07-07-08

I’ve had a screaming headache all day. Work was as good as can be expected and we survived our first weekday without Dad, but my head feels like a freight train is driving through it. Normally food helps. Or pills.

So I decided to ditch my to do list and soak up some time in the sunshine this evening. I spaced out my lettuce sprouts (it seems crazy to plant just to rip half of it out, but I’ll do it), watered (who knew the weather would turn so warm again!), and planted the rest of my container garden.

Our neighbor popped her head over the fence to ask me what I was planting beside my cow. The cow that I just could not leave at Lowe’s. So, the tall plants are zinnias. The yellow ones are straw flower, they open in the sun. I can’t remember the name of the white creeper sharing the pot. And the front pot is all the fresh herbs our recipes call for. Except dill.

“Life's a long headache in a noisy street”

07-06-08

Real Simple has a new feature called “How would you spend an extra $100?”

So how would you spend an extra $100?

Here’s my list:
$15 - A Jane Kirkpatrick book, a sequel to one I just finished. I recently ordered some books from amazon.com and added on a few to get to the $25 free shipping level. Kicking myself I didn’t add this one.
$20 – Splurge on soaps. When I see names like Peppermint Shower Soap and Lemon Organics Exfoliating Soap, I go crazy. I could buy a lot of soap.
$30 – A replacement medical ID bracelet. My broken beaded one sits here on my computer table, and I have just not done anything about it yet.
$10 – A box of Frangos. I only eat them at Christmastime, but why?
$25 – New fun slippers. I had to retire my monkeys, and my frogs are getting well worn. I haven’t started looking for the right balance of fun and comfortable.

This is a silly photo that will never find it’s way to my scrapbook, but money is a funny thing. For me cash never stays in my wallet long. And it takes some work to get more, since I refuse to use ATM cards, ATMs, or visit banks.

“Life is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded.” -Fulton J. Sheen

07-05-08

"Is this dill?"

In honor of Bruce leaving at o'dark thirty tomorrow morning for an eight day mission trip as one of the three chaperone to 8 teenagers, here he is. Consulting with the bored tween, trying to find dill, the last herb on my farmers market shopping list, so he can get on with his day.

He waited to gather and pack and shop (four trips to the store, he decided maybe a list would've been smart!) until today, but he seems to be ready nonetheless.

Safe travels, we'll hold down the fort!

“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure” -William Feather

07-04-08

Normally our lake park is calm and quiet. Well used, but lots of open space.

But not today. Today you feel like a sardine as you smash across the pedestrian bridge. You rush to put out your blankets before all the prime spots are taken. You wait in long lines for the concessions. You crawl along if you make the mistake of driving anywhere near the lake. You look in awe at all the people.

I wouldn't want it to be like this all of the time, but the energy level is fun.

Fun fireworks facts (courtesy of Real Simple magazine):
- Fireworks first appeared around 1000 AD, in CHinese religious ceremonies.
- Various metal salts are used to create the colored explosions. Barium makes green, copper makes blue, and aluminum is responsible for the sparkle.
- The US imported around $217 million worth of freworks in 2007, most of it from China.

Happy 4th!

07-03-08

Day 2 of the Go Fourth Festival.

I had a meal planned for tonight at home, but Bruce promised me he'd cook it Saturday night instead if we could eat at the lake tonight. Not too hard of a sell.

I had my traditional salmon dinner, and Xander and I shared a deep fried Twinkie. Bruce had to point out that all three of them ate for the same cost as my salmon dinner. The guys had $4 Frito Pie (Fritos smothered in chili, I can barely even look at it without getting indigestion) and Anastasia had a $1.75 hot dog. My salmon with coleslaw and a roll was $11. And worth every dime.

07-02-08

The Go Fourth Festival is in full swing right down the street from us. This is when we have to start hoarding parking spaces in front of our house, for family and the various friends we have told could park in our driveway.

We did our first scouting mission tonight. Bruce snagged a blended drink from his favorite booth, and I gave in to the kids each getting a Krispy Kreme donut (after Xander asked for a sausage dog about 30 minutes after dinner!). I saw the deep fried Twinkies and salmon dinner that I frequent, but tonight I had a goal check with wii fit, so that kept me on track. Funny how a little animated scale can keep me motivated...

We were almost home when the rain started falling, maybe the forecast for cruddy weather is true...

"You better take the photo quick, Mom, mine's almost gone." - Xander

07-01-08

What's on your summer reading list?

It's the end of another quarter, so time to photograph the books I've read or listened to in the past three months. Some of the books were book club picks, some were books I've been wanting to read, some were just available cheap, and one is even a birthday gift! My goal this quarter was to read more Jodi Picoult and Jane Kirkpatrick (having seen them both at Powell's this year), and to read more Christian books. I certainly read more than I expected to!

Books read:
Once Upon a Day - Lisa Tucker
A Land of Sheltered Promise - Jane Kirkpatrick
Homestead - Jane Kirkpatrick
Calm Cool and Adjusted - Kristin Billerbeck
The Singer - Calvin Miller
Because I Said So - Camile Peri; Kate Moses
Chinese Whispers: The Gladys Aylward story - Carol Perves
Quentins - Maeve Binchy
Songs of the Humpback Whale - Jodi Picoult
Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen - Syrie James
The Rising:The Antichrist born before left behind - Jerry Jenkins
Heiress for Hire - Erin McCarthy
The Tenth Circle - Jodi Picoult
The Regime (left behind #2) - Jerry Jenkins

Audio books listened to:
Lost & Found - Carolyn Parkhurst
A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks
True Believer - Nicholas Sparks
At First Sight - Nicholas Sparks
The Quickie - James Patterson
Christ the Lord:Out of Egypt - Anne Rice
The Mammoth Cheese - Sheri Holman
Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich - Robert Frank

Happy Reading!

“When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.”
Desiderius Erasmus