Key~Notes

~What did you want to be when you grew up?~

Let’s see . . . I remember reading something that I’d written I think in kindergarten or grade 1 that said I wanted to be a nurse.  Then I wanted to be an actress on the Great White Way . . . a novelist . . . a famous singer . . .

But by the time I graduated high school and was preparing to go to University, I wanted to be a music teacher.  Specifically a strings specialist in the public school system.  I’d had 2 such violin teachers who greatly impacted my life and I wanted to bring that kind of music to other children.   I chose the wrong university to pursue that dream.  I was a fish trying to swim upstream in that huge BYU music pond.  I never really had a chance.

Then, I discovered ASL.  I was hooked from day 1 and decided I wanted to become an Interpreter for the Deaf.  That was still my goal when I met James and moved here to Canada, thus effectively ending my schooling for a season.

I know I want to go back to school someday (hopefully in the not-too-distant future).  I think I want to pursue a music degree . . . in fact that was my PLAN . . . maybe eventually get my Masters in Music Therapy.

However, when I wrote just now about wanting to be an Interpreter, I remembered how much I love that language and the Deaf culture and I wonder . . . *sigh*

With all that said, even back when I was 5 and wanted to be a nurse . . . and consistantly throughout the subsequent years . . . I always knew I wanted to be a mom.

I’m so blessed that dream came true!

So, for this week, I’m featuring a project that I STILL haven’t sent to the proper owner.  Sorry Dawn!

Last year, my friend Dawn and I were talking about how she wanted some crocheted hats with flowers on them for her daughter to wear.  I told her that I’d make some for little J.  I made them . . . but haven’t sent them yet.  Here’s hoping that they’ll still work for this coming winter . . . if not, I’ll make ones that do!

I made the hats using Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Rose Pink and Rosewood, using this pattern (you’ll need to sign up for the website to view the pattern . . . but membership is free).  The flower was made using this pattern.

Thank you for your input on the book review question.  What I’m going to do is review the book I finished during the past week, and at the end of the year, give a recap on my favourites of the year.  If I happen to not finish a book within the week, I’ll go back and review a book I’ve read previously.

I finished Lynn Austin’s “A Proper Pursuit” on Sunday.  This is what the book’s GoodReads page says:

When Violet Hayes ventures to Chicago during the time of the World’s Fair, her one goal is to find her mother, who has been missing from her life since she was nine. Naive, impressionable, and highly imaginative (having secretly ingested a diet of romance novels and true crime stories at school), Violet stays in Chicago under the care of her grandmother and her three great aunts. It is here that her perspectives on life are opened as she is exposed to the world about her–from high society to the poor immigrant families; from the suffragette movement to the security of a suitable marriage match. As Violet contemplates what course her life will take, she will discover the missing parts of her family’s past–and, ultimately, Violet will discover herself.

I LOVED this book!  It was a quick-paced read without being jumpy.  Violet is HILARIOUS.  Her imagination and “flights of fancy” remind me of Anne of Green Gables.  She is truly a character that, while definitely not perfect, you feel you can root for.  She gets herself into some pretty interesting predicaments though!  The “bloomers incident” in particular gave me a giggle fit . . .

In addition to being funny, this book also takes the reader on Violet’s journey of self-discovery.  I loved that each of her aunts were able to teach her something about herself, and how to find out what God wanted her to do.  All-in-all . . . a book that’s not to be missed!