Loving Life!

How fortunate am I!  Today was a beautiful day in the Low Country.  The sun was shining when I awoke this morning and Joe and I decided to get our daily dose of exercise by walking outside.  I looked forward to the beautiful sun filled walk - anxious to feel the warm sun on my face.  Especially after spending hours listening to the devastating news unfold in Japan.  What a horrifying situation for the people who live there.  Thinking about them and their peril brings to mind what a small world this truly is.  We all occupy a single spinning globe - hanging on only by the force of gravity.  But are we tending to our planet the way we need to? With all the unsettling weather taking place across the world coupled with natural disasters such and this and the quake in New Zealand just a few week ago, I tend to think not.  Our life here is a gift and I believe that it is time for everyone to realize that we cannot continue to harm the environment and not expect any consequences.  Cutting down the forests, drilling on the ocean floor for oil, ignoring global warming - all of this will eventually catch up with our children, grandchildren and generations to come.  I thought about all of this as I walked in the beautiful place I now call home.  The creatures and people who are my neighbors were getting on with the business of their lives.  I stopped to chat with a friend

 as he walked his daughters dog.  He was so excited that she and her family here for a visit.


Our next stop was at the baseball field - today was a coed game!  

                                                                 A happy player turned and gave me a smile before she went up to bat.  It warmed my hear to hear her male team mates cheer her on!  Only in Sun City I thought as we continued on our way.






And then there was the tiny gecko - basking in the sun and waiting patiently for his photo-op.  He stoop perfectly still as I snapped his picture and then he quickly scurried off .
    


 Yes what a wonderful world this is.  Life goes on even as tragedy unfolds and thank goodness it does!  But lets all take a few minutes from our busy lives and say a prayer for the people of Japan.  They have a very long and hard road ahead of them.

The Subject of Willpower!

 I don't know where the time goes.  It sure is flying by.  Today started off with some exercise!  Well in my head anyway.  I absolutely will get to the gym tomorrow.  Joe and I have been really good about it - averaging three times a week - although I am still waiting to love it!   It is a necessary evil and is the only way we can stay in shape with all the eating we do. 

 Every activity here in Sun City revolves around food - and good food. Then there is the wine - oh the wine.  I thought about giving up wine for lent - but then I realized that wasn't realistic.  Then I considered sweets - OMG with my sweet tooth - not possible.  And I don't think my husband could live with me if I did that. After all, dark chocolate is a basic food group isn't it?  What about a ban on buying yarn - maybe I could do that considering I have two floor to ceiling cabinets filled with yarn. Well....no that wouldn't work.  Ilse, Bonnie and I are going to do this fabulous shawl 

out of Prism Light Stuff and I can get a good buy on it at Ravelry from someone who is trying to destash. (Isn't that what I should be doing?)  So.... that ends the no buying ban.  Well maybe I can give up exercise....yep that sounds like a plan - but not a good one even though sleeping late sounds like a great idea!  Guess I don't have any willpower after all. 

My New Love

Well I have finally crossed over and joined the ranks of Mac users and lovers!  For years I have toyed around with the idea of getting a Mac but there was always something keeping me from it.  The learning curve is too difficult, the price is too expensive, you can't interchange your documents with a PC.  Well I ignored it all - including the price - and off to Best Buy I went.  Or should I say we went.  My husband was actually the driving force in this purchase.  "You really should have one - it will make it easier for your creativity - it will be fun with your blog!" This was his gentle prodding to push me over the end.  And in the end it seems that the price is really the only barrier to making the switch.  I love the computer - it is easy to use - the learning curve isn't bad at all - you can easily interchange your documents with a PC as long as you purchase IWorks! 

So once I got over the sticker shock I realized that this is a very good fit for me.  So thank you to my love for dragging me to Best Buy and making me buy this computer.  I don't think anything like that has ever happened before nor will again.  Anyway, use a Mac and you'll never go back - that is my motto and I'm sticking to it!

Let's Celebrate - Spring is in the Air

After a long hard winter it seems like spring has finally arrived in the South.  We have had a good few days of 70 degree plus weather and the forecast for the next week looks good.  I have certainly taken advantage of this great weather taking lots of walks, riding my bike and yesterday Joe and I visited the nursery which is truly a sign of the warm weather.  The flowering shrubs and plants were a welcome sight.  There was also a wonderful variety of fountains which are very popular here in the south.

But of course spring for me means knitting as I don't like to get my hands dirty in the garden - I leave that to my husband as it is his passion.  So my spring project was to design a fun little scarf called "Loopy Snecklace". 

 Yes it is a scarf and/or a necklace that can brighten up your summer white tee shirt.  I will be having a workshop here in Sun City - and possibly in some other locations as well.  You don't have to be an expert knitter to make one but it shouldn't be your first or second project either.  Use some fabulous ribbon yarn with a coordinating novelty yarn - add some beads or bling if you want - and voila- a show stopper that everyone will be asking you about!  Celebrate spring and make yourself something special - you deserve it!

MAKE SURE YOU ZIGZAG IF YOU ARE CHASED BY AN ALLIGATOR!

I love the South.  The people are very friendly and the weather is wonderful.  Don't get me wrong - I love the North as well.  After all, that is where I was born and raised and that's where my family is - especially my three wonderful grandsons.  But there is something about the South and living close to the sea, where the palm trees sway and the alligators walk.  Yes you read correctly - walking alligators.  The first thing my husband told me when we moved here was don't feed the alligators and if you have to run from one - don't run in a straight line - make sure you ZIGZAG. Now generally I take much of what he says with a grain of salt as he is usually trying to put one over on me.  So I was very surprised when I saw lots of signs confirming what he had said.

But until today I had not seen an alligator up close and personal!  While taking our morning walk Joe and I were enjoying another day in paradise and were deep in conversation about all the beautiful birds - especially the graceful egrets that look like white puffs up in the trees.  As our eyes admired the blue waters of a peaceful lagoon our gaze was suddenly broken as we focused on this huge log like object.  OMG I said - is that what I think it is?  Slowly we crept down the bank making sure that we didn't tumble right into the water. We certainly didn't want to be breakfast for what appeared before our eyes!

It was huge - and completely still.  We stood there in amazement watching this prehistoric looking creature.  I have never seen anything like it.  Why the heck don't we have a camera I thought!  No one was going to believe the size of this guy without proof!  Oh well - another big story with no proof! Our kids are use to that!!  We continued on our walk and upon returning home Joe said let's take the camera and go back and see if it is still there.  And to our surprise - there he was!  In the exact same place we had seen him earlier and as still and quite as before.  Mother nature and her creatures never cease to amaze me.  And this prehistoric creature obviously has its purpose in our wonderful world.  As we stood for a few minutes and gazed upon his magnificence I again thought about how much I love my new surroundings - but I am also thankful that today I didn't have to try out that ZIGZAG theory!

Wonderful Relaxation!

We all need it ....we all crave it.....but do we truly take time to relax?  Since I was a little girl my favorite form of relaxation has been a hot bath!  Thank goodness I have a partner who understands this and has indulged my incessant need for this luxury.  There is nothing like a hot luxurious bath at the end of the day.  Every night after dinner he says, "So is it a tub night?"  And most nights it is!  I leave him to the task of kitchen clean up and I relax in my bath.  OMG you say - who is this man and how do I get one.  Believe me - I know how lucky I am!

Many times over the years Joe and I have based our house purchases on the basis of the bath tub.  Ideally it has to be separate from the shower - just mine alone for reading, listening to music, sometimes dozing - but always necessary to shed the stress of the day.  My friends are amazed and astounded by this.  Tubs - who the heck sits in a tub anymore?  My friend Eileen uses hers for drying clothes or blocking her knitting! " Oh my god" I exclaimed when I saw a pair of pants in her tub.  "What the heck are you doing".  "I have never been in that tub." she stated emphatically.  "They should have just left it out of the house."  Now that is something that I can never understand. 

So give it a try.  Pamper yourself and sprinkle some Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Soaking Salts into the warm water, slather on a facial mask, grab a glass of your favorite wine and sit back and relax.  You'll be glad you did!

It's Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day
I have always loved Valentine's Day!  It is such a sweet holiday!  When I was younger I loved to get chocolate in a fancy box. I did enjoy the candy but that was not the major attraction.  My father, Buddy Lally, always brought me a  red satin heart shaped box of chocolates with a beautiful doll on top.  The doll was always dressed in a beautiful gown trimmed with lots of ruffles and lace.  After the chocolates were gone my mom Claire would hang the beautifully decorated box lids in my bedroom up close to the ceiling. Dozens of hearts lined the ceiling of my bedroom and the beautiful dolls were lined up like fairy princesses.  Today with all the weight watching going on I don't encourage chocolate gifts anymore, but I do appreciate kind words and a thoughtful Valentine - especially from those I love.  And thankfully I am never disappointed!  I even received one from a knitting buddy (thank you Eileen) and I am going to pass it on to you . So Kiss your loved ones and enjoy the true meaning of St. Valentine's Day!