This is Peter Salett, a guy I knew in middle school

Busy Saturday

After a crisis at school this week, I didn't think my piece would make it to Breaking Traditions. There just wasn't a day I could leave early enough to get to the post office. Luckily, Lynn Krawcyzk, who curates (and everything else) the show, allowed me to mail it today. So the little people and I got to the post office at 8:30 this morning when it opened. A Tree Grows in... is safely on its way to Michigan. This is the fourth time I have had a piece in a show, and I am thinking I should try to make something for a juried show next. I am still thinking on that.

After the post office, I realized I needed a file off my computer at school to write a test this weekend. So we drove over to school because usually someone is there on Saturday mornings. Well, someone had a flat tire, so the school was locked. No file for me this weekend. That will teach me to put EVERYTHING on my jump drive.

Next, we made a quick trip to the Target. I decided to go to the one by school in case the flat tire got fixed and I could get into the building after all. Well, that is the last time I go to that Target. I live in an affluent area, but my school is on a totally different economic plane. It makes a huge difference in what Target stocks, the attitude of the employees and security, and just the general cleanliness of the store. It was kind of sad.

The flat tire still wasn't fixed, so I headed back towards this side of town. I wanted to pick up some goggles for a college freshman that I know who needs a good care package. I know which ones she uses, and I know they carry them at a local swim store. (These goggles are a little beyond what Target carries.) The swim store was supposed to open at 10. It was almost 11 when I got there, and it was closed. So no goggles this weekend.

Then I had to go to four different stores before I could find something that Dave had requested. The crappy Target didn't have it. The nice Target didn't have it. Publix and Walgreens didn't have it. Finally, I found it in Rite Aid. And I bought every one that they had. (I am hoping by typing this, in a couple of months when I need to find the item again, I can remember I found it at Rite Aid.)

By then, the little people were hungry, although they were not whiney. The second part may have had something to do with the toys they got at the crappy Target. So we made a quick trip through the McDonald's drive through. The two split a Happy Meal, with Sam eating the chicken nuggets and gluten-free Amy having the fries. We add fruit and yogurt at home, and they are both happy, although they are beginning to argue over the toy. (Which will wind up in the trash by the end of the day.)

So now, it is not even 1:00, and we are back home from our somewhat successful morning. Dave and the big kids are at soccer practice. The littles will go down for a nap soon, and I am going to go play in the studio. I want to do some more dimensional work.

A Mid-Week Post

That probably doesn't need a hyphen, does it Kory?

It is another crazy week here. I was at school until almost 9 last night for Open House. This event is when the parents come to school in the evening to meet their kids' teachers. I attended the two for my boys last week.

I have been thinking lately how much my kids are growing up. My oldest is in eighth grade. Some days I wonder where the past 13 years have gone. Other days, I think I can feel every second of it. Sam is almost two. Sam and Alex are 12 years apart in school years, so when Alex is a senior in high school, Sam will be in kindergarten. We have quite the spread. (And we get asked if we are Catholic a lot. We are not. We just cannot get pregnant when we want to, and cannot not get pregnant when we don't want to.) Amy is growing up quickly. She wears a lot of her cousins' hand-me-down clothes. She had on a dress today that was my niece's. My niece is not a freshman in high school. Ed is one of those kids who is brilliant, a great athlete, and most things just come easy to him. And if it doesn't come easy to him, he can be very persistent.

Other random thoughts... I just finished Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I am glad she is wrote a sequel, which will come out next year. I really was never single as a grown-up. I married Dave when I was 22 and had Alex at 25. When I read about some of the things single people get to do, I get a little envious. But, I love Dave and love my kids, so I am where I want to be. However, I really want to go to Italy. (Except when I remember Rian's experience.) Someday, I will. Maybe. But for now, a relaxing couple of weeks at the beach condo is what I really love to do on vacation.

Have I mentioned how much I love teaching AP Calculus? I really love teaching AP Calculus.

Well, that is all. I have many other random thoughts. Some I am not allowed to share. One that I can share is that I want a chicken biscuit for breakfast tomorrow, so I may have to go to Chick-fil-a on my way to school. Another is that the Fresh Produce store in the Avenue in East Cobb gives teachers a 20% discount every day. I saved $27 this weekend. So my sister-in-law got a better present and I got a new Vera Bradley Puccini backpack and key/cellphone case. I want to be a cross of Sharon, Rian, Rebecca, and Debra when I grow up. And Margaret, but she doesn't have a blog!

Time to put some little people to bed.

The plans for this week

Well, food plans fell apart a little last week. With Dave going out of town, soccer practice starting, and two PTA/Back to School meetings, life got a little hectic. So this week, I concentrated on crock pot type meals for the week. Oh, and one day of gluten free mac and cheese.

Dinner Plans:
Sunday--Los Arcos for SIL's birthday
Monday--Chicken and mushrooms in the crock pot
Tuesday--Mac and Cheese
Wednesday--Ribs in the crock pot
Thursday--Turkey and black bean chili in the crock pot
Friday--Baked chicken (maybe for a salad)

To accomplish:
Birthday present for A
Mail A Tree Grows In... piece
Pick up art from Margaret
Get UTEE pot (maybe, but really, I loved making those beads...)
Some sort of art
Tuesday--PTA at OHS (yes, I am a member of 3 PTA's and 1 PTO), A soccer practice
Wednesday--Tennis Meeting
Thursday--E soccer practice

A Tree Grows in...

Here is the piece I just finished for the Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. The show is September 26-28 at the Rock Financial Center. Last year, Family Values: Nursing Mom was in the show. This year, the show is a little different. All the pieces will be the same size and hung next to each other to create the illusion of one giant quilt. Pretty cool. And, the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society in conjunction with Fiber Art for a Cause.


Here is a silk ribbon butterfly.

A silk ribbon flower and a leaf turning colors.
More silk ribbon flowers.

The silk ribbon came from Nicholas Kniel's shop, always an exciting and pleasant adventure. The flowers are in his book, which is to die for. It has directions for all sorts of incredible ribbon flowers. The trunk is a bunch of different kinds of yarn couched to the background of hand-dyed blue fabric.

Now if I can figure out how to ship it without the flowers being crushed.

The theme this year is Celebrating Care Givers. Trees provide many of the same things care givers do. They provide shelter, life giving oxygen, shade, fruit, and beauty. The one turning leaf represents all of the care givers who give all of themselves. So many care givers give so much, that they neglect their own needs. The butterfly represents hospice. Well, I am still working on the artist statement.

And here is a picture of Amy.

The Second Week of School Plans

Dinner:
Sunday: Salmon on the grill, salad
Monday: Barbecue beef in the crock pot
Tuesday: Pick up Wendy's on the way home
Wednesday: Grilled chicken salad
Thursday: Baked Ziti
Friday: Eat out
Saturday: Baked chicken

To Accomplish:
Monday: At school early to watch first GT class, EK dentist
Tuesday: HTMS PTA meeting and Open House, DK NC
Thursday: EK Soccer, TES PTA meeting and Open House

A little bit of nothing

So I was back at work all week. I really like teaching high school math, but I also loved being home all the time, but I really love saving money for college tuitions and retirement, but getting six people out of the house in the mornings is hard, but... Well, I could go on forever. It is what it is.

I have been walking 5-6 days a week. It feels really great. I have dropped about 10 lbs in the last month. I am also doing the 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise. It is quick, easy, and a good work out. I definitely see the difference.

With my daughter having celiac disease and my oldest having high cholesterol, we have really had to change how we eat. Having a plan for the week is helping there. Part of the problem is that Alex cannot lose any weight. Most people, when they lower their cholesterol, also need to lose weight. If anything, Alex could afford to gain a few pounds. We are working at it. Reading the chapter in the You the Owners Manual was very helpful to both of us. When we went shopping for lunches today, he picked out turkey hot dogs, Sun Chips, and low fat yogurt. I was proud of him for being able to do that.

School starts tomorrow. I better pack back packs and lunches. Have a great week!

Next Week's Plan

Well, this week went pretty well. I got all of the reading done, and none of the sewing or yard work. Oh well.

Dinner plans:
Sunday: Baked chicken, potatoes on the grill, apple slices
Monday: Crockpot turkey chili
Tuesday: Fresh tomato spaghetti
Wednesday: Salmon, salad
Thursday: Chicken Salad
Friday: Grilled chicken salad
Saturday: Turkey burgers

To Accomplish:
Finish Tree Wall Hanging
Mail Tree Wall Hanging to Breaking Traditions
Frame bird picture
Attend FAF
All kids and mom have a successful first week of school

Planning this week

Dinners
Sunday--turkey burgers, grilled potatoes, salad
Monday--fresh tomatoes on spaghetti
Tuesday--grilled chicken salad
Wednesday--grilled salmon, green beans, baked potatoes
Thursday--turkey chili in the crock pot, frozen veggies, salad
Friday--fruit, cheese, crackers, salad
Saturday--tuna salad over mixed greens

Things to accomplish

• ribbon flowers for tree
• read 1st chapter of Elegant Universe
• finish The Mysterious Benedict Society
• read first chapter of You the Owners Manual and discuss with Alex
  
• first lesson in Latin
  
• get one beaded jewelry book and supplies to make a project
• get bird picture framed
• weed bed at end of driveway

Tomorrow is the day

I go back to work tomorrow. I had so much fun being home this summer. We played. We learned. We went to the beach. We did some art. We spent a lot of time in doctors' offices and waiting for test results. We are still waiting for some test results. We also got organized so that this school year should go more smoothly.

This week, Dave is home with the kids while I go to pre-planning. This semester, I am only teaching one new class, AP Calculus AB, and I have a lot of help with that one. I am also teaching geometry, but I did that last semester and feel pretty good about it. I have made some changes in how I will teach it based on last semester's results.

I am going to try to keep up with my art and my blog this year. I missed doing art last year, and I think my life suffered a bit because of it. My art plans include:

• Finishing my tree piece for Breaking Traditions
• Learning to make beaded jewelry
• Making fiber books
• Doing an exploration of 3-D fiber art to prepare for next year's Fiber Art Fusion show.

I have the kids' afterschooling plans made out.

Alex

• Latina Christiana I
• You The Owners Manual by Dr. Oz and Dr. Rosien
  
• History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
• Classical Writing Aesop using the older beginner's workbook

Ed

• Prima Latina
• Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer and supplemental books
• Classical Writing Aesop and the workbook
• Copywork based on Barak Obama speeches

Amy

• Get Ready for the Code
• Counting lots of stuff

Sam just gets lots of hugs and stories read to him.

I will try not to fall off the face of the earth again. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go into this next school year.