Another Scatterday Brain Dump

All those things I thought I was going to get done this week?

Not so much.

1.  Of course, there was the whole situation with my dad.  He got to go home from the hospital on Tuesday and is much happier recovering at home, but he's still got a lot of recovering to do.  His leg is still too tender to bear any weight, so he's hobbling around on an assortment of crutches and walkers.  Yes, he's following up with his docs, and we all appreciate the prayers and concern.  He says he's found new meaning in James 3:2  "We all stumble in many ways."

But I can't blame it all on him ;D

2.  Welcome to the Grasshopper Home of Germs.  I started feeling rotten Tuesday night.  Tate already is fighting a cold.  And now Kerry is feeling sick.  We're just a bundle of good times!  

Making chicken soup for dinner.

Fortunately I did manage to get Tate registered for the class he needs at the Tech College, and Kerry took him to the career night there before he started feeling sick.  And hurray for the flexibility of homeschooling, because we sure needed it this week!

3.  Crazy, crazy weather.  Lots of wind.  And rain.  And did I mention wind?

Yet in spite of the temp being all over the place (even up to seventy in February) there's this:

Our local ski area - Mt. Baker - has received over 515 inches of snow this year.  So far.  And another storm is coming in tomorrow.  Batten down the hatches.

4.  My friend Breanna, who is living in Myanmar, posted this.  It's a guide to differentiating between Asian scripts.

5.   Since we're all laying low today...  I'm getting ready for taxes.  NOT my favorite job.

Which means I deserve this:

Hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows.  (And it still probably has less sugar than those fancy "coffee" beverages ;D)

6.  The boybarians are having an educational afternoon.   Any guesses what they're doing?

Bonus testoster-zone points if you guessed

They're making a foundry.  

Because you were thinking it, weren't you?

The goal is to make some objects by sand-casting.  But they're run into some problems, aka learning experiences.

First, the martini shaker they found at Goodwill and used as a crucible couldn't take the heat.

So off they went to the hardware store for some steel pipe.

Second, the steel pipe...

 ... couldn't take the heat.

Possibly because they borrowed my hair dryer to use as a bellows, and had it running on high the entire time.

According to Uncle Google, aluminum will melt at 1221F and steel melts at around 2500F, so they had their little oven about twice as hot as it needed to be.

And blew up my hair dryer, which is no great tragedy, as I use it, oh, maybe twice a year.

They did manage to melt some aluminum...

but most of it ran through the holes in their crucibles down into the charcoal.

What was it Edison supposedly said, while inventing the light bulb?

I haven't failed.  I've found 10,000 ways that won't work.

And nobody has burned themselves or the house down, so... success ;D

Now clean it all up, because it's supposed to blow like crazy again.

 7.  Remember...

*sigh*

How I feel about that?

Slanted Stars

Nearly every Sunday in church, the L family sits in front of us.  (Which tells you that the Grasshoppers are pretty much creatures of habit ;D)  When they had their first baby (August of 2014, I think) we were absolutely smitten.  Little Owen is completely adorable, and we love helping to keep him entertained during the service.  Oh those cute little smiles!

When I found out she was expecting Boy #2 in December, I started working on this:

I wanted a design that acknowledged that little James is a December baby, but could be used year round.  Stars are always good, and I mixed in some blues with the reds and greens.

His mama liked it :D

It was a really easy pattern to put together.  I'd seen tutorials online that used a different method, but I decided to go with squares, with two corner triangles.  Easy squeazy.

A red flannel backing makes it extra snuggly!

And now we have a new adorable baby to make googly eyes at ;D

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Tuesday, March 8, 2016


Outside my window...  clouds, a breeze, and fresh snow on the hilltops.  A chilly morning made for a very brisk walk with Gunnar!

Hearing...  Wyatt whistling as he gets ready to head out (orthodontist and then work), and Gunnar finishing up in the shower.


Pondering...  this is going to be an abbreviated post as we're trying to get caught up and back on schedule.  Had a bit of distraction this weekend.  My dad has seeing the doc for pain and swelling in his right leg.  It got dramatically worse over the weekend and he ended up in the ER on Sunday, then in surgery Sunday night / Monday morning, where they removed a blood clot the size of a tennis ball.  Well, yah, that would hurt, wouldn't it?  He's recovering in the hospital and I think we're on the good side of it now, but still "a long row to hoe" as the saying goes.

And that is the large part of our prayers and thanks this week - prayers for his comfort and recovery, and thanks for the great medical care he's getting.


Going...  to meet a new friend this evening and talk boys and homeschooling :D


Looking forward to...  a fresh start every morning.


In the kitchen...  hallelujah for cheap-pizza-day ;D


In the learning rooms...  Gunnar reminded me this morning as Tate headed off to the bus, "Six months from now, I'll be headed off to high school."  Yes, be still my heart.


The Mother Load...  all postponed for more important things, but time to get back to work...  two things weighing on me:  preparing for taxes, and preparing for Saturday - I'm one of the (many) speakers at a homeschool conference on Saturday.  Whew!


Something fun to share...  if you want to get on my dad's good side, bring contraband to the hospital (i.e. a large, chocolate shake) ;D


A favorite quote for today...  I'm re-reading Paul David Tripps Age of Opportunity, about parenting teens (highly recommend it, by the way).  He writes of teens being absorbed in their own "story" and that we need to connect them to God's bigger story.  (So true for us adults as well, yah?)  He says...

There is always a higher agenda than personal happiness,

there is a bigger, more significant story than their story of the moment,

and in every situation they are called

to trust and obey God.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  meeting a friend tonight, out to Joann's to help another friend plan a quilt tomorrow evening, and then off to the Tech College with Tate on Thursday to register him for a class and go to an Energy Industry Careers event.  I'm not usually out so many evenings a week!  And we'll be fitting in visits to my dad along the way.


A peek into my world...  coming soon ;D

Good news!  He's being discharged this afternoon and headed home!  Still a lot of recovery ahead of him, but he'll do better at home :D

Scatterday Brain Dump

Yes, it's Saturday, and there was much rejoicing.

It's been a big, big week.

1.  I took a big step into the modern world and got an iPhone.  The salesman had his work cut out for him.  I've already been back once for a tutorial on How To Do Things, and I'll probably be back again.  He showed me a few things and then I was like this:

I think he was in shock when I told him that not only is this my first smart phone, this is my first cell phone.  (Yes, Virginia, people can live without them.)  But I had Reasons.

2.  Reason Number One: Circle.  By Disney.

This device is a means to monitor, limit, and filter your family's internet.  At this point, it's an investment in accountability.  I can see exactly what everyone does with their internet.  They call it circle, I call it 

The Ring of Power.

You can find our more here, if you're interested.

3.  Also, well, it was time.  Phones are getting more complex awesome all the time, and if I don't get this figured out now... well... time to Figure It Out.  

Plus, there's Grandma Lydia.  Kerry's cousins' grandma is one hundred six years old.  And she has facebook.  Yes, one hundred six years old.  I'm inspired.  So I have a phone, and now I'm even on facebook.  

Will wonders never cease.

4.  The Rainbow.  Tuesday night.  It was amazing.

The boys, of course, immediately started in with, "What does it meeeeaaaaan???"

(You've seen this, right?)

But they were just joking... we had no drugs on board ;D

5.  Knitting.  I keep trying.  It would probably help if I didn't grip the needles and yarn so tightly.  You'd think they were going to jump up and kill me if they got away or something.  *sigh*

But anyway... Bea taught me to do this:

Still your basic, square (ish) washcloth, but... With A Border!

My skills obviously still need work.  The first half, which is the increasing half (started bottom left in both photos) looks a lot better than the decreasing half (top right).  Well, these are just for me, so no big deal.

This intrigues me though:

This is what happens when you make the absolutely most basic square washcloth (only the knit stitch) with variegated yarn.  The wavy pattern is pretty cool!  Bea was much impressed, because hers don't do this.  (Because she's doing the diagonal pattern, so the color variation doesn't repeat evenly.)  

Anyway, it's kind of fun :D

6.  Gunnar and I had a good walk this morning.  When I looked outside and saw this...

... I thought we'd better hustle to beat the rain, but right now it's sunny.  We'll see if it lasts.

7.  Doesn't really matter, because today is Hobbit Day!  My brother is on his way up from Seattle to join us for an extended version Hobbit marathon.  The plan is to watch two today, and one after church tomorrow.  I've been gathering the necessary snacks.  I'm fresh out of lembas bread, but traditionally the boys expect... Cadbury Eggs.  Because.

8.  In spite of all the sitting we'll be doing, I'm feeling pretty productive today.  Gunnar and I went on a longer walk than usual, and then... the cooking.

* baked oatmeal for breakfast (Wyatt's request)

* giant crock pot 'o chili for tonight's dinner

* cornbread to go with the chili

* empty rolls for my Sunday school kids, because we'll be talking about the resurrection and the empty tomb.  I swiped this photo from the inter webs.  Mine are not nearly that good looking ;D

9.  It's about time to go, and the natives are getting restless.  So I leave you with a couple of thoughts for the weekend:

Amen to that.

Then there's this limerick... can you "read" it?

And yes, just YES.

Knitting With Bea

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Outside my window...  welcome to the Pacific Northwest, where it rains.

Hearing...  Wyatt (finally!) putting his laundry away while he talks with Gunnar (who is supposed to be doing his school work) - glad to hear them talking, though :D


Pondering...  the logistics of today, as Kerry and I are sharing one vehicle.  His 4Runner is STILL in the shop.  He went to visit his transmission...

Can you see the dollar signs wafting through the air?  *sigh*  Should have it back by tomorrow.


Praying...  for all of us to be diligent in our work, to be kind to each other, and to have a good time watching our friend's almost-one-year-old tomorrow!


Thankful...  a ton of work has come in for Kerry - hence the prayers for his good/efficient use of time (not that there's a problem, just that it's a LOT of work and we need him to DO IT :D), my friend Ginny - who is the kind of friend that will call and drop by and not mind that I am completely grubby and unshowered and cleaning out my stinky fridge, and we had a great visit :D


Wearing...  jeans, teal t-shirt, navy blue sweater, my favorite Danskos:

Creating...  hmmmm, new habits :D


Going...  to pick up Tate from school in a few minutes, and then off to Gunnar's violin lesson.  And - of course - to pick up pizza.  Because Tuesday is (nearly always) pizza day.  And there was much rejoicing...


Reading...  still picking my way slowly through The Silmarillion.  It doesn't have the character development or level of detail as the LOTR books, but interesting backstory.  (Kind of.  Some of it I just skim.)


Looking forward to...  my brother is coming up this weekend to join us for a Hobbit marathon.  I may be fresh out of lembas bread, but by golly I've got Cadbury Eggs, because (why?) that is Tradition, for LOTR movies.  (I mean, hey, any excuse for good chocolate, right?)


In the kitchen...  well, pizza, of course.  We tried some frozen chicken enchiladas yesterday that were such a disappointment (at least to me).  None of the yummy sauce I like when I get them at a restaurant.  They were full of rice and something nasty - maybe cilantro.  I detest cilantro.  Tastes like soap.  Very bitter.  Live and learn...


In the learning rooms...  Tate and Gunnar are chugging along, just fine, through their work :D


Around the house...  nothing new to report, but looking out the window?  Yah, still raining.

The Mother Load...  

*  must prepare for taxes - whew

*  good news - I got five weeks worth of Sunday school prep done ahead :D

*  wrap shower gifts

*  take Tate to credit union to get debit card

*  take Gunnar to observe HS orchestra class

*  remind Tate to make an appointment to meet with the disability services person at the tech college (he may not need any accommodations, but best to be on her radar ahead of time!)

*  take Gunnar and his violin in to get new strings

*  finish preparing for speaking at the homeschool seminar

*  buy stamps

And I'm sure there's more, but that's plenty for now!

Noticing that...  yep, still raining.

Something fun to share...

A favorite quote for today... 

We have all heard people say that they just can't understand the Bible

or that they don't get anything out of it.

In my experience, one of the biggest reasons

the Bible remains a mystery to people is because 

they don't read it.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Something to remember for later...  Gunnar and I, and my mom, had an absolutely fabulous time at the Fiddler's Feast concert, with Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas.  It was glorious.  Somehow I don't believe all the music in heaven will be hymns, you know?


One of my favorite things...  finishing a project.  Finishing a job.  Finishing ANYTHING ;D


A few plans for the rest of the week...  homeschooling (of course), violin lesson, going to CAP tonight because Gunnar is being promoted to Technical Sergeant, watching my friend's little one tomorrow, family movie-marathon this weekend, and probably more!


A peek into my world...  it may be rainy, but spring is breaking through...

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, February 22, 2016.

Outside my window...  a squirrel on a branch, staring at me.  I threw a bunch of stale peanuts out a few days ago.  If he's looking for more, he's out of luck.  As are the boys, who are kind of giving up on hoping for snow this winter.

Hearing...  yet again, the laundry.  I once read something like, What if you could only keep what you gave thanks for?, so let me just say that I am very thankful for my washer and dryer ;D

Pondering...  saw this on Monica's blog and "lifted" it - I don't think she'll mind :D

Praying... for the boys and their school / work, for Kerry to GET more work, and for all of us to be kind and patient with each other :D


Thankful...  we're all staying pretty healthy this winter, we had a great time visiting with friends yesterday, and Gunnar and I had a good walk this morning.


Creating...  okay, here's the funny thing.  I've mentioned that my neighbor is teaching me to knit.  She's taught me exactly that - the knit stitch.  So I am a veritable knitting one-trick-pony.  You need a dish cloth?  I'm on it.  This was the first one:

So fancy, much wow.

Bea started it for me, gave me a ball of yarn, and a pair of needles.  And she helped me finish it, because that's a hard part.  She makes fancier wash cloths, like these.  I like the Seahawk colors ;D

Notice the same variegated yarn?  Yah.  She gave me what was left of it, and another leftover ball of yarn, and suggested I combine them into one wash cloth, for more practice, so I did.  And look what the variegated yarn did...

It made a sort-of-pattern, all on its own!  I was kind of fascinated to see it get revealed, row by row... until I ran out of that yarn.

So that was my oh-so-fancy bit of creativity :D


Going...  to run Tate to work, pick up a book from the library, and buy some more steak and chicken on sale at Safeway... buy one, get two free.  That works for me!


Reading...  A Place of Quiet Rest, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.


Looking forward to...  Gunnar, Grandma and I are going to the Fiddler's Feast concert this Saturday!


In the kitchen...  hmmm, I'm thinking chicken for dinner!


In the school room...  Wyatt has an in-class presentation this morning - praying that goes well, and that he remembers to follow-up on a class credit situation with the Running Start office; Tate has little time between school and work today - he'll need to catch up on his homeschool work later in the week (not likely to be a problem for him); and Gunnar is struggling through a math test - dividing polynomials is such an abstract concept.  *sigh*


Around the house...  lots of red and aqua :D

The Mother Load...  many of the items on my list have the boys' names on them - things I need to make sure they do, as well as the things I need to tend to.  Kerry's 4Runner is still at the mechanic's, so we're having to negotiate sharing "my" van.


Noticing that...  Gunnar.  It's finally here.  He's taller than I am.  And there was much rejoicing!  And he SHAVED over the weekend.  Waiting to see if his brothers (who have been bugging him about all the peach fuzz) will notice.


A favorite quote today... 

The difference is Christ in me,

not me in a different set of circumstances.

Elisabeth Elliot

That woman sticks like a burr.  And that's a good thing.


One of my favorite things...  having Gunnar to run errands with me.  That era is about to end.


A few plans for the rest of the week...  my calendar looks pretty ordinary, and that's a good thing.  The exception is the concert this weekend!


A peek into my world...

Will it be clear or cloudy today?

Love the way the (brief moments of) morning sun shine into my bedroom!