The Truly Lovely Things... Part 2 - My Weekend (APRIL 4-6)

I had the most amazing weekend!  - and I have you all to thank!

A few things.

1. This blog is working for me - I'm getting things off of my chest and releasing it out there to the universe.
2. I'm able to get out for bits of time and be Joyful - being the introvert in the corner - but still so very much enjoying everyone's company, energy and trying feeling as normal as possible - without too much "thinking about the gravity of everything"

So, what did I do this lovely weekend.

FRIDAY

My friend Sheila drove me, (between the vision changes, head pressure and fatigue I'm not quite up to driving yet) and we spent the afternoon with my GalPaca Farm friends down in Mt. Horeb.  This small group of women are such food for my soul. They are strong, and courageous and independent.   We brought our lunches and we talk and relax and sit and knit. 

There's Mary Margaret the soulful and so smart, Sheila - the now retired middle school teacher (middle school teachers are walking saints among us!) , Linda the retired cop, and Mindy the EMT/Firefighter.  Two super brave women - the types that run toward the danger instead of away!  Incredible!   -and usually Kay, who was missing but busy because she was helping her daughter, Sara. 

Sara will be opening up a brand new shop called "A Skein Away" - in Northern Illinois (Roscoe, IL) at the end of this month! The grand opening is coming up on April 26th and I'm plugging it.  A Skein Away     She had put in an amazing order from Purl Talk Yarns- but for obvious reasons I'm parking it for now.  I'm sad to not be a part of their grand opening on April 26!  - but you all might want to check it out to celebrate this new place.  

Getting back to us, Linda and I had the most amazing conversations.  As some of you know, I'm a first generation American on my Mother's side.   My mother was born in in southern Austria, and I grew up with a lot of Austrian culture - they spoke German a lot - but culturally we were Slovenian - from the food and culture, to the church and my grandfather's family.   To this day - it's a food thing for me.  I didn't grow up eating Ho-Ho's and wonder bread in my lunchbox.  I was the kid who's sandwiches were the smelly ones reeking of garlic. (YUMMMM)

It turns out that Linda's family was Serbian and I think a bit Croatian (both regionally part of the former Yugoslavia - and fighting - because they do)  But we connect on FOOD!  The food is most often regional - and since I grew up cooking and eating it from my Oma - I brought over one of my old recipe books and we just had a blast talking about it.  

We're making plans to go and pick up sausage at Bernie's Sausage Shop in Port Washington, WI - They're the only place I've found in Wisconsin that make Zelodec, and other Slovenian sausages - I put in my order - and run there with a cooler at least once a year - sometimes twice.  It tastes and smells like "home and happy memories" to me.  This year I put in an order for Linda too - and I can't wait to show them.   

And then we talked about the 3 Brother's Restaurant in Milwaukee, a Serbian restaurant - and the first place I ever sat down with a menu and was like - OMG - this is like a page out of my grandmother's recipe book.  It brings tears to my eyes!  So - loads of things to look forward to.

SATURDAY'S KNITTING FOR FOOD - FUNDRAISING KNITTING MARATHON.

For the past couple of years - I've been locally hosting the "Knit for Food" event in my home.  And I really enjoy doing it.  (Can you believe that nationwide they have raised over $500,000 this year by knitters to support food insecurity?)  But this year - I was double booked to be at YarnCon in Chicago - and so sad about the conflict - because I feel so strongly about doing this.

I asked my friend, Amber about having our local Madison Knitters Guild host (probably a lot more planning would be needed) - but she decided to host it in her home this year.

Because I had to back out of YarnCon - I got to attend Amber's "Madison Stitch - n- Bitch" team gathering and it was so much fun to go and spend a few hours!  (I wear out quickly)

We pot-luck it - and our hosts made amazing pulled pork!  and we just sit and knit and I specifically drink CANANDA DRY...because why not...(insert's a few anger/despair emotions)

Anyway - my friend Angela drove me out - and Paul picked me up after he attended the big rally in downtown Madison - because he felt the need to represent - and I was wearing my Ruth Bader Ginsberg Dissent Collar sweater at our gathering in spirit - BECAUSE!

Here's a few of the many photos taken.  I went home, drained, but happy and full of heart from being with these amazing people!  

And a lovely check in call from my friend Amy of 42 years!  I love hearing about her life in Kentucky.   We talked about Kentucky Castle and their Lavender Festival and tons of other lovely memories of life in Akron Ohio.  Such a great talk.

SUNDAY

On Sunday, probably over did it - but it was worth every second.

Mid morning, my dear friend, Ginny and I took a quick walk around the neighborhood.  In the late 2000s we lived on the same street and started walking together some mornings.  We've been walking and talking  - at least one morning a week  - for our second decade - with little breaks here and there for reasons - but we always connect.

Such a close, heartfelt and lovely friend.  She's so smart - a historian working for the international division at the university.  I  just love our conversations... She's so interesting and thinks so differently from me.   She's amazing and we ended with a quick cup of tea on my kitchen table.

Then Paul & I did a bit of tidying up and laundry, and I packed up Easter baskets for my "kids"   - Yes they are adults - but I still get a kick out of doing it.   Instead of tons of chocolate - which they don't really eat - I bought tons of these little Penzy's spice sampler packets - and filled their Easter baskets with those.  They're colorful and fun and OMG - I can't wait for them to see (OH GEEZ - They'll probably read this too - Shhhhh!)

Then the Madison Knitters Guild hosted a quick knitting group meet up - It's only 2 hours and its very close to home.  I love seeing what people are doing and hearing about their projects.  I had a lovely time. 

Sat with a couple of "besties" - Anitra - who I will affectionately call my soul sister - and Cindy - whom I've only met over the last year - but I just love her!  I got to talk to Katie- who knit this fabulous Purl Talk Rock-It Tee - who also is a tough, cancer survivor - and reached out.  She is so very lovely.  And I talked with Cheryl - about intarsia knitting and her creative process - which - I'm so very interested in.  And new to me - Katie/Kathryn whom I only met a few weeks ago -  talking about steeking her new sweater - and other lovely things.  And after some knitting -My heart is FULL  and I go home and collapse on the couch - and maybe get some puppy love.

We ended with a lovely visit from Paul's department head - who's kindly family cooked us dinner.    It was amazing!  I think because of the steroids - food has been kind of weird for me.  But for some reason the meal hit me like a brain bomb!  I don't know why, but it tasted so amazing - and I was truly ravenous!!!

And then I crashed on the couch!  Full of Love & JOY - Which is really what I want right now.

And I forgot to add.... Paul made me a Brandy Old Fashioned,  but using the traditional Slovenian Plum Brandy....since thats been top of mind lately. He's so sweet

So - my rambling review of the weekend.  I didn't even tell you what projects I'm working on.  We'll save it for another day.

Take care - and do something nice for yourself.

Love ya,

-L