New Traditions.

This Thanksgiving was a time of new traditions & changes. Mom, Nathan, & I came to Miami to spend the holiday with my big sister Sarah. There are a lot of big changes happening in our family, and we took that as an opportunity to start our own new traditions. Who needs turkey, pumpkin pie, or a dad? (melodramatic, I suppose... but really)

We had a great Thanksgiving. Different, but great. I feel very thankful for my sweet husband, momma, sis, pup, supportive and loving extended family, sweet & darling friends, and amazing opportunities in our lives.

appetizers.... fresh made guacamole & margaritas!

sis & momma

Sis & her boyfriend Dylan

The cousins! Carl & Cohen.

Thanksgiving feast.

roasted potatoes, fresh-caught mahi mahi, braised brussels sprouts, marinated chicken,  seafood stuffing, cheddar biscuits, and fresh fruit.

The Stone ladies.

Love me some Thanksgiving family time. We had a wonderful day. Thanks to all of my loved ones for being a part of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Cohen's Wish-List

Dogs have dreams too, you guys...

Christmas Wish List

Knitting.

I started knitting in the 7th grade, when I would spend Friday nights with the ladies from my church learning new stitches and perfecting my tension. I joined a community of knitters (mostly with women 4 or 5 decades my senior) and spent a lot of my parents' money on yarn, needles, and patterns. I remember the first scarf I knit, the purse I learned the art of felting on, and my favorite teal size 8 straight needles. I remember the yarn store where I would walk the aisles, eyes wide with excitement at the colors & textures. I would watch the ladies knitting their sweaters & socks, enviously dreaming of the day I reached such a skill level.

Well, ladies & gentleman, I have arrived.

Perhaps I'm not making quite as intricate knitwear as the ladies in the knit shop made, but I also haven't yet retired to spend hours on end knitting. (oh, I wish)

Knitting has taken me on quite a journey. There have been times when I thought it was too uncool, when I lacked the patience to complete a project, when I didn't believe I could make something as big as a sweater. A decade later, and I'm feeling so fulfilled by my knitting. I love the feeling of the yarn between my fingers, I love picking out bright & colorful balls of yarn, and turning it into something beautiful, wearable, practical. I am constantly amazed at the minute difference between each stitch, and the huge visual difference within the finished product. I feel healed when I make things. I feel a sense of newness and excitement, as well as relaxation and simplicity. I am not at all bothered by the "uncoolness" of knitting or the hours & hours it takes to make one sweater.

I have learned that knitting isn't about the finished project as much as it is about the process. As is true of much of life.

Me too, girl... me too.

YOU GUYS. I voted. and I'm really proud of that.

But, if I'm being totally honest, this little girl pretty much sums up how this election has made me feel:

It's here...

It feels like winter is suddenly here...

and I don't mind one bit.

Time to pull out my thick scarves & sweaters,

and wear tights with every outfit.

Oh, and knitting with chunky, soft, heavy yarns.

 

We haven't gotten our gas turned on yet, so it's really cold downstairs.

Upstairs is heated electrically, so we can snuggle up warm in bed.

Last night we were too cold to stay downstairs,

so we played Yahtzee on the floor in our bedroom.

Cohen really wanted to play with the dice.

 

When Cohen gets cold, he curls his little body up into a teensy tiny ball.

It's probably the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Maybe I'll make him a sweater....

cold little pup...

Curvy

Yesterday, after teaching a yoga class to some of our  members, one of the women in the class patted me on the hips & commented on my "figure". She essentially was pointing out the curvyness of my hips/butt. At first I was a bit bummed out & wishing someone would instead tell me that I'm small or whatever. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized what a compliment she was giving me. I am a woman, and my womanly shape is perfect because it is mine. Yes, I've got thighs & hips & ass, and no I can't fit into the jeans I wore in high school. But that is okay. Because my body is mine, and it is beautiful.

Curvy:

**These are things I am still trying to convince myself. But being able to write them and not apologize for calling myself beautiful is one step closer to really, fully believing that my body is beautiful.