All three shelves in a white cabinet with a glass front and a splashing painting above it (shades of brown splattering a green striped cup) are dedicated to mugs I choose one with care matching it to my mood to the day to the tea I'll brew in it The tea itself another quest of local sources new flavors and old favorites Usually black and strong and spiced with sugar or honey and milk full of heat  and energy Sometimes I need the emotional warmth rather than the physical so I hold it and enjoy its scent until it goes cold in my hands Sometimes I talk through tea instead of words or take a sip instead of saying something It's good to stop and think and listen but there is also a time to speak.

Something that I hear a lot is a variation on "I love how you said that." There have been times when that has annoyed me. Times when I felt like the person I really wanted to reach wasn't listening, or like the complimented line had drifted into someone's ears while they were skimming stations and had arrived without any of the other things I was trying to say. I talked less. I wrote less. But it still came up. Thirteen years ago a clear and obvious direction laid in front of me, a path that had been set up for me my entire life. And I didn't take it. I stepped off onto a sideroad, convinced that the obvious route was some sort of trap. Because I poured everything I had into that new route (including a sizable amount of trust in a Divine desire for my good), within three years I had done the impossible. I went from the bottom of the industry, to what I considered the top (even if the top was a temporary position. I had a desk and I did the job, it counts). Then I ...

Monthly maker post! First up, something I'm really pleased with: this Churchmouse Simple Tee  that I knit out of Woolfolk Flette that I had bought for a different project that ended up falling through. I didn't finish it in time for a museum photoshoot , but there are a pretty locations here, too. (This one was also conveniently located across the street from my favorite local coffee shop.) While there are a selection of simple tee options (both free and paid), I ultimately chose this one because I've knit some other Churchmouse designs and I trust them to have well written patterns with thoughtful details. This did not disappoint - it was beautifully simple, and there was no extra finishing after the main pieces were complete. That clean collar line and nice edge on the sleeve happened in process, which I really appreciate. I used the Flette, because I liked it and even though it was nothing like any of the recommended yarns, I still somehow got exact gauge. It was an enjo...

Last year I had the wonderful idea to plan a yearly surprise anniversary trip - I choose the destination and itinerary, and give him dates and a packing list. Since Juniper was still nursing and had to come along, we drove to Saint Louis for two nights. We saw the arch, walked around a sculpture garden, ate delicious local food, got doughnuts on our last morning, and had a nice enough time to solidify the tradition as worthy of repeating. I intended to fly to Seattle this year ("where is the furthest away we can get without leaving the US/flying over another country/crossing an ocean?") but alas. We kicked off nine years with the first of a series of meetings with a counselor (because communication is hard, especially when you live with the person you're miscommunicating with) then went on a modified, pandemic-friendly trip. (There really aren't any precautions that would make me comfortable getting in a metal tube full of recirculated air and people right now.) If t...

I've been focusing on emotional development with the Littles of late (mostly infinite variations on "do unto others as you would have them do unto you, yes, even that person, yes, even in that situation"). One thing that has come up a lot is communication gaps. I have one who struggles to say the words, wanting others to read their mind and becoming frustrated over the inevitable incorrect guesses. And I have one who struggles to do the words, having heard the expressed desire of someone else but really determined to continue on their own path, regardless of who they might run over in the process. Natural consequences are an incomplete solution, as one is an extrovert who will forgive many indignities rather than be alone and the other is sensitive and doesn't like people to feel hurt, which generally leads to the wronged child making the adjustments (not a behavior I necessarily want to encourage). So we listen, and we talk. I have strong feelings about balanced co...