Been awhile since I've posted anything of substance, but hey, I've been busy! Had family in for Mother's Day and we went to Bear Country USA in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So much fun! The baby bears have been born and they look so cute. Wouldn't want to hug on one of the mama's though! They're huge!!! And the claws are frightening! We did see one bear try to eat the car in front of us. Must have needed salt or something because the bear didn't take a real bite.

Have been doing a lot of geocaching now that the weather is warming up. Have found some tough ones. I tried to plant one the other day, but it was STOLEN! Before I could even publish it!!! Can you believe it??? I was so upset! I'm not sure I'll ever plant another one.

Have I been writing? Yes. I did two more short stories and have been working on the mystery novel.

As for crafting, I've been knitting and crocheting some. This washcloths has a peace sign in the middle (got the pattern off the 'net). I've also taken up two new hobbies: soap and candle making. Love both! I am doing melt and pour soap, which I know that some believe it's not "real" soap making, but I don't have the time, the space, or the desire to do the cold process stuff. My sister, though, does it all the time.

So that's been my month or so. I'll try to post more regularly!

OK, so I like the Washing Well Wenches at the Ren. Fest!!!

You are Petunia! Congratulations! You are a lonely little Petunia in an onion patch... a sweet delicate flower, sweetening the air around you. Being a Petunia means that you love life, laundry and the pursuit of cleanliness! You don't just love your laundry, you roll around in it, sleep in piles of it and have vivid, epic dreams about YOUR LAUNDRY. You care deeeply about the public's hygiene. Which Wench Are YOU? Find out at http://www.washingwellwenches.com

PLEASE VOTE!!!

OK, so I entered a short story contest under my pen name. Please go and read it and vote for it!!!! Here's the link
http://www.donardpublishing.com/page81.html
Thanks!!!

This could be a little disturbing!

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Mr. Potato Head You have your ideal of how things should look, but youre flexible enough to allow for change. You are not bothered by changing methods, mid-course if necessary. You use an eclectic combination of curriculum sources. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
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What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
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So much for the summer-like weather! Winter hasn't ended just yet. Today towns up in the hills got more than TWO FEET of snow!!! Yep, 24 inches of wet, nasty, snow. Gotta love that..... I did get some more geocaching done before winter made it's return. A new (and more accurate!) GPS makes that more fun!!

Did a creative project this week. This Monkey iPod cover is found in the latest "Stitch N Bitch" book -- "Happy Hooker." Finally a book with fun, funky patterns for crocheting as well! Other projects still in the works include the Weasley sweater (yep, still!) and a pair of socks (one is finished). I'm also doing the choker exchange still and that's fun. Did the dishcloth exchange this month as well.

I'm also finishing up the school year here. Finishing books and ending courses. Writing finals and grading a few final papers. One of the things I really love about home educating is being able to FINISH the subjects. We go all the way to the end of the book before the subject is considered over. Of course, I also need to start looking for books for next year. Have much of the year planned, I just need to get the texts ordered.

At least it's not boring, right? ;)

Been a busy week, but the weather is BEAUTIFUL!! My loving hubby got me a barrel planter and this is what I've done so far. I'm thinking I'll plant some more of those English Daisies (don't they look like pretty dandilions?) when I'm sure there won't be a frost. I also planted some "Dragon's Blood" and some Phylox near our driveway.

The house is finally sided. I'm so glad not to have to paint ever again. I won't be so glad to pay the loan, but it wasn't that bad and it did need to be done, so what can you say?

With the great weather, I have gotten some geocaching done. Although, getting a new GPS was a great reason to go out and test it!!!

Am working on chapter 7 of the mystery novel I did for NaNoWriMo. This is total re-write mode. Some of what I wrote is really good, but some is just .... well, you get the picture. I don't know what I'd do without my critique group. They really help me turn the crap into something I can use. This dream of being an author might actually come true one of these days!

Made an awesome choker the other day. I really like the colors of this one. Didn't think I'd ever be able to crochet wire! How cool is that?

Easter Bunny Name My Easter Bunny Name is Cuddles Hucklebunny Get Your Easter Bunny Name at Quizopolis.com

One more knitting project finished. This is the "Easy-Care Cactus" from a book called "Funky Knits." I used leftover yarn from the armwarmers I finished last week. Knitted up super fast!!! Now I need to make another as a moving gift for a relative!

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

One more knitting project finished -- Armwarmers! These are the "Hurry Up Spring" Armwarmers from S&B Nation. The yarn is "Freedom" by Twilleys of Stamford that I got in Omaha. Since I wasn't sure how much to get, I still have a ball and half left.

This was the first time I'd ever used a cable needle, so that was an adventure until I got the hang of it. The little one is happy with them, though!!!

Next project? I think I'm going to knit a couple of cactus for someone I know who is moving. She won't have to worry about transporting them -- or killing them, either!

FINALLY! It took years, but it's done!!! The braces are finally off!!!

Honestly, I wasn't ever sure this kid would have straight teeth. She's had orthodontic work for the past three or four years -- a pallet expander and then braces on the top and bottom. Now there they are.... Straight teeth!!!!

Other things going on around here? Not much. I'm knitting some arm warmers for the kid and have one finished. The second is about a quarter of the way done. The HP sweater? Oh please! I'm still not done with the back of it!!! I do have one "fuzzy sock" almost finished and am ready to start the second, but she wanted the arm warmers first. Hopefully, they will be done by Friday (they're green!) and she can wear them for St. Patty's Day.

Haven't been geocaching because we now have a FOOT OF SNOW! YUCK!

Our Eastern Star official visit is finally over. Thank goodness!!! So much practicing for one day. I guess I think we should do well all the time and not just for someone else, but maybe I'm in the minority there.

Some news from my Daughters of the Nile group, though. I was elected to go up the line there. I really enjoy the idea of working for the Shriner's kids! As my daughter would say "that makes me warm and fuzzy!"

My home is too quiet. That's all there is to it.... My daughter is off visiting grandparents -- homeschooling lets you take "spring break" whenever -- and I knew I would miss her. That was pretty much a given, right?

What I didn't expect was the silence I'd find in my home. There's no giggling. There's no crazy rambling about American Idol or some other TV show I don't pay much attention to. There's no loud music coming from her room or having to yell "turn it down" three or four times, either.

Her absence has reminded me of how short the past dozen years really have been. As much of a cliche as it is, it really does seem like yesterday when she was so small she needed a step-stool to brush her teeth. Now the braces will come off in less than two weeks. Just yesterday, she would "measure" her hands against mine and I could bend my fingers down to touch the tops of hers. Now she's almost as tall as I am.

In the next four or five years, we'll be looking at colleges (currently, she is looking at an art degree somewhere) and I wonder if I'm doing the right thing for her. I pray that she will be happy and healthy. I pray that she'll do God's will. I pray that I will be able to guide her as she makes some of these huge decisions in her life. I pray that her dad and I have given her a good set of role models for parenting and adulthood and all that.

Also this week, a beautiful 9 year old little girl stopped fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She has gone to be with the Lord. This little angel and her brother have been homeschooled their entire lives. (See more on her fight at http://www.hannahbearski.blogspot.com/ ) I met this little girl. Her mom used to watch my little one when I was finishing my college degree. Life moved them across the state and I wasn't able to comfort the family in the way I wanted. I couldn't even hug my little one as I had to tell her that her friend Hannah had died. Sometimes life just sucks.

So hug your kids. Love them. Be a part of their lives no matter where your kids are in life. You only get one shot at being the parent. Make the most of it.

Better late than never, right? This is the choker I knitted for the exchange I mentioned in earlier posts. I made this one out of Yarn Bee yarn found at Hobby Lobby with a button I already had. Great for Valentine's Day!

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

YOU ARE CATNIP


What herb are you?
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Could explain why my cats love me!

Did this choker "just because" and then found a little "mouse" who liked it. Glad to give her something that she thinks is cool as my daughter is a little sick of me making stuff for her.... Gotta love teens!!!

Got a few projects going on. Still working on that Weasley sweater. I just don't seem to be motivated to do it. And I'm working on a choker exchange. I've never done anything like that before, so I'm a little nervous. What if my partner is WAY better than I am and what I send is junk compaired to what she sends? I know, that's not what the exchange is about, but still, I worry!

Did get some geocaching done. Didn't find the cache, but I think I know where it is. I'm planning to go back this week and find it for sure.

Haven't done a lot of writing. I'm still working on my NaNoWriMo story. Yeah, I got the 50,000 words, but the story still needs some work. I am also working on a western that needs to be fleshed out a bit.

Add to that the "Official Visit" craziness that goes with Eastern Star and elections coming up in Daughters of the Nile and I've been one busy woman. I think the man and I need a little vacation!

The shawl is done! Finally!

The dress here is our "Star Dress" this year. As "Electa" I opted to do this in red and black to match the dress. I doubt our Masonic Center will ever get really cold (I must still be young, the "pasts" all seem to think it gets mighty chilly!) but it is nice to have!