The Week in Review

Like anyone with a heart, mine is with the people of Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey. I grew up on the coast of Florida and experienced many almost and near-misses. I have a vivid memory of playing under the dining room table that my dad moved into our tiny kitchen during Hurricane David. I am fortunate to have never experienced the devastation of those who lived through Andrew, Katrina, and now Harvey. There are many ways to help those in need, and there are many comprehensive lists  floating around the internet, but I thought I would mention two organizations that address specific needs.

• Purchase diapers for the Texas Diaper Bank through Amazon Smile.
• 100% of donations made through September 5 to PERIOD will go to Hurricane Harvey shelters to provide women with the period products that they need.

Craftspace

I'm continuing to work through Knot: A Book. The Plafond and Pan Chang knots have me stumped, but I will keep practicing. Working with these knots is working my brain in ways it hasn't been worked in a long time. I've suffered from mom brain for so long. (It is real; I don't care what science says. This time.) In a way, macrame and knots are weaving my brain cells back together. 

(l-r) top: sailor's breastplate, true lover's knot, clasped hands; middle: cross knots, double coin, cloud knot; bottom: weaver's plait, switchback, rising sun knot

I finished another work that I will share with you on Monday. It is a perfect example of how I had a plan and the rope had another idea. The final result is something beautiful and the first work that I am truly excited about. And through the process I think I am finding my voice.

Sneak peak at my most recent project

Stuff I Bought That I Love

This little dude save me $70.

The little doodad to the right is a MagSafe to MagSafe2 converter. That doodad is what is allowing me to type on this computer. For reasons that are too complicated to explain, there is only one power adapter cord for two newish MacBooks at my house. When that power cord is with Lefty, I am SOL. That is until I bought this $10 converter instead of a new power adapter. I can attach this converter to my 5+ year=old macbook power adapter, and it now works with the newer macbook. 

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Every Tuesday during the summer, I visit my favorite used home goods shop, Mimi's Attic, to pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers. If you have a flower CSA in your town, I highly recommend it. Not only do you support a local farm, but fresh flowers in your home is good for the soul. It's not expensive either. If you buy flowers at the grocery store or farmer's market, you might even save money by joining a flower CSA.

I couldn't say "no" to this beauty.

Every time I go to Mimi's Attic, I bring home a basket or two. This past week, I found the loveliest framed embroidery. I've hung it in a corner of our bedroom. I've always put our bedroom on the bottom of the list for decorating. It has always been, and is, a mishmash of hand-me-downs and random pieces of furniture. It does contain a few special pieces, like the wooden headboard made by my dad and the antique hope chest given to me by my mom. We spend so much time in our rooms, I need to pay more care and attention to it. One step... hang a beautiful piece of art

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I will be double-socking it for a while.

Mama's got a new pair of shoes. I've waited over 20 years, but I finally own a pair of Doc Martens. I wanted a pair so badly in college, but I could not afford them. So I bought some cheap, shiny, pleather, lace-up combat boots. I loved those boots, but they weren't the same as real Docs. Now as a full-fledged grownup (and lifelong boot lover), I have many boots for many occasions. Knee-high riding boots, comfy ankle boots, snow boots, and rain boots. But I'm also trying to pair down my wardrobe to things I truly love and wear. When Zulily ran a sale on Doc Martens, I leapt at the chance to own a pair of black oxfords. (I know, I know. You can't get more punk than Zulily). I can wear these with anything. Now the breaking-in period begins. These puppies are stiff. 

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Readwatchlisten

This was not a good week for reading and watching. Or, at least, nothing was memorable enough to mention. I will leave you with what I have been listening to. Iron & Wine's new album Beast Epic.