Anniversary Wednesday

Sixteen years ago this morning Carl & I were married. I can't believe it, and I'm so happy to be married to this good, kind, thoughtful, handsome, funny, intelligent man. Truly my best friend!!

Reading voraciously:

Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Laboratory by Michael C. Carroll

The Organic Kitchen by Ysanne Spevack

Lots to do, so my posts are shorter now that June is upon us. But I'm loving these summer days with all three of my lovely guys:-)

Growing Good Things

It's been a mad week at our house as our planting has begun!!! The boys and I have been busy planting flowers, herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Luke planted green and red peppers and grape tomatoes. Trent planted cherry tomatoes and some lovely flowers. I am also growing other tomatoes, yellow peppers and lots of herbs -- tarragon, basil Genovese, a more spicy basil, sage, thyme, flat-leaf Italian parsley, and of course, LOTS of rosemary. Have to get the oregano, marjoram, mint and some lavender planted next week. We are doing everything organically, from soil to water to fertilizer. We just want our food as fresh and chemical-free as we can get it!

We have already been enjoying fresh rhubarb in a berry cobbler and have put some in the freezer. I'll continue to use it throughout the summer, and the boys and I will be making rhubarb jam for canning. Next week we pick strawberries, so we'll spend a lot of time making jam and canning it. I really want Trent to learn this skill as it will come in very handy when he is on his own. This will also serve as preparation for the county fair in August. We'll enter some canned goods and see how it goes:-)

How lovely to be able to enjoy local fruits and vegetables.

Also got out to see the chicken operation of a friend and fellow homeschooler. The boys got to gather their own fresh, free-range eggs and frolick with the hens, roosters and guineas. Had a great time and got wonderful, fresh eggs. Fun day and great to know we are supporting local agriculture:-) Lovely!

Sunny Saturday

Although Carl's week-long vacation is about to end, we plan to make the most of it this weekend by packing in as much as we can. Yesterday we garage saled Omaha and generally had a lovely day out. This morning found the boys and I planting flowers while Carl did some fix-it jobs around the house. Later today we'll take the boys fishing, and tomorrow...well, we're up for almost anything, as long as it's fun:-)

Planted marigolds, allysum, salvia and petunias. The boys loved digging in the dirt, and Trent is learning how to determine which plants go together sun-wise and aesthetically. He did a fantastic job planting a red, white and blue combo of salvia and allysum. It looks great!!!! Also got in a basil plant, so I hope to have my own fresh, organically-grown basil all summer long!!!!

What a lovely time, these spring activities:-)

Worthwhile Wednesday

It's a lovely, sunny Wednesday, and the boys are doing more yard work. Can't wait to get to Home Depot and the nurseries this weekend to pick out new plants for our very clean yard!

Will begin reading the classic novel Animal Farm to the boys this evening. Luke will just think it's about animals, but I'm hoping to discuss it in-depth with Trent. Should be a fun time for all of us.

Carl continues to love his vacation time. We're thinking camping and fishing this weekend.

What a lovely blessing to live in this corner of the world:-)

Vacation Tuesday

Vacation, glorious vacation!!! Carl is on vacation for a week, and it has been lovely having him home with us. The boys were positively giddy when we went to pick him up Sunday night. Monday Carl did a ton of yard work, and all three boys are back at our landscaping projects this morning. Later, daddy and Luke will supervise as Trent dissects a crayfish for a biology experiment. Only a few biology chapters left and on to dreaded chemistry! So glad to see both boys progressing through their school work. Also glad to see them outside enjoying all nature has to offer.

Starting on a new scrapbooking project I hope to have ready to enter into the county fair in August. I want to create a "yearbook" scrapbook of our 2007-2008 Salt and Light Christian Academy school year. I've gathered pictures from many of our school activities, and I hope to add some additional pictures as we do school throughout the summer. I then plan to gather them into a cool yearbook so we can all recall all of the fun and interesting things we have done this year in our little homeschool. Lovely opportunity, this homeschooling:-)

Reading voraciously:

two books on turtles as pets

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver and Steven L. Hopp

Summer Reading Plan:

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters
Chez Panisse Vegetables by Alice Waters
Chez Panisse Fruit by Alice Waters
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (reading this again, with both boys this time)
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing by John Wilson
Inteliigent Design: The Bridge Between Sceince and Theology by by William A. Dembski
Bird Song Ear Training Guide by John Feith

May Saturday

This has been a busy month so far, with lots of yard work and outdoor time. Our yard is making progress, and this week we'll start on planting things -- tomatoes, peppers, herbs and flowers. The boys and I will also be planting sunflowers and working on a couple of crafty birdfeeder projects to make our backyard more bird-friendly. Can't wait to get all of those lovely blooms in our yard:-)

School is slowing down for the year. Trent is nearing the end of his grammar and reading assignments, as well as biology. We will continue with algebra and spelling through the summer, and we will read several novels together. Luke commented the other day about missing Huck Finn. Both boys loved it when I read Huck Finn aloud to them last winter. Looking forward to The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and a Charles Dickens novel. Both boys also want me to start on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer aloud, so we may have to squeeze that in too! We'll continue with math and phonics with Luke throughout the summer, and a new school year will be here before we know it!

Both boys have been sketching birds in their Nature Notebooks, and Luke is definitely improving because they draw together. It's a fun activity both boys can share. These lovely boys are so talented:-)

Carl has a week's vacation next week, so we will kick the yard work into high gear. I am so lucky to have someone who shares my love of flowers and plants and the outdoors. Lovely guy, my Carl:-) While Carl is on vacation, we also hope to garage sale in Omaha and take a trip to the Strategic Air and Space Museum to see some airplanes and celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 17.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

Hello Friends

I wanted to say hello to all of my friends out there who I didn't mention in my 'Friends' blog post the other day; I know some of you read this blog, so I didn't want you to feel un-appreciated! These people make my life so rich and fun. Some are old friends, some relatively new. Please know how important you all are to me:-) My mom, Debby, Farzad, Nedda, Ann K., Jen, Debra, Amy, Diane, Betty, Erin, Mary, Michelle, Jodi. Some of you have given me very sound homeschooling advice, some of you are fellow politicos, some of you are just plain wonderful to talk with. Without your individual perspectives on life, mine would be much less rich and interesting.

Of course, I must mention my Carl here. He is truly my BFF. Not only do I love him, I actually really, REALLY like him. Ditto for Trent & Luke. Ditto for my big, lovely extended family:-) Ditto for Melissa Pratte -- fellow clothes horse, lipgloss junkie, garage sale maven, literature lover and Billy Collins fan.

This weekend is filled with garage sales, yard work, hopefully some time to read and bake, and a trip to Clarinda, IA to celebrate Trent's birthday. Lovely spring weekend!!

And now, a poem:

Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

New Life

It's a rainy, chilly Friday, but I feel very sunny. My sister-in-law just had a new baby (April 30th), and mama and baby are going home today and doing wonderfully. I am so excited to see this new little girl, and I know Carl and the boys are excited as well. Can't wait to breathe in that new baby smell:-)

My season of garage sales has officially begun! Yesterday I shopped a sale where a woman was selling stock from her scrapbooking store!!!! Tons of bargains, lots of lovely goodies with which to work. This weekend, I hope to do more sales and find more lovely bargains.

Not a lot more going on right now...jsut gearing up for the boys' summer activities. I'm not even reading a book this week -- just an assortment of magazines. Oh well, something will catch my attention soon, and I'll be off on another voracious reading jag.

Two friends and I are starting our very own Jane Austen Book Club, after watching this movie. Probably won't be as much romance and heartbreak in our little club, but how lovely to read and discuss literature with two people I came to know in an English graduate program. We all sat through so many lectures on postmodernism and discussions of themes in the works of Toni Morrison, Shakespeare or the author de jour. Now we're done, settled and able to meet and discuss on our terms. Lovely thing, this reading obsession:-)

The boys are I are loving this show right now:
Jon & Kate Plus 8
Every one of the little sweet things on this show has captured our hearts.


Creative Inspiration for the Day:

Ali Edward's 365 Photo Project

Hula Seventy

Ali Edward's Art Journals

Trent Drives!!!

A lovely spring day for my son Trent's 15th birthday. We woke him early for peanut butter brownies and presents. We gave him a beautiful watch and a new set of binoculars for birding as well as an autobiographical journal just like his dad uses. The grandmas called, and he got cards in the mail. Best of all, he got his driving permit! A bit scary, but a fun morning of riding with Trent as he fulfilled his (literally) life-long ambition to drive! He did well, although we had one close call with a mailbox. No big deal. I just closed my eyes and used lots of caffeine, and we made it through:-)

So proud of this beautiful, charming, smart, funny, handsome guy. We'll party seriously Saturday with all of the family, a big cake, and yes, an electric guitar and amplifier for his 'big' present. Can't wait to see him take off with this musical adventure!

A shout out to my friend Melissa Pratte, who is in Kansas City, living the good life. Restaurants, sushi, stuffed grape leaves, a potential summer job at our favorite spot. Oh, did I mention she is an awesome English teacher and literary scholar? Now if we could just find her a lovely man....

Organic Love

A glorious spring morning, and I'm thinking organics. My husband, Carl, and I are big fans of the t.v. programs Endless Feast and Chefs A'Field, which promote local, organic, sustainable farming and food. As self-confessed foodies, we are interested in knowing exactly where our food comes from, and we want our boys to know the value of good food. Do we still breakfast at McDonald's sometimes? Yes. Do I love California Pizza kitchen frozen Thai Chicken Pizza? You bet! But our family continues to make strides in eating locally, organically and healthfully.

We use organic, free-range eggs, and we buy organic everything we can get our hands on, from Horizons milk to applesauce to raisins and cooking spray. This summer promises to be the summer where we enjoy our own fresh vegetables, and those of our local farmers, all summer long. My goal is to freeze much of what we can't use immediately, so we will have healthy fruits & veggies all winter.

We are still learning as we go, and we have a lot to learn about natural, organic and sustainable, but we have found many people who share our interests and are eager to discuss their experiences with these issues.

Here are some lovely links, both local and non-local, concerning organics and sustainability:

Pawnee Pride Meats, Steinauer, NE

Double K Organic Farms, Clarinda, IA

Excited to read:

Certain Girls, the new novel by Jennifer Weiner

It's a New Day!

Another warm, sunny, lovely day here in southeast Nebraska. Our Luke is feeling much better. He was up early and ready for breakfast, phonics and math. My goal, now that warm weather is here, is to spend as much time as possible outside. So I've moved all of Luke's usual crafty, messy fun outside. This morning I sat his bean box and cups, spoons, etc. out on his picnic table so he could play in the sunshine while daddy worked in the yard. I plan to buy him a new sand and water table when I go to Omaha next week, but until then he will be doing his "water experiences" on his picnic table.

The best thing about spring and summer, for me, is the ability to get outside with Carl and the boys. In the winter I detest playing in the snow, but spring and summer mean fishing, playing, birding, exploring and much more. Trent is getting a new pair of binoculars for his birthday, and I must stop at our local nature museum to pick up a copy of the "Birds of Otoe County" checklist so we can check off all of the birds we see this summer. We've already been on several picnics, and we plan to eat and play outside every day possible.

All of this play and fresh air does wonders for our bodies and spirits, and the ability to be outside so much helps me make it through the long, cold winters here in Nebraska. How lovely, these warm, green days:-)

Some links to my favorite outdoor places:

Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE

Steamboat Trace Trail, Peru, NE

Indian Cave State Park, near Falls City, NE

Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg, IA

Mozingo Lake, Maryville, MO

Lake of Three Fires, Bedford, IA

Mormon Island State Recreation Area, Grand Island, NE

Quote of the Day:
"Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."
Charles Dickens

Sick Day

It's a terrific warm spring day, and my little Luke is sick. He woke up feeling yucky and now seems to have deveoped a croupy cough. He'll just rest today and hopefully be back in action tomorrow. Also just lost his second tooth, but feels too horrible to spend his money from the tooth fairy right now. By tomorrow, hopefully, he will be begging to take a trip to Wal-Mart:-)

Doing lots of yard work and preparing to plant lots of things. Preparing for a scrapbook page on Trent receiving his learner's permit. Planning for Trent's 15th birthday party. Reading voraciously. Shopping online. Teaching children. Cooking and baking. Completing spring cleaning. Missing Carl while he's at work. Planning a new photography project that involves documenting our lives every day for a month, tentatively titled "A Month in the Life."

Spring is here, all three of my boys are lovely, life is good:-)

Library Love

It's a lovely spring day, and I've been thinking about some of my favorite places in the world -- libraries and bookstores. For me, there is nothing more relaxing and beautiful than a library or a new or used bookstore. I grew up reading Nancy Drew while curled up in a chair in my hometown library, and I have been a supporter and patron of all sorts of libraries since becoming an adult. In graduate school, I spent two blissful years working in a university library; I also did a good bit of studying there!

Bookstores, too, entrall me and comfort me. Barnes & Noble, Borders or some of my favorite used bookstores all make me feel indescribably happy. So, here are some links to my favorite libraries and bookstores. Happy reading!

Jackson Street Booksellers in Omaha's Old Market

Barnes and Noble

Borders

Hastings

Morton-James Public Library in Nebraska City, NE

Northwest Missouri State University Library, Maryville, MO

Also, had a lovely telephone conversation with an old friend over the weekend. Sad circumstances -- his dad died -- but great to visit with one of my best friends from high school:-)

Re-Reading:

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Quote of the Day:

"All of my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is not very willing to support it."
Flannery O'Connor

Friends

A sunny, if chilly day here in southeast Nebraska. I want to write about how thankful I am for friends. There are those people with whom we are thrown together, for one reason or another, and with whom we become acquainted, although they are never really, truly our "cup of tea." A recent incident has brought home for me the importance of finding, and keeping, really good, true friends. These lovely people, rather than being people who only want to hear from us when news is good, are people we can count on and trust to stick with us through it all:-). What a blessing it is to have friends who share in our joys and triumphs, but who also stick around to support us when we are down or need to vent our frustrations and sadness. For me, these people are so invaluable! Thanks Melissa P., Jodi, Rachael, Mom, Pixie. I love you!

Homeschooling Wednesday

It's a busy Wednesday here in Nebraska. Luke has library storytime, and both boys and I will be attending a mock city council meeting with the rest of our homeschooling group. The mayor will spend about an hour discussing city-related concerns with the group. Then Trent is off to trombone lessons, and oh, did I mention school work? Yep, Trent is working hard on a biology chapter on evolution, from the wonderful Exploring Creation with Biology text from Apologia. He's also reading a short story and completing a story plot flow chart as well as a reader response worksheet. In addition, he's starting a new chapter in World History, reviewing his spelling words, spending about 15 minutes writing creatively, working on Latin and completing an algebra lesson on word problems. Whew!

It's been said that perhaps homeschooling is not rigorous enough. To this I say, "Yeah, right!" Some believe homeschoolers lack socialization opportunities. To this I say, "So far from the truth! On the contrary, my boys have many opportunities to socialize -- in a positive, safe environment!"

Lovely blessing, this homeschooling:-)

A Child Does Not Equal Punishment

I write with a heavy heart today, sickened by the comments of presidential candidate Barack Obama. I have for months given Obama the benefit of the doubt as far as his radicalism. I didn't rush to judgment when I received an email about him not saluting the American flag. There is ample evidence that he does. I have been waiting until all of the facts are in (or most of them), and it seems clear at this point that he is the probable Democratic nominee. He is also the clear left-wing media favorite. His association with a radical, separatist church was bad enough. But yesterday Obama, in a Pennsylvania speech, told a crowd that if his daughters ever got into "trouble," he wants the abortion option there for them because they should not be "punished" with a baby or an STD. In this clip from YouTube, he clearly equates a precious child with punishment or a sexually transmitted disease. How far we have fallen as a nation and as Christians when this relativistic, dangerous, sad, hate-filled rhetoric comes from a man admired by so many, including so many young people.

Barack Obama claims to be a Christian. Each morning when I open my eyes I pray, "Lord, make me meek and humble, help me to be a good wife and mother, help me to do Your work today." I pray this every day because I know, as a Christian, I am supposed to be about my Father's work at all times. As sinners, we all fall short of this standard, but as a follower of Christ I feel I must try my best to be about my Father's work. I wonder if Barack Obama, the Christian, feels that giving a speech like this is doing "the Father's work." I wonder if, when he equates a child with punishment, or with an STD, he is doing "the Father's work." I wonder if, when he counsels his daughters concerning this subject he will be "about the Father's work."

I pray Jesus will open his eyes and the eyes of everyone who thinks of a child as anything other than a precious, precious gift on loan from our Lord Jesus Christ. Looking at children in this way, rather than as burdens or punishments is truly "doing our Father's work."


Carl, Trent and Luke are the best things about me. Lovely life with all three of my sweet boys:-)

Opening Day

Well, the boys of summer are back, and I could not be more excited. Of course, the Royals are off to their usual start (Brewers 5, K.C. 2), but there's a whole season of baseball yet to be played! I must say that some of the happiest moments of my life, aside from the biggies like marriage and children, have been spent at the ballpark. There is nothing more lovely, for me, than sitting at Kauffman Stadium with Carl and the boys, watching the scoreboard, dancing during the 7th inning stretch, seeing favorite players in person, watching the game I love. Of course, Carl only truly loves Kauffman Stadium when the Red Sox are in town:-) Can't wait to get down to K.C. for a game or two or three...

Equally as lovely for me are the times spent watching any kind of baseball. One of my fondest memories from my time in Maryville was the beautiful summer evening Trent, my best friend Melissa Pratte and I spent sipping Sonic drinks and watching a summer ball league play until the sun went down.

I also had a lovely time last summer watching my little Luke play t-ball. From his red high-top sneakers to him picking his nose in the outfield to his injury when he got hit in the eye by a ball, I will always remember the special times spent watching my sweet boy play the game I love. Can't wait to do it all over again this summer:-)

Reading like crazy this week! Here's the scoop:

Short stories by Crane, Cather and Poe as Carl, Trent and I continue our literature circle. Lovely reading:-)

I'm off to Wal-Mart to purchase Nature Notebooks for the boys. Spring is here so it's time to get outside into nature and check out all of the cool birds, bugs and fish. Speaking of which, I must remember to purchase my fishing license this week too. Steinhart Park has already been crowded with people fishing, and I want to take the boys next weekend. A fishing trip would definitely cap off what promises to be a lovely weekend -- Trent is training as an altar boy Saturday morning (so, so proud of him) and Carl's surprise (sort of) 44th birthday party is Saturday afternoon with the whole Calfee crew here from Clarinda, IA. Can't wait!

Flannery, I love you!

It's a spring Saturday here in Nebraska, and that means garage sale time! Carl and the boys are holding our annual garage sale to move stuff out and get ready for a new season of Omaha garage sale trips! Love, love, love garage sales so much:-)

Started Henle Latin with Trent this week, and I am pretty scared about learning a new language. Trent is off and running, while his mama has to admit she is not a language expert!

Reading a ton right now. Here's a list:

What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza. Just finished What's So Great About America by the same author. These books will change the way you view America and the Christian faith!

Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism by Sean Hannity

Plan to start (again, for the millionth time) The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor. You know, Flannery O'Connor is my literary hero. I first discovered her in the graduate English program at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO. I immediately loved her stories. I was drawn to the dark humor, but also to the faith in her writing. I was so angry one summer when my favorite English professor (now Graduate Studies chair) decided we would not read O'Connor's ground-breaking novel Wise Blood during a course called "American Novel 1945 - Present." He said he had no knowledge of the Bible or religion and would not be able to discuss the novel. This novel was also on the reading list for the Comprehensive Exams graduate students must take. Soon after I entered the program, O'Connor's novel was replaced by a Margaret Atwood novel, for goodness sake! I had had my first taste of life on a secular university campus! Atheism really does abound!!! Thankfully, I did later complete a course entitled "The Bible and Literature," where the professor discussed the Biblical themes in much of O'Connor's work in great detail. This man was a Christian who never did quite fit into a liberal English department more concerned with "queer theory" than an author as important as O'Connor. Lesson learned: religion is a dangerous threat on a liberal college campus. I never did feel the same enthusiasm for the instructor who had once dazzled me with his insights on postmodernism. It was kind of a spiritual awakening for me. Luckily, I've been reading and re-reading Flannery O'Connor ever since. I have her collected letters, and those, too, reveal what a deeply devout Christian woman she was. Her themes are never easy; indeed, they are still controversial today. How lovely that a small, sickly, deeply devout writer from the Deep South is still so relevant today. So here is a list of my favorite Flannery quotes:

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

“All my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is not very willing to support it, but most people think of these stories as hard, hopeless and brutal.”

"I am not afraid that the book will be controversial; I'm afraid it will not be controversial."

“When a book leaves your hands, it belongs to God. He may use it to save a few souls or to try a few others, but I think that for the writer to worry is to take over God's business.”

“Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them.”

"Conviction without experience makes for harshness.”

"Faith is what someone knows to be true, whether they believe it or not.”

"The novelist with Christian concerns will find in modern life distortions which are repugnant to him, and his problem will be to make them appear as distortions to an audience which is used to seeing them as natural; and he may be forced to take ever more violent means to get his vision across to this hostile audience. When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax a little and use more normal ways of talking to it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock ~ to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the blind you draw large and startling figures."

Spring is Finally Here!

Spring is finally here, and I've found a bit of time to blog. The weather is warming, and the boys are itching to get outside for fishing and running and owl tracking (a new adventure). Trent began his birding earlier this year, and he has already identified many birds. Soon both boys will have Nature Notebooks in hand, drawing animals and documenting everything nature related. Although life in Florida sounds WARM right about now, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but here in Nebraska. Love seeing all of the deer and grass, flowers and clouds. How lovely:-)

No pithy quotes from my boys recently, so here's what I'm reading:

Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right by Ann Coulter

Here's a link to the Kansas City Royals website. Check out their Opening Day countdown!!! It's almost here:-) Love baseball so much:-)

Being Sick is No Fun -- Literally!

Well, friends, it's finally going to be a warm March day and guess what? Both boys are sick! Each has the stomach flu, and so for them on this warm, sunny day, being sick is no fun -- literally! No park, no shorts, just a day of rest and fluids. Oh well, there's always tomorrow:-)

Luckily, this week is pretty low key. Homeschool band doesn't meet, Trent's piano/voice teacher is on vacation, etc., so we'll just take it nice and easy this week. Plus, it will be summer soon enough, with all of the rushing around summer involves. I love summer, and so do my boys, but sometimes it's nice not to have to run around to 50 different activities:-)

School is winding down for the year, and I find myself a bit wistful about it. I have loved our classroom time this year. It's been fun and cozy and exciting. We'll continue with math and literature and spelling through the summer just to keep both boys on their toes. I am so blessed to be able to homeschool these beautiful boys. What a lovely opportunity God has given me!!!

Busy Saturday

Today is a pretty typical Saturday around here -- errands, laundry, maybe some time to stop at Longhome Coffee for a bit.

Here's what I am reading and watching now:

Power to the People by Laura Ingraham

American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic by Joseph J. Ellis

Persecution: How Liberals are Waging War Against Christianity by David Limbaugh

In Treatment on HBO

Fox News

Have a lovely day:-)

Snowy Monday

It's March, and it's snowing. It's been snowing for almost five months now! Not much to update -- school is moving at a furious pace, spring is almost here, my reading time has seemed to disappear over the past week or so.

Lovely Quotes From My Boys:

Trent to Luke after I thought I had lost Luke's birth certificate: "If mom doesn't find your birth certificate you'll die!" Gotta love Trent!

Luke, on why he will never marry: "I can't get married to a human; I'm a Vulcan with Vulcan ears!" (Again, gotta love Trent, who has convinced Luke his [somewhat] pointy ears make him Vulcan.)

All in a day's fun with two growing, lovely boys:-)

Still February, Still Cold!

It's still February, friends, and it's still so cold here in Nebraska! This has been a difficult week for me -- and for my family. I've been out of commission with an infection in my mouth. The short story is -- root canal redone, antibiotics, painkillers (a lovely thing), kids who want their mama back to normal, and a husband who has been a house-cleaning, dinner-cooking wonder this week! Thanks and love you:-)

Just a note about the homeschooling mamas I know -- you are a wonderful, energetic, smart, caring group of women. Lovely!!!

February Thursday

It's Thursday, it's Valentine's Day, it's cloudy, but it's (relatively) warm! I left the boys to sleep in a bit so I could enjoy coffee and the paper at my favorite morning spot here in Nebraska City. I love coffee so much -- it's a lovely way to start my busy Thursday.

Thursdays are the days I feel like I'm running kids around from sunrise to sunset -- school, voices lessons, piano lessons, band class and soon, soccer practice. I do love Thursdays, but I definitely need coffee to help me prepare for the day -- it's my quiet time. Relaxing with coffee and the newspaper is my form of meditation:-)

Coffee links:

Starbuck's

Scooter's

Next on my list of books to read:

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

Favorite quotes of the week from my boys:

Trent -- "Reading non-fiction is the coolest thing in the world."

Luke, explaining his inability to "teach" our cat, Sophie -- "I tried to do kitty school with her, but she ran away, so I guess we only do it in the summer."

LOVE these boys so, so much! They make me laugh so hard every day of my life:-) Lovely!!!!!!

Valentine's Preview

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, one of my favorite days of the year. I love the colors, the chocolate, the flowers -- all lovely things on a cold February Day. Valentine's Day 2001 was my most memorable. I found out I was pregnant with Luke -- what a beautiful surprise!

This year, Luke has been hard at work creating valentines, stamping cards and mailing things out to his grandmas. He LOVES the post office, putting on stamps, the whole mail experience! So lovely!

Trent loves the day too because it means chocolate, and if there is one thing Trent loves, it's chocolate. Plan to bake my sweet boys (Carl included) some chocolate brownies to celebrate the day.

Looking forward to next weekend when my friend Melissa drives up from K.C. for a girl's weekend. Of course, the boys consider her family, so they'll want to hang out with her too. Can't wait to see you Melissa!

Reading three new books at once:

The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin. A look inside the current Supreme Court and how recent political events are shaping the court.

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. A mom's cookbook with ideas for hiding pureed veggies (spinach, squash, etc. ) in foods like chicken nuggets and brownies. Loving this book!

New Selected Poems by Mark Strand. Former U.S. Poet Laureate, awesome wordsmith:-)

February, Finally!

It's finally February, and each day it's a bit closer to spring (and then summer). All of the snow we have been getting is melting quickly -- a lovely thing! Taught a scrapbooking workshop last weekend at our local library. Small group, great fun, delighful completed pages. It kind of amazed me once I had all of my supplies spread out over several tables -- I've been in the scrapbooking game for 11 years now! It all began as casual mom-chat at a park in Maryville, MO while my oldest son enjoyed a play date.

Eleven years later, I'm teaching classes. It's so amazing, rewarding and fun to document the big and little moments in our lives. As I've matured as a life artist, I've also matured as a photographer to the point that good photography is essential for every page I scrapbook. I take pictures of everything -- my kids/family, birds, flowers, my favorite places, anything. I want to remember everything in vivid color, and photography is a great, creative way to do so.

Presidential politics have been on our minds a lot lately, as a family. Watching the debates, looking at the polls, listening to the pundits. Soon we'll know what direction our country is heading -- hope it's the right one!

Here are my favorite links right now. Lovely!!!

Ali Edwards

Hula Seventy

Ulta

Joslyn Art Museum -- Diego Rivera exhibit coming Fall 2008!!!!!!!

Rick Bayless' recipe for tomtillo salsa

La Paz, Mexico

When Asia Was the World -- non-fiction by Stewart Gordon I'm currently reading on Asia's "traveling merchants, scholars, warriors and monks."

MLK Day

School went well and quickly today. I took time to read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation as well as the Gettysburg Address. I then read a bit of history about MLK and the Civil Rights movement, including some of Dr. King's own words. Trent and I discussed how race is still a problem in our country. In the words of MLK, someday "we shall overcome" all of this. That will be a lovely day:-)

Snowy Day

Well, it's sunny now, but we've just had our second snowfall in two days. Did I mention I detest everything associated with winter? So here's my remedy:

When the snow begins to get me down, I picture myself with the perfect nude lipstick, with family and friends, sitting someplace delightful, like a little outdoor cafe in Omaha or KC. It's a beautiful sunny evening, and winter is so far away.

That's my happy place, for now, during these long winter days:-)

New Year, New Attitude

I've made a whole bushel of resolutions this year. Normally I think doing this is kind of silly, but this year, for some reason, I am determined to live, as Thoreau once said, deliberately. So here are, in no particular order, my resolutions for a lovely 2008.

I will surround myself with people who truly inspire me and whom I truly like. I am 36 years old now, and I feel I have a certain right to be choosy about who I spend my time with. It's important for my spiritual and mental well being to hang out with people who are creative, fun, positive and above all, faith filled! My family certainly fits the bill, but so do other people in my life. I resolve to connect more with these lovely souls:-)

I will read voraciously. Well, I already do this, but in particular I resolve to read more Church history, natural history, more American and world history. Although I studied literature for many years, I have recently devoted all of my time to reading non-fiction. Still plan to go heavy on the poetry though -- a little Billy Collins is a very lovely thing!

I resolve to commune more with nature. Yes, sounds a bit silly considering I have always been more interested in shoes, shopping and lipgloss, but last year the boys and I were outside all of the time, and it was wonderful. Plan to be outside, no matter where it is, even more.

Other resolutions: daily Mass, Kansas City, shopping, garage sales, fishing throughout Nebraska, more music, more coffee & conversation, more writing, the open road, more laughing over silly things, much, much more photography.

It's Been So Long!!!

It's been so long since my last post, but the holidays have come and gone, and so here I am again, blogging away about all of the lovely things in my life. The holidays were a very lovely thing this year -- lots of family, fun and love:-)

We've gotten back into the swing of school, and this semester has been a blur of school work and grading homework assignments. Trent is progressing deeper into algebra and biology, and I am trying to stay one step ahead of the game so I look like I know what I'm doing! I'm reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn aloud to Trent in the evenings, and Luke loves the adventurous Huck as well!!! We are also closely following the presidential election process, and we're planning a trip to the Nebraska unicameral in Lincoln before the end of the 2008 session in May. Trent has certainly learned a lot about civics, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the election process this year!

We've gotten out quite a bit this month to Omaha and Lincoln, and I hope to get to Kansas City soon for a girl's weekend with my friend Melissa -- maybe a little jazz club downtown and a trip to the Sephora beauty counter?

I have made a resolution to spend more time in 2008 with people I really enjoy. Of course, that includes Carl and the boys, but also good friends -- Melissa, Jen, Rachael, etc. It's a lovely thing to know so many great people!

I've also made a resolution to laugh a lot more. No one makes me laugh harder than my friend Melissa Pratte -- sometimes we laugh so hard our sides hurt! So Melissa, this blog is dedicated to you -- you're beautiful beyond belief, you're a confident, educated woman, you are so funny, and I love you. No one is EVER out of your league!