Polymer Clay....

It's not that I needed another hobby, but sometime over that last six months I picked up making jewelry. It was mostly the challenge that I could make something for myself that I wasn't readily finding in the stores. So that's been a fun challenge.

A few years ago I bought a bunch of polymer clay to make our Jesse Tree ornaments, which has been one of our Advent Traditions most years for the past seven or eight years. I found a lot of pleasure in the sculpting with my hands. So I have played with the clay, learned a little bit here and there, and picked up some tools when the retail bug hit.

Most recently, I found this gorgeous book that combines the two hobbies to one. This afternoon I spent five hours trying different techniques in the book, and think that I have several beads that will make interesting jewelry.

My Vote

I was pretty certain that my vote was for Obama. I was quite happy that I had made my 95% decision and wouldn't have to pay attention until mid October.

I'm upset that McCain has screwed up my months of inattention. I mean really!

What a brilliant choice in Sarah Palin. How often have we said that this country needs to be run by Mom's?

*sigh*

Homeschol Bible Question

For Bible this year, we are listening to a recording of The Book of God by Walter Wangerin, (and read by him) as a family in the morning. This morning, we listened to the portion of the story where God 'invites' Abraham and all males among him to circumcision as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. I turned the tape off.

Caleb says: Mom, what's a foreskin? What are they talking about?

Hmmm. Now that is not a question you expect to have to answer before nine in the morning with your three children age 8 and under, is it? : )

Great Falls Balloon Festival, 2008

We got up early this morning to watch the Balloon Launch at this years festival. Here's a link to the pictures we took:

Great Falls Balloon Festival 2008

Madeleine's Quilt

I had so much fun making this quilt for Madeleine. She'll be arriving sometime in the next few months joining the lovely Sarah, Matt, and Jack.

I wanted to put buttons in the center of the four-squares but knew that someday Madeleine would put things in her mouth, so I embroidered buttons with my handy-dandy embroidery
machine.

Shy Sunflower

Monday Morning

Yesterday was one of the few days all summer where I felt myself relax. It was amazing.

It also made getting up this morning a lot harder. Marc and Caleb were up and out by 7am (earlier than usual) and all morning I've been trying to re-situate myself in this reality. I quickly gave up on the 'regular routine' for school... not that we have much of one. Now the girls are watching Meet the Robinsons while I'm browsing blogs thinking about a second cup of coffee. And how dependent I am on bits of routine.

Giving In....

If this summer is going to keep acting like spring or Fall, I'm just going to give up and pull out the crock pot. Planned dinner for tonight.... curry.

Attentive

Latitude 43

To follow up yesterdays post.... through the course of Twitter.... a wonderful sister, and outstanding husband.... I ended up leaving latitude 45 (mid maine) and coming to my sister and brother-in-laws home in Gloucester. I arrived and visited, I got to go to the shop my sister works at in Rockport (Helen Parker Textiles) and meet the very cool Helen. More visiting time and then they took me to this amazingly cool restaurant called Latitude 43. After dinner (it was 9ish) we walked to a coffee shop (still open!) run by a lady who spoke mostly Italian. I think I felt blood in my veins for the first time in months.

I'm so mad

I'm going to vent. If you love Waterville, or need to believe that I love Waterville, please don't read any further.

I have perhaps 8 hours a week that I might have the discretion to take some time to myself. Those hours happen to fall on a Saturday or Sunday, when Marc isn't working. Crazy as it sounds, sometimes I like to take that time to myself with a cozy cup of coffee.

One option is Starbucks, which I love, love, love. But I can't sit and think in this Starbucks for a long time. It's a visiting place.

The other option is Soup to Nuts. It's got yummy food, and great atmosphere to visit or to think...

Today was one of those days where I desperately wanted to go by myself with my computer to sit and think and write for about two hours. We have so much going on in our lives as a family, and I have so much going on inside of my head.

Soup to Nuts is closed on the weekends for the summer.

From a business point of view I understand this (and applaud wise business choices).

But personally for me, that left me with no place to work this afternoon. Some people would suggest the other coffee shop downtown... but ewww. It is dirty and slow and distracting.

The closest possibilities I can think of are an hour away. I hate this. I am so profoundly frustrated and angry. Yes, I know this fits the people and business demographics of Waterville... I guess it's just that I don't.

Dresses for girls

Woke up yesterday craving a sewing project, specifically to make something pretty for the girls. Finished up the "flounce" this morning.