Pink and white hearts lead to a life lesson

Just in time for Valentines Day...a pink and white heart dishcloth! As I am knitting this one I decided that for me it is an expression of faith. Maybe the only expression of faith I am capable of right now. I start with the cast on and believe and hope and have faith that the directions will lead me to the design in the book. This one is called "Knit and Purl Hearts" and the knits and purls change with every row. So I have to believe that the pattern will emerge and that I am doing it correctly, since until the end, it's not that evident. So in addition to having a perfect (or perfect looking) object, it got there by faith. This is a life lesson I need.

I need faith that what I am doing to help first graders will pay off--if not now--later. But I need to strictly follow directions for the work. Oh yes! 

Saturday is finally here!

I have finished another dishcloth. Pix will be uploaded later. But this one is red, white and blue stripes with a starfish design in it. Patriotic, no?

This week many teachers got a golden handshake letter from Personnel. Unfortunately--or fortunately--I didn't get one. So that means I will be staying in education two more years after this. Wow!

And I went to the doctor to get a mammogram referral and my blood pressure was too high. Big Surprise! This was after rainy day recess and lunch and the principal telling us (in a nice way, really) that we must all do the AR goals and have our kids start taking AR tests. This stressed me out because AR is teacher intensive. So I am going to devote a week to teaching the firsts to do a lot of the prep work and sign in themselves. This will only be possible because of my instructional assistant. I am fortunate to have her. 

I am fortunate anyway. I just get so stressed and defensive! Must stop that! I have a good job. I am good at my job. I like my co-workers. I am able to come home and knit dishcloths! What more could a person want????

Inauguration!

I am exhausted from the excitement of the inauguration! What a treat and a triumph! I let the students watch the actual ceremony and left it on but muted to see the parade. There is so much hope with this president. I can't wait to see what happens! 

Rubber Ducky, You're the One

This is the ceramic Rubber Ducky I found at the thrift store. It was in mint condition and I made two dishcloths to put in the base. I am working on one more. Then  I thought I would wrap it in cellophane. Cute, no? 

I am going thrift store shopping today with the eventual owner of the ducky. We are both in our own ways very stressed about the pressures being put on us as elementary teachers. My job evaluation depends on five and six year olds! The good thing is that I am in a very positive environment with an administrator who is realistic about goals and objectives. Gracias a dios!

But others are not--like my friend. So we will go shopping for crap today and forget our troubles for a few hours.  

Dishcloths, thrift stores, new years, and me!

Although I have tried to think why I need to knit dishcloths, I still haven't come up with a good answer! I have done several since I last posted. I will put up pics later. But there is something soooooo satisfying about sitting down and knitting two or three (or twenty rows) and having this perfect square object in cotton yarn completed in practically no time! 

I decided during Christmas break to go to my favorite thrift stores monthly to see what I could find under $20. Right now I am looking for a chest of drawers--under $20. I want to organize the art room and put the chest in there to put large art supplies away. I went to two of my favorites on January 2nd and scored! I found some never worn (at least it didn't seem like it) tops and sweaters and got 7 items for under $10. I wore one of the sweaters to school and got lots of compliments on it. Then I found a ceramic rubber ducky vase. My friend collects rubber duckies for her downstairs bathroom, so I bought it and Yes! You guessed it! I am going to put some yellow and orange dishcloths in it and give it to her for next Christmas! I don't think she reads this blog, so I hope it will be a surprise!

And the new year always brings this need to resolve to improve. But this year I decided to let that all go. I am working on the issue of grief and if I can just get over the grief that will be enough for 2009. "I will be fine in 2009." To that end I am finishing my own self help book on grief. I think I have read enough self -help books and taken enough classes and courses and I am no longer going to let someone else tell me how to help me. I know what to do! And I also know that grief gets better when you do something! 

The other part of my 2009 "resolution" is to accept what the Course in Miracles says:"God has already given you everything." So I accept what God has given, acknowledge it and appreciate it.