"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message..."
Col 4:2,3A

This resonated with me, as I am working on and thinking about what I will share at church in a couple weeks. My pastor is giving me an opportunity to share about my heart for adoption and orphans, and about my journey specifically and about Olivia.

I am praying that hearts will open, not just to us and those who might want to help, that is a blessing - yes, but greater than that, that hearts will open themselves...to adoption.

Please pray that God will open hearts to the message.....

The Name Game

Why? Because Gina did it..

The Name Game
1. YOUR REAL NAME: Sandra

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus -izzle.)
Sandraizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal)
Pink and Brown Kitten

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (your middle name and street you live on/or neighborhood if it's a number) Lee Keller

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name) Hansa (hey maybe I get to hang out with Han Solo

6. YOUR SUPERHERO/CRIMINAL NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, and favorite drink) Pink&Brown Latte

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, 1st letter of your last name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dads name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, and last letter of your moms first name). Anhamky

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents' middle names) Louis Ray

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets). Black Bella

10. YOUR HOOD NAME:....first 3 letters of your first name plus iqua: Saniqua

three down, 1,2,3 to go?

I am SOOO enjoying crocheting hats for my kids for Christmas. They have seen them, have been my size models and already WANT them! hee hee. I have three done, and techically have one more to go. Except, they think I should make one for bella, and then one for Anthony's Teddy (I wonder if that means Nick's Poo and Mary's Sally will need one?) and then, of course, I might want one. I find myself getting more freestyle as each one progresses. The last one had ruffled trip and hanging pom-poms...:) for Olivia.

I am growing an appreciation for things handmade. It seems like our culture has become so mass market, plastic, shiny, manufactured and too many options....the draw back to unique, slow, one of a kind, endearing has been drawing me. Downscale the world a bit.

I had an idea today...inspired by a picture I saw of an embroidery. (I use to do a lot of embroidery "kits" when I was younger). Here's the idea...take one of my kids pencil drawings and use it as a template to embroider something.... A shirt, or a wall hanging.... I need to figure out how you would transfer it onto the paper, but I am sure there must be a way.

So once my crocheting is done...I think November will be my embroidery month! :)

Aren't I just the domesticated one?

Yum yum..Seasonal Brownies

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/10/pumpkin-swirl-brownies/

Doesn't this look just yummy? I found it at Smitten Kitchen and plan to make some for Halloween for my own kiddies....

Pumpkin-Swirl BrowniesAdapted from Martha Stewart Living

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 to 3/4 cups sugar (the original recipe calls for the larger amount;
I think it could be dialed down a bit)
4 large eggs1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts or other nuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a 9-inch square baking pan or dish. Cut a length of parchment that will cover the bottom and two sides (makes it much easier to remove), and line the pan with it. Butter the lining as well.

(Deb note: I used an 8-inch square, because it was what I had. It works, too, but the brownies are crazy thick and take much longer to bake, just to give you a heads-up.)

2. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.

3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until fluffy and well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture.

4. Pour half of batter (about two cups) into a separate bowl and stir chocolate mixture into it. If you find that it is a little thick (as mine was) add a little more batter (a few tablespoons or so) until it is more pourable. This is important because mine was quite thick, and the pumpkin half was quite thin, so I had trouble swirling the two together.

5. In other bowl, stir in the pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan smoothing top with a rubber spatula. Top with half of pumpkin batter. Repeat to make one more chocolate layer and one more pumpkin layer. Work quickly so batters don’t set.

6. With a small spatula or a table knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect. Be sure to get your knife all the way to the bottom of the pan–I didn’t, and ended up with a chocolate base, not that it is such a bad thing. Sprinkle with nuts, if using.

7. Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

What I read this morning....

"Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." Col 4:1

Masters: Greek: kurios from the word kuros, which means "supremacy". he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord

Provide: Greek: parecho to reach forth, offer, to show, afford, supply, to be the authors of, or to cause one to have

Slaves: Greek doulos servant, bondman, attendant

Right: Greek dikaios upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God , innocent, faultless, guiltless ,used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God,

Fair: Greek isotes equality, equity, fairness, what is equitable

Know: Greek eido to perceive by any of the senses 1c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover, to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to

Ok...now that we have had our little Greek lexicon lesson....hear are my thoughts.

This morning I woke up sleepy. Stayed up too late reading..and yet was reminded again, in my last nights novel reading, how important it is to DAILY drink from the word of life. So...hitting the snooze button (was it two or three times) I KNEW I did not have much time. Yet, did not want to skip.

So I jumped to my marker (of where I am reading the Bible backwards) and read Colossians 4:1. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Ok, well, hmmm. I am not really a master of slaves, have no servants, and well, I am not even a manager of people in my current role at work. So great principle...be right and fair.... now I have to get ready for work...

<> what a fine slurp that was....did I even let the straw touch my lips?

But mulling it over in the drive into work, and then at a break, I thought...well, in a sense...I am "master" of my family, my children, and I need to be right and fair to them. Good goal. Be right. Be fair. I will try.

hmmm. That would mean even in those times when I don't feel like being anything...too tired, don't want to deal with it...this is a little tough. Yet, I know God's grace is sufficient for my lack.

Then...I thought..hmmm. It doesn't say BE right and fair..it says PROVIDE what is right and fair. Be is kind of passive. I will just sit here and BE fair, right, but oh, don't make me lift a finger. I am just being.... Provide, however, is more active...doing. So I decided at lunch I would look up the Greek words these phrases were translated from and see what might be a bit under the surface...thus our lexicon lesson.

So first, as a "master" God has given me some "things". these wonderful children...for this time and season they belong to me and I am the decision maker for them, God has given me that power and authority. So, yes this verse DOES pertain t ome and my children.

And in that role, he does not call me to be passive, but calls me to take action, to reach, supply, do whatever it takes to cause my children to have......

what is right and fair....what is wholly conformed to the will of God equally to all my children.

WOW~! A home life, a mother, an environment, activities, influence that is wholly conformed to the will of God. And equally...not when this one is charming and that one is obeying and this one doesn't rub me the wrong way.

Lord and Master in heaven...this is beyond my capability. Your ways are so high and my flesh is so weak.

And not just to think about this today, and walk away and forget....but to percieve with my senses that my Lord, the one I belong to, the one who has the power of decision over me...is in heaven and He sees.

Not just a He sees, so He can THUMP me when I am wrong, but He sees and pours out in me..His lavish love in my heart, to equip me with all I need to provide what is wholly His will for my children, equally.

Does not God's word send us running back to His feet? Pour your Spirit in me, fill me to it spills over. I cannot do this in my own nature. Only being connected and full of you can cause me to even attempt to live out this verse.

Lord for me to provide that which is wholly in your will for my children, I FIRST must be there. Bring me there. Search my heart, if there is any way in me, around me, with me, that is not pleasing to you...change me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That is what I read today...

Too funny....cluck cluck

Someone sent this to me in email, and I am sure it has been around and around, but it brought such a chuckle to me, I had to post it.

Enjoy....(I wonder what your answer would be?)

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD??

SARAH PALIN: Before it got to the other side, I shot the chicken,
cleaned and dressed it, and had chicken burgers for lunch.

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a
change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he
recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the
chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little
chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified
to ensure right from Day One! that every chicken in this country gets the
chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about
me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road.
We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The
chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the
satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your
definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am
now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the
chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black
chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize
that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it
goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is
help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems
before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is
why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken
learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to
give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not
live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but
we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can
see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was
going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs
when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider
information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.
Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be
listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming
story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to
accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads
together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not only
cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance
your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken 2008. This
new platform is much more stable and will never crash or need to be
rebooted.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road
move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Ok here is mine:

SANDEE: Cross the road??!!! Without holding your mama's hand??!! Are you nuts??! You could be squished??!! Never, ever even THINK about crossing the road without hold my hand. Do you understand? Look at me..look at my face...ok, now, do you understand me? yes, What did I say?


hee hee.

An Introduction...

My parents came over tonight. It was so nice to have some time and hang out with them. The kids carved pumpkins, with Nanny, Papa and my help...we roasted hotdogs in the backyard fire pit, then we all watched a movie.

It was wonderful to get to introduce my kids to one of my favorite movies, I remember so fondly. Lilies of the Field. It was a nostalgic view for mom and dad and me, and a new introduction for my kids.

Nick and Anthony loved the "English lessons" and the renditions of "Amen..."

A great, fun movie.

I will have to but "To Sir with Love" next and see if it is one that my kids would enjoy.

The Gentle Art of Living...

So is that a possibility? In 2008? Can one live gently...in our current generation, lifestyle, culture? (With a house full of kids and baskets of laundry?)

Is it an art? Can it be learned? And why does the very concept draw me so? What does it even look like?

Little things, vs big things? Details vs shallow generalities? Less vs more? White space in our lives?

Art.. the faculty of executing well what one has devised

So can one devise a gentle life. Plan it, cultivate it, study, observe and then execute it? Gentleness...one of the characters of the fruit of the Spirit...

I am reading a book by Elizabeth Prentiss entitled: Aunt Jane's Hero Written in the early 1800s. I love it. (I had previously posted about her book Stepping Heavenward, another awesome book.)

Aunt Jane's Hero is so simple, so gentle, so lovely, yet so profound in its depiction of devotion to Jesus and living that out well. Gently. :) http://www.amazon.com/Aunt-Janes-Hero-Elizabeth-Prentiss/dp/1879737345/ref=ed_oe_p

I recommend it. A soft read that God is using to speak to my heart, stir my spirit and soothe my soul. Maybe this will be my first step in the art of living gently.

The Word is...

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

I just had parent teacher conference for my boys. They both love school and are both doing great. Anthony is really coming into his own this year, and doing so well! He is now an A student! My Tadpole!

He comes home many days sharing some new science fact, or exclaiming over a history point or the size of a mushroom on a field trip.

Twice now, in the past month, he has shared with me the wonder of God's word! He shared how he will hear a Bible story that he has heard before and is familiar with and each time he hears it, he learns something new! It was as if he was sharing "magic" with me. He then excitedly told me his new bit of information on a particular story.

Two thoughts went through my head. One is how the Word of God is alive! And each time we encounter it, it can be fresh and new and living. I pray for me and for my little ones, that they always approach God's word that way. There are treasures to be mined.

The second thought, is that it does not return void, empty, blank...without an affect on the receiver. And that these "stories" that are fascinating my Tadpole are actually God's breath of life being breathed into His soul.

Praise you Lord....bless Mrs. Eaton, who along with reading and writing and arithmetic, brings the word of God alive to her second grade students. Praise you that Tadpole has ears to hear.... Sow the seeds deep I pray and bless the planter.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. " Isaiah 55: 10,11

Another confession....

I have to admit...I don't ALWAYS register to vote. I did the last election, but some of the ones prior to that, I did not. I have registered this time. And I will admit, what moved me to vote this time was Sarah Palin coming on the scene. I know there are very split views of this....so I am not wanting to start a political debate. But I am asking you to vote...if you have registered, now plan to get out there and vote on Nov 4th....and vote your values...

A Great Place to Work...

So one of the blessings I have working at Intel is the priviledge of volunteering at my kids school. Intel let's us volunteer during work hours and matches the hours we volunteer with money for the school.

Today I accompanied Nick's 5th grade class to the Black Caverns... Really cool caves, with stalagmites and ...well..Nick could explain it all. We had a great time!



My Nick and Nick Clopton



The fifth grade class




The caverns

Mining for gems.

I confess...

..dare I? Ok. so. I like to eat Campbell's Bean with Bacon soup....out of the can, cold, no water! YEP! (Come on, it is already cooked, so what is adding some water and heating it going to do??!!)

Maybe that is why I am single.

Grin

My boys think it is cool!

Prop 8

Family Idioms

We have so much fun with idioms at our house....and love to make up some of our own. Our newest one, we made up at the dinner table yesterday. Anthony was telling us some "facts" that we were all doubting to be true. But he kept attesting that they "really truly were true!"

Not quite buying it, I said, well I am going to have to go buy us all longer pants. Not understanding, Anthony and Nick asked why?

Because Anthony is pulling all our legs, so they are longer and our pants are too short. Nick and Anthony thought that was so funny, that they now want us to use the phrase. I need longer pants, whenever we think someone is telling us a story! Our new family idiom.

We have been having a lot of fun with the French idiom, cut the pear in two (see http://sandeefamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/couper-la-poire-en-deux.html ) That is until last night, when I said, Well do we need to cut the pear, and Tadpole said, "Better than cutting the cheese!"

Never a dull moment!

I be Red

very very Red....:) My kids keep staring at me, but I think they like it. I like it.

I like my grey being gone

I like my three tone, part blonde and four inches of roots being gone.

I like that it was natural herb/leaves (henna) vs artificial chemical stuff.

I like that it came all the way from the slopes of mountains in India to my head. (not sure why, but I like that.)

I like that I did it myself.

I like that it was inexpensive - compared to $100 to $150 at the hair salon. (Cost me $21 plus shipping).

I like the color.

So it is funny, the henna comes in a powder..powdered leaves I think, and is green. You mix it with lemon juice to the consistency of mash potatoes, and let it sit over night. The kids saw me mixing and were all intrigued as to what it was. I did not tell them what it was for and told them only that it was an herb. They were so afraid I was going to make them EAT it with all the new recipes I have been doing lately.

They called it green poop, fungus, etc. and were SOOOO curious why I was mixing it up. I told them they would find out the next day. I went around 1/2 the day with a towel on my head. (You have to leave it in for 4 hours or more..it is like mud all over your hair) and when they asked about the "green poop", I told them it was on my head! lol You should have seen there shock.

They all seem to like my red hair though. Tadpole just keeps staring at me. lol.

Scappy Hat

so my first attempt at making a hat, did not work, so I have switched patterns to this one. cute huh. and you can make it in "girl" colors or "boy" colors....and the pattern is free..here: http://www.yarncat.com/EileenMod.html

so this is my new attempt..if it works out at all, I will post my version of it. (Christmas present for four kids. )

"Eileen came up with this kid-size version of my Scrap Tweed Tassel Hat.The addition of earflaps and braided ties make this hat truly one of a kind!

Ch 4,join with sl st to make ring.

Rnd 1:Ch 2,3 hdc in ring(4 hdc).Do not join at end on rnds.

Rnd 2:2 hdc in each st(8hdc).

Rnd 3:2 hdc in each st(16 hdc).

Rnd 4:*1 hdc in next st,2 hdc in next st.Rep from *(24 hdc).

Rnd 5:*1 hdc in next 2 st,2 hdc in next st.Rep from *(32 hdc).

Rnd 6:*1 hdc in next 3 st,2 hdc in next st.Rep from *(40 hdc).

Rnd 7-14:1 hdc in each st around.Join with sl st.Fasten off.

Ear FlapRow 1:In same st,join with sc,ch 1(counts as first hdc),hdc in next 9 st(10 hdc).Ch 1,turn.

Row 2:Hdc dec over first 2 st,hdc to end of row.Ch 1,turn.

Row 3:Rep Row 2 until 3 st remain. Fasten off.

Skip 11 hdc and join again and repeat Ear Flap.Dropping scrap yarn,work 2 sc in each st around with solid-color yarn. Fasten off, weave in ends.

For Ties

Cut 12 strands of yarn approx 30" long.

I use 2 strands of the solid color I used for the hat for each side and use different colors for the other strands.

Take 6 strands for each side and,using crochet hook,pull the center of strands through the center stitch of the last round of the earflap.

Braid the strands,with 4 strands in each group.

When there are a few inches still unbraided,take one of the solid strands and wrap it around the braid.

Needle that strand and pull it through the wrapped strands.Repeat that a few times to secure.

Trim the strands to desired length.Repeat for other side.

Help:

How to Make a Half Double Crochet Stitch
Yarn over hook. Insert hook in the next stitch to be worked. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook (one half double crochet made).

How to Make a Double Crochet Stitch
Yarn over hook. Insert hook in the next stitch to be worked. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through 2 loops on hook. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through last 2 loops on hook (one double crochet made).

Great site for how tos: http://crochet.about.com/library/bldoublecrochet.htmb

PS. Ok, this is not the best photograph....I took it with the little camera on my laptop screen...but...

lookey lookey. I made the hat! In one night! This one is Nicks...I am making three more, for tadpole, mei mei and Olivia..and maybe myself...maybe Bella too!

Fun and easy. I will try to take a better picture, when I can find my real camera.

So cute. I made that! lol I am tickled with myself! I love how the little strings go all over...you can weave them all in if you don't like it that way!

surfing the web

some cool websites I found while waiting on my henna to do its thang.

http://www.etsy.com/ cool artisans and handmade items

http://www.modahome.com/ A cute site with fabrics, patterns and home stuff.

http://www.midnightfarm.net/ a really cool site of all kinds of stuff....furniture, food, music, books, bedding, candles, lotions...all kinds of cool stuff.

Mary Engelbreit's cool magazine site. http://www.homecompanionmag.com/

http://earthangelstoys.com/ all kinds of links to cool folk art items..you can get lost in here.

a cool kniting blog (this is for you Kristy) http://www.purlbee.com/

Happy Surfing

ooh ooh..

I just noticed a new episode of Stargate Atlantis was posted tonight! I know what I am doing later.....red hair and Atlantis....a relaxing night.

My Henna is here, my henna is here!

I am planning on putting Henna in my hair and going red. I ordered it from a place that came highly recommended http://www.mehandi.com/, that has body art quality henna.

It came in the mail today. I want to wait until Rebecca can help me...but IT IS HERE. I don't think I can stand waiting. :)

:)

Angelina will be happy...me too!

Introducing Princess Tiana....

I remember reading somewhere that Angelina Jolie was upset with Disney because they did not have an African princess in any of their animated films. (Lion King did not count, with its four-legged, furry, lioness princess.)

Well they DO now! Or at least close. An African American princess with the story set in the bayou! YES!

I can't wait until this movie comes out.. The Princess and the Frog. Some time in 2009

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/

Next step is one set in Africa..

I've been tagged...by Rhonda

I'v been tagged by Rhonda http://myethiopiandiva.blogspot.com/ to post 6 random things about myself:

(Those thar cows have tags on 'em)

So I am not sure whether I respond on this site or my adoption site, so I will write it on this site.

1. I have been really down on myself lately. Both physically, but more spiritually. But last night..I just took God at his word and decided that the verse in Phillipians about Don't be anxious about anything, but pray about everything, applied to this too. So I just told God, I am sorry that I am so inconsistent and struggling and I know you love me anyway, so I let go of my anxiety over that, and give it to you. And I had peace and an awesome time of devotions this morning. now how about that!

2. My hair is the pits right now, I am stalking the mailbox for my package of Henna I sent off for, and I am afraid I won't be able to wait until Rebecca has time to come over to use it. I am going RED.

3. I am questioning..gulp....dare I say it?......scrapbooking! Yep, I know. I love it...and hate it. I am getting so stressed at being behind and knowing another child is coming and then more behind....I am thinking about either ...going...(the d word) DIGITAL or scrapping far less pictures. I am SOOOOOOOOOO behind.

4. I get lonely.

5. I am a Stargate Atlantis Junkie....not having television or cable, I bought the 5four seasons and have watched episodes of season five on amazon.com. I am all caught up. Withdrawals are starting to consider watching season 2, again.... It's a toss up between Jon Sheppard and Ronan, with those dreadlocks.

6. I remember an elderly woman telling me once that inside, she was still 16. I was in my 20's I think, at the time..and did not quite get it. Now being many years past 20, 30, 40...I get it. My romantic heart is still so young. But my body has moved on! LOL..or better COL (Crying out loud). I have a very poor self image right now.

Ok..that is 6 really boring random things....not sure if ANYONE will read them....but there they are.

Now I am suppose to go tag someone else...but not sure how that works... So I will list who I tag here. and also comment on their sites.

Sistermom...Mirandsa...I tag you...because you are a great sister.daughter.mom...and look what you talked your mom into!

Denise...I tag you, because you are probably too busy to do this and it might be fun to talk about yourself.

Amber...I tag you because I LOVE your in utero pictures...you are a lovely momma with a lovely heart. (And you taped by Mame getting her photo album)

Rebecca Brutto...I tag you because ..oh snap, well just because....

So comment if you post.

Right Now...

Does my camera lie? Oh please, please, tell me it does....

sigh...

ok...anyway...


Right Now...
I am:

feeling... A little tired, hopeful and longing….feels like I am always metamorphosizing (not in the dictionary) into what I will be, what my life will be. And that makes me hopeful.

enjoying... Fall, sweaters and a warm latte

wondering... If I will like my hair red…(henna, or will I still feel ugly) and how my momma is doing today.

listening... To many voices, murmuring and conversations going on (not in my head, I am in the cubicle office environment)

drinking... Skinny vanilla latte

wanting... To change my lifestyle, more….feeling restless, wanting to deepen the quality by lessening the static.

loving... My Jesus, Abba, Holy Spirit and my little ones, and my mom and dad.

looking... Inward to God, for connection and help….feeling I am falling so short.

More Fall - Apple Hill

Thank you Kathy, for the additional pictures!











Tadpole picking the perfect pumpkin.












Cranberries. (Uh, duh, I knew you knew what they were)













Nick -Rex













The infamous pig...ugh.
















Princess Qing Qing






















Nick, our friend Maya, Mary Beth and Tadpole

Chocolate Tea....

yes, you read that right!

Somewhere in my wanderings I came across a post of someone describing chocolate tea and I had to order some.

http://www.adagio.com/ (Click on flavors, then chocolate).

I just got a notice that my tea has been shipped today...so I will let you know when it comes in, if it is as tastey as I am anticipating.

PS...did you know we can thank ol' Christopher Columbus for chocolate!!! Makes last Monday just that much more meaningful!

The story of chocolate begins with Columbus' discovery of America. Cocoa beans were among the curiosities he brought back from his voyage. However, it wasn't until the conquest of Mexico that the Spaniards learned of "chocolatl," a drink made from cocoa beans that the Aztecs served Cortez and his troops. The Spaniards found the drink bitter. But luckily, the New World was also a source of cane sugar. Combining the two, and bringing the recipe to Spain, proved a booming business. The Spanish managed to keep it a secret for nearly a hundred years.

Well the secret is out now, isn't it?!

"Couper la poire en deux."

"Couper la poire en deux."

I must learn French, just so I can pronounce this phrase! I love this French idiom which came across my radar screen by courtesy of <http://chocolateandzucchini.com/>

"Couper la poire en deux."
literally means: "cutting the pear in two," meaning to reach a compromise. "If two people want the same pear, halving it is the most equitable way to settle the dispute.
For example: 'Both our families wanted us to come over for Christmas, so we cut the pear in two: we'll spend Christmas Eve at his parents', and Christmas Day at mine.'"

Isn't that a cool saying...can't you just see it now. My kids arguing over what dvd to watch Friday night and I proclaim: "Couper la poire en deux!"

And problem solved with a little elegance....well I would actually have to say "Couper la poire en trois.", since there are actually three of them. And then in December it will have to be: Couper la poire en quatre." when Olivia comes home...and then of course, my opinion as well, so Couper la poire en cinq."

Sigh....maybe I need to look up the phrase for , "Let's make pearbutter!"

None the less...I shall find just the right opportunity to use it.

Let's cut the pear in two.

Not without a picture I won't

I love photographs...

I hate to post a blog with the photo feature is not working...

SO there are several things I want to post, but will hold onto until later:

1) more apple hill pictures of the kids
2)Right now...
3)pear halves with a little french
4)tending continually
5)casting off branches and pruning

So my thoughts are full......

I am in my season: (My cool site dejour....)

I think I am becoming a mother earth type. Or country mama. And how can that be, when I live in suburbia, work for corporate america and am a single, full-time working mother!!

LOL. But like Coastal magazine, that says"For those who live on the coast or want to"..(paraphrazed). I am mentally gone country! (And I don't mean Garth Brookes and Shania Twain!)

Maybe it is fall. Fall is my all time favorite season. I could live in it all year round. But I want to plan apple trees in my yard (yes my little suburbia, rental-home yard) and knit scarves and make squash lasagna...and grow my hair long and wear riding boots! lol! (yes, riding boots to drive my PT Cruiser) Gosh...what's a gal to do?

Well, I subscribed to three country magazines...and found another wonderful website where someone is living the life I THINK I want to.

(Don't get me wrong, I love my life. ANd I have seen in Country Living magazine, how someone who has an apartment in New York City, decorated it to look like a country farmhouse on the inside.)

So, that is my approach...take what I can of what attracts me and layer it into our lives, folding in the love of nature and a slower pace...when we can. :) (Sounds like a recipe, huh?)

Speaking of recipes, check out this new cool site I found. Yummy!

http://tribecayummymummy-cate.blogspot.com/

Off the Beaten Path

We went to Apple Hill on Saturday..along with everyone else in the valley! After one ranch, we were pretty discouraged and mommas wanting to go home...but we decided to veer off the main road and see where we would end up. We ended up at Honey Bear Ranch, http://www.applehill.com/site/archive/honeybear.html and had a good time. The kids were facinated with a whole pig being roasted on a turning bbq spit, did some drawing, had their faces painted and had lumch. Pumpkins, corn maze. So we had our country day. I took a map, and I think when we go up again, I will look for another off-the-beaten-path farm.

A future at Starbucks?

Oh, how we want things to stay the same, when they are good, and to change QUICKLY when they are not.

Friday night we were preparing for some friends to come stay the weekend, and I told the kids they could all sleep in sleeping bags in the living room. My little man-child Nicky, was so excited, he got all the bags out of the garage, pillows, blankets, movie set up...all ready.

Four kids, four bags. Except one of the bags he got was a small little Winnie the Pooh bag he had used when he was 3 or 4. As we were deciding who would sleep where. He, who holds Pooh near and dear to his heart, even at 10, and having clear ownership rights, claimed the Pooh bag. I told him he was too big. It only came up to his belly. He got quiet and sad...but I did not notice at first. Thinking he was just being difficult. An hour went by and I noticed his sad face, as he sat on the coach. Asking what was wrong, he said he wanted to talk alone.

So we went upstairs. and he started crying. "Mom, in 8 years I will have to get a job and move out! I don't want to grow up! I am a decade already!!" Oh, my sweet little man-child. I hugged him, said he will always be my baby boy. He said I cannot even fit on your lap anymore!" I had to prove him wrong! :) Rocked him and we talked.

I told him, you won't be moving out at 18, you can go to community college and get a part-time job at Starbucks and live with mom!

That perked him up. "Really? What is a part-time job?" I explained it. He seemed somewhat pacified, and went on down to join the other kids.

Two days later, he came back up to me and said, "Mom, thanks for talking to me about that...you know. I feel better."

How precious my children are. Held in my heart forever. Someone this morning said, hey if your kid works at Starbucks, they get a 30% discount!!

Now how cool is that??!!

Hanging out with Tadpole

Today I volunteered in Anthony's class at school. He just lit up to have HIS mom be the one in charge for an hour, while the teachers had a luncheon. :) He has a great class. I feel like I know them all, being art docent last year when they were in 1st grade.

Tadpole is really settling into school and doing well. I am blessed.

Speaking of blessings...something exciting is happening on my other blog! grin....

http://findingolivia.blogspot.com/

I feel a knittin' coming on...

I want to crochet, actually this pattern. I just love it. I want to figure it out and make scarves for my kids for Christmas, and maybe hats too!

How fun!

Lost in place...

So I want to live THIS life: http://www.soulemama.typepad.com/

I want knitting and apples and farmhouses....I was just emailing to my mom last night, I wish I had been smarter with ny money, so I could have owned a farmhouse by now. I remember last year, driving back from Dillon Beach, through the farm country....and praying, thinking, God, I don't want a mansion in heaven (I know it is really the word for dwellling place, but hang with me here,) I want a farmhouse. Big and rambling. Hardwood floors, fireplaces, apple orchard.

One of my favorite of all times movies, I watch over and over is Baby Boom, where the character movies into a rambling farmhouse in a little town and makes a life for herself and her daughter, leaving corporate life behind. My dream.

sigh....so I guess I will live it through websites. and this one, Soul Mama, is an awesome one.

Enjoy it.

PS. I also think the "Season of the Catalogs" has begun! I remember one Christmas doing all my shopping by catalog. One of my new favorites is Garter Hill. http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1&itemType=HOME_PAGE&yhkey=ghbrand&yh=ghbrand

Fun to look through. Enjoy it too.

Wanna move to Toledo?

So, I read this interesting article today about the most affordable places to live in the US. Several were in Ohio and Michigan and California was no where to be found! How did I guess. So here are the pictures and prices...some interesting food for thought, the most affordable also had the less jobs available. Figures, right? I guess if you were a famous author, you could live anywhere. But if you were a famous author, you probably would not need to find the most affordable. Imagine how grand Angelina nd Brad could live in Ankron!
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Most Affordable
Rank: 10
Median home price: $91,000 Median household income: $54,700

Syracuse, N.Y.
Most Affordable
Rank: 9
Median home price: $98,000 Median household income: $61,000


Akron, Ohio
Most Affordable
Rank: 8
Median home price: $100,000
Median household income: $61,700





Dayton, Ohio
Most Affordable
Rank: 7
Median home price: $102,000
Median household income: $59,800






Toledo, Ohio
Most Affordable
Rank: 6
Median home price: $104,000
Median household income: $60,100



Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich.
Most Affordable
Rank: 5
Median home price: $112,000
Median household income: $59,200


Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.
Most Affordable
Rank: 4
Median home price: $140,000
Median household income: $78,800


Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.
Most Affordable
Rank: 3
Median home price: $92,000
Median household income: $54,400





Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.
Most Affordable
Rank: 2
Median home price: $77,000
Median household income: $52,000





Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Most Affordable
Rank: 1
Median home price: $108,000
Median household income: $65,100





Oh and the least afforable? NYC, SF, San Jose, Aneheim, Miami, Bellevue Washington, to name a few.