What a difference a day makes or 8

Wow you know the saying "what a difference a day makes?" Well after my last series of IV Iron shots 8 of them in a row, I can say What a difference 8 days make. I finished my series of shots and about 4 days later I felt so much improved, and being able to finish a whole class of zumba workout, or my weight training class without stopping and without running out of breath. In fact one class I've been taking I want to drop because it seems so slow now, but my friends are there and I will probably continue with it for that reason. We have training class for Zumba instructors next weekend, and I'm so looking forward to it. Choreography isn't my high point but If I'm putting it together I can probably do it ok. I've been taking from 3 different teachers and they are all different and have different quirks- good and bad. Em will be great, she never struggles with choreography have been a dancer for the last 16 years. It's just like dooing another show to her. I think her challenge will be calling out steps, as you go along, since that's not what shes used to.
Counting the days until my vacation, and hoping that my iron holds through to the end of it all. I would be so sad to get the island and not be able to snorkle, swim and hit the Zip line this time.
Ever since we've moved to this house I've had one health issue after the next, starting with Melanoma, severe depression, injuring my back, injuring my shoulder, struggling with severe anemia. When this place sells and we get out of here,I will be so glad to say good bye and hope the next place has better memories. Unfortunately I don't think I will be out of here anytime soon.
We are having some lovely days- 2 in a row of weather in the mid 70's. For seattle these days thats a reason to jump up and scream happy things.
So I'm off to get out into that sun. Have a good weekend.

Working on my daughters Visa

Ack! working on the visa for student to England with my daughter.

  She filled out all the paperwork and then comes to me, I need these things: birth certificate, even though she has her passport, high school diploma, and oh yeah one must show the entire years tuition and living expenses in the bank account for 30 days prior to visa application or the loan papers.  No problem I always have a spare thirty thousand upfront.  I understand the thought behind it, but really? We've been trying to not take loans out for her education if possible. Last year she spent part of her college money while living in San Francisco and attending the conservatory there.  To show we had the moneys we had to withdraw from our 401K; I hate that, since we took it as a loan from ourselves we aren't paying taxes on it, but still it loses its earning potential during that time. Then the lovey Visa ask for your address while in country. Unfortunately- we don't have that yet. But hopefully the housing officer will be able to help us out on that. It says you can list the person helping you, and that will have to be satisfactory this time.
I know I'm being a little whiney about it. But part of that I think is the fact that I know I'm sending my only off to live so FAR away from home, and unlike when she lived in San Francisco, I don't think there will be a lot of trips in-between home and school for either of us. The poster above actually really has meaning right now in my life as we go through this process. FYI - Do you know the history of the Keep Calm poster? produced in 1939 for the British government to uplift the moral of the British peoples as they were facing World War 2. It was one of three different messages produced and hung throughout the country. Found in a bookshop in 2000, it has again become popular, and had many variations of it produced. Just a little tidbit for you today.

I can hardly believe its the 13 of july!

July 13th is my youngest brothers birthday.  Its so difficult to imagine that he is 45 this year. In my mind I still see him as a teenager most of the time, despite that he has served his country in the army, and raised a beautiful daughter. Perhaps that is because we all lived at home at the time, and when you move out you feel like everything with your parents stops growing.  I don't know.   he's the handsome one on the right with blonde hair and blue shirt.  My other brother turned 47 on the 9th of July. This picture of the 3 of us was taken in November last year.

 Oh how time has flown since my last post.  I've been working on several new hats for my etsy shop.  I will be posting these later tomorrow probably.  Trying to find a decent day for photos.  Meanwhile my basket is getting fuller.  I'm hoping to make arrangements with a local photographer to get photos in trade of some stock.  I did send a few off to a another photographer, but I haven't had any pictures returned yet.  Makes me sad, as I hoped to see something soon. 

Fourth of July was lovely, the weather was perfect, and we had friends over as did my daughter.  We still are able to set personal fireworks off so that was mandatory with my daughter and friends.  It was fun.  We made some delicious white sangria, fortified with apple brandy.  It was lovely along with the other 3 bottles of white wine we all managed to consume. 

Miss em finally got a seasonal job for the summer.  She will have about 2 months of work and looks like they are giving her about 20 hours a week.  So things are good.  Now just finalizing the visa /money situation. ugh.  Why do foreign countries think you have and entire years of living expenses and tuition sitting around in your bank account  ahead of time?  Were working ti all out, but it does crimp a thing or too until the visa is processed.

From the www.ballofyarn.etsy.com

My project this week has been a hooded scarf that is fabulous.  Its called the Enchanted hooded scarf by Karen 'abegglen and can be found  at www.ballofyarn.etsy.com
I love the romantic look of this piece and the scarf is long and wide, and the yarn is so soft and cozy. My daughter will be taking this London with her for the damp and cold winter.  She already keeps petting it and just a few more rows and it will be time sew it together and get a photo or too. Mine is done in a color called "parfait" and looks good with ginger hair.