Calm before the storm

What have I been up to the last 4 months? Well, I can't decide if it sounds like a little or a lot (although I am definitely in shock that 2009 is almost half over...I think I need to spend more time in waiting rooms so that time doesn't move so quickly), but here's what I've been up to...

...traveling, including to Hawaii (Feb/Mar) to visit my sis and enjoy a week of couple time (thanks, grandparents!),

to Oregon (Mar/Apr) to visit my family,

to California (Apr/May) for work and to give a seminar...

...sewing sewing sewing - lots of Picnic Pouches (reusable snack/lunch bags), PUAG blankets/play mats, and custom lunch bags, among other things...May was the busiest month yet for Cascade Lemonade...

...and writing writing writing - parts of 3 manuscripts/thesis chapters, innumerable grant applications, etc.

Calm? Well, I guess it's all relative, but I definitely feel the anticipation and anxiety of the upcoming summer field season. Wednesday, we leave MA for 2.5 months (11 weeks, to be exact) in CA, where I will be coordinating a summer research program for 10 undergraduates, advising 2 graduate and 1 undergraduate research projects, and finishing up my own Ph.D. research....in addition to trying to be a halfway decent parent and spouse and daughter, etc. It's sounding like kind of a tall order right now, especially with the packing only barely started, so I'm glad I've been able to relax a bit over the last month - save up my energy. I've had some time for frivolous fun like making collages...

reading (finally finished 'Dune' and just started 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy')...

and taking a short family vacation to Cape Cod.

Now, it's just a matter of crossing the last 'to do's' off my list and getting to the airport and onto the jet headed west...!

Happy New Year (reprise, in February)

Yes, it's February, and I am just now getting around to checking in with last year's resolutions and putting this year's down in blogdom...but first, here's a wish list I put together with my fave items for spring...

I am obsessed with tights and big earrings...and so far, I have held myself back from purchasing any of either! Several of these items are on Etsy; see my favorites for sellers.

Now, onto...

2008 New Year’s Resolutions (in black = done, red = not done)

1. sleep 7 hrs/night - check (usually)
2. improve my posture
3. do a pull up
4. read a paper a day - i'm going with 'check' here, even though my list only contains ~75, I reviewed hundreds of papers for a review I'm writing
5. submit 2 papers - check (as long as you count co-authored)
6. analyze and review all existing thesis data
7. give a guest class lecture - check (and I only did this because it was a resolution!)
8. take Caden backpacking - nope, despite our best intentions! we had to cancel plans for illness...and ended up just car camping this year
9. go camping in the northeast - check (2 nights at Rangeley Lake in Maine)
10. update Caden’s baby book - some, but still lots more to do!!
11. make a pdf pattern for my lunch bags - check (and I've sold about 100 copies now!)
12. make a play mat - not done yet
13. make Caden’s Christmas stocking
14. make improvements on the house - check (new roof, baby!)
15. call someone once a week - check, weighted by several calls/week since Nov, when my dad broke his leg


2009 New Year's Resolutions


(I've decided 15 resolutions is excessive and am narrowing it down to 10 this year...)


1. Make Caden's Xmas stocking
2. Submit 3 (first-author) papers
3. Do a pull-up
4. Write a short story
5. Pay off VISA's
6. Build up savings for a 'rainy day'
7. Shift sleep schedule from 1-8 am to 12-7 am
8. Improve my posture
9. Go camping at least 3 times
10. 'Use what I have' for all Cascade Lemonade crafting (thrift and vintage purchases ok)

Anyone have resolutions they'd like to put down in writing in the comments? I'll check back with you next year and make sure you're accountable! ;)

December

The first part of December was a blur. We returned from the West Coast on December 1st, and I immediately jumped into prepping for the Salem High School Holiday Fair - on Dec. 12 - that benefits the school's music and drama programs. Although turn-out was only so-so, I had a lot of fun, chatting with my booth neighbors, listening to the music groups perform, and having a couple friends drop by.


The weekend before Christmas, we got about 16 inches of snow in 2 days - perfect for cozying up inside and crafting in the sun room, with a nice view of the winter wonderland. Here, I'm working on a monogrammed pillowcase for Caden's friend, Mabel, who invited him to her princess birthday party (and the party did go on, despite the weather!).

The second half of December was, for once, extremely slow-paced and relaxing. Even though I almost dreaded Christmas without family, I ended up realizing why some people purposely stay home at Christmas and why my mom always said she loved the days right after Christmas (I never understood that as a kid!). We spent our week's vacation (Caden had a week off of daycare, so we mostly both stayed home) doing 1 work task (making a poster for a meeting, reviewing a manuscript, etc.) and 1 home task (cleaning, organizing, filing, etc.) and working out at the YMCA every day. We spent the rest of the time doing whatever the heck we wanted: watching movies, playing games (a friend loaned us Blokus, which we played almost daily for a week), sewing, reading, etc. It was great, and it took about the whole week for us to finally feel relaxed!

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Here's a shot of the most beautifully wrapped Christmas present, from my college friend, Martha. The wrapping cloth doubles as a table linen and is reversible for use in multiple seasons. She even safety-pinned on a little linen gift tag! Inside was a pattern and (robot) fabric to make Caden a little apron for helping out in the kitchen. A fun project for the New Year!

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!!