Where Does the Time Go?

The last time I posted, it was the 2nd week of school. It's now the 6th week. Where did those 4 weeks go?

I'll tell you where they went...

• Mondays - getting Tuesday folders ready - every other Monday a massage
• Tuesdays - Quilting Group or Tres Dias Reunion Group (last Tuesday of the month)
• Wednesdays - Business meeting in College Station (get home about 11:00 or 11:30)
• Thursdays - Hilltop Lakes for Tres Dias stuff (get home about 10)
• Fridays - crash and burn
• Saturdays - every other Saturday - Tres Dias Team Meeting - the other Saturday - work in my room
• Sundays - Church and work in my room

It's about to get harder and easier at the same time.

Harder:

• I'll be in Kansas City Missouri on October 9, 10 and 11
• Working Tres Dias weekend October 15, 16, 17 and 18
• No sleep those weekends
• Exhausted for 2 weeks

Easier:

• Thursday nights at Hilltop Lakes will stop after tomorrow night until January
• No more Tres Dias Team Meetings until probably February

I'm burning my candle at both ends but I take great vitamins and I'm so excited about the things I'm doing that it doesn't matter!

2nd Week of School

It's the beginning of the second week of school.

I'm already exhausted.

I'm already so far behind that I'll never get caught up.

So, what's new about that?

I was talking to another teacher today that was leaving the same time as me (6:30) and we decided that we were there late every day because we never sit at our desks. We are up and actually *gasp* teaching or monitoring students. What a novel concept!

I'm really struggling this year. Since Steven and I have decided to work hard and build our business so I can come home, it's difficult for me to be excited about teaching. If we weren't in debt, this could conceivably be my last year to teach. It will probably be 2 years but I now have hope that I'll be able to come home, where I want to be.

Thank you Trant for lighting a fire under Steven.

Thank you Steven for not letting our dream die even though I put it in the deep freeze for a very long time.

PND

Also known as post nasal drip.

A most miserable condition.

Ask me, I know.

I've had it my entire life.

My family finds me in the store by listening to my cough and throat clearing.

I always thought it was allergies.

Skin test shows that I'm allergic to a big, fat, N-O-T-H-I-N-G!

That led me to looking for alternative solutions.

I gargled with grapefruit seed extract and that helped some but it didn't last long.

To the rescue....parasite cleansing.

Mother talked me into doing it a couple of years ago but I didn't even finish one month of the recommended 3 months. Couldn't deal with the icky fiber I had to drink every day.

Fast forward 2 years...

I am now highly motivated to see if this really works for my PND. I found a way to deal with the bad taste and am having no difficulty following the program.

Tomorrow, I finish the first month. The next two months' supply is ordered.

I haven't had any kind of medication for my PND for three days and I'm hardly suffering at all. It's not gone but it's well on it's way to oblivion.

How will my family find me in the store when it's completely gone?!?

Parasites cause lots of other problems so I recommend checking out Dr. Natura's website and ordering if you have any of those problems. Your body will thank you.

Dr. Natura

End of PSA (Public Service Announcement)

Frustration

I went to my quilting group today for the first time in 2 weeks. My machine hasn't been touched in those two weeks.

You'd think I'd forgotten how to quilt.

I was working on Bailey's ninja star quilt.

After I ripped the same seam out on two different blocks for the third time, I put Bailey's quilt on hold.

I took out the fabric for the throw I'm making for me and got it cut out. Of course, I needed 3 more fat quarters and knew there wasn't anything suitable in my enormous stash so I headed to the quilt store. Thank goodness there's one in town!

My quilt is completely cut out but I didn't get any sewing done.

I guess that's what happens when you don't touch your machine for two weeks...

I wonder how many quilts I now have in various stages of completion...

I wonder if I'm ADHD...

I think I'm just a serial starter of projects. I'm that way with cross stitching too...

Oh well, one of the many facets of me...

Pinkie Balls

Have I talked about pinkie balls yet? I don't remember.

My pinkie balls are my new best friends.

Really, they are.

I sleep with them every single night. I even use them in the vehicle on long trips.

Between my massage therapist and my pinkie balls, my shoulder pain is going away. Some days I hardly hurt at all.

Since I've had pain 24/7 for years now, that is saying something.

Pinkie balls on trigger points are absolutely divine.

They take away pain.

If you have muscle aches and pains, you need to have some pinkie balls. Then you need to actually use those pinkie balls on your trigger points.

It's good stuff, I tell you...

Toenail Fungus

Yes, toenail fungus. I know, I know, not the most pleasant of topics but nonetheless what we're going to talk about today.

I've had toenail fungus on my right big toe for several years now. I still have it because I'm not real keen on taking drugs that require blood tests to check my liver function. I've tried other remedies I found online but didn't have the gumption to stick with them and didn't see any improvement.

Since I had the diabetes scare and have determined to take better care of myself, I've been faithful with taking care of that toenail and am seeing progress!

What is this miracle cure for toenail fungus you ask?

Grapefruit seed extract.

If you have toenail fungus, get yourself to a health food store and get some today. Apply it twice a day and watch that fungus begin to disappear.

You'll be happy you did.

As soon as it's gone, I'm getting my first pedicure. I've wanted a pedicure for quite awhile now but the fungus stopped me.

See, that wasn't too painful, was it?

Another Quilt Finished

Rowdy's quilt is finished and in the dryer as I type.

This is the first time I did the actual quilting. I guess it's not too bad for a first time but I'm not real happy with it.

Overall, I did much better on the binding. I finally figured out how to make sure I catch the back. I was much happier with this binding so I guess practice does help.

Picture to come later.

Revelation

Here's a tidbit of information...

If you take sugar out of your diet, even for just a week, you should not eat a Blue Bell ice cream cone...

It will make you sick to your stomach.

For a long time.

That is all...

A New Direction

So...I've decided to take control of my health through more homeopathic ways. I prefer that but somehow got caught up in the medicine thing.

• I've started walking every (most) days for 30 minutes.
• I went to the health food store today and got herbs for a parasite cleanse. I also got grapefruit seed extract. I have gargled with it, drunk it and put it on my toenail fungus as well as used it in my neti pot. I also got something to hopefully help me fall asleep.
  
• I'm watching what I eat - no more sweet tea, no more sugar (only occasionally) and smaller portions.
• I'm eating something 5 times a day.

Results...

• I've lost almost 4 pounds in a week. The scale is going down a few ounces every day. It's finally below 150 for the first time in months.
• My body is already used to eating more often, I'm now hungry between meals. I'll have Jenny check my blood sugar in the morning and see if it's really helping.
  
• Using the grapefruit seed extract for 1 day appears to have already helped my post nasal drip. I was spraying my nose 3 times a day with what the doctor gave me and I've only sprayed once today and am doing as well as I was on the medicine. The doctor said that if two sprays didn't dry me up, nothing would. Well, nothing apparently will...

I'm still going to take the cholesterol medicine because of the family history of heart problems on both sides of the family but if my cholesterol is where it needs to be in 3 months, that's gone too. I'm not going to take the anti-depressant any more though. I've had clinical depression and I don't have it now.

I feel better about the whole situation.

Rachael's Quilt

I picked Rachael's quilt up from the quilter yesterday and it looks great!

It took her 10 weeks to get it done though so I won't be taking any more quilts to her. I've got to find another quilter...

Tired

Not only am I physically tired, I'm tired of doctors and I'm tired of medicine.

I despise going to the doctor.

I despise taking medicine.

4 doctor's visits in the last 2 weeks and 7 medications.

And more to come. Another visit to my GP in a month and the allergist in 6 weeks.

Depression
High blood sugar
High cholesterol
Skin testing

Anti-depressant
Antibiotic
Cough capsules
Nose spray
Cholesterol medicine
More nose spray
Xanex for the needle anxiety while skin testing

Enough already!

Did I mention that I'm allergic to absolutely nothing?

Nothing!

I love my allergist though and he said his nickname was bulldog because he doesn't give up until he has a diagnosis. I sure hope he comes up with a reason that I've had this horrible post-nasal drip for my entire life.

Have to walk every day and watch what I eat. I DO NOT want to be diagnosed with diabetes!!!

It's heck getting old...

Finished, Finished

Tonight I hand sewed the hanging tabs down for Jenny's quilt.

I don't like hand sewing.

I love Jenny though so I did it. :)

I'm heading to her house to take it to her.

It Almost Forgot

I had a workshop in Huntsville today.

I think my truck almost forgot how to drive 70 mph.

I really don't remember the last time it was out on the open road so that it could go 70.

It's probably been at least 6 weeks.

We survived even though it was iffy there for awhile.

Score!

I was at Wal-Mart today to get a Father's Day card.

It was not a good day to be at W-M for someone who is trying to get out of debt and has red and yellow disease (clearance).

LOTS of stuff was on clearance.

I avoided most of it.

Until I got to the fabric department.

They are getting rid of fabric and most of the crafts.

Sad, sad times we live in. That department is very important in a small town. And it's going away.

All fabric was 25% off.

Not real enticing.

All the clearance fabric was marked down to $1.00 a yard.

I got real excited about that!

I bought the remainder of the bolt for all the clearance fabrics I was even remotely interested in.

I bought some other fabrics that weren't on clearance.

I ended up with almost 83 yards of fabric.

Yes, you heard correctly, almost 83 yards.

It averaged $1.24 a yard.

There's fabric for several lap size quilts and a couple of bed size quilts plus some other stuff.

20 yards of it was tulle for Tres Dias. So it was actually only almost 63 yards of actual fabric.

That's still a lot of fabric.

I will now be making W-M a daily stop to see if they've put more fabric on clearance for $1.00.

Hopefully, I'll get some other fabrics I've had my eye on but I don't want to pay full price less 25%. If not, I'll survive.

My fabric stash is happy...

Finished!

Well, mostly finished.

Jenny's wall hanging is bound. It took all afternoon and into the evening but the binding is on.

I don't like binding. I spent about six hours looking up videos and instructions, watching the videos and trying to figure things out. It is so worth paying the $20 to the quilter to bind it. That's what I'll do in the future. My time is worth way more than $3.33 an hour to do something I really don't like to do.

When she chose that fabric for the binding, I wasn't very impressed and didn't think it would look good. Boy was I wrong! I really, really like how it looks with the light binding.

I still have to sew down the bottom of the hanging sleeve but have no suitable needles and don't feel like getting back out tonight.

Next up - Rowdy's dinosaur quilt...

About Time

I just called and made a doctor's appointment for next Tuesday.

I'm tired of being tired all the time.

I'm tired of hurting all the time.

I'm tired of my allergies.

Hopefully, I won't spend the entire summer in doctor's offices...

I'm so Impressed!

We went to Buc-ee's either the first or second day it was open. When the store manager asked if everything was OK, I pointed out the plastic inset on the fountain drink machine. It said:

Where Beaver's meet for a cold drink. (or something close to that)

He looked at it and said you're right - it should be a plural instead of possessive.

Yeah, of course it's plural.

He said the marketing manager would be in the store later that week and he'd talk to him about it then.

I, of course, thought that would be the end of that situation.

I was wrong.

Steven went in Monday morning for coffee and it was correct!

Of course, I had to go see it with my own two eyes. Not that I didn't trust him, I just needed to see that I had effected change.

This is not a cheap, paper sign, this is a custom plastic insert.

My question is - how did that sign get made incorrectly to begin with? This is a major chain. They are all about appearances. How many people at the many stores in this chain did not catch such a glaring error in grammar? I'm sure it's the same sign in every store.

Life is good - I spoke up and effected change. Think I'll speak up more often...

I'll Be Sorry

I started off yesterday pulling things out of cabinets and organizing.

Today I was cramming stuff into any available space.

Come August, I'll really, really be sorry that I did that but that's what has been done.

I was totally overwhelmed and just wanted to leave.

There are things piled up that have to come home but that will wait until tomorrow so Steven can help load it up and haul it home.

In August, I'm taking every single thing out of my cabinets and organizing. I'm also getting rid of stuff.

I have too much stuff at home and at school.

It's time for that to change.

I'm going to be ruthless at home this summer and ruthless at school in August.

That's my plan...

Last Day of School

It's finally over! It was a long, difficult year and I'm really thankful for it to be finished. Work day tomorrow but that's OK because there aren't any kids. I have tons of things to get done but there's always just cramming stuff in cabinets or hauling it all home (have to do some of that anyway),

Right now, there's almost a whole cabinet pulled out to be organized but I'll get it done, maybe. Right now, I really don't care.

I'll be teaching Math and Science next year. In some ways, it will be easier since it won't be so many diverse things but math is kind of scary. I know it will be OK but it's going to be a lot like a first year of teaching again and I just had one of those last year and wasn't really ready for another first year. Oh well, I get to keep science, which I LOVE.

Does it surprise anyone else that I love teaching science? It shocks me to no end but there it is, I LOVE teaching science.

All through college, I thought I would be a very old fashioned teacher - desks all lines up in rows, everything quiet and very structured.

I'm almost totally the opposite.

My desks are in groups, it's almost never quiet because we do LOTS of group work. I still have to have structure and some quiet but there is lots of working together, which is never quiet.

I'm struggling with classroom management so I'm taking an online class this summer for 6 weeks and hope it helps. I'm also doing a workshop for the science curriculum I use that is supposed to address classroom management for group work. Hopefully, that will help next year.

I'm off to play with fabric to help get rid of the remainder of this lingering stress...

Productive Day

I slept till my body said to wake up this mornint - 9:15. Not my idea of sleeping in but such is life...

I got lots of organizing done in my quilting room - not finished but much better than it was. I'll finish it this summer.

After lunch, I went and worked in my classroom.

I got the remainder of the clipboards finished for the kids' end of the year gift. Steven pulled staples off the wall and removed classroom decorations.

I went through "stuff" and brought some home to organize this summer and got the rest put away.

It looks normal behind my desk now instead of like a bomb exploded. I still have lots to get put away but I made good progress.

We're heading to Jennifer's for steak, rice and gravy in just a little bit. She makes great steak, rice and gravy - MawMaw taught her well!

I'm tired but got lots accomplished today and that feels good!

How do I Despise Thee?

With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning...

How do I despise thee, field day?

Let me count the ways...

I could spend all evening detailing all the ways I despise field day but I won't, I'll just stop here...

I'm going to go play with fabric then head to Shrimpy's for some shrimp and bread pudding after Steven gets home. Hopefully, that will take away the pain...

It Never Fails

You can rest assured that if I love something, it will be discontinued at all the places I shop.

When we went to Steph's house last weekend, I forgot my allergy medicine. We stopped at Walgreens. Of course, I had ulterior motives...

Walgreens sells the most divine cocoa dusted truffles imported from Belgium. They are the best chocolate that has ever passed my lips.

Of course, the divine truffles are exclusively at Walgreens.

Of course, Walgreens is no longer carrying them.

Yes, I googled till I was blue in the face and I can find them nowhere...

I did find one lonely box at another Walgreens there in Killeen but that was all.

I'm not sure that I'll survive the remainder of my life with no more truffles.

Now I have to search for something to take their place.

Maybe at World Market...

It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time

Earlier this semester, the superintendent's secretary sent out an email about Astros tickets for teacher appreciation week.

It sounded like a good idea. I'd never been to a professional sports game and I knew Steven would love to go so I ordered 2 tickets.

The game was tonight.

I'm at home and Steven is at the game.

It's been a long, tough week and I decided on Wednesday that if I had to drive to Conroe to meet Steven, ride to Houston, sit at a baseball game that started at 7:05, ride back to Conroe, drive home at who knows what hour and then get up at 9:00 for Bailey's soccer game, I'd commit hari kari.

Since I lots of living left to do, I chose not to go. I told Steven to find someone to go with him or give the tickets away, I didn't care.

He asked Chris but he wasn't going to be in town so he invited his nephew Jimmy.

Tuesday is Jimmy's birthday so that was perfect timing.

Jimmy is having a tough time right now with 2 young daughters and a wife that suffers from agoraphobia so I hope this gave him a few hours away from his troubles.

Like I said, it sounded like a good idea at the time...

Mixed Emotions

I went to Jenny's this afternoon and she started pulling things out of her drawers for me. She gave me back some clothes I had given her as well as some new to me things. One was a blouse that I love and another was a pair of bermuda shorts I also love. I'm very happy to have them back. I'm also happy to have some clothes that fit.

On the other hand, I'm quite upset with myself for needing to have my big clothes back. I've gained all my weight back and it brought some friends with it. I've been wearing the same clothes over and over because I had next to nothing to fit.

I've got to get this weight back off. It would help if I wasn't eating everything in sight. I'm a stress eater and I'm totally stressed until school is out...

What Do You Do?

What do you do when you're on a fabric diet, you go to a new quilt shop "just to check it out" and your adorable grandson decides on the quilt he wants? Do you stay on the fabric diet or do you indulge your grandson? I'll let you decide for yourself...

We woke Bailey up when we got to the shop. He was grumpy so I found a chair for him to sit in. In a few minutes, he tells me he wants a "ninja star" quilt. He shows me a quilt with a block that looks like this: Friendship Star - the "ninja star". He decides on fabric with planets and we choose coordinating fabrics and Bailey's getting his "ninja star" quilt. Soon....

First up is the 12 black and white blocks for an exchange then Rowdy's dinosaur quilt (need to have this done before they move to Alabama in Jun so I better get on the stick) and then Bailey's planet quilt. Luckily, it will be summer soon.

It's the Little Things

that make me smile.

Dry mail.

2 weekends ago Steven put up a new mailbox. It was about time. The old one had seen better days years and years ago.

Today it rained and my mail was dry.

That made me smile.

Thank you Steven...

Family, Fellowship and Food

Friday, Kevin turned 50.

Saturday, Diane had a surprise party for him and boy was he surprised! She did a great job planning it. She took him out to dinner on Friday night with 16 friends and family so he thought that was it.

Saturday, she drug him to Wal-Mart so we could all get there and be waiting when they got back. She did good. :)

There were tons of people there. We ate burgers and dogs with all the trimmings and cake. Jeremiah did grill duty and Diane's sister was in charge of the rest. I made hamburger patties (tough job, I know) with Tara, Jeremiah's wife. Didn't know till yesterday that they were married and they'll celebrate their 2nd anniversary this year. I think we should keep in better touch...

Diane got him some cool lights for his Harley and lots of people contributed to that gift. We needed to cause that little bitty package of lights was *very* expensive. When we left, Jeremiah and another guy were installing them.

It was really good to see everyone and spend a relaxing day on the deck enjoying everyone's company.

Relay For Life

RFL is tonight.

I'm walking from 7-8.

I've recruited Steven, Jennifer, Emily and Rachael to walk with me. I invited all 56 of my kids to come walk with me too but since they have to be there with an adult, I don't look for any of them to show up unless they're there with someone that's on another team.

I'm really tired and my feet hurt (need some good tennis shoes - the ones I love are worn out and make my feet hurt and my new ones hurt my feet too) but I'll be there walking for that hour.

This year I'm walking in memory of Rodney Ward and in honor of King Cole. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone else that has cancer but my brain is tired...

What Have I Done!

I ran into a friend from school last night. I hadn't seen her in several years.

She's on Facebook.

Now I am too.

I don't need anything else to waste my time.

I have already wasted too much tonight.

But...

I chatted with a friend from Allen.

Interacted with Rach. :)

"Talked" to another friend from Allen.

Chatted with one of Rachael's friends.

Messaged a girl that I was an aide for one year.

Found my aunt and asked her to be my friend.

I now have 7 friends and have requested several more.

Now it's time to go to bed...

Today's Quilting News

Quilting time was reduced today since I decided to go to Huntsville with Steven to get parts for the toilet.

While we were gone, the quilt shop called to let me know that Jenny's wallhanging was ready. We got back in time to get it picked up. I actually picked up the quilt without buying a single thing. Isn't that amazing? I've still got to trim it, square it up, bind it and put the hanger on. Still lots of work to do there.

I put Rachael's backing together so it's headed to the quilter Tuesday. Finally! She's notoriously slow so it will still be awhile before I get it finished up.

I had planned to get the borders on my quilt but that's not happening today. It's OK, I'd have rather gone to Huntsville with Steven, Jenny, Bailey and Emily anyway. :)

We also picked up a new mailbox (about time!) and a ceiling fan for my quilting room. The mailbox is up - we'll see about the fan...

Another One Bites the Dust!

I just finished the top of the table runner that's my donation piece for the Mushroom Festival.

I did wildflowers (lots of bluebonnets) and it is beautiful, if I do say so myself!

I'm going to attempt to quilt this myself, wish me luck since I've never done that before.

My plans for this rainy weekend are to get the backing pieced for Rachael's quilt and borders put on my quilt. I know, I know, I've said that before but hopefully, I'll actually get it done this weekend.

Baby Birds

I had no idea tiny little bird eggs hatched so quickly!

Yesterday Jenny looked and there were babies instead of eggs. I could only see 2 but hopefully, all 5 hatched.

They grow so fast, today they have feathers. They were sleeping when I got home this afternoon but they were wide awake yesterday.

Bailey was so funny yesterday. He kept saying that he wanted to touch them and we kept telling him that he couldn't or the mom wouldn't feed them any more. I think he was pretty disgusted because we wouldn't let him touch them.

Hopefully, they'll be learning to fly soon, I need to water the plant before it dies.

Uncle Sam

I knew there was a reason I put off doing my taxes. Having to pay Uncle Sam is not my idea of fun.

We've had people in college for so many years that we never had to pay and always got some back.

Our income has increased and we haven't changed our deductions and there's no one in college.

Recipe for disaster.

We had previously decided to open a Roth IRA instead of a traditional one but now I'm not so sure. Steven's going to talk to the financial adviser this week to see what we need to do. Right now I'm thinking we need to max out our traditional IRA contribution to reduce our adjusted gross income but that may just be because I just sent a payment to the IRS.

Our increase in income had more than 1/3 of it confiscated for taxes. That's unbelievable.

Guess I should be thankful that I have the means to pay.

Homecoming 2009

Steven grew up at the Methodist Children's Home in Waco and has been active in the Alumni Association pretty much since we've been back in Texas. The last 2 years he served as Vice President of the Board of Directors. This year he was elected President. I guess that makes me the First Lady. :) He was asked 2 years ago to be President but declined since I was still in college and he wanted to be available to help me and didn't think he could do justice to both.

I haven't been to Homecoming in several years. When I was in college, I was exhausted from working full time and going to college so I used that weekend as some down time and to catch up on assignments. Last year was my first year of teaching and I couldn't deal with anything I didn't have to deal with. I used to jokingly tell Steven to just let everyone know that he did still have a wife and she did still love him. :)

There were several of Steven's friends that hadn't been there in several years and one that had never been to Homecoming. That was nice.

Stephanie, Greg and Rowdy came down Saturday for the egg hunt and softball game. Rowdy didn't know what to do at the egg hunt but after he figured it out, he was off to the races! He was so funny because he only wanted to pick up the plastic eggs insted of the candy. He also (actually Grandpa) found the golden egg and got the cutest bunny as a prize.

Steven was in hog heaven showing Stephanie and Greg where he grew up. For some reason, Stephanie had never been to the Home so this was her first visit.

It was really different at Sunday dinner this year. As the new president, we got to sit at a reserved table with the Director of the Home, the previous director and the p0revious assistant director as well as their wives. We were served our lunch insted of having to go through the line. I think I could get used to that. :)

We'll be heading back in May for the Senior luncheon and I'm sure there are lots more things we'll have to attend as President and "First Lady" - not a position I'm very comfortable with but will have to deal with and get used to.

I'm going to be a mommy!

A birdie mommy!

A little bird has built a nest in one of my hanging baskets. She flies out so quickly that I can't tell what she is (not that I'd know to begin with :). She's laid 5 tiny cream colored eggs with red speckles all over them.

I can't wait till they hatch! I love watching little birdies grow up and learn to fly. :)

Finished!!

Well, mostly finished.

Yesterday I finished Rachael's quilt top and it looks really good! I have to get the backing together and get it to the quilter. She's notoriously slow so who knows when it will really be finished.

I'll try to remember to get a picture and post it later.

I also started a Texas wildflower tablerunner yesterday. I got the blocks put together after having to rip out a couple of seams because I'd sewn them together wrong. I have to put a couple of borders on it then I'm going to attempt to machine quilt it myself. This is my donation piece for the silent auction at the Mushroom Festival so I hope it comes out OK. If not, I'll do another one and have myself a not so great tablerunner. :)

I'm Spoiled

and love every minute of it. :)

Jenny, Bailey, Emily and I are heading to Houston tomorrow to the Museum of Natural History so Bailey can see the dinosaur skeletons.

In order to do that, I have to get up at 6:30.

Steven is gone to Tres Dias and doesn't have his phone.

Steven always wakes me up either by crawling back in bed with me or by calling if he had to leave early.

I'm not sure I remember how to set my alarm.

Don't you feel sorry for me? :)

Spring in Texas

Spring makes me happy - all ~ 2weeks of it.

Actually, it's a two-edged sword. I love spring but I hate it too. I hate it because it means that heat and humidity is on the way. I do try to enjoy the really short spring we have before the heat settles in for good.

I took a road trip to Elaine's this weekend to get the reunion invitations taken care of.

I had worried that there wouldn't be many bluebonnets since the winter was so dry but I guess the rain came at just the right time because the wildflowers were amazing.

There were tons of bluebonnets, indian paint brushes, wine cups, buttercups, bitterweed and probably others I don't remember. I'm pretty sure I even saw some yellow indian paint brushes - haven't ever seen those before.

Elaine had lots of bluebonnets in her yard including some maroon and pink ones sprinkled in amongst the blue ones.

The multitude of greens in all the trees was beautiful! I love spring when there are so many shades of green instead of the same tired green that they change to when the heat hits.

Some trees didn't have their leaves yet and those looked really strange amongst the other trees.

Did I mention that I love spring?

1 More Day

till school is out for Spring Break!!!

Friday night, we're going grocery shopping.

Saturday, we're going to watch Bailey's soccer game and spend some time in my classroom getting things organized.

Sunday after church, I'm heading to Elaine's to help her get the reunion invitations in the mail. I'll head home Monday afternoon.

Tuesday, after I wake up when my body tells me to, I'm heading to Stitching Hens for the day and will probably stay until 8.

The remainder of the week, I plan to wake up every day when my body says its time to wake up.

I'll do some spring cleaning, get Chris' room ready, organize my quilting stuff and quilt to my heart's desire. I plan to get the borders on my quilt and Rachael's and get the backing pieced and get both of them to the quilter. I also plan to start and finish a table runner to donate for the Mushroom Festival.

Saturday, I'm heading to Tyler for the day with the Stitching Hens for a quilt show and shopping. Steven will be at Tres Dias that weekend so I'll be all alone.

Monday, the 30th is another day off. Right now, there are no plans for that day except quilting.

Sounds like the perfect Spring Break to me!

Wear Your Seatbelt

please...

Not only is it the law, it also saves lives.

Yesterday, one of Stephanie's friends was driving to work on 75. She was passing another car, hit the unimproved shoulder, overcorrected, flipped her vehicle and was killed. She was not wearing a seatbelt.

She leaves behind a baby that's close to Rowdy's age as well as her parents and 2 sisters (I think).

Blogrolling

How cool is this?

I used to click on every single blog I read at least twice a day - once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Usually more often than that in reality...

Now, all I have to do is click on my blog and see who's updated their blog. So much easier and faster.

The only problem is that I can tell it's going to be hard to break the habit of clicking on each one.

I think I need to check out the other gadgets Blogger offers...

Chris is Really Coming Home!

I mean, I know he's coming but I hardly dare believe it.

But, it's official.

I know it's real because today we got his first piece of mail.

If his mail is coming here, that means he's coming home, right?

Judging Food

Today was my first experience with the County Fair. None of the kids were ever interested in the fair so I've never even been to the fair.

Today, Steven and I judged the food portion. We both judged different age groups so our opinions wouldn't influence each other.

It was a great experience and I can't wait till next year to do it again.

I tasted some really good food and some not so good food but kudos to all the kids who entered and really big kudos to those that made their own food instead of mom making it.

There were a couple of things I'd love to have the recipe for, I'm thinking I'll find out who baked them and see about getting the recipe. One was a delicious pound cake. I've been looking for an awesome pound cake recipe for years and haven't found one. This one won Grand Champion in its age group and was really, really good.

The only drawback is that it's all sweets so my tummy was upset for a couple of hours after we finished.

Mollie's Home

Mollie got out last Monday and didn't come home. That means someone picked her up since the dogcatcher was arrested and there's no dogcatcher right now. We knew that unless she was chained up, she'd take the first opportunity to escape.

This has not been her first foray into another world. One time when she came home at 2:00 in the morning, her toenails were painted red.

This time we figured she was pretty much gone for good.

Last night when Steven got home, she was on the front porch. She'd ripped part of the screen door trying to get in.

She was skin and bones, her ribs were showing. That means that this foray into another world was not a good one.

She crawled onto her cushion, curled up into a ball and didn't move. Steven says she was despondent. She wouldn't even eat when Steven held food up to her mounth.

I called her and she wouldn't come to me. Steven brought her to me but she acted like she'd rather be anywhere else. She didn't respond when I scratched right above her tail, her favorite place to be scratched.

We were worried about her.

Rachael's home for the weekend so she slept with Rachael.

Today she seems much better and is getting back to her old self.

Hopefully she learned a lesson and will stay in the fence and quit destroying our house but I'm not holding my breath.

When will Chris have his own place?

It's Official

I don't have time to work.

There are entirely too many things I want to do.

Too many quilts to make.
Too many books to read.
Too many thing to stitch.
Too many pictures to scrapbook.
Too many things to knit.
Too much genealogy to research.
Too many things to do.

I wonder if Steven would notice if I quit my job and stayed home doing all the stuff I want to do?

Bird in the House

Yikes! Steven opened the back door and a bird flew in the house.

It hung around a few minutes, scared me a couple of time but fortunately, it was a very intelligent bird and found its way out the front door pretty quickly.

Guess that's what happens when you have 3 bird feeders set up not far outside the back door.

Nice Surprise

Steven hit a rabbit on the way to work last Friday. It tore out some kind of lining under the car.

The estimate was $300. Well actually, it was $299.95 but that's $300 to me.

Today, I took it in (parts had to be ordered) during my break. We picked it up and it was only $240 and change.

Not often that happens and it was a nice surprise.

The car was at the back of the lot and the nice lady wouldn't even let me walk back there and get it, she sent one of the guys to drive it up for me. How nice was that?

Steven took the bike to work today because Jenny needed the truck to take Emily to get her first shots :( so we rode the bike to the shop. It's been a long time since I've been on the back of the bike and it sure felt good.

I'm thinking I need a long ride really soon.

Going to England!

Getting out of debt is officially slowing down a bit because we're going to England next summer!

Just got off the phone with David who has gotten orders for Croughton, England. He reports September 30.

We've wanted to go back to Europe ever since we went in 2000 and now we have a good reason. :)

Can't wait!!!

Want to go with us? Start saving your pennies now!

Tin Roof

No, we didn't put a new roof on our house even though we will do a metal roof when we either build or flip.

Blue Bell Tin Roof

One of our very favorite flavors.

Almost never available.

Our rule is that whenever we see it, we buy it because it may not be there the next time.

Saturday, there it was in all its chocolate, vanilla, peanutty glory.

Of course it came home with us.

I guess my tastes have changed because it really wasn't that good to me even though Steven said it was delicious.

Of course, I'll eat it until it's gone.

Trendy

I don't think I've ever bought anything trendy in my life.

Today I did.

Have you seen the adorable zebra bags with the red trim?

I own one.

I also own a zebra print wallet with red trim.

Most of the zebra stripe bags are too big for me but I found one that was smaller and a great shape. It only has one compartment and I don't like that (I need a divided purses so I can find stuff) but I'm going to do my best to learn to like it.

I also got a red leather purse that is much more my style.

We'll see how this trendy thing goes...

Bitten by the Quilting Bug

I've been bitten by the quilting bug. Steven says I have it bad.

I think he's right.

I have a quilt top for my bed finished except for the border. I had fabric for the border but I didn't like it so I got some more. I need to finish this one.

I made a wall hanging quilt top for Jenny's stairwell. It needs to be taken to the shop and quilted.

Tonight I finished a Christmas quilt top. I love, love, love it! I've got to get the backing fabric bordered because I didn't buy enough. I'll probably get that done tomorrow. Tonight I'm too tired.

I have fabric for Rachael a quilt. Hopefully I'll start cutting it out this weekend.

I'm doing a Buck a Block quilt that will take a year to complete (one block a month for 12 months). I've made 12 samples of the outer square to try and decide which one I like best. I'm still not sure.

I've been perusing lots of quilting blogs.

I'm about to begin a Calendar Quilt. I need to get this caught up before any more of the year passes by.

I'm watching a book on ebay for selvage quilts because I can't figure out how to make them but I love them. If you sew and throw away your selvage ends, please save them for me!

This weekend is an online retreat for making an orange quilt. I don't have many orange fabrics but I'm wanting to do one.

The quilt shop here in town has some retro fabrics that will make great backs for my great-grandmother's quilt tops that I need to get from Mom.

There are many other quilts I want to start from my already large stash of quilt books and magazines.

I'm going to the Quilting Hens group on Tuesday evenings. I can't wait until summer when I can go all day long.

I'm going on a shop hop with the Quilting Hens at the end of March.

Yep, I think I have a bad case of quiltitis.

I Refuse!

I.will.not.turn.the.air.conditioning.on.in.February!

It was 77 degrees in my house when I got home this afternoon. It is February 18. Something is wrong with this picture.

Please bring on some more winter. I am not ready for hot weather. Not even remotely ready.

It's My Birthday!

and it was filled with surprises!

There was a card from Steven, one from mom, one from Mrs. Harper, a balloon with a Hobby Lobby gift card and truffles (not the yummo, delicious ones I'd requested but truffles nonetheless) in my chair this morning.

At school, there were lots of birthday greetings, yummy chicken salad and delicious frozen strawberry dessert, Mary Kay lotion and mini makeup brushes and a cupcake. There was also a voice mail of one of my parents singing Happy Birthday. There was an email from the First Place coordinator (a high school teacher), an email from my former First Place leader (head of food services), an email from my superintendent, a card from PTO (done by Stacy B.), a message on the faculty blackboard, a shout out on morning announcements, a few cards made by kids (one was a total surprise - left on my desk at the end of the day - didn't find it until the kids were all gone)

After school, there were the yummo truffles but they were stale so really not so yummo. :(

I knew Jenny was cooking supper but I didn't know that Stephanie, Rowdy and Rachael were there to eat it with us! I was sooooo surprised to see them! There was yummy steak and gravy and rice, veggies, garlic bread and sweet tea with chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting with Blue Bell ice cream. In the bag were a couple of "real" knives and a cookbook holder.

There was a call from Stephanie (little stinker!), a call from Rachael that I missed because I was talking to a parent, a text from Layne (I'd have texted him back but I've never sent a text before and am not real interested in learning now), a call from Robert that I missed when I left my phone at home while we were at Jenny's and a call from David.

A really awesome day in spite of the parent conference in the parking lot this afternoon and the call I had to make to explain the 50 something on a progress report. Turning 48 wasn't bad at all!

Cleaning House the Flylady Way

We have allowed the house to become a disaster area again so today we're cleaning, the Flylady way.

15 minutes at a time. We're working in different rooms and switching rooms every 15 minutes with 15 minute breaks thrown in occasionally.

Using the timer and switching rooms really helps me stay focused on the area I'm working in but I'm not overwhelmed with one room because I only have to work there 15 minutes and then I'll come back to it later.

If I would just do 15 minutes a day, the house would never get like this but somehow I can't seem to get those 15 minutes done every day. :(

We turned th TV to the Jukebox Gold music station while we work and mostly, they're playing great oldies music that we love with quite a bit of disco thrown in which makes me happy. Right now, it's Prince - I could really do without him but it'll be over soon. :)

My timer is about to go off, I think my next 15 minutes will be in the dining room...

Gobsmacked

I am in shock. I had no idea any one person could do such a thing. 9 instead of 3. How could they? Absolutely unbelievable. I'm not sure I'll get over this one.

Today

Field trip = stress galore - headache - near meltdown

Large sweet tea, medium McDonald's fries and entire bag of chocolate hearts = stress eating stress relief.

Retail therapy at the quilt shop = relief of stress, new quilt in the works

Wonder if it would work for me to boycott all future field trips?

Things that are worse than field trips:

• water board torture
• beating with cat 'o nine tails
• losing a limb

I'm sure there are more things worse than field trips but right now I can't come up with any.

Can you guess how my day went?

Good Eats

Tonight, since it was so cold, we warmed up some soup and made cornbread for supper.

Of course, I had to have 2 pieces of piping hot cornbread drowned in milk.

There are not many things better in this world than piping hot cornbread drowned in cold milk.

Mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

Of course, knowing my particular self, there are some other requirements...it has to be in my ancient Tupperware 2 cup measuring cup and eaten with my big spoon with the blue handle. I have no idea where that spoon came from since I've never owned silverware with blue handles but nonetheless, it's my favorite spoon. I have to have it with pretty much anything that requires a spoon.

There's cornbread left but cornbread and milk is reserved for right out of the oven, piping hot cornbread. Cold cornbread doesn't cut it. Neither does reheated cornbread.

Did I mention that I'm particular about things?

Flowers

I've decided that I enjoy having fresh flowers in the house.

Even though we're working really hard at getting out of debt, I think I'll work on having fresh flowers more frequently.

My only problem is that I don't really have any place to put them without clearing off a flat surface.

Guess I need to do that.

The 44 Presidents

This is very cool - you should go watch it...

44 Presidents

Bizarre Remedy

Some time ago, I read somewhere on the internet that rubbing Vicks Vaporub on the bottoms of your feet when you go to bed would quiet your cough.

Bizarre, right?

So, a couple of weeks ago, I had a cough that wouldn't quit and got worse at night. One night I decided to try the Vicks remedy. Unfortunately, I also took some prescription cough syrup (not that its ever done any good). As a science teacher, I know to only change one variable at a time, not two.

My coughing disappeared that night.

I had no idea if it was the cough syrup (probably not) or the Vicks.

The next several nights I did only Vicks.

I'd cough for just a few minutes and then it would disappear.

I didn't believe it.

I still don't believe it.

But, it has worked for me.

Maybe it's psychological.

Here's what snopes.com has to say (I always check them out when something sounds too good to be true)

Vicks

If you know me, you know I will try almost any alternative treatment before medical intervention so it shouldn't surprise you that I actually slathered Vicks on my feet in an attempt to quiet my cough. :)

Another One Bites the Dust

Today, Steven mailed the check that will pay off the truck. Well, the last payment will be debited on the 25th but the check for the remainder was mailed.

Next up - the motorcycle payment. I'm hoping that will be paid off in about 4 months then we'll have both of those payments to get the CC debt paid down.

Right now, both our jobs are secure but who knows what will happen in the future. I'll feel so much better when we get out from under all this debt. I'm also really ready to build a house. :)

Sanctity of Life Sunday

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. This is always a difficult Sunday for me but more so this year. I cried all through church, all the way home from church and then cried until I fell asleep this afternoon. Since I'm not a crier, this was some serious emotional stuff for me. My eyes still hurt and my heart is so heavy that I feel like it's about to burst through my chest.

My heart has always been broken for those precious grandbabies I'll never hold but now that I know there are more than two, I sometimes feel like I just can't stand it.

When I got up from my nap, Jenny and Emily were here. It was almost too painful for me to hold her. My heart is so heavy. Have I said that already? Well, it is.

I'm so very thankful that all those years ago, I chose life for my babies and chose to keep them and raise them. I know I wasn't always the best mother and made a multitude of mistakes but my children are my life and there's no way I can begin to imagine my life without them.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I did not think it was possible for 2 babies to look so much alike.

Emily Elizabeth arrived Friday afternoon at 4:39. She weighed 7 lb. 13 oz. and was 20 inches long.

She is beautiful! She also looks *exactly* like Bailey did when he was born. A couple pounds smaller but that's a good thing. :)

Everyone's home now and doing well.