See my pretties?

* With the bookmark round robin finished, the holiday craze over, kids back in school, swearing off of stairs and ovens, I am looking forward to trying some of the new patterns I have seen on fellow tatter blogs. Here's the third bookmark I received from Connie. My little girls love the small one I call a shooting star. I'm going to have to beg for the pattern to make them each one.

* I happen to love green (how did she know?), but I think this would be good in a red/white stripe like a candy cane. Mmmmm.

* Below is the bookmark from Bonnie. Again, love the green and it makes me think of spring. Can't wait until all my bulbs in the garden come up this year. Must be the unbelievable cold spell going on everywhere that makes me long for Spring. (Of course it could be that this Florida girl still hasn't gotten use to the cold here in NC. LOL)

* Okay, by my count there are 8 different colored flowers in this bookmark, but the chains are not fat enough to have been hiding 8 thread strands. It's so cool. She is a whiz. And I love the little seed beads at the end of the tail. I must try that next time. It gives just the perfect weight to the tail ends.

* I am so thankful to have been a part of this round robin. It gives me such inspiration to see first hand (as opposed to just pictures) the works of art others have made. It makes me want to work that much harder to improve. I have a picture of the last bookmark I made, but want to wait 'til the recipient gets it.

* Ooohhh! I just got in the mail the cd from Linda S. Davies with all of her 3D flowers in it. I am so excited to get started, but first wanted to try Jon's Hearts Intwined pattern found here :

http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/

Times Flies when ....?

When you're having fun? You've got to be kidding. I can't believe it is the middle of January already. Not much fun happening here. Let's see, to sum up the last four weeks....hmm.....burned hand, 3-wk headache caused by knots in back/neck/shoulder, fell down flight of stairs at church last Sunday.....throw in five kids (3 are teenagers) and a couple of holidays with at least 3 family get togethers......okay, so we ARE having some fun here. Seems like it was just yesterday that we were getting geared up for Christmas. Is it really mid-January?!?! Youngest is turning 6. Wow. Only 12 more years..... (-:

No, really, the holidays were great. Loved getting together with family. We all get along so well and really enjoy spending time together. It is wonderful. Didn't get as much tatting done as I would have liked due to hand burn and consuming activities. Now I can only tat for a few minutes before the knots (in back/shoulder/neck) tighten up and cause pain. But will post pictures hopefully tomorrow. Now to put the munchkins to bed and then follow suit....

Fun times were had by all, and to all a good night.

Teenagers - Love to Hate them or Hate to Love them?

I know that there is some sort of disconnect in a teenagers mind. Most all of us went through that same stage. But I just don't remember being a complete IDIOT!!!! Granted, being the oldest probably had something to do with maturing early, as did being a female. And my sons' up-bringing in a country of idiots (no, I am NOT exaggerating!) has a lot to do with their current state of mind, along with being boys in general (no offense intended to the men out there.)

So my question is this: How do I continue to keep sane? I am at the point of throwing up my hands and being done with them. On the other hand, as a mom I can't quit on my kids. I know myself enough to know that if I did quit, I would guilt-trip myself forever. So how do I continue and still keep my mind?

I will always love them (I tell this to them all the time) even if they do something horrible. I will love THEM, just hate what they DO. Like right now, I love them so much I can't quit trying. But it is making me not want to be around them, talk to them, do anything for them, etc. Yet, I keep pushing them to do better, be better, want better. Because of where they come from, they are satisfied with the statusquo. Whatever life hands them is fine. We have tried to explain to them that here in America you can have and be whatever you dream of if you work hard enough for it. They just don't care.

How do I keep caring to help someone who doesn't care if they are helped? And worse yet, scoffs at any help they are given? I so want to get off this ride.....parenting, that is.