past due

past due. 
time off. that's what i took. unplanned i guess, it just happened that way. but now i'm ready to recap. if you care to follow along, then please do. 

i've wanted to be here, but needed the space to hear myself think and to listen for them. you know, in case they needed me. (they haven't).

late august sent my two to school. what was left was an empty space. nothing bad, just different. i like the empty nest, i do. it's easy, slow and comfortable. but i wasn't ready. and so, i spent some time waiting for myself to find a groove. is there one? probably not, but i tried. being a libra, i searched for the perfect balance, and expected to find comfort via routine in the wake of their absence.

well, i didn't. i still haven't. but life doesn't wait, and it isn't pretty all the time, so after a little while of downtime i've accepted the 'it just is' part. and what has stood out, is all the good and happy they have found. some pretty special things are lining up for each of them. i wish i could share more, just not right now. i am very, very proud of each of them.

in the meantime, as i plugged along, i did some sewing. 2 tunics from sew liberated. i love this pattern.

 i also finished lib's simplest sweater. i have two projects on the needles for me and a baby sweater to work on. but time is limited these days.

i began a part-time job late august in retail. my hours aren't regular, so i've learned to be flexible with my sewing and knitting and no longer expect to finish things in the time frame i've been accustomed to. 

we also closed the maine house for the season. it was a nice trip, though short, but connected with a contractor for some work to begin in the spring. just after that visit, and a cold that wouldn't quit, i contracted a virus that knocked me down for a few weeks. i'm better these days and feeling like myself again.

we have seen the girls a few times, both at parents' weekends and a curling event. next we head into thanksgiving. i will be working part of that, but am eager to plan a big home cooked meal for both.

i hope to post here more regularly. with the holidays nearly here, i'd like to do some hat knitting.  any favorite patterns? 

i'm over here for the rest of the month. please visit.
happy monday friends. xoxo