Moji & Aurora

I am really out of practice both of taking photos and blogging about my projects. So, you will have to forgive the weird faces. I really thought I was smiling and if I was then I need to work on that.

Anyway, Colette's Seamwork pattern line is fun. Quick and easy projects to whip out a wardrobe in a small time frame. I have made a few of the patterns so far. The Moji pants were a (small) surprise hit. I decided not to make any adjustments because Colette's other pants/shorts patterns fit me well as printed. I wasn't sure as I was finishing them, but realized that the extra fabric for the drawstring closure was throwing me off. 

I like that I can move the fabric more towards the back and create a flat-looking front panel.

This awesome plaid has been in Mom's stash for almost as long as I can remember. It must be a twill since it feels a bit like denim to wear but still needs pressing after the wash. Perhaps Mom can tell us all what and how old it is? I have saved it from the jumper that I am sure it was intended to be.

John says these are borderline pajama pants. I don't feel like I'm wearing pajamas although they are very comfortable.

The top is also a Seamwork pattern, the Aurora tank. It's hard to see the detailing of gathers on the straps from this angle. The gathers help make the front more roomy in the bust area, meaning I can just about get away with no adjustments. The fabric is leftover from a dress I made a few years ago before I was blogging. It has held up well, so I have high expectations that this tank will last many seasons.

I have already made another Aurora tank in a purple/pink lighter weight knit and have plans for denim Mojis. Hopefully the weather stays nice so that I can wear them for a while yet.

Rebooting Life

Our life for the last few years has been defined by loss. We have had three attempts at adoption fall through, lost our two dogs and two cats, and dealt with infertility treatments. Reading the last few posts of this blog, I was getting depressed. It has been about 18 months since I touched this page, or even looked at it. That was right in the middle of all the hard things I just mentioned. I'm sure I was depressed!

It's time for a fresh breeze, like the one that is right now blowing a change of weather into Seattle and bringing rain behind it. A Reboot.

Lacey Mountain's Precocious Gemini

Sirius Black (Kitty)

These two crazy babies joined our family in the last month. We picked Gem up from her breeder on our way home from Montana in late July. Two weeks later John decided we needed a kitty, too. We found Sirius at the shelter. They are 3 and 4 months old, respectively, and are figuring out how to live together and torment each other. They are actually very good together which is a nice change from our previous pack of animals.

So I am trying new things (more about that to come) and getting back into the hobbies and things I love doing. September always brings with it that desire to buy new pencils, crayons, and paper and start something new. Bible Study and a new Seattle Symphony Chorale season will begin again. We will inhale this fresh breeze and welcome the change that it brings, praying that it brings some hope and joy along with it.

Spinning

I started this year trying to be really positive... lots of plans and ideas for what I want to do in 2014. Instead, I find my life is getting increasingly out of control. My house is a disaster (at least to me) and the holiday 5 pound weight gain has turned into New Year 10. My disgust with myself culminated on Thursday after Bible study when I found I had mindlessly eaten 5 doughnuts while watching a TV show. (It was my table's turn to bring treats and instead of baking something like I usually do I bought doughnuts, bringing home the leftovers.) Unbelievable!! I know better than this!

I'm sure it has to do with all the junk that happened in 2013. That was a horrible year from start to finish! John says he feels like the stress is coming off in layers. You relax a bit at a time and each time are shocked at how stressed you were before. That has to be true because nothing else can explain fistfuls of chocolate chips, obsessive baking, and bouts of laziness when what I really want is to be healthy and productive. Making me feel worse is that I constantly have that verse in my head where Paul says I do what I don't want to do and don't do what I do want to do. (Of course I can't remember the reference.) That's the problem with memorizing scripture, it's always right there in your brain for the Holy Spirit to convict you with. 

The hardest daily stuff is the loss of Daisy, Ichabod, and Cameron and the uncertainty of being able to adopt baby D. I can't even describe how much I miss those three. My first dog who was truly all mine, the cat who shared the first 11 years of our marriage, and our first child. I knew that we would eventually lose the animals. Every pet owner knows that before they choose to bring the pet home, it's just part of the deal. Yet we do it anyway because it is so worth it and we choose not to think about the inevitable loss. The anger and frustration with the state over Cameron's situation has lasted longer than I anticipated, if I ever actually thought about it. It comes and goes in waves. Sometimes I am shocked that he isn't here...toddling around, banging things, and waking up the baby. Knowing that he is safe and in a good home helps so much, but it doesn't make up for the fact that I want him here with us. I wonder if that will ever go away completely? What happened there has made me very cautious and skeptical of a successful outcome in this situation.

It's not all bad. My house is relatively clean and I keep up on the mold streaks in the toilet and vacuuming the dog hair off the floor. I have a salad everyday and a piece of fruit. I lead a table at our women's Bible study and sing in the Seattle Symphony Chorale. It all just seems so puny and half-hearted. Like going through the motions instead of actually living. Something is definitely missing, I just can't figure it out.

Maybe the real issue is learning to deal with how out of control we actually are. Life in this country, generally, gives us the illusion that our lives are our own to do with as we like. That is true to an extent and thank goodness for that freedom. However, being a Christian starts with giving up that idea, giving ourselves up to Christ's will for our life, and letting God shape us through experiences and events that we would never choose for ourselves. I think I just answered my own question...

So, in an effort to get out of this pit, I've rejoined FlyLady to help me get my house back in order and put myself back on Weight Watchers to get myself back under control. More importantly, I am reading a daily devotional by Charles Spurgeon and studying Isaiah with the ladies at my church.

Today my sink is shining.