Free Writing for Free Stuff

I'm at a loss for good content today.

How about a little free-writing.

You, not me.

Here is your question (borrowed from BraveWriter April 2010-Archives):

Tell me in 15 words or less....

What was the longest time you waited for someone or something? Why did you wait?

Come on, I know you wanna play. Maybe I'll even throw in a giveaway prize.

How about a cupcake crochet pin cushion?

Or...an applique hand towel?

You can double you chances and enter twice if you link this post on your blog or send a link on Twitter.

Be sure to let me know your prize preference in your comment.
Comments will be open until tomorrow (June 22) @ noon.
(Must be within the US and Canada, and have a valid email address to win!)

Out of the Gutter

Success!

We have clean gutters.

Although I have to say, I thought this added a sweet and decorative element to our humble abode:

The Mister did a fine job. The hardest part was moving that crazy ladder. We almost broke two windows in the process, but all is well that ends well.

I survived standing in the bushes where wasps and snakes live.

At one point I said, "What am I supposed to do if this ladder starts to tip over?"

"Get out of the way and pray" was his answer.

I didn't just hold ladders this weekend, I also was able to pick veggies from my garden:

Jalepeños, cucumber, chive, sweet pea, basil and a tomato (that wasn't quite ripe but had been broken off by a careless farmer during the watering process.)

I also finished my first crocheted afghan:

(Truth be told I finished this the beginning of last week, but I wanted to give it to the baby-mama before posting.)

Mondays are always filled with weekend clean up so I am thinking about making my Monday posts short and ending  with "links".

Here are the links for this Monday....

You can get your mind out of the gutter with this post: Getting Wise and Empowered - Finding Balance


You can remember that we no longer have to live in the gutter with this post: Guilty - Lift My Noise

And in anticipation of Father's Day...this one has no bearing on the "Gutter" theme but it IS fun to do with the kids:

 Formal Greeting Card - Family Fun

Happy Monday!

Looks Like We Made It

I'll be singing Barry Manilow for a week.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Thank you for your prayers this weekend.

My little camper had a blast on the Girl Scout camping trip.

Unfortunately her 2 night stay ended up being only  28 hours. Her troop was sent home on Saturday night at 7p in anticipation of a string of storms that traveled across the state.

She still got to do all the things she wanted to do: the low ropes course, the climbing of massive trees (with use of a belayer), the 50 foot zipline over the pond, and sleeping in a tent with six other girls without an adult.

She faced her own fears (heights), while I faced mine.

We both did amazingly well.

I hung out with girlfriends on Friday night, which was very relaxing. Then early Saturday morning my dear friend and running partner laced up our shoes...and hit the local garage sales.

It was a work-out for sure.

Especially when you come home with an antique bed.

I paid a whopping $15 for it. It needs some TLC.

The Mister is going to have to replace some of the wood, and I am going to refinish it. "After" pictures to come sometime next month.

I spent the rest of the day keeping very busy - at the gym, in the garden, visiting a friend, mowing the lawn, picking up around the house, and generally wearing myself out.

It was well worth it because what I always hope for on Sunday afternoons came easily: The Nap.

It was a glorious thing.

This morning I'm gearing myself up for a full week of school and activitites.

Confession: I have a bit of school-itis.

I just kind of wish school was over.

Only four weeks left.

Four weeks.

I keep whispering to myself: "Its not starting well that wins the race, but finishing well."

I do want to finish strong, but discipline is missing. Must find it, ASAP!

Tell me what you need to finish well this day? Week? Month?

All I Really Want To Do

I have a secret.

I really want to tell you how I joined a gym last week and its one of the happiest things I've done for myself all year.

I really want to tell you about how beautiful my garden is, and how colorful the iris and azaleas are outside.

I really want to tell you how much I love the man I have the privilege to call The Mister.

I really want to tell you about some big homeschool changes I think I am going to make for next year.

I really want to show you the new toy the kids have in the back yard.

I really want to talk about the movie I saw this weekend,and then sit down and catch up on all your posts from the weekend (if you're a blogger**).

But I can't...

...and that's not even my secret.

The secret is that I have been making a habit of not cleaning in unseen places....namely the entire upstairs.

I have packages to mail, and English to teach and phone calls to make.

And I have to scrub the master bath room...with a months worth of elbow grease....gross, I know.

BUT! I promise to tell you all those things this week.

And maybe even show you how clean my upstairs is?

Nah, probably not that. We have to keep some things secret, right?

Now its your turn, what would rather tell me in order to not do something else that you need to do? If you don't have anything, because you are on schedule (or never get behind) than make something up. **Oh, and if you're not a blogger, why not? Come join the I-don't-want-to-clean-my-upstairs club!

Happy Monday!

Random..and maybe a bit off color

Mondays.

I needn't say more.

But I will.

The Monday after a weeks worth of vacation is bigger than the average bear. Much more difficult to fight.

So for today's post I give you five random points.

1. I am officially fasting from Girl Scouts cookies.  Actually, it will be easy. I think if I see another Thin Mint, I might hurl. And cookie season isn't quite half-way over. (As a side note: This aversion will pass. I have a long-time weakness for the Thin Mint, and my freezer is stocked.)

2. Tomorrow is Australia Day at Girl Scouts. I've been asked to bring my guitar and play Australian songs...So far I have Kookaburra and Waltzing Matilda (and can I just say I am so very glad for the internet? I've only known the chorus to that song, but as of this afternoon, I now know the verses (and tune!)) Caz, I would love your expertise here!

3. You may have noticed Gretchens beautiful raspberry hat in the pictures from Saturday.  The CarpoolQueen made one here, and then made another as a welcome-to-NC gift for Gretchen.

Not wanting to be left out of the Cool Hat Club I decided to make one too.

4. I made that hat while listening to Leviticus on The Bible Experience CD's. If you hear nothing else, please hear this....The Bible Experience is awesome. We received this as a gift from my sister-in-law several years ago and I have used it at least once a week, both for personal listening and for homeschooling.  If you are trying to read through the Bible in a Year and the book of Leviticus makes you want to stick a fork in your eye, the CD's a amazing....its worth the price just for Leviticus, but all the other books are so well done too!

So I got through Leviticus with a new hat to show for it...not a bad afternoon.

5. I mentioned that The Mister was in California last week for a work conference. Any time he goes away he will usually come home with a very large coffee cup for my collection. I look forward and anticipate this gift each time he comes home.

After he had been gone for five days, he walked in on Saturday night and handed me my present all wrapped with bubble wrap. He says, "It's not as big as I wanted it to be, but when I saw it I knew I had to get it... its given in all love and sincerity."

Still makes me giggle.