I don't know what to call this.

........Warning.... This is more personal and journal-esque than the posts I usually write. Beware the stream-of-consciousness type rambling and mood swings, lack of focus and direction (come to think of it, all of the things that got me feeling like this in the first place) ..........


I don't regret my time at Warren Wilson College. I don't regret the education that I received, the friends I made, the overall wonderful experience that I had during my years there. In fact, I treasure all of those things; I am grateful and I know that my life was changed for the better because of that time in my life.

I do regret that I am 20,000 dollars in debt. I regret that my husband is writing the check every month; that I am not using my degree in any way and might never use it in the way I intended when I accrued all that debt.

My twenty year old self saw no need to worry about the numbers and frankly, I hardly remember giving it a second thought. How naive. I want to blame it on my parents or the student loan counselors for not teaching about money and debt and the consequences of all those promissory notes. But, I know that I wouldn't have cared then. I was sure that I was doing the right thing and that I would pay it all back one day when I was working my dream job.

The dream job that never came. I could never decide what I wanted to do. I second guessed my major almost from the minute I choose it. But felt is was such an important field and so interesting that I should be studying it.

Agro-ecology is.... a good thing, very important, fascinating, and needed now more than ever. Agro-ecology. Agro-ecology. I actually would enjoy some aspects of what my degree qualifies me for, I think. I've never written a resume. In my whole life. I've never tried to get the big job or gone for the big interview. I floated, traveled, freelanced and then married and reproduced.

I know that I am doing just exactly what I meant to do right now: raising my children, supporting my husband, the best that I can. We are going to home school and I am so excited. I really can't wait to get started.

I am not ever going to have a full-time, out- of- the home job, Lord willing, while my children are growing and living at home. I am committed to this. And not out of self-righteous, holier- than- thou fanaticism, although I'm sure I sound that way at times, but because I want it and it pleases me and I don't want to miss a moment with my children and I want to pour into them the very best I have to offer as a mom.

All of this to say: I still want to work, to contribute financially, to produce and be creative; to have an outlet, to feel satisfied with a job well done, to own a business and for goodness sake, somehow justify the 20 grand!

My regret is classic, timeless, really: If only I knew then what I knew now.

If only, if only, if only.

In high school, I was an artist. A good artist, in the excelled art classes. I had confidence and I did good work. I went to art camps. It was a given that I would be an artist one day. I knew I could go to college to study graphic design and I was strongly encouraged to do so. I refused, deciding then that graphic design was commercial, sleek and heartless. I wanted to do.... something else. I never really did figure out what. Dropped out of high school, let the world creep into my mind and heart... never made my way back to art.

Now, now. ARRRGGGHHHHH! Now I see. My high school days were before the widespread proliferation of the internet and all that it entails. Now. Now I wish I was a graphic designer with an emphasis on website design and development. Working from home, freelance. I think I would really enjoy it. I know I would.

Now. Now, I am scheming and trying to figure out how I can teach myself or take online classes or go to night school or just accept that I missed my chance.... I am a stay at home mom and that's as good as it's going to get.....

P.S.
I am feeling better now.
It so silly to lament that which cannot be changed, the lame old, musty old past. I have dreams. I have goals. I am living out one of them each day- Best Mom Ever. I want to own a small farm, grow my own food, sell crafts and yummy food stuffs from my farmstead by day, freelance graphic design by night. Home school, I said that one. I want to be the Proverbs 31 woman. I'll find a way. I'm a late bloomer. Confidence no longer comes easy to me. All these things. I'm going to work it out somehow.

"Horn of Plenty" or "Plenty Cute!" ?

I submit for you my latest creation: a new hat for Adah.

I've always been a knitter, not a good one, but it's always been my yarn craft of choice. With that said, I recently taught myself to crochet just to avoid learning to knit in the round. Most hats Adah's size need to be knit of four needles. I've tried to knit on four needles; it was really frustrating. Because of that, I decided it was time to learn to crochet. Yes, I preferred to teach myself a whole new skill rather than subject myself to the annoyance of learning to knit on four needles.

After finding a pattern on Bev's Country Cottage, watching many crocheting videos on youtube and reading many tutorials; I got started. And let me say that, in general, I do not like the look of crochet. I'm rather fond a knitted look. Crochet looks a bit "granny" and 1970s to me. No offense to all the crochet lovers out there.

However, I soon found that I really enjoy the act of crocheting. It is very satisfying; I love the way the hook feels in my hand and the movement of crochet. It works up so quickly and is easy to recover when a mistake is made (the latter being critical for the enjoyment of a beginner like me.)

In the end, I am mostly pleased with my first crocheting effort. I love that this hat comes all the way down around her ears and face, keeping her cozy- warm, protected from our fickle January weather. And I really like the detail of this pattern.

But, I go between thinking this hat is stinkin' cute and super silly.
I keep asking Gabe if she looks like she's wearing tasseled horn of plenty? Of course, he says "noooooooo." I feel bad because of the way that moms (me) subject their little ones (her) to silly get-ups when they are too young to object. And then, I look again, and she looks so precious.

Painted People

I have been woefully absent from my under loved blog. I hope to be back in touch with this creative outlet soon. I have so much to share, just falling a little behind in life and in general.

In the meantime, here are a few (overexposed) pics of the finished wooden families. I am a little disappointed with the pictures, they don't accurately represent the colors and details of the finished work. The good news is, they were quite a hit with Autumn and Sophia, the nieces to whom I gave the dolls as birthday presents. That's all that really matters:)


Much love,
Liz