Poms

I love this new picture of Cara from Poms. Check out those feet (all of the years en pointe in ballet). I must admit, I never knew what "poms" were until we moved to the east coast. Here is a brief Pom Primer: (Much of this I learned the hard way....)
*Most importantly, poms are NOT cheerleaders and they do not cheer (even if they look like they are)!
*Poms perform at athletic events (football and basketball) usually during pregame, half-time and at pep rallies.
*Their official name is actually Pom Pons (note the "n" - that is correct).
*Pom squads have their own competitions (invitationals and county/state wide competitions).
*Poms are a sport (I've always wondered about calling it a sport when what they do is set to music)!
*Poms are definitely athletes.
*We love our Pom!

Morning Routines

One of my favorite morning routines after everyone is on their way to work/school is to sit down with The Washington Post. I read through the entire paper (I just peruse Sports and Business unless a headline catches my eye) and then I grab a pen and work on the crossword puzzle(s). There are actually two puzzles on T, W and Th! I tell myself that I'm not just "doing" the crossword puzzle - I'm actually staving off Alzheimers (read the research). So in reality I'm not wasting time - I'm actually exercising. I'm compulsive enough about finishing that I've been known to "google", looking for an answer to an obscure clue, I've been seen picking up our copy of the NY Times Atlas to look something up, I've even called Craig at work for help with an arcane geography clue. I almost always finish - it is a great way to start my day! How do you like to start your day?

NHS

Well, here is the poorly taken but obligatory picture of Cara crossing the stage at the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony - (double-click to make it larger) that really is her! The picture with her NHS advisor turned out much better. Their NHS chapter has always had great service opportunities. I'm sure Alicia still has fond memories of tutoring at a local community center. I'm sure Cara will enjoy her involvement as well. In spite of the large number of inductees, the ceremony moved along and was very nice - it was followed by Costco "gotta love that frosting " cake in the cafeteria (really can anything beat that?)! Way to go Cara!

Mondays...

Mondays seem to be catch-up days for us as we try to recover from the weekend! I'll be busy working through the "to-do" list today but thought I would post a quick picture of Cara from Homecoming - you'll have to ask her for the details. The words I heard repeated most often were fun and hott - and yes I think it has two t's. In addition to everything else Cara has going on in her busy life - she is being inducted into the National Honor Society at her HS tomorrow night! I must admit, Cara is somewhat hard to describe. She has so many eclectic ideas, interests and opinions, but however you describe her, suffice it to say she is a delight! Note the uniquely Cara french manicure.

Week at a Glance

Thought I would post a few of the highlights of our week.
* Mini-Concert - we were thrilled to hear Emily singing with CCW. After only a few weeks of rehearsal they sang amazing music in French, Latin, Hebrew and of course English. We can't wait for the first "real" concert in December.
* Successful Homecoming dress shopping trip. After striking out completely at Nordstrom's and Macy's Cara found the perfect dress at Forever 21. Alicia we REALLY missed you this week - you've become a much better style consultant than I!
* Craig's biggest deadline of the year will soon be over. I think it will be a 100+ hour week. I think the only time he has slept has been on the Metro. Hopefully he can recuperate next week!? (haha he replies)
* On the knitting front, I've finished knitting my Pink Christmas gift - it still needs to be felted ... pictures to follow. I'm having fun knitting 2 tea sets for my two youngest nieces.
* High school Homecoming festivities have ruled the week. Go RHS! Pep Rally today, game tonight, dance tomorrow...
Note: "Highlights" somehow fit into and become a part of our real life! Including, numerous carpools/driving, middle school volunteering, driving practice (in the car not golfing) with Cara, ballet, poms, tap, jazz, homework, laundry, lunches, Montgomery College, housecleaning(?), bill paying, church responsibilities, talking on the phone, the loves, the laughs, etc., etc - all of the things that are part of "It's a Wonderful Life" (the picture is a little blurry - the sign hangs in my kitchen and it is a wonderful reminder!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday wishes to Dad (aka G'pa Byron). I'm not even sure where to start - there is so much to say I can't even begin to make a list: all of the fun things we've done together (star gazing, soap making, antique auctions, singing, laughing), the great places we have been (California trips, National Parks, Europe, John Campbell Folk School), the amazing things I have learned from you (how to tell a joke, geocaching, how to make "you can fill in the blank with just about anything", how to live your testimony) and so much more. The most important thing to me (on what could possibly become an endless list) however, is the way that my dad has always known how to instill in me a knowledge/understanding that I am valued just for being me - not based on my accomplishments, my talents or abilities (things that are sometimes in short supply) but just because I'm me. I like knowing that a part of my being me is because of you! I can't think of a better thing to have learned from a father. Thanks Dad for everything, we love you! (I borrowed the picture from Elisa - perhaps it says it all!)

Waiting in Line...

While waiting in line(s) at the National Book Festival (see below) I worked on a pair of socks (it almost felt treasonous to be knitting rather than reading... but hey, I've always been a little rebellious). The only problem with knitting socks is that you have to knit two - I'm pleased to report that the second sock is almost finished. I love the colors - they remind me of autumn (my favorite season - note the rug under the socks)! Also the long awaited handles for the purse, modeled by the ever-smiling Emily (finally something to put on the "completed" list - the purse not Emily)!

We had a great time at the National Book Festival held on the Mall in DC. We heard several authors that Emily was interested in and even got a few autographs Tony Diterlizzi (writer/illustrator - Spiderwick Chronicles, etc.), Louis Sachar (Holes, etc.), Andrew Clements (Frindle, etc.). It was our first time to attend the festival and we learned a few things for next year. A personal highlight was meeting Alexandra Stoddard I can't really describe the experience except to say that there is something amazing about her. You actually physically sense that she lives what she writes and that she is truly her authentic self. I'm not one to gush but it was amazing and inspiring - I wish Mom and Cristin could have been there with me. A special thanks to Craig who became the master at holding places in line and knowing when and where to be in order to see and do all that we planned.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday wishes to Craig - my sweetheart for 26+ years (married for just over 23). He truly is my better half and together we make quite a whole! There is so much I could say about him but I don't want him to blush! It is enough to say that he truly is the love of my life.

Finally...I've been having trouble uploading pictures. Here are two that Alicia sent to me. With regard to orientation/view/etc - she said that after awhile all of the pictures started looking like dirt and trees to her! In one picture you can see that they have cleared the lot and you can see a few of the stakes. If the structure of the house is based on the stakes that are visible, I'm guessing the house has been downsized without anyone telling me :)

Heaven on Earth

Craig and Alicia were able to check out the progress of our vacation home near Zion's National Park over the weekend. It isn't a "home" yet, still just a lot, but we are getting excited and the work has begun. The lot has been cleared and staked - I think the foundation is being dug today. I'm not exactly sure of the orientation of the pictures. We are fortunate to have a lot of trees on the lot and because of the shape of the lot and the trees we are hidden from the road - our own little piece of Zion - Heaven on Earth!

I can't get my pics to upload... I'll try later. Isn't Zion's NP beautiful!

City Names

I just received this You-tube link from a sister-in-law (thanks Vanessa) it is too funny, especially when I realize how many of the cities I have visited (or have lived in).

Another PIP (purse in progress)

I can't wait to hear the girls when they arrive home from school - the first thing they say will be "What smells in here, oh, Mom's been felting again!" While the green/pink purse awaits handles, I decided to felt a purse that has been languishing unfelted for a week or so. I must admit felting carries with it a distinctly "sheepish" aroma that I'm afraid is the closest I'll ever come to owning sheep - so I like it! Because of our change from a regular washing machine to a high efficiency machine, felting has become a little more of a "trial and error" pursuit. This time I started the felting in the sink and then moved to the washing machine (felting occurs when fibers like wool meet up with heat and agitation - think about the wool sweater that shrunk accidentally - this is the same process except on purpose). The purse will have handles (seen on the side) that will be attached as soon as everything is dry. The yarn felted a little bumpier (I'm sure that is a technically correct knitting term) than I expected and the jury is still out on whether I like the shape or not (it has a round flat bottom). The yarn is beautiful hand painted yarn that I picked up at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last May from a great Maryland vendor Dancing Leaf Farm

Get Out of the Boat!

One of the things I enjoy about my daily drives are the signs in front of many of the churches in our area. They change weekly and are always worth taking a look at. Sometimes they are laugh-out-loud funny other times more serious. A nearby church recently put an old sailboat out in front of their building with a large banner advertising an upcoming sermon series. I love the phrase on the banner and it has given me much to contemplate. It says, "If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat". I think it is a wonderful analogy and reminder. I'm the type of person who wants to make sure that the water really can be walked on - while viewing the water from the safety of the boat. It has really made me think about my willingness to "get out of the boat" - move out of my comfort zone - take a leap of faith or step into the darkness with the faith that the light will follow. I think that this idea applies spiritually but also temporally to many of the things that we think about doing... I'm going to try to make a more conscious effort to "get out of the boat"!

Is It Autumn?

The weather here has turned cooler and I'm thinking that fall is in the air. Of course as soon as I commit myself to thinking about fall we will have a heat and humidity wave... but until then, we will enjoy soup! I love my crockpot when busy evenings of extracurricular activities arrive. Here is a "Quick and Easy Italian Vegetable Beef Soup" recipe from the "Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook" (thank you Kristy M.). This is similar to the "Harvest Stew" recipe floating around our extended family recipe boxes. Guaranteed to please the whole family (well, mine, anyways)!
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
3 carrots, sliced (I've omitted before)
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
15-oz. can diced Italian tomatoes
6-oz. can tomato paste
4 1/2 c. water (I add less)
1 qt. beef broth.

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, cover, cook on high 6-8 hours.

September 11, 2001

The different events held today to remember 9/11/01 are a poignant reminder of what we experienced collectively as a country and personally as individuals that day. Truly as a country and as individuals we have been changed - may those changes make us better as a country and individually.

Craig helped me arrange some of our Crumpton Auction finds in a little alcove above the front door. It is really Dixon's Furniture Auction but we call it the Crumpton Auction because it is in Crumpton, MD. It is an unbelievable auction - ask me for details if you are interested. I get excited just thinking about it! The picture isn't the best - lots of sun coming through the window and the ladder still in place - but you get the idea. I need to add some greenery, etc. before it is finished but I'm hoping that this means it's time to go back to the auction!

Congrats to Cara who is now the proud recipient of a Maryland Learners Permit! Needless to say she is thrilled. I'm excited that Craig is going to take over the parental part of learning to drive. Alicia and I discovered (to our mutual dismay) that I am not very good at teaching driving. It's not that I'm not a good driver (taught by the very best instructor - my Dad) it's just that I'm not a very good teacher. Craig and Cara are looking forward to 60 hours of "together time" in the little green bug!

Purse in progress -- just checking out my camera cable....

Cara began her MC class today. I'm not sure how our high school junior ended up in college... but she is very pleased! For me it is like having a kindergartner again because I pick her up at the high school midday and deliver her to the MC campus. All those years of waiting until they were in school all day and now it's like starting all over again!