Spring update

Sophie with the llamas @ the Earth Day event

Our Maypole for Beltane

The newly created patio decked out for Beltane



Enjoying the sun on our new patio

My momma and I on Mother's Day.











Sophie in front of her pumpkin painting at the Willow Brook Elementary Art Show

Katy and I at the SARG Charity Dog Walk

David and Katy watching the performances of dog tricks

I apologize for the long stretches between posts. I am without internet service at home and I have to go to the library or somewhere else that has free wifi. Anyway, things are going ok for us. Financial difficulties abound still, there are just no jobs in this area.
On the bright side, I am wrapping up with this semester of school, finishing up my honor's program project this week and helping the kids ready for the end of school. We are getting geared up for our annual School's Out Party! The kids are getting excited about summer break, if only we could have some summer weather. Its been in the forties at night this past week and only hitting the 60's during the day. Damn that global warming!

Anyway, I am taking the summer semester off of school so I can relax and gear up for my last semester, I plan to graduate in the spring. Woo Hoo! I will be carrying a full course load come fall.

Here are some photos of the highlights of the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Birthday Memories

Sophie's sixth birthday began with her dad and I waking her with a candlelit cupcake in bed. She was so surprised that she could eat it before breakfast.

She made a wish for 2oo Zhu-Zhu Pets!! Oh my!

The castle cake that her dad and I stayed up til 1AM working on. It turned out great we think, and Sophie was thrilled with it.

Here her dad said something silly......

Listening to everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her....

little cousin Cody decided to get into the dog's kennel.....:)

Sophie and her cousin Becca and friend, Kaitlin

Cousins, Austin and Jimmy......

Opening one of her many gifts.....

Reading a handmade card from her cousin Becca

best friend, Andrew and her other friend Liam

Sophie is always thrilled to get a book, this one is "Reindeer Moon".

Excited over the little shoes that I crocheted for her doll Jane, along with a dress, skirt, sweater, and cloak.

Zhu-Zhu Pets were the hit of the party....three in all.

Happy Birthday Sophie!!!!

Birthday Works in Progress

Sophie's 6th birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and I decided since she has been playing fervently with her doll Jane, that I would make the doll some new clothes.

I am currently working on a knitted hat for her, and have some fabric cut out to make a cloak similar to the one in the photo, and also a dress. And perhaps a sweater made from this old pink wool one.

Halloween Highlights

Our gorgeous Samhain fire.....thanks to David for being fire keeper.

A ninja and an angel......

Insane Clown Posse? No, it's our friend Skylar and her hubby, Brad and friend Christina.

A gorgeous belly dancer, Mari and her man, Rob

Friend Jonathan as a zombie...

Mare the friendly ghost

Skull in the blood...punch I mean...

Two lovely ladies...er...men....

Our cemetery.....

Freaky vamp, Josh

Sam......the man.....uh, girl......

Creeping ghouls

Emily in her self designed and made Mad Hatter

And this one is just too cute not to share....Sophie dressed as a pirate girl to go to school on the Friday before Halloween, then decided on an angel for the party and trick or treating.

Lammas Harvest

Sophie and I harvested some things from the garden today. We got a couple of beautiful sunflowers, some huge cucumbers, several lovely beets, three mini pumpkins, and three finger sized carrots that Sophie is just thrilled about.
We decided to make Demeter's Harvest Bread, we improvise the recipe from Laurel's Kitchen cookbook for basic whole grain bread. Ours was half wheat, half corn flour in honor of the Lammas corn/grain harvests. Sophie worked very hard on kneading the bread dough and we enjoyed watching it rise and smelling the delicious fresh bread smell as it baked.

We made out loaves round in reverence to the Great Earth Mother who is generous with Her bounty at this blessed time of Lammas.

Lammas Blessings

May the blessings of a fruitful harvest be yours on this Lammas Day.

Birthday Weekend Celebration~Part 3

Saturday night was part three of my birthday weekend celebration. My friend Mare and I met up with Laura at the Carousel club for the drag show. Oh what fun! I was brought on stage to dance with the host, because Mare announced that it was my birthday. What a lot of fun! I can't believe I danced on stage at a drag show! Woo! I only wish we had gotten photos. These are some that David took of us before we left.

Happy Birthday to me!

Birthday Weekend Celebration~Part 2

On Friday night we had a belly dance birthday party at my house. As my regular readers know I have been belly dancing for many years, but haven't done a lot since having Sophie. My friends have been asking me to show them some dancing and they all wanted to dance too, so we put together a Middle Eastern themed belly dance party!

What a lot of fun. We had costumes and veils for everyone to try and lots of jingly things. One friend applied Egyptian style eye makeup to everyone.


My lovely daughter Laura, brought some great Arabic music and had everyone's name written in Arabic as a party favor.

We had many photo ops and every one really got into the spirit of performing.

I really have such lovely friends.

Even my poppet, Sophie got into the belly dance act, she has been dancing since she could walk.

Friends are the best, they are what make life worth it all.

We had lovely henna, a gift from Laura, and applied by Mare. This is my foot design...love it.

Laura also brought a hookah, this is a Middle Eastern flavored tobacco, that is sweet and quite tasty even if you are a non smoker like me.

Yummy Middle Eastern food, fattoush and fried pita.

Baked pita chips

Tabbouleh and Hummus