Add That to My Resume

After a beautiful sunset view on top deck...

... I drove a pirate ship all by myself tonight.  First time.  Totally adding that to my resume.

Thank you, Captain.

Making Ice Bubbles In the Deep Freeze

I did it!!! I made a ice bubble!!! Not super happy with the pictures I got of it, but it was tricky not freezing my fingers off. Thanks for those who gave me the encouragement to stop moping around about the -55 degree windchill and try, try again. You can bet I'll be trying again tomorrow. I just used regular store bought bubbles.  It took several tries before the wind or the ground didn't pop it.  As you can see by the looks of our snow, we won't be making ice cream snow anytime soon.  This is where I got the idea originally, and as you can see, my pictures and bubbles aren't near as neat looking as hers, but it was still a fun experiment and a nice distraction from my preoccupation with how much I hate winter when it gets this cold - http://distractify.com/culture/arts/frozen-bubbles-in-wintertime/.

After about fifteen minutes (a necessary "dethaw" break), I went back outside to see if I could get another picture and the wind had blown the top off of it.

Meanwhile, from the house, the husband thought it would be funny to take pictures of the wife trying to make an ice bubble without freezing solid in the bitter cold.

The neighbors don't even bat an eye anymore.

Wabbit Season

So here's a fun little comparison.  I was feeling... well... not so good about my run time this year at the Living History Farms Cross Country 7 mile run this morning.  However, in looking back my 2007 Finish Time = 1:41:10.  Five yars later, I finished with a 1:21:47.  (And it's such a fun race, I'm also wondering...why did it take me so long to do this race again?)  So, do you think you get faster as you get older? In another five years will I be running a 1:02:10?  Not gonna lie, though. Insufficient training = pain.  Lots and lots of pain.  As in the guy that took my chip off at the end asked if I was ok... and followed that with "you look terrible".  In my opinion, we had the awesomest costumes at the race... Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.  A last minute inspiration from my husband on Thursday evening. I packed that heat for the entire race. No wonder I was so sweaty when I was done.  For all my post-race stiffness and cramping and limping, I think I'm recovering nicely.  We'll see if I can bend my knee in the morning.

What I Do

When company is coming, I work on everything but cleaning up  my house. It's what I do.  I guess projects get done. I should have more company. This project has been sitting on my bedroom floor for almost a year.  I wanted this wreath in a bad way, but by the time I had enough money to make the purchase, it was gone.  So.  I decided to recreate it.  It's not entirely the same look, but I think I like it.  However... it is quite large.  Anyway, it gets me a little further down the road toward fall decorating.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, I say. 

 

This is what I wanted.

 

This is what I ended up with.

Any ideas on  how to help me "fix" it,  you crafty people out there?  Maybe spray paint the pods a dark dusty blue purplish color?  My bow needs fixin', too, I can see.

Oh... and anyone who thinks they save money with a DIY project?  Think again.  I will admit I get some satisfaction out of the ingenuity and creativity it requires, though.

Games of the Heart

Yesterday was school Valentine's parties. Gavyn played LOVE-O Bingo using flashcards with words for them to recognize.

I was in charge of one of the games for the 1st grade classroom.  I will admit to being a little skeptical about this one, but it turned out to be a hit.  I'll call it Heart JENGA?  I think the highest tower we made had 21 hearts in it. So simple.  Buy a bag of conversation hearts and stack away.  It occupied and challenged the kids way longer than I ever imagined it would. Adults kinda liked it, too.

And when we got bored with it, everyone was content to end with a Dum Dum.  Seriously.  That has to be the best candy ever invented.

Ditch Me

Day 10 — Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
of Operation Get to Know Me

I'd like to take this time to say goodbye to my negative self.  The one that looks in the mirror and sees wrinkles and stretch marks and the tell tale evidence that gravity is gradually taking over the building.  The one that looks at pictures of myself and immediately looks at myself first in the picture and sees the unflattering angle, the way the shirt bulges around the middle, the acne scars and sunspots, the double and sometimes triple chins and everything else a person sees using their critical eye in natural light. (Which is worse, the fact that I look at myself first or that I look at myself so critically?  I have an idea.  But both need to go.)  The me that never feels like I do enough for my family and friends and when I do, it's not good enough.  The one that sees what I forgot rather than what I remembered.  I want to learn how to age gracefully and the negative me doesn't help me out.  So goodbye negative self.  And if you ever show up again, I'm kindly going to have to ask you to leave.  You do nothing for me which makes it so I can't do what I should for others.  You consume me with thoughts of self and rob me of energy that could be used better when applied to something positive. You most definitely hinder my personal, emotional and spiritual growth.  Adios!  Ciao!  Aloha!  Bye!  Oh, and don't bother coming back.

 
While we're on this topic, here's a helpful article on how to "Fire Your Friends".  To that end, I've known for awhile now I have one that needs to go.  The one that wants/asks you to call and/or text, but then doesn't respond.  The one that promises to bring you a DQ blizzard so many times you can't even count them on two hands and when you finally think they're serious enough you actually skip dinner, they still don't show up.  I'm not bitter.  Really, I'm not.  Seriously, people. Don't mess with my ice cream.  Working on that.  Already making moves to show this one the door.  The strange thing is I don't think they even notice.  Should have tackled it long ago.

How To Choose A Pumpkin

Or so they tell me. I'll add my comments in italics. Here's how you do it.



You will need to look for any pumpkin that is:



~Visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you. If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the make or use it as part of your design. Does it smile at you? And say "LOVE me!" in it's best Italian accent? Does it respond to hugs? Can you hear it's heart beat?



~ Free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily. Infections can invade easily and cause rot. So a pumpkin can get an infection? I never knew.

~Make sure the stem is attached. This jolly fella had a fantastic stem. I hated to carve him.



Store it carefully, especially if you pick it from the vine yourself. Cure a fresh-picked pumpkin by keeping it in a dry place. Don't handle or disturb it. Curing toughens the rind, making it less prone to rot. Pumpkins will keep for months in a cool (50 F to 65 F dry, low humidity environment; such as a cool, dry basement.

Tip: If you like roasted or baked pumpkin seeds, you can save the seeds from any pumpkin!