A short getaway

We took advantage of the holiday weekend for a short get away to the north woods. Ticks and mosquitoes were fierce and dry weather prevented having a campfire, but we managed to have the maxium fun in minimal time. We left home late Saturday afternoon,
Stopped along the way to pick up Emili and Megan. Blue Moon ice cream fortified us for the trip.
On Sunday we went to Strong Falls, located in Goodman Park. Here's some info about the park , built by the C.C.C. in the 1930's

Enjoy the view of Strong Falls from a picturesque river bridge. The Civilian Conservation Corps originally developed Goodman Park in the 1930s. Their handiwork added a rustic touch to an already scenic location. Strong Falls loudly crashes among big boulders as the Peshtigo River makes its way downstream to Green Bay. It is along this scenic swath of the Peshtigo that the CCC built beautiful log structures by the river that complement the richly wooded river valley. And the camping here is first rate, especially if you like the sound of rushing water as your evening lullaby. This county park is one of the best in the state. Covering 240 acres, the locale is culled from the greater Marinette County Forest, which covers over 220,000 acres.

Today , we visited Lake Hilbert. The water level is low. The girls walked across on a sand bar.

Ready to go home.

love, lilacs and time

It has been a cool spring here in Wisconsin, and a rain shower or two would be welcome. The below average temps are fine with me. I hate hot weather. The cool temps have kept the spring flowers blooming longer than normal...the tulips are still looking good. And the lilacs are so fragrant.

It's funny, how my sense of smell triggers memories......

Somewhere around 1977, maybe 78...I was riding on the back of a motorcycle, with my first husband driving. It was a dark, moonless night. I don't remember what our destination was. What stays in my memory is riding through the countryside in the dark, fresh air. Feeling free...

My husband stopped for an intersection of two roads....and the smell of lilacs flooded over me... I couldn't see them, but the fragrance was overwhelming. The surprise of it intensified the experience. What I couldn't see about 50 yards off the road was a huge group of lilac bushes, that I had never noticed before.

Now, when I smell lilacs , I remember that night. Nothing really significant happened....just the feeling of being young, in love, and gift from Mother Nature. Sounds kinda hokey, I guess.. but it is one of the nicest memories I have of my first marriage.

Now, at that intersection, there are homes and other buildings, those lilac bushes are long gone, as is my youth. Passing years change everything, but lots of things get better with time, like the smell of lilacs and lasting love.

A day off

We purchased a new lawn mower!

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Washed clothes.

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I sewed a new bag.

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Knit on a sweater

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Planted new shrubs.

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Who says I need a day off?

Mothers day

My Mother with the youngest member of the family, Zachary
Nanna acting goofy
One of the Mom's (MB) serenades the rest of the Moms

Emili decorated a cake for me..... Note the blue icing says "Grand"


Megan and Zachary

My own youngest holding THE youngest.

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Nothing to do with mothers day................

Who knows what this plant is? Kinda pretty?

Coral reef

I finished my coral reef bag/basket. It started as a wicker rectangular purse. My reason for buying it at a rummage sale was the handle and the price, 25 cents.
The purse sat in my sewing area for a couple of years.....
I did some scrumbling with crochet cotton that reminded me of coral.... I covered the basket with a cast off sweater ( recognize your old navy sweater, Megan?).....before attaching the covering, I used my needle felting machine to embellish it with yarn, locks and thread.

Last, I lined the bag. Done.

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Asparagus, that has nothing to do with the coral reef bag.....it is just so nice to have fresh vegetables......

Tangles Happen

Whew! It's been an exciting time lately for me....the shop is moving....to a lovely location, just down the street. The move was unexpected, and I do not exactly "embrace" change, so, for a while, it had been a stressful situation. I guess I should not have worried... a good friend always says "the universe will provide". Another friend says 'Let go and let God."

To the Universe, God, a hearty thank you!

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Yesterday I received a free magazine in the mail called "Living Crafts"

An article caught my eye, about yarn as a metaphor for life.

I found this article so close to home, so true, and so touching, that despite the fact I am a terrible typist, I must include some of the content of the article in today's entry.

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TANGLES HAPPEN

by Elizabeth Seward

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When untangling a ball of yarn,the first step is to gently loosen the yarn, without expectation of immediate success or resolution and being careful not to break, pull or inadvertently tighten the yarn. Pulling tightly in one place can make a knot in another less visible place. One must be prepared for this to take longer than expected, and remember not to take this personally. The yarn is NOT knotting to make your life more difficult! At times, it seems easier to throw away the yarn, to walk away and buy a new ball. But commitment tells us to persevere.

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The most effective approach is to believe the thread really will untangle. I always tell myself -sometimes out loud-that if there is one end, there has to be another. If there are three ends,there will be fourth and in time, the ends will become clear. Untangling yarn, requires "listening" to the yarn, stepping back and allowing the pathways to emerge; knowing they will not emerge without my own involvement, and that the solution is in the yarn itself, not in me.

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When people are in conflict with each other, it is a fine thing. Something of high value to each party draws them together. They encounter each other and confirm the strength of their common bond. Apathy or disengagement from each other presents a far greater problem. People do not benefit from their problems being "solved" for them, just as tangled yarn does not untangle when it is cut. People need an attentive peacemaker who recognizes that if there is one end, there must be another. Like yarn, people share common thread and are part of the pattern of each other's lives.

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There is lots more in the article, but you get the gist of it.....and so did I. Now, to put it into practice,, and stop pulling so hard,,,,, but still stay invovled.