Re-Decorating

Or is it just Decorating.

Anyway, we finally got some pictures put up (some had to be framed first). The apartment looks more home-like now, although we are still in the long process of settling in, due to trying to consolodate two households. Maybe someday everything won't be quite so obviously "his" and "hers" . . . Well, I can hope . . .

Big Basin

Just got back from a camp out at Big Basin with some friends from church. It was a nice, short get-away. Campfire, sina-along, flashlight walk, mosquitos, redwoods and all. Very relaxing. Hopefully solidifying some friendships, & of course nice to be away with DH.

Tent now drying in the sun. Should bring it in soon . . .

Knitting

I've picked up my needels again. This time on a project that has both inspired and daunted me for several years. A friend was working on it when I lived with her 6 years ago (has it really been nearly 6 years? Wow.) and I got inspired. I finally got the book as a gift from my mom, somtime in the past 2 years. But still it was extremely daunting. It's aran knitting--lots of cables--very intimidating.

Then, last spring, I joined a knitters guild for a few months. At my first meeting, I felt compelled to apologize for my lack of skill, saying, "I only know how to knit and purl." One of the other members, bless her heart, said, "Then you know everything, that's all you need to know. The rest is just details." That gave me a lot of confidence.

So this summer, when I found myself waisting way to much time on-line, I decided to start knitting again, as a way to keep my hands busy while my mind wanders. It's working. It's much more relaxing and much less depressing that surfing the 'net, probably because there is a semi-productive result at the end of the day. So that's me right now. Knitting.

5 Things That You Can Find on my Nightstand

I found this on one of the blogs I read--and thought it would be fun.

1) My Flower Essences from Green Hope Farm--they help me both to continue my spiritual journey and to stay sane while I'm on it.

2) My journal--yes, I write every night. It helps me unwinde.

3) Pen--for said journal

4) Clock--for meditation and for checking in the middle of the night

5) Flashlight--for checking time in the dark.

Biking

I'm finally living in a place where I can use my bike as my main mode of transportation. And what's nice is that the more I bike, the more I want to bike. Now, when I need to run an errand, I think of my bike first, my car second. I'm getting a lot more excersice and fresh air, and that helps my overall mood. Plus I feel good about using less gas and contributing less to global warming.

Serendipity

I went on-line today to find out who to make the check out to for my passport renewal--a chore I've been avoiding--and discovered that the fees are going up tomorrow. So I called and found out that if I can get it postmarked today (which I was able to do) I can still pay the "current" fees. That is a significant savings. And it was just the impetus I needed to finally send in my application. Now all I have to do is wait 2 months . . . I'm sure I'll manage to keep busy avoiding something else . . . ;-)

Sour

So they told me, and I didn't believe them. It is true. Sour dough bread is sour. Really sour. So sour I don't want to eat much of it. I've been trying to finish a loaf for over a week. It  doesn't usually take me this long!

So much for wild yeast. I'm going back to the dried, store-bought kind.