Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Wow!  What a windy day this has been.......much too windy for kite flying.  Since my sewing room is upstairs, I haven't spent much time there today because the wind is so loud up there.  I did spend my morning judging FFA public speaking contest.  It was very interesting.  Some really good speeches and a few that needed some work.  My favorite speech title was OMG  GMO!  The title was good, but the speech needed some work.

DD was home this weekend for her BFF's wedding.  Here are some of the pics...........

 Yes, the maid of honor is wearing high-top converse tennis shoes..........at the bride's request.  (Mom just had to get over it!)

The Circle of Life

Since Mondays are my one day at home (other than going in to the church to do book work since I am the treasurer), I try to catch up on house cleaning.  Today, to make the cleaning fly by - well, it still didn't fly, but it was more enjoyable - I had Pandora radio on.  I was listening to the Broadway Show Stoppers station.  In the middle of all the great songs from Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked, came The Circle of Life from the Lion King.  This really took me back because it would have to be Sarah's all-time favorite movie.  We have it in VHS, but of course had to upgrade to DVD - but we still can't get rid of that original VHS movie though.  Sarah was infatuated with Lions when she was little.  We all knew the movie by heart.  We have the Lion King board game, matching game, playing cards, and of course, she had lots of Lion King t-shirts and even cute little sneakers.  Sometime prior to her 3rd birthday, she acquired a small beanie baby kitten that was the color of a lion.  Of course she named it Simba.  Simba went everywhere with Sarah.  Here he is at her 3rd birthday party where she is opening presents.............

President's Day - Still Monday!

Happy President's Day!  I almost forgot that it was still Monday and I needed to blog.  We just got back from a visit to my parents.  DH helped my dad with a few projects including trying to get his phone to work "hands free" in his new car.  Dad kept asking me why I wasn't answering my cell phone, and I never heard it ring, nor did it show any missed calls.  When we arrived home this afternoon, my home answering machine was full of waiting calls........all from Dad!  

Sunday afternoon, before we headed north, I attended the Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra Concert.  I took 3 of my MVC students with me (it was a class requirement), three gentlemen, 2 from Brazil and 1 from Bulgaria.  It was definitely a unique experience for all of us.  As we were stopped at a stoplight on the way to drop them back at campus, I was asked, "What does YIELD mean?"  This opened a discussion on driving rules and having a license (which none of them do even in their home country as it is so expensive).  I have now promised to stop by the license office and pick up driving rule manuals for them.  (What are piano teacher's for???)  I'm unsure as to whether they could get a license here, but I figure knowing the driving rules won't hurt them.  They did enjoy the concert too, but wanted to know if the orchestra ever played anything they might know.  I told them that would be the April concert.  When they asked if they could attend, I said sure and that I was in charge of the reception (the cookies and punch were also a big draw), so they've now decided they might get to take home the leftover cookies if they have to help me clean up.  We'll see if that happens!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all!  I made DH homemade angel food cake (Great Aunt Mildred's recipe) this afternoon and fixed fresh strawberries to go with it.  I also did some chocolate covered strawberries!  We have a quilt guild meeting tomorrow night, so I'm planning to take DH out to eat Mexican prior to the meeting.  I invited him to the meeting since it's Valentine's Day, but he declined.

Romance is in the air.  DD came home this weekend to try on her maid of honor dress for a wedding she's in on March 4th.  I had to alter it a little and wanted her to try it on before I clipped curves, etc.  Now I need to hem the slip she's wearing.  We also practiced a hairstyle.

Keeping on track.........

We made a trip to Rolla this weekend to see the DD at school.  We went car shopping with her and decided it was time for her to have something more reliable that got better gas mileage than our old sorento.  After some negotiation, we all decided on a 2016 Kia Sportage.  She won't get it until Thursday.  The best part is that she finally made it up the list far enough to get a parking pass that is much closer to her dorm!!!!  Yeah!!!  This is actually as exciting as a new car!  And, honestly, I really don't enjoy car shopping at all, so I'm glad it's over with.  I think the DD would have looked at every dealership in town, driven all sorts of cars, and drawn the process out much longer.  We assured her that when she gets her next car (which she will be purchasing herself), she can shop to her hearts content!  

DH and I did some driving around Rolla to kill time on Saturday and discovered some new areas.  Here is a photo of the old courthouse.

And here is the new courthouse, right next door.

While we were driving around, I wondered aloud that we had never seen the high school, or any school other than S&T in Rolla.  As we turned the corner to the courthouse, this building came in to view.

So, we stopped to take a photo and look what the stone sign said...........

Rolla High School - erected 1915 - Ask and ye shall receive!!!  Trust me, the University is a little more modern.

Be it Resolved............

It's still January, so technically, I think I can still make resolutions for 2017!  In my quilt guild, we have a UFO challenge each year where we list one UFO that has been around for awhile that really, really needs to get finished.  This year I listed my bordered periwinkle quilt that has been around for at least 3 years.  I should never have started it.  It is paper pieced, and I have never liked (trying not to use the word "hate") paper piecing.  Somehow, it always sounds wonderful, but when I get down to actually working on it, it's not so wonderful.  Anyway, that is my main UFO project to get finished this year.  

Happy New Year!!!

Where to begin?????

Christmas and its many activities has come and gone and 2017 is here!  I did start a new job at the chiropractor's office, but discovered that it just wasn't going to work.  While I really enjoyed the work, I was experiencing lots of foot pain (have had foot trouble before, but not for a long time) from standing from 8-6 every day.  So, I gave notice and am now currently staying at home this week.  I may be returning to work part time at the Martin Community Center.  In the meantime, I'm gearing up for piano lessons to start next week, both at MVC where I will have 2 students and here at home, where I may have as many as 9.  

In early December, David and I participated in Journey to Bethlehem, a joint effort put on by 2 local churches.  The set design was amazing.

I was the village basket weaver.  Here is my station.

Over 400 visitors came to Bethlehem (they all had to register for the census), and it was a busy night.  I got 3 baskets woven to the rim stage that evening.