Yesterday I posted a picture for Wordless Wednesday that was of my son and I. He is the one who took the picture in early November, so about four months ago.

One day he walked in the craft room/office and was playing with my camera. He said he wanted us to take a picture together so I leaned down and he took a picture. We ended up taking four or five both with me leaning down a little and with him on my lap. When I went to pick out which picture, I asked him which one was his favorite and the one I posted is the one he picked.

I love that you see him and I - yeah the background is there but it’s so dark you can’t see it.

My friend Marie has had the Tuesday Toot going on for a few weeks now and it’s about time I joined in! This week has been busy so I have a lot to ‘toot’ about!

The fingerless gloves I am making for Alice actually fit her! Or rather, the ones I thought were hers actually fit. They are a little long but she doesn’t mind.

I found a clinic we can go to! I don’t really worry about medical care when we are away from home because we typically don’t get sick. Or if we do it is a cold and that usually doesn’t warrant a hospital/clinic visit - but the kids got sick last week. After about an hour and a half on the phone (or waiting for a call back) with my insurance and our clinic back in SC, I was able to take the kids somewhere here in town. And it’s minutes away! I’m glad knowing it’s there if we need to go again.

I contributed politically! I hope you have too - spread the word, change is possible and it will happen.

A country girl at heart, or at least a country music loving girl at heart, I am often reminded of the lyrics of a Sammy Kershaw song.

Let’s talk about anything
Anything in this world
But politics, religion and her

Politics can start a fight
Religion’s hard to know who’s right
And one more topic I won’t touch
That one’s her — it hurts too much

I remember the video - the wife of the main character had died. Politics and religion being the taboo subjects that they are, he picked to also stop talking about her. An understandable decision.

But let’s throw one of those out the window and talk politics! Let’s talk about how inspiring words can be and how hopeful we as a country are. Because we are right, we are hopeful? We want things to get better.

And let’s listen to Will.i.am and others sing the words of a Barack Obama speach.

Are you there with me? Are you inspired and hopeful and excited and full of the idea that yes we can change?

Need more inspiration?

I finally got back to crafting yesterday, half done with a pair of fingerless gloves and also half done with another fleece tie blanket. It’s a start and let me tell you, using my fabric scissors made me feel good.

I always have a lot of tabs open in my browser as I search online, getting caught up in craft blog after blog with great ideas and fun projects. I found something about politics that I had to share, I saw it first at Average Jane Crafter.

From Julie Ree’s blog:

It’s about more than policy changes. It’s about a sea change in attitude among the American people. He’s asking us to step up, pitch in, and work together to transform our country. He has inspired me to think about how I can engage more in my community, how I can serve others, and what role I will play in the future of my country. I am proud to be inspired by him. Imagine what kind of change we might see if he were given the chance to inspire the whole country as President?

I invite you to join me in supporting Barack Obama. This crafting community is an extraordinary group of thoughtful, hard-working, strong women. I think his message will resonate with you as it has with me.

…….

I have great reason to hope. Instead of a politics of murk and muck, I see a path, however winding and long it might be, that can lead us toward renewal and hope. I want our country to be on that path.

I believe Barack Obama has a great message and if you are a Crafter for Obama - check out the donation page Julie has set up. You and I need to be mindful of the future, of what we are leaving to our child and grandchildren, in all areas - and we can change what we are leaving them and what we are living with. Let’s make that change.

My friend Tishia tagged me for this one ~ six unimportant things about me. Unimportant to who I wonder - unimportant as in it doesn’t matter if others know this about you?

1. Like Tishia, I love pickles. But I mean I LOVE them. When I was a kid one of my Uncle’s would give me a gallon of pickles for my birthday. One year one of my cousins and I ate the entire jar - then we got sick all over the living room. My Mom wasn’t home though, a babysitter had to deal with us! But the pickles also gave me bloody noses - too much salt? no idea - so I had to cut back and don’t love them nearly as much as I used to.

2. I rarely wear makeup. I use Bare Minerals and usually do a quick brush of powder and that’s it. Oh and Burt’s Bees lip balm, I’m addicted to that stuff.

3. I never wake a sleeping baby (or toddler, etc.).

4. I like road trips but only if I get to stop and see the sights, take a picture by the state line or at least walk around a town/city. If it’s all driving, count me out.

5. I love playing video games. Super Mario bros is my favorite I think, but the Zelda game I have for my Nintendo DS is closing in fast. And SimCity is awesome too. I don’t know why though. And I don’t like the sims as in the people.

6. Maybe this isn’t a static all the time kind of thing but I can’t wait for my 30th birthday. It’s this summer and my Mom and I are kind of planning something. No idea what, but we are talking about it.

So that’s me! A little late (sorry about that Tishia!) but always adding fun to the party. Jump in and play along if you wish.

We made it home! We left the house at 1:30AM on Tuesday, Chris drove until 7:30, then I drove until 1:30PM then Chris again until about 5. We made it to a small town in northwest Arkansas - just over 1000 miles! That was a great driving day because we had no bad weather and the roads were clear. The next day we saw snow and such but the roads stayed clear. We only drove about six hours that day but Thursday we got to my Grandma’s house at about 6PM or so. I felt like we stopped every hour on Thursday but of course I’d feel that way since I wanted to hurry up and get home.

I haven’t been able to do any crafts and we sent boxes with my Dad and of course those boxes had my card making stuff, crochet and sewing that I brought. I got a little bit of craft organizing in because my Aunt (who we are staying with) had a sewing box that was just out of control! I cleaned it up for her and that felt good. I found a few more people who want/need tie blankets so maybe I can find material and do that here.

We had burial services for George over the weekend - lots of the family came, we had the priest from our church there as well as family friends who did traditional prayers for us. He is buried next to my Grandpa and Great Grandma, the cemetery has lots of my family buried there so I’m glad we settled on that area.

The kids had a good Christmas. We had Christmas in the hotel room with Chris and my Dad (who was on his way home then) and then again with my brother, nephews and Mom. I think I have a few more things for my kids to open yet but they are fine. As I type this Alice is playing Connect 4 with one of my nieces and Jake is playing Nintendo. The roads are bad but the kids are loving the snow. I’d love it more if it wasn’t ice underneath!

Merry (late) Christmas and Happy (early) New Year!!!!!!!

The time has come! We are leaving the south tomorrow night and headed back to the midwest. The kids have their snow gear (minus boots for Jake) and I think we are ready.

Chris got a big promotion at work so he’s going to training for a few months so the kids and I are doing an extended vacation, traveling and staying with family while he’s gone. I can’t wait! I haven’t seen my Grandma in a couple of years, have a few nephews/nieces I’ve never seen in person and haven’t been in snow for years.

I’ve been busy figuring what we are not taking with us - then having to go back and half the pile I want to take with us. We will be away from our own stuff for a while, but I don’t want a packed vehicle either! It’s hard to decide what to take and what to leave - sure my family will have kids toys and books for the kids, and there is always the library, but none of them (but my Mom) sew or do any crafts. It’s hard leaving my stuff to be packed up and put into storage!

We have a decent route we are taking and only driving during the day. Now I’m thinking what food to take in the car with us and where are we going to stay the first (and second) night. I wish we could make it in two days but since it’s winter that isn’t going to happen. The food thing makes me want to go shopping tomorrow.

Oh and I’m going to take crochet work along with me - easy to work on and easy to put away when it’s my turn to drive!

*Tell me you didn’t start singing when you read that.