another late night

Today was a topsy turvy day. It started when I had to cover third grade reading during my prep. Good news: friends got new to them furniture so they needed to get rid of their love seat and couch to make room. We are the happy recipients. I'm so excited. It actually goes well with our existing chairs, so it's amazing! We're working to keep the dog off of it. so It's covered with things when we aren't in the room.

I've been working on typing programs for the show this week. Still have more to do and I really want to just sleep!

Back to work!

I'm back

it's been forever and the main reason I kept up the blog was so that my mom could keep in touch with pictures of our life, but when she passed it seemed kind of pointless.

I've been Christmas crafting. Knitting and other things. The DD is a freshman at college (home for the holidays). I expect some growing pains on both sides over this break.

This next week will be crazy busy at school and home. Especially with all the things that need to be done in preparation for the holiday. It's like I'm cramming all of Advent into one week. We lost power today, so I started a craft that I could start in candlelight. I went into my messy craft room to find a star and stumbled on some jewelry wire which worked better than the hanger I was going to use to put the parts together. I decided to form a star out of the end at the top. It's for my secret Santa person at work (my boss). I think it turned out OK.  I'll leave a picture of the final product here:

so much since the last post.
Kids:
DD is 1st chair flute in her school concert band YAY... all those lessons are paying off. Her all-city chorus concert was tonight and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
DS1 and DS2 had great conferences today :) Both are playing baseball this spring.

Work:

Lived through my observation in a very positive way!

 2/3 grade concert was last Thursday.  Just a taste of the concert:
2nd grade
 3rd grade
It was dedicated to Music Makes Your Mind Grow... for music in our schools month!
The kids were terrific!!!!!

My chorus is singing the National Anthem at our local AAA division PHILLIES baseball affiliate  next Friday. WE can't wait. I designed T-shirts for them. SO EXCITED!!!!!!

Had the best time teaching 6th grade today.  (major, minor and dorian modes) The ideas kept coming the faster I taught. It was awesome. I'm going to make some manipulatives for class that I'll share when they're finished.

My friend and I did the SOAR award for 2 groups of winners today. It's always so much fun to do something with those kids that lets them have fun and be creative at the same time!

Little League keeps me hopping as player agent and trying to get the league moving in a forward growth direction. Fortunately, I have some very positive people on my side. I never would have guessed I'd be so involved a year ago.

The band parent president asked me to consider being an officer next year. I said ok... Am I nuts? But it's an incredible organization.

Knitting:
What's that?? I finished a baby blanket weeks ago that is still waiting to be blocked.... pictures after that happens (which I hope is before the baby is born!)

OK.... gotta do some school work! Night all

the snowman

so beautiful!

fake it til you become it

This is such a worthwhile 20 minutes.

Baby panda in DC

Yesterday the National Zoo had a baby panda born. How cute is that. The panda cam might be too busy but bookmark it and you can maybe see it later! On a musical note. My first chorus rehearsal was today. I hope they think I'm as crazy as I am. Trying to get them to really articulate those consonants. It's hard work! Knitting? what is that? Hopefully by October I'll be in a schedule where I have some time to do some crafts. Between this work thing and my kids life, I have none of my own. It's ok though, can't get in trouble that way!

how cool is this

School has begun! Tomorrow starts the third week with kids! I can't believe it . But I'm LOVING back at the elementary school and I can tell that the kids are happy I'm back too. :)

My daughter went in the week before and helped me decorate a bit. She colored all my solfege hands that I found on pinterest I've found some fantastic things there and it only gets me more and more excited for school. Mom had a birthday on Friday and I have a special package for her.... not telling yet. boys are playing baseball again.... and the daughter is playing soccer. She is also in her school's marching band and jazz band and choir(s). The last is dependent on her audition results from last week. Maybe I'll find some time to blog again, now that I feel as though my life is returning to me.

had to share

in the ravellenics I earned a few medals. Not as many as I had hoped but I guess enough considering we were on vacation at the time as well. Hat Dash - 2 Lace Longjump - 1 Frogging Trampoline - 1 Cowl Jump - 1 Holiday Hurdles -1 Colourwork Cross-Country - 1 Single Skein Sprint - 2 Baby Dressage - 1 Shawl Sailing - 1 Synchronized Stashbusting- 4 I guess not too bad... Can't post pics yet as there is a gift for someone who reads my blog. trying to prepare for school both physically and mentally.... not being too successful! Oh and I have a stress fracture at the top of my tibia so my workout schedule has been interrupted until further notice (and just when I was beginning to drop some pounds)

moving

the stash back to its home. This makes me realize that I REALLY may not buy any more yarn. I have lots of gorgeous recycled yarn that I've been sorting by weight. And tons of commercial yarn, so it's a moratorium. Actually I haven't bought any in over a year (of course I've knit next to nothing) but not even more sweaters to frog (unless they're cheap and 100% cashmere, preferable DK or heavier) Well, even that would be hard because I haven't been to the thrift store since forever either. I'll post a picture when I'm finished but DH bought these shelves and filled 40% with clear rubbermaid storage bins which are filling up quickly (with recycled yarns :))

the stash started like this

then the basement looked like this

and the new picture has yet to be taken, but it'll be a beauty.

And hopefully, the room I'm painting will be complete soon. I want to leave it steampunk but DH wants to box out the pipes.

I forgot to mention the little friend that came to visit us the other day His cardinal parents were flying around encouraging him to take the leap. The neighbor's dog scared him to death. He is so sweet.

off to weed the garden a bit then move more stash.

TGIS

Thank god it's summer!

It's all about baseball. DS1 is on his league's all-star baseball team. They have a game Tuesday night. They lost their first so depending on the outcome it could be their last or they could play again on Thursday. I'm hoping for the latter. He's done remarkably well this season and I'm insanely proud of him. He was Snoopy in his school's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown musical as well so we had a hoppin' spring.

DS2 played baseball as well so we were at the field almost every night after school and play practice!

I am headed back to the elementary school to teach and couldn't be happier. I need to get started on making awesome lesson plans. The new books are in my car.

My kids have kept me insanely busy with their schedules, but I guess that's what keeps me young.

My latest project that just finished blocking and drying today is a birthday gift for a friend that I hope to see this weekend.

Pattern: Citron

Designer:Hilary Smith Callas

Yarn: my own handspun targhee cross 2 ply (from a raw fleece)

Weight: fingering

Color: swimming pool blues (kettle dyed with BerryBlast Kool Aid and medium and dark blue Wiltons gel)

Needle: US6

Yardage: less than 600

I hope she likes it. It's only my 3rd project that I've made using handspun. The 2nd was this gift for DH for Christmas, which he wears but I'm not completely happy with:

Also not the most clear picture. That was with 3 ply BFL undyed except for the trim which was romney dyed with coffee.

I haven't knit or spun much in the past 2 years being at the JHS... Hoping that will change with the school change this year.

Well my list of summer projects is growing. And we'll have company for 7 weeks or so, so rather than type more I should get cracking.

still alive

lots has happened and no time to blog.
THe most recent being the daughter's 12th birthday. It fell on a girl scout meeting night so she had her cake there. Then on Saturday she took a friend with the family to Red Robin for diner and to see the new Journey movie (in 3D of course, aren't all new movies released in 3D now?)
Her family party was last Sunday and her request was that in lieu of cake we have cupcakes. (too much cupcake war challenges I believe) So we decided on making both vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. Each with it's share of a chocolate surprise inside and each with raspberry filling.

To differentiate between them, we used pink silicon baking cups for the raspberry filled ones, iced them with raspberry buttercream icing, and topped them with a fresh raspberry.




The chocolate surprise cupcakes had tie-dyed buttercream icing. I did it with a lesson I saw on pinterest (admittedly some of my free time has gone there)





The rapsberry cupcake filling came from the recipe found here but I combined the idea for this frosting along with this recipe for an incredibly delish frosting

Much of the rest of the time has been spent helping the kids with their school projects, trying to set up the craft room in the basement and lots and lots of school preparations and grading....

I have knitting to talk about but I'll save that for another day!

happy new year

I am so blessed. I have 3 great, happy healthy children, a loving, caring, generous, kind husband, and really terrific friends whom I love a lot and I feel their love as well,a warm house, enough food and drink, vehicles that take us where we need or want to go, and the beauty of the world that God provides us. What more could a person need?

I'm not one for new year's resolutions. It seems as though they fall by the wayside shortly into the year. I would like to finish some outstanding projects: home improvement and craft, organize my time a bit more and become a bit more motivated, and maybe lose a few pounds, but no promises ;-)

2011 brought us lots:
The first year my sons played organized baseball (and the oldest one LOVED it).
The first year my kids played organized soccer.
The completion of my first year as a junior high music teacher (totally NOT my age choice).
The year my daughter became a woman (TMI I know).
The little patio in the back.
A cool hammock stand for the hubs so he can USE the hammock.
A new furnace and water heater (ouch on the wallet).
Experiencing my first earthquake.
My first year as a parent of a middle schooler.
Dealing with a leaking roof... still dealing with that one :-(
Snowstorm before Halloween causing multiple day power outage.
The first time my oldest son auditioned for a play (and got the role he wanted YAY!)
A larger project knitted from my handspun yarn :-)
The Christmas where I truly found no need to receive any gifts because of the pleasure I got from giving them (and this was the best gift of all!)
The least stressed holiday ever (and the most organized I've been in years)

I am so blessed. May you have a blessed 2012

yule moon

was yesterday. There was a lunar eclipse on the west coast of the US and I believe in the southern hemisphere on Friday. Of course, we didn't see it.

Today I found this

"Hierbas Buenas" Valley Petroglyphs (Night Time Lapse Movie) from Stéphane Guisard on Vimeo.

set to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. So beautiful.

DS1 joined the science club at his school and his work for this week was to watch the moon. The beginning of the week was a bust as we had cloudy skies and lots of rain (yes the roof still leaks) but since Thursday the skies have been really beautiful.

Last night I went to see DH's women's chorus at Moravian College Vespers. I decided to hoof the mile to the church in spite of the sudden low temps. It was a beautiful walk.

Today I feel miserable. I finally have the cold that's been going around school. Thank goodness it waited until my concert at school was over (and my Messiah gig)

The vest... what a story I have to tell with that. I'll wait until it's complete then tell the while mess at once.

3 batches of cookies are baked and dough for cut outs is in the fridge. Today I started to infuse a pint of Bombay gin with pomegranate.... Has to work it's magic for a month.

Some Christmas gifts are made, others have yet to be finished. And yet I feel this still calm in my soul... like no worries. It'll get done in time before the baby is born.
8 days of school until break. Not that I'm counting ;-)

muppet madness

Last night we took the kids to see the new Muppet movie. If you remember the old muppet movies or the Tv show you will LOVE LOVE LOVE this film... Even my husband who had no clue about the muppets laughed and my kids loved it as well. A good night of family fun!
And don't forget to check out bakerellas muppet cake pops. They're really adorable. If only I had the time.. although I woulnd't want to eat them then!

11.11.11

Today's date: only happens once a century. Unfortunately at 11:11 I'll be in the middle of a rehearsal at school. I hope something magical happens. My chorus could use it.

What will you be doing?

it comes in 3s

end of August was the earthquake

September brought a hurricane to the northeast knocking out power all over.

and Saturday the 29th of October..... a major snowstorm hits the Northeast knocking out power all over.

Enough already! So that should be the end of the surprises from Mother Nature right???

after 48 hours we have power again. I was able to get a hot shower and put a dent in the laundry. We were able to cook at home AND do dishes.

And now I think I'll go to bed. (just as soon as I grade these school papers)

Happy Halloween!

sip

The third Saturday of September is world wide spin in public day (sip) So I took my wheel to the son's baseball game and spun about a half bobbin of yarn :)

So busy with school preparations and running after the kids I don't knit spin or play at all lately. Hoping it settles down soon!

Go out and spin in public today!

happy birthday mom

91 today... hope you enjoy many many more!


photo courtesy of simplysweetsaz

happy labor day

I'm so thankful for the long weekend.

Friday night I was able to catch up on some lost sleep from the first week of school beginning. We were blessed enough to not be hit too hard by hurricane Irene. In the town I live, the schools were closed because of lack of power and flooding but where I teach we were a go. So I had a full week to put in with students... and boy was I tired by Friday.

Saturday morning called for a fall baseball game. Then some cleaning while DH ran to the supermarket to pick up a few things for our company for dinner Saturday evening. What a wonderful visit with fantastic friends.

Sunday, DH ran off early in the morning for church and I cleaned up from the night before. All three kids had soccer in the afternoon. They came back beat. The hub and I watched the end of the very long (and sad) Phillies game. I wonder how their protest will turn out.

Today, I've spent most of the day working on school lessons, still not finished. It's raining again. Baseball was cancelled this morning. FOr dinner I made 40 empanadas: spinach, egg and cheese, corn & blue cheese, walnut and celery. I also made baked feta for DH and I from this recipe I found on pinterest. I'll tell you how it was after we eat