Ever have a week where you feel like you are out of your body and watching a comedy of errors, but it is really you and your life? Yeah, that was my week. It was not any one thing or even that it was bad. In fact it was not and a lot of good things happened. I just felt like everyone was speaking a foreign language this week.
It is probably me...
I've getting close to finishing my decoupage book shelf. It has taken a bit longer than I thought it would. There are lots of little areas that take time to cut and set. I'm shooting for finishing this week some time.
I'm getting sick of seeing the books on the floor. Messes are always good motivation for me.
I'm nearly ready to take my city licence test for tour guides. I did go out and go through one last Friday and it was really fun. There was lighting of a Cannon! I also learned I can take a cannon firing course. Look out neighbors---this ain't a potato gun!
B is doing well. She is reading through the Junie B books as fast as she can. I want to start tallying her pages so she can see how many she has read, and that gives her a goal. I was thinking of making a wall chart with the number of pages she reads displayed. When she hits 1000 she gets a prize. I also thought of pennies or jelly beans in a jar for each page again when she reaches 1k a prize. Jelly beans are cheap but they are a candy. It is hard enough to get her to brush her teeth now. I think jelly beans will guarantee a cavity. Pennies may be a better option. Any thoughts?
We have also started taking German lessons with a German friend. We've got our colors down and our fruits, and some greetings! B was practicing last night as she was falling a sleep. Eines, Zwei,drei...
I can't believe how fast last week flew by. I hate to say it but...Where does the time go?
Well, in this place it goes everywhere.
I have been studying for a guide licence in our new home town. This place is steeped with some amazing history and I think it would be great to share it. It's simple. Study the history, know it, create a script and pass the city test. O.K. I'm in the studying phase now. I think I might even get to dress up!
B is the same silly sweet and happy gal as always. This weekend she read a chapter book called "Junie B Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime" by Barbara Park. I've read one or two of these to her before. They are not my favorite. The stories are written as if told by a 6 year old and that means poor grammar and misspellings. Not a great enforcer for correct spelling and speaking. I had decided to discourage her from reading them(gently of course.. "Ooooh look B a Princess book!"). However in talking with my sister in law this past weekend about her own sons and their young reading days, I have decided that perhaps Miss Junie B has something to offer that I had not expected. B is reading. She is sitting, engaged, excited and proud of her accomplishment. Each page is one step closer to finishing the book. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she finished the book. She read the last two or three chapters to herself. I could see her pointing and reading each word, pausing where she had to sound it out, her face thick with concentration. She spent 20 minutes retelling me the highlights. I love how happy she is at her new skill. I treasure this time.
Today is national Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you can bring yourself to do it, give someone a good aarrrrrrh and let them know you care. They'll probably thank you for it (maybe?).
O.K. so I've been a bit late on posting lately. I start out with the best intentions, really I do. But I've been distracted by tasks and not really focused on postings. Lame I know. But we have been doing some cool stuff.
Food! B and I have been cooking fools these last two weeks.
Potato and Rutabaga balls rolled in bread crumbs served with green apples...
Lasagna made with fresh pasta and fresh tomato sauce and local mozzarella cheese
Cooked
Ready for eat'n
Pumpkin Pie...
Fresh whipped cream on top!
Oatmeal Raisin(et) cookies
She worked hard for her treat.
Blueberry filling
And the pie...make you think of Stand By Me?
Really yummy cake
Curried Couscous, mixed mushrooms and German style green beans.
We've eaten well.
We are slowly getting our new house together. And by slowly I mean we are really putting some thought into each room and choosing pieces and colors that represent us. The homes style magazine and DIY shows make it all seem so easy. Hmph... It is not. Last week we started with selections of paint. B's room will have a lovely "Ribbon Pink" accent wall and white and purple pin stripped. But to start we built her a bed. It's a twin over full bunk. They come apart to make two individual beds so when she out grows the bunk bed she'll have the full and that should get her to college. We're thinkers over here! We decided to put it together ourself (really J did it) to save some money. It took 4 hours. Cha-Ching!
Not sure if this is a good thing or not.
As for color of the family room and kitchen here are the choices:
Darker color is called Hazy Sky and the lighter one is Nantucket Fog
Thoughts?
I also painted B's toy box white and it is acting as a toy chest and occasional table.
Anyone wanna help paint? It's really fuuunnnn?
Non house or food news is that B is loving her new home. She is settling in and has made a little group of friends. All sweet. She had a call from a boy on her bus this week that made her dad and I giggle. He says he likes her cuz she is nice to him on the bus. He even stopped by for a bike ride. Now this seems sweet and innocent and it is, but when you're the parents of a daughter and a boy comes calling it's notable right? Is this is what to come in 6 yrs from now? Should we be building her a tower and not a bunk bed? We are not ready. Really it tells me is she is a nice girl and is kind to people and it makes me proud of her. Now if only I could get that same behavior at home with us.
Things I love:
~Sons of Anarchy
This show is great. I love Katey Segal. She is the best part of the show. No more Peg Bundy. It's Gemma Teller Morrow all the way. And Ron Perlman is great too (Hell Boy, Beauty and the Beast series from the 90's, Tangled...). It's not quite vigilante justice because they do break the law, it's more of a lesser of evils kinda justice. You're never sad at the bad guys getting theirs at the hands of the MC. If you have not seen it you should. But start at the beginning. This show builds their relationships well, so start there first.
~Aveda
B and I were looking for Whole Foods Market and stumbled across the Aveda training center next door to it. I've been on and off with Aveda for the last decade which started in San Francisco. They have a lot of nice therapy treatments and natural products. I'm a fan of their mascara which uses mosses(and limited petroleum products for it's makeup) which doesn't make my eyes itch. Recently I've been back on with them( last 2 years at least) so finding a training center is really good news. Eager stylist at a cheap price! I spent $60 bucks for a cut, partial highlights, product and tip! Ummm... awesome! I usually pay that for just a cussin' cut. So today I'm a little blonder, slightly banged and less slit ends. I love a new hair do. It puts a spring in my step.
