Answers Found.

Since a teenager; I have had a bad bad image of my body; I have always
been overweight anywhere from 25-75 pounds more than by 5 foot body
frame should be. I would like to weigh 120-130 range unfortunately I
am no where near it. I am aware I must lose weight - per doctors
orders ( I have an enlarged heart and have very high blood pressure.)
We have a membership to the YMCA and I try to use it on my 2 days off
when ever I can. I like swimming and seem to lose weight when I do. I
take Emily with me as she loves the water as much as I. We will go
swimming for 2 hours at a time; often having races with her beating me
each time with glee.

I can remember my Mother was always dieting as a child; but it never
occured to her that while I should have healthy food to grow strong;
it was not neccessarly low fat food I was given. She was from an era
that the term low fat did not exist.

I have a slow metabolism - i don’t process food fast enough to get rid
of the calories and hence fat developes. Fluids do not get disposed
very well from my liver and kidneys - per my Dr I can have surgery to
clean out my pipes or take cranberry juice pills or drink cranberry
juice to activate kiver and kidneys - I take the pills and drink the
juice. I dont want surgery if I don’t have to.

I’ts kind of weird I will drink and drink but until I take the
cranberry juice (It makes sure the fluids are released in my body for
processing) I dont feel quenched.

I look at my body; I look nothing how I want to look - thin and full
of energy - It is very easy to sink into depression and grab the candy
bar as a way of feeling better for a fleeting moment then become angry
once you realize what you have done.

I read the news stories how McDonalds is adding sugar to the water of
their lettuce as a way to make there salads taste better. I look at
how many calories a meal at Applebees is - most restaurants don’t have
even have that type of in on their menus.

I have given up drinking anything but water or sugarless tea in an
effort to avoid calories in drink.

I watch what I eat avoid salty, fried foods and try to eat only fresh
food or food baked or broiled.

I originally started loom knitting as a way to bring down very high my blood pressure. Did some research seems knitting will relax and bring it down any where from 45 - 25 percent. Knitting calms the soul.

I had done knitting as a teen using regular knitting needles. - as I always seemed to knit very large loops with out trying. (I had no control over tension and yarn.) my projects were very stretchy to say the least and did not look as I had envisioned them to be. So I put my needles aside and went forth to other pursuits.

Now I have arthritis in both hands; they stiffen up and wont unbend when holding needles for an hour. I have to soak my hands in water to unbend them. Yet I can use the knitting looms for hours at a time with no arthritis effects pain free and make very sturdy beautiful projects.

I often take my knitting with us, riding in the car with my husband or on long trips or even to knit during my lunch and brakes at work. I often explain to the curious what loom knitting is. Since Walmart, Joanns, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft shops started selling the looms I have noticed an increase in people using them. Especially in needle knitters that found the needles uncomfortable to use either skill wise or mobility wise.

Loom knitting may never become main stream but I hope it does find a place beside our knitting needle sisters as a viable art.

I have started a new project. We have a really old braided rug that i use as a laundry room rug. I have had it for years and it is falling apart. I was given 5 skeins of red multi color yarn from the manufacture red yarn as a gift for Mother’s Day. While I like to use really soft yarns for quilts. This yarn while vibrantly beautiful is coarse yet strong. Perfect for a sturdy rug.

Using the blue knifty knitter knitting board which is their largest loom; I am knitting a pattern that uses a 4 time wrap around the pegs in an effort to make it more tough, durable and thick. The pattern is knit up 2 skeins then using spare white yarn do 6 rows to create a stripe. Continue knitting with one skein of multi red then do 6 rows of white and finish it with the last 2 skeins of red multi yarn.

As most people have their washer and dryer side by side in their homes, This rug will cover that space completely with no leftover yarn multi- red yarn as all will be used.

My situation is I have never backed a rug - I have been in craft stores and seen the products to do so. As a newbie; I just wanted to ask for any tip or suggestions on how to as I don’t want to ruin my red laundry rug. Any advice would be helpful.

Saturday, May, 17

Emily got to plant flowers and strawberries - David helped her with the strawberries and I helped her set up 2 rectangular pots to grow an assortment of wildflowers. She has been looking forward to growing plants for some time now.

We mixed seed and sand; watered and used grow sticks in the pots. Hopefully in a few weeks we will have armfuls of flowers. Orginally, Emily and I had decided to unearth the grass; and pull up any weeds. But Kansas ground is quite stubborn and would not yield. David thought we were wussies for not getting anywhere. For the grass held tight to the earth; no matter how hard Emily and I tried to clear it. He came out with a big digging shovel and got a little further with it. Soon blisters were starting to form on his hands and he had to stop too.

Thoughts of going to one of those rent-a-centers and renting a tiller came to mind. Instead we went to Walmart and bought a product that in essence will bake (using the sun’s rays) to a cinder the ground it is placed on - destroying the grass underneath and the root structure; leaving healthy soil (with no pesticides) to plant the assorted bulbs and small shrubs we want in front of the house. Wish us luck!

My oldest Peter has been out on his own for a little more than a year.
I still wake up in the morning and expect to see his red mop of hair,
and his sweet voice each morning; there is a bit of sadness as I wake
up and realize he is not in the bedroom down the hall resting; with
that sweet angelic face all people sleep with; (you know the one of
peace and tranquility; you can see what they must of looked like as a
child face as they sleep.) Quite simply I miss him.

I know he is not coming back to live at home - he is 20 years old; a
grown man. Making his own decisions; for good or bad. Just trying to
survive in the world. Doing the best he can. I hope his father and I
have helped him enough to know how to be the type of man anyone would
be proud to call friend. Only time will tell.

I hope both son’s will know they can still turn to us for help and
guidance - if and when either would need it and not to be afraid to
ask. Life is hard enough. Family should be who you can turn to and
trust when in need.

To make matters worse for my empty nest syndrome, Joe who just turned
18 in March 2008; has decided he is both moving out to a new apartment
and going to school and will be working full time starting in June for
the next 10 weeks. He is studying for a job that takes care of the
planes outside structure, repair and fix damages. He has taken tests
where he comes up genius level and this is a course that is sponsored
by about 6 plane manufacturers. He has qualified for funding and the
only costs would be for his books and supplies. When he is done he has
a choice of either working for an airplane manufacturer as they are
sponsoring the program. He can field the job offers or he would be a
shoo-in for a career in the Air Force. The choice would be his. Either
choice would mean he would be able to travel anywhere airplanes would
be to fix them.

While I am proud of him as he is doing everything the right way;
Moving out, getting his own place and ensuring his future; as his
Mother I will miss him so much my heart breaks at the thought of him
leaving.

When will I not hurt so much; I wish I had an answer. Everyone tells
me time will ease the heartache. It is good I am letting them go
forth, as I would never want to hold either son back. I fact; I look
forward to the successes each will achieve in the future.

I can hardly wait to go to Joe’s Graduation Ceremony! I will be the
one screaming and clapping the loudest when his name is called to
accept his diploma; for it will be well earned and hard worked for.

I know I can’t be the only one going thru this - I would love to hear
some feed back from others on how to survive such an emotional time
period and would be very grateful to those who do share their thoughts
on this private subject. Any help offered would be wonderful. Thank
you ahead of time.

Just wanted to acknowledge  my family - I had a wonderful Mothers day
- I was woken up at 7:00AM to  my son Joe and daughter Emily - Joe had
worked til midnight the night before yet got up to make me a superb a
cheese omelet with toast cooked by both.

Joe is broke this week with all his money going to his new apartment
he is moving in to in June. - Even if he spent a million bucks; it
still couldn’t stand up to the breakfast he and Emily prepared both
got up to make simply cause they spent the time.

Peter couldn’t come over this morning but I did see him in the
afternoon - he had tried to go to Hobby Lobby craft store to get me a
gift certificate but it is closed on Sundays.

Instead he gave me the $20.00  he wanted to spend - in truth I would
love to use it for a breakfast together or a dinner with just him and
I able to talk and discuss the events of the day - Yes I would like
time with him. - He said  he would take me out for breakfast
Tuesday 8:00am   - I am so happy just to have time with him - feels
like cloud nine time.

Also I would like to thank the mastermind of this Mother’s Day - My
darling David - taking Emily shopping to buy gifts for Mom’s day and
reminding Joe to wake up to cook breakfast in bed and reminding Peter
about it also - He is a wonderful man and I am very lucky to have him
love me as much as he does - I hope he knows he is loved a zillion
times more for ever by me

First of all to those who are Mother’s; a very Happy Mother’s Day to you!

To those who are not Mom’s it is still a day to feel good about
yourself and the joy of giving.

For most Mom’s, the best gift is just to be able to visit, share, and
talk and be with the child or children you love and cherish. Time is a
precious commodity and is often too little and not enough.

On this Mother’s Day; I encourage all to speak your mind. Don’t hide
your feelings; say the words ” I Love You!”  that you have thought of
saying but did not utter so many times. You have no idea how releasing
of pain and heartache they can be.

Many family relationships are full of confusion, heartache and
betrayal. They did not start that way.  No one lives an idea life or
has a storybook family. Families are full of diverse personalities
that will at times clash no matter how much you love each other or
sometimes even in spite of how much you love each other.

Traditionally Mother’s have been placed in the role of referee. A hard
job when you love both who are fighting.

Try to have today be a clean slate day. Everyone starts fresh. No
rivalries that seek to choose sides, no fights that hurt emotionally,
no conflicts to pull apart the foundations of your love.

Clean slate - Everyone is given a chance to start new.  All mistakes
are forgiven. That can be the greatest and hardest gift of all to give
but the best to receive. Even if you don’t act upon at least think
about this - It can be the best Mother’s Day gift of all - Peace with
in your heart with your family who love you.

Even,  if these thoughts of mine help only one person in turmoil it
will be well worth it. Because I care; please let me know how it
worked out. I would be glad to help in anyway I can.  I wish you well
and peace in your heart.