I can't get over how much this cat is shedding. Every time I pet her, I'm left with a kitten in my hand like some sort of magic trick.

Our Easter Weekend

I was playing with the new to me camera and I used the timer function to snap this shot. I'm still having great difficulty using this camera. Outside, in bright light, its impossible to see what you are taking a picture of and the focus seems to work only 50% of the time.

We took an Easter Day stroll through Petrified Springs with G-Ma. Before the hike, we ate out a huge dinner. In retrospect, I wish I could have reversed the order of those events. DH forgot his hat in the car and it was a little too windy for his head so I gave him the hood from my jacket.

The day before we celebrated big too, at my sister's house. I tried to take a little taste of everything but we had so many options, a little here and there quickly added up to quite a bit.

We had a wonderful weekend visiting with family and it was great my parents were able to make the trip and stay with us all week. 

We learned a new board game called Telestrations. Its a mix between telephone and Pictionary and its hilarious. Using dry erase flip boards, you take turns guessing the word or phrase or drawing a picture, continually passing the flip boards around the table to all the players. When everyone has completed drawing or guessing words, you review all the guesses and drawings and it so funny how things get misinterpreted. I think I'm going to have to add this game to our collection someday soon.

Today I need to catch up on errands and laundry before work. Its going to be a busy start of the week. Hope you all have a good one! 

Beautiful sunrise this morning. Happy Easter! Looking forward to seeing even more family today, continuing this wonderful weekend.

Its not fun staying in the cocoon without my cocoon partner. I guess I'll venture out into the world and try to focus on what makes me happy.

I should not have exit the cocoon today. Where's the chocolate?

As I was sleeping, I began dreaming. In the dream I fell asleep and dreamed some more. What an awesome way to sleep! I feel extra rested today.

April Fools!

 I told my family there was a raccoon in the garage. When they opened the door, this is what they saw.

Sorry the image is blurry. I've been trying to use a new to me camera, and I can't get it to focus correctly.

I've been limping along with my broken camera, but lately I'm losing photos. I purchased a new memory card, but it wouldn't work in my broken camera. I broke the camera years ago when I tripped and fell on it. The battery case barely stays closed and the micro setting stopped working. Now that I'm losing photos, I think its time to upgrade.

I should just buy a new camera but shopping for one is not something I look forward to. There are so many options to choose from. Budget wise I'm not looking for a huge SLR. On the other hand, I want something a step up from point and shoot.

My son saw a water proof, impact resistant up to 5 feet camera that also shoots video. Its the Nikon Coolpix AX100. It also has GPS. I'm very tempted but I can't pull the trigger. Its a little over what I wanted to spend, and how do I know I'll really like it? Such a purchase is difficult for me without being able to test it out first. Of course having an impact resistant camera could make sense for clumsy me!

Then there's the question of should I buy a photo camera that also has video or a video camera that takes stills? Should I just use my phone or my son's I-Pod touch?

I have to figure something out, because I'm realizing I'm not taking enough photos and time is passing us by.

Got any camera/video advice for me?

We Are Keepers Of Set Lists

Last night's concert was great. We saw Sleeper Agent, a new and upcoming band from Bowling Green, KY. We first saw them perform last December at a Cage The Elephant concert and ever since I've been listening to their album while I work out. Its great music to keep your heart rate up.

Last week we attended The Joy Formidable concert, another band we first saw last December at that same Cage The Elephant concert. That show was amazing as well. I can't get over how big their sound is considering there's only 3 band members.

Somehow we've been fortunate enough to grab set lists from both shows. From the Sleeper Agent show, both myself and my husband received a set list after we asked band members for them. I love how the Sleeper Agent lists are handwritten!

The Joy Formidable set list I was yelled at for taking. The show was over and the band had left the stage. Someone next to my husband reached over and grabbed the list taped to the stage floor. A security guard yelled at him to put it back, and I was surprised the kid did.

I asked my husband to grab it. He did and then passed it to me. The security guy of course then yelled at me to put it back. Fans around me screamed out for me to, "Just put it in your purse!" I completely ignored the security guard and simply walked away with it.

What was he going to do to me? Throw me out? The show was over!!! I guess I'm older and not afraid to be a trouble maker than the first guy who tried to claim it. Or the security guard didn't want to pick on an older woman. LOL!

I'm looking forward to the day we can see these bands perform again.

Strawberry Spinach banana smoothies + Raw garlic + Echinacea tea + Sleep = I'm not getting sick! Yeah!!!

Are You Broccoli?

Note to self - The Black Sharpie is indeed permanent. The Purple Sharpie is not.

I checked on my winter sowing containers and discovered we'll soon be playing, can you identify this plant. Half of my containers I used a black sharpie, the other half purple. The purple has worn off. Most of what I labeled in purple could be veggies I believe. We'll find out eventually right?! LOL!

I am doing my best not to get sick. My husband has been really sick for a week now. He is getting better, but really slowly. I sat by his bedside last weekend trying to help him feel better, and now I can feel something trying to brew in my head. For the past few days now, literally depending on the hour, I go from feeling yes, I'm definitely getting sick, to perhaps not. I'll keep throwing echinacea tea and raw garlic at it and hope for the best. Immune systems need occasional workouts to keep strong right?

I'm not getting to everything I want to, but I also know its important to respect my body's need for rest. It is what it is, and I shouldn't stress out. Hopefully I will not get sick, and I can catch up this weekend.

Date night tonight! We're going to see The Joy Formidable. "There’s something panoramic about The Joy Formidable’s music - their mountainous, fuzzed out riffs and ferocious, earthy rhythms shrouded in ethereal haze."

My Life At The Moment - 3/15/12

I don't need an alarm clock. Osama Bin Robin is not only once again attacking our car windows, he's banging on the kitchen window as well. The boys asked if they could line the crazy bird up in their sites of their airsoft rifles. Very tempting, but I'm still holding my ground on never shoot the living. We'll see how many mornings I can take it though.

I'm so tempted to plant something in the garden. We've been having temps in the 70's which is very odd for southern Wisconsin this time of the year. Will it last? We've had such a mild winter, maybe it will? Usually I wait for Mother's Day to plant directly outside. I think I will throw some spinach in and chance it.

The boys are going to help me build a rain barrel. We've picked up all of the supplies for around $20. I showed them ready to purchase rain barrels for over $100 and we all agree, this should be a project we can pull off.

I want to kidnap my husband away from his work. He's sick and shouldn't be working with a fever. The man has a work ethic that won't stop, and to some degree, that is dangerous. He needs to find balance.

I'm having too much fun on Pinterest. I'm not renewing magazine subscriptions knowing that almost anything I can find online, I can now organize visually on Pinterest.

I've been having fun learning new things at work. I'm taking baby steps learning html coding and practicing updating our website. I'm also setting up more social network marketing and looking forward to attending classes on the subject the next two weeks. There is so much to learn, its exciting!

I was hoping to buy a new camera with some tax refund money, but it's looking like new tires are going to take that dream away. I can't believe how crazy expensive tires are! Its a must have though to keep our car safely drivable.

I'm also kissing goodbye for now, hope to see you later, to my dreams of new furniture. My sister & I found this amazing Amish furniture store on a Amish farm, not a separate furniture reseller, where you buy directly from the Amish family making the furniture. It blew me away the quality of the pieces. Its like nothing you can find in any commercial furniture store. I think they were saving their best work for their own business.  I have my heart set on a glider, swivel chair that would outlast my lifetime and be passed down through the generations, but it cost $750. I'm going to start putting away a little out of every paycheck and maybe next year, for my birthday, I'll see if I can ask the Amish to make me a chair.

Both boys are up now, so I guess I should be going. Hope everything in your world is going great! I'll try to be better at keeping up.

Happy Leap Day! 2012

I'm trying to get in the spirit of Leap Day, but honestly, because today is one of the days we have to spend most of our day apart from each other, I don't feel like celebrating.

Last Leap Day we decided to make it a family tradition to put together a time capsule. I wanted to open this together, but I'm sneaking my peak now, the menfolk can peak at it together later. I don't know if we'll have a chance to put together a new one together today. We may have to pretend tomorrow is Leap Day because we'll have time together to work on it then.

From last Leap Day's time capsule, I'm wishing we would have added photos. This year we will, along with hopefully some video. We did write surveys and those are interesting to reflect on. I also included a piece of mail. Hilary for president, that didn't work out for her did it.

DH's prediction about what he'd be doing 4 years later came true. He no longer works at Inspire Design. My prediction sadly has not. I wanted my own home based business. DS16 is not driving a new car, and DS13 did not finish Super Smash Brother's Brawl. We may have to work at our next Leap Day's predictions.

4 years ago we had a pet, who sadly is no longer with us. RIP Chihiro.

The weather was partly sunny, high of 35, low 13.

We ate supper at Chilis. DH had a bacon cheddar burger, I had a Carribean Salad, DS16 had the grilled chicken platter and DS13 had a plain burger. Our waitress was anti-social and the bill with tip came to $38.52.

The last movie we saw as of Feb 29, 2008 was Michael Clayton. I have no recollection of seeing this movie. The boys' last movie Twilight Zone.

My message to myself, 4 years later was, "Don't worry so much that you are 4 years older. Your family loves you." I'm not upset at all about being 4 years older. Funny I thought I would feel that way.

Here is my multiply blog from 4 years ago, when we began this time capsule.

WPA homeschooling conference

Start:	May 4, '12
End:	May 5, '12
Location:	Oshkosh,WI

Wisconsin Parents Association homeschooling conference

UWG 2013

Start:	Feb 3, '13
End:	Feb 8, '13
Location:	Sandusky,OH

The Unschoolers Waterpark Gathering at the Kalahari.

Winter Sowing

I have finally gotten around to winter sowing. Thankfully winter is not over yet. A few more weeks and I wouldn't officially be winter sowing.

I've never done this before and I have no idea what to expect, but it seemed too simple not to give it a try. Using recycled milk jugs, I've planted seeds and set the jugs outside. The jugs will act like mini-greenhouses and Mother Nature will take care of when the seeds will sprout. My hope is to have plants to transplant in the spring.

The jugs are cut in half horizontally, leaving a small hinge uncut, and closed back up with tape or pipe cleaners. You can open the jugs on warmer days and to water plants, and then close them back up at night.

I don't have space for seed starting indoors, nor do I have southern windows or light tables. Winter sowing seemed to be the perfect answer. We'll see what grows and thrives. I'm gardening in zone 5.

I received over 2 dozen different herb seed packets for Christmas. Many of the herbs I've never heard of before. So far I've winter sown Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Echinacea, Milk Thistle, Peppermint, Feverfew, Burdock, Yarrow, St. John's Wort, and Astragalus. Some of these plants could grow quite large. I'm realizing we're going to have to build a large herb bed in the garden.

Eventually I hope to winter sow veggies as well. I'm not sure how well some of the veggies will transplant, but I have enough seed I can try both methods, winter sowing and direct sowing. I'll keep you posted on how it all works out.

For more information on winter sowing, check out, http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2010/12/winter-sowing-101/

or wintersown.org

About Me

I picked this up from my friend Renee. Thanks Renee!!

~What is your favorite season, and why?

Autumn - I love the fall colors and putting on a cozy jacket. Fall means apple picking and pumpkin patches. Fall is when the public school kids go back to school and we unschoolers have the rest of the world to ourselves! LOL! It never lasts long enough.

~ If you could live in any other time period, when?
I'm staying put. I can't live without the internet! Plus I like knowing I have access to modern medicine. If you force me into the Delorian, I'm setting it for the future.
 

~ Do you love a particular planet or constellation?
I love planet Earth and my favorite constellation is Cassiopeia.

~ If you believe in heaven, what does it look like?
 Heaven for me, will be a garden. I see heaven as the perfect place to be an autodidact with full access to all of life's answers.

~ You are burying a personal time capsule to be opened in 100 years. What goes in?
Seeds, chocolate, music, books, Birkenstocks, Badger balms, honey oatmeal soap, photographs, artwork, recipes
 

~ If you could come back as an animal, what would you want to be and why?
I love big and small cats, but the carnivore only diet doesn't appeal to me. I'd probably be a bird. I like having a nest, yet it would be fun to migrate.
 

~ The fantasy dinner party – you get 12 guests, dead or alive, famous or not. Who are they?
They'll all not born yet. 12 of my future descendants (grandchildren, great grandchildren) 

~ What do you want to be doing when you die?
Smiling

Random Thoughts - Valentine's 2012

DS13's teeth are starting to feel less sore. He may try to chew today.

I'm hoping to celebrate Valentines and take my boys out for lunch. We're planning on going to Famous Daves. It feels strange eating out without Dad, but he has to work first shift and I work second.

I did make DH a peanut butter sandwich with love today. I also baked him banana bread for breakfast and we'll have brownies when we finally have a chance to see each other late tonight.

DH & I have been doing our best to try and not catch the cold the boys have had. So far so good. I believe in the power of veg!

I have to get my winter sowing done. My husband is so wonderful to put up with me storing empty milk jugs all over the kitchen floor.

Discovered yesterday I have way more herb seeds than I realized. I must build a bigger herb bed this spring.

They also must drink more milk so I can winter sow more seeds! (I don't drink it.)

We bought two new chairs for the game cave - inexpensive recliners we found at Menards, but so much nicer than the beaten to death couch we threw out a few weeks ago. Perfect for man style gaming all night.

Now I need to plan a Mom Cave. DH suggested we pick up another inexpensive recliner, but I passed. I want something more fitting for a Queen of the castle, not the King and his Princes. Unless its patio furniture, I don't want something purchased at a home improvement store.

We saw Chronicle last weekend. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, but my family insisted. It turned out to be entertaining, and I was glad I went.

Battery is about to go on the laptop. I better wrap this up and plug back in.

Have a Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone has a chance to feel loved today and to share that love with others.

Braces

DS13 doesn't want us to take any photos of him with his braces, so I'm using this model photo. He choose black elastics. I actually think they look pretty cool, although next time I suggested he go with rainbow, or do they have glow in the dark?

He's in a lot of discomfort, because not only are his teeth really sore, he has a head cold, poor dude. Last night's supper was vanilla milkshake and yogurt.

Its been a long time since I've purchased a milkshake from McDonalds. Even though the shake wasn't for me, I was disappointed. It was served in a clear plastic frappe style cup, and I thought vanilla usually meant white, not tan. Maybe that was due to vanilla extract being added, but I couldn't help but think this was going to taste like coffee. DS13 assured me it tasted good, but next time, I'll plan on making him a vanilla shake at home.

I was trying to reconcile the expense this will cost us, even with some insurance kicking in. I'm grateful we are in a financial position to make this happen for our son, but the price sticker on this project is still coming in around $4,000 after insurance. Its wire, metal, elastics and practiced people choosing to make the correct pressure points. Yes, it will take almost 2 years to complete, but material wise, I can see this expense is boiling down to labor costs. Although I will share, the waiting room/office at the ortho is pretty posh. The bathroom too has a designer glass sink bowl and faucet.

Of course there isn't anything we wouldn't do for the comfort and safety of our children. I knew he had an overbite, but when I actually saw the 3D molded cast of his "before" teeth, I had no idea how uncomfortable my son must be. His bottom teeth were really biting into the roof of his mouth.

My heart still aches for the pain he will have to endure for the next two years. I wore braces myself at his age. I wish I could do this for him, but he'll get through this. Maybe he will even learn to enjoy different soft foods?

He loves biting into hard, crunchy apples and loves popcorn. I'm sorry he will have to miss this.

So far his list of soft foods is very short; yogurt, scrambled eggs, spaghetti, ice cream. He's never been into soups, but I hope that will change.

He's not suppose to drink soda pop, but he's never liked carbonation, so that's not a sacrifice. He's never really been into candy either.

I was actually surprised when the receptionist told me to have him chew gum, not bubble gum. She said it will help with the soreness. I don't know if he'll be willing to give this a try.

He has more of a salt tooth than sweet tooth. He's been told to be careful with chips. This surprised me. I don't see taco chips as being too hard. Maybe a cheetoe, but a taco chip? We'll have to figure this out.