Thursday Morning

I can't believe my last post was March 29th. I have been so busy with work and end of the year things I haven't had time for self indulgence. So for all my family and friends who are wondering if I've fallen off the face of the earth here's the scoop. (With pictures)

As some of you know my mother has been diagnosed with a serious leak in her heart. The doctors want her to have a valve replacement. She decided to go to Minnesota to the Mayo Clinic to have the surgery since they are rated number 2 in the nation for this type of surgery. Her sister lives about an hour from the Mayo. She left April 20th. Her surgery was scheduled for the 23rd. However, she was suffering form a cold when she left and we thought they would postpone the surgery. When she went to have the pre-op tests they felt her condition didn't warrant surgery. They cancelled the surgery and had her come back for a more conclusive stress test. The tests found that she did need the surgery but that she also had a blockage which they could not clear with a balloon catheterization due to the leak. She was given medication which they hoped would clear the block and scheduled to go back in 2 weeks. At this point she'd had enough and decided to come home. She has decided to join us on our vacation to St. Augustine and have me drive her to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville during that week so she can have the tests done again. In the meantime she has decided to try Acupuncture and Chinese holistic medicines to see if she can avoid having the surgery. She will have to use this method for at least 6 months before she can see if it is working.

Easter week was hectic but very beautiful. On Holy Thursday we went to Mass. The girls coached the Altar servers and organized the candlelight procession. On Good Friday Tanya directed the Living Stations of the Cross and Sarah portrayed Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I was the sponsor for a friend who converted and we went to the Easter Vigil. It was awesome! The church is dark and the priest lights a fire. From the fire he lights the Pascal candle and then all the candidates have their candles lit by the priest, they turn and light the candles of the people behind them and the light travels back until the entire church is illuminated by candles. On Easter morning the girls played the Handbells. It was lovely. Later we had dinner with my mother and Travis.

I completed the stole for the Confirmation. Somehow I ended up with enough fabric to sew up 2 stoles. I am amazed by this! Interestingly one of the Confirmation teachers, Roger, was very into the weaving. He kept coming back and weaving more. Last year his wife passed away and the stole we made with that class was dedicated to her. The stole we made for the Bishop this year was dedicated to one of the students who passed away last year. Roger had been very ill with a brain tumor but the doctors treated it very aggressively and about 3 weeks before Easter Roger had come and told me the doctors could find no evidence there had even been a tumor. He was so happy about his miracle! The morning of Confirmation we recieved a call that Roger had died. It was a shock to us all. And I knew that the extra fabric was meant for a stole in Roger's memory. I completed it for our pastor and he wore it during the Confirmation Mass that evening.

Next came First Communion. I finally got the stole finished. It came out very nice. One child missed out on weaving. I felt badly but I had chased the parent down but they kept blowing me off. Here is one of the students at the loom. He was really into it. Sarah wove with these students. It is great that my girls have these experiences.

The retreat went well but I stupidly agreed to work for the receptionist that week and publish the Bulletin. I had the retreat Sunday and then work as receptionist Monday, rehearsal for Monday night and then had to go back to the office at 8:45 the next morning. I had to get all the decorations and schedule the photo sessions as well as set up the hall for the breakfast before Saturday. Saturday I had a crew of kids come in to help me decorate and prep the food for Sunday.

The Mass was beautiful. I had a few minor problems with parents before the Mass but everything went very smoothly. The Breakfast came off wonderfully. The teens who came to help were fantastic! Afterwards I came home and collapsed. I was totally exhasted. I think I was nonfununctional for two days after!

Once I recouperated from the frenzy of First Communion, I began final prep for the Prom. Since I am the one who puts on the homeschool prom it was rather exhausting. The theme was The Midnight Masquerade. Sort of a Madi Gras Cinderella thing. I decorated with Masks and beads and stars. The Blue Witch came and we constructed a Castle as a backdrop for the photos. It was very nice. Of course 4 days before the prom the DJ canceled. I scrambled but was able in my paniced state to secure sound equipment. I asked my son, the troll, to help as a DJ since he has done it before. He was planning to come as a chaperone anyway. He refused. I was shocked. Then he said he'd think about it!  I was beside myself. I have a friend who says,"When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." I think I was doing that. But I was able to get someone to DJ. Of course TrollBoy was very very displeased since it was his ex-best friend and who is married to his ex-girlfriend. To say that TrollBoy was furious is the understatement of the year.

The Prom was this past Friday. It was great. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Funny thing is, at first no one would dance. They just sat there. But once my girls arrived the entire dynamic changed. Everyone was dancing. It was wonderful. The photographer even mentioned to me how suprised she was to see the change. I want to post a picture of the Prom but my camera cable is having issues. Perhaps tomorrow.

TrollBoy turned 21 on Monday. My mother came over with Taramisu which we of course had to eat right then. I thought I would go into sugar shock since it was only 9am. I don't know how people can eat danishes or donuts for breakfast! Then I took Travis to lunch. I bought him his first legal drink. Afterwards we went to the bookstore and browsed. Then we came home and watched "O'Brother Where Art Thou?" He really liked it. Of course he critiqed it as to what was missing from the original but that was half the fun for him.

Well, that is what has kept me away from Blogging. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back into the groove. I've missed so much from reading other blogs. I hope I have the chance to catch up over the next few days. Before my fall into oblivion I was really enjoying reading and getting to know my web friends.

Imagination is the only weapon
in the war against reality.
 
-- Jules de Gautier
 

Monday afternoon

My life has run away with me and I've had no time to blog at all. However, I have been very busy doing creative things. I've wound several warps for my various loom. I've got two on the looms and am hoping to get the third on this week. I've been doing a bit of hand spinning so I've taken my spindle in my purse. I'm currently spinning up some nice Alpacca.

I've been doing some beading as well. I went to the Intergalactic Bead show for my birthday. No aliens or even any moon rocks. Bummer! But I did get some awesome size 15 seed beads and some delicas. Yummy! I've got a project all laid out and it's sitting next to my bed ready to be worked on.

DH really got fired up about the Dichroic glass and the PMC. He even bought me a kiln. I'm wait for it to arrive. He is very interested and has taken to researching the best price on the clay. Guess I know what we'll be doing this summer!

I'm almost finished with the Confirmation Stole. I would like the family of the girl we are making it in memory of to have the chance to weave some of it. Once that is done I'll finish weaving it and then take it off, wash it and sew it up. I still have as yet to embroider the dedication. But that will be on a separate peice of material which I will then sew on the lining. Here is a photo of it on the loom.

And a close up.

The students have woven it up to this point. There are a few errors and it doesn't have an even beat but it will look nice once it is completed.

My 4H girls made me a birthday cake and sang happy birthday to me. It was so sweet and very unexpected. I am so glad I am working with this group of kids. They are wonderful. This week I hope to finish up the wireworking with them. I have some other ideas for them to expand what they've learned and create their own projects.

Off to read all the blogs I've missed.

Just as appetite comes by eating so work brings inspiration
Igor Stravinsky

Question:

Does a human clone have a soul?

Currently Playing Catch a Fire [Expanded Tuff Gong] By Bob Marley & The Wailers see related

Time to play catch up.

Sunday I had a parent meeting for all the First Communion parents. I was so exhausted I don't know how I got through the meeting. Afterwards I came home and worked on putting the new warp on the loom. I was supposed to start weaving with the Confirmation class at 6:30pm. I woke up at 5:30 in front of the loom with my heddle hook firmly grasped in my hand. So much for  making it to Mass and then weaving with the students!

Monday was DH's birthday. He had forgotten it was his birthday so he had scheduled a very full day. But he did get to take off some time for lunch. We met him at his favorite Vietnamese restaurant. It was very nice. Sarah bought him a nice shirt. Tanya gave him a gift certificate to P F Changs. My mom gave him a Mass card. I gave him a polarizing lens for the camera and some cologne. Travis came but he didn't even give him a card. He just came for the free lunch. Since he has been living with his father he is more hateful to DH. I am sure they bash us a lot over there. Later that night we went out for a romantic dinner. It was a very fancy restaurant. We have eaten there once before. This time we were seated in  back room by the kitchen. It was horrid. The atmosphere was like being in a diner. I was not pleased to be seated there especially since there were tables in the nice part of the restaurant. A mixed race couple was seated there about 15 minutes after we were. It wasn't how we were dressed, since we were dressed in nice clothes and several of the other patrons were dressed very casually, in t-shirts. It made me think it was a racial issue. I look Native (I am) or Hispanic. It has happened on occasion before. DH doesn't see it since he has never had that experience personally.

Tuesday was my DR appointment which I already blogged about. It was also The Blue Witch's birthday. On Wednesday we celebrated the Blue Witch's birthday. We went to lunch at the Thai restaurant. I gave her a kokopelli charm to bring her prosperity and a sheep head necklace. I have a matching one and we are going to have our names engraved on them. I hope we can get to the mall soon to have it done. I'd have liked to have given her something more but my finances this month have been really tight.

Thursday I have the 4H meeting and we did wirework with the girls. It was a very small group. They just love the ritual of having tea before the project. I think it is very good for them to have the experience of ritual. One of the girls had 4 teeth pulled that day but insisted her mother bring her to the meeting!

Sarah and Travis went to the Linkin Park concert Thursday. I had given them tickets for Christmas. Travis's girlfriend went as well. At the end of the concert she became her usually bratty self. I don't know why he puts up with the garbage she dishes out. Sarah had a great time!

Last night my dear friend T called from GA. I haven't heard her voice in so long. It was great! We have been e mailing for a while. It seems when she moved we lost touch. Life just seems to get away from us. But old friends are so important. They help us define who we are as compared to who we were. And we should never forget who we were in our youth. She is coming down for a visit!  I am so stoked! I wish she was staying for a few more days. It will be awesome.

Today I'm going to finish warping the loom and make another warp for the other project. I'm also going to wash the piece I just finished and decide what I am going to do with it. I might do some beadwork if I get the chance, I'd like to make something for my secret spinner. I'll post a picture of the finished piece later.

Dh is very crabby this morning so I am going to stay out of his way until he calms down. I'm not sure what set him off, but since I don't feel like getting yelled at and I don't want to argue about nothing, I'll just avoid him if I can.