What's Up? It's Wednesday!

What's up with you all out there in the world?

We are holding onto our little corner with all we've got.  I've been sitting at my desk a lot lately and watching the world go by outside the window. 

Things are starting to green up around here and I, for one, am so glad to see it!  I don't think I have ever been so tired of grey skies and rainy weather. 

After having a few days home, I've begun doing some spring cleaning.  Things around here were starting to look a little bit grey as well - grey with a coating of dust!  Shwew!  So, room-by-room I am doing some cleaning and straightening.  Maybe I will get done in time to start all over again!

I've also done some catching up on my reading.  Here are the books I've had my nose in for the past couple of weeks:

Beware The Past
This has been a good read.  I'm about halfway through it and I haven't figured it out as yet.  So, to me that is a good book. 

The Good Liar
I chose this one thinking it was the book that the recent movie was based upon but it is a different book.  It was a really good one, though.  Haven't we all wished we could just disappear from our lives once in a while?  This one set me thinking about that and what would be missed and who would miss it and all the complications it could cause.  It was a really interesting read but, more importantly, it was thought provoking.

The Vanishing American Adult
This book was recommended by one of my colleagues.  It is really thought provoking and I struggled with it at first.  Then, as I read more in small pieces, it really started to pull me in.  It hits so close to home and is something I see all around me and even inside me a bit.  I'd like to recommend at least parts of it to everybody I know - especially those who are raising children.

The Flower Farmer
I was promised a couple of rows in the garden this summer.  So, I ordered this book to get ideas about flowers that are easy care, good for cutting, and have long life after cutting.  It is a good read and I will probably have it nearby all the rest of this growing season.  I have always loved having fresh flowers in the house and have picked up a bundle each week at the grocery for years.  So, this summer, my intention is to cut a bundle or two and have them to enjoy instead of dropping money at the grocery.  I think the tilling and labor will be as good for me as the view of the flowers.

Home Landscaping
This is an old one that has been on my shelf for years.  I pull it out every now and again because it has such relevant information about landscaping and flowers and shrubbery and hardscaping.  We are thinking of doing some work in our yard this summer and I thought it would be good to give this one a look once again.  It will probably stay on the coffee table for a while so I can pick it up and look at it now and again.

A Place for Everything
I ordered this one after reading a Miss Mustard Seed post and finding a used copy of it for a good price.  It is a beautiful book.  It also has loads of good ideas about making storage beautiful and functional.  It speaks to me about having things that are beautiful but using them for every day life.  As I have been swishing away the dust and tidying up, I have been noticing things I have here with a different eye.  I will keep this one close at hand for quite a while because I am really enjoying the pictures as well as the suggestions.

I have also been reading news updates and posts by locals who have relatives in other countries where this virus has already impacted their lives in a big way.  I'm glad we are on the tail end of this one instead of leading the way.  I am glad to be learning from others who have experience on this one. 

One thing that being home and inside has not seen inspiration is cooking.  For some reason, I just am not enjoying being the kitchen creative lately - as in for the past several months!  Part of this stagnation is because we are so blessed that I can just drive through on the way home from work and that is what we've done a lot this past year.  Part of this is because I just like to eat and I'm not picky!  I have seen a few recipes that I want to give a try, though. 

This Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie looks tasty and easy.

I love a good casserole and might give this one a try.

I recently tried to create a California Crunch Wrap like Taco Bell serves. I don't know how they get all those ingredients in that tortilla and still get it folded up and easy to serve.  So, I'm going to go back to this recipe and enjoy it. 

We have used the waffle iron a bit lately.  I treated Mike to bacon, eggs, and waffles for breakfast one morning.  Then, one night this past week I poured the cornbread batter into waffles to go along with pinto beans for dinner.  Yum!

I created an Instagram account this past year and have been mainly stalking other people's posts.  I've truly been inspired to straighten and tidy after looking at some folks' posts from around their homes.  I also saw some other online ideas that I have shared or pinned to give a try.

I'm on the lookout for an assemblage of stuff that I could put together to make a cloche similar to this one.

I've been looking for reasonably priced topiaries for a couple of items I have here.  Maybe I will just make one. 

I know that I would never have even looked twice at this table in its original state but after the makeover, wow!

I pulled out a bit of my fabric stash to stitch up some spring-like pillow covers one day this week.  I've also been inspired by some recent blog hops I've followed.  I ordered some wooden eggs and hope to make them look something like these.  Wish me luck.

Well, that is pretty much what's up around here.  Quiet and lots of web surfing for us as we stay home more and enjoy the company.

Luci's Book

You may recall that way back earlier this year we wrote a book.  The book was a birthday present for our youngest grandchild, Easton.  It seemed like a great idea.  I mean, we are really blessed as a family and our grandchildren really have all their needs and most of their wants met.  So, creating a personalized book seemed like a wonderful, original, personal thing to do.

Then, we created one for Levi.  I don't do these alone, y'all.  I scour and borrow photos.  I ask for ideas of words to represent certain letters.  I ask for ways to have a page for MawMaw and a page for Mama without having two M pages.  I ask for rhyming words.  I ask for ideas of something that is yellow.  Mike is as good as Webster's gold at times and not so good at others - think rhyming words with heart and smart.

Now, we are half-way through the year, have created books for the three youngest grandchildren, and have come to realize that writing and gifting of books is a great idea.  However, it is taxing on a couple of old folks' brains to come up with ideas!  That doesn't even include coming up with all those appropriate photos, too.

Then, stop and consider that we have eight grandchildren.  Eight.  And are expecting a ninth.

Do you know how many words start with Q?

Do you have any idea how many words start with Z?

Do you know how difficult it is to write a rhyming verse?

Well, we persevere and we just wrote our third ABC book for a grandchild.

Here it is, Luci's ABC Book!

Cover 

Inside Cover 

Pages A & B 

Pages C & D 

Pages E & F

Pages G & H 

Pages I & J 

Pages K & L 

Pages M & N 

Pages O & P 

Pages Q & R 

Pages S & T 

Pages U & V 

Pages W & X 

Pages Y & Z 

Inside Back Cover/Dedication Page 

Back Cover

Three books down and five to go!

A Book for Levi

You may remember that earlier this year we wrote a book.  It was a good idea, we thought.  So, we wrote another one for Easton's brother, Levi.

Cover

Inside Cover

Pages A & B

Pages C & D

Pages E & F  

Pages G & H

Page I & J 

Pages K & L 

Pages M & N

Pages O & P 

Pages Q & R 

Pages S & T 

Pages U & V 

Pages W & X 

Pages Y & Z 

Inside Back Cover/Dedication Page 

Back Cover

Writing an ABC book seems relatively easy in concept and at first thought.  Then, comes the decision of what words and photos to use for representing each letter.

The level of difficulty increases in a huge way!

Next, comes writing a rhyme for the  pages and the level of difficulty increases astronomically!

Especially when the writer is not so great at rhyming.  So, the writer reaches out for help...

"Hey, honey, give me a word for Levi's book that starts with N."

A good response is shared.  "Nanny Goat."

"Great!  Thanks!"

Then, "Hey, honey, give me a word that rhymes with smart."

Not so great a response - not really appropriate for a sweet grandchild's ABC book!

Virtual Visit

Have you seen or tried any of these virtual reality apps and sites?  Last week our instructional technology team led a professional development that was all about virtual reality.  My part was to share a couple of apps and provide time to interact with a Google Cardboard.  The Cardboard is a lot of fun and does give the sensation of actually being there in a lot of ways.  I dropped Mike down in a photosphere a few miles from our house and he kind of panicked because he was right in the middle of a state highway and feared he was going to get run over by a vehicle!  The roller coaster was a little too realistic for me and I could have gotten a bit woozy if I hadn't stopped after a big old dip.

One of the gals was sharing an app that goes along with the Guinness Book of World Records.  We could stand next to the tallest man who lived; it was like having a virtual visit from him.  Below is how I would look standing next to him.  I barely reached his waist!

You can see that he looks like he is standing on a book.  That is the Guinness book.  There is a trigger on the page that tells about the tallest man on record.  The app will project an image and then a photo can be made of a person standing next to him.  Below is what it looked like from my perspective.

The girl making the photo with a tablet was standing in the doorway of the classroom that can be seen.  It was a bit of fun to get the morning started.  We had stations for participants.  They could create lessons using VR apps or online sites.  They could use a 360 app to create their own photospheres using a phone or tablet.  They could take virtual field trips using available photospheres.  It truly was a chance for folks to experience something in a classroom that many students might never be able to visit in reality.  Our district was fortunate enough to participate in Google's Expedition testing this past spring and we are looking forward to using that in our classrooms in the fall.  Exciting learning opportunities which also bring in an element of fun!

Encouraging Geniousness

About a year ago we were awaiting the birth of my favorite grandson - Harris.

I trekked to our son and daughter-in-law's house and stitched up a bed-skirt and some curtains.

I cooked a little dinner while Bryan added some touches to the nursery decor.

(We were encouraging Jessica to rest and relax to lower her blood pressure and make her be healthier.)

After dinner we checked out Dad's decorating.

There was artwork, shelves, bookcases, dresser and changing station.  It was all sweet and ready for Harris.  (You can see more photos HERE.)

Then, Jessica and I noticed something...

Can you pick it out?

Do you notice it?

Look a little closer...

OK.  I'll help you out a bit...

YES!  All the 'vintage' toys (the ones which were Bryan's as a child) are on the upper shelves and all the books are on the lower shelves.

Jessica and I teased Bryan that he was protecting his favorite toys so that even his own child wouldn't be able to play with them until he was much, much older!

Yesterday I decided something a bit different.

I got a sweet message from Jessica that said:

This is the look of "Oh no, you caught me!"

Isn't that drooly little face the sweetest thing?

Then, Jessica sent me this message:

This is the look of, "OK Mama is laughing so I'm good."

Sweetness!

Look at that brilliant little fellow...

Learning to read books already...

Bryan probably knew what he was doing when he set this nursery up after all...

He was encouraging geniousness!

Digging into History

I've been doing a little digging into history this past few days.  What with awaiting the birth of our first grandson, I have been searching for vintage treasures to share with the expectant parents.

The beautiful mom-to-be is smiling.

Recently, my daughter and nieces hosted a shower for the expectant parents.

The decoration was absolutely adorable.  The invitation featured a red wagon and the decor took off with that theme.

The girls used burlap as a table runner, used bandannas and red-checked napkins, and mason jars were for drinks.

They created gifts which featured an embroidered onesie with a red wagon sewn on the chest.

They also shared photographs of the expectant parents from their childhood.  Well, actually, I am the one who shared those.  I had to dig into the dust and spiders teeming in the corners of the basement and search for photos from Bryan's days as a wee bairn.  He was such a cute little bugger back then!

I also stumbled across a couple of sweet little outfits that he had worn...

 ...and a box of his toys.  So, with a fine toothbrush and some gentle soap, I cleaned up a red tractor that had been pushed many a mile and a manure spreader to hitch behind it.  (Sort of ironic that I found that particular toy, isn't it?  Was it fate?  A manure spreader for the guy who can talk a lot of bull...)  Anyway, I cleaned up the toys and let them air dry.  Then, plopped them with some raffia and tissue into a large basket.  (I had seen where Jessica had pinned an idea for having several baskets of diaper changing supplies stashed around the house.)

I added a couple of books - one for Bryan about heroes and also the very first book he ever read alone - Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman.

The first outfit I discovered was a sweet little teeny-tiny one that had been given to us by an old family friend, Bobbie Scarlett.  You may remember my mentioning her HERE.  It had a cow appliqued on it which wrapped around the side and has the tail of the cow on the back side.

The second outfit was one of the first that I ever stitched together for Bryan.  You can tell by the look on his face that he is really excited to get it for his own son, can't you?  Ironically, my mother included a photo of Bryan at Easter wearing just that outfit.  How about that?

One thing folks were asked to do is complete a list of wishes for baby.  Here you can see Jessica's dad, Phillip, working on his 'homework.'

Everything was super nice.  The nachos bar was delicious.  The company was spirited and chatty.  I think a fun time was had by all.

Here is the mom-to-be with the hostesses.  From left is Bridgette, Jessica is wearing stripes, then, Megan and Jessica.  What a bevy of beautiful young women!

It was interesting to dig into history and find some bygone treasures.  I also think they enjoyed digging into history just a little bit.