The Deliberate Life

Alive & Kicking

I'm still alive. Promise. Life just ... got life-y. And busy! To be honest, I spent a LOT of time online looking at blogs and Flickr (for work and for fun), and sometimes I just want to not be on the computer. Plus, we're making an effort to not be such lazy bums that sit on the couch all night. So, I just needed a break. :)

Also, we're getting a kitten! Clara, the cat we already have, is technically "my cat" since I had her long before Kevin came around, so it will be nice to get a cat that is both of ours. We went to an animal drive at a shetler yesterday and they were ALL OUT OF KITTENS. What? I'm not really sure how that is even possible. I know we should be good human beings and get a full-grown cat, but I think Clara will respond much better to a kitten. And since she is de-clawed, I worry that a full-grown cat could beat her up. So, we are going to look again on Saturday.

I went to JoAnn's today for the first time in a long time. After an hour-long ritual of filling my basket and then emptying it again (craft stores are like one big impulse buy for me) I walked out with some yarn.

Here's to hoping that this

Can somehow turn into this

(pattern from Kelly Maher on Ravelry)

It's funny, I used to hate shrugs, and swore I never would wear one. Now I'm totally drawn to them. Go figure!

Doodle, doodle, doodle

For as long as I can remember, I've been a doodler. Blank sheets of paper call out to me. So do napkins. And business cards. And frankly, anything else that is in front of me. When I was younger I remember finding a book on decoding doodles to figure out what they meant. Pretty deep for a fifth grader, if you ask me.

I happened to read an article today in Newsweek that reported a study done that shows doodling helps with concentration and memory. While I'm not sure if that's true for me, I do know it's really relaxing. I love turning a blank sheet of paper into something fun. Tonight I took it a step further and added some watercolors.  I just bought a new set of paints, and I'm still feeling them out. I'm also realizing my dip pen does not work whatsoever on the paper in my sketchbook. Lessons learned.

Also, check out this cutie I saw when I got home from work yesterday.

There are usually a couple ducks that lounge in our swimming pool, but this little guy (and his friend) seemed to want to rest under the trees right next to the parking lot. It was a welcome surprise. I love ducks.

At Least Someone's Making Something Around Here

Fresh baked bread, courtesy of Kevin. While I'm in the midst of a creative funk (I'm actually over-inspired, which results in half-assed attempts at things, which I get upset over, and then wind up with a book on the couch. Sigh. Such is life.) Kevin decided to take up bread baking. Holy cow! Yesterday he made pita bread with homemade hummus (yum!), and followed it up with a loaf of bread. I can practically feel my pants getting tighter.

I have a project in mind, inspired by Elise, which I'm hoping to start on April 1st. Until then, we'll just see where my muse takes me. And i'll try not to take it too hard if it takes me no where.

Practice Makes Perfect ...

... at least I hope.

In high school I was quite obsessed with calligraphy. Being a lifelong lover of letters and lettering, I've always felt at home with a pen in my hand. I often wonder why I stopped practicing calligraphy after high school was over. It probably had to do with a little thing called college. (Though if you were to ever catch a glimpse of any of my notes, you would notice I always held true to my love of lettering. Heck, I used to re-write my notes just to practice my handwriting. Weird, I know.)

The other day I picked up a new dip pen and bottle of ink just to practice. Apparently calligraphy is NOT like riding a bike. With practice though, I'm sure I'll be up to par soon.


Oh, and I got my Ravelry invitation finally! I'm already addicted.

An Ideal Saturday

It really is the ideal Saturday morning. Quiet. Peaceful. I was so excited when this book came yesterday. If you don't follow Molly Wizenberg's blog , you really should. Delicious food, wonderful stories and beautiful pictures - what more could you really want?

As times get increasingly tough in the world and people don't have as much money to go out to dinner, or splurge on a weekend away, I find I'm turning more to food and home making blogs. Because really, what is better than a warm home filled with good food and even better friends?

Be Still My Heart

I don't have much to say today other than ...

This dress from Lemonstorynyc has given me a SERIOUS case of the "I want's"

A Wrist and a Foot

I bet that title got your attention! Now on with the post.

If you're a knitter, you understand the need to have your hands moving constantly. There are times when I am not knitting, that I daydream about going through the motions. There is nothing more therapeutic than the feel of yarn between your finger, wrapping around needles, creating something from virtually nothing. If you're a knitter, sometimes you just need to knit. So that's what I'm doing.

Feeling the need to knit, but not wanting to put much effort into it, I decided to whip up some quick wrist warmers in one of my favorite color combinations in the history of color combinations (second only to aqua and red). I hope to have these bad boys done before spring starts this month.

I also thought I'd take the time to answer a question I get asked constantly, mainly in person, but there is a slight chance someone online may catch wind and want to know the story behind them.

I get stopped a lot to ask what it is that my feet say. I have quite a few tattoos, and out of all of them, this is one I know I will never regret, even when I'm 90 and wearing a pair of  slippers with my house coat. In public.

So, what do they say? As you can see, they say, "positively positive." The words come from a song that really is the basis for how I try to live my life. Part of the lyrics say, "Don't know what I want, but I know I want to give. I know how I want to live. Positively positive." Not only do i have a constant reminder to always stay positive when I look down at my feet (which people often do when they are upset or sad) but because the lettering faces outwards, it serves as a reminder to other people as well.

And that's the story of a wrist and a foot.

She Made a Broccoli Fan Out of This Girl

For the record, I've gone through my life pretty much hating vegetables. Until I met Kevin, the only vegetable I'd even touch was corn. He has slowly introduced me to well-cooked, fresh vegetables and so far I've liked everything I've tried, for the most part. I will never like lettuce. Ever. That's a promise. I also never thought I'd like broccoli, though I had a secret yearning to, since it's so good for you. Enter this recipe, which we found through The Wednesday Chef, a favorite food blog.

Holy cow. I think roasted broccoli is my new favorite vegetable. The recipe is SO simple and uses kitchen staples that it doesn't seem like it could be THAT good. But it is. And it's so healthy too! That's a plus right now as tomorrow starts my new approach to healthy living.

I'm tempted to dumb some roasted broccoli in a bowl and eat it like potato chips.