I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D FIND ME AT A POLITICAL RALLY. 

HONESTLY, I NEVER WAS INTO POLITICS...BEFORE THIS YEAR.  WELL, UNLESS YOU COUNT THE WHOLE BILL AND MONICA THING...  THAT WAS JUST ME BEING NOSEY INQUSITIVE.  AND OF COURSE, I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT BUSH WAS DOING JUST AFTER 9/11.  BUT, OTHER THEN THAT...I WAS NOT ALL THAT INTERESTED.

I WASN'T EVEN SOLD ON McCAIN, UNTIL HE INTRODUCED US TO SARAH.  THEN, I SORT OF STOOD UP AND PAID ATTENTION.  (CREDIT GOES TO BRAD!) 

JUST AN HOUR BEFORE MY GYN APPOINTMENT, I READ AN EMAIL FROM OUR HOMESCHOOL GROUP, SHARING INFO ON HOW TO GET FREE TICKETS FOR THE MCCAIN RALLY.  UMMMM.....I THOUGHT, MY DOCTORS OFFICE IS JUST A 1/2 AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE VICTORY HALL.  UMMMMM?  JUST MAYBE? 

TIME FLEW BY... WHICH NEVER SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WHEN YOU HAVE A GYNOCOLOGIST VISIT.  I SHARED MY EXCITMENT WITH MY DOCTOR... WHO LOOKED UP AND WENT INTO DETAILED CONVERSATION ABOUT SARAH AND JOHN.  HE GIVES THE PARTY A NOD, TOO!  NORMALLY, I WOULDN'T TALK POLITICS WHILE IN THE STIRRUPS, BUT, I MY DOCTOR IS A FAMILY FRIEND AND ONE I AM EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE WITH.

FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY....  TOMMIE AND I ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE GATES OPENED...   GOOD THING WE DID....THE PEOPLE WERE LINED UP!   IT WAS A VERY, VERY MELLOW CROWD.  I FELT LIKE I WAS AMONGST 4H-ers.  WELL, ALL BUT A COUPLE PROTESTERS...  WHICH WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE, TOO.  OH, AND THERE WAS A HOMESCHOOL FAMILY BEHIND US. WITH  SIX KIDS... I THINK SHE WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW SHE HOMESCHOOLED...BECAUSE SHE WAS LOUD.  ANNOYINGLY LOUD!  EXAMPLE:  ONLY EAT 1/3 OF YOUR PLUM JOHNNY...  HOW MUCH WILL BE LEFT?  THEN THE CAMPAIGN PEDDLERS CAME AROUND SELLING PINS...AND SHE MADE THIS WHOLE ENTIRE MATH LESSON OUT OF PRICING AND MATH?   LOOK, I'M THE BIGGEST ADVOCATE FOR HOMESCHOOLING, BUT... GEESH LADY, WOULD YA LET YOUR KIDS BREATHE?

ALL HEADS TURNED WHEN ABOUT 50 NUNS ARRIVED IN OUR LINE.  EVERYONE HAD THEIR DIGITALS OUT.  SNAP, SNAP, SNAP.

AFTER GOING THROUGH SECURITY... TOMMIE NOTICED THIS NICE MAN AND HIS NICE BOMB SNIFFING DOG! 

HONEST ABE WAS SHAKING HANDS.... 

I ASKED ABE, IF IT WAS TRUE HE HELD IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN HIS TOP HAT?  THIS IS WHAT HE SHOWED ME:

THE MEDIA WAS EVERYWHERE!  TOMMIE COUNTED 18 CAMERAS....AND I BELEIVE EVERY TELEVISION STATION IN OUR STATE WAS THERE!  SEEING THE MEDIA, ALWAYS EXCITES ME, FOR SOME REASON!

TOMMIE BRAVED THE CROWD AND PICKED UP SOME McCAIN-PALIN SIGNS TO HOLD UP!

HERE'S US.  I AM HOPING I DON'T LOOK THIS GREASY IN PERSON!  I HAD SPLASHED SUNSCREEN ON MY FACE- KNOWING I'D BE WAITING IN THE SUN...  SO, I'M BLAMING IT ON THAT, PLUS AN HOUR AND A HALF CAR RIDE? 

A BOY SCOUT GROUP LED US IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG...CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT A PRIVILIDGE IT IS FOR THESE YOUNG MEN?  THERE WAS A FANTASTIC PRAYER SAID, SEVERAL EXCITING SPEAKERS AND MUSIC TO GET YOU PUMPED UP! 

SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW...  A POW, WHO WAS WITH McCAIN...DROVE IN FROM OHIO...HE SAID HE WASN'T ASKED TO SPEAK..BUT RATHER VOLUNTEERED.  HE TOLD HOW, WHILE IN CAPTIVITY... McCAIN AND THE OTHERS HELD CHURCH SERVICE...AND SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER...  JOHN ALSO SANG, "ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER,"  AND OTHERS, I AM SURE. 

BEING AROUND THIS MANY VETERENS... WHO WANT AMERICA BACK...WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM... AND BEING AROUND SOOOOOOOOOO MANY CHRISTIANS WAS A FEELING I DON'T HAVE WORDS FOR.  OTHER THEN IT WAS HIGHLY EMOTIONAL.

I ESPECIALLY LOVED THE REFERENCE TO SCRIPTURE AND THE RELIGIOUS SLANT!  CAN YOU EVER HAVE ENOUGH OF IT?

WE WERE 15 ROWS FROM THE STAGE.  DEAD CENTER.  I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW SARAH, CINDY AND JOHN, ARE ALL ABOUT AS TALL AS ME! (SHORT).  I'M WONDERING IF CINDY AND SARAH SHARE HAIRSPRAY AND BREATH MINTS?  YOU KNOW... IN THE BUS AND ON THE PLANE?  THEY SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE GOOD CHEMISTRY.  JUST IMAGINE THIS..."CINDY, I JUST GOT ANOTHER RUN IN MY PANTYHOSE...DO YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA IN YOUR SUITCASE?"  "OH SURE, JOHN, CAN YOU HAND THESE OVER TO SARAH?"  THAT'S HOW REAL THESE FOLKS SEEM!

CINDY AND JOHN CAME DOWN INTO THE CROWD.  I'M NOT SURE ABOUT SARAH...HER SUIT SORT OF BLENDED IN. 

AS WE WERE LEAVING, WE SPOTTED McCAIN'S TRAVELING PRESS TEAM.  I SNOOPED.  THEY HAD THEIR LAPTOPS OPENED UP TO CNN AND OTHER MEDIA WEB SITES.

IT ONLY TOOK US 50 MINUTES (YES, FIFTY!) TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT.  WE WERE FAMISHED!  WE PULLED INTO THE NEAREST BIG BOY FOR A LATE SPAGHETTI DINNER. AND THEN, HOME.  IT WAS A FIELDTRIP OF A LIFETIME!

*WE DID SEE TWO OTHER FAMILIES FROM OUR HOMESCHOOL GROUP!! 

OH, AND I THINK MY GYNOLOCOGIST WAS RIGHT..."McCAIN HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE PRESIDENT."

I ADMIT...I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE TO QUICK TO JUDGE HER AND YEP, I WAS ONE WHO SAID, "WHAT IS JOHN McCAIN THINKING?!  HOW STUPID WAS I...TO JUDGE HER WITHOUT HEARING HER SPEAK?  BRAD WARNED ME... HE'S MUCH MORE POLITICALLY SAVVY THEN I AM.    AGAIN, I SHOULD OF LISTENED TO HIM.

I LOVE WHAT GLENN BECK SAID.. (I LOVE GLENN BECK PERIOD.)...HE SAID, "CAN YOU IMAGINE...SHE WAS A HOCKEY MOM/PTA MOM JUST MONTHS AGO?  THEN SHE'S NOMINATED FOR SMALL TOWN MAYOR?  THEN... BIG STEP...SHE'S NOMINATED TO GOVENOR...  THEN SHE SUDDENLY GETS A PHONE CALL FROM McCAIN ASKING HER TO BE VICE PRESIDENT?  CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE? 

YEAH, LAST NIGHT I STAYED UP WAY TO LATE, LISTENING TO OUR LEFT-WINGED MEDIA STRUGGLING TO FIND FAULT.  YOU KNOW AFTERWARDS,  THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF NEGATIVITY FROM THE PRESS.  IN FACT... CAMPBELL FROM CNN (WHO I USUALLY TURN OFF) EVEN MENTIONED SHE HIT THE PITCH JUST RIGHT!

CALL ME AN EMOTIONAL TRAINWRECK...BUT, I HAD TEARS OF HAPPINESS, SADNESS, COMPASSION AND LAUGHTER! 

I WONDER IF MORE PEOPLE ARE BACK-PEDDLING LIKE I AM?  ONE CAN ONLY HOPE.

SARAH PALIN, I SALUTE YOU. AND, McCAIN... I GIVE YOU A NOD.

HERE ARE A FEW SNAPS OF OUR LABOR DAY! 

WE ENDED UP TAKING A DAY TRIP- TO WATCH THE BIG FREIGHTERS!  WE ALSO PLAYED IN THE SAND AND TOURED THIS LIGHTHOUSE!

BRAD AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BEACH...WATCHING TOMMIE SWIM.  HE LOOKS OVER AT ME...(KNOWING WE WERE GOING TO START BACK TO SCHOOL THE FOLLOWING DAY) AND SAID TO ME...  "IN THE SPRING- WE USED TO LET OUR CALVES OUT IN THE FIELD TO RUN FREE ALL SUMMER...  THEN IN THE FALL WE HAD A HARD TIME SETTLING THEM DOWN TO COME IN...THEY RESISTED...  REMEMBER THAT TOMORROW WHEN YOU START BACK HOMESCHOOLING TOMMIE...  GO EASY ON HIM!"

OUR FIRST DAY BACK YESTERDAY WENT FINE.  LIGHT AND FINE.  EXHALE.

 HAVE A SAFE LABOR DAY!

OUR FAMILY HAS DEVELOPED A REALLY ENJOYABLE NEW HOBBY!  BIKE RIDING! 

WE'VE BIKED IN THE PAST...  USUALLY ONLY GOING 2 MILES AT A TIME - THE HIGH TRAFFIC AROUND OUR HOME, MAKES ME TOO NERVOUS TO DO MORE THEN THAT!  AND, WE'VE VENTURED OUT TO A LOCAL PARK...WHICH HAS TOO MANY CROSS-ROADS AND TWO MANY PEOPLE TO CALL IT A WORKOUT.

THANKS HOLLY, FOR TELLING ME ABOUT THIS TRAIL!  IT IS AWESOME!  AND, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DO LOVE IT! 

YESTERDAY,  WE WENT....  WE WERE HOPING TO HIT THE 50 MILE MARK FOR THE WEEK!  I KNOW WE WOULD OF...EXCEPT TOMMIE'S BIKE BROKE, ONE MILE INTO IT! 

ON SATURDAY, MY ORDER FROM CHRISTIAN BOOK DIST. CAME!  I HAD TO ORDER: LAND ANIMALS OF THE SIXTH DAY, FOR TOMMIE'S CO-OP CLASS!  I AM BEYOND THRILLED WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK AND EXCITED THAT THIS IS ONE LESS SUBJECT I HAVE TO TEACH HIM!  PLUS, I LOVE THE IDEA OF "ACCOUNTABILITY," THAT IS REQUIRED IN THIS CLASS!

I ALSO ORDERED RUMMY ROOTS, FOR TEACHING GREEK AND LATIN.  IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AN AWESOME LEARNING GAME....FOR BOTH OF US. ESPECIALLY ME... WHO IS LATIN/GREEK ILLITERATE! 

I RECENTLY BOUGHT WAY TOO MANY PEACHES.  WHAT ON EARTH WAS I THINKING?  I DON'T CAN THEM AND THE FREEZER PEACH PIE FILLING LOOKED MORE COMPLICATED THEN I WANTED TO GET INTO...  SO, I LOOKED THROUGH EVERY COOKBOOK I OWNED AND FOUND NOT ONE RECIPE FOR PEACH COBBLER!

I HAD A LIGHTBULB MOMENT AND REMEMBERED ALLRECIPES.COM!   EVERY SINGLE RECIPE I'VE EVER MADE FROM THIS SITE TURNS OUT REALLY AMAZING! 

I WASN'T ABLE TO GET A PICTURE OF THE END RESULT... IT DISAPPEARED MUCH TOO FAST!  BRAD, TOMMIE AND I...DIDN'T NEED AN ENTIRE PEACH COBBLER..SO, I HAD TOMMIE TAKE SOME OVER TO OUR ELDERY NEIGHBOR....WHO THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT!  EVEN WITHOUT ICE CREAM ON TOP!

FEELING PEACHY?  CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: 

 http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Southern-Peach-Cobbler-2/Detail.aspx

YOU SEE THIS HERE GIANT PUFF BALL?  THIS FREEBIE FROM NATURE IS GOING TO BE THE CENTER OF OUR FIRST UNSCHOOLING-REAL LIFE LEARNING... HOMESCHOOL DAY.

HOW YOU ASK?  WELL, FOR MEASURING METRIC, DIAMETER. RADIUS, AND THEN WHAT IF YOU HAD TWO THE EXACT SAME SIZE?  WHAT THEN?  HOW MUCH WOULD THAT BE?  WHAT ABOUT SLICING IT UP INTO EIGHTHS AND SIXTEENTHS?   HOW ABOUT WE ADD UP THOSE FRACTIONS?? HOW MUCH DOES IT WEIGH?  WHAT IF WE HAD 25 OF THEM?  HOW MUCH WOULD THEY ALL WEIGH?

SCIENCE TOO?  YES!  LET'S FIND OUT WHERE THEY GROW AND WHERE THEY DON'T!  DID THE INDIANS EVER USE THEM, IF SO FOR WHAT?  ARE THEY EDIBLE?  LET'S SCOOP UP SOME POWDER AND CHECK IT OUT UNDER OUR MICROSCOPE!  LET'S DRAW WHAT YOU SEE!

  LET'S GOOGLE TO SEE WHAT IS THE BIGGEST EVER RECORDED!  IN FACT, LET'S MAKE A LIST OF EDIBLE OUTDOOR MUSHROOMS AND PLANTS!  LET'S DO IT IN CURSIVE... AND LET'S ALPHABETIZE THEM!  ANY COMPOUND WORDS WE CAN FIND?   LET'S MAKE UP SOME SIMILES WHILE WE'RE AT IT! 

DO THEY GROW UNDER DECIDOUS OR CONIFERS?  OR BOTH?  WHAT?  YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT A DECIDOUS TREE IS...  LET'S RESEARCH!

IN FACT, LET'S GET A POSTERBOARD AND MAKE A INFO POSTER WITH WHAT WE'VE LEARNED!

YEP.  EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GIANT PUFFBALLS AND THEN SOME!  WHO SAYS YOU NEED TO SIT IN A HARD CHAIR IN A CLASSROOM AND LOOK AT IT IN A TEXTBOOK TO LEARN? 

EDUCATION IS BEST FOR OUR FAMILY WHEN WE MAKE IT COME ALIVE.  REAL, IF YOU WILL. 

I REMEMBER THE PRESCHOOL DAYS...I WAS SO NEW.  THOUGHT I HAD TO HAVE EVERY WORKBOOK EVER PRINTED.  EVERY DISCOVERY TOY INVENTED.  ONE DAY MY SON TOOK HIS BRIGHT YELLOW TONKA DUMP TRUCK AND HAULED SOME POTATOES OUT OF OUR PANTRY...  RIGHT THEN, I DECIDED TO CHUCK THE WORKBOOKS, SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND CREATE A MENTAL LESSON PLAN AROUND A POTATO.  WE WORKED ON THE COLOR BROWN, THE LETTER P...  I LET HIM "HAUL" 7 POTATOES OVER HERE AND 2 POTATOES OVER THERE AND THEN ADD THEM.  WE LEARNED HOW THEY GREW  UNDERGROUND AND EVEN MADE OVEN FRIES FOR DINNER- BEING A PRESCHOOLER, TOMMIE HAD NO IDEA THAT FRIES WERE MADE FROM POTATOES!!...  I WAS ABLE TO COVER: COLORS, SHAPES, NUMBERS AND SCIENCE WITH HIM...NOT TO MENTION HE AND I COOKING AND ENJOYING THE FRIES...AND YES, EVEN POTATO PRINT-PAINTING.  GOTTA GET THAT PRESCHOOL ART IN!

DAYS LIKE THESE ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND SATISIFYING FOR OUR ENTIRE FAMILY...  NOT TO MENTION RETAINING THE INFO!

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER LEARNING IDEAS ... PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!

WE EAT A WHOLE LOT OF COOKIES AROUND THIS PLACE! 

 SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO KEEP THE COOKIE PLATTER FULL!  SO, I'M PASSING ALONG THIS TIP THAT I FIND EXTREMELY HANDY....  

  WHEN YOU HAVE TIME ON YOUR HANDS....  WHIP UP SEVERAL OF YOUR FAVORITE COOKIE RECIPES AND FREEZE THE DOUGH!  THEN...WHEN YOUR COOKIE JAR RUNS LOW...YOU CAN JUST THRAW THE DOUGH AND BAKE!   AND VIOLA'... NO BIG MESS!

I'VE FROZE ALL KINDS OF COOKIE DOUGH:  MOLASSAS, PEANUT BUTTER, CHOCOLOATE CHIP COOKIES, OATMEAL, ETC.  THEY ALL FREEZE SWELL!

THE BATCH ABOVE IS ORGANIC SUN-DROP COOKIES...  OUR LOCAL KROGERS IS DISCONTINUING A LOT OF ORGANIC FOODS...AND I FOUND THESE  M & M  KNOCK-OFF'S FOR ABOUT $1.25 A BAG...   I BOUGHT SEVERAL BAGS OF THEM AND FROZE THEM, TOO!

YOU KNOW ME....I LIKE SAVING THE $$$ DOUGH  $$$$ !

 AFTER FREEZING UP THE LAST OF OUR ZUCCHINI AND CARROTS, I SAT DOWN TO MAKE A FEW HAND'S ON GAMES FOR TOMMIE'S 5TH GRADE YEAR... 

THE SNAP BELOW IS A CONTAINER FULL OF ODD AND ENDS, WHICH WILL BE FUN TO SWITCH AROUND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND EVEN FILL WITH HOLIDAY THEMES...  I AM USING THIS FOR CREATIVE WRITING AND LITERARY TECHNIQUES.

I HAVE INDEX CARDS MADE UP FOR TOMMIE TO CHOOSE (NOT PICTURED)...BUT THEY SAY:   PICK AN OBJECT AND WRITE A COMEDY ABOUT IT, PICK TWO ITEMS AND COMPARE/CONTRAST, PICK AN ITEM AND PERSONIFY IT, WRITE A SENTENCE USING TWO ITEMS FOR ALLITERATION,  I'M ALSO COVERING FORESHADOWING, PLOTS, FLASHBACKS, METAPHORS, CLIMAX, OUTLINES, IMAGERY AND DIALECT. 

I REALLY ENJOYED MAKING THIS HOMEMADE "MONTH TREASURE HUNT WITH WORKSHEETS"...  I'LL BE USING THIS FOR ADDITIONAL MATH SKILLS, ALPHABETIZING HOLIDAYS (LIKE THE ONES IN FEBRUARY), SENTENCE WRITING, CURSIVE, AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS.  I FOUND THE CALENDAR IN THE RECYCLED PAPER BIN!

OH SURE, JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK A SENTENCE HAS THE WORD AS OR LIKE IN IT...DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT A SIMILE.  THE GAME BELOW WORKS ON FIGURING OUT THE DIFFERENCE.  I JUST TOOK TWO LUNCH SACKS, DABBED DOT PAINT ON THEM AND WROTE OUT LOTS OF SENTENCES...FOR TOMMIE TO FIGURE OUT.  IF IT'S A SIMILIE, IT GOES IN THE MARKED BAG,,,, IF IT'S NOT...IT GOES IN THE OTHER.

ALTHOUGH WE'VE COVERED ROUNDING OFF...AND IT'S EASY TO DO WHILE EVEN GROCERY SHOPPING!!!!-- OUR CURRICULUM SEEMS TO REVIEW A LOT OF IT THIS YEAR..  SO INSTEAD OF THE BLACK LINE REVIEW PAGES... I JUST MADE THIS FILE FOLDER GAME WITH POST-IT NOTES...  THE WHOLE NUMBERS ARE ALL WRITTEN ON THE FILE...TOMMIE JUST NEEDS TO STICK AND MATCH TO THE CORRECT NUMBER.

THIS IS FOR MENTAL MATH.  SAME THEORY WITH THE POST-IT NOTES...  TOMMIE JUST HAS TO ADD IN IN HEAD AND FIND THE RIGHT ANSWER AND STICK IT UNDER THE PROBLEM.  I THINK IT MAY BE OVERWHELMING TO HAVE ALL THE POST-IT NOTES IN A PILE AT ONE TIME...  SO, I'LL PROBABLY HAVE HIM DO IT ROW BY ROW..   

CHECK BACK...MORE FUN TO COME!

WITH LESS THEN A WEEK BEFORE WE START BACK TO OUR LESSONS...  I NEED TO REMIND MYSELF EXACTLY WHY WE ARE HOMESCHOOLING.  FOR ME, IT HELPS TO DEFINE MY GOALS AND MAKES ME FEEL MORE SECURE.

FOR SOME IT MAY BE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE RELIGIOUS REASONS...OR EVEN BOTH.    SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUCCESS USING THE DRILL AND KILL METHOD.. DEMANDING SCHEDULES... OTHERS MORE RELAXED AND UNSCHOOLED.  FUNNY THING IS...I'VE SEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE WITH ALL METHODS.

ONLY GOD, TRUELY KNOWS THE PLAN.  WE, AS PARENTS CAN JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN...  WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.  THIS WAS TOLD TO MY MOM AND I, AS MY DAD WAS IN HIS FINAL DAYS.... WE WROTE DOWN HIS WISDOM. 

MY GOAL FOR TOMMIE ISN'T FOR HIM TO NAIL A $100,000. JOB.  NOR IS IT, TO WORK IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET...TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE OTHER GUY.  IT'S NOT HOW MANY DEGREES HE CAN HANG ON THE WALL.  AND, I'M NOT TRAINING HIM FOR A DEMANDING JOB THAT MOVES HIM ACROSS THE NATION. 

BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT TRYING TO INSULT ANYONE FOR HAVING THOSE KIND OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.  IT JUST ISN'T WHAT IS ON OUR AGENDA.

WHAT IS AND WHAT I'D LIKE FOR HIM...  OR RATHER, WHAT I'M STEERING HIM INTO ...  IS TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND, FATHER, SERVANT TO GOD AND A CHEERFUL HUMAN BEING. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY A TACTFUL HUMAN BEING. ONE WHO ENJOYS LEARNING WHAT INTERESTS HIM...ON HIS WATCH.   

CAN HE FIX A PIPE?  CHANGE HIS OIL?  VACUME THE HOUSE?  WILL HE TAKE HIS CHILD'S HAND AND TELL HIM ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL GOD IS?  WILL HE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF GOD'S BEAUTY? AND, LIVE HIS LIFE KNOWING JESUS IS HIS SAVIOR? WILL HE HELP A NEIGHBOR IN NEED AND EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN?  WILL HE END GOSSIP AND DEFEND THE WEAK?  WILL HE LAUGH WITH OTHER AND NOT AT THEM?  WILL HE ROLL ON THE FLOOR WITH HIS KIDS AND DOG?  WILL HE KNOW THE MEANING OF A REALLY GOOD BOOK?  WILL HE NOT ABUSE THE EARTH?  AND, LEAVE IT BETTER THEN HE FOUND IT?  WILL HE ALWAYS HAVE THAT SPRING IN HIS STEP AND SPARKLE IN HIS EYE?  WILL HE TELL HIS WIFE..."THAT WAS A GOOD MEAL?"  A MOM CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY ...AND TRAIN.

THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT WE'LL BE DROPPING THE BALL ACADEMICALLY, BY ANY MEANS.  JUST TRYING TO GET THE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

smile-wink-nod!  AND exhale.

THANK YOU LYNN, KELLY AND HOLLY, FOR NOMINTATING ME FOR A COUPLE OF BLOG AWARDS!  IT WAS A NICE SURPRISE!

I AM NOMINATING THE FOLLOWING BLOGGERS...  ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAVORITES!!  IF I DON'T MENTION YOU-- DON'T TAKE OFFENSE.. IT'S EARLY AND I'M STILL ONLY HALF WAY THROUGH MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE! 

SCROLL ALLL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST AND SEE WHO I PICKED!

The “I Love Your Blog” Award.

The rules for the I Love Your Blog award are:
1. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Include the award on your blog.
3. Pass it on to 7 worthy bloggers with links to their blogs on yours.
4. Notify your recipients.

It seems to be a blog that celebrates and recognizes creative contributions to the bloging community.

I'M A FEW DAYS LATE POSTING THIS...BUT ON SATURDAY, WE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY AND INTO THE NIGHT, WITH TOMMIE'S WEBELO'S DEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AFTER ROASTING HOT DOGS OVER THE CAMPFIRE...WE ALL HIKED JUST UNDER A MILE TO A FARM FESTIVAL THAT WAS HAPPENING.  THIS IS BRAD AND TOMMIE HIKING EXCITEDLY TO THE EVENT. 

BRAD GREW UP ON A FARM...SO HE HAS A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH FARMING. 

BRAD WAS ASKED TO HELP MAKE A ROPE.  IT'S A PRETTY INTERESTING PROCESS... I THINK BRAD WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT IT INVOLVES!

AFTER THE HOT AND HUMID HIKE BACK TO CAMP... THE BOYS AND ALL OF THE PARENTS GOT INTO A BALLOON AND WATER FIGHT. 

I LOVE THESE!

 LOVE HOW THEY GIVE ME ENERGY...THEY MAKE ME PERKY!

BECAUSE I'M NOT A VITAMIN TAKER OR GIVER...AND I DON'T GET ENOUGH RECOMMENDED WATER EACH DAY....THAT THIS BOTTLE MULTI-TASKS FOR ME!

 LOVE THAT TOMMIE AND BRAD ARE HOOKED ON THEM!

 LOVE THAT OUR LOCAL STORES RUN SALES ON THEM QUITE OFTEN!

LOVE WHAT THE LABEL SAYS AND I QUOTE OFF THE BOTTLE....

ah, orange juice commericals, funny stuff.  mom, cheerfully  prepares some huge breakfast while the rest of her family sleeps.  sure, this could happen.  but every morning?  please, maybe if mom were heavily medicated, in which case, we wouldn't condone operating a stove or any electrical appliance.  for those of us who don't live in an orange juice commercial, there's still a way to get your morning nutrition.  this product has calcium and lots of vitamin c, so you can get your day started right, minus the whole stepford mom thing. 

 LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR IS!  

comments welcome... 

IT'S EARLY SUNDAY EVENING... AND I WANTED TO SHARE THIS BEAUTIFUL HODGE-PODGE OF FLOWERS I PICKED FROM THE GARDEN!

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IF YOU'RE A GARAGE SALER OR THRIFT STORE SHOPPER...THEN YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY "THAT FEELING" YOU GET WHEN YOU RUN IT TO A GOOD DEAL!  LAST WEEK I WENT TO A LIBRARY BOOK SALE, WHERE ALL CHILDREN'S BOOKS WERE .25.  I FOUND THE FOLLOWING LIVING BOOKS THAT WE'LL BE USING IN THE FUTURE AND (FAR FUTURE) AS WELL!  TAKE A PEEK AND GIVE ME A HIGH-FIVE!

ABOVE:   A CIVIL WAR JOURNAL, TO SALLY RIDE (WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO SING THE SONG,  "RIDE SALLY RIDE?" IN MY HEAD WHEN I SEE HER NAME), THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE, WHALEBOAT WARRIORS, WINSTON CHURCHILL,  THE CHALLNGER DISASTER, T. ROOSEVELT, MICROSCOPE, AND A FEW NEWBERRY READ-ALOUDS!

BELOW: WILD GEESE FLY, HANS BRINKER, ANTARTIC CHALLENGE, FIREFLIES AT NIGHT (WW2), ATOMS, AND OTHER TITLES YOU CAN SEE!

I THINK WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS, ADVANCING WITH ENGLISH LITERATURE THIS YEAR...I PICKED UP SEVERAL ROALD DAHL BOOKS.  I THINK "BOY" AND "GOING SOLO"," WILL BE A HUGE HIT (PLUS, OTHERS), FOR TOMMIE--- SINCE ROALD DAHL SERVED IN WW2 AND IN BOTH BOOKS, HE WRITES OF HIS EXPERIENCES. 

**********************************

WE WON'T BE STARTING BACK TO SCHOOL UNTIL AFTER LABOR DAY.  WE'RE TRYING TO SOAK UP AS MUCH FREEDOM AND SUMMER AS WE POSSIBLY CAN SQUEEZE.  IT HAS BEEN AN UNSCHOOLING SUMMER, THAT'S FOR SURE. 

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MANY HOMESCHOOLERS CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL WITH SOME SORT OF TRADITION. 

HERE ARE SOME TRADITIONS WE DON'T DO...

NO BREAKFASTS OUT.  WE DON'T LIKE EGGS AND I THINK  KNOW  IT WOULD THROW OFF THE RYTHYM OF OUR DAY.  I'D BE TAPPING MY FORK ON THE TABLE...THINKING HURRY UP AND EAT...WE GOTTA GET HOME AND START LESSONS!

NO STAYING IN OUR PAJAMA'S.  IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL LAZY AND CRABBY.  AND, PLUTZY.

NO EATING ICE CREAM AND WAVING TO THE KIDS WHILE THEY DRIVE PAST IN THE SCHOOL BUS-- WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY MEAN...AND DON'T ENCOURAGE A SHOW-OFF BEHAVIOR...CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE HOW SAD SOME OF THOSE KIDS ON THE BUS WOULD FEEL?

NO NEW SHIRT.  WELL OKAY, MAYBE FOR HOMESCHOOL CO-OP DAY.  MOM? ARE YOU READING THIS?   MOM?  OH MOM?  SIZE 10/12.

NO NEW SCHOOL SUPPLIES.  IT IS JUST NOT THAT THRILLING FOR MY SON. INSTEAD, HE IS WANTING A VICE... YOU KNOW, THE TOOL...THING THAT HAS A CRANK AND HOLDS WOOD? NOW, WE'RE TALKING!  WAY BETTER THEN GLUE AND A PENCIL SHARPENER.  JUST $18. AT A LOCAL TOOL SHOP.... YEAH, OKAY I'VE ALREADY BOUGHT IT FOR HIM. 

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 SOME OF THOSE TRADITIONS JUST WOULDN'T FLY HERE.  MY SON WOULD BE SO UN-FOCUSED AND WIRED THAT I'D TURN INTO PHYSCO-MOM.  HAT'S OFF TO YOU, IF YOUR KIDS ARE OBEDIENT AND CAN BUCKLE DOWN...  JUST WOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE.  NOPE, WOULDN'T EVEN TRY IT.  NOPE.  NO SIR-EEE. JUST NOT GOING TO PUT MYSELF THROUGH IT.              smile wink nod.

I HAVE DONE TREASURE HUNTS IN THE PAST...  WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN...  LIKE FOR EXAMPLE:  TAKE A BLANKET, GO TO THE APPLE TREE AND FIND YOUR LESSON TIED TO ONE OF THE BRANCHES.

THAT'S ALWAYS PRETTY FUN.  MAYBE I'LL DO THAT THIS YEAR? 

********************

SO, WHAT'S YOUR FIRST DAY BACK PLAN?

FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS OR SO... WE'VE LET MILKWEED PLANTS GROW WILD IN OUR GARDENS.  WE HAVE HOPES OF HARVESTING MONARCHS, NATURALLY.  TO A POINT, WE'VE SUCCEEDED-NOT SO MUCH BY HAVING A BILLION LARVAES, EGGS AND CHYRSILIS HANGING OFF THEM... ALTHOUGH WE DO FIND A FEW EVERY YEAR...  BUT, THE HUNT FOR THEM IS A PLEASANT WAY TO SPEND AN HOUR IN NATURE.

WE ENJOY WATCHING MONARCHS STOP BY OUR GARDENS FOR A REST OR A DRINK... AND, WE LOVE MONARCH BUGS JUST AS MUCH!

THIS YEAR, WE'VE ONLY HARVESTED ONE MONARCH.  BUT, WE'RE NOT GREEDY-- IN FACT, WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE FOUND ONE!

OUR FAMILY HAS LEARNED TO JUST LOVE THAT MILKWEED PATCH!  IMAGINE...SOME PEOPLE SPRAY IT AND DESTROY IT...THINKING IT'S A WEED.  IT HAS SO MUCH VALUE.

RECENTLY, I READ IN BRAD'S LATEST ISSUE OF HOBBY FARMS A FEW INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MILKWEED... 

*  DURING WORLD WAR 2, BOYS AND GIRLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES GATHERED MLKWEED FLUFF TO STUFF FLOTATION JACKETS FOR THE WAR EFFORT.  WISCONSIN CHILDREN ALONE COLLECTED 283,00 BAGS!

*  IT TAKES ABOUT 800 PODS TO MAKE ONE POUND OF MILKWEED FLUFF!

*MILKWEED FLUFF IS FIVE TIMES MORE BUOYANT THAN CORK AND SIX TIMES LIGHTER AND WARMER THEN WOOL.  IT'S HYPO-ALLERGENIC AND IT REMAINS BUOYANT FOR ABOUT 100 HOURS.

* NATIVE AMERICANS LINED THEIR WINTER MOCCASINS AND MITTENS WITH MILKWEED FLUFF.

*MILKWEED DOWN IS EXCELLENT FIRE-STARTING TINDER.

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I FOUND A VERY FUN FIELDTRIP...IF YOU HAVE A CHILD INTERESTED IN WW2 OR WARS.  WE WENT TO AN ARMY SURPLUS STORE, YESTERDAY!  IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING... EVEN FOR ME-- WHO ISN'T THRILLED WITH MILITARY ACCESSORIES!  THE VERY COOL THING WAS THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE STUDIED AND READ ABOUT WAS RIGHT IN THE SHOP!  AN EXAMPLE...  A REALLY CREEPY LOOKING GERMAN MILITARY UNIFORM- ALL IN WHITE.  WE FIRST LEARNED OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS UNIFORMS IN THE READ ALOUD, "SNOW TREASURE." 

 THREE MONTHS AFTER TOMMIE WAS BORN, I DISCOVERED I HAD MELANOMA.  I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT, GOD SPOKE TO ME AND TOLD ME NOT TO WAIT...TO GET IT REMOVED.  IT WAS A VERY CLEAR VOICE IN MY HEAD.  UNDENIABLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTORS, THE DOCTOR DIDN'T WANT TO REMOVE IT....SINCE IT WAS RED AND VERY SMALL.  THE DOCTOR WAS CONCERNED I WOULD HAVE A SCAR...I COULD CARE LESS...  I HAD TO GET IT OFF.  GOOD THING I DID...IT WAS MALIGNANT.  THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO.  ON MONDAY MORNING I HAD THE SAME VOICE COME INTO MY HEAD...  I IMMEDIATLEY CALLED MY DOCTOR WHO GOT ME IN THAT MORNING...  THE MOLE THIS TIME WAS ON MY FACE...  RELIEVED- HE TOLD ME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FINE...A NORMAL MOLE.  ALTHOUGH, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A BIRTHMARK WHICH HAD A MOLE INSIDE IT...ON MY STOMACH.  THAT ONE WAS BIOPSIED ON MONDAY...  WHICH INCLUDE A SHOT IN THE STOMACH AND THE SKILLFUL USE OF A RAZOR-BLADE WHICH ELIMINATED A QUARTER SIZE BIRTHMARK.  (YES, IT STILL HURTS!)...  FOR ME HOWEVER, THE WORST PART IS NOT THE PHYSICAL PAIN BUT THE BRAIN GYMNASTICS I PLAY....  YOU KNOW, THE WHAT IF GAME?  I CALLED TODAY AND THE RESULTS JUST HAPPENED TO BE FAXED OVER WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE...  ALL IS FINE.  THANKS BE TO GOD.  JUST A BIRTHMARK AND NORMAL MOLE. 

IF YOU SUSPECT A MELANOMA... DON'T THINK IT CAN ONLY BE BLACK.  MINE WAS RED.  IT LOOKED LIKE A SORE THAT NEVER HEALED.  AND IT ITCHED. 

95% OF MELANOMAS CAN BE CURED EASILY, WHEN CAUGHT EARLY.  TAKE IT SERIOUS.

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IN THE LAST FEW DAYS I'VE BEEN ORGANIZING SCHOOL.  MAKING GAMES AND DISECTING LIVING LITERATURE AND APPLYING IT TO HOMEMADE WORKSHEETS.  I'M USING PRENTICE LITERATURE AS A SPINE...  WITH SOME PRETTY FABULOUS LIVING BOOKS I PICKED UP AT THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE. 

I'VE ALSO CAME UP WITH A SMOOTHER PLAN- WHICH I HOPE WILL HELP WITH THE "WHAT DO I DO NEXT?" SYNDROME WE HAVE GOING ON HERE. 

STAY TUNED...I'LL BE POSTING THE GAMES AND PLANS HERE SHORTLY.

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I STOPPED AT SEVERAL GARAGE SALES TODAY...  I FOUND A REALLY GREAT WINTER COAT FOR TOMMIE, A PAIR OF PANTS AND TWO SHIRTS.  $7.

I ALSO FOUND THIS PIANO STOOL...ALREADY PAINTED AND JUST NEEDED TO BE CLEANED UP.    $5.

I ALSO PICKED UP THIS BIRD FEEDER FOR $2.00

YESTERDAY, I MADE POTATO-LEEK SOUP...  IT WAS SO RICH AND WONDERFUL.  I FOUND IT HERE--WHERE MOST OF THE SOUP RECIPES ARE FREEZABLE!

http://www.cookuk.co.uk/soup-recipes.htm

I EVEN STUDIED UP ON SWISS CHARD.  IT IS FREEZABLE!  YOU JUST BLANCH IT FOR 2 MINUTES AND BAG IT!  I CAME UP WITH SIX BAGS SO FAR.  MY FREEZER IS GETTING REALLY FULL!  SO IS OUR BELLIES!

ONE OF THE MOST SILLY THINGS WE ENJOY DOING IS....  PICKING DEAD BUGS OFF THE GRILL OF BRAD'S BIG  KENWORTH TRUCK GRILL.  WE'VE FOUND TONS OF UNUSUAL INSECTS, MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES!  MOST RECENTLY, WE FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL DRAGONFLY!  IT'S BEEN ADDED TO OUR NATURE TABLE!  I WONDER IF CHARLOTTE MASON WOULD COUNT THIS AS A NATURE ADVENTURE??? 

JUST TAKING A FEW DAYS OFF FROM BLOGGING...I'LL BE BACK IN A FLASH!

ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS I'VE PICKED UP FROM RACHEL RAY HAS BEEN THE GARBAGE BOWL.  IT IS SUCH A NO-BRAINER...YET, IT NEVER OCCURED TO THIS BRAIN TO USE ONE. 

I FOUND THIS VERY VINTAGE PORCELIN CONTAINER AT GOODWILL... $3.00.  I JUST LOVE IT!  IT'S BASIC WHITE AND BLACK.  VERY, REAL SIMPLE.

INCASE YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE GARBAGE BOWL... RR SUGGESTS THAT YOU KEEP A BOWL HANDY, WHILE YOU COOK AND JUST TOSS YOUR SCRAPS INTO IT, RATHER THEN WALKING BACK AND FORTH TO THE GARBAGE OR IF YOU'RE LIKE ME...SWINGING THE CUPBOARD DOOR OPEN AND SHUT ALL THE TIME.

YOU SHOULD TRY THIS TIP...IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY....

JUST A PICTURE OF OUR AUGUST FLOWERS....THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN.  THEY SURE ADD HAPPINESS TO OUR BACKYARD!

TIME TO START DINNER.............  WHAT'S COOKING?  I HAVE NO CLUE!

 I GREW SWISS CHARD THIS YEAR....I'VE NEVER GROWN...NEVER EVEN HAD A NIBBLE OF IT..IT JUST LOOKED VERY COOL AND DECORATIVE!  AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY AUNT JANET, SHE EXPLAINED TO ME HOW SHE MAKES IT...SO, I TRIED IT AND TWEEKED AND ADDED A BIT... 

I FELT LIKE RACHEL RAY...ONLY NOT AS PERKY...  I DID TWO ROUNDS OF OLIVE OIL, PLUNKED A BIG BUNCH OF CHARD, GARLIC, LEEKS, ZUCCHINI AND CARROTS IN THE PAN...  WILTED THE CHARD AND ADDED MY HOMEMADE HERBAL SALT...  AND KEPT STIRRING AND MIXING....  THEN...I SPRINKLED HOMEMADE BREADCRUMBS ON TOP OF IT! 

I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MUCH THE CHARD SHRUNK DOWN!  UNBELIEVABLE!  THIS IS THE FINISHED SIDE DISH...  I SERVED IT ON TOP OF RICE PILAF AND MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN. 

VERY, VERY EXCELLENT! 

 ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE DAYS OF SUMMER, IS WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR.. DIRECTLY BEHIND US, BRUSH HOGS HIS FIELD.  I JUST LOVE HIS TRACTOR.  YOU SEE, I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF SPENDING LONG, HOT SUMMER DAYS WITH MY GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS... ON MY GRANPARENTS FARM...MY GRANDPA HAD AN UMBRELLA JUST LIKE THIS ONE IN THE PICTURE.  FUNNY THING THOUGH...THIS MAN NEVER WAVES BACK.  NEVER.  OH WE'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT 15 YEARS...AND HE JUST NEVER WANTS TO WAVE. 

THIS IS MY FAVORITE GIRL COUSIN...  WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT FARM!  SHE WENT ON TO BECOME WHAT I CALL A FAMOUS DOCTOR...(SHE IS RATED IN THE TOP 10 BEST OB/GYNS IN DETROIT)....  THIS IS A SNAP I TOOK OF US BLUEBERRY PICKING LAST WEEK...IT'S TRADITION.  AND, NO WE DIDN'T PLAN ON MATCHING STRAW HATS AND BLACK SUNGLASSES...  WE JUST THINK ALIKE.

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE OR WILD CARROT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WEED-FLOWERS.  I LIKE TO THINK THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WEED AND A FLOWER IS AN OPINION.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

TODAY, I VISITED A POPULAR HOMESCHOOL BOARD... IN WHICH ONE OF THE TOPICS WAS "HUGGING."  I MEAN HUGGING AS IN FRIENDSHIP HUGS.  I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MANY WOMEN ARE OFFENDED WHEN A FRIEND OR DISTANT AQUAINTANCE COMES UP TO THEM AND GIVES THEM A HUG.  MANY WROTE IN SAYING THEY LIKE THEIR SPACE, THEY'RE NOT THE HUGGY TYPE AND THAT IN SOME INSTANCES IT IS INAPPROPRIATE.  MANY WROTE HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THEY WERE WHEN EX-FRIENDS CAME UP TO THEM AND OFFERED A HUG.

YOU SEE, I AM A HUGGER.  IF YOU ARE MY FRIEND...I'VE PROBABLY HUGGED YOU AT LEAST ONCE.  AND, YOU CAN PROBABLY EXPECT IT AGAIN SOMETIME.   AND, I'VE  PROBABLY PHYSICALLY PATTED  YOU ON THE BACK WITH MY HAND OR MESSED UP YOUR HAIR WITH A FRIENDLY TOSSEL.

THERE'S BEEN MANY, MANY SEASONS IN MY LIFE--WHERE FOR WHATEVER REASON, CERTAIN FRIENDS HAVE COME AND GONE...  NO BIG BLOW-UPS, NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL... JUST A SLOW DRIFT AWAY IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

AND TODAY-RIGHT NOW....IF I SAW ONE OF MY OLD FRIENDS...FACE TO FACE...I WOULD SMILE AND GIVE THEM A FRIENDLY "HI, HOW ARE YA?" HUG.  YOU KNOW, NOTHING MAKES ME MORE IRRITATED THEN WHEN YOU KNOW SOMEONE FROM THE PAST AND THEY TRY TO AVOID YOU.  OH COME ON...YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...  THE TYPE THAT LOOKS EVERYWHERE EXCEPT AT YOU...  THEY PRETEND THEY DON'T SEE YOU? THEY'RE LOOKING UP AND DOWN AND UNDER STUFF....    LOOK, I'VE DONE THAT MYSELF...JUST BEING REAL HERE.  IT TAKES WAY MORE EFFORT TO STRUGGLE AND LOOK AWAY THEN IT DOES TO JUST SAY "HEY, HELLO!  HOW'VE YOU BEEN?"  AND SMILE.   AND, MAYBE LEAN IN AND GIVE THEM A FRIENDLY-BONDING TYPE HUG.

I'M SERIOUS, I'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES.  A QUICK, FRIENDLY HUG OR A TAP ON THE BACK OR A SIDE-HUG...  HONESTLY BREAKS DOWN ANY BARRIERS.  IT IS SOME SORT OF SUBCONSCIOUS BRIDGE THAT OPENS UP.  AN INSTANT BOND.  A WORDLESS CONNECTION THAT LETS THE OTHER KNOW...  HEY, I MISSED YA PAL... "

LET ME GIVE YOU A NICE EXAMPLE...  IN JUNE WHEN I HAD MY GALL BLADDER OUT...A MOM OF A FRIEND OF TOMMIE'S OFFERED TO WATCH HIM FOR THE ENTIRE DAY OF THE SURGERY.  I TOOK HER UP ON HER OFFER...  SHE'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND VERY CAUTIOUS TO THE POINT OF  BEING NEUROTIC.   ANYWAY...  AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE...WHEN WE WERE PRACTICALLY WALKING OUT THE DOOR, SHE CALLED TO CANCEL WITH A REALLY LAME EXCUSE.  I ADMIT...I WAS A BIT PUT OFF.  I MEAN, HERE I'M HAVING A SERIOUS LITTLE SURGERY AND PLANS FELL THROUGH...WITHOUT ANY GOOD REASON.  YEAH, I WAS ANGRY AND HURT FOR TOMMIE AND THOUGHT, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME AT THE LAST SECOND?"....    "AFTERALL...HAVEN'T I  WATCHED YOUR SON A GOOD MANY TIMES AND HELPED YOU OUT IN A PINCH?"  WELL, I GUESS I COULD OF WALLOWED AROUND IN SELF-PITY, BUT, I CHOSE INSTANT FORGIVENESS, INSTEAD.  AND, THEN CALLED MY IN-LAWS.  I WASN'T SURPRISED THAT SHE DIDN'T CALL TO CHECK IN ON ME.  I HAD HER PEGGED.  FAST FORWARD TO A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER....  I SAW HER IN KROGERS...  I COULD OF IGNORED HER OR JUST WAVED A SOUR WAVE AND PLAY BRAIN-GYMNASTICS IN MY MIND ABOUT HOW WRONG SHE DID US...BUT INSTEAD I WENT RIGHT UP TO HER AND GAVE HER A BIG OLD BEAR HUG AND SAID...  "HOW ARE YOU?"  SHE WAS FLOORED.  STUNNED.  AND RELEIVED.  WE MUST OF CHATTED FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES....  LAUGHING, SHARING AND CATCHING UP. 

YOU SEE, I  THINK A GOOD FRIENDSHIP HUG IS HEALTHY.  EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT THE HUGGY TYPE.  IT RECONNECTS FRIENDSHIPS.  A HUG OFFERS FORGIVENESS WITHOUT WORDS.  IT SORT OF LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. 

SO, IF YOU'RE THE TYPE WHO DOESN'T LIKE MY HUGS...JUST GRIN AND BEAR IT OKAY? 

SMILE, WINK, NOD.

OUR HOMESCHOOL CO-OP REGISTRATION WAS YESTERDAY!  IT WAS A REAL NAIL-BITTER, WONDERING IF TOMMIE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CLASSES HE OPTED FOR... SINCE I'M NOT TEACHING AT ALL THIS YEAR...WE WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST FOR CLASS CHOICES.  AND, RUMOR HAD IT THAT THE CLASSES HE HAD PICKED WERE FULL.  WHICH LEFT ME POUTING...AND WONDERING IF WE'D BE ABLE TO JOIN AT ALL! 

EXHALE.  HE GOT THE CLASSES HE WANTED!

HERE'S THE LINE-UP:

APOLOGIA LAND ANIMALS, CARDS ANYONE (HE'S ON THE WAITING LIST- BUT HEY, ISN'T THERE ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE?), CHAOS TOWERS AND GYM.  THERE IS A FIFTH HOUR...BUT WE OPTED TO BOOGIE OUT EARLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO DASH UP TO A BLUEBERRY FARM AND PICK BLUEBERRIES...WITH MY TWO AUNTS, MOM AND FAVORITE GIRL COUSIN- WHO WERE ALL IN TOWN....TO SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER.  PRICELESS MEMORIES. 

I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE A SQUIRREL GETTING READY FOR WINTER...THESE PAST FEW DAYS!  THE VEGETABLES IN OUR GARDENS ARE POPPING OUT VEGETABLES LIKE AN OVER-FILLED POPCORN POPPER!!!

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE TRIED GROWING BRUSSEL SPROUTS.  IT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING PLANT TO WATCH!  THE SPROUTS ARE HARD TO PICK AND REQUIRE USING A KNIFE.... 

OUR CELERY DOES REALLY WELL HERE...  IT DOESN'T FREEZE WELL..BUT I DO HARVEST THE CELERY LEAVES, WASH THEM, DRY THEM AND FREEZE THEM. I USE THEM IN WINTER SOUPS AND IN WINTER POT ROASTS AND OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN!  THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WASHED AND FROZE CARROT TOPS, TOO..WHICH I INTEND TO USE JUST LIKE CELERY TOPS.  I DID THE SAME WITH THE TOPS OF OUR LEEKS.

ALONG THE VEGETABLE GARDENS I HAVE ZIANNIA'S PLANTED...  THIS LARGE SWALLOWTAIL FLITTED AROUND ME AND KEPT ME COMPANY, AS I WAS PICKING.

WE USUALLY DON'T DO WELL WITH PUMPKINS... THEY GROW TO THIS SIZE AND A PESKY WOOD CHUCK FINDS THEM AND MAKES A BIG MEAL OUT OF THEM.  FINGERS CROSSED- LET'S HOPE THIS ONE MAKES IT TO HALLOWEEN!

MORE OF WHAT WAS PICKED.................

I WAS ABLE TO HARVEST AND FREEZE 10 BAGS OF SQUASH YESTERDAY!  AND, MORE POPPING SOON!

WE'RE OFF TO 4H BARN DUTY AGAIN THIS MORNING, THEN TO REGISTER FOR OUR HOMESCHOOL CLASSES...  THEN....BLUEBERRY PICKING!  HAPPY FRIDAY, FRIENDS!

 JAMAICAN BANANA BREAD

THIS IS WHAT BRAD AND TOMMIE WILL BE WALKING INTO WHEN THEY COME IN FROM THE FIELD FROM BRUSH-HOGGING AND WEED WHIPPING!  THE EDGES GOT A LITTLE TOO DONE...  BUT NOTHING WE CAN'T CUT AROUND!  SMILE, WINK, NOD. 

HAT TIP GOES TO MY FRIEND RHONDA FOR THIS EXOTIC RECIPE!  THANKS PAL!

YOU CAN FIND THE RECIPE HERE:  JAMAICAN BANANA BREAD

ME?  A BLUE RIBBON WINNER?  WELL....NO!

YOU KNOW HOW SOME PEOPLE JUST ARE LUCKY WINNERS?  YOU KNOW THE TYPE...THEY JUST HAPPEN TO ACE EVERYTHING THEY DO?   THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE FOR ME.  I'VE NEVER WON A THING.  NOT EVEN A DRAWING FOR A FREE STUFFED ANIMAL.  NOT A TEN-DOLLAR GIFT CERTIFICATE...NOT EVEN A FREE ICE CREAM COUPON. IN FACT, MY LUCK IS SO BAD...THAT WHEN I GO TO THE LOCAL MEIJERS TO DO A "BUY ONE-GET ONE FREE DEAL"...  THERE IS ONLY ONE PACKAGE LEFT TO BUY!!!

 IT JUST DOESN'T SWING THAT WAY FOR ME.    OH SURE, I GET CLOSE... TO THE EDGE...BUT NEVER NUMBER ONE.  NEVER QUITE REACH THE FINISH LINE.  BUT, JUST-A-BOUT.               SOMETIMES ANYWAY.

IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE LAST COUPLE OF BLOG ENTRIES OF MINE, THEN YOU'LL UNDERSTAND I'VE BEEN WONDERING IF ANY OF MY 4H ENTRIES WON THE BLUE RIBBON. ...  UH-NOPE.

CLEARING MY THROAT, WITH CORRECT POSTURE... I PROUDLY SAY THAT..... I DID WIN 2ND PLACE FOR THE ALICE IN WONDERLAND HAT/PLANTER.  AND, I DID TAKE THIRD PLACE FOR MY APPLE PIE...AND THIRD ON MY CUTTING OF DILL. 

 THE REST OF THE ENTRIES, NOT A THING.

I KNOW MY AUNT JOYCE WILL FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, BECAUSE SHE THINKS I AM THE BEST COOKIE BAKER AND BREAD BAKER THAT EVER WALKED THE PLANET!  NOT TO WORRY AUNT JOYCE...I WILL BE BRINGING A FRESH ZUCCHINI SPICE BREAD THIS FRIDAY AND I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE A HOMEMADE BLUE RIBBON TO GIVE ME!  AT LEAST I HOPE SHE WILL.

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AND THE BEAT GOES ON...........................

MONDAY WAS THE BIG DAY FOR TOMMIE AT THE 4H FAIR..  HE'S WORKED ALL YEAR LONG WITH HIS FLORIDA WHITE RABBIT, LEARNING 37 STEPS AND A SMORGASBORG OF RABBIT QUESTIONS...  FROM EAR CANKERS TO SNUFFLES TO BROKEN TAILS AND WRY NECKS!  THIS WAS HIS FIRST OFFICAL SHOW!  ALL THE KIDS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR LAB COATS OR LONG SLEEVE WHITE SHIRTS AND DRESS PANTS...HENCE, THE WHITE SHIRT!

I TOOK THIS SNAP OF A CHICKEN.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CHICKENS... I JUST REALLY LIKE THEM, SO I TOOK A PICTURE (OR 2 OR 3 OR 4!) ..  TOMMIE IS PEOPLE WATCHING AND WAITING FOR THE SHOW TO BEGIN!

THIS IS TOMMIE'S RABBIT SHELBY.....GETTING READY FOR THE SHOW!

TIME FOR THE SHOWMANSHIP EXAM BEFORE THE JUDGE! 

ANOTHER JUDGING AND EXAM BEFORE THE JUDGE!  THIS WAS FOR BEST OF BREED,,.THE KIDS DIDN'T NEED THEIR FORMAL WHITE SHIRTS!

I'M NOT SURE WHY, BUT I DIDN'T GET A SNAP OF THE RIBBONS TOMMIE WON...THEY WERE IMMEDIATLY TIED ABOVE THE CAGES...  HE WON THIRD PLACE FOR SHOWMANSHIP AND FIRST PLACE FOR BEST OF BREED. 

NOW,  I WONDER IF I WON THE BIG BLUE RIBBON?  I FIND OUT TODAY!

 TODAY WE HEADED TO THE FAIR... WITH RABBITS, BAKED GOODS AND FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND DILL AND ZUCCHINI LOADED IN THE CAR.  MAKE THAT TWO CARS.  YES, WE HAD TO TAKE TWO CARS TO TRANSPORT EVERYTHING....  JUST SO I COULD ENTER THE FAIR ALL WEEK FOR FREE AND POSSIBLY WIN THE GRAND FIVE DOLLAR PRIZE!  

HERE IS A SNAP OF THE SPICEY ZUCHHINI BRAD I ENTERED...I MADE A LOAF FOR US AND IT IS ONE OF OUR NEW FAVORITES...I WILL POST THE RECIPE SOON.  IT IS HEAVENLY!

THIS IS THE FINISHED APPLE PIE THAT I WAS ROLLING OUT IN THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY...  IT IS AN OIL CRUST- WHICH IS A BREEZE TO MAKE!  IT'S FROM MY GRANDMA'S COOKBOOK!

THESE ARE THE BEST COOKIES I'VE EVER MADE!  THEY'RE NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT BUT THEY SURE ARE GOOD!  I GOT THEM FROM DAWN AT SUN AND CANDLELIGHT'S BLOG.. HER LINK IS IN MY SIDEBAR.  THEY'RE CALLED WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES. THEY MAKE MY SOCKS ROLL UP AND DOWN, THEY'RE SO GOOD! 

JUDGING IS TOMORROW... STAY TUNED. JUST MAYBE I WILL BE BACK WITH A PICTURE OF MY FIVE DOLLAR BILL.  OH HAPPY DAY! 

 SATURDAY, I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY BAKING AND FLOWER ARRANGING IN PREPARATION FOR THIS WEEKS 4H FAIR! 

ONE OF THE CATAGORIES I ENTERED IS A POTTED PLANT (YOU CAN USE ONLY ONE PLANT PER PLANTER)...  SO, I FOUND THIS BEAVER SKIN TOP HAT DATED 1822 ON THE INSIDE, AT A GARAGE SALE FOR $2.00.  MY WHEELS STARTED TURNING!  I FLIPPED THE HAT UPSIDE DOWN, THOUGHT ABOUT A THEME AND CAME UP WITH "ALICE IN WONDERLAND!"  I PICKED UP THE PURPLE SPIKEY PLANT AT WALMART FOR 50 CENTS.

I FLIPPED THROUGH A VINTAGE ALICE IN WONDERLAND PICTURE BOOK I HAVE AND FOUND RELATED OBJECTS AROUND THE HOUSE, TO DISPLAY IN IT!  A PLAYING CARD, A KEY, A TEA CUP, A SAUCER, A FORK, AND A HOMEMADE BUNNY CARD- WHICH I PRINTED THE SIMPLE NAME "ALICE" ON IT.  I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS QUIRKY TO HANG THE TEA BAG OFF THE HANDLE OF THE CUP!

I REALLY, REALLY LOVE THIS!  I REMEMBERED I HAD A BOOK ON TAPE OF THE ALICE STORY, SO I PLAYED THAT WHILE I ARRANGED AND WAS INSPIRED! 

I'M ALSO ENTERING LARGE-HEADED ZIANNIA'S.  THESE ARE FROM MY ANTIQUE COLLECTION.  THE RIBBON AROUND THE VASE I FOUND RECENTLY AT AN ESTATE SALE..IT'S VERY OLD- VERY VINTAGE.  I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH THE COLOR...BUT IT NEEDED SOMETHING AROUND THE VASE...I MAY MOVE THE RIBBON UP AND TUCK IT IN THE ZIANNIA'S...AND LET THE ENDS DANGLE DOWN....  I MIXED GREEN ROSE LEAVES IN THE VASE, TOO...MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY NEED TO LAST THE ENTIRE WEEK OF THE FAIR AND WON'T WILT.

I ALSO ENTERED A SUNFLOWER ARRANGEMENT. SIMPLE.

I'M ALSO ENTERING BAKED GOODS...  I MADE AN APPLE PIE (TWO REALLY- ONE FOR BRAD!)... THIS IS THE START OF IT....  I'LL POST MORE PICTURES TOMORROW!

OFF TO WONDERLAND...............

DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.... FRIDAY NIGHT FOUND US IN THE KITCHEN HAVING FAMILY GAME NIGHT!  MY MOM HAD BOUGHT TOMMIE THIS GAME CALLED SIMPLY.."THE FARMING GAME."  IT IS AN INCREDIBLE GAME FOR TEACHING ECONOMICS AND AGRICULTURE, NOT TO MENTION SCIENCE AND QUICK MATH COMPUTING!

  FROM WHAT I READ THIS MORNING... SCHOOLS ARE USING THIS IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL AG CLASSES AND EVEN LESSON PLANS ARE BEING BASED ON THIS GAME!  HOW COOL IS THAT? 

DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL, IF TOMMIE NEED A CLASS IN ECONOMICS WE COULD JUST PLAY THIS GAME A FEW DAYS A WEEK? 

HMMMM....THIS DOES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE A WONDERFUL HOMESCHOOL CO-OP CLASS FOR JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLERS!  YOU'D NEED TO RUN THE CLASS FOR 2 HOURS AND PURCHASE A COUPLE OF GAMES..

HERE IS THE LINK WHERE YOU CAN BUY AND READ THE GREAT REVIEWS!

THE FARM GAME!

P.S.  BRAD AND I DID NOT WIN.  THE LITTLE FARMER DID!  AND, NO!  WE DID NOT "LET" HIM WIN!  AND, I'M NOT BREATHING A WORD TO HIM THAT THIS IS EDUCATIONAL IN ANY WAY!!!

I'VE BEEN OUT HITTING A FEW REALLY GOOD GARAGE SALES LATELY... 

AND, I THOUGHT I'D SHARE MY TREASURES WITH YOU!  ABOUT THE GOODIES ABOVE:  I FOUND 6 (ALTHOUGH 2 ARE IN THE DISHWASHER) LITTLE GLASS SPICE JARS.  I PLAN TO DRY SOME HERBS LIKE LYNN IN NC DID!   THE JARS WERE .15 CENTS EACH. I AM THINKING OF DECOPAGING SOMETHING VINTAGE ON THEM....

 I WAS GIVEN THE SPANISH ZUCCHINI FREE..I NEED TO GOOGLE HOW TO PREPARE IT! 

 I ALSO FOUND THE GOLD FRAMED PICTURE OF 2 SWANS IN THE BACKGROUND....  I LOVE SWANS!  THEY ARE SO PEACEFUL AND ELEGANT.  ODD PLACE TO HANG IT...BUT IT LOOKED VERY NICE IN MY KITCHEN...WHICH IS WHERE I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME, LATELY.  I PAID A DOLLAR FOR IT!

  I ALSO FOUND 2 STACKS OF LINEN NAPKINS...THE GREEN FOR EVERYDAY AND THE DAMASK IVORY FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. TOTAL FOR ALL $1.00.

I DID BACKFLIPS WHEN I FOUND THIS  PRENTICE LITERATURE GOLD BOOK (BELOW) THAT AGAIN  MY FRIEND LYNN - A MOTHER'S JOURNAL... TOLD ME ABOUT.  IT WAS JUST A QUARTER.  IT IS MUCH TOO ADVANCED FOR TOMMIE AND A LITTLE TOO ADVANCED FOR THIS BLOND BRAIN (I'M SERIOUS!) ...BUT, I CAN DEFINATLEY DISSECT THE GLOSSARY AND COME UP WITH SOME HAND'S ON LEARNING GAMES FOR ADVANCED LITERARY DEFINITIONS...THEY MAY GIVE TOMMIE A CHALLANGE THIS YEAR...AND TAKE HIM BEYOND IDIOMS, SIMILIES, ALLITERATIONS, HYPERBOLES AND SUCH...  WE'LL SEE?

STAY TUNED... I HAVE A LOT MORE GOOD GARAGE SALE FINDS TO SHARE..MOST ARE IN THE DISH WASHER OR WASHING MACHINE! 

I MADE AN EXCELLENT NEW RECIPE! 

IT'S CALLED "CITRUS HONEY CHICKEN KABOBS"...  

IT WAS OH SO GOOD... I THOUGHT I'D SHARE THE RECIPE WITH YOU!

1/2 C. LEMON JUICE, 1/4 C. LIME JUICE, 1/2 C. ORANGE JUICE, 1/4 C. HONEY, 1/4 SOY SAUCE, 1 teaspoon salt,  2 LBS BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS AND 4-6 METAL BARBECUE SKEWERS.

CUT CHICKEN INTO 1/4 INCH CUBES, COMBINE LIQUID INGREDIENTS AND SALT.  MIX WELL AND MARINATE IN THE REFRIDGERATOR FOR 30 MINUTES.  DRAIN CHICKEN AND DISCARD MARINADE.

I ALSO MARINADED AND GRILLED:  ZUCHHINI, ONIONS AND GREEN PEPPERS, USING THE SAME MARINADE!

GRILL UNTIL THE CHICKEN IS FULLY COOKED!

I GREW CABBAGE THIS YEAR IN THE GARDEN... IT IS A REALLY PRETTY AMAZING VEGTABLE TO GROW...  JUST THE WAY THE LEAVES AUTOMATICALLY FORM INTO LAYERS TO FORM ONE BIG BALL! 

I'M NOT SURE WHY I GREW IT...WE'RE NOT REALLY EVEN A CABBAGE-EATING TYPE FAMILY....BUT. I DID.    IT ATTRACTED A TON OF WHITE CABBAGE MOTHS..WHICH ARE ALWAYS FUN TO HAVING FLYING AROUND THE YARD...  YESTERDAY, I HARVESTED  3 BIG HEADS FOR SOUP AND FREEZER COLE SLAW. 

CABBAGE...IT'S A GOOD THING!

MONDAY FOUND ME RUNNING ERRANDS ALL OVER TOWN!  KOHL'S FOR NEW COOKIE SHEETS, WALMART FOR A FEW LITTLE GROCERIES AND A NICE, SURPRISE CHAT WITH MY DEAR FRIEND RHONDA , AND A QUICK ZIP THROUGH THE CAR WASH!  FOLLOWED BY A LARGE SIZED SWEET TEA FROM MCDONALDS...  MY NEW FAVORITE DRINK!

I HAVE A LIST A MILE LONG...WITH THINGS TO DO TO GET READY FOR THE COUNTY FAIR THIS NEXT COMING WEEK!  TOMMIE IS SHOWING (OFFICIALLY) THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME... I AM GAINING FREE-ENTRY INTO THE FAIR BY ENTERING:  DILL, APPLE PIE, ZUCCHINI, ZUCCHINI BREAD, SUNFLOWERS, ZIANNIA'S, AND HOMEADE COOKIES...  OH, AND A PLANTER THAT CAN ONLY HAVE ONE PLANT IN IT.  I'M THINKING OF FLIPPING A VINTAGE HAT OR COWBOY HAT UPSIDE DOWN AND PLANTING AN HERB IN IT.  YOU KNOW, MUCH THOUGHT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THESE ENTRIES...SO, I CAN BE A BLUE RIBBON WINNER AND SCOOP UP THE GRAND PRIZE OF $5.00!  (YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT.. FIVE BUCKS!)

WE HAVE BARN DUTY THIS YEAR.  TOMMIE'S WAITED MOST OF HIS LIFE TO SIT IN THE BARN AND SWEEP, FEED AND WATER THE RABBITS.  I AM SURE I WILL THOUROUGHLY ENJOY THE SMELL OF POULTRY, PIGS AND RABBITS IN THIS HUMIDITY! 

HERE'S A SNAP OF TOMMIE AND HIS SHOW RABBIT, SHELBY...  IT'S TAKEN OUTSIDE OUR MILKHOUSE.  DOESN'T IT LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE TO BE HOLDING THE RABBIT THIS WAY?  IT REALLY ISN'T... IT'S HOW THEY TAUGHT HIM IN 4H...  COVER THEIR EYES AND THEY WON'T GET SPOOKED AND JUMP!

"TOMMIE...YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES TO BE IN YOUR BATHING SUIT AND IN THE CAR!"  SAYS ME, A MOM TRYING TO MAKE A SPONTANIOUS MEMORY FOR HER SON...BEFORE SUMMER IS OVER! 

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SURPRISING TOMMIE WITH LATELY...  JUST OUT OF THE BLUE.  AND HE'S LOVING IT!  JUST YESTERDAY, I SPRUNG IT ON HIM...   ALTHOUGH THIS SNAP BELOW SHOWS A BIG FROWNY FACE.. HE WAS INCREDIBLY GIDDY!

One Word MeMe
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

Not as easy as you might think!

************************

1. Where is your cell phone? CHARGING

2. Your significant other? DRESSING

3. Your hair?  BEDHEAD

4. Your mother? SPUNKY

5. Your father? SAINT

6. Your favorite thing? FAMILY

7. Your dream last night? UNEVENTFUL

8. Your favorite drink? ICED TEA

9. Your dream/goal?  MANY!

10. The room you’re in? KITCHEN

11. Your ex? Who?

12. Your fear? DISEASES

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? LIVING

14. Where were you last night?  HOME

15. What you’re not? DRESSED

16. Muffins? POPPYSEED

17. One of your wish list items? SUNROOM

18. Where you grew up? SUBDIVISION

19. The last thing you did? EMAILED

20. What are you wearing? SWEATS

21. Your TV?  OFF

22. Your pets? SASSY

23. Your computer? HUMMING?

24. Your life? SIMPLE

25. Your mood? HYPER

26. Missing someone? DAD

27. Your car? DIRTY

28. Something you’re not wearing? SOCKS

29. Favorite Store? THRIFT!

30. Your summer? LONG

31. Like someone? LOTS!

32. Your favorite color? BLACK