Cricket in a Biscuit

For the small price of two pairs of child-size mittens, I have been given three rather large bags full of freshly shorn wool. After spending several hours picking through the first fleece, I've come to several conclusions.  First, the possibilities are endless. There is a lot  of wool there, and two of the bags are multicolored, which means I can separate and mix and blend to my heart's content.  Second, this is going to take forever! It is very liberating to be given a large amount of wool in one shot. I've purchased a couple fleeces, and, while I've never bought anything really fancy, it's still a large investment, which makes it hard to throw any of it away. With three giant garbage bags of wool at my disposal, it is easier to part with the less desirable parts of the the fleece. Anything that's really  dirty or packed with hay —gone! It seems wasteful at first, but it will make for better yarn in the long run.  I've also come to realize I may have to do ...

Chatting with a friend today, I was reminded of something I hadn't thought of in a while, the saving power of a baby's first smile. Being a first time mom is hard — soul-crushing, overwhelming and desperately hard — especially if you're the first one in your family or friend group to have kids. You're tired and sore, totally clueless and nobody in your immediate circle really knows what you're feeling. You want so badly to get it right, but the baby can only cry, which makes a new mom feel as though they are getting it all wrong. There is no positive feedback, whatsoever. A newborn can't even really maintain eye contact. Soft snores are about the only indicator you haven't screwed up within the last five minutes. Then there is the hesitance to say anything, because we are supposed to be so happy and so in love, like our whole world is wrapped in rose colored gauze. Me as a new mom, holding on for dear life. It doesn't  seem possible this was ...