Every Fall

Fall is HERE!!

and with it comes APPLES!!!!


Every year we go to Gay's Mills for a day



and get apples,



drink apple cider,


enjoy the views,


and the sunflower/corn maze,



visit Dudley



and overall just enjoy ourselves


If this year was an indication, looks like we will be visiting "Old Mac" as well :)

All pictures courtesy of Stephanie





oh and yes, I was playing with my blog. Is anyone having any viewing troubles? And is it hard to read like this?

Message Board

O.k. ladies and gentlemen, if you are serious about the message board I can make one up this weekend. But! We must have a purpose for it. I don't have time to moderate a message board with pointless posts. So, come up with a purpose, and if you all promise to stick to it. I will set you up a message board this weekend, hopefully....

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Katie
2. Kate
3. and only to privileged people - Kat

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU'VE HAD
1. PottersVessel
2. theroyalseamstress
3. kingsfiddler

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF
1. My height (most of the time)
2. My family
3. My vibrato ;)

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF
1. My hair
2. the shape of my face
3. I shouldn't be thinking about this...

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE
1. German
2. Irish
3. Swiss

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU
1. Snakes
2. Loneliness.
3. Poison

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS
1. Computer
2. Violin
3. Clothes :)

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW
1. Well, I'm wearing my uniform but I'll going to put on: wrap around butterfly skirt
2. Pink shirt
3. Jean jacket

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS/MUSICAL ARTISTS
1. Dvorak
2. David
3. Emily

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS
1. hmmm.... Dvorak's New World Symphony
2. I Will Stand in the Strength of the Lord
3. Someone to Watch Over Me

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS
1. Symphony Auditions
2. Skiing
3. Nannying

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP
1. Love
2. Unity
3. Trust

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
1. I despise this game....
2. So forget about it
3. No lies from me...

THREE THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU
1. Strength/protection
2.
3.

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES
1. Sewing
2. Reading
3. Music

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW
1. Have a complete day off
2. Have some chocolate hot or normal and curl up in front of the fire
3. Run in a meadow!Go outside and lay on my back and stare up at the stars.

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING
well I've already decided but...
1. Music
2. Computers
3. Teaching

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION
1. Vienna
2. British Isles
3. Australia

THREE KID'S NAMES
1. Isabelle
2. Amelia
3. Jason

THREE THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE
1. Visit England and Vienna
2. Get married
3. Play a Stradivarius

THREE WAYS I'M STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL
1. I'm a definite romantic at heart
2. I enjoy being taken care of a.k.a. someone else makes the decisions
3. Roger Hamley makes me swoon :)

THREE WAYS I'M STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY
1. I carry heavy stuff and don't ask for help.
2. I'm taller than all my sisters *shrugs*
3. Why am I answering this question...

Austen Quote

From Jane Austen's Love and Freindship (with original spelling and grammar)

"My beloved Laura (said she to me a few Hours before she died) take warning from my unhapped End and avoid the imprudent conduct which had occasioned it.... Beware of fainting-fits.... Though at the time they may be refreshing and agreable yet beleive me they will in the end, if too often repeated and at imporoper seasons, prove destructive to your Constuitution... My fate will teach you this... I die a Martyr to my greif for the loss of Augustus .. One fatal swoon has cost me my Life... Beware of swoons Dear Laura... A frenzy fit is not one quarter so pernuicious; it is an exercise to the Body and if not too violent, is I dare say conducive to Health in its consequences - Run mad as often as you chuse; but do not faint -"


I know Rebecca and Susie are probably tired of this, but I like it! It stricks me so funny! "Run mad as often as you chuse but do not faint."

Latest Project

So, I've been very busy the last few weeks. Moving, working, school, and before all that I made this:

The homeschool group had a Civil War Day and I promised Joe a uniform. I didn't think that it would take me so long to finish it!! As it was his pants were safety pinned shut and his pants weren't hemmed, but oh well... I'd just have to let them out and re-hem in a few months.... I wasn't able to go to Civil War Day, I had to work. But it sounds like everyone had fun, here are a few more pictures, just for the fun of it.

Susie sewed yellow twill tape on the side of Luke's pants so he would have "army" pants.

I made this dress for Sarah earlier this year. It's from Mrs. Chancey's Girl's Regency Dress Pattern. I love the expression on her face in these pictures.

Annoucement, annoucement!!!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Apparently, I don't exist...

In fact our entire family does not exist...... that's strange... I thought we existed, maybe I should have someone pinch me.... Thankfully, according to this database, some, but not all of our friends exist. So they can vouch for us :)

Kyung Wha Chung plays Bruch violin concerto 1st mov.

This is the latest concerto I'm attmepting to play. When I am done it will sound nothing like this.

Some recent thoughts....

I've been thinking recently. Mom's been doing a lot of 'spring cleaning' at our house. Getting rid of extra clutter and things we don't need or use. I've been meaning to do the same. Get rid of extra stuff I have lying around. I don't really need to drag it all to our new house. Then when David and Kristi were hear this weekend, Kristi mentioned that she had been doing the same thing. *DING!* O.k. I'm paying attention now! So, during church on Sunday there were so many thoughts coming to mind that I had to jot them down. This is what I came up with.

I sit here and think about the fact that I so often tell myself that

"I'm not ready and I don't know what to do about it. I'm too busy."

Too busy doing what??? Concentrating on the things in the carnal, on the natural things that are before me? On the thing on this level that God has given me to do. But yet, my mind is no in the place it needs to be. I find myself asking what happened? What happened to the time when I could pray without ceasing. What happened to waking up each morning with a song on my lips and a prayer in my heart. What happened to me?

Of course I could easily dismiss it as just a step up in the battle. A spiritual war is raging and it gets hotter every day. Dismiss it and go back to doing what God requires of me naturally on a day to day basis. But what about the spiritual requirements? If the battle step up every day, why don't I step it up every day. I can't stay on one level while everything else goes up. Dad just reminded me of Narnia's "Last Battle"

"Further up and further in!"

But I think to myself, I'm too tired to run. What do I do? Where do I turn?

I need to go and do some serious cleaning. Naturally and spiritually. What are my priorities? What I want, or what God desires of me, even if I don't like it. Even if I don't like it. *gulp* yep *swallows* Because if I do it, God's will becomes my will. His desires, my desires. and then when my dreams fade away and He is the dream, I won't be questioning anymore. I won't wonder, worry and stumble around in the dark stubbing my toe on the clutter in my life.

I have a destiny, a purpose, a place in the perfect will of God. Get your priorities straight, clean up and let go of the things in your life that are holding you back and then set your sights on God. Lock your eyes on Him and don't look back. Then your destiny will be fullfilled. And your dreams will not seem unfulfilled and fruitless. They will be God's plan for you and they will be fulfilled and fruitful unto Him.

a little late but none the less

I found new Fiddler pictures!! I know it's been 5 months, but would you please humor me :)

The Papas


The Mamas


The Sons

The Daughters

Yenta the Matchmaker
"Golde,I have such news for you, and not everyday news, but once in a lifetime news!"

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match

I could get stuck for good!

I have more, but this is enough of one post, I'll post more later. Along with my latest sewing project. :)

Annoucement!

I might be getting 3 more students!! If everything works out well, I will have a grand total of 10 students!! My all time goal! Now, I can set a new goal! There is also a possibility that I will be teaching a music class to some younger children I'm still working on it, but it's a possibility. I'm so excited about this. Sometimes, that my one joy, or relaxation/fun time of the day. I love to teach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's definitely a bright spot in this music mess I'm dealing with right now.

Praise the Lord *dances around in circles*

So....

I'm sitting here staring at my computer screen trying to decide what on earth to write about. There must be something going on in my life that is interesting enough to blog...

but alas, my brain comes up a complete ________________________

so... let's see... what have I been doing...

• I finished Joe's uniform in time for the Civil War Day. But I don't think I will get Lydia's skirt done. I feel terrible!!! Bad me, I should stay up all night and finish :)

• I am about ready to throw my hands up in the air and forget this whole music thing all together!!!! It's a good thing I love my students or I would quit! Well,.... that and I know God wants me to play... I actually might be getting a new violin student, which would bring the grand total to 8. This is awesome! I was trying to figure out how to make a little more money. And God just keeps dropping students in my lap, definitely an answer to prayer...

• Don't spent 2 hours in a small bathroom priming wood paneling. It gets VERY hot and tedious!

• When your new violin teacher tells you to practice 4 hours a day. Make sure she actually means it before freaking out! I mean for goodness sake, I have a full time job, 7 students, orchestra, and magazine work on top of life, when I am suppose to practice for 4 hours every day. It's a good thing she didn't mean it...

• Something new I learned! When you shift (on the violin) shift on the half steps its a lot easier.

• Oh and when you are in 2/4 time and counting in 4 a quarter rest gets 2 beats *blushes* I was not quite there in orchestra tonight...

• So, apparently I haven't been doing anything interesting lately.... I slammed my finger between a strawberry bucket and the door to the freezer this afternoon. It fine, it's just a little swollen and I might have a bruise, but it hurt terribly after it happened.

• Oh and I realized that the skin that got burned on my arm earlier this year is actually a little different in color. You can still tell where the blister was, if you know where to look.. It's not bad at all, but it's there.

• Other than that, my room desperately needs to be cleaned and I am very ticked at my hair... maybe I need a trim... Kristi! will you bring your clippers with you this weekend??
  

.....o.k. Katie that was quite a way to ask for a hair cut... Kristi, I think I need a hair cut, if it's not too much to ask could you please bring your clippers?

O.k. so I think maybe I will go to bed, I'm being a little random...

So, good night all!

May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

A little blogger help

After months and months of opening everyone's blog every day to check for updates. I have come up with a wonderful solution!

http://www.feedblitz.com/

Go to this website. Set up a free account. Once you get your account. Go to the subscriptions section and set up a subscription for the blog's you check on a daily basis. Then you can set it up to either set you an email every morning, or a couple times a day, whatever you prefer. The email includes who has updated since the last time Feed Blitz checked and the entirety of that update. From there you can go to the person's blog to comment, etc. It saves time. No, waiting for your goofy (slow!) internet to load. That reminds me, I need to go bug the tech guys and find out whats up with that......

*sigh*

I officially hate TAXES!!!! So much for all those extra hours I put in. They just went bye bye in my taxes..... I hope I get a big tax refund check this year..

My Life Right Now

Well everyone, school offically starts tomorrow. Which means my new schedule looks like this

• Work
• I have my first violin lesson with the new teacher.
• Then I have orchestra audition after that. That's all for Monday, usually I have Symphonietta at night.
• Tuesday I have to work, and
• Then teach from 2:30 until 5 when I go
• Pick Joe up from Cross Country practice.
• Tuesday night, Bible Study.
• Wednesday I have to work, and put away the delivery, a.k.a. rearrange the puzzle we call a freezer.
• After that I have my first Symphonietta rehearsal at 3 and then I
• Teach until 6:15.
• After which time I will come home and NOT do UCO!
• Thursday and Friday I have to work. I think that's all... Grandpa and Grandma might be coming on Friday.
• Saturday I think I am taking Joe to him Cross Country meet in Mt. Horeb after which he will come directly home because
• the football game DQ is sponsoring starts at 2. I think we will be home in time.
• After the game who knows what we are doing...
• Then comes Sunday, and the circle starts all over again.
• Oh, and somewhere in there I need to finish Joe's Civil War Uniform and
• Start Lydia's dress. You see Civil War day is on the 21st.......

What do you think? Oh and I might have new K4K stuff to do in there............... somewhere........

Clarification

I am only back to school the way I have been doing it the last 2 years. Orchestra and violin lessons. I realized that the last post sounded like I was in school full time. I'm at a standstill at UWP because of time conflicts.


Merrill, yes, NJ as in New Jersey. It would be through correspondence or online courses. I don't have to move there. YAY!!!!! I didn't like NJ,....

YAY!!!

As of today, I know officially have 7 violin students!!!! I'm so excited!!!! At the beginning of the year I had 4. Now, under a purely God ordained set of circumstances I have 7! And 2 of those came in the last few weeks. One right after the other! I'm so happy!! This is what I have always wanted to do. Just teach! And now I get to!!!!!!

template problems

I've decided that the template problem that some of you are seeing when viewing my blog must be a default in the the template. It's not doing it on all of the pages, nor all computers. So, you'll just have to bear with me. I will either find a new template or find the fault in the current one. So.... pardon the dust while I remodel :)

Back to the school grindstone.....

So, I'm back to school next Monday. Definitely for this semester depending on what happens I might not be back for the spring semester. I'm also planning on taking some CLEP tests and working on finish my music degree. Hopefully by correspondence. I'm going to contact a college in NJ and see if they will except my credits from UWP. Then I will go from there. Hopefully it won't take me too long to finish. Until then,... off to the old grindstone....

Cross Country

Saturday was Joe's first Cross Country meet. It was totally awesome!!! I really enjoyed myself. If I was still in HS I would definitely join. I can so see myself getting into it. Oh wait, I'm already into it!! I am planning on attending ALL of Joe's meets :)

Just FYI:
- The JV boys placed 4th in the team standings. Not bad for a first meet.
- Our top 5 JV boys were 3rd, 12th, 32nd, 35th, 36th. (out of 72 racers)
- The rest of the groups we didn't have enough members to constitute a team (5 or more team members), they all placed around the middle. I'll keep you updated as the season progresses...

Now, on to Joe (he is in 8th grade so he ran the Junior High race)..

Before the race.

Yes their colors are neon pink and black. I was very proud of the boys for wearing it. The coach wanted them to stick out, they did.... you could spot them in a running pack from access the school yard.

I call this one...

"Baby Suncreen". This is what you do when you foget the suncreen.

And they're off!!!!

Joe's in the pink shirt headed for the front of the group. Poor kid, the boys on both sides took off and he went with them. He didn't realize until too late that he was in 6th place and had started off too fast.

I don't know if you can see him in this picture, (click for larger image) he 's at the very front 3rd or 4th in from the left.

Then his side started hurting (we're working on it) so he fell quite a ways back. His teamates from JV were a great encouragement and he kept up his moral.

As you can see he was still smiling :)

The Home Stretch

After the race. he ended up finishing 32nd.

And just for the fun of it, here is a cute picture of Sarah with her new best friend.

eeek!!!!

I just realized that I have 20 days until Homeschool Civil War Day. That means I have 20 days to make Joe's Uniform and Lydia's dress. Plus school starts next week!!!! Wonder what I'll be doing tomorrow??

So.......

I was looking back over previous posts and I realized. The most comments I've gotten on any post was 9. My average is probably 3. So, just out of curiosity, what makes you comment on some posts and not others??

I know, I know, what's up with Katie, her last 2 post have been questions to her readers. I must be in a contemplative mood or something...

Question

What do you classify as a conversation?

Today Stephanie, Lydia, and I were at Wal-Mart. Stephanie saw someone she knew, they waved to each other and both said hello. Later she told me about it and said that was the end of our conversation. I don't classify that as a conversation. What do you think? What is a conversation, what does it consist of?

Did you know?

If you ever go to Washington D.C. here's a little tid bit you need to know ahead of time.

There is a key to the statues that involve the horses.

If the horse has all four legs on the ground it mean the rider survived the war/battle.
(General George Thomas)


If the horse has three legs on the ground, one leg up that means the rider was wounded during the war/battle.
(John Logan)

If the horse has 2 legs on the ground, 2 legs up it mean the rider died in the war/battle.

(Sorry I couldn't find a picture)

There are of course a few exceptions......

General Andrew Jackson - future president of the United States, lived and was unwounded

Of course there is a lot of speculation as to whether or not this is true.

But hey, if it worked everywhere that would be a great way to learn history.

P.S. Out tour guide said that if there are 3 legs off the ground it means the horse and rider both died ;)

Is Summer over already?

I was outside today changing the banner at work and I noticed a hint of cool autumn air in the wind.

AHH!!!!!! I'm not ready for it to be autumn yet!!!!

Indian summer where are you!

Random Fact

Random fact about me:

I go through toothbrushes like crazy. I probably wear out 8 a year.

Farmer's Market

Almost every Saturday morning mom goes to the local Farmer's Market. And 9 times out of 10 Luke goes with her. They don't get many children at the market, so Luke and Sarah are a real treat to the vendors. Hence they get a lot of attention, and few stuff. Today Luke came home with a pumpkin and a wildflower plant :)

rain, rain, rain

Well... for the last 5 days or we have had torrential rain every night. Thankfully, unlike a lot of towns in our part of the country, we haven't been flooded out.

But, when I went into work this morning. We had 2 inches of water in our basement office! So. I spent most of the morning squeegeeing water towards the drain. Apparently the back flow valve on the sump-pump was broken. So, I was also trying to empty out the sump-pump one 5 gallon bucket full up the stairs at a time. 2 buckets just got to heavy after a while. Thankfully, our plummer came quickly and fixed the sump-pump. So I only had to do cleanup. Rain is fun, and good for the ground and crops and all. But I've had enough for now. And I'm sure the rest of the mid-west would agree. I'm just very thankful that God has protected us from this.

Dress Pictures!!!

So, when we decided to go to NJ for Jenny's wedding, I didn't have anything to wear. So, yes... I made a dress, in less than a week. I finished hemming and put the ribbon on during the car trip. I totally forgot to take pictures of me in the dress. This is the closest we got.

So I pulled it out of the closet today to take pictures. Sorry it's wrinkled. I'm too lazy to iron it just to take the pictures. Besides it'd just get wrinkled when I put it away...

I used this pattern

I thought it turned out really well.

Sarah and her dolly

Sarah had a little doll,
Little doll, little doll.
Sarah had a little doll,

With PJ's white as snow.

Everywhere that Sarah went,

Sarah went, Sarah went.

Everywhere the Sarah went,

Dolly was sure to go.

Stephie bought dolly at the store,

At the store, at the store.

Stephie bought dolly at the store,

For her Sarah Bethie.

Now Sarah is overjoyed,

Is overjoyed, is overjoyed.

Now Sarah B is overjoyed,

That she has a new dolly.

A weekend with friends

I very blessed to be able to spend this last weekend with friends. Rebecca and I drove down to David and Kristi's on Friday night to spend the weekend with them. You see Joanna, my friend of mine from Colorado, whom I haven't seen in 10 years, is in Chicago the month of August. So I called D&K to see if they wouldn't mind some company and if we could go into Chicago and meet up with Joanna. They said sure and we made a weekend out of it! We went into Chicago on Saturday, picked up Joanna and headed around town. Rebecca and I managed to not get any pictures but Kristi posted some on her blog. We walked all over Chicago, probably 6 miles in all. We saw everything from the beach, to Union Station, to a huge aluminium, steel, whatever it was bean. (We didn't take this picture. I found it online)

We got to go to the World's Largest Free Air and Water Show. We saw an F-22, a Stealth Bomber, the Army Paratroopers, and the Thunderbirds among many other things. I quite enjoyed it. I had no idea that planes could be so entertaining!

It rained on and off all day. My favorite part was when we took Joanna back to Union Station and had to run a couple blocks in the pouring rain. Needless to say, we were soaking wet, but Joshua and I were enjoying ourselves.

After dropping Joanna off we went out to eat at a Greek restaurant in Greektown, Chicago. It was called Artropolis. It not only gave us a chance to dry off but the food was wonderful! Thanks Dave!!!!

This is the only picture Rebecca and I took the whole weekend. 2 wet, and happy friends!

All in all I had a wonderful time. Thank God for friends.

a little announcement

So, after much thought, prayer, and debate. I have decided to not try out for the DBQ Symphony. For a variety of reasons.... let's just say that was the peaceable solution.

Also, for those of you who I've talked to about my violin teacher (Ruth) who was wonderful. She won't be back at the U this year teaching. She got a music research job and it won't work with her schedule to teach. So... I'm not sure what will be happening.... I'm very unsure about taking lessons from yet another teacher who I don't know... So.... anyway.... I don't know what is happening there. I would appreciate your prayers that I would know what to do in the situation. Oh, and my recital is probably on hold, until we get this all straightened out. Life in regards to music has been quite interesting and trying the last week or so. So, that's what going on, I just thought I would let you all know.

Les Mis Quiz

I'm Jean Valjean!

(No, really.) Some people may see me as a little sanctimonious, but though I care deeply about doing right, I'm not above a little skulduggery in a good cause. Being in touch with my spiritual side doesn't make me an easy target... on the contrary, in fact. Which Les Miserables Character Are You?

Quote of the Day (Lincoln)

I have been driven many times upon my knees
by the overwhelming conviction
that I had nowhere else to go.
~Abraham Lincoln

- As I was standing in the Lincoln Memorial reading the speeches he gave and thinking about the world today and the world then, and what President Lincoln said, I was reminded of this quote and it really got me thinking about how it is so true and how I really need to get on my knees.

Quote of the Day (Chambers)

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God
whose ways you may not understand at the time."

—Oswald Chambers

I was looking over the quotes I have saved for future quotes of the day, or at this rate, week.... and when I read this one I knew it was the one I wanted to post. I really need to remind myself of this one.. and this was the best picture I could find, sorry..

The picture I promised!

So... these are the pictures of one of the most beautiful things ever!!!! I know some of you could argue with me about that, but just humor me!











One of the 4 original decorated Stradivarius violins!!!!!!!!! Yes, an original!!!!!!

It was beautiful!!!!

Home Sweet Home

O.k. right here and now I am going to make an announcement:

OK, 2 announcements

#1 We are home!!!!

#2 I am a country girl and I LOVE it!
I know without a shadow of a doubt that I do NOT like big cities, nor ever want to live in a big city, they are confusing, ridiculous and totally unpersonal! I would gladly live the rest of my days in a small town. DBQ isn't too big, PV is great. I tell you, being able to turn around when you want, actually knowing where you are going, not being beeped at, and just the peace that goes with living in a small town is totally worth it! I don't care if the shopping is better and there are more opportunities small towns are the way to go!

There, now I will get off my soapbox.

oh, no I haven't forgotten about the beautiful thing I was going to show you all, I just haven't gotten to the picture yet.

Giveaway!!!

Beautiful Womanhood is giving away a $25 Vision Forum gift certificate!

Click here for details

Hello from New Jersey

Ahoy all!!!!!

As of around 9:00 P.M. ET today I am in New Jersey.

Washington D.C. was amazing!!!! We saw the

• National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian)
  
• The National Archives (Totally awesome! we saw, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and one of the four copies of the Magna Charta, it was almost 800 years old!) it you ever go to D.C. you have to go to the Archives.
  
• All the monuments, (Washington, FDR, Jefferson, WW2 (twas beautiful!), the Lincoln Memorial was amazing!!! our best president ever!!! I didn't want to leave!)
• The Capitol
• The White House
• Ford's Theater
• Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard at the top of the Unknown Solider.
• ummm and a bunch of other stuff but I am tired and can't think of anymore right now.
  

We wanted to go to the National American History Museum but it's closed until 2008 for major renovations :( thankfully they had moved 150 of their most popular artifacts to a special display at the Air and Space Museum. So well... I'll tell later when I can actually post a picture but I saw the most beautiful thing!!!!!

So I had lots of fun, but I am definitely tired :)