Inspired by Jane

We went to see Becoming Jane last night. I liked it but it was sad. I hate it when people miss out on love. And die young.

It was a beautiful movie and I liked seeing Mr. Tumnus as the romantic interest. I didn't think he had it in him.

And Anne Hathaway. So pretty and everthing a girl should be.

I borrowed a big head band from my daughter and tried out a Jane/Anne hair-do. Not bad for a pony tail holder and four bobby pins.

You also get a bird's eye view of the back room at the coffee shop. Don't tell the boss! :)

I am reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. It is very Jane-ish but was written in the late '40's. I'm enjoying it very much and highly recommend it to you. It is written from the perspective of a 17 year old girl who is writing about her life in a ruined and empty castle. Lots of unique and quirky characters and boys... which one will she end up with?

Any one have something to share that has inspired you this week? (Hair-do or otherwise).

More from Seaside

I miss the beach.



Happy news, my daughter made the Volleyball team. Very exciting. We practiced quite a bit on our trip. On the beach, in my mom's front yard, at every rest stop and McDonalds and Burger King. I love volleyball and can't wait to watch her play at this new level.



My little girl is starting high school tomorrow. I'm not sure how I feel about that. She will be totally in her element as she is social as all get out, but MY BABY! I think this might be as bad as when my youngest went to kindergarten. I think it's gonna be a whole new world around here.

So our house now includes a freshman, an eighth grader, a fourth grader and a second grader. At three different schools. I just purchased a new calendar in hopes of keeping all the schedules straight.

Go-carting in Seaside, Oregon

Ten things I like about working in the library

In random order...

1. Covering brand new books. It's like wrapping Christmas gifts everyday.

2. The people who visit libraries tend to really want to be there, so they are pleasant. Very few grumps at the library. Lots of book lovers and recommendations and trading information going on. Love it.

3. I get to use lots of tape! I love using tape.

4. My co-workers smile when they see me. They seem to like the library, too.

5. Helping people find what they need is fun. It's like a little mini-treasure hunt. I'm considering becoming a research librarian.

6. Shelving is not so bad. I thought it would be boring, but everyone chips in and it goes pretty fast. Many hands make light work.

7. I learn something new everyday.

8. There is never any dead time. Always something to do.

9. I get to take home a lot of cool books and use them first! (I have a big long story about when we used to live in a place with an older library I never brought a book home without a booger in it. Isn't that totally gross? Ick, my stomach is rolling just thinking about it. Now, my reading is virtually booger-free).

10. My kids use the library often, so I get to see them when I'm at work.

Did you just feel that?

Is it a feeling or is it a certain smell? A whiff of fresher air and elmers' glue. Whatever it is, it's means it's back to school time and I can feel it. I think we are all ready for it. Summer is officially over in our household when no one wants to go swimming except for me.

For me, it means instant schedule. I am a pool rat in the summer. Laundry and dishes are neglected for brown skin, scorched hair and wet towels. It's really, really good for a very short time, and then my family starts to resent living in a pig pen. Thankfully, school comes along to get everything back to normal.

We still need three back packs, a package of dry erase markers, a black folder and pencils. I have all the spiral notes books we will ever need again. At .10 each I am considering wall papering my home with them.

I'm ready for jeans and sweater weather, to pick up my knitting, to bake pumpkin-y things. I'm ready for the leaves to change, for warm days and cool nights and less bugs and bed times and candles in the window and a clean house.

These things just can't happen in the summer because they take effort and it's hot and the pool is open and I can't sit still. Summer is the season for ADD for me. It's good while it lasts but I'm glad it's short. One can only take so much chaos and chlorine.

So now with school almost here and a structured work schedule for me I may be able to carve out a little time to have a complete thought and write it down. Get back into my blog groove. Shake out the cob webs. I've missed my little shiny journal time with you.