Birthday Weekend

As I've gotten older, birthdays for me have become days of settling into my skin. Enjoying the small moments and looking forward to the next year.

After a weekend punctuated with moments of busyness, pockets of peace and just an overall feeling of contentment, I sit here to blog, to put into words what I feel about getting another year older.

I see the wrinkles, the sunspots are showing up and some things are going south. Do I wish for the vibrancy of youth? No. I remember the me of my 20's and she was naive, unsyncopated, and tunnel visioned. I was always off from how others behaved.

The learned social graces were grey muddy areas that I constantly floundered in and offended many of those I was meeting in the adult world. Towards the end of my 20's, I had convinced myself that the problem lay with me. I was THE PROBLEM. My lack of, or inability to integrate myself into a comfortable social life was a constant source of failure to me.

Then, well, then I got older. I'm not even halfway into my 30's and already I feel more settled and accepting that this is me. This is who I am. I cannot imagine who I'll be in my 40's, but I hope I've loved as hard as I could, stood up for what I believed in and above all protected my family from real or perceived hurts and dangers.

Because at the end of the day, all that really matters is that my children are happy, vibrant and walking the chords of their life strings, marching to their drummer, secure in who they are because Jon and I have loved them with all our hearts.

I dream for them a childhood free of worries. Time to just be a kid. Brains full of bubblegum dreams and marshmellow bonfires. The freedom to say what is on their minds without fear of reprisal. The strength to know right from wrong and stand up for what they believe.

Do their lives dictate mine and Jon's? No, the kids are just passengers on our train. Adorable, loveable, oh-so-funny passengers, but passengers all the same. We are so blessed to have them.

So, in celebration of my 34th birthday, we spent a weekend pruning flower beds, tilling vegetable beds, mowing grass, digging earthworms, grilling steaks, going to see Hunger Games, feeding dandelions to rabbits and hiking Ceasar's Creek trails. It was an amazing weekend.

My heart feels at peace.

The Handmade Rabbit Cage

Jon is a crafty fellow. I think we've all come to the conclusion that when he builds, he builds it to last. This rabbit cage is no exception. It took two grown men to carry it 40 feet from the garage to the backyard. It is a behemoth.

The rabbits have lived for years in their own room in the house. Jon needed them out of the house, for his own peace of mind. I said, "Build it and we will move them." So he did.

The rabbits like their new digs. They have ramps, cubby holes, hay feeder and room to periscope. Not too much more they can ask for. All wood is reclaimed wood from our barn. Shingles are leftover from roofing our house. The only items purchased was the welded wire mesh flooring and chicken wire for the sides. Total monetary outlay was $30.

Upon critical assessment, apparently Jon isn't supposed to use chicken wire for the cage sides. Chicken wire is weaker than welded wire and rabbits can chew their way out and varmits can chew their way in. We have them in an enclosed privacy fenced in yard, so the only varmit that would be chewing their way in is Puppy. Which we are addressing that issue.

Jon did good. Rabbits are happy and my home has 3 less fur flying animals occupying the inside.

Happy Handy Happenings!

A full moon cycle and a half has passed since I last blogged. I've found that I blog and craft when I'm happy. The process of knitting and crochet is a form of therapy, but there is a point where 1,000 beads and thousands of stitches seems like an insurmountable task. For many weeks I looked at my knitting and crocheting. I carried it with me everywhere I went. Waiting, hoping for inspiration, wondering where my muse went. Did she take a vacation? When was she due back? Who takes a 6 weeks vacation?!

But she's back! And in 2 evenings of solid knitting and crocheting I banged out this beaded crochet/knit scarf.

The ends are knitted and the middle is double crochet. I love how it came out and I'm hopeful the lady who bought it is happy too.

In other news, Guy had a hematoma and after it healed, his ear is perpetually, forever and ever amen, turned back with a nice curve to it. Cute, isn't it? It matches his nerve damaged toes. Silly cat.

Bunnehs are doing well. Jesse LOVES Joey. Forever and ever amen. He may like her a little bit too.

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Much love and blessings from our home to yours.