It should be pretty warm this week, and I also have to consider how long the prep will take and what kind of smell it might make . . .
Kathleen's Orange Muffins (not as a meal, of course, but I want to make these!)
turkey and avocado subs, chips, fruit
(I'm waiting for a really nice day so we can take these to one of our lovely parks for dinner.)
pasta salad and fruit
breakfast burritos
manicotti
BLTs
Lisa's Santa Fe Chicken
Crustless Jarlsberg Quiche, salad
On the back burner:
cheeseburgers
Marlboro Man's Sandwich by Pioneer Woman
YOYO
Alton Brown's Country Style Steak A new recipe that I'm getting a little nervous about.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Weekend recap
It wasn't an exciting weekend, but it wasn't boring.
- The weather was fabulous, and we spent plenty of time just sitting out on the back patio. I sat out in the sun for 15 mins. each day, hoping to tan my feet a little.
- I'm spending a lot of time reading My Several Worlds by Pearl Buck. I like it, but each page has is jammed with small type. It's taking me forever!
- I finally made my Rum Cake.
- While someone was looking at our house, we visited an open house to check out the competition.
- Robert came grocery shopping with me. I think the last time this happened was the 1990s. (I may be slightly exaggerating, lol.)
- Robert took Trevor to the high school football field so Trev could practice kicking. I went along to chase down balls. (Unwisely, I wore my Crocs, but I avoided any catastrophes.)
- I spent several hours online trying to get the "perfect" flight to Virginia for an upcoming house hunting trip. (And I finally succeeded!)
- Trevor has declared Sundays to be Donut Days, so Robert complied by going out to get donuts. (I remember my dad doing this for us often on Sundays too.)
- Seems like we talked on the phone to almost every relative.
- Just like most spring days, the clouds rolled in and we had a little thunder and lightning, but no rain.
- Picked up pizza for dinner just in time to make it home to watch Amazing Race. Several weeks ago, I cheated and found out who won. I wish I hadn't done that. I found out early when my favorite team was leaving, plus I really don't like the purported winners at all.
- We have two weeks left of school and continue finishing up books for the year. The kids are going slightly bonkers, anticipating their first break from school since Christmas. :)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
YIPPEE!
Trevor celebrates the ending of two mornings of testing.
He enjoyed it, for the most part. There were a total of 180 kids tested (grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), really impressive, since testing is just one way to comply with our hs law, and since we have a very wide variety of testing options.
As usual, the proctors were amazing. Now I can sit back and wait two months for the results. If they are good, that means he's smart. If they are not so good, it means I'm a lousy teacher. (Not really, but I used to put that pressure on myself. I'm glad I don't any more!)
He enjoyed it, for the most part. There were a total of 180 kids tested (grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), really impressive, since testing is just one way to comply with our hs law, and since we have a very wide variety of testing options.
As usual, the proctors were amazing. Now I can sit back and wait two months for the results. If they are good, that means he's smart. If they are not so good, it means I'm a lousy teacher. (Not really, but I used to put that pressure on myself. I'm glad I don't any more!)
Oh! The places we go!
In the past week, we've had ten house showings. What this really means is that we have had as little as 15 minutes notice to make the house look empty yet welcoming, take off in the car, and aimlessly entertain ourselves for indefinite amounts of time.
So far, we've been to:
Kohl's.
Fargo's Pizzeria for lunch.
Petsmart.
the movie store, twice.
Starbucks (and doesn't Trevor look happy to be there!).
The library--more than once.
Wendy's for lunch. (They like to come at mealtime.)
Walmart.
McDonald's for breakfast (we received a call at the way too early time of 8:47 a.m. that people would be there at 9:30 a.m.)
The dog park. I can never tire of this view.
Instead of leaving Lucky in his crate or in the backyard, we've been bringing him along. He's actually becoming quite socialized, making friends. (He's the one being very friendly.)
Sam's Club.
I can't complain. But I'm learning--I can't leave anything out at all. When necessary, the dishwasher and oven are great places to store things that I don't want to leave on the kitchen counter. In desperation, things left out get put away ANYwhere; later, every cabinet potentially holds a surprise.
But again, I'm not complaining. I'm quite thrilled we've had this many showings. I just wish they'd wait until at least 10:00 a.m.!
So far, we've been to:
Kohl's.
Fargo's Pizzeria for lunch.
Petsmart.
the movie store, twice.
Starbucks (and doesn't Trevor look happy to be there!).
The library--more than once.
Wendy's for lunch. (They like to come at mealtime.)
Walmart.
McDonald's for breakfast (we received a call at the way too early time of 8:47 a.m. that people would be there at 9:30 a.m.)
The dog park. I can never tire of this view.
Instead of leaving Lucky in his crate or in the backyard, we've been bringing him along. He's actually becoming quite socialized, making friends. (He's the one being very friendly.)
Sam's Club.I can't complain. But I'm learning--I can't leave anything out at all. When necessary, the dishwasher and oven are great places to store things that I don't want to leave on the kitchen counter. In desperation, things left out get put away ANYwhere; later, every cabinet potentially holds a surprise.
But again, I'm not complaining. I'm quite thrilled we've had this many showings. I just wish they'd wait until at least 10:00 a.m.!
Book Review - Persian Girls: A Memoir by Nahid Rachlin
I have long enjoyed reading about Middle and Far East cultures. It fascinates me to see how different people, women especially, live. This book is an autobiographical tale of a girl growing up in Iran in the 1950s. While the story includes brief mentions of the country's changing government, the immediate focus is the life of the author, Nahid.
As an infant, she was "given" by her mother to her childless aunt. At the age of 9, she was reclaimed by her father, who brought her back to rejoin her birth family. The permanent reunion does not go well. Nahid and her mother remain at odds; an older sister resents her re-entry to the family.
Her only light is her fast friendship with another older sister, Pari. Pari and Nahid constantly rebel against their authoritative father and have large dreams, most of which include going to America. Pari eventually succumbs to family pressure and agrees to an arranged marriage. Nahid's father permits her to attend college in the U.S. Not surprisingly, it is not all that Nahid imagined it would be. The rest of the book follows the very different lives of both Nahid and Pari.
It was a great book, a great story. The author is a gifted writer, weaving a fascinating tale. And yet the cultural differences are such that I still felt a detachment from her. The book made me think, and it was hard to put down. Recommended.
As an infant, she was "given" by her mother to her childless aunt. At the age of 9, she was reclaimed by her father, who brought her back to rejoin her birth family. The permanent reunion does not go well. Nahid and her mother remain at odds; an older sister resents her re-entry to the family.
Her only light is her fast friendship with another older sister, Pari. Pari and Nahid constantly rebel against their authoritative father and have large dreams, most of which include going to America. Pari eventually succumbs to family pressure and agrees to an arranged marriage. Nahid's father permits her to attend college in the U.S. Not surprisingly, it is not all that Nahid imagined it would be. The rest of the book follows the very different lives of both Nahid and Pari.
It was a great book, a great story. The author is a gifted writer, weaving a fascinating tale. And yet the cultural differences are such that I still felt a detachment from her. The book made me think, and it was hard to put down. Recommended.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Cheesemongers
Cheese mon ger [cheez mong er], -noun
1. one who sells cheese.
* * * * *
I would have thought that a cheesemonger hogged all the cheese. My sister in law and her husband are cheesemongers. But they share their cheese, and they sell it.
Five years ago, Barb and Dave were living in Boulder. They'd lived there for at least 20 years, and for lack of a better word, they were DINKS. (I'm not name calling, I'm referring to the acronym for Double Income, No Kids.) They were both employed by big high tech firms in the area, living the frenetic life of, well, techie DINKS. They enjoyed camping, entertaining, skiing, hiking, gambling, cooking, all of the things Boulder DINKS like to do.
And like lots of techie DINKS, they were both laid off. At the same time. This didn't mesh well with their lifestyle, and it wasn't a great fit for the mortgage on their Boulder Country Club home.
But Barb had always dreamed of doing something more. She wanted to run their own business, and Dave, being the good husband that he is, went along. Literally. They had already been looking around at various ideas, traveling to different states to check out properties and various opportunities.
Making quite the leap, they ended up buying a cheese shop in the Cascade Mountains in the middle of Washington state. They'd never lived in Washington, they'd never been their own boss, they'd never sold cheese or anything else. They didn't know anyone in the town of Leavenworth. But they knew how to manage employees, they liked to talk to new people, and they liked food.
It was no surprise that their store has been successful. They enjoy what they do, and they are good at it. They feel lucky to be living this life, running this store, and I think the town is lucky to have them.
Leavenworth is a wonderful little town. When the logging business began to dry up several decades ago, a hired consultant came up with the dubious idea of turning the town into a Bavarian styled tourist attraction. Even more oddly, the town decided to follow this advice, and the rest is history (link to article in Seattle P-I). The climate is fabulous (and at 8000 feet, it very much like Boulder), the scenery incredible. The shops are fun and varied. And if you go, stop in at The Cheesemongers Shop. Barb and Dave will enjoy visiting with you, and they'll stuff you full of lots of cheese.
Autumn in Leavenworth, Washington - "The Bavarian Village" - (October 11-12, 2006) - *** Featured November 28, 2006 ***
1. one who sells cheese.
* * * * *
I would have thought that a cheesemonger hogged all the cheese. My sister in law and her husband are cheesemongers. But they share their cheese, and they sell it.
Five years ago, Barb and Dave were living in Boulder. They'd lived there for at least 20 years, and for lack of a better word, they were DINKS. (I'm not name calling, I'm referring to the acronym for Double Income, No Kids.) They were both employed by big high tech firms in the area, living the frenetic life of, well, techie DINKS. They enjoyed camping, entertaining, skiing, hiking, gambling, cooking, all of the things Boulder DINKS like to do.And like lots of techie DINKS, they were both laid off. At the same time. This didn't mesh well with their lifestyle, and it wasn't a great fit for the mortgage on their Boulder Country Club home.
But Barb had always dreamed of doing something more. She wanted to run their own business, and Dave, being the good husband that he is, went along. Literally. They had already been looking around at various ideas, traveling to different states to check out properties and various opportunities.
Making quite the leap, they ended up buying a cheese shop in the Cascade Mountains in the middle of Washington state. They'd never lived in Washington, they'd never been their own boss, they'd never sold cheese or anything else. They didn't know anyone in the town of Leavenworth. But they knew how to manage employees, they liked to talk to new people, and they liked food.
It was no surprise that their store has been successful. They enjoy what they do, and they are good at it. They feel lucky to be living this life, running this store, and I think the town is lucky to have them.
Leavenworth is a wonderful little town. When the logging business began to dry up several decades ago, a hired consultant came up with the dubious idea of turning the town into a Bavarian styled tourist attraction. Even more oddly, the town decided to follow this advice, and the rest is history (link to article in Seattle P-I). The climate is fabulous (and at 8000 feet, it very much like Boulder), the scenery incredible. The shops are fun and varied. And if you go, stop in at The Cheesemongers Shop. Barb and Dave will enjoy visiting with you, and they'll stuff you full of lots of cheese.
Autumn in Leavenworth, Washington - "The Bavarian Village" - (October 11-12, 2006) - *** Featured November 28, 2006 ***
Thursday, April 26, 2007
TAG!! You're IT!
De'Etta tagged me for a Thinking Blogger Award. I'm not sure why I was chosen, but I know she was already thinking, dreaming really, of Great Harvest Bread earlier today. It must have stuck in her mind. De'Etta is one of the two list owners of our big hs list; she's blessed our lives in more ways than she can imagine.I have a few other loopy friends who have been tagged. My biggest problem is that even online, I don't "get out" much. Like De'Etta, I read mostly for entertainment; I don't want to think too hard. I generally read just the blogs on my loop, and believe me, I don't even get to do that as much as I'd like. So I'll pick a couple that may not be as well known.
1. Especially Heather. Heather is not on our loop; I just began reading her blog. She was living a pretty regular homeschool mom kind of life--until ten days ago, when it was discovered that she has a brain tumor. She and her husband traveled from Florida to Rochester, Minnesota today to meet with doctors at The Mayo Clinic. Words are inadequate to describe her blog--she freely shares her vulnerabilities and fears, her prayers and amazing faith. This is a blog that will make you think.
2. Amy. Amy is new to our loop. At this point, many of us are blogging, and it's difficult to read them all. This is a hidden gem, with a variety of topics, all inspiring. Amy's blog is also very attractively set up, with loads of great links.
3. Kathleen. Kathleen is one of our loopies, and we've become good friends offlist too. I can't believe it's already been almost two years since we met in person. We were both hoping that she'd end up out here and we'd be friends in real life too, but it looks like God has different plans for us. Her blog has awesome photos, the kind I'd love to take when I grow up. She also has a lovely way with words, sometimes writing fun stories, insightful posts, or sharing what her four girls have been up to.
4. Debbie's Project 365. I regularly read Debbie's family blog and don't get to this one as often. Project 365 encourages members to post one photo a day. I appreciate Debbie's perspective and ability to find beauty and interest in what might initially seem mundane.
5. Lisa's Homeschool Circus. Lisa's been on our list longer than I have (almost six years). I appreciate her honest posts about life in general, the day to day events, and her juggling as she integrates her new baby into her already busy schedule. (Besides, who can resist those darling baby pictures with the tongue always sticking out!)
***
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Spring storm and a field trip
The clouds blew in late yesterday.
Hail and other extreme weather is common in the spring. It began to hail, but it was small and stopped after a few minutes. Holly tried to catch some.
The clouds kept rolling by. I woke a few times during the night, hearing the wind before falling back asleep.
I was surprised--and annoyed--this morning to find that our co-op had cancelled classes. They follow the schedule as the local school district. I couldn't believe the school had yet again called another "snow" day. There was no snow! But they obviously knew something I didn't, because within a few hours, it looked like this.
We headed off to our morning field trip to The Great Harvest Bread Company. I didn't realize that they bake their own bread in the back. It's a small, franchised shop, and our group of 10 was a perfect fit.
We were treated to sliced bread while we waited to begin. Their baker arrives daily at 3 a.m. to begin mixing dough, and our tour started just as she left. We were led to a large pastry table, and the kids were given dough balls, along with several demonstrations on how they could roll and shape their bread. There were also several toppings from which to choose.
Holly shaped hers into a cinnamon roll, topping it with cinnamon chips.
Trevor made a cinnamon roll and a cheese and garlic pretzel.
All of the kids' creations were put into the oven, and the kids washed up.
Mark took us to another room where they grind wheat daily. Here he is at the grinder, pouring in a few grains to show the kids how the millstones work. He's standing on a big step to reach the top.
He demonstrated their mixer and dough hook! I think they mix 12 loaves at a time!
The oven has five rotating shelves and is considered "small" by bakery standards.
YUM!
The kids' dough creations were bagged up to be taken home. They each also were given a giant cookie, and the moms were given a loaf of their choice. I bought home Mediterranean Olive and ate some for lunch. It was a great choice, and we'll have the rest tomorrow night with dinner.
This was a really awesome field trip. This is a small business, and they were very generous with their time and products. The bread costs more than what I would choose at the grocery store, but it has better ingredients, it tastes great, and it will be a welcomed treat around here.
The blowing snow continued all day, but the temps hovered around freezing, so driving wasn't bad. It's supposed to blow out tonight; in fact, it's warmer right now at 11 p.m. than it was all day. The school district, along with co-op, has already canceled classes for tomorrow. Trevor will be disappointed. He almost cried today when he found out he's miss his weather science class (well, he could have looked out the window, but it's different without all of his friends around). He's supposed to be testing tomorrow for his next belt in karate.
Maybe I'll be surprised and find out once again that the district weather planners know something I don't . . .
Hail and other extreme weather is common in the spring. It began to hail, but it was small and stopped after a few minutes. Holly tried to catch some.
The clouds kept rolling by. I woke a few times during the night, hearing the wind before falling back asleep.
I was surprised--and annoyed--this morning to find that our co-op had cancelled classes. They follow the schedule as the local school district. I couldn't believe the school had yet again called another "snow" day. There was no snow! But they obviously knew something I didn't, because within a few hours, it looked like this.
We headed off to our morning field trip to The Great Harvest Bread Company. I didn't realize that they bake their own bread in the back. It's a small, franchised shop, and our group of 10 was a perfect fit.
We were treated to sliced bread while we waited to begin. Their baker arrives daily at 3 a.m. to begin mixing dough, and our tour started just as she left. We were led to a large pastry table, and the kids were given dough balls, along with several demonstrations on how they could roll and shape their bread. There were also several toppings from which to choose.
Holly shaped hers into a cinnamon roll, topping it with cinnamon chips.
Trevor made a cinnamon roll and a cheese and garlic pretzel.
All of the kids' creations were put into the oven, and the kids washed up.
Mark took us to another room where they grind wheat daily. Here he is at the grinder, pouring in a few grains to show the kids how the millstones work. He's standing on a big step to reach the top.
He demonstrated their mixer and dough hook! I think they mix 12 loaves at a time!
The oven has five rotating shelves and is considered "small" by bakery standards.
YUM!
The kids' dough creations were bagged up to be taken home. They each also were given a giant cookie, and the moms were given a loaf of their choice. I bought home Mediterranean Olive and ate some for lunch. It was a great choice, and we'll have the rest tomorrow night with dinner.
This was a really awesome field trip. This is a small business, and they were very generous with their time and products. The bread costs more than what I would choose at the grocery store, but it has better ingredients, it tastes great, and it will be a welcomed treat around here.
The blowing snow continued all day, but the temps hovered around freezing, so driving wasn't bad. It's supposed to blow out tonight; in fact, it's warmer right now at 11 p.m. than it was all day. The school district, along with co-op, has already canceled classes for tomorrow. Trevor will be disappointed. He almost cried today when he found out he's miss his weather science class (well, he could have looked out the window, but it's different without all of his friends around). He's supposed to be testing tomorrow for his next belt in karate.
Maybe I'll be surprised and find out once again that the district weather planners know something I don't . . .
Monday, April 23, 2007
This week's menu
Some things got out of whack last week, so they'll be on this week's menu instead. I need to be considering what things might make the house smell. Robert says we'll have to grill more. This isn't a bad thing, because it means that HE's doing the cooking!
This week:
artichoke dip; strawberries (because we went out for a big lunch)
Pioneer Woman Lasagna (leftovers)
beef stroganoff
turkey and avocado subs, chips, fruit
(I'm waiting for a really nice day so we can take these to one of our lovely parks for dinner.)
rum cake (I really want to get rid of the cake mix in my pantry!)
bbq cheeseburgers
brats and grilled peppers
YOYO
On the back burner (as a substitute for something this week, or planning for next week):
bbq chicken
manicotti
Lisa's Santa Fe Chicken
Marlboro Man's Sandwich by Pioneer Woman (these were so good that we'll be having them again very soon)
Alton Brown's Country Style Steak A new recipe that I'm getting a little nervous about--Lisa, I really appreciated your comment that you've not had much success with his recipes!
This week:
artichoke dip; strawberries (because we went out for a big lunch)
Pioneer Woman Lasagna (leftovers)
beef stroganoff
turkey and avocado subs, chips, fruit
(I'm waiting for a really nice day so we can take these to one of our lovely parks for dinner.)
rum cake (I really want to get rid of the cake mix in my pantry!)
bbq cheeseburgers
brats and grilled peppers
YOYO
On the back burner (as a substitute for something this week, or planning for next week):
bbq chicken
manicotti
Lisa's Santa Fe Chicken
Marlboro Man's Sandwich by Pioneer Woman (these were so good that we'll be having them again very soon)
Alton Brown's Country Style Steak A new recipe that I'm getting a little nervous about--Lisa, I really appreciated your comment that you've not had much success with his recipes!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
I'm older than Mike Brady
I am thrilled to announce that I have hooked my daughter on Brady Bunch reruns. We have the first four seasons, and we often watch them together on Saturday nights when she gets to stay up late.
In one of the shows we watched tonight, Mike and Carol attended his 20th high school reunion. That would make Mike about 38 on the show. That is SO much younger than I am that I can't even say the number of years out loud. One small consolation is that Robert Reed was actually 40 at the time. But that's still younger than me.
So to know that I'm older than Mike Brady . . . who had a 16 year old kid at the time in the show . . . that makes me think I should feel really old.
The thing is, I've always wanted to BE a Brady. I never had a consistent favorite character; they all annoyed me greatly at some point (and Greg most of all). But I've always loved watching The Brady Bunch, and it has nothing to do with a dysfunctional childhood (could any be more dysfunctional than a Brady's?). I've never missed a Brady reunion show. I used to plan my social life (when I had one) around 1990's The Bradys series and I was quite depressed that it ended after only six episodes.
At the time and to my delight, one of my work friends even made up an Order for Adoption renaming me Kristine Brady. We worked with the court system, and it was an authentic order--if it had been signed by a real judge. But I proudly hung the certificate on my wall at work and dreamed.While I may be older than Mike Brady, I don't feel like I am. Holly knows the game too, telling me very emphatically, "You don't LOOK older than him at all!" (Well, you know she wants to stay up late.) I can still pretend that I'm a Brady kid. If you look closely at that photo above, you'll see that nasty, selfish, conceited Marcia has pushed me out of the way so SHE can stand in front of me. It's ALWAYS Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.
As I was reading through ONE of my two Brady books tonight, I noticed that I'm the same age as ALICE was during the first season. Ouch.
But you can bet that I look infinitely better in a maid costume. And I find a lot of comfort in that.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Yippee, I'm back up!
I don't LIKE not having my computer! I don't want that to happen again for a long time. I'd planned to make Pioneer Woman Lasagna for dinner, but I couldn't, since my only copy of the recipe is online. Our very nice neighbor did offer to let me use his, but that just seemed to be too much trouble.
Life is so tough sometimes. (eyes rolling)
First house showing tomorrow. "9:15 sharp." What I really wanted to ask was, Can't it be at least after 10? But I didn't. :)
Life is so tough sometimes. (eyes rolling)
First house showing tomorrow. "9:15 sharp." What I really wanted to ask was, Can't it be at least after 10? But I didn't. :)
Friday, April 20, 2007
My internet's down!
My DSL is out this afternoon, and I don't know when it will be back up! So now you know if you don't hear from me via e-mail or anything else!
GULP!!
Our house hits the market tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. I wish sales were a little stronger, but I have FAITH!
Thursday
Gorgeous out today!
It was the first time in several months that Holly was able to ride outside.
She had a chance to ride bareback. This is just her second time, and she's not quite mastered getting on the horse without stirrups.
I wish I knew GIF animation. OH, how I wish I did!
Do you think I'm feeling bad yet?
No. I found it all quite entertaining.
And she's so sweet, she's still talking to me!
Barely.
I guess there's nothing like having a supportive mom around. Or nothing supportive about having mom around. Or something like that.
It was the first time in several months that Holly was able to ride outside.
She had a chance to ride bareback. This is just her second time, and she's not quite mastered getting on the horse without stirrups.
I wish I knew GIF animation. OH, how I wish I did!
Do you think I'm feeling bad yet?
No. I found it all quite entertaining.
And she's so sweet, she's still talking to me!
Barely.
I guess there's nothing like having a supportive mom around. Or nothing supportive about having mom around. Or something like that.
American Idol
Trevor's Pop Art, made from pattern blocks. It's Randy, Paula and Simon, watching a performer. Take particular notice of Paula's hair and the singer's microphone!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Book Review - Facing Your Giants
Ah, does anyone not enjoy reading Max Lucado? Robert snagged this book after seeing the title. He's never read this author before, and he couldn't put the book down.
"When David focused on God, giants tumbled. But when David focused on giants . . . he stumbled."
This is a great study of the life of David. Coincidentally (ha!), at the same time, I am reading Samuel in my chronological Bible. Mr. Lucado is a gifted author with a wonderful way of vividly pulling together Biblical events into a very easy to read style, applying them to life today. Every single chapter in this book is relevant, often challenging. The back of the book has study questions for each chapter--I wish I'd thought to look ahead of time and keep up with them as I'd read.
This was an excellent book, highly recommended. I need to read/reread more of his books--and I'm thinking Robert will read some of them too. For more info on Max Lucado, check out his website HERE.
"When David focused on God, giants tumbled. But when David focused on giants . . . he stumbled."
This is a great study of the life of David. Coincidentally (ha!), at the same time, I am reading Samuel in my chronological Bible. Mr. Lucado is a gifted author with a wonderful way of vividly pulling together Biblical events into a very easy to read style, applying them to life today. Every single chapter in this book is relevant, often challenging. The back of the book has study questions for each chapter--I wish I'd thought to look ahead of time and keep up with them as I'd read.
This was an excellent book, highly recommended. I need to read/reread more of his books--and I'm thinking Robert will read some of them too. For more info on Max Lucado, check out his website HERE.
Book Review - The Essential 55
The full title of this book is The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child. Author Ron Clark won the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award. As I'm not a Disney fan here, this was really more of a negative for me.
My dear cousin Adriene first recommended this book a year or two ago. I liked it then; it stuck out in my mind enough to check out again.
The "Rules" range from practical life skills ("When you answer the phone at your house, you must do so in an appropriate manner." "Make eye contact. When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times. If someone makes a comment, turn an face that person.") to specifically school related ("Homework will be turned in each day for each subject by every student with no exceptions." "If you have a question about your homework, you may call me."). Each rule is explained further, usually with a background, and the effect the rule has had on his students.
The amazon reviews often scorned Mr. Clark for some of his commentary, but I found that irrelevant to the rules. It seemed more of an attempt to spice up his writing, to add more words to the book. Obviously, I don't agree with everything he says, but overall, I found the rules to give good direction.
I didn't read through the entire book this time. I checked it out only to see if it was something that I could use as a "curriculum" with my kids. I plan to buy my own copy, and we can work through these, one rule per week. Some of them will go over better than others; but those difficult ones are probably the ones that NEED to be worked on.
Yes, I would recommend this book.
My dear cousin Adriene first recommended this book a year or two ago. I liked it then; it stuck out in my mind enough to check out again.
The "Rules" range from practical life skills ("When you answer the phone at your house, you must do so in an appropriate manner." "Make eye contact. When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times. If someone makes a comment, turn an face that person.") to specifically school related ("Homework will be turned in each day for each subject by every student with no exceptions." "If you have a question about your homework, you may call me."). Each rule is explained further, usually with a background, and the effect the rule has had on his students.
The amazon reviews often scorned Mr. Clark for some of his commentary, but I found that irrelevant to the rules. It seemed more of an attempt to spice up his writing, to add more words to the book. Obviously, I don't agree with everything he says, but overall, I found the rules to give good direction.
I didn't read through the entire book this time. I checked it out only to see if it was something that I could use as a "curriculum" with my kids. I plan to buy my own copy, and we can work through these, one rule per week. Some of them will go over better than others; but those difficult ones are probably the ones that NEED to be worked on.
Yes, I would recommend this book.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Quick review on Marlboro Man Sandwich
I made these tonight for dinner using Pioneer Woman's recipe.
They were GOOD! I bought 2-1/2 pounds of tenderized boneless beef round steak instead of the little cube steaks that I use for Chicken Fried Steak. My onions were small and I could have used more than two. The 1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce was perfect (I worried that it might be too much), and my hot sauce isn't that hot, since I used a couple of good shakes, and I don't think anyone even noticed. I couldn't get my bread to brown up quite as nicely, but it got covered up by the meat anyway.
Holly, my pickiest eater, liked it. A lot. Trevor . . . well, Trevor isn't too picky. Robert will eat food that he doesn't think too much of, but he said he was already liking it just by the smell of it cooking. Before he even tasted it though, he poured on a bunch of bbq sauce and topped it with lettuce.
It was definitely a hit, something we'll make again. Soon.
They were GOOD! I bought 2-1/2 pounds of tenderized boneless beef round steak instead of the little cube steaks that I use for Chicken Fried Steak. My onions were small and I could have used more than two. The 1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce was perfect (I worried that it might be too much), and my hot sauce isn't that hot, since I used a couple of good shakes, and I don't think anyone even noticed. I couldn't get my bread to brown up quite as nicely, but it got covered up by the meat anyway.
Holly, my pickiest eater, liked it. A lot. Trevor . . . well, Trevor isn't too picky. Robert will eat food that he doesn't think too much of, but he said he was already liking it just by the smell of it cooking. Before he even tasted it though, he poured on a bunch of bbq sauce and topped it with lettuce.
It was definitely a hit, something we'll make again. Soon.
Practice, anyone?
Trevor's ITBS testing is next week, and I attended a mandatory parents' meeting today. It was just a this-is-what-to-expect-make-sure-you-bring-#2-pencils deal, followed by Q&A time. There must have been about 100 moms in the room, about half of whose children have not tested before.
I was surprised by the number of parents who asked about practice testing. Is it recommended? Where do they get materials? My first thought was, it's too late to be thinking about this now. My second thought was that perhaps I'm in a small minority.
We've always practiced for these, for several reasons. We use the Scoring High practice books specifically for ITBS, beginning about two months ahead of time. Whichever child is testing that year works on a few pages a day, maybe 10-15 minutes, over the course of several weeks. I prefer that my kids be prepared, and I want to know of any potential problems ahead of time.
Holly knew "how to test," but it wasn't until she practiced for her 3rd grade test (3 years ago) that I realized Saxon math does NOT teach to "the test"--contrary to what I'd always read. She was unprepared not only for the content but also for the slightly different terminology. Learning this ahead of time gave us a chance to use a few different approaches, better rounding out her math understanding prior to testing. I have no doubt that our intervention improved her score. When she practiced for her 5th grade test, we had no surprises.
My biggest motivator for Trevor to practice was because he's not had much classroom exposure, and he has no idea what to expect. But I was surprised by his inconsistency in reading comprehension. At first I freaked out. We read out loud a lot, he does well with both oral and written narration, and I couldn't figure out why he wasn't testing strongly in this area. After thinking about it, I realized that he gets the big picture, he understands things that aren't necessarily told outright. He doesn't pay attention to the fact that the house was yellow, that the girl received books instead of the less specific gift (because aren't books a gift?), etc.
I was equally surprised by his strengths. While he's a good speller, I didn't think he would test well on the spelling section (which word is misspelled?). I was impressed with how he did in grammar/usage and punctuation. For Trevor (as for Holly), it's been a confidence builder. He knows that he's done well, he's had a chance to ask questions, and he understands how to fill in the little bubbles. (And don't laugh, that's important!)
Some people say that practicing ahead prevents you from really knowing how your child is doing. I disagree. Public school kids practice, and those are the students with whom my kids will be compared. I don't need testing to tell me how my kids are doing--it's just one of many tools that I can use (and a minor one at that).
Trevor's still a little nervous. But that's because he doesn't know yet which classroom he'll be in (it's at our co-op, it won't be unfamiliar); he doesn't know who the proctor will be; and he doesn't know what kids will be in his group--although he's sure to know several. But he doesn't have to wonder about what the test will be like. That's the one thing I really can control, and I can't help but feel bad for the kids that will come less prepared.
I was surprised by the number of parents who asked about practice testing. Is it recommended? Where do they get materials? My first thought was, it's too late to be thinking about this now. My second thought was that perhaps I'm in a small minority.
We've always practiced for these, for several reasons. We use the Scoring High practice books specifically for ITBS, beginning about two months ahead of time. Whichever child is testing that year works on a few pages a day, maybe 10-15 minutes, over the course of several weeks. I prefer that my kids be prepared, and I want to know of any potential problems ahead of time.
Holly knew "how to test," but it wasn't until she practiced for her 3rd grade test (3 years ago) that I realized Saxon math does NOT teach to "the test"--contrary to what I'd always read. She was unprepared not only for the content but also for the slightly different terminology. Learning this ahead of time gave us a chance to use a few different approaches, better rounding out her math understanding prior to testing. I have no doubt that our intervention improved her score. When she practiced for her 5th grade test, we had no surprises.
My biggest motivator for Trevor to practice was because he's not had much classroom exposure, and he has no idea what to expect. But I was surprised by his inconsistency in reading comprehension. At first I freaked out. We read out loud a lot, he does well with both oral and written narration, and I couldn't figure out why he wasn't testing strongly in this area. After thinking about it, I realized that he gets the big picture, he understands things that aren't necessarily told outright. He doesn't pay attention to the fact that the house was yellow, that the girl received books instead of the less specific gift (because aren't books a gift?), etc.
I was equally surprised by his strengths. While he's a good speller, I didn't think he would test well on the spelling section (which word is misspelled?). I was impressed with how he did in grammar/usage and punctuation. For Trevor (as for Holly), it's been a confidence builder. He knows that he's done well, he's had a chance to ask questions, and he understands how to fill in the little bubbles. (And don't laugh, that's important!)
Some people say that practicing ahead prevents you from really knowing how your child is doing. I disagree. Public school kids practice, and those are the students with whom my kids will be compared. I don't need testing to tell me how my kids are doing--it's just one of many tools that I can use (and a minor one at that).
Trevor's still a little nervous. But that's because he doesn't know yet which classroom he'll be in (it's at our co-op, it won't be unfamiliar); he doesn't know who the proctor will be; and he doesn't know what kids will be in his group--although he's sure to know several. But he doesn't have to wonder about what the test will be like. That's the one thing I really can control, and I can't help but feel bad for the kids that will come less prepared.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday in pictures
The carpet cleaners came today. We were prepared. Everything was off the carpet (as much as possible), and everything else was stuffed onto the wood floors.
I was determined to HAVE SCHOOL NO MATTER WHAT! We are down to four weeks, and I'm not letting something little like VERY LOUD carpet cleaning, hoses everywhere, open doors, strangers in my house, and NO ROOM to work stop me. (Actually, the noise was not a factor, as the vacuum was in the truck outside.)
Trevor played with tangrams for math. At least I was trying to be a little realistic.
Holly stuffed herself into this couch to read. I'm not sure how she got out, lol!
One more reason to love my wood floors in my kitchen and hallways--at least we could get around a little. When the cleaner was done, it was time to leave for several hours. I'm not a carpet cleaning expert. I turned the heat waaaaay down since the door was open for a few hours. I didn't even think to turn it back up, that it would help the carpet dry. Robert wasn't too happy with me!
We drove up to Littleton. You can see the Chatfield Dam spillway, the hogback, and the Rockies.
Of course, I had to stop at Sonlight to get a new catalog. I've been there before, and technically, they are not open to the public. But they don't mind handing over a catalog.
We picked Holly's friend up early from her school and did a few more errands. Mackenzie goes to the same elementary school that Robert's sister and brother went to in the early 1960s. Robert came in with us and chatted with the principal--who I'm sure wasn't even born until the 1970s.
These girls have been the best of friends since 1996, literally a life time.
We stopped at the cemetery where Robert's dad is buried. Fort Logan is one of two national cemeteries in Colorado, and as of 2005, had over 85,000 interments.
If Robert knew at this point that I had turned the heat down, he'd be plotting, well, MY plot.
We stopped at our long time favorite restaurant in Littleton, Romano's. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary, quite a feat for a independent, family owned restaurant. It was one of the first places Robert and I went for dinner, and it was one of my favorite places to take family (or have them take me) when they came to visit. I always order the exact same thing, eggplant parmigiana, salad with ranch dressing. I see the Romano "kids" and can't help but think how much older they've gotten in the past 20 years that I've been going there. I'm SURE I don't look that much older!
We got back home before 6. Surprise! The carpets were still wet, so we were stuck downstairs for the rest of the evening. But the carpet sure looks great today, and now I know why some people want everyone to take off their shoes in their house!
I was determined to HAVE SCHOOL NO MATTER WHAT! We are down to four weeks, and I'm not letting something little like VERY LOUD carpet cleaning, hoses everywhere, open doors, strangers in my house, and NO ROOM to work stop me. (Actually, the noise was not a factor, as the vacuum was in the truck outside.)
Trevor played with tangrams for math. At least I was trying to be a little realistic.
Holly stuffed herself into this couch to read. I'm not sure how she got out, lol!
One more reason to love my wood floors in my kitchen and hallways--at least we could get around a little. When the cleaner was done, it was time to leave for several hours. I'm not a carpet cleaning expert. I turned the heat waaaaay down since the door was open for a few hours. I didn't even think to turn it back up, that it would help the carpet dry. Robert wasn't too happy with me!
We drove up to Littleton. You can see the Chatfield Dam spillway, the hogback, and the Rockies.
Of course, I had to stop at Sonlight to get a new catalog. I've been there before, and technically, they are not open to the public. But they don't mind handing over a catalog.
We picked Holly's friend up early from her school and did a few more errands. Mackenzie goes to the same elementary school that Robert's sister and brother went to in the early 1960s. Robert came in with us and chatted with the principal--who I'm sure wasn't even born until the 1970s.
These girls have been the best of friends since 1996, literally a life time.
We stopped at the cemetery where Robert's dad is buried. Fort Logan is one of two national cemeteries in Colorado, and as of 2005, had over 85,000 interments.
If Robert knew at this point that I had turned the heat down, he'd be plotting, well, MY plot.
We stopped at our long time favorite restaurant in Littleton, Romano's. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary, quite a feat for a independent, family owned restaurant. It was one of the first places Robert and I went for dinner, and it was one of my favorite places to take family (or have them take me) when they came to visit. I always order the exact same thing, eggplant parmigiana, salad with ranch dressing. I see the Romano "kids" and can't help but think how much older they've gotten in the past 20 years that I've been going there. I'm SURE I don't look that much older!
We got back home before 6. Surprise! The carpets were still wet, so we were stuck downstairs for the rest of the evening. But the carpet sure looks great today, and now I know why some people want everyone to take off their shoes in their house!
This week's menu
This week:
Romanos Italian Restaurant
turkey and avocado subs, chips, fruit
Marlboro Man's Sandwich by Pioneer Woman (she can make everything look good!)
rum cake
Pioneer Woman's lasagna (with regular sausage)
beef stroganoff
breakfast burritos
YOYO
On the back burner (as a substitute for something this week, or planning for next week):
Alton Brown's Country Style Steak (new recipe)
Romanos Italian Restaurant
turkey and avocado subs, chips, fruit
Marlboro Man's Sandwich by Pioneer Woman (she can make everything look good!)
rum cake
Pioneer Woman's lasagna (with regular sausage)
beef stroganoff
breakfast burritos
YOYO
On the back burner (as a substitute for something this week, or planning for next week):
Alton Brown's Country Style Steak (new recipe)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
GARAGE SALE
After the snow and cold of Friday, Saturday was a great day to kick off our garage sale. People began showing up an hour early. I wanted to charge them double, or tell them to come back later. Robert ran out to greet them. (Do I need to say we balance each other nicely?)
They came in waves. I'd spent a fortune imo, $55, to run an ad in the newspaper. I posted on Craig's List and a large school e-mail list here (which were both free). The traffic seemed typical, the pros coming early, the grandparents buying for grandkids (just like my in-laws used to do for my kids!), the families out doing something together. There were so many nice people, and I realized what a hermit I've become in the past 2-3 years. I met a man who graduated from my high school in California. People continued to come an hour after our posted closing time, but no problem. It wasn't like we had other plans! It was a long day, seven hours of being "on," making small talk with strangers, dancing around prices, and taking money. Ugh. We sold a LOT of stuff, but we didn't have a bunch of big ticket items, and I really thought we'd have made more money.
This morning was much slower, but I didn't expect much from a Sunday morning garage sale. People trickled in, but we decided to pack up early. Robert and I began setting aside some baby clothes for a friend of his. A man came by looking for a jogging stroller and came across the rest of the clothes. He had hearing aids in both ears and was somewhat difficult to understand. Of course, I wondered if he could understand me, and I worried about the radio that we had in the background. He called his wife to check on sizes, and we began going through boxes together. I'm the typical mom, flying through everything, easily weeding through sizes. He was the typical dad, unsure what he was looking for. He finally offered $50 for everything. Impulsively, I said yes, and he was quite stunned, asking me twice if I was sure. My only concern was that he wasn't buying them just to resell. He even had to leave to get the money.
So we packed the remaining seven boxes of girls' clothes into his car. Both before he came back, and after he left, I cried. Big time. All those clothes . . . they hold such great memories. They are flashbacks for me of Holly's life, and it's much easier for me to part with them a little at a time. (In fact, we've passed on so many over the years, it was a surprise to see how much we still had.) So I cried, and Robert comforted me.
I am glad that someone else can use them, but I'm sad that they are gone from my life. They mean so much more. Holly's first birthday outfit. Pajamas that I remember. Clothes she wore to preschool, to kindergarten, for holidays. Outfits that are captured in photographs. And I can imagine this man bringing all these things home, and how happy his wife is that he found all of this for her. An unexpected surprise for their little girl, to wear for other celebrations, for day to day life, holidays and school, and more photographs. Clothes to linger on in another family's memory. Strangers to us and now our lives forever entwined.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
My new washer
(And a snow shot just because it's pretty.)
My washer was delivered a couple of weeks ago. Can I be in love with an appliance?
I liked my old washer just fine. It was at least 20 years old. We bought them used 15 years ago, and the washer never let me down. It never occurred to me that washers could change much over 20 years. After all, *I* haven't changed that much.
From the outside, my new washer is pretty unassuming, almost boring. There's nothing flashy about it, I didn't even want the touch sensors. That's just one more part to break down, and I haven't had such great luck with appliances. It's certainly not one of those fire engine red front loaders that do everything but cook dinner. (Actually, I'm sure they do cook, if you put the food in just right.)
Oh, but to open my washer up! As I lift the lid, I get lost in the depths of the tub, seduced by the dazzling whiteness . . . It's so lovely that I almost hate to put dirty clothes in it. But when I do, the fun begins.
My new washer even has a setting for a "super" load size. I can choose cold, warm, or hot water, or I can choose "cool," so the washer will automatically warm the water up just enough to make the detergent work a little better. It's definitely the strong and silent type. We don't hear the motor, just the swish, swish of the clothes gently swirling in the tub. Our walls no longer vibrate during the spin cycle, and it spins so well that my dryer time has been cut in half.
Could a washer be more perfect? [blissful sigh]
Robert likes it too. I don't know why, but yesterday he did several loads of laundry. I'm not even sure that there was much to wash. I heard the first load, heard the second, and by the third, I began shrieking, "WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING MY WASHING MACHINE????"
I mean, I breathed ever so softly, "My Darling, what are you doing? May I be of any assistance?"
Honestly. Is it wrong to love an appliance almost as much as I love my husband?
My washer was delivered a couple of weeks ago. Can I be in love with an appliance?
I liked my old washer just fine. It was at least 20 years old. We bought them used 15 years ago, and the washer never let me down. It never occurred to me that washers could change much over 20 years. After all, *I* haven't changed that much.
From the outside, my new washer is pretty unassuming, almost boring. There's nothing flashy about it, I didn't even want the touch sensors. That's just one more part to break down, and I haven't had such great luck with appliances. It's certainly not one of those fire engine red front loaders that do everything but cook dinner. (Actually, I'm sure they do cook, if you put the food in just right.)
Oh, but to open my washer up! As I lift the lid, I get lost in the depths of the tub, seduced by the dazzling whiteness . . . It's so lovely that I almost hate to put dirty clothes in it. But when I do, the fun begins.
My new washer even has a setting for a "super" load size. I can choose cold, warm, or hot water, or I can choose "cool," so the washer will automatically warm the water up just enough to make the detergent work a little better. It's definitely the strong and silent type. We don't hear the motor, just the swish, swish of the clothes gently swirling in the tub. Our walls no longer vibrate during the spin cycle, and it spins so well that my dryer time has been cut in half.
Could a washer be more perfect? [blissful sigh]
Robert likes it too. I don't know why, but yesterday he did several loads of laundry. I'm not even sure that there was much to wash. I heard the first load, heard the second, and by the third, I began shrieking, "WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING MY WASHING MACHINE????"
I mean, I breathed ever so softly, "My Darling, what are you doing? May I be of any assistance?"
Honestly. Is it wrong to love an appliance almost as much as I love my husband?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height . . .
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height . . .
Thursday, April 12, 2007
VOTE in the Homeschool Blog Awards
Cast your VOTE for your favorite homeschool blogs! We have at least three loopies who have been nominated for the 2006 Homeschool Blog Awards.
Live-What-You-Believe - Choosing Joy / De'Etta
Best Geographical Blog - You Did What? / Dorothy in London
Best Geographical Blog - Mountain Shade / Dody in Alaska
Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschool Blog - Choosing Joy / De'Etta (yep, she's there twice!)
These ladies have all blessed our list for years. It's a privilege to vote for them! Once you vote, you can see the results, and YOU can make a difference. Go to http://homeschoolblogawards.com/ and scroll down to click on each category.
(And you don't have to be a homeschooler to vote for these, hint, hint.)
Before you vote, say a prayer for Heather, one of the hs moms running the blog awards. She found out this week that she has a brain tumor, and it's not good. She's a strong Christian, leaning heavily on her faith. Her blog link can be found on the top of that link I posted.
Voting deadline is Friday, so don't wait!
Live-What-You-Believe - Choosing Joy / De'Etta
Best Geographical Blog - You Did What? / Dorothy in London
Best Geographical Blog - Mountain Shade / Dody in Alaska
Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschool Blog - Choosing Joy / De'Etta (yep, she's there twice!)
These ladies have all blessed our list for years. It's a privilege to vote for them! Once you vote, you can see the results, and YOU can make a difference. Go to http://homeschoolblogawards.com/ and scroll down to click on each category.
(And you don't have to be a homeschooler to vote for these, hint, hint.)
Before you vote, say a prayer for Heather, one of the hs moms running the blog awards. She found out this week that she has a brain tumor, and it's not good. She's a strong Christian, leaning heavily on her faith. Her blog link can be found on the top of that link I posted.
Voting deadline is Friday, so don't wait!
Flurries!
Monday morning.
The week started crazy and hasn't stopped. We are having a portion of our roof replaced. The roofing co. owner dropped off the trailer early, hitting our garage door in the process. OOPS!! The panel needs to be repaired (at the least), but no big deal in the scheme of things. The roofers showed up shortly afterwards and got to work FAST. It was pretty cool watching them work!
Within 30 minutes, the painter showed up. Robert began painting the trim two summers ago. The original color a pukey country blue (ugh, I hate that color), and we decided to go with a darker blue. This is so representative of how Robert's felt--NOT finishing a project in record time? PAYING someone else to do it? In five years, the only work we've paid for is installing carpet and installing some windows (Robert ended up installing the rest).
The roofers were done by noon.
The painter showed up again Tuesday morning, and within five minutes, it was snowing.
He left, returning a few hours later after the snow stopped. This is very typical of our spring weather.
Co-op began again this week, after a two week long Easter break. It makes for shorter school days, that's for sure.
Meanwhile, we are planning a gigantic garage sale for Friday/Saturday. We have fifteen years of stuff that can GO. Robert and I can get over-organized, and we've had plenty of time to organize this. (That's a nice way of saying we're both anal retentive.) Unfortunately, we couldn't organize the weather. We're expecting blizzard conditions on Friday, so we're moving the garage sale to Saturday/Sunday. I've been pricing things like a maniac.
The painter finished today, yippee!
Tomorrow morning, I have the enviable task of taking the dog to the groomers for a bath, and they will walk him over to the vet clinic for a teeth cleaning, under anesthesia. I'm not looking forward to the 8:00 a.m. appointment time, but Lucky will have it far worse than me, poor dog!
The week started crazy and hasn't stopped. We are having a portion of our roof replaced. The roofing co. owner dropped off the trailer early, hitting our garage door in the process. OOPS!! The panel needs to be repaired (at the least), but no big deal in the scheme of things. The roofers showed up shortly afterwards and got to work FAST. It was pretty cool watching them work!
Within 30 minutes, the painter showed up. Robert began painting the trim two summers ago. The original color a pukey country blue (ugh, I hate that color), and we decided to go with a darker blue. This is so representative of how Robert's felt--NOT finishing a project in record time? PAYING someone else to do it? In five years, the only work we've paid for is installing carpet and installing some windows (Robert ended up installing the rest).
The roofers were done by noon.
The painter showed up again Tuesday morning, and within five minutes, it was snowing.
He left, returning a few hours later after the snow stopped. This is very typical of our spring weather.
Co-op began again this week, after a two week long Easter break. It makes for shorter school days, that's for sure.
Meanwhile, we are planning a gigantic garage sale for Friday/Saturday. We have fifteen years of stuff that can GO. Robert and I can get over-organized, and we've had plenty of time to organize this. (That's a nice way of saying we're both anal retentive.) Unfortunately, we couldn't organize the weather. We're expecting blizzard conditions on Friday, so we're moving the garage sale to Saturday/Sunday. I've been pricing things like a maniac.
The painter finished today, yippee!
Tomorrow morning, I have the enviable task of taking the dog to the groomers for a bath, and they will walk him over to the vet clinic for a teeth cleaning, under anesthesia. I'm not looking forward to the 8:00 a.m. appointment time, but Lucky will have it far worse than me, poor dog!
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