Monday, August 30, 2010

Makes My Monday: All Around

Wasabi Girl had her first gymnastics meet yesterday.  And while I said a little prayer that she would place somewhere in something, I needn't have worried.  As you can see from her chest full of medals, she distinguished herself in every event, and

Won Second Place All Around!!

I'm so proud.  Really.  Bursting.  All her hard work is paying off. 

Makes My Monday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation.  Join her to find more reasons to smile at the start of the week.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Finished for Friday: Heart blocks

I'm cheating this week since I don't have this quilt finished yet, but I do have the embroidery blocks and some of the applique blocks done.  It's been hectic around here with the start of school!  I'm looking forward to a few more quiet hours to put my feet up and stitch, or reacquaint myself with my sewing machine.

I hope you've been productive! Read any books?  Killed any spiders?  It all counts.  And remember, if you're not visiting some of the great entries here, you're missing some great projects.  I love all the creative energy I see in these links.

Link up and show us what you've been up to.  Please link back to my blog, and feel free to grab the button from the sidebar.




Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Oh Happy Day

It's the first day of school!  See how thrilled my little darlings are?  Drama Girl started high school last week and declined to join in today's picture.

What will I do?  In about five minutes I'm going out to get myself a latte.  Then I'm going to sit and drink it quietly in a quiet house.  Then I'm going to tidy up the place and admire it while it stays clean for a few sweet hours.  I'm going to turn on the radio to the station I like, and maybe, just maybe, eat that last bit of ice cream after lunch.  Because I can.


Wordful Wednesday is hosted by Angie at Seven Clown Circus.

Monday, August 23, 2010

We all have our weaknesses


Today was a great day.  Was it because the doctor said I've healed perfectly and I don't have to see him again for a year?  No.  Was it because the kids are all registered for school, which starts Wednesday?  No.  Was it because after the coldest summer on record we finally had a warm day?  Or because I can finally drive a car and escape my prison house again?

No, what makes this a great day is the fact that I found my absolute favorite candy in a store.  Chocolate-covered Altoids.  Have you tried them?  I keep a tin in my purse and eat one on very special occasions, like when I'm bored waiting for my kids to get out of ballet class.

When they were first introduced, they were everywhere - checkout lines at Target, candy sections of drugstores.  But no more.  The hunt can take weeks.  Today I asked at a grocery store and the bag boy went all over the place looking for them.  "Do you want more than one?"

"No thanks," said I, "I like to live on the edge."

Now it's your turn to confess - is there one special little treat that you would go out of your way to find?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Finished for Friday: Skating Rabbits



This week I finished up another Christmas ornament.

This is another design by Wee Needle.  I had a stack of canvases ready to be worked up but this must have been the last one!  I'm never without a little needlepoint project so I'm going online after I post this to refill my stash.  It's not that I have nothing else to work on - I just like to have all my different types of crafts available so I can pick up whatever suits my mood and concentration level.

In case you think it's too early to start thinking of Christmas, I can tell you that my kids are going to Nutcracker auditions this Saturday.  Wish them luck!

Click on the tab above if you haven't participated in Finished for Friday before.  Remember to leave a comment and visit the other participants.  Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tuesday Toonlet:

Harmonic Mnemonics

related [litandlaundry.blogspot.com]
Harmonic Mnemonics

Monday, August 16, 2010

Makes My Monday: School Supplies

Drama Girl starts high school in two days.   I'm in complete denial that I have a child old enough for high school, but I'm sure it will sink in at some point.

In elementary school, the kids always got lists of back to school supplies over the summer.  Apparently in high school, kids are supposed to come up with their own organization systems, which is fine with me.  Drama Girl loves shopping in all its forms, and couldn't resist dragging her father to a store to "get just a few things for the first day."


Apparently the first day of school requires a lot of pens.  And sharpie pens in every color.

I admit, after seeing her haul, I want to go out and buy a bunch of pens and some fresh paper. Maybe even some sharpies.

Makes My Monday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Finished for Friday: Bleak House

My summer reading continued this week with Charles Dickens' Bleak House.



This is the first time I've read this one, and now I think it might be my favorite Dickens book.  The plot is elaborate and filled with unexpected twists and turns. 

Young Esther grows up knowing that she has somehow shamed her mother, whom she never knew.  She falls into happy circumstances when a benefactor steps forward to provide for her education and subsequent position as a companion to his ward Ada.  This benefactor, John Jarndyce, is embroiled in a lawsuit which has been held up in court for years with no settlement in sight.  He is a noble character, like a perfect reformed Ebenezer Scrooge, bent on assisting everyone who comes within his sphere of influence.

The scenes of happy home life are pleasant to read and reveal much of Dickens' sentimental character and ideals.  He is merciless with some of the parents depicted, however, and their beastly behavior is shocking and humorous.

Will the lawsuit ever be finished?  Will Esther ever discover her true parentage?  Will she find love and happiness at last?  The ending is both surprising and satisfying.  Five stars.  A great read.

What have you been up to this week?  Please read and follow the instructions in the tab above, including leaving a comment and visiting other participants.  Thanks for joining in!


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

As Summer Winds Down

There comes a point, towards the end of summer, when you realize that everyone has had enough.  Overdosed on camping trips and sunshine and sleepovers, the kids start to get a little restless.

The sprinkler no longer holds as much appeal.  Every single episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been watched and discussed at length.

Shopping for back to school supplies suddenly becomes interesting.  New notebooks!  Calculators!  Reams of paper!

The kids even sit down at the piano unbidden and work out new songs by themselves.

And one kid grabs your camera and some toys he dug out of who-knows-where, and goes on a photo safari around the house.

This my friends, is hardcore evidence that summer is winding down.  That the kids have at last become bored with all that free time.

And?  Evidence that the kids are a little crazy.  I think we'll all be happy to see school again in two weeks.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Finished for Friday: One Day



I haven't been able to get much done in the crafty department this week, although I've made a lot of progress. I did read a lot of books though! I'll share one of them with you.

One Day by David Nicholls is currently a bestseller.  It's the story of Dexter and Emma, two people with a strong attraction to each other who end up going different directions with their lives, although their paths keep intersecting over the course of 20 years..  The chapters are each a snapshot of the same day of the year, July 15, the anniversary of when they first got to know each other.

The characters are strong and believable and the writing is witty.  I couldn't put it down.  If you remember how different you were as a person at age 20, age 30 and age 40, you'll appreciate the subtle changes the characters go through over time.

Also read this week; Cutting for Stone (5 stars!), I'm a Stranger Here Myself (4 stars, really laugh-out-loud funny, Pride and Prejudice (always 5 stars).

What have you been up to?  Please be sure when you link up to leave a comment and visit at least some of the other participants.  We all appreciate the traffic.  Thanks for joining in and have a great weekend!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Learning how to work it

I had a nice postsurgery checkup with my doctor yesterday.  As part of my evaluation he sent in a physical therapist.  She asked me to walk down the hall.

Walk I did.  Down and back.  No limp.  I was so proud of myself.

She was not impressed.  "You're holding yourself too still.  You have to swing your hips with each step.  Roll through your pelvis."

Seriously?  What she was demonstrating looked like it needed a snare drum accompaniment.  I tried it.  Concentrating on swaying my hips out.

"That's it!  Walk just like that!  Perfect!"

I felt like Mae West (does that make me old, that I know who Mae West is?  or maybe I just like old movies).  It felt silly and exaggerated.  But the problem is, I haven't walked "right" in so long, I seem to really not remember how to do it.

So if you see me walking down the street and shaking it, have a little sympathy.  I'm not trying to be sexy, I'm just still learning how to walk.


Thank you for the nice comments about my poor little sick cat.  She managed to avoid surgery and she is getting back to her old self, although she lost some weight during her ordeal.  I'm so thankful we have such a wonderful conscientious veterinarian.

Monday, August 2, 2010

And the Winner Is...

I want to thank everyone who stopped by and chatted with the authors during my Author Party.  I know the authors enjoyed it and hopefully you found some new books to read.

If you own a Kindle, most of the works offered by the featured authors are available for $2.99.  If you missed any and are looking for some good reading material, take a look back at those posts.

And now the winner.  I had 89 eligible comment entries.  Random.Org chose #27 for me which happened to be  Nancy.  I will send Nancy the gift certificate as soon as I get her email address.

I still have many more author friends to introduce to you, so I'm planning to have a weekly Author Party.  I can't give prizes every time, except the fun of finding new books to read.

Thanks for playing along.  It gave me peace of mind to know my blog was still a busy place, even while I was in the hospital.

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