Is It Spring?

Gunnar and I spend a lot of time in the school room, and the windowsills are often full of our ongoing science experiments.  I brought this little plant up to demonstrate heliotropism (how the leaves will turn to face the sun) and then left it, because why not?

A friend of ours in Wenatchee pinched a start of this from the famous Ohme Gardens.  Kerry has always been kind of amazed that this very elegant and proper lady would pinch a plant (!) and when we were over visiting one year, he asked her for a cutting.  It's a ground cover - I think a kind of Creeping Jenny - and I have a patch of it in my flowerbed.

One year I thought I ought to bring a bit of it in for the winter, because what if it got too cold and killed it off?  But take a good look...

Do you think the plant knows it's spring?

Look how it's trying to propagate!

And speaking of spring...

flowering red currant :D

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, March 9, 2015.

Outside my window...  sunny :D  Very spring-like.  Though the dogwood trees are not leafing out yet - still just twigs.  But it's coming.

Hearing...  Tate practicing piano.  He's already surpassing my expectations, but he's only two months into lessons and for-the-love-of-Mike-would-you-please-count!  There is ONE PIECE he's learning right now that's driving me to the Cliffs of Insanity.  It's in 3/4 timing and has several measures with a quarter-note-four-eighth-notes pattern.  And he keeps playing it as quarter-note-triplet-quarter-note.  And I will go to him, make him stop, and tell him to count it out. And then he plays it correctly for about 30 seconds, until he slips into the triplets again.  Arrrrrgh.  SLOW-DOWN-AND-COUNT!

Pondering...  he's really doing well, he's really doing well, he's really doing well.  Really.

Thankful...  for the flexibility of homeschooling.  My mom called me today shortly after I'd picked up Tate from the high school to ask if she could borrow Tate and Gunnar for some manual labor.  YES.  Yes, absolutely.  Boys need hard work more than they need desk work sometimes.  Actually, a lot of the time.

Creating...  my neighbor asked me to come over on Saturday to help her make a tote bag.  She's actually a much more experienced sew-er (not a "sewer") than I am and she can read patterns, but this isn't a traditional cut out the pieces, pin it to your fabric, sort of thing she's used to.  (It's a great pattern from Monica Solario-Snow of Happy Zombie, and you can find it here.)  I've already made it a few times, and modified the measurements to make different sizes, so I was actually able to teach HER something - quite a role reversal :D

Going...  to stay home tonight.  (I mean, I'm skipping rehearsal this week.)

Looking forward to...  someday we will have no debt.  Someday.  And that will be glorious.

In the kitchen...  thawing some elk meat for dinner - we've eaten nearly all of Tate's deer (just a little bit of sausage in the freezer).  And I need to think about what to make this weekend.  We're having company for dinner Saturday - a local family whose daughter is going to get a CI soon.  I'm not a fancy entertainer, but- you know - company.

In the learning rooms...  when Grandma called, we deferred the rest of today's work to tomorrow.  No worries.  I usually schedule Tate and Gunnar into four days and use Friday for "catch up" anyway.

Around the house...  I finally let go of my Valentine roses, and all the primroses I bought are looking a bit meh - time to plant them outside.

The Mother Load...  I almost have my office cleaned up... it must be time to start a new project ;D

Noticing that...  I looked around the house this morning and thought that Wyatt had gone off to school without his backpack - oh no!  But when I looked closer, it was full of dirty laundry.  Things I Cannot Explain.  (WHY?)

A favorite quote for today... 

O Lord, support us all the day long,

until the shadows lengthen,

and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed,

and the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.

Then in Thy mercy grant us a safe lodging,

and a holy rest,

and peace at the last.

 - The Book of Common Prayer

A devotional thought...  if you're interested... our chapel is sharing daily Lenten Devotions here.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  all the usual things (homeschool, CAP, music lessons) and dentist appointments for all the boys.  Fun times.

A peek into my day... 

Here We Go Again

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Outside my window...  cold, clear, and sunny :D  It's a spring teaser, though not really warm yet.  Is winter really done?  Too soon to tell.

Hearing...  gravel crunching as Kerry heads off to a meeting, dishes rattling as Wyatt gets breakfast, and water dripping (Gunnar in the shower).  Tate is already off on his bike to school.

Pondering...  while the boys were at CAP last night, Kerry and I went out to dinner.  He was craving Mexican, and I'm always up for that!  And time to break out of the (two-chicken-enchiladas) rut and order something different.  A combo plate.  Who knew the chalupa would be so enormous it came on a plate as big as a pizza?!  Of course, had I been thinking, I would've divided the plate in half and had a delicious lunch for today.  But, no... We were talking and eating, and eating and talking,  and talking and eating...  and I shared some with Kerry but pretty much ate the whole thing.

You know those Nat Geo photos of boa constrictors that have just eaten a whole cow?
Yah.  I know how they feel.  ;D

Praying...  lots of work for Kerry (and diligence to get it done!), work for Wyatt, even Tate wants a job and I'm kind of dragging my feet.  I don't really want him working regularly outside the home (me driving him...), but it's probably time.  *sigh*

Thankful...  for another sunny day, everyone is still healthy, and I have a nice cup of hot, mint tea.

Going...  for a walk with Gunnar, very shortly.

Reading...  just finished Anna and the King - fascinating!

Looking forward to...  the family and friends gathering for my parents' 50th in just a couple of weeks.

In the kitchen...  um, yah, still full from last night, but have to plan something for dinner.  The boys are bottomless pits ;D  Maybe meatballs.

In the learning rooms...  got to get Gunnar going.  Tuesday is always our "disrupted day" - with his violin lesson and babysitting.  And that's FINE.  We planned it that way.  Just means we need to get cracking today.

Around the house...  so much light coming in :D  Hallelujah.

The Mother Load...  still digging through piles of stuff on my desk - ugh.  And I need to plan my Spring Break list.  Bwa-ha-ha-ha ;D

Noticing that...  I will soon be the shortest in the family.  Maybe I'll measure Gunnar again today.  Last time I looked he'd grown more than an inch since October.

A favorite quote for today... 

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy.

Peace does not dwell in outward things,

but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly

on Him who has all things safely in His hands.

 - Elisabeth Elliot

I read things like this and I find myself tempted to think, "Well that's easy for HER to say."
But then, it's Elisabeth Elliot.

One of my favorite things...  when we're all home for the evening :D

A Bible verse...  Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in His love He will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  well, we're already half way through!  Gunnar had his violin lesson and babysat yesterday, and all the boys went to CAP.  Today is a "home day" :D  Tomorrow, Tate's piano lesson.  Friday the boys are going to the The Compassion Experience with my sister, and Saturday I get to go to breakfast with women from my church, and we're all going to Game Night / Potluck.

A peek into my world...  the boys have been noticing these in stores ;D

Which definitely means a LOT of walking is in order!  Gunnar and I took a route we hadn't visited for awhile...

... and saw and heard several of these redwing blackbirds.  'Tis the season ;D

The Good, The Bad, And The... Other

The Good

* Enjoying lengthening daylight hours
* Finished Sunday School prep for the next two weeks
* Had a good visit with a friend in the hospital, who expects to go home today
* Went to Thursday night Hymn Sing with cheerful, teenage boys beside me


The Bad

* Coming home late/tired from Hymn Sing and taking the drain apart to retrieve dropped contact lens
* Grumpy boys from too much screen time


The Other

* A quiet house - all boys at CAP/SAR (Civil Air Patrol / Search and Rescue training)
* A quiet house...
* A
* QUIET
* HOUSE

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, February 23, 2015

Outside my window...  a gorgeous day!  Frosty this morning, but sunny and beautiful :D

Hearing...  birds!  I've been waking up to birds again, and I love it.

Pondering...  Wyatt is having a difficult day.  He still gets up at 3am to call in to UPS, though he's not getting any work.  He expected to be officially laid off today (but is encouraged to reapply in April).  Over the weekend pieces of his braces broke so he started this morning at the orthodontist (after partially disassembling them at home, himself so he wouldn't get poked and could close his mouth). The appointment went longer than he expected, making him late to school.  And he wasn't thinking clearly... came home after the appointment (the opposite direction of school) to get some ibuprofen, not realizing he likely could have bought some on campus.  And it's his long day...  I think I'd better plan some soft comfort food for dinner tonight!

Praying...  for Wyatt!  And work for Kerry.

Thankful...  for this gorgeous day, that my parents are home safe from a two-week road trip, that Wyatt successfully registered for next quarter, we're all still healthy, and for good news from friends who are in the process of adopting!

Wearing...  my walking grubs... time for a shower.

Creating...  thinking baby things for my friend...

Going...  to make sure Gunnar is doing his schoolwork.

Reading...  The Friday Night Knitting Club (a kind of fluffy, friendship book) and Great Expectations.  I figured if I made Gunnar read it, I ought to read it too ;D

Looking forward to... lunch ;D

In the kitchen...  leftovers!  I made a big batch of venison meatballs last night, alongside roasted potatoes.  But I'd better think of something really soft for Wyatt.

In the learning rooms...  Tate, just home from school and working on his homeschool.  He just dissected a giant earthworm.  Ack.  Gunnar is doing math with percents.

Around the house...  brightness, hallelujah.  I love the sun streaming in the windows.  We have so many dark, wet, cloudy days through the winter that I crave the light.  I have a lot of brightly colored things out - pillows, candles, quilt, etc.

The Mother Load... not too bad at that moment, but I still have a pile of papers to sort.

Noticing that...  everything is budding, ready to pop open with new life.

Something to remember for later...  I gave Gunnar a cup of hot cocoa after a cold, early morning walk, and he said, "My chest is on fire!"  Um, maybe your stomach?

Something fun to share...  Ice Music.

A favorite quote for today...

The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman.

Elisabeth Elliott  

One of my favorite things...  Gunnar is doing better at doing his math on his own.

A few plans for the rest of the week... hmmm, rehearsal tonight, violin lesson and babysitting (Gunnar) tomorrow along with CAP, the youth group here for dinner and fellowship on Wednesday evening, piano lesson (Tate) on Thursday, hymn sing / dessert social Thursday evening, and the weekend???

A peek into my day...

Cleaning Out...

Cleaning out my office I found some old notes from when I had my tonsils out in 2008.

The boys would've been this age - I think 7, 9, and 12.

So (back in 2008), I was recovering and feeling pretty rotten.  Kerry was stressed and snapping at the kids.  It was pouring and they were stuck inside all day, having too much screen time and not enough fresh air.

It was a bad day.

Wyatt and Tate were playing something on the computer and I heard this:

Taaaaaaate!  (long whine)

This is all your fault!  You made me lose all my coins!  (pause)

I wish I could say a bad word right now.

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, February 16, 2015

Outside my window...  sunshine!  Brightness!  Color!

Hearing...  a very, very quiet house.  It's Presidents' Day today, no school for any of us.  The boys went for a bike ride earlier (kind of muddy, but good for them) and Gunnar and I went for our longer walk.  And you know what we saw?

Pondering...  I'm getting RSVPs for my parents' 50th party - so glad people are excited about celebrating with us :D  My mom kind of didn't want a party, but I think marriages that flourish for 50 years, ought to be celebrated publicly.  If your parents (or friends or relatives) have long-thriving marriages, THANK THEM.

Praying...  for our friends in missions in Myanmar and in the Solomon Islands and elsewhere.  Isn't the internet amazing?  I can remember when I was a kid (you know, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and you had to wait weeks or months to hear from missionaries.

Thankful...  for technology (like email and Tate's CIs and low-tech crock-pots), that work seems to keep trickling in for Kerry (more please, Lord!), and for the brightness of today.

Wearing...  jeans, long-sleeve black t-shirt, black cardigan... so exciting.

Creating...  I've used the day off to get ahead with preparing for my Sunday school class.  I may have mentioned the age spread in my little class (3 to 8).  The curriculum I have is fine for the 6-8 year olds, but I have several kids who aren't readers yet so I'm always adapting the activities.  Or finding new ones.

Going...  to rehearsal tonight.  I'm not as excited about this season, but I'm trying to go with a good attitude :D

Looking forward to...  well, hoping for a tax refund!

In the kitchen...  made a huge batch (6-quart crock-pot) of stroganoff yesterday - part beef and part venison.  Used the second roast from Tate's deer, and oh that meat was beautiful (hardly a speck of fat on it) and oh-so-tasty.  Enough for leftovers tonight - hurray!

In the learning rooms...  just wrapping up a wonderful four-day weekend.  LOVE IT.  Gunnar currently has three experiments going that we are monitoring.  He'll be studying the human body for the rest of the year in science.  He's been doing a two-year overview of world history while Tate is doing a one-year overview, and I think they're just about coinciding right now.  That's a good thing, but I get a bit scrambled sometimes about who is doing what!  Tate is such a diligent worker.  He's already finished one of his subjects for the year, and all of the extra reading I assigned him to go along with Biology.  Gunnar rarely wants to work ahead, but he stays on top of things... even when he's not particularly enjoying them... like reading Great Expectations.  In his opinion, it would make a great story in about a quarter of the pages.  I hear ya.

Around the house...  more open spaces and surfaces - aahhhhh :D  And primroses, because they're the hope of spring to come.

And speaking of spring... the ducks were going NUTS as we passed the pond on our walk this morning.  Males, chasing each other around.  Yep.  It's spring.

The Mother Load...  got our tax stuff together over the weekend, which is a huge load off my back.  I'm prepping our work list for spring break, though it's still over a month away.  In the mean time...

* run errands but don't spend any more money than necessary (hmmm...)
* mop upstairs floors (they usually just get dust-mopped, but it's time)
* inventory the cupboards and make a plan - so much food!
* if we're going to garden, there's prep to do
* send package to friends in Myanmar (requires a trip to the actual post office - ugh)
* make a Goodwill run (I don't think I could pull off another 40 bags this year, so it might as well go now)
* find the right spot to hang the tree quilt
* and more, more, more.  Sigh.

A favorite quote for today... 

People may not always live what they profess,

but they will always live what they believe.

 - Neil T. Anderson

One of my favorite things...  Kerry and Gunnar found me some Lindor milk chocolate and sea salt truffles for Valentine's Day... thanks!

A Bible verse...  

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  Gunnar's violin lesson was cancelled tomorrow, and the boy he babysits is out of town, so it's a more normal day (get more done!).  I have some writing I want to do before it's due.  Tate will have his piano lesson.  And it looks like the weekend is OPEN.  :D

A peek into my day...  I'm lichen it.  (*Groan*)

Scatterday

Hurray for Second Saturday, which is to say that we didn't have school yesterday so today feels like a second Saturday.  Why not?  And we get Monday off as well, so three cheers for a mini-break :D

Meanwhile, a few random thoughts.  Today I...


... spent a few hours today getting our tax stuff all together.  At least the part that's my responsibility.  Of course, that involves getting caught up on tracking our checking account and making sure I have a paper trail in case we ever need to prove anything. Ugh.  But what a huge load off my back - yippee!  And as I look back through the year, I'm reminded of God's faithfulness.  Last year we finished one month with TEN DOLLARS in the checking account, but at least it was ten in the black.  Whew.


... packaged up my friends' quilt to mail.  Breanna, if you're reading, it will be on its way to Chiang Mai when the post office opens again on Tuesday :D


... have had time to visit with some of my neighbors.  I'm so glad I have the kind of neighbors that do drop-ins, you know?  I go "practice the art of sitting".  My friend down the alley is recovering from hip surgery (her third) and spending her time of enforced rest by learning to play TWO instruments.  I haven't heard her with her autoharp, but we've had some fun with the hammered dulcimer she has on loan :D  And my next door neighbors (distant cousins) are celebrating their 60th anniversary this weekend.  They're very sweet... and they crack me up.  When I came to the back door, Bea waved me into the kitchen.  It's always warm in their house... so very warm.  Ralph called from the living room to greet me and to warn me that he didn't have any pants on.  (He is NOT a creeper - don't get the wrong idea!  If my house was that hot I might watch TV in my underwear too!)   I stayed in the kitchen ;D


... wrapped up some sweets for all my sweeties :D  And Tate "helped" me make sugar cookies a day ago.  Well, yes, he really is helpful, but ALL the boys want to "help" make cookies, mostly because they want pinch bites - dough.  I think they'd rather have the dough than the cookies ;D


In other news,  why is fish so fishy?

I'd much rather cook fish in the summer.  Outside.  On the barbecue.  Because the smell lingers.


Happy Valentines Day to you all and your sweeties :D

Not-Just-For-Christmas Tree Quilt

With much relief that my mental processes are still largely intact,

I give you my completed

Not-Just-For-Christmas Tree Quilt.

For comparison, here's the model I was working from:

The quilt (above) was featured in Quilter's Newsletter's Best Christmas Quilts (2014 edition). 

In fact, I made two quilts from that particular magazine.

The tree quilt above, and this one I gave my sister:

But I digress...

This tree quilt was going to be a gift for a friend.

She recently moved from western Washington to North Dakota,

and I thought this might be a baby quilt

to remind her of her Evergreen State home :D

Turns out she had something else in mind,

which is fine,

but I had already cut the pieces...

and I'm one of those very linear people.

Some of you creative types have multiple projects going at once,

and GOOD ON YOU.

I can't do that.

First, my head would explode.

Second, I'd have more clutter than I already have, which is more than plenty.

And third, I NEED the completion to enjoy the process.

And this quilt was definitely a process.

Oh, those triangles...

those crazy isosceles triangles nearly drove me to the Cliffs of Insanity.

First, I cut them wrong, thinking I didn't actually need the pointy end at the top,

which would get swallowed up in seam allowance.

And maybe you don't, actually,

if you know what you're doing.

Which I didn't.

So I had to trim a half-inch off Every. Single. Triangle.

Then there was the way you have to line them up wrong  (offset)

to make them finish right  (even)...

I think I sewed the first row about seven times before I

kind-of-sort-of figured it out.

And even then I ended up with more like half-inch seam allowances

rather than quarter-inch, because my points met so far into the block.

The learning curve conspired to make the quilt finish a bit smaller than I had anticipated.

But FINE, I don't care about that.

Since it's not going to be a baby quilt,

it's going to be a wall-hanging :D

Even the back looks kind of interesting,

due to the quilting!

And now?

No more triangles for a looooong time!