Moments with Marisa

Dreams of Lunch

2011-01-09T10:29:00.002-07:00

T-I-double G- errr

2010-11-01T07:05:00.003-06:00

Ari, Everett, and Gwen Halloween night

Thanks, Heather for the costume!

Everett Clyde turns one!

2010-09-27T17:40:00.002-06:00

Birthday present

2010-09-19T11:48:00.004-06:00

Today, Everett got an early birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. John and Grandpa Duane put it together in the basement, first.

Then, at my request, moved it outside!

e! Thank you!

Walking along,

2010-09-08T20:10:00.002-06:00

This is the way we brush our teeth!

2010-08-19T13:08:00.002-06:00

After the bath

2010-08-06T10:51:00.003-06:00

Views from Polson

2010-07-28T20:21:00.002-06:00

Here are a few pics from our weekend trip to Polson:

Obviously, this devise is used to dry our clothes, but it's just a classic view on our trip, and I meant to take a picture of it while the sun was rising one morning, but didn't want to traipse back into the house.
View from the side of the patio. Aunt Jean set up this pool so the little ones could play near the house and avoid exposure to "swimmers itch" (thanks, Tracy!)
Everett, at the end of his first boat ride, just waking up. He slept about half the trip. he's sitting on Aunt Jean's lap, our amazing hostess!
Everett and I, at the end of the dock. If you know me, you know this is one of my absolute favorite places ever, and I was so happy to take Everett there this year. We just wish John could have been with us!
Aunt Jeans' boat. The neighbor got it up and running again, so it was pulling skiers and giving rides again!

More pictures, later...

Hi!

2010-07-17T19:28:00.001-06:00

4th of July weekend

2010-07-06T09:45:00.002-06:00

Friday night, we went out to the lake with Patrick and Jayme. We set up camp and played cards in the camper because a storm was blowing over. Saturday was windy and we did some fishing, but spent some quality time in the camper off and on until evening, when the wind finally died down, making outdoor activities more pleasant. Sunday we spent most of the day on the lakeshore, fishing, swimming, and visiting.

Crazy or Courageous?

2010-06-29T19:30:00.003-06:00

So, I watched the Miller girls again today, and had this fantastic idea! Wouldn't it be so much fun for the kids if I set up Everett's little wading pool, I thought. They'd love it! Yes, it was fun for the kids, but a bit of a logistics nightmare for the crazy adult involved. "I can do this," I told myself. "How?" I asked. (You see, I had little adult conversation today, mostly it was a small child saying "outside?" "wing?" translation: swing, so I had a lot of conversations with myself) And, with 3 kids under 2, I think I must have been crazy to even consider it beyond the first thought. But, I told myself to be brave, this could be an adventure, a challenge for the day, something to keep us all from going completely insane.

So, I filled the pool so it would warm up. I grabbed towels and set them outside. I found shorts and shirts for 2 girls to wear while playing in water. I pulled the kid swing close to the pool. Before and after naps, depending on the child, I fed them lunch. Put sunblock on 3 kids, changed 3 diapers to avoid any major contamination of the pool water, took out a blanket to lay in the grass, hauled 1,2,3 kids outside, putting 2 in the swing and one on the blanket. Luckily, they still hadn't noticed there was water in the bright green blow-up turtle in front of them, and before they did, I set up the canopy so the sun wasn't so scorching. Finally, I introduced them to the fact that there was water in that turtle. And, they were amazed!

They splashed and played and had a grand old time. Then, I saved the little one from the splashing, the oldest one wanted to wing, and the only boy continued to splash. And one by one they got in and out and in and out, bringing the obvious blades of grass and occasional grasshopper with them.

So then, how do you get them out when one has had completely enough, and they most likely all need an afternoon nap, one would wonder. Or maybe you know, and you're thinking I had this one coming! Well, it wasn't so bad, because the younger 2 had had enough, and the other was 'winging. So, take 1 and 2 in, then peel the third off the 'wing in protest. Get 3 kids changed out of wet clothes and 20 pound diapers and back into dry clothes. Pop in bottles or sippies, whatever is age appropriate, and the rest is history, except the taking down, but that has been accomplished this evening.

Whew~!

For Anne!

2010-06-25T16:47:00.002-06:00

Anne,

It was a good day, and this was before things got a little wild around here!

Crazy Driver!

2010-06-13T17:09:00.003-06:00

My Day

2010-06-09T07:54:00.003-06:00

by Everett C. O'Connor

Today, I grew weary of playing with my baby toys, so I decided to take on some chores around this house. It is about time I started pitching in!

I rearranged the kitchen cupboard.
Cleaned off the shelf on my high chair.
And, sorted through the DVD's.

The thing is, by morning, mom will have messed it all up, and I'll have to start all over, again!

Pics from Camping Out

2010-05-20T15:03:00.005-06:00

Please read the previous blog, "Camping Out," as these pictures go with that blog, and, it's short. I was having troubles knowing if my pictures would come out right, so only had one picture inserted! Of course, I know now that if I was in Compose rather than edit html, it would have shown as pictures!

Breakfast in bed!
Tuesday night's storm building
I don't want to wear my hat!

Here's a picture of the storm coming in Wednesday night.
The shed, after roof tin had been removed
Pulling nails

Pic from my adventure Tuesday night, view of the shed with most of the tin off on this side
Tuesday night's storm brewing

Camping out!

2010-05-20T14:44:00.005-06:00

For a few days this week, we went out and camped out while de-roofing a sheep shed. De-roofing? Is that a word? Well, we're tearing down the shed. We went down Monday, set up camp, and started working. John's parents came over each day, and we got the roof taken off. While we were working, Everett spent time playing in a "corral" that John set up for him.

Monday evening, we went for a drive, and saw 2 cow elk. On Tuesday night, as thunderclouds were building, I drove out in the 4-wheeler and took a short walk and snapped a few pictures. Wednesday night, we just stayed in the camper and played cards (I'm going to have to look up the rules for Casino). It rained off and on all night and again this morning, so we packed up and came home a little early.

Watch out world...

2010-05-11T09:20:00.002-06:00

Soooo tired!

2010-05-05T21:04:00.000-06:00

Montana Weather

2010-04-19T06:35:00.003-06:00

What a difference a day makes! Saturday, we went to the lake, and it was windy. (See previous post) We left our coats on and sheltered the babies. Sunday, we went to the lake, and it was completely calm, the sun kept us warm. So warm, I sheltered the baby in the shade to keep him cool. This is him cooling off a bit. Extra pictures are added, just because he's so cute!

Let the fishing season begin...

2010-04-18T09:43:00.002-06:00

On Saturday, we went fishing with the Miller family. We caught a few fish, and got to spend the day outside enjoying the spring weather (except for the wind, we really didn't enjoy that).
Everett, chilling on the "lake quilt" No idea what they were pointing and looking at!

John, teaching Everett how to fish.

The Miller girls

Me, with my 8 pound catfish! Um, I think I caught the most fish, or at least the most pounds of fish; I also caught about a 4 pound cat, a 3 pound walleye, and another smaller walleye. This was my lucky day!

Upon departing the lake, we headed to Eric and Anne's for a fish fry. Thanks for cooking supper, guys!

Adventures!

2010-04-11T16:10:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, the Millers and the O'Connors went on an adventure! We loaded up our 2 families in 2 vehicles, and off we went for a day of prairie dog hunting and exploring. We spent more time hunting than finding, but all adult parties got some target practice in. Don't panic! All babies were safely protected from discomfort and danger! In the afternoon, we made it to the hole in the rock, which evidently is the site of an old trading post. We hunted arrowheads, and the ladies climbed on the rocks, among other things. Here are some pictures from our adventure:

While technically a hole in the rock, not the "hole in the rock"Anne, at the entrance of the hole in the rockHusbands, looking onA couple views from near the hole

It was a delightful spring day, meant for an outing, and it was enjoyed!

more pics

2010-03-16T20:18:00.003-06:00

John says if I'm going to post, there should be more than pictures. Now there are words.

hats

2010-03-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

photos

2010-03-07T09:33:00.002-07:00

Halftime Entertainment

2010-02-10T20:54:00.002-07:00

Here, posted with permission was our halftime entertainment. Eric, I tried to send you a copy but the file was too big!

pics of Everett

2010-01-31T15:54:00.002-07:00

Here you go, some pictures of Everett, since it's been awhile, and the other is quite outdated:
Everett in his baptismal gown. He was baptized last Sunday. It was quite the memorable weekend, with roads closed and churches cancelled, it was a quiet ceremony. Everett eating cereal; a new (messy) adventure!

Keep it coming!

Go, Cowboys!

2010-01-09T19:04:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-31T18:44:00.008-07:00

Okay, I'm a little late! We had a nice Christmas, spending time with family and friends. On Christmas Eve, we went to the candlelight service at church, then Eric and Anne and girls came over for some overdue visiting and pinochle playing. Anne and I actually gave the guys a good run at pinochle!

Here's Everett before church:

Everett, Ari, and Gwen after church:

Christmas Day was spent with John's family. It's an action-packed day with a dozen kids running around!

Everett and I in his new cap:
Everett and John opening his gifts:

The day after Christmas was spent at our house, with the Nelson's coming over for dinner and quality time. We played farkle and dad's new game, Christmas trivia.

Cheddar Cornmeal sticks

2009-12-19T10:14:00.002-07:00

Anne and I are home alone with the babes today, and baking, while our husbands are out calling coyotes. So when we talked this morning, Anne suggested we post our baking results on our blogs, to see how each other's goodies looked. Well, Anne, here is my blog, without pictures, because my camera is with our husbands!
As for the results, you should know that cheddar cornmeal sticks are crumbly, and probably didn't need the cayenne pepper doubled. I still hope to get to the grocery store, but it might be after the basketball games as I just learned that they start at 3! And, I haven't showered, and Everett shouts from his room to be fed. We'll see how this day shakes out!

We're still here!

2009-12-06T14:20:00.003-07:00

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, so here's a quick synopsis of what's happened lately:

I'm back to work, and things are going okay. I dread leaving Everett every day, but he's in good hands, so that is some comfort. School has been busy, too, with activities and Christmas program and such, so I stay somewhat distracted during the day.

Everett is growing by leaps and bounds! At his appointment last week, he weighed in at 14 pounds, 11 ounces, and is 25 inches long! And, shots suck. I cried more than he did, to be honest, and then he woke up in the night with a temperature, which is horrible and frightening, but motrin brought it back down, and we didn't have to re-dose. He's talking (cooing), smiling and laughing, reaching out and grabbing things and picking up his head when on his stomach. They grow so fast!

Patrick and Jayme are getting married in Billings next weekend, so we are spending the weekend in a motel. Packing for 2 nights/3 days could be interesting, and I'm running over and over in my brain what needs to be taken along to make this trip enjoyable. We're excited to see family, many who haven't met Everett yet, so it should be fun.

Okay, I have a lot left to do today, like pay bills (yuck) and put up the Christmas tree, and hopefully watch the Cowboys win this afternoon! I'll add some pictures of Everett so I don't get yelled at!

Everett early in November

Gwennie and EverettAri and Everett

Everett on Thanksgiving

My antelope!

2009-11-07T09:03:00.004-07:00

Yesterday we went hunting. We saw several deer, some elk, and a few antelope. I had a chance at a decent 4 point mule deer, at least decent by my standards, but missed the window of opportunity for shooting. However, I did shoot my antelope doe. Now keep in mind, it has been YEARS since I shot any game animals, and I didn't even do any target shooting this summer. Regardless, I shot this doe at about 100 yards, and it only took one shot! Here she is:Hunting partnerMy elusive husband!
Beautiful scenery.

Cousins

2009-11-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

RichardTyrone Kyle

Isaiah

Lindsay
Anthony

Skylar

Visitors

2009-11-02T16:35:00.003-07:00

Some pics of visitors since we brought Everett home.

Great-grandpa Don and great-grandma RitaGreat Aunt Jean Aunt MariahUncle PatrickAnne and (a very curious) Gwen

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T20:34:00.003-06:00

Ribbit! BOO!

Hunting Story

2009-10-31T19:40:00.002-06:00

While Everett and I were hanging out at home Friday, John and his dad were out elk hunting. Early in the morning we received the call that John had shot a "big bull." Soon he called to inform it was an 8 point, and let me tell you, he sounded happy! Evidently, if you want more detail, you will have to talk to him personally!

2009-10-30T19:02:00.001-06:00

Pictures of Everett

2009-10-24T13:04:00.003-06:00

Bath time! Starving boy.

Cousin Lindsay and Everett

Happy Baby!

Everett Goes to Book Club

2009-10-24T12:28:00.003-06:00

The Grands

2009-10-09T16:31:00.002-06:00

Grandpa DuaneGrandma June Grandpa Dick

Grandma Arlene

Everett Clyde O'Connor

2009-09-30T09:57:00.003-06:00

On Saturday morning about 1am, I started having regular, strong contractions, so we loaded up the pickup and headed into Miles City. We checked into the hospital and began the journey toward childbirth... I had terrible back labor and opted for the epidural late in the morning, around 10:30 or 11, then they broke my water. Hours passed, 15 or so in total, and Everett was born at 5:28p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds 12 ounces, 21 3/4 inches long. We were released from the hospital about 11:30 Tuesday morning, and after running some errands, arrived home about 2:30. Last night was a little hairy, as the young man decided he was starving every hour and a half, but we grabbed a few hours sleep in hour intervals, and I went back to sleep at 4:30 and caught a few more. Of course, I wish I could sleep now, but just can't seem to, so hopefully I'll catch a nap or two later today. Here are some pictures!

Pregnancy Memories

2009-09-25T18:52:00.005-06:00

So I was thinking back through the last nine months (I'll save you from the first month), and thought I would share some highlights, or did you knows, things I've heard, and maybe some trials.

First of all, I am so blessed to be pregnant, and we are really looking forward to holding this little one in our arms.

Did you know I woke up somewhere around 4am and took a pregnancy test, and went back to bed without looking at it? John was the first to see the results.

We kept the pregnancy a secret, to the extent that I even fooled those who got me wine for my birthday! "What a perfect gift!" (never mind that I won't be able to enjoy it for a year) "Thank you so much, I love this wine!" I stink at keeping secrets, usually, but was pretty good that time.

John wanted to learn the gender of the baby, but when it came to the ultrasound, we told the tech we didn't want to know. That didn't keep him from watching very closely, though! I was thoroughly mesmerized by the detail of the ultrasound, watching the little heart beat so regularly and gazing at that tiny little face, hands, feet, everything! Not learning the gender has driven many others crazy, and sometimes I think I would like to know, but I will know just as soon as this little monster decides to join the outside world. Then, all those who are dying to buy little pink frillies or adorable blue outfits can do so.

It was a pleasantly cool summer, so I was pretty lucky there, with a few exceptions, like this fall the away football games got a little toasty. The Lewistown Fair was one of those warmer days too, but one of my favorite stories happened there. A woman with Down's Syndrome came up to me in the restroom, put her hands on my belly, and breathlessly said, "is there a baby in there?" "Yes, there is!" came my reply. "Are you the mommy?" Yes, yes I am!

A wonderful shower was put on for this baby, with lots of friends helping and a lot of local women in attendance, and we have been blessed with so many baby gifts it's overwhelming! We really appreciate everything everyone has given us; gifts, handed down baby gear, support, advice, and prayer.

And now, in the last week, I get about half a dozen calls a day, checking to make sure we're doing okay, making sure we haven't hurried off to Miles in labor. As I wish this baby would make it's grand entrance, I see how many others are waiting with bated breath and feel so loved. So thank you all, again.

And, my favorite piece of advice from a friend who delivered alongside the road a month ago: "wear pants when you go into labor, not a dress"

If this baby is still tucked cozily inside on Tuesday, we will head in for another doctor's appointment and consider induction at that time.

Baby's Room

2009-09-20T10:07:00.005-06:00

So, over a month ago, Heather, Faith, and Laney came over and helped me paint in the baby's room. It's about time I post those pics, and some (mostly) finished pics of the room. Here you go:

Faith, delicately cleaning up the edges of a circle she painted.

Laney, drying a circle so it's ready for a second coat. She's a pro with a blowdryer, and so excited to be able to help!

And let me tell you, I was so excited to get help! Here's the room now:

The cradle my dad built; my picture is crooked, not the cradle!

The crib in place, although it's used to store blankets for now. The colorful mobile goes so well in this room!

The changing table my dad built; I need to paint the drawer pulls. I'm thinking the green color of the walls.

Thank you for all the help getting this room ready, I really appreciated it! Now all this colorful room needs is a baby! Stay tuned!

Here it is

2009-09-14T21:22:00.002-06:00

So, I've been meaning to blog about the painting/decorating of the nursery, and a blog to thank those that helped with my baby shower and a few pics, but I've been running ragged lately, it is now 9:23, school is crazy, and I frequently have 20 unread messages in my email inbox, so another quick update is what I will post, and if I don't blog about the nursery or baby shower before the baby comes, maybe those of you who actually read this will forgive me once I post pics of the new baby?

So, here it is, 38 1/2 week appt:

my b/p: 124/78
baby's heart rate: 133
1 cm dilated
70% effaced
baby still hasn't dropped, even though I've had a lot of pressure and naively thought it had
According to the doctor, "the baby could come tonight, or it could come in 2 weeks."
Narrows it right down, now, doesn't it?
Good night.

36 Week Appt.

2009-08-27T19:19:00.002-06:00

Today we had our 36 week appointment. So, short blog as Anne cooks supper for us! Thanks Eric and Anne!
BP 118/74
Baby's heart rate 144
Maybe 1cm dilated, starting to thin, and -2 station
When I say "maybe 1cm dilated, I mean at most.
So everything looks fine, another appointment in a week, next Friday.

34 Week Appt.

2009-08-16T09:21:00.003-06:00

Last night I visited with Anne, and she wanted stats from our appointment up, which of course I intended to do the other day, but somehow forgot. So, finally, here it is.

3:45 appointment: doctor 1 hour late
Heart rate: 138
My blood pressure: 122/72, I think (slightly higher than normal for me, but for cryingoutloud, we had to wait a full hour to get in!)
Our next appointment is in two weeks, on the 27th, and after that we go every week.
6 more weeks until our due date of September 24th!

Thanks for kicking me in the butt, Anne!

Life is like a Bowl of Cherries

2009-07-29T12:23:00.002-06:00

Flathead cherries, to be specific.

Okay, I was going to get all philosophical about how cherries are like life, but why don't you tell me how you think cherries are like life, and I'll tell you how these ended up on my kitchen counter.

As you may have noticed in an earlier post, we went to Polson for several days on vacation and visited my great-aunt Jean. Jean is the ultimate hostess; she planned meals, bought food, took us out in the boat, had accomodations for several nights, several people, and made sure we were never bored, and when we asked to just relax and do nothing, she obliged, once she was certain that was what we REALLY wanted to do. It is one of the most relaxing and beautiful places I've ever been, and Aunt (ant) Jean makes it soooo comfortable. As we left, thanking her for all her hospitality, she profusely thanked us for staying with her, for helping out with meals, and for fixing a few things around the house.

So yesterday I had a phone message from Aunt Jean saying that there were cherries coming in the mail for us, and to be sure to pick them up so they didn't go bad in the post office! Along with around 10 pounds of cherries that she sent was a thank-you note for coming to visit her, and for helping around the house and with meals. Can you believe it? I love that woman. Plain and simple. How can you not, unless you really don't know her, that is. I aspire to be like her when I grow up, and need to start practicing now, I'm sure it will take a lot of practice.

Photos from Polson

2009-07-23T10:46:00.006-06:00

Dad, John, me, Aunt Jean, Mom and Mariah

The yellow shirts say event staff, Aunt Jean's says Event sponsor!

Cousin Tracy and Uncle Scott

Aunt Konny
(great) Grandpa Don and Braylon
Little Braylon

Aunt Jean, (great) Grandma Rita, and Braylon

Come on in, the water is great!

Grandpa and Aunt Jean, putting the boat in.

Uncle Scott and dad on Scott's harley

Uncle Scott and Tracy

John's leisure time

Aunt Jean has fun toys!

Polson Vacation

2009-07-23T09:53:00.004-06:00

Early last Saturday, we took off on a trip to my Aunt Jean's in Polson. We stopped in Lewistown for breakfast, and found one garage sale to wander through. My mom was excited that we found a pack and play for her house! We stopped in Great Falls for a little shopping and lunch, then continued on our way. We arrived in Polson around 6:30, ate supper and played bocce ball, then made smores over the fire pit.

Sunday morning we went to church, wandered the street for Cherry Festival, played in the water, visited, and RELAXED! Uncle Scott and Aunt Konny, and cousins Tracy and Eric with their 5 month old Braylon arrived that afternoon. We barbecued steaks for supper, and some of the crew went water skiing while others visited.

On Monday, we did some shopping, playing, and repairs around Aunt Jean's house. Uncle Scott climbed the light pole and replaced her light bulb, John fixed a sprinkler head, and Dad and Scott did some rewiring for an outlet. Mom, Dad, and Mariah left Monday afternoon, and after supper cousins Tracy and Eric and John and I went bowling. I must say, it was interesting trying to bowl while pregnant; there is this little thing called balance that is tricky with a bowling ball in your hand and what seems like one in your belly!

Tuesday was a pretty lazy day. Grandma and Grandpa left early. That morning, Tracy and I fell asleep on the couch and John finished the book he had bought in Great Falls. I couldn't really tell you what everyone else did, since my eyes were closed! We went to the chinese restaurant for lunch, wandered around downtown a bit, and Scott and Konny, Eric and Tracy packed up to leave. John, Jean and I relaxed around the house that evening, watching the news on t.v., reading, and enjoying the view. John had contracted swimmer's itch from the lake, and he informed us that he has learned his lesson about precautions to take!

We left Wednesday morning and arrived home around 6:00. We were very sad to leave. Polson is one of my favorite places to visit, and Aunt Jean is the best hostess, ever.

Today is being spent catching up on laundry and the yard so we can leave tomorrow for the Lewistown fair!

30 Week Appointment

2009-07-17T13:14:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I ended up seeing a different doctor for my 30 week appointment. When we arrived at the clinic, they said, "oh, we tried to call you!" All I could think after having several appointments rescheduled was, "you have got to be kidding me." No, they weren't; my usual doctor was at the hospital delivering babies. Now mind you, I can understand, and if I was in the hospital scheduled for a c-section, I would not want the doctor to leave for a 15 minute appointment at the clinic! That being said, I have been rescheduled many times without any real explanation, and it's getting frustrating! Well, they squeezed me in with a temporary OB, and the short appointment was fine. My blood pressure was good, and the baby's heart rate was 152. Only 10 more weeks to go!

Rock Flower Bed

2009-07-11T09:38:00.003-06:00

I actually weeded this flower bed this morning, mostly, and figured I better snap a few pictures. This one didn't turn out as well as I would like, but you get the general idea, right?

I can only imagine that when Mary gave me Salvia, she said "give it plenty of space, it will get big!" Well, that was several years ago, and I have been very gung-ho about filling in the gaps in this bed, so now poor heliopsis is getting squished. And, about half this bed is starting to fill in, while the other half looks fairly bare. AND, I'm afraid some of my heights are off, as you have to walk around the daisies to see the flax. Hmmm, live and learn, I guess!Does anyone know what this plant is? I hope it's a flower. 2 people have said so, and so it lives on in my garden. Again, this baby should have gone to the back if it's not a weed that should have been pulled! Have you ever seen a hen and chicks bloom? I sure haven't! It's beauty astounds me; I've always loved these, but love them even more dearly now.

Aaah, the Austree...planted the night before our wedding as a gift from John's cousin and his wife, this tree hardly grew for 2 years! Mary kept saying, "just wait, the 3rd year it will shoot up!" John kept saying, "I'd like to think it's putting down strong roots." And now, I say, "it's growing, it's growing!"

Vegetable Garden

2009-07-11T09:23:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pics from our veggie garden!

One of my beloved tomato plants I grew from seed...

One of John's melon plants (honeydew of muskmelon)Doesn't our corn look tall?

Camping trip

2009-07-06T15:09:00.004-06:00

Okay, okay, yes, it's another fishing post! What do you want from me? Friday morning we finished packing up the camper, and headed for the lake to spend a couple days. Now, I'm not the most enthusiastic camper, as some of you know, but was willing to try this adventure anew. Of course having a camper to use was a benefit. Our "usual" fishing hole was already occupied, so we made a few calls on where we could be found Saturday, and headed into another hole to set up camp. While John set up camp, I wasted no time getting poles in the water so we could start catching fish. We had camp well settled in no time, and proceeded to enjoy the water, fishing, and time together. There was enough fish caught for supper, so I headed into the camper to prepare it...

Storm clouds built up and moved around us, leaving the lake even more scenic than usual...

The following day, we ate breakfast outside and awaited the arrival of the Miller family. Of course, more fishing and swimming and visiting took place, despite the lack of catching in the fishing department.

What did you do for the 4th?

Another Day at the Lake

2009-06-29T13:37:00.007-06:00

Sunday morning, we were on the road to the lake at a quarter after 5! Yes, we are that crazy. I wasn't real sure how getting up that early would pan out, but mostly, it was a great time. I generally wake up at 4:30 these days anyway, so I just had to stay awake rather than go back to bed. Getting up so early provided us with some great views of nature in the morning, so that was a definite benefit. We saw quite a few deer, included an awesome buck in velvet, which of course the picture was too far away, and this giant antelope that nearly took my breath away.

We arrived at the lake and put our poles in, and were soon joined by the Miller family. The day was spent fishing, visiting, and swimming.

Sometimes fishing and swimming at the same time!

Even Anne got in the water for a swim! She REALLY likes cinnamon bears!
We arrived home hot and tired, so we put away the necessary things, showered, and crashed in the living room! As a result, today I am straightening the house, doing laundry, and tending to my sunburn, and preparing for our trip to the lake next weekend!

As you can see, this month we spent our spare time relaxing at the lake fishing. Maybe something else will be posted about next month. I will try to include garden happenings and our trip to Polson and Lewistown toward the end of the month, but don't be surprised if there are more pictures of us at the lake!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T09:54:00.004-06:00

Happy Father's Day! Here's a picture of my dad, fishing in the Dry Arm area of the lake, yesterday. Fishing is one of his favorite activities, so when he asked John to participate in the Wade Sukut Memorial "tourney," John secured his parents' boat, and we agreed. This "tournament," as it is called, is no stiff competition. It's a memorial gathering set up by the Sukut family and friends, mostly about spending time and enjoying a weekend at Rock Creek. We arrived Friday evening ahead of my parents and brother, Patrick and his fiance Jayme, and when they arrived we set up the campers and visited before settling in for the night. At 5:30 Saturday morning, we rose and ate breakfast, and put the boat in at 7:00. I thought we would be spending some time registering for the event, but were told to "go ahead and go fishing." We were one of the first boats out, but this did us little good in the long run. We had a hard time finding any fish, but dad caught one keeper, and John, Patrick and Jayme each caught a small walleye. The competition ended at 2, at which time fish were weighed and cleaned, and the small crowd visited, and continued to grow. More people showed up later for the evening fish fry. It was an enjoyable day, spent fishing and visiting!

Fencing

2009-06-12T17:01:00.003-06:00

No, not the Olympic sport, the process of creating an enclosure, most likely for livestock in these parts! Yesterday I joined John for a day of fencing, and I learned many things about this process, which are most likely only a drop in the bucket. It would take me years and years to learn even some of what the man in this family knows about the subject, and even longer to emulate his skill, but he did teach me a few things, and I think I may remember some of them, for a little while. We created an entirely new stretch of barb-wire fence, connecting 2 existing fences, replacing another. This involved putting in corner braces, bracings for a gate, and another bracing where an existing fence was joined. I was given jobs like wrapping chain around old posts so they could be removed, and even ran the bobcat for a short time. I also ran the level to make sure posts were level and helped to spool out the wire, and run errands. Besides putting in the bracings, we stretched the bottom wire, laid wire for upper strings, and pounded metal posts. Of course when I say we, I mean John with some assistance from me; I did no stretching or pounding! It was a day of learning, sharing, bonding, and pondering, and although I came away exhausted from a day in the sun, I'm glad Igot the opportunity! Here are a few pics!

Gone Fishing

2009-05-30T15:30:00.002-06:00

Bring on Summer Vacation!

2009-05-18T08:30:00.005-06:00

The last day of school was Thursday, Friday was spent at hair and doctor's appointments, so yardwork Saturday morning and the evening Fiesta (as mentioned in Cohagen Chronicles) started off the summer for me.

And, Sunday morning we took off for the lake for a day of fishing! It was a relaxing day, and several fish were caught in 15 minute bursts between what seemed like hours of quiet. Overall, it was a good day, full of relaxation and lots of fish! I am really looking forward to lots of fishing days this summer!

Introducing...

2009-05-15T20:26:00.002-06:00

Baby O'Connor!

May Showers

2009-05-04T08:50:00.000-06:00

If April Showers bring May flowers, what do May Showers bring?

Lefse!

2009-04-23T17:00:00.003-06:00

Last Friday evening I made lefse. If you have ever made lefse, you know it is a painstaking process, but with delicious results. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process, let me fill you in. Lefse is a Norwegian treat made from mashed or riced potatoes. When I have an excess of leftover mashed potatoes, I try to make lefse; keep in mind there must be a lot of leftover mashed potatoes, or it's hardly worth it. There are times I've watched them come off my grandma's lefse griddle and almost instantly into someone's mouth. As wedding gifts, I received the lefse griddle, lefse rolling pin and cover, ricer, lefse turner, and rolling platform. (Not sure of the actual name of the platform, but it has a cloth cover for rolling out pastries) So, I set about my annual lefse making last Friday... after creating the dough, you roll small amounts out thin and transfom them from the platform to the hot griddle. Cook until brown splotches appear, turn and do the same on the other side. Apply butter and sugar, and enjoy!

This has long been a favorite in my family, and John loves it too. I was going to post this sooner, but since I just ate the last piece after school, I figured it was safer now!

16 Week Appointment

2009-04-15T18:53:00.002-06:00

Today we had our 16 (almost 17) week OB appointment. Everything is looking good. It is so encouraging to hear that little heartbeat! As we were listening, today, there was static on the monitor. I looked at the doctor, and she said we have a very active little baby in there! The heartbeat ranged from the mid 140's to 160 when the baby was moving. All very good signs! At my next appointment, we have a scheduled ultrasound. There is currently a debate in our household about whether to find out the sex of our little one, so we'll see how it turns out!

March goes out like a lion

2009-03-30T21:20:00.002-06:00

Or with a lion! First of all, a disclaimer, there will be pictures of a dead animal, and blood. Continue at your own discretion.

That aside, school was cancelled today, and what a day for it! This afternoon, we got a call to go on a mountain lion hunt. Of course, we threw on an extra layer, and took off. Lion tracks had been spotted by a local rancher, who made a few calls, and we were off. It had travelled several miles, but the trail was followed into some timber where the hounds released. We were able to drive right to where the lion was treed, and take some pictures. It was an exciting day!

Signs of Spring

2009-03-19T19:26:00.003-06:00

So, I've been noticing signs of spring lately. Mud, geese, kids going crazy, wind...oh no, wind is always here!

But, here is a big sign of spring: John shaving his head.

John with his monk hairdo!

Hope Springs Eternal

2009-03-16T11:54:00.003-06:00

After months of hoping and praying (by quite a few), we are expecting. I am 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant, and due on September 24th. We had an ultrasound on Friday, and everything looks good. The baby was "climbing the walls" as the ultrasound tech said. Boy oh boy are we in for some fun! Thank you all for your prayers for us, and please keep sending them up. Hope Springs Eternal! God had a plan for us, we just had to be patient.

Seed swap

2009-03-15T09:44:00.003-06:00

So, I know Mary talked about doing a seed swap in April, but I just can't wait. My thermometer reads 51 degrees, and I'm itching to be gardening! Is anyone interested in swapping seeds, still?
Here is my (small) list of flower seeds I can do some trading with:
* Mexican Hat
* Cosmos Bright Lights
* Hollyhocks
* Cactus-Why? Don't ask, but they are from 2004, and if you want such a thing, you take your own chances!

That's what I've got for flowers, and I might have some pumpkin seeds, if anyone is interested. If you want to participate, just leave a comment on your status, and we'll deal from there!
By the way, I did purchase a few seed packets in Miles the other day, for those of you worried that I was going to ignore the flowers this year! I found some on sale, and couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Hope Springs Eternal

2009-03-03T17:14:00.003-07:00

Hope Springs Eternal...isn't that the truth? There is hope; hope that spring may be on its way, hope that I will be able to change my background, hope that a new day is around the corner. Where would we be without hope?

Background

2009-03-02T18:26:00.002-07:00

I want to change my background, I really do. The problem is, the right-click on my mouse is broken! To make matters worse, I know I HAD a spare mouse lying around here, but I don't think I've seen it since the library makeover. Believe me, I looked. and looked. And yes, I even looked there. After I make it to civilization and purchase a new mouse, I will find the other in some completely obscure place.
So, for the time being, please picture a beautiful spring scene, with running water and majestic mountains. I was going for something more fun and jazzy, but I want rid of the snowmen, and long for spring, so bear with me, okay?

Foggy morning

2009-02-18T07:46:00.003-07:00

The frost is thick on the fenceposts

and clings to the barbwire

It coats the grass

and embraces the flagpole

(waiting for little fingers to sting)

The sun shines through the fog

making the morning sparkle.

Trapping

2009-02-15T07:19:00.003-07:00

John and I went trapping yesterday. We checked some traps, pulled some traps, drove a little ways, checked another trap, drove a little ways, got stuck.
John dug us out, tried to get unstuck, dug out some more, put on tire chains, tried to drive out, replaced tire chains while I did some shoveling, we dried to drive out. You see a pattern? We eventually got out, after much shoveling and fighting with tire chains. John figures we were high-centered on a log, or something. So, we knew driving to the other traps in the pickup was not going to work, and unloaded the 4-wheeler. Of course, 2 tires were flat, but John aired them up, and we were off. We checked the rest of the traps, and drove back to the pickup and home.
Although it was frustrating and cold, we were together on Valentine's Day! When we got home, we ate lunch and took a nap.

Ski trip

2009-02-07T12:00:00.004-07:00

This last week, our school went to Showdown for a ski trip. 4 of the 5 students from our school were able to attend, along with one parent from each family. Also, 2 other rural schools in the area joined us. And, my husband.John was a bit apprehensive, as he has never been skiing before. As some of you know (more than I thought...word travels fast) he thought maybe if he was going to do this thing, he was going to snowboard. However, on the way up the mountain he decided skiing might be a better option.

The man was stuck in lessons with the kids, and picked up a few things. Unfortunately, he was having a few difficulties and getting frustrated at lunch time. So, he and I spent a little time on the bunny slope, and it was realized he should just go up the lift and try the mountain. The solution was tackling the mountain! The bunny slope didn't provide enough momentum, and after a couple runs down the mountain, he was a skiier.

My day, you ask? Well, I got all the kids through rental and onto the bunny slope, got myself through rental and spent some time capturing pics of lessons, then took a couple runs with one of the parents. I tell you, it has been years since I skiied, and it took a couple runs before I was floating down the hill! I am still a cautious skiier, though. We ate lunch, and as I said, spent some time with John. Then, I went up the lift and down the hill with one of my students a couple times, and that little guy was fast! No fear! He beat me down, every time. I took a break, then went down the slope one more time with John. My legs didn't want to work after that, so I was done. My knees hurt, as well as my calves, so I guess I know what I need to work on for exercise!

Most excitingly, John wants to go back. I was afraid this may be a one-time thing, but he enjoyed himself once he got the knack, and wants to go again! Mission accomplished!!!

Riddle

2009-01-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

What can go up a chimney down, but not down a chimney up?

Technology!

2009-01-25T15:56:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, I upgraded my phone. This morning, I was cussing technology. Now, I'm feeling better.
You see, my new phone has an MP3 player. And, even though I didn't really think it was necessary, few phones come without them or internet anymore, and this one had other things I liked, so I went with it. Well, I have now spent a large part of this day trying to get music downloaded to my phone. Finally, it sings! I wonder if I can figure out how to make one of those songs my ringtone. Well, back to the drawing board.

Ice fishing again

2009-01-18T07:38:00.005-07:00

We went ice fishing again, yesterday! The weather was perfect! It was a warm, calm day. The fish started biting before we even finished drilling holes, and mostly quit biting around 2:00 in the afternoon. And, I caught the biggest fish!! We caught quite a few fish, which made for a decent supper for us last night, and another meal later.

Friendly Flowers

2009-01-15T17:07:00.003-07:00

Aren't these pretty? A student showed up with them on Wednesday. They're such a vibrant addition to my classroom. Since I've had gardening on the mind, these fit right in. Daisies are one of my favorite flowers, and these are so fun. I hope they brightened your day half as much as they did mine.

Snowmen

2009-01-08T15:31:00.003-07:00

Temps reached at least 42 degrees here, today! It's a regular heat wave! With all the snow that we have, I decided it was wonderful weather for making a snowman. Of course, now that I'm a teacher, I can coerce students into building snowmen, so I don't get wet and cold! Today, I offered up a challenge. Whoever built the best snowman would receive a prize. If anybody went together, they shared the prize. Out of 5 students, we ended up with 3 snowmen. One young man was happy he worked alone, as he didn't have to share his candy cane! As it turned out, we had the cutest snowman, the most industrious snowman, and the snowman who knew how to have the most fun! Can you guess which snowman was made by each group? 2 kindergarteners collaborated, one second grader, and a fifth and sixth grader worked together. Evidently the short one turned his head as I took the picture. Just couldn't keep his attention!

Leftover Taco Soup

2009-01-07T20:20:00.002-07:00

Recently, a friend of mine put forth a challenge. She suggested we see if we could spend only $100 in groceries in a month. What was in the pantry/freezer already was fair game, but anything beyond that counted monetarily. Well, I don't know if we've started yet...I spent $103 last Saturday. Anyway, her challenge has pushed me to strive for greater things. I've created a menu for the month (some days are still blank), and have been more conscious of leftovers. Really, we're pretty good about eating leftovers, but there is still waste happening in my refrigerator. On Monday we had tacos, so tonight I made Taco Soup. This is one of my favorites, but I got creative tonight, and John not only thanked me for cooking, he said it was pretty good! So, to make a long story short, here's what I did:
I sauteed onions, added dried cayenne peppers (they were abundant in the garden last year), and threw in the leftover taco meat. To that I added a can of tomatoes, a can of corn, and part of a can of pinto beans. The pinto beans have been in the cupboard for awhile, and I finally found a logical use; we're not regular bean eaters. I also added a can of diced chiles, and a dash of tabasco. I was really looking for the spicy factor! One can of tomato sauce, and a little water, since it seemed more like a casserole than soup, and finally, velveeta. So what's so unusual, you ask? Well, I don't usually go so spicy for one, and that's what John really liked about it, and I've never added velveeta. Actually, I never even buy velveeta, but was really wanting my mom's homemade mac and cheese a week or two ago. So, all in all, I used leftover taco meat, and the last bit of velveeta that probably would have shriveled up, and depleted 4 more cayenne peppers. Try it if you'd like, we enjoyed it!

Okay, okay

2009-01-07T20:05:00.002-07:00

Okay, okay, I'll blog already. School is back in full swing and already it's been one of those weeks. Like my friend Mary, I've been thinking gardening already. The more snow that falls, the more I long for blooming flowers. I love winter, and I must say we're getting quite a dose this year, but sometimes it's good to have something to look forward to. And boy, do I need something to look forward to. Perhaps that explains my recent choices of books. I received 2 gift certificates to my favorite book store for Christmas, and ordered a new Bible, "The Power of a Praying Wife," and "Month by Month Gardening in Montana." Just received the latter today, and am posting first, then will read. Can you believe my willpower?
As for the New Year, resolutions have been stated, and I'm jumping in with both feet. These include such things as exercising, watching what I eat, reading the Bible, saving money, making a bigger effort to keep the house clean. So far, I'm off to a good start, but aren't we all in January? It's about April or May when the shine wears off the new year, the dust bunnies attack, and you think "I'll do it tomorrow." I say April or May optimistically!
Okay, so now you're caught up, knowing I didn't fall off the face of the earth, or even the slippery highway! Hope everyone's 2009 is going well. I'm hopeful it will be better than 2008!

Ice Fishing

2008-12-29T20:02:00.003-07:00

Today we went ice fishing. Really, it was a nice day. I personally was cold, although others told me it was warm. I am just a woosie. It snowed, it stopped. It snowed, the fish bit, it stopped, so did they. We caught a few fish, and when the fish were biting, it didn't seem so cold. I also faced another situation that nobody else seemed too concerned about, themselves. You see, I was the only female with 7 men and boys. Need I say any more? Needless to say, I drank minimal amounts of hot chocolate, and went on a short 4-wheeler adventure alone. The sunset was beautiful, and after an adventurous ride out (yikes), we are warm and cozy at home. Enjoy the pictures!

Drip, drip, drip...

2008-12-28T10:57:00.003-07:00

Drip, drip, drip.... Guess what? It's 38 degrees outside. Guess what? My house is leaking. Drip, drip, drip... Luckily, the leak in the kitchen is above the sink. Ting, Ting, Ting... Most of the leak in the bathroom is above the toilet. Splosh, splosh, splosh... The rest in the bathroom is covered with a bucket and a garbage can. Drip, drip, drip... It's leaking in the laundry room, and around the stovepipe. szzz, szzz, szzz... and into a bucket by the sliding glass door. Drip, drip, drip... Coincidentally, I've got a cold, so my nose is dripping also! Nothing like a nice quiet day at home!

A Christmas Confession

2008-12-27T08:46:00.002-07:00

This was read at our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, and I just wanted to share it:
I believe in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the gospel in Bethlehem.
I believe in the One whos spirit glorified a little town.
I believe in the One for whom the crowded inn could find no room
I believe in the One whose life was among the common people and
Whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.
I believe in the One who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible.
I believe in the One whose cradle was a mother's arms,
Who looked at people and made them see what God's love saw in them.
Who by love, brought sinners back to purity,
And lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God.
I confess the many things that stand in the way of the true celebration
Of Christmas and of God's love.
I confess my ever-lasting need of God:
The need of forgiveness for selfishness and greed,
The need of new life for empty souls,
The need of love for hearts grown cold.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the son of the living God,
Born in Bethlehem this night, for me and for the world.
I believe that in and through Him comes God's gift of forgiveness and
New life, both here and in the world to come.
I believe in the One who was born this night that taught us to pray...

It continued with the Lord's Prayer. The Christmas Eve service was wonderful, with more than 70 people in attendance! For our little church, this was 6-7 times more than an average Sunday. What an uplifting experience. Merry Christmas, everyone.

We're readers

2008-12-17T20:06:00.004-07:00

We're readers. Love books. Enjoy curling up and devouring a story. We derive great joy from perusing Barnes and Noble. We walk in the door, say "see ya later," and pass each other from time to time, often with a pile of literary works in our arms. I've been collecting books for years. How-to books, works of fiction, childrens books, among others. Evidently, so has my husband; westerns, science fiction, mysteries.

So, if you are a reader yourself, you can imagine the joy our latest home improvement project brought us. We finished built-in bookshelves, transforming our office into a library!!! We could hardly contain our excitement, and proceeded to put many of our books in place.

The history you must know is that the shelves are modeled after the desk my dad built us as a wedding gift. He gave us what was left of the stain, and that is what was used on the shelves. John created the design for the shelves, we cut them, I sanded and stained them, and we assembled them together. So, without further ado:

And now, we need more books! Mind you, not all of our books are on these shelves, but most are. Barnes and Noble, here we come!

Shoveling, continued...

2008-12-13T16:22:00.003-07:00

So, a few minutes ago, my loving husband appeared from downstairs, dressed in his winter clothing. "What are you doing?" I asked innocently. "This was your plan all along, wasn't it? he replied. I truly didn't expect him to go out and shovel, but I must admit, it worked out quite nicely. And, evidently, he believed me when I said I couldn't figure the best way to shovel that much snow. Or, he felt the need to put a dent in the drift before it got any bigger. Or, he wanted to get out of the house? Whatever the reason, I'll be thankful, for now.

-30F

2008-12-13T15:46:00.003-07:00

What does 30 degrees below Fahrenheit, windchill, feel like you wonder? I'm guessing if you've felt it, it's not something you wish to dwell on, or repeat, if you can help it. If you haven't felt it, let me be the first to tell you, it's cold. After too long, I am certain, it hurts. Why, why, why, you ask yourselves? Well, there is a drift in our driveway, and it is my "turn" to shovel it. My loving husband told me it needed to be done in order for my car to leave the drive. Logic, albeit misplaced, told me the sooner I got the problem under control, the easier it would be to keep it under control. Also, the forecast told me it will be colder tomorrow than today. So, I dressed up in SEVERAL layers, shovel in hand, and attempted to shovel the driveway. I say attempted because, as my friend Celestia says, "it was like nailing jell-o to a tree." It's still snowing. It's still blowing. And, it is cold. Cold, I tell you. Needless to say, I wasn't out there even five minutes. There is a silly looking strip of shoveled snow down the driveway. Actually, there WAS a silly looking strip of shoveled snow down the driveway. I am quite certain it has blown in by now. I'm kind of wishing I had backed my vehicle into the garage last night (smart plan Eric and Anne). Please don't be frightened, and please remember I had several layers on (and the camera adds ten pounds). Here's a pic of me attempting to nail jell-o, I mean shovel the driveway.

Let me tell you, the house feels a lot warmer, now!

2008-12-11T09:13:00.003-07:00

"I feel like a blueberry." said by a 5 year old. What does a blueberry feel like I wonder? Juicy? plump? blue? sugar covered? When asked, he says it feels like he's going to eat himself. I'm concerned. Not so much that he'll try to eat himself, but what our school day has in store...
If you have a minute, you might pray for my patience today. This week has been a test so far, and things can only get more exciting as we get closer and closer to our Christmas program. December 22nd, if you're wondering. 6pm potluck.

If You're Not from the Prairie...

2008-11-29T07:10:00.004-07:00

Things that went through my mind yesterday, on the prairie, mostly, and mostly on a 4-wheeler:
*Do I have everything I need?
*How do you drink coffee and drive a 4-wheeler?
*Shift!
*How should I chronicle this on my blog?
*Lines from the book, "If You're Not from the Prairie," by Bouchard
*How many people would be familiar with that children's book?
*What IS he doing?
*Daydreaming while driving a 4-wheeler next to a fence is probably a bad idea
*"Always an adventure!"
*"If you're not from the prairie, you don't know the wind."
*Bump!
*Find a stick, find a stick, why didn't I pick up that stick 1/2 mile back?
*You want me to do what?
* Did he forget "my" 4-wheeler isn't an automatic like his?
*How do you put this thing in reverse?
*How Do You Get this thing OUT of Reverse!!
*Don't go there, you can't reverse!
*How many miles are we going to cover? (37, as it turned out!)
*Um, going up that incline at that angle was not the best choice.
*I'm glad the 4-wheeler didn't tip over on me!
*Does he really think I'm going to follow him up that hill?
*Do I really have to drive back down this hill?
*Dear God, please keep us safe, guide my hands and my mind.
*How does a coyote get mange?
*Oh great, I'm stuck!
*What does the SAHM life mean?
*Does Mary know?
* Could it be Super Aunt, Human Missile?
*Bump!
*Or maybe Super Android Humanistic Mom?
*Maybe it's backwards for Mothers Having a Syndrome.
*It's getting dark!
*Seriously, that 4-wheeler is out of gas?
*This isn't as bad as I anticipated, being pulled on a 4-wheeler by a 4-wheeler.
*What a beautiful sunset!
*It's getting dark, and cold.
*Where is the pickup?
*Brrr Bump!
*Could it be Senile And Happy Memories?
*Thank God, there's the pickup.
*What an enjoyable day.
*Except the wind.

2008-11-24T06:52:00.003-07:00

What a great weekend! There was a lot accomplished (not the curtains), including laying around watching t.v. I'm all rejuvenated and ready for another week. Okay, so it's a short week, but jam-packed with activity at school. Since we missed school Friday, I will be rearranging lesson plans, although they should fit nicely into today! Anyway, how will you be spending Turkey Day? I've got a fairly decent recipe for leftover turkey if anyone wants it! Maybe I'll post it later this week.
Happy Monday, Happy Week, Happy Thanksgiving!
Tip of the week: Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup!

Staining shelves

2008-11-21T14:37:00.004-07:00

Well, I went straight to work here at home. I stained one side of the shelves for our library, ate lunch while eating television, and stained the second side of the shelves. I've almost finished the laundry, and when Anne and I get finished visiting, "Hi, Anne!" will go clean the church and drop off dry cleaning. Here's part of my accomplishments:

Snow Day!

2008-11-21T10:01:00.004-07:00

So, this morning, I took off from my driveway, down the street, and thought to myself, "Self, wouldn't it be nice to have a pickup for days like today?"

"Yes, it would." I answered myself.

And, indeed, it would. I made it over the hill out of town, pushing snow as I went, when I decided maybe I needed a plan B. So I called our school chairperson. We decided that we would wait about an hour, then I, the guinea pig, would try the roads again. So I did. I made it further the second time, but decided driving 25-30 mph was getting me somewhere very slowly, hopefully not the ditch. I pulled over when I decided I had had enough slipping and sliding, and called said board member, and we called it a snow day.

So now, what to do with a day off? Go cross country skiing? No, getting them out of the attic alone could prove as dangerous as driving to school. That will have to wait. Sit around in sweats catching up on NCIS and Jon and Kate plus 8? Good choice. Catch up on projects? I could attempt to sew those curtains, although I am by no means a seamstress, and the shelves need to be sanded and stained. Hmm. Clean house? Yuck, but somebody's got to do it, sometime. Well, time will tell. Not sure I'm ready to settle into a day of vegging in front of the t.v., but cleaning house doesn't sound that great, either. Projects, here I come! And maybe a little laundry.

Pansies and Johnnies

2008-11-16T16:52:00.005-07:00

Can you believe it's the middle of November? Today, as I write this, we have had flurries off and on, and winter seems to be setting in (again). Will it last this time? Time will tell, I guess. On Friday, before book club, I ran out to my flower bed, and took a few snapshots of my still beautiful flowers. It's a bit shocking to me that in November, I still have actual blooms in my garden. Is it the weather, or have I truly created my own microclimate in the rock-encircled corner? Maybe a combination of both, but I'm so proud of these little faces, that I just had to share!

Threadbare Gypsy Soul

2008-11-11T16:32:00.003-07:00

Well, here's an ode to Pat Green. Follow along if you can!
"Got myself a threadbare gypsy soul, likes to dance and drink and go wherever the wind blows..." You see, I'm itching to get away, and looking forward to a weekend away in December, even though it will involve wading through the Christmas shopping crowds. However, that's about 3 weeks away, and "I ain't goin nowhere, mama." until then. I used to have a rockin horse too, but mine would gallop to Hardee's for lunch, not Galleywinter. "If I am truly crazy, don't you know I like my life that way, if I'm really going crazy, won't you hop on board? I could use some company! Meanwhile, "the grass ain't always greener on the other side...count your blessings come as they may." So, until December, I won't "put the cart before the horse, unless he knows how to push it, of course."
Believe you me, though, I may not be able to jump the gun, but I will "jump in with both feet," come that weekend.
I will count my blessings, come as they may, since everything I said was the gosh-darn truth. "It ain't what you said, just how you said it," and I think I've taken this far enough!

No moments to spare...

2008-11-06T08:18:00.002-07:00

But a quick post, if you stayed tuned! Winter is here. No major snow accumulation here, but it's cold! Like I said, no moments to spare, so this is super-short!

Here comes winter!

2008-11-05T12:24:00.003-07:00

Lewistown residents are claiming they received several inches of snow after an inch of rain. Here, the clouds are settling in and hanging down. The wind has picked up. It's 36 degrees outside. There's an 80% chance of precipitation. The students are getting restless. All signs point to us getting winter weather. Stay tuned...

Turkey Shoot

2008-11-03T20:22:00.003-07:00

On Sunday we went to the local "Turkey shoot." No, you do not shoot at turkeys, you shoot for turkeys! You see, when you win a round of the target shooting, you get a ticket for a turkey. It was a beautiful day; very little wind, no snow or rain or combination of the three, just beautiful. So that leaves some of us saying, "How much turkey, turkey soup, turkey whatever can we eat this winter?" I'm thinking I sent out the book club menu too soon! Don't worry, we'll make sure it doesn't go to waste. I hope to include pictures on the blog, so bare with me!

Just a moment

2008-11-01T14:51:00.002-06:00

Well, our school Halloween party was loads of fun. We got together with 3 other rural schools, and I almost think the kids would be delighted to simply play with the other kids, but we threw in some games. We had an egg and spoon race on scooters, which didn't work out very logistically; I think the teachers should have eaten some sugar before we started. There was a candy corn toss; I personally believe throwing candy corn at a bucket outside is much better than eating it. We had a cake walk, skeleton scramble, and breaking of the pinata. Time went too quickly, and it was time to clean up after the potluck.
I figure we had nearly 50 trick-or-treaters last night. Most of the kids forgot the words! You know, "Trick-or-Treat!" At least they remembered "Thank you." Overall, it was a pleasant day, one of the warmest Halloween's I can remember.

Manic Monday

2008-10-27T15:35:00.002-06:00

Why, why, why, I ask myself; Why don't I pack an extra cup of coffee on Mondays? This was another crazy one, with students talking to me, reading to me, telling me they CAN'T, asking one question after another. Well, this is my job, but some days, I just don't know. One student was absent today, which only left 4, all boys, but with 4 grades, the upcoming "Author's Tea," which, I truly believe is good for the students, the looming presence of Halloween and of course a Halloween party with a pinata only 1/4 of the way done, things got a bit daunting today. Okay, perhaps it would be best not to advertise that I am a teacher, with the recurring run-on sentences I seem to be constructing, but it was a long day. Oh yeah, it is mid-term today, too! Also, Red Ribbon week would have to be this week, too, and I am trying to sum up a short unit on the election! I must remember this day in January, when things are so quiet I cannot stand it. How was your Monday?

Church today

2008-10-26T13:46:00.002-06:00

I find church to be uplifting, a renewing of my soul, and today was no exception. We sang "This Is The Day" to start the service, which is one of my favorites. Our 4th Sunday pastor is energetic and friendly in a sincere way. I really enjoy his sermons. Today, though, I know the message was a good one, about living by the law, the law of the Old Testament, the laws of our nation and of our state. But, did you know there is a law about dancing on the bar? Evidently if you are dancing on the bar of the local tavern, you must be wearing 3 1/2 pounds of clothing. That's what I walked away with, along with that uplifting, renewal, and a few hymns stuck in my head! For future reference, my Ariat Fat Baby boots weigh 2.5 pounds. This is important to remember, I'm sure.