Tulips Part II

I have learned a few things about taking photos lately and, as a result, have become rather camera happy! Anyway, I try to find things that I can photograph and when the pictures turn out rather well, I share them with you. Here are a few more pictures of my beautiful tulips this year. Last year they just didn't turn out that well. This year, however, they have done quite well despite the cold weather that almost killed them last month. Anyway, how are my camera angles?

Weekend

This weekend was a BUSY one. (Isn't every weekend a busy one?) Anyway...when we got married, our wonderful bridal party and siblings all pooled together to buy us a grill. Boy oh boy did we grill! This last fall and winter, however, was particularly abusive to our happy grill. It, literally, was so windy that it threw the grill over not once, not twice, but THREE times! As a result, I am sad to report, the grill was made practically inoperable. So...as we were driving around on Saturday we heard a commercial for a sale going on at the local True Value. "Lawn Mowers! Weed Whackers! Edgers! Weber Grills! 50 cent hot dogs and sodas!" 50 CENT HOT DOGS! WHOO HOOO! (Have I told you that I have recently discovered that I really like mustard?) Really, we went and looked at grills. We ended up buying a new Weber Grill. In fact, we bought this one (Spirit E-310)! Then we brought it home and grilled steaks. yummm.

As part of our weekend fun, we also bought and planted a new tree. You can see it below. It is a red maple. If you remember, last fall we planted a tree, it was a Red Sugar Maple. This little tree is seemingly pretty healthy.

Conference

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was at a Technology conference hosted in Omaha for Thursday and Friday. I left the conference with my mind REELING at the advances in technology and how much there is out there to learn. I attended some sessions on photgraphy and photo editing, podcasting, and databases. One speaker, Alan November, was particularly motivating. He was the keynote speaker on the second day of the conference. He was humorous and seemed to know what he was talking about. The keynote on Thursday was David Pogue, a writer and podcaster for the New York Times. He was hilarious! Read more about him and his podcast at the New York Times.

Conference

I have been at a Conference in Omaha the last 2 days. It has been an interesting learning experience for me as we experience and explore technology. More later...

Tulips

My poor tulips have been through a horrible year! They were growing and beginning to bloom when, blam! We got a a snow and cold temperatures for over a week. It stunted most of them, but here are a few picutures I got of my beautiful tulips!

As promised...

As I promised, here is a picture of my new glasses. I am aware, however, that they do not look red in this picture. I have learned that the lighting changes the color...sometimes they look red, others - pink, and still others - COPPER! Anyway, what do you think?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to MEEEE EEEE. Happy birthday to me!

So, 30 today. I heard that 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30...so it is a good day. My students asked how it feels to be 30 and I said "I guess, no different than being 29!"

New Specs

Okay ya'll...do I have a story for you. Last weekend (Easter weekend) we were forced to Lenscrafters for new glasses and eye exam as a result of Drew's glasses breaking at the nosepiece. So, we went and I got my eyes checked. The eye doctor told me that I had a MAJOR change in my prescription. Most people change about 1/4 of a turn (or 1 step) in one year, but I am an overachiever I suppose. My left eye changed 4 steps and my right eye changed 2 steps and my astigmatism changed by 3 steps. So...as a result they had to special order my lenses. Yeah...they don't even keep my level of corrective lense in the store! Despite feeling bad about the eye change, we set out to find new frames for my new lenses. Hold on to your seats, folks. I got a RED pair! (Well, red in the academic sense...not like candy apple red or anything. They are a burgandy/wine color.) I will post a picture soon...

Ya know what annoys me?

I have been keenly aware lately of the things that just have a special way of getting under my skin. I don't really know why I have been more aware of this lately, but alas...I have. Since I have become increasingly aware of these things I thought I would share them with you! So, here's my list of annoyances...(these items are not ranked in any particular order!) Enjoy!

1. People who complain to inappropriate people at inappropriate times.
2. Internet routers that stop sending a wireless signal for no apparent reason.
3. Snow at inconvenient times. (Is there ever a convenient time, really?)
4. Remembering that I forgot to lay something out for dinner around, oh, 9 AM and there is nothing I can do about it. (This is practically a daily occurrence for me!)
5. Commercials that don't make sense to me because then I feel like a huge ignoramus. Am I the only one?
6. Folks who never use a turn signal...seriously, is it REALLY too much work?
7. Telemarketers that call in the middle of my favorite show.
8. Wait...telemarketers. period.
9. Being stopped at a red light when there doesn't appear to be anyone coming in any direction. My thinking is...Do I honestly need to be saved from the carelessness of the invisible people too?
10. People who wear too much cologne or perfume...PEEEWWWW

There ya have it...so, what bugs you?

It's Spring! No, It's Winter! No Spring! No Winter!

IT IS SNOWING HERE! Not only that, it has been snowing all day and is supposed to snow all night. I love snow...in December! I have decided that I am a selfish snow lover. I only love snow when I feel like loving snow. It's not like I love snow unconditionally in all seasons. I love snow for Christmas...but around...oh...January 2, I am all done with it and it can just go away. I have been spoiled this year by the fact that spring seems to have sprung early and I had already gotten into the swing of it. I guess God had other plans on this one. *sigh* Oh well, at least it is Easter Weekend and I get 4 days off to enjoy it!

Funny.

This tickled my funny bone today. I always wonder the reasons people choose the ringtones that do for various people. (comic at yahoo.com/comics)

Posting trouble

It has come to my attention that commenting has been difficult for some of you. I have disabled the word verification, let me know if this eases the process.
Thanks!

First Snake of the Year

Yesterday when I went home, I decided that the lawn needed its first mow of the year. So, Drew changed the oil, gased it up, and whatever else has to be done before the first mow, and voila...I was off. I was moving right along, being skeptical at first - afraid of a snake. I convinced myself that I was being overly cautious and I needed to just mow. My ipod shuffle was blaring in my ears when I saw movement. "WHAT IS THAT?!" my mind screamed. I turned my head (in my mind I can see this happening in slow motion) to see a snake. Not a baby snake, oh no, it was the granddaddy of all snakes in our yard. At that point I screamed and let go of the lawn mower. (I know, I know...I should of just disposed of the snake right then and there.) I ran to tell Drew I saw a snake and he said..."Well, did you kill it?" "no." So, I trotted back over to the area of the yard that I had stopped at and cautiously approached the lawn mower. (You know, the snake my be planning a revenge.) Lo and behold, the snake was still where I had left him. I started the mower and moved it over the snake and heard the satisfying "thwump" that is the demise of many snakes everywhere. Then, at that time, Drew came over with a rake to dispose of the carcass so I wouldn't have to do that part. Yuck. Another sign that spring has arrived!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was a BUSY one! Seriously...I haven't felt this sleep deprived in a LONG time. You know the place...where you feel like you could go face first into your desk, spaghetti, or whatever else you may be in front of you. Here is my recap...

Friday: Took 74 3rd-5th grade students to a Storm Hockey game. The Hockey team sponsors this program where students can earn a free ticket to a hockey game if they earn an "A" in any class or have 100% attendance for a grading period. We had several students qualify and decided to take them to a game. I organized and implemented the whole thing. As a result, we got to bed around...oh...11:30 PM. We had 74 students and 14 sponsors (Drew and I both went to help control behavior).

Saturday: Drew and helped sponsor a youth trip to Colorado Springs with our church. I had forgotten just how energetic high schoolers are! ha ha! We saw "The Thorn" at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. This is a play about the Life of Christ that the church puts on. Tickets are only $10 and it is a steal! If you are ever in Colorado Springs near Easter, you should definitely go to this play. On the way out, we ate at Casa Bonita and THAT was an experience to remember. The food was...blah...yuck-o...but the atmosphere was fun. (I am spoiled on the Mexican food since I get to eat so much of it that is truly genuine here!) We got to bed late, like 1:00 AM.

Sunday: Up early, 6:00 AM, in order to accommodate all the kids and showers that needed to be taken before we could leave for church. After church, we traveled back toward home, stopping in Denver for a bite. We stopped at a place that had about 6 different restaurants within walking distance of the parking lot. Drew and I chose to eat at Good Times. It was good...I wish there was one here! Then, we drove for 5 hours back home and my brother was waiting for us. He is a semi driver and had been dispatched to Denver, with a layover here. So, we got him around 7:30 PM and visited until around 11:30 PM. Needless to say, it was after midnight when we got to sleep...that alarm clock at 6 AM was akin to nails scratching against a chalkboard today!

whew...what a weekend!

Kids are AMAZING!

I never really write about my students other than the fifth grade freak out post (remember?) because I was moving to fifth grade from kindergarten. The biggest thing that I have really learned is that I truly love all children for different reasons. I love the projects and discussions I can have with a room full of 5th graders that simply would not have happened in kindergarten. Case in point, these photos my students took as a result of a photography unit I taught them. Aren't they just amazing?!

Worm Graveyard

WORMS. ARE. EVERYWHERE! I really don't like worms. I don't know if it's the fact that they look like snakes (which I LOATHE entirely) or what, but I just don't like them. We have had enough rain around here lately that every worm from here to New York City has decided to surface on our sidewalks around town. When I left school today it was virtually impossible to walk down the sidewalk and not squish one of the nasty little things. I realize the poor worms are just being forced out of their cozy little tunnels, but I don't like them anyway. The most disgusting part is the dead, dried up worms that are still laying on the sidewalks from the rain this past weekend. Yuck-o. Then, today I saw revenge on the stinky little jerks. See, the worms crawl to the sidewalk for refuge from the soaking ground, and as I was trying to navigate through the worm graveyard I was startled by a bird just barely missing me as he dove down to get a juicy morsel laying on the ground near my feet. I never really thought of our sidewalks as a bird buffet, but so be it. Bye bye little worm...may you rest in peace. Yet, on the other hand, may there be other hungry birds tomorrow!

You know what I love?

1. God.

2. Drew.

3. Finding a Long Lost Friend!
I stumbled across a friend from high school the other day over at Classmates.com and it is so good to talk to her and see where life has taken her. I love reconnecting with people who truly made an impact on my life.

4. Meaningful Discussions.
I love sitting down and discussing things that have meaning. It challenges me, encourages me, and helps me remember that I am a thinking, feeling, person. (Some days I wonder! lol)

5. Cookies. (Do I really need to say more?)

6. Naps.
I love a good nap. Why does naptime stop after kindergarten?

7. A back/neck rub from someone who loves me.
Seriously...I love it.

8. Laughing until my stomach hurts.
Most of the people around me can tickle my funny bone and I just love to laugh. I think it is good for the soul and body. I really like a good belly laugh.

9. Learning.
I know, I am a nerd...but so be it.

10. Comments on our blog.
I do. I can't deny it. :) It's better than a cookie and a nap!

You know what I hate?

FLAT TIRES.

Tuesday morning I was leaving for work when I realized..OH NO my back tire is flat. I went running back into the house like a half-crazed dog and cried out to Drew: "My tire is flat!" He promptly went outside and changed my tire for me and then I went driving off to school with that silly looking donut tire. I am grateful for the donut AND for Drew crawling around on the cement floor of our garage at 7:00 in the morning, BUT...I always feel sort of like I am walking around in nothing but my underwear on when I am driving with the donut tire. I mean, I physically turn red-faced thinking that every other driver and pedestrian is laughing at me and saying "That poor woman...she has to drive on the donut. tse tse tse..." Of course, that is not what is happening, but in my mind it is as real as the boogie monster that used to live under my bed.

The perfect day!

Yesterday (sunday) was one of the most perfect days I have spent in a LONG time. Thursday and Friday I was off because of spring break and then on Saturday we did some running around (that is, after the 4 HOUR COMPUTER UPDATE! Yes, Mr. Drew had to sit through 4 hours of updates to our software...I felt so bad for him!) and then there was Sunday....ahhhhh. After church, we came home and Drew cleaned, I should say detailed, my entire car! There are a ton of tiny crevices and I have never (ewwww) never been able to clean them out in the 8 years I have owned this vehicle. So, there was dirt, food particles, and even...probably...skin flakes crammed in there. It was DISGUSTING. Drew showed me how to clean it out safely with a cloth and a screwdriver...very slick. Anyway, it feels good to drive a clean car. After that, we went for nice long bike ride. This was the first time we have taken the bikes for a spin this year. It was soooo nice. However, I always forget how sore the bikes can make you after 6 months of non-bike riding. We cleaned the house together, made stir fry (yum), and then watched tv. Sigh...what a GREAT DAY!

Birds, Bees, and Allergies

I LOVE spring. I love the smells...the fresh air...the way I can open up my entire house and let the air permeate every square inch inside it. Spring has definitely sprung here! Drew and I have been walking in the evenings and we just listen to the birds chirping away. I found the second dead bee in our mailbox today when I checked the mail and, while I don't really care for dead creatures in my mailbox, there was a certain sense of excitement that only comes with the onset of spring. (Well, that and Christmas but I digress) Of course, with all this happiness and new life springing forth, my allergies are working overtime! You know, it is so darn beautiful outside and the air is so crisp...I don't even mind the additional discomfort in my sinuses.

Bridesmaid Dresses

I am so excited for my sister and her fiance Todd to get married and Cindy is just plugging along on her plans and arrangements. She asked me to be an attendant and so we have been looking for dresses. There have been several suggestions, but this one is the one she sent to me...I think it may be a winner. She wants it to be in Royal Blue, which is a also a beautiful color. What do you think of it?
(images from cybergown.com)

SIMS

Okay, confession time. I have been so quiet around here because I am a SIMS junkie. Are you familiar with The Sims? I have been a fan and a SIMS player for a long time. I had forgotten about it for a while, but then I found them again several months ago and have spent alot of time mindlessly controlling computer characters. I, like Drew, enjoy "messing" with my SIMS to make them do things that are funny. I think it is funny to move things on them or to delete something that they are using. Anyway, my SIMS doth await me!

"You are SO Smart!" maybe not the best thing to say...

When I was in school, I wasn't the "smartest" kid in my class, but I held my own. (For example, I graduated in the top 5% of my class, graduted from BSU with honors, and from UNK with a 4.0)...However, I have always been afraid that someday I am going to get "found out." Learning most things was fairly easy for me and as a result I developed some BAD study habits. I was reading an article about "How Not to Talk to Your Kids" and thought...hmmm..THAT'S ME! I will take a few more risks than this article says kids like me will, but usually I am a little leary of trying new things. I thought the article was interesting and the research worth another look! Anyone else out there like me?

Day Off

Today was a day off for me (Frances) because yesterday was Parent/Teacher conferences. I had planned to do nothing...and that's exactly what I did! And ya know what? It was EVERYTHING I thought it could be. I watched TV, talked to Amy, watched more TV, went to a piano lesson, and then watched TV. Can you hear the sigh of total contentment?

Quiet

We have been pretty quiet this month, huh? Drew and are both back in class and have already had a courseload to keep up with. I have been a sickie this last few days and am starting to feel a little better. We are going to a Hockey game tonight with some friends and that should be fun. Nothing major happening around here...you?

And you thought one baby was a handful

According to Yahoo News a mother in Canada has given birth to a set of sextuplets...yes...that's SIX babies! yikes. She reports that they are an average of 1.8 pounds and very tiny. Whoa...that would be a lot of work!

Do your trust the Postal Service?

I read a story today about a guy in Pennsylvania who received a letter with the post date of 1954. Apparently the letter must have gotten lost behind some equipment or something and when it was found, it was delivered. The person it was supposed to be delivered to no longer lives at the address and the current resident is trying to find they guy to whom the letter belongs. Kudos to him!

What does 200 Calories look like?

This is a really cool website that shows pictures of what 200 calories looks like. I enjoyed it and it seems to be done well. (link via Kris)

"Mean Girls"

When I came home from work yesterday, Drew said "You have got to read this article!" I went to read it and was appalled at the behavior of these high school girls. As if the behavior of the girls wasn't enough, the actions of the adults in charge, who were willing to turn their heads in such a situation, was worse! This seemed to be a scenario of a Real Life "Mean Girls."

Winter Weather

Our city, like Denver, has been hit with 2 storms back to back this December. The first storm was the edge of a blizzard and we got a significant amount of ice (about 1/2 inch). This ice caused trees to snap and electricity to go out for several days for many Lexington area residents. It had cleared enough for us to go to Indiana for our Christmas Holiday. Upon our return (5 days later) we found ourselves in the midst of yet a second storm. This storm gave the Lexington area a significant amount of snow. Just to the east of us, however, in Kearney, Nebraska, this storm dropped 2 inches of ice and knocked over electrical poles as well as snapped lines and made the roads quite dangerous. The ice and snow was absolutely beautiful, quite damaging. These pictures were taken at our home.

Big News in the Family!

This is my sister, Cindy, and her new fiance Todd (Mom in the background) at mom's for Christmas. Todd proposed to Cindy on Christmas Day and we are all so happy for them. She was shocked, as you can see on her face, and only a few of us knew in advance. We wish them best wishes and know they will be very happy.

The Holidays

This year I had a little problem with motivation to get the tree up, but once it was up and the lights were plugged in, oh it was so beautiful. I suppose, like babies, everyone thinks their tree is the most beautiful and I am one of those people. My favorite part of decorating a tree is the dim lights, hot chocolate, and a warm blanket....nice. I wish I could keep a Christmas tree all year long, but I know it would lose it's luster and its specialness. Anyway, this is our tree and you can see just how beautiful it was!

The Baby Jesus Chronicles

I saw this article on Eileen's website today. Last Christmas (2005) this little ceramic Jesus was stolen from a Nativity scene in Buffalo, NY. Then, the "kidnappers" took the baby Jesus all over the place during the course of the year and documented the whole thing with photos! At the end of the year, the baby Jesus reappeared with a book titled "The Jesus Chronicles" that had pictures of his many adventures. I know I should not think that it is funny...but it is. I THINK IT'S HILARIOUS. It's not like he was defaced, used to do immoral things, or never returned...that would not be funny. Thanks Eileen!

24 Christmas Trees

Today I logged in to CNN.com and saw a video titled "Bathroom Christmas Tree One of 24 in house." (Seriously, go there...click on it...see for yourself.) These two guys have 24 CHRISTMAS TREES in their home! Why, Why, Why would you do that? Their trees are all themed (like candyland, honey and bears, Santa head tree, santa stocking tree, etc...) and they have over 47 plastic totes of ornaments. I laughed especially hard at the "Flaming Pink Flamingo Tree." I think this is out of control...at least at the end of the video clip they recognized that too!

Call me old fashioned but...

Call me old fashioned if you will, but this article is appalling to me. I know that much of the world no longer subscribes to the idea of waiting until you are married, but I do. I agree with Janice Crouse (briefly mentioned at the end of article) that I am skeptical of the actual numbers. If the numbers are, in fact, true...it is truly sad information to me.

Wear Your Pajamas to School

I was reading this article about U.S. teens who are simply wearing pajamas to school (specifically the bottoms only) in a "new" fashion rave to be comfortable. Does anyone else out there remember, basically, the same thing about...oh...17 years ago (around 1990) when we wore inside out sweatshirts and sweatpants? This seems to me to be the same thing...this is not a NEW rave, just a stolen resurfaced one that, frankly, I still wonder what WE were thinking!

Microwaving a baby is a bad idea.

Be advised PERSONAL RANT FOLLOWING:
People, if you don't want your babies...give them up for adoption. I don't really know if this mom really microwaved her 3-week old infant but the horrifying stories of what people do to their babies simply because they don't want them just infuriates me. It's a life...not an object to experiment with and kill. Growl. RANT OFFICIALLY OVER.

Wild for Hunting

Apparently in Maine women are stepping up to the plate and bcoming sportpersons. (Huntresses). Anyway, I am pretty sure this will not be me. I do not have problem with others hunting, and even eating their loot, but I do not want to do it. I just cannot bring myself to kill another animal. I do, however, enjoy shooting bluerock and clay pigeons. Have you ever done that? It is so fun! You throw a disk out shoot it and watch it blow away into millions of pieces. And the best part? NO BLOOD ANYWHERE! The best thing that we ever did was shoot at fudge. Yes...fudge. I made a batch of fudge and must have done something wrong. It came out hard as a rock. We shot at it and the bee bee's just ricocheted off the fudge. That was awesome! Anyway, happy hunting to you.

Thanksgiving

Wow! I am sorry it has been so long since we have posted anything. Thanksgiving was busy and quite relaxing. We had all of Drew's siblings over and his parents and Grandma. We made a ham, a turkey, and all the trimmings. So, now we are officially into the Christmas season.

Let the Turkey come to me!

One last story of the day. The Lane family of New Jersey had an unexpected guest this last week. Apparantly a turkey did not take off very well from the ground and crashed into the second story window of their home. The article says the turkey had "relieved itself" all over the place and it was a real mess. Hmmm...I would probably relieve myself too if I were a turkey inside someone's home a week before thanksgiving. I bet he scared the poo out of himself too when he went right through a window!

Who's Your Daddy?

The news is just full of interesting things today. This report is almost too bizarre for me. This woman wants to be compensated by her doctor for her unplanned pregnancy! What! How on earth is this situation the doctor's fault? What's more, the judge agreed and the doctor has to pay 18 years worth of child support at $769/month.

Headlines

"Man Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Groin" NOW THAT'S A HEADLINE! When I logged into yahoo news this morning and saw that headline staring me down, I lauged hard. The first thought in my head is BWAAAAHAHAHA. Shortly after that I was thinking...how on earth does someone shoot THEMSELVES in the groin. I mean........really?

Too Much of a Good Thing

I love cheeseburgers. I mean, REALLY love cheeseburgers. If you ask anyone who knows me well they will tell you that a really messy cheeseburger is like my mecca for all foods. I try to limit my cheeseburger intake and I try to take into consideration that they are so completely unhealthy for me, but....I think it is interesting what the Spanish government is doing in Spain. Apparently they launched a campaign to combat obesity by encouraging limiting portions in restaurants. The government feels that a commercial for a Burger King XXL burger needs to be pulled off because of it's enormous fat and caloric intake. (971 calories to be exact) I guess that is an interesting approach. Don't you think that people will just buy more of the smaller burgers?

Want a good laugh?

If you want a good laugh, click here. I laughed so hard I had tears coming out of my eyes. Enjoy!

Cool

I can respect this.

Firecracker safety

Okay, I have spent numerous hours with young children and have said a lot of "Dont put that (whatever) in your (whatever)." Usually this sentence is about putting something into your mouth. This guy must have never had anyone around to tell him not to put foreign objects in your body orafices. I would like to send a sign to him that says "Don't put lit firecrackers in your bum!"

Election Day

As you know, yesterday was election day. In our state the mudslinging was ridiculous this year. Anyway, at my designated voting location, they gave me a sticker! Yes, you heard it right an actual sticker for my time. It felt like I was 5 and getting a sucker from the doctor after the shots I had to endure. I guess that was the payment for the 2 pages (both 2-sided) of ballot in this election. The funny thing was that Drew came home from his civic duty and...no sticker. I asked him where his sticker was and he told me they didn't give him one. Hmmmm...did just the women get stickers???? Did anyone else out there get a sticker?

Logo mania!

How well do you know your logos? I, apparently, do not know them very well! At this site, you are asked to look at 6 different versions of 10 logos. There are subtle differences and...well...I scored 37%. I am pretty observant, but I guess not that observant! lol You give it a try.

Kenny Rogers look-alikes

Do you know anyone who looks like Kenny Rogers? This morning on the radio, I heard the annoucers talking about this website that is dedicated to men who look like Kenny Rogers. I thought, "Interesting." I checked it out and hahahaha...it has recipes, galleries, and more! I guess the Kenny Rogers look is a popular one!

Lessons learned from cows.

A rancher/farmer in South Dakota had an unexpected visitor to his cows this last week. Apparently, a young bull moose decided to move in and stay for a few days. He didn't wan to leave and was, presumably, lonely. The cows just accepted him and went on their merry way of doing things. I think humans could learn a few lessons from this bunch of cows.

Wonderbra or Wonderjock?

HAHAHAHAHAH! When I saw this today in the news I thought "Are they serious?!" Enjoy.

Japanese baby-making

Okay, so....in Japan they have now marketed a phone that sends a message to a woman about her most fertile time in her cycle. What in the world will they ever think of next???

100-Million-Year-Old Bee

This article is about a scientist that buys Amber to look for fossils. He found a Bee that got trapped somehow in the sticky fluid that becomes Amber. They said the bee looks different than "modern" bees and is not a precursor to the honey bee. You know...a bee is a bee...I don't really like 'em at all. However, it is cool that science can study much older insects and animals that got trapped and preserved.

Fried....Coke?

Now I have heard it all! Americans will fry anything. Seriously. I have seen fried candy bars, twinkies, potatoes, yams, onions, okra, and even corn...to name a few. However, this is the first time I have heard of fried coke. The article says that this is the newest fair food in America this year. Humans never cease to amaze me at how they can creatively accomplish something new.

Squash Pie

This last weekend Marilyn, Drew's mom, gave us two squash that she had grown this summer. She thought she had planted Butternut Squash, but THIS is what really grew. It is called a Hubbard Squash. It was the oddest shape I had ever seen of a squash. I didn't know what to do with it at first, but then I decided to make a pumpkin pie out of it. OH. MY. GOODNESS. Half of one squash made 3 pies! It was the BEST "pumpkin" pie I have ever had. I had never made a pumpkin pie from scratch, let alone a squash pie from scratch. It wasn't hard at all, but it was a bit time consuming.

This is addicting. I did the 25 United States Cities 100% correct and a score of 46.8 seconds. However, you can identify states, and other countries and in the world. I did okay on the South America, not so well on Europe (I know, I know), even worse on Asia....and...unfortunately ABSOLUETLY HORRIBLE Africa. I haven't even been able to bring myself to attempt Australia. Anyway, if you want to give it a whirl...go for it. I would be interested to see your score!
link via Kris

New Tree

Ever since we have been married and bought our home, we have wanted to plant some trees in the front lawn. When we went to price them last year, we learned that they were between $79 and $199 for an 8 foot tree (Depending on the type of tree). So, finally yesterday we decided to purchase one. We bought this one at Earl May in Kearney. It is a Red Sugar Maple. (Click on the link to see the gorgeous color of this tree when it is grown!) When we bought it, it had several leaves one it that are a deep red color...SO BEAUTIFUL! The wind was blowing so hard yesterday (like around 40 or 50 mph) that they got pretty battered and blown on the 40 mile trip back to Lex. Anyway, we planted it and followed all the directions and are so excited to see what it will look like next spring and fall. We want to plant another one on the other side of the lawn perhaps next fall. If you know where we can buy a little sapling, forward that information to me, please! Won't it just be gorgeous?!

Jelly it is Then!

One of the reasons I wanted to learn to can this summer was to make jelly. Drew had commented that he really liked wild plum jelly and I decided I would learn this year. Well, we were unable to get the plums and I thought all was lost. I was explaining this to a friend at school and she told me that she had canned some plum juice a few years back and I could have it if I wanted it. I was more than grateful for this juice. So, today I made wild plum jelly...23 1/2 jars to be exact. It is really quite easy to make. all it takes is 5 1/2 cups of juice, 7 1/2 cups of sugar, and one package of fruit pectin. (this recipe makes 12 pints.) I can't wait to break into one and try it! (I'll be sure to let you know how good it tastes!)

Hot Dogs

Mmmmm...hot dogs. Tonight I was watching a show on the history channel about the history of hot dogs. Yum....makes me want a hot dog. Yummm.

A real use for text messaging

This is fascinating to me! The abductor had a cell phone. The girl took it and texted her Mom to get help! I guess we have finally identified a reason to use text messaging.

TOMATOES!

I told you a few weeks ago that I have learned to can. Today I went to the Lexington Farmer's Market and bought some locally grown tomatoes. (We taste tested one today at lunchtime and they are oohhhh soooo gooooood!) Anyway, I scalded them, mixed them with green peppers and onions and viola! I have home canned stewed tomatoes. You can see in the picture the fruits of my labor tonight. This year's total is 28 jars of tomatoes, 17 stewed 11 plain tomatoes.

Do You Remember?

5 years ago today I was getting ready for the beginning of the school day. My kindergarteners came into the room and were as energetic as ever. One of my youngsters suddenly announced "Miss Pelfrey, did you know airplanes ran into big buildings in New York!" I responded by saying "Really? Are you sure?" (I thought he was making up a story, perhaps he had seen a movie or a cartoon.) He said "Yes, I saw it on TV this morning. It was on the news." I tried to get on the internet to confirm his story and was unable to connect. Finally, I left the classroom (my students in the careful watchful eye of my para) and saw to my horror the twin towers as a towering furno on the television in the office. My jaw hit the ground and I couldn't believe it was true. Today, I remember. Today I pray for hurting familes of those lost in this war that was waged but also for the families and soldiers continuing to protect our freedoms. Do you remember? (image via Fox News)

For the Love of Chicken!

Guns seem to be a theme lately! This story is also interesting reading. The woman loved her pet chicken so much that she shot her husband in the back with a .22 caliber rifle because he shot her chicken wit a .44 caliber handgun. Drinking, yardwork, martial strife, and a chicken apparently makes for one bad hangover.

People, Wal-Mart Restrooms, and Guns?

Well, this story is interesting. Why, why on earth would you take a gun into a public restroom? The story says that it scared an employee in the next stall. I guess the good news is that we can probably safely say that Wal-Mart employee didn't crap his pants.

Steve Irwin dies

Today I woke up to the news that "The Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin has died. I am sorry to hear that. I feel especially sorry for his wife and children. Too young to lose a dad.

Life Path Number

Your Life Path Number is 9

Your purpose in life is to make the world better You are very socially conscious and a total idealist. You think there are many things wrong with the world, and you want to fix them. You have a big idea of how to world could be, and you'll sacrifice almost anything to work towards this dream. In love, you can easily see the beauty in someone else. And you never cling too tightly. You are capable of great love, but it's hard for you to focus your love on one person or relationship. You have a lot of outward focus, and you tend to blame the world for your failures. You are often disappointed by the realities of life - it's hard for you to accept the shortcomings of the world.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Well, I think it is FAIRLY accurate about me. I am like Eileen in that I guess I do not know what it all means really or how it is all decided. If you go to the site, you just type in your birthdate and it spits out a number and description of you. Hmmm....Okay....seemed to work for me. Link via Eileen

One week down and Counting

Yes, one full week of school has passed. This week has been a dream for me. I LOVE fifth grade! I love teaching science, social studies, math, reading, writing. I love being able to laugh, grade papers, and even enjoy independence of the fifth graders. Thank you all for your support and help this summer in MY preparation for this career shift!

Home Canning

This weekend I embarked on a new adventure. I talked to everyone around me earlier this summer about my desire to learn to can tomatoes and make jelly this fall. Some very generous folks gave me A LOT of tomatoes (along with potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, and pickles) and this weekend I learned to can. I was worried about it, but after reading about it, getting supplies (pot, containers, and jar remover) donated to me from Grandma, and talking to a few people, I successfully accomplished this goal. I guess we will see in a few months if it really worked, but it surely has appeared to have worked beautifully.

What?

I have nothing to say about this guy. I hope it all works out for him.

How embarrassing

Some things are just not meant to be aired publically. This story makes me laugh, frankly. I think that this is one reason why we are not supposed to use personal email at work. I shouldn't laugh, but I am. I bet they went right back to old habits as soon as it was over!

All My Mommies Love Me!

I really don't think that this could be so. This child that is part of a polygamist family claims that he is loved by all of his moms. It gives me the creeps.

First Day of School

Today was the first day back to school. What. A. Day. I was watching the Kindergarten teachers with their little criers and seeming chaos that always accompanies the first day of kindergarten and I did not seem to miss that. I loved my first day as a fifth grade teacher. The kids understand humor, they work, they are wonderful! It was a smooth successful day.

Of course, Drew and I both were back to school today as well. I am taking one measely class online and it started today. Drew is taking 4 classes this semester and had a good day as well. Looks promising.

Happy Birthday

I just want to wish a happy birthday today to the love of my life. I hope you have a good one Drew!

Thanks

I have been having bad headaches the last few weeks. This morning I woke up with the worst one yet. I have been questioning whether it is caffeine withdrawl (which it very well could be), allergies acting up (the corn has tasseled here and that aggrevates my allergies), stress (school is starting again this week), or possibly gritting my teeth in the night (I've been having stressful dreams about school!) Anyway, this morning I woke up and my head hurt so bad that noises and light was excruciating. Today was the worst possible day for a migraine because tonight is open house at school and I will meet all of my students and thier parents. I muttered to Drew that my head hurt really bad and then pulled the blankets over my head to block the light and tried to go back to sleep. Drew was careful to be very quiet and then left the room. I was really groggy and kept going in and out of sleep. Anyway, a few minutes later he returned with Excedrin Migraine and a glass of water. In 30 minutes the headache was gone. I have the best husband in the world! You know, it really is the little things like that that mean so much and go so far in telling another that you love them. Thanks Drew, that made my day!

Mmmm...Pie

2 weeks ago we bought a big box of FRESH COLORADO PEACHES. We were only going to buy a few but the saleslady convinced us to buy the whole box. I told her that we would never eat that much and she explained that you can freeze your whole peaches. Did you know that? I didn't. Anyway, she said that as long as the peach doesn't have any tears in the outer skin, you can freeze them whole by simply placing them inside ziploc baggies and then placing in the freezer. I LOVE peaches, so I buckled and bought them. So, today I took out 6 of my deliciously perfect colorado peaches and thawed them for 2 minutes in the microwave. The skin just slid off and then I cut them easilly. 6 cups to be exact. I mixed up the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. I added the lemon juice and poured it all in a pie dish. I added the buttter pieces to the top, placed the top crust and baked. OH. MY. GOODNESS! Peach pie smells sort of like apple pie when it bakes and the entire house smells oh so good right now. Well, I took a picture for you to see it and to say to my sister...see, I can make pie now! (We will eat it later, when it is still warm but not scalding, with some ice cream....yum yum.)

Corn School

The first image here is of an elephant ear, the second is a funnel cake. This article explains the history of Corn School! In case you are not from Northern Indiana, Corn School is a carnival in the first week of October every year. There are always carnival rides, exhibits, and vendors...mmmm....the elephant ears! An elephant ear is not a REAL elephant's ear, it is like a funnel cake but it's flat and crispier. It is usually served with sugar and cinnamon. Here is a recipe if you want to try one! The only thing I would say, though, is that the elephant ears at the fair are fried, I think, and they are as big as a plate. Oh, here is another recipe that fries them. I miss them...I might just make some for myself here.
(images courtesy of wikipedia Link to Corn School History courtesy Web-Goddess)

NO Liquids on Airplanes

I agree that security is an issue today on our airlines and we have to be more careful, but anymore it seems that it is altogether easier to drive wherever it is that you are going. I mean, you have to get to the airport 2 hours before departure. Then you wait. Then you board the plane. Wait. Then the flight. When you land....you wait. Then off you go and have to get a rental car or find a ride from someone....WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! By the time you pay for airfare, gas to get to the airport, parking at the airport, rental on a car, gas for the car...you could have spent less on simply driving. Now, the new rules are that you cannot really take much of anything onboard as a carry-on. However, I do realize that these new rules would not be in place if it weren't for these guys plotting to blow up an U.S. bound airliner. Okay, okay...I can comply with new rules....as long as the authorities continue to thwart the bad guys.

Make yourself into a Simpson

I went to the Simpson Maker and tried to make a character that looks like me. I think the face and setting is right....I probably would never wear those clothes! (Link from Eileen)

Kohl's

Yesterday Drew and I went on a hunt for school clothes and shoes. I needed 2 pairs of shoes and we both needed new shirts. We looked and looked and looked at a variety of stores. We started at Payless and I found a pair of brown shoes (seen here). I still needed a pair of black shoes and shirts so...off we went to JCPenny's. No luck there. We went to Famous Footwear, Nothin'. We went to Brown's Shoes....NOTHIN'. Finally, I said to Drew "Let's go to Kohl's. Some day I will learn that Kohl's has everything I need." So, we went to Kohl's. We found my new black shoes, 4 shirts for me, and 4 shirts for Drew for $200! What a great deal! I LOVE KOHL'S! Why didn't I just start there?

Peat Bog Bodies

The bodies they find in the Irish peat bogs just baffle me. It seems that they have found 2 more bodies and that they are well-manicured! You can read more about it here.

What an idiot!

This is a story about a waitress that recovers her OWN driver's license when asking for ID. She asked to see ID and when the patron handed it over, it was her own that had been stolen weeks earlier. You would think that the patron would be a little smarter than that! What an idtiot!

188-Year-Old Bible Discovered

This story is intriguing to me. This man seems to have found an old family bible in the city dump. It was in pieces and he did some research on the family mentioned in the front of the bible and found a direct decendant living in Ohio. I think it is a pretty cool story!

Joyce Meyer

Are you familiar with this woman's ministry? I love to listen to her because she is entertaining but SO truthful. Today she was talking about how you cannot be powerful and pitiful at the same time. I really enjoyed listening to her and I learned a lesson or two.

Back to School, kind of

Well, I have been working like mad at school trying to get the classroom ready for next month. It has really been exciting and fun to look through the materials and get the walls ready for school. The other day I put the books on the desks and organized my desk, it is really looking like a classroom. Now is the time to pray and pray and pray for a smooth year. :)

The Producers

Have you seen this movie? We rented it this last week and it was funny! We weren't sure how it would be and had heard that it was amusing...we laughed through most of the the entire movie. I recommend you go and rent it if you haven't seen it yet. (Photo compliments of IMDb)

Pride and Prejudice

Today my thoughts and values were challenged by a speaker that was presenting information on prejudice and multi-culturalism. You know, I really don't have a problem with being challenged on my ideas but sometimes I get a little overly sensitive when I feel like others believe that all the bad in the world was/is created by the "white folks." I mean, I am all for growth and equality and I accept that my heritage was part of the problem. HOWEVER, that being said, I do get tired of defending actions that I did not commit. I appreciate his point of view and that it is his job to move people out of the comfort zones and question their own attitudes. I understand that the only way to change is to confront, BUT...I really found myself getting frustrated. Is this just pride on my part or do I have validity in my feelings? I think that we live in a multicultural society and we need to make changes to how we interact with others from different vantage points. That major change needs to be, in mind, mutual RESPECT for one another and variations in cultures! Am I the only person who sometimes feels a sense of guilt and then subsequently, anger when presented with these thoughts?

Busy Week

I am sorry I haven't blogged in a few days it has been busy around here. I have been working in my classroom at a rather quick pace trying to get everything done before August. On Sunday we went to a birthday party for Drew's Grandma. So, I am sorry that we have been so quiet here but it has been busy!

Storm Clouds a Brewin'

I hope ya'll don't mind the regular posting of pictures on this Blog. Last week there was a storm that came through and dumped some heavy rain (and hail) on our surrounding area. It somehow managed to TOTALLY miss us. Thank God for that because we really don't need the hail. Anyway, the clouds were clear and I took a few pictures. So, enjoy!

Butting in vs. Unwanted Advice

Yesterday I was at (yet another) workshop and the presenter was talking about some studies done on men and women. He said that the researchers put pairs of women in a room and told them to talk about whatever they wanted and to act normal in their conversations. They filmed them and noted that the number one social error women make in conversation is.....BUTTING IN! Yes, butting in (or rather constant interruptions if you prefer), believe it or not. Anyway, the study also said that the other woman in the conversation did not mind the other interrupting. They did the same with men, filmed, studied and found that the number one social error made by men was giving advice that was never asked for. Surprisingly, the other man was not bothered by receiving advice that he never asked for. Then they studied men and women talking together. They found that men got most annoyed with women butting in and women got most bothered by men giving them unwanted advice. I guess it is obvious that the differences between men and women do not merely end at anatomy!

Lawn Mower Returns

Well, last night Drew got a call that our lawn mower was fixed and we could pick it up. So, we did! Then we came right home and Drew mowed our lawn. The grass was still wet from the 2.5 inches of rain we got 2 days ago and long because it hadn't been mowed in 2.5 weeks. Oh well, It is done now and I am so happy to not be the neighborhood embarrassment any longer! Whoo Hoo!

K Love Online

Do you listen to K Love? If you are not familiar with this radio station, it is a national christian radio network. In Nebraska, radio (along with TV) is hard to come by if you rely solely on waves sent through the air. (Trust me, even an antenna is of little help.) Most people rely on cable TV, DSL internet, and XM Satellite Radio. We have Cable and DSL internet. However, we have not yet joined the bandwagon on the XM radio yet. We do, however, love K love radio. We can pick it up near Grand Island and Hastings, and we listen to it when we get a chance to go to Denver, but cannot pick up a signal in Lex. Well, Drew found the link to listen online! It is surprisingly easy, free, and clear! So, if you want to listen...look to the right of our screen. You can click onto the K Love website, click here, or as is always, click on the K LOVE icon. Then on the left, about half way down, it says "Listen Online."
Very Very Cool.

62 Year old woman gives birth!

WHAT!? This seems to be a trend lately...older women giving birth. This woman is reported to be the oldest British woman to have a baby. This woman will be in her 80's when her child goes to college! Yikes.

4 inches less and much COOLER!

Yesterday afternoon (Saturday) I woke up from a long nap to find my hair in total disarray. I looked in the mirror and said "Enough! Go get a haircut!" So, I did. She cut 3-4 inches of length off and I feel much much better! What do ya think?

Traveling Tractor

If you are not aware, this is the traveling tractor. You can get one at any gardening store. We purchased ours at Ace Hardware. Anyway, the ad boasts the following (especially note what I have highlighted in RED):
"Product Details: This Traveling Tractor Sprinkler is a classic that you will love to use on your lawn. The Tractor Sprinkler has a rust resistant cast iron body as opposed to a die cast body style for added longevity. Simply follows along the hose path."

Hmmm...simply follows the hose path eh???

This is our tractor. Today when I came home from the store, the Tractor was OUT OF CONTROL. It had jumped the track, slammed into the brick of our house and dug a deep trench in the new grass. GROWL. I recognize our lawn is just short of bing a jungle, BUT, as you can clearly see the hose is laid out in a straight line. At the point where it is curved, that was the point it jumped the track and proceeded to go on it's own course. SET it and forget it...not so not so...
*sidenote, I do love our traveling tractor, I ocasionally get frustrated over the silly thing not following the set hose track

Flat Land

Whoever said that Nebraska was all flat land OBVIOUSLY never ventured away from I-80 or the river valley. Last weekend, Drew and I went to a family reunion in Callaway, Nebraska. Callaway is about 40 miles Northwest of Lexington. I was amazed at the beauty of the area. We went back to the area the next day so I could try to capture some of the landscape in photos. The rolling hills, blue skies and natural formations are a site to see. Sometimes I think I am a photographer in waiting. Our first Christmas after we were married Drew gave me a digital camera and I am constantly taking pictures. These are just a few that I took last weekend. I know a photo can never quite be the same as viewing it on your own, but I hope this helps to dispell the idea that Nebraska is flat land!

Live Above the Line

At the workshop I attended last week, Quantum Learning, the presenter (Dan St. Romain) exposed us to the concept of living above the line. He was saying that teaching kids that life and behavior is about choices is the best way to handle classroom discipline. He suggested that living below the line is engaging in denial, laying of blame on others, constant justification, or just plain quitting. However, living above the line says the person is exhibiting truth, freedom, and power. I really liked this idea and I have been chewing on this for next school year.

What in the World??

Why would you swallow 119 3-inch nails?! This woman apparently did and the doctors had to remove them. They said that many of them were RUSTY, indicating that the nails had been in her stomach for months. What was she thinking?

Leave the testing behind

I think this article is a good thing. Regardless of how people feel about No Child Left Behind, at least action is being taken instead of just talk!

Fireworks

Last night we drove over to Kearney and watched the fireworks display. I always find myself entranced by the bright lights and beautiful designs. The best part for me was holding hands with Drew on our anniversary watching the fireworks light up the sky.

Photo courtesy kearneyhub.com

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to US! That's right, two years ago today we met at 2:00pm at First Christian Church and pledged our love to one another. We were surrounded by our friends and family, the lighting was perfect, and Pastor KC was all smiles. After the wedding we had a short reception where I was "kidnapped" by the Lexington Possy and rode around in a Paddy Wagon. That was fun. (Thanks to all of you that contributed to the funds to get me out, it was used on our honeymoon.) Then, we went off to Kearney and then Columbus Nebraska where we spent some time at Traditions Inn Bed and Breakfast. The last two years have gone quickly by but I can say that every day is a new adventure! I love you Drew and I thank you for every moment we have together.