And so . . .

Monday night I set the table for two. I have done this many times before as Hannah has a pretty active social life and is often not home for dinner. And yet, this time, it felt different. It felt weird. It felt small and sort of pathetic. Family dinners have been such an important part of our lifestyle and suddenly my family (at least the one that I prepare meals for) is only made up of one other person. No more big casseroles and roasts for us, now it’s small portions and half servings and I don’t know what I’m going to do with all those huge bags of spaghetti sauce in the freezer.

So I lit a candle to make it feel special and I reminded myself that I’d be saving money on grocery bills. I thought about how I can cook things like pork chops without having to endure the complaints. We can go out if we want and we can skip dinner altogether if we want and we can even have ice cream for dinner if we want.

Maybe it’s not all bad, this smaller family thing.

I rectified that situation by creating a project info thingy for each project but then I realized that I don’t have pictures to go along with the project info. Whoops again.

That is now fixed and I’m sharing with you.

First up: the Fiori di Sole shawl. This is for a friend who is getting married in just 18 days. I am hauling ass on this and slightly worried about my deadline but since I absolutely have to finish, well, I know I will.

Next up: Que Sera for Hannah. I started this back in July and had hoped to send it off to college with her but then I offered to knit the wedding shawl and the sweater has been set aside. I’m slightly worried about running out of yarn and that doesn’t inspire me to pick it up again but I will once that shawl is done.

Finally: socks. Every knitter needs a little down time and that’s what my picot edge socks are for.

What are you knitting these days?

This week’s topic is in direct response to my current situation. I’m looking for things to make me happy and so our list today is 10 Ways to Lighten Your Mood.

1. Watch a funny movie. One of my favorites is Young Frankenstein – it always makes me laugh. You could also watch a sitcom or two. Reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond are great and Modern Family (which one a bunch of emmy awards, yay for them!) is my new favorite.
2. Spend time participating in your favorite hobby. In my case that’s knitting mostly but I also indulge in photography and spinning. A hobby makes for a great distraction when you’re feeling blue.
3. Talk to a friend. I received an amazingly well-timed phone call from The Knitigator Sunday night and it really helped a lot.
4. Email a friend. It’s almost as good as a phone call and it really helps.
5. Volunteer. Nothing like seeing those less fortunate to help you put things in perspective.
6. Go for a walk. Okay, I probably won’t do this but I’m told that exercise is a great mood elevator.
7. Go for a bike ride. This is more likely to happen and since riding my bike always make me feel like a kid, well, you can’t beat that for lightening the mood.
8. Eat something delicious. I try hard not to comfort myself with food (okay, I fail but I try) but sometimes a bowl of ice cream or some mashed potatoes and gravy is just the thing.
9. Tackle a project. Paint a room or organize a closet or weed the garden. Throwing yourself into mindless work is bound to make you feel better.
10. Just let it out. Sometimes a good cry is the best thing in the world. Ask me how I know!

Saturday night before dinner

And so, just like that, the big move is done. Hannah is now a college freshman. I am happy and excited for her and hope that she has a wonderful college experience.

As for me, I’m feeling a bit bereft. Like a left this big part of me over there on the other side of Massachusetts – which I sort of did. I’m going to have to learn how to function without this bit of myself and I sure hope it doesn’t take too long because I’m not enjoying this feeling.

Sunday afternoon in her dorm room

I have many friends in this boat with me right now and that helps a whole lot. And I know I have all of you, my dear readers. Many of you have emailed and commented to tell me that you are thinking about me and that helps bunches, it really does.

So, if I may ask, please, continue to think good thoughts for me and for my baby girl.

And especially think good thoughts for Dale – he’s the one who has to deal with all this emotional mother/daughter crap. The poor guy.

Betty and Oscar like the beach, too!

So this weekend is the big one where we take Hannah and leave her at college. Think good thoughts for us, please.

And have a great weekend!

I immediately put them on my beach chair and took a photo.

The shadows are a little harsh in that picture, though, so I looked around for another – better – spot.

I spied this lifeguard chair and decided to pose my socks right there. Sure, I may have gotten some strange looks from other beach goers but if strange looks bothered me I wouldn’t be walking around with Dale. (hahaha, I couldn’t resist.)

Anyway, the chair was a great spot to show off the socks. The white wood and blue ocean really make the green and blues of the sock yarn pop.

Which made me realize that eliminating the chair and holding the socks up with the ocean as the only backdrop would also work.

You know the pattern, the yarn is Yarn Pirate in the color Cassiopeia.

But in my heart they will always be called my South Cape Beach Socks.

I only got to spend one late afternoon at the beach last week and it was lovely. Just Dale and I with a margarita (or two) and a swim in the balmy waves. It was probably my favorite hour of the whole week.

There was an evening, though, where we rode our bikes to the beach. We had eaten a late lunch and decided to all take a ride together. The light was gorgeous and I was so glad I had tossed the camera into the basket of my bike.

I was able to get a good photo of everyone.

Hannah on her bike.

And Jess grinning.

Patrick with his long hair getting blown around.

And Hannah and Jess by the shore.

I even thought to have Hannah take a picture of Dale and I.

Family portraits at the beach are a very good thing.

The topic for this week is a timely one and inspired by the Hannah’s upcoming departure for college. That’s right, my friends, my baby girl is leaving the next on Sunday. I’m holding it together okay but we’ll see how I do when the moment actually arrives. In the meantime, let’s discuss 10 Things You Wish You Had Known When You Started College.

I wish I had known:

1. That you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate. I tried and I failed at it. It’s good to be friendly but it’s not necessary to be friends.
2. That it’s okay to eat a meal by yourself. I was completely paranoid about entering the dining room and having no one to sit with while I ate. At this time in my life that sounds great!
3. That being homesick isn’t the end of the world. I got over it in a relatively short time but those first few weeks were incredibly lonely for me.
4. How to relax and enjoy myself more. I had a wonderful college experience but I was pretty uptight about a lot of stuff back then.
5. That it’s okay to change your mind. Drop a class. Change your major. Reinvent yourself. This is the time to experiment.
6. How to live on a budget. I did pretty well with this but mostly because I got lucky. It’s a really important lesson.
7. That the stuff that’s stressing you out or bothering you or seems like a huge deal just – isn’t that important. Let it go, it will be fine.
8. That not having your driver’s license doesn’t make you a loser. I didn’t get mine until after graduation and I turned out just fine. Sometimes it’s better to wait.
9. That the friends you make now will be your friends for life. I got lucky with this one, too, and came out of my college years with 2 wonderful friends that I still have today. This means you need to pick your friends wisely.
10. That reaching out is better than sitting in your room alone. Being vulnerable is a gift.

I am going to make Hannah read all these lists today. I bet we will both learn a lot.

I spent lots of time at the beach.

I read – in fact I finished 2 books.

I knit a lot. I finished a pair of socks and made some progress on a shawl I am knitting for a friend to wear in her wedding next month.

I took lots of photos and created some great memories.

I shopped and ate delicious foods.

I rode my bike and walked on the beach.

I hung out with my family and friends.

The only thing that would have made it better would have been another week of it!

I made this delicious Antipasto Pasta Salad to bring to our Kiwanis club pot luck this week. Yummy to look at and delicious to eat!

And with that, I’m off on my Cape Cod vacation. See you all in a week!