K is for. . .

Kids.

When I was little, all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. Even back then I was always playing house, taking care of all my babies. Later on, when Ashley was born I was scared, knowing I couldn't prop her head between my knees to get her pants on. That's what I always did with my dolls and no one protested. And no one was going to pick her up at midnight and give me a few bucks. This was for real. Scary, amazing, wonderful, heartbreaking. The toughest-damn-job in the world.

a portrait we did for Ken's birthday back in 2004

K is also for Ken.

The most amazing man I've ever met besides my dad. Isn't that the way it should be for girls? :) He's -so- damn smart. He can do anything. He's compassionate, generous and takes good care of me. Wow. It must be a good day. :)

taken in February 2004. A birthday ride.

and K is for knitting.

I love this craft. It will never cease to amaze me, taking sticks and strings and making something that wasn't there before. Something functional and beautiful.

Knitting has broadened my world. Besides being a wonderful outlet for creativity, I've met some really amazing people. Folks I wouldn't have even met otherwise.

Knitting. Good.

J is for. . .

justin. second born. boy-child.

who will be 21 this year. and just so you fully appreciate the significance of that statement:

he was such a sweet baby. now he's an angst-filled young adult. it happens to the best of them to be sure.

justin was born with a crippling disorder called arthrogryposis. it's rare, one in about 10,000 births. but i swear, he never let it stop him. i remember running into an aide at his elementary school and she said, "oh! are you justin's mom? i saw him at the top of the jungle gym the other day and. . ." i put my hand up. i couldn't bear to hear any more. his early attitude would be his salvation as he got older but at that moment, combined with the immature judgement of a 6 year old it was pretty dangerous. :)

he's a good kid. really good. sassy, mouthy but witty with a great sense of humor.

if you don't know the story of his beginnings, you can read it here but my bandwidth limit is pretty low so if more than a few of you click and go it won't be available for a while. and you might need a tissue. just a warning. please keep in mind most of the story was written by an 18 year old me - new mom, scared shitless, bad with punctuation and grammar. :)

i is for

The Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Justin and I spent the day at the museum enjoying the exhibts, laughing at some of the contemporary pieces and really talking about what we saw. Most enjoyable way to spend the day with the boy-child.

Here are some of my favorites. Click here for more pictures of our day.

H is for

Harley Davidson

Once upon a time I was a Harley rider. It was some of the best times of my life. The freedom. The independence. The strength. The power. The thrill. The danger.

I learned to ride at a time in my life where I felt weak and insignificant. Fragile and small. Learning to control a huge scary bike was so big for me. The feelings carried over into my personal life and were my salvation at the time.

I got my permit the summer of '02. I took a motorcycle class on a little 250 or something ridiculous. I went home the first day after class and got on Ken's Fatboy (no comments from the peanut gallery!). I rode it around our neighborhood. Then I went around the block. Then I took it out on a main street. I'll never forget how vulnerable I felt stopped at an intersection. I was literally standing in the middle of the road! But I'll also never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt. I conquered a huge fear. I was riding a motorcycle.

Ken bought me a Lowrider the following week and I proceeded to put 3000 miles on my bike before putting it up for the winter. I rode every where - the bank, weight watchers, the grocery store. I refused to put bags on my bike - it looked so sleek. There were plenty of times I'd come home with a loaf of bread down my shirt or some other creative means of getting it home. I didn't care. I was riding.

In 2004 Ken bought a new bike so he handed the Fatboy down to me. What a bike it was - totally chromed out, Vance & Hines straight pipes, Kuryakyn Hyper Charger, chubbie bars, skull accessories - it was B.A.D. It was LOUD and that bike MOVED. So much fun.

I made some great friends during that chapter in my life. People who taught me so much that had little to do with motorcycling. Lessons I've been able to pass down and share:

• yes, you can.
• do things before you think you're ready
• fear is nothing but not knowing how. learn.
• it's easier to share a bed than a motorcycle seat with someone if you're mad at them
• the wind is therapy
• life is short. really short. enjoy the ride.

enjoy the ride.

G is for:

Grizz. Grizzly Bear. Grizzy. Grizzers. Little Bubby or Bub (Ruger, our Rottie is Big Bubby/Bub)

It's completely unnatural how much I love this little dog. We're Rottweiler owners for Pete's sake! He's supposed to be a Shih Tzu. My vet looked at me over his glasses when I said that. My groomer said, "Well, maybe his grandmother was a Shih Tzu."

I both love and hate to tell the story of how we came to have such a little ball of cuteness: Petland. I know. I know. I'm so ashamed! We went in to buy dog food and look at the puppies. Ken saw this little guy and had to have him. "He looked at me!"

To which I reply: "Stay out of the tittie bars, will ya?"

HA!

He is a love. He's a little shit, Ken says. And then I correct him, "Shih Tzu!" Mmmmm Hmmm.

F is for:

Fall.

I love Autumn. For so many reasons. It's like a miracle, watching the colors of the leaves change on the trees. I'm always amazed at the deep reds, bright yellows and flaming oranges where only green was before. The sight of fall color has literally taken my breath away before. I love it!

I caught sight of something on a tree near my house that wasn't visible when the trees were in full summer splendor. I could tell, even from the road, that it was someones names or initials in a heart, carved in the bark of this tree. I knew I wanted to take a picture of this. I've been thinking about it for a few days, so yesterday I pulled my little car off the side of the road and snapped this picture.

There was a branch casting a shadow, darnit. I can photoshop that out later. Isn't this a fun picture? I wonder who they were, WHEN they were, if they ARE.

This next one was a surprise shot. I went cruising down my favorite road with the top down yesterday, a rare 60° November day and saw how the sun was coming down on these trees, lighting them on fire. I again pulled to the side of the road but I had to walk for a bit to get close enough to get the shot. I wanted to stay and take more but my top was down, the keys were in it and my car was getting our of sight the closer I got to the trees. I've got to get better at this whole pull-off-the-side-of-the-road thing. But this was so worth my nervousness:

I love Fall, don't you?

E is for:

Europe.

Just one of the places I'd like to visit.

The canals of Venice, the ancient architecture of Greece, the castles, the Alps, the people, the FOOD.

Ken and I both appreciate architecture. I can't imagine viewing structures built hundreds or even THOUSANDS of years ago.

Neuschwanstein Castle of Bavaria, is pictured above. It happens to be a relatively young castle at a mere 120+ years.

Isn't it spectacular? I can't even imagine standing in the presence of such amazing architecture.

It's a good thing I can't afford to travel just yet. Can't have me fainting all over Europe!

D is for

Dogs.

I just can't imagine life without them. Wherever I go, they go. They're my little entourage.

Introducing...

Old man Ruger. He's the best damn dog ever.

Grizz and Sadie.

and Fatboy (can you even?) He's Ashley's so I guess that makes him our granddog. :)

C is for

Cooking.

I love to cook.

This maybe isn't the best photo to share as there was no cooking involved here with these fruit kabobs with yummy marshmallow fluff dippy sauce. But this was the first picture I came across. And I did enjoy making these.

Bits of fresh strawberries, bananas, cantaloupe, grapes, blackberries, pineapple and starfruit layered on a skewer. That's it.

The dippy sauce is the real star here:

1 jar of marshmallow fluff combined with a brick of cream cheese and some freshly ground nutmeg. And wire cutters. Evidently they are an essential tool when making fruit kabobs.

:)

I sometimes say if you can read, you can cook but maybe there's more to it than that.

I'm a good cook. It's something I really enjoy. From start to finish.

I love selecting the perfect recipe, hunting down fresh ingredients and watching the whole thing come together. The best part is watching everyone enjoy the dish I've created. I do get self satisfaction out of the whole process but for me, it's all in the sharing.

It's that whole food = love thing, I'm sure.

Now go make something yummy.

B is for Baby

My cousin Cristi (who I love like a sister) called me yesterday.

She's a grandma! My cousin Timmy, is a daddy.

I'm filled with love and pride today.

Babies.

There's just nothing better is there?

"Babies are bits of stardust blown down from the hand of God. Lucky the woman who knows the pangs of bith for she has held a star." - Larry Barretto

A - Z of me

Got the idea from Vickie.

Thought it'd be a good way to pass the blogging hours when no craftiness is to be found.

A is for:

Ashley, of course.

Firstborn and a good mix between the bane of my existence and my heart.

Keeps me on my toes, that one.