Twisted, Sister!

Fridays I never have kids and have planning time to write notes, work on lesson plans, prepare portfolios, and so forth.  I am able to have a more flexible work schedule.  So many Fridays Glen and I make plans to go to lunch together.

This past Friday was one of those days.  I picked him up and we happened to be listening to Science Friday on NPR (National Public Radio.)  Science Friday is usually fun to listen to because the topics vary so much and are pretty interesting and the host is upbeat and jovial.  This week the  topic was (well I can't tell you the whole thing because my mind wandered after the introductory part--you'll see why.)  The guy said that skin cells are able to turn themselves into beating heart cells when a huge recipe of scientific soup is added.  But first the skin cells have to be turned into stem cells and then they can be made into heart cells.  I am sure that all of this has profound scientific ramifications and will be really amazing for our coronary health in the future.  But the guy said, " If there was a way for the skin cells to skip the stem cell step then..."  After that I began concocting skin cells tongue twisters.  Glen joined in and silliness ensued.  Here is the best one:  "She seriously sears her skin cells by the shiny sea shore."  Please try to say this 5 times fast.  Impossible!!!  I laugh!!!  I tickle myself!!!

This also reminds me of a story a friend told about being roped in, at the last minute, to play and sing for/with a group of 4th-6th grade boys at RA Camp (Royal Ambassadors--pre AWANA missions group  for boys in Southern Baptist Churches.)  My friend thought it would be so fun to sing a tongue twister song with the boys, so she did.  They were laughing and singing a long at the top of their voices.  When she finished the song they yelled to do it again. My friend, thinking she was a big hit with this group she was not so sure about, enthusiastically went in for the second round.  When she finished they yelled for a third go round.  She began to start again and then saw the flailing arms of her husband.  He was jumping up and down in the back of the auditorium and trying to sign for her to stop.  She did and excused herself from the stage.  The song she had played for the boys was "Peter Piper Picked a peck of pickled peppers."  The boys had apparently been singing "PICKLED (something an 11 year old boy would think of that rhymes with peppers)" while laughing wildly and pointing to the front of their pants.  She was mortified but it sure was a funny story. 
 
I leave you with a parting twist:  How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?  "dang woodchucks!!"

 PS  Oh my!! I went and saw The King's Speech---must say it is solidly in my top 5 EVER!  In the movie they said a tongue twister that I now love "I have a sieve of sifted thistles because I am a thistle sifter."

That made me think of the one Glen is always trying to get me to say and I really CANNOT:  "A skunk sat on a stump.  The skunk thunk the stump stunk.  The stump thunk the skunk stunk.  Which one stunk, the stump or the skunk?"  Boy I even had a hard time spelling (much less saying) that one.  Want more?  Who knew there were so many?

He Loves Me Hoop

I have been loving the embroidery hoop designs I have been making lately.  I have seen some on the blogs, but not just like mine.  I would link you to some that are awesome...but I tend to look a lot and not remember where they came from unless they are from a fave spot.  I should get better about that and the post would be reeally cool.  But you only get my stuff today.

I found this cast off bolt of fabric at "WalMark's" a few months ago for cheap and  loved the look of it.  It has a wood grain look and is so very fun.  You know I love all things woodsy and forest-ish and this fabric fit right in (except for the fact that it is obviously not a natural fiber and is quite slick and synthetic.)  So the feel and type of the fabric is "meeeh, not so much.."  But the look is right, so I overlooked the feel.

I intended to make the hoop as a gift for Glen for Christmas and make it look like our initials were carved in a tree.  I am sure I still will at some point.  But this one turned into a hoop to celebrate how much we are loved by our God.  It has come to my heart like a ton of bricks how much I am loved by Jesus- maybe as a direct result of deep sadness and human tragedy and the loss of our third baby girl.  It is amazing how God is so good and comforts us so much when we are so broken.  I have learned that I am in God's care and how all things are filtered through his grace and mercy for our good and his glory.  I paraphrased that last from our Sunday School teacher (and small group leader) who put the thoughts better than I could and spoke the thoughts of my heart.   So the love note for Glen turned into a love note from Jesus instead and I really love the way it turned out.

 

I am not so sure the picture does the hoop justice.  I used a branch and acorns from one of our favorite trees around the corner and traced the leaf to make felt leaves.  The verses are from

Romans 8:37-39
we are more than victorious     through Him who loved us.
  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
    nor angels nor rulers, 
    nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing
    will have the power to separate us
    from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

 Nothing can separate us from God's love.  There are so many other verses I could have selected for the same "He Loves Me" theme, but I liked this one at the time.   I am sure I will add more to the collection.  I love the idea of the wood carved sentiment.  I feel like I could get started on another one tonight.  But I have a Lylah's Room project to finish.  So I will get that done so I can show you her room completed.

Maybe one more sneak peek.

This is her little table and chairs with Lylah and Friend place mats and a real vase with fake flowers.  I debated doing some sort of mod podge on the table top but I think I am going to go with a "less is more" approach.  Curiosity peeked?  Maybe not, but this was such a big deal for me I feel like I cannot show it until it is all the way done.  And it's not done yet.  So hang tight.

For my 2 readers...

Here are the answers to my movie quotes:
1.We're not going anywhere...Hey! Where're you going? WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
2.It's precisely the point of a loooong dining table. JFK
3.Oh, isn't butter divinity! LITTLE WOMEN ( Winona Rider version)
4.Be gone J.Evans Pritchard PhD! DEAD POETS SOCIETY
5.Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower? YOU'VE GOT MAIL
6.Sorry I lost your set of steak knives. A FEW GOOD MEN
7.I do not think you would accept my help since I am only waiting around to kill you. THE PRINCESS BRIDE
8.Would you like to partake of the pecan pie? WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
9.I'm exhaustified of being the boy. LITTLE WOMEN...again
10.I fear I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers . PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
11. Allow myself to Introduce...myself... AUSTIN POWERS
12.They should be playing "furry furry rabbit" or tea party or something/ What's "furry furry rabbit?"/ It's a game isn't it? SIGNS
13.It's all those lobsters Isn't it? scads of lobsters in a tank. WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE...again
14.Nothin' important...That is to say I heard a good deal about a ring, a dark lord, and somethin' about the end of the world, but... LORD OF THE RINGS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
15.She hadda go baffroom ANNIE
16.I service society by rockin'...Rockin' ain't no walk in the park, lady. SCHOOL OF ROCK
17.I'm in the only room in the house where a boy of 9 can sit in privacy and decode. A CHRISTMAS STORY
18.That's what I said "booty traps" GOONIES
19.You look good wearing my future. SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL
20.Don't move until you see it./I can't see it./ Don't move until you see it. SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER
21.There's a monster outside my window. Can I have a glass of water? SIGNS...again
22.You know, I don't think that teaching is a "fall-back" position, and I grow nervous around those who do. MR HOLLAND'S OPUS
23.We are M-F-E-O... Made For Each Other. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
24.Taste that Milkshake. There's real milk in there. GILBERT...again
25.There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond and those who don't. WHAT ABOUT BOB
26."My lips hurt real bad!" and "Nobody wants a round-house kick to the face when I'm wearing these bad boys." NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
27.What would you give me for a basket of hugs? THE BAD SEED
28.Out of the way! We are in the throws of an exceptional emergency!/Is someone in need of medical attention?/ This is no time for sport! There is lace at stake!! CRANFORD
29.Practically perfect in every way. MARY POPPINS
30.Does little Snookums Wookums want a bony wony?..../ Little pinky pooter. THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN
31. I am never in the depths of despair. To despair is turn your back on God. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

There. That does it. I have revealed my titles. I am brimming with so many other goodies. I have been watching Cranford nonstop for a week...every night...while I craft. I have been very very crafty. My craft space in in major disarray right now and as soon as I get it "policed up," as my dad would say, I will take pictures of all the goodies and let you see them all. I have made no less than 6 projects in the past week. That is a lot for me. I have changed my mindset and am determined not to be without energy in the evening. As a matter of fact, I find that since I am crafting, I have energy all the time. I have mounds of motivation to get me trough work and into the evening with lots of energy to spare. Workin' it!!! More to come soon.

oh! My current favorite Cranford quote: "What good is a husband for the constitution? I have spinster carved on my bones and the doctor is a stranger to me."

My life "in quotes"

I read somewhere that my generation is a group of people who speak in movie quotes. I cannot speak for everyone here,but I think I might be the epitome of this thought. Pretty much anything someone says to me will be filtered by move lines and then (whether I say it or not) a movie line comes to my mind. Case in point: My sweet Lylah loves to rhyme now. She really has the concept down pat and she can rhyme anything. Sad though, that at school the other day our Librarian was reading a book called Rhyming Dust Bunnies and asked, "What rhymes with dog?" My kid said blog!! Oh my!!

Anyway, back to my point. She begins to rhyme and I immediately jump to The Princess Bride. Anyone with me? I know you are!

I thought it might be fun to list some of my favorite quotes and see how many of the movies you can guess. some will definitely be easy and others maybe not so much. No Googleing or whatnot. Ah, the Game is afoot!

In no particular order:

1.We're not going anywhere...Hey! Where're you going?
2.It's precisely the point of a loooong dining table.
3.Oh, isn't butter divinity!
4.Be gone J.Evans Pritchard PhD!
5.Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?
6.Sorry I lost your set of steak knives.
7.I do not think you would accept my help since I am only waiting around to kill you.
8.Would you like to partake of the pecan pie?
9.I'm exhaustified of being the boy.
10.I fear I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers .
11. Allow myself to Introduce...myself...
12.They should be playing "furry furry rabbit" or tea party or something/ What's "furry furry rabbit?"/ It's a game isn't it?
13.It's all those lobsters Isn't it? scads of lobsters in a tank.
14.Nothin' important...That is to say I heard a good deal about a ring, a dark lord, and somethin' about the end of the world, but...
15.She hadda go baffroom
16.I service society by rockin'...Rockin' ain't no walk in the park, lady.
17.I'm in the only room in the house where a boy of 9 can sit in privacy and decode.
18.That's what I said "booty traps"
19.You look good wearing my future.
20.Don't move until you see it./I can't see it./ Don't move until you see it.
21.There's a monster outside my window. Can I have a glass of water?
22.You know, I don't think that teaching is a "fall-back" position, and I grow nervous around those who do.
23.We are M-F-E-O... Made For Each Other.
24.Taste that Milkshake. There's real milk in there.
25.There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond and those who don't.
26."My lips hurt real bad!" and "Nobody wants a round-house kick to the face when I'm wearing these bad boys."
27.What would you give me for a basket of hugs?
28.Out of the way! We are in the throws of an exceptional emergency!/Is someone in need of medical attention?/ This is no time for sport! There is lace at stake!!
29.Practically perfect in every way.
30.Does little Snookums Wookums want a bony wony?..../ Little pinky pooter.
31. I am never in the depths of despair. To despair is turn your back on God.

There are 3 movies represented more than once. I could not help it. Oh I could go on and on and on with the quotes. It's quite addictive once you get started. Leave me a comment and your guesses. You can even leave me a quote and see if you can stump the chump. Fun times.

An excuse for an obsession

OK. I have said it before. I am obsessive. I obsess over movies, people, SMELLS (good or bad),food, crafts, babies, music, and the list goes on. You name the topic and I can tell you what I am currently fanatical about related to said topic.

Wanna play? Oh goodie!

Music: Right Now...Natalie Merchant Leave Your Sleep (I'll have to do a whole post on it soon. it would be a shame to talk about it now when I am SO OBSESSED I could talk a lot more)

Movies: Well Pride and Prejudice silly that you did not get that one before me. I have also added Cranford to the list. Maybe it's own post too. LOVE it!! And many many more of all kinds. My conversations are all made up of one movie quote after another...I have no original thoughts.

Smells: Love the smell of clean laundry and soap and freshness. Love the smell of 'right before the rain' dirt. Crazy for it really. Hate (and smell often because of all of our rain lately) the smell of worms. Maybe specifically worms cooking on concrete. Hate to smell most perfumes and air fresheners. Oh and many more. This may be my biggest obsession. Just ask my poor husband who gets to hear about each one...in detail...goes beyond "pregnant nose". I have the condition for life.

Food: I could go on and on. But, currently it's spaghetti. Had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday and only lunch, dinner, and a nibble of a snack on Sunday. Having it for lunch tomorrow too! Can't wait! Oh, and then there's Chick-fil-A...

Sweat: Why is sweat an obsession, you may ask? It's because I hate it so bad. Because it was 105 with the heat index today. Because it was 105 and the air in our car is broken AGAIN!!!!! ( to be fixed this week hopefully for the 10th and final time--by a new shop) Because it makes me feel gross, duh. And because I seem to do a lot more of it as a pregnant person. Oh how I hate to sweat. Maybe that's why I am a bit on the heavy side. I can't bear to sweat. No jungle environments for me please. I would be pleased to live at the North Pole. ( Come to think of it, the whole Christmas year round thing is absolutely perfect for me. Great idea!)

Sonic Ice: I try to enjoy a Sonic Iced Tea or Diet Coke(sometimes with lime) everyday. Now, I realize that this is not thrifty. I do try to go during Happy Hour when I can get the beverage 1/2 price, but if I don't make it, well....I might still get a drink anyway. It's the ICE!! I am obsessed with the ice. I am a serious ice snob. And for me, Sonic is about as awesome as it gets (except the ice machine at my church growing up--I could have sustained myself on ice alone my whole childhood).
The other day I got a big bag of ice from Sonic. Glen feels that this is an utter waste of money because he is not obsessed with ice. I, however, know that this $2 bag of ice, while more expensive than some crappy ice you can get elsewhere, will be the agent of giant amounts of savings. Just think...I spend $2 a day on an awesome beverage. That is about $700 dollars a year. I predict that my one bag of ice can last me 3 to 4 weeks. That is $24 dollars a year for ice. I can drink my own awesome tea at home. It is currently brewed with mint leaves and Lipton Decaf and a little Splenda. Awesome and nearly free. I say Glen should chill out about the ice and realize what kind of savings I am adding to the budget. With that kind of savings I should probably hit the fabric store and the craft store. I could use a few spools of ribbon.....
Look at that inviting glass of tea and yummy bag of 100 calorie popcorn. Tea that good deserves Sonic Ice. I will now enjoy a nice drink and a favorite snack and an Episode of Iron Chef America. Oh the OBSESSION with Iron Chef....but I will spare you the details ( because that would waste my time and my ice might melt)


EDIT: When presented with the evidence and the numbers, my dear husband agreed that Sonic ice is a good thing and "far be it from him to deny (me) such a small thing that brings (me) so much joy." Yippee!! No more hard sell for the ice of my dreams....literally. Pregnancy dreams are a hoot. I should write these puppies down.