I gotta be free

I know those crocs are all the rage, but I just can't buy a pair. They do fall into the range of so ugly, they're cute, but for some reason they remind me of the foot version of being stuck in an elevator. These women seem to know something I don't, so eventually I'm going to give them a try. But not yet. Maybe I'll get a nice olive green or orange pair for fall.

Pictured is the way I prefer to shod myself until it's too cold to do otherwise. Don't look too close, though. I'm in desperate need of a pedicure. And some weed killer. Yikes.

On to other news. I am officially signed up for college, but I am sad. I have a ton of credits but only about 18 of them will transfer in my quest for a bachelors degree. I keep telling myself that no learning is wasted, but I wish I knew then what I know now. I will also, most likely, be the oldest student there, which is scary. Hopefully, it will mean I will be the one with the best grades. At least I know my kids can help me with my homework! :)

For now, I am off to enjoy the rest of my summer with my feet as bare as they can be. School and boots are just around the corner.

Games

Our family has discovered a quick and spirited game that all ages can play. PIT! It is a shouting, trading, cornering your market game. Everyone gets nine cards and the object is to trade with other players in order to get all the same cards, thus "cornering your market". The non-readers can match pictures and our little non-reader has won her share of hands, so it is really fair for everyone to play. It's a hoot! People are calling out, three, three who wants three... there are no turns, and you get to slam a bell when you win. Love it!

Yahtzee is another game we can all play, except for the math part.

I also love to challenge the kids to a good, old-fashioned game of Ms. Pac-Man. I am a child of the 80's and I can kick hiney with the arcade games. They won't even accept my challenge to play Galaga anymore!

Bounce Out is a stupid yahoo game, yet I am compelled to play it. I hate it. I love it.

The object is to put same colored marbles together in groups of three before the stick of dynamite, which is the timer, makes all the marbles shake and quiver and give you a nervous break down. It's a nail biter, I tell ya.

There is also a panic button if you get stuck. What kind of game offers a panic button?

This game is an incredible time waster. If you are say, trying to write a book, need to make dinner, have laundry to do... I suggest you DO NOT click on the above link.

Yahoo does have a great game called Text Twist. A word unscramble game. We will all stand behind the computer and call out words before the timer runs out. If you get the seven letter word, you get to move on to the next level. Very fun.

Anyone have any games they want to share?

My Hot Beverage Makers

Blackbird asks that we show our coffee makers for show and tell Thursday. I have never made coffee in my own home so I don't own one, but I do like to drink the fancy coffees at the coffee shop or have it in other people's homes.

The best thing I can come up with is my trusty silver kettle. I do drink tea and hot chocolate at home so this is what I use. It sounds like a train coming through the kitchen when the water is ready.

My other hot beverage maker is a Mrs. Tea. The feminine version of Mr. Coffee. I cannot find the tea pot that goes to her any more. It never really got the water hot enough to make a good cup so she has been retired to the top cupboard with the K9 Advantix and the Heartgard plus that we give to the dogs. I guess I should get rid of her, but my hubby gave it to me as a gift and it is kind of neat to have around when I need to keep a whole pot of tea warm, but I never make the tea in it. I guess it's kind of pointless if I can't even find the pot, though.
So, there is my pathetic attempt to participate in show and tell. Hopefully next time I will have something more exciting to knock your socks off.

Look what I bought

Isn't it the cutest? Go to Biscotti Togs to see the amazing bags that Wilsonian makes. She uses vintage fabrics and every bag gets a story written about it. There are some really cute little totes and bags that you can take to nice places. She has an etsy store. Go to her blog to get to her shop. And you will not believe the great prices for hand crafted work. I don't think I will buy a store bag again. This one kind of reminds me of the bag Kirsten Dunst uses in the movie Elizabethtown.

There is a whole world out there of people making the things we need (want). I love that by buying this bag I am encouraging someone in their creativity. I'm even going to try something crafty myself. I'm getting my sewing machine tuned as we speak.

Another friend told me about the wardrobe refashion blog. Women who have made a two month committment to not buy anything new, but to refashion their own things into creative expressions of their own style. I am a member by default. I haven't bought anything new for awhile, (not counting my bag) but I have not done anything fun with the stuff I own. Look for the post where a girl turned a Dwight Yoakam concert T-shirt into a pair of capri pants. Super Cute!

Okay, that's all my good finds for now. Please go check these great sites out!

Free Books

While blog reading this week, someone asked why do you blog? what got you started? and why continue?

My blog is fairly new, so it was easy for me to answer. Two words: Free books!

I have been reading blogs for a couple of years, but never felt the need for my own. My life, while fabulous in its own way, is not the kind the average joe wants to read about.

Then, Brenda Coulter offered a free book to anyone who would read and post about it, good or bad, on their blog. Of course, my eyebrows go up and my blood starts pumping. Two of my favorite words coming together in one beautiful sentence. But, alas, I had no blog to post on. So I whipped one up, (which is not hard since blogger has done all the work) wrote to Brenda that I agreed to her terms and got my book. Then, I won her other book on her blog in some sort of contest, too.

This month, I won a contest from Deeanne Gist. Her first book, A Bride Most Begrudging, is a great historical romance that I loved, loved, loved. Others must agree with me, because she just won a Christy Award for best romance from the CBA. The book I won is called Measure of a Lady, and I am saving it for vacation. This was the easiest contest I have ever entered. I had to guess what she named her dog. I guessed wrong, but must have ended up in the hat anyway. I am very much looking forward to reading this and anything else that Deeanne writes.

Today at Lisa Samson's blog, she let everyone know that her publisher is sending books to bloggers who will comment about the book. Lisa's is the first blog I ever discovered because I loved her books so much. I also liked that I read her early historical novels, which were nice, but then she started writing books with some punch that got me to think. You know how sometimes you read something from an author and it's good, and then the next book is good, too, and then the same with the next? And then you just stop reading that author anymore? With Lisa, the books get better and better. (She is also a Christy Award winner) I can see her improvement and it makes me want to cheer her on and try to be like her. Don't misunderstand, she was never a bad writer, I just see that she is a hard worker and it shows. If you haven't already, put her blog in your favorites. She is great for aspiring writers, like myself, and you will learn a lot. Straight Up is her newest book that releases mid-September.

So, four free books in the four or five months that I've been blogging isn't bad! And it's not bad for the authors either. They get publicity and you know I'm going out to buy their other stuff. Not to mention the fact that I am very glad to have my own blog. That I have a place to tell the little stuff that happens to me to strangers that might find it interesting. What a wonderful place to be!

Summer Freedom

My glorious three months of summer have been reduced to one week.

Until next week, we are busy with swim lessons, softball, baseball, baton lessons, movie making, thinking up parade float ideas (don't ask), pizza parties, sleep overs, and in general, running amok.

Then, there is one blessed week on the calendar with NOTHING on it! (Except for two sports physicals, but those hardly count.)

Then it all starts again. Only different, because we will be six in a minivan traveling thousands of miles together and having a busy and hopefully fun time. Then there will be back to school shopping, getting ready for more sports, cleaning closets, enrolling for school, etc.

I could use a good snow storm right about now. But not on my one week, that is reserved for the pool and frozen cokes, good books and... Never mind. If I think too hard I will fill that week up, too.

My hubby, the independent film director

He's the guy in blue. He is amazing! He has written the screenplay, hired cast and crew, contacted investors and is even his own cinematographer after the one he thought he had backed out.

Shooting began June 19 and is scheduled to wrap July 15. He has a small crew and cast but it is still a huge undertaking. It has been a very busy few weeks for us. But these are exciting times.

Filmmaking is his passion (besides me, hee hee) and we are praying that this will be the first of many stepping stones in the right direction toward a full time career in the movie making business. He is talented but it's a hard business to break into, especially living in the middle of the nowhere, like we do. But he is taking opportunities as they come and we are excited for the future.

So, if you are the praying sort, please send some up for us! Specifically, we are still trying to get investors for the rest of the budget, pray for good weather and smooth sailing, and for the editing process and post production to go well. If you are curious, go here to see some production photos. It's not very comprehensive, but you'll get the idea of what we've been up to.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Happy Independence Day.

See where Matt's been

You gotta go see this guy.

This is such a happy, wonderful, joyful video. You gotta go watch it. I am still smiling. And, the song is awesome.