Archive for September, 2009
September 30th, 2009 | 
Author: Wordful Wednesday’s are hosted by Seven Clown Circus.
I’ve had a headache for three days — a combination of sinus problems and stress. I really wish I could take a nap — like certain very spoiled orange furballs! Meet William the Orange — a very talkative 20 pounder who rules our house, our lives and, in his dreams, the world 
I think interrupting his nap to take photos is not endearing me to him — I’ll pay later no doubt when he decides to wake me up at 2 a.m. wanting water at the bathroom sink!
Posted in 
I found this in a Halloween craft book that Alex and Mac brought home (which, of course, we returned and I didn’t write the title down) — aren’t these cute?
Alex said she is going to wear one of her ghosties with her witch costume on Halloween:
Mac had a hard time waiting overnight for them to dry, he kept poking at them to see if they were “ready’ yet
How to make them:
Take a hairpin and spread it apart so it looks like the outline of a ghost. Tie a ribbon to the top to make it into a necklace.
We put the hairpin on waxed paper and then used white glue to fill in the area within the hairpin.
The kids used googly eyes, small pom-poms and glitter to decorate their ghosts.
Put the ghosts in a flat spot to dry completely — this takes a while — at least overnight although I found that giving them a bit longer helped. When they are dry you can peel them gently off the wax paper and use scissors to trim off any extra glue that has run over the sides or too far past the bottom of the ghost.
They make really cute necklaces and also are fun to hang in a window where they look spooky. I’m thinking of making some more with the kids and decorating our chandelier for Halloween — it would look cute with a bevy of ghosties I think
This is hosted over on J. Kaye’s Book Blog.
Books completed this week:
Shades of Grey by Clea Simon — I’m not sure why but this book went very slowly for me. The typeface was very small so I felt like I was going blind reading it which didn’t help. But honestly the characters just didn’t really hold my interest all that well. Except for Mr. Grey the beloved cat who comes back as a ghost to help solve the murder mystery. It picked up towards the end and if there is a second book I’ll give a try to see if it draws me in more then this one.
Ghost a la Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian — Now this was a fun read and I hope there will be more in this series. This book also features a ghost — Granny Apples — who also helps to solve a murder. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Granny Apples!
Her Deadly Mischief by Beverle Graves Myers — the latest book in the Tito Amato mystery series. These tend to be more intense in terms of the mystery and the density of information about 18th century life in Venice. But it is handled so well that I love becoming immersed in the books and revisiting Tito and his family and friends. When I first started the series I wasn’t sure that a mystery featuring a castrato was something I would enjoy reading but I’m really glad that I tried that first book — the series is well written and the characters are interesting and compelling.
Books I am currently reading:
Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely — I have just started this one today but the blurb says that “by reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly enthralling.” I’m looking forward to seeing how it uses the themes from Pride and Prejudice.
Up Next:
A Catered Halloween by Isis Crawford — I was looking for a Halloween book to get me into the mood
Every fall we go apple picking at Eckert’s. The kids love it and we had a beautiful day for it!
The kids think it’s a lot of fun to ride on the wagons (pulled by tractors) out to the apple orchards:
Alex gave Mac a “lesson” on how to find just the right apples — being sure to check for worm holes was the first rule
You can tell they would much rather be off picking the apples then posing for a picture!
We brought home 23 pounds of apples! So this afternoon I made an apple crisp to have with dinner which turned out really well!
The kids always love going to Mastodon Park. It’s not very big but they love the two small museums and hiking the trails, especially the one that goes down to the bone bed. Every year Mastodon has their archeology days which includes free admission to the museums and other activities related to archeology
Mac tried out grinding corn with stones:
Alex was really good at cracking walnuts with stones:
Mac examining butterfly wings under the microscope:
Mac told me that the picture he was drawing was of me which I thought was sweet, until he added that I had chicken pox — oh well, so much for the sweet part
Alex drawing a Pterodactyl:
The finished drawing:
Alex reading the exhibit information in the museum:
The Mastodon that the kids love so much, although it’s not a good photo of it:
One of the scenes of life during the age of the Mastodons:
Janet’s Friday Fill-In’s #143
1. One week ago seems so long ago — it’s been a long week!
2. I was such a dreamer when I was young.
3. Mama told me to always keep my chin up.
4. There will always be you and me.
5. Take your time and do it right the first time (or at least that’s the theory
6. This too will pass!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to not feeling so stressed out, tomorrow my plans include a women’s breakfast at church and Mastadon Days with the kids and Sunday, I want to take the kids apple picking!
Kailani, at An Island Life, hosts Aloha Friday. It’s a chance to relax and get ready for the weekend. So on Aloha Friday, you ask a question and answer others’ questions.
With Halloween coming up I’m trying to think about the kids costumes. Alex wants to be a witch this year but she doesn’t want to be like all the other witches — I think she means the witch costumes you see in the stores. She owns a black dress that I thought would be a good start, but what else to do!?!
So my question this week is: do you have any ideas on how to make a six year old into a unique witch? (Keeping in mind that I can’t sew well and our budget is miniscule
One of those days when it’s gray and rainy all day — a day just meant for reading or baking cookies — or both!
Instead I’ve been busy doing the grocery shopping for the week and cleaning out closets — not quite as much fun
We received Mac’s latest school pictures and they are really quite cute. They caught his smile well in the first photo — he always grins like he’s up to a lot of mischief, which he usually is most days!! He has been running around lately making up wild stories and then shouting “just joking” and giggling so hard he ends up with hiccups. He told me yesterday that he’s a “big joker” now and that’s good because it makes people laugh with him and he likes that
This is hosted by Sara (and someday I’ll figure out how to put a logo up correctly!).
In the meantime, if you need a rainy day activity, there is always dressing up the nearest patient dog
I promised that I would post the recipe for this. It’s really easy and very good!
Tangy Roast Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients:
1 can Tomato soup
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
12 ounces deli sliced roast beef
Hamburger Rolls
1. Mix soup, vinegar, sugar and Worcestershire in skillet. Heat to a boil.
2. Add beef and heat through.
3. Serve on rolls with condiments.
It doesn’t get much easier then that but everyone here really likes the flavor.
