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.

Lawn Mower Blues...

This comic reminds me of the trouble with our current lawn mower. In late April we bought a new lawn mower and the big seller was that it had an electric start. Yes, the allure of "turn the key and go" was a powerful one for us. Anyway, it started 4 or 5 times and then would not start again (through the electric starter). We charged the battery and changed the fuse. The fuse worked for one more and then it blew that fuse too! Finally we took the mower back to Kearney to be fixed. The "repair shop" (to save face of the business) told us that maybe it would be done in a week. This is very very frustrating to me becaue I just want my mower back and working! (Comic from Yahoo News - Comics)

Drunk Pelicans, Really?

This article from LA states that the pelicans are being held on the grounds of being drunk!

Today I Learned to Juggle!

Today I was at a workshop called Quantum Learning. The presenter was talking to us about Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta brain waves. He was explaining dendrites and how learning is a process. yadda yadda yadda... Anyway, to demonstrate the point of learning being a process, he announced that we were all going to learn to juggle. I thought this meant juggle tasks, but it meant PHYSICALLY JUGGLE OBJECTS! He passed out sets of 3 scarves to each of us and then told us step by step how to do it! By the end of the day, I was juggling. I admit that it was rather rough around the edges and I will need lots more practice to get it right. Nonetheless, I actually did it.

Take Home Chef

Have you seen this show on TLC??? I love it! This chef (Curtis Stone) approaches someone on a grocery store, offers to make dinner for them and their loved ones, buys the groceries, goes back to their place, and makes a meal. Well, a few days ago I saw a recipe for what he called "baked pudding" but the website calls it chocolate fondant. It is like a chocolate cake that when you cut into it, fudge runs out (akin to the Triple Chocolate Meltdown one you can get at Applebee's). When I read the recipe, you mix the batter, pour it in, and bake. So, from where does the fudge come? Is the fudge just uncooked batter in the middle? I am really confused on the science of this dish. I am gonna try it, though and see how it works. I had the volcano cake at Applebee's and LOVED it! If you like chocolate, this is a recipe for you! (You can checkout the recipe here courtesy of TLC)

Talking on the Radio

I have a strong disinterest in radio talk shows. I feel that if I wanted to listen to people talk, I would watch tv, call someone, or go back to school. However, if I turn on the radio, to keep my mind occupied, I am looking for music. Today I had to drive 50 miles north and most of the entire drive was TALKING. I can handle a half an hour or so, if it is something I am interested in, but that is my limit. I purposely kept the radio tuned to see if it would get music going. Growl. I heard a total of one musical selection and the rest was boring conversation between the 2 hosts of the show. Does this bother anyone else or is it just me?

Piggy Bank Pinching

Here is an article from Australia about parents who steal money from the piggy banks of their children! Interesting. I bet this isn't a new trend, though. I am sure parents all around the world have done this on occassion when they need a quarter or something. However, this article states that the parents regularly dip into the child's bank to buy things like bread! Is this really typical?

My Gym Nemesis

Today at the gym was my gym nemesis (term courtesy of Kris). We all have a gym nemesis, you know it's that person that gets to every machine before you do and then if you happen to be next to each other (like on the tredmills), the gym nemesis is constantly trying to outdo you. You speed up, she speeds up, you add more incline, she adds even more incline (Actually, I think I was the one trying to keep up, but I was failing and thus found myself even more frustrated!) Anyway, everytime I went to the next part of my rotation, there she was, running faster, pumping more weight, pushing harder. And the all the while NOT EVEN BREAKING A SWEAT! I, on the other hand, had a red face and sweat marks on my shirt. There she was, working out in her make-up and her fancy schmancy gym clothes making me feel like a sweaty pig. Oh well...Til Tomorrow My Gym Nemesis!

Chimney Rock

Last week we were happy to have family here to visit. The main reason they made the trek out here was to re-roof our garage. (Thanks Todd, it looks GREAT!) Anyway, as part of their visit here, we traveled west to see Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff National Monument. These national oddities are a sight to see. I tried to capture them in photos for you to see here. On the way to our destination, we ran into one of the famous Nebraska storms. As we reached Chimney Rock, the storm had subsided, the clouds were clearing, and it was sunset. It was beautiful! Chimney Rock was important to the pioneers because it was a landmark that signified that they were still headed the right way. There is a museum and an old grave yard to visit. It truly is a wonder to see.















Then, Sunday Morning was GORGEOUS. You can see the clear blue skies that often grace our Nebraska sky. Scottsbluff Monument is another important landmark to the travelers as they passed on to the west. As travelers passed by, many of them carved their names into the rock along with the year. It is also the site of Mitchell Pass where the 2 mile wide wagon trail had to converge to single file to pass through.

Personality Test

I took a personality test today...here are my results!

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||| 46% Stability |||||||||||| 46% Orderliness |||||||||||||||||| 73% Accommodation |||||||||||||| 56% Interdependence |||||||||||| 43% Intellectual |||||||||||||| 56% Mystical |||| 16% Artistic |||| 16% Religious |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Hedonism || 10% Materialism |||||||||| 36% Narcissism |||||||||| 36% Adventurousness |||||| 23% Work ethic |||||||||||||||| 70% Self absorbed |||||| 23% Conflict seeking |||||| 30% Need to dominate |||||||||||||||||| 76% Romantic |||||||||||||||||| 76% Avoidant |||||||||||||||| 70% Anti-authority |||||||||||| 43% Wealth |||||| 30% Dependency |||||| 23% Change averse |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 70% Individuality || 10% Sexuality |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Peter pan complex |||||| 30% Physical security |||||||||||||||| 70% Physical Fitness |||| 17% Histrionic |||||| 30% Paranoia |||||||||| 36% Vanity |||| 16% Hypersensitivity |||||||||||||||||| 76% Female cliche |||||| 30%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Well, there you go. It says I am overly organized but gets along with others fairly easilly. I think that is true of me (Frances).

link courtesy of Becca

Garter Snakes -1 Frances -5

Something I really enjoy doing is lawn work, namely mowing the lawn. There is something about the straight, clean lines and the smell of a freshly mowed lawn....it entrances me. When Drew and I moved into our current home, we became aware of the pronounced "snake problem" in the neighborhood. We found a nest in the corner of our garage and immediately had to deal with the snakes. (Well, Drew dealt with them!) Then, last summer I was mowing and I saw the grand-daddy of all Garter snakes (At least, that was what it looked like to me.) and I decided I needed to run over the snake. As I closed my eyes and hurriedly mowed over, I heard the distinct sound of a snake hitting the inside of the mower. *Thwump* (Come on, you all know that sound!) Then I felt something hit my hair. I put my hand on my head, only to realize snake bits had gone flying and landed on me! I let go of the lawn mower and sped inside to remove all the snake bits from my hair. From that moment one, I declared war on the Garter snakes in my lawn. I hadn't seen many this summer, until yesterday. I saw 6, got 5. One lucky snake got away to the safety of the neighbor's fence. Until next time, Mr. Snake.

Fifth Grade Freak-Out!

I (Frances) am making the move from kindergarten to fifth grade next year. I have been teaching in the same classroom, in the same school, for 7 years now. Next year, I will be transferring to another grade level and today I had a FREAK OUT SESSION! I began looking at the materials, curriculum, and the testing and at first, I was okay. As the pages kept turning, I began to question my ability to do this! Crazy thoughts started to parade through my mind such as "Fifth graders are bigger than me!", "Fifth graders have body odor!", and "Fifth graders have to learn mathematical functions!" Then, I realized that a challenge awaits me in August. I am always up for a challenge and I am confident that I'll be okay. Freak-Out session is now over and I can move on.

And We're Off!

So many of our family and friends have joined the blogging world that it seemed inevitable, so here we are. Welcome to our site!