Jeepers!

Starting out with a hopeful "Spring Mandala" however our weather here in Michigan has not been cooperating. This weekend Rob and I went out to dinner for our anniversary which was not very well timed as a consistent snow fell throughout Saturday evening while we mucked our way to The Melting Pot and back. Good food though. The week was pretty mellow, I worked pulling some video entries, got a few areas organized in the house, took Ben and Fox for haircuts (Fox even got some highlights), fit a couple workouts in, and subbed in the middle school one day.
Friday I picked up the older boys from school at 2:35pm and we stopped by the Thrift Shop before heading over to the elementary school so I could be the Mystery Reader in Ethan's class room and then do baseball sign-up afterward. What did I delightfully spy there?! This fantastic coffee table, in terrific shape, minimal scratches, legs all tight, couldn't pass it up....guess how much....$30, sweet! Ben grabbed a Wheel of Fortune game for $.50 and Fox some jeans and a flannel shirt, $.50 each.

For Ethan's class I read two large Golden Books that I had from my childhood, "The Big Tidy-Up," and "The Pink Elephant with Golden Spots." The kids enjoyed them both; afterward I had some time to chat with Ethan's teacher and several of my 'kid buddies' as they got ready to dismiss for the day. After school we got Ethan signed up for baseball...he'll finally be in kid pitch this year. Plus Fox talked to one of the coordinators about training and working as an umpire. He was told they will be posting a notice about the one-day clinic coming up soon, so be on the lookout. The guy who's in charge is also Fox's track coach, which will be ramping up on the 23rd of this month.

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Fox has also been putting the final touches on his first Sales Pitch for forensics, selecting New Balance running shoes as his product. He still needs to gather his props together and I purchased a couple pairs of NB shoes off ebay for cheap that he can use and wear.

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Benjamin is also working on a project, applying to go to Space Camp. He wrote an essay, collected the required three recommendations, and hopefully will make it to step 2, a personal interview; four students will be selected to attend camp in Huntsville, Alabama this summer, on complete scholarship. This is a huge step out of his comfort zone, first off being away from home by himself, and also flying, but he is determined to get there so I hope his efforts are favorable.

After months in a culinary slump I've had a resurge thanks to this fabulous book. I've tried several recipies, some I'd adjust a few things if I made them again but others are terrific as-is. Last night I made the Saucy Skirt Steak with Orange-Spice Sweet Potatoes, used a nice cut of venison backstrap in place of steak and was very pleased with how the sauce turned out with my long-neglected food processor. I've really got to use it more often. Plus I made steamed asparagus with it. Yum!

Alex is enjoying her spring break this week after performing well on all her midterm exams. The boys will have a half-day Thursday and no school Friday due to trimester break. But we'll keep busy helping a friend move into their new house. I leave you with an intriguing concept from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the 'Hug Shirt'. Interesting idea but I'd rather get mine the old-fashion way, from the ones I love.

In Memory of

The past week I've been relating in a different way to the saying "forever and a day". This past Sunday was the one-year anniversary of my mother's death. It is still a surreal feeling, the past year has felt like forever and at the same time like only a day has past.

I've been having the oddest memories of our life together. I remember when I was very small (like preschool), living in Detroit, we would walk over to the library which was maybe a couple blocks away, then to the grocery store, we'd bring the grocery cart right back to the house with everything in it then run it back later. I always loved the library and remember the day I got my first library card. The house she moved into in Grosse Pointe was conveniently located a block away from the Kroger and she did the same thing there.

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I remember one Christmas I got two new dolls and she made an entire wardrobe of clothes for them on her sewing machine. I still have the dolls and many of the clothes. She used to make outfits for special occasions for my brother and I too. There was one Halloween when we were still in Detroit, I was in first grade, she made the most darling witch costume for me to wear but I was mortified to have to walk all the way to school in it....by myself. I don't know why but after much crying and begging she still refused to walk me to school.

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Being able to go and hang out in her classroom when I had a day off of school was always great. I loved helping her get things ready for the day or running an errand in the building for her. Her class was filled with cool stuff and I liked helping her students. The students were always in some type of awe about me being Mrs. Quatrine's daughter. Alex got to come hang out too a few times, and get a chance to see how public school would be when we were homeschooling during those early years. She was probably about third grade when she spent three days with gramma and got to be in a fellow teacher's room. Alex thought is was fine for a 'try' but it wasn't the routine she wanted day in and day out.

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I recall a vacation out west where mother made an anxiety-filled climb up the 20-foot ladder that was the start of the Mesa Verde tour. She was terrified of heights and even more so of the water. I also recall being at various swim classes mother did over the years, public pools, private pools, she never gave up trying to get over that fear. It got better over time but she never became an avid fan of water.

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The image of she and Alexandra sitting in amazement as they witnessed Fox Robert being born is forever etched in my mind. And I can hear mom saying "how's my honey girl!?" to Alex, which how she always greeted her when she was little. That brings me to think that she almost missed out on having a relationship with her grandkids altogether after she decided to boycott my wedding (super ouch). Rob and I called, begged, pleaded for weeks but she wouldn't come. I was 26 years old at the time, not saying I did it right and I don't recommend it, but we got engaged in October, and in December we found out we were pregnant, so instead of a June wedding we moved it up to March. If you weren't told I was expecting you would have never known but apparently this was too much for her to handle. Finally six weeks before I was due I made contact with her and said this is all ridiculous, I want my child to know her grandmother. Mom deep down really didn't want to miss out on the gramma-experience either and I think it took more out of her to stand against the wedding than she realized it would. We made amends and that was the beginning of a huge turn in our relationship. I can't imagine her not being a part of their lives.

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For a season we got to sing together in the Fraser Chorale, a community choir; that was fun. I also remember when I was taking ballet and other dance lessons like crazy that mom took an adult ballet class and the ladies even performed at the recital. Mom did a nice job, she was very graceful albeit petrified.

Over the last seven or more years of her life mother had a multitude of medical procedures, some necessary, some cosmetic I was there in the waiting room for many and on recovery duty as well. I remember after her shoulder surgery both of us falling into hysterics over helping her go to the bathroom, she couldn't get her pants on or off herself so it was quite the process. Thank goodness she could still use the one hand to wipe with! Of course I got to make up for that in the final days, guess that's part of the circle of life...they wipe your butt and eventually you have to wipe theirs.

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Judi was incredibly organized and methodical about things, a gene I only got in part. She was really obsessive in the later years when she lived on her own but as I look back she was like that all while I was growing up. I wish I could get a place for everything in my house and everything in its place, but until the kids are all out of the house I figure the effort is futile.

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Dogs ruled and cats did too in her empty nesting years. We had some great pets growing up but the animals she got on her own always ended up to by some type of psycho....she loved them anyway. Her one poodle Lucky was greeted like the Newman character on Seinfeld, whenever we'd go over or she'd bring him to the house it'd be like....(with clenched teeth and sarcastic tone) oh, hello Lucky, just like Jerry would say to Newman.

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As I wrestled with the decision of putting all the kids in public school I spoke with my mom about it. Being an educator she was surprisingly supportive about our homeschooling endeavors and never overbearing with her opinions, except for insisting Benjamin go to speech therapy (which was ultimately a good thing). She was a good barometer to help keep me on track and was well aware the kids were thriving and performing beyond their peers. Anyway, her final word on the subject was, "if you're going to do it, then just do it, and shut up about it!" That might have been some medication talking but she was right, once I definitively made the choice there was no looking back.

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I polled the kids for some of their memories and got some interesting comments.

Ben: she made great biscuits, and liked to give a Christmas gift 'to all the boys,' everything in her house was breakable, she never went in the public pool, and she had a NO SNORTING rule.

Fox: she liked to travel but was a questionable driver and they got lost a lot around Philadelphia on their trip, she really liked to teach.

Ethan: she always had ice cream and she loved hugs from her Ethan boy.

Alex: a long night hanging out in the E.R. after gramma fell on the stairs in Mammoth Cave and hurt her shoulder, playing house in gramma's basement at the Moravian Mansion, her psycho pets.

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Rob really misses their debates. She and he could banter back and forth on subjects with vigor but it never actually became argumentative. They both held their ground and neither one ever gave up the fight but they did concede to points well made.

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My dad and brother are working on getting all our family slides scanned into the computer and put on discs. When I get my copy I'll post a few and take y'all on a trip in my way-back machine. Hoping some warm weather will arrive soon to help lift my spirits, things are pretty melancholy after our big Chicago trip, looking forward to the upcoming bustle of our spring sports trifecta, soccer-baseball-track oh, yeah!

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Miss you, Mom and .... sorry.

Great Show!

Did a little blog bouncing before posting today, every once in a while I peruse the Blogs of Note to see what's out there and believe me there is some stuff that is really out there! It is amazing the variety of things people blog about from food to fashion, human rights to gay rights, creation of art to critiquing of art, wrestling to writing, travel to tatoos, homeschooling to hand made items, it's all out there to read or click the 'x' and leave it for someone else. Viva la difference and how cool is it that we can literally travel the world from our cozy home and see what's going on.

What's going on here in notable North Branch is our Choir Program which was a big hit! Not quite as big a crowd as the December one perhaps because it was Valentine's Day or winter, but it was a great success never-the-less. Below is a picture of the elementary group preparing to sing and under that the final moments of "Dive" where we really 'got down.' I've said it before but I'll say it again, it has been such a blessing to work with these kids, yes, there are those that test your grace but if they keep showing up I'll keep working with them. Many parents and grandparents came up after to give me hugs and encouragement. Everyone is excited to come together again next year and I am as well. I've already started doing music searches and have some selections ordered.

North Branch Elementary After School Chorus - Feb. 2011

After the program I skidattled over to our first LCCC practice for the spring concert (it's always refreshing to get to sing with the big people). Once again we received quite a stuffed envelope with a variety of pieces. The biggest hoot will be our second half which pays homage to musicals past and present with a collection from "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked." What fun!

My exciting conference call while initially boosting quickly took the wind from my sails but didn't completely deter me. The call was with a regional manager from CYT (Christian Youth Theatre) to discuss starting a group in our area. What I found out is it's like buying into a francise and it's not cheap. While I believe there is a need for this here I don't think CYT is the umbrella to work under because of all the costs involved and they kept pushing me to be a Flint CYT because it's a 'big city' but I really don't want that connection. Plus my goal is to keep costs for family/students extremely low or without cost at all. So I'm still at the drawing board but haven't given up hope. I will continue to work with groups as I have been and wait for the right time to take it to the next level. It's all good.

Our bags are packed and ready to go...... check in next week to see where we're off to!

Checked It Out

My two younger boys are totally enthralled with the Mythbusters television series. They record it and watch it almost daily. Lately they've even taken to trying out some of the experiments they do on the show, they safer ones that don't require hi-tech equipment or gun powder, thank you very much. Today Ethan had Rob help him modify one of their Nerf guns to make it shoot farther. First he checked with me if I didn't mind him taking one apart, "you know, ma, we've got plenty of them and really don't need another one" was his sales pitch. I gave the ok and he explained to dad what to do which basically entailed taking out a couple parts. They put it all back together and man oh man did it work! Those bullets now go I'd estimate four times farther than before the modification.....oh joy.

The photo below is to show that mandalas can be found anywhere and to lead into our next check out....

For the past few years since the boys are getting older I thought it would be cool to take them to the annual Auto Show but because of time or money it never happened, well the other day while checking email what before my wandering eyes did appear? a message on my homeschool co-op group offering free tickets. Woot! [yes, I still keep a toe in the homeschool world] So I made a quick phone call and snapped them up. Friday I pulled the boys early from school (because educational opportunities don't just happen in the building from 8am-4pm) and we headed down for Family Day. It was overwhelming all the cars that were there, I hadn't been to the show in maybe 20 years but it was still awesome. Ben and Ethan ran around and pushed every button they saw, jumped in any car that was open, and played every game they could stand to wait in line for. Fox had a little bit more subdued approach but thought it was quite intriguing nonetheless. He spent a lot of time checking out the all-electric, part electric, and natural gas vehicles. Plus there was one high, high, high end luxury car he drooled over for a spell, you know the one that for price says 'inquire for information' but really should have said 'in your dreams'. The Prius Swagger Wagon was also ogled over for some time by all the boys. It's a stretch limo van with all the bells and whistled, big screen, computer, etc. The Smart car exhibit hooked our attention for quite awhile and I was really digging the eBike. The latest thing seemed to be hooking your iPod, iPad, Blackberry, etc into your car, bike, whatever and then being able to access info and apps to the car. I'm not there yet, we still drive cars from the '90s.

Alex's new employment quest hasn't been going as hoped but she did get a new opportunity. Over the past couple months she's been "farmed out" to other Burger King's and has been called and begged to work closing at the Orion store many times. She recently talked to the manager about transferring since she's only been scheduled one day a week in Lapeer. The manager said they'd love to have her and to talk to the district person about a transfer. It's not exactly the ideal situation but you've got to work with what you've got and if it means they'll give her more hours she felt it was worth the drive....and they'll work with her school schedule. Nice.
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Fox brought home his paperwork to prepare for getting scheduled for classes next year at the high school....yes, it's that time already. He'll be doing Geometry, AP Prep English, and AP History we already know and for electives he's talking about doing Intro Business, Forensics and/or Speech for sure and he's not sure what else. He also signed up to do Forensics this year and will probably work on a Sales presentation or a Persuasive speech. I had a brief phone conversation with the coach and I like where he's coming from so far, hopefully this will be a good experience for my oldest son.

Finished Amy Yasbeck's book this week, With Love & Laughter John Ritter. Excellent, I highly recommend it especially because you know this person from all his work on television (plus her's also) and to get an idea of the man he was 'behind the scenes' is really cool. Amy has a very relaxed and humorous writing style that brings you along for the ride. It is commendable that she took her tragedy and turned it into a positive by bringing forward awareness on aortic annerysms (which is what caused John's death as well as his father Tex's). I am still in my multi-title mode so the side bar has morphed to a Reading List instead of Now Reading...
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Found a cool website to share for those adults who like a break from their grown-up-ness. Click Here for some coloring pages to help you de-stress. Blessings everyone and don't forget to bundle up!

Don We Now...

I didn't really mess with photos on my last post but here is a snap of the first concert of the season, the Lapeer County Community Chorus at Hunter's Creek Church. Then there's Ben (the shorty) playing the bell set and Fox with his Euphonium. Ben is quite diligent in his practicing and never has to be reminded to do it, which I love. He also goes beyond what they are working on during rehearsals and tries to figure out parts on his own, many times calling me in to play duets with him. Since we didn't rent the bell set he just practices on the piano and I think it's a good thing. Fox's run with band is coming to a close but he'll finish out this year. He did what I asked and tried it for middle school, it's not his thing and I'm ok with that, next year it will open up his schedule for more electives.

The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind of final preparations and performances. Although it was a bit crazy at times the Lord knew what he was doing in blessing me with these projects because it has really helped keep me going instead of wallowing around in grief. I know my mother would have appreciated and supported these endeavors and hope she's been looking over me through it all. Although our final dress/tech rehearsal for Star of Wonder left me wondering if this was truly going to minister. The annointing hit when the time finally came and the kids did a fantastic job, the shepherds rocked the house, actors delivered their lines well, the "wee" kings were too cute, and the vocal soloist touched my heart. One of our elders told me later he thought it was probably the best children's program the church had done. Glory to God! We even had a special moment at the end of the program, the second from the last song "Constellation Celebration" the kids come off the platform and dance around the aisles and when they came back up to the front a brother of one of girls danced up on stage with the rest of the cast. I was familiar with this boy and had him with us on Wednesday nights on a few occasions, he has some mental challenges but really comes alive when we work on music. Sister was concerned and tried to make him leave the stage but I intervened told her it was ok and invited him onto the risers with the group. He sang the final song "Look Up" (which he knew from being in with us) with the his face beaming and the biggest smile you've ever seen. It was truly precious and just that little moment made it all seem so worthwhile.

There were some other personal 'mini' miracles that happened surrounding my actors but I'll refrain from sharing them since they're personal, but as I started to get feedback and testimonies afterward it gave me a new understanding of why we were given this assignment. Pastor has also asked us back to do a couple selections from the program at the Christmas Eve service which was a bit of a surprise and a little last minute, but hey...I'm game.
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The school programs had a bit of a wrench thrown in due to snow days on Monday and Tuesday so we lost our 'dress' rehearsal for choir and two days of practice for the 4th grade skit. Then when we went to set the skit on the stage we had to change everything around because of miking issues. The kids did great and went with the revamp gracefully. I had to leave Mrs. Martin to finish things out because on top of everything else I was also running my daughter around because she totalled her car on an icy hill after the first snow fell. But it all worked out in the end, didn't they make for a cute cast!?

Friday night we went down to Rochester to drop off the band fruit at my in-laws and caught the light show on the way back. This is really a cool concept draping all the buildings and they've even added more down some side streets and further north of town.

Yesterday was the holiday choir program with the North Branch Schools. I had about 130 chairs set out initially and we had to pull out and set up another 100+ chairs there were so many people that came! I was floored. Unfortunately because of the trimester change, other commitments and some teenage blow-off the middle school and upper elementary group were not at their full capacity but they did well none-the-less. The NBE After School Chorus brought it full force and sang with all their hearts. Technical challenges aside it was wonderful. Afterward I had some positive feedback from several parents and grandparents plus had a father/son team with sound experience come up and offer to help me work out some kinks for the next program. What a blessing that will be. In all the excitment I didn't even take a picture even though I had the camera in my pocket the whole time. I emailed a few moms and hopefully they can send me some snaps.

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Well, even though this batch of musical activities has concluded I've already begun receiving the download for my next assignments....a choir pops concert on Valentine's Day, coordinating VBS (found one I'm really excited about), working the creative arts camp at Paint Creek Center for the Arts (already talked to the director about some theme ideas), and a future ministry of "Praise Rocks!: A Children's Musical Giving God the Glory" - hopefully put together in a Saturday Kid's Praise Club format. But for now I just need to get busy wrapping.

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I'll leave with a quote from Bill Rancic (I love the Bill & Guilliana show).

"Everything will work out alright in the end; and if it's not alright, then it's not the end."

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Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

Dr. report brings happiness

Mom got the result from her scans and the happy report was 'nothing new and nothing grew' which shocked her but it is the good kind of shock. This is what we've been hoping and praying for to keep the 'C' at bay. The lumps....just fat. How many times in your life are you actually glad you've got fat! (; D)

The school week has been shaping up nicely, although is was a little rough getting the boys to wake up yesterday. Today they bounced back just fine. Alex had her first Intro to Philosphy class, hurt her brain a little, all the lecturing. She doesn't even need a book, he's working primarily from handouts and discussion. There will only be three exams and he drops the lowest grade so each score you keep is worth 50% of your grade, that's a little daunting. Only time will tell I suppose. One small bummer, in her Creative Writing class the teacher says they are going to be writing about themselves :::big raspberry::: give me a break, how creative is that!

Fox had some homework last night, making a poster charting the Scientific Method and writing a paper about a favorite hobby. The poster was actually a group project that they didn't get finished in class and he volunteered to do it at home for his group. Hope he gets extra points for the effort. The hobby he wrote about: Chess. In math class they took a prelinimary test so the teacher could get an idea of the topics the class was strong or weak in and apparently Fox got the highest score. Way to go! He's hanging in with CC and doesn't really even seem to be getting very sore anymore.

Ben and Ethan are fine except for the whole remembering what to bring home or turn in, lunchboxes, school/home folders, signed papers, etc. Nothing major, it's all good.

I had a very productive week myself, got a good deal of entries pulled and some written, attended the WillSub meeting, did errands, opened a new bank account thanks to a $100 incentive, and even took time to sit at Starbucks, have my Peppermint Mocha Grande in a real mug, and read. Finally finished the Michael J. Fox book "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" and was pretty much in tears, not of sadness but of admiration for him, his foundation work, his family, and amazing wife. He and Tracy are definately on my would-love-to-meet list. Talk about phenomenal people, I put them in the same category with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward who while being great talents managed to stay out of the paparazzi glare and make amazing efforts to give back to the world in abundance. Great book, I highly recommend it and "Lucky Man" as well.

FRIDAY FILL-INS

1. He was a one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple people eater.

2. Changing colors, apple everything, and the occasional hayride is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend needs to call me.

4. I really don’t understand all the fuss about Obama’s address to the students to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be deceiving.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was Ethan & Ben at the bus stop.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to running sound for a wedding rehearsal, tomorrow my plans include Ben’s first soccer game, Fox’s first cross-country meet, running sound for the Barber/Winter wedding and Sunday, I want to have another great rehearsal with the SOJ Kids Choir!

little bump -^-

Late Saturday night during the crazy lightening storm we lost power at the house. It still has not been restored. The boys are all with the grandparents camping in Sandusky, Rob is down in Westland so it's just me and Alex toughing it out. The trucks are at the house now hopefully we'll be up and running by the time I return tonight.

Finished 24: Season 7 before the power gave out, sort of disappointing compared to other seasons. This was the Boo Hoo year, lots of crying and whinning. I did NOT like the woman president at all. Not that Cherry Jones didn't so well with the part I just didn't like the way they wrote her situations. There was actually one point when I said out loud (on behave of Jack) "Women!" because he had to keep giving in to their demands even though they weren't neccesarily making the right decision and he was technically under their authority.

Anyway, time to run, Alex has a hair appointment in preparation for Senior pictures, then I'm helping at Vacation Bible School this evening. There have been other things happening too but I'm just not in the mood to go over it all at the moment. I'll just sum it up as teen love - it's a challenge.

Steady as she goes ---

1. Campfires & fresh cut grass are my favorite summertime aromas.
2. My favorite John Hughes movies are ‘Mr. Mom,’ ‘Breakfast Club,’ and ‘Weird Science.’
3. A rose petal is something I love to touch.
4. The full moon has been so bright that last couple nights.
5. Let’s be nicer to each other right now.
6. When daylight fades slumber begins.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dropping Ethan off at his first sleepover birthday party, tomorrow my plans include a Parton Family Reunion and Sunday, is Alexandra’s 17th birthday!

Yesterday evening we attended the last free concert by my mom's house. It was fabulous as expected, and for an extra bonus my Aunt Denise showed up with her two grandbabies, Fabien & Dale (his real name is James but they call him Dale). The boys had a great time playing with balloons and we all got a kick out of watching two little girls dance their hearts out, oh if only we still had that abandoned, to just dance and not care who is watching. This time I tried to take some snaps of all the different dogs that people brought with them, such a variety, I barely scratched the surface.

Before dinner I took a quick ride on the bike as I usually do when I'm over there, manned with my camera, went by the abandoned mansion again but drat, this time things were locked up tight. I did however take a picture of where Fox is hoping to go to high school, Grosse Pointe South, isn't it a beautiful structure, looks like a college!

Other highlights from the week:

getting my office almost completely organized

a motherload of fresh bush beans ripe for pickin'

several successful spelling lessons

going a few rounds with the teenager

working on getting Senior pictures scheduled

following up on a lead to edit a screeplay

Have a great weekend everybody!

The End (Lennon/McCartney)

1. I love Jack Bauer!

2. Fruit smoothies & granola are foods I love to eat for breakfast.

3. It seems I'm always searching for Ethan’s shoes whenever we have to go somewhere.

4. Watching 24 episodes with commentary is a great way to end the day.

5. I think I am a little obsessed with a certain television drama!

6. Crab legs dipped in butter is what I've been craving lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching disc 3 of 24: Season 7, tomorrow my plans include blowing off the film school open house and Sunday, I want to go to church, hear some awesome special music by my own Ms. Alex & stay for a VBS meeting!

all the pictures of the boys are at the community pool, the black & white is Alex's self portrait in the car rear view mirror (kinda cool), the self snap of me was a sneaky way to get a shot of my mom chillin' poolside (see her in the background), and the bottom is Ms. Brulee after her appointment

Got up fairly early today, well, early for me, showered, rounded up the troops for a quick house straightening, then loaded everyone up and motored down to Grosse Pointe to my mom's house. I did a full clean on her house while Alexandra worked on her hi-speed pulling entries for me, and the boys assisted gramma outside with some garden chores. After everyone completed those tasks we had some lunch then went over to the pool for a quick dip. Aaaah. Felt good. Next we stopped at the groomer and picked up Ms. Brulee who looked fabulous with her new cut and bow. Back at the house the boys chilled and watched some Disney shows while I took mom's bike out for a ride. My wunderlust and delinquent nature got the best of me as I started snooping around some abandoned houses in the area. One in particular that I have always been intrigued by I stopped to check out and found to my delight that a side door was open! I couldn't resist and ventured in. Oh my goodness this place was huge, I almost got lost in there. It had a master kitchen, prep kitchen, a double sided fridge/freezer deal (like you could open it from two different rooms), a courtyard at the center of the house with a fountain, a living room that was probably the square footage of my whole house, 10 bathrooms, 6 bedrooms and each one had another attached walk-in closet with drawers, shelves, & cabinets built in, there was a large regular staircase and another servants staircase, an attached garage, with another room above that (although I didn't find my way into it). I don't even think I made it into all the parts of the house because I was afraid of getting caught I didn't want to start opening doors and making noise so I just quietly toured and made a quick getaway. Got back to mom's and googled the address. Found an old realtor listing (there is no sign out front at present) that stated it was 9500 sq. ft., was owned by a doctor, had a list price of a mere $850,000 (I'm sure a fraction of what it was going for in its heyday) and a yearly tax bill of over $25,000. It appears as though it has been empty for some time and there are structural issues definately but it was just a cool little escapade. I wanna go back and snoop around some more - wish I had the camera with me, maybe next time.....

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney)

1. Losing a job is not the end of the world.
2. Catch Me If You Can-Screenplay is the book I'm reading right now.
3. Fresh berries taste so good!
4. Sometimes, putting others first is necessary; other times futile.
5. Take time to think it over.
6. Well, maybe there is a solution I haven’t thought of yet.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a date night, tomorrow my plans include writing TVonDVD entries and Sunday, I want to chill-ax and hopefully do some house projects.



The boys are going to a Tiger game today with Uncle James and Grandpa Q. It's their annual summer boy bonding time. Last year they went to Chicago for the game but today they will be at Comerica Park. Looks like a great day for baseball!


OH! Laaaa, la, la, la, life goes on......

Hello Goodbye (Lennon/McCartney)

Not really feeling very blog-a-tive today.

Hardly even spoke except when I was coaching.

Swim lessons,

push mowed,

watched 24: Redemption

while it rained outside my window,

went down to coach,

good practice.

Another edit magic photo from my bike ride archives.

Maybe Tuesday I'll feel more conversational.

And Your Bird Can Sing (Lennon/McCartney)

Yesterday was mellow. I am loving this current weather, this is my kind of summer. Not hot, just sunny with a little breeze. The boys had their last swim lesson of the week. I am amazed at the improvements they've made since three summers ago. All have gained great confidence in the water. Fox is doing well working on the different back strokes, and has a strong front crawl. Ben and Ethan are in a class together and are the strongest in the group, albiet this is the second time Ethan took the class and Ben's third. I think passing is imminent.

In the afternoon I dropped Alex off at work then drove over to my mom's house to check out one of the free concerts in the the plaza. The leader of the group, Ron Kischuk was one of my instructors when I went to Oakland University, he taught a Business of Music class. He's quite a cut-up and a proficient trombonist as well. Good times. I just love hanging out and listening to jazz. Big Band, blusey stuff is really my ultimate fav. Vocal jazz really isn't too much my thing, although they had a wonderful singer, Jeannine Miller featured last night, even if the selections were rather mellow for my taste. Ethan was goofing around with the camera with me and actually took several that I used on the collage today. It was nearly midnight by the time we got home.

Still haven't been successful getting a snap of Alex in her Burger King clothes. So far this is the best I've gotten. This leads me to offer a challenge, anyone who can get a picture of her working at the back window with her smiling face showing, I'll buy them a Hershey Pie. Yum!

Friday Fill-In

1. Today is everything it is going to be.

2. Black and white and read all over.

3. Sometimes you just have to punt.

4. And if I told you once, I told you a thousand times, if you got it out then put it away!

5. French Vanilla, Peppermint, and Mocha are the best flavors for coffee.

6. North Branch is the closest town to my house (and it doesn't have a stoplight).

7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to shopping and working, tomorrow my plans include a family birthday party and seeing an old friend from high school, and Sunday I want to see a new roof on my house and stop by Pastor and Diana's Good-bye Celebration.

Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney)

When I decided to use Beatles songs to title my postings this month I figured since there are so many in their catalog I would attempt to post daily. It's more challenging than I thought it would be, but I press on. What's up? Rob sent me a cryptic email a short while ago that he has a check in his possession, that's all I know. Not sure how much it's for, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

The boys are doing swimming lessons at the Imlay City Pool this week and next. Unfortunately it has been a little chilly but not too terrible for them when they are in the water. I sit poolside in pants and a shirt, but no jacket. A friend from Seeds of Faith Co-op has her daughter in the class after ours so we have a few minutes to chat during the change-over. Cheryl and I have a kindred connection in that our husbands are of similar mind-sets in many areas and we've faced similar challenges job and family wise. It's always nice when you know other people are dealing with the same 'spiritual growth' opportunities that you do, makes you feel you're not alone in this big crazy, jumbled up world of ours.

Work wise for me I am getting ready to start writing more TVonDVD entries but unfortunately my home greening and decluttering efforts are not being carried out as effectively as I'd like but with the boys around everyday it's really pointless to even hope for a total decluttered state. We'll get there eventually (like in ten years when they've all moved out!). The main task at hand lately is to get everyone in the house to understand the concept of picking up after themselves! I wake up in the morning, come out of my room, and I know exactly what everyone did by the trail they've left behind. Anybody relate, can I get an Amen!? Fox has made the most improvement but we're all still in training.

Recycling efforts are still going well, although I have been rescuing items from the trash again lately and I gave up on the small compostable paper separating, instead just throwing them in with regular recycleable paper. Also, I am feeling good about the miles of walking and biking that I'm starting to log for the summer. When I was staying at my mom's I took her bike out and got a couple really good rides in, probably up to nearly 40 miles riding so far, maybe 15 walking. Tomorrow the boys and I are hoping to check out another section of the Clinton River Trail if the weather cooperates.

Chin Up Peoples & have a Terrific Tuesday!

All You Need Is Love (Lennon/McCartney)

... to make healthy brownies. What? Well, healthier.


Had a couple bananas that needed to be used, and I really wasn't in the mood to make banana bread so I got an inspiration to healthy up a brownie mix (on sale @ Meijer $.76). In addition to the banana I added some wheat germ and creamy peanut butter with the 2 eggs, 1/2 c. oil and 1/4 c. water. I add wheat germ to almost everything I bake, it hardly disturbs the taste if you use it moderately and it adds great digestive benefit.


Ethan made a great thrifty purchase this weekend, an awesome bike he paid for all by himself with his own money. He got it for $5 from the neighbor boy...









... who upgraded.






Rob headed off to work this morning at 8am as usual. I told him to keep me posted. Pastor choose to give his last sermon from Hebrews 11, the faith chapter. Interesting choice, and timely, I tithed in faith that this week will have a positive outcome.

Help! (Lennon/McCartney)

Well, yesterday ended the week rather strangely, for the first time after weeks/months of talking about "how bad things are" Rob can home without his weekly check. Ouch. Thankfully I had a check arrive this week so we're ok for the week but unsure of how to proceed from there. We have some money set aside for our roof project that is slated for next weekend and I really don't want to have to use it for bills because the roof really needs to be redone, it leaks in multiple places. They are hoping some payments that are due come in early next week and Rob will get paid but for this week his boss gave him $100 to 'get by' on. So if my friends could join me in standing on two scriptures I'd be grateful. They are:

"Make a roof for it and finish..." (Gen. 6:16)

and "...he puts the deep into storehouses." (Psalm 33:7b)

It is at times like these we reach a new level of aparigraha (nonpossessiveness and nonhording). Trying to hold on the the past and the job and what little money may be available will do nothing but be the cause of stress. Letting go, as utterly terrifying as it may feel, allows us to walk through the next door to a new venture or realize what is right outside our window to help us remedy a situation. I say powers that be -- make it so.

Since roof stuff was put on hold Rob spent the morning playing Museum Caper with the boys while I went into Lapeer to grocery shop. And I got TWO walks in. The theme: gone to the dogs! I coerced my friend Lynne, who is trying to develop better fitness habits now that she is laid off, to come out for a stroll with her dogs Johnny and Edgar, the beautiful sheperds at the top of the photo. Her other two older labs stayed home. We took the path along DeMille from Appleby's toward the education complex, finding along the way the work of some Christian vandals who wrote '777' and 'Jesus is god' on the door of the utility building. Doesn't that make you proud.

Got home after shopping and made some sloppy joes and brats (gotta use up some buns Sarah gave me), french fries and some awesome fresh green beans. Then the boys got the tires on their bikes filled, seats adjusted and we all headed out down Kings Mill toward Jefferson. The boys on bikes and Rob and I on foot; even Jake came along in his glory. Alex was working a 3-8 shift at BK. A neighbor down the street got "flocked" by Crosswalk Youth Ministries which cracked me up. I saw a house in town that got "mopped" by them too! What a cute way to raise funds and awareness. On Jefferson we passed my next door neighbor cruising home on his tractor with his mother Marion close behind with a load of hay. This woman amazes me, she must be pushing 80 and she's still out there driving equipment, milking cows, and every other type of farm duty you can image. I can only hope to have so much spunk at that age.

Mother came home from the hospital a day early but things seem to be under control. My brother is staying with her for the weekend. Thursday she started having a major itch attack so they gave her some medication to combat it and help her sleep. When she awoke hours later a young man was sitting at the foot of her bed. "Who are you?" she inquired. "I'm a sitter, I'm here to watch over you." he replied. Apparently in her drug induced sleep she got her knitting scissors and cut her self free from her IV pole and was wandering around the floor. When a nurse asked "Where are you going?" My mother answered "I don't know." There were also some conversations with cats that the nurses didn't think to be a good sign. Hence they brought in a medical student to sit by so she didn't hurt herself. Friday after she was more lucid she annouced she wanted to go home, she was done with treatment. Doctor complied and she was discharged about 4:30pm. Bless her neighbor Carol for coming to pick her up, also Jackie for taking care of Grady the cat, the young man who sat for her and all the staff on the 8th Floor at Karmanos.

If I Needed Someone (Harrison)

This morning I did some social-errands. First stopping by the Morrell house to drop off some cute little girl baby clothes I found at the thrift shop in Grosse Pointe; can’t pass up an opportunity to shop for infant stuff. Got to snuggle with Georgyanna who has just past her EDD (Estimated Due Date) after being born over two months premature. She looks great and shows obvious signs of being a future singer and dancer! (Shout out to Sarah! who I didn’t get a picture of, silly me) She was kind enough to hook me up with four grocery bags of Pepperidge Farm bread! Love those freebies, thank you! Check out her story at Teach a Fish.

Next I grabbed a Peppermint Mocha Half-Caff and headed over to the church to chat with Pastor Diana who is preparing for a big move to South Carolina in a couple weeks. She and Pastor are shifting into a brand new life of ‘retirement’ with as yet undetermined direction but many possibilities presenting themselves as time moves on. She is a wonderful woman of god and has been a great boss and friend to me. I will miss her but know our paths will cross again.

Lastly I made an unannounced stop by my friend Michelle’s to drop off some lavender from my garden for her to use in a future project that is sure to be fabulous. She in turn sent me off with a scrumptious sample of some mulberry cobbler she was in the process of wrapping. Check out Smile, Wink, Nod for the details. Snapped a pix of her beautiful garden ornament/bird feeder made from garage sale finds - if only I could be so motivated.

Got back to the house and let Alex take the car and the boys up to the North Branch Library. She is working for me pulling TVonDVD entries and the hi-speed is necessary. The boys like their hi-speed time to play AddictingGames.com (I know what a great mom am I to promote this tomfoolery!), then they wanted to get slushies and hang out at the park for a little bit. I got back to decluttering the house. I am determined to get rid of all this excess stuff, have a place for everything and everything in its place! I CAN DREAM CAN’T I?

Another recent thrifty find, these brand NEW ‘Cars’ galoshes for $3 at the Grosse Pointe Second Hand Shop. Just perfect for Ethan! Good day, even felt like summer!