Famous words of Leo Tolstoy. I am feeling more and more the real need to get back to simplicity. When we didn't have to worry about all the technobabble and drama and depression (oops, I meant recession!) and the like. Where we had the time to have great home cooked meals and family gatherings and friends stopping by because they saw you out on the porch. Folks, if ya didn't get it by now, I am just a simple kind of woman who values the gift of simple things. I enjoy neighbors stopping by with a visit and crumbcake that they baked from scratch and hearing all the details they have to share. Because I truly do care. I like hearing the birds sing me awake me in the morning. I like to see images in the clouds and share them with my children To know that my contribution of work during this lifetime is meaningful to another soul on this planet makes it worthwhile. I have never believed that life should be such a hard endeavor and sacrifice in the name of human conditioning.
Truth is, I like to find these goldmines in normal everyday life experiences that I witness . I can find joy in just hearing a parent/guardian say that they had a great night after so many nights of sleeplessness because of the ill child or family member that they are caring for in their best ability, had a nice night. I understand because I know, on a personal level, what it is like to not have that priviledge when Alex, my younger son, was diagnosed with a hypothalamic ganglioglioma. And to feel my world ripped apart and me loose all sense of what a normal life, in my perspective, should have been.
Hindsight is really so much clearer. There was a time when I absolutely hated hearing anything about hospitals and illness. Interesting sure, you may think, because I am by nature and profession, a nurse. But, life with Alex has really mellowed me, and educated me in a way that no university ever could. I find comfort in the simple things and that is more meaningful to me than anything else on this planet. Alex recently had to go under general anesthesia again for dental work that turned into more of a medical complication since he has a condition of diabetes inspidius in which he can't control his fluid status secondary to a deficit in a hormone called ADH, which is secreted by the anterior pituitary. What was supposed to be a simple procedure extended into an overnight stay and lab work (which is translated into pain) and sleeplessness that made me remember what his earlier years of life were like in the PICUs. But somehow it all ended up being ok. And I am grateful for that! He is finally back to his normal self.
There was a few minutes of downtime where I could knit and well here are some proofs:
I finished the back of the baby cables pattern and have casted on for the front. Alex and I had celebrated his 14th birthday, which a miracle in an of itself, there were many medical professionals who thought this day would not be here:
When I first learned of his illness, he was merely 15 months old , I did an inordinate amount of medical research since I was wanting to understand "why" if that makes sense to any of you. Only later, much, much later, did I learn that the logistics of it all was only part of the "education" of the experience. Nonetheless, having Alexander in my life is a gift that I am proud to partake in. Dude does me proud in ways I can't explain. Some more love from his birthday celebration:
He is an awesome gamer for Bedjeweled.
Ok, so on to another issue. M and I decided that we needed time away during our vacation. I found an absolutely wonderful place, that was only about 1.5 hours from our home! What a great time we had. The food at this joint was amazing: The Woolverton Inn.
Do you need to know that what attracted me there were the sheep? No? These girls loved being hand fed. Strange truth is that I could have fed them all day and been ok with that. The great country mountainside area in northern NJ and the wide open spaces felt like home to me. I also felt that way when M and I went to Vermont, as described in previous posts, because at this point I am without the initiative to look up that blog post in my own history. The lesson I am trying to impose is that I belong in the mountains!!!!!!
Can I tell you how excited we were to see deer? Stop laughing, wipe those tears from your eyes and believe:
Oh. Maybe it will be a little hard for you to see. But they are there. About 5 of them. And we were very content just watching them eat. I love nature. Made me remember what was most important in my life. Love, People. Simple, pure, unconditional, LOVE.
I also need to mention the food at this place. It was so worth waking up for. I was fortunate enough to come home with a recipe for one of the morning biscuits they had there. I don't have words for the wonderful experience of this place. Totally what we needed. The innkeepers, Bob and Carol are wonderful! There is not one thing that could have been done differently. Unless of course they have the ability to control weather, then we would have enjoyed breakfast on the balcony, seeing the greeness of the land. It was just what we were looking for in a getaway. We will be going back in a few months to experience what the place is like when full spring/begining of summer has set in.
There were a few other spots that I think should be mentioned here:
The Stockton Inn. OMG, we loved the food that this place had to offer! We went here after a day of just wandering around Lambertville, which is chock full of antiques and quaint little shops...... Whew! Sit at the bar area and order the tuna melt thingy......then knit while you wait......it was amazing! One day we had the avocado tuna lunch deal and we split it......soooooooo goood that I have tried to recreate it at home!
Very, very nice experience to have.
Sheep included:
I am missing the place already!
Almost forgot to mention that in these parts my previous *snowdance* resulted in significant outcomes! Behold:
I am prepared for the onslaught of frigid weather conditions....
Have a wonderful, peaceful filled week full of relaxed knitting! I am gonna do the same! Will share pics of the actual snow fall soon. Meanwhile, please help me decide on what yarn to use for the Wisteria pattern. I am so tired of googling.....and ravelry has worn me out! (even though it is a great resource!)
Happy Knitting! Have a great week!
"I like hearing the birds sing me awake me in the morning." It seemed like spring here the other morning. We had a ton of birds right outside our patio door and the sound was beautiful.
Posted by: Stacey | March 11, 2009 at 11:00 PM