(live) from nyc

hello friends!

i'm tucked into a tiny internet cafe somewhere on 7th avenue, here in manhattan.
on my way to day two of the certified knitting program at FIT.
it's fun being a student again (i hope my future students feel the same!)

although there have been many terrifying moments
i took the subway, two trains!, to brooklyn, alone
hailed my first cab, after a quick tutorial from hannah.

we've had time together, more than i thought we would
and i think we've made the best of it, eating, drinking and shopping
our way around this amazing city, oh! and walking!
(hopefully that will take care of all the eating).

taking a lot of photos too, even if they have no where to go at the moment
when i get home i guess i'll need to go computer shopping.
well, i have to finish my homework now
(it's very distracting with millions of people, taxis and cars blurring by)

see you soon!
xo lori

okay

i forgot about my kids old desktop computer

that's what i'm on now

i took photos today, burned them to a cd on my ailing laptop

for some reason the photo manager is still running,

put the disc in here and hey! i have a post!

saturday i went here with my m.i.l.

and she bought me these lovely paintbrushes

and book from the 1800's

so i painted her a not quite finished

thank you card with sheep

because she told me a sweet story from her childhood

that included them

the rest of the pictures are of the

view out all the open windows

of my house

except the tiny tangerine,

which was sitting there just looking so very cute

okay
here's my news...
i've decided i'd like to teach knitting!
and i've signed up for a class
to become certified

and here is the very exciting part
the three day class is at...
the fashion institute of technology FIT
in New York City

i am not the best knitter
nor do i know every technique
but i think i can help a person with a desire to learn
be a person who can knit (oh i've got so many ideas,
i'm thinking friendly, encouraging, fun! nothing complicated here).

it's something i've thought about
for a long time
and a thing i've heard for years (you should teach)
it's only taking this decision
over the last few days that feels impulsive

maybe it's because
i've only just made up my mind
and i leave for nyc in eight days
that i'm nervous scared excited afraid
but i'm going to try (she keeps telling herself)

more exciting news
involving photography and a new bookclub
but it will have to wait, this computer is almost done too
i think i need to get off now
i have knitting homework, already!

♥  lori

p.s please leave a comment so i can find you, many of my favorites are saved on my other computer!

these days

my head is filled with words and my camera with images
but they have to stay there for the time being
(i'm bursting at the seams with lots of exciting news)
my laptop, my pal, has gone to hard drive heaven (for good this time i fear)
and taken many of my photos with it.

honestly, from now till the end of my days
i promise to back up as faithfully as i brush my teeth.

it's a bit tricky posting and blog visiting from an ipad
but i'll try (later when i've got a glass of wine in hand and a bit more patience)
computer troubles are so tiring!
i miss all of you and can't wait to see what your up to

have a lovely sunday or monday, if your already there.
♥ lori

it's okay mom

easter used to mean days of planning, new outfits to sew, eggs to dye, baskets to fill, five of them! gardens to tend a house to clean and food to cook. our home was full. grandparents, aunties and uncles, cousins, children and then my own grandchildren. there was the easter egg hunt. my favorite part. we always had an easter egg hunt, even in  uncooperative weather. i remember years when my children were young, we went to our mexico house over easter. there was the time it rained for days. so i hid eggs all over the house!

i don't know how it happened so quickly. but my children are now grown. i read somewhere that when our babies are young, the days are long, but the years short. they grow up, and they move away. and so easter didn't happen this year. if i'm completely honest i'll admit there may have been a few tears (mine), the kids (who did call) said it's okay mom.

and it is. really. they are doing what every parent hopes for, living and thriving on their own. two are in nyc, one in arizona, one in los angeles and one here in summerland. (i saw her for an hour this morning when she stopped by with a latte and hug before continuing on to l.a.).

i learned today, for the future, i am going to have to be more creative in planning...after i stopped feeling sorry for myself, i took a walk with my camera, to the marsh and the beach. it's a miracle how much better nature can make a person feel...

i saw the easter bunny! and i found some wild sweet peas! the red-winged black bird sat still for once and i must have counted a dozen house finchs. i hope i won't be in trouble for this, but i picked a couple small blossoms to bring home.

xo lori

why i wake early

thursday morning
the plan was
to get the gps coordinates
for a trail on figueroa mountain

waking before dark

we headed north east
through dense fog and light rain

ascending the mountain

the fog rain only grew heavier
not letting up like we'd hoped

when i pointed out my backpack had no rain fly

and more, that it seemed like less than fun to hike right now
it was decided chuck would be going without me
he needed this information for an assignment due
he would be going the ten miles alone now

i was alone too, to wander

four hours later
chuck was back,  the sun came out
i wandered about while he was gone
both of us drenching wet
our warm truck felt like heaven.

*

number nine

and number three

these two grandchildren of mine
i took these photos last week at their baseball games

tonight we have a date
for dinner and a movie
in honor of earth day (everyday)
we've got tickets to see african cats!
i think i'm more excited than them.

i wish you a happy earth day and easter weekend if you celebrate them.
xo lori