We just finished our holiday baking! Dipped apricots, fudge, gingerbread men and sugar cookies. Flour and sugar were everywhere while Christmas tunes played in the background. The funnest thing we made was something the kids saw in a Family Fun magazine. A cute pretzel snowmen. They decided we should make them for teachers and friends. I am sure that the recipients will be delighted at the whimsical snacks, but the real joy was in spending the day in the kitchen together. Long after the cookies ... View the Post
yo-yos and a good attitude
Last month was a blur. It seems like tons of little things and a few big things crowded onto my calender. I can chose which of two ways to react. The first and most tempting is to freak out, stess out and reach for the nearest morsel of chocolate I can get my hands on. The second reponse is to re-balance and ask what really matters in life. Is the stress really worth it and will it really matter in five years? Take my favorite brown dress for example. I love that Land's End article and could ... View the Post
NaNoWriMo
November is "National Novel Writing Month". Every year people take up the challenge to write up to 50,000 words during the month. There is even a chart to see how you are dong on your goal and you can sign up "Writing Buddies". This year I took the challenge , which is huge for an article writer who has a 750 word attention span. But it isn't about what I can do...it is about what I am willing to persevere toward. I have heard it said that you don't fail until you quit. I may not be writing ... View the Post
big foot lives here!
The other day Scott went for a run and told me that his feet kind of hurt, which is one of many reasons I try to abstain from that form of body jarring exercise. "I think my shoes are too small," he said. I looked at his feet. I think the shoes look fine.. but his feet look too long. "Holy cow! I hope you grow into those!" I said jokingly. "When did we get those shoes?" "Last year when I joined Civil Air Patrol. I got them at the same time I got my boots." "Well," I continued my shoe ... View the Post
juggling goldfish
A few days ago a wonderful writer friend, Mary DeMuth, posted a question asking if others felt overwhelmed. Boy, was that relevant to me, especially since I had just grounded myself for not having my homework done, laundry finished, and to top it off my room was a mess! Sometimes things get done and at the end of the day I breath a sigh of contented relief. Then, there are days when the vacuum expoldes, the toilet overflows and the kitchen floor needs pressure washed due to canning ... View the Post
puppy love
It is hard to believe Lucy's puppies are almost 7 weeks old. It has been such a special time for us. The kids watched her give birth, which was a lesson in itself. Later that day after Emma and I had left for a meeting, I called home to check on the little family. Amy said that Jack needed to talk to me because he was FREAKED out. "He is watching all the puppies nurse and needs to know how he ate when he was a baby," said Amy. "Put him on the phone." "Hello?" "Jack.."I paused trying hard to ... View the Post