National Drawing Day and Other Cool Art Stuff

We're always looking for new and interesting artists. Some of our favorite art, bar none ~ Even better than Thomas Kinkade ~ is the work of children's book authors. We love the work of:
Jan Brett,
Tasha Tudor
Sarah Davis
Doron BenAmi
Troy Howell
Ron Berg
Brynn Barnard

...And many others ~ but these are the ones I found jogging my memory online.

Remember Taro Gomi, the author/illustrator famous for the ground-breaking children's book Everybody Poops? He's published something new called Doodle All Year featuring 265 pages of doodling inspiration. A must-have, I'm thinking.

I don't care for the content in all her pictures, but you just gotta love the creative idea behind the New York Times Crossword Drawings by Emilyjo Cureton. She does one a day. View them cautiously, though.





And for something really interesting, go check out Yeondoo Jung's work... Children's drawings brought to life! Isn't that a creative twist? We thought this would be fun to try to do with some of our Littles' artwork.



Also, you may have noticed in my sidebar that June 7th ~ next Saturday ~ is National Drawing Day! I'm going to have my youngins doodle up some of their best work and post it that day. It would be wonderful to see other work, as well, if you want to join in the fun! Let me know if you'll be posting some and I'll link it here! Just let me know by Friday night. I'm so excited to see lots of drawing going on!~

Oops!

Correction: My sincere apologies. Yesterday's feastday was that of St. Mary Magadelene dePazzi! Not St. Mary Magdalene.


I know it just prolongs the agony, making excuses, but I have to explain my brain damage... Here's what happened: Paul left Wednesday night to fly off with all the other Marine Officer's candidates to Quantico, Virginia. His girlfriend, Nicole had come over to visit and see Paul off this week. I drove her back over the mountains yesterday to her home in Western Colorado, leaving early Thursday morning. Coming in late Thursday night, I glanced at the Saint of the Day, because I'd forgotten to look in the morning. I saw "Mary Magdalene" and missed "dePazzi"... I got excited about the feast of Mary Magdalene, remembering I had a recording of the kids' choir singing Maria Magdalena... And I figured, "I'd better hurry if I'm gonna get it in here before the feastday is over!" So, I slapped something together as quickly as I could... And, well, there it is.



My apologies! I'll be careful to look in better light and with less rush to go to print next time.

Thanks to Sr. Genevieve for bringing this to my attention!!

Raising Teenagers

It's one of the most debated and fretted-over problems of all time. Raising teenagers. I don't mean just keeping them out of jail and the maternity ward before marriage. I mean how do you raise hard-working, nice people, with good character and integrity? People you like to spend an afternoon or a life with. People you trust with your good name. And the keys to the family car.

We have some wonderful teenagers in our family, I'm pleased and proud to say. And they have some really wonderful friends. I know that sounds kind of like I'm tooting our horn, but I don't mean it that way at all. Much of the credit we give to Divine Intervention. We've had many blessings in our lives, including a wonderful extended family network, and good friends who share our Faith. But, my husband and I have really thought hard, worked hard and prayed hard on all of these children cum teenagers, too. It would be wrong to give the impression that childraising is just a matter of luck and isn't a lot of work. Believe me, we have not been without mishaps and mistakes with our growing teens. We're the first to admit that. But, in our floundering, God's made sure we've stumbled upon some good ground rules for raising up good people. Mostly we've learned that we've got to continue to pray for His mercy and grace on us all.

This whole subject is much on my mind right now, with all our big kids home, and I thought I'd write a post on it, but it struck me that it might be more telling to go straight to the guinea pigs source. I definitely have some of my own ideas on the subject, and I still may write my own post. But, I wanted to hear the kids' take on it. What impresses them the most? What do they think it takes to raise great teenagers?

I asked seven of them who happened to be hanging around here this afternoon. And here's what they wrote.


How to Raise Great Teenagers
(Written By Great Teenagers)

*In my opinion the most important factor of how to raise a great teenager is to raise them great before they're teenagers. To raise them with an equal mix of love and discipline and to not be too strict or give in to their every desire. Most importantly to instil a love of God and a desire to please Him.

*In my opinion, treating each person differently, according to their own needs and personality creates an atmosphere conducive for success - there's no one way to raise everyone.

*One thing that sticks out in my mind about how my parents raised my sister and I is they always had to draw the line somewhere. This went for everything like dating, curfew, going out to do things with friends, who our friends were etc etc. Growing up we hated that line because it was never where we wanted it, but now when I look back it was right where it needed to be.

*A huge factor in a teenager's conduct and personal developement of character is finding a way to keep God important in their life. There is nothing easier for a teenager to dismiss God as a childish thing, or at least nothing to be taken seriously; finding a way to make God seem, indeed the first priority, and an adult one, as well, is key to any teenager's being "great".

*Never assume that your parents know exactly what you mean by something. We must make ourselves very clear when saying something that could be misinterperated. I think one of the biggest problems between teenagers and their parents is not communicating what we mean effectivly.

*I think that one of the more important things to raising a teenager is to make them work. This builds their character and also keeps them occupied...

*I think an important thing to raising a teenager is breaking them of bad habits when they're younger. You should give them love and attention, but also show discipline and not bend to their will. You should also keep God an important factor in their lives.

(Woops. A smudge on the lens, doggonit! I'll replace this pic with a clear one as soon as they all show up again...)

Food for thought for me, I know. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been talking about it since they've been out tonight, and have come up with some other suggestions for us. I'll have to ask them. I've got to admit, I'd love to know what they'd say if they weren't writing it out for Mom. I know they firmly believe the points they made, but I bet there are more they might not feel as comfortable sharing on this public platform. I did put them rather on the spot. Thanks to our young ladies and gentlemen for being good sports and playing along. I may keep this list and give it back to them in a few years (twenty or twenty-five years, maybe...)

**For oodles and caboodles of other great tips on a world of topics, visit Shannon over at Rocks in My Drier.

A Most Worthwhile Read

This one has been circulating a while, I think, but I haven't seen it until this morning. It puts things in excellent perspective and comes to some simple, profound conclusions. Well worth the time to read, I thought.

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?'

"Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

"Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

"Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

"This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

"Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

"I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

"Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

"Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

"Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about 'how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way'...Insane!

"Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' "

Jay Leno 2007
(Yeah, Jay Leno!)*
H/T: Nicole B.

* Addendum/Correction: Thanks to a careful and wisely skeptical reader, I need to correct the attribution for this article! You know the old saying: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is... As much as we might want a public figure like Jay Leno to be the author of such a piece, Snopes reports that Leno can only claim responsibility for the last line of this essay. Pity for him, but kudos to Craig R. Smith, who actually wrote it!

A Simple Woman Monday

This lovely idea originated at Peggy's place, The Simple Woman. Peggy's off on vacation this week, so she's not posting links, but I wanted to do a Monday morning Daybook, anyway. There is a really neat apron give-away going on over there, though, so you might want to go check that out!

Outside my Window... It's overcast and grey. A breeze is blowing the big cedar tree next to the swingset. I think the birds have slept in, as the usual breakfast meeting of blackbirds is not going on in the cottonwood just outside my east window. The boys have left tools on the old weatherbeaten bench in the north yard.

I am thinking... My husband was awfully industrious to get up so early. He's out picking up some provisions and a new bbq grill for the afternoon's Memorial Day festivities.

I am thankful for... Coffee brewing in the kitchen... All my children being under the roof this morning ~ most of the big kids still snoozing after coming in late from a movie last night...

From the kitchen... Jon is the only big-kid morning-bird today. He's in the kitchen right now, puttering around, making a torte for us to have this afternoon. (I'll post that recipe below) We're also having bbq chicken, brats, potato salad, beans, dippy vegges, and whatever else the extended family brings.

I am creating... A cat named Johnny C for a children's book. The author has hired me on to develop the character for her book, as well as for puppets and manipulatives to be used by and for children in cancer treatment. (Is that cool, or what?? Say a prayer for me that I can do a good job?)

I am going... To take a group of kids to see Narnia and Indiana Jones this week. (Went to see Indi with my husband on Saturday night and LOVED it! Passed all kid-friendly tests for us)

I am wearing... Blue jeans, brown sandals, a white tee under a tan tee decorated with swirly things and seed beads, under a tan hoodie. (Chilly here this morning)

I am reading... Actually nothing right now. Been too busy with the children home and working on cat pictures.

I am hoping... Everyone is on the waning side of this summer cold we have ~ and that nobody else gets it. Also, that my son, Paul, has a positive experience at Officer Training School ~ He leaves for there Wednesday night.

I am hearing... Jimmy Neutron in the living room, Jon stirring something in a metal bowl in the kitchen, a strange absence of birdsong outside.

Around the house... Well, every Monday morning, I'm going to have to say laundry is high on my list. I catch it all up on Friday, and the pile is up to my chin on Monday. But, the lovely thing is that I have all those boys' jeans and dirty socks to clean. Do I mind? Not a bit.

One of my favorite things... Jon's dessert creations.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Those movies we're going to catch, A big gumbo dinner for Paul on Tuesday night, as a going-away treat, a big grocery shopping trip mid-week, sewing new curtains for my kitchen at the end of the week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you... It's all about movement!

Jon's Napolean Torte

Pastry

1 lb butter, softened

4 cups flour

2 cups sour cream

Filling #1

3/4 cup granulated sugar

5 tbs flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups milk, scalded

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

Filling #2

2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk

6 egg yolks, beaten

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 lb butter, softened

Directions

1. To make pastry: Cut butter into flour until crumbly and blend in sour cream.

2. Form dough into 10 balls

3. Cover each with wax paper and refrigerate overnight.

4. Allow dough to stand at room temp for 15 minutes, then roll each ball into a wafer thin circles on a lightly floured board.

5. Prick all over and bake at 350 degrees F. for 7 to 10 minutes. Cool.

6. To make filling #1: Mix together sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler.

7. Gradually add hot milk, stirring constantly.

8. Cook and stir until mixture thickens.

9. Pour a small amount over egg yolks, mix thorougly, and pour back into hot mixture.

10. Cook for 2 minutes. Cool, then add vanilla.

11. To make filling #2: Pour milk into top of double boiler and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened ~ about 30 minutes.

12. Add vanilla. Cook and stir for 10 minutes.

13. Chill.

14. Beat butter until fluffy, then slowly beat in chilled milk mixture.

15. To assemble Torte: Place one layer of pastry on a platter and spread with either filling.

16. Continue stacking, alternating fillings, until 1 layer of pastry remains.

17. Frost top and sides with remaining filling.

18. Crush remaining pastry layer and cover torte with crumbs.

19. Refrigerate for several hours.

Serves 30 normal people or about 10 teenagers.

Snot Here...

We're so glad to have all the children home, I just can't tell you. But, dang them, they brought a summer cold along with 'em! Not only do all the Littles have it, but I caught it too, doggone it! I don't even remember the last time I had a cold. I've been reduced to a poor sniffling wimp here, I admit it. I'm whining along with the rest of the kids. Bluck. We're miserable.

I've been wiping little noses all day long, and blowing mine copiously. We've gone through two boxes of Puffs and are making serious headway through another one. I just sent my husband out to get some more, in fact. (Gotta have my Puffs!)

I know everyone has experienced this. If it isn't colds, it's allergies.

Aren't you with me in asking: Where does all this snot come from?? Is there some kind of perpetual motion snot machine inside the head that kicks on? Is it like the Universe, created from nothing? I've been thinking about it all day. Really.

So, being a conscientious and curious homeschool-researcher kinda Mom and having the world at my fingertips here at the computer, I've taken it upon myself to hunt out the answer...

And here it is, for anyone interested:

* If this is too gross or N/A, feel free to skip to the bottom... I wouldn't blame you.

Blurtit says: Mucus is fluid secreted by the Goblet cells (Goblet cells??? This makes me giggle...) in the walls of mucus membranes in the body. The mucus contain lysozymes and immunoglobulin. In case of cold or flu, the brain send message to mucus membrane to produce mucus. The mucus is the response of our immune system. The mucus trap the virus or bacteria and does not allow them to enter in to lungs. (Gee, I guess that's nice of them, but all the mucous in there doesn't seem very good, either...)

Kidzworld says: Mucus membranes line the inside of your nose and sinuses and secrete snot to protect your body from invaders like germs, pollen and dust. The snot traps the tiny particles of junk that you breathe in so they don't make their way into your lungs and make you sick. If germs do sneak in, and you get sick, you'll probably get a runny nose cuz your body makes extra snot to wash away the germs. (Why does it take 7-10 days of showering to be sure we're rid of these alleged germs?)

Dr. Universe tells us: In the nose, mucous has two roles. Along with tiny hair-like projections called cilia (SILLY-UH), it traps dust, bacteria, and other small particles breathed in with air. Working together as a filtering team, they make the air easier to breathe, cleaner and more free of such harmful things as bacteria. (Easier, you say??) But mucous also lubricates and protects the nose. So it's pretty complicated stuff... (This is the point where they explain the intricacies of warrior-mucous)

So, in short, it's my brain telling my mucous membranes to flood the moat! Great. But I think the moat has overflowed and is flooding the castle here! For crying out loud, can't we just lower the chutes or something? (Yes, I know cold remedies are supposed to help this, but they've been next to ineffectual with this strain, for some reason. Sheesh!)

There is never any doubt that God's design is perfect, and so I don't question the benefit of this exercise, of course. But, I do think that the greatest good here doesn't come from any supposed washing out of germs. It's more likely a very handy little cross for Our Heavenly Father to occasionally bestow upon us just to keep us on our toes. So I better quit whining. Worse things could happen than our sore noses. I'm grateful, really.

Thank Heaven for Puffs. (Yes, I do indeed believe that such things are a heaven-sent consolation ...)

And, hey, ya know... There's another thing. (A silver lining to the tissue box.) Colds do keep the tissue companies in business. Little chance of layoffs at those factories, I'm thinking. Colds and flus in winter. Allergies in summer. They've got it all sewn up.

Colds are a good thing. I've almost convinced myself of it. ('Scuse me while I go find some more Puffs...)

*PS* While the Littles and I were home plowing through boxes of tissue, the rest of the family went to an impromptu church picnic. ( I stayed home from Mass with the Littles for everyone's better comfort and to distance the rest of the world from our "protective," infective mucous...)

I have just been informed that my husband and oldest five children seriously whupped managed to emerge victorious over EE (Everybody Else) at the church picnic today. Congratulations, you guys! You gotta know, we are not among the tallest of families out there (which is generally a big plus in this game!), but our athletes are a determined bunch! Better luck next time EE! (gg!)

Music for Sunday

Here's our children's full choir, the five boys (our three and two great friends), and five girls (including our Michelle (12). We think they're wonderful for a high school choir! (And, we're not at all biased. Surely not!)

And here (below), they're up in the choir loft (with I think one of the Sisters joining in), singing

O Magnum Mysterium:

Anna

"You know what I want to be when I grow up?

A police man

An Aunt

A Mother

Or the girl who makes the bottoms of shoes. You know. The plastic part."

A Scrabble Poem

If I only had an E

Oh, how happy I would b

Everyone's Home!

Our morning Angelus got its bass back!

* We don't sing it... But our morning prayers all sounded so nice and "full bodied" this morning!

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

My little room...

I decided, after the fact, that I wanted to add this post to Works for Me Wednesday ~ and here's why...

No matter how many children you have, whether its two or ten, the demands of motherhood are epic, if not always in magnitude, definitely in scope. Our job description includes not only the physical welfare of our family, but their eternal souls. As all moms know, the work and worry are endless. There are so many details, and so much big-picture to keep in mind while we work out the details. It's a 24/7/365 job. It can drain the life force from us. But it's the most important work out there, bar none.

We're in charge of the future of the world.

Geeminny! And, how exactly, are we supposed to accomplish this 24/7/365-to infinity epic task without losing our minds?

Good question! And I'm here to tell you, that after working on it for twenty years with ten children, I have a couple suggestions that can help. This is what works for me:

* First ~ Know, love, and serve God. Understanding the higher purpose of all the little mundane, endless chores is the best boat to float on. Making time for prayer is the best investment you can make for yourself and your family.

* Second ~ Make a space for yourself somewhere. Anywhere. Actually or figuratively. Keep track of your own identity, your own interests, and loves outside of your homemaking and child-raising and husband-nurturing duties.

It's so important to find some "outlet" to plug ourselves into for your own good and for the good of our family. You are the one in charge of preventing your own burn out! Don't underestimate how important this is! And don't leave it to someone else to do it for you.

For some women, sports or physical activity of some kind fulfill that need. And, if that's you, for heaven's sake, join a softball league, have a bowling night, join Curves, whatever fills that need in you and gives you time to recharge your battery. This is the kind of space you may need!

Some just need time with girlfriends to unwind and renew. (This is in addition to a regular date night with your husband, mind you!)If that's you, set up a regular time to meet up with your friends, for a book club, tea or coffee night, movie night, whatever. Don't just think about it, and say you really should ~ Actually do it! Your husband will be glad to have a relaxed and peaceful wife in exchange for babysitting the kids once a week, or twice a month.

You might re-energize by reading a book, or by sewing, or knitting, or photography. And if this is true, make an organized space for yourself to do these things, by joining a club, or taking a class ~ or crafting a special space to do these things in.

My way to recharge is by creating ~ drawing, writing, crafting, blogging... It always amazes me how time flies when I'm immersed in any one of these activities. And, I'm always the better for the mental vacation I've had in that time. But, around here, with the teeming throngs, it's been a challenge (to say the least) to "play" in this way, without being interrupted by children who want to play along. =sigh= It's just not the relaxing "space away" when you're mediating squabbles over glue sticks and crayons amongst the children.

So, here's what worked for me: I did create my own space. A real, physical space. I took an unused room, like little Mary took a bit of unused earth in "The Secret Garden." I stole our seldom-used, eyesore of a mudroom and turned it into a secret garden of my own. In all my favorite colors. With all the storage I could ever need for my art and craft supplies. And a new craft table. And, most importantly, a door that I can shut!

And so now I have a quiet place to recharge. By myself. Alone. (Well, sorta. I do get the knocking on the door and all that...) But it was just a matter of deciding to do it. In point of fact, I asked my husband to give it to me for Mother's Day. It's only a little 8'x8' room, but it means the whole world to have it.

Here's the Before:

This was the idea collage:
Here's the After:

I'm just pleased as punch with it, I gotta say! Thanks to my wonderful husband, (He's that guy pictured above ~ and me, too ~ teehee!) for such a wonderful Mother's Day gift! We'll all be the better for it.

Make sure and run over to Rocks in My Drier to see the scads and scads of great tips posted over there!

Da Pacem and The Magnificat

Dominic arrived home with his Dad and a couple friends last night, and with them came the camera used to record the weekend's events at the children's school in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm so sorry I missed the School-end program, but glad they did record a good deal of it. Mostly, I'm glad all the children will be home soon.

The rest of the gang are on their way, apparently just having crossed the Colorado border at about 5 pm, mountain time.

We may get to have that spaghetti dinner all together tonight! Maybe I'll make 'em sing for their supper! Above: Good Friends, Tim and Carlos on the ends, with our boys, Dominic, Kevin and Jon in the middle, singing at the school program on Sunday. I'm not sure what they were singing here, but the sound quality of almost everything at the program was off. I need to go through it again to see what's post-worthy. (The boys would not be happy with me if I aired something they thought didn't turn out well!)

After the official "to-do," the choir members gathered in the choir loft at Church to sing for their own enjoyment. My husband snuck in and recorded them, of course. He also caught a couple hymns at the end of Mass. (I told him if he missed a thing, I'd kill him be so upset!)

Below are the same boys pictured above singing Da Pacem, and The Magnificat. I can't get enough of The Magnificat! I know I played a video of the boys singing it once before; I hope you don't mind hearing it again.

A Simple Woman Monday

It's been so much fun reading all the entries of this Daybook, I had to play along! This lovely idea originated at Peggy's place, The Simple Woman.

Outside my Window... Our son Dominic (14), who arrived with the first wave of our Omaha contingent playing on the slide and monkey bars with his little brothers and sisters, with Bella, the dog, running around with a big smile on her face, trying to join in on the fun.

Say "cheese," Bella!

I am thinking... I have work to do, but it can wait. I want to enjoy my children today.

I am thankful for... This gorgeous, cool, sunny morning; the start of summer because my children will all be home ~ every one of them, including our oldest son, Paul, and his girlfriend Nicole (who will be coming to spend time with us before Paul heads off to Marine's Officer Training School in Virginia for the summer); Dominic, who started off the morning by saying "When does the work begin?"

From the kitchen... Ramping up to feed the teenagers. Thinking casseroles, tacos, vats of Italian, pasta dishes... Spaghetti tonight.

I am creating... The finishing touches on my own little room/art studio!

I am going... to the bank ~ and now that wonderful Dominic is home, he can watch the Littles, so I don't have to load them all up and take them with me. WAHOO!!


I am wearing... a black tee, a long gypsy skirt in swirly, flowery patterns of black, brown, green and white, brown sandals...

I am reading... Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters, The Rosary, by Garry Willis (Though, I have some problems with this book, I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for a couple more chapters...), bits and pieces of the June Reader's Digest, and I'm trying to work through Inkheart, by Cornelia Funk, to OK it for my twelve-year old to read. Has anyone out there read this one?

I am hoping... the second half of our Omaha contingent ~ Kevvy (19), Jon (17), and Michelle(12) ~ gets here safe and sound and before dinner tonight.

I am hearing... The radio left on in my little room... the grain elevators making some strange sound in the distance... Dominic telling Bella to behave herself... Gabe giggling...

Around the house... Laundry, laundry, laundry. And did I say laundry?

One of my favorite things... The feeling of an unhurried summer stretching out before me.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Take the children to see Prince Caspian, check out the suitability of Indiana Jones and the Kindgdom of the Crystal Skull with my husband before taking the children. (Isn't that a great excuse for a date night?) Get the garden going, finally!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you...

Here's the project Dominic decided to tackle: burying the recently repaired hydrant. Look at all the willing helpers! Now let's hope this gung-ho attitude survives the first week or two of summer...

Here's what Cathy got from the project. She and Anna have been on a bug-collection kick these days ~ and, let me tell you, there're plenty of bugs here to discover, label and observe! But worms seem to be the big prize, for some reason. Such dainty girls we have.