let's try this again. maybe.

it's been about a year, and i've been mostly quiet.

sometimes that happens.

sometimes it has to happen.

i could say that 2012 offered an endless stream of hassle.

it's true.

but it was full of learning about myself, about my people.

it was full of learning about the people around me, that 

opinions are formed about you (me) independent of 

fact and truth.

i learned that my child would do better if he was able to do better.

i learned that behaviours are often unrelated to attitudes.

i learned that sometimes the things that hold you (me) back are 

held firmly in place by the rubble of things that happened long ago.

sorting through piles of destruction is hard work.

i learned open hearth cooking, and how to bake in a brick oven.

whilst wearing proper underpinnings for a woman in the 1850's.

including a corset.

i learned that making pretty, useful things for people is 

terrifically satisfying.

i love sitting in my work space, sewing away,

while my people do their schoolwork.

i learned that the unorthodox sometimes is the best fit.

also in the very satisfying category:

drinking a guinness after setting up our enormous

10-person tent, after driving 5 hours, after packing for a camping trip,

ALONE (plus the short people).

i learned that i can do all the things.

well, many of the things.

there is always more to master.