I'm Late!!!

I'm always late these days!! Any way...here's my favorite Mother's Day picture. My favorite Mother's day gift? My children.

Blessings~~Shine

This Moment

                                                               

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

I'm hooking up with one of my favorite bloggers....Soulemama.

The Longest Winter

Finally, Spring has arrived here is East Tennessee.

Finally. This has been the longest, darkest winter I can remember. It wasn't the coldest, snowiest, icy-est......just LONG......and DARK. In my memory, I don't recall ever knowing so many people with illnesses, problems, tragedies. It takes alot to keep the old spirits up and going!! I've always thought of myself as a very optimistic person. I choose to look at the good in a situation, or to look FOR the good....where ever I am. I've never been  one to cry woe is me or why me?. Just take what is given me and try to make the best of it. When everyone around you is negative....hmmmmm.....welll.......most of the time I get on my knees (They're pretty sore right now!!!) and put on some praise music. It always helps and God is always good to stand me back up and get me back on the right track. He is good sisters....ALL the time.
One great thing that happened this winter...actually TWO great things that happened this winter.....I completed the "Margaret Dashwood" shawl.......

AND........
the Tasha Tudor shawl!!!

SOOOOO exciting! These are by far the largest knitting projects I have ever taken on. I started them both at the end of last summer, then finished them both around the end of Feb.
The M. Dashwood is light and airy......perfect for cool spring evenings.
The T. Tudor is unbelievably soft and cozy. So warm and just the right wrap for nippy spring mornings.
Long projects, but absolutely worth the time and effort.
Right now, I just have socks and dishcloths on the needles.
I also have a quilt started, and a beautiful wool and embroidery piece on the side.
I have a fleece soaking in a suint bath and the phrase "sheep to shawl" is heavy on my mind:)
It's so nice and beautiful outside now though....I do want to do something in the dirt:)
Fairy land also needs attention.
What are you girls working on these days?????

Still Normal?

Almost three years ago, I did a post about our third son. I can't believe it's been that long, but it has. And I am happy to report, that he is just as normal now as he was then.

Last summer, we heard about a new program sponsored by Carnegie Hall. The National Youth Orchestra.
This will be the inaugural year. The first ever. There of course was an audition process, BUT....if selected, the students would study free of charge for 2 weeks in New York. Perform a concert in New York, one in DC, and then travel to Moscow, St. Petersburg, London. WOWEEEE!!!! All of this totally paid for....IF ....you audition and make the team. I asked Ben if he would be interested...it would be crazy because kids from all over the USA would be auditioning. His response was a definite YES!!!! I WANT to do that!!!!!!!
We started the process, knowing his chances were slim. Essays, biographies, excerpts, solo piece, all with very specific requirements. Very stressful for mama, but he took it all in stride. He could see the reward, and the challenge was right up his alley. The final papers, recordings, etc. were due Nov. 1. Everything was turned in on time and then came the wait. NYO was to send out audition results on Feb. 1. That was a LONG wait. Again, we didn't expect that he would make the roster, but boy was it exciting to think about!
On Feb. 1, we checked e-mails, mail boxes...so excited...but by 10:00am...no news. Oh well...maybe they just meant the first part of Feb. At 11:00 Ben came to me and said, I got an e-mail from NYO. It read. "Dear Benjamin".....(my heart sank, trying to think of how to be encouraging over disappointing words).."Very many congratulations! On behalf of all of us at Carnegie Hall and its Weill Music Institute, I am absolutely delighted to invite you to be a member of The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America this summer."! I almost fainted. I remember screaming this strange scream that totally freaked Ben out:) Any way....he made it!!! June 30, we send him on a plane (He's never been on a plane before) to New York.....he'll be gone 4 weeks. We hope to see him in DC at The Kennedy Center on July 13, perhaps in New York on July 11...but we can't make it to all his other concerts. What an experience!!!! So very proud of this young man. He is the only violinist from the state of Tennessee!! You can go here and see a map of all the states that have students...click on the little balloons in the map and it will show pictures of the kids and the instruments they play. Still praying God will direct his every step. Many doors are beginning to open and it's important to go through the right ones. Yesterday, Ben performed at a fundraiser for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Lucas Richman.

He played Meditation from Thais...and Wieniawski's Polonaise No.1, in Dmajor. Amazing..... his first standing ovation!
Well....like I said previously.....normal or not...we think Ben is pretty awesome:)
Blessings friends.....
Thanks for listening to my bragging:)))))
Much love~~Shine

The Winner Is........!!!!!!!

Happy Easter friends!

We also like to say "Happy Resurrection Day"!!!

Because He lives...I can face tomorrow!

Now for the winner of my pink candy-striped handspun yarn.......The winner is Twyla from Two Crazy Crafters. Thanks so much for all your sweet comments. You are all a much loved inspiration.

blessings for a beautiful afternoon!!

Love, Shine

Finally.....A GIVEAWAY!!! Homespun yarn!!

Hi friends! Well....as is the case for me many a time, I had a hard time deciding what yarn to use for my give away, BUT!! I have decided!!
                                   I'll be giving away two skeins of my beloved pink candy-stripe.

                     
                                                 Both of the skeins are the exact same yarn.

                                             
                                  Probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 300-400 yards total.                                          

                       
         The first skein, the fluffy one, I spun first...when I was first learning to spin. The second one, which is spun tighter, I spun a few months later. Now when I look at them, I don't know what to do! I'm sure an experienced knitter would laugh and know exactly what to do with them, but I'm not that great of a knitter, so...I would love to see this go to someone who could work a little magic with it!!. It is 100% Merino wool spun worsted, more or less;) . I will do the drawing on Sun., March 31. Just leave a quick comment!!
Blessings sweet friends~~Shine

Sweetie Pie

Last week was rough. Life is far too busy for my taste these days on any given week, but last week was different. My normal craziness, PLUS... quiltfest. I work at our local quilt shop on Saturday mornings. Just 8:30-1:00. No big deal, and it's really just to support my habits:) Very laid back and lots of fun. During quiltfest however, not so much. It's a full week of crazy quilters. Don't get me wrong..we LOVE them. They come in droves for classes, exhibits and to SPEND MONEY!!!! It's a true blessing for our little shop. Lots of local shops have closed due to the economy, but our little shop has managed to hold on, and quiltfest is a big boost for the year. SO...in saying all that, the days I worked  in the shop, I almost fell apart. My hats off to all you ladies that work full time outside of the homes. I barely have time to think most days!!!! Sometimes I wonder why I am so blooming busy???!!! Well, I could write a book on why I'm so busy, but let's just say..it's all good and I shant complain. One day that I worked the quiltfest, when I came home ready to drop, my sweet hubby had these waiting for me. What a beautiful surprise! Maybe working ain't so bad after all:) Blessings~~Shine