The balance of life

Have you ever heard the story about the young person who longed for better things to enjoy, but didn't have enough money to get the better things? It could be a surfboard, a camper, hunting accesories, stereo... To get enough money the young person gets a job with more responsibility and a better chance of advancement. Over the years the person does make more money and collect more things, but with advancement and responsibility there is less time to enjoy all the things. All those things aren't making them happy. Their life is out of balance. They should have accepted less things so they could have more time to enjoy what they had. So many areas of life are a balance. If I increase one area of my life, then another area decreases. There are only so many hours in a day. These things are tough enough to work out when I control the balance. When someone else controls the balance it may be impossible to get everything done. Then what do you give up: sleep? health? the roof over your head?

Senior Walk

What a wonderful tradition, Senior Walk. I was priviledged to join in as we walked our Senior across the field prior to the homecoming game. It's a wonderful opportunity to recognize them as they participate in their last season in High School. Way to go Seniors.

School Starts

I've been hearing all the preparations others are doing getting ready to begin another school year. Most stock up on supplies, get appointments and car maintenance done, get all clothes clean and ready to go, and cook food ahead to freeze and eat later. But the most important preparation is making sure I have enough yarn. The nearest yarn store is over an hours drive. The best yarn stores are nearly two hours away. I need to have several projects lined up, the yarn bought, the needles ready. School is stressful. We need time to sit, knit, and relax. Sure clothes and food are important. But yarn is a must have.

The Allibeth Knitted Backpack

I wrote this pattern and knitted these backpacks for my cousin's girls.

Materials: 2 rolls La Espiga Nylon String #18 200 g 180 meters
Circular needles sizes 9, 10 1/2, 13, 15
Size 7 dpns for i cord
Notes: I cast on and knit the base with size 9 circular needles


CO 35 sts (size 9 needles)
Knit 14 rows to create a rectangular base
Pick up 45 sts around the rectangle (5 sts on each end and 35 on the long side)
Place Marker
Rounds
1, 2 Knit
3 k2,k2tog,yo2, k2tog,k23, k2tog, yo2, k2tog, k9, k2tog,yo2,k2tog,k23, k2tog, yo2, k2tog,k2
4,5 knit
6 *yo, k2tog* repeat to end of round
7 knit
switch to size 10 1/2 needles
8,9 repeat rows 6,7
switch to size 13 needles
10,11 repeat rows 6,7
switch to size 15 needles
12 - 49 repeat rows 6,7
switch to size 13 needls
50-53 knit
54 *k2, k2tog, yo2, k2tog, k2* repeat to end of round
55-57 knit
58 bind off

make i cord 90 inches long (7 1/2 feet)

End of Summer

A watched pot never boils. .... is as exciting as watching grass grow/ watching paint dry. Time sometimes passes quickly while at other times it passes slowly. I can remember how it used to take forever to eat peas, but ice cream never lasted long enough. In school classes I liked would fly by, but those I dreaded took forever. The older I get, the faster times seems to pass. And now my summer break is drawing to a close. Clothes are prepared for the start of a new school year. I am starting to get up earlier and go to bed earlier. Summer has passed. One week from today I will be going through my schedule, checking where I will be the next morning. It seems like yesterday I was finishing another year.

Country Summer

I love summer in the country. Berries are gone now. Fresh fruit is still on the trees. Kids at the local swimming hole. Frozen treats for the bookstore/coffee shop. Just watch out for the rattlesnakes.

Rain

A plant in dry soil reaches it's roots down deep thirsting for a drink. But there is no water to be found. The plant continues on working to feed itself and grow, but soon the lack of moisture takes its toll. The plant begins to droop and show signs of stress. It reaches deeper, barely hanging on. The sun beats down. Normally the sun's rays would be welcome, but now it only strains the plant more. Finally the clouds come and the moisture spills down. The plant drinks in the welcome respite from all the work and soaks in the moist rain. Soon the plant is standing strong again. Perhaps a few leaves are gone. Perhaps there is some small scar from the stress. But the new growth will soon cover all signs of the previous stress. The plant will soon be taller and stronger than ever, unrecognizable from the plant that previously drooped and leaned over to the ground. So it is with summer. A welcome respite from the previous stress that weighs us down.