More Kids Stuff

I have treasures waiting for me when I finish grading papers. I'm more than a week away from this papery fun, but I'm so looking forward to it!

Sometimes, the smaller Barnes and Noble carries good British magazines. I love them for it!

I need complete quiet to read my Wendell Berry poems. No quiet yet.

My quilting primer! I can't get my mind around making a whole quilt these days, but I think I can do something small. I'm still working on THE APRON.

Last, the paper doll book. It's called Black Apple. Aren't they cute? The author gives profiles of the dolls and they are clever and funny.

There are scenes and instructions for making a theater. Doesn't it look fun?

There are so many fun things to do, aren't there? Why let the kids have all the fun? Older girls need play time, too.
Now back to the student paper stack!

Thank you for stopping in and for your VERY personal and caring comments. I hope you have a sweet day today. May is such a lovely month and we have this May just a few days longer. Sniff a flower or two.

Good Reads, Halloween, and Hair

Hi Everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome back! I want to tell you about all the books I read while relaxing away in Oahu.
I have mentioned how much I love Anne Tyler. Still adore floating through her stories, getting all attached to her unique characters.

This is a fascinating story about modern day church. I don't want to say too much, but if you read it I'd love to discuss!

Jane Brocket is a really smart writer. This book is a warm jump back to your childhood literary loves. It'll make you want to reread Little Women, The Little Princess, Pippi Longstocking, and many more classics and then . . . you can do what the characters do and eat what the characters eat! It's a gem! (Applause!)

I kept reading about this book. Wow. I am astounded that Elizabeth Strout could invite me to take so many different looks at this character. I couldn't put it down. LOVED it.

Here is one of my hippie bracelets.

And the other. Sorry about the skin that looks in great need of nourishment.

We went over to Kelli's house for trick or treating, so I thought I'd take a few pretty pictures of pretty things there.

The girls were so proud of their jack-o-lanterns! Birdie said, "It was A LOT of work!"

Here is little Sam the skeleton with her fairy wings!

Wilbur is growing fatter.

Roasted pumpkin seeds! YUM!

Bug and her pumpkin!

Kelli's house all glowing!

trick or treaters!

Sleeping Beauty is thrilled with her bucket of sweets!

Finally, the hair. I'm still not used to it. Sorry about the cheesy smiles.

Well, I'm very happy to see you! Thank you for coming by. Bye bye, October and hello November! The weather here is unseasonably warm and the trees and skies are incredible. This is a happy fall.
I wish you a happy Monday. I have a sneaking suspicion that my Monday in the classroom may be a little shaky. Kids have had a whole week off and a Halloween of late night candy gathering. Mondays are always a bit iffy anyway. I'll let you know how it goes. Guess what? I didn't get the stories graded. YIKES! Bye bye! We'll talk again soon.

This and That Thursday

Have you seen the washing lines all over blog land? Do they make you smile? They make me happy, too.

Here are Aria's curtains. Granny finally finished them and Aria's mama hung them up as soon as I handed them to her.

Look who hopped over to rest her weary gnome bones on the fairy bench.

Speaking of Aria, here she is in her cozy bed. I know! Her hair is amazing!

Here is another picture of the four oldest cousins' fun run around Granny and Grampy's backyard. After dozens of stumbles, trips, and rolls, we had a mediocre lunch fresh out of the freezer.

Finnegan, the only boy, holds his own.

Here they are waiting for an energetic grown up to pull the wagon around in the grass - forever. No energetic grown ups to be found.

Yesterday, before CB and Finn's mama came to get them, they dug. After they left, just Samantha was left at Granny's. She gracefully took a three hour nap.

She smells like a flower. She has eyes the color of water. She smiles and smiles and smiles, even though she is intent on squash in this photo. Now she'll have four nice long days with her mama. Her daddy is in Texas for a few days. We miss him.

I keep forgetting to show you "Flock" and I know you'll think this is just as adorable as I do! April knitted all these birds and used sticks for the mobile. It's on Ravelry if you'd like to make yourself some flying birds!

Today I shall revert to my book worm ways and lose myself in my newest book, Kristin Lavrensdatter. I read about it over at Gladsome Lights. I also can't wait to read Sarum. My mother said it is delicious. Kristin Lavrensdatter is already capturing me. I'm drawing and coloring pictures in the margins.

I hope you are having a joyful day.

I'm leaving for Washington on Sunday. Soon, I'll be surrounded by my childhood home's farm scenery, the golf course, the country roads. We'll take the ferry to Guemes Island and eat crab. I'll have some rich conversations with my parents, my brothers and my sister. I'll like that. Yes, I'm taking my camera and I'll blog a bit while I'm there. You'll like looking at it because it is one of the most beautiful little spots in America.

Do you get hungry for certain things when you are reading a book? Today, I read of porridge breakfasts, so I made some myself. I wonder what's for lunch. Thanks for stopping in to check on me today. You're so nice to bear with my idea hopping, my short attention span, and my favorite thinking things.

Doing

Hi! Remember when I said that maybe thinking would lead to doing? Gumbo Lily left a sweet comment of affirmation and it really pushed me over the edge. I decided not to use the New Zealand wool because I have so much of it and it really deserves cables which I don't have the strength for right now. I picked this pretty Lamb's Pride Bulky up when I visited that cool yarn shop in Ft. Collins. I love my shawl! It's coming along! I watched the rest of the Hazel season and now I miss her and have to wait for a second season. I watched Lark Rise to Candleford Season Two, but just the first disk so I have that to look forward to today while I knit. I want to watch Sense and Sensibility, too. I love that movie. So, VICTORY! Shawl making is actually happening!

I wish you could touch it! So soft! I wish you could smell it! Smells like a lamb!

This morning, the sky was pink again. It's only pink for a tiny magic moment.

The volunteer sunflowers are growing fast!

Look at this girl! Isn't she bright and smiley?

Jeff's tomatoes are plentiful! Yay!

Do you see the tiny fairy bench on the left? Just before I shot the photograph, the fairy ran away. Sorry.

Everything is growing in the fairy garden.

Back inside for some book talk. My adorable little friend Melanie at Cosy Living is reading the Miss Read books and I knew I had one. Sure enough! It IS delightful and easy to pick up and put down for small village doses.

After meeting Sam and Jenny for lunch and toy shopping, I went to the library. Look at these fun and quick reads! I love juvenile fiction and I always like to read about queens. I checked out three knitting books, too. I've already looked through them and I'm ready to take them back. I have so many knitting books, I really should just browse through my own!

Here's the book that came in the mail yesterday. I am already enjoying it very much. It's written by a woman who is becoming an Episcopalian priest. I love books by women who are pursuing God with all their hearts. It's not preachy; it's intimate and inspiring so far. It made me want to sing this morning. I sang a song that I learned when I was just beginning to want to know my Savior. He's Everything to Me is the song I sang and the words are incredible.

In the stars His handiwork I see
On the wind He speaks with majesty
Though He ruleth over land and sea
What is that to me?

I will celebrate Nativity,
For it has a place in history
Sure He came to set His people free
What is that to me?

Til by faith I met Him face to face,
And I felt the wonder of His grace
And I knew that He was more than just a
god who didn't care, who lived way, way up there and
NOW He walks beside me day by day
Ever watching over me lest I stray
Helping me to find the narrow way
He's everything to me.

I have a bunch of journals that are begging me to fill them. I'm trying to decide which one to fill up with my "freedom from overeating" journey. I'm putting all my journal supplies on the kitchen table today after I sweep and mop. I'll take a picture after I finish a few pages.

This morning I randomly (ha ha!) turned to Psalm 81: 5-6. God's word can be SO personal. It's amazing. Remember, I was thinking about burdens and shoulders (having to do with shawl making?) Well, does He know me or what? Then, later the psalmist speaks of His good provision of food. I'm thinking of how He provides good gifts for us. I have a good potato to eat. I baked it this morning while I was singing and now it smells delightfully mealy and toasty and I'm hungry. It's good to be hungry. I'll be thinking of all of you as I knit my shawl and watch happy films. I hope you have some quiet things to do today and I hope you find that life is a gift of love.