Tweaking and stuff

Tidied up the sidebar a bit, just now. Learned how to make new pages here on Blogger, and was just sort of tired of all of the lists/links I had scattered to the right. Feels better in here, and it was easy to do...just took about 10 minutes to get it all figured out.

Nice to be able to have some clickable things up at the top.

Now (dusting hands off), hoping to have a restful day. Most of the kids will be at my mom's for lunch and afters, and I'm yearning for some quiet time at home while they're gone. At the grocery store we go to, seems we're known by our kids, since one or more are usually with me. Yesterday, saw a neighbor in there to visit with and she asked why I was alone, as did the woman who checked me out. I told both of them that sometimes I just needed to *be by myself*! They got it. Women generally do.

So, the plan is to putter, mutter, and take a nap. This getting up at 5:45am that the dogs think is such a grand idea is ridiculous! Going to have to make up for that rude awakening later on!

Take care. :)

Mid-week

After spending yesterday afternoon with odd-feeling fingertips, I find out today that fingernail polish remover will take off SuperGlue from your hands. Duh. I'd glued the head back on one of the least one's Barbies and made a huge mess of the job. While she doesn't actually look like she's wearing a turtleneck now, maybe I can pick off the glue residue. Glad the least one is easy to please, and honestly, considering how many Barbie dolls this girl has, she can't complain!

Life is full. I've got several book reviews to complete before the month is over, and am loving every minute of it. Makes me feel like I have a *real* job, not that looking after a houseful of kids and my sweet husband isn't work enough, but it's like reviewing the books is MY thing, you know?

Now to think on what's in store for today:

• A visit with a neighbor (in her eighties) who's had some health problems lately
• Probably another trip to the grocery store---the peanut butter and jam are all gone, as is the milk, coffee and flour--plus there's not one thing in the house for dinner, unless you count a bag of rice
  
• Mailing a Mother's Day package to my MIL in Maryland
• Finding time to finish stitching my felt doughnut
• Of course school-time with the kids
• Cutting spent roses off of the bushes in preparation for one more good bloom this week
• And finally, taking deep sniffs while outside. Our neighborhood is getting paved, this week, and the scent of fresh tar is making me joyfully delirious. ;)

Enjoy your day!

Disjointed thoughts

• Feeling lazy (or just plain tired) tonight so Gary sent me off alone to the bedroom to decompress. While I was left by myself I got out my felt and almost finished another doughnut....there's something soothing about needlework, even if it's something totally frivolous. Sewing on beads, threading a needle, making stitches. I forget how much I enjoy that, not that I'm that great at it, but it is relaxing.

• Watched 'Swamp Loggers' on the Discovery Channel while I stitched. Love, just love that North Carolina accent that those men have. When we lived briefly in New Bern, NC, we used to get a kick out of trying to imitate that wonderful accent. I can't get enough of it. Never mind that I'm not interested in logging. I just want to hear those guys (and one woman, so far) talk!

• Enjoying one of the books I'm reading to review, Dr. Curt Thompson's 'Anatomy of the Soul'. I'll definitely enjoy putting up a high recommendation for that one. It's just wonderful.

• Must be off now. Trying to not tax my brain too much, and am making attempts at practicing some of the teachings in the Thompson book. He's making me think about things, sort out some issues that have bothered me, and it's all to my benefit. Seems I've needed my own personal psychiatrist for years and didn't realize it. Feels good to sift through my head and tighten up the bolts, so to speak.

Sleep well, my sweet friends. :)

O'Keeffe

The 'Georgia O'Keeffe' movie was...okay. That sounds pretty lame, but I enjoyed most of it, and felt relaxed after it was over..something about Allen's portrayal of O'Keeffe...she had an intriguing personality. Anyway, the only problem was that the film was more about O'Keeffe's relationship with her husband, gifted photographer Alfred Stieglitz, who was appealing on one side---but pretty wretched on another side. Let's just call him charming. That covers a multitude of ills, but still lets the individual get by.

I will say that the cast was perfectly chosen, though. Joan Allen as O'Keeffe couldn't have been more perfect, and Jeremy Irons (who just looks better and better as he ages) looked like the spitting image of Stieglitz.

Tell you what, don't waste your time on this one, but get instead the movie with Joan Allen and Sam Elliott called, 'Off the Map'. Have seen that one about 3 times, and it's a treat EVERYtime.

Now taking a deep breath

Feeling sorta whupped up on after yesterday's storms. Had to look at the t.v.'s weather map one more time before going to sleep last night. I was all cozied up in bed, trying to sleep, while Gary read more of Flannery O'Connor (not nighttime reading in my book!), when the tornado sirens went off ONE LAST TIME at 1:15am or so. Nuts. Turns out the worst of the weather *that time* was to the east of us, so felt like I could go back to bed and ignore it.

As it happens, it *is* possible to go to sleep while sirens blow in your ear. Woke up this morning at 6:15am with the noises of oldest son getting ready to leave for work. I much prefer hearing him rustling around than those darn sirens.

Everyone else is staying in from church, etc. today. Gary says that we all need a rest. The only problem is that oldest son isn't here to be lazy with us.

I do love it when everyone's home (yeah, I know that it means that 10 folks are all under one roof). But what do I know? I think I'm smitten with everylastone of these people I live with, cramped house or not. ;) But for now, with the dogs all fed and the outside world all drippy, think I'll go back to bed. Five hours just isn't enough sleep.

Well, unfortunately the flooding in the South hasn't commanded any national news that I've noticed. So while we watched our

Rain and more rain

Am only online for a brief few minutes, just checking the weather radar. The tornado sirens are going off as I type, now for the fourth time since 4:30am this morning. I'm tired! But it sounds (not meant to be a pun) like it'll be a staying in sort of day.

Thankfully the groceries are bought for the weekend, and there's really not any need for me to get out. Might try to go to church this evening if the weather passes, but I'm not holding my breath. It really is dumping rain. Absolutely dumping.

But I'll just cozy up and read my library book, which is a pleasant break. It's Debra Ginsberg's Blind Submission, and it's so good. Won't go into it since I need to put up a disclaimer when I begin to read a book. Many disappoint after you get into them a bit. But I'm liking this one....very much.

Maybe I'll make cupcakes later on. Sounds like a plan on a rainy day, doesn't it? But must go now. With the sirens blowing and the lightning constant, probably ought to unplug my laptop.

Bye for now.