Friday, February 9, 2018

This and that

I don't have any finished knitting for you right now. I'm knitting but it's very slow and methodical. A pair or 2 of handwarmers in a chunky-ish weight yarn.

I have not been knitting as much as I'd like mainly because by the time I have time, I'm exhausted.

But you know, I'm busy. It's not crazy. I might be crazy, but things aren't. I'm just busy. But here are a few highlights of the past week. (I know you were just dying  for the info.)

My son has not been very active since Fall soccer finished. We didn't push it. We thought we'd give him some time to continue focusing on his first semester in High School. We thought, you know, he can use this time to maybe see if there are other interests or sports he'd like to explore besides soccer. (We can feel the interest waning)

Well what the heck to parents know? Squat. The Kid does better with some structure. He does not self explore without a nudge out the door.

So I signed him up for a 5k. He was not excited to be there.

I was even less enthused. I've been really good about being consistently active but the running thing? Yeah not feeling it. The things we do out of love ...

I haven't been baking much either. Just biscuits. I'm kind of obsessed with a new to me buttermilk biscuit recipe. It's so easy and so rewarding. But that will change. Next month both soccer for him and softball for me start up. Cookies for spring sports.

The Teen took a turn in the kitchen after his Dad brought home a bunch of lemons. A lemon posset so simple and so delicious. Give it a try. Bonus points if you can get someone else to make it for you.

This Tuesday I went to a Silent Reading Party hosted by some local do gooders. People come together in a public space to read silently for about 2 hours. Drink purchases and donations go towards a local underfunded public school library. I used to tease a  good friend of mine who served as hostess this month about this concept, but I really enjoyed it. I think that I haven't been able to read for more than 30 mins at a time before that. I was home in time to spend most of the evening with my family ... and hopefully I left a small donation that will put a book in some students' hands.

Wishing you all a good weekend. Be happy, healthy and crafty.

28 comments:

  1. So did no one talk for two hours??? What happens if you talk? Do people get judgey??? Was there alcohol????

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    1. I would say, no one "converses" during the time, a few polite niceties, can I sit there, are you going to eat that? etc. I think if you launched into a recap of your last dinner date there would be judgey looks, it's not that kind of get together initially. People will often hang out after. And Yes! there was alcohol. One featured cocktail (a simple, gin, vermouth and aperol I think) and then a beer or 2 and white or red wine. Simple and lovely.

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  2. Does the posset taste something like lemon curd? I'm really tempted to try it.

    I think reading silently for two hours sounds wonderful. I have been considering one day a month when I don't speak. Wouldn't it just be a wonderful, restful day?

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    1. It's like a creamy curd. We like it with regular lemons it's not too sweet this way. It's nice to be surrounded my good, like minded people for a little slice of time and a read you've been meaning to get too... I'm very chatty, but I do enjoy silence more than you'd think. LOL

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  3. Would you share your buttermilk biscuit recipe please? That sounds like an interesting way to help out a public library!

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    1. Yes, Judy I will actually put it in the next post! I had multiple people ask for it! I like books, people and libraries and schools and kids so I think it's a wonderful event.

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  4. Yes... biscuit recipe please!!! I am a sucker for anything with buttermilk.

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    1. I will post the buttermilk recipe! I really enjoy baking / cooking with it too ... such a great leavener.

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  5. Two hours of uninterrupted reading time sounds like bliss to me. Good for you getting The Teenager into a 5k. Mine swam so they were busy year round, it helped as far as structure goes. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Oh yes! I swam for a bit, my niece swims too like a little fish! It's not H's thing and that's ok. He used to love running, but something is changing and we are just working on ways to adapt.

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  6. lots of great stuff in here this week.....i love the silent read idea! and those buttermilk biscuits? and I have 2 teen grands who just started soccer, a sport they haven't done since little tykes, because---they need STRUCTURE and activity in their social media infested world!!!

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    1. zomg the social media infested world! I tell you I never thought I would find myself saying, I don't mind the PS4 video games so much because he plays those team games. He's online w/a headset with his friends and they work on various strategies. Yes, the games usually involve violence but it's the working together aspect that sort of saves it for me, but the hours of scrolling through other people's pictures and stupid videos and watching mindless youtubes makes me nuts. Especially the ones where he watches someone else game, but he tried to liken it to me watching someone knit and learn a new technique. Hmm, not quite the same thing says me. LOL

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  7. Sometimes I just want to get out of the house for quiet ANYTHING! Yes I am home alone all day, except for 2 dogs who take it upon themselves to police the neighborhood. They are sure to let every animal, person, car, leaf, noise, or unseen entity, know they are not welcome here! Except one said person, thing, unseen entity gets in the door and then they are made to feel welcome with all the love they can slather on them. It's the unseen entities I worry about. How do I know when they have left?

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    1. Quiet moments out and about are hard to find! I understand, especially with children and animals as part of constant companionship! We love them all, but talk about sounds we can't control, ha! Hopefully you'll get a few moments here and there.

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  8. That read along sound good to me - As soon as I pick up a book at home, Dave starts talking!

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    1. LOL What is it about the universe? I swear when I'm getting to a point in a pattern or a book or any project like baking etc where I need to focus, somehow it's time for a story or running commentary etc. LOL

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  9. I love the Silent Reading Party. I'm going to see if my school librarian is interested.
    I've wanted to try my hand at buttermilk biscuits for ages. Then a new bakery opened up nearby that does it for me.
    Raising teens...no one said it would be easy! But it's worth it.

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    1. I hope you find something that works for your school library. I wish you pleasant reading and many books. Obviously if you do your reading party on site at school you probably won't be able to do alcohol, I bet if you find a bookstore or a offsite venue you can accomplish 2 things, allow alcohol to increase your percentage of funds and bring in a crowd that is just the reading public, not necessarily people that are directly involved in your school. We go to the same well over and over again, and often these underfunded schools ... their families and staff are already tapped.

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  10. I like the idea of a loving nudge!
    Silence for two hours?! I can't picture it! lol

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    1. LOL this weekend I got a few hours to myself and I avoided putting the t.v. on, just to savor it for a few minutes, also ... the Olympics weren't on yet if I'm going to be honest. hehe.

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  11. Ooh, I like the sounds of that Silent Reading event. I would support that. My youngest isn't doing anything right now. I keep forgetting to look into a piano teacher. My eldest is still doing tennis 2x a week; it's work driving her to and from each evening which my husband thankfully does after his full workday so I can get dinner on the table. Is a posset like a cream?

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    1. You are such an avid reader! I'm always impressed and a little jealous how well you keep up through the year! So many fun stories and adventures you get. Your daughters both seem ... crafty and I know they read like their Mom. H has reduced his reading a lot. I feel like it's about allocation of time. Use your powers for good you know? I worry he is just seeing things in the same small genres of perspective, but I can hear him already telling me he's very open minded and I fuss over everything and I should knit or take an exercise class and redirect my energy. LOL.

      Yes! The posset is like a cream, the texture is really nice. I recommend regular or Eureka lemons not Meyer unless you mix it. Too sweet otherwise.

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  12. Allison would love that silent reading event. Sometimes we hit the mark with our kids, sometimes we don't. Zach was mediocre at best at high school tennis. He played j.v all 4 years doubles. Guess who still plays tennis and LOVES The sport? Yup. Loves it so much he takes lessons in Mexico. ten years later. SO you never know

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    1. Thanks Kathy! You know I worry he's just going to wither on the couch the only strong muscle will be his phone fingers. He's a skinny boy so he doesn't worry about fitness (we tell him thin is not nec. the best health indicator, which he knows) -- but I just want healthy habits and mindful activity. Who cares about how good you're at something, but he is a teenager. I am so happy to hear about the love of an activity/sport. Zach has such a kind and considerate heart I hope H can bring that kind of energy to the world.

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  13. I think a loving nudge is always needed. I don't know how you parents do it, but I think you are magical.
    Silent reading for 2 hours...bliss.

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    1. I think I am overcompensating through my parenting. Alas, working out my issues on my child. My fear of not being motivated enough etc. The truth is I could use a loving nudge in multiple areas of my life still. ha! I don't know how other parents do it. I do my best with a lot of faking it.

      Yes, I would even take 1 hour of that to read and 1 to knit ... dream city!

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  14. a silent reading party sounds delightful! 5k would be fun if I ran, but I could walk!

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    1. We have another 5k next month. He's not pleased with me. It's the same day we have tickets to his school's matinee spring musical production. TWO things with his parents on a Sunday eegads!

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