Dispossessed

I read Dispossessed by LeGuin this week. There is something about the book that keeps rattling around in my head. Has anyone else read it? I borrowed it from the Super Great and Divine Miss Fish, in Iowa City. And I will send it back after Ron has a chance to read it. We tend to read books in shifts, otherwise Ella feels she is not getting enough attention. On our way home Sunday Ron read the book aloud while I was driving. Ella wanted to "borrow" the book and pretended that she was reading it. Well, she "borrowed" it for the rest of the day and refused to let us have it back. Very amusing when we took a driving break to stroll around Mt Horub and Ella had the thing tucked under her arm and her umbrella on her shoulder. I wish I had my camera out. We ignored the behavior and eventually she forgot about it. It was pretty funny, though, to listen to her read it out loud in the back seat. She makes up pretty good stories! Even if the book is upside down.

Daddy Love

Eleanor has been focusing on her Daddy for the past few days. Seems like he's won the golden ticket! I kind of like it because I get to sit down and read a book while his participation is requested to play all the games. It is really quite cute. I know it will only last a day or two, that is usually the course for this behavior, but I do savor it. I just love my little family. Last night it was a pleasant evening so Ron took Ella for a walk. They had a good time and saw a raccoon (and kept their distance!). Ella was so excited.
My new job is going well. One of my duties is to manage the web site, but I do not have access to it yet. It's a bummer because all of our fall events need to be posted before they happen! I am hoping that academic computing can set me up before the end of the week. Here is a link to the site. I know, I know, it's out dated. Give me a little time! There are some nice pics of the space if anyone wants to see where I work. And the old Program Assistant is in there instead of me. I promise to get it done ASAP.
http://www.uwosh.edu/womenscenter/
As for the dining room: I was favoring a pumpkin color before asking for input and I think I am still interested in it. I went to the paint store last month and brought home a bunch of samples, but none of the colors were the same as the one in my imagination. Maybe this weekend I will get out some of Ella's paints and try to create the color that is swimming around in my head. Then I can take my sample to the paint store and find a match. I just get so bogged down when I am there. And the lighting is so different then at home. There has got to be a better way to chose paint.

The "same" game

I went to my meeting and paid my $11 to get on a scale that reported I weigh exactly the same. I am glad I did not gain pounds over trip to Iowa, as I has feared I would. So onward ho! This week I shall avoid the beers and focus on something else. Like romantic relations with my husband? That usually takes my mind off of beer!

Sweet and Sour

Here is what we gave my dad for his birthday. A picture frame with two photos that we titled "Sweet and Sour". The photos were arranged with "sweet" on top:

I think he liked it.

Ella has such a fun time playing dress up and she always puts on little dance shows for us. I am thinking of starting her in a dance class or gymnastics or something. Maybe if we could afford it, that is... The money is too tight right now and I have a feeling that our heating bills are going to be outta control this winter. I also think she would like music lessons. But that is for another day.

I am heading out in a few minutes to my second WW meeting. I really don't know how I did and am curious to see if my beer consumption this weekend has sunk all my efforts from the week as a whole. I am sure it did. I will post again upon my return home. I just wish I didn't have to pay $11 to go stand on a scale.... But the thing about WW that I feel "works" for so many people is the accountability. I am more likely to follow the rules when I know I have to check in with the group. So until I really get the hang of this thing I will show up there every Tuesday and hope I made some progress.

Oh geez... I moved those pictures around on my page and now I have TWO of each. Does anyone know how to delete a picture from blogger? This is the second time this has happened and the last time I just decided to scrap the whole entry. Bullocks!

Another Monday

We had a pretty good weekend. My dad had his birthday and Ella had fun helping to decorate the cake. Her friend Henry came to grandpas party, too, and the two of them ran around and played all day long. It was amazing that there were ZERO confrontations. Just good times. We also spent time chilling with Jenny and Dale. I had too much beer and felt yucky most of Sunday morning. It reminded me of my age and that it's probably not such a great idea to party like a twenty one year old ever again. But all in all it was a fun trip. My parents house is kind of non-traditional and not very child friendly, but fun to explore. I am hoping that our next visit wont involve a mud swamp where the driveway is supposed to be. I only took one picture the whole weekend and it was right as we were packing up to leave. I keep trying to post it but for some reason blogger does not want me to. So that's it for today. Happy Birthday Dad! Your the best.

Dining Room

My next big project for the house is going to be the Dining Room! I need some advice, though, because I can't decide on a color for the walls. I want something bold, but not too dark, and no faux finishes unless it's a texture thing. And no "Country Chic". Here is a panorama of the room. It is pretty big, 11'x14', but is so overpowered by the awful "blue with pink flowers" wallpaper! It has very pretty woodwork along with a built in window seat and hutch w/mirror that Ella likes to use as her "special" work space.

So any one who has ideas of how to bring out the beauty of this room please comment! If I use your suggestions you will win a free weekend at Chez Hardy! This includes room and board plus fine company! No room service, BYOB.

(All the clutter and the rocking chair are only in the room because of my disorganization. They are not intended as permanent fixtures. Any suggestions on how to remove the offending wall paper are welcome)

Hump Day

It has been a busy week. Thankfully we do not have anything planned for tonight, but tomorrow we are going out for dinner with Debra Davis, transgender Librarian, who is speaking at the University. It should be fun and informative. On Friday we head off to I.C. to visit family for my Pop's birthday. I am looking forward to seeing the new house.
I have been slowly working away at the back stairs project and have some pics. Here it is midway through covering the crumbling green plaster with nice Oak Bead Board:

Here is what it looks like now from the bottom step:

And from the top step:

Progress! I still have to patch and sand and paint the upper walls and stairs, plus finish painting the lower trim. And we have hopes to replace the windows someday, but there are sixteen of those little suckers and we don't have that much money right now.

Time and Money...

-A

How to insert a picture?

Today I am posting a picture. I took it this morning of my lovely daughter. She is such a wonderful girl and the light of my life. Yes indeed.


And here is one from December 2004 (with goggles). So know I will test this out and see if it really was as easy as it seemed.
Well, yes, this is soooooo simple! I just love Blogger! I could not post pictures very well at my last blog home. This was easy enough for me to post just one more. One of my very favorites:

This is from April of 2003. She's just the sweetest thing EVER!

Well, on to news of my world. I am going to my first ever WW meeting this morning at 9:30 and am not nervous, or anything, but a little apprehensive. I wonder how much this is going to cost and if it will be worth it. The meeting itself is $11.00, but I need to get two books. Maybe if I just get the titles from them I can find them on line for much less? I sure hope so. We have no money at all.

I started my new job yesterday and I think I am going to like it there. I will have more to say about it after the week is up and I have a better feel of how things are going to be.

-A

The Test

I've just decided to join the blogger world. I tried the "other" blogs and since all my compadres moved over here, well, I guess I'll join them. I am most looking forward to posting pics of the family for everyone to see. Hopefully this format works well for me. Or I could just go back to being a "reader only". A