Hello again, my friend.

Just returned from book-club at our local library.  Mom and I have been attending off and on for years.  We are "original" members.  I haven't read every selection they have picked but I have read many and a few I would not have read otherwise.  I  enjoy the discussion.  I believe that book-club has helped in my discussions with the kids about their books.  I love peeling back the layers.. starting with basic plot-lines and moving on into character analysis.  Does this character ring true?  Would she really do that?  Would he?  What about the ending?   Plausible?  too neat?  I often find that I have more to say after I have driven home.  Many times I have made that last minute call back to Mom to say just one more thing about the book.

We are critical.  We dissect.  I love it.   It is enjoyable to come together with others who share my love of books and to talk and laugh and think.  Funny that I find it quite challenging to even put together a few carefully worded paragraphs for this blog.  Perhaps with practice, I will improve.  Until then, I plan to keep reading, and laughing, and learning, and thinking as I continue to read good books.

Success??

Have you ever used fadge in a sentence?  It makes me think of fudge but it has actually quite a different meaning.  It can mean to agree or a package of wool in a wool-bale that weighs a specified amount.. or in the quote I am referring to: succeed.  "How will this fadge?"

 Perhaps a good quote for this attempt at blogging.  It has been awhile since I was last here.  I have spent some time on Pinterest of late.  I must say I do enjoy scrolling through the pictures but it is far too easy to spend my time looking at what I might do rather than doing what I should do.

A friend mentioned that I haven't been here in a while and so I thought perhaps I would drop by and spruce up the place with a new skin and header.  (It is so much easier to do now than when I first started.) Brush out the cobwebs of my brain perhaps and try again to put thoughts on virtual paper.

Alas, now that I have started it is quite late and I do have much to do tomorrow.  Still I have a few thoughts mulling around and so I hope to be back soon.

So... it's been a while

Every now and then I look at this blog and I think... hhhmmm .... maybe I should post something. Then I think...... hhhmmmm .... who would want to read it... but is that really the point? I am not sure. The very act of putting thoughts on paper is cathartic and should in and of itself be enough. I read a few blogs..... some about crafts, some about decorating, some about religion, some about home school. There are a lot of women out there with a lot to say. The "popular" bloggers are just ordinary women... not unlike myself. Perhaps they are better at putting thought to paper.... but they are still just regular gals.... with families and husbands... trying to get things done.

I really like the creative aspect of the blog.... the layout and design. I would love to be able to do that... actually write code. Bekah figured out how to make her own background. Pretty incredible. She edits my header photos for me too. So... perhaps I will once again start writing out here. I had a friend tell me how to "get" readers. I am not sure I will do that.. at least not yet. I may just get my feet wet again.

So for now... I am looking forward to summer. Working on my house... and perhaps the creative endeavor of this blog. We will see how it goes!

Just the facts Ma'am

So... Brian is going to China.. again! He leaves tomorrow and will be gone for two weeks. He will then come home for a few (4) days and then leave for Vegas. ARGH
He hasn't had to travel since November so I really can't complain (much) but I do miss him so when he is gone!

In other news... we are working, working, working on Prom. AND we aren't finished yet. Need more fish.. gotta order the candy molds.. etc.. etc.. etc.. But.. I think I might actually pull the whole thing off!!

I was sick this week, now Noah and Katie have it. A real head cold and congestion thing with a low fever. Just sick enough to make you tired and it is a bit hard to breathe!! So.. trying to come back from that.

The kids had their play on Saturday night last... it was great! I will post a picture or two soon.
Okay.. I have work so must jet. I really DO want to post more often.. hrm.. gotta make better choices you know!

He is Risen

Don't you feel sort of renewed?! He is RISEN!! Spring is here.

I was going to blog last week about Holy Week but I wasn't able to articulate exactly what I was feeling. Suffice it to say we had a very reflective and prayer filled Holy Week and now we can rejoice!! Easter is such a wonderful celebration. We had a lovely day and I hope you did too!!

What we do in our spare time!

Good morning! I want to write a longer post.. I have more pictures to put up too... in the mean time you can feast your eyes on this group of out-laws... beware... they look like a tough bunch!
By the way... at least on my computer.. if you click on the image you can see an enlarged version.

Hi there!

First off.... how much do you love my new blog background?? Pretty darn cute eh?? And the header.... thanks to Prima Donna for helping me out with that one. She fixed me up pretty well.

I haven't written lately... but we finished up the play. It went rather well and thanks to any of you who came out and saw us. Sunshine was fabulous!! We then had a lovely week in Branson right after the play closed with my folks. Saw several shows and other attractions. It was very enjoyable and we are now getting back to normal as it were.. whatever normal really is!

School is going okay and I am planning a housewide purge of all of the things that we are storing and not using. Perhaps we will have a garage sale??? Maybe... or just one big donation to goodwill!!

I am EXTREMELY upset about the passage of the health care bill. I will comment more later after I have had time to think out what I really want to say about that... while we as Americans can still freely express what we think about that. hhrmm

Had a lovely visit with a friend on Saturday and we went to a flea market.. my FAVORITE place to shop. Got a few treasures. Drooled and dreamed over many more. Found a turquoise and red bait bucket that I LOVED.. but couldn't think of a practical use for it.. so had to leave it there.
Sigh...

Now I am just rambling and so should go. In order to "keep" readers I am supposed to have a purpose for my blog... if I knew what my purpose was... well then.. I would be doing that and not sitting here... hehe Just kidding.

I will try to ponder a more thought out post for you soon. (dear reader)
Good Night!

And so it begins

Backstage for Cheaper by the Dozen. Tabby, Katie and Leah

Me!

Katie as "Anne"

We had our dress rehearsal last night. It went well. Katie is AMAZING. I'm not saying that just because she is my daughter. Truly.. she is doing a fabulous job! The play is great and if you live here in town.. please come. I promise you will enjoy it and you will be supporting our local theater. We start our "actual" performances tomorrow night. I am going to get some sleep!!

A New Day!

Hello Dear Friends,
I am feeling much better. Thank you to everyone who reached out with love and support!!

Let me tell you what I did today. Remember the book I told you about EAT CAKE. The one that made me want to bake?? Well.. today I made a lemon cake. The batter was dense and yummy.. lightly lemony (only 2 Table spoons of lemon juice). I can see me making the cake plain with just powdered sugar sprinkled on top. But today I made the frosting too!

First I made a lemon curd. This sounds horrible but it is like a lemon custard. I juiced 6 lemons and zested two of them. To this I added 1/2 a cup of sugar, 3 eggs and 6 Tbl spoons of butter. You cook this on a low heat until it thickens. Then you put it in the fridge to cool with saran wrap pressed onto the surface. After about an hour you take out your whipping cream and whip it up with a 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar and then you fold your whipped cream into your lemon curd. The result is light and fluffy and LEMONY!!

I was so proud. I even made it as a layer cake. WOW! I should have taken a picture that I could post for you.. but I was so anxious to eat it. I had it for lunch! (Not the whole thing mind you.. just a slice!)

In other news, the play is coming along. I am trying hard not to be nervous. I mostly have my lines and just have to work a bit on timing. If there is too big a pause I tend to think it must be me and I jump in with my line... (and it isn't always me... so there you go.)
Katie is doing a wonderful job and it has truly been amazing to get to do this with her. It is a memory we will always share.

Alright.. this is short and I know that I have more to share.. but I have chores and I need to bake something for the high school meeting tomorrow.. no.. not a cake. Fudgy oatmeal bars I think!

another day

Today was another challenging day. I am finding myself increasingly inept at handling the little things life is throwing my way. Not that I don't or can't handle them.. I am just feeling so very emotional. In light of that.. I will be brief tonight. I do not have play practice so I am free to go and indulge in a bath. The family is curled up in front of a movie. I will go find (what else) a book.

I did have a lovely afternoon with my mom, who by the way, often gives me the best books to read. (and who had nothing to do with the challenging bits of the day!!) In fact I will soon be discussing a top ten sort of list and many(most) of the books on it are ones she has given me to read.

We are preparing here for what may be the "storm of the decade". Hubby has poo-pooed it in the hopes that it will pass north of us... but he also brought home a generator just in case.

So.. I am sending warm thoughts out there to all of you. Til next we meet!!

sadness... good music... and books

I was going to tell you how I have been feeling a bit sad lately. Really sad actually. In fact, I cried last Wednesday night harder than I have cried since my grandmother's funeral. You know the kind of crying that leaves you exhausted and somewhat bruised feeling. Even after going to bed and sleeping for 10 hours I awoke the next morning still tender and fragile. I cried again... twice.

I am feeling a bit better... certainly I am not walking around weeping or anything. The problems are not completely resolved (parenting issues) but I am walking upright and going about my business. Smiling... laughing..working.. praying.. and still pondering all that is in my heart, and then when I got on this blog tonight to begin to tell you my story I heard my music. Can I just tell you how much I love my playlist. I do.. I really really do. When I pay bills sometimes I pull it up and then minimize it so I can work on the computer and hear "my" music in the background. I give a little shout to myself," I LOVE this song!!" and I sing along only to be filled with joy again as the next one comes on," I LOVE this one too!!" The kids just roll their eyes at me and patiently tell me that yes... I do know the songs... I picked them! HA!
They have no concept how truly "cool" this is. Back in the day of the cassette tape you had to fast forward to get to the song you liked. FF... stop... listen to see where you are.. nope, not there yet. FF... stop.. not yet... FF... stop.. too far.. Rewind.. okay.. there it is!! I can remember taping songs off the radio. This worked but you didn't get the complete song and you usually got some of the announcer. Playlist is like a commercial free radio station of only songs I love. It is so very cool.

Back when I was going to tell you about my sadness I was going to segue into how I deal with sadness... I read. Okay.. those of you who know me well know that I can be a bit of an obsessive reader but that is only amplified when I am sad. Think of an alcoholic on books. "Just for a few minutes more. Okay kids, we'll read history in just a minute.. I PROMISE."
So.. I have read three books already this month.. in the past week and a half actually.

First of all I read The Help. I loved it. Set in 1962 in Mississippi this story tells the tales of several women in the South during this era. Having lived in Louisiana for 12 years, I could HEAR the dialect as these women found their voice and were able to tell their stories of what it was like to be "colored" maids to white women. I am still aghast that people were treated this way just so short a time ago. The book is well written and easy to read.

Then I read The Penny Tree. This is a fluff book but it was enjoyable too. The story of a woman, separated from her husband trying to raise her two boys, one of which has a rare disease. (doesn't sound so fluffy does it). Anyhow... a secret admirer places several ads in the local paper seeking her out. The book unveils the details of how she ended up where she was and lets you discover her admirer just in time for a happy ending.

I then dove right into Eat Cake. Another fluff book... but ... this ones just makes me want to bake. This story is about a gal who is going through a rough patch and to cope...she bakes... and she describes her cakes in much detail. I am telling you... I am going to make me some cake.. and soon. I made a cheesecake this past weekend for a get together we had with friends... and I will be making another one for my dad's birthday... but ... this book had recipes in it and I plan to make a lemon cake real soon!! She also made a sweet potato cake with raisins soaked in rum. I don't have any rum... but doesn't that sound good!! I bet I could soak them in apple juice. I am telling you ... I really just want to bake.

Which will NOT help me lose 5 pounds before the play. Yes... I am at it again. The big news is that I am NOT playing a fork or a villager this time. In the last performance I had 1 line. (and I sang that... with someone else!) All of my stage time was singing with many other people. This time I play.... are you ready for this??? a MOM... married to an engineer. I have many more lines than 1 (about 120) but I don't have nearly as many as Katie. Katie and I are in Cheaper by the Dozen. Not the Steve Martin version but the original based on the book by the Gilbreth kids.

So why in the heck was I reading??? instead of practicing my lines?? I know, I know. And here I sit typing to you good people. But, rehearsal went well tonight. I will practice a TON tomorrow and will hopefully be off book by Friday.

I know what you are thinking, what about school. Well, it IS still taking place. Perhaps not as much as I would like... but we are definitely learning around here. Every day!

Alright, if you have stayed with me this long.. Bless you!!
We'll chat more soon!

woo hoo.. new year.. new chance...

Hello again my friends... or friend... not sure exactly who reads this as I am so erratic in my posting, but I felt the need to write and so .... here I am.

It is a new year. With each new year comes the chance to make things... life... better. Yes.. I am one of those.. new year's resolution people.. but it doesn't take a new year for me to grasp at the opportunity for change.

I am craving a little change right now. Today I changed around the living room and cleaned out a couple of "junk" drawers. I updated the cover and tabs in my home organization book that I tinker with every now and again. Just as I make new resolutions (or recommit to old ones) I also believe somewhere deep down that if I just had the "right" planner/schedule/routine I would finally get it all together. In my deepest of hearts I know that I only need to "work" one of the bazillion plans I have already come up with but it is somehow quite rewarding to freshen up that book... then at least IT looks good and reasonable and "doable".

I hope to post a bit more frequently than I have... this whole blog thing is an interesting beast isn't it?? I have had several friends who blogged and then quit. It can so easily become too much... a time stealer. It is also challenging to put oneself really out there. Then there is the hope/expectation that someone will respond... will I get comments?? Or.. what if I am really myself and I get criticism? (Not ever being one to take criticism well... that is a challenge for me.) Blogging does provide a creative outlet though... in its design as well as content. I would like to post more pictures. So.. we shall see what this new year brings.

Hopefully more posting from me.

Vocabulary Quiz?

Please forgive my effrontery, I don't wish to hamper your ebullience for reading my blog but I have been typing up vocabulary quizzes and I find some of these words completely ambrosial. It is my sincere hope that no one will admonish me for my ephemeral use of a few complex words. While not exactly "zany", it is somewhat prodigious to attempt to supplant my normal vocabulary for one that is so exaggerated. I am sure that if you will take a moment to peruse this short missive you will find the unwieldy words without much scrutiny. Some readers, (Mom) will be quite unruffled by the addition of said words. I'll wager she may even delight in the addition. I must admit, however, that I do actually use a great many of these words on my own. I don't usually use several in one sentence though. After this brief lapse I must once again immerse myself in work. Luckily, vocabulary is not a task that I abhor. What CAN be somewhat excruciating for me is answering the eternal question of what to have for dinner. While I don't despise cooking (quite the contrary) I certainly have haggled on occasion (usually about 4:00) with WHAT to cook. Tonight, however, I am okay as I already know that we are having baked potatoes and chili. I hope that I have not galled anyone by unwittingly misusing any of these words. I must go forth now and cook!

Just a few minutes

I only have a minute to blog tonight... it is late and we have had a full day.
School was challenging and I have not yet been able to find my "stride" or rhythm for this school year. I am still working on it though....

An unexpected treat was when we went to the farm. Due to illness, a dog attack and #504 raiding the garden, our fall crop was nil. We needed to clean up our mess in preparation for the coming winter. The kids were not looking forward to this. Adding to their discontent was the drizzly weather. We did, however, have an enjoyable time. Sweet Feet helped our friends M & J fetch a cow that had "gotten out". Prima Dona, Sunshine and I helped Mr. N rip up the cornstalks and throw them to both the cows and the pigs. It was muddy and dirty but somehow satisfying to rip those things up and fling them with all our might. The animals were most appreciative too! So.. we cleaned up a bit. I am afraid we did not get it all finished but it was GOOD to be outside together.

Then the kiddos went with M&J to see M's new (i think old) horse! They even got to ride her. (while being led). I was able to have a visit with Mrs. C and it was nice.


We then ran out to Mom and Dad's to pick up Mr. Fantastic. Whew... now I am folding a load of laundry and trying to get ready to start over again tomorrow.

In all of the busyness I am trying to realize my blessings and be thankful. I am thankful for a muddy time outside, KFC when I am wet and cold, and parents who love to keep my kids.

Oh.. and we are enjoying on tape Igraine the Brave.. very good listen!!

Will you let me be your servant?

My favorite hymn right now is called Servant's Song. The melody is only nine measures long... but I love it! I guess I sing it a lot because my kids are SICK of it. Bekah doesn't like it because of the first line.
I love it.. I am embracing it... I am going to try and live it. Here it is:

Will you let me be your servant?
Let me be as Christ to you...
Pray that I will have the Grace
To let you be my servant too.

Love it.

Smells I love

Okay, I was working on a much more philosophical post but I have a hard time typing and editing in this tiny space so I will have to work on in it in a different format and then bring it here. Having said all of that I wanted to share something and so here it is my top 7 favorite things to smell:
7) Fresh cut grass
6) burning leaves
5) Spoiled ( perfume) .. really fancy stuff my Mom got me in California.. I wore it on my wedding
oh.. and now I love Amazing Grace (also stuff my mom got me)
4)roast in the oven
3) sugar cookies
2) anything with cinnamon
1) my kids.. and especially my kids when they were babies and I put Johnson's baby lotion on them.

What about you?? Favorite smell??

the girls dressed for Pride and Prejudice

Stuff and such

Well hello,
I hope this post finds you all well and good and ready for summer.
We here in Karptown are VERY ready for summer. Mr. Fantastic has been counting down the days until the pool opens. We are going to swim for Sweet Feets Birthday although I am not quite swimsuit ready as they say. I have friends doing px90... and Brian would love for us to try that.. but I am not sure yet that I can survive it and so I am just trying to be very consistent on my elliptical machine.

My life as a plate is going well. (I am a villager too and I LOVE the MOB song!!.. kill the beast and all of that.) If you don't have your tickets yet... you should get them. This really is going to be a great show.

We have been busy here. We read Pride and Prejudice. (the girls and I) as did a few of their friends and so we had a tea party and viewing of the movie. We watched in its entirety the version with Kiera Knightly and then watched several scenes from the one with Colin Firth. Tonight Katie and I watched Bride and Prejudice which is an Indian (as in India) version. It was quite colorful and very fun.

Also this weekend we went to the Renaissance fair in Muskogee. Mimi helped the girls get their costumes ready and made capes for the boys as well. It was VERY hot.. but we had a great time.

In other news.. our AC died and we have to replace it. RATS. But truly I knew it was coming. I am just happy we made it five years before we had to do it.

Okay.. so that is rather jumbled and short.. but that is what we have been up to. I hope to chat more soon...

love,
ME

This whole plate business

Okay.. so I haven't posted in a while because this whole business of being a plate takes time.
My evenings no longer belong to me.. they belong to directors who ask me to do things I am not altogether comfortable doing. I am in a MUSICAL. (have you seen High School Musical?? You know how Mrs. Darbiss says Mus-i-cal.) Not just a play... no.. I must sing.

When I first got the part I was excited. (humbled, thrilled, scared) Then we started rehearsals and I was quite overwhelmed. I was VERY far out of my comfort zone. I was not sure I was qualified to do the part. Then.. I thought, I will just keep smiling and keep singing. I am in the chorus.. I will blend in. snarf!
Sing boldly they say. Don't worry about making mistakes, they say. (quickly followed by.. don't sing THAT anymore). I am trying. I am smiling. I am singing.

Then we started blocking. Blocking is the term used to tell the actors where to move on the stage. Not such a hard thing. I move practically every day. Surely, I can do that. I can even, sometimes, move AND sing. If any of you have seen my lovely rendition of "Hole in the Bottom of the Sea" you know I can move. Well, even that left me unprepared for what we did tonight.

If you are my friend, you may want to come and witness the spectacle that will be Beauty and the Beast. I sing, and I dance (if you really want to call it that) I smile and I SPIN. Yes.. you read that right. SPIN. It truly is an amazing thing. AMAZING. While our director has these very GRAND schemes and plans I must admit I feel really ridiculous. (All the while smiling and being enthusiastic, of course!) Have I mentioned that of the women in the play, three of us are moms. One mom is older, one younger and all other female leads are about 21 or younger. So.. I am a dancing, singing, spinning plate with a bevy of cuter, younger girls. (and one very tall boy.)

I keep thinking to myself.. what can I learn from this experience? I am not too old to learn. I do think it is a little harder than it used to be.. but I can do it! It is good to be in this position because it is a great reminder of what my kids go through. It is good to remember what it is like to be a student and to not have the edge. I have to rely on others for help. I haven't mastered the necessary skills for this task. I have to practice. (and I do) I have been "in charge" for a long time already. It is GOOD to be on the other side for a change. (uncomfortable.. but good)

Okay.. It is very late and I must rest. I am sorry that we haven't chatted more lately friends. I miss blogging and visiting and stamping and reading books... but this is an interesting journey I am on. I hope to be a better person because of the experience... and I KNOW without a doubt that I will make people smile.. (laugh.. roll on the floor.. gasp for breath... ) I have to SPIN!