tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69999964319789802522024-03-13T18:09:44.752-07:00Chez PoohUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-8262755340669981362011-10-31T17:39:00.000-07:002011-10-31T17:40:11.571-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Happy Halloween!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gvyy_tLFSIZR3NDIl0vzf9kaaokSuDIwDDAXu1vlkmxIk96izSUl159d7WmeEF3HDb5Bs6cUYmob8aikS6KcNzetJjJnuK2atoY9NhVdX4XFCjiDfUR-k6LTMc0irCr9h85SkLN6DDr/s1600/DSC02533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gvyy_tLFSIZR3NDIl0vzf9kaaokSuDIwDDAXu1vlkmxIk96izSUl159d7WmeEF3HDb5Bs6cUYmob8aikS6KcNzetJjJnuK2atoY9NhVdX4XFCjiDfUR-k6LTMc0irCr9h85SkLN6DDr/s320/DSC02533.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Has your personal surgeon completed carving that Jack o' lantern?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgz_CF6F6cNVqxeIcXPXFFUgHGgUIjjzVzIFIpoHqBHRjj3iyw9CpkG6w6Qn8bzYcglGcjyS3aMi-VqC1fRB7o-tzoKUKq1K9LAYAjc38XxyR7v9HvlYt5rw9hZWLVQjPbuUAa_eaffhx/s1600/DSC02527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgz_CF6F6cNVqxeIcXPXFFUgHGgUIjjzVzIFIpoHqBHRjj3iyw9CpkG6w6Qn8bzYcglGcjyS3aMi-VqC1fRB7o-tzoKUKq1K9LAYAjc38XxyR7v9HvlYt5rw9hZWLVQjPbuUAa_eaffhx/s320/DSC02527.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you go with a standard face?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pattern from a book or online?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or design your own creation, like the Offspring?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRSYiY126artAnIFYdxHh7STzxOPWp16PWf9mR6lmGa0GejbIaVqo8a4eoTbVR53Slh4Tsb-84RgFfswZ-Do1IqGOldhU-tmw2Ouhqn8oR1l4KUxFUZjVJbN8x7JyqJgTKZJawwHQdHuX/s1600/DSC02530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRSYiY126artAnIFYdxHh7STzxOPWp16PWf9mR6lmGa0GejbIaVqo8a4eoTbVR53Slh4Tsb-84RgFfswZ-Do1IqGOldhU-tmw2Ouhqn8oR1l4KUxFUZjVJbN8x7JyqJgTKZJawwHQdHuX/s320/DSC02530.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love using those tiny saws to carve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are quick, easy, relatively safe, and allow one to carve quite intricate designs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another one is in the works, but if I don't post now, I simply won't!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't eat all your candy tonight!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-74103062812040030832011-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:38:26.732-07:00Celebrating October 17th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDar7Qz46hprBMxoIT9X5-3oITrkoS7pTxez6VJ41AAHfg9ZZ_BlOBOME8tFM-kiyMFKtKZAEKrJ1Bg147sxxDilQlsnry8BdXK_NB7qlfAGADFPPiOcCQCeOcJOlCAk6dQjYdYh-Y4ptL/s1600/Fall+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDar7Qz46hprBMxoIT9X5-3oITrkoS7pTxez6VJ41AAHfg9ZZ_BlOBOME8tFM-kiyMFKtKZAEKrJ1Bg147sxxDilQlsnry8BdXK_NB7qlfAGADFPPiOcCQCeOcJOlCAk6dQjYdYh-Y4ptL/s320/Fall+leaves.jpg" width="313px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">October 17th.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What a gorgeous day!</div><div style="text-align: center;">What is <em>not</em> to celebrate?!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not a holiday, you say? What's special about the 17th?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Everything.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Every single microsecond of it!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My FIL's birthday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being alive.</div><div style="text-align: center;">SUN!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hummingbirds in the salvia outside the kitchen window.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My first Fuji apple of the new crop.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The brown sugar goodness of frozen cookie dough.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being home with my beloved.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We take <em>sooooooo</em> very much for granted, with good health being near the top of the list.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Life turns on a dime.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no guarantee for any of us that there will be tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have to live NOW!</div><div style="text-align: center;">In <em>this</em> moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So now I am just basking in a rare sunny autumn day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glad to be alive.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glad that we are all together in one place again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glad to have sore muscles from dethatching (OK, <em>partially</em> dethatching)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> the front lawn after weeks of inactivity.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glad to <em>not </em>be in, near, or around a hospital of any kind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With a heart of thanksgiving for just <em>being.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-770112767362513132011-07-04T10:52:00.000-07:002011-07-04T10:52:30.973-07:00Happy Independence Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4N4Mg97zIyCcVOWQVNuPBz2__7kbHQUTp98-av9SvoPTnpnQn5RIF44wvKKniDpnnDOxpOkoJ11glAKEpoOCspBwM4KeDyFxSZ1lNz_tezoYWOVYqo_tq8Ruiv3iboMh1c2uH_3vCkLU/s1600/DSC02242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4N4Mg97zIyCcVOWQVNuPBz2__7kbHQUTp98-av9SvoPTnpnQn5RIF44wvKKniDpnnDOxpOkoJ11glAKEpoOCspBwM4KeDyFxSZ1lNz_tezoYWOVYqo_tq8Ruiv3iboMh1c2uH_3vCkLU/s320/DSC02242.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Fourth of July!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">This marks the freedom of summer for me.</div><div align="center">My obligations, which have been many, have been met.</div><div align="center">Now I get to work on my <em>own</em> projects</div><div align="center">go on bike rides</div><div align="center">pick berries</div><div align="center">play tennis</div><div align="center">research the family tree (a fav!)</div><div align="center"> garden</div><div align="center"> read</div><div align="center">watch movies</div><div align="center">and, maybe, just maybe, blog.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I have been missing in action big time! It has been a busy spring with work and volunteering and special events and visitors. We have just returned from yet another (gasp!) family vacation to see The Mouse. The last trip to Anaheim was five years ago and <u>that</u> is a long, long story in itself.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This time <em>everything</em> was better...health, weather, lines, transportation, accommodations.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While our local fireworks cannot compare to the Disneyland displays,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the family atmosphere and "small" town feel create community.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here's wishing you an old-fashioned 4th!</div><div align="center">Family</div><div align="center">Friends</div><div align="center">Fireworks</div><div align="center">While ours won't include the homemade peach ice cream and swimming of my childhood,</div><div align="center">we are sure to make memories that the Offspring can recall.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great day!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-91337282887339546712011-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-17T06:00:11.172-07:00Luck of the Irish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Happy St. Patrick's Day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wishing you <span style="font-family: inherit;">your</span> very own pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_nfOHqcf5TkM9jNU4vO4FIUz2tqta9iFlK7n8xzmWoMmXYKIORgOIbMzH4DcXFhBvRFHOFAp0WV6KUm-1k4_Yt1ZQtrMdkuQLijfPUlwQ8kA7TYJhYNuLZU-EJjzcF3X8nlBjM-f_BsG/s1600/Leprechaun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_nfOHqcf5TkM9jNU4vO4FIUz2tqta9iFlK7n8xzmWoMmXYKIORgOIbMzH4DcXFhBvRFHOFAp0WV6KUm-1k4_Yt1ZQtrMdkuQLijfPUlwQ8kA7TYJhYNuLZU-EJjzcF3X8nlBjM-f_BsG/s320/Leprechaun.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So what is it? What is your "gold"?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What is the "rainbow" in your life?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mine?</div><div style="text-align: center;">My gold is my family. Nothing makes me feel better than to see that special smile on Offspring or see the glint in the eye of my husband when he is teasing. Because then I know that all is right in my world.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-49074380879110431742011-02-15T12:24:00.000-08:002011-02-15T12:24:37.921-08:00One down.....<div style="text-align: center;">I hope that you got a valentine from someone special yesterday and that it was a day of feeling special.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I wanted to post this photo last Friday, but I had to wait.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because it was going to someone very special to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My mom.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZQXQEnGL4Vu-hkoosNCSU3Jy14QLV8q8ZcZLGzyCvLkUt0Zo9W33u25pMhXMa5bcMmouDP-jdBLkwXUts_ub5PF9xe4tPvEE6_BoXawJiLIK59Js2NKPy-1oTRcRyxLJ8k3aH8V1ueMS/s1600/DSC01153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZQXQEnGL4Vu-hkoosNCSU3Jy14QLV8q8ZcZLGzyCvLkUt0Zo9W33u25pMhXMa5bcMmouDP-jdBLkwXUts_ub5PF9xe4tPvEE6_BoXawJiLIK59Js2NKPy-1oTRcRyxLJ8k3aH8V1ueMS/s320/DSC01153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a project 14 years in the making and I finally finished it!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started it when I began my days as a stay-at-home mom.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This project is so old that the finishing directions are totally outdated!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is one of those projects that is part of my resolutions for the new year.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now it is one less thing cluttering up flat surfaces.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One less thing that reminds me of all I cannot accomplish.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One less thing that periodically surfaces and I work on before relinquishing the idea that my time is my own.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, if I am truly honest, I do get distracted and am unfocused because I have so many interests.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How old is your oldest unfinished project?</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Please tell me you at least have <em>one</em>.)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-20320724047447411192011-02-14T09:21:00.000-08:002011-02-14T14:32:21.936-08:00Love is.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWlb1wNXNsPykImJ2PLIaxSdZUXPA50U0aX32KIVQKsboj67xKn5roff8VrOj-h8ATbHbR-BJQ3xzq3ouIX99aKOvQkgNI5Mx6-l4x8lo8Q2oo3YXWUP0p_67lfRWfCSh6x4-DEMdAYZp/s1600/P4060248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWlb1wNXNsPykImJ2PLIaxSdZUXPA50U0aX32KIVQKsboj67xKn5roff8VrOj-h8ATbHbR-BJQ3xzq3ouIX99aKOvQkgNI5Mx6-l4x8lo8Q2oo3YXWUP0p_67lfRWfCSh6x4-DEMdAYZp/s400/P4060248.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Happy St. Valentine's Day</span></div><div align="center"><br />
<div align="center">May you be surrounded by love:</div><div align="center">Family</div><div align="center">Friends</div><div align="center">The Natural World</div><div align="center">You</div><div align="center"><br />
<div align="center">Then give thanks to the Almighty that you have been so blessed.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-89197369504102006172011-02-01T22:20:00.000-08:002011-02-01T22:20:30.571-08:00Across Time and Space<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">January was a busy month around here. Lots of birthdays among other things.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">My sister over at <a href="http://pogonipnv.blogspot.com/">Meadowsweet Cottage</a> will not admit it, but she somehow managed to have another birthday without showing it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Now I am by no means a professional cake decorator. Not even close.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">But Offspring has made some unusual requests for his celebratory confections.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">This "Battle on Mustafar" is one of which I am quite proud.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQyydpmEhNJTdk95XeJaYvISFbIDaqcQdKlPfbnQeemTbr7fMdAFvNqLW8l_dKkY6Q19cEOjmpF_KBRvfgn8rWp-43mc8X9k7nXOcVdAcxUxyn1QUFA4vIbIiq9Y5Dcjsw_vWVRWw-Xj_/s1600/P1260162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQyydpmEhNJTdk95XeJaYvISFbIDaqcQdKlPfbnQeemTbr7fMdAFvNqLW8l_dKkY6Q19cEOjmpF_KBRvfgn8rWp-43mc8X9k7nXOcVdAcxUxyn1QUFA4vIbIiq9Y5Dcjsw_vWVRWw-Xj_/s320/P1260162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">(That is supposed to be lava, if you can't tell.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This year's request was the TARDIS from Doctor Who.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought "piece of cake"!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">(Get it?!)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I studied photographs, measured the different dimensions, and plugged the numbers in a calculator. Authenticity is my trademark.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I mixed up the frosting, added the dye and could not come up with the intense blue I was looking for. After a trip to the cake store, I finally had to be content with the two blues you will see.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So it begins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jFhnkDg8fhoe16lXd0Fh8ineAM4UPzMbVzpCXkIdphWJVUCOwcAkmtkdEdzbWbt0bdELf89eoxNu9ud94r0yWLnL-_LXL_TB3-aFMhu7Wjqv0W5w0ZS6zKNUwdi0JLoFaHaaWwXdlYTB/s1600/cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jFhnkDg8fhoe16lXd0Fh8ineAM4UPzMbVzpCXkIdphWJVUCOwcAkmtkdEdzbWbt0bdELf89eoxNu9ud94r0yWLnL-_LXL_TB3-aFMhu7Wjqv0W5w0ZS6zKNUwdi0JLoFaHaaWwXdlYTB/s320/cake+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see all the parts I have trimmed off as a first step.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl5tm82dFCBEva2-osFNE8XfIS1NYQ2QdzY5CJwRzkREgwHUmslqi7tcgx-TbQCHGM6SMM9ZuCvaO9S2orPpsmvB3ZtpVDguamotao0qpVW0P2FGgZz_Pyyyd9h0X9yZuk1dE8R8nkW5p/s1600/cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="163" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl5tm82dFCBEva2-osFNE8XfIS1NYQ2QdzY5CJwRzkREgwHUmslqi7tcgx-TbQCHGM6SMM9ZuCvaO9S2orPpsmvB3ZtpVDguamotao0qpVW0P2FGgZz_Pyyyd9h0X9yZuk1dE8R8nkW5p/s400/cake+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I started to build up the roof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq7fVEBUmpcAxxIoe5XWWnQHfPpiB-KqxQ5gRg6JQKX-9VC-KEvRDl_g2fCJqfBOOLiDWG0QrqUs0TAiQiSKadpEfxXerhyphenhyphenZpHrQVCSrX95pN5Gj4vipVvl_N_YzyHE8E8UHu-5hVqAPE/s1600/cake+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq7fVEBUmpcAxxIoe5XWWnQHfPpiB-KqxQ5gRg6JQKX-9VC-KEvRDl_g2fCJqfBOOLiDWG0QrqUs0TAiQiSKadpEfxXerhyphenhyphenZpHrQVCSrX95pN5Gj4vipVvl_N_YzyHE8E8UHu-5hVqAPE/s400/cake+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next step....well, you get the picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXhv2jyAxa1c9sIwKICYmLfRiSIotWjUQjAS9t6Mm3rWxy9lssyP61Xhv2gJOZHsezoHRx8bWUHB3tmk4IKdRcxyIETCOfHxvw29B4EaokXZgQOVNs5vpkd-zUnPhzIU9xTEj2zilkLTZ/s1600/cake+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXhv2jyAxa1c9sIwKICYmLfRiSIotWjUQjAS9t6Mm3rWxy9lssyP61Xhv2gJOZHsezoHRx8bWUHB3tmk4IKdRcxyIETCOfHxvw29B4EaokXZgQOVNs5vpkd-zUnPhzIU9xTEj2zilkLTZ/s400/cake+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I put on the lettering, outlined the windows, followed by the doors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtxwZdq7M02aBs7p1ELSb09v1xlezD6bkAQ4bhzOehlF5yjsdQbSR1453QMzX85zsN6MfzcHMiSEM_x1tpOScDImQHYkHFM_fI3qGycRw4NCCzKuq416RFYq9zSZsPMccbU8p88k-f1R6/s1600/cake+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtxwZdq7M02aBs7p1ELSb09v1xlezD6bkAQ4bhzOehlF5yjsdQbSR1453QMzX85zsN6MfzcHMiSEM_x1tpOScDImQHYkHFM_fI3qGycRw4NCCzKuq416RFYq9zSZsPMccbU8p88k-f1R6/s400/cake+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The windows were just a plain icing (as opposed to frosting), thinned sufficiently to flow just enough to fill in the panes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrXsqdQmcvqoi1y9fm42Q1506gpDvQe7RIK1muEkninipbvHTtpVZzmrEkqUAfPRWJyXo6SJI97zaKq-BSpTCodZdZlD2kKHFN2nwOs1daUSjq8GYwxRIuH-TfmqIx1tJCM5VYrxJxuf7/s1600/cake+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrXsqdQmcvqoi1y9fm42Q1506gpDvQe7RIK1muEkninipbvHTtpVZzmrEkqUAfPRWJyXo6SJI97zaKq-BSpTCodZdZlD2kKHFN2nwOs1daUSjq8GYwxRIuH-TfmqIx1tJCM5VYrxJxuf7/s400/cake+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know if you can tell by the "exposure" how the hours were passing with this "simple" cake design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The final step was to "write" on the sign below the window.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the finished product!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTTjHfRKjw8oXLWjaEx4d7W7c2hjzTdGWSMC4ZLtCBoO7oqIYJeWQ9cb5FIyKb_hlhIO7vRkHXpi_6J0gu-eEOhyf_Vzx_ztyEymxbD3UcfFrVGWt_560_Et_ItjW7cPoRGaIyR_H5uGM/s1600/cake+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTTjHfRKjw8oXLWjaEx4d7W7c2hjzTdGWSMC4ZLtCBoO7oqIYJeWQ9cb5FIyKb_hlhIO7vRkHXpi_6J0gu-eEOhyf_Vzx_ztyEymxbD3UcfFrVGWt_560_Et_ItjW7cPoRGaIyR_H5uGM/s320/cake+final.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(You can't see the light on the top because of the angle, but it <em>is</em> there.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This last photo was taken the next day because it was so dark by the time I finished decorating that we could not take a photo without horrendous shadows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Offspring must have liked it because he posted his photos on Facebook minutes after seeing it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that is what really counts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As I said, I just try to pull off these creations without any training. It would be fun to take a class and learn how to make it easier/faster/less frustrating, if nothing else.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to my beloved for taking photos during production.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I would never had thought to do it. I was focused on only one thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I finished <em>just</em> in time to start making dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-18243129914527618602011-01-25T09:34:00.000-08:002011-01-25T09:36:14.856-08:00An Early Beauty<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Just a little something to brighten your day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">This little beauty opened up on MLK Day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The first on the block.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Year after year, I have the first daffodils blooming that I ever see around town.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">They beat out the crocus hands down.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE5M0uGUbKf-3cAdT_89NK6povrYcHq2zLSepbcsq7rwd7I0-zrnYeWWP7TKgGitldrO5J5044hrPilMyWVBW7iP5IPSucDYrPt_5ndobC5e9qp6ZFS-DrJ-XFKKV_YEWIpvf_TfI9YZi/s1600/DSC00901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE5M0uGUbKf-3cAdT_89NK6povrYcHq2zLSepbcsq7rwd7I0-zrnYeWWP7TKgGitldrO5J5044hrPilMyWVBW7iP5IPSucDYrPt_5ndobC5e9qp6ZFS-DrJ-XFKKV_YEWIpvf_TfI9YZi/s320/DSC00901.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It has since been joined by four others, two of which are shown here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWS4zIq-Gsul8d_mWP1yD-J-eA-2E-bQZ3ZBPliv9wQdLvKdNAsmF4x88z0_-Bd0kvGiW5ztCfILl7EaxjThiqDSzn0lI-L4pt1QINNMeiSzIFCV9VrxQfpdrkoSSrTjjWG9H-cWzEYiu/s1600/DSC00998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWS4zIq-Gsul8d_mWP1yD-J-eA-2E-bQZ3ZBPliv9wQdLvKdNAsmF4x88z0_-Bd0kvGiW5ztCfILl7EaxjThiqDSzn0lI-L4pt1QINNMeiSzIFCV9VrxQfpdrkoSSrTjjWG9H-cWzEYiu/s320/DSC00998.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plan was to post these images earlier and counter the gloom and drear of rain, rain, rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we all seem to be competing for the same computer these days, and school and work get priority.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Go figure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The witch hazel is also blooming where I work so I know that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SPRING is just around the corner!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-60393127301484556132011-01-24T21:11:00.000-08:002011-01-24T21:11:59.001-08:00Finally grounded<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our contemporary house has its series of design challenges. Among them are tall cathedral ceilings and a bay window with the mouldings about 1 inch from the soffitt. As I consider various decorating options, I keep running into obstacles and make little to no progress. As a result our house looks like we just moved in. And <em>that</em> was over 15 years ago. Now my decorating budget is very limited and I prefer to do things myself because I am not quite sure how I want things. Decisive I am not! Our dining room is coming along, but the living room is another matter. It has taken on a variety of functions. Storage unit. Playground. Toy box. Sick room. Its current incarnation is more of a music room with projects regularly filling the floor space. It didn't even have furniture for years! And some would argue that it still doesn't because the sofas that were hand-me-downs over 20 years ago need to go!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I can't very well just go out and buy furniture for sitting on because someone around here has a bad back (and it's <em>not</em> me). I keep hoping. But I think I stumbled upon a solution, a way to nudge someone to bite the bullet and go shopping.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Buy a rug.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBiteZxfp1F-bDy1erG1CIl3mb9epSw4bArDO4vSLJBGcOF9a6KTdFQov2z1VkwgFKG9YIk964e9l6g_b1letIr6iPbRZabrPZPkvqnPtiAUuWxsyLww1qtAw3I0k9EJeikTSa99hRwyg/s1600/P1010092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBiteZxfp1F-bDy1erG1CIl3mb9epSw4bArDO4vSLJBGcOF9a6KTdFQov2z1VkwgFKG9YIk964e9l6g_b1letIr6iPbRZabrPZPkvqnPtiAUuWxsyLww1qtAw3I0k9EJeikTSa99hRwyg/s320/P1010092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We stopped by Costco on Saturday and their area rugs that I have been eyeing for <em>years</em> were on sale! We have a smaller, Costco rug in our dining room (it should be bigger for the size of the table, but the heater vent limits how big one can be) and we loved how much it did for <em>that</em> space. For about a tenth of the cost of a true oriental carpet, we were able to be able to afford something that also looks rich and it is even made in the USA.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So ignore the sofas (yes, I <em>know</em> the patterns clash!). The rug <em>is</em> the new focal point for this room. The ceiling no longer looks so lofty, the room feels full and warm, and we love the pattern. The pattern is bolder than I originally thought about getting, but we both really liked it. And now it will be much easier to pick out a color to paint that barn of a room. I must admit that I didn't really think about how big the rug was when I bought it and it is bigger than I thought. It really fills the room. But I think it will give us more flexibility and let us add additional chairs to define the space.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="148" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAS9IN7BAQmVGJ6CuXXmOblQIflKjFW1GTVcmcP1uMy_SUhUuVA7Iu9Sfgxp06PIO-xnurim8TuXFMzCSo5m1jEd_0wF6J1doZjvqHH88XO4jY7mNV7xazgfJAg1p2e0yalMSYWt4L4w-/s200/P1010089.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="149" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfwY1wb1008AhrIGCO0ckdat30WxXJQuLhZttb92YMj2BMjWE2ElnLAG6BmXXiI4j79UYlgskzRvy9Dx-AbuGIO8jfZdwZFzTJTbxDTFq1rasgKfDbNTYyHl2Vwjc6FknkH41y9MiaLxj/s200/P1010091.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">It is so nice to <em>finally</em> have the front of the house more welcoming. But somehow we always end up in the kitchen!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-32232310166363515102011-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:002011-01-13T13:13:24.983-08:00AccountabilityEveryone seems to make resolutions for the new year. And I kind of do, too. But I don't write them down or even tell anyone. Well, I've just read that that is just the <em>wrong</em> way to do it! That is, if you want to stick to them.<br />
<br />
So <em>you</em> get to be my auditors. Too many Y chromosomes for this to work around here without you.<br />
<br />
My to-do list:<br />
<ul><li>Get exercise (notice that I did not say "more")</li>
<li>Get more sleep</li>
<li>Clean up clutter</li>
<li>Finish projects (craft, home, work)</li>
</ul>So today I am proud to show you my clean kitchen counter!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdP2nmH9NsQ6zmkpEfJ6x_mRAgS_A-Vs_PLmODj8ZOUv44x2HLO5yGJYXSUIzYQIB_mLJtePlve883OVAL-J8nhMsb9WkONfaZhWjkm4tnbU3Bt-Uc49FCZ09aAPd17yOfPptDrbPr7TD/s1600/DSC00895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdP2nmH9NsQ6zmkpEfJ6x_mRAgS_A-Vs_PLmODj8ZOUv44x2HLO5yGJYXSUIzYQIB_mLJtePlve883OVAL-J8nhMsb9WkONfaZhWjkm4tnbU3Bt-Uc49FCZ09aAPd17yOfPptDrbPr7TD/s320/DSC00895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>(Don't you love my cobalt blue wine bottle plastic bag drying racks?!!!)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I promise not to bore you with daily or even weekly updates. And I might even choose to do one of the above resolutions instead of blogging since my time is limited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I must admit that I do <em>love</em> the clutter-free look. And usually things are not clutter-free. Why? Because I am a multi-tasking, part-time working, mom. And that means that I don't usually get to finish what I start. And I don't have dedicated spaces for anything. And <em>that</em> means that my multi-tasking spaces mean "get out project", "clear project out of the way", "get out project", "move project to a different room". (Yeah, that sounds like a lot of excuses to me, too, but it is true!) So I am trying a new tack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Papers are my biggest enemy. I just do not have time deal with them. I am getting better and finding systems that work for me, but the backlog (more than 14 years worth!) is daunting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So...I need to </div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">keep up with what comes in</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deal with each item <em>completely</em> instead of sorting first (perhaps inefficient but at least it will be <strong>done</strong></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deal with one project at a time</div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also want to report that I have met seven, count them, <span style="font-size: large;">7!</span> deadlines for the week. Ahead of time. No procrastinating (no, that did not make the list of resolutions, as that is <em>not</em> realistic; at least, not yet).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I am still falling short on the sleep front (remember those 7 deadlines?), I have been getting exercise. Moving more.....like walking up and down the stairs while chatting on the phone, jogging in place at school pick-up, wearing ankle weights while working in the house, doing jumping jacks while I cook dinner. I've even gone on 2 walks since the first of the year. Now, that may not seem like progress to you. No health club is involved and it is not sustained exercise. But I need to start small and let my body get reacquainted with more formal exercise. Too many weeks of being sick have taken a toll on this aging body and I just do <em>not</em> bounce back as quickly or as easily. Now if I can just find a way to move more while on the computer....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the decks cleared of immediate deadlines and the kitchen clutter (not including the table!) tamed temporarily, I get to reward myself with working on a sewing project! I need to get as many things completed before I start teaching again, so start counting!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-10571307167833976972011-01-02T20:47:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:47:17.329-08:00Epiphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo4MPFRd7ENQk3VFO8-h0mVL4bQPw24vExrzItHYv9lU08AEeIyv7GSPBkIxrniQF_CNHVY2bR2J0WRLP3IhWU_c8vp-7VHJRoGZ06-2kLf-_TOxe6YxkDXLVyOTpo8Fh14zjlftbJDNH/s1600/P1010068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo4MPFRd7ENQk3VFO8-h0mVL4bQPw24vExrzItHYv9lU08AEeIyv7GSPBkIxrniQF_CNHVY2bR2J0WRLP3IhWU_c8vp-7VHJRoGZ06-2kLf-_TOxe6YxkDXLVyOTpo8Fh14zjlftbJDNH/s320/P1010068.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On this feast of the Epiphany, I am glad that I am like my French cousins and enjoy Christmas until now. I have never been one of those people that chucks the Christmas tree out the day after Christmas. That's probably why I do not start decorating immediately after Thanksgiving...the tree does not dry out quite so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this time of year, I also always think back to being very pregnant at Christmas time and wonder how a woman could travel on a donkey when about to give birth! And labor to give birth in the cold!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDYvmA0ZokR7AAdQ_oZz4iAf_Fez06tw2aLSPtP8qFuhWaWsUDp9DA1vELjrFv2moV4-IN2B-FdssDWb1x2XarqN8r9URiPvViJIiS1S0q-EjJ1JXoNRBvLD1-dxPx_BackPzJJeskyi0/s1600/P1010070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDYvmA0ZokR7AAdQ_oZz4iAf_Fez06tw2aLSPtP8qFuhWaWsUDp9DA1vELjrFv2moV4-IN2B-FdssDWb1x2XarqN8r9URiPvViJIiS1S0q-EjJ1JXoNRBvLD1-dxPx_BackPzJJeskyi0/s320/P1010070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what wise men (or women) have visited you today? What gift(s) did he/she bring? And what gifts have you brought to this day? As I try to answer that myself, I wonder if I underestimate my own gifts. What do I have to offer the baby in the manger? How many moms undervalue "feeding the hungry" when they cook dinner or "comforting the sorrowing" as their children lament the last day of Christmas vacation? To all the moms who quietly take care of the tasks of daily life, value your contributions. Just think of what life would be like for your family without all those little things and know that you do far more in the big scheme of things than the most overpaid CEO. Your children and significant other are proof of that.</div><div align="left"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-31625458044337372482011-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:002011-01-01T11:41:09.793-08:00New Beginnings<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Year 2010 is behind us now. I would have to say that the year was all about family. As this drawing depicts the ties between family members are special and unique to each pairing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoyj3fzZKv1aXWDDWkY8PxhSK-_2ft8sVlA2-1hktbZlZ4iTZ8q8m2s2gd4focmdroGnnm9CfId3Fo8alYJgSocb4mGoCdjMVytbRsMft9oVWYbtwbnPOx9TtnyL6IaPGXRkEFjZkJWPz/s1600/P1010072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoyj3fzZKv1aXWDDWkY8PxhSK-_2ft8sVlA2-1hktbZlZ4iTZ8q8m2s2gd4focmdroGnnm9CfId3Fo8alYJgSocb4mGoCdjMVytbRsMft9oVWYbtwbnPOx9TtnyL6IaPGXRkEFjZkJWPz/s320/P1010072.JPG" width="238" /></a></div> <br />
For us it is always about family, but 2010 was unique because of.....<br />
<ul><li>A true family vacation to Yellowstone.</li>
<li>Rescuing family photos, but only thanks to other family members who respected my genealogical addiction enough to wade through over 37 large bags of garbage to find photos over 100 years old. </li>
<li>Spending Father's Day with my father-in-law</li>
<li>Celebrating my mom's birthday with her for the first time in many years</li>
<li>Christmas with more than just one other family member.</li>
</ul>Family.<br />
<br />
Now is a time for new beginnings. Yes, this year's resolutions are the same as last year's. But at least I am starting out the year with a clean house, less clutter, a new roof, and the laundry all caught up. And while we didn't get snow this holiday (the drawing above is about as close as we came....the snow having arrived just after we left the biggest little city in the world) and the birdbath is currently a solid block of ice, we have something some of you might not have.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVODMvosJQwwb1arEOJ_fmgqqnUSEUUJJqQlUHt4BzemmtKbiV5zWvoZaxO-EURGndxi5XtLDHrpIU-o5-XPXMMN6jFEdkPAHNKwCq7n1OGsFwIPOUm4FVExmI1uQhhoNo8DQXWaKxphip/s1600/DSC00884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVODMvosJQwwb1arEOJ_fmgqqnUSEUUJJqQlUHt4BzemmtKbiV5zWvoZaxO-EURGndxi5XtLDHrpIU-o5-XPXMMN6jFEdkPAHNKwCq7n1OGsFwIPOUm4FVExmI1uQhhoNo8DQXWaKxphip/s320/DSC00884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Yes, my primroses are starting to bloom. The hope of spring. And a reminder that it is time to weed as soon as the weather cooperates (it <em>is</em> kind of hard to pull roots out of frozen soil).<br />
<br />
More than anything I want to wish all of you good health. Because if the last year taught me nothing else, it is that good health allows you to make the most of all the other wonderful gifts that surround us. And there are so many wonderful gifts if we but open our eyes. So take a moment and look in the eyes of a family member at the first opportunity. See only the good, only the gift, only the beauty, and realize that Christmas comes 24/7/365. We are gifts for one another which means we have to give <em>and</em> receive.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-51251813683560798462010-12-06T19:42:00.000-08:002010-12-06T19:42:31.750-08:00Back in actionOh, what a Sunday! It has been weeks since I had any real ambition, thanks to the nasty bug(s) inhabiting my body. But I finally vanquished enough of the pain in cough-racked ribs to tackle some real physical activity. Raking leaves. It has been driving me nuts to look out the window and see the grass and soil hidden beneath leaves inches deep. So I tentatively went to work, carefully gauging my tender torso. I will admit to almost wimping out at one point, but I pushed on. I raked, mowed the lawn, and raked some more, until the compost heap was overflowing and the yard bin full. So I still have a few piles of leaves, but I feel I really accomplished something. And while the exercise was long overdue, somehow I didn't break out in a sweat.<br />
<br />
So did I relax then? No. I made a huge pot of soup. Minestrone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOtCQfUXa49m_VWlqmICsVa7oAzkRVSwUpKB0onOp9mKG3luJ8nq2nWXJwayDuqiwkZLpCvK856yVX1b74jNbgYUn0ZSULY_QD-WOsMBumImKxtXv2GyRo4573OjatOl1_qJ-akPCcwPV/s1600/DSC00778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOtCQfUXa49m_VWlqmICsVa7oAzkRVSwUpKB0onOp9mKG3luJ8nq2nWXJwayDuqiwkZLpCvK856yVX1b74jNbgYUn0ZSULY_QD-WOsMBumImKxtXv2GyRo4573OjatOl1_qJ-akPCcwPV/s320/DSC00778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Want to know my secret ingredients? V8 juice, refried beans, and Spicy Mrs. Dash. And I add precooked pasta towards the end and the peas and stewed tomatoes last.<br />
<br />
I was finished then. Right? Right? Nope. I baked black-bottomed cupcakes (an old <em>Sunset</em> magazine recipe) to thank the wonderful group of students I supervise. Have I mentioned I teach? No? Well, I do. And instead of writing an exam (the one thing I detest <em>more</em> than grading), I found myself doing kinds of other things.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSfLVQ7fDNs8aCohSGvw9nfk8-qG6SUboVFi2kPbLmGqg9XFtg5lW2XecYdw5J0hYK9nu8_FHERrGIoFNHJv9-8NmYmNGpGO2QDFt-HeXimk709t5qT98H71Hm9nPQkFhezqEjhyphenhyphenceH2O/s1600/DSC00779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSfLVQ7fDNs8aCohSGvw9nfk8-qG6SUboVFi2kPbLmGqg9XFtg5lW2XecYdw5J0hYK9nu8_FHERrGIoFNHJv9-8NmYmNGpGO2QDFt-HeXimk709t5qT98H71Hm9nPQkFhezqEjhyphenhyphenceH2O/s320/DSC00779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today they came running in to get them. They have me well trained to make them near the end of every semester. After all they do to make my life easier, how could I not?!<br />
<br />
Have you remembered to thank someone who makes your life easier?<br />
(And, yes, I am avoiding writing my exam by blogging!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-35519943564792782332010-12-03T16:28:00.000-08:002010-12-03T16:28:38.049-08:00She's Alive!I know, I know. I feel like I am hearing Molly Weasley say, "Where <em>have</em> you been?!" I am back among the living after weeks of struggling with a particularly nasty respiratory infection. Not that it is totally gone, mind you. But I can function once again without wondering "how I am going to do it?", whatever "it" is.<br />
<br />
So for my first posting after forever, should I share what my house looked like for Halloween?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWeuysW2XVrnNT43yjihEg-HbDad7Ab8EwNc4AmHTtow-VzDIIEsdGrN9wOBY464Q-WHBFnXWV6QnarNuNO6yJB82GTl-Da9AdDdJ2JXbpQloKAyEG-KkQHDvMbYwwwesQV8P4dAm2RD0/s1600/DSC00747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWeuysW2XVrnNT43yjihEg-HbDad7Ab8EwNc4AmHTtow-VzDIIEsdGrN9wOBY464Q-WHBFnXWV6QnarNuNO6yJB82GTl-Da9AdDdJ2JXbpQloKAyEG-KkQHDvMbYwwwesQV8P4dAm2RD0/s320/DSC00747.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Or about the delightful young college women who graced our Thanksgiving table (let me clarify, they were not <em>on</em> the table)? Young women who brought beautiful flowers, played games with the Offspring, and clearly did not want to leave after dinner?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5adLi37GVQ252vVPJDwPb9sNgt9QNqIU8eUfRMDYnUgiOmtfcRKVzlfui-pZubldwTf8NCNPTdp8ydCtm-4TeZRfc2XiKx3e7cFL2uCGl95yr88RVuZu4UVglAVwCds04sB9YhBaFARO/s1600/DSC00758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5adLi37GVQ252vVPJDwPb9sNgt9QNqIU8eUfRMDYnUgiOmtfcRKVzlfui-pZubldwTf8NCNPTdp8ydCtm-4TeZRfc2XiKx3e7cFL2uCGl95yr88RVuZu4UVglAVwCds04sB9YhBaFARO/s200/DSC00758.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I certainly do not have photos of our Christmas decorations since we haven't done any. Yes, I refuse to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. We simply have a moratorium on Christmas until December 1. What can I say?! Since so much time has past, I thought I would share that not only did we get some glorious sun, the first in weeks, I had something else to brighten my day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwAomdVhrvYicWiG4JT05Grp1sBNVrKDXkAy8cupylKoUO8FM1xleKrm_M8C8HX3vNCw52pbY21f71G8T3VmxTEA_x_j2LNBBv8tEWbsedR3nJaDpoeonerFiobb9R1ux0sqq5ioFB55J/s1600/DSC00761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwAomdVhrvYicWiG4JT05Grp1sBNVrKDXkAy8cupylKoUO8FM1xleKrm_M8C8HX3vNCw52pbY21f71G8T3VmxTEA_x_j2LNBBv8tEWbsedR3nJaDpoeonerFiobb9R1ux0sqq5ioFB55J/s320/DSC00761.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I have never tried to force spring bulbs of any kind and certainly not paperwhites. But between the autumn bouquet and the promise of spring, my outlook is brightening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-57552499486041829102010-09-24T21:46:00.000-07:002010-09-24T21:46:20.958-07:00Passing skills to another generationIt has been a very busy three weeks here at Chez Pooh with the start of school for all inhabitants. The summer flew by and I did not get around to many of my plans. But then the lack of a real schedule is one of the joys of the summer!<br />
<br />
One of my goals during the summer was to start teaching Offspring some basic life skills. Like sewing. Now, some people would argue that males will not use sewing skills, but as we all know, a lack of basic knowledge can limit the possibilities before they even begin. Pants may need hemming, buttons always fall off. If you can sew, home decorating becomes a whole lot cheaper and oh, the possible Halloween costumes (and I have had to be very creative to meet the imagination of Offspring)! Okay, so, it didn't happen this summer. Well, it sort of did. One August afternoon I drew a pattern on a sheet of cardstock, removed the thread from the sewing machine, put in an old needle, and introduced terms like "pressure foot" and "seam allowances". I remember doing this when I started in 4-H in the fourth grade. I made my pattern a <em>little</em> more interesting by including a favorite toy logo. There were lots of corners and curves, long lines and short. And he did great! Didn't stray off the lines hardly at all! Not that that was any surprise-the kid has a phenomenally long attention span (which made kindergarten <u>very</u> difficult) and the attention to detail that plagues his parents and saturates his genes.<br />
<br />
He was so excited that he was immediately asking to sew on real fabric. So I dug out a long skinny strip and let him learn to hold two edges together while feeding the fabric. But the straight stitch was not good enough so it was on to the zigzag. His fascination with the only two buttons for fancy stitches were next on his agenda. While the interest was there, I wanted to run with it. So what to do next?<br />
<br />
His Aunt Pogonip at <a href="http://pogonipnv.blogspot.com/">Meadowsweet Cottage</a> had made a pillowcase for him not too long ago and I thought that would be a good place to start. Straight lines, no gathering, not too much fabric. So, just before school started, we headed off to the land of fabric and he picked out three prints that fit his requirements for the beginnings of a new bedroom theme. With help from <a href="http://www.robinquiltsetc.com/freepatternstutorials.html">Robin's pillowcase tutorial</a>, it was so very easy. So here is the finished project, complete with french seams, I will have you know. I will admit that I cut the fabric, pinned everything in place, did the ironing, and helped with the stitiching over the points where there were ten layers (or more) of fabric. So he didn't totally fly solo. If I was a judge at a county fair, he would definitely earn a blue ribbon! I'd go so far as to say he did an out-of-this-world job!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwSrFNmf5tozWnnFoKlfxFmI7G0kROZUyWyYbkYkB9qp373mbdm71tewxxPQBSVELOEFlbUyjr7Z7xEAatvgoxXxPrdFYWtoEiP-UHqvw6OFV6h0WQHFlEa9w6kqcDe2nuep-7_JDyMGc/s1600/P9240046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwSrFNmf5tozWnnFoKlfxFmI7G0kROZUyWyYbkYkB9qp373mbdm71tewxxPQBSVELOEFlbUyjr7Z7xEAatvgoxXxPrdFYWtoEiP-UHqvw6OFV6h0WQHFlEa9w6kqcDe2nuep-7_JDyMGc/s400/P9240046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-14617456309031184722010-09-08T21:21:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:21:09.169-07:00Back to schoolYesterday morning Offspring stood on the stairs for those "first day of school" photos that we take every year. But instead of a little boy, it was a young man standing there. These days when I turn to look at him, his eyes are almost (but not quite) level with my own and I don't have to bend over to hug him. His feet are now officially longer. He has long since surpassed eating the same amount that I do. The voice is starting to deepen and I have to caution him that he is much stronger now and must be more gentle with his mother. The strongest indication of the little boy disappearing was the total lack of hesitation walking into school.<br />
<br />
Some moms would lament that their "baby" is gone. While I may comment that he is not a baby any more in conversation, I am quite pleased to see him more grown up and to see <em>how</em> he is growing up. All that time and love invested in him when he was little is paying off. I personally think he is a <em>great</em> kid. He certainly is not a "typical" teenager (well, rousting him out of bed was a tad more difficult than usual!). You can hold conversations with him. He looks you in the eye. He will act excited, rather than bored or sullen. And he is nice! Death knell, I know, when said about boys. But I am raising someone's future husband here and I think that matters!<br />
<br />
Back to school always means that I am less "Mom" and more "adult". I get back to work, have time to do chores uninterrupted (well, mostly), and have more contact with other parents and adults. And every fall I feel an urgency to tackle as many projects that didn't get done during the summer as possible, before the weather turns uncooperative. Hey, it has been uncooperative practically all summer, what am I saying! So maybe the painting I had hoped to do won't get done. Maybe there are still piles of papers to sort. If I can just finish the <em>old</em> paint jobs I will be satisfied. The ones where just one or two things that didn't get finished <em>finally</em> get completed (the bathroom moulding, the garage ceiling, the house numbers). If I can sort through one more box of old paperwork or finish a sewing project here and there, I will feel a sense of accomplishment. And maybe, just maybe, saying no to one particular volunteer project will make that happen.<br />
<br />
Addendum: I <em>had</em> prepared this post yesterday and just wanted to add a photo later in the day (when the backpack was here). But my feeble memory finally kicked in and I remembered that after school on the first day back is not necessarily a pretty picture. So instead of taking a photo and blogging (please forgive me!), I planned and prepared for making the rude awakening of back to school a little less shocking. After a trip to the grocery store that meant a special issue of National Geographic waiting on the table with fruit quickly washed and ready for a snack. With the first course of the snacking (there were 3!), I focused on heartier fare with a second course of fruit ready when the first was inhaled. Dinner included green bean casserole and other favorite comfort foods. I commiserated over the numerous algebra problems and the first current event assignment, while providing lots of hugs and as much positive energy as I could muster. I didn't try to accomplish <em>anything</em> else during this time except helping my teenager adjust to the loss of personal time. To his credit, he spent more time on his homework than complaining (a first, I think), staying focused and even enjoying the mental exercises. It helped that he was motivated to finish in time to watch <em>White Collar</em> (thanks to the joys of the DVR). And, you know, it worked. All those little things boosted the spirits of my introvert and made for a much more pleasant first day of school. I even got to hear what went on during the day! I wish I could remember that I need to be more "present" and less "productive" in order to be a good parent! So I tweaked this entry for "after the fact" and have to just accept that if this blogging is to work for me, I have to do what I have to. And for me, family come first. Always has, always will. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-66937490059294331422010-08-27T20:40:00.000-07:002010-08-27T20:40:35.103-07:00Biggest home improvement yetWe knew this day was coming. The time when the house needed reroofing. Despite our best attempts to stretch out a cedar shake roof beyond a 20-year lifetime, the time had come. Who knew that picking out a color to reroof would be so hard! We drove all over the area trying to find houses in the materials we were considering. But pitch, time to day, number of trees, orientation can all change how the same composite shingle looks. Well, we finally decided on a color (on our vacation, no less!) after weeks of agonizing. (Decisions are <u>not</u> my strong suit.) Any roof was more important than the "perfect" color. We just want this one to last so we don't have to listen to 2 days of racket ever, ever again. What do you think? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2fAd74Gh1I891OpinRjn0u0aANk2PV8h3SlTPq_jmcVVjLliUMetZaRlqZxsFhbpGdgLed8wGRKHkLsuUyVkGDFItjQE3ksX8nkRB7_JQqldnEATfzbLYnf8csYHBs7wc0Etwqfjb_w1/s1600/DSC00661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2fAd74Gh1I891OpinRjn0u0aANk2PV8h3SlTPq_jmcVVjLliUMetZaRlqZxsFhbpGdgLed8wGRKHkLsuUyVkGDFItjQE3ksX8nkRB7_JQqldnEATfzbLYnf8csYHBs7wc0Etwqfjb_w1/s320/DSC00661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Before</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSw59XeCVP335U3msP4jzNRNDvUspvOu6Q1qpyVcrtJpIe3oSnRNoj-l3fKgJOF9TNL93MsMMwLqi9Ny9xXfTLmDwkg5dmeGQllrCWOSvJLSczgDbifrrYsP1L3WQE-ueFaFFwysOxwZK/s1600/DSC00672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSw59XeCVP335U3msP4jzNRNDvUspvOu6Q1qpyVcrtJpIe3oSnRNoj-l3fKgJOF9TNL93MsMMwLqi9Ny9xXfTLmDwkg5dmeGQllrCWOSvJLSczgDbifrrYsP1L3WQE-ueFaFFwysOxwZK/s320/DSC00672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">After</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-30833865668193562042010-08-26T20:48:00.000-07:002010-08-26T20:48:28.203-07:00Gotta love adjustable waistbands!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyone with growing or grown kids knows that they reach stages when they grow out of clothes before they wear out of them. We are blessed with friends that pass on their hand-me-downs. Shorts, ski jackets and pants and other extra-cold climate apparel, boots, sandals, as well as lots of shirts and regular pants have made a regular series of very welcome appearances at our house. We call it the E Collection. Well, Offspring wore out the seat of one pair of shorts recently and I really did not want to have to go shop for more and did not think it likely we would even find any left in the stores. So we rummaged around in the drawer of the E Collection and found the perfect pair. And I don’t know about you, but I <em>positively</em> adore the inventor of the adjustable waistband that is becoming standard issue on kids’ pants. I have lost track of the hours and gallons of gas traipsing all over our metropolitan area to find uniform pants and jeans that fit. Before adjustable waistbands, Offspring once had to try on 17 pairs of jeans to find one, I repeat, one pair that fit even somewhat. Perhaps I should clarify that. Seventeen pairs of the same size, same brand, same cut that came the closest and then looking for the one pair that did not immediately drop to his ankles and in which he could still bend over without cutting off the blood supply to his lower extremities. Well, the adjustable waistband changed all that for us. Life is good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp_giLvsGlzHScGyY_Jxgq17nwtsQtQv9ktM_zQ3DFRuBrzg3eEqLLqG-VlouyFQ5sVmy3Qv6O8u80QYODBOxWkX806G_x3OmUjEkPNiFJI-WXKQOYNYbX34F0Stkb5_usBPr3-tHKlHT/s1600/DSC00666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOp_giLvsGlzHScGyY_Jxgq17nwtsQtQv9ktM_zQ3DFRuBrzg3eEqLLqG-VlouyFQ5sVmy3Qv6O8u80QYODBOxWkX806G_x3OmUjEkPNiFJI-WXKQOYNYbX34F0Stkb5_usBPr3-tHKlHT/s200/DSC00666.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, back to my story. This pair of shorts from the E Collection? Only one problem. They had an adjustable band. “What?!” you say? How could that be a problem?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_mgoWEzoOM8nCeel5Nbuu1XKAX-djzef05o5eOfeOexMjIweoSkEgGzKjSwWqV2YXyHg63TR7Dqa6RGwzaxUH4hRadUq4_VH9ECqE-Mo6YfvaIgQzJfxq_HNd1RBdubc6wmGiieGSdmH/s1600/DSC00667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_mgoWEzoOM8nCeel5Nbuu1XKAX-djzef05o5eOfeOexMjIweoSkEgGzKjSwWqV2YXyHg63TR7Dqa6RGwzaxUH4hRadUq4_VH9ECqE-Mo6YfvaIgQzJfxq_HNd1RBdubc6wmGiieGSdmH/s200/DSC00667.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">See? The elastic “buttonholes” had coalesced into one very looooong buttonhole.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>My solution? To replace the elastic. Not so quick! The elastic was sewn into the middle of the back waistband (so that it doesn’t pull out). So first I had to open up the back waistband and happily the beltloop was not sewn into that seam. I found that the elastic was sewn onto a small strip of fabric just hanging free in the casing so I ripped out that stitching.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru63pCvToNgF-b0ho0-gj4_0TLsO3RpioVDFGCabYbjfFWZDu6cgqDgLkSLfimYmON2m4iC5cyosS9ty7OSh6r3wuh4Cmi-xje5vAMNybOsrEA3LPhyWcTxu_6TgFkcuuWx8EmfWOCU8o/s1600/DSC00664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru63pCvToNgF-b0ho0-gj4_0TLsO3RpioVDFGCabYbjfFWZDu6cgqDgLkSLfimYmON2m4iC5cyosS9ty7OSh6r3wuh4Cmi-xje5vAMNybOsrEA3LPhyWcTxu_6TgFkcuuWx8EmfWOCU8o/s200/DSC00664.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The next step was to take a piece of elastic, fold the ends back and stitch them down. After that I made three buttonholes, on each end, for a total of six. Thank goodness my sewing machine has an automatic setting that replicates the first one. Then I restitiched the middle of the elastic to that little flap of fabric, threaded each half into the waistband, and cut open only the buttonholes that were needed.<br />
<br />
The hardest part was resewing the waistband. I couldn’t sew under the belt loop in one straight line so I just divvied it up, starting from each outward edge and sewing as far as I could with the belt loop smushed out of the way, and then repeating from the other side. Ta-da!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbQ5T2alJw5HPGHs7KbMLDUnL0MFcVvJzP-kpMLLql0RAdB07nOW1TnfifOzhEZT4cOowFcHqpSqSviBAKXiHq9-YccMX-UJUYqiXEM3Y9ESnZoCScKlOl66mXCU28ECeMiuXWJkM6SpI/s1600/DSC00665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbQ5T2alJw5HPGHs7KbMLDUnL0MFcVvJzP-kpMLLql0RAdB07nOW1TnfifOzhEZT4cOowFcHqpSqSviBAKXiHq9-YccMX-UJUYqiXEM3Y9ESnZoCScKlOl66mXCU28ECeMiuXWJkM6SpI/s200/DSC00665.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I think it took me all of 30 minutes, maybe 40. And most of that was refreshing myself on how to make buttonholes with my machine. <br />
<br />
When the time comes we will pass on this pair of shorts to another weed who is growing so very fast. We will have helped someone else who may not have the time, sewing skills, or the access to a sewing machine to extend the life of another piece of clothing. Now that is the green way of doing things! One person at a time, doing one little thing here and there. It all adds up. (It also helped to pass the time while listening to the cacophony of roofers replacing our roof.) One more thing to check off my list(s)!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-75258521062876712602010-08-24T17:49:00.000-07:002010-08-24T17:49:03.599-07:00Nature's Masterpieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5f_kBJbB8WJz2_uIKA7nT4JC3eMJCknyQP5F-g7sNJgYDTFzxJ9biA65gSJs_NaZipr2Tr-MIArVLHSsZYtQK6LVp2i_7TqUNTAzUkr6vBGrEyvN_WaawZM1_Rgc5YmwUbBBoPTl95Dr/s1600/DSC00353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5f_kBJbB8WJz2_uIKA7nT4JC3eMJCknyQP5F-g7sNJgYDTFzxJ9biA65gSJs_NaZipr2Tr-MIArVLHSsZYtQK6LVp2i_7TqUNTAzUkr6vBGrEyvN_WaawZM1_Rgc5YmwUbBBoPTl95Dr/s400/DSC00353.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I finally learned how to download the photos from my new camera. The new camera my wonderful husband thought would be a good idea given that we were taking what was likely to be my once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone. (My old camera just would not have survived so many photos.) Not that I wouldn't like to go back. It is just not the sort of trip that can be planned at the last minute, the kind we typically take.</div><br />
Anyway, I thought I would share some of my flower photos. A photograph cannot do justice to the wide vistas and the wonder, but a girl can try! (And right now I am just happy that I figured out how to post photos.)<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOnVsPdgOMpi5cS0R3gzYecdQIGXXPEggfqzH6X9gISCKn8TJqPGkpxpr0xuOGNFY6dipYRDtLNPHL1XwmylF7_wQEosUrMyzkSpgcvVmwkpOzabFyOGFsVeDMRQOIAe9DvXYlBfpq9Bl/s1600/DSC00216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOnVsPdgOMpi5cS0R3gzYecdQIGXXPEggfqzH6X9gISCKn8TJqPGkpxpr0xuOGNFY6dipYRDtLNPHL1XwmylF7_wQEosUrMyzkSpgcvVmwkpOzabFyOGFsVeDMRQOIAe9DvXYlBfpq9Bl/s400/DSC00216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjQNWMC3ldxLSy5-zdjZThV746aQZ3-m-iKxEatIDIVD1zOBSbl4gAaz7U_JYWQuq-pY81MHBA3gMHonKws-JVAuA6wfv5F2dFIzFU1RsT1TR2vGy3dfl9P4STA3DhgNB489py-uRyuFw/s1600/DSC00115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjQNWMC3ldxLSy5-zdjZThV746aQZ3-m-iKxEatIDIVD1zOBSbl4gAaz7U_JYWQuq-pY81MHBA3gMHonKws-JVAuA6wfv5F2dFIzFU1RsT1TR2vGy3dfl9P4STA3DhgNB489py-uRyuFw/s400/DSC00115.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, I have no idea what this white one is. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwR-QeiQVKEv2AebcpvNwy7Yqqd9w_NOTbBpc3VjtIwKptc2Kr8NHb6ZuPe7rQ4-2aRs717NC0qjxGY3ubUFHc5kiBRqvuKnWrJKmykweFVa4I-RFTIC_rUwMeeabBKmxAU6u5BKvzb3_/s1600/DSC00337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; height: 309px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 432px;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwR-QeiQVKEv2AebcpvNwy7Yqqd9w_NOTbBpc3VjtIwKptc2Kr8NHb6ZuPe7rQ4-2aRs717NC0qjxGY3ubUFHc5kiBRqvuKnWrJKmykweFVa4I-RFTIC_rUwMeeabBKmxAU6u5BKvzb3_/s400/DSC00337.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiVJxgeRs3SkboUM155TVzNmRa9bwn31nXc9783PBkWPZUOiAG124FfRnCyq0pgTYfKN18mUIEfRVrycd98UI7naTj-2CUKKdM66Bdn6FvXn6eu6yIP9T-JPz4ef1bOoRhQRHwrafDPkS/s1600/DSC00277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiVJxgeRs3SkboUM155TVzNmRa9bwn31nXc9783PBkWPZUOiAG124FfRnCyq0pgTYfKN18mUIEfRVrycd98UI7naTj-2CUKKdM66Bdn6FvXn6eu6yIP9T-JPz4ef1bOoRhQRHwrafDPkS/s320/DSC00277.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinirDA1hzXa8ZUejNh4UtPDqzq3BvNVvVI4xeMWIRFD5-uDtTTJ3ArNv-vb7ljs4_iDFuvf-4TEX8RU6UCUHT1bQBBm9_J0enE2rBEh7SxjYGJQGBrXZ-WZnlc7d1YpmZOlmpW9Xl5xQ-c/s1600/DSC00352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinirDA1hzXa8ZUejNh4UtPDqzq3BvNVvVI4xeMWIRFD5-uDtTTJ3ArNv-vb7ljs4_iDFuvf-4TEX8RU6UCUHT1bQBBm9_J0enE2rBEh7SxjYGJQGBrXZ-WZnlc7d1YpmZOlmpW9Xl5xQ-c/s320/DSC00352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6999996431978980252.post-90515848848305916732010-08-16T15:53:00.000-07:002010-08-16T15:53:43.223-07:00ListsI tried once before to do a blog. Actually, I set it up for my offspring, but by then school had started and homework took over. So I occasionally posted a trivial bit. But life was too hectic. Isn't it always! When I decided to try and pick it up again, I discovered that the note with the offspring's convoluted password that I could never remember had disappeared. Yes, I know you are not supposed to write passwords down. But just call me "Dory"! Short term memory disappeared about 2 years ago. If I don't write it down, I don't remember it. Period. Zilch, nada, nothing. I wonder how I function sometimes, but I am my lists. Stacks of them. Some are ten years old but still valid. No bucket list, though. Although, if I did have a bucket list, seeing Yellowstone National Park would have been on it. I am happy to say that if I had such a list, that would be get crossed off now. <br />
<br />
Yes, we took a <u>real</u> vacation. Not that visiting family is not a vacation. Anything that gets me away from the house and my piles of lists and projects and have-to-do's qualifies as a vacation. But we did the whole road trip, see the sights along the way (although not as many as I would liked), savor the moments vacation! We only do that about every 3-4 years because of schedules and finances and needing to see family. What's more, we did not run into any problems. We came back driving the same car we left home in.<br />
<br />
I must admit that I did not expect to have those ooh-and-ahh moments in Yellowstone because I expected crowds to be everywhere. (And I am an introvert in how I get my energy. Crowds suck the life out of me. I much prefer small groups. Once a group hits 7 or 8, it's big. Not that I can't enjoy a bigger group, I am just exhausted afterwards. So shopping at a mall? Dementor city!) But the only place we felt the crowds were overwhelming were in the Old Faithful area. Now, really people, Old Faithful is big and reliable, but it is not, in my humble opinion, the best feature of the park. I loved the colors of the hot springs, the plopping of the mudpots, the variety of columns in the biofilms (don't ask....it's a geeky science thing). So Grand Prismatic Spring and Dragon's Mouth Spring and the Anemone Geyser get my votes for favorite spots. And listening to the bison grunt and snort was totally awesome. I could just picture the hills covered with the huge herds of long ago. While our time in Yellowstone was short (four days/three nights), it was a wonderful experience. One I hope the offspring will long remember.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the other thing that made this trip so special is that I got to see two of the best friends one could ask for. Neither friend lives anywhere close to us, but I still consider them among my best friends. One friend we stopped to visit along the way (I planned our route so we could do that), but could not stay even remotely as long as we would have liked (thanks to a late start due to a broken irrigation line). The other friend drove all the way from Billings with her husband just to spend time with us. This friend #2? I had not seen since 1987! In minutes the years fell away and we were enjoying our time together as we always had. It could have been awkward since we married since we last saw each other. And one can easily run out of things to talk about. No. The men got along, the offspring took to them quickly, there were no awkward moments of "what shall we talk about now?", and I was mentally planning the next visit as we said goodbye.<br />
<br />
Maybe we will have to do this vacation thing again. I guess we were just gun shy after the last trip resulted in a series of events that they base movies on. And that's good. We couldn't afford both a new roof <u>and</u> a new car this time around.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1