The Shabby Rabbit

Moving Again

2011-11-03T14:17:00.000-05:00

I sold my little house

and I bought a different house

And we get to move in next month on the 2nd! YAY!

Please hope with me that it doesn't snow, sleet, or ice!!

more changes

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Round 3 of Oldest Angels chemo treatment is almost done. We may get to go home tomorrow, if not then only a couple of days at the most.

Then we will have only one more round and she will be done. And hopefully we will never ever every have to deal with a relapse.

The trade of the houses has failed. My mom is miserable and desperately wants her house back. She hates my house with every fiber of her being. And she is very upset if I move anything or do anything at her house. So not a good situation all the way around.

So I opted to put my house back on the market and find something suitable. And on my first look I did. Which also scares me because now I have to get my small house sold fast enough to be able to buy the next one.

Monday ought to bring some interesting changes if I get to meet with my realtor.

Oldest Angel will be home for a week at least, hopefully at most, then back here to the hospital for another 5 or 6 weeks. She may get to come home for good to a home she knows nothing about! Wouldn't that be odd?

Finally, something normal to post about

2011-06-27T08:53:00.000-05:00

Brittany has been home for 3 weeks now waiting for her counts to come up before round 3 of chemo. So this Saturday and Sunday I devoted to doing a little 'junking'.

What I ended up with certainly wasn't junk though... it will be hard to EVER beat this weekend!

On Saturday I focused on yard sales and second hand stores - usually for books
(For more on my book obsession see my book blog Bunny Tales at: www.theshabbyrabbit.blogspot.com )

The nice little green bankers lamp back there I got for $5.00. I had been looking for one of those. All in all the books laid out, one that I forgot to photograph, and the lamp totaled $8.00

Then Sunday there was an auction in town. And I hit the jackpot. I've been searching for a hutch. I knew exactly the hutch I wanted, which usually is a sure fire way to make sure it's the hutch I'll never find. But lo and behold. There it was. Then I was sure I would get outbid. However, apparently, no one else really wanted a hutch. I'll never tell what I paid. But it was criminal.

Once I got the room re-arranged for it I was so happy I literally almost cried!!! To me this is perfection. I try not to be a 'things' type of person, but the things in my dining room make me feel so happy!

Sorry about the low quality photos. It was after 9 when I took these and I did it with my cell phone.

I hope your weekend was equally enjoyable!
L

Prom day!

2011-05-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Leukemia-Cant-Keep-Eastern-Iowa-Girl-From-Prom-121418644.html

She was on the news :)

Here are some photos too:

Trying out a new look

2011-05-06T13:29:00.000-05:00

I think it's a good look! She can totally pull off being blond!

The Hospital is throwing her a Prom today since she can't really go to her real prom. This will be awesome and so much fun!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T13:13:00.001-05:00

Even amid my trials, a bunny can't let Easter go by without celebrating the hope and promise of the risen Lord!

Making a house a home...briefly

2011-04-18T21:18:00.000-05:00

So we are still trying to get settled in to our new house after trading with my mom and then having life interrupted by leukemia. Things are slowly coming together.

With the help of the city wide garage sales last weekend I made progress on my living room and entry with a pair of area rugs.

Forgive the picture. I took it this morning from the stairs. I still have before and after pics to post as well one of these days.

Still on the look out for a few pieces. And there are still some nice pieces that will go to mom's when she figures out where she wants them like the amazing desk in the upper corner.

It's a cozy room that makes me happy.

I'll look forward to working on it on our next break from chemo in 4 weeks.

Beej goes back in Wednesday for the 2nd round of chemo. So the commuting begins again.

'til another day's folly.
L

Home on a little break

2011-04-15T13:40:00.002-05:00

So my Oldest Angel has done good through her first round of Chemo and last Tuesday the dr's said she could go home for a week before starting round 2 of 4 that she will have to take. Each round keeps her in the hospital for about 4 weeks and does have some pretty dark days.

Although I've dropped the dedication to taking a picture a day this year, I do have a couple that show how things have gone for her.

In this picture she had had her hair cut short so when it starts to fall out it wont seem as daunting.

PLUS, she got the worst eye-lid reaction they had ever seen, opthamology is actually going to do a journal paper on her so you budding opthamologists out there...watch your favorite research journal for these eyes!

Then when the eyes started to get better, the hair went. Which turned out to not be a big deal

And her boyfriend Jonathan is super supportive too. :) Beej is at University of Iowa Children's Hospital on the University of Iowa campus and it just so happens that Jonathan is an Engineering student at Iowa and lives in a dorm we can see from the hospital. Plus there is a free bus that takes him back and forth when he's free to come visit.

Soon this will all be over and all behind us and she will be healthy and happy again. She has so much to offer and so much to accomplish. I can't wait to see what wonderful things her life will have in store for her.

And with the wonderful help and support of everyone at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Iowa Children's Hospital, I know this will be!
Every Doctor is fantastic and asks good questions and listens and answers all our questions, the nurses know their stuff and treat you so good! Every staff member is friendly and know you are in a stressful time and environment and they all do every thing they can to make it not as stressful in so many little ways.

The people at ChildLife are a blessing to us as they keep her engaged in doing something with other kids, her age when possible and they make sure some of her 'teen needs' are seen to as well.

I don't know what I'd do if we would have tried to deal with this anywhere else. I am and always will be an Iowa (hospital) Hawkeye!!

Day 6

2011-03-20T09:29:00.000-05:00

Bone marrow said the her leukemia is AML Leukemia which means full inpatient treatment. She will be here for at least 4 weeks probably 5.

We started Chemo therapy right away last Wednesday.

Today is Sunday and we are having some visitors and a friend and coworker of mine is coming to take some pics while we all look like we're used to. But they gave Beej some benadryl and in hospital amounts so she will be sleepy and groggy. Sort of like if you tried to wake someone up who's been on nyquil for a couple of hours. I hope we can get a shot or two despite the fact that I need my roots done so bad!! They are 2 fingers wide now! Hope photoshop can fix that!

She is on her 2nd transfusion at the moment which sounds scary but actually helps her feel so much better.

There are several rounds of chemo she will have to go through to clear the disease and go into permanent remission. She will get to go home for a week or two in between but will be here for the most part for 5 months. I will go back and forth and do the best I can to still make a living.

I have such a strong church family that I know we will certainly always eat :) and I will have all the moral support I need as well as rides anywhere I need to go.

It will be such a long spring and summer. Please keep us in your prayers!

day 1

2011-03-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

All checked in and her bone marrow biopsy is taken and she's back in the room to see what is next. So some waiting for the moment.

Biopsy actually went very smoothly. She went through it like it was nothing. :) Hope that's a terrific omen.

L

Difficult News

2011-03-13T18:50:00.000-05:00

My Oldest Angel has been diagnosed with leukemia. Treatments start tomorrow.

Please pray for healing, strength, and peace for us.

L

Just a quick catch-up

2011-03-04T12:15:00.000-06:00

I'm heniously behind in my photo taking. I do have some to post one of these days.

Brittany has to go see a neurosurgeon and is also scheduled to see a hematologist. Both at the University of Iowa. She has a malformation in her brain which may or may not need surgery.

Right now she seems to have contracted mono although she is testing negative for it. She has all the symptoms however except tenderness near her spleen. She's slept about 18 hours a day for 2 days.

Mono I can deal with. Even while moving.

That is the other really big news!

We are getting all moved. I'm taking photos of the house as it is now with stuff mixed all over the place between the two houses. It really is chaos!

And possible happy times on the social front. But I don't want to jinx it just yet.

Once I find out what the experts think on Beej I will be so relaxed I may not be able to function! I feel like poor Catherine is existing in her own little bubble and want to make sure she know we aren't forgetting she's about to turn 16!! :)

I'll try to start keeping up a little bit better. No promises tho

Till tomorrow's (or close) folly!
L

Wednesday Feb 16 another trip to the Doc

2011-02-17T09:29:00.001-06:00

Another trip to the Doc for my oldest. Scheduled another MRI and going to see a Neurologist in Iowa City - someday, right now the next available appointment they had was in August...yeah, 6 months from now. Not exactly workable.

She also has to have blood drawn every week until her odd shaped white blood cells are identified or clear up. (could be residule mono she didn't even know she had or another virus similar).

I've never in my life been around Doctors's -well MD"s , plenty of PhD's!!

Today is her birthday too. She is 17 today. Nearly grown. In 18 months she'll be packed for college. What happened? Where did it all go?? I hope to get some photos of her playing in her Jazz band at the game tonight. :) I hope she's feeling good when she plays!!

Til tomorrow's folly
L

Transition time Feb 15 2011

2011-02-16T15:14:00.000-06:00

As promised my phone and internet are in the process of switching to my new house (which is my Mom's old house...Mom is taking MY house). So I can only make a very brief post here at work...shhhhh.

I'll get back to some more actual life blogging when we are settled.

And my daughter's health issues continue so that may take quite a bit of my time too...
Next up. Another MRI and out to see a neurologist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in my beloved Iowa City. Wish it was for pleasure and not for this.

Til Tomorrow's Folly
L

Valentine's Day Feb 14 2011

2011-02-15T14:26:00.001-06:00

It came and went so fast. I used to always make a meal and give my girls a valentine's present. Usually something small and I'd put it at their place at the table and turn their plate upside down over it. Like my mother used to do for me on Valentine's day.

Not this year. Too much going on and too many boyfriends for the girls to settle in...and I had class.

Like I've said I have dated some over the past few months, so I was ready just in case...but alas Singles Awareness day came and went and here's what I was left with....

An Empty Vase (this is mine, not a gift). Nothing, nada.

I did get a text that said Happy Valentine's Day from someone I'd like for things to work out with. So I'll take that!!! Better than any ole chocolate!

Hope you all got to do something terribly terribly romantic... or at least more romantic than Statistics Class!!

Til Tomorrow's Folly

Feb 13 2011

2011-02-14T12:09:00.000-06:00

Finally a break in this brutal weather!!

I had a flat but forgot to take a picture of it, so instead here's dinner...or what dinner was supposed to look like. Mine was close, little less pesto since my pesto is way strong on the garlic.

I'm also curious how they get their shrimp to not just fall right to the bottom when they toss it. I had to go digging for my goodies. Maybe too much angel hair pasta?

Tomorrow ought to be interesting. I've done enough dating, lets see if anyone is interested. I don't have my hopes up but do have my fingers crossed. (for one anyway)

Til tomorrow's folly

A Girly Day

2011-02-12T22:01:00.000-06:00

I got to spend some time with my friends today at a direct selling spa for BeautiControl. It was fun and it was great to get to talk with my friends longer than just 10 minutes or however long we pass each other here and there. I did end up buying a couple things. (I hope they work!!)

It's good to be girly from time to time.

On an aside...My daughter is good today. I had an idea that this pain may be very much like a variety of migrain. It's just a theory but I'll ask the doc about it.

Til tomorrow's folly
L

February 10 2011 - In the ER again

2011-02-11T06:50:00.000-06:00

The pain was worse for her this time. It took longer for it to let go too. But I think we are on the verge of getting some answers. Although they may be hard to hear.

Today we schedule an MRI. That should tell us quite a bit.

Mish Mash

2011-02-09T22:24:00.000-06:00

Today didn't really have a theme. Or a defining moment.

I ended up having to go to the dr's office with oldest Angel. Work was non-eventful. Mom was not paying attention when I told her the phone switched on the 14th. So we're overlapping for 5 days. And class went really really well! I love that I understand this math!

And it's really very very cold!

So with all that going on, what else could I dedicate today to but comfort food

Til Tomorrow's folly
L

February 8 2011 - late is becoming a habit

2011-02-09T09:37:00.002-06:00

It is memories like these that makes doing this daily blog 100% the right thing to do! This conversation may slip my mind someday, but it will never be totally gone now. And that makes me very happy!

My oldest angel and I actually got to sit down and have some really good chatting time. I know it was from the heart and meant something to her because we were discussing hopes and plans and goals and what we like to do (like write) and the next thing I know she posted this on her facebook...

Apparently there are some of her peers who believe, as I do, that this is totally possible from her! :)

We also tossed around the idea of doing a joint blog. She loves to cook, I like to decorate. So we thought we would have Friday Night Dinning. She would blog about a dish she makes and I would blog about the guests and the tablescapes. I'd get to totally indulge my dish fetish too!

At least until she leave for college in a little over a year. :(

Till (tonight's) folly
L

To Do Monday

2011-02-07T20:28:00.001-06:00

My day today consisted of a lot of errands. Enough that I took the day off of work. I had scheduled a vacation day for Friday, I just figured it would work better here.

I took my daughter to school (her bf is sick)
I dug my mom's car out because she drove too far into the snow at the curb
I took my snow blower in to get fixed
I got a new battery put in my Blazer
I took my other daughter to a dr appointment, then Mcdonalds, then back to school.
Went back to Mom's to see if I could do anything else to help there (of course she said no)
Studied for an exam in Statistics
Went and took said statistics exam
Finished homework that was due in statistics
Posted to blog....hey! I think that's everything!

Now a shower and early bedtime :)

Til Tomorrow's folly!
L

Alternative to the Super Bowl

2011-02-06T19:55:00.000-06:00

So.... I quit watching football a long time ago. (about the time I became single...imagine that). And I don't have TV anyway. So I found an alternative to all the Super Bowl hype and football watching.....

Starting with Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and seeing how far we get :)

Now that's kickin' it between the uprights!

Til Tomorrow's Folly
L

moving day approaches

2011-02-05T21:42:00.000-06:00

I become more and more convinced I am doing the right thing. Mom and I almost forgot it was our month to set up communion at church. I think we both need to downsize! I also found some old hidden money so took my daughter out for lunch. She had been working hard packing her room.

She was cleaning out her wardrobe when she exclaimed "That's weird!! No one should be able to pull two capes out of their wardrobe. Except Count Dracula!"

It was too funny. Did we get done? Gosh no!

Til Tomorrow's Folly
L

February 4 2011

2011-02-05T06:09:00.000-06:00

I sort of have an excuse for being late, I procrastinated my homework so long that I had to devote an entire Friday night from 5 to 10 to getting an essay test submitted.

Well I didn't say it was a good excuse!

So at work yesterday we opted to celebrate this metaphor for war that is football by have snack pot luck day. I didn't (as usual) get a photo of the real deal but here is the fare as laid out for our munching enjoyment.

It was a FEAST!!!

Til tomorrow's (I guess that would be today's) folly...

January 3 2011 - late again

2011-02-04T09:08:00.000-06:00

I was so nervous I forgot to take a picture. I had a date last night with a man that a church friend set me up with. As per my usual we went to the Decker House which was a fun time. I'm trying hard not to over analyze and just go with 'time will tell.'

til tomorrow's folly
Laura

blizzard 2011

2011-02-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

Man o man! I've never seen anything like this!

bleck!

Hunkered down

2011-02-01T18:51:00.001-06:00

Well it is hitting, the blizzard of 2011. I think I'm ready except I'm not looking forward to driving anywhere in the morning. We are supposed to get 12-14". Although it is going to be hard to tell with 40 mph winds.

But as they say.... this too shall pass. And I have a new snowblower to play with tomorrow morning.

And a date Thursday night, so what's a little snow :)

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer too.

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Be Prepared!!

2011-01-31T21:50:00.000-06:00

It is coming to pass, that storm they have been predicting. So I gave up and went and bough a snowblower. They say this time we are supposed to get 12-14 inches of snow. Yuck. I hope I can learn how to use this contraption before I get snowed in!!

I've never even used one before!! It is used but I think I got it for an ok price especially right before a storm. $150.00...much much less than anything else I've seen. My daughter's boyfriend will probably get to use it before me since I doubt they have school tomorrow. (or at least get out early).

I'm actually kind of excited... storms are fun :)

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Super Sunday

2011-01-30T21:49:00.000-06:00

My Sunday morning started out like a wonderful Sunday morning should. (at least for me if I want some inner peace) I went to church. This Sunday I had offered to help my Mom and her friend Bonnie do the coffee hour for after service. This service starts at 8:15 so this photo was take about 7:50. On a Sunday! Yeah it's tough sometimes but it our contemporary service and I love to sing those songs! (and there's less people who have to hear me sing them)

My Mom is in the red. It was fun!

The rest of my Sunday was devoted to homework during which I realized I almost missed an assigned essay that's due tonight at midnight. Took me about an hour but it's all done and turned in! Shew that was close. Luckily while I was doing that the rest of my household was doing this....

How cozy does that look!! The girls were out doing their things so it was just me and 4 sleeping kitties. I did get a lot done!

Big storm coming this week! Hopefully a pic of a new snowblower coming up too.

Till Tomorrow's folly
L

Trivia Night to raise money for youth mission trip

2011-01-29T23:11:00.001-06:00

This was a great fundraiser!! It was fun. It was easy to set up. It was low expense and high profit and good money!

I got to be a judge to help grade papers and add up the answers

I played along since I didn't know any of the questions or answers ahead of time and I don't think I did so hot!! Some of these were really hard!!

And as always.....

Clean up crew!

Out to eat again??!!??

2011-01-28T22:11:00.000-06:00

Not sure how this happened, but tonight I went out with my friend Sara and we ended up eating at the Mexican place here in town. That's 2 nights in a row I've gone out to eat!! That is so not me and SOOOOO not part of my New Year's Resolutions! :( I'll quit now I promise!! Tomorrow I'll cook up a pot of Chicken and Noodles.

This is a great picture taken by Sara's friend Amanda. She has a good eye for capturing people :)

This was really good!! It's vegetarian fajita's and while that sounds healthy I'm thinking the amount of oil these were grilled in probably negated some of the health benefits. As did the sour cream. Still muy bien!!

This is me back home and very very full!!

Seriously... diet. tomorrow!

Pizza Party for just us girls

2011-01-27T22:22:00.000-06:00

For no particular reason I got talked into taking the girls out for pizza tonight. And made one of the best memories we've had in a while! We laughed soooo much! These kids make me so happy!

Aren't they such pretty girls....geez now why can't they just get their picture taken. It's not like I'm going to put it on Facebook...wellll, maybe I would.

I can never get a decent photo when I do this...Brittany was like "MOM! you're 45 years old, you can't be taking photos of yourself in Pizza Hut like you're 16!" So I took one of her instead...

And then got our really nice waitress to take the one of all of us.

Til tomorrow's folly
L

Church Circle

2011-01-26T22:31:00.000-06:00

These are the ladies that make up pretty much the biggest part of my church family. This is Ruth Circle. We do things throughout the year for the United Methodist Women and host a mother/daughter banquet each year. And we try to reach out and support each other and I'm soooo glad I have them in my life!!

I better add both pictures since some are better of one person in one picture and visa versa. We want everyone of these beautiful ladies to be happy with their photos!

We got our theme from Brielle for our banquet this year..dance through the decades :) How fun can this be!! Oh and it was Brielle's first meeting ever! Beginners luck right?

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Missed another one

2011-01-26T12:56:00.000-06:00

My evening did not turn out as expected. I was supposed to go to a meeting at church. And maybe post about being on match.com but instead I ended up here....

which is an awful (and old from the net) picture of the Emergency entrance at our local hospital.

NOTHING LIFE THREATENING - but my daughter came home and could not move her back. And no one can figure out why or why this is getting worse. And I HATED the doctor who was on but ADORED the resident - who was beyond gorgeous. No idea who he was but had oldest angel going from tears to laughing in about 3 minutes.

Sent her home after a shot of tordol and a dose of flexor and back to the dr Wednesday. This needs fixed. She's only 16 not 60.

If I think to get a 'real' shot of the ER I'll put it up.

realization

2011-01-24T22:08:00.000-06:00

This has been a hard day.

It's hard enough to come to terms with my own aging, but I learned today that I really need to come to terms with my mother's aging. Things are not as they used to be. Nor will they be.

I know I already had plans to switch houses. And that is now more than just a convenience for her, but a necessity. But there is more to it as well.

And it is just one of those times that life shows clearly that paths are changing. And it hurts. And its hard.

But it is what it is and all I can do is the next right thing (and talk out what that might be) and pray.

I love my mommy!

deadline night...aka high school Sunday night

2011-01-23T22:38:00.000-06:00

I had a house full of teens all afternoon and evening. 3 of us were busy doing the homework, the youngest and her fella downstairs watching a movie then off to youth group and home again. Deadlines are so scary on a Sunday night!

Just about to leave for youth group. You can't see in this photo where they are joined at the hip, but it must take awhile to get unhinged because they are usually together at my house or his till about 10. I like him though he's a good kid! :) Kinda fond of her too!! Oh and the curls...natural...doesn't that just get ya!

They are working on a paper that's due in a class they have together. Due tomorrow. (sigh). But what can I say, I took this from my chair where I was working on homework due tomorrow too! I just didn't look quite as preppy doing it. (note the different colored socks my daughter is wearing)

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Company Party

2011-01-22T23:27:00.002-06:00

So our original date for the company Christmas party got cancelled due to bad weather. So we re-scheduled and had a wonderful meal tonight at Timmerman's Supper Club in East Dubuque.

There we are. I'm in the paisley 2nd from the right. Ashley is next to me to my right, she just got engaged to James who is standing behind her. Behind me is our go-to guy Dan. He works out in the mill and never has a bad thing to say about anything. At least not ever in anger!

To my left is Julie. She has all the truely hard jobs in the office, like logistics (waaaaay too hard and stressful) and purchasing (newp not my cup o' tea either) Her husband Bob is behind her

Kris, Sherry, and Diane fill out the wives section of the front row. Their husbands are Shane in the gray sweater, our plant manager, Billy out in the mill, and Marc our controller. We were missing a few more of the mill guys who couldn't make it. Jeff, Jeff, Craig and Josh. Hopefully they can join us next year.

I, however, am NOT going for an 9th year alone. If I have to hire someone to take me I will. Or I just won't go. It does get harder than you think.

It was a melancholy evening all in all.

But one of my favorite places to eat...it's such a throw back! I mean really it is honestly a true blue 50's supper club!

Not a very clear shot... but look at that view!

Till tomorrow's folly
L

Jan 21 2011 Late again

2011-01-22T06:12:00.002-06:00

January 21, 2011
I hate that I missed posting again last night. I had a hard time finding a focus for my day! I didn't take this but it is exactly what my car said the temperature was outside too. This is was from our TV station in a nearby 'real' town.
It was hard to get motivated when the weather is like this:

"BRRRRR" doesn't even really describe it.

brrr quick trip to the library

2011-01-20T20:29:00.001-06:00

I had to return a book tonight. Not because i"m scared of fines, shoot I've had plenty of those, but in case someone actually was listening when I was going gaga over this book. The book was The Help.

Not to mention the library is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world!!

It was +1 out when I pulled up. Doesn't it look warm and cozy behind those windows!!

I'm glad we don't still have to get in this way either.. although it certainly is majestic!

We were blessed some years back to get a very caring and talented architecht to design an addition to our library that is functional in a modern way but blends in a rare aesthetic way. I love it and I'm so proud of our town for supporting it.

The section with the columns is the original library, the rest is the addition. It's a first rate place!!

Well, I'm almost warm again, and homework calls,

So until tomorrow's folly
Laura

Another Semester

2011-01-19T21:29:00.001-06:00

So another semester starts. I only get to go to this facility for 1 class this term. And it will be my last term. I'm almost sad because this is actually a very nice brand new building! But not that sad.

Tonight was Statistics. I use it a lot in my current job, but I don't have any formal training in it. The hope is if I know more about it I'll be able to manage QC and R&D better. That's the hope. ;) First I have to pass!

I'll have my associates in May. I declared an English major because I love everything about english. I'm going to try to go on, but I'll save those plans for a different post.

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Papers are awful!

2011-01-18T22:12:00.000-06:00

Papers drive me crazy! They are everywhere except the one you need where it is supposed to be!
I JUST saw it too!! Rats.

Until tomorrow's folly
L

January 17 with a Little Skip and a cool pic

2011-01-18T08:29:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I missed a day! I even talked about needing my daughter to take a photo of my shoveling snow. Which pretty much summed up the day since it did snow all blasted day long!!
But I found this photo and since I saw an Eagle Saturday eating what I now hope was a rabbit, I thought it said a lot about the day too.

Submitted to our local TV station by a resident of our neighboring town of Delmar, thank you Wephotography..... the cat DID get away :)

When a good book has ya!

2011-01-16T21:01:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I did a little bit more than this today, but not very much!! :) I even cut out on coffee hour after church to get home and get chores done so I could read.

This has been a fabulous book. There has been a lot of hype surrounding it and it ran all over the book blogs for quite some time. As usual, I found it after all the hullabaloo was past, but can certainly say that it earned and deserved all the attention.

If you have an interest in reading it better go get it quickly..they are making it into a movie with some great names and all the hype will start again I'm guessing.

First I spent some time with The Lord today and I've also spent time with my kiddos today, spent time pushing the cats off my lap so I could read, Tibby found a safe spot to still be around me, and spent a lot of time figuring out how our move is going to work. What a wonderful Sunday.

Girls Day!!

2011-01-15T21:54:00.003-06:00

One time my friend Audrey said how much she liked museums and art galleries and how no one else she knew liked to go. I filed that one away.

Then I took an art class for school and did a paper on Jackson Pollock. After which I found out that one of Pollocks most famous works, if not an American Artists most famous work, is only 40 miles from me at a Davenport Museum. And I soooo wanted to see it in person! Something so famous. So influential.

And then came Christmas and I had a brilliant idea.

I gave my 2 friends a coupon for an all expense paid trip and lunch to Davenport to visit the Figge Museum and lunch.

It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I love my friends and we had a wonderful time!!
No photos allowed except in the lobby. So stick horse is the only piece I could get a photo of. But I really really like stick horse!

http://figgeart.org/

Please...if you are within 100 miles of Davenport Iowa... take a look at the website and plan a visit to this truly world class facility!!

Ah you beautiful work you!

Until Tomorrow's Folly
L

Scary Day

2011-01-14T20:54:00.001-06:00

So last night the rumor was going around town that someone got shot. Which is shocking because nothing nothing like that ever ever happens here. Well, I got robbed once, but that was big news!

Turns out the guy wasn't shot, he was stabbed...in the neck...pretty bad...and worse, I know him...worse still, I had a blind date with him once.

He's going to be ok, but he did have to airlifted to the University of Iowa hospital.

He's a nice guy. And all the circumstances point to something shady having gone on..maybe drugs? And should that turn out to be the case it makes me very sad, because when I had dinner with him, he had been adamant that he didn't cotton to illegal drugs at all and didn't even drink.

I'm glad he's going to be ok!! Even though we didn't make a connection, it's still a small town and he only lives 2 blocks from me and we stayed friends.

It was just such a surreal experience. And it makes me feel helpless and I don't really like feeling helpless.

He's the one in the orange. This photo is on his church's website.

I'll be praying for him and his kids.

Cool Jazz and a hot kiddo!

2011-01-13T21:18:00.001-06:00

Saturday was the choir concert and tonight was the other daughter's turn. Tonight was band concert night. My daughter the drummer gets to be in her element. She seemed to have a lot of fun and we had a lot of fun watching her!!

This is the kit she got to play. She's a bit of a ham, but she doesn't believe that ;)

Next event will showcase both of my girls. The musical production. I'm pretty sure youngest Angel will get a nice roll in the cast and this Angel will get to play in the pit band...and they are doing Beauty and the Beast so it ought to be a blast! I can't wait.

I also can't wait to send this photo to my dad...he's been a jazz drummer since he was in his 20s. He's 83 years young and just set a kit up a couple of weeks ago. Cool man cooool!

The Run Around

2011-01-12T20:45:00.000-06:00

I hate hate hate this picture. But we were in the car running to Clinton 35 miles away for an appointment that the Dr's office lost anyway. It was not fun. But some days aren't. And then to see that this is what my profile has become... well... incentive to keep dieting?

CZ's are not a snack!

2011-01-12T06:52:00.000-06:00

Ok so the weirdest part of my day actually happened in the middle of the night...which is good since I didn't get anything else posted.

Meet Tibby. One of my 2 rescue cats. We bottle raised him and his brother from a week old. And he's a monster.

So in the middle of the night he's messing with my face and he strikes like a snake and bites my earring!! He pulls it right out and swear to heavens he tipped his head up like he swallowed it!! BAH!

So I'm wide awake and freaking out, but finally did find where he spit it back out. Ah the joys of pet-parenthood!

Off to the world of good hair

2011-01-10T21:27:00.001-06:00

My mom is such a sweetie. She knows moms often put off doing things for themselves so they can do more for their kids...and knowing that, she went and got me a gift certificate to my beautician for cut, style and color!! Woo hoo! I get this treatment maybe twice a year! And I always do put off getting my hair done for far too long.

My Beautician, Sue, is wonderful too and a good sport to snap these photos for me. She's not just my beautician after all, we've known each other for a lot of years and through a lot of drama! I consider her a good friend too!

Until tomorrow's folly
Laura

Slow Sunday

2011-01-09T21:21:00.000-06:00

I played hookie from church today. I usually don't do that, but I was a tiny bit under the weather and my oldest still isn't feeling that great. So we rested, as the day is intended for.

My youngest did go..she's a good girl. :)

I had it in my head that I needed to finish the book I was reading. I had been at it for nearly a month and even though it was finally getting good, I was ready to be past it, to be done with it. I made it and it did not disappoint, the last quarter of the book, for me a least, definately was the best! Doctor Zhivago is what I was reading...
- full review over here Bunny Tales: A Shabby Rabbit Book Blog

And while I was winding down with it this afternoon, my oldest angel's boyfriend came over (he leaves to go back to school next weekend) and they ran out to the grocery and brought home supper fixin's and cooked us supper while I finished my book.

The comedy duo appearing in the kitchen kept breaking my attention span...but I did get done and had some way yummy taco's to boot :)

I love that they don't think I'm totally crazy :) (yes they do..they just humor me and that's ok too)

For the Girls

2011-01-08T22:25:00.001-06:00

Today was all about my kiddos. First we got up and got ready and drove the 50 minutes to the mall to shop. It was fun for the most part but we were looking for jeans for my youngest and she got frustrated. Boy do I understand!!

Still we came home with quite a bit...good sales going on!

The real event for the day was the High School Choir's Advent Sing...which had been postponed due to bad weather twice! So we had a post-Advent sing ;)

It was still a great evening!

I have another pic to post that I took tonight. My daughter refused to take one with me, but my other daughter snuck me in one. I'll slip that in tomorrow morning...it's on my oldest's phone and she already went to bed :)

I can't wait until the musical. They are doing Beauty and the Beast!

Here we are... see she THOUGHT she was getting her picture taken with her boyfriend...but I photo bombed it and got in there too...her boyfriend was in on it, see how she can't see where I am! Now why oh why do I have to go to such lengths to get a picture taken with my daughter!! grr!

Decision Day

2011-01-07T19:31:00.001-06:00

So I"ve had this idea for quite awhile, but all parties are only now in agreement to get this decision made.

My Mom and I are going to trade houses.

March 1st is the transition date. It's exciting and scary too. It makes perfect sense....

Minus the huge tree laying on it, this is Mom's house. 3 bedroom cape cod with front screen porch

About a half a block away is my house! A 2 bedroom ranch with a finished basement and screened in sunporch.

Her house has much more personality and character, my house has smaller utilities and very simple maintenance.

So it makes sense for her to have the little easy house, and for me and my 2 girls to have the slightly larger needy house. I'm better able to give it the attention an older home takes. And I entertain more often than she does usually. Not that you can't entertain in my house, I just don't really have a formal dining room. Mom's not exactly decrepit, but she's 72 and it's time to make things easier for her. The number one reason in the winter is that my house has off street parking. There is no way she can try to shovel out her car parked on the street after the plow comes by. Parking in the driveway will be like a holiday for her!! She'll have more flowerbeds to dink around with at my house...the one's I never could grow much in except crabgrass. That did very well!

And hey...if she hates it...it's not THAT big of a deal to switch the phone back and flop the stuff around the half block again. It's worth a shot if it makes things simpler for her.

So the countdown begins...

As uneventful as they come...in a good way!

2011-01-06T19:21:00.003-06:00

Today was sheer calm. Nothing excessive nothing boring. Even keel. So I actually felt like making something for supper, I just wasn't sure what. But I've always wanted to cook through a cook book. To have a note by every recipe (unless liver and onions is in there... I already know I hate that). So I had some chicken breasts already cooked up and just looking for something to be used in.

And I have this cook book from my church. With all the great recipes from all those amazing potlucks... so I glanced through and low and behold, found one I didn't even have to go to the store for.

And I gave it a shot. Now I've tried it and, while not what I would request for my birthday dinner, it would go pretty well in the 'shoveling food' category. You know, the comfort food you aren't prissy about eating and you just shovel in as fast as you can ;) j/k..that's really bad for the digestion.

Now the kids haven't tried it. That will let me know how to rate this one.

Chicken Bake
  1 pkg stuffing mix
  1 c hot water or chicken broth
  3 cups cooked chicken cut up
  1 can cream of mushroom soup
  1/3 c sour cream
  1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables or can of veg-all

Preheat oven to 350. In a greased 9x13 pan sprinkle 1/2 of the dressing in a baking dish. Pour hot water or chicken broth over remaining dressing in a separate dish. Sprinkle chicken over dressing. Mix and spoon over chicken. Sprinkle remaining dressing over vegetable and bake for 30 minutes or until vegetable are cooked. This recipe can be prepared the night before.
Recipe by Doris C.

Until tomorrow's folly
L

UPDATE:
Alas: this probably isn't a keeping in my house...neither of the kiddos were that impressed with it. Oh well.

I owe I owe

2011-01-05T21:10:00.001-06:00

This was another day focused on work for the most part. And laundry but I don't want to go there anymore tonight ;)

My boss who works primarily from home was in today. We are trying to convince her to let go of the death grip she has on her old faithful comfortable laptop and embrace the wonders of the new, different, changed Dell laptop. This is not as easy as it sounds... and she's the first to admit it!! ;)

Here we are. I'm pouting because I wasn't expecting a photo! (This a little over a year ago which is sorta cheating I know)

There were a few things on the new laptop that needed tweaked. So I spent a couple hours plinking away at it. At one point I was installing a Wireless Access Point, Working on my computer while working on the laptop next to it on the desk. It was a 'Pirates of Silicon Valley' moment for me!

I've discovered one thing about this little project of a year of photos. You really don't know what defined your day until after it was over. It would have been a lot more fun to have gotten this picture with her laptop still there and the WAP box and cords all over.

Notice the obligatory cup of coffee. And try not to notice that awful bare wall above that sad little chair. I may have to do something about that.

I also went and picked up $250 worth of my daughter's contact lenses. Not covered by insurance. I had actually snapped a picture of that, but I just looked too sad and shell shocked to post it.

Ah but I do love her pretty eyes, so it is worth it right?

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Germs Germs go away!

2011-01-04T20:24:00.000-06:00

Oldest angel was sick again today. Stuffy nose, sore throat, fever. She's had her flu shot and been the one who's caught everything this year.

She was making me laugh. This was about the 4th picture I took and she was like "OMG Mom! Really? Just keep one!"

Geez I hope my immunities are strong enough that I don't get it!! Hoping she's feeling better by morning. Today was only their second day back from break.

Back to work day

2011-01-03T19:36:00.000-06:00

One day off doesn't exactly make a 'break' but today had that feeling. I suppose because the kids went back to school after 10 days off. And because the holiday's are behind us and we're heading into that stretch of time of 'nose-to-the-grindstone' distractions waiting for spring!!

So I trudged off to my office, which, truth be told, is usually a home away from home. And I did my day, with relatively little stress :)

I work for a swine feed manufacturer. I do mostly Admin, QC, Compliance and IT. I like it except for the IT..computers make me crazy when they aren't behaving!

And no, I've never been up to those platforms. Maybe someday. The guys say its quite a view!

I spared you a self-portrait...my daughter said I was going to come off as terribly narcissistic if they all were pics I took of myself! I thought with this mug, it would probably be categorized more as sadistic!

Not a hot bed of excitement today and I'm betting there are quite of few of these yawners coming up! Hope I can stick with it!

Until tomorrow's folly
L

Time to take the tree down

2011-01-02T19:26:00.000-06:00

I would really like to keep the holiday decorations around until January 6th for Epiphany, but time and schedules said today was a more practical day in my life to take things down.

It's a daunting task but it has to be done.

I actually started writing on the underside of my tote lids in sharpie the things that go in that particular tote. Maybe next year it will be even easier :)

I'm also hoping the spirit of the season didn't go back in the box too! That is some Christmas decor to keep around all the time!

L

The January of the rest of my life

2011-01-01T20:19:00.000-06:00

So I have been slammed busy and am taking a big slow turn with my life to a new direction (more on this later, but there is a huge clue over at my book blog). And while I still visit you guys' blogs very often, I certainly hadn't been doing anything on the 'home' front to blog about.

I could have blogged about being in Community College at 45 when most people assume I have my Bachelors or then some. Because I really have had a great time with it. And I did do well this semester. But that too takes time.

So when New Years rolled around and I had a day or so to reflect I thought of all the changes and how so many things have slipped by. How my blog is not reflecting it. While I keep blogging on my reading, school, and books over at Bunny Tales, I thought up something else to keep alive over here. :) And I hope you don't mind.

I decided that what I'd like to do is record my year. The whole year. Every day. At least one photo. Good or bad. To remind me of what all happened in this block of my time. In these months of my life.

So today I offer Christmas spirit in the form of my tiny tree (notice my little feline elves) in the hopes that this spirit doesn't fade when the decorations are put away

It's only a 5 ft tree but that bow isn't far off the ceiling... it's lower there in that alcove.

And after a long year, I started the year without expectations. And without makeup!! :)

So here I am. No Photoshop I swear! Recharging for the year ahead and anything it throws at me. With God's help, it will go.. maybe not always fine, but I can strive to react fine and act with Grace.

May God smile on your 2011 and bring you Peace.

Laura

Ahhhh Iowa City!

2010-10-16T19:31:00.002-05:00

My daughter wanted to go visit her boyfriend. She's a junior in High School and he just started his first year at the University of Iowa.

We live about an hour and half away from there in a pretty tiny little town

and I've never really ever been there let alone driven there.

And may I add driving isn't one of my favorite things anyway...

But I felt bad for her...plus there's this kickin little Indie bookstore I've read about and really wanted to find as long as we were there. :)

I don't have a gps, but I do have google maps (yay for satellite view) and pretty good internal sense of direction.
I'm not a fan of interstate 80 so we took backroads getting there which was beautiful and didnt take too much longer, except it's harvest and we got slowed down a couple of times for farm stuff. But not bad.

Once we got in town... I drove right to his dorm. No problem. It was ridiculously easy...made even easier since Iowa played at Ann Arbor. I wouldn't go near there on a home game day. (that's a way lot of people!)

So I dropped her off, made her boyfriend pinky swear that he would take care of her and my younger daughter and I were off to find

Prairie lights... Took a tinie tiny bit of looking but found a parking place pretty close and really enjoyed looking around this amazing downtown area!! Even the sidewalks had points of interest... dumb me didn't take the camera, so I'm having to find pics on the interwebs, and not very well.

And then vioula ... Praire Lights...just on the other side of the most interesting sounding Dublin Undergroud. (may go back on girls night out and check that place out). And it was cool!! 3 1/2 floors of books, cool people that worked there, lots of patrons. I was IN MY ELEMENT!!! Part of me wondered what the job market in Iowa City was like for Animal Nutrition Tech Support.

I came out with a local Independent Press Publication by Timothy Fay, Anamosa, Iowa called The Wapsipinicon Almanac...full of short stories and essasy etc. Love this little magazine. And a really inexpensive copy of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle...

Did you catch the part where I asked about Animal Nutrition... this book is fated for me, PLUS I just watched last Thursday the Temple Grandin Story... AH. MAY. ZING! So the Sinclair book was Supposed to be mine and at 3 bucks I would have no reason to say no.

I can't wait to go back.

Autumn Aesthetics

2010-09-11T12:57:00.001-05:00

I know fall isn't for another couple of weeks - technically - but I'm not the only one who was woe-ed by cool evenings and crisper mornings.

What do you think... I love my dusty purple and cream flowers, do they work ok for fall?
I don't have a ton of fall things... so I increased my collection a bit today.

I found these great plates, both the basket weave and the leaves, at Super Dollar. So yes they were only a dollar a piece. For less than $10.00 I put this together.

My napkins and rings from last weeks yard sale work perfect again!

The finials work nicely too! I'm going to deck them out in orange and black ribbons for Halloween.

My Column has donned it fall accessories

As always with my house.... it's a work in progress :)

Hello I'm Laura and I"m a rummageaholic!

2010-09-04T14:33:00.001-05:00

I think I have a problem...

last night my daughter and her friend that was spending the night wanted to go to Dollar General for cheap energy drinks. So off we went... and I saw a yard sale sign and my mind went "lets go lets go lets go lets go!" and I told myself 'no no no no'

and then promptly drove to the movie store instead of Dollar General and got out of the car and the kids were laughing at me... 'uh mom? why are we at the movie store?' and I was like... Uh oh...this isn't where I was going. :)

Besides I had already been to one that evening and I made myself wait for the others until this morning. There were only 2 but one was purty good!!

Last night I got this ...

I just love the colors!! Not sure where I'm going to put it...

Then this morning...

These beautiful dresses were $4.00 each!! I thought that was very VERY resonable!!
One for each angel!!

The girls are always required to wear black slacks for concert band, chorus, drama competitions, speech, etc... We have a couple pair but these were .50Cents and in youngest angel's size!!

This guy was only .50 cents too

I put him here under the yardsale basket filled with the yard sale fruit...

Then on to the next sale...
I like this sale a lot!

First thing I saw practically I picked up!

Finials 2 for $1.00... LOVE them! Not sure where I'll put these... hmmmm.

Couldn't resist these snack trays... cool sage green with distressed tan/brown accents... 2 for $3.00 and once again, not sure where I'm going to put these either.

Did I mention everything at this sale was 1/2 price today? Wow!! :)

Lots of nice clothes too.. Oldest Angel (who is just starting to love yard sales) found this super soft hoodie (yes it says Poopy's... it's ..well... this place. Restaurant, biker bar, tattoo parlor, family friendly.. I know.. but it really is. Go figure) and the distressed Z. Cavarricci blazer 2 for 1.50.

There were a couple other things I saw there that played on my mind so in about 1/2 an hour after we left I called my mom and we went back :)

For these... I don't know what the heck I was thinking leaving them lay there in the first place.. I mean really this was a no brainer!! But I didn't think I had anything to match...

8 napkins 6 rings - all never used!! $1.50
Told ya it should have been a no brainer!! Would you have let them lay there and walk away!! I simply can't believe they were there when I got back.

Once I got home I put the yard sale napkins and rings with my yard sale everyday dishes and low and behold....

I was pretty pumped!! It looks like they should have been sold as coordinates!

So while I was there at the sale I thought about upcoming fall decorating and wondered why I passed up these...

The stripped pillar candle is the new addition and the colors go perfect with everything in my room! Especially for fall.

and then these...

The brown candle and the 'marbled' cream colored candle... more and more white/cream is creeping into my decorating!!
These guys were a .25 cents each.

I'm going to have some fun with these...

I hadn't even noticed these before. I whole baggie full of black sign numbers and letters. I'm sure there are craft projects floating around the blogs where I can get inspired to use these puppies!! And feel free to let me know if you have an idea right now!

An impulse buy, but I'd learned my lesson on passing stuff up!

As I was waiting for my Mom to buy her candles (nice rust colored tapers) I snatched this off a display table.. I had looked at it 3 times. Ditto 3 as they say and Nine West for 1.50 is pretty easy to take. Especially since, at 45, I am taking 2 college classes to finish up my Associates and then go on to get my Bachelors. I needed a 'grown up' looking book bag.

I think that's it today... like Queen of Fifty Cents, I usually see some sweet critters at the sales and today this lady's son had a black poodle tucked in his jacket, and I wished I would have brought my camera!

I think I need a nap!!

A sweet little review

2010-08-29T19:02:00.002-05:00

I just finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. And I have no idea what I think of it.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, I'll give a quick synopsis this time. (which I usually dont because I'm too anxious to get to my opinion - my 'take' on a book). So I'm going to 'borrow' the synopsis from the Flavia de Luce website - she's the protagonist of this story.

Great literary crime detectives aren’t always born; they’re sometimes discovered, blindfolded and tied up in a dark closet by their nasty older sisters. Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce’s bitter home life and vicious sibling war inspires her solitary diversions and “strange talents” tinkering with the chemistry set in the laboratory of their inherited Victorian house, plotting sleuth-like vengeance on Ophelia (17) and Daphne (13), and delving into the forbidden past of her taciturn, widowed father, Colonel de Luce. It comes as no surprise, then, that the material for her next scientific investigation will be the mysterious corpse that she uncovers in the cucumber patch. Fearless and darkly imaginative, Flavia hurries to solve the murder and acquit her father of suspicion. Following the lead of its clever protagonist, Sweetness is entirely inventive, fast-paced, and quick-witted, with tongue-in-cheek humour that derides the macabre seriousness of subject.
Alan Bradley plants the story deep into the setting of 1950s England, with a portrait of an eccentric home life that is all too wickedly familiar. The story’s twists are supported by the time and place as well as the unusual interests of the characters which range from stamp-collecting to making poisons all of which are highly researched and ingeniously incorporated.

So I kind of do know what I think of it... at the moment. And my first impression is that this wasn't my favorite book, but then when I break it down it SHOULD be one of my favorites. This book had everything a good book, nay... a favorite book should have!

Let's start with the writing. Never once was I jolted out of my, for lack of a better phrase, visit to this story, by hack writing, weak sentences or trite descriptions! Characters were multi-faceted and rather unpredictable.

The setting was wonderful! England in the 50's. What a treat!

The plot was fun, flowed well, didn't veer into the totally unforeseen and tied up as a good mystery should almost to the point where I expected to hear "and I would have gotten away with to if it weren't for that meddling kid!"

But right now, there were annoyances... Flavia being my first and foremost. I really had a hard time buying this chick - little chick - she's 11. I have girls. I have precocious girls. I have intelligent precocious girls. If Flavia were American in a today's setting... she'd be a home schooled kid (no offense to home schooling parents) and by that I mean in the arrogant, socially awkward way some of them have... you know... commonly referred to as the 'home-schooled vibe'.

My other annoyance would be a spoiler so I will not include it specifically, only to say... I have said before I don't usually like "neat package" stories and this one was too much just that.

Still, I get the feeling the memory of this book will grow on me. I'll look back and remember this book and know that it was better than I gave it credit for. And I'll wonder what I was thinking that I didn't score it higher. And I may even come back and up it's rating.

In the meantime... I think I'll go make a Cheesecake to celebrate this book. It's the closest thing I have to a custard pie.

3.5/5

I had this book on my list for my summer reading challenge


A Southern Daydreamer Reads

Now I have a problem... the last book on my list isn't available at our local library. And I have so many books here to read that I can't choose!!! Cormick McCarthy - All the Pretty Horses, Angelas's Ashes, Memoirs of a Geisha, Wally Lamb, and about 20 others just here in the living room! Help! What to do?

Un-Guilty Pleasure - Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-08-20T19:07:00.001-05:00

Last winter our local library posted their winter book club list. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was one of the books on the list. I had seen ti around but hadn't really heard much about it, but the title sure did draw me in.

I had hoped to join in on this event but unfortunately the meeting nights coincided with a night I had a church board meeting so I wasn't able to.

I kept the book in mind however,

Then I began blogging regularly and found the literary blogs and this book kept popping up.

So there has been myriad of hype around about this book and I'm afraid I'm usually disappointed when they don't live up to their press....

But ohhhhh...I am so happy to report...not in this case....

It lived up to it. And then some.

I'm not much on synopsis in my reviews. I prefer to talk about what I liked..or didn't. So they are really more like opinions ;)

First of all. I loved the format. A veritable tribute to the dieing art of letter writing. I also fell for each and every character. They were so adorable!! I loved the sense of community that was instant and only grew stronger through out the book. Don't we all seek that level of not only acceptance but .... ok... popularity???

Mary Ann Shaffer crafted this story so seamlessly!! She didn't shove details down your throat, she understood 'show don't tell' and the emotion was deeper and stronger for it!!

I love England and was happy to learn about Guernsey and of course now would love to go there!! The cottages, the mansion. The harbor and the channel.

The era was the reality of the book. And though this was a light-hearted FUN book, episodes of the Occupation of this utopia by the Germans were handled frankly. The underlying brutality WAS there, but without any gratuitous detail. And the effects were made plain and understandable and BECAME the true membership of the society. And I so very much appreciate that!!

My favorite aspect... of course... the books. And most of all the introduction to the world of reading to folks who may never have stopped to find out about the pleasures of good stories. It's like seeing someone try lobster for the first time.. The look on their face of unexpected joy! followed by unbelief that such a thing could exist without them having known about it!! The unfairness of the time wasted without it!! ;) Books are that way... THIS book was that way for me!!

Ok so it was a little bit neat... and I usually don't like "neat" stories... They tend to be a little Pollyanna to me when I've seen enough to know life isn't very often "neat'.

That little nitpik was the ONLY thing that wasn't perfect about this book.

I'm so happy I read this book. I'm so happy I got to loan it out right away so I will have someone to talk to about this book!!

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was like a delicious gourmet desert. Only you will never regret reading it.

Yard Sale Jackpot!!

2010-08-14T16:48:00.003-05:00

It's mornings like this that will make me yearn for summer all winter long. GREAT yard sales today and I had so much fun!!

First up a sale I've visited before. This lady and her girls are prolific readers and she has permanent bookcases in her garage..the best news is the selection DOES change so it's always fun to go!

Only 3 of these - oh well... pair and spare! Aren't they cute!

Then I turned around and saw this set $3.00 for the set. My mother has a service for 24 of Pfaltzgraff Heritage..but not these pieces!! Score! Christmas gifts!!

This little cutie was in the free box. I'll probably give it a new coat of cream spray paint, but it's really already in very nice shape.

Have been looking for shells to add to my summer table all August :) All started with the starfish candle. .50 for all three

But these were why I went... I meant it when I said this lady has books! I picked up the Nicholas Sparks for .50 even though it said a buck and A Thousand Acres... and she threw the Cat Who Talked To Ghosts in for free.

The other 2 books I got later...when I went BACK to the sale with my Mom. I had seen a book but passed it up, thinking... well I don't know what I was thinking...so I went back for....

I paid the $4.00 but hey it's Julia!

While I was waiting for mom who was looking around I found this wonderful fork... It's Manor Plate Triple I.S. Rosedale from about 1933. I found some more on eBay so I have hopes of adding to it... sorry the photo is a bit blurry. Silly novice ;)

On to the next sale...

T-shirts 1 local team one... well... self-explanitory.. Rockin the Big 10!! for .50cest each and like new

I also got this basket... as a project. I always need storage...out of sigt storage. Think I may paint it black. What do you thnk? There are 2 Christmas presents hiding in side but I can't show them here... prying eyes :)

And as I was checking out... I saw this little plant stand and had to have it... $2.00 worth of OH YEAH!

Consulted the paper and off to the next sale... turned out to be a lady that goes to my church. :)

Did anybody Rooster Party last week with Bella Vista? It was AMAZING!! Go here and you can still see all the awesomeness! Well I'm getting ready for NEXT year :) For .50

Pretty sure he's a reproduction, but at $1.00 I liked him :)

My favorite find at this sale... all this artificial fruit to use in displays or if I ever get a cloche for ...$3.00. I was happy!

Off to the next stop...only 1 thing

This beautiful set, round table topper, oblong dresser scarf, 2 hankie box doilies for a buck
And look at the work...hand-stiched with love and perfection. Good pieces with no stains!

Crochet edges and sooo many little french knots and all of them perfect :)

Then off to the local 2nd hand store...

Despite not having touched the projects from last years yard sales, I got this as a project too... I have specific plans :) It was originally 5.00 but a red x mean 1/2 price. It is a very sturdy tray!

Found this doily for fall, Valentines day and/or Christmas for a dollar.

I drink creamer in my coffee... no more ugly plastic bottle out :)

and 2 absolutely pristine plump pillows! Mine here are such junk and I never think of replacing them. These were $4.00 each.... the kitten we had...that's Marci...one of the orphans we raised from a week old :)

I'd been eyeing this for a few weeks...see the red x..got this for $1.50. Works in my bedroom nicely!

Then I remembered our wonderful little gift store would have some cute things and maybe on sale...

This guy wasn't on sale but he's so perfect for Aunt who collects bottles that I had to have him...so SCORE another Christmas gift! :)

And then I found this...same story...can't tell ya because it's a gift too! So all in all I managed to get gifts for 5 people!! Wowee!

Oh and last night I got this...technically not at a yard sale...but close! I did buy it out of a driveway!!
This is for my daughters and the taxi service of Mom is out of service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you had fun yard saleing with me!! It was such a memorable day!!

Linking to Today's Thrifty Treasures because I have as much fun looking at the great stuff you find as finding stuff myself!

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle - Finally!

2010-08-07T22:57:00.002-05:00

This is an update to my Summer reading challenge.

I just finished The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

This book slowed down my list quite a bit. It was 607, small font, pages and a challenging read in itself. A book about Toru Okada; a man who lost his way professionally, then domestically and personally and finally began loosing his reality. But on so many other levels it was about so much more. Without a doubt it was about more than I could glean from it!
One of the challenging aspects of this book was the Japanese culture itself. Without knowing about that, I wasn't sure how I was expected to react to some of the more surreal happenings or deviant actions. Or what I was to think of the string of increasingly bizarre characters as they entered the story. The atrocity of war I got. Dysfunctional families I know how to react to. But sitting in dried up wells, psychic healing, unexplainable events... left me a little confused.
The wind up bird was likened to a bird that turned the spring of the world and kept it running. So more than anything what I saw in this book was a perseverance. A continuing. A going on. Despite the weirdness and atrocity and dysfunction of this world.

I hope I"m close anyway.

I'm celebrating this book tomorrow with Asian Chicken salad - lettuce, tomatoes, onion, chow mien noodles, slivered almonds, mandarin oranges, topped with oil, soy and brown sugar dressing.

Next up, by popular vote

I've no doubt I'll get through this one faster, even if I do read nice and slow and savor it....because I"m told it's worth it! Wonder if I"ll have to make Potato Peel Pie to commemorate this one when I finish it. We'll see!

But I'll have to hustle to get through my challenge. Except I don't want to hurry through them because they all look GREAT!

Looking forward

2010-08-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

Whenever I'm reading a book I ... shall we say... haven't fallen in love with... it seems all I can think of is what I GET to read next. Especially when It's such an appealing stack.

Only part of my literal TBR pile. Except Bird by Bird, I didn't pay over $1.00 for any of them. And confession time - I bought Bird by Bird as a gift ....and because the guy working was cute and nice :)

What would you start with??

Laura

Wild Wonderful West Virginia - Hawk's Nest State Park

2010-07-27T21:38:00.003-05:00

My Dad's 65th High School Reunion was coming up and he was adament he wanted to take me and my two daughters to meet his classmates.

Dad was raised in the coal mining mountains of West (By God) Virginia. He lives now in Evansville, Indiana and we live in Iowa.That's a lot of driving!! And that would make 5 of us going out there. Dad, Jenny (my step-mom), Me, and my girls. I wasn't really sure how this would work out. So back in April and May we started tossing around the idea.

As time got closer I thought how this would be such a good experience for my girls to spend time with their grandfather...the only male role model they have really. Even if he is 8 hours away.

Dad decided renting a van would work and low and behold, it all worked out and last Friday I found myself on the road to Evansville, then on Sunday off to Ansted, West Virgina.

It is a beautiful, wild, woolly place!!

This was the view from our room at Hawk's Nest State Park Lodge. If you haven't been there, you can not imagine how dense that forest is!!

I used to get to spend about a week there in the summer when we would go back to visit my paternal grandparents, but this was pure site seeing...and I wanted my picture in front of the waterfall.

Yes there is a trail you can hike back to a pretty waterfall and I never had, so that was my aim.

So off to the trail we went on our last full day there.

The trail started innocently enough...but don't all scary movies too???? I had heard about this trail, people had taken the trail the day before...and there were people leaving the trail as we got there. This was not a deserted place. I couldn't wait to get to the waterfall.

We asked how far back the trail it was to get to the falls... the lady said "bout half way".

K...thanks...that clears that up! ;)

We discussed what an adventure this trip was and I commented this hike was a bonding experience. My oldest said, don't say that...when you plan bonding is always when something tragic happens... hmmm. They said my great grandmother was "FAE" or had sight you might say. Wonder if it's oddly hereditary

But off we went....

All set for this great Hike to the Waterfall!

The Bluffs got higher!!....

The Hills got steeper and the rocks bigger!!

The forest got darker....

We crossed an old train trestle that had a metal mesh deck installed so we could walk across it...it went over this dry creek bed...If it would have been running I may have called it quits here and said good enough. But is was just...dare I say... a ghost of a falls??

From the trestle this shot straight down. The water has made the rock look so amazing!

Can't you just imagine how beautiful that would be with water cascading down, then wooshing under you as you stood on the trestle?

We started to see chunks of coal on the trail and soon came to a side trail that went down to the old mine entrance. Needing to see as much as we could, not knowing if we'd be back, we took the side trail.

The old mine was creeeepy!!

Not sure what this was...just part of the mine...maybe a vent shaft?

It was so eerie, quiet and dark and hollow sounding... Mill Creek 1921 Colliery Co. Is what the stone says.

A little edgy, we turn to go back to the main trail and find my waterfall...the creek from it flowed closely by this mine entrance and sounded amazing!!

That water had come down my falls just up ahead!!

And then

On our way back to the main trail...my oldest spied a piece of sparkly coal...she wanted it for her boyfriends rock collection. To take to him as a 'real' souvenir.

I bent down to see it too... but I never got a look at it because out of the corner of my eye I spied this.... Not 4 feet from where she was standing!!!!!

I sent the girls up the path after telling them it was there. I told them it wasn't about to attack but we needed to go... but not panic and not run. If there were others we didn't want to put them on the defensive.

Maybe a little crazy...I knew no one would believe me so I snapped this picture. I couldn't believe as much as I was shaking and as hard as my heart was beating that it wasn't blurry!! I easily cropped and blew up our little Copperhead friend for better identification....

That's when I remembered there were postcards with that D*mn waterfall on them up at the lodge. And we moved swiftly, without running, back to civilization.

And see there are even photos of it on the net.... I found this one in about 2, domesticated, air conditioned, seconds!!

It does seem a shame to have missed it...It is pretty. :) Ah well, maybe someday...

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer.. come join us!! :)

Movie Night!!

2010-07-08T18:58:00.000-05:00

I"ve been pooped all week and the kids are out of the house tonight with their friends and I don't have THAT much else that i OUGHT to be doing...so it's Movie Night!

My new netflix is here - The Last Station

Who doesn't love Helen Miran! And James McAvoy is awesome!

I didn't get to see the end, but my girls bawled their eyes out in Remember Me.

I did see most of it and I'm telling you, Robert Pattinson is a way better actor than he's been allowed to be in the Twilight Series!! Youngest Angel cried so much she had wet spots on her shirt!! Seriously have to see this movie!!

I did finish and fall in a weird dysfunctional sorta love with The Jane Austen Book Club.

I shouldn't have liked it because it's a neat package and I hate neat packages... I think, because I DID like it! Very Much! And I longed for a group of friends like those who would sit around basking in Austen! awww. Sorta like Bloggers ;)

Off to make popcorn :)

Awesome Awesome!!

2010-07-01T20:05:00.001-05:00

I just finished my first book for the Summer Reading Challenge I joined.

The book was Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan.

I've read every John Green book and didn't really expect to like this book, or at least not much. I mean face it, John Green's writing is incredible so I would only assume David Levithan's would be good too. But the characters in Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska seemed to blend in my mind a bit, so I guessed this book would be more of the same.

But it really wasn't. It was in a way, in that "unrealized expectations idealist youth meets reality" sorta way. But the rest was pretty fresh and turned more to how fast teens move and how much they miss that's right there with them because they don't take 1 second to appreciate anything.

All in All... Abundance of Katherine's will be my favorite forever because it was my first, but Will Grayson Will Grayson will be a milisecond out of a tie for first. I loved this book.

As a disclaimer -- it is a young adult book...but make no mistake the emphasis is on the ADULT. Language and discussions are not really for the tweeners. High Schoolers will do just fine with it.

Thanks John and David for a great read and as always.... DFTBA!!

(oh yeah...that's Don't Forget To Be Awesome, John's Vlog brother's moto)

Stormy Night!

2010-06-19T13:23:00.001-05:00

Here's what blew through our neighborhood last night.

This is my mom's house.

This is part of what it took to get this off of there

An Enchilada Fest!

2010-06-17T19:32:00.003-05:00

I hadn't made these in awhile. I try to avoid the oven mostly now that it's summer, however... back by popular demand, it was Chicken Enchilada night!

It's sort of a time consuming recipe. Which I also try to stay away from in the summer as well since I don't really want to be in the kitchen of all place when it's nice out. And it is nice out, I couldn't have decided to do this on a rainy day, nope beautiful out!

Oh well, I"ll console myself when they come out of the oven. :)

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
Chicken Breast, no skin, 2 breast, bone and skin removed
* Green Peppers (bell peppers), 1 cup, chopped
* Onions, raw, 1 cup, chopped
* Garlic, 1 clove
* *Mission whole wheat tortillas, 10 serving
* Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 can (10.75 oz)
* *Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce (Medium, 10 oz.),
* Sour Cream, .5 cup
* Mozzarella Cheese, part skim milk, 4 oz
* Cheddar Cheese, 1.5 cup, shredded

Directions

Place chicken in large pot and cover with water.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and boil until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken from water and shred using a fork.
Reserve about 1/2 cup of the water from chicken and discard remaining water.
Return shredded chicken to pot and add peppers, onion, minced garlic and water.
Cook until peppers and onions are tender. Add Sour Cream and Mozerella cheese and stir until well blended and creamy
In a separate bowl, combine cream of chicken soup and 1 1/2 cans of the enchilada sauce; stir until blended.
Put about 1/4 cup or the other 1/2 can of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and coat the bottom of the dish. (Helps keep it from sticking so much)
Spoon chicken mixture onto middle of tortilla. (About 1/2 cup)
Fold edges of tortilla up over the chicken mixture and place tortilla seam side down into baking dish.
Pour remaining enchilada sauce mixture over top of tortillas.
Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Return to oven until cheese is melted.

Serve with Brown rice and fat free refried beans

Number of Servings: 8

You just start with this.... and it magically becomes....

THIS! :) Yumtastic!!

They are super hot when they come out!! Be careful!

I skipped the rice and beans tonight. I just didn't have the patience!

I think I'll join in on Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum... not high cuisine I know, but still a very good recipe to use as a fall back! Maybe it'll become a favorite at your house!

Laura

3 week anniversary .. for the orphan kittens

2010-06-16T21:47:00.002-05:00

Today it has been 3 sleepless weeks that we have been momma to the 2 orphan kittens. Which makes them about 4 weeks old. And WHOA NELLY but can they get into everything now! Scaling the furniture. Scaling my leg! The are looking healthier and hopefully happier.

Here's what they look like today

Of course you know, I'll need help when it comes time to give these guys to their new home!!

Think I'll link to Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer... if I hurry ;) And yes I know it's a stretch but I love to share my baby kitties :)

On-a-whim project and hardwood floor reveal

2010-06-13T08:33:00.003-05:00

Oldest Angel went with her school drama club to NYC. While she was gone I decided to find her floor. Not just the flatness at the bottom of her room under the mounds of teen clothes and tennis gear...but there was that too no doubt!... but the real floor. Because in her closet it's oak. And beautiful! So I hoped the rest of the room would be too!

Here is the before. Deep pile ... dare I say 'shag'... baby blue carpet. It was pretty soft though I"ll give it that.

So I pulled it up. With the help of the neighbor's utility knife I busted it right outta there! ;)

I pulled about a million staples from the pad and spent an entire evening with pry bar in hand taking up tack strip.

But here is what I found. These are untouched. All I did was sweep. I did scratch the varnish a little bit while moving the bed. But fixing it will have to wait. Luckily that's where an area rug will go.

Amazing! She was so happy when she got home and saw it. She loves wood floor and had been after me to do this for awhile.

I'm pleased with how it came out. I can't wait for her to pick out a rug. I'm looking forward to doing the rest of the upstairs a little at a time now!

Not bad for a whim project! :)

I think I"ll like to Susan over at Between Naps On The Porch and take part in her Metamorphosis Monday. This will be my first one! :)

Crazy Cat lady

2010-06-05T08:42:00.001-05:00

I've been a cat lover my entire life.

I own 2. They drive me crazy with their weird ways and tons of fur. I can no longer own any black clothes.
This is Turtle Cat and the Spy...see her peeking around? Actually named Romeo (he's the big one) and of course Juliette...although I got them at different times.

And all was well...mostly...until

A panicked phone call from Youngest Angel saying "Mom!! There's kittens!! and their dieing!" And she was in tears and worst of all she was right!

And along came these 2

They barely had their eyes open. The one with the white (I call lil one cuz it's half the size of the gray one) had scabs on it's face and front legs. The day was soooo hot and the sun was just beating down on them!! They were not long for this world for certain.

But she got them in and dabbed water on them. Made them a nest. And when they fell asleep the kids ran and bought KMR.

At first they were so weak the only way to feed them was off fingers. Or tiny bits from the dropper that came with the kitten rescue kit. And I tried to warn my girls that these little fellas may not make it.

It was a day before they went potty.

But by some miracle...it's been over a week since we've had them. And they are gaining well. Still some trouble with potty...tad bit (constipated). May have to run them to the vet if we don't get something over the weekend.

They still need fed every 2 - 3 hours too. so some late nights and bleary eyes...Hey I remember that!

Here they are over the last couple of days...OH and I found a home for them...both together :) Once we get them to being weaned that is.l

See the little scabs on the front legs and on the face too. This one still has trouble walking. It's (his? Her?) back legs splay out behind most of the time

This one's ears are coming up nicely. And is gaining the most.

Youngest Angel is good at feeding them too. They were so lucky! They were found last Thrursday...last Friday was the last day of School! I only had to leave work once to go home and feed them. Good thing I work for an animal feed manufacturer! We make baby pig feed, but a baby is a baby and entreats sympathy :)

"I'm coming for you lady!"

We love our loves too!

1 week down 4 more to go :)

The gray one just about got out of the box a few minutes ago. I keep hoping they will be ok and I'll keep working to make sure they are!

Warm fuzzies from the crazy cat ...uh rabbit? :)

Laura

Page Turners - I hope!

2010-05-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

I was so happy to get to another reading challenge!

My spring reading challenge was wildly successful and out of the modest list of 4 I read for that event, only one was not to my liking, however I am not sorry I read it.

And I even have a new one to add to my 'favorites' list. Water for Elephants was phenomenal!

So now it's time for the Summer Reading Challenge

Yipppppeeee! May be it goes back to my youthful summer-time library visits, but I love summer reading!

I'm having a hard time choosing my list!!

But here goes:

Will Grayson Will Garyson - John Green & David Levithan
This is a YA book. John is one of my favorite authors, YA or otherwise! My daughter loved this book. I'm anxious to get started.

I'm reading a book right now that I"ll put on my book list in the side bar but don't really want to count it for the challenge. First because I'm already reading it and second because I don't like it. And I can't believe I"m saying this because it's my favorite author -Stephen King. But not this book. Not this book at all and not because it's scary, but because it's a cop out. New setting, same psychological trauma as two other books combined with new protagonist.

Ok I digress.

The Sweetness at the bottom of the pie - Alan Bradley
This will be a new author to me. I understand it's a series. I hope I like it!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Our Library Book Club read this and I didn't get to read it then so looking forward to it now.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami

Tomorrow, When the War Began - John Marsden
Heard this is a series too. And Another YA

I hope to add a couple more. But this will do for a start!

YAY! READING!

Home of the Brave

2010-05-29T20:36:00.002-05:00

In our town, our city cemetery is transformed on Memorial Day. Flags fly to honor veterans and citizens alike. It a beautifully tranquil sight filled with poignancy and reverence.

Please enjoy.

Thank you veterans everywhere.

Fianlly a uniquely great book!

2010-05-26T17:09:00.001-05:00

I don't have a whole lot of time to blog at this exact moment...

But I just finished my Spring Reading Thing with Water for Elephants and I have to say

I love this book.
It was unique - the setting, the characters, the history, even the romance
It was compelling - the writing was tight and flowed and flowered with out either getting in the way of the reading
And it was sad, and heartbreaking and depressing but I loved it!!

A must read? Maybe not for everyone its no beach reader. It makes you feel. It deals with the nature of people and their inherent reactions to joy, tragedy, and life. And people being people, they aren't always great.

Still you root for the good guys and boo the bad guys and the end rolls around and you are not sorry you did. nor do you care about the sleep you missed finishing it!

Posies in the Planter

2010-05-22T07:51:00.002-05:00

I'm not very good with outdoor things, like plants or lawns. I never really learned it. Mostly because I don't stay out that long before a bug or a bee or a spider comes creeping along and chases me back inside.

But I"m trying ;)

This year I decided to try it again. Everyone else had such lovely flowers around their homes and it makes it all look so cozy. So on a whim I went to the flower shop.

And brought home some unfortunate adoptees. Bet they feel like they got the worst new parent every! ;)

I love geraniums and think they look so full and rich. And I decided on traditional red. I wanted some dusty miller to put with this but they were all sold out.

The bare spot there next to my hostas were boxwoods that died a couple winters ago that I had pulled out. I'm going to get some transplant variegated hostas to put on either side of my solid green. There's a large picture window above there it will highlight nicely I hope.

I miss placed my other planter, so I opted for a hanging basket. I sure hope it's big enough. Another red Geranium and some of the trailing vinca.

Continuing the red and white theme... there had been a lily plant here, she's a yellow lilly but the growth was looking too wispy there in this small corner planter. So I moved her to another corner. The funny thing about that is...well I did that 2 years ago. I moved her. She moved herself back. Now I'm sure it was just some part of the root I missed that took and regrew...but I"m telling ya! It didn't just die where I had transplanted it, it disappeared! And as it did, it appeared growing in the triangle!

I have the hedgehog on the lookout for it now.

And I love petunias! I hope they bring hummingbirds this year.

Here's a look down the rest of the bed. It didn't turn out quite how I'd envisioned. But I absolutely Love IT
Oldest Angel and Youngest Angel wanted on the bandwagon too. So they each got to pick out something to plant.

Oldest Angel chose this perinial lilly. Of course it's orange. We didn't know they came in pink ;) She wanted orange anyway. Lillies are her favorite! How can ya say no to a favorite!

Youngest Angel chose this...and I didn't even know what it was. But I love the dainty flowers and the color...oh yeah... it doesnt fit in my red and white scheme either. Oh well ;) I think I remember it says its a Silene Rolly's Favorite. I like them, they remind me of dainty floral patterned cloth. Color scheme color smeme ;)

And the salsa fixins - green peppers - bell

Tomatos - need to go back and get 2 more cages. Which is being very optimistic that they will live!

And throughout the whole planting project, my overseer. Juliette, she's dainty and must like the flowers! Actually with that look I'm thinking she's liking anything that brings the birds and the bunnies closer! Good thing she never goes outside!

I'll keep you posted on how it goes. The weeds will get brave enough to make a return soon I"m sure and I have had in the past a terrible fight with crab grass getting into these beds.

As I write this I noticed that the OA's Lilly is in bloom but it's a very foggie morning here and I don't think I could get a very good picture. Maybe after bit.

Wish the orphans luck and any tips are always appreciated!

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday this week! Woohoo! Out doors is getting so much more fun with this summer-ish weather!

Life is her highway!

2010-05-04T20:59:00.002-05:00

I put it off as long as I could. Oldest Angel turned 16 in February and since winter isn't a great time to get one, I put off letting her get her drivers license until this past Friday.

Then came the next hurdle...

Actually letting her leave without me.

And yes, she thinks I'm crazy for taking this picture

Can you see that look? That look says "really? really mom?" as I proudly watch her reach for her seatbelt.

And look over her shoulder to back out.

Then... she was gone...

And I worried...but low and behold!!!!

She made it back safe and sound!!! My car did too, but that's just a bonus! She's what I was concerned about! ;)

How many sleepless nights await? I'm sure it will be more than she will ever ever know and only years from now understand.

As the apron strings begin to unravel and the people I grew start to venture out, I can only pray I gave them what they need and I swear, if they are successful, effective people...mostly it is not because of me but despite me.

As a single mom I'm entitled to double worry and luckily double love!

I'm adding this to A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday Event. It was very very eventful in my book :)

Ms. Fix-it

2010-04-30T14:47:00.002-05:00

One of the severe drawbacks to living alone is not having someone around to do tasks...you know...little fix it projects, big fix it projects or simply the things I have no idea how to do.

Like a totally clogged sink.

Except I had a pretty good idea what was wrong.

See there are 3 of us and well, we all have manes..not just hair but thick, coarse, loooong hair! And sometimes we wash said locks in...uh huh.... the sink. The dilemma was pretty clear. The sink was full of hair

I said hair, not HARE!

And I thought I would have to call a plumber, butt the thought was frightening.

So I took a minute and thought about it...really. I know the logic of a gravity sink, and I know the idea behind a snake, and I have a big wrench. and a bucket.

So I tackled it...by my self. My wrench, my bucket and a good idea. And it worked. I pulled the trap apart under the sink and I'm pretty sure I actually pulled out Chewbacca!

Note to anyone who wants to get inspired enough to try this....this. did. NOT. smell. pleasant!

But when I put it all back together...and it DID all go back together which was another one of my worries...it ran faster than since I've lived here! Well worth the effort and a character building risk ;)

An Easter Table

2010-04-08T19:10:00.004-05:00

I'm posting this a little late. I know that. We had such fun with Easter dinner this year. Just making it relaxing and spring time pretty. Our weather here was beautiful so I wanted spring around me everywhere.

Linking to Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch too

A Tiny Table overflowing with family and love.

My Grandmother's China. She lived in West Virginia and was a school teacher. My Mom got me the beaded placemats. The silverware is nothing special and not even sure where it came from. It's just my everyday stuff. The napkin rings I got all 4 for $1.00 at the second hand store here in my little town.

Isn't he sweet? From my mom. Easter with the Shabby Rabbit without bunnies? Now that would just not be right.

The Host - Stephanie Meyer : An Opinion not a really a review

2010-04-05T06:49:00.002-05:00

I find I had to keep reminding myself that this is aimed at the young adult audience. Or else I would have put it down.

Don't get me wrong. The premise was wonderful! Brilliant even. A concept I've toyed with but could never bring to fruition and Ms. Meyers did and really very well!

It was the writing. And the languid pace. And her romanticism of the tough female protagonist stoically bearing abuse both mental and physical..and worse rationalizing it with "I had it coming". And her advocating her protagonist lieing about her age with the hope of sex with an older man. (which, thankfully, is only alluded to!!)

Did I say this was a young adult book?

My 15 year old daughter read this and of course the Twilight series and felt this one was better and I hate to disappoint her by not liking it. I'll give her this. The premise WAS better and at least unique and original, but the stilted writing, trite dialog, and fluff filled plot was just not enough for me to 'really' like it.

Have I read worse? Oh most certainly...I'm honest enough to admit I've written worse! The disappointment lies with how good the idea was to not be well developed.

I hate not liking a book. And I'm sorry to say so here in print. And I'm sure it has its fans and that's great! And I'm not opposed to reading for 'escape-ism" so it's not that I'm a total book snob either. (I have 2 shelves full of Stephen King). This just didn't do it for me.

I will, however, give it the props it does deserve for an interesting premise

2//5 (2 on a scale of 1-5, 5 being best)

Ah fickle spring

2010-03-20T09:15:00.001-05:00

It's the first day of spring on the calendar, but the weather says otherwise. Two days ago the snow was long gone, the temperature was in the 60's, the motorcycles were out and I was beginning to worry about what I was going to do about this atrocious landscaping around here.

Today, the thoughts were more to, getting the car cleaned off, hoping it doesn't last long, and that my daffodil buds are ok.

Very important day tomorrow! Someone in our household (youngest angel) turns 15. I think I have a thing or two she'll be happy with. For one I'm about 1/2 way through with the remodeling of a basement storage room into a 2nd bathroom, mostly for her use :) I can't wait until that's done for her!!!

Spring - Reading and digging

2010-03-16T09:25:00.006-05:00

Can't wait to get to some of these. Sometimes I'm so anxious to get to the next book, I don't give my current book the focus it deserves. The one I'm on now, is NOT that kind of book. (it doesn't really deserve it, but I've started it so I may as well keep going)

1) The Host - Stephanie Meyer

2) Sara's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay

3) Looking For Alaska - John Green (he's one of my forever favorites!)

4) Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

That's all for me. I'm still in the midst of bathroom remodels. ~~ I got the gray paint on the wall and I LOVE it!!! :) The dove gray and white will work out splendidly! Anyway, so I won't have as much time to devote to reading because I won't be able to get to bed early, which is when I DO all my reading.

I'm also in the midst of a landscaping crisis...the crisis is there is none in front of my tiny house and I hate any that is anywhere else around my tiny house...I need a total re-do. And I'm not a plant person...actually I'm a plant serial killer I"m afraid, so I have no idea where to start...except simple.

I even toyed with the idea of simply doing hostas all the way around. pretty cheesy huh?

Catching up

2010-03-10T10:36:00.000-06:00

I never get a chance to do the relaxing, putz around things I love it seems. At least not anymore. Consequently, I don't get here too often.

I've accomplished some things I set out to do that are pretty fun!

I'm working on adding a bathroom to my basement...or my carpenter is. I have before pictures and will so happily post afters, once I get there...color scheme is gray and white.

I finished my fall reading list (plus a couple) just in time to start a spring one...ohhh decisions!

I've gotten some good bargains, just no time to post about them...totally jonesing for yard sale season!

And the love life...well they still call me the one date wonder :)

Life on life's terms

2010-02-03T15:30:00.000-06:00

Wow it's been so long since I've posted anything! I can't believe I've had so little to say!! Neither would anyone who knows me. :)

And what turns this little life takes...the last post...yeah, I don't think I've found any of the books on that list. As a matter of fact I'll tell ya a secret...I read a Stephen King book most recently...shhhh. It's my guilty pleasure.

I'm in the process of reading Three Cups of Tea at the moment. I do so wish I had more time to read! I'm falling asleep with the book in my hand at night and barely getting a full chapter read.

Oh and at Christmas time (yeah I know, seems like forever ago), I got some of the best deals at our Church decorations sale (proceeds of which went to the Star program) and never got around to posting any pics of my lucky finds. And I love them all so!

My oldest turns 16 in 2 weeks and I have no idea what to get her. Besides paying for her school trip to NY and letting her go to Warped Tour this summer. I think that's pretty good. On her actual birthday I'm hoping to get her a NYC t-shirt. I think that would be fun.

Now where? hmmmm

Reading intentions

2009-12-04T08:34:00.006-06:00

In perusing the internet yesterday, I found the Women of Faith book club! Because of the time involved I don't think I can join, but I am adding their book list to my book list! Right now I'm still working on my Fall into Reading Challenge of which I only have 1 book on my list done. I was wholly unimpressed with the touted Ayn Rand and gave up on Atlas Shrugged after 200 pages. I HATE giving up on books and may go back to it after I finish my current read - Jane Eyre. I enjoy it but only have a few minutes before bed to devote to it. I'm excited to embark on a genre that I haven't spent much time in, but is close to my heart!

Here is the link to the WOF Book Club page:
http://www.womenoffaith.com/bookclub/

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

2009-11-11T09:03:00.002-06:00

I've been watching 3 of these guys for a couple of weeks now. This pumpkin was whole and unblemished (and looked pretty nice as part of my display!) before these guys started in on it. As destructive as they are.....they sure are cute!! And my cats are very entertained watching them.

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

Had a wife and couldn't keep her

He put her in a pumpkin shell...

And there he kept her very well.

Who knew that nursery rhyme was about squirrels! I couldn't get outside to catch him/her 'at home', so I had to take this through the window. Which doesn't make for the clearest, sharpest photos. And then I had to hurry to keep my little kitties head out of the way!

I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday and hope you get a chance to get over there and see all the wonder that is shared!

Keep the change

2009-11-08T16:58:00.003-06:00

During the sermon this morning the pastor was talking on materialism and stinginess. He used the analogy of Scrooge, and how no one would want to be known as a Scrooge. Heads nodded. Afterall, here is a man we all know was an atrocious slave to the almighty dollar...

But wait, didn't anyone but me watch (or read) this story of the man named Scrooge all the way to the end? And I got to thinking...this is what's hard about our world. Once we've been judged one way, no one seems to want us to change, although they seem pretty up front about telling us how we 'ought' to change...

Back to Scrooge...he was brought to his senses, he saw the error of his ways. (dare I say he repented?). He became a benefactor to the Cratchit family, helped them raise their children and even saved the life of Tiny Tim...He SAVED A LIFE! Yup, that's Scrooge....

It was said of Scrooge that he knew how to keep Christmas better than anyone...think of what that means...does that mean his own house looked better? His Christmas Eve suit was the newest? Doubt it! He kept Christmas. You Go Scrooge!...

He became generous and loving, fun and amiable, but no one wants to remember THAT, they only remember the BAHUMBUG. A Bahumbug attitude that Scrooge had wholly (or Holy) left behind. Why should we keep sticking the "I'm a humbug" sign back on his back?

If we need to change wouldn't we want the old signs on our backs to fall away? To be seen for our progress? If we can't allow other people to change, how are we ever going to reach (by our words, works, or as an example) those whose wrongs are so severe, addictions that are ingrained and even embraced? If those who've never had the opportunity to see what relationship with God can do in a life only know about Church God through the words, works, and example of those who won't remember change, how will they ever know the other life and the JOY of it?

So I say:
YES, I am a Scrooge!! And proud of it. I have left bad ways and wrong living, I am trying to grow and change still! Let me!! And hey...COME WITH me!

You can be a Scrooge too!! leave that Bahumbug sign behind!!!

It's a Bumn, a but, a bump...It's a CAKE! - (from scratch even)

2009-11-07T21:24:00.002-06:00

In my last post I had made Cage Bars for the drama club's concession stand during intermission of the fall production. They turned out pretty good. I expected the filling to be a little cheesecakier? maybe, but still they were tasty! (I only swiped a little bitty bar).

And I couldn't remeber what C.A.G.E. actually stood for. Cardinals Acting Guild Entourage. Cardinals being the school mascot obviously. Yay me! :)

I also had a list of places I need to provide treats besides the CAGE event, and the next one is tomorrow night at Beth Moore Bible Study (Ester if anyone has ever done Beth Moore's and is curoius).

I had found a recipe for pumpkin spice cake on Pinch My Salt (here).

I gathered the ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

And I notice how much I shop at Wal-Mart! I run out and get All-spice, fresh Vanilla, and nutmeg while the eggs and sour cream are coming to room temperature.

Then I follow the directions to a T. At which point I forgot to take pictures.
Directions
     1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a Bundt pan (or even better, use Baker’s Joy spray).
     2. In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices; set aside.
     3. In a large bowl combine eggs, sour cream, pumpkin, and oil. Beat well with a hand mixer (or use a stand mixer), scraping down sides with a spatula, until everything is well blended. Add flour mixture a little at a time, beating well after each addition, until everything is well combined. Scrape down sides, then blend in the vanilla extract.
     4. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake in the center of a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack for ten minutes, then invert cake onto wire rack and let cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar immediately before serving if desired.
     Yield: 10-12 servings
     Recipe Notes: *Pumpkin pie spice can be substituted with 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or make your own combination). Make sure to butter your Bundt pan really well and get into all the crevices. I like to use a spray like Baker’s Joy because I’ve never had a problem with cakes sticking to the pan when I use it.

I waited patiently and crossed my fingers.

I have never made a bundt cake

I have never ever made a cake from scratch.

It came out and smelled terrific! I got nervous on the inversion but....

Here's how it turned out...again, I have no idea about how it tastes! I hope it's as moist and yummy looking as the one over on Pinch My Salt. I'll know tomorrow night...if it's not there's always the cheese tray to snack on. :)

UPDATE!!
I took the cake to Bible study...and low and behold through the miracle of hectic schedules...I had my date written down wrong. It wasn't my night. So I apologized and asked everyone to be my guinne pig anyway :) Plus I will find another recipe to try for when it IS my night!

It was a very good cake! I think for my oven I'd reduce cooking time by at least 5 minutes. Mine wasn't as pretty and moist as the one shown over on Pinch My Salt, but still nicely moist! My mom makes a similar cake with the addition of walnuts and chocolate chips. I'd call my first attempt at a scratch cake a sucess!

Fall ambition - Crock pot chicken and Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

2009-11-05T20:05:00.005-06:00

If my kids weren't teenagers, I'd swear I was nesting again! I was so very domestic today! And It was such a perfect fall day!

First I threw together an experiment (albeit pretty common) in the crock pot for supper. I knew I'd need it since in the next 3 days I have to have 2 dozen 'treat's to the school to sell at a bake sale at intermission of the Maquoketa High School Drama production of Tucker's Ridge and Surviving Lunch - 2 short plays that take on issues of today, especially bullying. The Drama club calls it'self C.A.G.E. (although I can not for the life of me remember the acronym).

In addition I have treats for my women's Beth Moore bible study on Sunday and may as well make my treats for our service circle on Tuesday that I co-hostess...which means I bring treats.

Hectic baking coming up and plan on doing the 2 dozen tonight. So into the crock pot I threw some boneless skinless chicken breast I had thawed out. But looking at it I thought it didn't look like that much chicken, so I got out 2 frozen chicken thighs. I put them on the bottom and layered the chicken breast on top.

Then I mixed together 3 cans of 'cream of' soup. 2 chick 1 mushroom, 1/2 a package of beef onion soup mix, lemon pepper and Lawrey's -both lightly since the soup mix is usually very salty. Poured that over, put it on low and off to work.

Here's what I came home to:

I had to put it on high for just a few minutes with the lid off to get it to thicken up, but then it was terrific. I had it over regular wide egg noodles. It was filling and satisfying and took no time to put together.

It does need a vegetable. Any suggestions? I plan next time to add onion and mushroom and also some red wine. What about large chopped cauliflower?

While that was thickening I threw a pan of cookies in the oven

Don't think me too ambitious. These are from a roll :)

Then I did undertake to actually try a recipe. It's from the Pillsbury website and it's called Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars. YUMMY sounding! So I thought, why not. 44 is not to old to start baking!

So I put them together. I had to modify the recipe only in that I used a roll and a half of cookie dough. (ooops, I guess that's not baking)

You crumble and press the dough down for the crust, in a small bowl mix together 1 pkg of cream cheese, 1 egg and 1/2 cup sugar for the filling then spread over the 'crust' dough (you can also add 1/2 cup coconut, but i"m not a fan), then crumble and sprinkle more dough for the top crust. I had read some reviews that suggested plenty of dough for the top especially.

It went together just perfectly!

And came out just beautifully!

They have to cool for 30 minutes and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours before I can cut a tiny piece to see how they turned out. The review said they can be hard to get out. I hope not too hard. I need to cut a dozen but since they are bound to be rich, I can make them smaller.

I got a kick out of the fact that I was making these for the drama club - CAGE....get it bars for CAGE....CAGE Bars! teeheehee

Well it tickled me. ;)

Next up - tomorrow night maybe? If not Saturday. Pecan Pie bars and then Pumpkin Spice Cake.

Oh heck ok... the Pecan Pie Bars are a mix but the cake...totally from scratch!

I'm linking to the always inspiring, always mouth watering Foodie Friday over at Gollum's

Happy Halloween!!

2009-10-31T18:59:00.003-05:00

Adjust, Adapt, and Overcome...Right.

My 2 teenagers, known here as Angel 1 and Angel 2, are off to the church lock-in tonight! We are handing the reigns of the youth to a new youth director at midnight and they are having a coronation ;) plus!! It's the old Youth directors birthday! (Happy B-day Karen!!). She's not leaving the church though, just stepping out of that uber responsible position now that she's a (drumroll please) GRAMA :) So it is going to be a terrific Halloween night and one I was supposed to help and be a part of except.......

H1N1 has had me down for over a week now. Everytime I think I'm better and try to start doing things again it kicks back in, fever comes back...blech...Hopefully I'm about through it now. It's be about 10 days maybe 12?

And during that time I got word that my house buyer did indeed back out and my listing is about to expire. I'm taking it as a sign to stay where I am. Which is ok by me, afterall, I love my neighborhood! I'm less than a block from my mother's house. And what I was looking for in another home, I can add to this one.

Actually seeing all the creative blogs and finding new ones everyday gives me the certainty that it can be done, and actually, I'm betting you guys would be glad to help...with ideas and opinions and such :)

So here's the home. It's small (tiny!!) but workable.

And here's why I thought selling would be the better idea: 3 women, 1 bathroom...the square footage of the house is only 876.

but I have 240 on my sun porch out back

and 1/2 the basement is finished.

2 bedrooms up and one (non-conforming) down.

Only have a shower in the bathroom because the previous owners put a stack washer/dryer in there..which I have to admit is handy.

So those are the things that I thought would be easier to sell this and find somewhere else. But alas, the market isn't yet strong enough for me to be able to get out and break even on the improvements I have done (even including some 'depreciation').

Project #1

This is in the basement and is about 15 by 8. This was where the washer and dryer were before they moved upstairs. Say hello to the home of my new lower level bathroom. About where that board is is where there will be a wall to keep the electrical away from the water/humidity of the bathroom area.

Project #2
An Addition

Bye bye sunporch. I didn't use you that much anyway, like the light though!
Mud room/laundry out here, another bedroom of it 12 by 25 total to add on and viola 1100 sq ft 3 bedroom house. Plus...put a BATHTUB back in the mainfloor bathroom!

Expensive, yes. But it's my home and some of that has to be weighed in too.

Project #3

Siding and windows

Here's where you get to help...what colors???? I'm going for cottage-ish without storybook colors (ie: green and pink)

Can't wait to hear what you think

Time Traveler's and Stuck in Time

2009-10-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

I just finished the Time Traveler's Wife. Unfortunately I got to finish it today because I'm home sick, me and over 80 kids in our High School alone with 'the flu'.

I'll be honest. I had a devil of a time getting into this book. It wasn't the writing, there were some passages in this novel that just blew my socks off and made me never want to plink out a scene on my computer or scrawl dialog on my yellow legal pad again! It was the people. I just had a hard time caring. I think it was when I found out that Clare came from a wealthy family. I'm tired of that. Too Gilmore for me. By 3/4 through though, I loved them and was wrapped in this tale. And still felt the prose was incredible! Delectible - writing you don't plow through to up page count totals for 'challenges'. But like gourmet writing, to savor and experience. That's why I stuck with it and that's what gratified the whole process of The Time Traveler's Wife. I gave it 4 stars. Highly recommend it, and yes, stick with it!!

STUCK IN TIME -
Besides wishing I wasn't sick and knowing how slow time goes when I am, my realtor called and said that the buyer wants out of our sale contract. I knew it!! grrrr. Oh well...C'est la vie. Another showing Sunday. It's just a situation where I need to re-set my sails (pun?) since I can not control the wind.

Stew time. Beef definately not Rabbit

2009-10-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

I've been making this stew for awhile now. I'm about due for a new recipe to try.

Boneless beef ribs were on sale so I cubed them to start.

Roll in some flour and brown up in a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil with a large onion, 3 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, 2 bay leaves, 3 tablespoons of Worchestershire sauce. Then add 3 cups of water or beef broth (I used beef broth this time) and simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until meat is tender.

Add carrots and Potatoes and continue simmering for about another 30 minutes (mine would have taken less time this time, but I only checked it at the 30 minute mark and my potatoes were falling apart done. Too done.) Thicken at the end of time with flour and cold water wisked together.

Snacking while waiting is allowed if your good friend comes over and provides Hidden Valley Ranch Mix Pretzels

Some whole wheat bread and I'm ready for some comfort.

Tastes better than it looks. But as I say, I'm ready for a new recipe. My mom has a family favorite for Burgandy Beef Stew. Always delicious.

I'm also going to keep at this until my photography skills increase! Hard to believe I won a photography award once upon a time. (back in the days of 35mm slr and film).

I'm linking to the Party at Southern Hospitality for my first time. As always, I'm sure I'll come away with more than I took :)

Pico de gallo and summer memories

2009-10-15T21:07:00.004-05:00

What do you do on a dark, soggy fall night when the weather folks keep saying snow flurries...again...already. You remember sumptious summer fare. Pico de gallo as developed, arranged, and composed by Oldest Angel. Cooking is her hobby and I think she did a lovely job!

She had an idea to go with the memory of flavors from a restaurant and she went from there. I took her to the grocery since O.A. can't drive yet, and we assembled what she deemed the ingredients.

Home grown roma tomatos, purple onion, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and lime juice, with fresh cilantro.

And chop.

And chop

She's very good at chopping and there is no one I'd trust faster with my Wuesthoff than her.

Squeeze lime and/or lemon juice over to taste.

The finished product ready to go into the fridge for some flavor melding and aging. Then on to some good chips!

It was delicious and I can't wait to start thinking about a little garden next year so most of the ingredients can be our own.

Since it was a success, next time we'll step up the presentation and plating points. I could probably find a more coordinating serving piece!

A+ kiddo. A great summer memory and a great mother/daughter memory for me and I hope for her too :)

I'm linking to Gollum and Foodie Friday

Not your typical recipe I know but..."It's not about quantity..it's about having fun in the kitchen." to quote Gollum...and we sure did!

I think I can still catch a waft of onion and garlic :)

What they say about news

2009-10-13T14:55:00.002-05:00

Well they say "No news is good news" but in this case no news is just no news. I haven't heard back on weather my buyers have their financing secured yet and am in limbo until I do. I can not really make an offer on another house, can't start packing because if it falls through then we're back to having showings. So it's frustrating. But I'll get by. After all its candy corn season. Who invented that triangular crack anyway!! I don't even like candy!

My book challenge is going oh so slow. It occurred to me yesterday that I can't remember the names of the protagonists. I'm thinking I'm not that into this book. (sorry to those of you who really connected with it.) It's just not my time for it apparently.

I did however get the Kiera Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice from Netflix last week. My oldest angel had never seen it...she claims she doesn't like movies...we must have watched it 10 times since then and yesterday when I sealed it up to send it back. She deemed this movie an exception and is ruined in comparing all her suitors to Mr. Darcy and lapsing into old english speaking patterns, accent, and vocabulary at random times. And dream of visiting Chatsworth (Pemberly in Derbyshire in the movie).

I also can not start any projects. Or any I'd hoped to start: my little drawer hanging thingy and my first chalkboard make-over. So I may take back up the crochet hook. Or the embroidery needle.

In the meantime, I'll try to stay focused (or focus on the other things going on with us) until I can put my efforts into either moving (which seems inevitable) or settling in to make my tiny home sufficient for us. Which is possible.

Sale Pending

2009-10-02T08:37:00.002-05:00

My little house has been on the market since August and I just went down to my realtor's office yesterday to sign papers on a counter offer. And they took it.

Now I am excited and petrified at the same time.

It is pending financing, but when that goes through, I will have 30 days from the time of official financing commitment to find and close on another home.

And one I like.
And one I can afford
And one that is a fair deal
And one that is in the right neighborhood

I bit off all my fingernails and am twirling my hair incessantly.

My mantra now is 'this will be for the better'! Which is why I started this in the first place. For the better. One more bedroom, one more bathroom, that's the quest!

There are exactly 3 homes in my small town that fit my criteria. I looked at 2 and have my fingers crossed for the 3rd. Or that the good Lord sees fit to have some perfect home come on the market today, or tomorrow.

Sub-Quest: find boxes
Sub-Sub-Quest: evaluate sanity!!

I'll post pictures of my little house and my hopefuls when I can.

OOOH I found one:

Very modest, cute little home. I'll miss it soooo much!!!

So glad I'm not a teenager anymore...sort of

2009-09-26T22:17:00.002-05:00

It's homecoming in the little hamlet of Maquoketa. 2 girls in high school this year was twice the fun getting ready.

Which do you think is more stressful, getting ready, or getting them ready. Everything is a crisis!! Don't ya love drama.

My oldest angel is in the blue...with the boyfriend in the sports car. A red Celica. (it's his Mom's! lucky her!!)

My youngest is a freshman this year and changed her hair 3 times before she was happy. Her guy was pretty nervous but what a sweetie!

They are my beauties and I hope they have fun, but I sure am glad it's over!

The next manicure around here is MINE :)

2009-09-23T08:08:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to start the Fall Reading Challenge at Callapidder Days! I love to read, love books, and love to hear what everyone else is reading and how they like it!

Here is my list

The Time Travelers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Lisey's Story - Stephen King

Maybe a little ambitious with the Ayn Rand thousand pager on there, but I'll get to them sooner or later!!