Thursday, September 30, 2010

BOOM...CRACK



Tonight we all went out for dinner. All of us from work. Okay, not all of us, but most of us, okay, not most, seven of us. We sat in the back of a large restaurant and laughed and joked and laughed so hard that we should have been kicked out. It was a crazy weird day at work with the booming thunder and cracking lightning. Kids were crying and every time there was a boom or a crack (tee he) every kid it seemed screamed. It was out of control. Eventually the office was full of cry babies and concerned mothers and frazzled office staff. I got soaked more times than I can count. Not really but every time I needed to leave the classroom, it was pouring. Big fat drops of H2o. It also was hot and humid amongst the rain. This picture is over my fence this morning on my way out to the truck. I was focused on the blue sky. Ha, fooled me.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

O'Dark Thirty



On Wednesday mornings at O'dark-thirty, I meet my friend for coffee and a replenishing of positive, uplifting fellowship. We have worked together for a few years and now we are at different schools. We don't see each other on a daily basis any more. I didn't know how much I would miss her until she was gone. Wow, how many people have said that about someone in their life? I am trying to hold on tight to this friendship. But not so tight that I mess it up and I am no longer needed. I am finding many new things about myself as we sit in this little coffee shop on Main street in our cowboy town. I realized that when I talk to her, when we are sitting no more than 2 feet from each other, that I don't look at her when I speak. What's up with that? I find myself looking out the window. I should switch places with her next time. Am I easily distracted? Interesting indeed. I love my time with her. She is wise in ways that I am not. We are the same age, and we both live simple lives. She is a strong woman and yet she is vulnerable too. She has passion in her life and for life. She is taking in all that life can give her. She has awesome stories about her hikes around the county and country. She can make you laugh and cry all in one story. She is wonderful. I am so very blessed to be able to get to share a couple of hours a week talking with her. She fills my heart with love and laughter.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Featherweight



If you sew, or if you quilt, then you know this machine. They make quilting easy I'm told. This machine belongs to a lady in my quilt class. It was made in 1947, the year she was born. So cool and wonderfully vintage. I think I want one real bad. I have an opportunity to maybe buy one and I am so excited. I would cherish it forever and use it always. Hopefully it will work out and I will be sewing on one made in the 1950's...

Monday, September 27, 2010

Washed Clean



Baptisms at church. I tried to get a cool picture of a young girl being baptized. He father is one of the Pastors in the pool with her and her mother is standing in the shadows with a towel, wiping her joyful tears as she hears her daughters testimony.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

102



On the way home from church we noticed the temp was 100. As we made our way home, the temperature climbed to 103. In ten minutes it went up 3 degrees. When I got to the house it had lowered to a cool 102. Crazy hot today and it is supposed to get hotter tomorrow.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Boiling A Bird



I have been watching a new program, (for me anyway), called. Mad Hungry. The host is an employee of Martha Stewart and I have seen her do cooking segments on Martha's show. She is an editor for a cooking magazine I think. But enough of the useless and inaccurate information. I saw her show the other day and she just boiled a whole chicken and then made 3 different things with it. I found my little bird for $3.20 and thought "SCORE." I love chicken, my husband only likes the wings and drums...I thought I could boil this girl up and shred the meat and have chicken every day for lunch at work and that way get my fix for fowl. I have been up since 4:40 am and have an enormous amount of energy. I think my new job is getting me in condition to go 100 miles an hour for a good part of the morning. We will see what happens when the outside temperature goes up and I hit the wall.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Egg Cakes



Today was birthday breakfast day for our department at work. We come early so we can visit a little and share some good food and well wishes with this months birthday girls. A standard dish and one we look forward to tasting is Egg Cakes. Its real name is something completely different but this is the one that has stuck. We love Egg Cakes. Next time I will get a picture of it. Maybe even post the recipe. Until then however, Happy Birthday to the ladies of September and to the maker of the Egg Cakes...I say thank you so much.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Fallish



It was trying real hard to be stormy or cloudy or fallish...but the clouds blew away by the time my shift was over. Better luck next time.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Stickers



At my grocery store they give you a sticker for every $10 you spend. I now have enough for the size pan I want. It will only cost me a penny. Next trip to the store I get to get the pan.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Half Square Triangles


Fabric squares ready to be sewn into half-square-triangles. Vintage colors and prints were everywhere this evening as I matched up solids and patterns. I need 90 pairs. I have 11 so far. Looks like it will be slow going. But I will finish this quilt and I am KEEPING this one....yea for me.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Reverse Clouds


I was in charge of helping the kids paint blue. Now mind you, these kids are 3 and 4 years old. Some, I think have never painted before. I protected them with a paint smock and put the paper down in front of them, gave them a paint brush and then I just squirted blue on the page. Dark, lite and a little bit of white. They loved it. Some even used their hands. Some kids painted their hair, their faces, even the table. I was the only one to get paint on my clothes and it was the last kid to paint that did it. 16 kids, one at a time, and we got a reverse cloud effect. These pieces of art have been trimmed and mounted on black paper and hung on the walls of the class. It was and exciting day, this day of "blue."

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Beef



Oh what a day. I forgot to take my morning meds and after church I went to lunch with 2 good friends. Little Chicken and a favorite lifer whom I haven't yet given a nic-name too. She has one on a friends blog, but she is not peas to my carrots so I do not want to pinch that name. I feel it is poor etiquette since it is a very personal name. I will however give her one when an idea sparks in my head. Anyway...after our yummy Italian lunch I promptly came home a had a nap. I was not tired at all, it was all of the carbs in my body with medication yet to be ingested. After quit some time I awoke and most of the day was gone. I cooked a flank steak on the grill tonight and it was very delish. Gotta head to bed early tonight to be up and ready for a the week a head of me. Church, by the way was wonderful today. I got a hug from B. It helped to reinforce God's love and that my friends is always nice.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Retrospective and Reprodution



In my new quilting class, we were given a magazine called McCall's Quilting. In it is the pattern for our first project. I don't really want to do the project and was struggling to find the right fabrics for it. The nice lady who sits beside me in class suggested that I do the pattern at the end of the book. I loved that idea. It uses retro fabrics, which are reproductions of fabrics used in the 1930's and 1940's. I have an odd connection to that time in America for some reason. I haven't figured out why as of yet. I have 4 blocks done so far. The project calls for 90. I will let you know how the quilt progresses.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Lumpia


Lumpia! It was the "Rat's" idea. I love it when he helps me decide what to fix for dinner. After the thousands of dinners I have made, I do believe I have run out of ideas for interesting and new ways to prepare food.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Kitchen Sheep


It's been a very rough day for me today. Overwhelmed by work and the tasks at hand have had me at the edge of tears all day. The details only really matter to me. I tried to talk with a friend who knows my job very well. She didn't seem to have the time. It crushed me. Why can I call and ask how she is doing and listen with love and understanding, but when it's my turn, she is not there for me. Usually I don't give extra chances. How long will this friendship last? I told her how it effects me when things like this happen and she told me she is trying to change. All I wanted to do was vent a little and then hear her always wise perspective. It wasn't meant to be today. I told my son I almost cried at work and he seemed unsettled by it but didn't know what to say to his mom. I kept a strong front around the husband. I don't think he would understand. So I sit and quietly weep. Then I read a friends blog about her impending visit with her mom and the flood came. I miss my daughter so very much I can almost quit my job and go live in her town. This picture makes me smile. All things sheep remind me of her. This little guy is in her kitchen at college. I love it.
I think I will relinquish my title as the bad ass in the family. Today the rock crumbled. No amount of glue or spit or duct tape can fix this. Let the pity party begin. When I think of my friends and the walk they are on, mine is not bad at all.

But when you are at the very center of the shit storm, life
stinks....

Tomorrow will be better I am sure. For now, I will find a shovel and
start digging a path towards happiness.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Blood Born Path



Today was a day of information. Every year we as a staff at a public school get an update on blood born pathogens. Someone from the CDC comes out and explains things we already know, such as don't touch someone else blood and don't clean up vomit with your bare hands. Can I just say DUH!!! Enough on this.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New Quilt Project



I have started a new quilting class and this is one of the projects. Doesn't it look yummy? I hope to do one maybe all in patriotic fabrics. I can't wait to start it. This class is not new for me but going by myself is. I know a couple of people there but we don't sit together so I am forced to sit with new people and guess what? I met a very nice lady named Cindy. She is helpful and very creative. I look forward to getting to know her better. I love new beginnings. Don't you?

Monday, September 13, 2010

Franken Shoes



I needed new shoes. I have seen these weird things around town and on TV. Several people at work have them. Everyone of them has given me a great review on their shoes. So I got mine at a local discount store, (I call it the Freak Show), for a reasonable price and decided to give them a try. They are indeed very comfortable. I feel like I have way more shoe than I need, but they feel good and they make me laugh.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Shredded Pork



I had these large pork "ribs" in the fridge and wanted to cook them. To make sure I didn't cook them the wrong way, I called my daughter who is a wealth of knowledge with all things beef and pork. Part of her early training with domestic animals and then her #$ years at collage. Her recommendation was to boil them until tender and then shred them up. They were yummy for sure and I have her to thank for it. Thank You Mrs. Don't.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Where am I?



Do you know where I am?

Friday, September 10, 2010

Who has the bone now?



Maggie, guarding the "bone" so Faye doesn't take it again. Faye seems to have way more fun with it than Maggie. She is much older and can't quit play as aggressively as she used to. I like this photo because she is actually looking at the camera and not minding it all that much. America's next top dog model...

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Big Puffy Ones


Big puffy clouds hovered over school today. It was hot and humid and not a lot of fun. There was no breeze and the flags just hung there waiting for some stimulation. This photo is for Crooked Tiara, she will be getting it shortly for her cloud exchange.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The New Stove



Yeah! We got a new oven/stove and a new micro wave. How cool is that? My son was saying that he has never had a micro with a working timer. It even has a "frozen pizza" button. His favorite food of all time right now. We even converted to gas and that is something new as well. I am liking it a lot and it opens up the small kitchen and makes it seem bigger and brighter. I enjoy new stuff. Yeah again.

Friday, September 3, 2010

No Oven


There's a hole in my kitchen dear Liza, dear Liza. There's a hole in my kitchen dear Liza a hole. YEAH!!!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Magazine Cover


Mr. and Mrs. Don't have a dog. He is a Border Collie. He is the smartest dog I have ever met. He seems to understand English. I guess you could call him my grand dog if you are one of those who make the animals in your life almost human. I don't, however I do have BC's on my radar now and when I saw this magazine cover, I had to snap a photo of it. Quit nice.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Blankie



Finally, it's in the mail.