All material Copyright ©2009 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

My Latest Crochet Collection – Teddy Bear Hats for Toddlers….

Well, I figured I’d share with you guys the collection of crochet I’ve been working on of late.  These are my latest designs specifically for the toddler/preschool sized head.  I’m putting together a collection of items to go in a local gift store and I have a custom order with some special considerations, so it was good timing for the two right now.  These are all created from some of the softest fibers I’ve worked with and with the exception of one hat in this collection so far, out of fibers that are no longer available.  The bows you see are not permanently attached to the hats yet, just in case my customers do not want a bow, with the exception of the orange hat, which I have already permanently secured.  It has a blend made with a very unusual fiber that happens to be the softest of the bunch.  The glass globe you see is the perfect size to display these. 

Hopefully these designs will be just the thing for each of my customers!

 

Baby Blue Bear Pink Bow 2

Baby Blue Bear Pink Bow

Black Brown Bear 2

Black Brown Bear 3

Blue White Green Pink Bear 2

Blue White Green Pink Bear

Orange Bear Pink Bow 2

Orange Bear Pink Bow

Pink Green White Bear Pink Bow 2

Pink Green White Bear Pink Bow

Four Years Ago Today…..

It’s Black Friday, the Day After Thanksgiving.  I sit here sipping my cup of grog and cannot help but be reminded of this date four years ago – the day my husband deployed overseas.  Black Friday for me alright, but not due to sales.

It wasn’t our first deployment.  But it was the first overseas and it was the longest.  And I’m sorry to say I don’t feel I handled my husband’s absence all that well either.  Oh, don’t misunderstand me.  I supported my husband then and now in everything he has done.  I am proud of his service, proud of my part in it, and I regret nothing.  My husband would never have enlisted in the Guard without me supporting him.  It was a decision we made together, and not an easy one, since we were already in our 30’s and he was almost too old to join.  We had kids and a mortgage on his single income and piddly extra from what work I did from home.  It wasn’t in our original “plan” for our life together at all, nor easy to consider financially either.  Being a soldier meant a cut in pay no matter what.  And I received a lot of criticism for supporting him and “letting” him go, from fellow women and family alike.  Still I would make the same decisions again and honestly, I felt he had a purpose or even calling, as well as myself in supporting him.  I believe with all my heart that there are young men alive today thanks to him, even if only for his training or watching out for them. 

No – that is not where I had trouble handling it.  It was that I discovered that being separated for so long was incredibly painful.  Emotionally, spiritually and even physically.  I think it surprised us both just how much it hurt our souls to be separated, how much we had become a part of each other.  I’m not sure if being “older” and with many years of marriage and life experience behind us helped or maybe added to the hurt.  Perhaps we become less adaptable as we get older and settle down.  But I also have to think maturity as individuals as well as in our marriage had to have played a positive role though.  I couldn’t imagine being like some of the young women I looked out for, fresh out of college, newly weds really, new baby, husband now gone.  Barely starting out life as “adult.”  But still, as pretty down to earth and hard-working folks, we weren’t prepared for the idea that we might struggle so much emotionally about being apart.  We knew it’d be hard, we just weren’t prepared to feel despair in being separated.  Something I couldn’t have truly understood until going through it.  Part of me was missing and all that was left was an oozing wound in my heart that wouldn’t heal.  I never realized how important his presence could be.  For myself, or for our children.   A father really makes a difference in the home.  And in all honesty, I know our relationship is richer, and wiser for the experience; and I am too as a wife and mother.  Though it scared me, because it gave me a peek into life without him. 

There were days where I really was simply numb.  I hadn’t realized that over the years my husband had become such an incredible part of my foundation and source of empowerment.  As a woman, as a mom, as a professional.  Physically not being able to just call him whenever I wanted was hard.  Not seeing him, not being able to talk everything out.  Not just having him by my side.  No hugs, physical touch, no holding me when I cried.  I suddenly found my usual more confident self not so strong anymore. 

I got through it with a handful of friends who made a point of looking in on me.  Lord knows that no matter how many people say “call me if you need anything” to someone going through something really tough that usually, you won’t.  I know I was too overwhelmed.  So it was good there were those who weren’t hesitant to drop by or make that first call themselves to check on me.  It showed me how today people have irrational fears about being there for others.  I got through each day by staying busy.  Though sometimes it was all I could do to get the chores done, get the kids through homework and feed them.  And they needed me to hold and comfort them when they missed Daddy too.  When you’re a soldier’s wife and a mom, you have to hold yourself together for everyone.  Besides the fact that your soldier also needs more than anything for you to be strong, so the last thing they have to worry about while trying to do their job is you.  Distractions are not healthy on the battlefield or in training.  I learned many things about myself.  Including that I could dig up my own plumbing, and handle a myriad of other strange house repair problems that began to surface practically the day he left town.  You know that military curse they talk about, where everything breaks as soon as your husband deploys?  It’s surreal, but still real none the less.  It happens.  Can’t explain it.  It just does. 

I also got through it by writing, especially poetry.  I thought I’d share a piece I wrote for him while he was gone that he especially liked. 

Good Morning My Love…

Good Morning My Love…
I go to bed now
Keep watch while I sleep

My full moon is high
And your sun is up
Across the oceans deep

My coldest night
Is your warmest day
With soldiers roosting near

I go to bed
Knowing you will wake
And soon will join me here…

Written 2-12-2006, 10:37pm
Copyright ©2009 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

Two years ago this month my husband finally finished his tour of active enlistment.  I give thanks to have him by my side and be able to get back to watching our children grow up together and planning the future we put on hold. 

“Look Mom – I’m Statically Charging My Face….”

“Look Mom – I’m Statically Charging My Face….”

These were the words I heard from my 10 year old son this morning as he turned on my massage pillow and proceded to rub his face up and down on it.  My life as a mother is a surreal life sometimes.  Really it is. 

What’s Happening Now

So it’s Thanksgiving Day and hopefully everyone in your neck of the woods is having a great time enjoying food, friends and family.   My Texas family is all gathered around the TV watching the UT vs. A&M football game.  I really don’t know much about football and have never cared.  But there’s a lot of hooting and hollering on both sides here. 

Thankfully though, being that we are not home today, my brother-in-law was kind enough to loan me his laptop and internet connection so I could be sure and get my blog post in for today.  Would be a shame to miss my post for the day just because we are enjoying ourselves so much after a long day of cooking too!

What Are You Thankful For?

One of our Thanksgiving traditions, thanks to my sister-in-law, is to go around and everyone tells what it is that they are thankful for this year.  It’s a great chance to reflect over the past year and think about just how blessed we really are and it’s a tradition that I’ve come to look forward to. 

I know I have an awful lot to be thankful for this year.  Including the fact that my knee injury is healing up well and I won’t need surgery.  Or that after a long lay-off, dear hubby is employed in a better job than the one he was laid off from.  That I never had surgery on my neck after all and that I can still sing with my family as our tradition is wont to be this time of year.  Or that we are surrounded by friends and family that I know will be there for us in any crisis.  I also know that there is a multitude of personalities out there that I can be thankful for as well.  Each customer who crosses my path, each artist I get to know, each person who has shared wisdom, support, resources, or just gave me a lift and a smile when I needed it after life had just given me a thorough stomping. 

Sometimes you really don’t know how you can change the world for someone you don’t even know.   Or how a quirky little antic from a young boy can make a mother smile and forever enrich her life. 

So how about you?  What are you thankful for?

“I Just Wanted to Come Out Here And Play With Your Tweets….”

Did you get a laugh?  A cackle even?  I hope so!  I did!  These were the words my husband greeted my questioning eyebrows with when he came out to my desk while I was checking Twitter.  You’d think after nearly 14 years of it, I’d be used to it by now.  But he still gets me.  He is the master of double entendres and other crafty wordy things.  Seriously – I need to start a log of Chambers-isms. 

So I was trying to decide what my blog post for the day would be about.  I could have posted our recipe ideas, or menu or something.  But I wanted it to be a little more fun tonight.  We’ve been cooking and cleaning up a storm and baking pumpkin pies for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving dinner.  And I just posted my latest favorite funny last night about how to make pumpkin pies.  So all the pumpkin humor led me to a funny pumpkin video that happens to star my favorite Muppety chef!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qj8PhxSnhg

Which from there, led me to another Muppet funny, with an awesome rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody with some of my favorite Muppet characters, like Gonzo, Beaker and Animal.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY&NR=1

Watch and laugh! 

Happy getting-ready-for-tomorrow’s-feast! 

The ‘Rents Are In For T-Day…

It’s Thanksgiving week and my in-laws have arrived.  We look forward to their 3-4 month visit every year.  We went out for Tex-Mex and margaritas tonight and helped them unpack.  Well, mostly unpack anyway.  Enough to get them started so his parents can sleep tonight.  And now, it’s time for me to hit the sack as well. 

Fun day – now tomorrow I’m going to have to turn my head towards a custom order or two for crochet baby teddy bear hats and such. And turn my head to cooking for T-Day.  I was thinking about pumpkin pies and remembered this fun photo on how pumpkin pies are made.  Have a good night y’all!

How Pumpkin Pies Are Made...

Just To Explain…

So for anyone checking out my blog posts here by way of my other blogs may be wondering what the deal is with my posts this weekend.  Oddball random things being posted.  Well, I surely know that they aren’t my best articles.  But there is a reason for the madness.

Truth be known, I am participating in both NaBloPoMo and NaBloWriMo this month and I chose this blog to enter.  No, I don’t have badges and all, but I am registered.  The badges don’t seem to work with WordPress or something and I just don’t have time to figure it out.  I’m doing good just making sure that I have a post every day. 

So, since this is also my season to be doing arts and crafts shows, which means a lot of all day long weekend work, etc., I’m lucky to get a post in.  Thank goodness the whole challenge/contest is about making the habit to write every day and isn’t about substance!  I’ve done shows two weekends straight and now have to turn my head to in-laws coming to town and Thanksgiving. 

I’m guessing this is going to be my week of challenge.

Rainy Day Cars….

You know, normally I love the color grey or silver on a car.  Looks pretty nice and professional, doesn’t it?  A bit of class?  A lot of times when I think about what color I’d want if I bought a new car, the silver/grey spectrum has been up there in my thoughts.  Well, in the sun that is.

That nice classy look all but disappears in rainy weather.  Or even overcast weather.  Then that classy silver/grey look simply blends into the sky and road.  So hard to see even with good eyes!  Especially when the roads and cars are equally wet and shiny! 

It was like that today.  Driving down the road feeling like these little cars were darting out in front of me almost out of nowhere.   Practically morphing right out of the roads thsemselves.  And that’s when I think twice about silver or grey.  I don’t want to be hit by someone in another car accident ever again in my life.  The last one was enough for several lifetimes. 

When I think about it, there is only one color that really seems to stand out in sunny and rainy weather alike.  And that’s red.  It can be easily seen not matter how bad the light.  It’s a shame red’s associated with wrecks and driving too fast.  I really can’t help but wonder if red has gotten an unfair reputation.  Because after studying the cars on the highway today, I really think I’d rather be driving something like red.

We Might Have A New family Member…

There have been a couple young cats, kittens still really, running around our neighborhood.  They are very loving and friendly, and don’t appear to have a home.  They are used to people and seem to want to be held, and one is comfortable with walking right on into our house, even with our cats already here.  No manners though.  Has no idea not to get on tables, not to take food out of your hand, etc..  Surely they seem to have had a family at least once.  But now, the two of them pretty much hang out at our place to stay dry and keep warm.  Eat some food from us and other neighbors too I think.  And they look healthy. 

We need to find them a home.  Though the one is really making himself at home – with us.

Wish List…

Useful:

I could really use a new curling iron, like 1.5 – 2 inches in diameter
I really want to find a double handled soup/bean crock for serving on the dinner table (large – not individuals)
We need a new fridge
When we move, we need a deep freeze too
We need to replace the metal storage building in the back yard.

Dream Presents:

Time with a professional organizer.
A fairy godmother to clean my house for me while I’m away
Time with a professional to help with my wardrobe
A new (working) custom motorcycle perfect for a 5′ gal like me to place my heels firmly on the ground at a stop
My head without an ache

May Gog Be With You, Wherever You Are…

This is the message that greeted me as I opened up an email this morning to look at one of those “forwards” someone sent me.   You, one of those emails that urges you to check something out, even though you know you’ve already received it a bazillion times already from others and it’s likely to be a hoax too?  Yeah, one of those.  But I don’t mind.  Sometimes I actually see something new, or read something I’m glad I read again.  The rest I ignore.  It has to be truly exceptional before I get drawn into the forwarding chain.   I don’t care if everyone’s doing it – I’ve never been much of a joiner.

My collectible "Grog" cup, from the B.C. Comic.

But this?  Hah!  Totally caught my quirky bone!  I found myself hearing people sneeze and variations of “Gog bless you child.”  Or “Gog is watching you!”  “Gog damn it!”  and “The Holy Son of Gog….”  And to think I might not have opened that email!  Then to push the quirky fever further, it also kinda sounded like one of my favorite B.C. characters – Grog – a mug of which is my latest addition to my collection of quirky and fun coffee mugs.  Grog bless this drink!  Hahaha!

Yeah, I know the notation from the unknown forwarder, down the list of forwards attached, meant to type God.  Though the forward was yet another one of those urban legends people keep forwarding so they never die, I found myself appreciating that Gog was with me, wherever I am!  It was a smile and a comforting feeling this morning no matter how irreverant it might be.  God?  Me and Him go way back.  Gog though, whoever he might be, or whatever – gnome maybe, was also with me.  On my side, rooting for me.  And thanks to God, we were now introduced.  How awesome!

Gog be with you!  Have a happy day!  And may all your typos bring joy to those who read them!