4.6-4.10

Here are some pictures of what I've been working on this week (it is my spring break):

a turquoise shirt


the boys asked me to make them some mountain-man gear, so my first project was a pouch to hold rocks, "bullets," sticks, and whatever else they can think of.




in full regalia


a gray shirt


Of course, while I'm sewing there needs to be a place for Mandy nearby too:




still on my list to get done before Monday:
a gored skirt
3 knit shirts
The Black Arrow

...and Rissie gets home tonight! YAY

growing by leaps and bounds

...quite literally. She's only 8 1/2 weeks old, but already so much bigger and energetic!!

Mandy went on two runs with me today. At first she wasn't so sure, but she sure seemed to enjoy it once we started. Both times we went to the first stop sign and back with stops only to tie my shoes =)


she's always playing and keeping us all on our toes


but she's resting some too, for which we are all grateful =)

Florida-day 1

Update from- Venice, Florida! 

I guess I have to start from the beginning. =) Yesterday afternoon, Aunt Jan and Meghan Skeen drove down to Albuquerque. They stayed the night and we left around 7 am for the airport. Our first flight left right on time at 8:45 and landed a little before noon in St. Louis, Missouri. We had a 3 hour lay over and had lunch, read, walked around, talked, and rested till our second and last flight from St. Louis to Tampa Bay, Florida. I enjoyed a window seat on this flight, and just watched the scenery pass. There were so many streams and rivers and irrigated fields that flying over it, the sun would reflect on the water. It looked like sparkling water running all over the ground. It was fascinating to watch! =)

 On our second flight we had another smooth, uneventful flight. A humorous steward livened up the trip, and we also took advantage of the 2 hour flight by resting for a while. When we woke up, we were flying over the ocean just minutes from our destination. As we neared the land green grass, trees, bodies of water, and lots of houses and buildings immediately met our eyes. I pointed out to Meghan the first Palm Trees I saw. =) 

After we landed we met Aunt Jan's dad and picked up out luggage. We then started the hour drive to Venice. We got dinner, went to see Aunt Jan's mom, got some groceries, and came to their house. That is where I am currently. 

I will hopefully get to more of our adventures and maybe some pictures of the coming week. Till later. 

~Marissa =)

a moment in time

here are a couple snapshots of what we're doing today...


the best shot this side of South Mountain

finishing up the last few minutes of school

reading has a very interesting definition in our house:

she has 4 chapters left to finish before she can see her aunt and cousin, in 45 minutes!!!

and Mark doing his free reading time

then there's the ninjatographer =)

marginalia

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you."
Jeremiah 1:5

" 'For I know the plans that I have made for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.' "
Jeremiah 29:11

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world."
Philippians 2:14-15

vilify- to speak or wtie about in an abusively disparaging manner

vatic- describing or predicting what will happen in the future

prescient- having or showing knowledge of events before they take place

Pictures!

Thursday, I painted the dog bowls just for fun. Oh, and yes, her name is Mandy. 

After we picked her up we ran several errands. Mandy just lay in my lap most of the time. At REI, the twins and I took her to play on the grass. By the time we got home this was all she wanted to do....

 She slept for awhile (Mom checked on her more than I did) ;) We've taken several trips outside (not had an accident yet) and we've started to venture around the house together and learn where things are. She found bucks bed....

Mandy's current position: sleeping at my feet :D

Buck has not been forgotten! He is still very loved. He has taken well to the new addition. He likes to smell her and watch her when she moves, but he has not gotten mad at her. 

marginalia

"As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man."
Proverbs 27:19

"The girl who has so educated and regulated her intellect, her tastes, her emotions and her moral sense, as to be able to discern the true from the false will be ready for the faithful performance of whatever work in life is allotted to her...It is not for women alone that they should seek a higher education of their faculties and powers but for the sake of the communities in which they live, for the sake of the homes in which they rule and govern, and govern immortal souls, and for the sake of those other homes in the humbler walks of life, where they owe duties as ministering spirits as well as in there own, for in proportion as they minister to the comfort and health of others...In social life we find that the truest wives, the most patient and careful mothers, the wisest philanthropists and the women of the greatest social influence are women of cultivated minds." -John Young, Our Deportment 1881

"Creating gives a thrill to the heart. Whether the creation is a simple crocheted dishcloth, a musical composition, a poem, or [the making of other] beautiful items...the enjoyment and happiness that fills the heart is the greatest reward."

coterie- a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people

cabal- a secret political clique or faction

augur- (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome

desultory- (1) lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm, or (2) (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way

Only three days to go!

Some of you may know that I lost my dear old black lab in September. Well, for Christmas I received a certificate for a new lab of my choice. I decided to wait till we got a little closer to the end of school so I would have more time to spend with an energetic, lively puppy! All along I had been hoping to find a black lab from the breeder who we got Sally from before, however, we were told they probably wouldn't have black pups till around the end of the year. This being the case, and willing to wait, I was least expecting Dad to come home from work last friday with a listing of lab puppies advertised in the paper! More still, was I shocked to find that the breeder, Galen Rumph's name was among them and he had 4-5 black females left!

I immediately called him and arranged to go look at them the following morning. 

I fell in love with them all, but keep my head on my shoulders and truly gave thought to the pros and cons of getting one of these pups, waiting for a pup that had been born that morning, holding out for the end of the school year all together, and whatnot. I did however choose to put my name on the list for one of these adorable puppies! =) There were 9 black females in the litter and I am 6th on the list so I'm not sure which one will be mine, but I'll find out on Saturday when I go to pick her up. =) Trust me, there will be many pictures to follow! 

Anyway, to start off, here are some pictures of the preparation. ;)

Caity and I made a spot in our room by cleaning out and removing one shelf in a corner to provide a nook for her bed. 

And of course we can't let Buck feel neglected and unloved by all the attention this puppy will get. =)

marginalia

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." Colossians 3:12-15a

dolorous- feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress

amity- a friendly relationship

dogma- a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as in controvertibly true

sonorous- (of a person's voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full; capable of producing a ringing sound

Russell Crocket

...headed outside for 30 minutes of exercise before the school day begins