Can You Hear Her Laughing?

"Sitting here, I am pretty freaking happy".   That is what I said to my BFF just the other day.   She says I should begin and end a novel with that line.   I decided to use it to restart my blog.

I could not tell you when exactly I went from abjectly miserable to "pretty freaking happy".   No doubt it was a process helped along by settling in to, rather than fighting, my life here in FL.   Sitting outside at Starbucks in December while my sister tells me about the next blizzard to hit NJ (aka home).   Knitting on the beach in March is pretty wonderful and friends to do it with can't be beat.

The realization came when Hubby and I started talking about finally moving.   Our oldest is living on campus now and our youngest leaves for college in less than two weeks (I am going to be an empty nester! Be prepared for tears).    We could downsize.   With two kids in college, we could use the extra $'s.

Then it hit us.   We've made friends it would hurt us to leave.   Hubby likes his job and hates change.  I have become (dare I say it?), rather fond of our house.   Did I mention the weather?  So, it was decided, we would stay (at least until the boys are out of school and maybe to Hubby's retirement). 

I would participate in a Cozy Minimalist workshop (at www.Nester.com) to cozy up the place.   We  made a plan to rearrange the secondary bedrooms so that Hubby and I would each have our own office (Niether of the boys plan to come home for the summer and they can share a room for visits).

Surely, you've heard about God's sense of humour.   Can you hear her laughing?   Half way through the Cozy Minimalist thing, Hubby called to tell me that is job will not exist after Jan1st (really?!).   Will he find another posiiton in Jax?   Will he move to his current employer's Orlando headquarters?   Will he find a good position somewhere else (please, let it not be a state without an ocean)?   Jax & Orlando are tied for our first choice, but we will go where the money is (two kids, college?).

The thing is, even with all of this uncertainty, I am still pretty freaking happy.

The Phoenix Shawl Flies Again

Find the Phoenix Shawl on Ravelry

A pattern two years in the making. That is when I began to knit the sample, create the charts, and work on the written directions. Then, the Memorial Day before last, our house burned. The boys were out with me, Hubby was in the pool, and the dog came when called. We were (and are) fine.

However, we lost almost everything. Much of what did not burn, was deemed “toxic waste” by the fire marshall. Up in smoke (literally & figuratively) went my computer (No, I did not back up regularly. Yes, I do now.), and, I believed, the first sample.

My written notes and the printed charts survived. So being a good little soldier, I used those to start over. Eventually, I even found the sample (in a grocery bag in my trunk. Don’t ask. I just don’t know.).

So here we are, almost a year after the restart, and it is finally done and for sale on Ravelry.   The Phoenix Shawl, a pattern that rose out of the ashes.

Day 12: Sew & Quilt Shop

Sew & Quilt Shop
Bunnell, FL

Look what I made today at my favorite local yarn shop!   Even though there isn't any in the shop name, once you get there you will find plenty of yarn, along with friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming staff.    This is my favorite place to go when I feel like running away from home.

Today, the talented Teresa Bovino, demo'd her Christmas Ornament pattern (available at the Sew & Quilt Shop).   We used Plymouth's Steletto on #3 needles but you can use any fingering wt. yarn.    I bought a ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino to make some more for my family.   I didn't have #3's with me (and I am trying not to buy things I already own) so I used the #1's I had in my purse.   I am happy with the final product but the finishing was a bit tight.  For my next attempt I definitely will go up a needle size or two.

This is number twelve, in the 31 Days of Where I live blogging challenge.

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day 11: Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos @ Tijuana Flats

I am on my own tonight.   T1 is off with his friends, and Hubby & T2 are preparing for a fundraiser.   I,  on the other hand, took myself off for a massage, followed by fish tacos at Tijuana Flats.   Fish tacos, apparently a Southern thing, are my current favorite food.   How did I go so long without fish tacos? :-)

This is number eleven, in the 31 Days of Where I live blogging challenge.

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day 10: It's pretty where I live...

Marineland, FL

This is number ten, in the 31 Days of Where I live blogging challenge.

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day Nine: Rest

So here it is, a day late and a picture short, Day Nine in my "Where I Live" series.

Yesterday, I got to do the most amazing thing.   I got to stay home sick.  It may not sound that exciting to some, but to the Moms among us it is a rare treat.

You see, because we live in FL, our youngest was able to take (and pass) his drivers test last week even though he is only 16.   When we lived there the NJ age was 17.   That means that he is on the road and I am not.

Yesterday, while T2 took himself off to school, I (stricken by the plague, or perhaps a cold) snuggled on the couch, read, knit, and watched three (!) spooky movies.    It was awesome.   I am feeling much better today, and quite pleased with FL license policy.

This is number nine , in a the 31 Days of Where I Live blogging challenge.

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day Seven: My Favorite Restaurant

Columbia RestaurantSt. Augustine, FL

The Columbia has been my favorite restaurant since I was a little girl.   I can remember my mother taking me here as proof that I was "good enough" to eat in a grown-up restaurant.   The food is Cuban (a particular favorite of mine).   Their 1905 Salad is famous and for good reason.   Sometimes we go there just for their Spanish Bean Soup and salad.   Others, we do it up big with soup to desert (their flan is heavenly).

When we lived in NJ, I would only get to eat here once or twice a year.   Now, I can go when ever the mood strikes me.

This is number seven , in a the 31 Days of Where I Live blogging challenge    

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day Six: Ponte Vedra Beach

Sorry for the delay, our internet was wonky yesterday :-)

Ponte Vedra Beach

This is number six, in a the 31 Days of Where I Live blogging challenge    

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day 5: Farmer's Markets

Earlier this week, after dropping T2 off at school, I decided to explore the roads behind campus.   Not only did I find the hoped for shortcut to my favorite Panera, but I happened upon a weekly farmer's market.    Just that morning I had been wishing for zucchini walnut muffins and here was my chance to score some locally grown zucchini.   These markets are everywhere down here and I love that.    I get excited every spring when my favorite fruit market pops up with juicy Gerorgia peaches.    Many of the markets have not just produce but ethnic foods, crafts, and the work of our local artists.  As a maker myself, I get a kick out of wearing locally made clothes and jewelry.

I got so excited that I forgot to take pictures.   If I get back there this week, I will take some and add them later.

This is number five, in a the 31 Days of Where I Live blogging challenge    

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day 4: Can't beat the beach...

Crescent Beach

This is number four, in a the 31 Days of Where I Live blogging challenge    

Each day I will post a thought and/or picture relative to something I like about living in NE Florida.  

You can see the whole list of posts here.

Day 2: Sometimes things just work out

Find out more about Florida Virtual School here.

During the planning phase of our move to Florida, I found out that St. John's County had the most highly rated schools in Florida.   I was thrilled and never considered living anywhere else.   This is where a little bit of knowledge got dangerous.   What I did not find out until we got here is that Florida was 50th our of 50 in education nationally.   I was appalled.   I had happily moved my kids to the best of the worst (Note: FL is no longer 50th.   Thank heavens for Mississippi).

So what could I possible like about that?   Nothing, really, it was definitely a fail on our part.   What we do like, what saved the day, was Florida Virtual School (FLVS).    This is a student driven on-line school.   Not home schooling, because I did not have to be the teacher.   Student driven because, as recommended, I let my youngest set his own pace.  It is not the choice for everyone.   Our oldest tried it for one class and hated it. 

He came to us with the idea.    There was never any doubt that he would do well (he is that kid), but even an extrovert, needs some social contact.   He pushed, we relented, and it turned out to be one of the best things we could have done for him.  He went from bored and miserable to engaged and confident.   He also learned that even he needs social interactions.   He flew through 7th grade, then choose to go to traditional HS with a virtual class or two thrown in to maintain interest.    This year, at 16, he is doing a combination of FLVS HS and traditional college.   He is doing very well and we are very proud.

  

This post is part of a 31 day series.
Find all the posts in this series here.

Day1: So, where do I live?

Old City Gates
St. Augustine, FL

I live in St. Augustine, FL, one of the oldest cities in North America.   My mom first brought us here when I was three years old.   I remember it distinctly.   It was a dark and stormy night (no. really, it was).   My mom had been driving all day, and this is where we stopped for the night before continuing on our way from Northern NJ to Cocoa Beach.   After eating dinner, and settling an elderly relative who was traveling with us, my mom took my sister (10) and me (3) out to the only attraction that was still open, The Old Jail.

Did I mention the dark and stormy night?   At one point, I was in the execution chamber with my mom and my sister had gone up a short flight of stairs to see the weapons gallery, when there was a simultaneous burst of thunder and lightening.   We all screamed and ran and right there at the top of the stairs we bounced off of each other like a scene from the Three Stooges.   When the docent (who I swear, looked like a cadaver) came to see what had happened, we, all three, were stilling on the landing laughing like loons.   What can I tell you?  It was love from that moment forward.    For the rest of my childhood I spent every vacation and most school holidays in St. Augustine, FL.

For today, what I most like about living in Florida are the happy childhood memories.

This post is part of a 31 day series.
Find all the posts in this series here.

31 Days of Where I Live

This year will be my first year participating the "31 Days Writing Challenge".  The goal is to blog every day during the month of October on a single topic.  For the past few years I have watched some of my favorite bloggers participate.   This year, I am in.

For my theme, I have chosen "31 Days of Where I Live".   Since moving from NJ to FL,  four years ago, Fall has consistently brought with it the worst homesickness.    This year, at least for the month of October, I am planning to pick one thing each day that I like about living in Florida.   There have to be at least 31 things, right?   Come back here each day and find out. :-)

Day 1: So, Where do I Live?
Day 2: Sometimes things just work out
Day 3: Happy Days
Day 4: Can't Beat the Beach
Day 5: Farmers Markets
Day 6: Ponte Vedra Beach
Day 7: My Favorite Restaurant
Day 8: City Coffee
Day 9: Rest
Day 10: It's Pretty Where I Live
Day 11: Fish Tacos
Day 12: Sew & Quilt Shop
Day 13: Not Happening

Solitary Knitting

Simple Joys
Patons Grace
Aquifer

I love Hubby and the boys to distractions, but, I am so, so happy to finally have the apartment to myself.  T1 is home from NJ, so he and T2 took my mom out shopping today.   Hubby is at work.   This is the first time I have had the apartment to myself since before T1 went away (six weeks!).

What have I been doing with my alone time?   I slept in, read for a while and enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee on the patio.   Then, I knit.   Then, I took pictures of my knitting.   Now, I am writing about my knitting.   Once done here, I am going to go eat fish tacos (that only I like) and very possibly read about knitting while doing so.   Yes, folks, this is the perfect day.

Now, prepare yourself for an Andy Rooney moment.   Do you know what I hate?    Well, nothing really, but I do seriously dislike not being able to find something that I know I have.    During the photo portion of my lovely day, I wanted to pin out and photograph my in progress Simply Exquisite Shawl (thinking of changing that to the Phoenix Shawl since it rose out of the ashes) but couldn't find my blocking pins anywhere.  I know I have them.  I used them the two times I pinned and photographed this same shawl (I am actually working on three samples but am only photographing one for the pattern).   In an effort not to let this glitch derail my day, I used embroidery needles to pin it, but I really am going to have to find those pins.

What you see here is my Simple Joys shawl.   This will be my sample.   The one I wear out to be seen. I know it does not look all that impressive but it is early days yet.    I love Patons Grace.   It is awfully nice for a not high end yarn.   The mercerized cotton washes and wears well and some of the colors are really outstanding.   It really is perfect for Florida summer knitting.

Survivor knitting...

The night of the fire, after the flames were out and the giant fans had blown through the remains of our home, the firemen let me run in and grab our meds from the kitchen.  To their obvious consternation,  I added a quick trip to the living room to grab the three knitting bags/baskets that were sitting by the open patio sliders.   The bags did a great job of protecting their contents from the smoke and soot.   Only the top projects were smokey and stinky.    So far, I have been able to comfortably work on most of the deeper projects.    This Linen Tunic is one of those survivor projects.

The Linen Tunic caught my eye and landed on my needles more than four years ago.    This is what I was working on when I left for vacation and ended up moving to Florida.   By the time it came out of storage, I had moved on to other things.   Then, recently, while searching my napping projects for something else, it once again caught my eye.   Now four years, a major move and a house fire later, it is finally done.   It has been soaked, spun, and hung to dry.   All that remains is a quick iron and it is good to go.    Assuming I stay on task, I will be wearing this baby on Tuesday when I meet the girls for lunch and a knit.

A Good Yarn

For a good time visit A Good Yarn

After spending a weekend in Sarasota, a friend came home raving about this awesome yarn shop she visited.   This Friday, on our way to Fort Myers for the weekend, Hubby & T2 (T1 had dog duty) graciously acceded to my request that we make a side trip on this purported yarn heaven.

Friend Kerri did not exaggerate in any way.   As soon as I walked into A Good Yarn I was nearly overwhelmed with the eye candy presented by so many luscious colors and textures.   Visually, this is a lovely shop.   The people (staff and customers) were warm and welcoming.    I absolutely love when a shop's staff is knowledgeable and willing to help without hovering.    A Good Yarn hit that balance perfectly.   I know that we all have our favorite yarns.  For me, the offerings were perfect (Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Habu, Claudia Hand-paints, Handmaiden, Louet, Koigu and a lot more).   It was like having all of my favorite NY/NJ/Philly shops in one place.  I want to move to Sarasota.  At the very least we will have to visit my Godmother more often.

I did ask about online ordering and was assured that they are working on a new website (in the mean time you can give them a call to order).   If their online service is as good as their in-person shopping experience,  A Good Yarn could easily become my next go-to knitting source.

In addition to yarn, and needles (a pick up for Kerri), I could not resist another set of Namaste snap bags (they come in a set of three but I am already using two of them in my knitting bag), these really neat stitch markers called "Floops", and a pair of earrings made from sliced knitting needles (I am wearing those right now).   Sadly I got so excited that I forgot to take pictures of the shop itself (the one above is of my purchases).   You will have to pay A Good Yarn a visit to see for yourself just how awesome it is.

I miss sheep so baaad....

sheep 0001 from paul taggart on Vimeo.

Goodbye Irene....

What you see, is what we saw, this morning.   We are very grateful that Irene passed us by with just a bit of wind and rain, followed by a sunny FL day.   Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with our friends & family in the NE.  Perversely enough, they are in much more danger than we ever were.

Random, some good, some bad....

Wow, has it been an action packed few weeks.    We have had three (3!) deaths (one a suicide) in our family since the week before Christmas.    If things really do happen in threes, maybe this last one was the end to it.  We can only hope.    

Things haven't been all bad.   In the normal way of things, life goes on, and lots of things happen at the same time.   So here is what I have been up to:

I have been taking Stefanie Japel's Design Your Own Shawl class.   Initially, I signed up for this in the hopes that it would pull me out of my homesick funk.   I am so glad that I decided to do this.   It has been challenging in a fun way.  I already feel like I have learned a lot about shawl construction and writing charts.   I especially like the weekly chats.   It is so nice to be in even a virtual room with like-minded people.   This is my shawl at the end of the first week.   Due to a mistake, and a major rip-back it looked pretty much the same at the end of the second week.    It is moving along better now.   The real challenge has been finding time to work on it.

Due to some co-op growing pains, it was decided that a knit/crochet group would meet at my house each Tuesday.   Unfortunately, the first day, no one came.   Pretty depressing actually.   However, rather than  staying home and feeling bad, I whisked my youngest son away from school work to spend an unplanned day at Epcot (Very un-funk-like of me, don't you think?).    We had such a good time.   How can it have taken me so long to discover the joys of park hopping?   We finished up at Epcot just in time for rush hour traffic, so rather than sitting on Rt4, we ran over to Magic Kingdom for an hour (theoretically, actually it was more like two hours).   There were so few people there that we got to go on all of our favorite rides with the longest wait being 5 minutes.   We even had time to take a picture of my DYOS shawl.   T2 staged the photo.   Check out Grumpy holding the yarn.   Don't you just love it?

 Feb 16th was our 15th anniversary.   Hubby agrees that it does not feel that long (which is a good thing).  We spent an easy day, getting up late, snuggling and talking.   We did lunch at my favorite restaurant then walked around town.   It was raining but I still got some pretty nice pictures with my new camera.   That's my hubby at the Castillo de San Marcos.   I am not sure why, but I really like this picture.   It is so un-staged.

 Sunday was our day to go to Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.   This weekend was the annual reenactment of The Battle of Olustee, Florida's largest Civil War battle.    Friend Angie (see photo) is a Civil War reenactor.    We have had so much fun going to her events.   This one was a blast.    We got there early, placed our chairs right up where we would be able to see the battle clearly, found Angie and walked around.   There were North & South encampments for soldiers and civilians.  I was surprised by how many women traveled with the soldiers.    Angie says that families went along, as well as seamstresses and laundresses.    I already knew about the  "women of ill repute".    There was a separate camp that represented the residents of Olustee (where Angie and her friends were).     I met and got to chat with a spinner there.    She was very interesting.   It is impressive how much these people research the time and habits of their characters.    The battle is so loud that they hand you ear plugs on your way in.   I thought I would hate that part but with the plugs it was not bad at all.    I cast on a pair of socks for hubby while the battle raged.   It seemed appropriate somehow to be working on something for "my man" at such a time (tongue firmly in cheek).


T1 flew to NJ to see the ex, and got sick, which worried me.   But, he is home now and feeling better.    I am keeping him home from school tomorrow (while T2 and I make yet another trip to Disney to spend the day with NJ friends).     He has a busy rest of the week and I want to make sure he is up to it.    Have I mentioned that he got accepted to his first choice college?    We are very proud of him.   He will be going on FL's Bright Futures scholarship (not full ride but very generous), which has us all breathing easier on the financial front.   There is the possibility of still more scholarship money coming.   We are cautiously hopeful.


So you see, it has not been all bad.   In fact, it has been mostly good.

Snakes & the Clue Fairy...

This is Jack.

This is the snake.

This is the true story of a sweet but clueless dog named Jack.   Yesterday afternoon, when T2 opened the back door to let Jack out, this snake was laying right there across our door mat.  Before T2 could stop him, Jack jumped over the snake and ran out to take care of business.    Worried about his ability to get back into the house unharmed, Hubby sent T2 to the side gate to call Jack in from there.    Did Jack go to his boy when called?   Not so much.   Instead he ran to the back door, stood right on the darn snake, and waited to be let back in (all the while happily wagging his tail as though there was nothing trying its best to bite his belly & legs).   Luckily Jack got back into the house  unharmed and unaware of the potential danger.   At my insistence Hubby swept the snake (which was scary fast) under the fence.

The weird thing is (because the whole rest of it was not odd enough), not 5 minutes later, we saw a different kind of snake on our back fence.   I guess it was a good day for snakes in NoFL yesterday.