Being a huge football fan gives me plenty to talk about with my second graders. The boys find it so funny that I love football as much as I do. During the season we have many conversations about the games that we watch and the performances of our respective teams. On Friday I decided to see where we stand in terms of our picks for the Super Bowl. We, as a class, are overwhelmingly cheering for the Seattle Seahawks. I am a Seahawks fan for a few reasons. One of the reasons, Russell Wilson. Another reason, my husband is a Seakhawks fan. Finally, well, I love their uniform colors. (Just kidding.) It was not an easy road for them this year and I am glad that they were able to persevere. I have also enjoyed watching my favorite craft store, Ben Franklin Arts and Crafts of Redmond, show their support. They have offered many make and takes this week for all those sporting the #12. It has been fun to watch!
We didn’t stop there. Phil is supposed to show his furry self on Monday morning and I was wondering how my students felt about Phil and his shadow. The results are in, and I think the votes are close. Some students voted that he will not see his shadow because they are ready for winter to be over. A few voted that way because we have been studying about light and shadow and they understand the relationship between sunny days and shadow spotting. I cheated. I looked at the forecast. Rain and snow predicted hence the no shadow vote!
Well, we will have to see how we fared. Check back on Monday for an update!
Actually, I am not so fond of receiving surprises but I love surprising people. Tonight I will get to surprise my sweet hubby with a gift that recognizes his beloved Seattle Seahawks. NFC champs, two years in a row, I say get the man a shirt!
There was a part of me that was not fully engaged with beginning Project Life this year. Last year I found it nearly impossible to keep up and that was primarily because printing my photos at home became really problematic. My photo printer is not working and Mark’s printer just doesn’t do a great job with photos. What to do?
Then, while I was cleaning through some things in my studio I felt like I would miss the documentation, the recording of our little stories that has become so important to me over the past few years. I had bought a few Project Life supplies in the clearance department at Michael’s way back in November and decided to give it a go this year.
I love my happy little album. I was able to get 2 on clearance and that made my day! I love the collection I picked for this year, also found on clearance. I think it may be Neopolitan by Dear Lizzy. The colors are soft and remind me of spring and summer!
Not that this is a grand event, but at this moment, weeks four and five, I am up to date with my journaling. But, that’s about it. The photos I figure I will print in bulk and just add to the album once a month. I have also decided that I will include the work that I do with my “word” for this year, inside the same album thereby eliminating extra work and keeping everything that happens this year in one place.
While I am hoping to keep my approach simple this year, I think that adding an embellishment or two throughout the year will help to keep my creative side a bit giddy. Flowers, ribbons and buttons are always a good thing!
That means it’s time for Mark’s 9:00 meal. I planned the 5:00 meal which actually ended up being more like a 6:00 meal, pasta. I took it easy on myself, it was a rough evening.
My dear friend discovered that her cancer, which never really goes away, has returned to her liver with a vengeance. Tough decisions to make and not much time to ponder the alternatives. We were tenatively thinking that surgery might be one option on Monday. Then there was a chemoembolization scheduled for Tuesday. Monday evening the news became worse and tomorrow she will be undergoing a “wedge” surgery to remove upwards of 20 tumors from her liver.
The truth is, when a person lives with cancer, this is the reality. Everything is undercontrol, until the day it isn’t anymore. Treatments are advanced and there are options. Sometimes.
I am not with her this evening and I will not be with her tomorrow during the surgery. Tomorrow evening I will make my way into Philly after work and I will be there every day that I can. So tonight I am talking with her on the phone. Helping her to remember the things that she likes to have in the hospital and I am sewing. It calms me.
Yesterday, while I was anticipating a blizzard, I decided to bake a batch of brownies. Nothing better than brownies when you are snowed in! But, as I soon discovered, we also had a pint of heavy cream, dark chocolate syrup and fresh strawberries! So, Mark and I whipped up the heavy cream, sliced up the strawberries and created decadent desserts for ourselves. All I can say is YUM! It is a good thing that we do not get in this kind of mood often!
The original forecast called for somewhere around 8 - 12 inches of the fluffy white stuff. Here in my yard, we got about 3-4. I'm not complaining. A little bit is better than too much of it. I do like to say that I'm snowed in but today, that line just won't work!
The called a snow day early last evening and anticipating no work today I stayed up a bit late and took care of a couple of little projects that I had wanted to start. One of those, creating medical binders for my hubby and I, is well underway. Other projects, not so much.
But, after sleeping to nearly noon, today is another day and things might, just might, get accomplished. I have taken some photographs of my scrapbooking stash that I am hoping to sell and I am thinking that I might be able to sew. Maybe perhaps I will even venture out into the snow.
Looks like a few of the critters in my yard decided that a winter walk was just what they needed also.
Most people rush off to the supermarket at the first mention of snow. Not me, who needs more milk and eggs? I rushed off to Wild Birds Unlimited to be sure that I had enough provisions for my winter birds. I love watching them in the yard and I enjoy their chittering and chattering so much that I wanted to ensure that they had enough food for the impending storm. I filled the bird feeder that sits in our tiny backyard, hoping that if there are any birds in our neighbors' trees that they will find their way to my feeder.
The finch feeder does not get much use in the colder months, but just in case any of my little friends are around, I wanted them to have plenty of food. This is my favorite feeder. It sits right at my kitchen window so that I can keep an eye on my bright yellow upside down eaters during the spring and summer.
The red bird feeder was moved out from its spot in the evergreens and placed right near the bird bath and the metal chimes in the weeping cherry. Most of our winter birds nest in the evergreens and many times they splash themselves in the birdbath and then perch atop the weeping cherry to dry.
Finally, I purchased a new feeder that holds a seed "log" sort of thing. I love the way it looks with its two perches, one on either side.
Our new feeder is nestled in the evergreens and I am hoping that my little feathered friends enjoy the switch up in their diet.
From my kitchen window, I can see three feeders in my side yard. I am hoping that this will attract more birds and offer the winged visitors a respite from the storm.
Jackie and I ventured back to the pool this week. We tried to head back for training last week, but it was closed. Depressing. But this week, it was open and we swam. We swam just about 1/2 mile and it felt good.
Easing back into our training, one sport at a time. Right at this moment, I have one tri scheduled in June and Jackie doesn't have any. We figure swimming is a good way to cross train and get ourselves back into shape for a full training in a way that is easier on our joints. Great for me; right now swimming is the one sport I can do that does not aggravate the pain I experience daily. And of course, the best part of swimming, hitting the hot tub afterward.
We are heading back to the pool today, I just hope the hot tub is open!
Snow was supposed to arrive late last night and stay all day today. But this is what I woke up to. Not nearly enough to claim that I was snowed in! Not that it matters, I'm not going anywhere. Seriously though, why can't we get one of those good old fashioned snow storms that hangs around for a couple of days. Just one is all that I am hoping for!
I spent a bit of time standing in the snow slush observing the birds playing in the yard. Winterbirds are so funny how they chatter and flit. The cardinal sat atop the weeping cherry and surveyed his kingdom. On this quiet and uneventful Saturday, I am thinking that all looks right in his world.
I practiced a bit with the macro setting on my little camera, trying to capture the vinca covered in snow. I am improving with practice.
The yard looks so pretty when it is kissed by snow.
