I was supposed to post this on Saturday night

So lets pretend it is Saturday, and not Tuesday, ok? I guess it doesn't really matter; let's face it, I get tired and the days run together...

I was happy to be going off to work. I think I was a little euphoric actually, feeling like one of the workforce, capable and confident, not to mention dressed smartly. I got to the car and thought I had left without my phone, which is a cardinal sin, of course. That euphoric feeling is starting to fade, 'cause now I'm gonna be late. So I pulled up to the house, and ran back in, grabbed Dan's phone, called mine, and ran frantically around the house, listening for my ring. Nothing. I guess it's in the car. Back out to the car, waving again to the sweet little honeys on the porch, and while waving, I go to sit and smack my nose hard on the top of the car doorway. Feeling lost.

But I love my drive to work, I really do. It calmed me right down. Rolling hills, and the thundering swell of Mumford and Sons. Passing fields, forests, over a covered bridge. seriously, this is one idyllic ride. Past Granogue, the last lived-in duPont estate in DE that I know of. As a kid I would listen in on my teenaged sister Christine, and her two close friends talking about how Irenee duPont was single, and quite the eligible bachelor; how perhaps they would come across him at Brandywine Creek State Park, which in my mind resembled the wild English moors of Wuthering Heights. Undoubtedly he would fall in love with one of them...

Their romantic discussions inspired me to dream about what fairytale possibilities awaited me.

It's funny to think about, I don't know if I ever have before, but I don't think I would disappoint my child dreamer self with the actuality of my life. As a child, my wonderings and dreamings of the future were about the people who would be there with me, my husband and children, never the things I would have, or the house that I would live in. And in that, I was right on. It is enough of a fairytale to me that when I first really noticed Dan, a voice in my head said,

"Dan Costa. You're going to marry him."

A thought I immediately dismissed as ludicrous, especially when I discovered that he was dating a friend of mine. But I wasn't the only one who knew I was going to marry him. A good friend later told me that she knew it too. Don't worry, though, this voice in my head was years before we actually got to know one another and began dating, and there were no other parties involved when we finally found each other. And while we're talking about fairytales, I really have the three most lovely little dears in the world, Jude, Genevieve, and Rowan. That Jude, when he finally gets me up in the morning, laughs like I just told him the best joke when I struggle up out of bed and tell him "good morning". And these two little affectionate ladies. Such honey pies.

I will leave you with a delightful little anecdote from Saturday morning: Genevieve woke Dan up by putting something is his ear. As you can imagine, this was not well received. After everyone calmed down, we explained to Vivi that putting things in people's ears was dangerous, and then we asked her what exactly she put in Dan's ear. silence. We asked again.

"Rowan's boogie, that she wiped on the bed. I didn't want it there!" So she found a better place for it? Always an adventure.

oh, it's been a while!

So, yes, I am back. finally.

It has been hard for me to take the time to write here, but I do really care about recording things...

Lately:

1. I have been trying to make time for projects of an artsy nature, be it knitting, drawing, or making flowery head gear. I have been enjoying it, but it has not so far generated much income. However, I have just started back to work 1 day a week. So a bit of income shall be generated, by hook or by crook!

2. I have been trying to be a patient mother, really really applying myself to this task. James says that "the anger of man accomplishes nothing", and I have been taking this to heart. My children are so precious, and they are so young and tender, and yes, they have sinful natures, but they also have so much innocence. I want to preserve and protect that, while still training them to do what is right. I second-guess myself a lot with parenting, but I guess it's better to reexamine oneself than to be overconfident, right?

3. I am trying to be healthier. This is hard for me, as I am not naturally organized with my time (for exercise) or particularly prone to eating healthfully. baby steps.

There you have a list of my new(ish) ventures. I just enjoy lists, they give me a false sense of order!

I had a surprise visit from my sister in law Cheree, and my niece Lillie. This was lovely, and the three small girls had a great time together, playing "ice cream truck"and "I can't find my arms", and I had a great time sitting on the porch, knitting, watching their Irish-pale legs flashing in the sunlight and they ran and tricycled about. 3 year old imaginations are hilarious. Jude displayed his strength to the female population by generally being rough and shoving and pinching whenever possible. We are working on that.

Yes, I have started back to work. I love my job. Picture framing, that is. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to do this again. To go somewhere in the car, and stay there all day without having to be responsible for anyone but myself. To finish a project efficiently, and then be done with it, not having anyone undo it a minute later! To know that I am good at this. Unequivocally. I don't have to think about it, it comes naturally, easily. This is the only place that I have ever been able to multi-task; I know women are supposed to have this gift, but I never have! But at the frame shop, I can juggle several tasks, and I am quite pleased with myself. With mothering my kids, I am not so confident. I do think that I am good at it, but it's different. Perhaps because there is so much more riding on it - the health and safety (both emotional and physical) of another individual. Three individuals!

And last, but not least, I do have more of the Pink Cloud story written, but I am missing a middle bit and the ending. Query: do windmills generate wind? I do understand what they are used for, that they harness the winds power to create energy, but still, they look like fans. Do they act like fans, too, and blow air at all? It's pertinent to the story. :)