Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Tuesday, September 27, 2016

First day of BTC, last week!

Outside my window...

beautiful sunshine, a clear blue sky, and fall colors all around.

Just about a perfect day :D

Gunnar, off to the high school.

Hearing...

Gunnar sighing in frustration,

using the microscope to examine pond life and finding it difficult to focus. 

Walking at sunrise

Pondering...

frustration is part of life.

Be frustrated,

but not angry.

Looking for my "friends"

Praying...

for growth in tolerating frustration!

Still looking...

Thankful...

* the boys seem to be getting into a good routine

(but as soon as I say that...)

* we're all enjoying this Indian Summer

* Tate's work schedule has lightened up

* only one more week of CERT class

Ah, there they are

Wearing...

capri jeans, purple t-shirt.

Stunning, I know.

Well?

Creating...

my own routine,

with time to read and study :D

Going...

to get pizza for my boys :D

Reading...

Total Truth, by Nancy Pearcey.

NOT bedtime reading.

Desk-and-notes reading.

Love the fall colors!

Learning...

studying the book of John

in my (new!) BSF study.

I could hear a woodpecker, but couldn't find him.

Looking forward to...

Gunnar and Kerry (especially Gunnar)

have been looking forward to a Lindsay Stirling concert

tomorrow night!

Maybe I couldn't see the woodpecker I heard,
but we know they're around!

In the kitchen...

leftover pork roast,

and it's pizza day :D

In the learning rooms...

Gunnar found a paramecium!

Around the house...

got my fall decorations out,

and - hurray! - my pumpkin spice candles :D

The source for Gunnar's pond water observations/experiment.

Noticing that...

I think Gunnar has discovered a new odor.

Not a good one.

So thankful this is a warm day and we can have

all the windows open while he

works with his stink pots of fetid muck.

Something to remember for later...

Gunnar actually comes up with some pretty clever/funny things at times.

Like naming Wyatt's Nissan "Liam".

Or calling Tate's rabbit "Poly",

for "NaPOLY-on Bunny-parte"

The Mother Load...

considerably smaller than last week,

though there are big items that are really more of winter projects

than "mother load" items...

* still with the windows...

* drop off at Goodwill

* drop off at Consignment

* cull files

* get milk

(how can we be OUT OF MILK when I buy six gallons at a time?)

Something fun to share...

some pretty fall photos,

coming right up...

A favorite quote for today...

Fall

by Jack Prelutsky

The leaves are yellow, red and brown,

A shower sprinkles softly down

And the air is fragrant, crisp and cool,

And once again, I'm stuck in school.

Out my window...

One of my favorite things...

the changing seasons.

A Bible verse...

Psalm 119:45

... and I shall walk in

a wide place,

for I have sought

Your precepts.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

boys to CAP tonight,

everyone is busy with school work,

Gunnar and Kerry off to a concert in Vancouver tomorrow,

CERT "final exam" on Thursday

(hint: it's a disaster scenario),

lunch with a friend on Wednesday,

see the dentist with Tate

(i.e. oral surgeon for wisdom teeth),

and the usual round of cleaning and washing and cooking and laundry...

A peek into my world...

or my dogwood tree :D

Happy Fall!

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, September 19, 2016

It's a Very Special Day today...

And if you live near a Krispy Kreme,

it's even special-er,

because they're giving out free doughnuts (booty!)

to those who talk or dress like a pirate!

Outside my window...

yesterday, this lovely view of the dogwood...

today, this slightly soggier view.

Nice weather for ducks.

Hearing...  water running, inside and out!

Pondering...  strange, strange dreams I had last night.

They make no sense at all.

Praying...

* for two friends with cancer

* for this headache to GO AWAY

* for Kerry's work

* for the boys' schooling

* for my friends in the Solomons and Myanmar

* for wisdom every day

Thankful...

* I was out this morning in a total downpour -->

with friends, getting soaked,

and one reminded us,

"We're only a hot shower away from being comfortable!"

Thankful, as always,

for my cozy, warm, dry house.

Which is so easy to take for granted.

Wearing...  DRY clothes!

My dyed indigo jeans, turquoise t-shirt layered over a long white T,

and my "holeys".

I wear crocs for slippers around the house,

for happier feet,

and when the boys were little they called them "holeys".

Going...  tonight is the first rehearsal for Messiah.

We may have a different director this year,

as our much-beloved regular director is dealing health issues.

I think about taking a year off.

The new director would be FINE :D

I'm just tired.

So today is not a good day to make a decision, right?

I will go to rehearsal for a couple weeks and see what I think.

Looking forward to...

a few more sunny days forecast for this week.

Need to pack away the picnic table and a few other things.

Time to batten down the hatches,

so to speak.

In the kitchen...

the boys are planning a pizza dinner,

and having a friend over on their last "free" night

before school starts (for the older boys).

In the learning rooms...

I'll be picking up Gunnar shortly,

and he'll have a busy day.

He does his Bible reading,

finishes any homework from the high school,

then launches into his homeschool work.

It feels like a LOT to him,

but he's settling into a routine.

Around the house...

Wyatt and Tate are doing some chores,

emptying garbages,

vacuuming the living spaces,

and I hope to spread some fall color around soon :D

Noticing that...

the sun peeks out,

mocking me for getting soaked earlier this morning!

Something to remember for later...

Naomi likes to talk on the phone,

and she loves to talk to the boys.

But she called last night,

and they were all in bed!

The Mother Load...

* calendar summit with Kerry (compare notes)

* inventory the gift box (90 days until Christmas!)

* make a plan (for gifts)

* make an appointment for Tate's annual check-up

* clean the furnace filters

* clean the inside of the windows

* get boys to do the outside

* re-sort my dresser and closet (seasonal)

* fill out online registration forms for Tate to see a new dentist (wisdom teeth - oh no!)

* photograph a quilt (an old one)

Isn't it an exciting life?

I'll try not to brag and gloat ;D

A favorite quote for today...

I avoid much of the news.

There's nothing I can do about it,

and it's depressing.

Yesterday in church we sang this,

This is my Father's world,

O let me never forget,

that though the wrong

seems oft so strong

God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father's world,

the battle is not done;

Jesus who died

shall be satisfied,

and earth and heaven be one.

Amen.

One of my favorite things...

having all my "chicks" at home in the nest in the evening.

It's getting rarer as they get older.

A verse for today...

to go with the song.

We sing this in Messiah,

so I "hear" it in King James...

The kingdom of this world is become

the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;

and He shall reign for ever and ever.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

* keep Gunnar perking along through his schoolwork

* help Wyatt and Tate if they need anything as they launch into classes

* rehearsal tonight (me!)

* CAP Tuesday evening (the boys)

* CERT Thursday evening

* Back-to-school-night Tuesday evening (me)

* haircut (me!)

* lunch with my neighbor

* breathe in and out...

A peek into my world...

fall comes and I feel the need for COZY.

I move the furniture in my bedroom,

change the sheets,

add another quilt...

It's time for more candles around the house.

What do you do to be cozy?

Friday Brain Dump

A few thoughts and a few (unrelated) giggles for your weekend...

1.  Yes, it's Friday,

but it doesn't feel like it.

We are two weeks into September,

two weeks,

 and there is no (public) school today

because the teachers need a work-day.

I'm all for teachers

and giving them what they need,

but already?

While Gunnar and I are happy for the day off,

I think it's all a plot to make the school year longer.

*sigh*

Wyatt and Tate are mowing the neighbors weeds.

I'd say the "lawn",

but the grass is too dry to grow,

so really they're just knocking the weeds down.

Because - of course - weeds apparently don't need rain to grow.

Gunnar is downstairs practicing his violin.

He's never said this,

but I'm sure he's thought it.

(Haven't we all?)

2.  Wyatt and Tate go back to school on Tuesday.

C'mon, Wyatt, just one more quarter.

Please do more than the bare minimum to pass and graduate.

Please!

And Tate,

my rocket-on-the-launch-pad-with-rumbling-engines,

please leave yourself some margin in your life!

3.  My boys in college...

I remember my years in public high school and college,

and pray that it is a positive and productive time in their lives.

Michael Farris, of the HSLDA,

(the Home School Legal Defense Association)

wrote of the students at Patrick Henry College,

There are times that I get a bit jealous of our students.

My experience as a student in secular colleges was quite different.

Although I was a Christian, I often found myself integrated

into the general patterns of student life.

At times, I tried to stand up for what I believed,

but much of the time I lived a kind of a PG-13 version

of the R-rated world swirling around me.

We can do so much better!

4.  I went to my first Bible Study Fellowship this week.

With Gunnar going to p/t high school,

I'm in a whole new universe!

And how dorky is it that I felt kind of nervous when I got there

and saw all the cars, and all the women?!

Because really,

here are women gathering

because they want to study God's Word.

That should be one of the nicest groups of people on the planet, right?

And they were really nice.

Also, they are MANY.

So many that they may not have (literal) space for all the newcomers.

So I wait for an call or email to see if I got in.

5.  I got to hang out with my friend Sara last night.

Our kids are involved in CAP together and are taking the CERT class.

So sometimes while they're occupied,

we hang out, grab a bite,

and solve all the world's problems over Taco Bell's Cinnabon nuggets.

Went to WallyWorld with a budget to spend on someone else,

and isn't that fun?!

Now to package it all up and get it in the mail :D

6.  And now I need to think about lunch for the boybarians,

because they're all heading out to the rifle range with Grandpa Grasshopper

to sight in a new rifle.

And because it's just plain fun to shoot.

7.  Lastly, for all the "princesses" and "maidens" out there...

Have a fabulous weekend!

Adventures in Dyeing

I spelled that right,

right?

Because I'm dyeing,

not dying. ;D

I had some fabric I wanted to experiment on,

and some old denim that could use some "freshening up".

(Kerry always liked it when my Nana would ask,

"Can I freshen up your drink?"

meaning, can I give you some more coffee/tea/etc.)

The denim didn't need a beverage.

It was faded.

Moving right along...

I ordered some indigo dye.

Oh my.

If you do this,

do it outside.

Because it really REALLY stinks.

Who knew?

And read all the instructions.

It was good to know ahead that the dye would look greenish yellow.

You can't tell very well from the photo (above),

but if you look in the lower right corner you can kind of see it.

We also experimented with a white t-shirt my brother handed down to Gunnar.

And I'm really glad I had read through the tips or I might've freaked out

to see it emerge from the dye...

bright neon green!

It's a reactive dye.

When exposed to oxygen it not-so-slowly

turns bluer...

and bluer...

and bluer.

I like how the collar still looks green,

because the dye was dripping down,

so it took longer to oxidize at the bottom.

(It did all turn blue eventually.)

The key to making things darker is not letting them soak longer,

but letting them dry and then re-dipping them,

and repeating the oxidization process.

My old faded shorts and crop jeans came out a great shade of indigo :D

A light blue cardigan I rarely wore looks a lot better.

And Gunnar's white thermal shirt and t-shirt are deep blue,

(and more likely to be worn.)

And my white and green fabric?

I had hoped the green would turn more turquoise,

but I think the green-dyed fabric didn't "accept" the blue very much.

Still, I like it!

Of course, it all looked so vivid on the line,

freshly dyed.

And after going through the wash?

Yah, it faded some.  The color isn't as deep.

But what can I say?

I love blue.

Almost any blue!

And I only used half the chemicals that came in the dye kit,

so we can do it all again later :D