Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Selfgiving...

 OK, I made that last one up, but I do very much enjoy just being by myself. I am eternally grateful that I finally now not only understand and accept that, but thrive in it. I can remember glimpses as a child and feeling wholly myself when alone. I also have glimpses of when I felt incomplete when I was alone.

It is a beautiful sunny morning here in NE Indiana. I am waiting for my hair to dry a bit before going to have some breakfast. I see piles of leaves slowly settling and decomposing, waiting for next spring and summer to be spread upon the garden beds to nourish whatever life I might be able to grow there. The piles are not as big this year, but perhaps there is still time to add to them before the snow covers it all. I see a big pile of brush, again waiting for next spring, summer, and fall to be chipped and spread. No surprise that I have had the best luck with it in slowing weeds' progressions.  And I must say, that the front beds have gotten so much better at not growing as many weeds. Flowers are filling in, I've been very good this year at keeping them clean, and so perhaps that will have a snowball effect so that I can keep more of it clean.

The arborvitae are still green, it has not been cold enough yet for them to turn bronze. The fig tree dropped all of it's leaves during the last frost, and sadly, the remaining fruit did not ripen. I have half a mind to trim them off and plant them around just to see what might happen.

I'll be travelling down to the big city today to spend the day with my ex, his wife, and the kiddos. I've made a french apple pie, and I'll also take the leftover scones and lemon curd from last weekend's women's fellowship. I never got any trick or treat takers, so I've bagged up some candy to take down to share as well.

I hope this message finds you wherever you need to be today. Know that you are loved and wanted. You matter, and I am thankful for you.

Old Business:

• Still reading Power. Yes, still helpful. Have continued to try and have my bigger meals during the early part of the day. Also trying to be better at "scheduling" home chores and fun things so that they actually get done.
• Shift is getting really good, and I don't want the story to end!
• Back onto the Trail Guide.
• Planning for Success is still a fail.
• Magazines, doing great!
• Need to actually schedule walking/running so I do it!
• Craft table needs more work.
• Guitar - I'm up to 11 weeks!!!
• Sanding booth - I cleaned up that bay of the garage last weekend so I can start working on it again. So, progress!
• I was able to cover up all the areas that I got weeded, and that used up the leaf pile from last fall. It was glorious to have so much!  And all the weeds I pulled out? Well, I've been putting them in the "trench" where the sewer line was replaced. It's now almost level again from where it had all settled.
• Had 020's birthday with 022, and my brother and sis in law.  It was wonderful! 

New Business:

• Trip Ideas: See the Savanah Bananas, Float Troy, and Hocking Hills OH.
• Have some GR notes I need to type up.
• Need to get my online schedule updated.
• Need to get more bloodwork done. My lipid panel came back better this year, dropped 60~ points and triglycerides look good. Heart scan came back great. But white blood cell count down, hemoglobin near low, iron low so we're doing a repeat next month, with some others to see what we can find. Hopefully, the draw will go better than last time. It was both arms, and a hand before she got anything to cooperate.

Hump Day

It occurs to me that it has been quite some time since I have actually done any writing here.  It seems like I can get so easily distracted by everything else, that I then don't have the time to write.  In reading back through earlier posts, it was Fall Break the last time.  Since then we have had Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

We actually got to do Thanksgiving this year, at my brother's house.  We did it the week before, but that worked out perfectly as I had the boys.  My nephew got baptized and then the church had a big meal and we were invited.  It was a wonderful day.  Gadget wanted to fly down as well, but a bad battery in the plane won.

Then I got to have Thanksgiving the next week with Gadget's family, and it was so good to be included in that.  He has been working on remodeling the kitchen (had the sinks and countertops replaced), so we went out again.   It is wonderful, except you don't have the carcass to make soup, and there are no leftovers.  But maybe really that is OK too.

And then before I knew it, Christmas was here.  011 had his Christmas program at school, and I switched days at school (I went on Wednesday instead of Friday) so that I could go.  It was weird being in the other class, but I was not going to miss that program.  And they did such a great job!
We spent Christmas Eve through to the 27th at his house, and he was able to at least have the new gas stove installed.  Gas lines had to be run, cabinets had to be removed, etc.  LOVE IT!  He did a fantastic job picking it out. It was good to see his Gramma again, and then also to spend the night with good friends at their annual get-together.

Christmas Day was pretty laid back, the boys saved out some presents to open that morning, and of course their stockings because Santa can find them no matter where they are. We just chilled and watched a couple more episodes of Warehouse 13.  Love that show, and they did too.  Was very sad when they cancelled it.

Friday we came back here, and got the house ready as I hosted the Christmas for the Poole family.  On Saturday, my brothers and their families were here, Dad & Eric, and my Gramma & Grampa made it up as well.  It was absolutely lovely to share a meal with everyone and then just get to catch up a bit.

After church on Sunday, then I took the boys to their dad's for the rest of their vacation.  I stayed at the house for a couple days to get the rest of it cleaned up and just have a minute, then I headed back to MI to see Gadget.  By then he had the new backsplashes put in, and wow did they look good.  A friend of D's helped him with it, and Gadget was so happy.  The dude was a super-smart kid, and really took pride in his work.

We went to Kumo Hibachi Grill in KZoo for New Year's Eve, and then spent the evening at home.  I think I fell asleep while we were watching a movie.  Not exactly the dress to the 9s that we usually do, but that is OK.  It was a wonderful day.

On the 2nd, we celebrated D's birthday by going back to Kumo's for sushi.  Extremely yummy, and so much fun to be included in such a big table of people.  Half his friends, and then his parents & sister.  And me.  Afterwards, we went out for drinks & pool at The Hob, which used to be an old GM bar.  In other words, it was right across the street from the plant, and the guys would go there for lunch, and for beer after work. Some really cool stories!

Then it was back home to reality.  A friend of mine went into the hospital to start her next round of chemo and stem cell replacement.  The next few months are going to be Hell for her.  I wish there were some way I could take some/all of the pain for her so she did not have to.  She has already been through so much.  She is amazing and wonderful, and I feel so helpless and powerless. 

The boys started school on Monday, and I went back on Thursday.  And the cold snap hit.  And the pipes froze.  And the house froze - aka the furnace stopped working.  And we lost power.  I thought that week I was going to hurt someone.  I missed a day of school.  My perfect attendance for the semester was shot.  That made me very sad.  But I got the pipes working again, the power came back on, Gadget swooped in to the rescue with a kerosene heater (I have no experience with these, so I've learned a lot!) and we did some major troubleshooting of the furnace.  After many hours, lots of meters, and mashing our brains, we were able to see what it was doing.  Then it was a crazy experience to try and get parts for it, as no one wants to sell you HVAC parts unless you are certified.  But I will tell you, after the $1000+ that I have paid certified techs for, I'm not sure it is all that it is cracked up to be.  They kept telling me it was working normally.  It has not worked normally for 3 years and my electric bills of $500+ per month can atest to that.

But he was able to get the parts, and last weekend was able to fly down and put the most important one in. And we hooked up indicator lights so that I can tell what the thermostat is calling for, and  what the furnace is doing in response.  We both have learned so much about it.  Not exactly how I wanted to expand my knowledge base, but useful non-the-less.  Now we are in the testing & monitoring phase.  So far, working a million times better.  But the weather is warmer too, with less wind.  So not that I'm praying for a cold snap, but it would be nice to proof out the work, ya know?

The boys during that time had 5 snow days, so they are out of them for the rest of the year.  They had their first scheduled eLearning day of the semester, and so we went to the pasta bar.

I have finished up Level 1 and start Level 2 this week.  I can't believe I'm half done.  I've had much more interest from people being practice clients for me, so that is very encouraging.  I like thinking I may be able to (somewhat) hit the ground running after I sit the board tests. I got to see my old therapist while she was in town last week, and it was so wonderful.  She had lots of good suggestions and ideas.  I can't wait to get going.

I am still totally fascinated by soapmaking, and have started looking at other ways of reducing chemical dependence around the home. Some successful, some not.  And to be clear, there are lots of times when chemicals are very necessary & important.

Anyway, that's a lot of reading, thanks for hanging in there!  Have a great day!

November 2013 Flickr Upload

Here we are again... ;)  Last November was a bit of a tough one.  It was the first year in a long time where we were not all able to get together for the holidays.  I did get to spend it with Gadget's family, and that is a good second best.  And my dad went, so I really liked that.  Instead of cooking this year, we went to Shuler's and it was an amazing meal.  They took excellent care of us!

The entire stream is here, and below are my favorites...

 I was very sad to see this tree go.  It died a year or so before dropping it.  Once it started attacking the house, though, it was time. He was a good tree.

 OMG amazing!  Cappuccino or regular coffee.  Perfect for us indecisive types.  And that is a relic coffee mug too, from my TFN/XLC days when I went to the MSX 97 conference in San Diego.  We got to visit NAS Miramar (aka Top Gun School) right before it changed back to Marine hands.  Awesome experience and still my all-time favorite coffee cup.  And oh my, I just noticed this, that wallpaper is not there any more!

 So styling in the head lantern, don't you think?  Not quite sure what my hair is doing...  but that thing is totally amazing, you can see anywhere you need to!

And there you can see most of the fam!  012 was sitting next to dad, and you can see 010 on the right peeking out.  I was not a huge fan of the electronics being at the table, but they are not mine.  Mine were not allowed to take them.  I am mean, or so they say.

The Wheels on the Bus ...

... go 'round & 'round...

I know, now I have that song stuck in your head.  But how often life is just like that song, it just keeps going 'round.

Like I can't believe it has been since August since I have posted anything.  Wow, I'll see if I can remember the highlights...

September:
For Labor Day weekend, we went up north and spent the weekend at the cabin.  009 took a friend a long.  That was an interesting experience.  The boys all camped out in tents & loved it.  We went over to the lake and swam & had a picnic - super fun!

012 and I went up to Marshal for the Brooks Field Fly-In.  He had a great time catching flying pancakes.  We learned that regular coffee makes him too jittery.  He also got to drive Gadget's Willy's.  He did a great job, even with the clutch.  That was totally cool!

The boys had their TKD promotion to Jr. Orange Belt.  Very proud mama!

We did more work in the house in BTL, getting the bathroom closet & cabinets a minor overhaul.

Hooligans did the Special Olympics breakfast here in town, and then the Applefest Wings & Wheels show & parade up in Nappanee.  Gadget came down in the 172 and we ate some breakfast, then had to leave before the guys, so that we could make it there on time.  My boys went with us again this year.  They weren't as thrilled to spend the day hanging out at the airport as me.  However, I got to be in the parade this year with the guys in the Willy's & thanks to the lovely Sue for making sure they were OK.  It was a ton of fun!

At church we had a fun craft day at the local pottery studio.  I made a coffee cup for Gadget.

The boys continue to learn how to serve others by helping Grampa take care of the property.

We participated a bit in our community by going to SES's Family Fun Night and getting 009 his Jabba the Puppet & Jedi Academy books he's been dying for.

We took a late-season ride up to Hastings to eat at the Waldorff.  Yummy burgers!

I continued to do more work on the gardens, locating large rocks to line the drive with.

And scrapping, getting back into it again & trying to get stories told.
 

October:
More gardening, now over on the east side of the house, so the pine trees aren't so prickly when I mow.

Teaching the boys more cooking skills, it's actually starting to be a lot of fun, and 012 loves it!

Taking my brother Eric go-carting at Dad's.  It is so weird to see my kids taking care of him.

009's birthday to 010!!  Most exciting part of the month!  He is growing up way too fast!  We had it at Cannonball Lanes in town & he had a friend there.  His dad, stepmom & my dad made it too. AND chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, as ordered!

Gadget and I took another trip up north over the weekend - getting really chilly now!  We decided to drive up the Leelanau Peninsula - that is the eastern peninsula of MI to check out some wineries.  We stopped at Two Lad's up on the tip, went up to the lighthouse and learned about how dredging has really caused water level issues for the lake.  Then we scooted down to another, that for the life of me I can't remember the name nor can I find it.  It was "something" Harbor.  Sigh.

We went to dinner at The Boathouse.  That was quite lovely, and expensive.  But it was the best Kobe Wagu beef!  Amazing!

More dryer woes & repairs - my goodness how we need good, cost-effective repair people!

Finally started getting our cubes at work.  Not a big hit.

012 had a Band Concert.  Can't believe I have a Jr. High Schooler.  Sheesh!  But, I am so proud of him, he loves playing the trumpet.

Halloween was fun, and we went into a girlfriend's neighborhood.  It rained, it was cold.

More scrapping - yea!

November:
I don't remember when, I can't find the pictures, but 010 did get his braces off!!!  That was totally cool!

012 is having to learn how to do homework again.  Being in advanced classes is just what he needed - challenged!

 Finally got the old tree cut down. It was dead.  It is a lot of wood.  One of the guys at work came & loaded up 2 truckloads of stuff that he could take home & split.  Dad took a truckload or 2.  There is still a ton on the ground, but it is too big to transport.

More clean up going on at the Ceresco dam.  That was an oil leak that won't soon be forgotten.  Now they are talking about removing the dam.

Furnace acting funny - more troubleshooting - yea!  They can't really seem to find anything wrong with it.

More work on the dryer - hopefully this will do it.  Getting tired of drying laundry all through the house, but it does help with the static!

Got a new coffee pot - the one from my dad went on the fritz.  Found a Krups model that also does cappuccino!!!  How awesome is that!

We started putting in the new furnace in the house in BTL.  Wow, this is going to be a project!!  I'm just glad he finally picked one (I think it has been at least a year that we've been talking about it!)

Worked on new product a lot this month - fun stuff!  Made some special for the kid's crafts project they are doing at church.

Helped with a Thankgiving Get-Together for Growing Grounds.  A small group of men & women transitioning out of jail & their kids.  They are trying really hard to make better choices & it is really amazing to see them grow, and see the connections they are making.  We made journals together.  Even the guys thought it was totally fun!

Dad came up with me for the Stauffer family Thanksgiving.  That was so wonderful!  We've not done the Poole one yet!

And we had a cookout at home after cleaning up the yard a bit.  Hot Dogs!  And then we sat out there for a bit drinking wine.  I really need to get some nice camping chairs.

And more scrapping!

December:
More work on the furnace, have the board all mapped out where the pumps and controls and everything are going to be.

Getting ready for Christmas!!!

Another belt promotion - Full Orange Belt!!  So.Very.Proud!  It is absolutely nerve-wracking to watch them do parts of it!  012 has trouble with the breaking ones.  During his Jr. promotion, he missed it 3 times & had to sit down.  I was sure he was going to fail.  It was so hard to watch.  Then Master called him back & he got another try.  And he made it.  I thought I was going to cry!  Luckily he did NOT do that to me again this time!

Christmas Band Concert - They just keep getting better.  Mr. Hickman is probably one of my favorite teachers - he is just amazing with the kids!

More weatherproofing the house - hope it makes a difference!  This has been one of the coldest years.  And just staying cold - little fluctuations!  And lots of snow (that part I like),  we even had some before Thanksgiving.

012 being in shop/woodworking and making stuff.  Totally digging that!

Going to Chicago to visit S before Christmas - tons of fun, and way too much Jamison!

Stauffer Christmas - lots of fun!  And punctuated with an ice storm & loss of power.  Luckily everyone we knew was taken care of - either staying with others, or running on generators.

Baking cookies & going flying.  It was so beautiful, and it was good to get her out & going.

Spending time with friends, going to the Arcadia & the Cricket Club.

And more scrapping!

January:
We spent New Year's here with the boys.  It was  a work day for me, so I really struggled with staying awake.  I lost.  Gadget was sweet & woke me up a few minutes before the ball.  The boys giggled at me.  We then watched the Rockin' New Years' Eve show.  Horrible.  Dick Clark must be spinning!

The boys got to learn how to split wood, the old-fashioned way!  They've used the splitter before, and like it.  The maul gave them a new appreciation for it!

I went up to BTL the next weekend, and then the blizzard hit.  I ended up having to stay at Charley Creek.  I made it all the way to my road but could not make it down it.  I was so frustrated after 6 hours of driving.  I should have just stayed there!  The boys were with their dad & enjoyed 3 extra days.  The hotel was nice, however, I did not have a stitch of clean clothing, a phone charger or a book.  I did find a crossword book in my suitcase & I had 1 magazine.

Getting the driveway plowed out was an experience.  The guy I don't think wanted to come over & do it.  Then I found half my driveway - in my yard!  He had pushed all the gravel 6 feet into the grass.  I was not pleased.  Ernie from work had someone come over to pull it all back into the driveway and my neighbor waved them off saying he was going to do it.  I really don't need help like this!  Gadget plans on bringing the tractor down to do it.  So that has kicked off getting the trailer & the tractor ready for the road - he wondered what his next project was going to be after getting the furnace done!  That really needs to be getting all the wood split!

And more scrapping!!!

November 2010 Flickr Upload

This is mostly November, some October stuff, obviously, but I was lazy & did it all in one go…  As always you can catch the entire upload here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/81154606@N00/

Carving pumpkins, we decided to not do the traditional up & down ones… I think they turned out cute!
We were zombies & ninjas, oh my!

We went to the Field of Dreams here in town for trick or treating instead of going through town.  It was fun, they had a straw maze & a hay ride, but there needed to be more. 
See what I mean?  They were so cool!

We had kittens born late in the year.  The boys absolutely loved them.  They did not survive, however.
Something yummy I made for Thanksgiving.

Boy, was it yummy!  That was the year dad thought it would be so much better to grill steaks than have ham or turkey.  It was a bit odd.  Do you have any non-traditional traditions?

I was so delighted my grandparents could be there!  At least gramma brought sweet potato casserole!
Spelling words with Magnetix.  Yes, that is a geek curtain in the back…
We’ve gotten a bit out of the habit of reading every night.  Need to get back into it.

This one I can’t keep in books, or shoes, or pants!
The dreaded homework.

My first home improvement project.  Think I did pretty good.  Especially since I have zippo experience!
Christmas party with the Wabash Electric girls.  I thought this was pretty cute!

We had it at the Honeywell House.  Very yummy food.  And we even got a tour!

They are a good bunch of girls!

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