Dance Time

Granddaughter Katie wanted to try dance classes, so she went today for her first lesson. There were only three little girls in the class.  Katie was the only one who hadn't taken dance classes already.  They are all beginners, and watching them trying to learn the steps is really cute.

I didn't get to take such great pictures because I had to either take them through a window, or take them from the reflection on a mirror.  Not to mention that iphone cameras just don't do the job well!  I did get a few pictures though.

The first part of the class is ballet.  

I know it's really hard to tell but Katie is the furthest one over - and the tallest.  

She's trying to follow the teacher's lead!

It was hard for her to figure out how to keep her toes pointed.

After a half-hour of ballet they changed shoes and began a half-hour of tap.  They really liked hearing their shoes on the floor!

This time Katie is the one closest.  The third little girl was taking a break when I took this picture.  

When they were all finished with their lesson they each got a sticker for their efforts.  

She wanted to show me what her sticker looked like.  

Yes Katie really enjoyed the lesson and wanted to know if she could come back tomorrow! It looks like a fun new adventure for her.  Since she has never been to preschool we weren't sure if she would do well taking directions from a stranger...and she does have a mind of her own...so we just weren't sure.  

We'll see how things go next week!

Quilting

I have been busy working on the baby quilt today and have come to one of the really fun parts.  In a nine -block, log cabin baby quilt, there are two different designs that can be used.  The fun part is figuring out which one looks the best.  Soooo, I have taken a couple of pictures to show the options.

The first design is called fields and furrows.

The second design is called all sevens.

This one gets finished with more red around all the edges and ends up framing each block.

This is going to be for a baby girl, and to me, one design just says girl more than the other.

So I think I know which one I am going to go with, however, just for fun, maybe I could get a few suggestions.  Which one?

Of course now that I have this one halfway done I am thinking I should have gone with a different quilt.  Since the parents-to-be are farmers, I'm thinking I should have made a Sunbonnet Sue quilt!

This And That

Thank you everyone for the well-wishes and congrats.  It was a long haul, but I did enjoy it.

I have been busy reading for fun over the last week - since I don't have to read a textbook now!  I went to the library and checked out six books, and have them all read except for one.  I can spend hours reading for fun!  Right now I am thinking about reading some of the classics; Jane Eyre, To Kill A Mockingbird, Grapes of Wrath, etc.  Anyway, I have been neglecting my posts because of it.

There has been a few things going on.  I have had Kayla and Marissa a few times this week while their mom has doctor appointments.  They keep me busy.  I did get some updates from them about their new school.  Kayla likes it a lot.  Marissa likes the after school activities they are in, however, she isn't as happy with the rest of the day.  She likes her teachers - she has two.  For some reason she just doesn't like the school much.  I can't get an answer why,  she just says, nnyaa!  Will have to work on that!

Tara really seems to like her school.  She tells me that her teacher says they can do whatever they want as long as it is in their academics!  I am not sure what that means but I think it means they have a curriculum for the day, or week, and as long as they complete that, it doesn't matter in what order.

At any rate, they all seem to be adjusting, and hopefully Marissa will "come around," or will tell us why not.

One project I have been working on is a baby quilt.  Just nine blocks made from scrap materials.  I tried to match the colors but I had to go somewhat off the track.  Sometimes, though, really opposite colors turn out to be some of the best quilts.  I would put up a picture but right now it wouldn't look like much.  I'll be sure and post it when I am done.

Another project I am going to start on is a quilted checkers game.  I got the pattern while Laura and I were on the quilt run, and it is soooo cute!  Not only do you make the board but you make the checkers also.  I'm going to make it for grandson Odin's birthday.

Meantime, I can't believe September is almost here!  Now I have to get busy on some fall quilts.  My favorite!

I did make some stuffed - sorta - bell peppers from off of the one bell pepper plant we have. This is how they looked just starting out.

I cut them into rings to stuff, then cooked them on the stovetop.  It's a lot quicker and easier.

I topped them with diced tomatoes from our vines.  It was really good.  Kayla and Marissa were here that night and they really liked them.

I think I'll keep the recipe!

A Matter of Degree

I'm finally finished!  Yeahhh!

Today I officially finished my last class, and now have a Bachelor of Arts degree! - Well, that is, as soon as they send it to me!  I have been working toward this for a long time.  I can't believe I'm finally finished!  I don't know what I'm going to do with all my time now!  I'll think of something, though. 

As my classes end, the girls classes begin.  Today Kayla, Marissa, and Tara all started back to school.  I know it seems early, however, the school districts here have an unusual schedule.  This year the girls all got into a school with high academic standards, called a "magnet" school.  Magnet schools focus within a specific area, such as science, math, arts, etc., and their standards are much higher.  It is a great opportunity for all of them.  

Of course it was new to them and I think they were all a little nervous.  Here's a picture of Kayla and Marissa that I took while they were waiting for the day to start.

It will probably take a few days, but I think they will adjust.  

I didn't get to take a picture of Tara's first day because she goes to a different school, and I couldn't be in two places at once.  Their moms tried to get them all together in one school, but it didn't work.  Anyway, Tara's mom told me that one of Tara's friends from her old school is at the new school, so Tara already has one friend.  

So it has been a busy day today, and the next few days will probably be more of the same for the girls and their parents.  

Meantime, I'm gonna take a few days and rest up from all the work I put into that final paper!

Sleepover

Saturday night Katie and Tara had a sleepover with Grandna - as they sweetly call me. It's a long story!  Anyway, they arrived here at about 3 o'clock Saturday and were all excited to be spending the night.  I was busy getting ready to make dinner and they wanted to help out. So we went outside and they helped me bring in a few ingredients that were going to be used.

We picked fresh bell peppers and herbs.

While we were outside Katie and Tara wanted to help water some of the plants.  They were so helpful and did a good job.

Katie even thought the empty barrel was a little thirsty!

After all of the garden chores were finished we went back inside to continue working on dinner.  The girls wanted to watch a movie while I was busy at the stove.

I tried a new recipe for dinner rolls that looked good and it had been busy rising... Looks about ready to go into the oven.

I put the rolls in to bake and they only took about 20 minutes until they were perfectly browned.  Everyone really enjoyed them and I have enough left over for the rest of the week.

After we finished up dinner Tara and I spent time reading and Katie was busy coloring.  It is her favorite pastime.  We were so involved that it got late and we all ended up getting to bed later than we should have.

Very early in the morning we had a terrific thunderstorm with lots of rain.  It brought out the smell of sage and would have been really enjoyable except for poor Schultz who is scared to death of thunder.  It wasn't even light out when he jumped in the middle of the bed shaking, tongue hanging out, and drooling everywhere!  I tried my best to calm him down but he just isn't interested in anything once the noise starts.

There was no way I was gonna get back to sleep now!  So I just kept telling Schultz it would be okay - for all the good that does!  I'm going to invest in a thunder shirt!  It is supposed to work well for dogs who are afraid of loud noises and I hope it will help.  I'll let everyone know how that turns out.

So after our short night we were all a little cranky... Katie wears that title especially well sometimes!

We did get through the day fairly well intact, though, and the girls headed for home with their dad in the late afternoon.

 All-in-all, it was a fun sleepover!