Happiness Is . . .

. . . living in denial.

I am making pie when I should be packing and organizing for this road trip.  And yesterday we made homemade ice cream from strawberries freshly picked from the garden.  I wonder what food creation I can come up with for tomorrow. {grin}

Don't worry, the knitting has begun to be thoughtfully packed, I have a sweater I'm knitting for car knitting, a pair of socks to finish for when I need a little easy something, and a fun hat or two that I am bringing along, just in case.

Mmmm . . . pie . . .

A Quick Breath Before I Succumb to Paint Fumes

What has the Queen been up to you ask?

Tons of fun!

Painting trim.

Painting walls.

Painting doors.

Oooh, I get to prime now.

Yay!

So long cheerful kitchen.

Your bright yellow walls have lifted my spirits.

Daily.

Here is my kitchen circa 2007 during the remodel.

Christmas Random

1.  So I am about ready to scrap Christmas.  

2.  It is just too much. 

3.  It used to feel simple and now it doesn't.

4.  It used to mean traditions and now it feels like one more thing I have to make myself do.

5.  I am not sending out cards or letters or photos.

6.  Super sorry.

7.  Something had to go and that was it.

8.  I overheard a lady at Target, today, tell the cashier that she would be done shopping when her credit card was declined.

9.  That is sad and pathetic, and makes my stomach hurt.

10. My kids get three gifts from us:  a book, a piece of clothing, and something fun.

11. And they are content with that.

12. I like that about my kids.

13. I wish I could have told that lady that it doesn't take *everything* a little heart desires to make it happy.

14. So I am telling you.

15. That way I can't see the crazy look you are shooting me, and the pitying glances to my "deprived" children.{grin}

16. Merry Christmas, dear readers.  I will try for a better post another day.

Interesting Assumption

So I was given the privilege, inconvenience, chance, opportunity to be a part of our system of justice here in America this week. You guessed it, jury duty!

During the first stretch of waiting (if you've ever served, you know what I mean by that, right?), an older gentleman sat next to me and struck up a conversation with me about the sock I was knitting and it continued on to family life.  It went a little like this:

Nice Old Guy (NOG): So do you have any children?

Queen: Yep. Four.

NOG: Wow. How old?

Queen:  11, 9, 6, and 2.

NOG:  You must stay home with them.

Queen:  I do actually.  Out of curiosity, how did you guess?

NOG:  Well, daycare for that many kids would be awfully expensive . . . plus you're knitting.

Queen:  Ah, well, there you go, it was the knitting that gave it away.
***************************

What can we take away from this dear readers?

Some in the world assume you are a stay at home mom

when you have four children 

and 

(the best caveat of all)

you knit!!

Hope you got a grin out of this one.  I know I did!!

Wonder what he would have said if I would have

also confessed to educating my children at home!!

Probably would assume that I also know how to sew!
The horror! {grin}