A Peaceful Day

Today has brought some much-needed peace.

We had a pancake breakfast at a decent hour before OH went to work. He typically works on Saturdays for six hours or so to put himself ahead, or catch up. Either way, it goes to help his week ahead.

OC and I peeled and cored about 40 apples and I put them on the stove to cook into sauce, which I plan to freeze.

The cats are lazing about, their mid-morning naps out of the way. After a good stretch and food pit stop they've settled into an early-afternoon snooze.

OC has her room covered with paper plates, utensils, and cups. She is calling it a tea party, although she has for all practical purposes abandoned it to play something else. You should see her outfit. She's wearing a long sleeved blue shirt and pink tights, over which is an orange sundress and purple Dora the Explorer socks. She's a billboard ad for United Colors of Benetton clothing.

I've got dishes to wash, clothes to fold, but it all feels good instead of rushed like it is during the week. I'm home during the week, so why does it feel different on Saturday? I don't know, but it does.

Later, I'm going to cut out the Halloween costume pattern I bought to make for OC. She will be Princess Jasmine this year. Since I've decided to take on the sewing myself, the challenge will be to get it done in time. If that weren't enough, I said I'd make an Ariel costume for my little neice, too.

Let's recap what I've gotten myself into: a tight deadline to finish a project, my own child's hopes as well as my neice's hanging in the balance, disappointment the only outcome if I don't succeed.

I know some of you are thinking, "What is your problem? It's mid-September. You've got plenty of time!"

Those of you who know me are thinking, "Poor OC! Poor OC's cousin! She's never going to get the costumes done!"

Because I am the woman who is currently crocheting a blanket for a friend's June wedding. This PAST June.

I really want to change. In all fairness, I was working full time up until their wedding. Now that I have been home, I've made a lot of progress on their blanket. It's about 3/4 of the way finished. There is hope. The pressure that comes from not wanting to disappoint two sweet little girls who are now old enough to remember this kind of thing really has me motivated.