and so it goes...

Follow Me

2011-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Preface: I have a virtual friend (meaning, I only know her online, not in real life) who's facilitating an online Bible study based on the Good Morning Girls groups. Every work week there is a new 5-day Bible study that follows the acronym SOAP: Scripture, Observations, Applications, Prayer. I like it because it's a quick way to build the disciplines of grace into your life (The Word, prayer,

To Live is Christ

2011-04-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

From Sovereign Grace's new album Risen, this song was a great blessing to me this morning. As an interesting twist, I was listening to it while working out at Bally's gym, and was really struggling to maintain my composure. The Other Sweaty People in the gym probably thought I was working out really hard and had pulled something. :) Before You gave us life and breath You numbered all our days

Held and Holding Firmly

2011-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

"Listen: If you’ve got a Christian faith whereby you’re hanging on by your fingernails to God – just making it—then I don’t know that you have understood saving faith. If you are hanging on to God as a result of how well you’ve done this past week, or how many times you’ve read your Bible, or how many times you’ve witnessed, or how many times you didn’t think the bad thought (or whatever else it

"life", mommyhood, popcorn...

2011-01-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

Gentle reader, please advise:How does one blog about Life, specifically Mommyhood, when one's children have reached An Age of Self-Awareness that mom occasionally--nay, mainly-- Blogs About Them? To avoid causing or giving offense, I find myself mentally editing my childrearing mileposts to the point that they just never leave my fingertips and make it into record.D and S continually surprise

trainspotting

2010-11-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning on the way to school, Number One Son and I were delayed by a rather long freight train carrying a load of coal eastbound across the nation.D: "Oh, look! It's the Polar Express!"Gonna be a lot of sad boys-n-girls.....

literary lovin'

2010-11-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

I've been rather MIA lately. I can talk about trivialities and meaningless stuff with great loquacity, but to dig deeply and bare my soul --whether in person or on the intertubes--puts a choke chain around my throat and glues my tongue to the roof of my mouth.A dear former student and friend of mine posted this meme on FB earlier today, then tagged me. Since it has just the right dosages of

conspiracy afoot

2010-06-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

I found a checklist in the laundry room (which, in fact, is just one tiny side of the garage, but it sounds more impressive to say Laundry Room like I actually have an entire room designated for cleaning clothes) -I'm posting it here so I can let the FBI know that I'm keeping tabs on this hotbed of rebellion. Motherhood isn't for sissies. Here's the list:___ Machine Gun___ C-4___ Grenades___

crazy, mixed-up kid

2010-06-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

In others, I admire a well-turned phrase, a piquant wit, and ghastly puns. I'm pretty good with words myself, though a master by no stretch.But so far I haven't been able to find the words to write this post. And I need to.My dad died on May 18, 2010. There. I typed it. It was peaceful and quick, and I was not there. I was here in WA teaching piano lessons at the time when the phone

Are Christians Meant to Feel Guilty All the Time?

2010-05-11T09:57:00.001-07:00

Are Christians Meant to Feel Guilty All the Time?Posted using ShareThisThanks to Lisa for mentioning this on FB. This is where my heart and mind have been lately. If I'm in a funk about things, usually it's because I'm dwelling on my sin rather than my gracious Savior. Timely and helpful.

Because I haven't posted in a long time :)

2010-04-22T20:06:00.001-07:00

This sums up 3/4 of our family quite nicely, thank you!see more Lolcats and funny pictures

the forgetfulness of God

2010-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.Isaiah 43:25And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.For I will forgive their iniquity, andI will remember their sin no more."Jeremiah 31:34In those days and

spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.....

2010-03-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

To borrow a line from Tom Lehrer, all the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon. (No, I did not go "poisoning pigeons in the park," but I've been humming that song all day.)Actually had a SATURDAY today, one that counted as such - it didn't involve HAVING to run here, go there, play this, drop off that. I slept in, spent some quality time with my husband, had several cups of coffee, made

miasma

2010-01-21T06:51:00.001-08:00

"It's up to the government to resolve this kind of problem, they must take responsibility and tell us what to do." - Gelin Wesnel, native Haitian.Culture shock.

it never rains in sunny...western washington?

2010-01-20T11:34:00.001-08:00

It's a rare event, but it does happen. California is getting hammered with wet weather, while we Pac NW-ers enjoy sun and 50º weather. I even went jogging on Monday to 1) get rid of Christmas indulgences and 2) get my heart back in shape.Okay, I didn't jog non-stop. More like: walk, walk, walk, walk, jog for about half a block; recover for 5 minutes to get my breath back; jog for half a

raindrops keep falling in my coffee

2010-01-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Blattery rainy weather lately. I keep thinking about the character in So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish where Rob the lorry driver has kept a personal journal demonstrating that it NEVER stops raining. Never. In the book, of course, the omniscient narrator informs us this is because Rob McKenna is, in fact, a rain god, so the clouds just follow him everywhere to cherish him, be with him, and

the non-resolution post

2010-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Well, well, where'd the time go?! Happy Twenty-Ten!In reading up on some other blogs I follow, the common theme seems to be "boy, I wish I had something awesome/creative/inspiring to share, but I've been too busy/boring/uninspiring over the Christmas/Advent/Hanukkah/Kwanza season that I haven't posted anything..."So rather than add my own variation on the same theme above, I will be just as

...just sayin'

2009-12-03T10:43:00.001-08:00

props to Zintradi for making this his FB profile piccy...... :)

dinner fail

2009-11-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

Actual comments from my family during supper tonight:".... what's in the potatoes?""This is a 'floss' meal.""The gristle's actually not too bad.""So... when are we having pizza?""I'm gonna top this off with a bowl of cereal."I concede that the meat was undercooked. My ravenous family, unwilling to delay supper any further, pulled the fresh beef brisket from the oven, sliced it and served it

Stolen bras recovered, but no bust made :: WRAL.com

2009-10-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

Best headline I've read in a while. Don't really care about the story! lolStolen bras recovered, but no bust made :: WRAL.comShared via AddThis

towanda

2009-10-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

With the soon advent of The Rain (this event in the Pac NW gets its own capital letters), A. decided today was "strip the garden day."We betook ourselves to our garden plot, which, once The Rain comes, will become a large field of chocolate pudding, hazardous to muck boots and small children. We lost a child out there once. (We did eventually retrieve her.) So the goal was clear: harvest the

begorrah

2009-10-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Something I've never noodled out before is the relative merits and deficiencies of bond weights of paper. Apparently 20 lb paper messes up our laser printer; 24 lb does not.I am supposed to remember this from an apparent tragic occurrence in my distant past: 20 lb paper messes up the printer, and it's a pain to fix. I only remember this dimly. However, I strongly remember that someone in

scenes from P-town

2009-10-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

My most recent wedding cake. The mother of the groom is a good friend of mine; I was honored to be asked to make this. The bride is German, so when you cut into the cake, it's layered to look like the German flag: from top to bottom, it's chocolate, strawberry, and lemon. Satin Ice fondant covering the cake-- (SOOO much better than Wilton. I will never put that rancid W stuff on any

movin' on up to the east side (well, kent, anyway)

2009-09-12T21:35:00.001-07:00

When, in the course of family events, it becomes necessary for a homeschooling family to dissolve the scholastic bonds which have connected them with one another, and to assume, among the other taxpayers of the school district, the separate and equal station to which the laws of compulsory education in Washington State and our Sovereign God (to whom every parent answers) entitle them, a decent

"put that thing back where it came from, or so help me...!"

2009-08-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

So apparently my son was "followed" by a kitten at the park today. It's a wee thing, so I'm sure it didn't follow him very far before it got picked up. Fuzzy and grey. I'm not holding out any hope for the kids, but it's coming on night soon so I guess it can spend one night here. Not like we don't have other animals around. Just not many mammals! Tomorrow: Pierce County Humane Society.

it's all about her

2009-08-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

I just had D come and clean up what he'd left piled around my computer: a bowl of salad plus fork from lunchtime (much salad left); an empty bowl of Moose Tracks ice cream plus spoon (empty), and a small bag of gummy worms (empty).D said, "Hey! Who ate the rest of my gummy worms?"I told him the last time I checked, there was one worm left, and I did not eat it.He stalked to the living room and

color me pink

2009-07-29T16:02:00.001-07:00

And I thought California was hot. :> SO good to be home in the nice, cool Pacific NW...

too much fun

2009-07-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

Last week we turned our children loose to summer camp. They went to Camp Wooten, which is near Pomeroy, WA. It's in the middle of NOWHERE. It took me and my friend 7 hours to get the kids there.....and then she and I turned around and came back home, all in the same day. Tuesday I spent recovering from Monday.Wednesday A. and I decided to tackle the household dungeon and get it cleaned up from

2009-06-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

strawberry shortcake forever

2009-06-20T21:12:00.001-07:00

Today was the perfect day for jamming. June Gloom has currently overtaken the previous weeks of sunshine, so it was time to pull out the pectin, sugar, and jars and get some strawberries from Spooner Farms. :) 1 flat will make 3 batches of jam (about 4 pints each), just in case you didn't know. I, however, bought an extra half-flat so I can snack on berries. They're especially sweet this

new pigpig

2009-06-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here's our newest addition named Squirt, partnered with Julie. She's overcome her shyness since being paired with Julie, and she's turning into a really friendly animal. Jumpy and fast, as all young cavies are, but talkative and interested in people.Steve Williams posted a link to a Sims 3 ongoing blog. (I am still stuck in Sims 1 mode - it's an amazingly fun black hole of a time vortex, so I

The Event

2009-06-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Flopsy pig pig died yesterday afternoon. It was very sad, but good for the kids to experience a small taste of grief, even if only for a beloved pet. Her final resting place was a Grape Nuts box cut to size. A. let the kids pick where to put her grave, so they chose a spot next to the wisteria bush. S. put a little pot of grass on the spot and we went to Happy Teriyaki for dinner so we could

flopsy pig pig

2009-06-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

I am in here because it would be a sin to laugh right now. I am cursed with a tweaky sense of humor that crops up at inappropriate times.Early this afternoon A. discovered our oldest guinea pig Flopsy: limp and prostrate, shallowly panting. It's warm outside, so we don't know if this is the result of old age, or if she's just suffering with heat exhaustion. We gave her an ice pack and misted

a series of common events

2009-06-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

This morning, D. said his band at Maplewood was having an end-of-the-year party. Bring snacks. So I dropped the boy at band and drove to Safeway to get some suitable 9:30 a.m. party snacks. Only one register is open at Safeway, and they're stacked 6 deep with customers.... Success at last! Chocolate chip mini muffins purchased, I headed back to Maplewood. As I rounded the corner, I saw our

sowing and reaping

2009-05-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

It's almost June. Schools are winding down, the temperature is winding up, the neighborhood kiddie pools are filling up.And my kids are inside doing school. Only now do they bemoan the wasted hours, the frittered time. My daughter is in a rage right now because the kids next door are making too much noise as they swim in their pool and slip on their waterslide. She wants me to go next door

pulpit fail

2009-05-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

We receive many emails from different organizations of varying Christian stripes - so much so, that they tend to blur together.This morning, however, we received an e-newsletter from a church where I personally was familiar with their pastor and his ministry. Since it made a blip on my recognition radar, I clicked on the link and had a look around.Apparently they have a new pulpit - a gift from

deadline

2009-04-30T00:05:00.001-07:00

30 days hath September,April, June, and November...Just wanted to get one post in for the month of April, since it is now April 30....Harking back a bit, one month ago today I was in Quebec.I still have travel photos on my camera to upload, and travel stories to tell before I forget them (for instance - from Minnesota to Western South Dakota........it pretty much sucks. No offense, or anything,

guest book review: Don Quixote

2009-03-11T10:39:00.001-07:00

This is for Rebecca, who's been taking stabs at reading this.D. read an abridged version of Don Quixote for school, and here's his assessment (and I quote):"I can tell you the entire story in very few words.He reads too many books. He becomes a nut. So then he gets a squire, and he trains his squire to become a nut. Eventually he dies because he's a nut."

context, context, context.

2009-03-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

A and I are enjoying a quiet evening in the living room. He's reading, I'm playing games on my laptop. Here's the conversation:Me (playing Scrabble online): "I'm only coming up with four-letter words."A: "Why? Are you in that bad of a mood?"

spring is not icumen in

2009-03-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Spring is not icumen inLhude sing poo-pooh!Snoweth snow and Bloweth noseAnd Groweth impatience anew...Lhude sing poo-pooh!**edit** Apparently my song reference above is too obscure. I based it on the old Madrigal song written in Middle English, "Sumer is icumen in." Here's the original poem with a performance of the song. Enjoy! Now, back to your lives, citizens!**I awoke to a winter

mother hubbard

2009-03-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

A, just moments ago, commenting on his inability to find a suitable lunch:"I'm beginning to understand why tigers drive away their offspring from their territory... otherwise, there's no prey left."He further queried:"What do you call something that just lies around, causes trouble, and eats food?"(Me: "A cat.")"No. A parasite. A lawyer."He'll change his tune once I rustle up some suitable

thoughtfulness

2009-02-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

My son has just brought me a cup of my favorite tea: Ginger Peach, by the incomparable Republic of Tea. I love it hot or cold.I wonder if he's trying to soften some blow that will fall shortly?... and I hate being all suspicious like that, but these children sometimes exhibit my worst behaviors, and I have been guilty of buttering people up.Maybe I should just stop fussing and drink my tea. Good

on kitchen countertops

2009-02-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like having a freshly scrubbed kitchen countertop, pristine and cleared of clutter.It's a battle, though, to keep it that way. There must be an inner compulsion in each member of this household that drives us to put things on the countertop. The empty space beckons us to spread out one's cartooning supplies, the monsters made of Sculpey, the assorted recipes that we'll be using

my business is picking up

2009-02-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Last night, on my daily walk-thru before bedtime, I discovered:* an open gallon of milk, sitting in front of the linen closet* General Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi, facing off on my bathroom floor next to the box of shoe polish supplies, also on the bathroom floor for some reasonThis morning, I encountered:* a pot of Earl Grey tea, with copious amounts of sugar speckling the surrounding countertop

snippets

2009-02-23T18:11:00.000-08:00

"Auuughhhh!! What's the point of science without LIQUID NITROGEN??!"

(insert clever title here)

2009-02-22T13:03:00.001-08:00

First off, let me just say a big howdy to my three faithful readers. You probably already know the basic jist of my life because you're on my Facebook friend list! :)Lately I have really been feeling the strain of homeschooling through a particular virtual academy. I love the k12 curriculum, I really do. And I love the people I've met at the Washington Virtual Academy. But the daily grind of

education matters

2009-01-29T22:20:00.000-08:00

I will never stop learning as long as I live. I have some good examples before me. I have a friend who is in her 70's and still taking piano lessons. She's a retired missionary to Colombia who homeschooled five children on the field. She continues to play piano for solo/ensemble competitions, as well as take lessons. Her wisdom and humor make piano classes fun.I had a piano lesson this morning.

the longest day

2009-01-21T23:18:00.000-08:00

I marvel at my children's ability to procrastinate. I can very clearly set forth a well-documented chart of things to do, the order in which they could most efficiently be done, and hold out a "carrot" if the things get done, to reward the kids.11:21 p.m. Kids not done with school. Kids comatose. Mom frustrated. Dad going to bed.I don't know about this whole piano teaching gig. I love it, plus

ooh, shiny! a blog!

2009-01-20T11:33:00.001-08:00

...I wonder how long it's been here, unattended?Working on a new header. ^That one is ancient and unused. And what is more, I can't seem to link to it from photobucket. They've redone the site and I don't feel like investing time in it to relearn how to post the img.More important than a new header, though, is CONTENT. Working on that, too... in between schooling 2 halflings and doing the wife,

thoreau would be proud

2008-12-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

My darling son D never does anything the "regular" way. He will purposefully get answers wrong on various assignments, just to mix it up a bit.This is challenging for me in the discernment department, sometimes: did he get it wrong because he's pretending to be ignorant; or is he, in fact, ignorant of the correct answer?I've just returned from cleaning out the van in preparation for my parents'

Weather Report. Boring to non-native Washingtonians. Ignore.

2008-12-18T20:29:00.001-08:00

Issued by The Weather Channel7:17 pm PST, Thu., Dec. 18, 2008The latest snowfall reports from The National Weather Service in Seattle, WA: 9 miles northeast of Arlington, 27.5"... 5 miles north of Grand Mound, 11.5"... near Olympia, 9.0"... 15 miles west of Port Angeles, 9.0"... near Bellevue, 7.2"... Federal Way, 6.5"... Rainier, 6.0"... 10 miles southeast of Bremerton, 6.0"... 5 miles south of

american idolater

2008-12-16T13:41:00.001-08:00

So I haven't posted much lately, because, frankly, you don't want to hear about it.I haven't been extremely successful in any particular venture. Indeed, I haven't felt like I've done anything well for the last 6-8 weeks, perhaps longer. I'm in a state of barely-controlled chaos: from home management, to child rearing, to homeschooling, to time management, to disciplines of Grace like a regular

the most wonderful hectic time of the year

2008-12-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

I quit teaching piano.Did I surprise you? Well, temporarily quit, at least. :) I will resume in January. But honestly... what kid or family needs ONE MORE THING on his/her plate right now? At this time of year, when we're expected to focus on family, friends, togetherness, giving, sharing--I find myself wondering whether we put too many burdens on ourselves to perform to others' satisfaction.

To God all Praise and Glory.

2008-11-20T23:35:00.001-08:00

I am overwhelmed and profoundly grateful.Bob Jones University posted this page on its website today about their past racial policies. This is amazing for this institution. I thank God for 1.) the humility and grace He gave to the administration to admit past wrongs, and 2.) the humble spirit with which the organizers of Please-Reconcile.org have handled the entire approach to the University.I am

Update on "Fishing at the Park"

2008-11-18T23:44:00.000-08:00

You might remember that last summer D came home from a fishing trip with his arms full of guinea pig instead of trout.Well our rescued piggy is now featured on the front web page of the Foggy Creek Cavy Rescue. Sniff. Our Oreo piggy, a star--except his stage name has become "Zebra," apparently. We can always say "we knew him when."

the appliances have ears

2008-11-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Just last week A. was commenting on our Sharp microwave--how well it's held up! We purchased it immediately following our trip to Israel back in 1995, and it's been going strong ever since. 13 years for a small appliance - not bad, considering the way things are built to be disposable in this day and age.The following Sunday I was reheating leftovers for our meal following church, and the

Please Reconcile - an open letter to Bob Jones University

2008-11-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

In general, I am not a political person. I am not a rabble rouser. I avoid conflict and confrontation.The majority of you who come here will likely be unfamiliar with the link I'm posting above. I rarely discuss my roots or much personal information, though some of you might know I grew up in California. And I virtually never mention the fact that I am a graduate of Bob Jones University. The

the last man on earth = the last kid awake

2008-11-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

D. awoke this morning, barking like a seal, voice high and reedy. Could I find the thermometer? No. I have a pretty good sense of what a fever feels like, though, and he definitely was on the warm side. That, plus no appetite--strong indicators that the child is not well. So D and I spent the morning at home, away from church people.After he woke up and nibbled a few bites of oatmeal, followed

the unexpected task

2008-11-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Saturdays are catch-up days around here. The mowing-grass, pick-up yards, clean guinea pig cages, do some extra laundry and tidy the house days. Swish and swipe the bathroom sink, mirror, and floor days. Cook a few meals and put them in the fridge for busy weekdays days.On that last front, I sent D to the garage freezer to retrieve some frozen Bubba (the name of the beef cow we purchased from

2008-11-13T18:20:00.001-08:00

Wow! Gas is 2.07 @ costco! I just filled my tank for under 30 bucks!

tag (x3), I'm it

2008-11-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Christy, Rebecca and Crystal, for assuming that I actually have something interesting and random to share. Well, random I can do....interesting, not always so much.7 random things about me, that may or may not be interesting:1. I have nightmares about the kids destroying the house in some way. I dream that there's crud all over the floor, or puddles of chocolate (well, that really

does the exception prove the rule?

2008-11-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

When you're taking educational method classes in college, you are taught to praise a child's work ethic, rather than his intelligence. Compare "Wow, you really worked hard on this-- and I can tell" with, "Wow, you did great on this - you must be really smart" Praising a child's persistence and determination actually goes much farther in building a student's learning habits. Why? Because the

Spit. Spit and blast it all.

2008-10-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

(Insert more extreme grousing here). David Tennant is LEAVING DOCTOR WHO. What else is there to say, other than.....WHY did Russell Davies have Ten go through some bogus regeneration bit ---back into himself at the series 4 end?! And does that count as a true regeneration (making him really Ten and Eleven), because Time Lords only get 13 regenerative cycles? Though somehow the Master, renegade

mental blogging

2008-10-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

Yanno, ever since I put that button over there <--- for BWO (Blogging Without Obligation) - I've noticed that my posting has become ever more inconsistent. Maybe it should be BWW: Blogging Without Writing. Or Mental Blogging. Blogging Without Actually Doing It.Whatever it is, I don't feel guilty about it in the slightest, though I am feeling rather disconnected from all of you whom I keep on

2008-09-23T11:43:00.001-07:00

2008-09-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

Shirt: just pretend i'm not here. That's what i'm doing .

people watching

2008-09-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday during my shift at the Puyallup Fair Museum, I was approached by a woman who looked like Margaret Thatcher, from her coif to her big bow at her throat, to her elegant pumps."You have a nice smile, E_." (obviously she can read my nametag.)"Thank you." (I smile again; what other response is there?)"Do you know what the ingredients are for a Honeymoon Salad?"This question, though a

2008-09-12T11:57:00.001-07:00

Shirt: "i see dumb people.."

of ants and cryptids

2008-09-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Mom, can you hand me the can of WD-40?""Sure....why?""It belongs in the shed. I'll put it away."That in itself should have roused my suspicions. My son never just puts anything away.Earlier yesterday afternoon, he had used a magnifying glass to some purpose on the ant colony that lives in the crack of our driveway. A veritable swarm of ants came out to see what was cooking, literally. The

i'm not fluffy at heart, really...

2008-08-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm outing myself, because I really need the prayer support, if you feel called to give it.A few months ago I was asked to be the speaker at a ladies' retreat. My husband felt I should say yes to this opportunity, since he will be speaking at the same retreat, but to the teens. (If we could find someone to watch our children, which we have.)I write a lot of fluff here, I know that. I

the REAL text message I sent:

2008-08-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in the van, having just dropped the kids at swim lessons. D has been treating me to a super-size helping of grouse. Naturally, swimming interferes with his ideal plans for what a summer day should be. Should I tell him that we're starting school-lite this week?

2008-08-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in the van, having just dropped the kids at swim lessons. D has been treating me to a super-size helping of gr

defenders of the blueberry patch

2008-07-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for the fact that we have 5 lovely blueberry bushes of different varieties and sizes. At this time of year, we spend probably 30 minutes daily harvesting those berries that have passed from pale green, to blush red, to a plump, frosty blue. We aren't the only ones who enjoy the blueberries, either. Sparrows, chickadees, and cedar waxwings all enjoy swooping in for a few pecks...

Fishing at the park

2008-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

D considers any day not spent with some time fishing as a day wasted. So yesterday afternoon, as usual, he packed up his pole and gear and headed off to the park a block away.He returned around dinnertime, hands full with his catch:Notice the complete lack of fins and scales there?The story runs like this: he was fishing off the dock, when a lady walking her dog came by and mentioned she had

number one son is 1-1!

2008-07-15T20:13:00.001-07:00

Here's some pictures of D and his luau party in our backyard and surrounding environs. I didn't have any Don Ho music to play, drat!He wanted an island cake:We made tie-dyed t-shirts - but I made everyone wear trashbags so clothes wouldn't get ruined. N. was visiting from Eastern WA, so we were glad he could join us at the party.... he's pictured here with S, who is MY S's dearest friend. (

... and the living is easy

2008-07-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ah, it's been restful... kids away at Church Camp last week... painting the Master bedroom a lurvely sage green color... soaking in the kiddie pool when the temps were in the 90's... actually studying the Word of God for extended periods of time without being interrupted or losing my train of thought... piano lessons only one day per week...if I believed in Nirvana, this would definitely come

filing away for future blackmail

2008-06-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

Today's topic: personal hygiene.Our subject: 10yo male, firstborn, Type A personalityThe circumstances: He failed to use soap/shampoo in the shower he was persuaded (under duress) to take. So he had to take another shower, his father threatening to come in to the shower WITH HIM and scrub his head for him. This did not actually transpire, but the idea of his father coming IN TO THE SHOWER and

"what we did in the month of May"

2008-05-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

1) Finished the concert series with South Sound Classical Choir. Yes, the sound tech came to the final concert and he made a good recording. I'm too lazy to go find one of those players right now to put on my blog sidebar so you can hear me-n-Kari playing. 2) Had a great visit with Grandma K from Michigan. We went to the Woodland Park Zoo with her and as part of a school field trip. We

grasshoppers, 2; sensei, 1

2008-05-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Ooh, hot off the camera. Two grasshoppers (left and right, above) played a duet tonight - Mozart's Sonata in Bb. The sensei (center) was in the audience, and the grasshoppers were jittery. We pulled it off, though of course we know exactly where the problems were. 98% of the audience, however, did NOT know we flogged a few of Mozart's carefully penned chords at the last, especially since we

workin' for the weekend

2008-04-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

For several years I have considered Wednesday to be my "Friday." Saturday is a day of preparation - not necessarily a restful day. Sunday is the Lord's Day. Imagine how much resting gets done in a pastor's home. Hah.Monday - the beginning of the school/work week. Tuesday - more school, with the time constraint of piano. Wednesday, more school, and a lot of piano. And usually school AFTER

gonna be a bright, sunshiny day

2008-04-12T20:34:00.001-07:00

Today was the nicest day of the year so far in the greater Seattle area! The weather broadcasters were all nervous, saying "maybe" we'd get to 69 (staying away from the 70 degree mark). When it was all said and done, the high in Seattle was 78 degrees - so Puyallup probably hit 80.Kids pulled out the Slip-n-Slide, which wreaks havoc on the grass,but I can handle it once a year or so. I

geek quiz

2008-04-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Quick, name the tv show! (Linnet, you are disqualified from this)see more crazy cat pics

Potato

2008-04-08T19:35:00.001-07:00

A pointless song to enjoy. I need to stop wasting time at YouTube :p

The Lord's Prayer

2008-04-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

Cute and a half.

perspectives

2008-04-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week, I sat and drank morning coffee with my husband, who was looking out the window."Look at that," he mused, "How long the smoke from the neighbors' chimney lasts."I turned to look as well, noting the wispy clouds moving and dissolving within feet of their entering the brisk outside air.What is your life? I said to myself. A vapor... here, then gone.All the frustrations of

about me

2008-04-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received a homemade card from my dear 9 yo daughter, and I just now got around to reading it.There's a heart with a smiley on the front - and when you open to read the inside, it says in wobbly crayon cursive:"To thebiggest,grumpiest,Mom ever!I(heart)UUR theBEST!"...I think I need to change the "about me" section.

cabcree is so cool

2008-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

....Look what she did for me!! She redesigned our church web site!This is still (as crafty people would say) a WIP. Any mistakes in text, etc. would be mine. She took our old site and refrubished it so it's more kewwl with CSS-ey things. Mine looked very 90's old school.And A. still gets his favorite colors on the web site.So, props to Raba-baba-caba!

rant. please ignore.

2008-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

True Confessions:I am unable to successfully home school (keeping children on task and in harmony with God and fellow man), keep a home clean and running smoothly, manage the family finances, keep everyone fed regularly, and keep the laundry from taking over my garage floor.Do not bother to read my blog for motherly wisdom and chipper bits of advice, because I do not have any to offer.That is all.

Slinky cat

2008-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

see more crazy cats I enjoy the silliness at ICHC - thanks to Mrs. Blythe and Rebecca for making me aware of the place. :)

indoor water feature, part the second

2008-03-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

WOOT! (=general expression of joy and happiness) We just returned from a mini family vacation. Extremely mini - as in, left yesterday afternoon, back this afternoon. Just one hour south of us near Chehalis/Centralia, Great Wolf Lodge is now open!Weeks back when I was in a haze with the flu, I stared at the TV mindlessly until the Great Wolf commercial came on. My mind rallied to one thing: A

indoor water feature

2008-03-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

The must-have thing in today's depressed real estate market is amenities. You know, those cool things that make a potential buyer jump at the chance to place an offer on your home.D, ever thinking, ever planning, decided to add a water feature to our home yesterday. Taking a handy piece of tape, he covered over the bathroom sink outlet hole - the one near the top of the sink, got it? He

rat race

2008-03-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

When I was young and actually running to stay in shape, we had a drill for basketball practice that we called a rat race. (Some other people call it "Lines".) Starting on the baseline underneath the hoop, we sprinted to the free-throw line (touching the line on the ground), then back; then to the half-court line and back; to the farther free-throw line, and back; finishing with a full-court

too early for a battle of wits

2008-03-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

This morning I awakened to the sound of thumping at 0-dark-hundred. I grabbed my glasses from the nightstand and shuffled out to find my son in the bathroom, running cold water. The toilet was covered with saran wrap. He was not pleased to see me. "Go back to bed!!" he hissed.Even at 6 in the morning, I can put two and two together. I made him remove the saran wrap and empty the water from

blessed

2008-03-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Some random thoughts on my recent illness:I am blessed with a loving husband who cared for me and made sure the kids were fed and clothed while I was in bed for 10 days. As I sorted through receipts to balance the checkbook, I noted how many times he ran out to the store to get me popsicles, gatorade, tylenol, a strawberry milkshake, wonton soup--anything to tempt me to eat something or make me

2008-02-27T18:34:00.001-08:00

It's my turn now. I sound like jerome hines and clutch at my aching chest every time i need to cough. Cheerio and be well.

delirium

2008-02-24T19:01:00.000-08:00

Thursday A.M. around 6:30, I heard S. thumping around. Turns out she was sick, poor kid, so there went her WAVA field trip to the bowling alley. D and I went instead, leaving A to take care of his daughter. Along with the sickness came a tidy fever - 103.8 at its highest. This set off some alarming memories in my skull: 1) kidney infection when she was 3, or 2) Influenza, from 2 years ago

chef and sous-chef

2008-02-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Our annual Valentine's Banquet was tonight at the church. It's SO NICE to be home before 9 p.m!! In years past we haven't gotten home until 10:30 or later.Oh, not because the banquet lasts so long... it's because A. and I make all the food. It's our Valentine to the church family. So what with preparing, serving, and cleaning up afterward, it used to take quite a bit of time.Enter the local

charity suffers long

2008-02-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

My dear daughter S had piano class at Dr. J's last night. Dr. J just called me up a few minutes ago on her way back from Bible study. She wanted to share a moment S had last evening, so this is secondhand.Apparently Master Evan had forgotten to provide treats, as he was supposed to do. After a few moments of the young class commiserating over their collective loss, Master Evan piped up, "That's

hmm, should I be proud or humiliated?

2008-02-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

Which Character From The Office Are You?Created by BuddyTV

trying to hold the reins

2008-02-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Ever since my son misread "caterpillar" as "caterpiddle," it's been mayhem around here. They will certainly remember THIS lesson on arthropods, although not for the right reasons, perhaps.I will take what I can get. Adieu.

email conference

2008-02-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

Quick and easy update: I'm sharing with you, my friends, the email I just sent to the kids' teacher. State law mandates that we have biweekly communication with our supervisory teacher; and this week we're doing an email conference. So, clever me, thinks, "why reinvent the wheel?" and I'm reposting here what I sent to her two minutes ago.The following is our email conference to Mrs. Shaw, the