camera throw down

Main Entry: dump Part of Speech: verb Definition: drop, throw away Synonyms: cast, chuck, clear out, deep-six,  deposit, discard, discharge, dispose of, ditch, drain,  eject, empty, evacuate, expel, exude, fling, fling down,  get rid of, jettison, junk, leave, let fall, scrap, throw down,  throw out, throw overboard, tip, unload, unpack Antonyms: hold, keep, maintain, save I was planning a camera unloading fest today because I am really too lazy to do anything else.   I think the proper term is 'camera dump' but I don't really like the word 'dump' for obvious reasons.   So I looked up the word in the thesaurus (well, actually thesaurus.com because who actually has a  real paper thesaurus lying around anymore?) and these were the synonyms.   As you can tell from the title, camera throw down is my favorite.  I think I'll stick with it.   These pics are in reverse chronological order, starting yesterday: I put in a fall garden.  I'm about 2 weeks behind schedule according to the frost date, but honestly,  I don't believe it can actually get cold here, cooler (as judged by today) but not cold.  I dare you,  weather.  I got the plans here.  I might blog more about this if I'm feeling unlazy.  I found this great park with flat walking trails, fenced in, and  a playground.   And it's always empty.  I now know why.  There is not a single place to park. I parked right under a no parking sign and took my chances.  It's too bad because it really is a  nice, new place.    The park also backs up to the train tracks.  We had an excellent view and great sound effects!  Here's the Wyb.  I love that he sleeps on his side curled up like this.  It's almost more than I can  handle.  He fell asleep here on the floor the other night.    And so did Tyler.     Ignore the mess. Oh sweet feet.    Laundry helper  We found some tiny shoes at target and for whims tried them on.  Wyatt couldn't figure out  what on earth I was doing to him.  But they were so cute.    We rode the Heber Creeper while in Utah.  Wyatt enjoyed his first train ride with his PopPop.   I really enjoyed being with my family, but probably don't need to ride the train again.   They are right when they say creeper.  It only creeps along.  Making you feel a bit nauseous.  At Kyle's wedding:  A typical face from my brother Scott and but I had to document Paige's cute dress (and mini baby bump), that coordinated perfectly!   It kept trying to fly away hence the strong side arms.    And a cute picture of my grandparents.  I got to spend an evening with my grandma, just me and Wyatt (killing myself for not taking a picture!) and it was really nice just to talk and play the piano a bit.  They are getting old.  I can say that because they don't have the internets and can't read this. Time just has a way, I guess.

Household Happenings

• I bought myself a new (old) blender. I hate the blender I had. It was really loud. And not cute. This one is cute and quieter. The base has already been repainted, so I might just repaint it a shiny red. But it makes great orange julius. Sometimes I add a scoop of strawberry jam to the orange julius. It is yummy.
• We all have colds again. I hate when I get that sore throat where you gotta eat or drink. Cause I do. Like I need any more reasons to eat...
• I just bought tickets to fly to San Antonio. Just Ty & me. It will be the first time in 13 years that we've ever left the kids. Ok, really just 9 years...
• I'm going on a thriftcation this weekend. I am super excited. I hope to find some good treasures, and if not, I will just be glad to spend time with my soon-to-be moving friend.... boo-hoo.
• Tyler is going to his first High Council meeting tonight. Aren't I too young to be married to a high councilor?
• He's still teaching seminary too. 1 MORE WEEK! I've been making all sorts of plans since we will have some spaces reclaimed. The office (currently housed in the dining room) will move to the basement, as well as the big brown leather couch that got kicked out of the family room when we remodeled. So that leaves fairly empty living and dining rooms, and an entire downstairs to fix up. It will be fruit-basket turnover around here and believe me, I'll be blogging about it!
• Besides the fact that we thrive on projects, I also have "getting the house on the market" brain. We will be moving. To Indianapolis. We just don't know when--I anticipate after the next school year is over. That gives us another year to enjoy our home, and the new pergola Ty just built.
• And lastly, seeing this ↓ makes me happy. As well as the little people who play with it.

Off the Wall--garden pallet and other random topics

isn't this a great idea?! i love this.

for step by step instructions go HERE.

found via Backyard Farming.

In other news, our garage sale is DONE.

Yay.

Lots of work, lots of crazy, but we now have a blissfully empty attic.

(can't say the same for the rest of the house...)

It would have been a lot nicer if the weather were actually sunny and warm as forcasted instead of cold, windy and gray.

I'm done with cold for the record.

I've had a killer headache for days.

I know no one is really interested in that, but for some reason it makes me feel better to blog about it.

I'll take whatever relief I can get.

Our new birds are slowly getting used to their new digs.

I am hearing little chirping sounds as I sit here typing.

It's nice.

Their names are Flossie and Freddie

(10 points if you know the reference)

I REALLY wanted to name them Gladys Kravitz and Canoe.

Because those are some of my girls' favorite characters.

Another 10 points if you know those references.

And since the garage sale is done, Midwest Vintage Co. is going to reopen it's doors.

I have LOVED having a little vacation.

I've actually gotten some personal sewing and some housework done which is highly satisfying.

But I've got tons of new stuff, so it's back to work!

RTT

It will have to be one of those Random Thoughts Thursdays. I don't have enough complete thoughts to make a post.

• I had 8 children over here this morning. From baby to 5thgrader. 5th grader took care of baby the whole time. It really wasn't that bad.
• My neighbor just had her 8th child. She let all the kids stay home from school and just had the highschoolers drive them all to the hospital.
• Both of these thoughts make me think it's well worth it to wait until my other children are grown up before I venture to have more kids.
• School was cancelled/delayed today because it was cold. I find this to be very silly. We don't even live in Canada. Or Alaska. I was working on the chicken coop this morning and didn't even think it was that bad. Of course, that's relative.
• I love practicing the piano, and I love spaghetti squash.

Photo from the art museum. Before I got in trouble for taking photos...

random thoughts

picture to make me homesick for summer

• i got everything on my list done yesterday. how often does that happen? of course there wasn't too much on there, and i always include getting dressed. i want credit for that.
• i've been working on some piano pieces that i did for my high school senior recital. i can't believe i used to be that good. i'm hoping to get Mendelssohn's rondo capricciosso ready for the piano breakfast club one of these months. it's been really fun to practice and revive these songs.
• i'm teaching the provident living class tomorrow (will prally be cancelled--see next bullet point) on powdered milk. i made yogurt for the first time. i used 2 different methods, 2 different kinds of milks and 2 different innoculators. it turned out great. i searched all over town for rennet so i could make some actual hard cheese, i finally found some, but i haven't made it yet. i'm excited to try it. i love kitchen experimentation.
• we are under a blizzard watch. we got a bunch of snow last night and are supposed to get more snow today and tonight. no school today, probably no school tomorrow. this is the first time in 10 years of living here that we've ever had an actual blizzard. it's pretty exciting. as long as we can survive the cabin fever...
• we watched home movies last night for fhe. it was so fun to see our little people. they were so cute. it made tyler wonder why we didn't have any more babies around here. until we got to the later videos. and then he remembered... haha. it's crazy how the time goes.

Random and Quick

I wanted this dress so so bad.

And now it's sold.

I'm so sad.

• I feel like I've had no time to do anything lately. I've missed blogging.
• For the first time in history, my December will feel like a vacation. I will be so glad when November is over.
• Today is my first day with no scheduled appointments or obligations. So I put cleaning bathrooms on the calendar.
• I've been pronouncing "kefir" wrong all this time. It's kuh-feer. I'm so embarrassed. I was always pronouncing words wrong as a kid because I read too much and didn't ever hear people use them. Apparently I provided lots of entertainment to my parents. Now I provide entertainment to my friends.
• I went back to the gym today for the first time in forever (except yoga). I'm going to work really hard to go again.
• There are dark grey skies, but sunshine. It's not too cold. I like fall.
• Now I'm going to go back to cutting fabric. My poor little shop has been neglected. My inventory is running low thanks to all the Australians.

Tricky Tuesday

Why are Tuesdays so hard for me? I always feel so blah on Tuesdays. Mondays have a purpose: weekend clean up, laundry, etc. But Tuesdays are just so... Tuesday-ish.

* * *

I love to get involved in projects, but I hate being interrupted. So much so that I won't even start. And then I mope around needing to get my creative urge satisfied and feel so... angsty. I should just dig in and do what I can in little segments. I've never been good at moderation. That's how I'm feeling right now.

* * *

This last weekend I scored tons of fabrics for my shop. I've got most of them washed and cut, but there's so many that it's taking a long time. They're so pretty and fun and when I find a "good one" I get really, really excited.

* * *

It's grey and rainy outside. Very Fall. I was excited for this cool weather, until it came. I miss the sun which makes me think I'm not quite ready for dreary winter.

* * *

Guess that's all. Now lunch, drop kids off at school, yoga, bake bread, can tomatoes, pick Maddie up from Cross Country, sew Maddie's lunch bag, sew skirt for me (wishful thinking), dinner, Glee. I guess that's not so bad...

It's just Tuesday

This is my neighbor modeling a pillowcase dress. I'm selling the pillowcases, but it never hurts to see what you can do with them! Isn't she cute?

Yep, folks. Just a Tuesday. I have nothing super exciting to report. I've been busy puttering around. Added a few thing to my shop, cut more fabrics, that kind of thing.

I tried making butter from my raw (fresh) milk, but it's really hard to skim just the cream and it took forever to churn. I'm sure there are regular butter makers out there that have better methods. I need to figure them out.

I have yoga this afternoon and I'm excited. I haven't been almost all summer (to the gym either for that matter) so I'm sure it won't feel very good.

I'm giving up on the potty-training. Will's completely trained when it comes to #1, but not at all for #2. I'm not entirely sure what to do. Go back to diapers? idk.

Well, that's it. That's my Tuesday.

Little Bits

• My birthday was great. I ate so much cake and sweets. I got awesome presents. My mom was here to celebrate. I'm 32 now.
• My valentines day was great too. I ate so much cake and sweets. I got awesome presents. My mom was here to celebrate and Tyler got to come home after church.
• It won't stop snowing. My mom was going to leave today, but she's snowed in. I'm the lucky one--she's been making soup and folding laundry. Thanks mom!
• I'm leaving for out of town in a few days. I've got lots to do before then. I should not be on the computer.
• I didn't get shin splints from yesterday's Turbo class. I am more than glad.
• I'm going to get dinner started now.

Little Bits

I really want (to make) this purse. It's just too cool for words.

***

I made this big list of things to blog about, but I still can't make myself do it. Man, when I don't feel like doing something, there's nuthin' that can make me do it. I just don't feel like thinking sometimes, yknow?
***
Will had speech today and it was sort of an evaluation. Miss Cheryl thinks he's really coming along and thinks his expressive speech is at about 25 months (he's 30 months). She is amazed at the progress he's made in 3-4 months. It really is amazing that he didn't even have 20 words when we started, and now there's too many to count. And besides talking, he's adjusted to structured play, developed a longer attention span, goes to nursery and Childwatch at the Y. My baby is not a baby anymore!
***
Sometimes I wonder how moms in the olden days made it through. When everything was made of glass. Because my children can't touch glass without breaking it. Were those moms always sweeping? Were kids more coordinated? Careful? I don't know. I do know I clean up broken glass on an almost daily basis. And I don't really like it.
***
Tonight, Tyler and I are having a yearly planning session. We're putting our camping trips, temple trips and vacations on the calender and going over a budget for the year. No one knows how fun this is for me. I'm so excited! Almost more excited than the date we're going on tomorrow night!
***
Have you seen Grey Gardens? If not, you're missing out. There's a newer HBO movie starring Drew Barrymore (not my favorite actress, but this is her role of a lifetime) and then there's the original documentary from the 70s. My mom cannot stop talking about it (I think she's developing a "Lon g-Island" accent) and for good reason. It's fascinating, funny, disgusting, sad and funny again. If you've seen this, I want to know what you think.

Little Bits

I've got lots of little things not worthy of their own post, but still.... So here is my random sampling of bits.

* * *

Everyone should have computer back-up. That way, if your son smashes your hard drive, you don't lose all the digital video stored on your computer, among other things...

* * *

I bought a red heat lamp for my chickens, thinking it would keep them warmer at night (mostly for my benefit) but it only keeps them awake. They were partying all night in that coop.

* * *

I think I'm finally ready to nail down my resolutions/goals for 2010. I've been having a hard time feeling motivated this year.

* * *

Will's speech is really picking up. New words include Mannie (Maddie), Addy (Elle), Wiiooo (Will), Ernie, Bert, no thank you, meanie, bird, and more. His imitating is just amazing compared to a few months ago. The bad news is, his therapy is on hold because of insurance problems that are utterly ridiculous and the fact that it's a government program. Doesn't make me want government health care very much.... Hopefully the problem will be resolved shortly and his sessions will continue soon.

* * *

I signed up for a photography class. Well, more like a camera class. I am so excited. Not just to learn more about this subject, but to actually go to a college and sit in a classroom, and experience campus life again. I'm really really excited.

* * *

Maddie threw up in the middle of the night last night. And just kept on sleeping. So it was quite a treat to wake up and find that this morning. And the amazing part is, I just kept on sleeping and Tyler cleaned it all up. How did I get so lucky?

* * *

We've gotten a ton of snow in these past few days. I don't actually mind. I'll take snow and below-freezing temps over a freeze/thaw cycle any day (well, maybe not any day). It does make me wish I had finally bought some snowshoes though.

* * *

Tonight, my date night consists of putting the kids to bed about now, building a fire, drinking some hot cocoa (why does the addition of real cream make it taste sooo much better?), and watching Anatomy of a Murder with my hubbie. Ahhhhh, sounds good to me!