365 Photos Day 180

180/365

A couple of weeks ago I made 2 pies for the Pies for Dad fundraiser at our church. I also made some for Father's Day at our house. They were a big hit. People were asking for the recipe and telling me that they'd never heard of this kind of pie. Apparently it's a Southern kind of pie, at least according to the recipe that I'd found for it. I don't know...I didn't have it growing up, even though I had plenty of other southern foods.

Part of this was because of my mom's family background. They came up from the South after the Civil War and eventually ended up in Northern Central Washington. But the ways of doing things didn't necessarily get left behind, both upbringing- and food-wise.

For instance, I grew up saying "Sir" and "Ma'am" to older people, especially if I didn't know them. I talked with a sort of drawl that only comes out now if I'm really really tired (when I moved from Eastern Oregon to Western Oregon I was made fun of for the way that I talked, so I consciously "lost" the drawl).

One of my favorite foods is pickled beets, and I have yet to find a chicken fried steak as good as the ones that were served in the Blue & White Diner in the town I grew up in. Not only do I know what hominy is, I have a preference (yellow); I also know what grits are, and even though it's been awhile since I've had them, I know what to add to them (lots of butter and some salt). I'm not really fond of biscuits and gravy for breakfast, but they make a good dinner.

But this Southern Pies cookbook...oh my goodness. I'd like one of almost all of them, please and thank you.

365 Photos Day 179

179/365

I've spent some of the evening trying to figure out the Kid's college schedule for next year. The level of difficulty is rather high because I have to balance it with what she needs to graduate from high school (she's doing what's called PSEO, which stands for post-secondary something or another; she gets college credits and high school credits at the same time).

It's made even harder because of the guidance counselor at the high school, who refuses to give more than a semester's worth of credit for any given college class. Her rationale is that the college classes ONLY last for one semester, therefore they are equal to one semester in the high school. Uh, no...one semester in the college is equal to more like one YEAR in the high school. Basically, the Kid is doing twice (or more) the work as her classmates, yet is only getting the same amount of credit.

The positive thing about all this is that she'll be graduating with her 2-year AA or AAS degree 2 weeks before she graduates from high school. Best of all, it's been mostly FREE because the state pays for it.

She has been taking 2 summer classes, and was to start a 3rd next week, but a couple of days ago had a meltdown because all the go-go-go was getting to her. In the interest of keeping her sane, I had her drop the 3rd summer class so she can recharge (she can take it next spring, so no big deal). So I'm juggling around her schedule to make sure every requirement is going to be met.

All I gotta say about all this is that planning and executing a world takeover would be easier.

(the "artwork" at the bottom of that page is my version of Kandinsky & Rothko. I was trying to sell her on the History of Modern Art class. I don't think she's buying, though.)

365 Photos Day 178

178/365

I actually took this picture yesterday, but ended up using the parade picture as my picture of the day.

However, this one deserves to be a picture of the day too.

Mostly because of its "thank you, Captain Obvious" aura. You know, its "No shit, Sherlock" vibe. Its "Gee...you think maybe?" wording.

Honestly. Isn't that pretty much what happens with bait? It either catches something or dies trying because of the internal damage done by the hook or because the fish are smart enough to eat the bait but not get hooked?

Or maybe it's just because I've been in a squirrely mood today. Either way...duuuu-uuuuh.

365 Photos Day 177

177/365

It's been a busy weekend. The Kid had a softball tournament this weekend, plus today was her first official parade as a candidate (she's the blonde in the middle front). There was a 4 hour break between games, so she was able to make the parade and wave like a pro.

365 Photos Day 176

176/365

Ah, Coppertone. One of the smells of Summer...

One of the things I've learned over the years (and years and years) of watching the Kid play softball is to have some of this stuff in the car at all times, especially during tournament weekends.

I look at the SPF of 8 and remember when I was about her age and I used a 2 SPF (never above an 8 for sure), when I even remembered to put any on.

Actually, that's about how I am now. But at least I have it in the car, which is a step in the right direction.

365 Photos Day 175

175/365

Today was week 2 of Summer Reading Storytime. It went a little smoother, which is always a plus.

These young ladies are my Summer Reading Crew, either because they work with me at the library or because they volunteer their time during the summer. They're all good kids, and I really enjoy working with them.

And goodness knows, I couldn't do most of what I do with the Summer Reading Program without their help.

365 Photos Day 174

174/365

Now, I'm pretty sure that this temperature reading here in town might be a little off. The TV weatherguy said it was 63 degrees, but felt like 53 degrees. But that weatherguy has been known to be wrong before. He also said that the normal temperature for this time of year is somewhere in the 80's.

I'm thinking this summer didn't get that memo.

Either way, this is one of the weirdest summers weather-wise I've encountered since I moved to Minnesota in 1993. It's also been one of the weirdest life-experience-wise too, but that's a whole other story.

In any case, I'd like some warm sunshine for the rest of the summer. Really. Even if it means I have to endure 100+ degree days.

365 Photos Day 173

173/365

17 years ago at 9:30ish at night on 22 June, after almost 14 hours of hard labor (mostly without drugs--what was I thinking?!?!), this Kid came into my life screaming like nobody's business.

Luckily for me (and her), she has mellowed considerably since then.

I don't know what her father & I did right to get such a wonderful kid, especially considering what the 2 of us were like when WE were kids, but I'm really grateful and happy we got this one and not one like us.

She's grown up so damn fast, though. I'm pretty sure it was just a month ago I was teaching her how to roll over because she was so mad she wasn't mobile yet. And it seems like just last week that she was starting preschool.

In any case, I'm pretty sure I couldn't be prouder of the the delightful young woman she's become, and I surely do hope that she knows how much she's loved.

Where I've Been (United States of America Style)

visited 12 states (24%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Apparently I need to head in a more Southward direction.

Maybe in the winter, when it's only like eleventy-billion degrees below zero here.

365 Photos Day 172

172/365

I was kind of hoping to get a picture of the sun today, because it's the Summer Solstice. Apparently, though, the sun was on vacation here because it rained for most of the day.

So I painted.

Normally I don't paint when it's raining because the paint tends to get kind of wonky (that's a technical term) and I don't like how it turns out. But since I'd started last night, I had to keep going. I turned on the air conditioner to help out with the humidity thing and got the walls done.

These are my painting clothes. I've worn them for 2 days now, so it's time to wash them. I don't usually drip or get paint anywhere but on my hands and the wall. The smears that can be seen on my shirt are from me wiping my fingers on it.

And the walls I was working on? They're good to go. I just have to let the paint cure for a couple of days before I start hanging things on them.

365 Photos Day 171

171/365

I'm working on making a functional launch pad for the house, but needed to smooth out a wall that was kind of wavy. I put drywall compound on the wall to do that in APRIL. Yes, 2 months ago.

I hate sanding drywall. Hate hate hate it. In our old house, I repaired cracks in the plaster walls and ceilings, so I got good at taping, mudding, sanding, lather, rinse, repeat. Doesn't mean I like it, though. It just means I know what I have to go through.

But, tonight it'd bothered me long enough, so I sanded. It took all of 15 minutes. FIFTEEN. MINUTES. Or 2 months, whichever.

But, they're done and primed now. I just have to wait a bit before I can paint them and get on with getting everything else up (coat hooks, key hooks, a shelf, a clock, a shoe holder, etc). I'll just watch some TV until the walls are ready to go.

All that mental agony for FIFTEEN MINUTES. Honestly. You'd think I'd know better by now to just suck it up and get it done.

365 Photos Day 170

170/365

We got these today to make s'mores with (even though we didn't end up getting that far). The label does NOT lie. These are HUUUUUUGE. To give some perspective, here's one in my hand(now granted, I do have small hands. BUT STILL.):

I'm pretty sure the s'mores we make using these are going to have to be re-named "EPIC s'mores" or something.

365 Photos Day 169

169/365

This weekend is Father's Day. It's also one of our church's annual fundraisers called 'Pies for Dad'. This is also the first year in I can't ever remember how long that the Kid hasn't had a softball tournament on this weekend, so this year I was able to make a pie for the sale. Yes, I make the pies. I'm so not going to go BUY a pie. Huh-uh. The older ladies in the church would frown at me big time. And I have to live here for awhile, and it's a small enough town as it is.

I'm not a big fan of fruit pies. Or normal pie crust. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person who isn't, so I made a pie that I would buy. It's a frozen lemonade pie (just like the label says, which I also made, thankyouverymuch) with a graham cracker crust. I made 2 because the frozen lemonade came in a 12 oz can and I didn't want to have to figure out the math in order to halve the recipe.

After Mass we headed downstairs to get Steve a pie. My pies hadn't sold yet. I'm thinking that this seems to be a recurring theme when I'm making things for church fundraisers...whatever I make seems to be a tad too exotic (where 'exotic'= 'not what is usually served/available') and although it's always really good, people give it a squinty-eyed look.

I know...this from the person who doesn't even like her foods touching on the plate and has been known to separate all the different kinds of things in foods such as Chex Mix and then proceed to eat all of one kind of thing before proceeding onto the next.

In any case, I'm really hoping someone will buy them tomorrow after the Sunday Masses because by then they should actually be fully set and really really good.

Frozen Lemonade Pie (makes 2 because I didn't do the math-y stuff to halve the recipe):

• Make or buy 2 graham cracker crusts (I make mine)
• Take 1 12 oz thingy of frozen lemonade & mix it with 1 12 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (and try not to lose the lid in the bowl like I did)
• Fold in 1.5 - 2 8 oz. containers of whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
• Divide mixture into the 2 pie pans with the graham cracker crusts
• Put pies in freezer until set (may take up to a couple hours...mine were pretty good to go after 1 hour, which is good, considering that's all the time I had).

There it is. Easy as pie. (ahahahaha)

365 Photos Day 168

168/365

This is my hot date for tonight. Get it? Hot date? 'Cause it'll be HOT when I plug it in and turn it on and put it on my back which I tweaked when I was painting the other day when I thought I was about to fall off the stepladder but didn't?

I'll be here all week, folks.

Hopefully without the hot pad.

365 Photos Day 167

167/365

This year's summer reading program theme is Book a Trip: Read Around the World. We're going to "visit" Mexico for the first week. I haven't a clue as to how summer Storytimes have been done in years past, but I'm sure my normal make-it-up-as-I-go modus operandi will be just fine.

If not, well, I'll distract them by wearing a cool sombrero.

365 Photos Day 166

166/365

Today I broke out my new pair of shoes. My other ones were really worn down and starting to make my knees and hips hurt. So now they're just painting shoes, and these are my spiffy eye-blinding white ones.

I used to like getting Nike shoes, but I'm more of a Reebok girl now. No, not because Reebok is one of the Dallas Cowboys' sponsors, but because they are one of the only shoe people who realize that yes, adults CAN wear a size 5, and would like to do so without sparkles or other kid-stuff.

Yes, a size 5. I used to wear a 4 1/2, but then I had the Kid and my feet smushed out enough I have to wear a size 5. And normally shop in the Kid's section, which is galling enough without the added indignity of glitter, sparkles, cartoon characters and all that.

In any case, WOOO!!! New shoes!!!

365 Photos Day 165

165/365

Ahahahaha...I figured out the math-y stuff. Now it's on to the next step.

Yes, I'm inordinately proud of myself for figuring it out on my own. Yes, I fully understand that quite possibly it could've been done in both an easier and quicker fashion. However, I wouldn't have been able to shout, "BOO-YAH! I AM A MATH WIZARD!!!!!" after I'd figured it out.

It rather reminds me of the time in 6th grade that I was doing a math problem, but had forgotten the steps, so I kind of, well, did it my way. I ended up with the correct answer, but also had the teacher saying, "There's no way that should've worked. Absolutely no way. But it did. Huh."

Anyway...I figured it out!!!! GO ME!!!! Now I just have to decide which font to use for the BINGO part.

365 Photos Day 164

164/365

Today was all about the Summer Reading Program and then driving 2.5 hours north to see the Kid play softball. Of course, had I not taken the, er, scenic tour of Big Lake, it's quite possible that the drive would've taken considerably less time. Dang road construction and detours anyway.

The scoreboard tells the story. The Chaos won the first game 6-0, and the second game 11-0, so it was a pretty good night for the girls.

365 Photos Day 163

163/365

Much of today has been spent fine-tuning the final things for the Summer Reading Program, which starts, well, later today, I guess (Monday, 13 June).

This year's official theme is something along the lines of One World, Many Stories (or something like that. I can't remember.). We rarely completely follow the official theme, though. Basically I take the/an idea, and completely design our own program, because hey, why make it easy on ourselves, right?

So for this year, our theme is Book a Trip: Read Around the World, which is actually a theme I used in 2005 with OK success (only OK mostly because of some, um, help that I had designing the program. The next year I went back to doing it myself because the kids threatened an insurrection if I didn't.).

For the Storytime kids (3+), we're reading stories and making crafts from different cultures. For the regular reading program, we're reading...and answering trivia questions for raffle tickets.

For the teens & adults, we're doing a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' kind of thing, where I've given them choices: for this line, either read THIS or THAT. At the end of last year's program, I kind of knew what I wanted to do this year, so I asked people what their favorite and least favorite Bingo Board categories were (for the last few years, teens & adults have done a Reading Bingo. It's a big hit.)

Anyhow, I took their replies and used them to devise my categories for this year from which they'll be choosing what to read. I also added a few that will tie in with the "Around the World" part, which may or may not go over well. In any case, it'll be interesting seeing the different choices that people make. Part of what I like to do to these victims participants is to really stretch their reading habits and preferences. One of the comments that I hear pretty much every year is some variation of, "That wasn't something I ever thought I'd read, but I'm really liking it now."

Pictured here is one of my twists for the Choose Your Own Adventure crew. It's called the Unclaimed Luggage Bin, and has within it various slips of paper. On said pieces of paper, there are different options not found on the regular reading log. Things like: Read a Western; Read a Romance; Read a Fantasy novel; Read a Science Fiction novel; and one of my favorites, Read a book that has a cover that's your favorite color. I set ground rules like "You have the option to draw again if you don't like your first choice, but then you MUST take your second choice." and "If you get a category that you really can't stand, talk to Lisa. She will find you a book that will meet the requirements and that you'll probably like." (And if they don't like it, that's OK too. We'll figure out something.)

This is the season where I really earn my paycheck AND put all those things I learned during my seemingly endless quest for my MLIS, that's for sure.
But, it's fun, and definitely something that I know our patrons look forward to doing during their summers when they could be doing something else.

365 Photos Day 162

162/365

It's a tournament weekend, so this is where I spent a great deal of time today. Tomorrow they're on a different complex, but the view will be similar, I'm sure.

This is the team's first summer playing 18U fastpitch softball, and it's definitely a step up from 16U, both ability- and competition-wise.

But anyday spent in the sun watching the Kid play softball (and actually getting TO play softball) is time well spent. Here in a couple of years it won't be happening, so I plan on enjoying it all as much as I can.

365 Photos Day 161

161/365

It's the 10th of June and we still have yet to put in our garden because the ground is still too wet.

So for now, Iz and I will dream of fresh carrots and peas from the garden, and hope that we can plant it within the next week.

365 Photos Day 160

160/365

All is right in the (softball) world for the Kid again. She's playing for her summer/fall/winter team, the Minnesota Chaos. She lives for this time of year, I think. Words cannot express how happy she was today, knowing that she'd be playing for her favorite coach (probably ever) again tonight. And I was happy too, seeing how excited she was and all.

It was a hard school season for her, and I know she thought about walking away from it a couple of times. But she's been playing ball in some form or another since she could swing a bat, and I know she loves the game way too much to let a, erm, not-her-style kind of coach run her out of it all (I'm trying to be diplomatic here. Really.). I also know she wasn't having fun, which almost broke my heart to watch.

But now? Like I said...all is right in the world, at least for a little while.

365 Photos Day 159

159/365

Attempting to eyeball math-y kind of things doesn't always work well. But yet, I still try.

365 Photos Day 158

158/365

Another year of school softball is DONE (tonight was the awards banquet). And tomorrow is her last day of her junior year, although she's taking summer classes at the community college that she's been at this past year, so she's not done done for the summer yet. But she's happy for now.

365 Photos Day 157

157/365

Yay for air conditioning on hot days. That is all.

365 Photos Day 156

156/365

Our neighbor's cats have, for the second year running, had a litter of kittens under our front deck. Today Momma and Daddy were moving them across the street to their actual house.

This little girl was sitting on the lawn, and when the others went back under the deck when we came out, she stayed put. I discovered it was because her eyes weren't open yet, probably because of an eye infection. When I wiped the ick from her eyes, a whole lot more pus came running out. Her nose was completely crusted shut, so it took me a few minutes to get all that cleared off too. When I did, more pus/snot came out.

After all that, she fell asleep on my lap. We stayed that way for awhile, just enjoying the cool breeze from the lake. When she woke up, Amanda & I put her back under the deck with one of her siblings. I don't know if she's the runt of the litter, but I'm hoping that by me cleaning out her eyes and nose, she might actually have a fighting chance.

It was the least I could do in return for the moments of peace she gave me this afternoon, allowing me to remember to take time to just sit and enjoy the lake and the breeze.

365 Photos Day 155

155/365

This is the wall that I was having difficulties matching greens from Day 151.

Obviously I managed to get the color matched just fine. Turns out it really was Hirshfield's Olive Branch...but it was from a color deck they don't use anymore, although they still can make it because they have the formula. So I had them mix me up a quart and spent part of the afternoon painting the wall.

And then I made sure to really coat the stir stick well so if ever needed, I can get it color-matched somewhere else. Just in case.

365 Photos Day 154

154/365

The Summer Reading Program starts on the 12th. Today is the 3rd. So of course I'm (just now) ordering things for the incentives. Because seriously, why rush things? Or do things way before they need done?

Procrastination, thy name is Lisa.

It's times like this that I kind of (but not really) miss school and the enforced deadlines.

It's all good though. It'll be done in time, no problem.

365 Photos Day 153

153/365

I'm doing the scheduling for the summer months at the library. This makes my head hurt. It's like doing a puzzle without knowing what it's supposed to look like in the end.

I usually just everyone put down when they can't work and go from there. But sometimes it doesn't always work out as pretty as I'd like, which is OK too, I guess. And I know that even after all this, there will still be some switching that has to take place.

Ah, the joys of being a semi-responsible librarian. Good thing I took that Management class… (she said as she laughs out loud).

101 in 1001 May Showers Edition

I can't remember the last time I was so glad to see the end of May. Wow. Between freezing at softball games mid-month and so much rain that we were wondering if we should just build an ark...seriously, whatever happened to May being more like Spring?

I didn't get to cross much off my list this past month, but I'm still plugging away. If (and it's a big IF) the weather stays fairly nice, I'll be able to finish some more this month. I hope, anyway.

Finished: 29
In Progress: 17
Percent completed: 28.7%
Percent left to go: 71.3%

Finances/Giving (2/12)
1. Get Emergency Fund up to $1000 [Done 15 March 2011]
2. Pay off and close Chase Visa
3. Pay off and close Target Visa
4. Get Emergency Fund up to 3 months (~12,000)
5. Get a used truck
6. Put a $50 bill in the second collection basket
7. Put a $100 bill in the second collection basket
8. Donate to the Food Shelf 10 times ($25 or equivalent) (7/10)
9. Leave a 100% tip 5 times (3/5)
10. Choose 2 kids from the Jesse Tree during Christmas & get them presents
11. Give to a family in need during the holidays
12. Buy a scratch-off lottery ticket & donate 25% of the winnings to charity [Done 18 September 2010]

House Inside (6/12)
13. Hang up 5 pictures (5/5) [Done 17 November 2010]
14. Frame Tree picture [Done 9 September 2010]
15. Paint back room and closet [Done 13 October 2010]
16. Paint hall storage closet & set up shelves [Done 17 August 2010]
17. Spruce up front door area (outside: welcome mat, flower pots/ inside: bench, mirror, lamp)
18. Finish basement
19. Back door/entryway re-do
20. Repaint & redo my office
21. Hang curtains or blinds in master bedroom & the Kid’s room [Done 18 October 2010]
22. Get dining room chairs
23. Repaint Laundry Room
24. Repaint/redo master bathroom/closet [Done 5 October 2010]

House Outside (1/12)
25. Plant 5 trees in yard (4/5) [4 Blue Spruce planted 7 August 2010]
26. Put in back flower bed
27. Paint Storage Shed same color as house
28. Back entryway outside re-do (transition between steps and red rock)
29. Build garage
30. Put in front flower bed
31. Put in front tower flower bed
32. Put in side flower bed
33. Level out north side of house & put down the decorative rock
34. Get covers for grill & fireplace
35. Get rid of stumps in back yard [Done 28 August 2010]
36. Get a flag for front porch (and install said flag)

To Do/Watch/Read (2/12)
37. Watch 101 movies (30/101)
May 2011
• The Damned United

38. Read 101 books (107/101) [Done 2 May 2011]
May 2011 (7)
• Soulless by Gail Carriger
• The Hanging Garden by Ian Rankin
• 3 Men and a Body by Stephanie Bond
• A Pinch of Snuff by Reginald Hill
• Night Vision by Randy Wayne White
• The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
• Audio: The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald

39. Go to a Cowboys-Vikings game
40. See 5 Minnesota Tourist Attractions (0/5)
41. Visit 5 art galleries in Minnesota (1/5)
42. Watch all seasons of “24” (0/8)
43. Watch all seasons of “MI-5” (2/9)
44. Complete a crossword puzzle book
45. Watch 5 documentaries (5/5) [done 10 February 2011]
46. Read 5 Non-fiction books (2/5)
47. Donate 100, 000 grains of rice on FreeRice.com (35,080/100,000)
48. Do 5 things from the “365 Things to do in the Twin Cities” (3/5)

Health (2/12)
49. Walk to work 30 times (30/30) [Done 14 March 2011]
50. Bike around the lake
51. 175
52. 165
53. 155
54. 145
55. 135
56. Get eyes checked
57. Get new glasses or contacts
58. Get annual physical [Done 16 September 2010]
59. Do the 200 sit-ups challenge
60. Track my progress with Wii Fit for 28 consecutive days.

Grown-up/Family stuff (2/12)
61. Change life insurance beneficiaries
62. Write wills
63. Write living wills
64. Get family picture taken
65. Send out Christmas cards with aforementioned family picture on it
66. Host Brother/Sister Christmas party [Done 18 December 2010]
67. Have a family board/card game night 5 times (2/5)
68. Buy a new “grown-up” outfit (shirt/pants)
69. Take a family vacation
70. Make a picture family tree
71. Get first aid certified
72. Get the Kid a car safety kit for her car [Done 28 December 2010]

Spiritual/Church (4/12)
73. Learn the Rosary Prayers
74. Go to a Latin Mass
75. Go to daily Mass for a week
76. Donate time, talent, or treasure for the CCW Bazaar [Done 1 October 2010]
77. Read the Tao te Ching [Done 18 September 2010]
78. Get a new St Christopher Medal
79. Do the Advent readings and wreath one year [Done 7 January 2011]
80. Do the Lenten readings one year
81. Do the Rice Bowl project one year [Done 17 April 2011]
82. Light an intention candle 10 times (4/10)
83. Attend Mass in the Basilica
84. Attend 2 Lenten dinners

Food (8/12)
85. Make a cake & icing (or cupcakes) from scratch [Done 24 July 2010]
86. Try 3 new restaurants (2/3)
87. Do one week of meal planning [Done 31 December 2010]
88. Do one month of meal planning
89. Eat 1 serving of fruit a day for a week (7/7) [Done 12 July 2010]
90. Try a new recipe [Done 1 October 2010]
91. Make cookies from scratch [Done 23 September 2010]
92. Try a different flavor ice cream (no vanilla/chocolate) [Done 12 August 2010]
93. Limit Diet Coke to 2 servings per day for 1 consecutive week (0/7 days)
94. No fast food for a month [Done 9 April 2011]
95. Try 5 different kinds of apples (5/5) [Done July 2010]

Just Because (2/6)
96. Donate hair to Locks of Love one more time
97. Take part in a pub quiz [Done 16 January 2011]
98. Complete a 500+ piece puzzle
99. Fly first class
100. Start a Tumblr [Done 8 July 2010]: http://daughteroftime.tumblr.com
101. Do a 365 day photo challenge

365 Photos Day 152

152/365

I'm hoping the weather stays nice the rest of the week. I have a date with a couple of paint cans. It'll be nice to see the real color on the walls, as opposed to primer white (which has irritated me since December).