanut and I went camping. It was CRAZY hot. We camped with a dozen moms and 45 kids. You read that right. FORTY-FIVE. I was the only mom with only one kid — most of the gals there had 4-5 each, many with newborns! Props to those mighty women. I of course was missing my summers in <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/07/wellington-wishes.html" target="_blank">Scotland</a>, but this was a good initiation into camping for the Peanut. At least our cabins had an outlet and I had the good sense to bring a giant fan. We spent a lot of time floating on the lake. The Peanut also consumed lots of junk that he's not allowed to have at home, like blue Gatorade and sugary lemonade to avoid dehydration. <br /><br />:: In August, the Peanut turned two! TWO! I actually felt like a fog lifted that week. I don’t know if it’s a hormonal shift in my life, or the fact that he’s no longer a baby, but I feel a little lighter these days. The first two years with the little Peanut, while filled with immense joy, were also HARD. And tiring. So I don’t know what the reasoning is for my new lighter outlook, but I'll take it. <br /><br />:: Finally, I have broken a promise I made to myself when I was pregnant. I became a mommy blogger. (GASP!) I am one of the newest contributors on the <a href="http://chattanooga.citymomsblog.com/" target="_blank">Chattanooga City Moms Blog</a> site. I had been reading their material for a while (there are City Moms Blogs all over — <a href="http://www.citymomsblog.com/our-sister-sites/" target="_blank">find one in your area</a>) so when they put out a call for Chattanooga writers, I applied. My first post will be on there in a few short weeks. (<i>Excuse me while I eat my words...</i>) </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there you have it. I'm back and hopefully better than ever. Or else I just have Olympic fever. Or I'm still delirious from lack of sleep (still), two years into this mama business. Whatever the reason, I've missed sharing bits of my life on here. I'm still not sure where <i>Typing Sunflowers</i> is heading, but I know like most things in my life, it's growing organically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you'll welcome the blog back! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-180509465146784022016-05-04T12:52:00.001-04:002016-05-04T13:00:43.563-04:00The End of a Chapter<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since I took my <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/06/summer-break.html" target="_blank">summer break</a>, it's been obvious that I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'ve struggled to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> post regularly on here.</span></span> I've <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">barely</span> created even one post a month <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">since then</span>. (<i>Let's face it, I completely missed the months of January and April<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The past half a year's worth of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">blogging</span> have been fraught with apologies for not posting often enough<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I used a lot of different excuses</span>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last October, I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">re<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">alized </span></span>I had been writing <i>Typing Sunflowers</i> for three years. I <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-end-of-silence.html" target="_blank">started it</a> at a time in my life when so many things were uncertain </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">— where we would live, what trips the Sailor and I would take, whether my brother would ever get better, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">if</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">children</span> would be in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our</span> future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The blog helped me get through a lot of those uncertainties by giving me something </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to focus on without any pressure. Nobody was paying me to do a job<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">; </span>the only deadlines I imposed were <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my own. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some people see their life as a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ovie. I've always seen m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y own life as a book.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A very large <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">book, with mul<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tiple chapters, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lots of plot<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-lines<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span> a myriad of characters, conflicts<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and</span> resolutions and of course num<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">erous <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">travels and places along the way</span></span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJyKHgh9iB83-lIzSHMFwvW75lKEJWc2Qyiu8MITgRk3vSZk1efFKFBJaAmTpKyUn7gPviOZ6JU80MZ8r_bx8tTeBo_J0f6rfGZbq85nZ4ug9QW7dji3dFTX5k8ZYB-PNh-Bxj33xUUR-/s1600/IMG_0420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJyKHgh9iB83-lIzSHMFwvW75lKEJWc2Qyiu8MITgRk3vSZk1efFKFBJaAmTpKyUn7gPviOZ6JU80MZ8r_bx8tTeBo_J0f6rfGZbq85nZ4ug9QW7dji3dFTX5k8ZYB-PNh-Bxj33xUUR-/s320/IMG_0420.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This blog has seen <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a lot of chapters in my life. <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/06/moving-chaos.html" target="_blank">A move</a> across the country, several <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">overseas trips<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, including a <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/03/cruising-to-calm.html" target="_blank">cruise</a>, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a few</span> trips to <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/happy-earth-day.html" target="_blank">South Africa</a>, and even <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/summer-recap.html" target="_blank">Singapore</a></span>, the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">death of <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/02/no-regrets.html" target="_blank">my brother</a>, the <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-arrival-of-peanut.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">arrival </span>of the Peanut</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, getting published in <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/11/artful-blogging.html" target="_blank"><i>Artful Blogging</i></a> magazine<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my former <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/10/no-words.html" target="_blank">editor and mentor</a> passing away,</span></span> <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/summer-recap.html" target="_blank">another move</a>, and a whole lot of cr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">afting stuff in betwe<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">en. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many
things in my life have cycled in stages of three years. The blog is
now only a few weeks shy of exactly three and a half years. In retrospect, I
should have maybe written this post on <i>Typing Sunflower's</i> third anniversary back in October. Then again, perhaps I needed a few months to gain perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After my break,</span> I realized s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">omething. </span></span>Th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is</span> blog has changed over the<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> years. <i>I've</i> changed. </span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love having a vi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tual record of the past few years.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Unlike my ch<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">icken <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">scratch </span></span>handwriting in <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/journals.html" target="_blank">the journals</a> that I keep nowa<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">days, I can look through <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my past blog posts and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">actually </span><i>read</i> my writing</span></span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think though, perhaps it's time for this particular chapter to come to a close. I have been feeling this for some <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">time, but I held on, thinking that I could just keep posting photos and projects. But the reality is, for wh<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ate<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ver reason that I'm not yet clear on, </span></span>I think <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it's time <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> simply let it go<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. (<i>I'm pro</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>bably the only person on the planet who has</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> yet to see Frozen, but I do know </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>that 'let it go' is a great life theme.</i>) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My life 'book' isn't finished yet, and there are still lots of chapters to be <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lived</span>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, I will </span>continue to write and create<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> abund<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">antly</span></span>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Typing Sunflowers </i>may or may not <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be resurrected</span> in some form along the way.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And I'm okay with that<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">uncertain<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ty, but I thou<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ght you all should know, in case you wondered where I went</span>. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I won't be deleting this blog like <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have previous ones, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so feel free to continue to peruse the archives<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> or get in<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> touch with me via the contact tab above. Lastly, </span></span></span>a</span> massive thank you</span> to those of you who have been faithful <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">readers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, followers and champions<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of this <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">blog<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, whether you've been here since the start, or <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">you only <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stumbl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed upon</span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Typing Sunflowers</i> recently. I have loved sharing a small glimpse of my life with you. I hope in some small way I've inspired you all to dream big and create your own meaningful life<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-72482960795914869912016-03-18T15:05:00.002-04:002016-03-19T09:09:22.785-04:00Spring Reset<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other day someone asked me what I was proud of recently... and I said I was proud of the fact that I managed to clean the bathrooms. HA! That should give you an indication of how much 'extra' stuff I'm managing to (not) get done these days. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Write blog post' always seems to get pushed to the bottom of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> lengthy to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">do </span>list, after I've accomplished all of the necessities (like cleaning those bathrooms...) I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'ve been procrastinating <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with this <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">blog,</span> mainly</span> because, duh, I have a toddler and pr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecious few minutes to mys<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">elf<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. But I've al<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so been procrastinating because</span></span></span></span> it feels like I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> haven't been working on anything 'original<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'. Instead, I've</span></span>
been redoing a lot of stuff. Stuff that I initially crafted and loved,
but as I continue to purge the apartment in an effort to simplify my
life, I'm realizing there were a lot of things I made in the past that I
don't like<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> now, or never really liked if I'm hon<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">est</span></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may remember when I organized my recipes into these <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/02/cooking-up-recipe-organizer.html" target="_blank">neat little books</a>, over two years ago? I'm sad to report that it did NOT help my recipe organization or meal planning one iota. The recipes got shoved into the front of the book... the book didn't sit right on my shelf, and let's face it, most of the recipes I pasted into the book were either disasters, or I couldn't remember why I saved them <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in the first place</span>. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dessert <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">binder</span>, on the other hand, has been great! I managed to keep those pages organized and I easily found any recipe I was looking for. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently, I scored some paper products on sale at a craft store, and they inspired me to redo my recipe book in the s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ame way I've don<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e the dessert one</span></span>. I ordered a similar binder to the one I have for the desserts, and even though I haven't gotten around to transferring everything yet, I can already tell, I may actually fin<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d and more importantly, USE<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span>m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ore </span>recipes now. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In knitting news, remember <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/09/goodbye-green.html" target="_blank">this cardigan</a>? Yeah, neither do I. I hardly wore it. It really didn't suit me, and the whole thing hung kind of weird. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I ripped it apart and kept the yarn, and now I'm making this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/groovy-dk-and-aran-weight" target="_blank">groovy shawl</a>. (The pattern is actually called, 'groovy'...) </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What's the point of all of this? I'm not exactly being very prudent with my precious spare time if I end up doing a project and then destroying it to start another one with the same materials. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or am I? Sometimes I just need to create something, even if it's a disaster. Some nights, I spend an hour knitting or crocheting something, only to rip everything apart right afterwards. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But you know what? That was an hour where I fed my soul, even if the end product didn't turn out the way I planned. Sometimes I finish the whole project and then I realize a few years down the line that I don't really like it. That doesn't mean I failed. Sometimes the process alone is what I need to feel creative, not the end pro<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">duct. </span>I still had a blast knitting that cardigan, and I still remember sitting at the table sorting out my recipes. I actually LIKE organizing some stuff. It wasn't a chore (unlike cleaning those bathrooms.) </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spring is a great time to purging, for setting goals, and for just resetting your life sometimes. Even if it just means completely remaking something out of that green yarn purchased on sale, or tossing out recipes you know you'll never make, in order to make room for ones that are now kept in a more organized binder. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are you remaking these days? </span><br>
Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-37032357987678671392016-02-15T12:52:00.002-05:002016-02-16T12:40:39.260-05:00Airmail<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've said before and I'll say it again, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/04/happy-handwriting.html" target="_blank">I love snail mail</a>. As a kid I always enjoyed the long walk to the mailbox, hoping for a letter from one of my pen pals. I still get excited to get a real letter in the mail (although these days it's far and few between). It's also the reason I still mail out <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/12/seasons-greetings.html" target="_blank">real Christmas cards</a>. It's now hilarious to me to see the Peanut get super excited when I tell him we're going to get the mail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the weekend, I worked on my <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/06/project-life-plunge.html" target="_blank">Project Life album</a>. I'm way behind, but it was super fun to see how much the Peanut has grown in the past 18 months, and also to see all of the adventures the Sailor and I had over the past year and a half. I took a LOT of photos. I'm sure I wouldn't have nearly as many without having a camera on my phone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, it's hard to imagine life these days without modern technology, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While working on the Project Life pages, I came across a pile of letters and postcards I remember purchasing at a flea market a few years ago. I liked the look of the airmail envelopes and I had something crafty in mind when I bought them. I don't remember what, now, but I do remember leaning over that particular table, rifling through the letters and and picking out the ones I wanted. I probably wanted to use the stamps for something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night, while the Peanut got into every plastic bin I had scattered on the floor, I found the letters and began to read them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XP3vGQMLlobUF_36eBqgnc0KAgrZvJDOJurFnQUgfNeY_7Bl1COHc6xr010-vCbHOwAeLCoxEnLprNR1C5mgc5p8F7vs_BS8s4I40q56FO9O1yypZqb-fHnvLtMt-lkM1XHM6Ct23DMx/s1600/DSC_1765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XP3vGQMLlobUF_36eBqgnc0KAgrZvJDOJurFnQUgfNeY_7Bl1COHc6xr010-vCbHOwAeLCoxEnLprNR1C5mgc5p8F7vs_BS8s4I40q56FO9O1yypZqb-fHnvLtMt-lkM1XHM6Ct23DMx/s640/DSC_1765.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I started, I couldn't put them down. I was astounded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm sure the set is incomplete, but from the few letters I have, I gathered that a couple set off on a trip overseas — one of their letters mentioned 15 countries in all. They were writing to their daughter in the summer of 1955. I just assumed she was older, maybe in college. But the more I read, the more I found out. She must have been a wee toddler — not even in school yet. It seemed like she was staying with her grandparents for the summer while her parents (who often signed off as Daddy and Mamma) were gallivanting the globe for a few weeks to Europe and the Middle East. A few of the letters mentioned that they hadn't yet heard from their daughter and they were pleading for the grandparents to write when the couple arrived in London, where they could receive post. One letter even said, 'Ask Grandpa to get an airmail stamp from the post office.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt a little like I was invading someone's privacy, but I kept reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eventually, I found the letter that Grandpa had written and mailed to London, in care of a travel agent and addressed to a 'Reverend'. I can only guess that the couple was perhaps on a mission or pilgrimage of some sort. Grandpa said he hadn't written yet because his eye glasses broke in the meantime. In addition, he didn't have enough ink in his pen and needed to get more. He also mentioned that the little girl couldn't wait to have the letters read to her when they arrived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realize that I grew up in an era without cell phones, without Facebook and without so much technology. The Internet only really came about when I went to college. I remember going off to Africa as a 20-something and not talking on the phone to my mom for five months. I did however, at least email her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I have never lacked for a pen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's something incredible though about thinking about this couple, who only wrote snail mail letters home to their daughter. And even though they were airmail, I'd imagine the post wasn't as fast as it is today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the little girl was still alive, she'd be in her 60s. </span>I'm guessing though, that the people mentioned in the letter are all deceased. It's probably how the letters ended up in a flea market basket at a bargain price. Someone probably had an estate sale, and they ended up getting shuffled around until I eventually found them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a huge clear out of my letters recently (read Marie Kondo's '<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455558336&sr=1-1&keywords=marie+kondo" target="_blank">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up</a>' for tips on purging!) But there are a number that I still kept, letters my mom wrote me through the years, all of my written correspondence from the Sailor, and letters from my traveling 'sisters' from our years scattered around the globe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some days I wonder if someone will end up reading through my own letters, trying to piece together a piece of the past. I find it hard to believe that people will really remember the little snippets of technology that we engage in day to day and minute by minute. After all, so many things like Facebook status updates, Instagram pics, and tweets are all so temporary. Even though nothing is really ever 'gone' from the Internet, are people really going to remember that we posted something about the weather? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's funny how a written letter changes that perspective. The Reverend wrote about the weather in his letters, and the Grandpa wrote in return about their weather (apparently 1955 had the hottest summer on record in Maryland). Some things, like talking about the weather, never change. But those letters have at least endured. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe that's why I'm still into snail mail. It's like leaving a little glimpse of another life, for another generation. </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-1179878735182563842016-02-01T13:54:00.001-05:002016-02-01T13:56:08.474-05:00February!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, I know it's been forever. It's February already. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FEBRUARY!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I promise you, I haven't forgotten this blog. But you know the days run into other days, and there's a constant flow of meal prep, dishes, playtime, laundry, errands... and occasionally sleep. The Sailor arrived home for the holidays and has been home for all of January, so it seemed like our days were even fuller and busier. Every time I contemplated writing a blog post, the Peanut would bring me a book, hand outstretched, wanting me to read it to him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And really, who can deny such a cute kid a little reading session? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here I am, in the middle of his nap time, wondering where all of January went besides a blur of food, laundry and library books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nevertheless, I did manage to accomplish a few crafty things. I also realized that even if I'm not posting every little detail, I'm still living life and making things. And that's what really makes me happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I threw my friend Tianna a baby shower! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She hosted <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-literary-library-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">my book shower</a> a little over a year and a half ago. Now, she's having twins! We ate lots of yummy food on vintage wares, and showered her with gifts galore. I made her yellow and grey baby cardigans like <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/02/baby-its-cold-outside.html" target="_blank">this one</a> (<i>I was so busy hosting that I forgot to get photos of my own gifts</i>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm also in the middle of making both myself and the Peanut new slippers. (<i>I've finally gotten around to using the wool I bought in Idaho <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/03/pictures-are-worth-1000-words.html" target="_blank">a year ago</a></i>.) They are both these <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/01/felt-slippers.html" target="_blank">felt clogs</a>. I remembered this week that I had the pattern for the children's version as well! Perfect timing since the Peanut rips his socks off and needs a pair of these for around the house. They knit up fast and I'm looking forward to throwing these in the laundry and watching them shrink to the right size. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also finally finished this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/through-the-woods-5" target="_blank">Through the Woods hat and cowl</a>. I purchased a kit on Craftsy forever ago and then realized it never really gets cold enough here to wear such a thing, so I kept it in the 'to do' pile. Over the holidays, I worked on it and decided it's a perfect belated birthday gift for my pal in Idaho (<i>where it gets cold enough to wear it!</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It looks much better on, but since we are all recovering from nasty colds and constant nose blowing, I'll refrain from posting a photo of myself in it. (<i>I've looked better... let's just leave it at that!</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And once again, my local yarn store had the perfect wooden buttons to go with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also feel like I should report that we have the windows open and it's positively balmy outside. THIS is the reason we moved <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span>outh. </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-29469016428734028292015-12-13T12:01:00.004-05:002015-12-13T12:01:55.627-05:00'Tis the Season...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I haven't posted on here in a month (!) I can assure you, I haven't forgotten about the blog. But after the hectic month of November, and writing an entire novel, I promised myself a few weeks of calm in December. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My fingers also cramped up at the thought of hitting the keyboard again after <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-novel-idea.html" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Years ago, when I worked onboard a Mercy Ship off the coast of West Africa, crew members got off an entire week for Christmas break. Now, of course, we didn't all have off 24/7, as the ship still needed to function. So we took turns helping out in reception, or the galley (the kitchen) or even gangway watch. But it was still a more relaxed pace than the usual frantic Decembers we often think about with the holidays. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still like to have a calm December, so I try not to go crazy (ie, I avoid the mall). Around the apartment, I've decorated with a few white twinkle lights, a tiny tree, some Christmas music, gingerbread cookies and a few minutes of knitting when the Peanut finally goes to sleep, or sits quietly 'reading' all of his books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my kind of holiday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In between writing 50,000 words, I did a knitting and crochet photo-a-day challenge on Instagram in November, which helped me at least keep up the visual creativity.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My camera is still <i>kaput</i>, but I have a plan to get it fixed in the next month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, here are a few highlights from the past month via my phone: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazing weather when it's not raining: totally conducive to playing on the porch and knitting outside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chickens! This kid is totally into chickens at the moment. And I'm loving <a href="http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Susan B. Anderson's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spud-Chloe-Farm-Susan-Anderson/dp/1579654304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450024019&sr=8-1&keywords=spud+and+chloe" target="_blank">Spud and Chloë at the Farm</a> book. Let's face it, I love all of her designs and I have almost most of her books. Super cute kid stuff and I'm excited that the Peanut has so much fun playing with the things I've made for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pattern is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mother-hen-and-chicks-2" target="_blank">Mother Hen and Chicks</a>. Every night the Peanut and I put the chicks to sleep, and then in the morning, he finds them under the Mother Hen. (<i>The little bluebird is also one of Susan's patterns: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/egg-to-bluebird-and-a-little-nest-too" target="_blank">Egg to Bluebird</a>. I told you I love her stuff.</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More chickens! I also found this cute crochet pattern on Ravelry for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chicken-or-the-egg-coaster-set" target="_blank">chicken and egg coaster set</a>, and I sent it to a good friend who has her own flock of birds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunrise/Sunset: Shorter days mean less daylight, but I have still been working on this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunrise-sunset-afghan" target="_blank">sunrise sunset blanket</a>, one square at a time. I finally finished it and it's en route to a friend now for her birthday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cardigans: It is December after all, so a cardigan is occasionally in order. The Peanut can now wear <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/09/growing-into-knits.html" target="_blank">this</a>, which makes me thrilled and a little sad all at the same time. I remember finishing this over a year ago, wondering when the Peanut would be able to fit into it and he's already rapidly outgrowing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to need to knit him some new cardigans soon, which is an excellent excuse to go yarn shopping. The Peanut is a wonderful helper in the shopping cart... he loves to hold the yarn and basically anything else I'm trying to purchase. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas cards: Apparently some of my Christmas cards didn't make it to their destination until FEBRUARY of last year. I'm on the ball this year (well, at least more than <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/12/seasons-greetings.html" target="_blank">last year</a>!) and I've been working on getting my cards in the mail. Our family photo, however, is still goofy. I'm using the broken camera as an excuse. One of these days we'll either invest in a professional photographer or a selfie stick. Recipients, enjoy the laugh when you see how hilarious our 'selfies' are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, I managed to 'win' <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaBwshNXz9HA1AICYIkIu1W47susrozj-8XM70svRdPw4VYGgXBcPQ8r2vdPUGCJvGIjMt2-JCrq5HN2dRNd1tkDvGFjIIz7lNlV9E71DCdRAzfGwdYEeDk3Sp7-NCrFBTJ_ySuopJAKe/s1600/IMG_6075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaBwshNXz9HA1AICYIkIu1W47susrozj-8XM70svRdPw4VYGgXBcPQ8r2vdPUGCJvGIjMt2-JCrq5HN2dRNd1tkDvGFjIIz7lNlV9E71DCdRAzfGwdYEeDk3Sp7-NCrFBTJ_ySuopJAKe/s200/IMG_6075.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i>Now, for you novel novices, that simply means I made it to the 50,000 word count within the month of November.</i>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd3F4VyJyW6wV8uKBRw7CmABIv7J06lrVe2_sycxQWAWHKPYdUtByqAexAWIh5HBhA0Ixnj94MrOeLySAs1vsLDJhrRzc-8JI2h2Xq03vhvjgQWrmZoJCmO7FJHbrAPXSNtconM9ZAYzz/s1600/IMG_6126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd3F4VyJyW6wV8uKBRw7CmABIv7J06lrVe2_sycxQWAWHKPYdUtByqAexAWIh5HBhA0Ixnj94MrOeLySAs1vsLDJhrRzc-8JI2h2Xq03vhvjgQWrmZoJCmO7FJHbrAPXSNtconM9ZAYzz/s200/IMG_6126.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
novel itself needs a TON of work, but I mainly did it to simply
challenge myself creatively for the month of November and to get out of
my writing rut. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole experience was far more fun than I thought it would be! I got a mini thrill watching my word count increase throughout the month and I felt like I had an entire virtual team cheering me on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been writing non-fiction for so long, that it truly was freeing and fabulous to simply make stuff up and write it down. I'm thinking that I should keep writing fiction for fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope I can write a bit more on here before Christmas. With the energy level of the Peanut these days, it might not happen (although he has miraculously been napping the entire time I've worked on this post!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just in case I don't get around to posting more this month though, for more non-fiction holiday writing, see 2013's Christmas post <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/12/twinkle-twinkle-simple-star.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and 2014, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/12/hope-joy-peace.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, wherever and however you celebrate! </span></span></div>
<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-14769504269178413762015-11-13T14:34:00.000-05:002015-11-13T14:35:06.178-05:00Falling Fast<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> is throwing me for a loop<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, albeit a fun one. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm writing whenever the Peanut decides to give me a free moment, which, let's be honest, isn't often. And after a day of chasing him around the apartment, porch, playground, mall (<i>insert any location here!</i>), I find myself plopped on the couch after he's asleep to DVR my way through an hour of television, with a crochet or knit project. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then I'm back to writing for a bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm only 12,000 words in, and not <i>quite</i> panicky about the fact that November is nearly half over. Sometimes I do my best work at the last minute, on a tight deadline. At this point, I'm not even sure if I care if the novel is any good. I just want to <i>finish</i> it and have a 50,000 word story with a beginning, middle and end. I can always rewrite and polish it later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, Fall is here in full swing and I don't want to miss it. Some years it's over in one cold and windy night, and when you wake up, the leaves are all on the ground. So I'm still looking up from my laptop and even my crochet hooks every once in a while to see something like this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you know that feeling when you look at something and the light hits it just right... and you marvel at nature? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yep, me too. Whatever you're working on, don't miss what's right under your nose. Or up above it, as the case may be. Sometimes we all need a little fresh air and a break. </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-91437204384988609812015-10-30T15:47:00.000-04:002015-10-30T15:56:17.028-04:00A Novel Idea<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm happy to report that things have improved since my last post. The blender is still kicking... our finances got put back in order, and although my camera still needs to be repaired, I think it might be a sign that I need to focus more on writing and less on taking photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A decade ago (<i>Really? Ten whole years ago?!</i>) I stopped whatever I was doing at the time and gave myself permission to complete a three month photography course in South Africa. I learned a lot, both about photography and myself, and it gave me three busy yet full months to focus on visual creativity. In the past, I had always taken photos for an organization and had to work around their parameters. During the photography course, I was able to take photos for myself — a welcome change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also discovered that I could never be a full-time photographer. I realized I needed to write as well, no matter what I ended up doing. As much as the photography projects filled me up creatively... something was still missing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I needed to write. I still do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we moved south a few years ago, I was able to nab mostly freelance photography jobs. I also acquired a number of proofreading jobs, of which I am more than competent, but I still prefer to write rather than edit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For whatever reason, the few writing jobs I pursued never came to fruition. Then the Peanut came along and I barely seemed to have time to breathe, let alone write. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still feel like that some days, but as he gains his own little independence, I find a few quiet moments here and there during the day to myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writers write... so they say, and it seems I haven't been doing enough of it lately. I have a dormant book about my travels to Ukraine on my laptop at the moment. So much of it is done — yet I'm not happy about the ending. Something is still missing and I feel like I need to return to the country to get the book done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a while, it seemed like multiple obstacles blocked my path. The year I had a trip planned, I didn't feel peace about going. It wasn't the right time, I told myself, and instead I spent the summer in Latvia and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/07/wellington-wishes.html" target="_blank">Scotland</a>. Then, my brother got sick and I cancelled my trip to Ukraine two summers later. Then <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-heavy-heart.html" target="_blank">a war erupted there</a>... and then I had the Peanut. (<i>And while I am all for traveling with babies, heading over to Ukraine soon after the Peanut was born probably wouldn't have been the wisest choice</i>.) Soon after, <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/10/no-words.html" target="_blank">my former boss and editor died</a>. He was one of the few people championing my writing at the time, and even though he told me candidly, after reading a few chapters, what needed work, I felt like I had someone in the ring with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will still finish the book. But in the meantime, I need to let go of the details of it that I keep getting bogged down in, and I need to write something fresh and fun and maybe just for me. So I'm signing up for <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the month of November, I'm going to write a 50,000 word novel. The last time I wrote anything of fiction, I was in high school. The last time I made such a rash decision, I was in college. I decided to ride in a 150 mile MS Bike-A-Thon from Texas to Oklahoma only two days before the event. I spent the day before asking everyone in the cafeteria for $1 so I could come up with the entrance fee. I spent the entire ride wishing I had better biker shorts. And I spent the week after, recovering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel might be a masterpiece. It might be awful. But, like that bike ride, I'm going to do it, regardless. Because sometimes, we all need a proverbial kick in the pants to remind ourselves of what we're capable of. I know I'm perfectly capable of finishing and eventually publishing that book about Ukraine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But first, I have a novel to start on November 1st. </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-24800386798086009362015-10-14T13:10:00.002-04:002015-10-14T13:10:22.564-04:00Fall Fail?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often think of Fall as a time to reassess priorities. I don't know if it's the weather, or school starting back in session... something reminds me of a clean notebook and sharpened pencils and to do lists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, I didn't have a lot on my to do list. Make sure the Peanut naps, cook (because I can be lazy when the Sailor is gone), take some new photos, blog a bit with said photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Fall gave me a bit of backlash this week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I somehow managed to take out two overdrafts on our bank account. Now, this might be common for some people (my neighbor casually informed me she was $500 in the hole last week on her account.) But I balance our books to the penny. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was with great chagrin that I incurred way too many charges recently because I somehow miscalculated, oh, say hundreds. (Thankfully, the money was in another account, but I still had to explain to the Sailor to not use his bank card overseas.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THEN, my credit card got phished. I don't know how, because again, we are meticulous about where we use our card and we're very secure online with it. Nonetheless, I had a fraudulent charge and now have to wait for a new card in the mail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The irony of all of this is that last week I found a debit card in the parking lot and I phoned the company to cancel it, because I would want someone to do the same for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I decided to make a delicious and healthy smoothie for lunch for the Peanut and myself. My blender has seen better days, but this time, it actually started to vibrate across the counter on its own. I'm pretty sure blenders aren't supposed to do that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I started taking some new photos and got excited about getting back into using my SLR camera more often. However, midway through a few pics, my screen flashed red, then black, then came up with a gigantic error message. The manual only relayed my fear: Contact a Nikon service rep if error message persists. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My camera is about as old as my blender. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can easily replace the blender. The camera? Maybe I can get it fixed. If not, I guess I may have to start saving more in that bank account, so that I can use my new credit card to get another one. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head back out to my sunny porch with a view, pretend I'm starting the week over, and hope that I don't mess up my crochet project. </span><br />
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<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-57865649090482932972015-10-01T20:12:00.002-04:002015-10-01T20:17:47.425-04:00Summer Recap<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may have fibbed when I said I would be back in September. I meant to be, honestly, but then life kind of took over. Even though we extended our summer holiday well into September, the season was far too short. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_Rvy-Pe8LaoxMxFsr9_OF24-pgeApRpozZKNSwKgp91AI0Pd9nk64rt9RUCmprYpKcy9qbpRSLmg3Q439LbC4rfIX3PCwxVzyPp_VBkeszgJHyGiaqrsgQvk-YRN2LWOfHV7jf5TvRRS/s1600/IMG_4939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_Rvy-Pe8LaoxMxFsr9_OF24-pgeApRpozZKNSwKgp91AI0Pd9nk64rt9RUCmprYpKcy9qbpRSLmg3Q439LbC4rfIX3PCwxVzyPp_VBkeszgJHyGiaqrsgQvk-YRN2LWOfHV7jf5TvRRS/s200/IMG_4939.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REALLY too short. I felt like I needed one final trip to the beach to mark the closure of summer... one last hurrah with the Sailor before he jetted off to another continent to return to sea. But alas, time got away from us, and while we managed to squeeze a ton of things into what should have been a rather relaxed summer, we didn't manage a trip to the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what did happen though: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to a dear friend's wedding. Actually, I got a flat tire on the way there and missed the wedding... but the Peanut and I made it in time for the reception. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reunited with my college besties for a few days in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. The last time <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/06/down-on-farm.html" target="_blank">the four of us converged</a>, we were all on the brink of major life changes. This time, we discussed all that we've gone through in 20 years (20 years!) together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6jg26oSOVTb-jWkE7Mq04NHLbbGxMgnlPyeBfanCR926dYcwzbl8GqjXyD7fMhHcJjmRkBVrapfAKk-BxNECy-ewAom3t0wPV2Cw-4nfyze6bGTElwaW6atep-hgpmhBOdezGr6oY1Mg/s1600/IMG_4426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6jg26oSOVTb-jWkE7Mq04NHLbbGxMgnlPyeBfanCR926dYcwzbl8GqjXyD7fMhHcJjmRkBVrapfAKk-BxNECy-ewAom3t0wPV2Cw-4nfyze6bGTElwaW6atep-hgpmhBOdezGr6oY1Mg/s400/IMG_4426.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved to a new apartment with a view. The Sailor happened to be thousands of miles away working at the time, so I rallied a work crew and thankfully the Peanut gave me just enough napping time to box up our belongings. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6OQmHHJFD7P-K8rPmUJPC8Ba39mXTPNqFW8TfDAbOq4NWwOJXYEb-PFThONybKhILOqfeYI_nb3aDHZXcDWgrHK_zWOJ2tBK6uT-BKfIVvK5RK5GC_xX_NzmYJVq0qp5EraTvNKH6YEv/s1600/IMG_4485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6OQmHHJFD7P-K8rPmUJPC8Ba39mXTPNqFW8TfDAbOq4NWwOJXYEb-PFThONybKhILOqfeYI_nb3aDHZXcDWgrHK_zWOJ2tBK6uT-BKfIVvK5RK5GC_xX_NzmYJVq0qp5EraTvNKH6YEv/s640/IMG_4485.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only a few days after unpacking the last box, the Peanut and I took a 700 mile road trip to visit friends and family. The Peanut promptly learned to climb stairs at a friend's house. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORUsm_GUjvMsuYqaFb-go5Lg99DXqezsF5z9yAaC0CEcCtlbey4DPBX6jbLISAPywS8ybSLA72wH2XEEaWsxnI9Y8G1oiEVSiJnAxGkpEe4wowalSnRCzlYqoqGeUYDIddsRo_JisczQX/s1600/IMG_4583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORUsm_GUjvMsuYqaFb-go5Lg99DXqezsF5z9yAaC0CEcCtlbey4DPBX6jbLISAPywS8ybSLA72wH2XEEaWsxnI9Y8G1oiEVSiJnAxGkpEe4wowalSnRCzlYqoqGeUYDIddsRo_JisczQX/s400/IMG_4583.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sailor arrived home to our new apartment just in time for the Peanut's first birthday party. I'm not big on giant parties for little people, so I planned to simply celebrate with a cupcake for the little guy. Instead, he decided to get his first cold. The cupcake was quickly forgotten, because it was soon time to pack for... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SINGAPORE! The Sailor had some work training courses to complete, so the Peanut and I tagged along for two weeks. It was a LONG few flights, but worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdl5AwjkkPyPcJf-86hppx3X2l3kFbb4_WbnlHxgSPyids30f2meyDrvVXeZWmKjn0t-kCsmdxRieOaMGPPA8J2zQDa8Q7RGSxEt4NxulLq6bkRVur7Xmx0GJI_o4jBM1-cZpAgX-OpLz/s1600/IMG_4915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdl5AwjkkPyPcJf-86hppx3X2l3kFbb4_WbnlHxgSPyids30f2meyDrvVXeZWmKjn0t-kCsmdxRieOaMGPPA8J2zQDa8Q7RGSxEt4NxulLq6bkRVur7Xmx0GJI_o4jBM1-cZpAgX-OpLz/s400/IMG_4915.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singapore was a food and shopping mecca. On one of the Sailor's earlier trips there, he brought back a magnet that said: 'Survivor Singapore: Out Shop, Out Play, Out Eat.' I thought it was funny back then, but I <i>totally</i> get it now. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZEtmXNOJH2OL7NSLzW0M2XBm2oqROm-rjJAj6Z4o-MkIae9S2rDF24DWSmBLtcrvJItfKdjhFrrflL3B3uUp8oNkLdgAB3GSLThnVVDcS4_Aua2L3wVA-3EQQtCJGA6zL_LZLZ8-ejRT/s1600/IMG_4977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZEtmXNOJH2OL7NSLzW0M2XBm2oqROm-rjJAj6Z4o-MkIae9S2rDF24DWSmBLtcrvJItfKdjhFrrflL3B3uUp8oNkLdgAB3GSLThnVVDcS4_Aua2L3wVA-3EQQtCJGA6zL_LZLZ8-ejRT/s400/IMG_4977.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFOPjf9tN8vCWDeoWXSakD0YYWnuITj-hEhYR5FDrKNAjW_d0G1acAU20J7z6OPpFRL6wiu3ZbbQN9rNyTb0e2nGxF2i1QCdlqwI2Z7PCavH0wdcGAyUDWJWXJfO6VXGJmPQyarM_Svo/s1600/IMG_5001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFOPjf9tN8vCWDeoWXSakD0YYWnuITj-hEhYR5FDrKNAjW_d0G1acAU20J7z6OPpFRL6wiu3ZbbQN9rNyTb0e2nGxF2i1QCdlqwI2Z7PCavH0wdcGAyUDWJWXJfO6VXGJmPQyarM_Svo/s640/IMG_5001.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have traveled solo to many places, so obviously wandering around with a baby brought a whole new element to sightseeing. The Peanut and I had a blast together though and it was super special to see Singapore through his eyes, in a way. (<i>Singapore is also very kid friendly... more on that later!</i>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpYjDJELNhYu70hws0DyQCsZWqwZj0qSkSybk2GUX8UrWtFM7xcHM-iYEtgDZX-hfGon0_4I2UrFfjsV2XBwNMM98JB5mRYStohjAYqef19pVnkJV0ayIPj1xZHC-XShIsDCWj58x8Kob/s1600/IMG_5144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpYjDJELNhYu70hws0DyQCsZWqwZj0qSkSybk2GUX8UrWtFM7xcHM-iYEtgDZX-hfGon0_4I2UrFfjsV2XBwNMM98JB5mRYStohjAYqef19pVnkJV0ayIPj1xZHC-XShIsDCWj58x8Kob/s640/IMG_5144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(OK, so we DID manage to get to the beach, but only for a short while. <br />Just long enough to watch the ships.)</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I managed to get a few crafty things started over the summer, like this lofty cross-stitch that I MAY finish by the time the Peanut is 18. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi5oxrkQaGpXM9kDL9fuvkCQXttLAF5ggP9aU39G2L8vuiQ0Oln0wAWRXyakp35rLCIBpx850n7Jxk9HUud188MedPvEL2nz6j8pn0v45F4F-7_sTECpIzbCKtbvkBGZ_FD2q1L7ZQYZM/s1600/IMG_5027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi5oxrkQaGpXM9kDL9fuvkCQXttLAF5ggP9aU39G2L8vuiQ0Oln0wAWRXyakp35rLCIBpx850n7Jxk9HUud188MedPvEL2nz6j8pn0v45F4F-7_sTECpIzbCKtbvkBGZ_FD2q1L7ZQYZM/s400/IMG_5027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I've probably been procrastinating with restarting this blog because I keep thinking it needs a change... a new direction or something. Maybe since I started this blog at the beach, I needed a trip to the ocean to figure out that new direction. I'm still not sure where it's headed, but I hope you'll stick around to find out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you all had a wonderful summer! </span></div>
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Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-35791689828795639982015-06-01T17:54:00.003-04:002015-06-01T17:54:37.591-04:00Summer Break<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is generally a slow month in the publishing world and like most students, I used to look forward to the season with tremendous anticipation when I was in school. Summers are generally lazy... a time to head to the beach, lay around the pool, catch up on paperback fiction, and sit on porches to watch the sunset. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I need a good summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need a summer to sit around with a beverage of choice (even if the Peanut is clamoring up my legs...) I need a summer to travel and see friends I haven't seen in years. I need a summer to work on crochet blankets, one square a time. I need a summer to read at least one book that I can't put down — even if it means missing out on some sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to spend my summer thinking of projects to do, and then spending more time at the computer trying to blog about them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to actually try out the recipes from my <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/02/cooking-up-recipe-organizer.html" target="_blank">homemade cookbook</a>. I want to add the Peanut's photos to my <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/06/project-life-plunge.html" target="_blank">Project Life</a> album. I don't want to rush a single cuddle with the Peanut because time with him is already flying by too fast. I want to spend time eating lemon meringue pie and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/09/life-lemons-and-pie.html" target="_blank">picnicking in the park</a> with Pyrex. I want to <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-porch-garden.html" target="_blank">sit on the porch</a> while the Peanut (briefly) naps. I want to actually clean and purge and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/02/decluttering-craft-supplies.html" target="_blank">declutter</a>, not only the cobwebs from the apartment, but from my mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many years ago, I volunteered with <a href="http://www.mercyships.org/" target="_blank">Mercy Ships</a> as part of their communications crew. I wrote stories, hosted media teams and even took photos. After my nearly five years with them, I took three months out of my schedule to take a photography course in South Africa. I needed that time to create without the confines of an organization. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY7YcpdXYM6RcdHsT-IiAtsi2O29HrAA9k-TJNsloosM5EJi8lBwQcxeDYMUrjpyt4cDAlbcGIQmsnGx4LrWKuCxp_-5lWn2ywv_gO9doLhntJbzj5aN5oRVQQvzKDOqWD_vYxpo3T8yQ/s1600/IMG_2967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY7YcpdXYM6RcdHsT-IiAtsi2O29HrAA9k-TJNsloosM5EJi8lBwQcxeDYMUrjpyt4cDAlbcGIQmsnGx4LrWKuCxp_-5lWn2ywv_gO9doLhntJbzj5aN5oRVQQvzKDOqWD_vYxpo3T8yQ/s640/IMG_2967.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came away from the course refreshed and bursting with creative energy. (<i>I also realized during the three months that I could never be a full time photographer... I needed to write and do other creative things to feel fulfilled!</i>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need a similar sort of break now. I need some time to actually work on projects and simply enjoy life, without wondering if I took enough photos and if I'll have time to document it in a blog post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With that in mind, I'm taking the summer off from blogging. </span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know summer doesn't officially start for a few weeks, but according to most people, Memorial Day hails the unofficial start. And let's face it, it's hot enough to swim where I am, so it already feels like summer! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be back sometime in September... right around the same time school starts. In the meantime, enjoy your own summer and get out there and enjoy life around you. And for the small handful of you regular readers, if you're in need of a <i>Typing Sunflowers</i> fix, there are plenty of posts in the archive to get you through the next few months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for sticking with me! Ciao for now. </span></span></div>
Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-12891647932246193942015-05-26T11:17:00.000-04:002015-05-26T11:17:09.190-04:00Cloth Diapering Basics<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't know much about babies before I had one, but one thing was for certain — I knew if I ever had a child, I'd use <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2014/07/cloth-diapers.html" target="_blank">cloth diapers</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cloth diapers have come a long way since I was a baby. I'm happy to report that I've been using them nearly exclusively for almost 10 months now, without a single pin in sight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are in the market to swap out your disposables or if you're considering cloth as a new mama, you may be as overwhelmed as I was with the choices out there. I ended up Googling 'cloth-diaper-how-to' and found some great YouTube videos. (<i>Sadly, I forgot to bookmark them to share with you.</i>) But I figured I could still possibly help a mother or two out there who is curious about cloth diapering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i>If you couldn't care less about diapers... well then feel free to skip this post! Even if you do care about cloth diapers, this post is quite lengthy, so grab a cup of coffee...</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I discovered that there was no right or wrong way to cloth diaper. Everyone has their own preference and I had to go through several types of diapers before I found the ones that fit our lifestyle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the cloth diapering world, there are numerous types of diapers. Some examples include: All-in-One (AIO), pocket-diapers, and shells or covers that you use in conjunction with either pre-folds or flats. Another cloth diapering mama told me to gather a few of each and then figure out which ones I liked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, the old-fashioned <i>very</i> basic, versatile and cheap flats were the most effective for my little Peanut — and they were my favorite diapers to actually use. I purchased several covers, and only washed them when they got wet or soiled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially I had a diaper service for six weeks, so I used their pre-folds in my covers. The pre-folds worked well, but as they come in two sizes, I didn't like the idea that I would have to invest in two sets of pre-folds as the Peanut grew. I also knew that pre-folds take longer to dry, both in the dryer and air drying. I wanted to simplify my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flats are just that. Flat pieces of cloth. (<i>I'm not talking about the cheapies you can find at Walmart that are actually labeled 'cloth diapers'... use those awful things as burp cloths instead</i>.) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional flats are thin and dry very fast both in the dryer and on a line. </span>These are the traditional old-fashioned cloth diapers that our moms pinned on us... only nowadays, you can simply fold them in half twice, then in thirds and then stuff them into a cover that you snap onto your baby. Voila. No more fancy folding or pinning! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue5bVG8shMq312RvCSU5p8g1qs5BqxeyE1o7TMUn6-9GNNuElT67VzaOz3WP5wy9OJzkxhAWqTYyw1JUdcSm-39QiczgZLKGXMblfWFPkljSPrEHuQUfkgkasirou8LV3y1A6_2o40P7V/s1600/DSC_1583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue5bVG8shMq312RvCSU5p8g1qs5BqxeyE1o7TMUn6-9GNNuElT67VzaOz3WP5wy9OJzkxhAWqTYyw1JUdcSm-39QiczgZLKGXMblfWFPkljSPrEHuQUfkgkasirou8LV3y1A6_2o40P7V/s640/DSC_1583.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, you can totally do the old-fashioned fold and pin, with a cover over the top. I just think these <a href="http://www.planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Diaper_Cover_128_cat.html" target="_blank">Planet Wise covers</a> are super easy to use! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqC-XspJtj-WIEKh3FM-cUx-T1sSTvfm2K7B1bilcr_81YNqHAykjCsl3kC_APF3t3qEiSkwXGgJjP_mefMFavwM3L-1898j75FhxmHpLrVp8baHlyRmP2Wpuu22HXcfYiQMAf4MJudpC/s1600/DSC_1589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqC-XspJtj-WIEKh3FM-cUx-T1sSTvfm2K7B1bilcr_81YNqHAykjCsl3kC_APF3t3qEiSkwXGgJjP_mefMFavwM3L-1898j75FhxmHpLrVp8baHlyRmP2Wpuu22HXcfYiQMAf4MJudpC/s320/DSC_1589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SWJY2eKjfv-kbJs070Boj0hk2WaNMtZWg8RUhE2pYoffBsXg33d2VJNnmAmZLQLt-cogBESTn6TirEdhufoXA-bWZuxSEn_0cE_4wCDD4rJgQwh-AAQg1JbwvZ_bO6TJT6KiNySI78Or/s1600/DSC_1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SWJY2eKjfv-kbJs070Boj0hk2WaNMtZWg8RUhE2pYoffBsXg33d2VJNnmAmZLQLt-cogBESTn6TirEdhufoXA-bWZuxSEn_0cE_4wCDD4rJgQwh-AAQg1JbwvZ_bO6TJT6KiNySI78Or/s320/DSC_1590.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus they're simply adorable. They come in two sizes. For a while, I was able to overlap using both sizes with the Peanut, when I adjusted the snaps on the smallest two (top) with the larger sizes (bottom). As you can see, the snaps adjust so you can make them smaller or larger, and you can even snap down the cover for that (semi-gross) newborn stage when the umbilical cord still needs to fall off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTkdVVdqIlqUrUcJHIIvoanZDO2-wciRFrfQCV7YGAoeY6y4dIed39YFZXx9zGC8lFbxjp9e5vOMyAu8-gPopw8XXcfAST-vR1XmYOZXayzg2L2Fk3dEEsi7R8Uig_bK4Sz976HDRJX8X/s1600/DSC_1588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTkdVVdqIlqUrUcJHIIvoanZDO2-wciRFrfQCV7YGAoeY6y4dIed39YFZXx9zGC8lFbxjp9e5vOMyAu8-gPopw8XXcfAST-vR1XmYOZXayzg2L2Fk3dEEsi7R8Uig_bK4Sz976HDRJX8X/s640/DSC_1588.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I invested in two of the smaller size and four of the larger size. (I had a few miscellaneous smaller covers I found at consignment sales.) I also had two of the Thirsties brand in the small size. There are lots of other covers out there — some have snaps; others use velcro-like closures. I prefer the snaps, although now that the Peanut is super wiggly, I suspect the hook and loop closures might be quicker and easier! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxJjIeagdSweOn7eaKQ7a96GdMAHLi7A-Jlh3keH9hdp1Dvv81sb23E8OQsiCNPDCJKc_gJArygGxK8G5M5cLR4c2E7ltTQMlTYjL0JAktk7z9poOUfB5umcyE-CX-adUhpMx0msWyh_t/s1600/DSC_1584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxJjIeagdSweOn7eaKQ7a96GdMAHLi7A-Jlh3keH9hdp1Dvv81sb23E8OQsiCNPDCJKc_gJArygGxK8G5M5cLR4c2E7ltTQMlTYjL0JAktk7z9poOUfB5umcyE-CX-adUhpMx0msWyh_t/s640/DSC_1584.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the Thirsties worked out well, especially because they dried super fast, I preferred the Planet Wise covers because I could pre-stuff them with a flat diaper before a change. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CZVcND2bAfz76gOnLmDcEUhAPe0WEewDBWSJMOntOpKt17uy4JwS4L40Gto7T9HICvi1XLxfaKjb1U6mYtFhuTyM098qNJtRFOlXVNCmnO6O4-5N5QGkalRzU7SB5gXM1W6vXdKMztKR/s1600/DSC_1596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CZVcND2bAfz76gOnLmDcEUhAPe0WEewDBWSJMOntOpKt17uy4JwS4L40Gto7T9HICvi1XLxfaKjb1U6mYtFhuTyM098qNJtRFOlXVNCmnO6O4-5N5QGkalRzU7SB5gXM1W6vXdKMztKR/s640/DSC_1596.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found my flats online. Initially I purchased a dozen each of the <a href="http://www.clothdiaper.com/cloth-diapers/Flat_Cloth_Diapers/OsoCozy-Birdseye-Flat-Cloth-Diapers.html" target="_blank">bleached</a> and <a href="http://www.clothdiaper.com/cloth-diapers/Flat_Cloth_Diapers/OsoCozy-Unbleached-Birdsye-Flat-Diapers.html" target="_blank">unbleached</a> versions of OsoCozy flats. After a few months, I bought another six of the unbleached ones since I wanted to keep a stash in the car and in my bag. I prefer the unbleached because they hide stains better and they generally feel softer overall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also purchased about eight of the micro-fiber fleece pocket diapers from both <a href="http://junglerooclothdiapers.com/" target="_blank">Jungle Roo</a> and <a href="http://www.lotusbumz.com/" target="_blank">Lotus Bums</a>. I found them on <a href="http://www.zulily.com/" target="_blank">Zulily</a>, where they were much cheaper than on their sites. Initially I used them overnight because I could stuff two inserts in at a time, but I discovered they seemed to leak worse when the Peanut was laying down. I swapped over to the flats overnight, stuffing two into the cover, and so far it's working!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0XO5spVw6WWnVzH72s4g52I3RuK6DmjedaQTXILR0O08_fykFw-SVWuYo0y-ukuewpYuqmIVOLDL8m2VZqJs4-cHB-BFvKLCFp6DXz6BGY_0EouudVNvmw4C6E1IPWTuI-baAbODT1X_/s1600/DSC_1577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0XO5spVw6WWnVzH72s4g52I3RuK6DmjedaQTXILR0O08_fykFw-SVWuYo0y-ukuewpYuqmIVOLDL8m2VZqJs4-cHB-BFvKLCFp6DXz6BGY_0EouudVNvmw4C6E1IPWTuI-baAbODT1X_/s640/DSC_1577.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV1A7vQ144FjqAzaN0jco6G2a8H4gflWS3inKSGCjXQglrs1OOPLpM7_enPgs5p09IyvFXQVs8Ku7_bzF5MVa8MiE1GGUqYittv7bEBOa4y1wxRFKD9NpaGP2SBQYjYdKntqvdYcsZNkn/s1600/DSC_1580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV1A7vQ144FjqAzaN0jco6G2a8H4gflWS3inKSGCjXQglrs1OOPLpM7_enPgs5p09IyvFXQVs8Ku7_bzF5MVa8MiE1GGUqYittv7bEBOa4y1wxRFKD9NpaGP2SBQYjYdKntqvdYcsZNkn/s640/DSC_1580.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1rzUY3II8PG12agHv0c-QxgFFZhl2OmiaUBMhcn4bB5VodsMqdU6PXBd7UsOHZHRHPThpmz1Gbj6HPtMHaYUZLw00FJWTCyAGiQV1pL9qGzwHuu1OywWsZrSa_5VeqNRdhHuqCAiRve/s1600/DSC_1591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1rzUY3II8PG12agHv0c-QxgFFZhl2OmiaUBMhcn4bB5VodsMqdU6PXBd7UsOHZHRHPThpmz1Gbj6HPtMHaYUZLw00FJWTCyAGiQV1pL9qGzwHuu1OywWsZrSa_5VeqNRdhHuqCAiRve/s640/DSC_1591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a few different all-in-one diapers that I didn't really like using. I just thought they were really bulky... and I wanted something smaller to carry around in my bag. I also don't like using the micro-fiber fleece ones when I'm out and about. They seem to take up more space in my bag. Flats and the covers fit the bill perfectly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you cloth diaper, you need somewhere to store your dirty diapers until laundry day. We bought a galvanized trash can, similar to <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/RECEPTACLE-20G-TRSH-W-LID/33519577" target="_blank">this one,</a> and then a large wet bag to put inside. We keep the trash can in the laundry room. I hang smaller wet bags in the room where we change the Peanut. I found several wet/dry bags on Zulily also. Planet Wise also sells a number of <a href="http://www.planetwiseinc.com/Planet_Wise_Wet_Bags_39_subcat.html" target="_blank">super cute ones</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as far as laundry goes, it is more, but nothing that is out of control. I can go every three days with my stash, but I prefer to wash every other day. I soak the diapers, then run a cycle using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nellies-NLS-100T-Natural-Laundry-Pound/dp/B001GODIEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432587335&sr=8-1&keywords=nellies+laundry+soda" target="_blank">Nellie's All Natural Laundry Soda</a> (I can often find a dented tin at TJMaxx and similar stores, much cheaper) and at least one extra rinse on hot water. When the diapers start to stink more than usual, they need to be stripped of excess laundry soap, so I end up washing them with vinegar and rinse, rinse, rinse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What about the poop? I hear you asking. Well, exclusively breastfed poop can go right into the washing machine! It's water soluble, after all. Once the baby is on solids, poop is, well, poop, so you need to toss it into the loo. I found that it comes off the micro-fiber fleece a little easier, but it's not that hard to get it off the flats. Some people purchase a sprayer for their toilet, others use a scraper or just swish the diaper in the water to loosen the gunk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And really, you're <i>supposed</i> to flush the poop even if you use disposables, so it's not that much more work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For wipes, I purchased about 40 small baby washcloths from TJMaxx. I used them quite heavily when the Peanut was tiny and pooping a ton. Now that he's also eating solid foods, I found that I only need about a dozen wipes in my stash to get them through several days. I use plain old water, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissaluvs-Diaper-Lotion-Potion-Spray/dp/B002UD6C16/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1432652782&sr=8-4&keywords=diaper+spray" target="_blank">this Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion Potion</a> that smells super. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I'm out and about with the Peanut, I still cloth diaper</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I just keep a
wet/dry bag in our stuff and I cart home the dirties. They don't stink
in the bag. I usually have disposables wipes with me instead of the washcloths though. Disposable wipes are needed for all kinds of messes, so it's worth it to me to keep a package in my bag. </span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone asked me the other day if I thought it was cost-effective to use cloth. <i>Um, yes</i>. I estimate that I spent about $300 on my stash and I probably could have spent a little less. I haven't calculated how much I've spent in laundry soap, water and electricity, but the bills haven't skyrocketed. They have gone up only slightly, and it's still much cheaper than disposables. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only time I've used disposables were those first few days I spent in the hospital, and then I've also used them while traveling long distances, such as on an airplane. I had some serious sticker shock when I had to buy diapers for those traveling occasions! I used them exclusively for my <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/03/pictures-are-worth-1000-words.html" target="_blank">10-day trip to Idaho</a>, and even though I bought chemical free disposables, it was the only time the Peanut got a rash. I would have carted my cloth stash with me, but I only traveled with hand luggage (and the Peanut, of course!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVYjZr5t8V12IHIocnoMiEG8F2yMFZ9P2_5paI3nbSXdGZNXrNDGq2FldqwJSI3_fCI8mVgIl8LkHsu4hTgfuVQ4F3hw2Dk9e5i_BcicflwMGCsImamz2WWK3Ggse-dRtUjfvYPY3e0lx/s1600/IMG_3735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVYjZr5t8V12IHIocnoMiEG8F2yMFZ9P2_5paI3nbSXdGZNXrNDGq2FldqwJSI3_fCI8mVgIl8LkHsu4hTgfuVQ4F3hw2Dk9e5i_BcicflwMGCsImamz2WWK3Ggse-dRtUjfvYPY3e0lx/s640/IMG_3735.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also used them traveling to and from South Africa, but since we were there for nearly a month and we had a larger luggage limit, I brought my stash with me. In the end, it was a lot more work to wash them there, since my mother-in-law has a very old-fashioned washing machine (along with a separate spinner), and we had to hang dry the diapers, but even the Sailor got on board with helping out and it worked out fine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found that for traveling, disposables are definitely easier to deal with. They are also less bulky than cloth diapers, so you can stash more in your bag. Even when the Sailor and I went on a short road trip out of town for a few days, we took the cloth diapers with us. In retrospect, it was a little icky to cart home a whole load of dirty diapers in the trunk, but I wanted to prove to myself that it <i>was</i> possible to travel with cloth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure if the Peanut has noticed a difference, but I certainly have with the amount of cash we're saving. I feel a little less guilty splurging on other things for the Peanut now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be traveling a bit this summer, and while I will definitely use cloth at my destinations, I'll be using disposables along the way. After all, I'll be on vacation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some great cloth diaper vendors: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelly's Closet</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.diapers.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diapers.com</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Mountain Diapers</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazon carries a number of items, of course. I also found a few things through Walmart and Target, available online only and not in their stores. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you make the cloth diaper switch? I'd love to hear about it! </span></div>
<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-6354961985739174792015-05-16T19:28:00.000-04:002015-05-16T19:30:32.246-04:00(Halfway Through) May Day! <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but time is flying by right now. I have heard this phrase several times since having the Peanut: 'The days are long, but the years are short.' I cannot believe my little guy will be one in just a few short months. However, some nights feel like they are never-ending, depending on how much sleep we are all getting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, I have too much to say and not enough time to type it out. If I'm lucky, I'll at least finish this post before someone wakes up from their nap. (<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I didn't...</i></span>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exciting things in our household of late: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZOhsen_Er_Aka9wJ4wkhh6UFzhts85aMbeyjboQx0A5qGmAqt8RW80cFYq0LpWbr5v1iw-kH3wNxBlkDE2ORLz4NsTb7JyU486m1bfe7S2T2mlaZGK9qtn0suEc5HM6r0-AXAUD74K2S/s1600/DSC_1563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZOhsen_Er_Aka9wJ4wkhh6UFzhts85aMbeyjboQx0A5qGmAqt8RW80cFYq0LpWbr5v1iw-kH3wNxBlkDE2ORLz4NsTb7JyU486m1bfe7S2T2mlaZGK9qtn0suEc5HM6r0-AXAUD74K2S/s640/DSC_1563.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The acquisition of a new coffee maker! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you may already know, I love my coffee. I also love frequenting coffee shops, of which there is no shortage in my city. However, it's not always easy to get out the door and actually stay at one long enough to enjoy a beverage. I'm not a fan of getting coffee to go and drinking out of a disposable container, unless I'm actually on a long road trip in the car. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the Sailor and I splurged on a Breville Barista espresso maker. I'm actually drinking less coffee these days because of the Peanut, so I figured that my daily intake should therefore be excellent quality. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We managed to nab it with a sale coupon and we cashed in points on our credit card, so the price wasn't as scary as we initially calculated. Plus, I've already saved on the amount of <i>ah-mazing</i> coffee I've had since we bought it. Best thing about it? The Peanut can be bouncing off the walls and I can still enjoy my coffee without fear of him knocking over a table at the coffee shop, or at the very least, coffee that I had to pay a ridiculous price for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drinking outstanding coffee at home in vintage Pyrex is simply a bonus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm smitten. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O0HSI0smjsnKqYLo_pwfr1YngBCfFK66ZBsLD_pxxR-lgBs5K1Ti9cGVo4xxpyAv4xYx4aRFY8lTQP-wqV_-O9yQyiT8NOONN9A7wbV1l7TqV5u9iTaOdKvCrzQm_t5l0i7QGpUTms0O/s1600/DSC_1572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O0HSI0smjsnKqYLo_pwfr1YngBCfFK66ZBsLD_pxxR-lgBs5K1Ti9cGVo4xxpyAv4xYx4aRFY8lTQP-wqV_-O9yQyiT8NOONN9A7wbV1l7TqV5u9iTaOdKvCrzQm_t5l0i7QGpUTms0O/s640/DSC_1572.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunrise-sunset-afghan" target="_blank">This crochet blanket</a> is still coming along...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sailor and I are working our way through our list of recorded TV series. I usually manage to get one or <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/03/pictures-are-worth-1000-words.html" target="_blank">two squares</a> crocheted per show, and now I'm about halfway through with this blanket. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqShFlvd2ZZmFqSaGFWcar9mzW8EMVC1wuSZFxr8R9UsSW13WKCsHPW9IZKAEYim3y827pRjYbwdvRbMX1FELGkBYMTGxmKhX-LtAl7x7RhhwrLhwMNXmOQ_mPdAPdnwkHK5srkiR1KfdK/s1600/DSC_1560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqShFlvd2ZZmFqSaGFWcar9mzW8EMVC1wuSZFxr8R9UsSW13WKCsHPW9IZKAEYim3y827pRjYbwdvRbMX1FELGkBYMTGxmKhX-LtAl7x7RhhwrLhwMNXmOQ_mPdAPdnwkHK5srkiR1KfdK/s640/DSC_1560.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends from a distance visited a few weeks ago and gifted me with this awesome plant for my porch! I may not get much time to sit on the porch these days and admire the other plants, but I can see this one from the living room all of the time. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLxjrdFV_QY3tME9jMswE9a7YOjZXtvKr2U6JwTVBDKiYnuLqF14LciezPsudhjHIOQfv3PuGJUkzF7jlPbHSWrD-LPSK1n_F5l-cml3iyIC_7aHIfnu1XSQjIJ_AUjYqlYqaedDJgs9b/s1600/DSC_1565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLxjrdFV_QY3tME9jMswE9a7YOjZXtvKr2U6JwTVBDKiYnuLqF14LciezPsudhjHIOQfv3PuGJUkzF7jlPbHSWrD-LPSK1n_F5l-cml3iyIC_7aHIfnu1XSQjIJ_AUjYqlYqaedDJgs9b/s640/DSC_1565.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My little cross-stitch project that I started on <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/happy-earth-day.html" target="_blank">our recent trip</a> to South Africa is still in limbo for the time being. I may have to just save and finish it on the next international trip. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzokeKLP2bcVHBmcpI8gJZjFBBkYdviJzIOe7Y6eFr_2yoR5Tu9RdBW53J67ReR8PAkbQeXGxgMXLOrxffDj2LDjpfJWVm0D24xFrn30eN_kd1arSv9WFKPVjpUZnUHJwfP2UWn-l5f-ZU/s1600/DSC_1564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzokeKLP2bcVHBmcpI8gJZjFBBkYdviJzIOe7Y6eFr_2yoR5Tu9RdBW53J67ReR8PAkbQeXGxgMXLOrxffDj2LDjpfJWVm0D24xFrn30eN_kd1arSv9WFKPVjpUZnUHJwfP2UWn-l5f-ZU/s640/DSC_1564.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, I really am working on that cloth diapering post I promised months ago. I know that when I was ready to take the cloth diapering plunge, the Internet helped me immensely with navigating through the many options! I hope to help some other new mom out there with what I've learned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, my aging iMac, Walter, fried himself this afternoon, so I'm in the processing of restoring everything (<i>isn't technology a pain?!</i>) In fact, I was about to add the photos to this post and then hit publish right when it all conked out. I had to retake the pics and then use another piece of technology to actually publish this post (<i>isn't technology amazing?!</i>) All that to say... bear with me while I sort out my technological issues! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy mid-May Day! </span></div>
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<br />Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-91056322207280133332015-05-05T16:27:00.003-04:002015-05-05T16:29:49.671-04:00Seasons Change<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don't have to tell me that I have neglected this blog for the past few weeks. Every day I wake up and think, 'this is the day that I'll get a post done...'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_n42M_LstTcJ2FQ_rvGqulmqXYSd6xwQjurBdOiYEu0EMvfksCjwjWAYbshkqYaXQlr9CVeCTT8Ve0_p9PU__kLHPmlCpyhZjffcIUs73ZbS05VVFbLwlWT-KGZQqKnyzk08uShXwsEi/s1600/IMG_3996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_n42M_LstTcJ2FQ_rvGqulmqXYSd6xwQjurBdOiYEu0EMvfksCjwjWAYbshkqYaXQlr9CVeCTT8Ve0_p9PU__kLHPmlCpyhZjffcIUs73ZbS05VVFbLwlWT-KGZQqKnyzk08uShXwsEi/s320/IMG_3996.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then life seems to take over. There are dishes to be washed, diapers to change, meals to make, clothes to clean. Plus the weather is gorgeous, so that means parks to sit in, hikes to take, porches to chill out on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It really is never-ending. The other day I said to the Sailor that I couldn't understand why I didn't seem to get anything done beside basic survival and making sure the Peanut was fed, clothed, clean and (usually) happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt like every other mother I saw was doing waaaaay more than me and still keeping their child fed, clothed, clean and happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sailor reminded me that something usually still gives — life doesn't always look as perfect from the inside as from the outside. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5qv2-M5YyuQeIin5tBENPEg_30Gg1AAiDoW7GtFLQ4_JdkcNVVrLxsxjQDKQiHvGW-nV0-jUOPKTIYePNv19mir-wQHWoFTnLvAc9ctKZZmxEmddLCnj14gDnB9F_VWsWI2dNK8I061V/s1600/IMG_3998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5qv2-M5YyuQeIin5tBENPEg_30Gg1AAiDoW7GtFLQ4_JdkcNVVrLxsxjQDKQiHvGW-nV0-jUOPKTIYePNv19mir-wQHWoFTnLvAc9ctKZZmxEmddLCnj14gDnB9F_VWsWI2dNK8I061V/s200/IMG_3998.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The leaves were just budding as I left for <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2015/04/happy-earth-day.html" target="_blank">South Africa a few weeks ago</a>. The temperature was about the same in South Africa, but the leaves were falling and there was a slight chill in the air in both the mornings and the evenings. It felt like autumn, as it should in the Southern Hemisphere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we all returned home, spring had already sprung. Spring only lasts about two weeks in these parts, so I had some seasonal confusion. I hadn't yet packed away my winter clothes and I was still searching for non-maternity shorts that I could fit into in my wardrobe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost gave up on this little <a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2015/02/crocheted-spring-wreath.html" target="_blank">spring crochet wreath</a> project, but I had started it before I left for my trip and decided to get it done. (<i>Sidenote: I love, love, love, <a href="http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/" target="_blank">Repeat Crafter Me's blog</a>. She has the cutest crochet projects and great instructions!</i>) Besides the actual wreath and the green yarn for it, I used up scraps of yarn that I had leftover from other projects (part of my ongoing <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/11/ideas-for-stash-busting.html" target="_blank">stash busting</a>), and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/12/buttons-and-baubles.html" target="_blank">buttons from my stockpile</a>. I wanted to do the picot edging on the wreath hanger, but ran out of yellow yarn. I figured it was better to improvise and actually get the thing done. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXP144XU91AC1fLvfvHcghKAGHEjMGYxHuHcY3gBSuANFswkofWmyaix_hZqiiPkHop45-unxSpu-wn_358zVLh2nGsjR2WEoRz2wx-1Els7k__13ljYhrZXJNt8KjoiMqOzWtBxuI5L2/s1600/IMG_3997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXP144XU91AC1fLvfvHcghKAGHEjMGYxHuHcY3gBSuANFswkofWmyaix_hZqiiPkHop45-unxSpu-wn_358zVLh2nGsjR2WEoRz2wx-1Els7k__13ljYhrZXJNt8KjoiMqOzWtBxuI5L2/s200/IMG_3997.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may feel more like summer here than spring, but the calendar says otherwise. And yes, something 'gave' for me to get this done. Rather than catching up on sleep when the Peanut napped, I caught up on some TV shows and crocheted this wreath. I still feel tired, but at least the outside of the door looks pretty. You'd never know the chaos inside, unless you opened the door, however! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seasons definitely change, and this is most certainly a different one for me. Hope you're enjoying the weather, wherever you are and whatever season you find yourself in at the moment! </span>Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707182778972905600.post-25695984175919838572015-04-22T15:01:00.000-04:002015-04-22T15:01:06.014-04:00Happy Earth Day! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBeM03j52zABoh2vdtyXdGfHq0CgkA_BRVzJrfrZL31DnpnKDA7yW3Dy6WXGga495EIHovBsr_be38zLkGelxx5n87iLomeBxxjGvqbSoeqZoYF0IacqEoOij9pItfnXKIvMgvv5ObUug/s1600/za-buoy-bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBeM03j52zABoh2vdtyXdGfHq0CgkA_BRVzJrfrZL31DnpnKDA7yW3Dy6WXGga495EIHovBsr_be38zLkGelxx5n87iLomeBxxjGvqbSoeqZoYF0IacqEoOij9pItfnXKIvMgvv5ObUug/s1600/za-buoy-bird.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took this photo nearly a decade ago (<i>how is that even possible?!</i>) at a small outdoor restaurant along the coast of South Africa. It's an old buoy, but it has always reminded me of the earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sailor, the Peanut and I just returned from South Africa, and while we were nowhere near this restaurant, we at least enjoyed the outdoors as well as the spoils from Oupa's garden. We missed <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/02/peach-smoothies.html" target="_blank">peach season</a>, but we still had fresh carrots, tomatoes, onions and potatoes to feast on. We were just in time, since much of the garden was gearing up for the winter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbzVtJReyhJhDYULYROvsE8gKMI3uDDBuwEGorHG5fwfmj20x_xP0y4foINpXpG5o81cm2ZCQvaMl85q9ADzsHuuUO58tp0QJgNsvB_dWdUv9GmfeK9oM_INlh1t8CuS5j8a2xIGsFvUM/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbzVtJReyhJhDYULYROvsE8gKMI3uDDBuwEGorHG5fwfmj20x_xP0y4foINpXpG5o81cm2ZCQvaMl85q9ADzsHuuUO58tp0QJgNsvB_dWdUv9GmfeK9oM_INlh1t8CuS5j8a2xIGsFvUM/s1600/IMG_3861.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We introduced the Peanut to grass, which he wasn't too sure about at first. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXziKaRn2X8ml4gE8dBxABgVjIB6UaAMn7Zh2ANfK2LYuiKRtOUsSpQUH7tzgRQW84Ud3pr_2GnPjm8u1yZ6LHQg0wexr9F0mYlXV_Tzj0RoF_9sPkz-yrVadp8GPkBTjDLJgU9LsbND0D/s1600/peanut-grass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXziKaRn2X8ml4gE8dBxABgVjIB6UaAMn7Zh2ANfK2LYuiKRtOUsSpQUH7tzgRQW84Ud3pr_2GnPjm8u1yZ6LHQg0wexr9F0mYlXV_Tzj0RoF_9sPkz-yrVadp8GPkBTjDLJgU9LsbND0D/s1600/peanut-grass2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He soon figured that grass was great to crawl in, leaves make wonderful crunchy noises, and <a href="http://typingsunflowers.blogspot.com/2013/02/dexter-wonder-dog.html" target="_blank">Dexter the Wonder Dog</a> is fun to pet. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVY161YyKSD4ZVnbIPnKSQ7ljeyYYdPb-BKWKhE-3IkdLFwOqf0TZWkfFLHqWQQ7jbSj9bmcE_JRxNTaU1oflw2s3JyJQGRFykIs5tBa00vHU94Rvry0RHH6TrdD807rAr5Ra_3I6KBkE/s1600/peanut-dexter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVY161YyKSD4ZVnbIPnKSQ7ljeyYYdPb-BKWKhE-3IkdLFwOqf0TZWkfFLHqWQQ7jbSj9bmcE_JRxNTaU1oflw2s3JyJQGRFykIs5tBa00vHU94Rvry0RHH6TrdD807rAr5Ra_3I6KBkE/s1600/peanut-dexter.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to sit under my favorite tree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We introduced hammocking to the Peanut as well. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXFb1RTUO9ZZT8kKOy6Ceg60qpaifOEaG5ocsTjMEzV8h2PrRXPi-2oVyj8R3U1eHMYlaV4GWoYf0ghdXLbxy4gBFC8vXeRXwyM5jexEaJT3fSzzp26z1tjhQOaE3SoT8El58TovoQGXi/s1600/peanut-hammock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXFb1RTUO9ZZT8kKOy6Ceg60qpaifOEaG5ocsTjMEzV8h2PrRXPi-2oVyj8R3U1eHMYlaV4GWoYf0ghdXLbxy4gBFC8vXeRXwyM5jexEaJT3fSzzp26z1tjhQOaE3SoT8El58TovoQGXi/s1600/peanut-hammock.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He didn't stay in the hammock long, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but</span> I think he liked the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndI7QtQo9b8F3zcAgHe_1lGjuzTITmfpx1TFXezUyDtQdYJxqSEXFbR6yZlt4cXJn9IKt47wXncVtsNElo1eP0VFIL0F-DJmdNQeXrv09HZi-LV8TJEPr2aUlqOBFk99kx0mP_JievUJo/s1600/hammock-view2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndI7QtQo9b8F3zcAgHe_1lGjuzTITmfpx1TFXezUyDtQdYJxqSEXFbR6yZlt4cXJn9IKt47wXncVtsNElo1eP0VFIL0F-DJmdNQeXrv09HZi-LV8TJEPr2aUlqOBFk99kx0mP_JievUJo/s1600/hammock-view2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earth Day might only come around once a year, but I kind of like the idea of enjoying the outdoors all 365 days. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bvleOvN2_cpjC1kY6HVR8kFGcvgj2CtK3cLzIHn5gFAUPzjO4FxB3B6ClGby9YgmutAPI5mdYuKOXmzvgeMXdfl5TFgrqgiZpE2DbZMS3KbUZcLfiAUrBaRca6g6CyDD-gidDgyPUhMd/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bvleOvN2_cpjC1kY6HVR8kFGcvgj2CtK3cLzIHn5gFAUPzjO4FxB3B6ClGby9YgmutAPI5mdYuKOXmzvgeMXdfl5TFgrqgiZpE2DbZMS3KbUZcLfiAUrBaRca6g6CyDD-gidDgyPUhMd/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that we're back in the Northern Hemisphere (<i>Spring already sprang while we were away</i>) it's time to think of our own garden. This year we're planting tomatoes, okra, peas, carrots and broccoli, plus maybe a few other goodies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thinking maybe sunflowers? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever your day brings, I hope it's full of sunshine, and happiness equivalent to leaves crunching in a baby's hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Earth Day! </span></span></div>
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Brenda Steffenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16813168815389059289noreply@blogger.com0