A new day
27 Apr 2012 8 Comments
in gardening, Personal notes Tags: ancestry, Family, family tree, outdoors, plants
The sun is starting to shine here and the snow is melted. I think this is the first year of my life I didn’t go out and crunch the frozen puddles in the early mornings of spring. I love to do that. This year it seemed like spring would never come and then suddenly I realized it had come and went. I have a lot of bad days but I try not to dwell on that so I’m not going to talk about that here.
This time of year I usually have my kitchen covered with seedlings but I just have a little strawberry container that I planted some dill in. It is only a couple inches tall right now. I can’t close the top anymore and they are reaching for he light. There is just something magical to me in planting a seed and watching a small plant emerge. I like to plant lettuce, mixed greens, radish, and peas when it’s warm enough outside and when they are ready I can go out and pick myself a salad. I planted asparagus last year but I don’t know if it made it through the winter. I can’t wait to find out. All of the flowers in my front yard are perennials so I don’t have to do much for them.
I started working on my family tree again. I started several years back and couldn’t get anymore information. I started thinking about it again and realized I better get going on it before it is lost forever. So many people in my family are old and some people in my family have cancer. I lost one of my uncles in March. I think that is what got me started on this. Well, I found out that my son Riley was born on his great, great, great grandfathers birthday. They were born 130 years apart. I think that is pretty neat. Plus, when I got on ancestry.com I found someone else that has my same great grandfather. His Grandmother is my grandfather’s sister. He had a picture of my grandfather when he was younger and even had a picture of my great grandfather. I’ve never seen a picture of my great grandfather and the only pictures I’d seen of my grandfather were from when he was really old. My grandfather died before I was even born. Another person had a picture of my great grandparents from the other side of the family. I was able to verify with my aunts that it is really them. I feel like I found buried treasures.
Well I will try to post more often than never for a while.
Scary on the inside
31 Oct 2011 4 Comments
in Family Tags: Family, halloween, kids, scary, teens
I’m so glad Halloween is over. We live in a nice neighborhood across from a cute little park so most of my visiting ghouls are under 4 foot tall. There were so many cute kids! At my house it was what was going on inside that was frightening. First of all, I have an adorable beagle (female) named Blue…. but when someone knocks on the door or worse… rings the doorbell, she turns into a werewolf! Well, not quite, but almost as scary to a little kid. She will charge the door and anyone on the doorstep. We are trying to train her not to do that but she’s an older dog and you know what they say about that. So we had her confined to a room and all night you could hear *ding dong* followed by furious barking and then “NO, bad dog!” from my son. The little kids would look so frightened just from hearing the barking!
So then there comes a knock at the door….. no doorbell….. a knock. Well, that’s different. I answered the door and it was a cute girl with curly blond hair who was much taller then I was expecting. AND, she wasn’t wearing a costume. She said, “Is Riley here?” That’s my youngest son who is soon to be 15. So, I busy myself cleaning stuff I cleaned already so they could talk. They used to go to elementary school together and were good buddies back then. I didn’t even regonize her! She doubled in size at least! I listened from the next room as they got reaquainted and asked each other about how life has been. My son really needs to learn about awkward long pauses…. those are bad. That talk will definitely come before (right before) the birds and the bees talk LOL Finally, they exchanged phone numbers and she left and Riley looked like he was about to pass out! Then dad gets home and we procede to tease him. We couldn’t help it! He takes it well. He’s shy but honest :O)
Now comes the real scary part…. when my oldest son – the senior in high school decided he wasn’t going to listen to me. He’s sitting in his bedroom playing world of war craft on his laptop when I asked him to watch the door for a little while. His brother had been handing out candy all night and he wanted to throw on the Templar Knight costume his dad wore to the costume party and surprise some friends. He only wanted to go for 15 minutes and his brother wouldn’t turn off his game for even 15 minutes. I can’t answer the door repeatedly in these temperatures because if I get cold I’ll be in pain all night. Riley understands that and even brought me a blanket while I was sitting on the couch and was careful not to let too much cold air in. Anyway, I finally told Jared to get his butt out there and help out for 15 minutes and the kid thought he was bigger than me. Well he is, but that’s not the point. He barely even looked my way and said he wasn’t going to. I said he was done playing that game and he said “yeah right” and closed the door. Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh boy………. so he doesn’t think I can do anything. I unplugged the wireless router and a mad boy opens the door. I have the plug in my hand. So he goes back in the room and sulks but refuses to help. Fine……… stay in there with your laptop shaped paperweight. I ended up bundling up like I was going outside so I could answer the door while Riley went out. He wasn’t gone long and he took over. He even fished out some chocolate for his mom :O) What a good boy. I hope he stays that way.
Catching up
08 Jul 2011 2 Comments
in Craftyness, Crochet, Knitting, Painting Tags: bird nest, bird watching, birds, crochet, eggs, Family, knitting, painting, tatting, watercolor
There has been a lot going on here lately and the summer is flying by so fast. I haven’t been posting much so this is a catch up post.
First, I was not doing much for quite a while because I was having so much pain. I finally called my doctor to see if he could help and now I have something else that is helping. I can do more without hurting but I do get tired and end up taking a long nap every day or some days I don’t wake up until late. But, anything is better than being in pain all the time.
My Mother in law is here visiting from California and we are having a great visit. We went for a nice dinner at the Pump House and had seafood. It was so good! I had the Tempura Fried Seafood Combination with Halibut, huge shrimp and delicious scallops. It is such a neat place so my husband and I went for a walk by the river. It had just rained so we didn’t go far. They have a beautiful deck area for dining when it’s not raining but they also have an windowed area that feels as if you are outside. You don’t see frames around the windows so it feels as if they aren’t there. We ate there and it was nice to not have the wind and bugs bothering us. The service was great too and even though it is “fine dining” you can dress causal and not feel out of place.
We’ve been watching a bird nest in the back yard. I noticed it when I was working in my garden one day and there were 5 little eggs inside. Now they have hatched and I’ve been watching them grow. I got a book about birds from the library and I’m trying to figure out what type of birds they are. That isn’t easy since the adult birds never get close enough for me to see them very well.
I have a lot of crafty pursuits going on. I’m going to make a shower curtain for my main bathroom that I recently repainted in grayish-blues… The shower curtain will be made of white crushed voile and I’m going to make a tatted edging for it in a blue that matches the walls.
I’m also making a knitted tie for my husband. I couldn’t find a nice variegated yarn so I’m knitting it by holding some size 10 crochet cotton in Red together with the micro spun yarn in black. It looks really nice so far.
Finally, I’m going to participate in the CAL (crochet-a-long) on the Lion Brand Blog. We are making a reglan pull-over top. I’m going to make mine in a dark pink and I’m excited to see how it turns out. I’ve never made a sweater/top before. I’ve always made scarves and blankets and other simple things.
I’m also going to attempt something my water color teacher mentioned – to paint 30 paintings in 30 days. It will be difficult for me since I have family visiting right now. My Mother in law will be here through the 18th and then my dad will get here on the 20th. So we’ll see what happens.
Books and other dusty stuff
05 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Personal notes Tags: books, dust, Family, paperbackswap, Reading
It’s a beautiful Saturday. The sun is out and lighting up the sky around the snow coated trees. It ALMOST makes me want to go outside but it is kinda cold so I think I’ll stay right here all warm and cozy. I had been meaning to finish that book called Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright all week and I never got a chance. I finished it this morning and it is a great book. I love the way the ending ties everything up so nicely. I wont give anything away but everyone should read this book – just make sure you get a box of Kleenex before you start. It made me cry but it leaves you with a good feeling. I am going to look for other books by this author.
I just posted my copy of this book to paperbackswap.com. Here is a link to my bookshelf. (Rebekah, you would like this book!)
Anyway, I’m ready for spring. The sunshine is calling my attention to things like fingerprints on the windows and dust – lots of dust in places you forget about until the sun lights it up. I’m also noticing a lot of other things I’ve been meaning to do. Life has carried me away and I haven’t had the time to enjoy the small things along the way – and dust them apparently. With my health the way it has been I have been tired a lot and sometimes I don’t even have the energy to make dinner for my family. I think it’s time to slow down and take more time for my family – and dust them off too.
Stuff
14 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Family Tags: Family, games, knitting, socks
Well this Saturday was our first official “family” day with no internet, TV, or games. We went to breakfast at Denny’s and I ate a healthy breakfast that didn’t blow my diet. We went to the library where I tried to take home all the craft books………Then we went by the Comic Shop on the way home and looked at games (the kind that don’t plug in). Chris bought a really nice chess set that is supposed to live permanently on the coffee table. Now where am I going to keep all of my paper junk and mail I don’t want to deal with??? I guess I’ll have to file that stuff in the circular file. Anyway, I bought a few board games too and can’t wait to learn how to play them. It was fun watching the boys and dad play chess. They hadn’t played in a while so there was some fast losing and learning by trial and error. Riley has gotten a lot better. I prefer to just watch and laugh at their facial expressions while knitting. I finished my socks too! Whoo hooo! That was a big deal to me that no one else seemed as excited about. Jumping up and down on Chris while he as laying on the bed to show him my finished socks did not elicit the attention I was looking for. Instead I was told to take my socks and leave. *sniffle*
Riley had a pretty good day. After he couldn’t find the type of books he wanted at the library we found some things for him at the comic shop. He got a new book to add to his series of weird little comic type books and he also got one of the most expensive posters I ever seen. They are fabric. It does look really sharp in his room and I don’t think it will rip so that’s good. Jared helped him hang it up and then every time he went back in his room and saw it on the wall he would go and thank his dad again for buying it.
Next Saturday Chris will be in Vegas so I’ll have to keep the kids busy by myself. I guess I better get planning some things to do.
Terrible 12′s?
25 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Family Tags: Family, kids, school, trouble, tweens
It’s been a long time since the terrible two’s but it just gets worse and worse….. if that could ever be possble. Last night Ry said he was leaving home and not coming back (because I took his TV away). His teacher called me and not only is he not participating in class he is being disrespectful to the teachers and volunteer staff. A tutor was trying to help him and he was aweful to her and then clapped when she left the room. I was surprised that I got such a response from taking that TV since it was no longer even connected to anything….. but WOW did I get a response! He hates me………. everyone hates him………… we don’t love him………. I called for backup. My husband had taken some pain killers for his knee and gone to sleep (nicely sedated) so I called his brother who has a cool connection with Riley. He talked to Riley for a long time and he even talked to me soon too. He’s a no bones kind of guy and I think that’s what I needed. He told me I need to toughin up and not let Riley walk all over me. Ry is a master manipulator and he knows my buttons. It doesn’t work with Uncle though. Ry came home from school and plopped his grounded butt in front of the TV since Dad and I don’t get home until around 5pm he figures he can do what he wants. He didn’t expect his uncle to come down the hall….. I am hoping with everyone working together on this we can pull him back into reality. If not…. Lord help me.
a wave of nostalgia
15 Oct 2008 Leave a Comment
in Family Tags: anastasia, Family, fandub, friends, music, nostalgia, toy story
| 1. | a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days. |
| 2. | something that elicits or displays nostalgia. |
Pictures
12 Aug 2008 1 Comment
in Family, Photos Tags: Family, pictures, wedding
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- The wedding favors
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- Riley and I at the lake after the wedding
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- Chris and Jared looking sharp
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- A rose from the bride’s bouquet
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- Me with my handsome nephew Patrick
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- Riley and Patrick
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- Flowers at the front of the church
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- Kathy and Travis listening to Papa
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- Me with the bride, Kathy.
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- My beautiful neice Kaylee Rae
The wedding
09 Aug 2008 1 Comment
in Family Tags: ceremony, fair, Family, food, wedding
My brother in law’s wedding was great. It was a nice simple ceremony. I think it was absolutely perfect. I got a lot of pictures and a few videos. It was so nice to see my nephew and niece again. I missed them so much! I wish they didn’t have to go back. After the wedding they had a nice reception at the church and then we went to the lake where we had another reception at the pavilion where we had dad’s wake. It was drizzling but we still had a fire and roasted marshmallows. We had burgers and hot dogs and there was a couple of guys that played guitar and sang. It was fun. I got really sick though. I just can’t eat that kind of food. I should have stuck to the veggies but I had to have some of the BBQ ribs my brother in law made. They were falling off the bones and were deeeelicious! I paid for it all night long though. Without my gallbladder I just can’t eat like that. Well today we are going to the fair rain or not…. and I’m not eating anything! It will be hard to not get a pork chop on a stick and corn on the cob like usual! I just need to have fun with my nephew and niece and get as many pictures as possible.
moody blues
05 Aug 2008 Leave a Comment
in Family, Weight loss Tags: diet, Family, sick
I haven’t been posting lately since I’ve not been feeling well (no rebekah, I’m not dead!). I have an abcess in a tooth I had a root canal done in over 5 years ago. It hasn’t been fun at all. I took half a round of antibiotics before they decided they weren’t doing their job (other than making me sick) and gave me something stronger (to make me sicker). I don’t know what is worse the pain from the tooth or the antibiotics!!!!! Anyway, I just finished those this morning so I’m looking forward to spending less time in the bathroom. In addition to that fun I’ve had family here for a while. My mother in law is here to help prepare for my brother in law’s wedding on the 8th. My dad also came up with his new wife for a couple weeks. It’s a bummer that I didn’t have any time off to really spend with them. My dad and Penny had a good time though. I wish it could have been prettier for them though. My dad knows what it’s like in Alaska but Penny only saw it through the rain. It’s just not the same.
I’m enjoying the visit with my mother in law. She has been staying with us most of the time so I can visit with her after I get home from work which is usually pretty late. I had the best times shopping with her. She’s a great bargain hunting shopping buddy!
Anyway, being sick put a damper on my diet. I haven’t exercised much since I was feeling like crapola and I didn’t stick to my diet since most things made me turn green. Things like mashed potatoes, bread and rice felt the best on my stomach so that’s what I ate. I haven’t weighed at all. I’ll do that tomorrow am to see where I stand. UGH, I’m not looking forward to seeing that number. I can still wear my size 10 jeans that I got into but I feel like my belly is poochier. I’ve reeeealllly gotta work on that! It’s so depressing to see.
Okay, tomorrow is the first day of better days ahead.
