tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218702932012-01-27T12:38:13.424-06:00Irish CloverDedicated to my Mom ~ Commentary on knitting <br>And the antics of the Clover family.Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.comBlogger3841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-8814846651756747902011-12-14T13:17:00.001-06:002011-12-14T13:17:46.529-06:00I've movedThe blog has moved! If you are still interested in following our antics, you can find us here:Irish Clover Knits, the adventure continuesIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-44071123815643512942011-10-20T09:22:00.008-05:002011-10-21T14:11:49.711-05:00On the lawn there arose a soundA few nights ago while Italian worked late, Little Clover and I settled in for a movie night. Getting into the Halloween spirit, we decided to watch a classic, Monster Squad. The setting inside was perfect. We turned the lights off and popped some popcorn. At one point, I got the creepy feeling one feels of eyes watching or someone being present who shouldn't be. I looked at Spot, happily Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-28410073956674713272011-10-20T09:21:00.001-05:002011-10-20T09:22:27.304-05:00In SilenceThere is much activitySo much activity, in fact, that the blog has been silent for almost two months. What's been going on, you ask (or don't ask because you are no longer reading)? Well, pull up a chair and pour a brew and I'll tell you.I started a new job, sorta. I still work for the same company, in the same department, but I'm now on a new team and I've switched from being an "individual Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-61971082044288093042011-08-23T16:59:00.001-05:002011-08-23T16:59:58.904-05:00Rainbows in the UKI've been staring at my calendar for most of today trying to figure out what in the world I was missing. A nagging feeling of forgetfulness loomed over me. Finally, after lunch, I realized the importance of today: the anniversary of my mom's death. I sat stunned for a bit, then relieved and happy. After 12 years, I don't dread this day, and I miss my mom less, but not because I don't think Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-87257746012660453992011-08-16T13:36:00.001-05:002011-08-16T13:37:21.954-05:00Home againSummer is officially over, and not just because we returned from vacation, but because of this:
From Family
The annual first day of school picture.
This year, when I completed registration, I realized there is only one grade ahead of him at school. Just one. At parent orientation, the teachers spoke of preparing for high school. High School!!!! Don't they realize he's way to young to go to Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-46285617328319398232011-07-22T17:25:00.003-05:002011-07-22T17:29:15.204-05:00London callingHello from the UK! There might be radio silence as I try to figuire out how to post photos while mobile. Don't panic (the answer is 42), the blog will resume and be back to normal soon.Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-65524324000133579782011-07-12T15:31:00.001-05:002011-07-12T15:33:01.241-05:00Knit like the windWhat does one do when binding off over 500 stitches on a shawl and one realizes with growing gloom there is not enough yarn to make it to the end? I don't know what you do, but I keep binding off, run out of yarn with 12 stitches left, rip back the bind off by a couple of inchecs, run out yarn with 5 stitches left, rip back the bind off even further, make it to the end with two inches left to Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-55574873675209287732011-07-07T10:06:00.001-05:002011-07-07T10:08:27.145-05:00Time WarpIsn't summer the time of the year when time slows to a crawl and one relaxes in a hammock with a nice cool drink? Maybe it's the lack of hammock in our lives, but summer has sped up the rate of time, not slowed it. Even though my calendar clearly states the month is July, I can't completely comprehend it. We've had so few weekends at home or unschedule this summer and we've been blessed by Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-7852552660700525172011-06-23T08:56:00.000-05:002011-06-23T10:39:54.307-05:00Two different campsSummer camp is in full swing for both Clover and me. He's in his second week of Zoo Camp and even though the zoo is in the heart of the city, he's had plenty of wildlife encounters. He's fed hippos and played with iguanas. A trantula walked across his hand. An eagle came to visit, as well as a host of other animals. Despite not really knowing anyone else at camp, he's plunged in everyday Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-38108232374777922122011-06-20T11:20:00.000-05:002011-06-22T11:21:47.429-05:00Going to CampWhat does a busy mom on a yarn diet with an active family and a job outside of the home need? Why one more thing to do of course, especially if it involves buying yarn! I'm heading to camp, but not any camp, I'm "packing up" for Camp Loopy, a virtual knitting camp. I dashed off to Cabin 3 with all the other night owls. My bag is bursting with my yarn, and I've casted on for Catkin, a lovely Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-84160970651459859742011-06-13T14:43:00.001-05:002011-06-13T14:44:53.592-05:00Another yearAs hard as it for me to believe, we've made it through another year. Little Clover not only survived his first year of middle school, but it was a smashing success. He managed his school work on his own without help from us and brought home great grades. He excelled in sports and chess camp and enjoyed his first dance of the year. His class even beat out the other class for the most blue Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-77979025471946040292011-05-24T14:47:00.000-05:002011-05-24T14:48:25.298-05:00Measure a LifeRecently, and article from the Harvard Business Review titledHow Will you Measure Your Life stumbled into my inbox. Not only did the article provide great probing questions, but it also made me wonder how I want to measure my life. In addition to the article, Little Clover once again suggested I look into working at the zoo, his dream job office. I told him if I took a job at the zoo, then we Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-51709669469506478402011-05-17T16:31:00.000-05:002011-05-17T16:32:00.741-05:00Would you like fries with thatItalian and I just celebrated another wedding anniversary. Since we like to eat, we try to make the most of celebrations falling during the week with an extra little night out on the weekend. This year, we tried Iris and loved it. The New Orleans inspired menu looked delicious on paper and sounded even better when our server hit the highlights. Plus, Iris tries to source food locally where itIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-851869435545825972011-05-13T13:33:00.000-05:002011-05-13T13:34:48.725-05:00Best kid everWork life has been stressful. My company has completed a round of lay-off and benefit changes that have been quite taxing on a professional and personal level. During these trying times, I'm more grateful for my boss, who is truly an excellent boss, and my family who is truly the best family ever. In honor of this past Mother's Day, I will proceed with gushingly sweet "mommy moments."Mommy Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-60928269320409728172011-05-06T09:37:00.001-05:002011-05-06T09:37:34.563-05:00KnitcationIt began with Maryland Sheep and Wool last year, this new need of mine to run off on an annual fiber themed trip. There is something about being surrounded by wool in raw and processed forms with other fiber enthusiasts who do not look at you oddly when you jump up and down with blissfully pure excited at finding the "right" yarn that really speaks to me for some reason. Having gone to a wool Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-80943129239824956732011-04-21T10:35:00.000-05:002011-04-21T10:36:19.384-05:00Meanwhile, back at the Bat CaveIn the midst of work, the after school activity de jour, household choirs, and household maintenance, we've managed to cram some fun into our hectic life. The fun didn't leave anytime for blogging (at least that's my excuse), nor has it left much time for transferring pictures from the camera. What have we been up to? We made our first trip to the zoo this spring where we encountered a keeper Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-61165586007475621062011-04-05T15:16:00.001-05:002011-04-05T15:16:59.039-05:00Happy birthday to youFrom Disney 2011Today, one of the loves of my life is celebrating his birthday. I've known him for almost half his life and like a fine wine, he's gotten better and better with age. He's grown handsomer and lovelier with each moment. He's an amazing husband, a loving father, and my bestest friend ever. Happy birthday, love. May this new year be filled with tight lines, fun trips, loving Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-56738205887507361472011-03-31T14:27:00.002-05:002011-03-31T14:29:58.348-05:00611Like my father before me, I love photography. Unlike my father before me, I don't have rolls and rolls of film and albums upon albums strewn about the house. Instead, I have an external harddrive and a paid Picasa account, both of which came in extremely handy last night when I began downloading my more than 300 photos of my camera. Even though I expected more than 300 pictures, I was not Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-36599484450432424712011-03-30T13:43:00.001-05:002011-03-30T13:43:54.318-05:00A break from the breakThere is something about Spring Break which can be exhausting. I think it is us. For some reason, we see Spring Break and Fall Break as opportunities to go out into the world and cram those days with as much activity as possible. These are the vacation breaks where we willingly wake up early and hit the day running only to stop late in the evening with a hard sudden crash. I think there must Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-61461568996482837172011-03-08T15:57:00.003-06:002011-03-08T16:05:24.112-06:00My reason for feminismToday is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, and I wasn't going to take note of it nor celebrate it. Then, I read the Yarn Harlot's post. Not only was she eloquent, but she's right. Feminism is and should be the practice of equality of the sexes, both sexes.In college, I was the one with the "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle" bumper sticker. Not because IIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-69110061731551540802011-03-03T11:14:00.001-06:002011-03-03T11:14:31.974-06:00To be youngThere hasn't been as much knitting going on at Clover Field as I would like. I blame the Twilight series. With some luck, the last book will move to my "read" bookshelf tonight and knitting can resume with it's normal voracity. The lack of knitting greatly impacts my Cold Sheeping goal of knitting through 8000 yards this year, which means I'm going to have to either knit faster or convince my Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-89486831769737765612011-02-21T14:48:00.001-06:002011-02-21T14:48:50.055-06:00Timing is everythingSome people have a knack for timing. They purchase the right stock before it skyrockets. They show up in time to get the best deals or the best seats. They finish their knitwear in time to wear it during the same season. I do not seem to have the gift of timing which is why my Bohus sweater leapt off my needles as the mercury outside climbed to 68 degrees (F). After a year of on and off Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-34367173171546188382011-02-09T18:45:00.002-06:002011-02-09T19:14:58.919-06:00SnowmagedonWell, we all survived Clover's first dance. After dropping him off at the dance, I parked in the parking lot just in case he needed to run out for a last minute request or a last minute decision he wasn't ready for dances and wanted to come home. That didn't happen, so, I cried. Just a little bit, but I definitely shed a few tears. We passed yet another milestone in his journey.At least he Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-26525259278773201192011-02-04T22:28:00.003-06:002011-02-04T22:30:02.772-06:00Emergency blog postI just picked up Little Clover from his first dance! One of the girls in his class brought a camera. After being informed by another classmate, I asked if I could see the pictures. OMG, my little guy was slow dancing with his crush! Will post more later.Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-1530365835822578782011-02-02T15:00:00.001-06:002011-02-02T15:02:48.262-06:00I was told there would be no mathRemember those days in high school when you sat in various math classes thinking, "Will I actually use this stuff?" There are really only a few times in life outside of a classroom when remembering Pythagorean’s theorem becomes vital. Other than the occasional need for geometry and algebra, my life has been rather void of mathematical equations; that is until last week.Last week, I received a Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-35063779075432317502011-01-26T20:54:00.003-06:002011-01-26T21:09:47.915-06:00My address hasn't changedWith Google Maps on my laptop, I confirmed I still lived in the Midsouth, in the Delta. Yep, my address was the same and Google Maps was still showing it in the south west corner of the state, so why oh why are we getting more of this?From Irish CloverMy City shuts down when this white stuff falls from the sky. We laugh in the face of heavy fog, speed with reckless abandon in rain, and enjoy Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-85018781134833475492011-01-18T16:27:00.001-06:002011-01-18T16:27:44.107-06:00MarathonMarathons have almost always been a part of my life. Papa Clover was an avid marathon runner, so my mom and I accompanied him to many a marathon. My company sponsors a marathon every year. My city also is the host to a major annual marathon. My brother-in-law ran it one year. I have friends who have run half marathons to raise money for charity. Therefore, the idea that one day, I might be Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-18724174292702515492011-01-11T14:38:00.002-06:002011-01-13T09:00:46.219-06:00Snowballs at the ready!Monday brought our third snowfall for the 2010-2011 winter season, but the first major snow event. The snow began late Sunday afternoon and continued until early Monday morning, completely closing down the city and leaving four inches of snow. One of the things I love about living in the Delta is the lack of snowplows. Each year when we get our one snow, the snow day feels like a holiday, evenIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-22161982033769382962011-01-07T14:44:00.003-06:002011-01-07T14:47:55.063-06:00Happy New YearHappy New Year! Another year has passed at Clover Field and a new one is greeting us ready to be filled to capacity. Honestly, I wouldn't mind a slower passed year, but as Clover gets older (yes, it's time), the year seems to get busier and busier, try as we do to simplify it. To close out 2010, here is a quick run through of the last few weeks of the year.Italian got a new hat. Mrs. Soprano Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-8809142287668236362010-12-30T14:33:00.003-06:002010-12-30T14:46:24.734-06:00Before the year endsMy two, ok maybe three, remaining readers have been begging for a new post and before they become too belligerent, I felt the deserve to end the year on a happier note. Things were rough for us after we lost our little pet, but to honor his memory, we lived on holding him our hearts. Brenda Dayne's podcast on preparing for the loss of a dog with a new dog inspired us to go out and see if there Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-78844128513910466772010-10-21T12:51:00.001-05:002010-10-21T12:53:02.164-05:00LossFrom Irish CloverLast night, our family lost our little pet guinea pig, Jellybean. He had gotten very sick and the vet did not give us a positive prognosis. I made the difficult decision to let him go so that he didn't die alone at the animal hospital in the middle of the night, but instead, would be with us when he passed. As a mother, this has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-40740839868437773472010-10-14T11:31:00.001-05:002010-10-14T15:24:37.351-05:00Westward BoundMy laptop desktop photo at work is of the South Platte river winding through Spinney Mountain Ranch. It's my happy place and when work gets a tad bit too stressful, I look at the picture. This weekend, for Little Clover's fall break, we actually went back Spinney. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt as if I was home.We found the Bear Creek Cabins and booked one for the weekend. The Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-54838718267050233572010-10-07T10:03:00.000-05:002010-10-07T10:26:36.970-05:00In a PickleOne of the reasons motivating us to sign up for a CSA this year was to broaden our food horizons. I hoped it would give me a chance to grow as a cook and to change my perspective on food and cooking. Instead of picking a recipe and finding ingredients sourced from all over the world, I'd be given ingredients and then would need to find a recipe to use them. I'd also have to face one of my Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-65740348178085416712010-09-28T16:01:00.003-05:002010-09-28T21:31:24.142-05:00Club sign-upsLast week, Little Clover proved yet again he is becoming his own person. Italian and I learned early on with him that he was almost a fully formed individual at an early age. We needed to make quick adjustments to our expectations and to our assumptions the second he showed athletic ability at the age of 6 months. Since then, our family life has been one of getting acquainted, with Italian andIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-41276457986443796532010-09-22T21:03:00.004-05:002010-09-22T21:44:42.288-05:00What was I thinkingI am that mom, the one that doesn't realize how something may not be a good idea until she's already committed. For Little Clover's birthday, we agreed to have a birthday party with his friends. He was allowed to invite 10 friends to his party. He invited girls and boys. We agreed to let him have the part at the barn with the horses, then take the kids swimming, finally ending with a Nerf gunIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-90703543837903328862010-09-16T14:51:00.000-05:002010-09-16T14:52:10.750-05:00The farmer's lifeFrom Irish CloverWe attended a canoe trip outing with our fly fishing club this weekend, and Little Clover even manned the canoe giving me time between white knuckled gripped rides down riffles to fish every now and then. The weather was beautiful and the scenery breathtaking, solidifying my desire to be further away from the city and to find a retreat on a nice expanse of land near a river.The Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-10717910392085718772010-09-10T15:41:00.002-05:002010-09-10T15:42:29.738-05:00Week in ReviewIt would be nice to say we're coming in for a landing from our birthday celebrations, but we have a few more things to be done before we get a break. I got an awesome new camera for my birthday and it's taken me two weeks to figure it out how to use and transfer pictures off of it. The nice thing is, it doesn't allow you to take pictures with the lens cap on. Just don't ask me how long it tookIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-72535629419749112062010-09-03T22:42:00.000-05:002010-09-03T22:42:00.354-05:00Happy Birthday, not so little oneOn this day, at this hour, you entered into this world, bringing with you love, joy, and happiness. You brightened the lives of those around you the moment you were born and filled our hearts with a calm, a sense of purpose, and a happiness we had never known before. You have grown in these eleven years from a little babe who laughed a lot to a big kid who laughs more. Your laughter is Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-16864954825307415202010-08-30T21:09:00.000-05:002010-08-30T21:21:41.790-05:00Another YearWell, I've made it through another year. This time of year is rather hectic for us. School starts with its usual upheaval of emotions as Little Clover advances into another year. Then, we celebrate my mom on the anniversary of her death. Once we clear these hurdles, my birthday happens, quickly followed by Little Clover's. I'm generally one blob of emotional goo, trying to just make it Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-83370759942774892862010-08-23T21:14:00.000-05:002010-08-23T21:26:12.815-05:00LuckyA couple of weeks ago, NPR ran a story about a graduate student who had a knack for finding four leaf clovers. Naturally, my thoughts turned to my mom who also had this gift. The student talked about how she didn't really think much about finding four leaf clovers until one day she was visiting her father's grave and didn't have any flowers for him, so she hunted for a clover and found one to Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-69462712164880765982010-08-15T21:37:00.000-05:002010-08-15T21:59:51.658-05:00Just keep knittingFrom 2010 Finished ObjectsThis year has been one of those years where my focus has been on just getting by. I haven't had the luxury of time to focus on goals and objectives, of things I'd like to get accomplished, of striving for some grand thing to show for the year. Instead, I've been in survival mode. From 2010 Finished ObjectsSome days, I've found myself praying, "Please, God, help me getIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-68442332460372379222010-08-09T11:23:00.000-05:002010-08-09T16:34:56.778-05:00Athens of the SouthWith the recent weddings in our family, I've had the luxury of seeing a lot of my family this summer, but I haven't been back home in quite some time. Last weekend was my first trip home in months, and the first time I've seen Nashville since the floods. Although the city really bounced back quickly, there are still quite a few things closed or renovating, small reminders that the city hasn't Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-61894692953010818112010-08-03T20:50:00.000-05:002010-08-03T21:17:00.676-05:00Sous chef for a dayI love to cook. Cooking relaxes me and provides me with opportunities to be daring and creative, while also satisfying my love of good food. The CSA has been an excellent catalyst for expanding my cooking knowledge, but the subscription can be daunting and overwhelming. I think we are saving in food costs and we are eating out less. There is a time commitment, though, with the CSA that just Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-27987868837342582712010-07-26T14:12:00.001-05:002010-07-27T13:06:42.451-05:00Geeking outMy inner geekiness really came out this past week. For the last few years, our local Broadway theatre house has shown movies during the summer, while they are between Broadway seasons. The lineup includes excellent family films and some incredible classics. Certain films, like Casablanca are repeated every years, and other films are rotated. This week, we went to our first movie at the Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-43145908618550264102010-07-19T13:58:00.000-05:002010-07-19T21:52:36.802-05:00FirstsWe've been busy with a few first at Clover fields.1. Newton, our little fig tree, has produced his first fig!From Irish CloverNewton was a "just because" present to Italian. We planted him in the back corner of our yard, where we hoped he would get plenty of sun. He stands proudly at about 11 inches high and has been sporting five green little figs for the last couple of months. This weekend, Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-51866904842469341472010-07-15T10:00:00.000-05:002010-07-15T20:57:33.891-05:00The Jury is InFrom WIPsI've been a fan of Signature needles for almost two years. They are my go to DPNs and since I almost always have socks on the needles, I almost always have Signature needles on the yarn. When they announced the possibilities of Signature circulars, I became ecstatic! I had yet to find a set of lethally pointy circulars for lace knitting. I began buying lace yarn in anticipation of Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-83107536402352488232010-07-13T11:28:00.000-05:002010-07-13T11:29:27.534-05:00Bring on the rainFrom WIPsThere are few things in life better than a cup of tea and some knitting on a rainy afternoon, and I had the luxury of both this week. After months of constant unending sunshine, the rains have finally moved it. Normally, I'm an optimistic realist. I enjoy looking on the brighter side of things, but as of late, it has been way too sunny and bright in my world. There is only so much Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-39222621402609254342010-07-09T15:03:00.000-05:002010-07-12T09:02:20.515-05:00Fishing StoriesOur family was a bit selfish this 4th of July weekend. Normally, we spend the holidays with either the Clovers or the Sopranos, but this 4th of July, we selfish took some time for just the three of us to get away. Little Clover and I are terribly introvert individuals and we've been engaged in some extroverted activities of late. I begged Italian for a fly fishing trip and you are correcting Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-20214438886489717362010-06-29T15:13:00.001-05:002010-06-29T15:13:55.342-05:00Happy BirthdayFrom FamilyToday is my daddy's birthday. Happy birthday, Dad! I feel incredibly blessed to have you as my dad. I hope today is filled with much celebration. You've been a great example of strength, understanding, and patience. I love you, Daddy. Happy birthday!In other news...There are really only so many ways to state one is busy. I've tried the "boy, we've had a lot going on," and the Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-78032410946414795412010-06-11T11:19:00.001-05:002010-06-11T11:19:44.174-05:00You ate what?Conversation overheard this week after Spot dug up the onions in our garden:Italian (to our dog): I don't understand why you insist on digging. If you're bored, then get a job like a normal person.Italian stopped when he heard me laughing behind him. I just pictured our dog sitting in a room filling out a job application and I cracked. Italian, nonplussed replied, "What? What's so funny?"YesIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-21026960219485251702010-06-01T11:21:00.000-05:002010-06-09T21:01:04.498-05:00At least the food is goodSaturday, I went to the grocery store for the first time in three weeks, all thanks to the CSA. This is our first year ever to be a part of Community Support Agriculture, and we didn't know what to expect nor did we know if we would like it. The up front cost for us then was a bit of a gamble. It is a gamble that is really paying off.The "farm" we support is a a collective of approximately 4 Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-2514122941976305012010-05-12T21:26:00.000-05:002010-05-12T21:31:36.322-05:00Where were weThe long blog silence was not due to overly festive St. Patty's Day celebrations that required a long recovery period. Nope. It was due to baseball, lots and lots of baseball. From Irish CloverWe've hit the phase in Little Clover's athletic career where longer practice times are deemed necessary by the coaching staff, and his acedemic career where there is no shortage of homework. In short, Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-59352260055373495952010-05-09T12:45:00.000-05:002010-05-09T13:04:47.361-05:00Happy Mother's DayI spent this morning with my traditional Mother's Day breakfast in bed watching "Miracle," Little Clover's favorite movie of the moment, with Little Clover and Italian, and it was perfect. I love my breakfast in bed, and I especially love having it with Little Clover and Italian right there with me. After all, they are the reasons why I get a Mother's Day at all and for me, I love having them Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-1188378678729890812010-03-19T12:16:00.000-05:002010-03-19T14:52:10.154-05:00St Patty recapThe last thing I learned from Disney World is that if you and a 10 year old come barrelling out of an Irish themed pub singing "Wild Rover," you will get looks. Now, how does Little Clover know the words to "Wild Rover"? Because we've been listening to Irish tunes in preparation for St. Patty's.Last year, I tried my hand at making fish and chips. Other than making way too much food, the Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-34876357339471091942010-03-16T21:10:00.001-05:002010-03-16T21:45:10.773-05:00Things I learned at Disney World1. The Animal Kingdom Lodge has an incredible view.From Disney March 20102. Zebras, elands, ostriches, and giraffes love to hang out by the hotel rooms, and you will end up naming the ones you see every day.From Disney March 20103. Sometimes, ostriches follow a car for no other reason than to see where you are going.4. Ten year old boys walk with a swagger when dressed in full pirate Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-1140872405177759322010-03-15T19:48:00.000-05:002010-03-16T21:42:34.298-05:00Spring BreakThe snow has finally melted and spring is definitely nearing. While we were holed up in the house with a lovely fire glowing in out living room, I've been knitting up a storm to match the icy weather outside.There's the February Lady Sweater that will hopefully be wearable at Maryland Sheep and Wool:From WIPsThe Bohus Sweater, Wild Apple, is coming along nicely, and it is lovely, quite lovely. Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-66884468425095714702010-02-15T15:48:00.001-06:002010-02-15T15:48:32.864-06:00I thought this was the SouthFrom 2010 Finished ObjectsAs you may have noticed from the picture of the finished socks with the heart stopping blue stripe, there was snow in dem dar hills. We had our annual day of snow last Monday. The four inches was ample fodder for the annual Clover snowball fight, which was complete with knitted hat:From BuzzAnd snow stained clothing:From BuzzWe built the annual snowman and off course, Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-16772664085972688972010-02-07T09:50:00.000-06:002010-02-07T18:04:35.952-06:00Move over Chicken LittleI finished the sock and continued to loved the blue. Having some completely mindless stockinette was a god sent this past week. Things have been a little hectic. Little Clover received a lot of big kid accessories for his room and it was time to make the conversion. I called a painter to get some quotes, we set a date, and then completely packed up the contents of his room and shoved it in a Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-44090933178151579532010-02-01T14:49:00.000-06:002010-02-01T14:50:17.129-06:00Love, true love, has brought us together today Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth GilbertMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI finished Committed, and am at an understanding with the book. I would say this book is worth a read, but as a reader, one must be committed to the book. A reader has to go into this book with an open mind (a few of Gilbert's views may be too liberal for some) and a reader absolutely must finish the bookIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-46854521536440545762010-01-22T10:07:00.001-06:002010-02-15T15:50:38.369-06:00In loveFrom WIPsI am in love with this blue and the contrast it presents in this sock. I hope to still be in love with it by the time I knit the second sock, but for right now, my fickle yarn love is in love with this blue, and it is a contrast, not a juxtaposition. I see the dark mauve as a juxtaposition. It is an opposite to the olive, brown, and yellow main theme of the yarn. It is even opposite Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-25164399710324017262010-01-20T23:23:00.000-06:002010-01-20T23:54:25.796-06:00In defense of motherhoodConfession, this will probably be a rambling post, so I will apologize in advance. The post is sparked by listening to Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. She wrote Eat, Pray, Love which I enjoyed reading immensely about a year long personal journey she took to sort out certain things in her life. In this journey, she left a failing marriage and hedonistically devoted a year to doing what she Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-8810427700660925632010-01-19T09:09:00.000-06:002010-01-19T09:11:13.907-06:00Socks anyone?I have been a stash bustin' fool, in as much as one can be a stash bustin' fool while only knitting socks. From 2010 Finished ObjectsMy primary knitting goal for 2010 is to knit down my stash and only buy yarn for a specific project and only if I love it. Now that I've been knitting for five years, I have a better understanding of the yarns and colors I like. Unfortunately, I have not been Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-82678780673973599632010-01-14T19:54:00.000-06:002010-01-15T15:30:56.688-06:00Answering a prayerI was going to blog about my knitting and post pictures of my recently finished projects, then I had an encounter today that made it all seem frivolous. For those who follow me on Twitter, you know I saw a homeless man today. Italian had told me the night before about how he spied a homeless man wrapped in a sleeping bag yesterday, and then today, I saw one. I was driving to work when out of Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-19388342247641009072010-01-06T09:01:00.000-06:002010-01-06T10:09:22.819-06:00BoundariesThis past year, I found my boundaries. We all have limits, and my limits hit me square across the face in a not to gentle smackdown. The flossing incident was only one small incident. Granted, lots of very happy memories will be stored as an outcome of crashing into my limits. I had the joy of watching Little Clover score three amazing touchdowns in one single football game. I've watched himIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-86957285281251440642009-12-01T10:58:00.001-06:002009-12-01T10:58:22.988-06:00News FlashWe interrupt the blog silence with this breaking news story!Woman injures herself while flossingThe Clover family Thanksgiving vacation was cut prematurely short when Irish Clover suffered a horrific flossing accident. While in the process of flossing her back tooth after enjoying deliciously cooked ribs, the Super Floss she was using broke off in between her teeth. Irish Clover, being a bit Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-59657698605752682332009-09-29T16:48:00.000-05:002009-09-29T16:50:16.208-05:00Beauty of knittersEvery knitter needs a knitting group. Whether the group revolves around an LYS, a guild, a virtual meeting space, or a local non fiber location, the knitting group really is essential. Mine is a compilation of people who knit and happen to live close by. I love this group, and more importantly, I love the people who are in the group. We've been fortunate and have a pretty solid core of peopleIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-9426293242706264832009-09-16T08:31:00.000-05:002009-09-16T08:40:36.746-05:00Football season has arrivedFrom FamilyI wouldn't call Little Clover and I super fans, but we sure do love watching the games, and unlike other Southerners, we restrict ourselves to pro ball only. It is a bit of a shocker, but it works for us. College ball is just a bit too political for my liking. Besides, the politics of little people football is enough for me. Little Clover had a game on Monday, where I was Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-30489440980315968762009-09-03T15:47:00.001-05:002009-09-03T21:38:53.513-05:00To my sonToday, my baby boy, turns 10.From FamilyHe's left the relm of single digits and has joined the double digit masses.From FamilyHe is thrilled and in the last 10 years, he has accomplished much.From FamilyHe converted two rather hopeless and hapless 20-somethings into somewhat successful adults.From FamilyHe has made homes out of mere houses.From FamilyHe has managed to fill our days with laughter,Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-77916021263436847292009-09-02T09:02:00.001-05:002009-09-02T09:02:45.534-05:00Back up planI recently had the following conversation with Little Clover after yet another stressful day at work:LC: Mom, why did you want to do this job when you grew up?Me: I didn't.LC (with complete shock on his face): Then, what did you want to be?Me: A microbiologist, specializing in viruses.LC: So why didn't you do that?Me: Because I didn't want to go to school for another 12 years after college.LC (Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-74845670775488396002009-08-24T10:37:00.001-05:002009-08-24T10:37:40.918-05:00TeacherYesterday was the 10 anniversary of my mom's passing, and I did ok. I had one real breakdown, but it was relatively minor, and all in all, not that bad. Granted, I still miss her and it still hurts. The pain and longing has dulled a bit and I find I try to honor her memory in small ways now. Little Clover and I will talk about her and I'll tell him stories about her, like the time she decidedIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-12029267835169993362009-08-20T21:06:00.000-05:002009-08-20T21:27:59.279-05:00HalfwayFor the last seven years, around the third week of August, I've been taking a "First Day of School" picture. From FamilyI wish I could say it gets easier, instead, seeing how much Little Clover has grown and matured over the years only brings home the fact that if I do my job as a parent correctly, he'll continue to mature and grow into a responsible successful adult and will leave the nest. Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-34226935628012853402009-08-12T16:06:00.000-05:002009-08-13T09:03:06.086-05:00June Cleaver is overratedSummer vacation is quickly coming to a close at Clover Fields and I've spent the last few weeks coming to terms with the fact that I am no June Cleaver. I think since returning from vacation, I've cooked a total of five meals, not counting taking a prepackaged meal out of the freezer and reheating it. Let's just say that the people at Mosa know us very, very well. The house is in a perpetual Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-51131204072186533172009-08-05T09:19:00.001-05:002009-08-05T09:24:42.700-05:00Out of the mouth of babesIf you ever get a chance to play Taboo with a nine year, take it. You'll get such gems as "I have a blank butt."Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-1763030802581308322009-07-22T10:37:00.000-05:002009-07-22T10:40:32.992-05:00On the rangeThis weekend, I discovered the truisms of some of the songs I learned in grade school. Italian and I ventured out to Colorado to celebrate our 10 wedding anniversary and during the trip, we found home. The West remains uniquely American and the Rockies were the most beautiful background to a remarkable trip.For starters, we checked into the Highland Haven Inn, where a cute little cowboy duckie Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-39528638353840116972009-07-14T22:45:00.000-05:002009-07-14T23:10:44.180-05:00Oh how I've missed itFor the last few weeks, nay, months, I've been sock less, and not just because it is a Delta summer. I've been knitting on many other things. I've knitted 6 sweaters (Noro Sweater, Little Green Shrug, Little Diamond Pullover, Luscious, and Undulating Cables). I like knitting sweaters. Heck, I love wearing sweaters and seeing others wear the sweaters I've made. But oh, I have missed knitting Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-37636443832749034792009-07-08T10:27:00.000-05:002009-07-08T10:30:22.139-05:00Red, White, Blue, GreenFor the last few years, we've had a family tradition of meeting Papa and Nana Clover at a lake cabin for the Fourth of July holiday. This year was no different, so we made the trek out to Middle Tennessee. Papa and Nana Clover had forgotten some food and asked if we could stop by their house and pick it up. We, of course, agreed. Our own cooler was rather full and we didn't have room in the Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-49937330648108854252009-06-29T22:53:00.000-05:002009-06-29T23:25:14.176-05:00Happy BirthdayI called my dad today to wish him a happy birthday and realized something. While listening to Little Clover and my dad talking and laughing, I realized I grew up laughing, and I laughed a lot. We had a happy family, and my dad was a huge part of why it was happy. He loves to laugh and he loves having fun. He kept life lively and enjoyed making others laugh. I think he might have been the Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-33175766985462769142009-06-16T20:26:00.000-05:002009-06-16T20:50:55.887-05:00RebootSince the last time I've blogged, a lot has happened. I had grand plans of a "catch up" post detailing out the things I've been doing instead of blogging. I was going to wrote about the last day of school and how I cried; my cousin's wedding where she looked beautiful and where my little guy's inner party animal came out; baseball season and Little Clover's amazing pitches; a fly fishing trip Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-34404238377012670682009-05-19T14:09:00.001-05:002009-05-19T14:09:38.325-05:00You know you are a knitter whenSomeone draws back the cover on a baby stroller and the first thing you say is "Oh! What a beautiful blanket!"The parents of the baby took it all in stride and told me they would let the knitter of the blanket know how much I liked it. Truly, y'all. This blanket had beautiful stitch definition and was a lovely basket stitch pattern with a loose rib edging. Oh, the baby was pretty darn cute, Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-17265379937391788112009-05-15T16:42:00.001-05:002009-05-15T16:44:58.588-05:00Slight distractionI'm off to celebrate a milestone anniversary, so I'll quickly distract you with some pictures of knitting. Behold something green:From WIPsand something little (but not for me, it's a gift):From WIPsMore on these later after my little romantic weekend getaway.Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-22823699033510972472009-05-06T09:30:00.000-05:002009-05-06T09:32:04.631-05:00Not just for the boysLast night, I had the pleasure of spending time with one of the world's premiere fly fisher and came to understand and appreciated that I was in the presence of a legend. My local fly fishing club brought in Lefty Kreh for the monthly meeting. Lefty shared some tips, showed us his favorite places to fish, and taught us how to cast. From a knitting perspective, spending time with Lefty is Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-48665736124241391532009-04-29T22:36:00.000-05:002009-04-29T23:15:19.162-05:00LusciousI love being a mom. I really do. I knew I would enjoy it, but I love it. I've been having some very rough days at work and I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Little Clover at his school on Friday. That single hour was restorative and washed away the stress I had accumulated throughout the work week. It was his annual school picnic, and this year, his school decided to have it at theIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-87873993648104260212009-04-21T09:46:00.000-05:002009-04-21T10:16:24.188-05:00When I Grow UpI discovered this weekend that the reality of adult life sets in sometime between the age of 6 and 9. One of my nephews was in town this weekend, so I took The Little Russian and Little Clover out for lunch and to the Build A Bear Workshop as a special treat. While at BABW, The Little Russian looked at me and said, "Aunt Irish Clover, what do you want to be when you grow up?"I replied, "I don'tIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-83458651440032530042009-04-20T11:11:00.000-05:002009-04-20T11:11:00.748-05:00Instead of bloggingI've been knitting and finishing a sweater.From 2009 Finished ObjectsPattern Noro Cables and Lace (Y785)YarnNoro Cashmere Island color 10Needles Addi Turbo US Size 6 (4.0 mm)Modifications I knit the entire sweater on 4mm needles instead of changing to the larger needles after the ribbing. This was unintentional, but I really like the size result. The original pattern is intended to have much Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-29703377234445836892009-03-30T21:20:00.000-05:002009-03-30T21:46:00.199-05:00All work and no playleads to one very scary winter break if you are with someone named Johnny in the middle of Colorado. It can also result in a very grumpy stressed out snappy knitter who is too tired to knit sometimes. My team has been rushing towards a deadline at work and I've had my fair share of meetings and training coursework to keep me hopping from one day to another without having any real idea what day Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-77734828835596170022009-03-26T16:30:00.000-05:002009-03-26T23:46:46.356-05:00RecappingWhen do you start listening to the little nagging, I'm always right, voice in your head? The one in my head is getting louder and louder and more obnoxious with every passing row of the sweater and I think it is right. There is just no way the remaining 2 skeins will be enough to finish off this sleeve, knit a second sleeve, and the turtleneck. No way.St. Patrick's Day AftermathAs I've gotten Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-70107462550961492732009-03-23T09:25:00.001-05:002009-03-23T09:25:26.757-05:00Her giftsFriday was my mom's birthday and we celebrated with our annual trip to a local Korean restaurant. We ate tons of kimchi, Little Clover tried the Korean pizza, and I had my usual seafood stew, but I didn't post. I had been wondering what I could say that I hadn't said before, and how could I say it to convey my love and longing for my mom. I still miss her, but I realize too she's not Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-11089586731616506332009-03-13T10:01:00.000-05:002009-03-13T10:04:13.198-05:00FearFDR was not a knitter, otherwise, he would have really thought long and hard before saying "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He would have known the terror of the fear of running out of yarn if he was a knitter. The fear of running out of yarn is real and palpable. It is due to this fear that a sweater is languishing from lack of attention. This poor forlorn sweater could have Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-19038952382737958072009-03-09T10:22:00.000-05:002009-03-09T10:25:25.866-05:00The best jobA couple of months ago, I was bemoaning the decisions made by corporate executives to a couple of coworkers when one of them told me about The Best Job In The World, a six month job as a caretaker of an island in the Great Barrier Reef sponsored by Tourism Queensland. The job truly did sound like the best job in the world, expect for the requirement to move away from family for six months. ThenIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-71760960027532219952009-03-04T15:20:00.000-06:002009-03-04T15:33:08.350-06:00When I grow upLast night I had an epiphany and realized what I want be when I grow up. I want to be a professional hobbyist. I came to this realization at my monthly fly fishing club meeting where Dave and Emily Whitlock gave a presentation on fishing the White River system in Arkansas. At one moment during the presentation, the thought, "man, what a cool job," popped into my headed and lingered there. Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-24300616339704854582009-03-02T19:48:00.000-06:002009-03-02T20:06:23.384-06:00Snow take 2We've had a remarkably cold winter in the delta this year with many evenings in the low 20s and bright fires blazing in our fireplace. The winter has been gray as well with rain when the weather crept up above freezing leaving the grounds soggy with deep mud. I've been trying to will spring to come by not knitting on sweaters and spinning Neapolitan colored yarn and knitting brightly colored Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-59971414972435153502009-02-26T09:09:00.000-06:002009-02-26T09:36:51.510-06:00What I've learnedDuring the month of February, I've learned many things. Some of what I've learned are actually new, but others have been reminders of things I've learned in the past. I've learned that losing families members is very hard and it hurts for a while. I've learned being melancholy and sad is perfectly ok and part of life. I've learned smiling through the melancholy is ok, too. I've learned that Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-65724072222592116712009-02-15T20:53:00.001-06:002009-02-15T21:23:47.892-06:00How long are your apron stringsMine are about 200 hundred miles, or roughly a 3 hours drive. Three hours is far enough away from home where I can have my own identity, but close enough I can drive home at the drop of a hat, which is what I've had to do this week. From my from door to my parents' front door is about 200 miles, give a few miles. This is far enough away for me. I was close enough to come home for my dad's Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-38952206363323617202009-02-09T14:05:00.000-06:002009-02-09T14:09:40.385-06:00In need of good thoughtsLife is happening and it hasn't all been great. Right now, my dad is preparing for a series of surgeries over the next three weeks. The surgeries are a positive thing and we have great hopes for the outcome afterwards. In addition to the surgeries, we've had a couple of family crisis come up. My grandfather is in the hospital and we are unsure at this moment of his condition. My uncle was Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-52856953451731458552009-02-02T21:12:00.000-06:002009-02-02T22:13:04.834-06:00Snow and troutFrom FamilyWe finally had our annual snow day this past week. At least we didn't have to wait until March like last year. Granted, there wasn't much snow on the ground, but there was enough. Little Clover awoke early to the news of a school cancellation and waited patiently for us to give him the green light, to go outside and play. I'm fortunate enough to have a job with enough flexibility IIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-52559083691561676522009-01-27T12:33:00.000-06:002009-01-27T14:36:06.845-06:00In which I discover my inner geekI left for a trip to California and discovered I am a geek, in the best sense I'm hoping. Work called me out west for my first visit to California. I had to visit one of our locations in San Jose, which was a nice sunny balmy 60F when I landed. The two hour time difference between home and the west coast didn't seem too bad until I found my eyes becoming quite heavy at early evening. I restedIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-17321168315823134912009-01-20T08:45:00.000-06:002009-01-20T08:46:08.796-06:00A new beginningOn this Inaguration day, the country is buzzing with hope and expectation. People are hopeful in our new, vibrant, charismatic, young president, expecting him to bring forth new life and vitality in our country and in our economy. As Obama is sworn in today, I hope the goodwill surrounds him and he is given the strength and skills needed to deliver on the expectations before him. Today is Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-65967372845995397082009-01-13T18:44:00.000-06:002009-01-17T11:28:10.896-06:00You gotta have a goalEven though the Christmas season is technically over, a couple of friends came by this weekend for a little Christmas cheer. We had a hardy winter dinner of purple mashed potatoes (I had no idea that purple skinned potatoes are actually purple potatoes), meatloaf (doctored up with basil, provolone cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes), and roasted carrots (covered in maple syrup and sage). They even Irish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-6697452013252275342009-01-08T23:06:00.000-06:002009-01-08T23:23:15.398-06:00More than fourOver the last few months, Italian and I have determined that Little Clover is getting old enough to be introduced to some of the small things we share as adults. Since college, Italian and I have used a certain phrase and we believed Little Clover was ready to hear the phrase, "I love you more than four." The first time we said this to Little Clover, he looked at us as if our heads were spinningIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21870293.post-69209900223350811992009-01-05T23:04:00.000-06:002009-01-06T00:07:06.072-06:00Holiday RecapBoy, has it been a while since I've blogged. To be honest, I'm not expecting many readers to still be around, but if you are, Happy New Year! (and I'm very grateful you've stuck with me) We've had a nice, albeit jam packed Christmas break, and I took the time to be completely offline (except for the occasional Facebook status update). Honestly, being offline was relaxing and I rather liked itIrish Cloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843132685236597825noreply@blogger.com4