Getting Ready

Lately, I've been getting ready for a trip. I've been finishing up work for the week, battling headaches, cleaning house (and somehow not getting very far), taking Miriam to the pool, planning Sharing Time, packing a little here, doing laundry there. You know how you try to get ready in advance, but end up doing a million things last minute anyway? That will probably be me.

Yard work was paramount over the last few days. I do enjoy looking at the flowers in our yard though...
This was my last big project before giving up on the yard. I've trimmed back bushes and watered plants and pulled weeds and weeds and weed. I should have had a before picture of this area - because it was all big green weeds. But I am very happy with it now.

So off I go to devise a packing list, and figure out what else I need to deal with before it comes time to walk out the door.

The Hunger Games

I've had a good year or so of thinking about reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I never knew what to think of it when reading the jacket (not much info on the back ;) I picked it up from the library and promptly forgot about it for 2 weeks until it was almost time to turn it in and I decided I needed to get reading.

That was the end of life as I knew it.

At least for a few days.

It took me a few days to get going, but once I got into it I really got into it. When I finished the Hunger Games I went straight to the library for Catching Fire (book2) - which I finished in about 1 day. And when I was done with that I pined for a day or so until I decided to pre-order the 3rd book to make myself feel a little better.

These books were SO VERY GOOD. The story was good AND it made me think about life. Life as we know it (or for most of us - how we've never known it). All the battles that people have gone through on the earth and are still going through on the earth. The nature of hope. What courage is. (Other things I can't really bring up unless you've already read the books) And I've marvelled at our own history and how people have done it!

I'm also aware of something new. I've never been into Romance books. But you throw in a little love triangle with vampires, rebellions, or a fight to the death and -apparently - I'm hooked.

Movie Time

Funny that all I can find time to blog about right now is television. Perhaps because this makes for such a short post? Lately I have been really into Emma. (As in Jane Austens Emma.) Now I will admit that when I read the book I had to plow through it and once it was finished I vowed NEVER to read it again. I just did not enjoy it as much as Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion. But I still thoroughly enjoy the movies. PBS ran a new version of Emma several months ago. Then, after several months of Ooogling it on the shelves at Target I decided I'd like to buy it. I wasn't sure I liked it quite so much as the A&E version with Kate Beckinsdale - however, after seeing it again, I've decided it has it's own charm (I am onto my second viewing).

And now I'm moving on to Ooogling a Regency dress. Or at least a pattern for a Regency dress like this. If I ever get more brave (and learn a bit more about sewing) I'll put a post up about the construction of my Regency dress. In the mean time I am plenty busy canning and working on the QUIET BOOK that I have yet to post an update about.

Braves game!

So Stefanie got me a ticket to go with them to the Braves game on Memorial day. I've decided that Memorial day is the best day ever to go to a baseball game. Ceremonial first pitch by the commanding general at Ft. Benning. 21 gun salute. Gigantic flag on the field for the Star Spangled Banner. Veterans representing different wars honored on the field. Servicemen and family members of deployed servicement around the diamond. Halting the whole thing for a minute of silent remembrance at 3pm. Atlanta Opera Tenor singing God Bless America. And more. It was awesome.

And we won 9-3:)

We got our picture taken by the fan page photographers. I would have liked to snag it for the blog, but of course I have to pay 13 dollars to get ahold of one of those. I think they should give a cheaper version and allow me to download the picture. In any case our picture is on the fan page here.

What a great time!

5K the Third

Well this Saturday was the All-American 5K for Lt Dan Berschinski

I loved being a part of it and I took Stefanie for her first 5K (we'll see if she loves me or hates me for that ;)

It was really awesome, starting out our race with the National Anthem, then finishing off by being handed an American flag. After munching my banana at the end I spotted Lt Dan and went over to shake his hand and tell him THANK YOU for his service. It was just a reminder to me that all our men and women in the service really do write our government a blank check up to and including their lives. They deserve to be remembered.

I came it at 32:58 this time. A new personal best! Barely :) As I ran up to the finish I thought, if you can just come in under 33 minutes you'll beat your own record....

Then it was off to the Renaissance Fair, where we watched these people (www.barelybalanced.com)

And took pictures with Pirates :)

After all this was done I went off to get a deluxe spa facial - which was awesome. Then I took Miriam to an indoor play place complete with those big balloon jumping things and balloon slides. (Not pictures of that sadly) WHAT a busy day - but it was great!

And I'd like a facial or massage every week for the rest of my life please. So worth it after running/walking all over the place...

Back in the yard

We've been discovering lots of new great things about our yard
Earlier we had Irises...
Kausa Dogwood was blooming. Apparently the berries will be edible...
Lilies (one of several kinds. Calla lilies coming later in the summer)

Hydrangea! Blue!

And no idea what this is, but I'm pretty sure it's going to open up with these white flowers ALL over. I can't wait!!

Quiet Books

I've started making a quiet book. I started quite a while ago with a lot of felt. Since then there has been a lot of cutting (I mean, A LOT) and sorting through fabric and beads and other crafty supplies generously given to me by Kathy. Things are finally starting to come together.

Ahh what a cute ladybug!!

Did you see that one coming? My weird looking ladybug babies?? I started the spots with a hole punch but it just wasn't getting the job done. Now we like to say they have character.

I have a lot of love for this fabric (hence the flowers cut out of it). These will button on the page.

Yeah for balloons! I think I'll write POP on the side of the page. These will attach with snaps.

This is Sasquatch. Can you tell that he is a teddy bear? We laugh whenever we look at him now. He's just Sasquatch to me.

These have a little farther to go. A mitten on the left (complete with face) and a kitty on the right (with a bow to tie. I think. We'll see once we get there)

I'd like to take more of the credit. And while I am working hard at it - Kathy is doing all of the sewing. So she rocks! And someday I'll work on that part myself...

But I'm doing LOTS of work - I promise. Did you notice all the tracing and cutting and pinning etc?? That's me.

I've got more pages to come! I just didn't want to overwhelm you in one shot :)