Limosuines and Laughter; Parties ever after

Sunday we found we had a little free time with no impending projects or phone calls demanding our time.  So we headed to McCormicks and Schmidts for happy hour.  Unfortunately on Sunday they have what they call Game day fare.  It's not happy hour that's for sure.  We had a couple drinks and I  tried the fish tacos while Gordon went for the Tempura shrimp.  We watched the end of the SeaHawks game and then decided we would go elsewhere.  So we went up stairs to The Parlor.  They always have a good happy hour, with a new menu coming soon.  Here we had a few more drinks. Gordon had the Sliders, while I tried the Asian beef satay.  While there we played with the phone camera.  After numerous terrible shots, like both of our Glasses reflecting the flash - you know that Stars in your eye look, or the camera would cut one of us off, or the angle was so ridiculous you would laugh hysterically, we finally came out with one sort of OK picture- seen here.

The nice thing about happy hour, you can go have a early dinner (via the happy hour bites) and a drink or two and be home by 7.

Empty Nester's

I was at dinner last night with friends and my father in law.  My father in law has launched three children of his own  on this world of ours and now is watching his 3rd grandchild head out there.  He made a great comment, about he doesn't have to worry so much he can watch the girls and make comments etc. but its not his responsibility.  Actually what really cracks up about this statement is that he probably worries more than he will ever tell.  He is always making sure the girls have what they need, but he also made the comment to me he only hears from them when they need money.  When my husband and I were newly married, he was always there for us financially.  If we asked he provided, even though it may have been a bind for him.  He never told us.  He did at one point tell us we needed to start paying for my husbands tuition on our own, but it was to be expected. 
Last night his friend made the comment that I was being such a good mother in understanding my daughter's need to go off &  follow her love of dance.  Supporting her financially and through this time.  I almost wanted to laugh.  Our daughter is our only child.  We love our daughter, and want her to succeed.  We don't always agree with her but it certainly is our desire to see her happy and grow into a responsible adult.  When your children are at home, the last few years are so crucial in teaching them responsibility, respect for others and how to take care of themselves. You hope they have learned enough independence and confidence to succeed on their own.
 I believe our world is very different than it was 30 years ago when I went off to school.  I went to college, being driven by my grandmother, mother and aunt to the dorms.  I had 3 boxes of stuff no suitcases.  They helped me carry my boxes up, looked around and said goodbye.  We had no cell phones, or computers.  You could write letters, or make a traditional phone call.  I was far enough away the call was long distance so it precluded making those kind of calls. Parents didn't hang around, decorate your rooms, or stay with you. I kind of felt like it was a sink or swim situation, BUT I was determined that I would swim. I had never paid a bill, my first job held that summer-2 months part time before going away to school. I didn't care about what I didn't have. I cared about what I would accomplish and do on my own.  Some of us seem to have more challenges than others to succeed.  I learned those challenges and how we handle them, are what make us the person we become.  Many times I've wanted to curl up in my mothers or grandmothers lap and say, I'm so done with all of this, but then I look at what my grandmother accomplished and overcame in her life and realize that self pity in short spurts can feel good, but gets us no where.
So you're wondering where is this all going?   Well I guess I miss my daughter.  We are fortunate to be able to share a few text almost every day. Do I miss her presence and her hugs. YOU BET!  Am I proud of her taking on the challenging of following her dream, living in a large city, without any real friends or family, living in a dorm that's not associated with her school, so the community feeling you get when you live in a school dorm isn't there. She is taking the bull by the horns. And I hope with all my heart she succeeds. 
As a parent, I don't feel like I deserve compliments for "allowing", or helping her to go.  I know from my own experiences, she would find a way to do it.  With our help she has a better chance at success,but certainly its all about her.  I have several friends who are all in the same boat.  We all have our own ways of handling it, but its a fact that our children grow and mature(at least we hope they do).

projects updated!

Well as promised, here is a picture of the pink Brazilian cotton shawl.  I finished it while we were driving back from San Fran. Of the several photos I took this is the only one that came out, where you can see it ( however it is a bit blurry).  My little body form its on will be going back to the studio this weekend.  I figured, when I move I don't have room for it, I have two others. one is a junior form I use for my daughter- since she is petite. This form is for a small woman, but definitely not petite in length.  Since many of the dancers at the studio are taller, this will benefit them.

My next project is this shirt.  I saw it in an advertisement for  Dillard's.  We don't have Dillard's in the northwest, and although I'm quite sure I could find the shirt at one of the bigger stores like Macy's, i don't want to search.  So I'm on the search for a tunic pattern- probably have one in my stash that I can convert the front to this type of detail.   It's  silk organza on a silk blend knit.
My daughter really liked  it too, so if successful, I will do one for her.

wow time has gone by so fast.

I returned home last Thursday from taking my daughter off to her new city digs.  It was hard to say goodbye, especially when the tears welled up in her eyes.   So my question is, why is it when our kids get old enough to do things with us, and you can enjoy each others company, instead of feeling like its work, that they move away? It's just very odd for nature to do this to us. 

I finished a shawl I was crocheting while traveling.  Made from a Brazilian cotton blend.  I'm not sure what I will do with it, yet.  While in Ashland I was able to pick up a lovely silk blend yarn on sale, in two colors, one a gorgeous but not overly bright coral- intended to be made for Emilee. And a very soft grey I want to use for myself.
It was on sale for 25% off so I felt like I hit the jackpot.  We only stopped for lunch, but the yarn shop was on the way back to the car. 

I've been so busy, I haven't read blogs, or written on my own here. =)   
I just came back from meeting with the realtor to discuss the house.  I recently  found before leaving to San Francisco 2 perfect houses. Same neighborhood, similar floor plan etc.  one sold just before I left and the other, went pending this weekend.  There was one other I had marked as a favorite, and its gone pending too.  So now I' have two other houses same area, but opposite side of the neighborhood with  my eye on.  I'm afraid to like them too much or they'll fly off too.  One has been on for 6 months is priced to high, and desperately needs fresh paint inside and a little updating.  The other one I've not been in but the seller is offering to update the kitchen counters on sale, so that's a big deal.  Would like to see in it one of these days.

Next on the list is the box of things forgotton and asked for by darling daughter.  So I need to run around and collect her goodies and mail out to her. 
I will soon throw a couple pictures on here of the shawl and trip.

Taking my daughter to college

Well here it is the weekend we take our daughter off to college.  She's not finished packing yet, no surprise, but we told her we have to leave by a certain time and she needs to be ready.  But of course this is all 2nd to getting together with friends, saying goodbye, attending Seattle Bumbershoot musical festival.  In fact we are leaving a day later so she can attend the festival.  Then there was the housing, although we found what we wanted, it was more difficult to get finalized.
So it is with excitement and tears that we get ready to pack up the car and figure out what to take.  We tried to make a trip to container store and pick out a few things that might make life easier but its so difficult to do without knowing the rooms details.    So in a few days, my daughter will start her new life as a student living away from home in a few states away, and we will be worrying that she's ok, happy, and healthy and doing well, as all parents do.  I read where one parent went to and amusement park and rode the roller coasters after dropping off her daughter at college.  I'm kind of in a mind to do that.  Where screaming your brains out, till tears come, can give you some release of all the pent up feelings.  Yep that sounds like a good idea but I don't know that there is one anywhere near.  Oh well, we'll stop and visit my aunt who is almost  100 for a little bit.  She sleeps most of the day but it will be good to see her too.