Goodness...

Life is stressful, but not unpleasant.  We are settling into a rhythm of traveling, surgery, and the start of chemo this week.  Everyone is handling it as well as can be expected. 

Family is such a strong supplier of faith.

And so I share a few glimpses into my days.  The summer is flying by and we find ourselves trying to enjoy the few hours of sun that we are granted every day this past week. It has rained every day, and I am just about tired of it. Never fear though, there is plenty of playing around and visiting with loved ones.

My freshly shorn haired boy... "helping" me water the garden.

(I was afraid that I had cut all the red out when the buzzer snipped off the last of his hair, thankfully though, it is growing back nice and carrot in color)

My first sweater that I think I might just complete...it (and I for that matter) have seen WAY too many waiting rooms lately.

Fresh plump berries on our blueberry bush...ripening for the picking.

A garden that is thriving...despite my lack of attention.

And finally, my thrift store score for the week...I know EXACTLY what I am going to do with them.

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I continue to visit you all on my off time (pulling my always popular peeping Tom act) and even if I don't let you know that I was there... please know that I was.  I continue to draw great strength and inspiration from my dearest of friends.

THESE Moments...

Today we drive 2 hours one way for the first surgery.  I am anxious and finding a need to focus on the good in my life.

Hence....THESE moments.

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A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Soule Mama 

 Weeds that I remember pinching as a little girl.

Visits with family that I have missed tremendously.

Finding a funky egg in the carton from the farmstand.

The last of my peonies blooming.

Lots of fresh garden mint and raspberry tea.

Watching my boy and his newly SIX year old cousins (Happy birthday Sam and Aurora!) play in the boats at the pond at my Pa's house on the mountain.

Finishing the tutorials for my dolls and clothes to dress them in over at Rhythm of the Home.

Make the doll

Add the hair

Sew a dress

Make a bonnet

Go try them out, I'd love to see you create one of your own.

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Thanks again for all of your support.  Lots of hugs and love to you all.

Jules

What I've been up to...

Well, this past week or so has been quite a roller coaster.  My days off were spent in Vermont at the Cancer Center with my family member.  We have a meeting on Monday with a team of doctors to figure out a plan of attack.

I am feeling more hopeful than I had originally and a HUGE thanks goes out to all of you for all of your wishes and support.  I am continuously surprised by this community and the friends that I have in this space.

I had some precious time to do a lot of crafting while we were in Vermont for a few days sitting in waiting rooms and such.  I started knitting a new hat in the prettiest shade of purple only to find that I sized it wrong ( you may see it here as a giveaway once I finish it).   AND I completed stitching up two of my dolls using the pattern and tutorial that I created for Rhythm of the Home.

Yep, that's them up there in my arms...Penelope and Calliope.

You wouldn't believe what a godsend it is to have such a fun distraction to occupy my thoughts.

I have spent a lot of time in the garden, it is such a rejuvenating place to be.  Pulling up weeds and fluffing the soil.  Fran and I take turns watering it every night.

Eben is wonderful as always.... simultaneously full of beans, a busy bee and a little love.

So, in short...my time away has been rough, but insightful.  I will be back here once a week or so with updates on my life.

Not the woe-is-me sort of sharing, but the happy-good-things-in-life type of sharing.

I've missed you all tremendously.

Love, Julia

PS, if you want to see more of my gaggle of girls that I have created for Rhythm of the Home using the my tutorial... I direct you over to the Blog where I have posted more pictures and a little introduction to the Roth girls.  I will be sharing the complete tutorial and instructions over on the ROTH blog on Tuesday.