Horace and Then Some

     It's Friday, and even though it's summer, I'm fragmented.  But it's a good kind of fragmented.  It's summer, so what's there to complain about?  Except that it's going by way too fast.

~~On Monday morning, we had a ridiculously strong thunderstorm.  It sounded like the siding was blowing off the house.  Instead, a baby robin blew out of a tree in our little yard.  I didn't find him until Tuesday.  My neighbor showed me how to feed him, and I believe we saved his life. On Wednesday I fed him again and named him Horace.  His mom started taking care of him later that day, and he just may make it.  Here's what he looked like when I first found him:

~~Mom flies away any time we go near our patio window, so here's a view from our upstairs office window of her and the plate of mushy bread plus two worms from my compost bin. Can you see her?  She's the big lump on the left.  (Plush green grass, eh?)

~~We're having a party on Sunday because Mac is home.  I bought these plates at  Dollar Tree.  I love Dollar Tree, the only store where everything is a dollar.  I figure, to be green and eventually frugal, I'd spend the $36 to get these and never have to buy paper or plastic plates for a party again!  (Local?  Feel free to borrow them.)

~~Napkins are paper though.

~~Plates (check), napkins (check), know what I'm wearing (check), not much food purchased  but some planned.  Brad's cleaning the house, love that, so as soon as I hit "publish post," it's party planning time.

~~Mac brought his girlfriend Anneke (like Monica without the M) home.  She brought me a hostess gift, wrapped in repurposed paper (love that).  It's an apron she made.   Of course Mac had to tell her I don't like seafood, and these are Louisiana crawfish, but I think it's so sweet!  (I thought they were lobsters.)

~~My friend Andi is working on obtaining a grant.  Andi taught at our school for two years, read at my wedding (explains the photo), and since moving districts has been doing a different job in a different school every school year since fall of 2007. She's worked in two different schools each day, taught two different grade levels, and she's done a stellar job!  She's had more flexibility than this ol' gal ever could find.  This year she's going back to school from a maternity break to another new position, a 4/5 split!

     Please click on this link and search her by author name (Andrea Peterson) to vote for her grant proposal.

~~Last night I posted a running question on facebook. I've been getting stitches and wanted to know how to avoid them.  This morning I woke to such great advice from about a dozen runners.  I love my friends.  I went with a banana and some of this juice for breakfast, waited 20 minutes to run, and...no stitches!  Not only that, I ran two miles and ran non-stop for 30 minutes.  This is better than I've done in this new attempt at reaching a 5K.  So I am so pleased.  A nanner a day...

~~Here's one of my next projects?  Can you tell what it is meant to be once finished?

~~I seriously love the dollar store.  Specifically, as stated above, Dollar Tree.  I found these DVD's for Brad's grandkids. Bible stories and praise songs.  And I like the cardboard sleeve versus the plastic case.  Can't wait to get them in the mail!  (Should we send them all at once or one every other week or so?)

~~A realization hit me this week as I was discussing sewing with Little Lizard King.  I realized I liked completing my simple little tote project, and hope to sew another project, because I finished it.
     In my job, I don't really and truly finish anything tangible.  We get through things, I spend precious time with my kids, then I send them on their way, so I don't ever feel like I have a finished product.
     Perhaps sewing will keep me from teacher burn out?

~~Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for allowing me, once again, to spill.

Early Bits and Pieces, aka Fragments

~~So where is June?  School over mid-month, rain, severe cold/virus, rain...and in the forecast more rain.  Hm.  How to grab onto these last few days and savor them?
~~Our flowers are looking lush.  Neighbor Ashlee and I are delighted, and we are already talking about fall planting.  (No photo due to rain, but check back for a belated addition--if it stops raining.)
~~I went to the dentist on Wednesday and learned I should get braces (again).  I've wanted them for a while, but now that I know I should, I've been nervous about calling an orthodontist.  The cost, oh the cost. 

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~~Speaking of my dentist visit... I saw a new doctor with a new assistant, and they were both great!  But I learned about this flossing thing.  Interesting.  I should now get an award for flossing two nights in a row.  Seriously, a new personal best.

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~~Notice, this novice flosser is not endorsing any particular brand. I just thought it was funny it was so easy to find floss clip-art.

~~Have now met and worked with all five of my summer students.  Love them!
~~Last week I made an tasty orange bundt...finally had Brad toss the leftovers as I was the only one eating them...not good. (You can see the cake not leftover now adhered to me in the self-portrait I posted yesterday.  My slice or two a day is on my thighs.)

~~Next, kind of on a dare, I'm going to try this one. (Can you say blog fodder?):

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~~Reading loss, I read about this book on goodreads, and I excitedly placed it on hold, checked it out, brought it home, started reading it, only to realize I'd read it before--probably within the last 6-7 months.  Am I the only dope that does that?

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~~Reading win.  I've been playing around and reading lots on www.wegivebooks.com.  I signed up on their facebook page, and of all the people who entered I read the most books this week, and I won a T-shirt!  More importantly, I've read over 50 books for the Chicago Public Schools!  

~~I am working on another rectangle for our Ronald McDonald House blanket. Finished one last week of my own "design" and decided to try a heart on a rectangle this week. Frogged (ripped it all out, rip it rip it) completely just now.  Isn't that how all designers begin?  If it looks at all like a heart, I will share it here next week.  (In other words, no photo available.)

~~Thank you to Mrs. 4444 for letting me post a whole lotta nada!  She's on a grand vacation, so I don't know that I'll be linking up, but you know what?  I still must give her the credit for all the smidgens I get to portion out each Friday!

  ~~As for the font?  Blogger is toying with me again, it refuses to do normal.  So I opted for large instead of smallest.  You are welcome.

Bits and Pieces aka Fragments

So...I've been running.  And lately I've been sweating.  To keep that burning liquid out of my eyes, I bought this:

Yep, a moisture wicking headband that reads "Slow Runners Club."  I may be the only member, but I'm a proud one! Thanks to Beth Zimmerman and her share.  If I decide to hate running, I'm going to have to continue since I've made a fashion (!) investment now.

The kids have to come to school on Monday for the last day.  That's just dumb.  (We have to go on Tuesday for a half day.)

I have enjoyed each blog comment I received this week.  I blog to converse, and people have been "talking."  I don't have a lot of readers, but I do have a lot of "conversers."  Apparently, that's a made up word...

Edy's Berry Sherbet...the best sherbet there is.  (Or if you're from around here, you probably say, "sherbert.")

The vice I told about last week, without really telling you about it, well I've been successful at avoiding it for 8 days now. Woo hoo!  Thanks for your prayers.

My husband put together some storage shelves in the basement. On them he stored all the tools he's been working with in the kitchen and living room for over a month now.  The room is done.   I see the above Woo hoo and raise it with another!

I'm gearing up to give blood tomorrow.  That means iron pills, broccoli, red meat and lots of water.  I usually have to pee about eight times before giving.  The hydration helps the techs find my veins.  As soon as they pull a pint, I'm off to the john again.  Then it's time for Gatorade and cookies!

I wore what I thought as the cutest dress to a shower last week, and I didn't get one compliment.  (Shallow, I know.)  Then at church that night, a pastor's wife chased me down to tell me she loved my dress.  I was so pleased.  (Shallower, perhaps?)

Now for some real pieces, I came across a blog, Knit by God's Hand, written by Rebecca Jo only a few weeks back and we blog-bonded. (Let's see, she's a believer, she knits and she runs.  Not sure why we like each other.)  I added her to our "Dose of Fiber" group on facebook because she knits (far away in Indiana so she can't come to knit and nosh with us), and she sent these two rectangles for our group project.  The photo does NOT do them justice, they're a lovely cornflower blue.

I found this pencil on the floor at school the other day.  It's perfect, can you tell what it says?

Yep, He loves me even though I'm shallow, sweaty, run slow, don't always think the nicest things (my vice thing), and eat too much sherbet.

Thanks Mrs. 4444

A mix of Random and Randumb

Have you seen the show Dresscue Me on Planet Green?  Such fun!  I love dresses and would wear them year 'round if there wasn't such a thing as a temp below 50.  This is the host and store owner, Shareen Mitchell.  Love her, don't always like her, but the green way she shops and redesigns blows my mind!  (I watch her On Demand.)

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A facebook friend turned me onto an OPI color line for the holidays:  Muppets!  

My friend Erin of Unrepeatables shared the news of  The Muppets collection  She makes the coolest rings from nail polish, check her out on facebook or etsy.  (She's way into polish, can you tell?)

 I found this at cafepress and it cracked me up.  Can't get it as a T though, just don't want people reading my chest, you know?

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I do also want to learn to crochet.

Um, and #3 is a lie.

Last week I wrote about my favorite sandwich, mozzarella and tomato from Panera.  I crave them like a pregnant lady.  Anyway, this is how NOT Martha Stewart I am, as you well know, it took me a while to realize I could make my own.  Hello, it's a sandwich.

And mine was pretty good!

I don't know why the font size changes below, I went nuts trying to fix it, but blogger weirded out on me...

Lame duck alert!  

We have, including today, five more days of school. Report cards are done. We're sort of just hanging out, doing some fun stuff and waiting for summer. There's a talent show today, we're walking to the Elder Day Center tomorrow, the founder of A to Z is coming to meet the kids on Thursday, and on Friday we're having a picnic.  Something tells me it will all fly by and I'll be missing my kids...

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(More about this after she speaks with the kids!)

Thanks to a great amount of encouragement, I have gotten up to 26 minutes of running, a personal best for me.  Couch to 5K got me started, and now I'm just adding a minute each run--and I'm only running every other day.

Happy me! Thankful for encouraging friends and a healthy body; I offer that thanks to God each morning.

Now I just have to find a way to keep the sweat out of my eyes.  Even in the basement it's hot and humid!

Suddenly Tuesday

I'm so not with it as far as random goes, today is catching me by surprise, but here's the minutiae that comes to mind:

Random grad student shtuff: The folks at LSU sent me a parking pass!  Aren't I lucky?  Actually, they sent it to Mac at his home address here in IL.  Hm, should I keep it?

Random Dose of Fiber shtuff:  I'm learning how to knit.  It's slow going.  Yesterday I got together with my girls, my Dose of Fiber girls, and we laid out the blanket we're working on for Warm-Up America and Ronald McDonald House. 

It's going to look great.  

We have 24.5 completed rectangles (note the skein in photo below), and we need 49.

Random explanation shtuff:  Why do I always say I'm "learning" to knit when I've been at it for more than a year now?  My rectangle, my only one so far, is the baby blue one in the first position second row from the bottom.  Can you say "simple"?  I knew you could.  Very. Slow. Going.

Random winter accessory on the first sundress day of the season shtuff:  Helen, group member and friend, gave me this scarf, and since it matched my dress, I wore it while I stitched and ate cook-out food.

Neato slip-knot feature!

Goes so well with the tank top, tank dress and love beads, eh?

Gorgeous colors. Next I learn to crochet!

Random Fashion Note:  As mentioned above, it was warm enough to wear a sundress yesterday!!

Random Run Ellie, Run shtuff:  Can you believe no one from Couch to 5K reads my blog, and therefore no one responded to the open letter I posted here?  Anyway, I tried the 20 minute thing on day three of last week, and it wasn't working.  But...I am happy to say I have decided to continue to push myself to goals I think I can reach. Yesterday, I ran 9 minutes, walked 4, and ran 15.  And it felt GOOD!  So I'm sure 20 is coming very, very soon.  And that after that, 21, 22, 23...you get the picture.  Feel free to cheer me on, I need it.  Any color poms will do...

Random Shocking Shtuff:  On Saturday, we attended a surprise 50th birthday party for my friend Gail.  Was  she surprised?  You be the judge...I believe her mouth may still be hanging open!

For more random thoughts, run over to visit Stacy...

Apparently

...all kinds of knitting ninjas are all over the web.  I randomly ran across this picture, and it made me laugh.  I just may have to order these one day for all my Dose of Fiber gal pals.
Speaking of whom, we are getting together on Sunday night for a "dip" dinner (it's only me who is calling it that, and I refer to the food not the personalities), and to begin our group project.
You see, my knitting sensei Megan (and I've called her that for a while, so now ninja fits too), has a knitting philosophy:
Have three projects going at any given time:
One that mindless
One that's challenging
One for charity.
So, as a group we're going to begin our second project.  This time it's a blanket for Warm Up America, and fittingly, Ronald McDonald House.
I'm pretty excited to hang with girlfriends-of-ages while we nosh and knit. (And Helen crochets!)
Sunday should be fun.  :)
Ninja style...


As for my other two projects, I'm getting them going this week.  Hope to share pics.   The easy one, a potato chip scarf.  The challenge...a felted purse.  Eek!

Frogged it Friday

     Knitting term:  Frogging.
     Think, "rip it, rip it, rip it."
      I started a scarf for one of Brad's granddaughters because he decided it would be cute for them to have matching scarves for themselves and their American Girl Dolls.  I thought it was cute that he cared so much for his grandgirls, so how could I say no?
     I started this one for Abby last weekend when I was sick, and I made some progress.  But I didn't like it.  It was too smooth.  It lacked character.

     On Wednesday night, I frogged it without regret, and went back to the beginning.
     Picture of the new beginning (ball of yarn) plus two inches on Wednesday night:

 

     Picture of it one night later:

     So worth it.  Now you decide, sarcasm or not?