Since we are all sick with cough, colds and/or flu we are having a family game night and staying in and watching movies. I haven't been able to hold my head up to stitch at all and have not had a voice for 3 days now my throat is so sore but no strep just drainage and irritation. Night is the worst because I get so dry.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe, HEALTHY and happy new year. My New Year's Resolution - NOT to be sick NEXT New Year's!!!!
We got in at 12:30 AM this morning from Oklahomas. We drove straight through. It was an exhausting drive since I had to drive it all myself. Dd is getting around better but still can't drive. We just keep her wheelchair in the car now and she uses crutches in the house. We had a great time in OK eating all our favorite foods and visiting family. We made it to Edmond to visit Great Grandma. Also, my first great niece was born while we were there - great timing huh? I finished all my shopping and even managed a short trip to Silver Needle and bought two complete kits. I could shop for hours in that store! We visited a cemetery that my grandma remember in Edmond that turned out to have several of our ancestors buried there. I took some pictures to add to the tree file. It was so strange seeing them. I still have to shower, unpack and finish wrapping....sigh!!!
Winter Break has begun. I am heading to Oklahoma in 3 days!!! I am so excited. I have a long list of places to go and things I want to do. I just really do not look forward to the long drive! Will write more later...
Tonight is the last final for this semester. As usual students are bickering over their grades and once again mostly for plagiarism and not following instructions. I will be so glad when tomorrow comes. I am getting my usual end of the semester illness too - scratchy throat and achy! I truly do not understand why it is so hard to follow instructions and they are not hard instructions either.
With dd in a wheelchair now it has been a real pain getting around and around the house as well. She is also wearing one of those space boots that inflates and deflates but weighs a ton. She is taking her last final as I type. We hope to leave for Oklahoma sometime next week after grades and laundry and rest!!!
OU is #1!! We are off to face Florida. I tried to get tickets but they were pretty much all gone.
Finals are this week and I am so glad. It has been a very trying few days. I can't wait for Thursday!!
It is the last day of classes for this semester. I still have finals next week but no more lectures! But lots of grading to do. I hope to get a lot of it finished tomorrow. It is raining and cold here so it will be a perfect night and day tomorrow to hunker down and get some work done, listening to my Celtic Thunder and Christmas playlist of course. Maybe just maybe I will be able to stitch a little this weekend, wow - what a thought!
What do these words have in common? These are the words my ds spelled correctly today to win the school spelling bee!! He advances on to the county level in January. It was more nerve wracking than watching an OU football game...against Texas!!!
Why in the ER of course! My dd has been having dizzy spells for the past week. She passed out in class, fell face first on the floor at work and tonight fell down the stairs. They ran every test and did every scan possible. The only explanation is Vertigo or something else in her inner ears. She now has a cast on her foot/ankle and is on crutches which are really fun when you are dizzy all the time. So tomorrow will be spent running from one dr to another. I missed my class tonight and will miss tomorrow as well. I hate that but she takes priority! Well, I better get some sleep. What is it about ER's that are so exhausting?
OU is heading to the Championship game against Missouri and if we win there we are off to face, hopefully, Florida for National Champs. It was close and I feel really bad for the Texas fans but if there shoe was on the other foot....I'm just saying.
Anyway, not a bad birthday present I must say!
I can't believe the OU - OSU game is today. This week has flown by. Thanksgiving came and went so fast. We had a good day - good food, family, games and fun. Dd saw Twilight twice while I did some Christmas shopping, still have a long way to go on that. We are putting the tree up today and decorating the house. I am looking forward to it since we didn't do anything for Halloween or the Fall.
But this afternoon and tonight - it's all about the game. The kids and I wearing OU stuff in the living room watching the TT-Baylor game and then the OU-OSU game with dh on the computer wearing his Texas hat. Repeating the conditions of last week can't hurt, huh? If we win, that's it we are off to National Champs!!! If we loose, then there is always next year!
I plan on stuffing myself on Thursday (points be dam*&#). Then do some shopping over the weekend but stitching the majority of the time. I hope to sneak off to a movie with dh IF I can find something to go see. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend.
I just realized Thanksgiving is a week from today. I have not even bought groceries yet. I can't believe the time has gone by so quickly. This weekend will be spent buying food, shopping for gifts and decorations and CHEERING FOR OU!! I am so nervous but excited about the game. Dd works so she will miss most of the game. I will need to find something to do while its on so I don't bite off all my nails!
If you ever get the chance to see Celtic Thunder - you must go! It was the best concert/show I have ever seen. We had excellent seats, the sound was awesome, they sound better in person, the little theatrics were fun and everyone of them can sing (in their own way) and they are adorable and funny! Dd and I both enjoyed ourselves, even though we were starving after intermission. Our quest to find a place to eat didn't work so well. The three places I knew of downtown were all closed so we tried to wing it but that didn't work. So after the concert at midnight we were hitting Sonic (once I made my out of downtown that is). We loaded up on DVD's, posters, mugs and so on (hmmmmm - I wonder where MY share went to?) The song playing is one of theirs and one of my favorites but it is a little old school. Dd likes the more contemporary ones. During Danny Boy you could have heard a pin drop. They sung it acapella and it was amazing. They are heading out west so everyone keep a look out.
Celtic Thunder that is! Dd and I are off to see Celtic Thunder here in Atlanta. We are both so excited. I can't wait. We have orchestra seats and are ready for our girls night out!
I can't believe there are only 2 weeks until Thanksgiving. I haven't even had a chance to get the fall decorations up. What's the point when in two weeks I put up Christmas stuff. I am not at all ready for the holidays. I realized today I only have 6 more classes before finals!!! WoooWhoooo! I guess I need to get organized and get my menu planned and house cleaned.
I had to teach a class on the perils of global warming...with a migraine. Lecturing on that subject is torture enough but with a headache, its impossible. I had to present both sides of the debate - the science behind it NOT the media side. I was actually asked why they didn't learn some of this stuff in high school. I ask that same question - daily!!!! 
Needless to say, no stitching today or tonight. I am taking my MH kit with me to the in-lwas tomorrow afternoon and will attempt it. Here is one I would like to get for next year, assuming I can handle the one I have already!
What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895
--Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only
had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the
8th grade in 1895? This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.
8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS - 1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of"lie,""play,"
and "run."
5. Define case; Illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you
understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels
of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel,
deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to
carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for
incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per
metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 p! ! er acre, the distance of
which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt
U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and
Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849,
1865.
Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography,
etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals,
diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' ! !
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions
under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis,
mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the
sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood,
fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain,
feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by
use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba,
Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the
sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the
earth.
Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying "he only
had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?! Also shows you how
poor our education system has become... and, NO! I don't have the answers,
and I failed the 8th grade test!
I don't have any Thanksgiving cross stitch and I really like this one. I think I will add to my wish list.
I need to find some projects that don't take quite so long. So far all my WIPS are Lavender and Lace designs and they are not exactly small! I have to admit they are my favorite though. I think I will start on my first ever Mill Hill kit for Christmas. I have never beaded before so this will be a first.
I can't believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We have been cleaning and organizing the house for the holidays. Today I cleaned the windows and doors and the living room, reorganizing things. I love it when the house is clean and the windows are open and fall is in the air! I am hoping to stitch some on my Mothers Tree this weekend.
You know that phone call a parent never wants to hear, we got it last night (one of them anyway). Dd had her first accident last night. It was a minor fender bender but enough to scare the (*#) out of me and her dad. She is pretty shaken up but she will recover. I am just happy nobody was hurt.
I love the colors and weather of Fall. It is my favorite time of the year so naturally it goes by 5 times faster than other seasons. This is the view out back right now. I want to get a picture of the street with the trees, beautiful! I need a fall cross stitch piece!
My son is a genius. I better not let him hear me say that. He got his report card and once again he got straight A's and E's...14 of them. He also got "A's" in his advanced classes. He received two awards...the Principals Award and the Achievement of High Excellence Award. I am amazed by him every day and sometimes every hour. At times I wonder what it would be like to be inside his head for just a little while. I think I would get overloaded but it would be nice. Maybe I should try since I am going to be needing all the help I can get when I start GSU next semester. 
Here are my two boys in the mountains. What a pair they are but a cute pair!
GSU is still waiting on two letters from my former advisor and professor at the University of Tulsa. Once those are in my application packet will be complete. I am hoping they get them in before the deadline...Nov. 15th!! I did get my old GRE scores in and they accepted them so that is taken care of anyway.
I started streamlining the classes I am teaching next semester. I made up all new projects, schedules and syllabi for each class. I am teaching Historical Geology as well and I haven't taught that in a while so I have a little work to do there. I can't believe we have less than a month and this semester will be over! I am so looking forward to the break. We are heading home to Oklahoma before Christmas even if only for a few days. I need a Taco Bueno fix (and a family fix).
At least it is over - that is the only good thing about all this. My dd and I decided to have a "Spread the Wealth Party" to celebrate. Here are our choices of what we want from others:
Home - I chose Brangelina's home in England (I thought about BO's house but I don't think I would let my dog live there) and dd chose the White House. I am contemplating the home of someone I know who has a nice location and a pool but just for the summer months.
Car - I chose Nancy Pelosi because she has a driver and dd chose David Beckham's.
Jet - I chose John Travolta's and dd chose Tom Cruise's.
Yacht - I chose Al Gores and dd chose George Clooneys.
Bank Accout - Any of the following will do: Barbara Streisand, Sean Penn, Jessica Alba, Whoopi, Katie Curic, Madonna. DD chose Scarlett Johanson.
Job - I am quitting mine because I will not need to work since BO will take care of all my needs, heck - I don't even need to think for myself anymore. DD chose BO's new job once the bleeding hearts are cleaned up.
We decided to make the other BO's (Oprah) house a haven for illegal aliens and they should of course have her funds as well.
I wonder if how long we have to wait to start getting checks and property? Do you think he will start as soon as he takes office? I hope so - I really want a vacation. I encourage all of you to make your list so it is less WORK on the new administration.
All I can say, they asked for it and boy are they gonna get it!!!!
Have you ever had something happen to you that shakes you to your core that makes you wonder how, what, where and why about almost everything? I lost a friend today and it hurts more than I can find the words to say...
And not because it is Halloween but because of the election on Tuesday! I am very concerned about the way half of this country thinks. The sense of entitlement and the "give-me" generation is unbelievable. I am not sure if it is because I am a military brat or because I lived in other countries and have seen the "greener" grass but the liberal mentality is truly foreign to me, makes about as much sense as Chinese does! I am a college professor and I teach physical science no less so most people, fellow faculty and students included, automatically think I am liberal. I try to explain to them that I am so far to the right that conservatives have to wave at me.
I may not be happy with the way the last two years have gone but I am happy GWB was in the white house. The alternative would have been devastating. The blame game is so old. The partisan crap is ridiculous in the country now. It will be our downfall. I am not a McCain fan but I can not tolerate socialism, Marxism or the double standards that are blatantly obvious this year. I do care about the economy and taxes, blah blah BUT the security of my family is my highest priority and without a secure homeland - NOTHING -economy, immigration, taxes - matter. I can not watch the greatest country in the world abandon all the principles it was founded on. I am voting straight Republican because that is what I am and how I believe. I can only hope and pray that there is truly more common sense in the world than the media leads us to believe. The only democrats I know are fellow faculty and that is just an assumption based on trends. Everyone in my family, near and far, is voting the RIGHT way. I refuse to believe that my father, grandfathers, uncles, cousins and everyone else who have dedicated and given their life for this country did so in vain!!
I truly am scared...for my children, grandchildren and their children.
We finally broke down and bought me a new laptop today. I am not sure you can visualize a Charlie Brown laptop but that is what mine was! The battery was shot so it had a big hole in the bottom, the internet quite working, the keys were sticking and I was getting very stressed out whenever I needed to use it. We have been looking at them for a while but I literally had no choice today so we just did it. I LOVE IT!! It is so nice to have one that works. I have not done anything except transfer files and set it up so I can use it tomorrow. What a relief!!!
I found out that I do NOT - I repeat DO NOT - have to retake the GRE!!! The director of the chemistry waived the requirement since I already have a MS degree. Whew! I am so relieved. I just have to push the paperwork through and fast! I am so excited and nervous about going back. What a relief!!!
Here is Ashley cross stitch piece. She is making ornaments and this is my favorite - it's purple!
Here is my progress so far. I finally finished the tree...yeah no more green!
I posted a picture of Daphne so I have to post one of Angel taking a nap. Both dogs are so rotten, lovable but rotten!
Nothing. Silence. Quiet.
I am alone (well, except for the 2 dogs and cat). Everyone is at work or school. I never noticed how quiet the house can get before. As you can see, Daphne is enjoying it! I am going to take advantage and delve into the quantitative portion of the GRE today - oh yeah! I want to take the test at the end of the month so I am try to pace myself so I don't forget stuff before I take it. Maybe I will get some stitching done tonight after laundry, only 3 loads left!!
Why? I spent it with my kids and dh baking cookies, icing cookies, making a roast with potatoes and carrots. But best of all, my dd started cross-stitching!! She is sitting in my stitching chair with a cup of hot tea just stitching away! Sigh, I am so proud! I will try to post some pictures. I am still trying to figure out how to post the pictures in different places on my page.
Here are the cookies - take your pick. We have bats, ghosts, pumpkins, cats and all sorts of scary critters in all different colors.
I studied a little this morning and made a 20/20 on the post test so I decided to spend the day with the kids and it was fun. I am going to start studying the math stuff tomorrow but tonight - I am watching a movie and stitching "with my daughter"...yippee!!
She will kill me posting this picture, in case you can't tell she is not feeling well today but still cute!
Oh, I uploaded all my christmas songs to itunes and my iPod so I have been listening to my favorites today.
What a wonderful day!
I love this time of the year. The weather is so nice!
We went to the Smokies this past weekend and the foliage is amazing. I will try to post a few pictures. We had a great time visiting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. I went to my favorite LNS - Dixie Darlin' and bought a few things to keep me busy this winter.
I am studying for my GRE right now so I am afriad I will not have much time to stitch. I have completed about 50% of the tree on my Mothers Tree stitch. It is really getting old doing nothing but green.
I started weight watchers in August and have lost 21 pounds so far, even with vacation! I weigh in on Saturdays but I think I need a new scale. The one I have gives you different readings 1 minute apart. Speaking of WW, I need to go get some water. I will try to get some pictures posted!
Kim
Rule: You must answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.
1. Where is your cell phone? counter
2. Your significant other? Allen
3. Your hair? mixed
4. Your mother? Gabby
5. Your father? James
6. Your favorite thing? Children
7. Your dream last night? absent
8. Your favorite drink? Tea
9. Your dream/goal? Happiness
10. The room you're in? Bedroom
11. Your hobby? CrossStitch
12. Your fear? Water
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Oklahoma
14. What you're not? Thin
15. Muffins? Banana
16. One of your wish list items? Money
17. Where you grew up? everywhere
18. The last thing you did? email
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Favorite gadget? iTouch
21. Your pets? 3
22. Your computer? Laptop
23. Your mood? Tired
24. Missing someone? Yes
25. Your car? Nissan
26. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
27. Favorite store? craft
28. Like someone? Yes
29. Your favorite color? Purple
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31 Last time you cried? Today
I got this from Kimichigan...thanks. If you read it, consider yourself tagged.
I honestly couldn't tell you. The summer is almost over and we have not done much of anything. We painted the entry hall and thats it. I keep saying today we are going to paint but for some strange reason - it never happens.
The fourth was very quiet for us, for a change. We watched the big display in our county and then came home to set our own off.
I have been stitching as much as possible and been reading the Elm Creek Quilters novel series, not a good idea since I can't stop reading when I start.
I will try to post an updated picture of my stitching soon.
I can't believe it is April 15th. I have alreay done my taxes but I can't believe the month is half over. My dd only has 5 weeks until graduation. I think it is finally starting to hit me that she is actually graduating. It is really bitter sweet.
I only have 2 weeks left myself and am so ready for the summer. I have family coming to visit for graduation and then our trip in June and July. It is amazing how fast this year is going. Other than getting ready for the end of the semester not a lot going on...
March has finally come to an end and it is Friday!!! This month was horrible and I am so ready for April. I have actually stitched a little today and hope to more this weekend. I did buy a new book so we will see what happens.
I stole this list from another stitcher but I thought it was fun.
Look at the list of (100) books below. Bold the ones you’ve read. Italicize the ones you want to read. Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in. (Movies don’t count.)
1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25 . Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) reading now
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible been ahile though
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger) reading now
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
Feel free to "steal" from me and pass it on...
Well, the month is finally winding down and for the first time in weeks I have a weekend at home. So, guess what? Cleaning time! My workshop was cancelled so my weekend opened up which is good since it is Easter and we have two chruch services. My trip to SF was super fast. They had every minute of my day planned down to the trip to the airport. It was very rewarding though. The kids are getting ready for their spring break in a couple of weeks. DD graduates in less than two months!!! OMG!!!
My break is over and it was way too short! I spend it in the desert and the weather was awesome. We had a really great time. I am going back this summer and taking the kids with me. But, alas, it is back to work this week. I have a trip to SF this month, a workshop I am putting together, evaluations and the all that good stuff this month. I will be so glad when April gets here.
Not much stitching lately and probably not for a while yet...
I am so ready for a break. I leave this week for a few days of vacation. This month has turned into a very busy and stressful one which makes me even more anxious for this trip. I will post a few pictures when I get back...take care.
I can't believe it but I am actually getting to go on a trip!! I am going to Phoenix to visit the sweetest relatives. I am also going with my mil who is nice enough to let me tag along with her. I can't wait! It is the first time I have taken a vacation without my kids or hubby. I hope to relax, stitch and crochet a little. I also hope to come back with a bunch of pictures and yes...ROCKS!!!!
DD is doing okay after her surgery. She is still in some pain but went back to school today. I hope she was able to stay awake for most of her classes.
Here is my progress so far with my L&L SAL. She is coming along nicely. I can't wait to get into the greens and burgundy's of her dress.
My dd had surgery on Friday so I haven't had much time to stitch but I hope to get more done this week and next.
That is a perfect word to describe that mood where you just are overwhelmed with things to do and you have no idea where to start or even how you are going to make a dent in things.
We found out late last week that dd is going to have surgery on her jaw this Friday. She is actually looking forward to it. She has been in pain so long she is relieved. I just hope this fixes the problem but I am not sure it will.
I guess I better and try to make that dent....sigh!
I can't believe he is now nine years old!! We are having his party after scouts so it has been another busy weekend. We found out this week that he also tested so high on his testing at school they automically put him in the accelerated program. We don't think it will be the best option for middle school but for elementary school it is great.
I haven't had much time to work on my SAL. My fault...got a new book and I pulled out my crochet as well. I hope to get some stitching done this week. I also found out I will be heading to an all expense paid trip to San Francisco in March. The publisher of one of my textbooks is footing the bill...can't wait!!
Well, off to get the cake.
Let's get this party started!
I hope this picture works. Here is my first L&L angel. She is also my first linen piece. I have several other L&L angels I plan to do after this one. I got my fabric for the Dove of Peace so I am going to start that one soon and work it in as a rotation.
My family are coming in tonight so no stitching this weekend for...
We spent the evening in Urgent Care with ds. He has strep and a bleeding bruise on his scalp...really bizarre and kinda scary. So, I was up all night checking on him. He seems to be okay other than his troat.
Today is voting day and I feel like I am choosing the lesser of two evils. My candidate decided not to run this time around so I am a little bummed. It is dd first voting opportunity so she is excited. Since she plans to go into politics, this is a big day for her. I have my camera ready.
I have been stitching on my SAL and plan to post a picture soon. I hope to get to stitch tonight after things settle down.
My brother and nieces are coming back out this weekend and we are headed to one of the nearby animal parks IF the weather cooporates anyway.
I can't believe it but I did get to stitch for about an hour or so yesterday. I was so angry because I stitched through an entire episode of Band of Brothers and realized I was off by a row so I had to frog half of what I had done. I would not stop until I got back to where I was so it took more time - but I stitched. I also got my fabric in today for my Dove of Peace so I will rotate that in sometime.
I went to a Pampered Chef party yesterday. I ate way too much food but it was fun and I LOVE their products. I am trying to decide on what I want versus what I need. Anyway, I plan to stitch a little tonight after the kids go to bed. I finished reading the new Steve Berry book so plenty of time to bedtime stitch...yeah!!
It has been really windy here which makes it so much colder than it really is. I have actually resorted to wearing a jacket this week. I only wear it about a week out of the year so I guess this is it.
This was a really short week and I am glad. I needed the extra day!! I finally got my tree decorations down...not the tree mind you - it is still up. I hope to finish that this weekend. It takes three of us to get take it down.
I got my BareEscentuals in the mail today so I am very excited to try it. Ashley really likes hers and it looks great on her but then again, everything looks good on her. I am waiting on some fabric to get here so I can start on my version of the Dove of Peace. I am actually going to take off the dove and add a verse. I am going to rotate that piece and the SAL. I need to finish my papilion too. It is not so much cross stitch as fancy stitcing...fun though. I REALLY want to start on my Chatelaine mystery but I have too much going on right now to take that one on, plus the supplies are very pricey!!
Well, off to bed for me. Blog with you soon.
Well, our long weekend is over and we are all exhausted! We had a very busy weekend celebrating Greysons birthday. The weather was forgiving but thats about it. The important thing is I survived another year - I am still not sure how that happens, although I am sure my two earthly angels have something to do with it. We saw The Waterhorse this weekend and it was a surprisingly good movie. We have Allens birthday coming up next week to look forward to. This is our season of holidays and birthdays. I am not sure yet what we are doing for Allen but I think it will include a Wii Party!
I finally started taking down the Christmas tree and decorations. It will take me all week but it will be done. Taking down the tree is always so depressing. The house looks so bare after it comes down. I guess I shouldn't worry too much...only 300 days till it goes up again!!
We had a little winter weather last night, nothing major. The kids were all excited that school was going to be canceled but alas, no such luck! We all went to school today. We were planning to go out of town since Monday is Greyson's 4th birthday but the weather has put a crimp in our style so I am not sure what we are doing just yet.
I will post an update of my WIP on Monday once I scan it. Other than that, not much going on here. Winter is upon us...
Well, I tried posting a link to my WIP pics but it won't work so I will see if I can upload them here...keep fingers crossed! I am working on a design I downloaded from Papillon.com. You choose your own colors. I am about 1/3 of the way finished. I plan to work on it tonight. I finished the new Steve Berry book so I have more time to stitch.
My brother and my two nieces are visiting so I have not had a chance to post anything. Not much news anyway, just visiting with family. I am still working on posting pictures and will try to get that done this week...
Today was the first day of the semester. While my semester is really light compared to normal, the first two weeks are always tedious. My classes seem to get bigger and bigger every semester, I guess that is a good thing!
I finished AJ's Harry Potter scarf while I watched TU destroy Bowling Green, what an awesome game it was. Now if it would only get cold enough for him to use the scarf...I know the cold will be here soon.
My brother and my nieces are coming out for a visit this weekend so no stitching for me...only cleaning and more cleaning. I am ready to work on my angel. I really have to do something about the light in my living room. I can't see the squares on the linen in that room so I have to stay confined to my room.
Well, off to bed. Have a great day. I promise to get some pics up soon.
After looking for months and months and scrounging through magazines, we have finally found our flooring and our colors! We had decided with travertine for the kitchen but when we laid it out we did not like it. So, we decided to with the wood throughout the downstairs. The decor for the kitchen is going to be country staying inline with the greens and reds we already have (and my new teapot-which I L O V E). We are almost finished in the front bathroom...only flooring, molding and the new faucet left.
I haven't worked on any of my craft stuff but have to finish AJ's scarf so I can focus on my SAL. I am determined to get one of Greysons angels done and start another one. My scrapping is in the pits, I haven't scrapped in forever. I just don't enjoy it right now and haven't for sometime.
Well, off to watch a Jerry Lewis movie or box depending on which kid wins the argument...
Well, today is the last day of my break and it is going to be spent running all over the place for dr. appts, hair appts and all that. Yesterday was supposed to be my day to what I wanted and I did for about 2 hours in the afternoon. I was able to read some of my new book...the new one by Seve Berry. He is becoming one of my favorite authors.
The kids all had a good day back to school yesterday. DD schedule got messed up and she didn't get into her law class since it conflicted with her honors history class. She wound up in sociology. She also has all coaches for teachers, her math is mostly the football team and ironically the teacher is the football coach...hmmmmmm?
Well, I am off to start running my day off. I am getting my hair done today so I can get rid of the "anti-skunk hair" as my dd calls it. I hope to post a couple of christmas pix sometime today...notice I said hope!
I can't believe that I have not posted for months. I hope to do a better job of keeping up with everthing. I am also using this site for my SAL so I will be posting some pictures as I go (assuming I can figure it out).
For now, I hope you all had a great holiday and looking forward to the New Year!
God Bless.
