I interupt your weekend to tell you, MILWAUKEE ROCKED!!!

First of all- Thank You MIL for the late notice babysitting!

Second- Thank you Blind Melon Crew for the set lists! Dave, Patrick- once again you are my heroes of the evening!

Harley Davidson organizers- Thank you for the free street show, however, your barricade kept me too far from the stage. Were you thinking rowdy, drunken bikers would get out of hand? The 5 foot security space between the crowd and the stage was not really necessary. They all stayed back by the beer, while crazy Melon heads like me tried to stretch that gap.

Thank you Whole Foods for the awesome ladies' room with flushing toilets just steps away! This Blind Melon Princess doesn't do Port A Johns. 

Thank you North Avenue neighborhood for the free parking one block away!

Most of all, THANK YOU Travis, Brad, CT, Glen and Rogers for a most awesome show! As you could see, (and soon everyone on Youtube,) I rocked it. My neck has the whiplash to prove it. I know I frightened the new BM fans around me, who probably thought I was under the influence, but I assure you the only intoxicating substance that night I was under the influence of, was your music! Thanks for the autographs and the photos. I'll do my best to see you boys again in perhaps Lafayette and/or Mankato before September's end.

Decisions

I've decided I still haven't decided. Lack of excitement about any of the players in the arena has left me pondering what I'll do come November. I'm not a party girl, in this Barbie world.

As I was riding in to my appointment this morning, I was listening to "Make A Difference" by, yes, of course, Blind Melon. It came to me, why am I asking someone to step up and make changes rather than making those changes myself?

Its not that I think I should be president, although the thought of writing in my name on the ballot surfaced. I just realized that I shouldn't complain about feeling so powerless in this election process, and so hopeless about the prospect of our nation turning things around.

I will embrace my right to vote, but I will also recognize doing so does not mean I should expect my candidate to make the world a better place for all. We really need to make a difference ourselves and to quote the best band in the world;

"There's a few people spinning gold
Some just try to save their soul
But I wonder what to do
Money bills and secret guns
I know I can't help everyone
But I can take on one or two
That's what I'll do"

So, I pledge to try to make a difference in the lives of people within my reach. I can take on one or two.

Making meat...

"Mom, I want to cook meat."

"What kind?"

"I want to cook steak."

"How about trying hamburger first?

"Ok."

"How do you want to cook it? On a grill, open fire?"

"The stove is fine."

So off to the store I went to buy a pound of hamburger. This was my responsibility as an unschooling mom. I pushed back the thoughts of how just a few years ago, DS12 ate vegetarian with me.

I brought the meat home, and he did the rest. He shared his lunch accomplishment with his brother.  They both said the burgers were excellent.

I think I'll ask Jake if he wants to start making supper for the family on some nights.

Will I turn blue?

Feeling sorry for myself, I stopped at Copps food store on my way to work. I bought a pint of blueberries and a pint of grape tomatoes. I ate the entire pint of tomatoes while at work, and this morning I polished off the blueberries. If I had the money, I'd buy as many pints as you see in this photo and I'd eat them all!

Maybe its because my body is really trying not to get sick? Pigging out on produce is better than chocolate chips right?

I do feel better this morning, but is the rhino just waiting for the right moment to strike me down?

Random Tuesday stuff....

I over came my fear of spiders years ago, because my boys were fasinated by them. I found this girl with her huge orb web between our van and car one day. It was windy and a little tricky to get her photo, but aren't her markings remarkable? We seem to have a lot of larger sized spiders hanging around these days. I think they are well fed on the surge of grasshoppers we have.

We get hoppers every year but this year there seems to be more of them. Yumi got out the other day and she was having a blast hunting them down. She left us a big juicy one on the doorstep. Ewww!!!

As much as we try to keep Yumi indoors, she always tries to get out every chance she gets. I should get her micro chipped and get her a no choke collar, but I'd still worry she'd get run over by a car or attacked by another animal. I don't want her to kill birds or ground squirrels either.

Speaking of squirrels, I saw a bushy tailed tree squirrel for the first time in our yard. Our neighborhood never had large enough trees to attract them, but perhaps 6 years later, the trees have gotten tall enough now?

Its been so perfect to be outside in Wisconsin these days. It doesn't get much hotter than the upper 70's and at night its nice and cool, in the 50's!

Last night we took the garbage and recyclables out as a family, and it was dark out already. We started goofing off, playing zombie chase! It all started when DS12 asked if he could run a circle around the house in the dark. I couldn't resist and after he took off, I ran the other way to scare him in the dark!

We all started chasing each other and pretended to be modern day zombies, the type that actually run fast, unlike the original Night Of The Living Dead variety. We had a zombie contest and decided that I make the best scary zombie because of how my long hair blows in the wind. DS9 was the next best scary zombie because he could mess up his face and wave his arms really good. DS12 & DH just didn't have it. We kept cracking up every time they tried to look scary!

Of course now this morning, my throat is sore. I think I may be getting the cold that has been hanging around my house though. I've been drinking Emergen-C and eating garlic. This happened to me last time I had plans to see Blind Melon remember! I can't get sick!!

I'm trying to figure out what to make for lunch. The Posse Rats are here and I'm thinking of throwing in a few frozen pizzas to get them out of my freezer. Its the last week for the Posse Rats. School starts next Tuesday.

DS12 actually told me he is anxious for school to start so he'll have time to himself again to do his stuff! Right now I think he caves to peer pressure and choses to hang with the gang more often than he'd like. I'm looking forward to having my kids to myself again, along with the library emptying out and the parks to ourselves again. I love back to school time only for much different reasons than most!

I'm off to dig in the freezer. I hope this posts. My computer seems flaky.

Feathering my nest....

My back is still bothering me but thankfully, DH was feeling strong. We had a very productive weekend. I convinced him to give up on the Yumi's pee couch and we moved it to the garage. Of course, this meant first we had to clean up the garage enough to be able to move the couch in there!

When we moved the couch out into the sunlight, I knew we had made the right decision. We bought that couch in 1993. I hadn't realized how dirty it was, even before Yumi peed on it. We saw the original color of the couch when we removed the cushions. The couch will sit for now, in the garage until we can figure out the best way to send it to a better place.

We rearranged the living room furniture and now there is a much better flow. The space has opened up and there's still enough seating for everyone. I've decided to buy a waterproof futon mattress protector and a new futon cover. This way, if Yumi decides to pee on it, I can more easily wash the covers than have to worry about trying to wash a giant absorbent cushion.

I'm hoping she won't pee on it though. We did change back to the Feline Pine litter, despite how our vet feels about it. I don't think Yumi really liked the S'wheat Scoop. I admit it did hurt my feet when I stepped on it. Maybe Yumi and I are princesses, but those little wheat husks are sharp. (Of course Yumi and I are princesses!)  The Scoopable Feline Pine is soft, like sawdust. So far Yumi isn't puking so I really think it was the food she was eating with corn in it that made her sick months ago. She now eats grain free, "Taste Of The Wild".

We couldn't afford the $300 to have our Blind Melon tour poster matted and framed at Michaels. Instead I bought a $19.99 frame at Joann's and I think it works just fine. DH says we'll try to buy another $10 poster and keep that one in an archival tube. Maybe this time, we'll have the band autograph it as well as Nel hoon, the artist. If she thinks that's ok.

Can you spot Nel's signature in the poster? Nel is the mom of the original Blind Melon singer, Shannon Hoon. His favorite necklace was drawn into the piece. I really like it because not only is it a great reminder of our Blind Melon shows this year, its got a beautiful nature motif. I want to bring my love of nature into my home, so I feel like I'm living outdoors, only with central air and heating and mosquito free!

Cosco

Rating:	★
Category:	Other

Isn't there a negative star rating option?

A new Cosco opened up down the block from DH's office, and DH's boss bought Cosco memberships for everyone in the office. We decided to check it out last Saturday. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

Like Sam's club, you have the annoying door checkers to make sure non-members don't get in and you don't leave with unpaid items. There is no variety really, you have to buy the brand they choose to carry. The prices are not a great savings, if they are a savings at all! You have to watch that!

But my biggest complaint about Cosco- THEY DON'T TAKE CASH! You have to pay with either an American Express or a debt card. What kind of store doesn't take cash!!??

I have a "debit" card which is really a check card, allowing Visa transactions to come out of our checking account. When I'm asked, "Debt or credit?", I usually respond "credit" because that way no one will see me using my pin # and did you know your financial institution may then charge your a transaction fee?

Our credit union does allow a certain number of "debit" transactions each month before they begin charging you, but I also know if I answer with "credit" the merchant pays the transaction fee, not me! It stills comes out of my checking account either way.

Costco doesn't give you the "credit" option unless you use an American Express Card, who, from my days in the credit card processing industry, I can tell you charges merchants 10% to process transactions. Merchants pass this 10% on to the consumer by raising their prices. Visa and Master card may be evil, but American Express is the worst of them all!

We had a coupon for a free deli roasted chicken and a case of bottled water. Yumi thought the chicken was good, but the humans in our family did not. I don't usually buy bottled water, but it was a free case. I placed it into the "emergency supplies" section of the basement.

I may go back around the holidays, to buy chocolate in bulk, but I don't think I'll be stopping by Costco on a regular basis, and I know we won't renew the membership.

I'm so excited!!

DH was thinking we should break down and buy the stupid $65 tickets, but we've since discovered Blind Melon will be playing for FREE, Friday night! East North Avenue will be blocked off and the street party will bring live music to the night.

I'm so glad we didn't buy tickets and I feel for those who did.

I'm so excited!! If you're in Milwaukee Friday night, you have to check it out! I'll try to bring my camera this time. 

FREE BLIND MELON CONCERT!!!

Start:	Aug 29, '08 9:00p
Location:	East North Ave, Milwaukee,WI

Friday night Milwaukee is the place to be! Blind Melon performs a free show at the East North Ave Street party!

Will it just rain already!!!!

Its driving me crazy. Its overcast, humid like the jungle and windy. It needs to rain. A really good thunderstorm would be so perfect right now, very chillaxing on a Friday afternoon. A few drops came down when I drove to my meeting this morning, but now its just a tease. Why aren't those clouds letting go?!!

Hey, I'm complaining its not raining. I AM A MELONHEAD!! 

Speaking of which it doesn't look like we'll be heading to Milwaukee for the show next weekend. I can't bring myself to pay the $65 a ticket price when for one, I can't guarantee I'll be able to take my chosen spot, directly in front of Rogers, and their set list will be shortened because they are one of several acts, playing on multiple stages for the 105th Harley Davidson party. If I could pay my $65 directly to the band and be assured I'd have my spot within inches of my favorite guitar player, I'd be there. I'm a selfish Melonhead. I want my band to play all their songs, all night long, just for me! I don't want to fight non-fans who are at the fest to drink beer and swap Hog riding stories. I'm going to bank on Mankato at the end of September. I'm hoping to get my fix then.

I've been knitting hats with my "Kniffy Knitter". I've made a couple of melon green ones of course and now I've made DH a red and black hat to go with his jacket. The boys have placed their orders for their favorite colors, and now I'm also thinking of making a "bee" style, yellow and black. I've got the glasses and the figure. I can be the "bee" girl at the next Blind Melon show! LOL! Actually I was thinking of making the band members hats to keep their noggins warm while they tour Canada. I'm crazy pyscho fan aren't I?

My mom had once showed me how to knit, but I always ended up dropping a stitch here and there. Plus she's a lefty who was taught by a lefty Swede herself, her mother. I guess there is an American way to knit and a European? Anyway, if push came to shove, I could knit and purl the real way but I'm much faster using the Kniffy Knitter circle loom. I can crank out a hat in an hour or so. I'm sure eventually, I'll tire of making only hats and move on to something else.

Well, the sun is now out. Great...now its hot, humid and sunny...a perfect miserable Trifecta. I'm off to do my rain dance or read Twilight some more. I know everyone says this book is so good, but I'm not there yet. Maybe I'm too difficult to please when it comes to vampire romance?

What will it be? Curtain # 1, #2, #3?

I feel like I'm playing Let's Make a Deal.

The only sad part of my current part-time job is the commute. I admit I was getting a little bored, but thankfully the owner gave me new projects that helped with that. The commute still hurt my gas tank so in order to worry less about the big financial picture, I began scoping out my other part-time work options.

The library aide position didn't pay enough.

I missed out on the hotel job, which in hindsight, I'm grateful for. Do I really want to work holidays and weekends? Not really.

I didn't even apply at the gas station because I have watched one too many surveillance videos! In my college days, I did work at a convenience store. I had my share of drunks but thankfully, no hold ups. Now that I'm a mom, I don't want to press my luck.

A friend's husband was looking for part-time help but after he hadn't returned my calls, I thought that ship had sailed.

I began to focus on trying to make financial changes at home, to make what we have go further. God reminded me to focus on the boys and how home schooling is where I'm needed most right now.

Well this week has brought unexpected changes. My friend's husband called and I have a meeting scheduled with him tomorrow. Two new jobs were posted in the local paper, one for part-time office help working with the elderly housing commission and the other as an assistant for someone disabled.

Just when I thought a job change would be in my future, my boss offered me a 15% raise!! 15%!!! I was stunned! I hadn't told her I was job hunting, but I suspect she knew. She once said to me, "You will tell me if the cost of gas gets too high for you won't you?" She has already lost employees who couldn't afford to commute anymore. I know she appreciates the work I do. She said, "I would offer to do a formal review but you're already doing such a fantastic job. There is nothing I could say except positive things." Wow! Its just become much easier to stay put and deal with the commute, 3 times a week.

But, I don't know really how much longer my van will hold up, and I have to ask myself, "Am I in a place where I'm growing?"

Change doesn't really spook me, but the unknown will make me pause. I can take forever just trying to decide what to order at a restaurant! I'm going to explore my options fully and do my best to see the positives rather than the negatives. I need to sit down and really think about where I want to go job wise.

As scary as looking at the checking balance is, I have learned that being here for my kids is first and foremost. And watching them learn and grow is motivation for me to learn and grow as well.

 

Results of the homemade laundry detergent test batch #1

No need to move on to batch #2. I love how batch #1 worked! The first load of clothes came out smelling and feeling clean and fresh.

When I checked on my homemade laundry detergent this morning, it had thicken up a little. I gave it a little stir and measured out about one cup. It smelled clean, not perfumy or chemically.

I began filling up the washing machine with cold water and added the detergent. I allowed the water level to rise before adding the clothes. There weren't many suds, which is good for the environment, and I believe good for front loading machines as well. Ours is a top loader though, and our water is on the hard side because we haven't added softener salt in forever.

I moved the wet clothes to the dryer without adding any fabric softener. I try not to use fabric softener because of the dangerous chemicals its made with. My mom uses special made dryer balls so she doesn't have to use softener either and they work great. I'm hoping to get some, but in the mean time, clean tennis balls are working great too.

The clothes came out without any static cling, and they smelled clean and fresh, even the unmentionables!

I'm sold on making my own laundry detergent using this recipe. I think using the Ivory bar of soap helped keep the liquid looking white, not a dyed color. I saw online someone who used Lever 2000 and his laundry detergent looked like green slime. Personally, I don't feel the need to add essential oils for scent, but I suppose you could. I liked the clean smell of the Ivory just fine.

I should mention our clothes were dirty but not stained. I may just continue to pre-treat with Shout when we have stains to deal with. Maybe my second laundry test should be to try and develop a cheap, natural stain remover?

Burger Bites

My family is going crazy for these lately. The boys have fun assembling them with their favorite toppings.  I use an indoor grill pan. They are probably too small for an outdoor grill.

Burger Bites

- 1 1/2 pounds ground meat or "not meat" of your choice

- garlic powder, pepper, sea salt, other seasonings you like

- 1/2 C or so of frozen chopped onion

- a frozen bag of Ore Ida Cottage Fries (we like to call them circle fries)

- toppings such as; lettuce, mustard, ketchup, sliced grape tomatoes, guacamole, ranch dressing, A-1 sauce etc.

Bake the Cottage Fries in a single layer on a cookie sheet according to the package instructions.

Mix together ground meat (veggie burger mix) with your choice of seasonings and form tiny patties, very flat, fitting in the palm of your hand.

Heat a grill pan to medium and cook the burger patties together with the frozen chopped onion.

Assemble the burger bites using the baked Cottage Fries instead of buns and add whatever toppings you like. We skip on cheese, but you could add cheese and use the broiler to melt it onto the burgers before you assemble them. These would make fun appetizers for a party too!

Homemade Laundry Detergent, Batch #1

After Googling around, I found several recipes and decided to try this one first. I had almost given up after I couldn't find Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - not Baking Soda - and Borax. I had driven to town to go to bigger stores, and it turns out my local Piggly Wiggly had it only 3 blocks away from me! (I still scored at the Goodwill store so the trip to town wasn't a total waste.)

You will need a 5 gallon bucket. I've picked these up for free from bakeries, and then purchased new lids at Home Depot. They also have the buckets too if you can't score a free bucket at the bakery.

Recipe:

- one bar of soap
- 1 quart of water
- 3 gallons of hot water
- 1 C of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (NOT BAKING SODA!!!)
- 1/2 C of Borax

On the stove top, as you heat 1 quart of water, grate the bar of soap into the water. I used Ivory and it dissolved very quickly.

Stir until the soap is dissolved.

Add 3 gallons of hot water to your 5 gallon bucket.

Add the soapy water to your 5 gallon bucket and stir.

Add 1 C of WASHING soda and 1/2 C of Borax to the mixture and stir.

Allow the mixture to cool overnight to thicken.

Now my local Piggly Wiggly isn't the cheapest place to buy things, but I paid $2.65 for the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, $3.45 for the 21 Mule Team Borax and about .33 cents for the bar of Ivory soap. Using this recipe, a batch of laundry detergent, about 3 gallons, cost me $.89 cents. If I use about 1 C of the liquid detergent, that's about .02 cents a load.

I will test my first batch tomorrow and let you know how it works.

weekend clog....

Boy, the weekend went by fast. I hurt my back Friday bending, twisting, turning and lifting a case of Diet Coke into and out of my shopping cart. I knew I shouldn't have bought it, but I broke down, (and then broke down literally!) I hadn't had a Diet Coke in a long time, but someone had to mention it on her blog and it planted a seed in my mind. I won't make that mistake again. (The ice cold Diet Coke tasted so good though with my Advil!)

My MIL came for a visit. What a great reason to have Pizza Oven again!! Twice in one week! Whoo Hooo!  We enjoyed the world's best thin crust Za for lunch, and then headed to Olbrich Gardens in Madison. Regretably, I had forgotten my camera and so did my MIL.

We hit up the Super Target for a snacking, fend for yourself supper. I bought my favorite Archer Farms Black Bean and Jalapeno chips and some Wholly Guacamole! Yum! Wholly Guacamole doesn't have that bad taste store bought quac can have. It tastes fresh and the pouches it comes in keep it from getting brown. We also bought some really yummy whole wheat rolls and garlic herb cream cheese.

Sunday afternoon I had to cover a shift at the pool. It was a longer shift than I usually work, but it wasn't bad at all. Sundays the pool is only open for open swim, no lessons. It was dead, and I got a lot of work done without interruptions.

I'm excited about a bulletin board project my boss asked me to do. I guess she thinks because I'm a teacher of sorts, I'll do a good job designing and decorating our bulletin boards. I'm planning on revamping our staff board, designing a water safety board and a Swimmers Hall Of Fame board. I also thought it would be fun to create a flannel board with felt figures for the kids to play with on their level. This project has breathed new life into me work wise. I had hit a rut and the job search hasn't been going too well.

While I was at work, DH and the boys went to a cousin's birthday party. They brought me home a chocolate cup cake and a birthday present for myself from our cousins. I now have Twilight and will have to start reading Stephenie Meyer's series and see what the buzz is all about.

To end my weekend, DH gave me a back massage. I think he missed me while I was at work! It was perfect, and I may just have to throw my back out more often!

This morning, after I finish this blog post, the boys and I are heading into town. I'm on a shopping mission to find the ingrediants to make our own laundry soap. I'm tired of paying all that money for laundry soap and constantly having to buy it. They may say their smaller jug washes just as many loads, but why am I buying it more frequently now? I'm careful to measure it? I think its a scam. I found a recipe for homemade liquid detergent that costs .2 cents a load versus .25 a load using a commerically prepared detergent. I can't wait to try it! I'll let you know if it works.

Have a great Monday. I'm off like a Herd of Turtles!

Blog Action Day is coming...

Time to get ready friends. Blog Action Day is coming on October 15th! Blog Action Day seeks to unite bloggers from all over the world for one common cause, and this year its poverty.

Please join me in writing a blog, posted on October 15th, related to poverty. Together we can make a difference! 

For more information and to register your blog, http://blogactionday.org/ or click here.

Blog Action Day

Start:

Oct 15, '08

Blog Action Day is October 15th! Blog Action Day seeks to unite bloggers from all over the world for one common cause, and this year its poverty.

Please join me in writing a blog, posted on October 15th, related to poverty. Together we can make a difference!

For more information and to register your blog, http://blogactionday.org/ or click here.

Suey made me do it....

50 ODD things about me! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT and post it on your page! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you! 

1) Do you like blue cheese?   Not on purpose

2) Have you ever smoked heroin? No!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of questions are these going to be?

3) Do you own guns?  Yes, glue and water

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? There aren't any Sonics near us.

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Always

6) What do you think of hot dogs? I don't really want to eat them.

7) Favorite Christmas song? What Child Is This.

8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? fresh juice

 9) Can you do push ups?  According to my Wii Fit, no.

10) Can you do a chin up?   Never in my life, even as a child.

11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding band     

12) Favorite hobby?   Blogging

13) Ever been in a car wreck? I was rear ended but my car wasn't totalled.

14) Do you have A.D.D.?   No

15) What's one trait that you hate about yourself?   I wish I was thinner, but hate is a strong word. I don't hate any part of myself.

16) Middle name?  Inger, after my mom, who was named after a Swedish woman who helped rescue Jews during WWII

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.

       1.  I need to brush my teeth. I have Total cereal stuck to them.

       2.  I should be exercising.

       3.  I want to throw away my couch.

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. 

       1.    Italian seasoning

       2.    soy milk
       3.    frozen pie crusts

19) Name 3 drinks you drink regularly?  water, tea, juice

 20) Current worry?  money

 21) Current hate right now? There's that word again. Ok, I hate having debt. I hate my couch because my cat peed on it and I can't get the smell out. I hate my commute to work.

22) Favorite book?  How can you choose just one!!!!???That's cruel.

23) How did you bring in the New Year? We stayed home to avoid the drunk drivers and had our own family celebration.

24) Where would you like to go?  On tour with Blind Melon!

25) Name three people who will complete this. Come on Maija, Ash and Mario4ever! Don't let me down!

26) Do you own slippers?   My parents give me a new pair every Christmas but they are lost in my closet.

27) What shirt are you wearing? A black t-shirt

28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?  I need 100% cotton or I'll get itchy.

29) Can you whistle?  One note only.

30) Ringer on your phone? It came with the phone

31) Would you be a pirate? I don't do violence, so probably not.

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?  Blind Melon songs! HELLO!

33) Favorite girl's name?  I like Jaden.

34) Favorite boy's name? If I was to have another boy, I'd name him Josef.

35) What's in your pocket? Nothing

36) Last thing that made you laugh.  My husband

37) Best bed sheets as a child.  I always had hand me down, flowered sheets. Boring.

38) Worst injury you've ever had. I fell on concrete steps last Map and slammed my knees really badly.

39) Do you love where you live?   Yes!

40) How many TVs do you have in your house?  This is embarrassing but trust me, they are all old models and mostly hand me downs. They aren't all hooked up to cable and many of them are only used for playing video games. Are you ready for the actual number? 7 What can I say. I live with men.

41) Who is your loudest friend?  I don't really have loud friends.

42) How many dogs do you have?  No dogs, but there's a cat, and 2 birds

43) Do you like sushi?  I don't think I've ever had real sushi. HEY! I'll add that to my 40 firsts!

44) Best friend in grade school? Her name was Lisa. We had a falling out in high school but years later she emailed me and now I'll hear from her every now and then.

45) What is your favorite song. At the moment, Tones of Home, but later I'll hear St. Andrew's Fall and decide that's my favorite.

46) Favorite candy?  Dove chocolate Promises these days

47) Favorite Sports Team?  Don't have one.

48) What song do you want played at your funeral?  I liked that Oboe song from the movie, The Mission. Its an instrumental, does that qualify?

49) What were you doing 12 AM last night?   I can't tell you! Lets just say, I'm a very happily married woman!

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I don't want to go to work tonight. I had just had a work dream where I won't get into details.

Birthday blessings

I know how blessed I am to have my husband in my life. He brought home not one, but two dozen roses for my birthday! He romantically pointed out we've spent more than half our lives together rather than apart.

Its my birthday today so I'm reflecting on my life. In a way, it seems like my childhood was some other reality, like a dream I remember. However my time with my husband seems to have gone by so quickly!

I haven't really segmented my life according to years but rather changes. My time line looks like this: my childhood, the awkward time of leaving my parent's home (college), getting married and building a new life with DH, birth of my first son, birth of my second son, home schooling mom calling, and now, ??????????

As I age, so do my children and my responsibilities in life will shift as well. I don't know what changes await me, but I'm grateful for all I've been blessed with so far in life. I'm not mourning the past, but rather I realize there is so much more to come!

I also know that learning at home with my children has given me the desire to approach the coming years with curiosity and wonder. Maybe this is why mentally, I still feel like I'm 22!

Dawning's Page - Radical Unschoolers' Network

http://familyrun.ning.com/profile/Dawning
My other blog located at Family Radical Unschooling Network.

40 Firsts

Remember when I said I was going to do something wild and crazy I've never done before to celebrate my milestone birthday which is coming this Tuesday? Well, I've decided one wild and crazy thing isn't enough. Why not 40 fun things? It is the age I'm turning.

I will spend the next year trying 40 Firsts, before arriving on my 41st birthday next year! I've started a little early, but I've got #1 and #2 under my belt thanks to my big sister.

Saturday she took me to Silverado Day Spa. We began with "Trains" (#1) which are a blended iced coffee drink (shake). We ordered mocha flavored with whipped cream. It wasn't iced coffee. It was more like a milkshake. A few years ago she corrupted me with my first Starbucks. Now I'm going to be craving these "Trains".

Trains in hand, we headed to our pedicures (#2). I was nervous because I have very ticklish feet. It turned out to be fabulous, and I'm a believer now! You must have a pedicure at least once in your life! We sat in heated massage chairs that reclined back. Our feet were first placed in a heated, bubbling foot bath with scented aromatherapy. The actual pedicure wasn't ticklish at all, and I think its because I was so relaxed. My feet were pampered with exfoiliants, oils, massages and a shiny coat of pretty pink polish.

So now I'm brainstorming for #3. What I'm really hoping for is that as I reach 40, I will reclaim a desire to try new things and cast fears away.

Anderson Gardens

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Anderson Gardens is one of my favorite places on earth. It is an incredibly beautiful Japanese garden in Rockford, Illinois. It was once owned privately by the Anderson family and now its open to the public. If I lived in Rockford, I'd have a yearly pass and spend a little of every day there.

The garden features several ponds and multiple water fountains. There are too many Koi to count and its funny how they swim so close to the surface, following you around looking for food pellets.

Stone paths lead you through the peaceful garden, passing multiple water fountains. The Japanese style tea house and guest house are authentic, and the highlight of the garden is the man made waterfall.

If you ever visit Rockford, the Anderson Gardens is a must stop.
www.andersongardens.org

Trying to process it all at midnight....

I should be in bed, but I can't stop my head. Oh no, that just rythmed. I'm not in a poem writing mood. I just want to babble.

I've been away from my nest and I feel so unsettled. I left at 9:00am and returned at 9:00pm.

First up was the planning meeting for our homeschool group. As usual, I was the only unschooler there. I knew I was in trouble when the hosting mom told the kids to play outside and when us moms were finished, she'd ring the bell for them to come back in! She literally has a school bell that she uses to call her children in from outside!! EEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankfully, my boys were actually hanging out elsewhere, keeping it real at our friends' house. I did get to share lunch with them, but then I was off again to another meeting this time for my part-time job.

I came away from that one with too much on my plate as well. Now I'm trying to organize all that has been asked of me for the next several months. I'm starting to freak a little.

My favorite part of the work meeting was when my boss, (the owner), decided to announce to everyone, "Dawn's having a big birthday on Tuesday! She's going to be 40!" I was sitting between two, twenty something, hot, lifeguard guys! I wanted to die. My boss, by the way, is 41. She's 41 and jealous I will always be younger than her! LOL!

I met my boys and DH at Noodles for a late din din thinking I could finally relax. I didn't. I was in after meeting shock. - Due to the work load ahead of me. I'm over the fact I'm old enough to mother those I work with.

We got home and the depression cloud covered me. Yumi had peed on our couch!!!!

DH freaks out at the smell of cat pee. We used to have a cat who would mark outside the box and the tension it created in our home was unbearable. The fact Yumi chose the couch is uber bad news.

DH locked her in the basement until he finally calmed down enough that I could plead her case. I have to wonder if she did this because we have been gone so much. We left her alone during our Blind Melon weekend, and then we were only home two days before we left her again for a week in Minnesota. We've been home 2 days from our Minnesota trip, but today we were gone again because of my crazy meeting schedule. She probably freaked thinking she was going to be left alone again.

I sprayed down the couch cushions with Spot Shot. (Please don't tell me to use those natural enzyme cleaners. They do not work. I've cleaned enough cat pee to know this.)  Tomorrow I will take the cushions out to bake in the sun. If it doesn't help, I may get my wish for new furniture, although DH will agrue that's a dangerous decision if Yumi is taking to couch peeing.

We bought this couch in 1994. I hate it. When you sit on it, you can feel the sofa bed bar. Even though we paid extra for the Scotch Guarding, it has several stains. You can't have raised boys for almost 13 years without having trashed furniture right?

Maybe Yumi was doing me a favor? Maybe she wants me to get furniture for my birthday?

We can't afford it though. I will have to make due with what we got. I wonder if I can hose soak these cushions and still be able to dry them before the mold sets in? Hmmmm... maybe lots of baking soda, hose spraying, baking soda, hose spraying and sun drying will help?

All I know is that tomorrow I'm calling a do over! Its be nice to me day or else!

If you've read this far, thanks! I needed to think this through and lately, I'm thinking better if I'm writing.  Otherwise I try to multi-task while thinking and I lose focus.

Nightie, night. Don't let the bed bugs bite.......

Thursday 13

13 decisions I have to make in my near future....

1. Should I make more chocolate chip bread? It disappeared in one day but I have a feeling it will show up elsewhere, in another form, for quite awhile longer. DH really liked it though.

2. MANKATO road trip?  Next Blind Melon concert? Must ask MIL if she can babysit again or maybe this time the boys will have to rock out with us.

3. Should I change jobs?

4. Am I really going to try a pedicure for the first time? My feet are so ticklish. 

5. Wii Fit or walk to the store to buy more whipping cream?

6. Start my music because its too quiet around here or let DS12 sleep some more?

7. Drive the boys back home after doctor's appointment or hang out in Madison, spending money?

8. Shampoo or baking soda with an apple cider vinegar rinse?

9. Pink or blue? Permanent or wash out?

10. Keep the book a few days longer and pay the fine, or return it now?

11. Blind Melon Tatoo?

12. Should I go Go-Karting on my birthday? I've never been before believe it or not. How did I get to be 40 and never have gone Go-Karting?

13. Smoothie or leftovers for lunch?

Rogers passes me his pick!!

Check it out! I'm on Youtube! Watch carefully and you'll see Rogers pass me his pick. Rogers is the guitarist farthest from the camera. After Travis (Lead Singer) turns his back and starts shaking, watch for the handoff! Its quick. I think it happens around the 40th second. I think I'm mostly blurry because I was moving so much.

DH's face is easier to make out. I'm the old women with glasses, wearing a red t-shirt, dancing like a total geek. I don't care. I TOTALLY LOVE BLIND MELON!!!! I WILL ALWAYS BE A MELONHEAD!!

Radical Unschoolers' Network

http://familyrun.ning.com/
I found a home away from home!

Because I'm too cheap to spend an extra .50 cents...

Let me put down my fork and tell you about the Chocolate Chip Whipped Cream bread I made today. It tastes really good, but I'm not pleased with my sinking chocolate chips. I did toss them with flour before adding them to the batter, but apparently, they still did a nose dive to the bottom.

The recipe called for mini chocolate chips, but I noticed at the grocery store, these chips were .50 more than the regular chocolate chips. Tightwad that I am, I couldn't bring myself to pay the extra .50 cents for the same amount of chocolate.

I used my stone 9 x 5 bread pan, but when I make this again, I'll use my silicon pan. I greased it, but the bread still stuck a little. I think it was all the chocolate chips at the bottom.

It still tastes super yum-o. I will have to wrap it up and hide it from myself or there won't be any left for DH to try.

Chocolate Chip Whipped Cream Loaf

1 1/2 C flour
1 C sugar
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 C heavy whipping cream
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1/2 C mini chocolate chips ( or regular chips if you want all your chocolate at the bottom!)

Preheat oven to 350 F
-Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan
-Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt
-Toss the chocolate chips into the flour mixture and set aside
-Beat cream on high until soft peaks form
-add eggs, vanilla
-Stir in the flour mixture

Bake for 55 minutes or until your knife comes out clean.

Bemidji Trip 2008

DS12 caught Uncle C's bass he had been trying to hook, using our cousin's borrowed Barbie pole. LOL!

A few snaps from our visit to the Grandparents.

We're back!

First off, I have to share this photo of my sister's furkids, Rose and Annie. Aren't they adorable! You don't know how difficult it was to get this shot. They are constantly in motion. My BIL is in the background on pooper scooper duty.

My sister has a lovely lake front home. DS9 loved swimming and DS12 caught a nice bass, right off the dock. We enjoyed a tasty dinner of fried Walleye from Canadian waters. YUM! We can't get good Canadian lake fish here in southern Wisconsin.

At my parent's home, we saw Blue jays, various woodpeckers and deer eating at Grandpa's apple tree. Half of their home is made up of two story windows so the view into the woods is beautiful. I also sat outside in the screen tent, listening to the wind rustle the leaves all day while DS12 was on Cloud 9 firing Grandpa's pellet gun. He has great aim, and he honored my request to shoot pop cans not squirrels or birds!

My one wildlife complaint is not actually about the mosquitoes. I had DEET to defend me. The real insect villain of the north are Deer Flies!!! Within seconds of exiting our car one flew up my shorts and bit the back of my leg. It felt like a bee sting and the pain wouldn't go away. I soaked in the cool waters of the lake and it felt a little better, but later the itch was insane. They also got my toe, (which now feels like it should be amputated) and my ankles, which are scratched raw. Deer Flies are another reason why I live in southern Wisconsin farmland and not the northern woods.

We had our share of leeches hitching a nutritious ride, but they aren't that bad. I'd take them over Deer Flies any day! They were small, not like Amazon jungle leeches or Humphrey Bogart leeches in the movie African Queen. Little lake leeches are harmless. You just have to check between your toes once you are done swimming! They make good bait too!

We spent a little time at the county fair. Personally, I see and smell enough Holsteins right here in Heavensville, but we did get to see furry chickens. I swear their white feathers looked just like fur. They resembled kittens more so than chickens. The "Dress a Goat" contest was fun and the boys climbed the fire tower with DH. (I can't make it past the tops of the trees before my fear of heights kicks in.)

My mom fattened me up with the best chocolaty brownies I've ever eaten, Swedish chocolate cookies, hash brown cheesy potato casserole, fresh made Belgian waffles every morning and ice cream cake. As I said goodbye this morning she handed me a chocolate bar for the road, I kid you not!  I won't tell you about the fry bread at the fair and my dad treating us to more fried Walleye at the bar down the road. I can't live there. Tomorrow morning its back to reality.

We saw Dragon Boat races, shopped sidewalk sales, watched Boomerang, climbed a fake giant boulder at the park, picked buckets of raspberries, saw the Mummy movie and taught Mormor how to blog on Multiply- HI MOM!

I'm ready for bed!

Coming home tomorrow....

I miss Yumi. I can't wait to come home and give her a good long cuddle.

I've missed blogging too. I can't wait to get caught up on all your pages.

It certainly is strange trying to work on someone else's computer isn't it? I guess I miss my old fart of a computer too!

I miss Southern Wisconsin water. Even with my parent's water softener, there's too much iron up here!

I miss my water tubes. (bed)

I miss my blankie.

I miss blasting my music. Maybe I need to hint I need an IPod for my birthday?

I'll have a nice long vacation clog to post after we get back.  Now its time to get back to scratching my bites.