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Showing posts from October, 2009
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Circles, circles everywhere. It's rumored that before Michelangelo was given the job of painting the Sistine Chapel, he was asked to provide proof of his artistic talent, perhaps because he was primarily a sculpture and there may have been some doubt that he was skilled enough with a brush to pull it off. When the envoys came to collect his pieces of formal, finished artwork to take back to the Pope, the artist supposedly dipped his brush into a lump of paint and on the spot, free-handed a perfect circle on blank canvas to make his point. I wonder where that canvas is today. Did some good nun dispose of it while cleaning out a church attic a long time ago, thinking, "It's nothing but a circle..."
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Even you Even you are a copy cat Worse! a liar and a common thief. Because you boast before your art, claim to do something new, stand apart. But Even you are inspired by His brush. Yet still you dare to take His glory as your own when Even you can't compare, don't measure up. By Veronica Boulden This poem was fueled by my previously unproclaimed, yet almost uncontrollable contempt for abstract art. And, it was ignited when Norah picked up this leaf and showed me its glory. I'm sighing deeply now. It feels good to have finally gotten that off my chest. Until I wrote this poem, any time I saw a piece of abstract art, something inside me just wanted to open a gallon of paint and hurl it at a wall.
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Choices Leaves on wet pavement make me wonder. How often does God cover the path we make for ourselves with the one He intended to create something even more glorious? By Veronica Boulden
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This weekend, we were sitting at our kitchen table, having lunch, talking. Dwayne was looking through the front room, out the big window, admiring our tree. "That tree is something else," he said. "Yep," I said while chewing. "Our neighbor's tree?!" Norah asked. She sounded scared. "No. Our tree." Dwayne said. "But, our neighbor's tree is pretty, though... " I said. "It's not a red maple anymore?!" Norah asks with real alarm in her voice. "No, it is." Dwayne answered. "But, you said it's different ." Norah said. "What?" Dwayne asked, really confused now. "You said, 'That tree is something else...'" Norah said, rolling her eyes up and mimicking her dad's rhythm perfectly.
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So. We tried the costume on and it was way too big. Norah looked more like a Monk than a Native American. And she has no love for the Middle Ages, so we have to do some alterations in the next few days. It turns out that this is what happens when you buy a pattern before you measure your kid. Hum!? Who knew?! But! Lesson learned. And like I told Norah, who stood like a statue when I put this over her head and looked back and forth nervously, not sure what to say for the first time in her life for fear of hurting my feelings... when I am done with this potato-sack of a costume, my husband and children will rise up and bless me and call me things like "Costume Whisperer" and "Design Star" because of the amazing thing I will have wrought with the help of my sewing machine. I've got to psych myself up for this, but I vow that by Saturday I will make this costume ROCK ! Raise your arms and say it with me now: Poca- whose your- hontas? Sacaja- what?!!!
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Now. And Then. These pictures show how much Norah and her view finder collection have both grown since she first got the toy. Now and then I like to compare my pictures, to see how quickly my kids have grown. This serves to remind me how quickly time flies, how what seem like insignificant minutes add up to hours, days, years. For what is your life? It is a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14
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I just finished sewing Norah's Halloween costume for this year. She wanted to be an Indian. She has a small obsession that started with her home school studies last year . I did most of the work myself, Dwayne only helping to pin the pattern to the fabric at the very beginning of the process. So, I'm pretty proud, even if the pattern is labeled "Easy 2 Hour." It took me four and I found it hard enough since it was the first garment I've ever attempted with sleeves! Norah's been in bed for a while, so I just followed the pattern because I didn't want to wake her in order to try it on for size. For all I know, she may be swimming in this, so I will probably have to make some alterations after she tries it on in the morning. I know I have to cut the fringe and make the headband and I am thinking about tying on some colorful beads... but I am glad the majority of the labor is done and with a whole week to spare!
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Warning: If you are under eighteen, do not click on the link at the bottom of this post. I will be very angry with you if I find out that you did so against my warning. Not to mention, your parents will be very angry with you for doing so and they may even be mad at me because you clicked on the link and then forbid you to look at my blog in the future without their supervision. And, if I find out that happened, I will be even more angry at you than I was to begin with. If you are over eighteen, you may click on the link at the bottom of this post to see the photo I am about to gripe about, but then again, you may not want to see the photo. Keep in mind: No one is naked in it, but the girls in the photo are all dressed very immodestly. That said, click on the link to the photo if you are old enough and feel free, but here's the post and you can read my comments either way. ___ Contrary to what you might assume, the picture below was not taken in Vegas or Reno or New Orl
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My husband Dwayne has been guest posting on my blog here and there . I like having him around, you know, so thought I would give him his own label and give readers a photo that will serve to let them know that he was the one who wrote the post for the day. So, when you see this picture from now on, you'll know Dwayne will be adding his two cents. The other day I heard the singer of this song interviewed on the radio. He explained that his new song is about falling in love again and how we have the power in our relationships to "rekindle" what we had in the beginning. Here is the song: Let's Just Fall In Love Again @ Yahoo! Video Here are the lyrics: Let's pretend baby that you've just met me and I've never seen you before I'll tell all my friends that I think you're staring And you say the same to yours And Oh We'll dance around it all night and then I'll follow you outside And try to open up
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The tree-lined one-way street next to the YMCA where I work: In the spring, I turn the corner and gasp. These trees bloom and drop bright pink blossoms along the curb that pile up like confetti after a big parade. But, I'll come back only a day later and the blossoms will have all blown away. In the fall, the same trees change color and drop leaves of every shade. But, within one week the sun will come out again, it will dry and heat up the ground and that is when the wind will sweep the leaves away, all within one day. _ They come and go so quickly Spring and Fall... as if they had not really come at all. Perhaps we could not take too much beauty, breath-catching glory, ecstasy without relief; and so God made them brief. -Ruth Bell Graham
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Norah walked in on me grating the soap to make my homemade laundry detergent . When she saw what I was doing, she assumed it was edible, part of my dinner preparations and asked, "Blue cheese? Can I try some?!"
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It's that time of year again ! We picked apples, so now Dwayne is making his delicious crumb top pies. We take some to friends and neighbors, others we keep and eat ourselves. Norah's got quite a lot of pie-making experience under her belt at this point, so she's a real help to her dad now. This is great for me. I just get to sit back and take pictures and then do a taste-test when they are done, of course.
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Now. And Then. We visit an orchard and pick apples every fall. Norah always eats one right off the tree. Now and then I like to compare my pictures, to see how quickly my kids have grown. This serves to remind me how quickly time flies, how what seem like insignificant minutes add up to hours, days, years. For what is your life? It is a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14
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Now. And Then. Norah poses with a pumpkin every fall. Now and then I like to compare my pictures, to see how quickly my kids have grown. This serves to remind me how quickly time flies, how what seem like insignificant minutes add up to hours, days, years. For what is your life? It is a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14
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We went apple picking last weekend just like we do every year . We got two large bags full of Golden Delicious and Empire apples, enough to make half a dozen pies with plenty left over to snack on. And, on the way to the orchard, we stopped, as always, to pick a pumpkin from St. Peter's pumpkin patch. It's New England in the fall. People come from all over to see the leaves changing and to celebrate the harvest, but we get to live here!
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We took a trip to Cabela's on Saturday. I am the proud owner of a shiny new Smith and Wesson .38 Special. I wonder how many hours Norah's has had to wait on her parents in this store. We asked the Arbour's to come over and babysit and they obliged us. We wanted to go to the range so I could practice with my new gun. Dwayne made me drive his car on the way over and I agreed reluctantly . But, I figure since I am learning to operate a firearm, I should be able to drive a stick shift for goodness sake. Dwayne sets up our target during the ceasefire. It was a beautiful fall day to be at the range. His and hers unloaded and pointed downrange. Dwayne's gun is such a gentle shot compared to mine! My revolver really kicks and I didn't mind it at the time, but as I type this, I'm really feeling the consequences in my right hand. The worst part is running out of ammo.
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We just got home from the Arbour's house. What a blessing to have them living so close now. We went there for dinner and of course, stayed and talked for hours. The kids played like siblings. And, I could not have designed a better friend than Karen has turned out to be to me. She came over earlier this week and just let me sleep off my cold medicine. I tell you, there aren't many souls who can make me feel enough at ease to nap while they are a visitor in my house. Avril plays peek-a-boo with Karen while we visited around the table after dinner. Victoria reads Christian and Norah a story.
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After dinner last night, we sat in the family room for a while. I nursed Avril while Norah read a book to earn another star towards her free pizza . Later, we tried to snap some candid pictures. I actually like this one of the girls and I. And, below, I captured Avril trying to eat Norah's face off, as she often does . I also tried to get a picture of the girls with their dad, but we couldn't get the timing right. I have about a dozen pictures like this... Someone's face is always half out of the frame or someone else isn't looking at the camera. In this photo, Norah is fixing her hair, Avril is pushing Norah out of her space and Dwayne is in pure agony. Norah was sitting in the... uh hum... wrong place and I clicked the button at the exact moment she plopped down. I usually choose only the best pictures to display on my blog, but I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing what goes on behind the scenes to make those more heartwarming images a reality.
"I just love the song, Say, Won't You Say by Jennifer Knapp. Do you love it too? Think about it... I would love to hear your thoughts about it on your blog." - Anonymous Dear Friend (who shall remain nameless), I was happy to filter your question and bump the other post that I had planned in order to bring you this response on my blog right away. I hadn't heard that song in ages and I was eager to hear it again and share my thoughts about it. You know I love to tell people what I think! And, you also know, I listened to Jennifer Knapp... umm, like, constantly in college. However, I was none to surprised, believe you me, that when I listened to the song again tonight, now years after I played it to death while riding around in my car, the song no longer resonated with me like it used to, not even in the slightest. I was pretty disappointed. And, I didn't want to disappoint you. But, after some thought, I believe I know why I feel this way now. And, this may
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Here's a bit of trivia for you. Do you know who the first person was that thought to attach an eraser to the end of a pencil? It was Cushman. The same man who manufactured all the furniture Dwayne's grandmother gave us. Cushman was also the first person to market a school "supply box" for children with a pencil, an eraser, etc. inside.
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Dwayne came up with this very simple, very tasty recipe himself. Make or purchase your pizza dough. Roll it out as directed. Cover your dough with a very thin layer of spaghetti sauce, so thin that you can't even see it in places. Add shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese to suit your taste. Finally, sprinkle minced garlic and Italian seasoning all over the pizza on top of the cheese. Bake as directed and enjoy!
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Our dear friends Brittoni and Ernie were married last Thursday. Dwayne was honored to be able to address them and choose a collection of Scriptures to read during the service. The reception afterward was a masquerade ball. Dwayne and I had fun dancing and getting to know some of Ernie's old friends sitting at the same table. Their first dance was set to a portion of the song "Everything" by a band called Lifehouse. Not sure if it is supposed to be Christian, but I found the video of a powerful skit set to it online. This picture below captures Brittoni's essence. She always manages to be hilarious and stunningly beautiful at the same time. She scored major points with me for rubbing the cake in Ernie's face. Dwayne said, "It takes a special kind of woman..." Generous of him, yet subtly hostile. I covered his face with cake on our wedding day more than eight years ago.
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We don't eat out much anymore (especially at Target.) But, a combination of chance and desperate hunger made me purchase a salad with these ingredients at the eatery at the front of their store. I t was so good, I went to the grocery store the next day and got the ingredients I needed to copy it. I've had this for lunch every day since. Copy-Cat Salad Romaine Lettuce Crumpled Feta Cheese Raisins Walnuts Cooked Chicken Optional: Caesar Salad Dressing Add the ingredients in the proportions you'd prefer and enjoy a very delicious, nutritious meal. But, don't put the dressing directly on the lettuce! Dip the lettuce in the dressing as needed. This salad is so good it can be eaten without dressing. For real. I'm not jut saying that. It's that good. And, I'm girl who could bathe in Ranch, I like dressing so much.
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Norah has a new chore . She's now responsible for feeding her little sister her solid foods. While I clean up the kitchen after meals, Norah gets out a spoon and gives Avril a portion of baby cereal or baby food from a jar, whatever it is that I give her that time of day. She loves it. After all, kids crave tasks with real meaning and I can't think of anything more satisfying than giving a baby what she needs to grow and seeing her stop fussing from hunger. Notice Norah's mouth wide open in the top left hand corner of the picture... Precious. But, Norah still tends to talk with her hands, so the spoon follows where her hands go and poor Avril, naturally, follows the spoon, so I'll often turned around to see the baby's head going back and forth and up and down as Norah is talking to me about something... Too funny.
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It's getting colder outside and the bottoms of Norah's pajama pants have been creeping farther and farther up her legs as she grows. So, I broke down and bought her new ones recently. This felt like a sacrifice since we are on a tight budget right now. With her help, I picked out two pairs of pajamas with a Disney princess pattern (of course). Each pair of pajamas was around $14 and with a coupon for 15% off, I got them for around $12 each. I also bought them four sizes too big, so Norah will (most likely) get at least two and maybe even three year's winters out of them. I know this because I bought the pajamas she just outgrew sometime in the fall right before she turned three and she just turned five. So, she got three years wear out of those pajamas. The only trouble with buying them so big is that the pants are way too long and unfortunately, the new pants are not trimmed in elastic like the old ones were, so they won't just grab her leg wherever they end.
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Norah's learning place value and how to "build" and say numbers up to 999. No kidding. I continue to be impressed with her math curriculum and thankful that my sister-in-law introduced us to it . I think everybody should be able to enjoy math this much. The world would be a much better place.