Back on the Grid

I admit to falling off the blogging band wagon for the last couple of weeks. It seems like when I've had time to sit down at the computer, I've been doing "work" related things, reading a few blogs without commenting, and going on my way. I've also been very busy, as most bloggers are, but I haven't felt an urge to post about any of the goings on. Anyway, here's a brief update on the good, the bad, and the ugly that has been my last two weeks:

*CS home from college for the weekend (two trips to "the cities" to get him)
*Youth silent auction fundraiser at church (frantic sewing, staining, and varnishing to finish projects)
*A new temp. job (coordinating soup suppers at church to serve roughly 200 each Weds. night)
*Pets (Cleaning up a variety of things expelled from a variety of places-YUK)
*Quilting (several projects finished, a class attended, some corners that matched)
*Work (Mud, cold, naughty children, a few hugs, some perfect spelling papers, sweet 3rd graders)
*Money (Actual the lack of it due to the economic situation and its affect on our finances)
*Family (Sicknesses, wellness, science fair, basketball, rock climbing, movies, friends, card club, choir and bell practice, pep band, piano lessons, paper route, driving practice, etc.)
*Church (meetings, phone calls, services, etc.)

I'm sure there's more, but I've got to get to work now. Check back for (hopefully) some more interesting posts, pictures, commentary, etc.

An Extra Day

We expected to spend about 6 hours on the road today on the way to and from Iowa to celebrate Christmas with DH's family. The icy weather in Iowa prevented the trip, so here we are at home with a free day and no plans for anyone. Nice, Huh? DH and I have been working a little on the remainder of the cleanup from our broken pipe incident of earlier in the week. The kids have been doing various things and are talking about getting together with friends later. Later tonight, I expect we might dive into the giant cheese ball that I made to take along today and probably have a glass of wine and maybe get into the hot tub to soak my back which is still bothering me. All in all I think it will be a pretty nice day. We had temps in the 40's most of the day yesterday, so it was nice to have the streets melted off and the sidewalk and driveway cleared of ice again. We have snow predicted tonight, but that's okay with me.

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I read an interesting post from a blogger named Lisa about New Year's resolutions. Will you be making any this year? I usually do, sometimes I make the "I'm going to change all of my bad habits at once" type of resolutions. Last year DH and I resolved to lose weight. We both did lose quite a bit and I'm still down 25 lbs. from where I was last Jan. 2. We'd both like to lose a little more, so I'm sure that will be on the list. I'd also like to come up with something else in the realm of self-improvement that is specific and attainable. I'll let you know Jan. 1.

Merry Christmas to All!

Wishing everyone who happens by a very Merry Christmas! Here's the top of my kitchen buffet with a quilt I made last year, sitting below it is my electric skating rink and a couple of little trees. The skating rink is a little corny, but I've had it for about 16 years and the kids insist that I put it up every year. It plays Christmas music while the skaters go around. It's really kinda fun. Do you have any of those type of decorations you'd rather get rid of?

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We had a nice Christmas Eve last night. We went to DH's brother's for dinner, then went to Christmas Eve service at church, then back to their home for the rest of the evening. Our church service was really nice. SD played her violin with a string quartet for 15 minutes or so while everyone was getting seated. I was really proud of her and it sounded beautiful. The other three were all professional musicians in one form or the other. She and I also played a couple of songs with our handbell group and DH and I sang in the choir while the quartet accompanied.

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This morning the boys got up and did the paper route; it has to be delivered by 7:30 a.m. on holidays. It was hard to get them up and they went back to bed as soon as they got done. Now I've got a couple of butter braids in the oven and as soon as everyone else gets up we will eat and open our presents and have a quiet day around the house. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful day with family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm definitely getting a little lazy about posting. This time of year gets a little stressful for me for a variety of reasons and blogging is one of the easiest things to let fall through the cracks. When the days get short and gray, money gets tight, family stresses have to be dealt with, etc. it's kind of hard to get in the mood for holidays. On top of it all I have a cold, so I took a sick day today. I'm not that sick, but I'm hoping taking a day to catch up on things around the house, take an afternoon nap, and stay in out of the cold will help.

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On a brighter note, we go to pick up college son for the weekend tomorrow. It will be good to see him and he is definitely ready for a break from school. TB is having a good time with his marching band in Disney World. They are performing in the Magic Kingdom parade today. SD is busy with school and a little stressed too, but she got some good news yesterday. She was one of 10 kids from her high school invited to be a part of a special program about research at the Mayo Clinic. It is basically a recruitment tactic to get kids interested in going into research. She is really into science and interested in being a veterinarian, but that is enormously competitive, so I'm glad for her to get some information about other uses for a Biology degree. I think she's close to making a decision about college. Business has been slow for DH, and he worries about it from time to time, but we're all doing a pretty good job of keeping positive. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who reads this. I'm trying to follow my own advice....be thankful....for friends...family...material blessings...health...faith....more than I can list. It does help!!

Blogging Is Hard Work

I'm not doing so well with the blog, but not quite ready to throw in the towel. School starts next week, so I'll be back in a regular routine and perhaps have some time to blog without someone reading over my shoulder. I like to keep my blogging private from everyone in my non-blog life. My family knows I have a blog, but I don't want them to read it. I don't know why this is, but it feels like a private journal to me. The idea of complete strangers reading however is okay? Does this seem strange to anyone else? For now, I'm keeping the names of my family private and not showing identifying pictures or giving information that could lead to people showing up on my doorstep. I'd be interested to know how other bloggers decided when or if to post pictures of their family members or themselves. I do enjoy seeing pictures of other's children and it seems that some bloggers have formed close friendships, so I know there are benefits both ways. My other issue is the learning curve. Right now it seems to take forever to get something with a current picture posted. I know I just need to take the time to learn the best way with my camera and computer, but it all takes sooo much time. I know there's got to be an easier way because some of the bloggers I read have newborns and post multiple times a day. How is it that they have time for that? It used to take me all day to get my teeth brushed when my kids were babies. Here's the other thing--comments. I can tell that I'm not alone in loving comments and now that they've dropped off I don't even care as much about writing. There is a catch-22 there I know, because if I'm not blogging I won't get anymore comments. Maybe I will write myself some comments in a weird self-talk kind of therapy. :)