books

I just got back from the used bookstore down the street. I love that it is located in the old Ballard library building.

A few weeks ago I asked my students to give me the title of their favorite book because I know nothing of children's literature these days. Today, I bought three titles: The Sisters Grimm, The Report Card, and yes, I caved and bought the first Harry Potter. Sigh. The sacrifices I make for these kids!

Last week a student asked me to help her find a book. She wanted either a drama or a comedy. I offered her Julie of the Wolves and Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Thankfully she accepted the latter. I was really at a loss as to what to suggest! Thus, I have made a pledge to myself and my future students to keep my finger on the pulse of what they are reading in order to make good suggestions.

Here are two books I just read for the first time: (these two were recommended by my host teacher, not students)



Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on a true story. If you don't already know, I LOVE historical fiction. Karana and her people live on an island in the Pacific. She finds herself alone on the island and lives there for 18 years with only the animals to keep her company. It's an amazing story of triumph and survival.
Bridge to Terabithia is a beautiful story about two friends. If it doesn't at least make you well up in the eyes, you are souless. ; )

busy weekend

I really want to sew, but before I can I need to clean my room. Roommate is out of town so I cleaned the living room to perfection. Even rearranged. I wish I had done this before Kat came. I would have been far less embarrassed of our Apt. I also got on my hands and knees and scrubbed out the stains everywhere on the carpet.

So now I'm cleaning my bedroom. Hoping for the same dramatic change. It's a little harder because my bedroom has to be my sleeping and dressing quarters, my office, my sewing/craft room and my piano room.

I'm about to box up my books that I love and want to keep, but haven't had time to use in the past year or two. That'll free up a lot of space for my school books that I AM currently using. Hopefully, when I'm a teacher those books will find their way to my classroom and get out of my hair here.

well, back to the grind!

Debbie Harry goes plaid!

list of things that make me happy

I need to write this down so that when I get stressed out I can return to it and remember it's not all about school and work.

1. my nephews
2. dancing
3. sewing
4. painting? still experimenting
5. music
6. reading for leisure
7. quiet hikes and birds

May come back to add to this.

Frida with Rose Window

I love the color I get from gouache but it doesn't hold its shape very well with a stencil. Still, I'm in love with this painting.

sad

I just learned that my friend's two month old died last night. Beautiful little girl. They put her to bed at 6:30 and when they went to check on her at 9 she was cold.

Another friend is experiencing trouble with her pregnancy.

These are two people who absolutely do not deserve this kind of pain. They do everything right and are so loving.

Please help me send warm thoughts to both families.

The King?

On the excitement of my success with Audrey, I tried my hand at Elvis. Unfortunately, I did not wait until my paintbrush was dry to stencil him. It now kind of looks like he has a bloody nose. Too excited to wait to post so here he is with his imperfections.

Sweet!

I can't wait to show you what I did with that stencil! But they are drying right now. And I can't find my camera. I'll be back with pictures soon. So awesome!
*******************************************************************
Here it is, with stripe distortion and wrong sized pillow stuffed in there! but awesome just the same!

omg, i'm so excited by this!

Look at the stencil I made tonight!

Need not wonder any longer

Have you ever wondered to yourself, "gee, I wonder what November Foxtrot would have looked like in 1966, or 1978 even!" Well you needn't wonder any longer for the answer is HERE!



I'm thinking about rocking the 'fro for a while....

what? no school?

What do you do when you don't have class or homework? You go to the library! I finished a book I borrowed from my boss, read a new novel and started another one all in one weekend.

I also sewed a pencil pouch, for my cool new pens for the coming year, on my new sewing machine! It even has an embroidered 'N' on it! fancy!

Next week is the first day of school for my student teaching....yikes!

Summer quarter DONE!

I can't even explain how hard this quarter was. I don't think it was necessarily the classes themselves, but just going to school in the summer. The last few days have been grey and raining which has actually motivated me to go to class. Today, however, I came straight home after work, I'm watching Oprah and I haven't a care in the world! I even turned in my math final last night and found out today I got 60/60!

Two more quarters of classes followed by student teaching and then I"m DONE!

ooh it's so smooth!

My new machine came today! It sews like butter! I just want to play but I have papers and projects due this week! arggg!

spending money

I just bought my sewing machine, again! Paypal gave me some of the money I lost from the ebay purchase I made that was never sent. This time I bought my machine through Overstock.com. It's refurbished which makes me happy and sad at the same time. I like that I"m not buying something new, but I'm worried that it won't work correctly. I'm pretty sure I get the brother 25 year warranty with it anyway though.

So here it is!

completely worth watching!

I love Neil Patrick Harris!

auntie was busy

I like making things for my nephews. These three t shirts were for Alex and the burp rags were for Zach.

summer bike tally

So, I tried to remember as best as I could, but I entered in my commuting miles into Cascadia Bicycle Club's Summer Bike League database and my current total is 100.0 miles! This summer I have burned roughly 3,333 calories (almost a pound of fat!), and saved about $56.00 by not driving my car (I'm not sure how they come up with this number).

I haven't mentioned that I have not been riding my bike to class. Since my schedule changed and I do not leave work until 4:00 I do not get home until 4:30. I tried to come home, grab some food, get my school things and take off again. I got about a mile from home and really felt like if I continued I would throw up. I turned around and went home. It was just too much.

crafts!

I'm pretty proud of this blanket. It took forever so it did not turn out very large but it's just big enough to warm up my new baby nephew in his car seat.

nudibranch color palettes

So, my favorite animal is the nudibranch. Go to this blog and find out why! Also find nudibranch color palettes included!

over heard

Over heard this at Target, "We don't need a god damned fucking stroller!"

I'm sure you're wondering to whom this lovely woman was talking. Her 9, at the oldest, year old daughter.