ACCEPTING MYSELF

To be beautiful means to be yourself.
You don't need to be accepted by others.
You need to accept yourself.

 

I realized that the fifteen month
journey to growing my natural
hair out is almost done; except
for about one to two inches on
the side top layer my hair is almost
completely silver. I must confess
during this journey there have
been times I 've been in tears,
missing my long hair, my dark
hair! Wondering if I've made
a terrible mistake. What is it about
hair anyway? It doesn't define
who I am or what I stand for.
 But as my hair has grown out
I don't think I have made a mistake.
I like the 'new' me, both inside and out.
I'm healthy, kind, sensitive, hardworking,
creative, loyal, and peace loving..
It has taken my 51 years to get here and
I'm excited to see what the next
65 years will hold [ oh yes, I plan
on living to be 116].

I wear a Garmin Vivofit 2 and just
received my million step badge
which is pretty motivating to keep
walking, even in this suffocating
heat! I get at least 10, 000 steps in
every morning before breakfast
and  sometimes even 12, 000!

I played with a dragonfly this weekend.
While I have been trying for months
to just get a photo of a pink dragonfly,
the blue ones like me to hold them.

There was more wonderful mail in
my box, the dottie angel frock pattern.
After waiting months for the pattern's
release then not being able to get my
hands on it a very dear and special friend
found it and sent it my way. I am forever
thankful. My son Alex took one look at
the cover and said, 'yes, that looks like
you'.  Ha!

I knit a swatch and met gauge, but before
casting on I am trying to finish my shawl.
I'm not sure of my will power this time,
I think I'm floundering, but having two
wip's isn't too bad, right?

I tried out a new recipe [but I used crunchy
almond butter] and this may have been a
mistake, they are really good.

How was your weekend?

Joining Karen

LIVING FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

someone once told me to always
to live for the little things in life,
live for 5 am sunrises and 5pm sunsets
where you'll see colors in the sky that
don't usually belong.
live for road trips and bike rides
with music in your ears and the
wind in your hair.
live for days when you're surrounded
by your favorite people who make you
realize the world is not a cold harsh
place.
live for the little things because they
will make you realize that this is what
life is about, this is what it means to be
alive.

~ a.y.

Slow summer days
filled with little things::

dragonflies,
walks,
thunderstorms,
sticky heat,
watching the sun rise,
playing with pens and
watercolor pencils,
eating from the garden,
healthy cake
blueberry biscuits topped
with cinnamon butter,
knitting,
naps,
a bathroom remodel,
drooling over BT's
newest Lookbook,
planning my next project
Porter turned one month,
spending a few days
with a favorite girl who
always makes me smile.

Enjoy a great weekend!

Much love,
Tracey
XO

YARN ALONG

...passions are not equivalent to vices,
but rather constitute and intrinsic part
of human nature created in the image
and likeness of God. They must, therefore,
be not eliminated but illuminated, that
is to say properly educated and directed.

~ John Chryssavgis

I am thrilled that after
almost a year my Aise'
is almost complete!
This knit has been my
traveling companion,
something the has lived
in my bag and has been
worked on a little here,
a little there, but with
only two inches to the
end it is now beside my
rocking chair.

In the evenings, after hours
of working in the garden
[and dragonfly watching]
I knit a few rows and it
is slowly moving along.
The yarn I am knitting is
Araucania Yumbrel, a lace
weight cotton that is nice
in my hot and humid area.

All the Light We Cannot See
is still on my nightstand and
I am enjoying the story.

Joining Ginny

THE WEEKEND

We live in a wonderful world that is
full of beauty, charm and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures we
can have if only we seek them with
our eyes open.

~ Pinterest

 

 This weekend has been beautiful

sunrises and the return of the heat.

 

Spending time on my bike, riding

the dirt roads.

 

Sitting in the shade of my favorite

oak and knitting on a new project.

 

Watching hundreds of dragonflies,

everywhere

 

Hearing the song of winged friends

in the home I hung for them.

 

Noticing what looks like a bumper

crop of pecans this year so I am putting

the squirrels on notice....stay away!

 

Being overrun with eggs, lots and lots

of fresh eggs.

 

Spending time in the kitchen and trying

out two new to me recipes. Go ahead,

try them, you'll thank me ;)

 

Watching the sun set and the lightening

bugs come out to play.

 

I ready for a new week and I hope you

are too.

 

Joining with Karen

 

 

 

 

 

 

YARN ALONG :: NOT RUSHING

"If you are always racing to the
 next moment, what happens
 to the one you're in?"

~ Money Saving Mom

 

 

 

 

 My knitting project is the
same from two weeks ago,
but I have made progress.
I am taking my time and
enjoying myself tremendously.
I am not rushing the process,
just enjoying each stitch, loving
that I am knitting, sigh.

I finished reading We Were Liars
and I loved it, read it if you get
a chance, it will stay with you for
a long time.

The other day I pulled a book that
has been on my shelf for awhile
just waiting on me, Joan of Arc
by Mark Twain, another thing
that I am not rushing, just enjoying
each word, each page.

Joining Ginny