Ok folks..

My buddy Emily is doing something very cool.

She is riding her bike to raise money for HIV/AIDS education, treatment, and resources for sustaining compassionate care of individuals affected with HIV and AIDS.

I totally dig it when folks find themselves in a position to act… and Em is in that place. Rock on sister!

(FYI: The knittergirly is giving up her WWKIP day to do this!)

If you are so inclined… could you spare a dollah?

I had a very interesting opportunity to try acupuncture yesterday.

Great Soul Wellness Studio here in Baltimore has community acupuncture during the same time slot that the cowboy takes his yoga class. My stress level has been riding at a pretty high tide for awhile now and ANYTHING that I can do, even as passively as sit and have tiny needles stuck in my ears, would be better than stewing in my stress.

The Acupuncturist, Wendy, is really nice and kind. (I guess it would not work if your acupuncturist is a type A personality?) She explained the process and the philosophy and I got 5 needles in each ear and two in my feet.

I honestly felt instant relief. No joke. Felt.Better.Right.AWAY.

I don’t quite know why…. but even after the needles were out… I felt that they were working. I was just a little more mellow than before.

Let’s just say… I’m stuck. (LOL) I will be getting more. I am also thinking that yoga in combination with acupuncture would be a really good idea. The coolest things are… the wellness studio and the yoga studio that I go to have community or donation based programs where you can pay what you can afford. They are committed to bringing affordable alternative therapies to folks based on what their individual budgets allow. Awesome.

If you live in Baltimore, or the surrounding area, and are interested in either acupuncture or yoga.. I highly recommend both facilities.

I am also thinking that wellness incorporates nutrition. Again… the thing that I have a lot of issues with. I am hoping the slow nature of the summer may help the family eat better. It all starts with mom, right?

I joined an organic CSA (pick ups start Tuesday!) and we planted our garden. I am thinking that I am going to drastically cut my meat intake this summer. Not full vegetarian… but opting for more protein sources that are not meat based.

All good thoughts, right? Anyone have any other good tips on this? What is your key to managing the stress and staying well?

OK friends…. looking fir some (ahem..) work out/ walking music.

Anyone have some good suggestions? I am totally in love with Fergie’s  song “Clumsy”…

What else do I need to feed my ears with while I am moving my ass?

Miss BySarah asked to see what I was going to make with Lucy Pevensie.

This is the first round of Lucy’s handspun.

8oz of merino dyed by me. I think it is destined to be this shawl.

Happy weekend folks!

Looky at what Mama got!

Meet Lucy. Lucy Pevensie

(We are a little caught up in Narnia right now at Chez Mama.)

I joined this Club. Steph is a master at inspirational carding. (She is just an inspiration to me, period. So freaking nice and talented…) Damn temptress got my wheels turning….

Anyway… my Ashford Joy felt a little limiting when it came to spinning bulkier yarns. I stopped into Spinster Yarns and fibers one day and started playing with their Lendrum…. and BOOM. I sold my JOY and bought the Lendrum in like 2.5 seconds flat.

I am spinning this summer…. The Summer of Spin 2008 is born.

And yes… Michelle... you are not the only Canadian woman in my life anymore.

Use coupon code ” SOS” to get your 15% off!!!

Welcome (almost) to the SUMMER OF SPIN!

BIG SPINNING UPDATE on Wednesday!

photos courtesy of Carole Knits

I dyed this yarn for Carole… you know her. Carole Knits, Carole.

Eye Candy goddess Carole.

Yeah, her. With the inspiring pictures every Friday that make me want to dye more yarn.

She finished these very lovely socks out of her Daffodils colorway. They have gotten such a great response that I put 15 special orders of this limited edition colorway up in the shop.

Get ‘em while you can!!!

I leave you with pictures of our newly planted garden…

Cowboy looks like a jedi gardener, no?

“plant you I will…”

Dear D and Cowboy,

This mother is very, very proud to be the lady in your life (lives).

I want to thank you for being so kind, and funny, and responsive to my often crazy ideas.

D… thanks for being my best friend. The person who never (out loud) thinks that my zany ideas are , well, zany. Thanks for giving me room to explore my creativity and to be me. The me you met and dated, and later made an honest woman. You are the best friend a girl could ever hope for… and I love you with all my heart and am so proud to be your wife.

Cowboy, you are an amazing child. You have a sensitivity that I hope never leaves you. You are polite beyond your years and you take delight in all that comes your way. You have the creativity bug, too. And I think it is as bad as the one that bit me. And, I love you. Like a love that I have never had with anyone else. Your my boy… and I am so, so proud to be your mama.

So, my boys, thanks for making me a mama. Thanks for a very special day of gardening yesterday and of toying with my new GPS! Thanks for making me laugh, giving me direction, and making me whole.

I love you both so much,

E.

It is very telling that my nights have been chock full of fitful dreams as of late.
Last night, I dreamed I was an RA (I never lived in a dorm in college) and … here is the BEST part…

Justin Timberlake and I shared a room.

I was then, woken by a lightsaber-swinging cowboy telling me to “get up it is 9:30!!”

*sigh*

MDSW was fantastic this year! I was so psyched to have my wares in the Cloverhill Booth… and to be in that booth with so many of my friends, professional and personal.

I think that Michelle and I had about 4 hours of sleep an evening… for the entire time she was here. I miss her so, so much!

I also had a brief moment of insanity this week…

I went to Spinster Fibers in Baltimore and took their Lendrum for a test drive. I made a phone call, sold my Joy , and ordered a Lendrum DT complete in about 2 hours.

Madness I tell you!

I will have more complete thoughts for you soon… Mother’s Day tomorrow. I think some time in the garden is warranted.

Have a great weekend!