I love the ocean, especially those parts clear and warm.
Mod~Pod
I don't know what it is, but it didn't bite me or leave a rash, so I kept it.
(because I like it)
Islamorada Bloom
I just love flowers. I love them even more when they are in Florida and I am visiting them, close enough to pick if I were a flower killer, which I'm not (often).
Stretch Landing
At the time, I was focused on the pelican, but now I am also appreciative of the reflection...
Miami Rainbow
We spotted this smattering of rainbow over Miami heading home from our time in Key Largo .
(and everywhere in between!)
Gun Control
I have found the perfect solution for both pro and anti gun enthusiasts alike...meet The Rhino:
For the anti-gun folks:
- NO BULLETS
- NO BLOOD... save maybe a small nosebleed (and even then, not for long)
- It may even help improve your health by spotting that unsuspected growth behind your nasal hairs...
For the pro-gun folks:
- It looks like a gun when aimed at one's head
- Prolonged Trauma for the assailant when compared to the quick and easy gun shot wound
- Attached video camera creates instant playback for "enthusiast" meetings...
...and when it was all over, I walked out and PAID them for having done this to me...
Let Us Pray
As we watched the Presidential Inaugaration from a hotel room in Flagler Beach, Fisher prays with Pastor Rick Warren...
The rest of the family was in T.V. mode, WATCHING the prayer take place (until Fisher took the lead)
Ah, the heart of the very young.
Orange
I am sure the fella driving this truck is accustomed to a bed full of fresh picked produce. I wonder if he's as accustomed to passers by snapping a quick pic?
Florida Road Trip
It's been a bit more of "A Faltering Life" sort of week, though so far I've been able to resist the urge to post there ( only true for about the next 5 minutes) Still, despite what all that time cooped up in a car together did to our stress levels, it was beautiful there (as always). On our last day in Key Largo, we took the kids on the Key Largo Princess II- a glass bottom boat that took us out to Molasses Reef.
Simply Fascinating.
Simply Fascinating.
Warm Winter Day
Monday had to be the most beautiful winter day in recent memory. The temp outside was a balmy 76 or so, with just the slightest breeze to keep things pleasant. School was back in session for us, but after attending to the Must Do's, we skipped over the Can Wait's until Tuesday, tossed on some beach clothes and made a bee line for the shore. Ahh, flexibility... homeschool's silver-est lining of them all!
((making up words, also a silver lining))
There was no convincing the kids that the water was too cold. I told them "Sure, put on your suits" thinking they could learn the old fashioned hard way, but I forgot about their stubborn genes (not mine, I swear!!) and had to lay the law down (up to your ankles only) once we arrived, after their umpteenth
There was no convincing the kids that the water was too cold. I told them "Sure, put on your suits" thinking they could learn the old fashioned hard way, but I forgot about their stubborn genes (not mine, I swear!!) and had to lay the law down (up to your ankles only) once we arrived, after their umpteenth
"It really ISN'T cold!"
There was football, sea shell gathering, splashing and backwards walking, some men playing Bocce, a stranded jelly fish, and dancing dolphins...just to name a bit, and all in the first week of January! If I ever start talking about moving somewhere colder and/or without an ocean, you have my permission to pinch me and promptly send me back to this post!
Printing Press Potatoes
In our Mark Twain studies we learned that, amongst other things, Sam (Mark) worked his way through the printing press career; starting at apprentice as a young boy and ultimately finishing as a bankrupted investor (in "promising" new press equipment that never quite got all the kinks worked out) in adulthood.
We looked at a photo where a young Sam had cleverly spelled out his name in reversed press letters so that it would appear correctly once printed. I then cut backwards "press letters" into potatoes and the children made prints of their own names. A snack of Printing Press Potato Salad followed our activity
We looked at a photo where a young Sam had cleverly spelled out his name in reversed press letters so that it would appear correctly once printed. I then cut backwards "press letters" into potatoes and the children made prints of their own names. A snack of Printing Press Potato Salad followed our activity
(made from the pre-paint trimmings, mind you)
When Clay arrived home, I asked the children to tell him what they had learned about the printing press during our lesson. Logan quickly reported " They were made from potatoes!" (She later worried that the school newspaper we are working on may have to be printed in this same manner... I assured her we would use an inkjet, not potatoes. :)
When Clay arrived home, I asked the children to tell him what they had learned about the printing press during our lesson. Logan quickly reported " They were made from potatoes!" (She later worried that the school newspaper we are working on may have to be printed in this same manner... I assured her we would use an inkjet, not potatoes. :)
Chandler's Golden Good Luck Medicine
- Grants ever lasting life
- Treats muscle pain
- Makes you stronger than anyone but God
- Gives you good luck
- Prevents heart attacks
- And much more!
All for only $5.95 per bottle!
Chandler's Commercial:
Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy
Logan's medicine is called "Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy", reflecting her use of cinnamon. She also added coconut and pink coloring. For your consideration, Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy:
- Cures cancer
- Relieves muscle pain
- Stops anger
- Solves toe fungus
- Cures memory loss
- Repairs the baby blues
- Gives you a nicer singing voice
- Prevents insanity
- Makes you happy
- And much more!
All for only $5.99 a bottle!
Logan's Commercial:
Outtake:
(lid malfunction)
Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum
Fisher's medicine is called "Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum". He chose to use Strawberry and Cinnamon flavorings and tinted his syrup blue (what else?!)
With some help, he wrote what his medicine cured and decorated the label with a fruit bowl. For your consideration, Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum:
- Restarts your heart
- Cures Cancer
- Stops you from getting drunk
- Fixes Coughs
- Relieves Muscle Pain
- Stops Fever
- Makes you stronger than bad guys
- And much more!
All this and it only costs $1!
Fisher's Commercial:
& Take 2, with boots (he insisted):
Patent Medicine Projects
One scene in Tom Sawyer involves Aunt Polly giving Tom the latest and greatest in the way of patent medicine: Pain Killer; which Tom promptly gives to Peter, the cat.
Needless to say, this was one of the children's favorite parts.
The Mark Twain book suggested an activity that complemented this scene well. The children were to make and market their own patent medicines. We started by talking about the bygone days of medicine men, the FDA and our current safety regulations today. We scoured the Farmer's Almanac for advertisements to get an idea of all the sorts of ailments that are in need of curing and then the kids began to brainstorm.
Over the weekend, a kind pharmacist gave me three free cough syrup bottles and the children began to do the activity in parts. They were to design a medicine, describe what maladies their concoction would cure,and make a 'commercial' touting their wares to Aunt Polly (and viewers everywhere!)
Most ironically, while watching I Love Lucy during the weekend, one episode just happened to be about Lucy's commercial for Vitameatavegamin,
(in which Lucy promptly gets as lit as Peter the cat):
This made the activity all the more appealing to them and you may notice some similarities between their commercials and Lucy's stemming from their inspiration... namely the "and it tastes delicious!" bit.
Posts following this one will include the children's projects-- they were so anxious to taste their medicines, having to refrigerate them over the weekend and wait until the "commercial shoot" on Monday was almost unbearable.
My favorite aspect of all the many fun elements in this project is that they have completely sold themselves on their own medicines. Sugar water, some drops of candy flavoring and food coloring-- they know and mixed all the ingredients themselves but have sincerely suggested that Clay or I use their own brand of elixir at various times this week, when it seemed we may need to be cured.
(ex. Clay forgot something, Fisher recommended his medicine which is good for memory loss- amongst many other things.)
I hope the following posts will prove to be as entertaining to you as they have been for me!
Regrets?
Last year, I got creative and let my imagination run free when it was time to make resolutions. I bombed by and large. This year, my aim is more realistic, which is probably why I've yet to commit a list to paper or mind... "Buy the Taj Mahal" is equal to or more attainable than "Get Organized" if last year's list is any indication. Still, just for fun let's see how far below my own lofty marks I fell:
2008 Resolutions Re-Visited
1.) Wake up earlier...aim for 5 AM regularly by March 31 (if you can't laugh to yourself, you may leave!)
This I did, and truly enjoyed during the short time I made the effort. I would get up around 4 and go to the Y. I had time to work out and take a long, warm, uninterrupted shower before the kids were even awake. It lasted all of about a week I guess, before we left town and I too easily fell out of the routine, never to return to it. I made a few false starts after our move, but have let it go until I can get the logistics just right. (If I leave that early, I must walk, or wake everyone with an opening garage. If I walk, it is dark and the gym is at the other end of an alligator strewn trail... I would rather risk that than waking sleeping children any day but am holding out for a fixed bike (or a new one!) and slightly warmer temps) Or, I guess I could just park in the driveway, but then I'd be without excuse, no?
2.) Increased interaction with kids as a parent and teacher
See-- this is one of those creative ones, because while one may improve in this area, can one ever reach a benchmark that says, "Yes, I have spent ENOUGH time with them" and go on to confidently check it off of a list? It seems to me, now that I am older (much) and wiser (not so much) that this must be a permanent entry, a continual striving.
3.) Lose that last 10 (15?)/eat the way I know I'm s'posed to
I should have made a small, invisible note as to what my weight at the time was... I didn't reach this goal, as it has definitely not been 10 pounds... but I have shed some, which I feel good about. I think this falls under that Permanent List Entry category as well... we all want to lose, and we can never lose enough and we must continually strive to work off the extra or keep off what we've lost... As for eating healthy, well, I've kept meat out of my diet as a key player but not removed it completely. I drink trace amounts of anything unhealthy, and if at all, usually only for lack of unsweet tea or water nearby. Chocolate for breakfast is healthy now, right?
4.) Walk 3 times a day...aim for 5 miles regularly by March 31
Oh, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! This is a hoot!
5.) Re-Schedule home school-stick to it like glue
See Above Laughter
6.) Commit to certain forms of organization like bad religion
Did I really mean to do this? Did I really think this was possible? Really, you'd think I'd know me better than this by now...
7.) Memorize scripture regularly and with purpose...aim for one verse per week by March 31
NOPE. But I think I still know John 3:16.
8.) Learn something new- Daily
Again with the open-ended, permanent goals...
9.)Keep a journal/Blog with purpose
Actually, the journal is a yeah, the blog...well, if pictures are worth 1000 words, I should be covered, otherwise, I'd have to admit that I didn't make the impression on myself with this goal that I intended to when I made the resolution. Even the journal has relied heavily on cutting, pasting, souvenirs and doodles, but it's more than I've ever managed to continually contribute to in the way of memory collections and the deep plumbing of one's hopes, dreams, fears and inane thoughts.
10.) Write real letters...aim for one per month
Believe it or not, I've written a few. Not once a month as imagined, because in real life, real letters take time and sometimes courage to actually stamp and send.
11.) Find a church, settle into it, get busy, keep mouth shut, learn to trust the Right One on this
See, these things make it all sound so cut and dry... sometimes life really isn't cut and dry at all! I've found a place I feel at home-check. I've settled into the routines of service times and regular attendance there-check. I've mostly kept my mouth shut- check. ( I can be quite chatty and or take over-ish during ladies Bible study) Trust the rest to the One I go to church for--oh... um, mostly check. There have been some Sundays where the entire family was not as enthused about attending here as me... not pouting or fuming or fighting on the way to church has been a start :)
12.) Be a better friend to my spouse
As I've said before, you'd have to ask the man... and again, this doesn't, in hindsight, seem to be an item that could be measured, quantified or checked off a list very readily.
13.) Take a class- make it count for some real goal
School didn't pan out for me in the fashion I envisioned and will not resume that route in the near and tangible future. However, I did take a class and though it didn't expand my horizons in the way I meant this originally, it truly did equip me for achieving real goals... in fact, two classes at that same church I mentioned above have been invaluable sources of education, strength and encouragement in my role as home educator, wife, and mother... which was, at least in part, some of the goals I put forth in this list. I feel confident that checking this one off isn't fudging a bit.
14.) Figure out real goals
How very vague and existentialist of me...
15.) Let go of certain ghosts- people & circumstances. (TBA @ a later date)
This would have been better phrased "Make peace with self and memories" Some of that got tackled quite unexpectantly... as in, I never expected the other parties involved to participate in the "healing". I meant to bury my metaphorical hatchets alone, in a deep dark wood, but found I had help in digging the holes. Some phases of (de)construction are complete while others are just strapping on their hard hats. To be continued...?
16.) Continue to pursue "good stuff", "research" forgiveness and look for opportunities to be Hands & Feet
I can be so clueless and not unlike a dripping faucet at times... Permanent Strivings Category, please.
17.) Stop plucking things so vehemently (hair, eyelashes, lint)
Unrealistic! Pass the tweezers, please.
18.) Minimize Sailor's Tongue Disease
This is relative. Minimized, yes. Eliminated as this sort of list is truly suggesting, not in the least.
19.) Launch SoHo (TBA @ a later date)
Launched it alright, straight in the rubbish pile. Not gonna happen for many years now, if at all. Not disappointed about this... made it my preferred choice.
20.) Spend Less Money
Can I count it even if I couldn't help it? Less quantity in hand can contribute to less spending, but this doesn't really speak to control over one's will power so much, does it?
21.) Create more Everything ( except Children!)This must remain a permanent fixture as well. An A + on the no new babies thing, though.
(knock on wood and sleep on the sofa!)
I'm still giving thought to the year ahead. If I'm willing to make foolish promises again, I'll post the proof of it here within the week or so.
Until such a time- Happy 2009!
The Year in Review
For starters, last New Year's saw me face a 'temporary' - i use this term loosely- loss of reason. For a good laugh, read over last year's Resolution List.
(For a good cry, ask me how many are still on this year's To Do List.)
We went to Calabash & Myrtle Beach, the boys played Basketball, Logan took dance and Clay and I wondered at what point does staying at the YMCA become fun (much less make you want to put on a headdress and sing) because it felt as if we lived there. We took in a hockey game and had our 15 minutes of fame on Savannah's local news station. I fell in love with Beaufort all over again and got a new nephew, Reagan.
FEBRUARY
The Lost Month... I cannot account for Feb. of this year with photos or entries in any of my blogs or personal journals... I have an inkling that it was due to busy-ness and other issues, but just for fun, I'm gonna say I was abducted by aliens. 
Obviously, we were still a little busy at this point as the lack of blogging, photos or many other souveniers suggests, but I know for sure we celebrated Logan's 7th birthday. She and I had a "girl talk" over tea and it was awkward as you imagine these things to be We also went to MGM on St. Patty's but you wouldn't know that because for some mysterious reason, all evidence as such is filed under April. Which leads me to:
April was Earth Day, EdVenture Children's Museum, and best of all Easter in Covington. Temperatures warmed and excuses were sought (and found) to play in, splash and otherwise indulge in water of all sorts ... ocean, sprinkler and water balloon encased.
In May,Grammy bid college farewell at her hard earned graduation and we bid Savannah farewell with our move back into SC. We saw the SandGnats play, visited the SC State Museum, and brought our school year to a slower simmer as we settled in the new house.
In June we said goodbye to Clay's MeeMaw, had the chance to visit with dear friends visiting the island, became regulars at our pool and local library and found a church with the biggest homeschooling heart ever, right in our own backyard. Our lives would also be significantly changed through Week of Champions and our new found friend, Mr. Derrick Moore.
July was a busy month. I was finally initiated into the real life world of grown ups when I made the drive "up mountain" to our family reunion in Franklin, NC all by myself. We celebrated Independence Day the best possible way on Hilton Head Island by singing along with SHANNON TANNER and got double the joy from it all when Chandler volunteered to sing the National Anthem. We welcomed a new niece into the family, Little Miss Hailey, Sailed the 7 C's at VBS and helped the InLaws celebrate 38 years of marriage.
August brought company- we had a few days to hang out with our cousins from Augusta and a little quality time with Tyler. We kept a fairly regular check on the pool water, (it was always warm, and clean every day save one involving an unfortunate diaper incident), and took a trip to the zoo before officially opening our own for business... by this I mean we started school.
Chandler turned 9 in September. We celebrated in Atlanta, first by seeing Gina and Pat Neeley at a special event at the World of Coca Cola Museum, dinner at the Varsity and a dip in the rooftop pool followed by a Falcon's game, lunch at Blue Willow and a Whole Wide World BoomDeYada Birthday Cake for dessert. September also saw trips to Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky... and of course Columbia for football.
I turned 29 for the first time in October and promptly found a gray hair that very same day. I will turn 29 again next year, same time. We attended several fall festivals and got to know our neighbors a little better at the Chili Cook Off and Costume Contest. We welcomed (and prayed over) new baby cousin Carys(she's doing wonderful now!) The SC State Fair and concert in the rain were fun Oct. moments. Clay and I marked 11 yrs since I first beat him in basketball (he brought flowers home, smart guy!) and the children carved their own pumpkins for Halloween.
Fisher turned 6 in November, celebrating with his best buddy, Devin, at Chuck E Cheese and an M&M cake. He lost his first tooth a few days later. We celebrated Uncle Ben's birthday with a family slumber party (of sorts) in Greenville and Thanksgiving with my In Laws. We recovered from all that turkey by taking a stroll through Sea World and spending a few moments contemplaing the wonder of Whales and how marvelous it is that they can be taught to "Jump, boy!" We took in some culture- Seussical and WillyWonka- at two local children's theatres as well as...well...um...the Arts? with a trip to Columbia for basketball.
With December came a trip to Grammy's, where we rode the train with Rudolph, Frosty and Santa. Back home, we took a Christmas Trolley ride around Savannah and made our debut as ice skating stars...or, more correctly, falling stars. Our Christmas tree was real this year and we went all out with lawn lights too. Santa brought hand held video games, bicycles and best of all, one more year of the kind of magic that only comes with an innocent belief that he is real.
Oh, that is far from all there was, folks, but it is all I have time (and links) for right now. I am not sure what the new year will hold... I hope more sweet grapes than sour...I do know this much however, next January One, I will feel the same awe and gratitude that I feel this First of January... perhaps only more so... at the amount of life and living that we are given in one short year.
Taking a moment to look back at all that has made up this year helps bring into focus what raced past me at such blinding speeds day by day...
Fare the well, 2008...Welcome home, 2009!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)