Daybook, August 23, 2009

outside my window: Still dark and cool.

I am thinking.....I'm really feeling old this week. I had a bout of some sort of stomach ailment, then my knee went out ( yes, all in the same week) I met a new lady at a homeschool gathering and she was 10 years younger than me. Well, that is nothing new, but then it dawned on me that I am now the oldest of most women I meet in the homeschooling world these days. Lots older.

I am thankful . . my gimpy knee gets better every day, although it seems to do so ONLY if I keep it propped up on a pillow for several hours each day, which is difficult at best. But, I guess you have to deal with what is, not what you wish it could be :) Makes you appreciate the simple things in life like, er...walking! :)

From the schoolroom. . .school bins out and somewhat organized. The dining room table and living room are a maze of books, bins, papers and other such educational messes.

From the kitchen ...I think I made dinner ONCE the whole of last week. It felt strange. Dyl made some unbelievable fettuccine Alfredo on Saturday, though. :)

I am wearing . ...black track capri's and a blue knit hoodie.

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

Return of the Native Thomas Hardy

The Nature of Water and Air ( which I am about to give up on....interesting story, but the usual worldliness inserted in for shock value, I guess.)

reading:

Clover: Henry Adams wife. I gave up on listening to "The Education of Henry Adams" There was too much in there to read over and ponder, not easily done while listening. So, I found a book about his wife, which includes him, of course. Very interesting, so far. I need to find a hard copy of TEofHA.

Watched:

Brideshead Revisited ( the 2008 movie) I saw this at the library and decided to give it a try, although I couldn't imagine that any movie made in 2008 could really explore the spiritual themes in the book that would do them any justice. It's just not politically correct these days, you know. However, I was somewhat suprised that is wasn't the hatchet job I thought it might be. I think anyone unfamiliar with the book could be left scratching their heads at certain things because they weren't adequately explained, but I thought the acting was well done and the cinemetography, gorgeous!

Brideshead Revisited ( 1981 miniseries)
This one is pretty much completely true to the book so far. Marvelously well done.

I am hearing . ...silence.

Around the house. ...ugh. scuzziness abounds when mom is not on top of her game. well, it sometimes does even when she is but at least this time I have an excuse :)

One of my favorite things. ..a little bit of fall in the air :)

What will we do this week. ...family camping trip this weekend, other than that it's the usual soccer practices, teen get-togethers, organzing for the start of school, which is two weeks from tomorrow, I might add!

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ....a get-together with our nephew Matt!

Daybook, August 16th 2009

"She was dressed extravagantly and gaudily, as I would expect a Catholic to be!" Innocent Traitor, Alison Weir. L.O.L !

outside my window:

cooler and sunny. yay!

I am thinking.....

I am thankful .....

our Nicaragua boy returned safe and sound and very upbeat about his time there.

From the schoolroom. ....

well, we got the basement mostly cleaned and looking school-ish. Now it is time to tackle the books!

From the kitchen ...

pretty much too warm to cook anything exciting this week. I did make some chicken/lemon/rice soup, which Jed actually liked and wanted more of, so I feel like it was a score! ;)

I am wearing . ..

beige capri's, orange scoop neck t-shirt, orange bangle and hoops. I certainly am colorful lately!

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

Innocent Traitor, Alison Weir: which was a historical novel about Lady Jane Grey. I thought it was pretty well done, even though I generally don't like historical novels. Usually the *REAL* story is gripping enough.

Return of the Native: Thomas Hardy

reading:

Clover: Henry Adams wife. I gave up on listening to "The Education of Henry Adams" There was too much in there to read over and ponder, not easily done while listening. So, I found a book about his wife, which includes him, of course. Very interesting, so far. I need to find a hard copy of TEofHA.

Watched:

I actually WENT to a theater and saw a movie: Julie/Julia. It was very cute and a nice story, but ( and you knew this was coming) why oh why must some sort of crassness and a jib at republicans be in EVERY modern made movie? What does s-e-x have to do with Julia Child??? Can we have a movie without s-e-x inserted into it? Just askin'?

I am hearing ....general chatter interspersed by silence. Dylan playing the guitar.

Around the house. ...basement cleaned and general organizing. Still need to work on backyard/frontyard and shed. And of course school, which takes precedent, at this point. :)

One of my favorite things. ..camping

What will we do this week. ...Naomi had a day out at the mall with friends on Monday. Tuesday, I had a night out :) at the movies with friends, Wed. cousin Matt Vrazo comes into town, so some visits with him today and tomorrow. Friday, Metro with some pals and Sunday, a Redeemer Reunion. Jax and George started soccer, looks like Dyl will assistant coach their team. Naomi continues on with her team after a lackluster tournament this past weekend. Why does soccer season have to start when school does? May I ask who came up with that plan? ;)

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ...Peek-a-boo!
I really don't know how those *squares* got in here. Naomi, help! :)

Camping

We did a little impromtu camping trip this past week. We WERE going to stay for 2 nights, but since Naomi and I didn't get much sleep the first night, we decided to cut out early. Still, we overall had a lovely time with super weather and a beautiful lake!
Sissy in her normal state of being these days. Oh, the angst of the teenage years! :)










Well, another thing I gave up on was cooking, but the kids didn't mind a little lunch at Golden Corral ;)
Some pooped out campers on the way home!

Fun in the sun!

At Metro

Neana and Gabby-ella ( I don't know why pictures won't rotate for me!)
nutty boys!
waiting for a blast
shiver!

Finally.......Graduation Party!

Dyl, after being dumped in the pond...
BOYS!

!st dunking....
the man of the hour and Al
everyone was enamored with Anne's keds.
King of the hill!
Andrew pondering the meaning of life

gearing up for a soccer game


I put these on to get a feel for the set up. Nita and Joe let us use their awesome tents...in front of the shelter.

Apparently, Sissy had these on her card. :)

Daybook, August 9th, 2009

The "Joe Vrazo" clan, sans Lisa, London and Graham. Sniff! ( hmmm, I don't see Jay in there, either :) Off partying!)



outside my window: I might think I was in Florida except there are no palm trees. :) Steamy and hot.

I am thinking......about Dyl. He's probably landed in Nicaragua by now. He seemed a bit subdued and nervous yesterday. Of course, a mother hates to see her child nervous :) We watched "Knowing" the night before which was a silly choice ( lots of air disasters :( But once Andrew showed up with his buoyant self....he seemed to perk up and off he went, his usual happy-go-lucky self.

I am thankful . ..the graduation party was NOT today! Phew! We had almost perfect weather, except a little windy, which ruined my decorations :( :)

From the schoolroom. . .time to start thinking and planning. NOW! ( well, maybe it can wait another week ;)

From the kitchen ...stuffed cubanelle peppers yesterday. I think I like those better than stuffed green peppers. Blueberry pie, strawberry pie, blueberry buckle, crab corn chowder, beef burgandy. All this was made today and yesterday. I think I needed a distraction from Dyl's departure ;)

I am wearing . .plum and cream print skirt, plum t-shirt and plum flip flops. I am feeling purple....

which reminds me of my Aunt Lydia's favorite poem, "When I am old I will wear purple". I guess it has come to that. :)

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh This was strange, humorous, interesting and profound all at the same time. Loved it!

Emma Blau's Vision: This one had potential as a good story, but it had so much *modern* dumbness inserted in it. Homosexuality, adultery, the token priest who disavows his vows and becomes involved with a woman, on and on......

it all seemed so "INSERTED" instead of relavant to the tale. I'm not quite sure why I even continued listening to it after the first five chapters. As I said, it was an interesting tale of a German immigrants life in turn of the century ( and beyond) America, so I guess that kept me going but Ididn't end up finishing it out of chagrain.

What is funny, is that Brideshead Revisited had pretty much all the same things in it ( although presented in a much more subdued manner...and no errant priest...I guess that subject was still sacred back when it was written :) but it WAS there to show how man can be redeemed even from the most troubling parts of human nature. Emma Blau celebrated them. I guess that was the difference.

It was also read by the author who was German and she read it in such a strange way. I'm not sure I can describe what is was that annoyed me about it, but it did. ( and had nothing to do, I think, with her Germaness :)

reading:

Clover: Henry Adams wife. I gave up on listening to "The Education of Henry Adams" There was too much in there to read over and ponder, not easily done while listening. So, I found a book about his wife, which includes him, of course. Very interesting, so far. I need to find a hard copy of TEofHA.

Watched:

Knowing: I never will understand what people see in Nicholas Cage. This one had potential as an interesting story but it seemed to fall apart at the end and disintegrate into silliness.

Emma ( Masterpiece Theatre version with Kate Bleckett) I liked this one better than the Gweneth Paltrow one. How's that for a review!?!? ;)

I am hearing . ...Tiger game.....

Around the house. ...bulk of the week was spent packing and organizing things from the party. It almost felt like an after Christmas pack up by Saturday! Argh!

One of my favorite things. ...a misty walk at Metro/

What will we do this week. ...we were planning on camping Tue/Wed/Thur....but a phone call saying Dad is in the Er has put that on hold until we see how he is doing.

After that, it's time to start fall planning!

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ....a few graduation party pictures. We did't get many....too busy, I guess :)

Summer snapshots

I lost a tooth!

Chillin in the backyard ( me trying to listen to a book on cd, my new obsession! :)




Gabriella and Manny eating breakfast on the stairs because Manny is afraid of the new kitten :)

A treasure found at the thrift store.....ballerina outfit for G.
Our ninth son, AMill :)

Picnic!