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!

Tara's Birthday

On Sunday we celebrated Tara's 8th birthday with a little family party at my house.  Of course all four of the girls were there.  We also had some Aunties, Uncles, and a few others. Tara requested a luau theme for her party which turned out really well.  There were luau paper plates, umbrella straws, leis for all and sand pails full of goodies for the kids.

Tara's mom, Laura, made chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla cupcakes with green, pink, and blue frosting.  They were really yummy!  She also made some really cute cookies, which I can't describe, so here is a picture.

I told you they couldn't be described!  Can you believe they are really cookies?  So cute!  I didn't try one of them... they were too cute to eat!

Besides all of the goodies to eat, we had chicken, potato salad, beans and hotdogs, and a variety of chips.  Lots of good food!

After we ate, the kids all played outside in the sprinklers for awhile.  It was a really hot day! They all were soaked by the time they were tired of the water.  They had fun and also stayed cool.

Then it was time for Tara to open her presents.  She really enjoyed all the books she got. Did I mention that reading is one of her favorite pastimes?

Here she is while we all sang happy birthday.  She really wanted to eat that cupcake!

Everyone is waiting patiently for their cupcake and ice cream!

It was a really full day and well into the evening when the party started to break up.

And one last picture of all the kids together before everyone headed for home.

What a fun day!

Sunday

What a really busy Sunday we had.  In the morning I picked up Kayla and Marissa and took them to church.  After we got back home and ate lunch, Jason brought over his laundry and his girls, and we enjoyed a fun, busy day.

The girls spent some time playing outside together, then they decided to come in and be creative.  Katie and Kayla decided to color, and Tara and Marissa made cowboys and horses out of the legos.  Here they are, hard at work.  They didn't let the piles of laundry that were waiting to be washed, deter them!

They play so well together.  Well, most of the time anyway!

And one of the finished lego products!  They did a good job.

Meantime, Jason and I had a few projects of our own to work on.  Of course there was the laundry for Jason, and I can always find schoolwork that needs to be done.  Our main project though, involved tasty cinnamon raisin bread.

So while I got out the ingredients, Jason started putting them together.  We soon had a bowlful of rising dough.  We used half raisins and half craisins - really flavorful that way!

Later, after putting a quick dinner together, we finally pulled the fresh bread out of the oven.  It was perfect for our dessert.  It turned out really yummy!

After everything was done and we were all stuffed from the good food, it was time for everyone to head home.  It was really late and the girls were all worn out and ready for bed - and so were the parents!  

I love Sundays! 

Tomorrow is another day of cooking.  Marion bought ingredients for a big pot of soup and the two of us are going to make a big batch for freezing.  Sounds like fun to me!

Barns And Crickets

I love summers when I can leave the door open in the evening, or even sit outside.  It is so nice out, and quiet.  Well, that is, except for the very loud cricket that has been right outside our front door for about a week!  We've been enjoying his music!  He makes me feel like I'm outside in a tent, camping in the middle of nowhere.

This was a barn in Ashland Oregon that I just had to take a picture of.  I don't know why I love barns, especially falling-down barns.  The more of a ruin they are, the better I like them.  I can't pass one up without taking a picture.  We don't have any around here.. that I know about anyway.  I wish we did.  It looks like a perfect spot for a picnic... and for that cricket!

I'm getting a lot of tomatoes from our two plants that we have this year.  They aren't very big, but still good eating.  I made some salsa with them yesterday, and still I have about a dozen left in the bowl.  I'm thinking a nice big salad tomorrow night for dinner!

Tiny but tasty!

I love to just eat them right off the vine!  We also have some bell peppers that will soon be ready for picking.  I have a really good stuffed bell pepper recipe and they'll be just right for it.  Right about now I'm wishing that I had planted more of a vegetable variety!

Oh, and here is a flower that was falling over out in the garden, so I had to bring it in and display it.  I love gladiolus... I looked it up, the spelling is correct!

Well the cricket seems to have stopped his music for the night.  Guess I'll do the same!

Camera Shy

Wednesday morning while answering the phones at church I decided to go into the kitchen and get out the snack I had brought.  In the kitchen, there is a full wall of windows and I glanced that way. On the other side of the windows I could see a whole family of squirrels sitting in the grass munching away on something tasty  - I don't know what.  I just had to take a picture of them.  They must hear very well because they started scattering when I got close to the windows with my camera.  I did manage to get a couple of pictures, though.

They are kinda hard to see, but there were quite a few there.  They were scattering when I took this.

Then I noticed this little guy just kinda sitting there posing for me.  Too bad he's in the shadow!  Anyway, it was a very cute site.

So today I decided I'd better work on granddaughter Ashley's birthday.  I made her a quilted purse that only took about three hours to put together.  I found the directions for it on a fellow student's blog. (Thank you Nikki).  I am sure I'll have to make more of them as soon as the rest of the granddaughters see it!

I thought it turned out really well.  Perfect for little girls.  I wish it was as easy to find something to make for the grandsons!  So far, I haven't been able to find a pattern for transformers or hot wheels!