I Feel Like an Almost Designer

I haven't seen my cousin from Albuquerque in years, but I communicate with her at least twice a week via blogging or e-mail. Now, she has made a quilt for me. This was entirely her idea and shows her generous, caring spirit. I really didn't beg and plead for one.

But since she asked, I just happened to have a guest room/grandchildren's play room/room for the computer and keyboard for composing jazzy video tunes at midnight/wii room that needed a bedspread.

The twin bed in there is one built by my husband years ago for our own teenager when she shared a small room and needed storage. It needed a little spread that would fit without having to be tucked in. The rest of the furniture is left over from my son's room. So I had white furniture and black furniture in the room and didn't really want to paint it again.
She found fabric to tie it all together.
I added a couple of red pillows, bought a frame with a demo picture in it that I liked, found an old green matte up in the closet, painted it black and put it around the picture, snitched a few red/black/white things from around the house and Voila! Here it is.

I'm still lacking a wall hanging or two, and I'll certainly have to replace the knobs on the bed,
but I feel proud of what I've done so far. She also sent a pirate book for the grandkids. This evening, Grandpa, Grandma and Mim put it together. (That's it, sitting on the book case in the first picture)

So, dear Cousin, look what you started.

Thank you.

More Famous Proverbs...Guessed at by my Students

Last week I promised you more of these...so here they are--More famous proverbs finished by my junior high students.

Thursday Thirteen


1. You can't have your cake...

...before your spinach.

2. Bad news travels...

...in circles

3. Don't cry over...
...guys

(particularly not junior high guys)















4. The road to hell is paved...
...with melted pavement










5. It takes two...
... to play ping pong










6. There's no fool like...
... one who thinks he is smarter than you.















7. The bigger they are the...
... better the football team.









8. Beauty is in the eyes... ...not the mouth












9. After the feast... ...comes dessert

10. You're never too old to.... ...skydive

11. Misery loves...
...food. (sad but true)

12. Barking dogs seldom......quit. (True. True.)

13. The pen is mightier.... ...than the county jail.

(just in case you've forgotten the real endings)
1. ...and eat it too.
2....fast.
3...spilt milk
4. with good intentions
5. to tango
6. an old fool
7. the harder they fall
8. of the beholder
9. comes the reckoning
10. to learn
11. company
12. bite
13. the sword

A Walk in the Dark

“It’s perfect for walking,” said my daughter last night, and that was enough.

We emerged without coats and scarves for the first time this year, out into the quiet street, under a dark sky, clear enough to see sparkles and clusters of vivid stars. Above our house, the Big Dipper was pouring out something—she said cheese, but if so it was the invisible kind. As we walked south toward the courthouse at the center of town, we could see Orion standing over us, guarding the street, and when we passed the little bridge into the next block, a tabby cat joined us, first circling, then pouncing and bounding ahead. He accompanied us to the end of that block, then reluctantly let us go. The air was March cool, hinting of spring and warm, whispering breezes; all the bare, white tree branches looked hopeful against the night sky.

So we walked on for a mile or so, talking about school, art studios, small towns, and the idiosyncrasies of the whole human race, because sometimes a girl and her mother just need to talk. Then we turned our back to Orion and headed home, where the Big Dipper was now pouring out music-- loud, lively strains as my son fiercely practiced on the piano. His chords and clusters of notes ricocheted off all the living room walls and escaped out onto the front lawn to greet us, where, oddly enough, they didn't even ripple the evening's quiet peace.

Today, I called my mom. We chatted for an hour about jigsaw puzzles, crocheted bedspreads, bread machines, and all the rest of the family. Sometimes a girl and her mother just need to talk.

So They Don't All Know Their Famous Proverbs

I think highly of proverbs--pithy little sermons that keep preaching--so, sometime during the course of the school year--preferably when we get to the book of "Proverbs"--I like to hand out a sheet of unfinished, famous proverbs and invite the students to finish them. If they know the proverb they fill it in, but if they have no recollection of the proverb, they are welcome to make up an ending. Then we discuss what the proverbs really mean. It's lots of fun. Especially for me because I need a break from grading serious papers sometimes. Here are thirteen of their recent responses to common proverbs. (For those who can't remember what the real ending is supposed to be, I've listed it at the bottom.)

Thursday Thirteen

1. A bird in the hand...

...will leave something behind.

2. A miss is as good as....

...a Mr.

3. Don't put the cart...

...in the middle of the parking lot.

4. The best things in life are....

...ipods!

5. Don't look a gift horse....

...in the eyes. (They were close on this one)

6. Familiarity breeds...

...like rabbits

( Well, we do live in a farming community)

7. Lightning never strikes...

...hippos.
(I wonder why not)

8. There is more than one way to...

...kill a cow
(see note about farming community)

9. Clothes do not make...






Themselves.

10. When in Rome...



...watch your back.

(There's a basic mistrust of European types here;
don't get offended, Romans.)

11. Haste makes...

mad state troopers.

12. The squeaking wheel...

...needs WD 40

13. "Don't put all your eggs.......

...in the microwave
(Makes sense to me)

...to be continued next week...maybe the next week too.

1. is worth two in the bush.
2. a mile
3. before the horse
4. free
5. in the mouth
6. contempt
7. twice in the same place
8. skin a cat
9. the man
10. do as the Romans
11. waste
12. gets the grease
13. in one basket

.

Seeing Clearly

This is an update for All Misty-eyed and the Surgery following.

After Ten days: My husband is seeing extremely well with his new lens. The doctor had run several models using the numbers he had. Each time the computer recommended a different doppler, ranging from 17 to 21. The doctor selected the 20 doppler. He is really pleased, because yesterday's test showed the vision between 20-20 and 20-30--almost perfect. It was just in time too, because the other eye is beginning to cloud badly. They have scheduled that surgery for March 6th. Thanks for all your prayers. . . and I'm thanking God for one conscientious eye doctor in Colorado who kept records well after the date he was legally obligated to keep them.

Passion

This was our Sunday Scribblings prompt word of the week. At first I didn't think I could write about it at all. After all, on Saturday I never feel very passionate about anything. That's the morning when I wake up at the usual time, smile and remember that I didn't have to set the alarm last night and I could sleep for hours if I wanted to. Then I get up, of course, because I love being up early when I don't have to be. On Saturdays I play and loaf and do laundry in between. My kids are home from college, my grandkids come to visit in the evening and bring their parents. My parents call, or I call them. Today, I'll probably go work out up at the gym. I'll play something fierce like "Flying Dutchman" or "O Fortuna" as I slog away on the treadmill. I'll e-mail my sister, and challenge all my relatives to a round of herd a word on facebook. In short, I have a very unpassionate day planned and I like it that way. I'm passionate about it. When my husband used to work in the operating room, people would ask him if it was an exciting job, almost as if that would be one of the perks. He always responded that He hoped not. You don't want excitement in the operating room, you want calm success.
That's what I want today, calm enjoyment of all the people I love so passionately.

P.S. Tonight, when my two grandchildren were over, Zaya and I were sitting at the bar. He finished a bite of chicken and said: "This chicken is so good; it's juicy and tastes kind of fruity. Like acorns. Do you know if you squeeze an acorn you will get acorn juice and it's so good too."

Thirteen Reasons Why I Really Don’t Have Time for Blogging:Especially not for Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen

Income Tax—I need to file it.

Unruly Hair—I need to style it.

I need to grade papers--heaps and stacks,

Defrost the refrigerator’s crammed-full racks,

Clean all the bathrooms; they’re smelling musty,

Wash my car; it’s looking dusty.

There’s a new poem book I must explore,

And stuff that needs sweeping up off the floor,

Lesson plans I have to make,

Potatoes to peel,

a supper to bake.

And then of course, I’ll frost a cake,

Because...

It’s my birthday. I’m fifty three.

And a catchy ending has eluded me.

…must be shades of senility.

Sunday Seven

There were seven of us in children's church today--six little ones and me. We prayed for three grandparents who were sick, one cousin in Iraq, and a puppy. Then we had a discussion about different ministries in the church and which one each child wanted to do. I know they are probably too young for this, but they were attentive and even tried to pick what they wanted. One said she would make a good teacher; another said he was more of a "one on one friend" kind of guy--that's the one in the picture. Another said he would be an "apostle" because he was daring and liked doing new things. One said he really felt like he would be good at any of the gifts. That's the difference between children and teenagers, or adults for that matter. We are afraid to admit what our gifts are for fear that someone will actually put us in a position to use them. They just offer them freely.

We finished with a Bible quiz game. They were in teams of two. The winning team exited whispering to me--we got ten! The team who came in second were both saying loudly, "We're second" "We got eight!" and the third place team was smiling and very proud as they handed me their seven cards--"We got seven!" Nobody was upset that they didn't win. No pouting or sniffling. What a great way to end a Sunday morning service.

Welcome for A Weary Guest

Several years ago, George, a minister friend of my father's, visited a small church in the mountains. Since the hour was late, and he was far from home, he accepted an invitation given by a kindly old couple to stay in their home that night. They made sure he was comfortable, giving up their own bed for him while they slept in the downstairs living room. He slept well. However, during the middle of the night, George awoke with a terrible thirst. Not being acquainted with the house, he was feeling for a light, when he noticed that the couple had left a glass of water on the night stand for him. He assumed that they didn't have running water upstairs, and made a note to commend them for their foresight and thoughtfulness in providing him with a glass of cool water. After drinking a couple of long drinks, he returned to sleep the rest of the night.
Early the next morning, half-groggy with sleep, he opened his eyes at the sound of someone quietly entering the room. His elderly host crept cautiously to the bedside, picked up the water glass, fished out his false teeth, and, inserting them into his mouth, tiptoed quietly out of the room.





Sunday Scribblings We had two topics to pick from: Sleep, or Teeth. I did both. But the story is true.

Sleep

On the outside sleeping,
oh so quietly
in satin and flannel,
poured out over the mattress
like a puddle of molasses
in the middle of its waffle.
Nothing moves. Not a whisper.
Just the veriest little rising and falling,
half a centimeter at most.


But on the inside---
wildest profusion of terrible nonsense-talking,
guffawing at inappropriate moments of great solemnity,
shrieking and cackling, spinning and crashing.
chaotic questions, head-shaking worries.


And the stupid sheep keep slipping--
slamming the fence with their heads.
Wham! Wham! Wham!



Do I have to wake up to get some sleep in here?



Sunday Scribblings