Jelly Jar Party Light

Crafting keeps me going. I saw this idea online and thought what a wonderful idea! Whipped this up today. Now that its done I can see room for improvements. Smaller gauge wire that I can bend into curves and experiment with adding sea-glass or other decorative elements. I want to find different jars to make an outdoor chandelier with them. When I think back on family BBQs I remember the use of these jars as center pieces and glasses to drink from. You gave the kids the jars so they wouldn't break the good drinking glasses. So many fond memories it's only natural that I would find another use for the empty jars in my kitchen.

Kitchen Apron

This is the kitchen apron I made to replace one that has gotten faded. Loving my old apron I wanted one just like it. But not knowing where to find it, I just made one. This apron I started and finished today! My craftsmanship is a little rusty, my stitching is tight in areas and there is a little bunching of the fabric. Over all I would say I did a great job! My old apron had big red poppies that I just loved, but I couldn't find fabric that had that same look. Finding this dia los muerto fabric was just as good. I love cooking mexican food, so what better fabric to make an apron with! A little heart embroidery on the red tie in the back was a result of not wanting to change thread color, but in the end was a fantastic detail!

I have tried to keep myself busy this past week in an effort to keep my mind on the present. I have had good days and bad ones. Thoughts and feelings come over me like a rogue rain storm, gone as quickly as it had started. I have always prided myself on my vary British way of dealing with emotional pain, "Stay clam. Carry on." I wonder if one day I will just crack, but I know better than that.

Day Five: The First Ride

I have just got home from my first real ride with my best gal pal, Gris! We didn't go up anything to steep or go over anything remotely technical. Had so much fun! I feel tired and I want to take a nap, but with my first taste of dirt in my mouth.... I like it. I still don't know really what am doing and my bike isn't dialed in to my specs, so I can see this deceasing my motivation later on. For now I enjoyed myself and will try and get out on the trail as much as I can.

Gris always on the job 

My first mountain bike wound

The Bike

Day Two: Learning To Ride A Bike... Again

Sounds silly but now riding with clips I felt like I was learning to ride a bike all over again. I cleared all the cars out of my long driveway, giving myself plenty of "learning" room. Leaning the bike up next to a table I practiced clipping in and more important getting out! I learned the basics from Mr. Yeti but had never used it in practice. Push your foot forward to clip in. You twist your foot to release; or you fall over like a deer in headlights. Ok got it. It was hard to meet the cleat with the pedal, but a few times I started to get the hang of it. "Ok now lets ride to the end of the driveway." Talking myself through all of this. "Right foot... got it. Left foot. Clip dam you! GRRR." I did this for a half an hour or so. Each time I clipped in faster till it just happened on its own. Clipping in check, clipping out another story. Keeping the bike up right as I tried to twist my foot was more difficult than I though. Slowly I got the hang of that too. Clipping out with my right foot first was key, then I could stop, stand, and twist the left foot. By this time I was too excited, I wanted to go for a ride! It was getting late and I was still to intimidated for a real bike trail. So I decided a ride down to the beach trial would do for now.

Backstory: I hate crossing the street with out a walk light, even then I jog across. If some said a car was coming even if we were in the middle of nowhere I would double time it in fear of being ran over by the invisible car. So riding the couple of blocks to the beach down curvy steep streets scared me. But this is the new me right?! Ya that was the last time I would do that! This was no cruse down to the bar. Beach around sunset on Valentine's! What was I high? Valentine wasn't what bothered me it was the sheer volume of people I didn't like; cars, people, strollers. Too much! But once I got down there and started to peddle all was good again. The people just obstacles to get around, and I enjoyed the sunset just me and my bike.

Day one: Bike Shop Vs. Bike Store

Acquiring a mountain bike the day after your break up with Mr. Yeti was a heart breaking event. I took this as a sign from the cosmos; "come on you know you always wanted to, but you never did because you didn't want to take away his "man time". F him its your turn now." I will say, I did learn somethings from Mr. Yeti and I do thank him for that. Am not totally oblivious. Getting the full suspension bike for starters, saving for disc breaks, the color white always makes you faster and cooler; as in awesome (scientific fact), knowing my fork is shit if I plan on really getting into this, and the need for a bike shoe you can clip in for the ride, or hike section if you need to.

My local bike shop had only road shoe for woman. I had hoped I could avoid the bike "store" but I need to try the shoe on and I didn't want to wait. Feeling comfortable in a bike shop is one thing. The owner probably is in the back on the phone or running the counter. Their here for the love the sport and if they can make a living doing what they love great! Bike stores on the other hand are typically a chain of some kind. Dealing with the newest and the greatest, and always over priced. Not to say the people working there don't have a love, but its different love.

Walking in I found the woman's section easy enough, then was greeted by a young man in his early 20's if that. I told him I need a mountain bike shoe for a beginner. He stated in; "oh this one runs about 90 bucks" Look don't get me wrong I knew going into this I has to put down the green but the shoe looked like I would slip and die if I walked any trail! He talked a bit more about other shoes total skipping the one shoe that looked like I could walk in. I pointed at the one shoe with a sub $90 tag, "What about that one?" "Oh that's a hybrid. Its more like a hiking boot with cleats." "I am a beginner. I will probably be hiking a lot." He grinned as realty slapped him up side the head. "Oh, ya... right." Found the right size and paid. "Got everything, helmet, shorts, jerseys...." Just wanting to get out of that place before they had me in a full matching kit, I forgot to ask how to get my shoes all set up.

Shit! Sitting down with the box looking at the instructions I forgot about the cleats. This time to the bike shop. The owner an older man was on the phone with sounded like a regular customer about an order. Called to the boys in the back, a young man of the same age as the 1st young man greeted me the same way. "Hi, I need cleats for my shoes." "Oh, ya sure! What kind of peddles do you have?" Oh, no I don't know this one. "I don't know, but they look like those, " pointing to some in the case. "Cool. Let me get you set up with the easiest ones." The owner now off the phone throwing a pair of cleats to the boy, "These ones just fell in price." He smiled at me with warm grin, "beginning biking? By the look of your shoes; mountain bikes?! Good choice." "Thanks." The young man was back with the cleats, his boss pushes my shoes over to him "Help this young lady with her shoes so get can start practicing."

I walked out of the shop with my shoes ready to go, and a little more confidents to really give this biking thing a go.

The Shoes

The wind blows in a different direction now

I am always thinking of others and I more often than not, forgetting about me; losing the power and strength I once had. Thinking on who I was two years ago and who I am now; am not pleased. Becoming to supportive of others, I lost my true adventures self. In a mission to bring that girl back, I have begun down a road that before I would sit on the side of, and cheer others on. NOT now! Now its my turn! Am here now to record this journey so I don't forget the strength I have, and to remind myself to keep something fun for me.