Taking a Step

My last post was on Martin Luther King Jr Day. I've been doing a lot of thinking since then about this blog and it's future. I know I've told you before that I've really struggled with my creative thinking and energy over the past.....well, many months. With a heavy heart, I've decided that I need to take a sabbatical of sorts from my blog.

For many months now, The Lavendar Tree blog hasn't lived up to my expectations of what a good creative place should feel like. I don't want to quit - but I am going to take a perhaps much needed break from my blog and the worries of keeping it satisfactorily updated. I'd like to ask you to not give up on me - because I hope to be back much stronger, dedicated, and with God's help, perhaps even inspirational.

I'm feeling somewhat relieved, but yet much sadness by taking this step - but I'm doing what I feel is best for me at this time.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Today we honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Schools are closed. Post offices are closed. Office buildings are closed. But thankfully, our minds are not closed.

Fortunately for me, I'm able to honor it at home so I don't have to step outside in our extremely cold, 11 degrees BELOW zero temperature. I'm one of those lucky Americans who gets the day off work.

I'm going to take some time today and ponder this awesome Martin Luther King Jr quote.

In Love

I am in love with a new blog called Heather Spriggs. I can't believe I've never found it before but am so glad I finally did.

It is such a wonderful mix of loveliness and creativity that I can hardly stand it. You know.....when you get so excited about something that you can hardly stand to look at it. Your insides start to churn and your mind starts to whirl. In a good way.

Well, I highly encourage you to check it out. I have yet to look at every corner of the site - but I'm already head-over-heels about the new "white issue".

Clara Settles In

It was just over a month ago that I took in my stray buddy, Clara. She's really settled in nicely and seems to enjoy her new life.

She snuggles with me every night, wakes me up with head-rubbing-loving every morning, and gives me welcome home hugs when I drag back home after work.

Oh - and did I mention that she loves to keep the sofa nice and warm for me? What a good helper.

Fun Fingerless Gloves (FFG)

A couple weeks ago I decided that I have really missed knitting and crocheting. I checked around the internet for a simple, yet cute pattern for fingerless gloves (free pattern here).

It was an easy knit pattern and helped used up scraps of yarn from other projects.

What makes the pattern so darn easy is that is in knit flat and then simply stitched up the side - leaving a hole where you want your thumb.

It was fun getting the knitting needles moving again.

A Savings Plan

I've been out of commission again for awhile - I came down with the nasty flu bug that is running rampant here in the midwest. I still am not up to my normal self - but I'm feeling much better than I was a week ago.

I ran across this on Facebook the other day. Wish a new year upon us, it seemed like a pretty cool and somewhat do-able way to save a few dollars over the course of a year. I might just give it a try!

Pantone Color of the Year

It has been announced that Emerald is Pantone's color of the year. It's rich and beautiful.

But just so we don't get confused, here's my color of the universe. PURPLE.

Happy New Year

I wish you the very best happiness for a great new year!

I'm up at 2:05 am on January 1 - not because I've been celebrating - but because I've been sick. Cold/flu. Yuck. I haven't been this sick in years - it's going on day four now - and now I remember why I don't like to be sick! Here's to a healthy new start to the new year!