Hey all,
Spring has finally sprung here in Washington, in all it's rain-free glory! The trees are such an incredible shade of yellow-green, and full of blossoms! In our yard alone, I am watching my pear, apple, and crab-apple sporting beautiful blooms. The lilacs are also blooming. I want to cut some to bring in today.
In addition to our weekend Gramma-comes-over-and-cleans-my-house-in-2-hours-flat-after-which-I-am-comotose-for-an-additional-2-hours-visit, we finished the new garden bed. I planted some basil, 4 packets of peas (I know, it's late, but better late than never!), a row of potatoes, and 20 tomatoes. I want to get an additional 20 tomato plants in this week. I also rescued a bulb fennel from the next door neighbor (and we had her over for supper last night so she could taste it- that was fun!). Papa and I ran to Dread Meyer's yesterday evening and came home with about 20 packets of seeds, so I will try to get them planted this week as well.
It is another busy week, with Dr's appt.s for both my Mom, and myself, horn lessons, play rehearsals, and such. We are also getting ready for our Spring Garden Pary and the Boy's 14th birthday this weekend. So, onwards and upwards, I have things to do!
TTFN,
LB
Monday, April 24, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Friday Five
Here is today's Friday Five, from Donna at Quiet Life.
1. Five minutes to yourself: how would you spend them, ideally?
Quilting.
2. Five bucks to spend right now: how would you spend it?
Buy a quilting magazine.
3. Five items in your house you could part with, right now, that you hadn't thought of already?
Dead vaccuum, dead tv, old shoes that hurt my feet, ummmm, that's all I can come up with.
4. Five items you absolutely, positively could never part with in your house?
Photos
My Hull vase collection
the chunky little clay things the Boy made when he was a little tyke.
the mosaic turtle table and the wooden box that my dh made for me as anniversary gifts.
5. Five words you love?
far out, groovy, cool,
I know that sometimes I just love the way a certain word rolls off the tongue, but I can't think of any right now!
Leave your answers in the comment box- see you there!
LB
1. Five minutes to yourself: how would you spend them, ideally?
Quilting.
2. Five bucks to spend right now: how would you spend it?
Buy a quilting magazine.
3. Five items in your house you could part with, right now, that you hadn't thought of already?
Dead vaccuum, dead tv, old shoes that hurt my feet, ummmm, that's all I can come up with.
4. Five items you absolutely, positively could never part with in your house?
Photos
My Hull vase collection
the chunky little clay things the Boy made when he was a little tyke.
the mosaic turtle table and the wooden box that my dh made for me as anniversary gifts.
5. Five words you love?
far out, groovy, cool,
I know that sometimes I just love the way a certain word rolls off the tongue, but I can't think of any right now!
Leave your answers in the comment box- see you there!
LB
Friday
Well, we didn't get to Gramma's yesterday, instead we spent it at the Doctor's office- again. The Girl was on day 5 of a fairly high fever yesterday, so he wanted to see her. He doesn't think it was antibacterial, but you do start worrying when a fever lasts that long. So far, so good this morning, though. Although her skin felt a bit hot to me, her temp is normal. Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way.
He also looked at the Boy again, specifically his joints. THe bloodwork he did came out normal, but he is still concerned that Boy is still in pain, and is taking Ibuprofin 3X a day. He is recommending we get him to a pediatric rheumatologist, and spent a few minutes warning me of the hoops we were going to have to jump through in order to find/see one. At least he sees that something is up, and is committed to working to find an answer.
Today, I need to get over to the Optician's to pick up my new glasses. Not sure what else we will do.
TTFN,
LB
He also looked at the Boy again, specifically his joints. THe bloodwork he did came out normal, but he is still concerned that Boy is still in pain, and is taking Ibuprofin 3X a day. He is recommending we get him to a pediatric rheumatologist, and spent a few minutes warning me of the hoops we were going to have to jump through in order to find/see one. At least he sees that something is up, and is committed to working to find an answer.
Today, I need to get over to the Optician's to pick up my new glasses. Not sure what else we will do.
TTFN,
LB
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Gramma cheering day, I hope.
Well, the Girl has been fighting a fever for 3 days now, but other than the cold symptoms we all have, she seems ok.
Today we will head over to Gramma's. She can crash on her couch for awhile today for a little variety. She is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Gramma is very depressed today. She tried to garden yesterday, and couldn't. The lady from the CSB told us she has many clients who still garden, so I am wondering if this sadness can be dispelled somehow.
Anyhow, got to run- get them up and fed, and then over to Gramma's at a reasonable time, so we can come home in time for the BOy to go to play rehearsal at school- oh yeah- I forced him to go to school yesterday, only to find that they are doing the WASL. So I had to sit in the office while they found the excemption form for me to fill out. Man, was everyone looking at me funny for doing that!
OK, sorry this is sparse, gotta get a move on. Happy day to you,
LB
Today we will head over to Gramma's. She can crash on her couch for awhile today for a little variety. She is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Gramma is very depressed today. She tried to garden yesterday, and couldn't. The lady from the CSB told us she has many clients who still garden, so I am wondering if this sadness can be dispelled somehow.
Anyhow, got to run- get them up and fed, and then over to Gramma's at a reasonable time, so we can come home in time for the BOy to go to play rehearsal at school- oh yeah- I forced him to go to school yesterday, only to find that they are doing the WASL. So I had to sit in the office while they found the excemption form for me to fill out. Man, was everyone looking at me funny for doing that!
OK, sorry this is sparse, gotta get a move on. Happy day to you,
LB
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Phooey!
Phooey! I made a point to get up early, even though the kids were sleeping late due to being sick, I even shaved my legs! Papa stayed home with the kids, I got to my appt. 20 minutes early, only to find that my appt. is NEXT WEEK. Sigh. I am working really hard at not feeling like a complete and total idiot. Oh well, I guess I can choose to look at it in a positive fashion: Papa got to have a quiet morning, enjoyed cooking breakfast for his kids, and I now have a little more time to get things done, in addition to putting my PAP off till next week.
Now I am off to face the day- seed-planting, laundry-folding, bill-paying, and hopefully some reading aloud and snuggling on the couch.
TTFN,
LB
Now I am off to face the day- seed-planting, laundry-folding, bill-paying, and hopefully some reading aloud and snuggling on the couch.
TTFN,
LB
Simple Pleasures
Donna over at Quiet Life (Is Blogger only acting up for me, or is it being wierd for others too? Again today I can't link!) is asking today for 10 simple pleasures. In my somewhat wordy way, here are mine.
1. Laying in bed watching and listening to the birds in the birch tree outside my bedroom window.
2. The feel of an old person's skin- like a rose petal.
3. Sitting in a rocker, snuggling a warm, sleepy baby.
4. Settling into the spoon position, that moment when I skootch my hiney up next to my man as I am sinking down into warm flannel sheets, ready for sleep.
5. Hugs, kisses, and I love you's from my babies, even though they aren't babies anymore.
6. Being in nature, sharing it with my child-friends, showing them the joy of flowers of every shape, size, and color.
7. smiles and butterfly kisses
8. kitty cats- when they are sleeping on my fresh laundry, or drinking from my bathwater, or chasing my toes, or........ being kitty cats.
9. Singing with my babies, or hearing them sing.
10. Reading blogs.
I find it reassuring and joyful that I found it hard to stop at just ten. I look forward to reading your 10 simple pleasures in my comment box- that will be #11 for me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am headed to the Dr's this morning- yes, again. Papa stayed home for the morning, he is out getting coffee, but will return shortly, to watch over the sick kids while I am gone. Girly still has a fever (or should I say has one again), and the Boy still has a very sore throat and stuffy nose.
I slept last night, with very little coughing, thankfully. The sun is shining, and for that I am grateful. I hope to get those seeds into the ground this afternoon. We shall see what the day holds. Hope yours is great.
LB
1. Laying in bed watching and listening to the birds in the birch tree outside my bedroom window.
2. The feel of an old person's skin- like a rose petal.
3. Sitting in a rocker, snuggling a warm, sleepy baby.
4. Settling into the spoon position, that moment when I skootch my hiney up next to my man as I am sinking down into warm flannel sheets, ready for sleep.
5. Hugs, kisses, and I love you's from my babies, even though they aren't babies anymore.
6. Being in nature, sharing it with my child-friends, showing them the joy of flowers of every shape, size, and color.
7. smiles and butterfly kisses
8. kitty cats- when they are sleeping on my fresh laundry, or drinking from my bathwater, or chasing my toes, or........ being kitty cats.
9. Singing with my babies, or hearing them sing.
10. Reading blogs.
I find it reassuring and joyful that I found it hard to stop at just ten. I look forward to reading your 10 simple pleasures in my comment box- that will be #11 for me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am headed to the Dr's this morning- yes, again. Papa stayed home for the morning, he is out getting coffee, but will return shortly, to watch over the sick kids while I am gone. Girly still has a fever (or should I say has one again), and the Boy still has a very sore throat and stuffy nose.
I slept last night, with very little coughing, thankfully. The sun is shining, and for that I am grateful. I hope to get those seeds into the ground this afternoon. We shall see what the day holds. Hope yours is great.
LB
Monday, April 17, 2006
update
The kids are sitting in front of Sesame Street- yes, you read that correctly. I can sure tell they don't feel well.
The Girl has a fever of 102, and rising. Phooey.
I read a few chapters of George Washington's World to them, before my throat gave out. I need to do dishes, fold some laundry, and try to get outside to plant those seeds......
LB
The Girl has a fever of 102, and rising. Phooey.
I read a few chapters of George Washington's World to them, before my throat gave out. I need to do dishes, fold some laundry, and try to get outside to plant those seeds......
LB
Error report
Sorry about lack of italicization on the Book title, and no link to explain the Easter Pig- Blogger is acting up and won't let me do those two things.
I will do a whole post of The Easter Pig soon, but need to tend to sick kids at the moment. If your interest is peaked however, see if they have the book on Amazon.
LB
I will do a whole post of The Easter Pig soon, but need to tend to sick kids at the moment. If your interest is peaked however, see if they have the book on Amazon.
LB
A productive and happy Easter report
Well, it was a productive weekend on many fronts.
Early on Saturday, the Papa Dude and I drove up to Gramma's in the rental car. He drove Gramma's little Toyota home, and I drove Gramma and her vaccuum home in the rental. Then he returned the rental car, and turned the new garden bed in the pouring rain while Gramma, the kids and I went to town on the house. While the kids worked on cleaning their rooms enough that they could vaccuum (and they did it without fussing! Yay!), we cleaned and vaccuumed the living room, kitchen, and our bedroom. Gramma made sure the dishes were done, and that as much laundry as possible was folded and put away. My room looks so nice and clean! I love it when my mama comes down!
I try not to feel bad about the fact that my blind 75 yr old mother can get more done in a 5 hour period than I do in a week. I have to remember that for this week has been a tough one, what with 7, count em, 7! Dr.'s appointments, and 2 visits to Mom's, and the fact that for much of the week I had a cold, and was unable to use my right arm. But for some reason, there is a little part of me that wishes I was able to accomplish everything I set out to do. Oh well, best let that one go.
Helping me gives my Mom a focus other than her blindness, and helps her to feel useful.
Most of the time Mom was here, I was feeling bad for spreading germs- I was hacking and coughing so badly all Saturday. I swear, that lady ran circles around me!
When we were done cleaning, Mom and I ran a couple errands, and I took her home, then ran to the store to buy several dozen eggs.
We didn't get around to decorating eggs till 9 that evening, but the kids had a great time and were reminded again how much they love using my cake decorating colors to dye eggs- they come out in brilliant bright colors (yes, i took pics on the digital, but I still haven't learned how to load them to the computer- maybe this week?). I fell into bed, but again, spent most of the night hacking, sneezing and wheezing.
Sunday, the kids mercifully didn't wake us till about 8:30, at which time they came up, bearing lovely Easter baskets for all of us. We spent an enjoyable 30 minutes admiring the Easter Bunny's gift choices. Faves this year were the plastic eggs filled not with jelly beans, but with 250 water balloons (a stroke of brilliance on the E.B.'s part), squishy egg- shaped pillows, bubbles, rulers,stickers and pencils, and Legos. THe Easter Pig visited as well this year, bringing very pretty amethyst points.
After the kids examined their loot, they snuggled in with us, while I told them the story of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection (as close as we get to the church-going part of Easter in this house), while Papa fixed us a nice breakfast. They did their chores while we hid eggs in the cottage garden, and then they found them. Then they hid them for us, and so on and so forth for a couple of hours, till most of the eggs were cracked, and there we only enough undamaged eggs left to make a huge bowl of egg salad. Tweens or no, these two still very much love Easter Egg hunts!!
The rest of a cool but sunny Sunday was spent in the garden. My arm is still not working as well as usual, so I mostly functioned as foreman, telling the kids where to plant what. With all of us working together, we moved the asparagus to its new bed, planted 3 types of lettuces, chard, spinach, bok choy, 2 kinds of carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, cumin, and several herbs. There is still room in the root bed for a couple more rows of something, too.
Still left is planting the new bed Papa built- I will need to get tomatoes, potatoes, and peas in there this week.
I soaked the morning glory seeds, and will get those planted hopefully today. Papa dug up more space in the cottage garden (nearly our entire front yard) and I will be filling the entire fence line with many vining flowers.
Once the planting was done, the kids played the afternoon away while I rested, and Papa weeded. I made us a beautiful Easter dinner of ham, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, and salad. Then baths and stories. We have started a new bedtime read, called The King in the Window. Very fun so far.
As for this morning, when I went to wake the Girl, she felt hot, and said her throat was sore. She is still sleeping. The Boy showered and fed the cats, but is taking funny due to a sore throat and stuffy nose. He won't be blowing a horn today, I can tell you, so I sent him back to bed, too. It would be a good day to snuggle and read aloud, but I have no voice. Hmmm. We shall see.
I have to head back over to Mom's today, she has an appt. with her Dr. today, that my older sister and I will be attending with her. I will tell you about it later, not sure how it will go. But for now, I am off to call the school and excuse the Boy for morning classes, and feel and kiss a couple of forheads.
TTFN,
LB
Early on Saturday, the Papa Dude and I drove up to Gramma's in the rental car. He drove Gramma's little Toyota home, and I drove Gramma and her vaccuum home in the rental. Then he returned the rental car, and turned the new garden bed in the pouring rain while Gramma, the kids and I went to town on the house. While the kids worked on cleaning their rooms enough that they could vaccuum (and they did it without fussing! Yay!), we cleaned and vaccuumed the living room, kitchen, and our bedroom. Gramma made sure the dishes were done, and that as much laundry as possible was folded and put away. My room looks so nice and clean! I love it when my mama comes down!
I try not to feel bad about the fact that my blind 75 yr old mother can get more done in a 5 hour period than I do in a week. I have to remember that for this week has been a tough one, what with 7, count em, 7! Dr.'s appointments, and 2 visits to Mom's, and the fact that for much of the week I had a cold, and was unable to use my right arm. But for some reason, there is a little part of me that wishes I was able to accomplish everything I set out to do. Oh well, best let that one go.
Helping me gives my Mom a focus other than her blindness, and helps her to feel useful.
Most of the time Mom was here, I was feeling bad for spreading germs- I was hacking and coughing so badly all Saturday. I swear, that lady ran circles around me!
When we were done cleaning, Mom and I ran a couple errands, and I took her home, then ran to the store to buy several dozen eggs.
We didn't get around to decorating eggs till 9 that evening, but the kids had a great time and were reminded again how much they love using my cake decorating colors to dye eggs- they come out in brilliant bright colors (yes, i took pics on the digital, but I still haven't learned how to load them to the computer- maybe this week?). I fell into bed, but again, spent most of the night hacking, sneezing and wheezing.
Sunday, the kids mercifully didn't wake us till about 8:30, at which time they came up, bearing lovely Easter baskets for all of us. We spent an enjoyable 30 minutes admiring the Easter Bunny's gift choices. Faves this year were the plastic eggs filled not with jelly beans, but with 250 water balloons (a stroke of brilliance on the E.B.'s part), squishy egg- shaped pillows, bubbles, rulers,stickers and pencils, and Legos. THe Easter Pig visited as well this year, bringing very pretty amethyst points.
After the kids examined their loot, they snuggled in with us, while I told them the story of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection (as close as we get to the church-going part of Easter in this house), while Papa fixed us a nice breakfast. They did their chores while we hid eggs in the cottage garden, and then they found them. Then they hid them for us, and so on and so forth for a couple of hours, till most of the eggs were cracked, and there we only enough undamaged eggs left to make a huge bowl of egg salad. Tweens or no, these two still very much love Easter Egg hunts!!
The rest of a cool but sunny Sunday was spent in the garden. My arm is still not working as well as usual, so I mostly functioned as foreman, telling the kids where to plant what. With all of us working together, we moved the asparagus to its new bed, planted 3 types of lettuces, chard, spinach, bok choy, 2 kinds of carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, cumin, and several herbs. There is still room in the root bed for a couple more rows of something, too.
Still left is planting the new bed Papa built- I will need to get tomatoes, potatoes, and peas in there this week.
I soaked the morning glory seeds, and will get those planted hopefully today. Papa dug up more space in the cottage garden (nearly our entire front yard) and I will be filling the entire fence line with many vining flowers.
Once the planting was done, the kids played the afternoon away while I rested, and Papa weeded. I made us a beautiful Easter dinner of ham, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, and salad. Then baths and stories. We have started a new bedtime read, called The King in the Window. Very fun so far.
As for this morning, when I went to wake the Girl, she felt hot, and said her throat was sore. She is still sleeping. The Boy showered and fed the cats, but is taking funny due to a sore throat and stuffy nose. He won't be blowing a horn today, I can tell you, so I sent him back to bed, too. It would be a good day to snuggle and read aloud, but I have no voice. Hmmm. We shall see.
I have to head back over to Mom's today, she has an appt. with her Dr. today, that my older sister and I will be attending with her. I will tell you about it later, not sure how it will go. But for now, I am off to call the school and excuse the Boy for morning classes, and feel and kiss a couple of forheads.
TTFN,
LB
Friday, April 14, 2006
Good Friday Morning to Ya.
Good Morning.
Today promises to be just as busy a day as I have had all the rest of this week. I need to get over to my mom's as early as possible today, to start dealing with getting her car legal and drivable. First stop will be Dept. of licensing, to get a trip pass, so I can drive it to the mechanics. Once it has had a tuneup (I am hoping that's all it will take), I will drive it to emissions. Probably won't get to that point today.
The CSB lady comes back out to mom's today, to finish marking her appliances, so she can "see" them with her fingers better. Not sure if I will stay for that or not. There is an HSA planning meeting in Renton today, I would like to go to that, but it is at the same time as Mom's meeting. We shall see. It is raining today, not sure what fun thing we could do today, but maybe we can figure out something. It is good to find something fun to do in between all the errands. Keeps the kids a bit happier.
I am tired again this morning, another sleepless night. It is always so hard to sleep with a cold- if the coughing doesn't keep me awake, the sneezing and nose-blowing does. But that's ok, it's just a cold, and I am alive, and that is good.
The Girl just got out of the shower, so I best go wake the Boy, and get the kids going on their chores, so we can get out of here early.
TTFN,
LB
Today promises to be just as busy a day as I have had all the rest of this week. I need to get over to my mom's as early as possible today, to start dealing with getting her car legal and drivable. First stop will be Dept. of licensing, to get a trip pass, so I can drive it to the mechanics. Once it has had a tuneup (I am hoping that's all it will take), I will drive it to emissions. Probably won't get to that point today.
The CSB lady comes back out to mom's today, to finish marking her appliances, so she can "see" them with her fingers better. Not sure if I will stay for that or not. There is an HSA planning meeting in Renton today, I would like to go to that, but it is at the same time as Mom's meeting. We shall see. It is raining today, not sure what fun thing we could do today, but maybe we can figure out something. It is good to find something fun to do in between all the errands. Keeps the kids a bit happier.
I am tired again this morning, another sleepless night. It is always so hard to sleep with a cold- if the coughing doesn't keep me awake, the sneezing and nose-blowing does. But that's ok, it's just a cold, and I am alive, and that is good.
The Girl just got out of the shower, so I best go wake the Boy, and get the kids going on their chores, so we can get out of here early.
TTFN,
LB
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Day of rest, maybe?
Hey all (three of you),
We had another whirlwind day yesterday, but got quite a bit accomplished. After my little nap, we headed out to the eye Dr.'s, and spent a pleasant 1.5 hours there, where my kids were spokespersons for the polite, well-adjusted, poetry-memorizing, latin-chanting homeschooled child club. Thankfully, they were on their best behavior, which made it easier on me. My eye exam took over an hour- not because there were any problems, but because the optician has a 4 yr old daughter in Montessori preschool, who is bright and precocious, and needs more. I gave her my usual "Read the WTM and call me to talk about it when you are finished." speech. She was fascinated by the idea of homeschooling, and we talked a great deal about it's benefits. We shall see if she calls me- I am always surprised which people do, and which don't. I do enjoy consulting "newbies", so hope she does.
We were supposed to go the food bank today, where I would cook lunch for the volunteers while the kids worked the food line, but I now have a full-blown cold, complete with a cough that Dy says sounds like a baby seal, lol. I am also experiencing pain in my shoulder blade. As much as I feel like crawling back in bed and sleeping the day away, I think I will be calling the massage therapy office at 9:00 to try to schedule an appt. asap. Maybe they won't have an opening till this afternoon, so I could sleep a bit before that. I need some rest. The Boy is also still having pain in his joints and spine, so the rest won't hurt him either. He is taking a lot of Ibuprofin this week, which I don't really like, but it does seem to help the inflammation. Let's hope his bloodwork reveals something.
On a quilting note, I got all the 5 inch pastel squares cut out, and laid them out on my bed last night while talking to Dy, but to be honest, they look really boring. Only light values, the softest dinner mint colors. It just looks so boring- why do fabric designers think babies (or their mamas, for that matter) will like pastel mint colors? I only picked them for the shortcut of having precut squares, thinking I could whip out the top, and just tie it, and be able to mail it out quickly. But noooo, it now doesn't seem worth it, and it isn't so easy. I am not one to work with boring fabrics. I like my quilts to "pop" cheerfully, especially for the wee ones. I went down to the basement, and checked out the "fabric wall". I have so many bright, wild novelty fabrics...... maybe I can use them to liven up the pastels, or go ahead and do the boring pastel squares on one side, and do something more arty and bright for the front side. Hmmm........
Okay, best be getting off this thing, don't want to stress my arm/shoulder out any more than it is. The Girl and Boy are taking turns reading The People Could Fly, the Black American Folk Tales book we have been reading at breakfast. They are doing a good job reading the dialect with a proper southern accent, lol.
TTFN,
LB
We had another whirlwind day yesterday, but got quite a bit accomplished. After my little nap, we headed out to the eye Dr.'s, and spent a pleasant 1.5 hours there, where my kids were spokespersons for the polite, well-adjusted, poetry-memorizing, latin-chanting homeschooled child club. Thankfully, they were on their best behavior, which made it easier on me. My eye exam took over an hour- not because there were any problems, but because the optician has a 4 yr old daughter in Montessori preschool, who is bright and precocious, and needs more. I gave her my usual "Read the WTM and call me to talk about it when you are finished." speech. She was fascinated by the idea of homeschooling, and we talked a great deal about it's benefits. We shall see if she calls me- I am always surprised which people do, and which don't. I do enjoy consulting "newbies", so hope she does.
We were supposed to go the food bank today, where I would cook lunch for the volunteers while the kids worked the food line, but I now have a full-blown cold, complete with a cough that Dy says sounds like a baby seal, lol. I am also experiencing pain in my shoulder blade. As much as I feel like crawling back in bed and sleeping the day away, I think I will be calling the massage therapy office at 9:00 to try to schedule an appt. asap. Maybe they won't have an opening till this afternoon, so I could sleep a bit before that. I need some rest. The Boy is also still having pain in his joints and spine, so the rest won't hurt him either. He is taking a lot of Ibuprofin this week, which I don't really like, but it does seem to help the inflammation. Let's hope his bloodwork reveals something.
On a quilting note, I got all the 5 inch pastel squares cut out, and laid them out on my bed last night while talking to Dy, but to be honest, they look really boring. Only light values, the softest dinner mint colors. It just looks so boring- why do fabric designers think babies (or their mamas, for that matter) will like pastel mint colors? I only picked them for the shortcut of having precut squares, thinking I could whip out the top, and just tie it, and be able to mail it out quickly. But noooo, it now doesn't seem worth it, and it isn't so easy. I am not one to work with boring fabrics. I like my quilts to "pop" cheerfully, especially for the wee ones. I went down to the basement, and checked out the "fabric wall". I have so many bright, wild novelty fabrics...... maybe I can use them to liven up the pastels, or go ahead and do the boring pastel squares on one side, and do something more arty and bright for the front side. Hmmm........
Okay, best be getting off this thing, don't want to stress my arm/shoulder out any more than it is. The Girl and Boy are taking turns reading The People Could Fly, the Black American Folk Tales book we have been reading at breakfast. They are doing a good job reading the dialect with a proper southern accent, lol.
TTFN,
LB
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Nap time
Well, I made it to the Dr.s appt. today- I like this new place- everything is all in the same building, whether it is a rheumatologist, and endocrinologist, or a primary care physician. It is not a bad drive, and there is a parking garage. Makes it easy.
I think I am going to like this Dr. For one thing, she is a she, and I think that alone helps. I have an appt. for next week for a general physical, and to start the ball rolling on the thyroid/menopause issues. She also suggested I go with a different endocrinologist, in order to get in to see one before the middle of May (read: before I kill myself or someone else in my family due to my chronic irritability,lol.). She recommended chiropractic and massage therapy, and we found one that is not too far of a drive from my house. Yay! I haven't been had a massage or been to the chiro in over 5 yrs, and I am way overdue. Good thing is that Allstate will be picking up the whole tab.
I have an appt for an eye exam and to pick out new frames today at 3:30. Right now, the kids are outside playing. They did some history reading and got their music practice out of the way while I was gone this morning, so I am letting them play. I am off to take a nap- I have a cough to go with my sore throat now, and my arm is throbbing a bit, so I am going to get some rest before I have to drive again in rush hour traffic, while listening to Latin chants (rental car has a CD player- kids think this is way cool).
There is a roast in the crockpot, and a bowl of chopped carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms in the fridge. I will throw them in before we leave. Oh- I cut a bunch of squares out of the pastel fabrics I bought the other day, maybe tonight I can lay them out. I'd do it now, but I am too pooped. Yawn.
TTFN,
LB
I think I am going to like this Dr. For one thing, she is a she, and I think that alone helps. I have an appt. for next week for a general physical, and to start the ball rolling on the thyroid/menopause issues. She also suggested I go with a different endocrinologist, in order to get in to see one before the middle of May (read: before I kill myself or someone else in my family due to my chronic irritability,lol.). She recommended chiropractic and massage therapy, and we found one that is not too far of a drive from my house. Yay! I haven't been had a massage or been to the chiro in over 5 yrs, and I am way overdue. Good thing is that Allstate will be picking up the whole tab.
I have an appt for an eye exam and to pick out new frames today at 3:30. Right now, the kids are outside playing. They did some history reading and got their music practice out of the way while I was gone this morning, so I am letting them play. I am off to take a nap- I have a cough to go with my sore throat now, and my arm is throbbing a bit, so I am going to get some rest before I have to drive again in rush hour traffic, while listening to Latin chants (rental car has a CD player- kids think this is way cool).
There is a roast in the crockpot, and a bowl of chopped carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms in the fridge. I will throw them in before we leave. Oh- I cut a bunch of squares out of the pastel fabrics I bought the other day, maybe tonight I can lay them out. I'd do it now, but I am too pooped. Yawn.
TTFN,
LB
Bird of the month
I have decided the bird of the month for April will be the Black capped Chickadee. I have been hearing these sweet little birds for the last two weeks, so this is fitting.
LB
LB
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Tuesday Ramblings, journal style.
Just a quick note about yesterday: We went to Grandma's to support her at her Community Services for the Blind (hereafter CSB) home evaluation, which went well, and we also stopped at the park for a bit, where we saw a red winged blackbird, and a pair of Peregrine Falcons. That was cool.
I also self-medicated at the fabric store. I succumbed to a sweet set of 5-inch coordinated pastel fabric squares that I think will make an adorable baby quilt for some little baby girl I know in Alabama, if I can just get my butt in gear and sew them together. Did you know that buying fabric makes having hives bearable? I am sure it cures a bunch of other ills as well, lol.
We also rented a bunch of movies this weekend. So far, we have watched Narnia (twice!), Legend of Zorro (the more I see of him, the more I like Antonia Banderas, and Catherine Zeta Jones didn’t do too bad a job, except for the sword-fighting scenes. The story was good, and the drinking, smoking horse was hilarious!), and the original Odd Couple. I thought I was going to laugh myself to death when Oscar (Walter Mathau sp?) was crying to Felix at the end. He was slobby, but was so sweet to everyone he knew- very endearing, especially if you have seen my Oscar-like tendencies when it comes to keeping house, lol. I am much more an Oscar than a Felix, though I do have my moments. We still have Batman Begins to watch.
For Tuesday: Well, we are home for the day, and what a day it was. I only had a few minor panic attacks while behind the wheel today- every time someone came speeding up behind me, or tailgated me. I am wondering how long that will last. I have never liked driving much, but now, it is all I can do to get behind the wheel, and today, I was behind the wheel a great deal!! Luckily, the rental car is easy to drive one-handed. My right arm feels better every day, but I am sure I pulled a muscle in it, as I can't hold anything, stretch it out, or raise it much.
First we headed over to our old neighborhood and hit Dr. Marty's office, where he pronounced the Girl to be totally healthy. Yay! I still insisted that he write a referral for her to have X-rays, just so we have a baseline in case anything goes wrong in the future. Then he checked over the Boy, who has been having spasms in his back, and joint pain. His ankle appears to be sprained (when did THAT happen?!), and his knees and elbows are swollen. Hmmmm. This has been going on for a few months, and Papa and I are getting concerned (but don't tell the Boy, ok?). He recommended blood draws to check Boy's thyroid, and to check for arthritis related issues. Basically the same tests I had run last month.
We headed for the lab, but they were closed till 1:15, so we went to our old Fish and Chips hangout, hugged the old-timers, and OFWITWW (Our favorite waitress in the whole world), got some fish, and saw some goslings out for a stroll with their parents. Some were tiny babies, and some were almost full grown, and some were in the middle. They were all cute and fluffy, and made the kids giggle.
Then back to the lab, where I held the Boy's hand while his blood was drawn. Luckily, he had the nice Philipino lady who can draw blood from my spaghetti veins the first try. She was sweet, and gave him a lolly, which at one point, when I looked in the rear-view mirror while driving, I saw he had stuck to his forehead. Is it just me, or do almost 14 yr old boys resemble almost 4 yr old boys?
Then back into the car, where on the drive to the x-ray lab I explained to the Girl what was going to happen there. She aced it, did great. No vomiting or anything! (Remember how gut reactive she is, and you will know how brave she was!)
Then to the impound lot, to get the last of our belongings out of Whitey. The impound lot was a scary-looking place, with a real skanky feel to it. Eeww. The man who escorted me out to Whitey (may he rest in peace) and back was kind and polite, though. After that, I stopped by Starbuck's and got myself one of those big, cold green tea drinks, which I never let myself have because of the dairy content, and savored the way it felt on my sore throat (I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, I hope it isn't a cold, but feels like it).
One more stop to pick up some meat for supper (baked orange chicken legs and thighs, brown rice, squash, and salad), and then home! The phone rang as I opened the door, and it was Dy. Just hearing her voice cheered me. It was good to visit with her, and hear all the fun they are having with their visiting relatives. It also makes me want to go visit her soon! I am seriously thinking about November in Alabama.
Tomorrow, I have my first appt with my new primary care Dr. I will be getting X-rays, too, and am going to ask for a referral to a chiropractor and a massage therapist. Haven't had chiro or a massage in over 5 yrs and need it badly. I may also try to fit in a trip to my optometrist (sp?) to replace my glasses, which were mangled badly in the accident. I haven't had new ones in almost 10 years, I may pick some funky frames this time around. Tortoise-shell cat-eyes, maybe?
Schoolwork? Nope, just reading in the car. Sigh. So much for this being a catch-up week. I can't wait till July, when we have much less on our daily docket, and can hopefully get some work done!!
We just finished supper, and the Boy is practicing horn, the Girl finishing the dishes, then she will do piano, and the Papa Dude is upstairs practicing his guitar. I am going to brave the depths of the basement to get my cutter and mat, then we will all congregate on our bed upstairs to either read or watch the last movie.
Okay, I know this is probably boring, and reads like a journal entry, but that is all I am capable of today. Very emotionally taxing, all the way around.
TTFN, LB
I also self-medicated at the fabric store. I succumbed to a sweet set of 5-inch coordinated pastel fabric squares that I think will make an adorable baby quilt for some little baby girl I know in Alabama, if I can just get my butt in gear and sew them together. Did you know that buying fabric makes having hives bearable? I am sure it cures a bunch of other ills as well, lol.
We also rented a bunch of movies this weekend. So far, we have watched Narnia (twice!), Legend of Zorro (the more I see of him, the more I like Antonia Banderas, and Catherine Zeta Jones didn’t do too bad a job, except for the sword-fighting scenes. The story was good, and the drinking, smoking horse was hilarious!), and the original Odd Couple. I thought I was going to laugh myself to death when Oscar (Walter Mathau sp?) was crying to Felix at the end. He was slobby, but was so sweet to everyone he knew- very endearing, especially if you have seen my Oscar-like tendencies when it comes to keeping house, lol. I am much more an Oscar than a Felix, though I do have my moments. We still have Batman Begins to watch.
For Tuesday: Well, we are home for the day, and what a day it was. I only had a few minor panic attacks while behind the wheel today- every time someone came speeding up behind me, or tailgated me. I am wondering how long that will last. I have never liked driving much, but now, it is all I can do to get behind the wheel, and today, I was behind the wheel a great deal!! Luckily, the rental car is easy to drive one-handed. My right arm feels better every day, but I am sure I pulled a muscle in it, as I can't hold anything, stretch it out, or raise it much.
First we headed over to our old neighborhood and hit Dr. Marty's office, where he pronounced the Girl to be totally healthy. Yay! I still insisted that he write a referral for her to have X-rays, just so we have a baseline in case anything goes wrong in the future. Then he checked over the Boy, who has been having spasms in his back, and joint pain. His ankle appears to be sprained (when did THAT happen?!), and his knees and elbows are swollen. Hmmmm. This has been going on for a few months, and Papa and I are getting concerned (but don't tell the Boy, ok?). He recommended blood draws to check Boy's thyroid, and to check for arthritis related issues. Basically the same tests I had run last month.
We headed for the lab, but they were closed till 1:15, so we went to our old Fish and Chips hangout, hugged the old-timers, and OFWITWW (Our favorite waitress in the whole world), got some fish, and saw some goslings out for a stroll with their parents. Some were tiny babies, and some were almost full grown, and some were in the middle. They were all cute and fluffy, and made the kids giggle.
Then back to the lab, where I held the Boy's hand while his blood was drawn. Luckily, he had the nice Philipino lady who can draw blood from my spaghetti veins the first try. She was sweet, and gave him a lolly, which at one point, when I looked in the rear-view mirror while driving, I saw he had stuck to his forehead. Is it just me, or do almost 14 yr old boys resemble almost 4 yr old boys?
Then back into the car, where on the drive to the x-ray lab I explained to the Girl what was going to happen there. She aced it, did great. No vomiting or anything! (Remember how gut reactive she is, and you will know how brave she was!)
Then to the impound lot, to get the last of our belongings out of Whitey. The impound lot was a scary-looking place, with a real skanky feel to it. Eeww. The man who escorted me out to Whitey (may he rest in peace) and back was kind and polite, though. After that, I stopped by Starbuck's and got myself one of those big, cold green tea drinks, which I never let myself have because of the dairy content, and savored the way it felt on my sore throat (I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, I hope it isn't a cold, but feels like it).
One more stop to pick up some meat for supper (baked orange chicken legs and thighs, brown rice, squash, and salad), and then home! The phone rang as I opened the door, and it was Dy. Just hearing her voice cheered me. It was good to visit with her, and hear all the fun they are having with their visiting relatives. It also makes me want to go visit her soon! I am seriously thinking about November in Alabama.
Tomorrow, I have my first appt with my new primary care Dr. I will be getting X-rays, too, and am going to ask for a referral to a chiropractor and a massage therapist. Haven't had chiro or a massage in over 5 yrs and need it badly. I may also try to fit in a trip to my optometrist (sp?) to replace my glasses, which were mangled badly in the accident. I haven't had new ones in almost 10 years, I may pick some funky frames this time around. Tortoise-shell cat-eyes, maybe?
Schoolwork? Nope, just reading in the car. Sigh. So much for this being a catch-up week. I can't wait till July, when we have much less on our daily docket, and can hopefully get some work done!!
We just finished supper, and the Boy is practicing horn, the Girl finishing the dishes, then she will do piano, and the Papa Dude is upstairs practicing his guitar. I am going to brave the depths of the basement to get my cutter and mat, then we will all congregate on our bed upstairs to either read or watch the last movie.
Okay, I know this is probably boring, and reads like a journal entry, but that is all I am capable of today. Very emotionally taxing, all the way around.
TTFN, LB
Tuesday morning and all is well.
Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts and well wishes. We are well, but for some reason, blogging isn't coming easily to me. I will try to write later. We have a slew of Dr.s appt.s this week, getting the Girl and I x-rays, and I need new glasses. We also need to go to the impound lot and get a couple of things out of Whitey, before he goes off to minivan heaven. That should be stressful.
I will try to write later, and see Dave, it isn't just you who sometimes can't write.
LB
I will try to write later, and see Dave, it isn't just you who sometimes can't write.
LB
Friday, April 07, 2006
Alive to tell about it
Well, there is nothing like a near death experience to make you grateful for your life, just the way it is.
The Girl and I were involved in a hit and run accident today. We were rear-ended, and pushed into a guard rail, and then into a tree. Thank goodness the tree was there, and yes, I thanked the tree for saving us.
The police and fire department (It was our local dept.- the ones we take cookies to every Christmas eve- that part was cool.) came, and took good care of us. The Girl is curled up in one of their warm wool blankets right now. When I return it, I will bring them more cookies, I think. They hugged us, checked Girly from head to toe, they even carried her to the car. They were just as kind and considerate as could be. And as the Girl and I told the Boys, they were all very handsome. Why that helped, I don't know, but both she and I were drawn in by intense smiling blue eyes that took our minds off our situation and made us feel better.
Poor Whitey the mini-van didn't fare nearly as well. He is totaled. He did his job, and thanks to Whitey, the fact that the Girl was in the back seat, and not the front, and that we were both in seat belts, we are alive. All the officers there told me repeatedly that if we were in any other vehicle, we probably wouldn't be here. If they told us that once, they told us ten times. Believe me, I heard it!
I will now have to deal with insurance, and rental cars, etc. while the police look for a truck with a big huge dent in the front of it. Sigh. How could he just have driven off like that? It boggles the mind.
That's about all I can write for now. The Girl is sleeping, bless her little heart, and I am going to go lay next to her some more. It comforts me.
LB
Update: It is now 8:30, and we are well. Baby Girl and I are tucked up in blankets on the couch, watching Find! while we wait for Mystery to come on. We have both taken anit-inflamatories, I have been in touch with the insurance company, and tomorrow we will be able to get a rental car. I also called my Mama and let her know what happened, and she said if I license it, get it tuned up, and do the emissions stuff on it, that we can use her car after the rental car is gone. Since she has gone completely blind, her car has just been sitting in her carport. That is very good news.
Boy is being really nice to me- I think he may have had a bit of an awakening today when he saw the car and realized we had been in it! He was such a helpful young man, getting our stuff out of the car without being asked, holding his sister, and even trying to cook dinner for us tonight. He and Papa just walked down to the 7-11 store to fetch us some treats.
Okay, that is all, going to snuggle with my big baby Girl and continue to be grateful for life, for EMT's with blue eyes, for airbags, and for a family that loves me. All is well.
LB
The Girl and I were involved in a hit and run accident today. We were rear-ended, and pushed into a guard rail, and then into a tree. Thank goodness the tree was there, and yes, I thanked the tree for saving us.
The police and fire department (It was our local dept.- the ones we take cookies to every Christmas eve- that part was cool.) came, and took good care of us. The Girl is curled up in one of their warm wool blankets right now. When I return it, I will bring them more cookies, I think. They hugged us, checked Girly from head to toe, they even carried her to the car. They were just as kind and considerate as could be. And as the Girl and I told the Boys, they were all very handsome. Why that helped, I don't know, but both she and I were drawn in by intense smiling blue eyes that took our minds off our situation and made us feel better.
Poor Whitey the mini-van didn't fare nearly as well. He is totaled. He did his job, and thanks to Whitey, the fact that the Girl was in the back seat, and not the front, and that we were both in seat belts, we are alive. All the officers there told me repeatedly that if we were in any other vehicle, we probably wouldn't be here. If they told us that once, they told us ten times. Believe me, I heard it!
I will now have to deal with insurance, and rental cars, etc. while the police look for a truck with a big huge dent in the front of it. Sigh. How could he just have driven off like that? It boggles the mind.
That's about all I can write for now. The Girl is sleeping, bless her little heart, and I am going to go lay next to her some more. It comforts me.
LB
Update: It is now 8:30, and we are well. Baby Girl and I are tucked up in blankets on the couch, watching Find! while we wait for Mystery to come on. We have both taken anit-inflamatories, I have been in touch with the insurance company, and tomorrow we will be able to get a rental car. I also called my Mama and let her know what happened, and she said if I license it, get it tuned up, and do the emissions stuff on it, that we can use her car after the rental car is gone. Since she has gone completely blind, her car has just been sitting in her carport. That is very good news.
Boy is being really nice to me- I think he may have had a bit of an awakening today when he saw the car and realized we had been in it! He was such a helpful young man, getting our stuff out of the car without being asked, holding his sister, and even trying to cook dinner for us tonight. He and Papa just walked down to the 7-11 store to fetch us some treats.
Okay, that is all, going to snuggle with my big baby Girl and continue to be grateful for life, for EMT's with blue eyes, for airbags, and for a family that loves me. All is well.
LB
What kind of homeschooler are you, anyway?!
Here is a fun quiz: What Kind of Homeschooler are you? I will tell you my results in the comment area. Frankly, it surprised me. Let me know if you take it and what your results were.
LB
LB
Homeschooling tidbit.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
You know you are getting older when they call you ma'am.
Okay, okay, when did it happen? When, I ask you? When did I become a "Ma'am" instead of a "Miss". I don't feel like a Ma'am, but I look like one. I am not a very vain person, never have been, but am just enough that this bothers me, if I let it. I mean, I say, "Yes, ma'am" to my mom, my elders. Now I am an elder?? Sigh.
Hey, Dave and Dy, I learned how to take pictures with my video camera yesterday. Maybe today I will have some time to figure out how to load them onto my laptop.
I didn't get any gardening done yesterday morning, because I was on the phone for an hour and a half with my sister in law. She is the painter lady, and will come over Sunday, to help me figure out the best ways to prep these plaster walls before I paint. I will have to take pictures of the bright (not) decorating idea someone had for the kitchen. They put these fake tiles (I think they are linoleum) all over two walls. I pried one off this weekend, and all the paint peeled off right down to the plaster. So I need Painter Lady to tell me how to fix that- how to best prep the plaster for painting.
As my kids read my blog, I will now get a little cryptic. Last night, I spent an hour and a half in Dread Meyer shopping for a certain upcoming holiday involving eggs and rabbits. Up until this year, my mom has always done the shopping for this particular holiday, so it was new for me, and I think I really overspent. And yes, I do have to be hush hush about it, because even my almost fourteen-year old still believes in such things. Amazing, hmm?
Today, we have a field trip to the UW to watch a group of Irish Dancers, and then to head to a museum. We will be riding with a group of kids/moms that we don't know. Should be interesting. I am hoping I can get into the garden this afternoon, as it is supposed to rain all weekend.
Okay, I am off to wake one kid, get the other one out of the shower, get ready to read (still reading the Black American Folk Tales), and then make breakfast. Have a great day, all.
LB
Hey, Dave and Dy, I learned how to take pictures with my video camera yesterday. Maybe today I will have some time to figure out how to load them onto my laptop.
I didn't get any gardening done yesterday morning, because I was on the phone for an hour and a half with my sister in law. She is the painter lady, and will come over Sunday, to help me figure out the best ways to prep these plaster walls before I paint. I will have to take pictures of the bright (not) decorating idea someone had for the kitchen. They put these fake tiles (I think they are linoleum) all over two walls. I pried one off this weekend, and all the paint peeled off right down to the plaster. So I need Painter Lady to tell me how to fix that- how to best prep the plaster for painting.
As my kids read my blog, I will now get a little cryptic. Last night, I spent an hour and a half in Dread Meyer shopping for a certain upcoming holiday involving eggs and rabbits. Up until this year, my mom has always done the shopping for this particular holiday, so it was new for me, and I think I really overspent. And yes, I do have to be hush hush about it, because even my almost fourteen-year old still believes in such things. Amazing, hmm?
Today, we have a field trip to the UW to watch a group of Irish Dancers, and then to head to a museum. We will be riding with a group of kids/moms that we don't know. Should be interesting. I am hoping I can get into the garden this afternoon, as it is supposed to rain all weekend.
Okay, I am off to wake one kid, get the other one out of the shower, get ready to read (still reading the Black American Folk Tales), and then make breakfast. Have a great day, all.
LB
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Random Wednesday evening thoughts
Hey there, friends.
Sorry I haven't posted much in the last two days, I was kinda fighting a bit of depression and apathy. I seem to have come out of it a bit today, and am feeling pretty good at the moment. I refuse to even write about yesterday, I was irritable, the Boy was a typical teenager, and it was not a smooth or good day. So here is today, which went a bit better, in no particular order.
It has been really hard for me to wake up these last two mornings. I have spent most of the day feeling exhausted. Papa is complaining of the same thing, so I think we may be fighting some flu bug. The Boy is doing horn practice right now, the Papa Dude is practicing his guitar, trying to work up his blisters (he so loves it, Dave!), and the Girl is doing the dinner dishes. After that, I will try to finish the last two chapters of Drifthouse, and we will all turn in early.
It took us over two hours to do our food bank deliveries today, and we only had eight to do. We had some troubles getting into one of the apartment buildings, but we managed. It is good for the kids to see me do some real life problem-solving (i.e. going next door to the barber shop and asking any of the men in there if they had keys. 3 of the 4 men in the shop did, so we lucked out.). The folks at the food bank sent us home with some lovely salmon steaks that I am sure we will enjoy later this week. The folks who work there are so warm and wonderful. I have a date with them next Thursday, to cook lunch for all the workers. Guess what they want me to cook? Go on, guess. Yep. Indian food, especially eggplant, lol.
After that, I spent most of the afternoon reading and doing laundry. Now there is a ton of it ready to be folded. Anyhow, I haven't been spending time with the Count of Monte Cristo like I probably should be, but rather have been enjoying some mind candy in the form of a couple of Elm Creek Quilts books. I am in the middle of The Sugar Camp Quilt right now. Sometimes candy is good for the soul. I let the kids be (or not) be their own integrity, and they spent the whole afternoon in their rooms, doing (or not) their schoolwork.
I did make it outside late this afternoon, after putting a meatloaf and some baked potatoes in the oven. In the time it took for them to cook, I worked up half of what will be the root garden. If I spend even more time out tomorrow, I could probably have the whole thing turned and planted. I think tomorrow I will have the kids come outside and help me garden. That kind of work is just as important as schoolwork, right? I have so much gardening to do, and this month-long period of apathy hasn't helped me get any of it done. Time to just function and be what I want to be, regardless of how I feel. That is if I want to see anything growing in my gardens this summer, or get any quilting done!
In the short time I was outside, I was serenaded by a robin, who sat in the top of the newly budding birch tree. I also saw several chickadees, and one of them even visited the bird feeder that Papa and the kids hung in the apple tree this weekend. Cool!
Oh, that reminds me that I need to post a new "Bird of the month" photo. I will try to do that tomorrow. I was thinking of heading up to my mom's tomorrow, I know she would love to see me, and the kids are aching to play with their cousins, but I would really like to stay home and garden. We shall see.
Well, that's about it for today. There are questions I was supposed to answer, and Diane wanted me to talk about my fave Indian recipes, but I am poopin' out here, so will sign off, and crawl into flannel jammies and get ready to read. My fave ol' ratty quilt is waiting for me in the big rocking chair, Papa will light the oil lamp for me, the kids will have brushed and flossed, and I will get to practice my reading voices- a french pirate, a sophisticated parrot, a mermaid, and an octopus-like mermaid queen-witch. If that peeks your interest, check out the book Drifthouse. I am tellin' ya', it is a fun story.
May you get lots of rest tonight, and I wil see you tomorrow.
TTFN,
LB
Sorry I haven't posted much in the last two days, I was kinda fighting a bit of depression and apathy. I seem to have come out of it a bit today, and am feeling pretty good at the moment. I refuse to even write about yesterday, I was irritable, the Boy was a typical teenager, and it was not a smooth or good day. So here is today, which went a bit better, in no particular order.
It has been really hard for me to wake up these last two mornings. I have spent most of the day feeling exhausted. Papa is complaining of the same thing, so I think we may be fighting some flu bug. The Boy is doing horn practice right now, the Papa Dude is practicing his guitar, trying to work up his blisters (he so loves it, Dave!), and the Girl is doing the dinner dishes. After that, I will try to finish the last two chapters of Drifthouse, and we will all turn in early.
It took us over two hours to do our food bank deliveries today, and we only had eight to do. We had some troubles getting into one of the apartment buildings, but we managed. It is good for the kids to see me do some real life problem-solving (i.e. going next door to the barber shop and asking any of the men in there if they had keys. 3 of the 4 men in the shop did, so we lucked out.). The folks at the food bank sent us home with some lovely salmon steaks that I am sure we will enjoy later this week. The folks who work there are so warm and wonderful. I have a date with them next Thursday, to cook lunch for all the workers. Guess what they want me to cook? Go on, guess. Yep. Indian food, especially eggplant, lol.
After that, I spent most of the afternoon reading and doing laundry. Now there is a ton of it ready to be folded. Anyhow, I haven't been spending time with the Count of Monte Cristo like I probably should be, but rather have been enjoying some mind candy in the form of a couple of Elm Creek Quilts books. I am in the middle of The Sugar Camp Quilt right now. Sometimes candy is good for the soul. I let the kids be (or not) be their own integrity, and they spent the whole afternoon in their rooms, doing (or not) their schoolwork.
I did make it outside late this afternoon, after putting a meatloaf and some baked potatoes in the oven. In the time it took for them to cook, I worked up half of what will be the root garden. If I spend even more time out tomorrow, I could probably have the whole thing turned and planted. I think tomorrow I will have the kids come outside and help me garden. That kind of work is just as important as schoolwork, right? I have so much gardening to do, and this month-long period of apathy hasn't helped me get any of it done. Time to just function and be what I want to be, regardless of how I feel. That is if I want to see anything growing in my gardens this summer, or get any quilting done!
In the short time I was outside, I was serenaded by a robin, who sat in the top of the newly budding birch tree. I also saw several chickadees, and one of them even visited the bird feeder that Papa and the kids hung in the apple tree this weekend. Cool!
Oh, that reminds me that I need to post a new "Bird of the month" photo. I will try to do that tomorrow. I was thinking of heading up to my mom's tomorrow, I know she would love to see me, and the kids are aching to play with their cousins, but I would really like to stay home and garden. We shall see.
Well, that's about it for today. There are questions I was supposed to answer, and Diane wanted me to talk about my fave Indian recipes, but I am poopin' out here, so will sign off, and crawl into flannel jammies and get ready to read. My fave ol' ratty quilt is waiting for me in the big rocking chair, Papa will light the oil lamp for me, the kids will have brushed and flossed, and I will get to practice my reading voices- a french pirate, a sophisticated parrot, a mermaid, and an octopus-like mermaid queen-witch. If that peeks your interest, check out the book Drifthouse. I am tellin' ya', it is a fun story.
May you get lots of rest tonight, and I wil see you tomorrow.
TTFN,
LB
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Cute and giggly
I am not awake yet, so will post later, but for now, check this link out. How can ya' not be smiling after this? Found this one over at Forward Motion. Thanks for the giggle, Becca.
LB
LB
Monday, April 03, 2006
Tide Pools and digital cameras
Well, here it is, Monday morning. I am feeling very tired today, didn't rest well last night, but I do feel like we got tons of work done this weekend. Papa and the Boy got the garden wall mostly done, and some steps built, bird feeders up in the trees, and hauled 3 loads of manure.
My mom, the Girl, and I washed all the walls/appliance fronts/cupboards in the kitchen, mopped the kitchen floor, dusted and vaccuumed the living room, scraped/washed the paint dribbles off 3/4 of the living room floor (they must have not masked when they painted, there was a rim of white paint and splatters along all four edges of the room), kept the laundry going all weekend.
The only bad part of my mom's visit was the last five minutes of it, when she was carrying the vaccuum out to the car ( I tried to get her to let me carry it, honestly I did) and tripped, twisting her ankle. It is okay today, a bit swollen, but not painful, but it scared Papa and I, and it really hurt when she did it.
This morning, after putting a meal in the crock pot, my goal will be to figure out how to use my new (to me) digital camera. I have had it a month now, and haven't really touched it, due to March being the month of apathy and all. So many things that I want to post pics of, it will be hard to know where to start! I guess I will also have to learn how to post them, in addition to taking them and putting them on the computer, too.
This afternoon, we have nature study- there is a low tide today, and we are beginning our study of water- oceans, tide pools, ponds, rivers, etc. It is threatening to rain, I hope it just holds off for a bit. This is a lesson I have taught before, and am looking forward to teaching it again today. Maybe I will be able to take pics! I am usually very busy when teaching, but I will try.
Best be off, need to get moving, although to be honest, I'd like to crawl back into bed for another hour. Time change be damned! It always takes me so long to adjust!
TTFN,
LB
My mom, the Girl, and I washed all the walls/appliance fronts/cupboards in the kitchen, mopped the kitchen floor, dusted and vaccuumed the living room, scraped/washed the paint dribbles off 3/4 of the living room floor (they must have not masked when they painted, there was a rim of white paint and splatters along all four edges of the room), kept the laundry going all weekend.
The only bad part of my mom's visit was the last five minutes of it, when she was carrying the vaccuum out to the car ( I tried to get her to let me carry it, honestly I did) and tripped, twisting her ankle. It is okay today, a bit swollen, but not painful, but it scared Papa and I, and it really hurt when she did it.
This morning, after putting a meal in the crock pot, my goal will be to figure out how to use my new (to me) digital camera. I have had it a month now, and haven't really touched it, due to March being the month of apathy and all. So many things that I want to post pics of, it will be hard to know where to start! I guess I will also have to learn how to post them, in addition to taking them and putting them on the computer, too.
This afternoon, we have nature study- there is a low tide today, and we are beginning our study of water- oceans, tide pools, ponds, rivers, etc. It is threatening to rain, I hope it just holds off for a bit. This is a lesson I have taught before, and am looking forward to teaching it again today. Maybe I will be able to take pics! I am usually very busy when teaching, but I will try.
Best be off, need to get moving, although to be honest, I'd like to crawl back into bed for another hour. Time change be damned! It always takes me so long to adjust!
TTFN,
LB
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Saturday night
I snuck upstairs to write a bit. All is well here. Gramma and I have been sharing a bottle of wine, and we are feeling no pain. She is spending the night, so we can keep going tomorrow. She has been scraping paint off the living room floor (hardwood) all day, in addition to folding laundry, and doing dishes. I have washed half the kitchen walls. The Girl has been helping us all day, and is now playing piano for Gramma- who is probably a bigger fan than I am.
The Papa Dude and the Boy are outside building the new garden bed. They got 2 trailerloads of horse doo and will go back for more tomorrow. THis stuff is so rich and nicely composted- it will be great for the garden.
All is well here in my little world, and it feels nice.
TTFN,
LB
The Papa Dude and the Boy are outside building the new garden bed. They got 2 trailerloads of horse doo and will go back for more tomorrow. THis stuff is so rich and nicely composted- it will be great for the garden.
All is well here in my little world, and it feels nice.
TTFN,
LB
Uh Oh, I am in big trouble
If you promise your mother that your husband will show up at her door at 9:30 am to pick her up so she can come down and do a thorough cleaning job on your living room and kitchen (cuz she is so bored at her house that it is sparkling clean and needs to start on someone else's), you better be ready for her to be very angry when you call her at what you think is 10:30 to say that your husband is having trouble with the trailer and the horse doo, and will be there as soon as he can, and she tells you it is almost NOON and you are ALWAYS LATE (not true- I am one of those people for whom 10 minutes early is on time), and she is VERY BORED waiting and now we are never going to get the house cleaned, and you better not EVER do this to her again.
Sigh. I hate it when my mama gets mad at me. 41 yrs old, and I still hate it. Sigh.
LB
Updated an hour later to say that I think Gramma thought we were supposed to turn our clocks forward last night (though I am not telling her she was wrong, now way, un uh) instead of tonight, so that explains that. She is now happily attacking invisible (to her blind eyes) spider webs with gusto, and is happy as a clam. Whew!!!!
Sigh. I hate it when my mama gets mad at me. 41 yrs old, and I still hate it. Sigh.
LB
Updated an hour later to say that I think Gramma thought we were supposed to turn our clocks forward last night (though I am not telling her she was wrong, now way, un uh) instead of tonight, so that explains that. She is now happily attacking invisible (to her blind eyes) spider webs with gusto, and is happy as a clam. Whew!!!!
April Fool's Day
As usual on a Saturday morning, the Boy was still in bed while the other three of us were already dressed, up, and functioning (well, as functioning as I am, sitting in my recliner blogging). I told Papa that the Boy had said he wanted to play tricks on us today as it is April Fool's Day. About 9 am, he went into the Boy's room, and rousted him out of bed, telling him to get going cuz the house was on fire. Here is the boy, eyes closed, but running into the living room, hading to the front door, where the Girl and I stood, and we all got to holler "April Fool's". It was fun, but both the Girl and I told Papa we thought he should have just told the Boy he was late for school. He promised not to yell Fire unless there was one.
For the record, we are not a big practical joking family, but every once in a while we do engage in this behaviour, especially when one of the kids asks for it,lol.
TTFN,
LB
For the record, we are not a big practical joking family, but every once in a while we do engage in this behaviour, especially when one of the kids asks for it,lol.
TTFN,
LB
Lookout dirt! Here comes Gramma!
I so wish I had the dangum digital camera figured out! If I did, I would post pics of my living room: 6 baskets of clean but not folded laundry on the floor and the couch, piles of books stacked 10 high on the coffee table (truthfully known as the book table), cobwebs on the ugly cigarette smoke-stained walls, and layers of dirt on the untreated,paint-stained wood floor. Then we would move to the kitchen, where the dishes aren't done, the dining room table is filled with random stuff, the counter is piled a foot high with bills, cookbooks, and nameless junk, and again, those yucky, dirty walls. These are the before pictures. This is what happens when you are sick for a month, and then apathetic for the following month, sigh.
Papa and the Girl just left to head over to the B's house to load some manure into the trailer in the rain (Yes it was sunny all week, and I didn't ever get out into the garden, and now it it the weekend, and supposed to rain the whole time.), and then he will swoop by and pick up Gramma and her vaccuum, and her bucket of cleaning supplies. She and I are gonna dig in and attack this place. I am hoping that once the walls are clean, it will inspire me to get out the can of Kilz Papa bought me a month ago, and start on the walls. Then I want Papa's painter/sister to come help me pick colors, and get us some paint.
Now how am I supposed to get all this done when I have no motivation or gumption, I don't know, but I need to turn my garden, help Papa build the new section, and also prime and then paint all of the rooms on the first floor. We won't even mention that I want to get my workspacce in the basement cleared and organized, that I have 3 huge quilting projects in my head, that the house has to be managed, and that I am responsible for schooling 2 middle school kids. I need to rise to this challenge, but I feel small just thinking about it. I guess if Dy can remodel a house with 3 boys and a new baby, I can do this, right? Just keep plugging away.
Okay, I best go fix myself and the Boy some breaky, and then get crackin'. I want to at least have cleared the living room floor before my mom shows up rarin' to go!
Papa and the Girl just left to head over to the B's house to load some manure into the trailer in the rain (Yes it was sunny all week, and I didn't ever get out into the garden, and now it it the weekend, and supposed to rain the whole time.), and then he will swoop by and pick up Gramma and her vaccuum, and her bucket of cleaning supplies. She and I are gonna dig in and attack this place. I am hoping that once the walls are clean, it will inspire me to get out the can of Kilz Papa bought me a month ago, and start on the walls. Then I want Papa's painter/sister to come help me pick colors, and get us some paint.
Now how am I supposed to get all this done when I have no motivation or gumption, I don't know, but I need to turn my garden, help Papa build the new section, and also prime and then paint all of the rooms on the first floor. We won't even mention that I want to get my workspacce in the basement cleared and organized, that I have 3 huge quilting projects in my head, that the house has to be managed, and that I am responsible for schooling 2 middle school kids. I need to rise to this challenge, but I feel small just thinking about it. I guess if Dy can remodel a house with 3 boys and a new baby, I can do this, right? Just keep plugging away.
Okay, I best go fix myself and the Boy some breaky, and then get crackin'. I want to at least have cleared the living room floor before my mom shows up rarin' to go!
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