Bells will be ringing

Today - two performances - at 3pm and 7pm! Trinity Lutheran - be there! 

BRAVA, the community group we ring with, is having our Christmas concerts today. The music is great! Mr and I are also singing (with others, of course). Yep, that’s a scary thought. It’s good that we have some really good singers, because Mr and I are far more parrot than Pavarotti… 

In between concerts, we are having a pot luck. It seems not everyone is staying. I’m a little sad about that, but they live close, so… That’s fine. They will miss my yummy Brunswick Stew. 

I made a blanket for one of the ringers who is getting married in a couple of weeks. I hope she likes it. It’s one of my best! 

Crazy People

live here.
We decided that it would be a good idea to strip wallpaper and paint the master bedroom and bathroom during Christmas week. This is because we got 2 feet of snow and we couldn't split wood... The chore we'd been planning for a while now. (I thank the Lord we got 2 feet of snow because if we didn't, I'd still be looking at 1986 blue floral and bow wallpaper.)


Our master bedroom is a whole lot bigger than we thought... Fortunately, our master bath is teeny tiny in comparison...

It took us a whole day to get the wallpaper off the walls - and it came off relatively easily. We washed and rinsed and spackled as we thought we'd paint the room the next day. It took 2 days to paint that room, but it is lovely.

Just as we finished painting the master bedroom, Mr. mentioned that since the bathroom was upside down, too, we may as well do that.  How long could it really take anyway...

The wallpaper in the bathroom was interesting. It was not the quality of that in the bedroom. The top half came off in sheets - I'm sure it's from years of being steamed from the shower. The bottom half - not so much - that came off one itty bitty piece at a time.

We washed those walls and spackled... The next morning, we painted. It took no time at all!  Now we have to put it all back together. I got a new medicine cabinet and am on the hunt for a new "over the toilet" cabinet. For now, we'll use the old one and I'll get new knobs.  Those will be hung this morning so we can begin to put stuff away.  I'm going to paint the sink base in the bathroom -- unless I can convince Mr. that a new one is in order.  (Measurements will be taken and prices will be compared because honestly, the sink is from 1986 and has definitely seen a better day...)

Tomorrow Mr. and Grandpa will be putting the crown molding up in the bedroom. This is only because the bathroom threw up into the bedroom and we need to clean it all up so we can get to the walls to put up the crown!  I will admit to cheating on the crown. I got the corner moldings pre-made... you put them up, measure between, make straight cuts and slap the crown in there.  They aren't cheap, but in the long run, it will save much angst and gnashing of teeth to do it this way.

I've ordered new bedding - we'll see if it stays or goes...  it was on sale and it is in the style that Jackie Davis,  the HGTV designer (and dear friend) told me to get when she gave me the colors for the room. I'm not sure the colors are exactly right - the colors on the monitor are often a wee bit different in person, but I'll know when it arrives.

Pictures? Well, you'll have to wait until it's all done and picked up and dusted...

Another Year

My #1 turned 17 yesterday. The kids had a band competition, so we brought birthday cake for their dessert to celebrate. He enjoyed his very long day very much... 

It was a rainy - as in pouring rain - day, but by the time they walked onto the field, the weather had cleared.  (Unfortunately, the kids had unloaded the buses in the rain and were more than a little bit damp. The only saving grace was that it was a warm rain and not a cold rain.)

I got him an "airgram" that was announced over the loudspeaker before the band went on. He told me I could say anything I wanted... (silly boy!) I had them say: #1, Happy Birthday! Mommy loves you.  (That got an awww from the crowd.)

They scored higher than they ever have, they had 6 or 7 kids missing, and they did it with just one drum major! He had a good day with his friends. It was a little soggy, but he'll never forget it. He enjoyed every single minute of it.

Life is good...

The windows are in.
They are lovely and as Mr. says, they make our house look like a home. Our other windows were in such sorry shape that they made our house look "unloved", "cheap", and "shoddy". Our little house is starting to look more sturdy, and when we came up the driveway (after midnight) last night, it looked a whole lot nicer!

Last night was the first football game of the year. It was LLB's first football game as a member of the marching band and #1's first as a Junior. I didn't get a picture of the two of them in their uniforms, but I have a whole season to get a few of those. She enjoyed every minute - playing on the field and in the stands, eating dinner with her friends before hand, and partying afterwords at the local pancake house. On the way home, she chattered on about how much fun she had and that she is really glad that she is in the band. (It is so cool!!)

My favorite anecdote from last night is this one:
I'm a uniform mom. My dear friend R is my right hand person. We hand out uniforms. We get them cleaned. We make sure they are all put away correctly. That's it.
One freshman boy came upstairs after he was dressed and said, "They told me to come up here so you could fix my hair."
"Mr. Freshman, Do I look like I do hair? (My hair was in a questionable ponytail.) You'll have to ask your section leader if there are any mothers doing hair. (His section leader is my #1.) I do uniforms, I don't do hair."
"But, they told me to come up here."
"They lied."
"My hair is too long in the back. It has to be above my collar. What am I going to do?"
My dear friend R replied, "We can cut it off."
He left... quickly...
I hope we didn't scar him for life...

For me, one of the best parts of the evening was seeing the many different band parents come out of the woodwork to help us. It's nice to have an active group that wants to help... It sure beats the STP (same ten people) we've had in the past. It's a new era and it is good.

The Last Week

Of school is here.
It's been really busy, but it's sure been fun!
We've had 2 ballet performances of Sleeping Beauty, 21 people for dinner, been to the high school graduation and sold water for the band, hit a graduation party, and even had time to clean the house - well, not really, but we did get it picked up and vacuumed.

Today I am off to purchase the food for tomorrow's 8th grade picnic. Then we have a friend's 70th birthday party. Yes, I intend to sit and enjoy it.

Tomorrow is the 8th grade picnic. #1 has his meeting with the judge to get his real license in the afternoon. (You drive on a temporary for up to 180 days.) From there we'll meet up with the rest of the family for a quick dinner. Then the kids have their first marching band practice. I can't wait to take pix of LLB and her friends learning their left from their right.

Tuesday might be my day to do laundry and housework unless something better comes my way!

Wednesday is the 8th grade breakfast where the teachers roast the students. I'm not sure if I'm going to go to that, but I'd like to hear what the teachers have to say. I've worked it in years past and it is really quite funny!

Thursday is the big day. LLB leaves 8th grade and becomes a freshman.
She is ready.
Me? I'm ready, too!

Ha!

We had a couple of crafters at the strawberry festival give us a hard time because they didn't like their spots. They felt that people weren't buying because they didn't know that they were down a little aisle.
Believe me. There are no bad spots. The basket guy was on that aisle for 3 years and cleaned up each and every time.
There was one lady in particular - AKA: The Cookbook Lady - who gave me a hard time at the end of the second day.
She didn't like her spot.
She didn't sell enough cook books.
She wanted half her money back.
Ha! I think not!
She wanted MY volunteers (I don't have volunteers...) to stand at the end of the aisle and make people walk down there.
Ha! I think not!
Yesterday she called me. She tried to butter me up. It seems she wants to come back but wants a different space.
Ha! I think not!

The Beginning of The End

We have 2.5 weeks of school left.
Those of you who volunteer at school frequently know what that means.
It means:
I will be at one school or another almost every day doing something.
I will be at home working on stuff for school almost every day.
Oh, yes, I need to do the band slide show...
Oh, yes, I need to make something for the high school's band banquet.
Oh, yes, I have to still get my house picked up and the laundry done.
I will be counting the days...
Time will fly and somehow we will get it all done.

#1 is ready to be done with school for this year.
He is so ready that he has volunteered to take the last school day off before finals to help out at the middle school. Fortunately for him, he doesn't have to take finals - the lucky dog!
More than anything, #1 is ready to do some serious sleeping in.

LLB is ready, too.
She is sick of projects and homework.
She is ready to finish with middle school and move on to the high school.
She is ready for summer and the challenge of music camp.

I, too am ready...
No more PTO.
Both children in one school.
One activity at a time.
No more ballet and the frustration that goes along with it.
I can see the light.
2.5 weeks - and the light will be brighter. And I'll be able to sleep in, too!
I am like The Little Engine that Could...
I think I can...

The Concert

Yesterday afternoon was my final school bell concert.
The kids did pretty well. The first song was ok, but the second - Siyahamba - was terrific! They did a great job!
I just have to do grades and then my summer can start.
Those grades will be done this morning - trust me!

Monday...

Last week at this time I was getting ready to take pictures of the pre-schoolers at our church's pre-school. They are 3 years old and absolutely darling - except to get them to smile I practically had to stand on my head. (I had photographed the 4 year olds the previous Thursday and they were down right easy. They spoiled me!)

What a difference a week makes! This week, I'm frantically searching through my files for a handbell piece - Siyahamba. I have already been through both file drawers, but I just remembered two baskets in my car that have music in 'em. I'll check there next. If the music isn't in those baskets (and I sure hope it is), it's at church and I'll have to run down there before school - which isn't that big of a deal since I'm meeting a friend for lunch and then we are heading off to another friend's P*mpered Ch*f party. Yes, I know I don't cook, but I find nifty kitchen tools for Mr. at those things. Besides, they serve snacks...

My other chores for today include laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, and general de-cluttering. My children generate clutter like nothing I've ever experienced. I had hoped that as they got older, they might generate less clutter (since their toys and games got smaller and smaller), but that is not the case. My family room table is covered with all kinds of shrapnel - video games, controllers, calculators, paper clips, scraps of paper, note cards, a sock, and various other items which I cannot identify. Those items have appeared since Friday evening.

The boys have just left for the bus stop. Mr. has a leaky tire that he's going to have fixed on the way to work. I'm hoping and praying he makes it to the shop. He has a portable tire inflater in his car that he borrowed from Grandpa. (Yes, Grandpa has everything!) He pumped his tire up before he left. Let's hope it's enough... He has the magic AAA card, but it would be nice if he could just get where he needs to go without having to use it.

I guess I've rambled on enough for today... It's just a normal crazy day around here. My day really starts when I go to school. It won't end until I get #1 from rehearsal tonight at 9. The rehearsal is supposed to end at 10:30, but that's just too late for me. I turn into a pumpkin at 10...

I'm off...

Like a herd of turtles...

I hope to be in Richmond by noon. I'll be the one in the blue shirt at the registration desk... That narrowed it down for you, didn't it? LOL! I know, it's always a sea of blue shirts behind the registration desk.

I'll be back to see the kids play tomorrow...

I'll be baking tomorrow afternoon for Sunday's 8th grade band picnic...

So - if you need me - now you know where to find me.

Ringing the bells..

This past weekend I was in Ocean City ringing handbells with 500 other crazy people who love to ring as much as I do. I was working, so I didn't get to ring as much as I would have liked, but it's okay. The clinician - Michael Kastner is phenomenal.

I drove with 2 lovely ladies from my church choir. They are really sweet and it was nice to get to know them a little bit better. It was a long drive and they kept me entertained the whole way both ways.

This weekend, we have another bell function - although it's much closer to home. Mr. and LLB will be joining me along with a few ringers from my church choir. I am hoping that a few ringers from my home church will also join me. The 6th Dimension will be there and they are going to ring for us!! They are awesome!

Next weekend I'll be in Richmond ringing at that Area III Festival. It's all handbells all the time around here in March!

Wanna ring?
Wanna try a festival?
Give me a jingle...
I can set you up!

Theta Alpha Pi

That's a blast from my past!!!
Today I'm off to have lunch with two of my sorority sisters.
Yes, my friends, it's true. I was in a sorority.
I loved every minute of it. As a matter of fact I woke up with our song running through my head. I still have a sweatshirt and my paddle. I think if I looked long and hard enough I could find my pledge notebook.

I connected with these sisters on Facebook and they don't live too far from me. I've got to get my photo albums and the latest school pix of the kids and put them in the car.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with these ladies.
It's been a long time since we sat in the hall and ate popcorn...

The Blackberry Phenomenon

Does your spouse have a blackberry? The little technological marvel is also known around here as a "crackberry".
Mr. got one from his office so he can be more productive and work more than the allotted 18 hours a day.
At first I was happy.
Mr. was able to get email, talk on the phone when he needed to, and the reception out here in the boonies is terrific!

Now - I'm not so happy.
He has developed what I call the "crackberry stance". He stands, feet firmly planted, blackberry in hand, head bent over and thumbs frantically working the keys. He will no doubt need physical therapy to fix all the posture related aches and pains.

He as also developed "Blackberry ADD". This happens when we in the middle of a conversation - that he started! - when all of a sudden, he takes out his Blackberry, assumes the stance, and proceeds to ignore every thing coming out of my mouth. I have not changed the subject. I'm simply answering his question or asking for more information - for which, by the way, google does not have the answer.

He can be talking and simply switch over to "Blackberry mode". Everything and everyone in the vicinity now does not exist. The email is now the most important thing in the world.

My dear friend, R's husband has the same Blackberry issues. She told me this morning that she used to get upset, but now it's become a part of life - and it puts food on the table.

She has a very good point.
As long as he's on that Blackberry, he's collecting a paycheck.
I'm good with that.

Phones...

Mr. got a new blackberry through the office. He LOVES it. And so do I! He's now using office minutes for office calls. Fortunately, we never went over our minutes and even if we had, we have those amazing roll-over minutes to cover it.

The rest of us have cell phones on the family plan with AT&T. LLB got Mr.'s old phone which has a couple of issues - the biggest being that it vibrated itself off the window sill (the only place in the house that gets signal) and into the sink - which had dishes and water in it. :-) It works - except for the * key. So... now we are looking into upgrading - we are at the point that we can upgrade for free - you all know how cheap I am. I have always had AT&T - for the last 7 years or so. But, I was wondering if a change might be in order... What cell service do you have? Do you like it? Why? Do you text? Is it worth the extra cash? We need to have 5 phones on the plan. Does that make a difference? Help me out here.

Babysitter Extraordinaire

LLB has a new job. She is babysitting for 2 families in our neighborhood.
There are 3 children - 2 boys and 1 girl.
Last night was her first foray into the world of the younger set.
FYI: LLB doesn't normally "do" little kids. She finds them irritating and whiny.

In the afternoon before LLB was due to be picked up, she made them each a coloring book, with easy to color pictures, and she baked cookies for them to decorate. She was prepared.

They arrived a 5 to pick her up and off she went with her basket of cookies and magic bag full of crayons and custom coloring books.

Needless to say, she had a marvelous time and so did the kids. We will definitely put fewer cookies in next time - as they ate all 24 cookies. We thought they might save some for their parents. LOL!! That's a technicolor dream!

Their favorite part - the coloring books. Go figure! Well, she brought a box of crayons for each of them to use, so that's wicked cool!! They spent almost an hour coloring and when their parents arrived home, they couldn't wait to show what they had done. LLB was impressed and thrilled! (There is nothing better than impressing the parents with a 3 cent box of crayons and some pix pulled off the internet!!)

She made some decent cash. She felt that what the families paid was fair.
LLB is going back to sit for them on Valentine's day. She has already decided that she will make new coloring books for the kids - with red covers this time. She also said that she will put more pictures in there, because they asked her if she had more pictures for them to color. (She told them that she would bring more next time - oooh she is a smart girl!!)

She needs a nifty valentine craft to do - that isn't too messy. The children are K and 1st graders. You got somethin'?

We ended the day with a bang...

litterally...

I was sitting at a traffic light after a lovely afternoon of ice skating and Vietnamese food with my friend R, her 2 children, and LLB when all of a sudden - BANG!
A lady rear ended my sweet marshmallow of a car.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. I think we will be sore tomorrow, but we are all in one piece and the only injury sustained was the car.

The woman who hit me wanted to leave. I told her no. She wanted to go to work. I told her I didn't care.
The police officer was very nice.
We filled out the requisite paperwork.
We exchanged information and we left.
I have since notified Liberty... They were just as wonderful as last time.
R said, "If this keeps up, all you'll need is a new engine and you'll have a whole new car!"
She's got a point...
Personally, I would prefer to keep my car as was...
Alas, they will fix it - again.
I'll call Earl tomorrow.
I am just thankful that no one was hurt. That makes the day okay.

Next Time I'm Not Being Nice

It seems that the powers that be found this particular post and they have asked me to take it down.
So... it's down.

The Light

At the end of the tunnel... I can see it. And I sure hope it isn't a train.

Today is Friday.

I'm learning how to make toffee this morning. I'll arrive at Laura's with my pound of butter, 3 bars of chocolate, 2 cups of sugar, and a small token of my appreciation. Hopefully, I will be a good student and this stuff will be edible... If not, my sister will just have to smile sweetly and thank me profusely for my efforts while she quietly drops it into the trash can or re-gifts it to her in-laws. (just kidding)

This afternoon, I have a house to clean, laundry to do, a band concert to attend, and a dance to chaperone. Oh and a trumpet lesson to drive to as well as a swim meet to watch.

Tomorrow evening we are having our annual Pot Luck Open House. If you didn't get an invitation, just show up. If you did get an invitation, and you didn't RSVP, just show up. If you play an instrument, bring it - we're playing and singing Christmas carols. Have a house guest or two - bring them, too! But, do me a favor... I've been kinda busy lately... if you arrive and the lights are low and the candles are lit, you'll remember not to look to closely as you might see a few cobwebs or some dust. Just focus on the beauty that is my Christmas tree. Besides, after one glass of wine, you won't care about my dust and after two, you won't be able to see it anyway.

It's Cooooold...

Yes, I know it is December.

On Friday, my car gave me a little grief when I started it in the garage. I took #1 to the bus stop and came home. I got in it to bring LLB to school and it moaned once before it turned over. I stopped to have coffee with R after dropping LLB. I parked it in the sun to keep it warm. After a lovely cup of cocoa, the car was dead. Not what I needed right then, but when I looked at the circumstances, it was the best place and time for it to die.

I called Grandpa for a jump. He brought his nifty charging thing. It didn't work. A nice guy in a big Toyota truck jumped me and sent me on my way. I went right to the dealer. It seems my battery was under warranty (since I had just replaced it in May of '07). Instead of $145, I paid $0. (It had a bad cell? whatever that means...) Yipppeeee!!! AND I still made it to my friend L's, for her brunch.

Friday night, LLB had a Casino Night birthday party at the Manassas Fairgrounds. Do you have any idea where that is? Nope... me neither. We found it and then Gram and I headed out for some shopping. We got some bargains, but the walk from the car to the stores was brutal. It was a bit frigid for my taste.

Parade day was COLD. As in really cold. As in the kids looked miserable in their many layers under their wool uniforms. It was that bitter cold that goes right through you.

I canceled my bells - I couldn't chance a crack. I'm sure the kids were disappointed, but I'm also sure that the parents were happy not to have to stand there waiting to see their kid walk by.

Gram and I braved the cold at 2 of the 3 parade venues. At the first venue, we left after the band went by on the premise that we had to get their lunch ready. Please note that we had their lunch ready in the fire house before we went to watch them. It was just too cold for us. At the last parade venue, we waited to see them go by and then we booked it back to the car. By then, it was beyond cold and into freezing.

On the way back to the car, Gram caught a root on her foot and fell down. I couldn't believe it!! Fortunately, she was bundled up like a kid in a snow suit with a bunch of layers and didn't get hurt - just a little muddy. As of 6pm last night - when we got home she was still fine.

Now, I'm sitting by my fire typing this. It is warm in here, but in a little while I'll have to go out in the cold to get to church. My church bells are playing this morning. I'd rather stay here curled up on my couch with my fire and a cup of tea -- and my TV.

This afternoon is gingerbread houses!! I'll post pictures, but it won't be today because this evening is the community band concert.

See - there is no rest for the wicked.

Earning my 10%

Gram and I went shopping on Black Friday. It's one of our favorite - albeit crazy - traditions.

We were in Kohls. The line was incredibly long, but it was moving.
One of the store employee's job was to entertain those of us waiting oh so patiently. He had a stack of coupons in his hand and he basically dared us to do a certain thing to get the 10% coupon.

Now this coupon was for the entire purchase.

The first challenge was to sing "The National Anthem". Now, I will do almost anything for a discount, but mutilate our national anthem isn't one of them. I have scruples.

Then he was looking for a member of the armed forces. I didn't qualify for that one.

Finally he needed someone to sing "I'm a little teapot" with hand motions.
I'm so all over THAT!!!

Gram nudged me. "You can do THAT!"
I called out, "I'll do it!"

Gram started to chuckle. She knew this would be good.
That was one of the first songs I ever learned. Besides, I taught pre-school... AND I watched many many many episodes of Barney. If there's anything I know, it's this song.

I put on a performance worthy of an Oscar and a Tony.
I smiled. I emoted. I tipped over... I'm SOOO good!!

I earned that 10%.

When I got back in line, the guy behind me said, "What grade do you teach?"
I laughed, "I teach middle school."
Someone behind him said, "Ahhh... I KNEW it!"

Yup, those of us who teach middle school will do almost anything for a discount...