I got together with a friend of mine yesterday and started crochet classes.  Dear sis. Johnson was so kind as to copy several patterns for me, feed Katie and I lunch, tolerate my two youngest, and get me started on a pair of booties.  I am going to be a crazy crocheting momma!  It's the perfect hobby for me, all I need is a hook and a ball of something (maybe a pattern).  She is also going to teach me how to read patterns since that is key to using all the cool patterns she copied for me.  I have already made dresses for a few dolls, and some panties for the same dolls so there are no more naked dolls in my house. 

My Mom had a friend who was gifted in this area and filled our home with lovely doilies.  My mom also started a lovely lace table cloth that never got finished but was made into a folding screen.  It's gorgeous and tragic all at the same time.  My grandma on my mom's side showed me how to knit when I was 8, and I did cross stitch when I was younger too but I really haven't kept up with these things.  I also like to wax artistic on occasion, but these occasions get farther apart every day.  So, I suppose this crochet class of mine is a little about reclaiming my artistic identity for my self and my family.  After all, finding my happiness makes everything better.  And as the saying goes, "when momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"! There is a country song about that I like too. 

I feel that it would be appropriate to challenge all you ladies out there reading this to carve out some time for your happy thing/hobby!  It's healthy to have something that is yours, and defines you, and makes you happy.   GB