AfricanKelli

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From my happy weekend perch on the couch, I can see a stack of new fabrics from SewMamaSew that are keeping me highly entertained, the felted cap and supplies for another Nudu cap — fulfilling my first custom knitting order, a freshly baked apple crisp and two dozen chocolate cupcakes headed to a church Katrina fundraiser, and my sweet bike Ruby. Ruby and I went on a 41 mile date this morning, during which I fell in love, yet again, with the open road. There is nothing like a lengthy bike ride to give you time to think (and focus on not falling.)
Last night at happy hour, I had a chance to catch up with one of my childhood best friends, Rebecca. I complained that as of late I’ve felt a bit isolated in social circles, and pegged as the square June Cleaver. She laughed, looked at me with kindness in her eyes and said gently, “Um, Kell. You’re the June Cleaver in our group too.”
I’ve never been one to be terribly concerned with what others thought, but everyone has a tender spot. My interests, including loving my work, exercise and faith, often make me the odd duck and subject to constant jest. I’m trying to have thicker skin, but this week was a true test of patience. What would Elle Woods do? She’d laugh at these June jokes, put on some pink, jump in her cute car and come up with a plan to make them all gawk at her success. June today, Elle tomorrow. Watch out!

~K

P.S. What do you want to bet once the Beave went off to school, good ole’ June pulled out the pinot grigio and made house work a bit of swishy fun, pearls and all?

{WordPress is acting funny. Anyone else having a problem?}

A few reasons I am grateful this week:

- Time away with friends to recharge has left me invigorated and ready for change.

- Tri training is going exceptionally well. I am feeling stronger every day and it is making me so happy, I feel like I’m radiating cheeriness. (Consequently, I recognize how annoying I am to be around if you are grouchy.)

- I am reading Into the Wild and happened to catch Oprah yesterday, during which she interviewed Sean Penn and the author of the book. Penn just wrote and directed the movie based on this crazy story. Rarely do I love a book so much that I crave more, but this show was like icing on the cake. This sort of sweet literary delight has happened once before; I fell head over heels in love with Wicked, only to find out it was becoming a musical, which I got to see in LA. You know you are a book nerd when you get giddy at the thought of spending more time with the characters.

- My very favorite season is right around the corner and I’m joyfully planning road trips to northern Arizona for pumpkins and leaves, baking squash empanadas, having the patience to transform my dead summer patio into a beautiful autumn garden and wearing sweaters.

- The Best of Stevie Wonder on iTunes? The smartest $8 I’ve spent in a long time. I crave new running and cycling music these days and Mr. Wonder has left me smiling and whistling along. I’m considering Enrique Iglesia’s newest CD. Any other good running tune suggestions?

- Friends who’ve expressed interest in knitting.
A. It makes me feel like less of a grannie to have such a hobby.
B. It makes me happy to see others find the meditative, spiritual side of this craft. Once you find your groove, it is relaxing and satisfying.

Three cheers for Friday!
~K

Remember this wall quilt? I took a photo of it when visiting my folks in San Antonio during Easter. My mom initially made this Colorado scene as a center for a quilt for my brother. Once completed, she realized:
A. It was too delicate for a boy quilt.
B. My brother wouldn’t really appreciate it.
C. It would look darn pretty hanging in their home.

I love this form of quilting. It looks like she is painting with fabric.

I am so glad she kept it because she entered it in a quilt fair recently and guess what? She’s a blue ribbon winner. I am so proud! She used to dominate the Arizona state fair before they moved to Texas.

Nice work Moms!
Actually, the state fair is set to begin here in two weeks and it makes me a little sad I’ll go and not see her art hanging there, laden with rosettes. Instead, I hope to find Amanda’s photography covered in accolades. She’s entering for the first time. Maybe next year I’ll enter. Do you think they have a category for “most falls off a bicycle?”

I am home from Colorado and loving life. Remember my list? My silly, pent-up, can’t-relax-to-go-on-vacation list?
Yep. I went on vacay and accomplished my goals, minus the discipline part. My running shoes remained in the suitcase and a margarita remained in my hand for most of four days. I needed a break from work and the heat; mission accomplished. My swim this morning felt great and refreshing. I can’t wait to ride this afternoon.

That list, in photos:

A lime green baby bolero from One Skein completed and delivered to my newest favorite baby on earth: Jonas Finn.

Jonas and his proud mama, Min.

I am in love.

Seriously. Could he be any cuter? (said in my best Chandler Bing voice.)

Then there were the swaps:

I’m not showing much of this one yet, but I participated in Heidi’s back to school swap. My partner lives in Australia, hence the summery print. And has three little girls. Big bag for mama, little ones for the wees. Stuffed and shipped and it only cost, ahem, $43 to mail. Yikes.

Another swing bag for a friend who made a request. I love this pattern in canvas.

There was also plenty of reading (I just finished The Binding Chair. Three out of five stars. I had no idea where the Chinese tradition of binding feet came from and it is a bit shocking!), stretching, cheering for the Broncos and playing dice. A few fun photos of family and Colorado to cap off a perfect vacation:

The view from our patio, pre-snow.

Two days later, snow-capped peaks.

Our clan, minus one very unhappy-to-be-in-Texas-without-her-family mama.

My brother Cody and his new puppy Raja.

A wonderful weekend indeed. I hope you are also feeling at peace!
~K

I am behind. I may, perhaps just a little, pride myself on being Type A organized, well-rested, well-hydrated and right on schedule. This week has been one of those where I am just too tired to care, or to answer to my inner Bree VanderKamp.
Tri training is in full gear, with seven weeks left to the race and you know what? I ache. After three weeks without weight lifting, cycling or swimming (there was some running and lots of walking in Bolivia), I am sore getting back into my routine. This soreness translates into crabiness and tiredness, which make me daydream at work and crawl into bed hours early just to remain still. It is silly, and I know this time will pass, but I am not a fan of playing catch-up. Especially when the world around me ceases to similarly take a break. My craft table is begging for my return. My garden has turned into the Little Patio of Horrors. My house is dusty. My fridge is bare.
This weekend I am going away with friends to do a bit of pre-October celebrating of Oktoberfest in Colorado. The additional perk is that I’ll be able to catch up with my dad and brother, who will both be passing through — aka, taking me to breakfast. I am also going to accomplish the following within the next week:

1. Finish the knitted baby item that I’ve been working on for 8 months. Seriously, this knitting project traveled with me to Africa and South America and still didn’t get finished. The baby was born today — Jonas, baby boy #3 for Min and Jason. Wahoo! I am going to meet him tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll have a little something wrapped up to be delivered for the occasion.

2. Finish and mail projects for craft swaps I’ve committed to.

3. Read. Rest. Stretch. Run. Repeat.

4. Catch up with correspondence.

5. Read the giant stack of magazines on my bedside that are luring me with their Fall ideas. Fall is my favorite time of year by far. Put fangs and fake blood on Martie and throw her on the cover? And we’ve officially got an issue I’m going to save for ages.

6. Eat healthy. The race and reunion are too close to be goofing off now. Time to get serious about the diet. Good thing I don’t drink beer. It will make being the sober one at Oktoberfest tolerable. If we went to Margarita fest, I don’t know that I’d have the willpower.

7. Be disciplined. There are so many ways I could be more disciplined in my life.

8. Take photos! I’ll be back Monday with loads of pics and stories to share about our adventures north. Hope you have a great weekend and I promise to make the most of my temporary blogging break and return to sanity.

~Kelli