Blue

It's been hot. Unbearable, in fact. The kids have spent quite a bit of time in the pool....where it's cool. I am too afraid, still, to shed the street clothes and don a teensy swimsuit so I sit on the patio in the shade of the blue umbrella that was supposed to be red. I really had my heart set on a red umbrella, but by the time I got to the store to get mine, they had blue, black and brown. The blue umbrellas were $20 less. I guess you can figure how difficult it was for me to decide on the blue one, right? Now that i have it home and it is set up on the patio, I am actually quite satisfied with the blue umbrella. I think it's really pretty. Earlier in the season, I picked up some twinkle lights designed specifically for umbrellas.....so of course I NEEDED the umbrella to go with the lights....right? .....and you know just how much I love twinkle lights, don't you?

What You See Is What You Get

It may not seem like much to you, but when I saw these goggles hanging from the curtain tie back, I just knew I needed to record how beautifully and softly the light played in the folds of the tired fabric that hangs in my living room. The Damask texture is so clear and the soft aqua blue in the rubber seals on the goggles. This photo is SOOC ... other than resizing the image for uploading and storage purpose and the watermark, there have been no other edits.

I love that.

Summer Solstice

It's the longest day of the year. What a perfect day to get the pool ready for hours of splashing and fun!

Stay tuned for pool fun pictures!

Dear 72 degrees Fahrenheit:

I think I love you.

Love,

Me

Special Delivery

It arrived today via FedEx...even more beautiful than the day I remember finding it at the jewelry store.

I strolled into the jewelry store that day for giggles and grins. There were several people crowded around the jewlery cases. I wanted to just peek at the bridal jewelry so I started at the far end. One of the store's sales associates came right over to me and asked if she could get anything out of the case for me. I looked into the display. There it was! The EXACT ring I'd imagined. A princess cut center stone flanked by sapphires.

I pointed to the ring under the glass. Renee unlocked the case and pulled the ring out and placed it in my reach. I took it from the display mount and placed it on my finger. It was a PERFECT fit. I just knew it was my ring. .... and now it really is!

Swiftly

Not a lot of words today. I just wanted to share this picture with you of my little helper curiously watching as my second hank of Berroco Lustra is wound into a ball.

Wintery Blues

With sub-zero temperatures freezing our nosehairs together inside our nostrils and warm, woolen mittens merely slowing Jack Frost a bit, we quickly understood the meaning of the words arctic blast. But when the sun came out, I was awed by how a little amber glow could change the way things look.

New beginnings can be so many things. They can be sad, frightening or amazing. At the beginning of this new year, I am feeling a little bit of all of those things.

I feel sad for what was. I feel excited for what will be.

I will celebrate a milestone birthday this year and that as me thinking a lot about a lot!

In 2009, I:

• made three long roadtrips, alone, (well, with Quincy!)
• three of my five kids started Orthodontic treatment
• got my passport
• travelled to Canada with my long-time friend, Shelly and her parents
• got a new-to-me-car
• got engaged
• finished to flooring in my kitchen
• made several new quilts
• completed knitted bedcovers for my kids
• learned to knit socks
• scored some really cool thrifted items
• officially launched my Etsy site
• enjoyed several holiday events

Of course, these are not my only accomplishments...nor are they necessarily my greatest accomplishments. They are memorable. I look forward to this year and the new twists and turns I may encounter along the way. I know some will be HUGE! And some will be meaningless. I do hope they are memorable and that I learn something from each experience.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO!

Ms. Java

122,884 Stitches

This is a Christmas gift for Ryan. Yes, he's seen it and he knows it's finished.

What went into this:

• 130 hours of time
• 12 skeins of yarn by "I Love This Yarn" (Hobby Lobby's affordable yarn)
• 122, 884 stitches

It's very warm, and very soft. I need to wrap it up and get it ready for Christmas giftgiving!

Quincy's Big Bang Theory

I told him, "Little Dude? Today is the day! We are going to cut your hair today. It's hanging in your eyes."

He tilted his head back and batted those long eyelashes and said, "I don't feel it!"

Rrrrrriiiiiiight!

Des Colores!

I was happily knitting this hat for my friend, Ric, who is battling cancer and just went 6 hours of chemo last week. I picked up my mug of coffee to take a sip and I realized the colors of the yarn and the colors on the mug were so similar!

While I had the knitting project on the floor for the picture, Moses plopped down on it and made herself cozy. I think she likes it. She kinda has that "ZEN" look on her face.

I really love this hat! It was a super-eazy knit. My mom saw the hat and squealed with delight and told me: "I WANT ONE!"

PERFECT! She has a birthday coming up soon!

My Trees Have The Blues

Some tree jewelry....i love it!