Roc the Oc

Wrapping Up 2009

2009-12-25T20:05:00.001-08:00

It has been awhile since I have been on here. Lots going on I suppose and complete lack of interest on my part. However, I think I have missed this some. I like being able to update everyone, but if you know me at all, I tend to bite off more than I can chew......a lot. So for 2010 instead of burning myself out trying to update 3 blogs, 2 facebooks and my calendar, I am going to combine 2 of my blogs. Bye bye Roc the Oc and Hello The 8th Child! I am also going to try to commit to at least updating once a week and more often if I can squeeze it in. Since I gave up my 'Magic Z' I will have to make an effort to not stress so easily.....keep my cool.....not go crazy.....that sort of thing. And now that Hubble is home in the evenings, sans employment, it has been a lot easier for me to keep it together. I look back at this summer and I realize just how close to the brink of insanity I really was. Scary.

Now I am not really the resolution type, but I do have some goals in mind for the new year.

1. Update my blog once a week.

2. Increase the time I spend crafting and making goodies. I have some great ideas for toys that I would like to get started on. It would be great if I had a studio or somewhere to work, don't you think?

3. Spend my time with my kids more constructively. This takes some planning, but really makes our days more fulfilled.

4. Be a better housekeeper.

5. Be a better housekeeper.

6. Get back in school.

7. Take better care of myself........this is the ultimate goal.

I could go on for awhile, but this is manageable and remember what I said about biting more than I can chew? Let's just start here for now.

Hope your holidays were as wonderful as ours and good luck in the new year!

My First Attempt at Apple Pie

2009-09-22T20:52:00.001-07:00

Not too shabby....

I used the Jonathan apples we gathered on our trip to Eckerts and while the pie turned ok, there is definitely a reason people use tart apples for baking. Also the top was not as crumbly as I would have liked, but it still tasted pretty good if not a little sweet. Happy First Day of Fall!

The Great River Road Leads to....

2009-09-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

Eckert's Farm in Grafton, Illinois! The weather was perfect for apple plucking and the fruit ripe. This is the first time we have been to the orchard since Delphi was born. The Jonathan apples were ready to go, but we were granted permission to gather some Golden Delicious as well since they were only about a week from their peak.

By the time Delphi walked past the second tree on her left she had taken a bite...scrumptious!

Dad lends a helping hand

Cold, crisp cider

John is going to make some apple pies and the rest will be eaten plain or given away. We hope to go back in a couple of weeks.

Recent Cuteness

2009-08-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I actually allowed her to play with playdough.

For John's sis in Iraq

Bella after her trip to the groomer

She doesn't really like the bows. Too prissy.

If it weren't for these guys I don't know if I could keep the smile on my face.

It's Been A While

2009-08-12T05:24:00.001-07:00

I found this guy making a slow trek through about one square inch of grass. I have no idea what it is, but I like to think he is the very slow, old but wise King Japanese Beetle. He was over an inch long with interesting markings and these oddly shaped feeler-horn-antenna thingies.

Otherwise, I have just been spending time with the kiddos. Atticus didn't want to come outside so he isn't in these pics. Delphi is driving me nuts-she is two after all. I have been making an effort to ignore household chores in order to devote my attention to them and so far it is only bothering me about 75%-which is good. That is much better than normal. Sadly, I can't afford a cleaning lady.

My outside girl and her bucket of split peas

Criss-cross, Applesauce

Ah, she just gave me one of her boogers....................sigh...........I love being a mommy.

A Short-lived Friend

2009-07-25T05:05:00.001-07:00

What a treat! I think cicadas are just beautiful and how awesome is it to get this close to the slow-moving arthropod. Most St. Louisans are familiar with the tarnished yellow, cracked shells these giants leave all over trees. They break out of those shells after they tunnel out of the ground and begin adulthood. But it is rare to actually see the adult. I caught this guy crawling up my tree from over 20 feet away. That is how large they are! And there are some in the world that will grow to be six inches long.

The City Gardens

2009-07-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the fun sculptures you can visit at the new city garden area. Below, John and Jello are putting on a tap dance extravaganza for the garden's other patrons on the floor chimes.

This is from the Flamingo Bowl on Washington. It is a pretty swanky joint=the nicest bowling alley I have ever been to. The food was pretty good and they have a good drink selection. Plus they don't close until 3!

Nick Normal

2009-07-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

My buddy was in from Queens, NY for an all too brief visit. It is always such a blast when Nick is around. Soooooooo, up there is us at the free Sonic Youth concert under the arch. They are not my cup of tea but the weather was gorgeous and the river seemed to keep time with the music.

Crappy game, crappy prices, crappy seats and crappy beer. Beautiful stadium and Normal somewhat balanced the scales.

Jello and Jerry at the Flamingo Bowl after the game. These are by far two of the most interesting people I know. The latter, having just met him the night before, made quite an impression on all of us. I mean, he is British, nutty, good looking and seemingly well off. He called me 'dodgy' twice within 5 minutes of meeting him!

I love this picture! John and I have been having it kind of rough lately, what with life and all, but this past weekend we proved to ourselves the magic is still there. Maybe Nick should come in more often...............or maybe we should meet him in Queens.

Our New First Mate!

2009-07-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

Actually, let me start here...That up there is what happens when you leave the pantry unlocked. It doesn't look like much, but the crackers on the floor give a good indication of what happened. Upon further investigation I found a little chipmunk quietly minding her business with cheeks about the size of walnuts. She gave the best grin she could and said "Cracker?"

Now for the big news! Please welcome Bella Lightning........Shih Tsu supreme...AKC certified and 100% ours. I never ever envisioned myself a Shih Tsu owner. It is just not my type of dog, but Bella is pretty special and fits into our brood rather well.

The name is not of our choosing, but Lightning is pretty cool so I think it will stay.

La Mia Bella

2009-07-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

Even here, I am smitten with that face.

I have always dreamed of playing piano and hoped my children would actually learn to play (although I would not force or coerce them). This is the beginning of that dream.

Beetle Traps

2009-07-09T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is GROSS! Those are horny Japanese beetles cavorting inside a well-placed trap where they will meet an untimely demise. Thank goodness! They are everywhere this year. Within a couple minutes of hanging these plastic ravines the emerald insects were swarming.

Lowe's was almost out of traps and some old couple told me the beetles were terrible this year. It must be true, because I have seen a lot of them and you aren't supposed to see them at all.

On a much cuter note, Atticus is learning to blow bubbles through his nose at his daily swim lesson.

...And the tenacious two-year old is taking her Popsicle to the hilt.

Let's wrap with this adorable little shroom that has moved in with my impatiens. Apparently he is throwing a party because his posse is sprouting throughout the bed. Some of them are the brightest shade yellow.

Another Night at Whitaker

2009-07-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

We spent another luscious evening in the Gardens. The weather was to die for-especially at this time of year, when the prospect of going outside in the humidity makes most people reach for the remote. It hadn't rained for a couple of weeks and the temp dropped into the upper 70's which made for fantastic outdoor weather.

And this week, we had a special guest join us.........................DAD!

Finally we got to take some vacation time with John who typically works a late shift. It was wonderful to have him with us. I have been selling the Whitaker festival to him for awhile and I think he really enjoyed it.

Happy 4th!

So Freaking Busy........

2009-06-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been away.....life has got the better of me right now. Which is hard to do when you Roc! (that looks cool, but I don't feel like I Roc!) Anyway, the kids and I got out and enjoyed a somewhat break in the weather. The temp was still up, but the humidity was down and the wind delivered summer breezes all day. That is the kind of summer I would like all of the time please. We fed (probably overfed) some mallards, played in Pirate Park and flew the Iron Man kite while the wind would allow it. It was windy enough that Delphi's hat blew into the lake and drowned a sad fate. Believe or not, both of these chumps wondered why I hadn't gone in after the damn thing! But it was so nice to be outside, in the sun, wind in the hair and plenty of kids to play with. We wrapped up the night with bathtub crayons and TeeTee letting me draw all over his face for Sis. He is such a team player.

Dude, I got this!

2009-06-23T05:13:00.000-07:00

So there is only two directions to go from here: Toned, Fit, Healthy.............or Fat, Flabby, Unhealthy.

I don't want to look like this in anymore pics even if I am sitting down and bent over. I also want to be a healthy role model for my kids. I would like to continue to do the things I love to do.

Starting today, I have eight weeks to lose ten pounds. I have been sticking to my good eating habits (mostly) and officially (finally) jumped on the Wii Fit. I already feel better and my thighs don't feel quite as comfortable with each other. :)

Here are the measurements-EEK!
Thigh: 23"
Waist: 33"
Hips: 42"
Bust: 39"
Arms: 12"

Gotta go make my lunch. Have a great day fellow flabbies!

Whitaker Music Festival

2009-06-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do in the Lou? Economy inhibiting your social networking (the real kind, not that e-crap)? Head down to Missouri Botanical Gardens on Wednesday nights for a free concert and fantastic atmosphere. More info at http://www.mobot.org/.
I should work for them.........I wouldn't mind working there because I would get to cavort with all of that greeeeeeeen!

Anyway, originally we planned to go to the zoo, but then the temp and humidity skyrocketed and if you know anything about humidity in St. Louis you know it is pretty much tropical at times. We thought about the Science Center since it is indoors, but figured it would be packed due to the heat. We moved our thoughts back outside to the jazz festival at the Gardens. I hesitated to go because I always get kind of antsy when I have to do a trip with the kids on my own. I can do it, but I don't always like to. I put my smile on, packed our picnic and blanket and decided to brave rush hour.

We hung out by the fountain outside of the children's garden. I would call that our spread, but it was more like a clump. The kids loved that we were having a picnic dinner and then decided to dip everything in peanut butter......

They ran around in the fountain for about 2 hours and we left right before the music started. Hopefully next time we go there will be some help with me so we can stay and listen to the concert, drink some wine, relax.....

P.S. These purple astilbes caught my eye from over 50 feet away. Luscious!

Quick Request

2009-06-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry there are no pics right now.........Here's what I need: Today one of my soul sisters is going to court for the child she currently fosters. He has been with her for a year now and they have both endured the ups and downs of a system more devoted to saving money than a child's best interest. Anyway....at today's court hearing there will be a motion to place this young man permanently with his foster mom. Please keep them both in your thoughts. They need all the support they can get.

Lucha Libre-The Musical!

2009-06-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

Meet the all-male cast............

Check out the heels on that guy! We found him inside a wall when we were remodeling.

Monkey Alert

2009-06-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found some monkeys in my yard. If they belong to you, please come get them because they are eating all of my bugs and bananas.

Garden Proliferation

2009-06-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

My astilbes bloomed this year after a season of becoming accustomed to our clay soil. They are so pretty and fuzzy.

Wax begonias in containers on the front porch are filling out nicely...

These poor lilies...Grandma Mary gave them to me last year and I picked a terrible spot to plant them. They get enough sun, but only if they hover a couple inches above the dirt. I am moving them after they bloom.

My creeping Jenny bloomed this year and was covered with tiny yellow flowers.......bonus! I found some growing in my front yard beds nowhere near any place I originally planted it.

It's Hard Not to Brag

2009-06-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

How beautiful! This picture gives me goosebumps and watery eyes. Yesterday, upon Atti's lap I did find his little sister listening quietly while he read to her.

We watched Atti's dance recital Saturday eve. His cartwheels are wonderful. This is him performing to 'Great Balls of Fire'.

I caught Miss D the other day making faces for the camera. Maybe she is going for a Junior Oscar.

First Annual STL Craft Beer Week

2009-06-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have no idea if there are events planned for the whole week or not, but I was privy to the event hosted at The Royale. Local crafters were invited to spend an afternoon working their magic and enjoying delicious, cheap beer. We were offered a free appetizer and dollar beers. Their beer menu is one of the best I have seen in the Lou. And the crab cakes weren't bad either.
The Catty girls couldn't make it, so I invited someone cooler.......Melissa Bee. I am pretty sure the 9% beer I had made me rather chatty and I talked the poor girl's ear off. But it was great to see her and she received her official invite to the Catty Kitchen.

I was supposed to show Melissa how to crochet, but I only brought one hook so I showed her what I have been working on and shared some ideas with her. I trust her opinion on artsy stuff-she has a pretty good eye and likes to use her brain unlike many Americans. That empty glass in the middle held the superb 9% Charlottesville (?) Belgian Trippel Wit. I have no idea if that is the exact name, but it is close. A Hefeweisen on the left and Boulevard something or other on the right...

There were other crafters there-one woman brought her loom and was spinning her own yarn. The networking did not happen like I anticipated, but it was still great to see other artists out and about.

The Ugly, the Bad and the Good

2009-06-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

The title is pretty accurate for today. My hope is not to bring anyone down, but to get those cogs turning inside our brains which are capable of so many complexities. For example...

The Ugly: Yesterday I was shocked (without naivete) to learn that a fellow employee's future son-in-law was shot to death Monday night. It also happened to be her birthday after the family went out for dinner. The wedding was scheduled for this summer and he is leaving behind a wonderful little boy (just turned 2).

Now...violence is hard for most people to stomach. I am not talking about the shit you see in movies, but hard-core, raw, blatant violence as in the case of this young man. It got me thinking about my own family and social contributions. While this kind of news can be hard to hear we need to know so that as concerned citizens we can be part of the solution and not the problem. I implore all (any) of you to be a solution in today's global community.

The Bad: It seems as though the economy has yet to lighten up. John found out yesterday there is a chance that layoffs are coming. Knowing how corporate America operates I take that to mean 'start looking for another job', which obviously, I hope is not the case. No pity party please-again just information.
The Good: Also in yesterday's news, after having a long talk with one of my soul sisters, she thanked me. I said 'For what?' She said 'For just being you.' I was stunned by this. What a great thing to tell someone. I graciously thanked her for the top-of-the-line compliment and she made sure to add that those words came with 'no additives or preservatives.' It definitely helped brighten a cloudy day.

Wrapping Up May

2009-05-30T04:43:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I am wiped, but hopefully the rain will subside and we can have some sunshine for the party today. Delphi turned 2 yesterday-Happy Birthday little girl! And she is every bit a two year old-tantrums, screaming, drama, indignation, finicky eater-it's great! I marvel at the fact that when she gets louder, I become softer and attempt to deepen my patience with a smile. It works too, although can be quite trying at times. So this is for her, my little lady, who warms my heart with every smile, funny face, hug, muddled word and even tantrums. I cannot believe you are two already. I am very proud of you and constantly amazed by your intelligence and humor. With all my heart-Love Mom

And let's not forget...Atticus is officially a first grade man! Let me tell you-his teacher this year was awesome. I don't remember reading as well as he does when I came out of Grade K. It is pretty spectacular how much knowledge their growing brains can hold. Alas, he is leaving St. John's though and heading to a new school district. Private school is just too unaffordable unfortunately. Great job on your first year of school, Bud! You really are a fantastic little man and I can't wait to hear the songs you learn in school next year.Is this the sappiest post you have ever read or what? It's Faith's turn now. Here she is crammed in a play tent coloring with my kids outside-pretty cool right? And that was after I whined and begged her to come over and clean my house for today's shindig. This is hands down one of the most wonderful people I have ever known. She treats me like a queen and we haven't even slept together! I really don't know, at this point, what I would do without her. Probably cry.....a lot. She is nature's anti-depressant. I love her and that's all there is to it.And this photo just makes me happy. Have a great weekend!

Back to the Wild

2009-05-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is all the rain, but my mood has been sour the past couple of days. Not bad, just tainted. I have an overwhelming desire to be at home right now. Let's shed some light on the dreary weather, shall we.
Cilantro! I am pretty sure there is a genetic divide between males and females when it comes to this herb. I have never met a man who likes cilantro and most ladies I know, love it. I moved all of my herbs closer to the house this year and the cilantro took off. Its blooms are so dainty and pretty.

Maybe someday I will write about something other than plants. Not likely though...perhaps in winter? That petunia up there is one of several plants I purchased for $.25 because the store thought they had crapped out. I, being the plant goddess I am, revived most all of them. There are a couple of questionable ones I am still holding out hope for.

And this is Tulip........she shacked up with us for a night as a gift for my kiddies. She was very unhappy though (it is mating season, go figure) and we decided to set her free. Atti was so brave about the whole thing. We plan to go visit her in the lake she came from.

Seriously, I need a Time Vampire

2009-05-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite complaints is there is just not enough hours in each day. How is it then that so many things have happened in the past couple of days? There should be a few updates coming as I have time (see what I mean) to edit photos and construct my witty posts.

Mount Kabob

We had about an eight inch pile of veggie kabobs at Jello's BBQ. Delish!

One of my members at work brought me peonies from his garden as a thank you for helping him every Saturday. How thoughtful! They smell so sweet and the color was intense.

Lazy Summer Days

2009-05-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

It looks like she is enduring hell, but really she is trying to get a hold of my camera and that is a BIG no-no. The weather was breathtaking today and to celebrate we spread a blanket in some shade near the garden and relaxed a little.

I think she is trying to play with my hair here...

Mama hug! Ahhhhhh...toddler speak...always from the heart...and the diaphragm.

Beans, Beans the magical fruit!

2009-05-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

It was hard not letting my appetite get the best of me today...and it was hard remembering that I set a goal. So far so good...I had a little slip up at work (goldfish crackers), but I was good the rest of the day. I think I have finally realized that my desire for food is partially a mental need. So for dinner, I didn't snack and went straight to preparing myself something tasty and healthy. Now, reader beware, I consider my palate one notch above unrefined. This Mexi dish is rice, one can of black beans, one can diced tomatoes and green chiles, chicken and some spices. The chicken was leftovers and there wasn't a whole lot of it but it worked out because I haven't been into eating a whole lot of meat lately. Anyway, cook the rice according to package instructions. In another skillet, mix the beans (rinsed and drained), tomatoes and chiles (drained), and spices. I used a tiny sprig of fresh cilantro from the garden, pepper, salt and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes or while rice is cooking. This not a strict recipe but more or less a starting point. Onion would be great in here (so would cheese, but that defeats my purposes). Some may choose to put this on a wrap, but choose your carb vehicle wisely. Many have a lot of added sugars and starches. I went without because the mix is just as tasty without.

Talk to you later.

The Biggest Loser

2009-05-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's me. Big loser and here's why: Shortly after I had my daughter I trimmed down to a size 6 from breastfeeding and not eating regularly (it is hard to fit that in as a new mom). I stayed that way for about a year and this past holiday season completely filled out again due to stress and overeating. Since then I have successfully attempted regular exercise two or three times. I go strong for about a month and then I fall off the wagon. I always feel better when I do exercise and usually feel like crap when I don't. Why is it then I don't just do what is good for me?

Challenge: I propose to make my healthy habits campaign a regular item on my blog. My thinking here is the more people I get involved the more motivated I will stay.

First things first: I am looking for a healthier body and lifestyle-not anorexia. I am for the most part very happy with the way I look, but realize I am only going to get older and need a strong body to maintain an active life. With that said, I need to make some changes to my habits, diet and thinking in order to be successful.

Drinking: I am going down to one alcoholic beverage a week. It will be my treat for a job well done on my exercise regimen. Also no more soda. I was never really bad about that but here recently it has crept up more often than it should.
Water: I used to drink a lot of water, but have kind of switched to coffee since Dee was born. I don't plan to cut back on the java, but increase the amounts of fresh water I consume.
Eating: I really used to have this in check and am getting there again, but I still need to make some tweaks. I am a carb freak so I need to make sure the ones I am eating are the best ones for my body. Also I have an insatiable appetite and often reach for whatever is quick to suppress hunger pangs, but no more. There will be an endless selection of fresh produce at my disposal from the Soulard Market and if there isn't I will have to be patient and make myself something healthy.

Let's start there for now. This is just as much a lesson in discipline for the mind as well as the body.

More goals and tips to come.

All my love~OP

Braided Piggies

2009-05-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to take these down tomorrow morning and see the pretty waves.

Update: One piggy fell out and is waveless. The other made it through the night, but to my chagrin it left only scattered crinkles. Oh well..........

Not the best weekend...but not the worst

2009-05-18T04:20:00.000-07:00

So it turns out it was our turn to endure a not-so-great weekend. Who knew?! It would be great if you could schedule that slap in the face. I'm not bitter because the weekend was not a total loss. I'll cut to the chase........That up there is JP reading to Dee. Pretty sweet isn't it, but wait....is her arm in a sling? Is that an emergency room waiting area? Unfortunately it was.

The ER. That is where we spent our Saturday evening due to a pending wrist dislocation. Not one bit of fun was had...well maybe some when we played ball in the X-ray hallway and met some old lady who busted her face on an angry tree branch. Otherwise we mixed among the sick, the uninsured, the screaming, and the otherwise medically ok folks for four and a half hours.

It turns out her elbow/wrist is ok. I think it popped itself back into place. The doctor who saw us threatened to call The People (DFS) on John and his face turned white. She was messing with him and he lightened up some. Plus the doc gave Del some of the big crayola crayons which I can't find anywhere. Score!!

In other news, Momo had a birthday this weekend-Happy Birthday!!!! We had a nice little family gathering and ate some pork steaks. Sunday I planted my clearance annuals in my backyard containers. I bought them for fifty cents so if they live we should see petunias, alyssum and lobelia. I also started to work on the tail for Atti's monster. I was avoiding making it because I thought it would be difficult and time-consuming (and I was right), but I am notorious for not finishing what I start and so this is a testament to my attempt to alter some bad habits.

I think I've got a case of the "Mundays".

Ciao!

Just some thoughts...

2009-05-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Here recently I have given some thought to splitting my craft endeavors into two parts-The Catty Kitchen and my own stuff. At first I was not in favor of this idea for several reasons the main one being that sounds like an awful lot to manage. However, since I have had more time recently to focus on my hobbies I think breaking it into two will be beneficial for both parties. Either way, that is boring and not the point. I have thought of a name for my little sect...The 8th Child. This is literally what my name means so it gives my crafts the personal recognition I sometimes desire without obscuring the work itself.

Have a great weekend!

How Cute is This?.........

2009-05-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I have no idea how to rotate this..........

FYI-Travis is officially home today for the summer. Chances are he will be the first college grad in our family. Congrats my man!

Wednesday Catch-up

2009-05-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

'Start at the beginning and when you come to the end....Stop!'John has taken it upon himself to update our basement bedroom soze that I can get my craft on with a bit more regularity. Who knows? Maybe he will get down there and put some of his great ideas in better light. He hired Atticus to help him with the job (for pay mind you) and I am pretty sure Atti went on break within the first five minutes. :) He did do a great job vacuuming the dust.
Yeah........so this guy is a little scary and WICKED!!!! On our way to a very early Mother's Day breakfast at P-Ma's we found this guy hanging out on the corner lot one block from our destination. We pulled back around to get pics with him. This is by far the best Easter decoration I have ever seen. P-Ma says he is there all year (although I have never seen him before) and changes clothes for the coordinating holiday. Maybe he will have a headless turkey with him on Thanksgiving.
John took vacation yesterday and we worked in the yard. It is really starting to come together and we've only been here five years now? So much for home-ownership... Anyway, he decided to take on the weed whacker and the weed whacker won. This pic is a lot better than what it actually looks like.
This was a nice wrap to the day. Delph and I showered because we were seenky! And every night after we brush our teeth we like to see how clean they are in the mirror. Look at that Buddha belly!

Movie Reviews

2009-05-12T04:30:00.000-07:00

In an effort to spice up the content of my blog I am going to attempt to write about something other than myself :-)

John gets a movie from the library for us every week which is about all we have time for. Last week's matinee was:

I am terrible at traditional movie reviews so what you will be getting is just my initial opinion about the flick. Here goes...........

Ellen Page is Juno and gets knocked up by one of her good friends. She decides to give it up for adoption and the story goes from there. I told you I am bad at this. Anyway, while the movie was cute it was totally unbelievable and not because of the showcase they made of teenage pregnancy. The language and vocabulary is over the top and Juno is portrayed as a social outcast once her belly bubbles. I don't remember anyone giving the prego girls at my high school any trouble and that was ten years ago. That reaction from the student body seemed a bit contrived considering how commonplace teen pregnancies are. Anyway, the good parts are the wonderful supporting characters who are in so many films and are often their saving grace. Check these folks and their films out when you get a chance: Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons (one of my favorites), and Rainn Wilson. Rainn Wilson's part is small, but still worth watching.

Score: 3 out of 5

Quasi-accomplished?

2009-05-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

So if I wash, dry, fold (2 baskets), and press one basket of laundry does that mean I get to crochet for a bit? I suppose that is a fair trade.

Here is what I am working on:

It will hopefully be a really cool monster for Atticus. I am trying to write the pattern as I go. I need a few supplies still, but so far I am happy with the result.

Ladies' night tonight!

OP

umm, okay.........

2009-05-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

So, of course, story of everyone's life-too much to do, not enough time. Or so many hookers, not enough money. I hate to whine.

Let's make a list!

Things I Need to do:

clean the house
pull weeds
fold laundry (this is my least favorite)
mail my state tax returns
exercise
move things out of creative space so my wonderful hubby can update it for me

Things I Want to do:

crochet
read my book (Broken by Daniel Clay)
exercise (probably not gonna happen)
drink a beer
scrapbook
make a birthday banner for Delphi

It just so happens that I am so overwhelmed with what to do that I could very possibly end up not doing much which always makes this feeling worse. Although it is depicted above, I wish time travel were real sometimes, but "we don't have the capability yet." :)

Plant Nerd

2009-05-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am sure it has become very clear that I have a slight obsession for plants. Above are the seeds Atti and I started in some peat. Hopefully we will have some healthy Petunias, Coleus, Impatiens and blue fescue grass. I started some double flowered Columbine and mixed Foxglove too. I still have to get my Shasta daisies and tomatoes started, which if I don't do those this weekend I will have to wait until next year. I attempted to turn some earth today while Del and I were outside playing, but alas she quickly grew bored throwing her ball in the air. My clematis vine around our light post in front has started to bloom. The colors in the picture are slightly off so it is hard to see the lavender tint to parts of the petals.

This weekend will also be our last hope until autumn to get some grass seed down as long as it doesn't rain. There is still tons to do, but we have made so much progress. Ever since I was pregnant two years ago things have fallen behind, but we are picking up the pace again. If anyone wants to volunteer 'manpower hours' to our yard I will feed you and give you beer. I'm just saying...........

Dick Tracy Spotted in St. Louis

2009-05-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

Not really, however I did receive this fabulous yellow trench made by London Fog for my birthday from Aunt Ellen and Uncle Steve. The material is great because it repels raindrops yet is light and breathable. That's me up there looking for April showers.

Garden Lush

2009-04-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share the progress my plants are making in the garden. They are loving all this rain.

And I just noticed today the seeds Atticus and I planted last Friday evening are starting to sprout.

A Couple of Kooks!

2009-04-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

It was actually warm enough to engage in water fun. If you could see the water you probably look forward to swimming in a river. It was murky with sand and freshly mown grass. Gross!

Kooky...

...and Kookier!

Spring Chicken and flowers, of course...

2009-04-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have officially gone above and beyond my 28th year on planet Earth and feel that I deserve a raise for my efforts. Of course, there were the usual accommodations-dinner, cake...presents! But is that really sufficient compensation for the grueling labor-intensive time I have offered to this life? Hardly...

In all actuality, I have been quite the louse and am having trouble staying focused. You would think with the onset of Spring my motivation would be in high gear, but I think it may be a bit overwound. It's the same story everyone in America has-so much to do and so little time. The garden needs tending, the house needs cleaning, legs need to be shaved and maybe after I check those off my list I can get to work on my crafts.

I did, however, have a great birthday. I am kind of like a hobbit when it comes to presents. I love them! This year was different though, because in spite of receiving wonderful gifts I appreciated the company more than anything. Everyone got along and I did not get into my annual fight with my mother which tends to occur around this time of year. We had family dinner the Sunday before (Jenn and I hand-dyed the cake frosting). Thursday I made my way to the Catty Kitchen for a picnic and some drinks. Saturday, my friend at work had her baby boy. I switched with someone and had to work that morning, but got home in time to work outside in the garden before the rain and partied hardy later that evening. Subsequently, I took it very easy on Sunday.

These tulips were a fabulous part of the birthday celebration. I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful gifts. It was unexpected and very generous.

Teammates

2009-04-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

For my Mister:

Many of us are blessed to know someone who will take care of us, love us, makes jokes with us and often surprise us with the tenderest moments. These people often are less than appreciated by those they diligently serve and love. My husband is one such man. I don't want this come across as a guilty confessional, but rather an honest moment of gratitude for everything you do for me. You really come through for us when I can't seem to manage to do so. No one could ever replace you in my heart...because we are teammates.

I would like to reverse dedicate this song to my friend, John.

Hippity-hoppity...

2009-04-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

Rejoice ye Catholics, for Lent is over! (and also with you)

Now that Fridays can go back to being the much needed break from the 40 hour work week, as opposed to the denial of our petty desires, let's celebrate with egg hunting and chocolate!

One could reckon hunting for eggs is rather unfair, don't ya think? I am surprised PETA and Pro-Lifer's are not all over that one. Chocolate is probably the only real winner on Easter and with good reason.

As you can see, egg dyeing did not get off to a smooth start. Delphi was acting her age and decided to try and pull the newspaper out from under the cups filled with dye and vinegar. I can only imagine what that would have done to my hardwoods if it had not been diluted with water. Anyway, after extensive cleanup and rather dramatic 'time-out' episode, we commenced coloring our eggs. Delphi sat in exile for the most part, but she did get to color and dye her own egg.

On Sunday, Delphi awoke with a perpetual runny nose (poor thing!) Her and Atti kind of enjoyed their Easter baskets, but it was hard to do because they each got four baskets. It was hard for them to keep all those goodies straight. After a nap for the D and a visit from Peter Cottontail we crept to the backyard to peep the eggs. This would be the first real egg-venture for Delph.

and the winner of the golden egg was.............ATTICUS! Happy Easter everyone!

Kingston

2009-04-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

I have been super busy this week and this little guy is part of the reason. We are helping out a fellow employee at Midcoast this week while he completes some schooling.

This is Kingston. He is a Jack Russell terrier, about 11 months old, full of energy and sweet as a flower. He has been my snuggle buddy this week while I snooze on the couch. Kingston is going home tomorrow and while I will miss him, I will be glad to have those few extra minutes back. I am just not ready for another dog yet. The kids, of course, have fallen in love. Nothing is ever too easy.

SCORE!!!!!

2009-04-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Our local library is having their book blowout sale right now and I was shocked by how many books were actually available.........and they didn't all suck. It was akin to shopping in a thrift store, which I find to be a terribly daunting endeavor. I have never really had the patience or the desire to look through so many items and maybe come out empty handed. To me this seems to be a waste of my time, however, I realize you have to put in at a least a little effort if you ever want to find treasure. As I walked down the rows of tubs of books, I was already nervous and ready to give up because of the overwhelming amount of literature, the creepy library people (workers and patrons) and the lingering smell of dust and mildewy pages. I am proud to say however, I talked myself into taking a seat and and begin the hunt. And I was not disappointed for my efforts. I do wish there would have been more craft books there, but I left with 18 books and only $14 dollars spent. It was heaven. I picked up some classics that we did not have and some modern fiction. I managed to find one scrapbooking book and a kids' arts and crafts book. My mega-find was unbelievalble. I have been searching this book out for my daughter's upcoming birthday and it is out of print. I have found several copies of this used book for sale, but they are topping out at $130 dollars which is insane. I have my eye on a copy on eBay, but alas, I am able to search no further because I found 'The Merbaby' amidst the stacks of used books today.

And I only paid $.50 cents for it!!! I purchased this for the art, but the story is written well too. Unfortunately, I want so badly to give it to her now, but she must wait (or I guess I should be patient). While I do not believe thrifty shopping will ever be an adventure for me, today's win certainly changed my attitude.

Hulk Glop

2009-04-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

You will need:

5 tsp. water

3 drops green food coloring

1/4 cup corn starch

Stir ingredients together in plastic container. Add water very sparingly if mixture is too thick. Add corn starch slowly is mixture is too thin. This glop is lots of fun and completely safe to ingest (should someone mistakenly eat it).

Prehistoric Updates

2009-03-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

We have finally completed most of the finishing touches in Atti's updated 'big boy' room. Our latest updates includes a bookshelf, recliner (courtesy of MoMo and Pawpa), lamp, side table and best of all dinosaur wall hangings. We have some really fantastic vinyl dino stickers that we were having trouble getting to stick to the walls, so I improvised. I didn't want to spend much money so I considered scrapbook frames for $5 a piece at Michael's. It turns out these cheap plastic frames are only available in black and red which would not fit his decor. I settled on foam board to mount the cardstock creations on and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't look terrible. The best part is I only spent $6 total and because the paint color in his room is neutral, I can easily and inexpensively change the artwork when he grows into adolescence. Yikes! I don't know what is scarier-dinosaurs or puberty?

Domestic Gymnastics

2009-03-28T11:00:00.001-07:00

This video is inspired by Po on Kung Fu Panda, only it is a lot funnier when it is done in real life.

Home's Economical Haircut

2009-03-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

I gave Del her first real hair cut this weekend and it is so cute! No more shaggy ends and an adorable bob to boot! She sat pretty still through most of it. I think she wanted one because I was cutting everyone else's hair that day too. I saved a curl of her hair. My girl is really taking off these days..........................

She doesn't look so thrilled in the second photo.

Spring is in the Ground

2009-03-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Spring is by far my favorite season and here a just a few reasons why. The first picture is of my pink astilbes. I missed their bloom last season so I am looking forward to greeting them this year. My brother planted some chives last year that have already made quite the show for such early spring weather. The next two photos are my shady favorites-HOSTAS! There are two varieties shown here, but I have many more and really enjoy watching them grow. Lastly, we have a hyacinth. The picture is blurry because it is an incredibly windy day today. I love these little guys, but they are poorly located and don't perform very well in their current locale. With that being said though and the economy being what it is, I am trying to be very resourceful in my gardening efforts this year. Bulbs will be moved, perennials will be split and hopefully someone will share their annual seeds with me. The only thing I would like to purchase this year is mulch and edging and I am trying to be as creative as possible for the edging.

The new home for 'The Brown Issue'

2009-03-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new e-residence. Hopefully I can get the ball rolling a little faster here. It would probably help if I upgraded my internet connection, but I refuse because internet service is cheaper in Europe, but I digress. I switched because I think I will have a little more flexibility with this host and maybe save some time. I look forward to visiting with you.