Todays...

I was really hoping that I'd be able to add to this blog every day. And yet, my last entry was over a week ago. It hurt just to think about opening it up and seeing the entry about Edward's. And now I'm back, teary-eyed from seeing that post again. And, of course, I couldn't *not* reread it.

But my days have not been too bad lately. I've been working on a few new dishcloths. I've discovered that I love making them. Talk about (nearly) instant gratification! If I get a couple of hours, even as a few minutes here, a few minutes there, I can have one done. And not just plain garter stitch! I love a stitch pattern called "Knotted Shell". It's sooooooo pretty. And it makes great nubbies for scrubbing with! I've made a skull & crossbones cloth recently. I should post these on my Ravelry but... I need to get some pictures taken and loaded up into this machine. It is just a pain in the butt to try to find that damn USB cable! And every time I try to photo the dishcloths, the picture looks terrible! Any suggestions?

And I'd like to really start writing. Again. There's a brilliant book in there somewhere, I just know it. Or at least a brilliant short story (collection?).

Ugh. There's too much going on here. I can't think.

Tornados... In January?

So the weather in the Midwest here has surprised everyone again. More than one TORNADO yesterday.

I'm informed late last night via an answering machine message from my mother that one of my favorite places in the whole world, Edward's Apple Orchard in/just outside Poplar Grove, IL was hit by one of these tornados. It was heartbreaking to hear.

Their apple barn was hit pretty hard apparently, along with the house of the owners (on the same property). Fortunately, the actual orchard is pretty untouched. The trees seem to have withstood the winds.

I'm 29 and it's making me cry. It's not just a "childhood" thing either. I love to go there with my children. I love to go there for my birthday (in September). We were just there last fall.

It's a beautiful place. I feel like I've grown up alongside it. I remember going there when I was much younger and they had just a few things around. Until yesterday, during season, they had a mini farm zoo with goats you could feed and pet, chickens, pigs, all sorts of farm animals, they had a nifty fence maze (that I never skip going through), wooden "playground" equipment: a train big enough for adults to climb into, a giant boat with more that one level, even a playhouse (I have pictures of my kids in most of these.), horse-drawn carriage rides, pony rides. They had a huge "barn" that was really a "country store" with crafts, homemade treats of all sorts, and apples, apples, APPLES GALORE. Let's just say that the entire place is filled with the scent of FRESH, WARM APPLE DONUTS. In the apple area of the barn, they let you sample many of the different varieties they grow. They usually had live music on the weekends. Outdoor tents with baked potatoes that you can get topped with whatever toppings you wanted. A huge "storage shed" that's really an indoor concession stand and seating. It's an amazing place.

Every time I go, I feel like a kid again. It makes me feel like there's nothing wrong with the world.

Thankfully, the human spirit cannot be broken by a bit of bad weather. I am heartened to hear that the owners have already said they will rebuild and will be open again this coming fall. It won't be the same, of course, but I'm so happy to hear they are not just shutting the doors forever.

Despite the situation, the owners are still aware that it has been their community that has put them on the map. The husband, Ken Hall, is quoted (by the Rockford Register Star) as saying, "We’re more concerned about our neighbors. We don’t want all the attention coming our way because they’re struggling, too". Here these people have lost their livelyhood and had their home ripped apart and they want to make sure their neighbors are helped, too. It's amazing to me, in this day and age of coffee-burn lawsuits, that there really are people out there who do give a crap about others.

Thank you, Ken Hall, for reminding me that even in a person's darkest hour, they can shed light on someone else. I hope I will remember that the next time I have a struggle that I think I cannot bear anymore. And I am very happy that no one was injured. Mrs. Hall was in her office in her home when the tornado hit- that part of the house. I'm selfishly happy to think that they can rebuild without having to be reminded that they lost someone when the damage happened.

My heart and thoughts go out to all the families who have been affected by these storms. I hope you can all recover.

January 7, 2008

New to this. Don't know where to start, what would be interesting.

I suppose an intro would be a... good start.

At 29, I've got three kiddos, and one more on the way:
My oldest, Brandon, is 12. Yes, that means I was 17 when he was born. (And barely 17. I'd just turned that about three weeks before he was born.) And he's brilliant. He's smarter than most kids his age and is a year ahead in school. I'm not just a bragging mom, he really is that smart. He sometimes makes me feel like an idiot or a drooling baboon. He just thinks he needs to be perfect. He dotes on his sisters, too.
My next, Lillian (Lily), is 7 and she is an angel. She's severely developmentally delayed and has epilepsy. She looks like any "normal" girl her age, plays like them, feeds herself, nearly everything; she just doesn't learn as quickly as the rest and has a seizure once in a while. She's not in diapers, she doesn't need a bib, she doesn't eat pureed food. She loves everyone, and she'll hug you if you let her.
My third, and current youngest, Elaine (Lainey), is nearly 2. And a beast. She has so much energy! She is so smart it's scary sometimes. I love to watch her learning processes. She's so very different from the other two. I realize that all kids are different from each other, but she's been a huge shock for me. She's developing so... normally. She's at the front of the "expected" development charts or ideals or whatever they call them now.
The fourth, ?, is due to arrive sometime in early June. I expect this will turn out to be more like middle June. All three previous were a minimum of five days late. Brandon was a full 2 weeks late (yes, I was ready to die by then!), I was induced at 1 week late with Lily {when it seemed there was no end in sight again, however, the nonstress test said it was time}, and Lainey made her entrance into the world five days after she was supposed to be here. So again, with a due date of June 8th, I'm guessing at least the 13th. Taking bets, anyone?

I've been married to a wonderful guy, George, since 2004. He's Lainey & #4's biological father but not Brandon & Lily's. Not that biology counts, at least in this case. He's most definitely their dad. And he's one of the few who really doesn't care that he's not blood to the two of them. If he and I were ever to get divorced, he'd fight for rights to them as hard as he could. Of course, I wouldn't agree to the divorce. I love him too much. He's been my rock ever since I met him. Even when we were just friends. I owe him more than he'll ever know.

Yeah, I suppose that's all I'm going to go with for now. Tomorrow I think I might actually talk about me. That's what this is for, anyhow. To make something in my life about me. I know, I know: that sounds really selfish. However, in real life, I spend my days and nights caring for the aforementioned five. I can dedicate my blog to me me me. It'll be our little secret, ok?