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See more Wordless Wednesdays over at 5 Minutes for Mom! |
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Go visit Connie over at Smockity Frocks and check out her adorable "Strawberries and Gingham" apron. She is going to be giving one of these away on January 26th!!! Thanks Connie!! |
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Me on the left...Crazy Tanya on the right! lol!!
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This video is for my dear friend Judi who is teaching herself how to crochet. Visit her and send encouragement her way!! I first saw this video over at Craftzine. |
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First posts of each month of 2006:
January...Wow...It's been awhile! February...A Favorite Song March...Infusion Field Trip April...I was posting over at the Caringbridge Site.
May...Again, I was posting at the Caringbridge Site.
June...still at Caringbridge!
July...Petite Pink Lemonade August...I splurged... September...Back from AQS show October...Corn Dog November...My Dog got Mail December...Dogs Like Massages too!
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My mom and grandmother came up today to visit and drop off some gifts. I was treated to a wonderful Turkey Ciabatta sandwich and a salad at Applebee's...it was really nice to get out by myself! When we got back to the house, the kids decided to show off our new family member...Hyacinth, the Hamster. She was put into her hamster ball and we all took in her complete cuteness. And then....we forgot about her! Nik found her several hours later jammed behind the chair in the den...unable to get herself rolling again. I felt so bad...I'm glad she has a tiny brain and has probably forgotten our oversight by now....
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I would like to introduce you to "Spike"...designed by my very creative nephew, Ocean. Ocean's drawing of "Spike" does not look this mean...I'm not sure what I did or how to fix it! lol!! This is "Spike" embroidered:
This is "Spike" embroidered and "Spike" the Softie as a WIP (work in progress). He is missing part of his mouth....hmmm...I wonder if the dog ate it?? Look at those spikes on "Spike's" arm! That's some of that polyester I was given awhile back...it makes great spikes because it doesn't ravel as much!! WooHoo!!
Don't you love "Spike's" nose?? heeheehee!!! |
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to "squirrel" Gus' things away and never get rid of them! In fact, here are some pictures of Gus' stuff that I have found lately....and I have left them right where they are. You see, when I come across these things sometimes I am sad and sometimes I am happy...all the time I rejoice that my sweet little son is in the presence of our Lord and no longer sick. These things remind me that we will be spending eternity together....these things make my heart beat fast as I think about Home!! I was inspired to post these pictures because a Gus' Gang mom had written that she still had breastmilk in the freezer that she is unable to throw away...I wanted her (and others who are grieving the loss of a loved one) to know that it is FINE to keep our loved one's things! Here's a small bit of things I am keeping and I please over look the dirt and the blurriness!!
Soothie Pacifier in the junk drawer
Two Soothies in the buffet
Yep...that's a "Sharps" container that I used to discard glass vials and needles. I had to prepare Gus' TPN daily by adding iron, Vitamin K and multi-vitamins...I used a lot of needles and syringes. I just can't throw these away yet...
Stripey sock that stays in the "sock basket"
Soothie and syringe (with out needle) in my basket hanging on my armoire
Betadine used along with alcohol to clean Gus' central line
Portagen formula...well, 4 cans of it! These hang out under my project shelf in the studio/school room
I may get rid of these things one day...then again, maybe I won't! For right now though, these are a few of my tools I use to do my "Grief Work". They are cherished items...especially the soothies... |
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Check out Linda's "My Scary Day" post over at her blog Musings of a Domestic Goddess. You will have to scroll down a bit but it is worth it! Enjoy! |
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Check out Emily Lakdawalla's review of Jim Bell's new book Postcards from Mars over at The Planetary Society Weblog.
I have seen a few of the photos on a news show and they were very impressive. What wonderful things God creates!
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Around here we say "Awwww"!!
Go visit Things That Make You Go Aahh. I noticed that the last post was in May...I do hope they post some more cute pictures. Enjoy! |
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Judi tagged me...
A - Available/Single? Nope, married 13 years C- Cake or Pie? Chocolate Cake D - Drink Of Choice? Diet Vanilla Coke G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy Bears I - Indulgence? Mocha Frappuccinos from Strabuck's J - January Or February? January K - Kids & Their Names? Nik, Jake, Isabelle, Sam and Gus L - Life Is Incomplete Without? My Family M - Marriage Date? September 11 N- Number Of Siblings? 1 sister P - Phobias/Fears? worms and snakes. I used to be afraid of gnomes! lol!!Q - Favorite Quote? "My barn having burned to the ground, I can now see the moon." R - Reason to Smile - the hope of Heaven U - Unknown Fact About Me? I was a drum major in high school V - Vegetable you dont like? beets W - Worst Habit? eating too much Y - Your Favorite Food? Crab Legs from the Crazy Crab |
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photo courtesy c20th
"Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day."
chapter 1 Peter Pan, J.M.Barrie
I have just started reading Peter Pan to Jake. I love the quote above about Mrs. Darling "tidying up" her children's minds. Wouldn't it be nice if we could really do that...not to be nosy but to truly "tidy up" We could get rid of all those awful words they have heard or the horrible things they have seen and "put things straight". Well, we can't do that but we know someone who can...God! Let's pray for the "tidying up" of the minds of our children! And while we are at it, let's pray that our minds will be "tidied up" too!! I sure could use a good "sweep"!!
Check out this fun link...Peter Pan |
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I just submitted my novel at NaNoWriMo to be validated (50K words) and I received my "winner" logo and certificate! WooHoo!!! I really enjoyed writing this month and I look forward to writing again next November. You should join us!
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Our Thanksgiving Day actually started the night before with Jake cleaning out the turkey. He was thrilled to find some organs which is so typical of a boy! The next day, we were served a delicious "turk" (as my sister called it) that Jake had prepared with a dry rub. He is such a great cook...I may just turn over all the cooking to him!
My parents and grandmother came up early so they were able to get their cooking done the night before too. This is my mom...I like this color on her! Be sure to check out her earrings. She made those herself!! She does a lot of wonderful beadwork. She is very talented. She will not be happy to see herself on my blog.....
Then this happened.....a big dog fight in the den!! This is Milo and his brother Duffy and they played like this the whole time. There was only one time that there was a real true fight and that was when Milo helped himself to Duffy's food. It was not pretty...
Belle helped create our centerpiece and I think she did a great job! Do you see how she added popcorn kernels to the votive cups? And yes, I know that the silverware is not right! lol!! I was just happy that we actually had enough silverware...that is certainly going to be the next thing I purchase for our home!
We added quotes about thankfulness to the table. I had originally planned to have a lot more quotes around the table but I ran out of time! I also wanted to sew the placemats together with big chunky "X's" to bring in some more black but I just plain forgot to do that! lol!!
And here's the "good stuff"...
Drink table Green bean casserole that I still hate!
Dad's Close Encounters Potatoes Jake's Deviled Eggs
Cranberry Pear Relish Dressing...Secret Family Recipe! We always ask the adults to go first when we have a buffet-style dinner. We do this as a way to show honor and respect for them. The "Great-Grands" go first followed by the "Grands" and so on down the line. This is a photo of all the lovely young ones waiting ever so patiently...with honor and respect...on the adults to get their food! And before you leave a comment asking about the brown bottles...yes, it was beer...root beer!!
I just love my new white dinner plates and salad plates! My mom and grandmother brought these to me and I am so pleased. Doesn't the food look so pretty on it?? I started using white plates a few years ago because I like the way food looks on white..except when it is on my new white t-shirt! lol!!
The only thing that would make this photo of my mom perfect would be if one of those "brown bottles" stood where the Diet Coke can is.....lol!! This may be my most favorite holiday picture yet!!
We all had a wonderful time and really enjoyed each others company. I guess I'll ask all of them back since they behaved so well!!! I hope you all had a wonderful day too!
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and even though I am smiling I did not enjoy this one little bit! Walking in a circle using a big long wooden stirring thingy??? I just about croaked. Maybe if I had controlled the stirrer better it would not have been so bad. But I couldn't so I probably ruined the precious butter/gold...hmmm....maybe if this had been a big vat of cheese being melted for nachos I would have done a better job! lol!!
By the way, this is my photo for the His Temple, My Body Challenge over at Smalltown Homeschool. I have not been drinking water like I was before and guess what, I am no longer losing weight like I was before! So, tomorrow I am going to be hitting the water again!! And no, I am not going to eat the apple butter because it is way too sweet! |
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"I yam what I yam" --Popeye
I 've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what it means to be hospitable. Good idea since I have invited half of the world to my house for Thanksgiving dinner! Sheesh, what was I thinking! lol!! Anyway, I do this every year around this time...I long to have this beautiful home with all these beautiful pieces to decorate with...beautiful plates, beautiful tablecloths, beautiful Christmas trees and you know, the whole works. Well, I love my little brown house up the hill I really do! I love the layout of the house and the back decks and yard. I love the neighborhood. I don't love that my laundry room is outside...who ever thought that was a brilliant idea was nuts! lol!! So why do I do this? Why do I think everything has to be perfect to host a Thanksgiving dinner?? Why do the plates have to match? Why do the tableclothes have to be the same on every table? Why do all the chairs have to be decorated? Why does everyone have to have a handmade napkin ring? Why do we need to make place cards for seating? Why do I have to cancel school for a week while the kids and I scrub the whole house down so that everything is perfect? Why do I have to go out and buy new dishtowels so guests who are helping me clean up after dinner won't see my shabby dishtowels? I know why...I just hate to admit it! I have things mixed up...I am not being hospitable I am trying to entertain....trying to impress people with my ability to keep a perfectly spotless house and with my incredible ability to decorate!! Hear my heart here, I am not saying that cleaning my home and decorating it nicely and even splurging for some new dishtowels is a bad thing. I am saying it is a bad thing for me when I am obsessing over it and the important things are not getting done. Hospitality is about people not things and during this time of year I tend to forget that! We are commanded to encourage each other through being hospitable not by showing off our homes and their decorations. A bowl of chicken noodle soup and good conversation is just as encouraging, even more so, than an elaborate feast spent with a worn out hostess! lol!!
I am thankful that God has provided me a home with all the necessities. I am thankful we have indoor plumbing, a stove and fridge. I am thankful we have a couch though it is broken down! These are the things that God has blessed us with and they will do their job well when we are being hospitable! So, I need to remember that the "things" I have and the way I decorate are not what "make" |
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Today kicks off the month-long challenge over at NaNoWriMo so I may not post here as often...because I'm writing a novel!! No, it's probably not going to be good but it doesn't have to be...the goal is to write 50000 words by the end of the month. I thought this would be a great time to purge my brain a bit! lol!!
So...what I'm going to do is post links to some of the posts from my bloglines...hence the title of this post "Not so Random"! lol!!
Check out "More Attitude" over at Mommy of Two's blog
Go visit The Brew Crew Adventure...beautiful posts and beautiful writing! There's a link there for "The Marriage Bed" by Michael Simms.
Tammy over at Tammy's Time is working on some neat socks...be sure to scroll down to see the Tiny Pears!
Mia over at One Hour Craft (my favorite!) discusses Snoogem Soft Toys and Wheat Heat Bags....she has a link for tutorials! Yippee!!
That's all for now folks! lol!! Enjoy! |
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Milo received this e-mail from his brother Duffy today:
As you can see, I peed all over myself and the table. I'll be glad when this halloweenie stuff is over. Milo you started this.
your bro,
duffy
photo courtesy of Dad |
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This is me and my Dad...the one who takes the really neat pictures I post here. He has several Aka's here at "Up the Hill Gang"...sometimes he posts as Cheryl or Beverly. He's very clever and he thinks he fools me a lot but what he doesn't understand is that I am my dad's daughter!!
Photo courtesy Cheryl or Beverly...I can't remember!
I love you even though a lot of times you are just. Not. Right!! lol!! and I really was a Brownie and you know it!!!
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Chill it out, take it slow
Introducing
This is Milo Montana after tonight's concert...very tired!
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We went today and placed flowers on Sam, Gus and Granny's graves. Uncle Phil and Aunt Lisa ordered flowers and we picked them up this morning...they are beautiful...nice fall colors! Here's some pictures...
Gus and Sam's markers in the Baby Garden.
Henri and Margaret Doriot's marker.
This was a marker placed by the Veterans Association in acknowledgement of Henri's service in WWII.
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Gabrielle from A Metamorphoself of Gabrielle posted this lovely bat picture for her Wordless Wednesday post....too funny! Click on the photo for instructions on making your own!
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Psalm 1 - By the River Series
1 Blessed is the man
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
Psalm 1: 1-3
I love this psalm...especially the third verse. I really do find that when I am really meditating on God's word that I do not "wither"..as much. Actually thinking about God's word instead of just "snacking" on it makes a huge difference in my day. I want to have the energy to bless those around me...now that would be prosperous! I found this lovely print at HeArts Gallery...Gwen Meharg has such a gift. Go visit her site...you may want to do some Christmas shopping!! |
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Again, we've had a busy week running here and there...making sure everything gets done...everyone gets where they are supposed to be...you know, normal life. In the busyness of it all, these are a few of the things I am thankful for this week....
***I caught Jake reading on his own! This is a HUGE thing here at the Up the Hill Gang Academy....Jake hates to read. He can read...just doesn't like to. Well, we're back to the beloved Box Car Children and that's great....there are a gazillion of these books so ....read on Jake!!!
***This past week, I have made some new friends at our homeschool co-op. I love these women because..well, we have so much in common. Most of them have large families and have "quiverful mindsets" so I really enjoy talking to them. They don't think I'm nuts when I want to have more children after Gus dying. Wonderful christian women...thank you Lord!
***Gus was placed on a memorial site for transplant angels. Even though Gus died awaiting a double transplant, this gal still wanted to put him on the site. That was so sweet and very touching to me....
***I have found a new blog that I absolutely love! One Hour Craft has wonderful, quick projects that are gift-worthy. Right now there is a tutorial on a colorful dog leash...really neat!!
***I finished The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery and it was sooooo good. I had read it in high school but in French...so needless to say, I didn't quite understand it! lol!! We had to read it in second year French. If you haven't read it...you need to. I love how Antoine writes...
Go over to Mommy of Two's blog and read what others are writing about their weeks. |
