Hold you tight Sweet little boy

I wrote this poem for boy child #5 when he was first diagnoised with Epilepsy but I mean it for all my children and today in particular my oldest son - you will always be my sweet little boy no matter how old you are.

Hold you tight

Sweet little boy

Don't you worry

I'm by your side

Sleep without fear

My precious dear

Everything will be fine

You are mine

My sweet little boy

Hush your tears

My darling boy

Hold you in my arms,

my heart,

my mind

Close your eyes

Let me feel you sigh

Against my face

I can taste your grace

Oh sweet boy of mine

Let me hug you close, forever to me

Don't you worry,

you matter to me

The world may turn

Faster than light, forgetting your flight

But never, ever for me,

you are my light.

Hold my hand

My precious child

Momma loves you endless miles

I will hold you,

when you are not strong,

run with you

when you sing your song

my baby, my child

Hold you tight

Sweet little boy

Don't you worry

I'm by your side

Sleep without fear

My precious dear

Everything will be fine

You are mine

My sweet little boy

Deena Thomson

Everyday is a good day when you have someone to love.

Chapter seven of The Last boy

Chapter seven of the Last Boy is now up on my Last Boy webpage

Chapter 7 of The Last Boy

Oh for EFF SAKES!!! Enough already!

http://www.scoopwhoop.com/news/insta-photo/

When I first saw this on facebook I thought oh for EFF sakes, what the hell. I am so sick of some extremists ruining the word feminism for their own narcissistic needs for attention. 

All I hear today is women who say they are not a feminist like this is something to be proud of. Even celebrities are in on it. Kelly Clarkson comes to mind. Like feminism is a bad word. 

???????????

Hello? What generation are we living in? Have we women forgotten that once upon a time we were property, subject to our father and husbands will? Having no choices but to be a wife and mother even if we didn't want to be one? That we couldn't vote. We couldn't leave abusive husbands, that we were less than cattle? We didn't have a voice.

I get it.

Women and young women today think that to be a feminist you must be anti man.You don't want to get married and have children. That you are going to walk around without your top on and scream these are not sexual objects they are food for children!  When we all know that the world looks at the female body as way more than a baby making and feeding machine. Billion dollar businesses prove that on a daily bases. Hell,even the breast feeding mama's are lined up for a boob job after their babymaking days are over and it is not so that their food makers look good for their babies. Fake perky boobs in no way help inprove the quality of breast feeding.

Women need to understand what feminism really is.

Definition of Feminism

Noun

1.                            

the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

Read it. 
Do you believe women are equal to men? If you say yes, then you are a feminist.

Back to the above post.

I decided not to judge a book by it's cover and read the "Poem" that the photographer wrote with her Instagram photo, and my anger that she is using something so natural as menstruating for her own propaganda subsided a bit. A BIT... lets not go crazy and think that I want to get all warm and fuzzy on a picture of a women menstruating and start bomb barding Instragam with photos of me and 900 of my closets friends in sweats with blood on our crotch. No thanks.

I get what her message is, I even agree with the main theme. I just think she is going about it the wrong way.

The picture makes people uncomfortable and no amount of saying BUT IT"S natural and its life and it's glorious and rah rah sis boom bah, lets embrace that we leak every month (which I don't like that term at all!) is the VERY reason so many women claim they are not feminist in today's society.

They are associating extremist with feminist.

Definition of Extremist

Noun

noun: extremist; plural noun: extremists

1.                             a person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action.

 Ah yes, the extremist posed as a feminist.

The ones who knit yarn from their vagina and call it art, or shows pictures of women menstruating through their clothing on instragram. The ones who post pictures of breast feeding their 7 yr olds and the most extremist, the anti-male extremist who have turned the word feminism into a hate group.

Listen up I am hear to tell you, THIS IS NOT FEMINISM, this is extremist.

Back to the above photo.

It takes away from her message that I actually agree with. 

Now you say but the picture will change how we view menstruating.

I disagree. There isn't a woman who hasn't had this happen to her at least once in her life... most likely several times in her life, but that doesn't mean we all want to jump up and say I am woman hear me roar. We know why it happens every month. Most of us had the Johnson and Johnson page-by-page book to prove it. 

Here is a news flash too... if a woman lives with any man, husband, boyfriend etc. The men are very aware that this happens too. It isn’t like you can hide blood on sheets or clothing when you live in a close proximity with other people. That includes males. Let me let the extremist in on a little secret... Men already know this happens, they have seen it happen to a woman they love. 

It is a natural part of being a woman, but so is going to the bathroom or snot coming out of your nose. These things happen, that doesn't mean I want to post a picture on instagram showing me using the toilet and how I embrace my body and it's natural erg to defecate and release all the toxic waste from my amazing working body.

Hey I am aware what my uterus does. I have had 6 children and 3 miscarriages. I know what a miracle the female body is. Most women do. We kind of uh.... were born with this body of ours. 

In fact, most women feel pretty amazed when they grow a human and birth it. That's nature’s way of making us do it to ourselves over and over again. Including dealing with the grossness of menstruation, because it is gross. 

It may signify that life did not start in our womb that month but it is still no less a pain in the arse every month that we as women dislike, and we can't wait till it ends. All magic aside, it's not a fun time but we are use to it and deal. PMS, cramps, heavy bleeding, all of it in all it's unpleasantness.

So although I understand the message the author of the picture is trying to send, (even though it kind of reminds me of those annoying commercials for maxi pads where women are frolicking through the flowers dancing and singing and giggling like morons,) I think she went about it the wrong way and came across as an extremist and by doing so has shut out a vast majority of women who won't listen to her real message.

So she is just preaching to the choir and doing nothing for the cause of feminism or how we as women are being objectified still in this day and age constantly. 

By that I mean she is preaching only to people like herself, not the people in whole who I agree I want to hear. A woman's body is not to be objectified by anyone and that includes pictures of half naked women in underwear, most of them underage on Instragam. It needs to stop. I GET IT SISTER!! But I didn't need to see a girl wearing bloody sweats to be my poster child for this subject. In fact, you made us who take this subject serious look silly. 

Silly little women with their silly little bleeding. 

We need to make feminism not a bad word for the every day woman who believes we are as equal to men but call them selves not a feminist for fear of being associated with the extremist. The over the top, the ridiculous. The ones who may have a good message but use offensive pictures to make a point.

And yes. I find it offensive. Not because it is a little "leak" but because she is using something women of child bearing ages can't control as a pedestal for her own ego. A means of grabbing attention using OUR BODIES AGAIN so that she can compare it to...wait for it.... wait for it.... women's bodies being objectified for a person goal and want.......... eh???

It's like tip toeing through the tulips maxi commercials. It made women look stupid then and it is making us look stupid still.

Ugh.... two steps forward for women kind, and two steps back.

We are so much better than this.

P.S
For the record I am talking about the article I linked.

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Epilepsy Awareness Day

This is boy child #5

This is the face of Epilepsy- my heart and sole. 

My little buddy who has made me earn the title of MOM more than any of my children. 

He is son #5 and child #5- the child who made me realize that no matter how much you think you have this parenting thing down, you don't... and no one does. 

Wearing purple isn't going to cure epilepsy, but maybe it will make people more aware. You would be surprised how many families are struck by Epilepsy. I know I was. I also know that I was very naive and scared of the WORD even. 

It is a very misunderstood condition, I am learning every day how to parent and understand a child with epilepsy. It is not going to be the same for everyone because no two people are identical. 

More importantly I must remind myself that I am not going through this, he is. 

This is his life and I can only help do all I can for him. He is the one living with it.

 One day I hope they can discover the mysteries of the brain and help people like my boy. 

That's the biggest problem, eplipsey is still pretty much a mystery, and that is what causes me more anxiety than anything.

I am wearing purple today. Not because it is going to cure epilepsy but to make people aware and because my family is one of the families where epilepsy lives. We are the face of Epilepsy. 

One of my poems

Now this poem was written more lik lyrics for a song (that I don't have music for)

It is what came out of my head and doesn't mean it is personal.

Said the woman to the Girl

Said the woman to the girl who left. 

I bet you had bigger expectations than this.

Didn't see you holding your hair, just to keep it out of everywhere. 

See your person disappear, crawling, nagging and the neverending fear. 

Drying up with the constant demands. 

Bet you didn't see this in your plans. 

Chorus-

Hold your head up to the sky

Don't you dare, don't you cry,

The clouds were meant to shield your hope

Grasp your dying dreams and let them go

But in between there is a glimmer that won't die

The girl that was there at the morning light

The one who started out young and full of dreams

That girl who was you,  is demanding to be seen

Said the woman to the girl,

be careful what you are wishing for, 

you may think it is what you desired, 

and then realize it is the slamming door. 

Grabbing fingers through the bars, 

bet your expectations were bigger before. 

Chorus-

Hold your head up to the sky

Don't you dare, don't you cry,

The clouds were meant to shield your hope

Grasp your dying dreams and let them go

But in between there is a glimmer that won't die

The girl that was there at the morning light

The one who started out young and full of dreams

That girl who was you, is demanding to be seen

Washed away like yesterday's tears.

Now you wish for the past to be yours. 

Said the broken woman to the hopeful girl, 

now your life is a gaping hole. 

Broken mirrors and broken hopes. 

Bet you never saw this when you dreamed this..... nope?

 Chorus-

Hold your head up to the sky

Don't you dare, don't you cry,

The clouds were meant to shield your hope

Grasp your dying dreams and let them go

But in between there is a glimmer that won't die

The girl that was there at the morning light

The one who started out young and full of dreams

That girl who was you, is demanding to be seen

Deena Thomson

Not a great picture BUT! My first shawl attempt is done

Well I finished the shawl and I really love how it turned out. I used yarn I had on hand and although it isn't my choice of yarn to use it was great to fool around with to figure out how to knit this shawl without a pattern.

I have written out what I did but the basics are simple

SHAWL:
Worked back and forth on circular 

Cast on 3 sts on circular needle size 4.5 mm / US 7 with  

ROW 1: Kfb, K 1, Kfb.
ROW 2: slip stitch knit wise, K to last sts,  purl
ROW 3: slip stitch knit wise,K 2 tog, Knit to last  3 stitches and Kfb, purl .
ROW 4: slip stitch knit wise, K all to last sts, purl
ROW 5: slip stitch knit wise, Knit to last 3 stitches, Kfb, kfb, purl

Repeat rows 2-5 until you have 200 stitches or to length you desire.
i-cord bind off

I have my stripes written out also but will post those later when I fine tune it a bit if anyone is interested, but the variations are endless.

Such a quick easy satifying knit. I am going to bring it to my Monday night knitting group this evening. I have a feeling my new knitters are going to be all over this. I want to make another! My knit picks yarn arrived today so I can start the one I want for me asap. 

Next on the needles is another shawl like poncho that girl child requested. I decided I am going to make a leaflet poncho with ruffles since she saw a picture of a wrap and fell in love with it. she thinks it's a poncho because of how it is drapped and I think for her, a poncho would be best.

Speaking of Ponchos, I also bought this gorgeous pattern and yarn a bit back from Knitpicks

It is beautful and I started it awhile back but stopped because I got side tracked. What drew me to this sweater was the fantastic design and the eye popping colours. I LOVE it. But in reality, I am not sure I would wear this sweater often. So last night when I was having a hard time sleeping... again. It came to me, I should just use the yarn and the colourwork and make me a poncho instead- an asymmentrical one. I KNOW I would wear a poncho of this every day that I needed a sweater. I am a poncho/wrap/shawl type of gal. 

I still want to knit this sweater one day but I think it would suit a smaller girl than me. hmmm I know some slim girls who would look fantastic in this.

So besides Ameerah the doll I am suppose to be working on, I am kind of on a shawl/poncho kick and am going to ride it while I am into it. 

Happy knitting!

Chapter 6 of The Last boy is up!

Chapter 6 of the Last Boy is up on The Last BOy website HERE

Enjoy! And I look forward to hearing comments. Good or bad :):):)

Deena

Stripped shawl progress!

Just a little update on the shawl I was posting about yesterday. It is coming along good! And I am excited to share it with my Monday knit knitters (and of course whoever else is interested)  I am using just yarn in my stash right now as I work out the kinks, It is worsted yarn on 4.5mm (US7) circular needles and I am going to be using 3 colours. Above is tan, and dark forest green. My other colour is Dark brown.

The basic construction is a pretty common one for shawls I just tweeked it a bit so I would have a nicer edge and I didn't want holes from y/o. It looks a bit rough on the side but that will work itself out later. I unraveled it a few times several rows so that is why it is a bit rougher than it should be. 

Anyways, I am hoping to have it completed before Monday so I can bring it to the group Monday night and share! 

I will post more pictures in the future along with instructions to what I did.

Until then... 

Deena

Shawl talk and Ameerah the doll

I am working on a new doll design. She is the doll on the left in the picture (Meggie is on the right and is already available as a pattern on etsy a,  Crafty and  Raverly. 

She is for sell on etsy.https://www.etsy.com/shop/Deena6A?section_id=10748667&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1 

The new doll 's name is Ameerah, and I just ordered some yarn on knitpicks that I want for her clothing. Couldn't find the exact colours I wanted in town, that wouldn't cost a small fortune.  Right now Knitpicks has a lot of yarn on sale and also has a discount code on site for 15% off your order. WOO HOO! I love sales and discounts on yarn!

I am going to use her for a few of my youtube videos in the future. I wont' share just yet what I have in store for her but I think, if all goes as plan, she is going to be a great addition to my doll pattern collection. I will be posting progress pictures as Ameerah comes to life. Can't wait for her yarn to arrive.

Here is a sneak peak at my colours I ordered. I will be using other yarn and colours I have in my stash but these babies below are just what I needed. 


Bamboo Heather WoTA Superwash

Persimmon Heather WoTA Superwash

Semolina WoTA Superwash

Aren't those colours awesome?? Can't wait till they arrive! If you want to join in the future KAL of Ameerah join us at We Make Dolls On Raverly. 


I also ordered three other colours in tweed for another project I have planned for my Monday knit knitting group. 

I have a plan to write out a shawl pattern that is similar to one I saw for sale online that I find too over priced for such a simple pattern. I have not bought the pattern because I know how to construct that particular type of shawl and I don't need to pay to read where to put stripes and colours. 

I will post what I write up here since this is NOT the pattern for sale but just my own twist on a classic contructed shawl that is easy to find anywhere on line how to construct for free. 

Anyways I will be prining it up for my Monday night  knitters. I think my new knitters will really love it because this will be an easy yet satifying and usable beginner project. And it will be fun. Have I mentioned how much I love my Monday night knitting group??? It's like we stepped back in time. Just hanging out and knitting and chatting. We just need to sit by the  hearth by candle light to make it complete!

These are the 3 colours I have ordered to make for myself

Brass Heather WotA Tweed

Dill Heather WotA Tweed

Farmhouse Heather WotA Tweed

I love these colours and can't wait to start the shawl. I may actually start another one in yarn I have in stash for my buddy Jewl's. We need shawls to sit at the fire at camp. I think I may have some stash in colours she likes. Hmmmm... makes me want to start right now!

I will be posting about the Shawl progress so stay tune! It's nearly spring, everyone is going to want one, and who doesn't love something quick and easy to knit up and share.

I am also working on this free pattern called Sciarpone found here. What is a Sciarpone? Well the most awesome, scarf/sweater EVER!! I have nearly completed mine and will share pictures when done, but what a easy gratifying knit. Love it. I know I will wear it lots this spring. It can be worn with anything!! Look how awesome they are

Lots on the needles right now, which always makes me in a good mood! 

Happy  knitting and stay tune for more fun in yarn!