In the Pursuit of Matcha

  I'm a girl who loves adventures, especially the unexpected kinds, and today one greeted me with its arms open wide. It all started out innocently enough; I had recently read multiple skincare books in my determination to clear up my skin and they all promoted matcha (a Japanese green tea). Yes, matcha is primarily intended for consumption, but I wanted to use it for face masks that I found multiple recipes for.

  This afternoon Mum and I had to run some errands and we were going to stop by a little country shop along the way where I knew that matcha was for sale. I was very excited at the opportunity to finally get my hands on this health guru-proclaimed super food and I set out having completely resolved to procure some of this wondrous green tea that I've heard so much about, and along the way I made three unexpected friends, hid behind a shelf, and waved tiny bags of walnuts in front of a lady's face.

  If you know me well you will know that I am a firm believer that the best adventures must be had on foot (preferably in bare feet) and so it was very fitting that as I was driving to that particular matcha-carrying store I suddenly realized that while I was wearing shoes, I had forgotten to wear socks. Don't ask me how that even happens because I have no idea either. After confessing that horrible fact to Mum she instructed me to stop in at a Dollar General and fetch some socks.

  I ran around inside of that store for quite a while and after finding some socks that had strange motivational quotes on the soles I bought them and promptly dressed my feet when I returned to our vehicle.

  Having fixed that little issue I went on my way and soon we were parked in front of that little country store.

  We browsed for a while and then I decided that it was time to find the matcha. I looked all over the tea section but couldn't find any. However, I remembered that they had a section in the store where they sold specialty drinks, usually the exotic sort. It seemed like the next most likely place for matcha so I abandoned Mum and ran over to the shelves of coffees and teas imported from lesser-known countries.

  While there, a particularly effusive and smiling, curly-headed woman walked past me and chatted merrily with her two friends. They were discussing walnuts because apparently the bubbly woman needed them for the dinner that she was making this evening. I listened to their conversation only vaguely because I was very focused on finding matcha.

  No matter how long I stared at those shelves I couldn't find any. But I wasn't ready to give up yet. I was walking back to the initial tea shelf and I just passed an aisle where they had a whole collection of chopped walnuts dangling in tiny bags. I thought of the woman that I had overheard and considered telling her about my discovery but I decided not to just in case I had misheard her or in the chance that she might be offended at my eavesdropping.

  I had just decided not to tell her when I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Excuse me miss, do you work here?"

  I turned around and that very same woman I was just telling you about was standing there with a hopeful expression on her face. I couldn't stand to disappoint her so after telling her that no, I don't work at that establishment, I told her I might know where the something was that she was looking for (after all, I had a vague idea about what she might be looking for).

  She smiled and said that she was looking for walnuts. Naturally I spun around and gestured quite dramatically at the tiny bags of walnuts. She laughed in a very musical and contagious way and declared that she was looking for a much larger bag but she appreciated my efforts. I wished her good luck and went right back to hunting down that highly elusive tea of mine.

  After searching high and low, left and right, for it I decided that I couldn't find it by myself. Just as I was about to give up, that lovely lady and her two friends came around the corner. I decided that turnabout was fair play and asked her if she might know where matcha was.

  I ended up explaining what it was to all of those ladies. They also discovered that I wanted it not to consume but to use on my face. It amused all of them so much that within seconds we were all standing around laughing. One of them calmed down enough to say that she bet I discovered matcha online and after I admitted that I did they all laughed again until they were shaking. Those dear women helped me look for matcha for a while but then we all gave up together and I followed their suggestion to ask someone up front about it.

  Soon I had a store employee walking confidently in front of me. She marched right up to that dreadful tea shelf and after rummaging around the back she pulled out a teensy packet of matcha. "This is the last one" she said. I thanked her profusely and was just doing a celebratory happy dance when those three women I had met walked by and spotted the matcha. They congratulated me and after laughing some more they went on their way.

  I glanced down at the price tag on that tiny bag and almost fainted. I walked over to my Mum and we decided that it simply wasn't worth it. I detested the idea of putting it back after knowing what a great ordeal it had been to actually find some. The three women were still standing around chatting cheerfully with one another and so I hid behind shelves and once they were looking elsewhere I dashed across the aisles and tucked the matcha back in its place. Having accomplished my mission I walked back to my Mum and we both left that place feeling like an adventure had just been had.

  I didn't end up with what I had set out wanting, but I did leave that store having experienced something much better, a completely absurd adventure whose memory will serve to delight me for many days ahead.

Of Food and Fundraisers

  Our church has had multiple missions trips in the history of its existence and I believe that their most preferred way to raise the money that they need is to provide a fundraiser meal. I have attended several of these meals already and truly thought nothing much about them. They were well planned out and quite organized events and there was absolutely no reason why I would have had to think about them overly much, the missions trip maybe, but not the meal.

  That all changed this past week. Our church is preparing for a trip to Thailand and obviously money was needed to be raised so they decided on a fundraiser meal. Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner they thought that it would  be fun to do a themed event. I heard a lot of different ideas but eventually someone decided on doing a salad bar and naming it "Lettuce love one another." Thus began all the puns.

  It's a missions trip for the youth of the church and even though Diane and I won't be going along we still chose to help with the bringing about of the big meal.

  Decorations needed to made, food needed to be supplied, willing hearts and hands needed to be offered in service and Diane and I were simply happy to be of any help. On Saturday Eldon drove us over to the church and dropped us off. Diane and I hustled indoors (it was really cold outside) and we spent the entire evening chopping vegetables, making bread, and washing dishes. It was some of the most fun I've had in a very long time. All of my friends gathered around several truly long tables and chopped away at vegetables for hours. It was such a bizarre thing that I couldn't help but enjoy myself thoroughly. The conversations had between the adults overseeing all of us and the youth were highly entertaining. It was nice to realize that the elders of the church were every bit as lighthearted and human as the rest of us.

  The pastor's wife, Diane, and I all cried together as we chopped onions.

  Nevertheless, all of that work was just a taste of what would follow on the very next day.

  On Sunday morning I had to get up early so I could bake cupcakes. Once we were all ready for church we left and Sharon and I nervously anticipated the event. We were to work in the kitchen and tend the food tables and serve anyone and everyone who needed any help of any sort.

  Once at church we munched on doughnut holes as one of my favorite people taught us all how to greet and thank people in Thai. I can honestly say that our accents held a lot of room for improvement, nevertheless it was so much fun greeting people in Thai that no one was overly concerned with the little flaws in our performances.

  As the church congregation filed into their seats we rushed to work. My first job was to set up the dessert table and so one of my friends and I set out on a mission (pun fully intended) to cover the surface of the pretty table with cookies and cupcakes until it overflowed.

  Some members of the church stood around sipping coffees and watching all of us bustle around the place as we set up and I didn't mind it since I didn't really notice them until I ran into a bit of a difficulty.

  We had large trays of cupcakes to carry out to the dessert table. Our job was to remove the lids from the trays and place the cupcakes onto lovely plates and arrange them in a pretty way. It was easy peasy until I had to remove the lid from a particularly old fashioned pan.

  I tugged at the lid, I yanked on the lid, I pulled, pried, and poked, all to no avail. I glared down at the stubborn obstacle and then looked at my friend who was having a jolly time of arranging her desserts out of her well-behaved pan.

  "You know, if I were in a movie some fine gentleman would come to my rescue." I told her mournfully.  She laughed a little and nodded, but I was still stuck with my problem, or so I thought. Remember those church goers I mentioned that were just standing around, chatting, and watching us work? Well one of those members in particular, a blue eyed, bearded, middle-aged man had been watching my struggles and after my distressed statement he stepped up with a smile and offered to help.

  He effortlessly removed the lid and I thanked him profusely. He walked away with quite a heroic air and I decided that fine gentlemen help damsels in distress every bit as much in real life as they do in movies.

  The rest of the morning and several hours into the afternoon we worked, but never once did it feel like work. I had the best time ever and left the church having grown much closer to all of my friends and a bunch of other people I had never really talked to before. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at any fundraiser meal the same again. It's not just a nice array of food provided for donations, it's a whole team of people giving selflessly of their time and energy for a cause that they believe is greater than them.

Getting My Driver's License

  The process of becoming a legally licensed driver was one of the most difficult and stressful things I've ever gone through in my life and I'm blessed because of that. I had so many little adventures during the eight to nine months it took me to become licensed and I thought it would be fun to do a blog post about my experience.

  My very first driving lesson happened a little less than an hour after I got my permit. My Mum pulled into the parking lot of a nearby biking trail and she handed me the keys after showing me the gas and brake. I was absolutely horrified as I stared at those keys in my hand. I thought that it was a truly idiotic thing to give me, an overly dramatic teenager, the keys to the family's primary vehicle. As I looked around the parking lot and saw all of the potential ways I could destroy the vehicle I started sweating and couldn't breathe properly for quite a while afterwards.

  I stomped on the gas a little bit harder than needed and so began the season of my life where I learned to drive. That first day, and for weeks afterwards I had a terrible time knowing how close I was to the edge of the road and taking curves was one of the hardest things ever. Instead of slowing down I'd stomp on the gas and send us hurtling around the bumpy bends on numerous little country roads hitting every pothole while I was at it.

  There are two quite large stones positioned at the entrance of that little bike trail parking lot and the entrance just happens to be positioned right around a curve in the road, therefore the first few times that I entered the area I would stomp on the gas and go hurtling straight towards the big rocks. Somehow I always got the steering wheel turned just in time to avoid destroying our lovely little vehicle. I can imagine that my guardian angel was very busy while I was learning to drive.

  Driving on big roads and interstates where the speed limit seemed ridiculously high was the thing that gave me nightmares. I remember very clearly praying one morning that God would give me as many situations as possible for me to practice my driving skills before I take my test and somehow I didn't expect Him to answer quite like He did.

  That very same day I had to drive on a big interstate that was rather busy. It was foggy and it was raining lightly and I had many times where I had to slow down because of different people pulling out right in front of me. To make it more interesting I drove past our destination twice so not only did I get to practice turning around, the whole dreadful day was topped off with me backing down the driveway to my Dad's shop. While I appreciated how well the Lord provided me with scenarios of practice for me I didn't exactly ask for such things again.

  I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and I had a lot of anxiety to deal with during those eight to nine months so while most teenagers view the road test as exciting and they just want their licenses already, I was a very timid person busily dreading my upcoming test with such anxiety that I was almost ceaselessly in prayer. I take things too seriously, I always have, and I took my upcoming test very seriously. Nevertheless, on the day when my driver's test was first scheduled I was woefully unprepared. I had tried parallel parking with mixed success and felt anything but confident going in on the big day.

  I tried to be calm, I really did, but I was still  quaking in my shoes. The driving examiner, bless his heart, was a very kind man, I can't really remember many details about him other than I recall him being extremely tall and talking rather loudly.

  The first things I had to do were operating various vehicle controls. I succeeded rather miraculously because he told me to do something I'd never done before. When it came time to parallel park my stomach was in one gigantic knot, a gigantic throbbing knot.

  I backed out of my spot and I recall being pleased that I remembered to look over my shoulders and all of that jazz, but when I pulled up to parallel park I knew that I wouldn't pass. I tried valiantly to park our vehicle and the dear examiner didn't say a thing as I tried and tried again.

  Long story short, I failed and did a magnificent job of it.  I didn't cry on the way home or any time afterwards because I was too busy thinking about the fact that I'd have to experience the whole wretched thing again.

  After failing that once I devoted my life to doing as much as I could to preparing myself. I prayed almost ceaselessly, listened tirelessly to songs I found comforting, and practiced parallel parking again and again using the system that my dear Dad taught me how to set up using four buckets and various stick-y things.  Day after day I spent hours practicing until it felt strange to not have a steering wheel in my hands.

  After fourteen hours of parking practice the big day rolled around again and back I went to the driving center. The second time around I remember how much clearer everything felt, and how alert I was to everything. Things looked brighter, sounded clearer, and registered better in my mind. The test day was blessedly sunny and I smiled as much as possible and spent all of my time in the waiting room praying. Some people say that taking your driver's test isn't a big deal, to me it was huge.

  When I saw who my driving examiner would be I was disappointed (in retrospect I see just what a blessing it really was) the man was middle-aged, a bit overweight, and grumpy, most likely because it was a warm day and he had a boring job. To his credit he spoke kindly in introduction and when Mum handed me the keys for the second time in that exact same spot I took them the first time, whispered a prayer under my breath, forced a smile with my lips and marched out the door little knowing that I was about to have one of the best days of my life.

  The man began by telling me all of the usual things that all examiners do. I assume it was the Holy Spirit that made this introverted girl open her mouth and we weren't halfway across the parking lot when for whatever reason I asked the driving examiner if he liked his job. The robotic expression he had been using slid right off of his face and he laughed in shock. That unexpected question changed everything and he talked to me cheerfully from then on as if we had been friends for years.

  All too soon I was told I have to parallel park, and I think that the Lord must have custom-made the examiner for me because he spoke the exact words I needed to hear throughout the whole process to calm me.

  I pulled up to the parking spot with my turn signals clicking away steadily. I took a deep breath, turned my steering wheel sharply and the next thing I remember is the driving instructor telling me I did it. I sat there in jubilant surprise and I'm convinced that it wasn't me who did the parking. All I did was turn the wheel and I don't remember anything else from then on till the examiner told I did it. Maybe the Lord took over, who knows, what I do know is that I was told the parking was done perfectly and that I had parked in just one maneuver out of the legal three.

  Everything else was just peachy. That seemingly abrupt question before we ever got into the vehicle had broken any crankiness that the man had had and the rest of the test was spent with us chatting merrily.

  I felt such joy after parking. The man told me I had passed without a single mistake and I felt like I was flying as I told my Mum and then the exuberance I felt when leaving with my license in hand was one of the happiest moments in my entire life, probably the happiest aside from being born again.

  I left the driving center that day having just gained a license, but now I see that the process of procuring a license didn't only provide me with a license, but also a much closer relationship with my heavenly Father. There are many things I can praise Him for in my life, and today's blog post talked about just some of the ways He's blessed me. Yes, God could have prepared me to pass the first time around, but I'm much closer to Him because of my initial failure.

The Highlights of 2018 - Part Three

  I'm back to finish up the highlights of my past year. It's been a lot of fun to be able to see all of the things that we were up to in 2018 and I can't wait to see what adventures 2019 holds for all of us.

  Without further ado I shall get right into September.


             September

• We celebrated Labor Day with apple pie 
• Sean and I raked the yard and he decided to be my leaf jumper (he squished the leaves into the tub we were using to carry the leaves by jumping all over the leaves as I scooped them in)
• I requested a heap of books from the library - to quote from my diary - 
• An adorable little hornet decided to rest in my curls 
• I accidentally turned on my turn signals instead putting on my low beams as I passed someone on the road, I felt as if I had just added insult to injury
• I got to listen to a speaker from Nicaragua
• Eldon's fiancee came over several times just to hang out and enjoy dinner with us
• I had a bit of a Dick van Dyke watching session
• My driver's test was officially scheduled for October the 11th
• Sean celebrated his stuffed bear's birthday and I even baked a tiny birthday cake for him
• I drove rather adventurously through the fog to get to my Dad's workplace to deliver something he needed and ended up backing down the long lane to his shop due to my highly interesting driving skills
• I began focusing more on practicing my parallel parking
• I read some spin-off fairy tale books
• We commemorated 9.11.
• I spent an afternoon with one of my good friends
• I got to listen to the very inspiring testimony of a young missionary at our church
• Mum spent an afternoon with one of her good friends
• I came to know of one of the greatest violinists in the U.S, a.k.a Brian King Joseph
• Mum treated Sean, Diane, and I to a lunch at a hibachi grill and it was the greatest thing I've ever experienced in any restaurant
• Eldon built a bunch of shelves for my Mum
• I baked a bunch of recipes from Mary Berry's baking book

              October 

•  Diane, Mum, and I cleaned out our vehicle 
• Sean and I spent a lot of time raking the yard (especially picking the leaves out of our flowerbeds)
• I read "The Book Jumper"
• Eldon butchered a cow and hence provided our family with a bunch of meat
• We bought a big freezer for our basement 
• Diane and I got be part of the cleanup crew for a stand our church had provided in a festival
• I practiced my driving a bit more in preparation for the big test day
• Mum, Diane, and I varnished the shelves that Eldon and Dad built
• I failed my driver's test (this was by no means a highlight in the month, it's only in this list because it was monumental)
• I began practicing my parallel parking in earnest (my dear Dad set up a spot using buckets and upturned brooms until I learned to do so for myself)
• My Aunt and Uncle came by for a short visit
• Dear Eldon kindly helped me carry all of our lovely new shelves into us girls' room. 
• I did a bunch of writing both in my book and as random scribblings in my journals
• Diane accompanied Eldon and I for the first time to the senior youth gatherings at our church
• All of my friend's took their driver's tests and passed at first try
• My Dad helped me some more with my parallel parking practice (I took my practicing very seriously and did roughly fifteen hours of practice in prep for test take number two)
• I got to meet a bunch of new people at church 
• We gave our librarians some cupcakes 
• I passed my driver's test and simultaneously had one of the best days in my entire life
• Us womenfolk accompanied by Sean cleaned out our attic 

            November

• I officially became an "adult" in the library's eyes
• Eldon and his best friend hung out often to work on my brother's truck
• My parents gifted me with an entire pint of the most delicious ice cream ever in celebration of me passing my driver's test (the ice cream was in the flavor of "Chubby Hubby" by Ben and Jerry's, in case you're wondering my parents totally bought it for me because the name amused them)
• Daylight Savings time ended and it felt like we were all gifted with an extra hour of sleep
• One of my best friends came over to spend a fun day going on walks, talking, and eating brownies
• Diane and I discovered that it's impossible to speak Pennsylvania Dutch with a British accent but it is possible to speak it with a Russian or Italian accent
• My friend pointed out the fact that the pillows on my bed are the exact shade of purple as Barney the dinosaur
• Diane and I began making Christmas ornaments for our tree
• Everyone began planning out presents and running secretive little shopping trips
• Diane and I fell in love with Michael Bublé's Christmas music
• I got hired by a sweet family from church to clean house once a week
• My sister's friends visited her several times
• I spotted a man in Walmart with his shopping cart full of fifteen heads of lettuce (and the man himself was rapidly filling up a third bag brimming with avocados) I so dearly would have liked to ask what his plans are for it
• Mum made a fancy dinner just because
• Diane and I watched "The Long Long Trailer"
• We went to my Dad's parents' home to celebrate Thanksgiving with them and our relatives and Eldon's darling fiancee was kind enough to come along 
• One of the librarian's and I realized we're both not Bob Ross in the slightest and we discussed our various art failures 
• We set up our Christmas trees

            December

• I baked a bunch so that I'd be able to contribute to the food department of Diane and Sean's group play
• My family attended the home school play that Sean and Diane took part in 
• One of my best friend's and I spent a day Christmas shopping and had quite the adventurous time of it
• We got all of our Christmas gifts bought, created, and wrapped
• We baked a bunch of cookies and Christmas treats
• Eldon took me out for a fun evening of perusing stores and then treated me at a restaurant 
• We went to the library quite often and Diane's stacks of books have officially become much taller than mine
• Mum baked all of her traditional fruitcake
• We celebrated my Dad's birthday
• We celebrated Sean's birthday
• Eldon's fiancee and our family had a bit of a Christmas exchange and pizza night
• I had to do panicked shopping when I discovered one of my friends bought a Christmas gift for me and I had nothing in return as I was completely unprepared
• I got to talk with very nice people that I met for the first time 
• My siblings and I attended a lunch fundraiser at our church
• My parents attended a Christmas party
• The very kind wife of our landlord dropped in to celebrate Sean's birthday the day before
• We celebrated Christmas Eve with good food, stories, and stuff 
• We celebrated Christmas and was it ever a good one!
• We ate our gingerbread houses in celebration of New Year's Eve

   And there you have it, or as the French say, voila. Our year was very long but you can tell it was rather full of lovely happenings. I always knew that life isn't measured by the greatest and grandest of occasions, but rather by the everyday moments. 

  While I was stressing over my upcoming driver's test my Dad told me something that can be applied to everything in life, not just getting a driver's license and I want to share it with you because once applied to life, everything becomes happier. I shall paraphrase it because it's far more applicable that way, otherwise it only applies to those ready to parallel park. "You can't always control every situation, but you can always pray and rejoice in everything."

  I hope your year is a wonderful and a happy one, and until my next post, fare thee well.

The Highlights of 2018 - Part Two

  Today has to be one of the loveliest and sunniest days yet of this year (never mind the fact that it has only been two weeks) and so with the beautifully glistening snow outside my window to keep me company as I write, I shall set about creating another post.

  I left off after finishing the month of April so I shall pick up with May.

The Highlights of 2018 - Part Two

             May

•  I practiced my parking skills
• We finished school and entered summer break
• I started a scripture writing challenge that I found on Pinterest
• My sister Diane and our little brother Sean went splashing through our creek
• Diane went to a cookout with her friends
• I baked cupcakes for our homeschool group
• I got an Instagram account
• All of my friends were persuaded to play carpet ball with me
• I decided to "wing" making a dress, including creating the pattern
• I was gifted an adorable silver spoon
• Mum picked up Downton Abbey at the library and I established a tea and movie time each week
• I parked our vehicle successfully without hogging three spots (which is actually possible)
• Mum and one of her friends had lunch dates and went walking (I tagged along once)
• The home school group play was had and I said goodbye to the group for the last time
• The dress I tried to "wing" sewing got stuffed into an unobtrusive corner in my closet
• Dad and Eldon went to a lumber exposition 
• Eldon officially got a girlfriend (who turned out to be my best friend from childhood)
• Diane and I took up playing tennis
• Eldon graduated from school
• Eldon and I attended a folk music concert

            June

• I accidentally ran into one of my best friends at the library
• Eldon and I attended one of our friend's graduation party
• All of us siblings learned how to play slapjack
• Mum took us to a beautiful old graveyard where I held a frog that used my hands as its restroom
• My family (excepting Eldon and I) went to a wedding of my Mum's brother
• Eldon and I attended several youth events
• My friend and I went walking and then made homemade donuts
• One of Diane's friends came over to have a cupcake baking day
• My family went exploring at Cooper's Rock (where us children bought some pretty quartz)
• Eldon and his girlfriend and her brother and a friend and I all started hanging out on Sunday evenings
• A giant white duck chased my family (and we were in a vehicle!)
• We all went wild strawberry picking
• We all tried kombucha for the first time and I decided it's delicious
• One of my dear friends got married
• One of my cousins asked Eldon and I to be table waiters at her upcoming wedding
• I got a bank account
• Mum, Diane, Sean, and I cleaned out our basement
• My Dad treated us all to pizza
• Diane and her best friend started having library days where they went to the library and then spent an afternoon together reading books and nibbling on snacks
• I sent in an application to a transcription company

          July 

• Dad took Diane, Sean, and I on a hike with the goal to reach a bridge where we would sit and watch trains pass underneath  
• Eldon and I went to watch the fireworks in town with some friends
• Dad and Eldon worked from home for a little while
• Dad and Mum gave me a bouquet of roses just because they loved me (and they gave Diane a special gift as well)
• The transcription company I applied for accepted me and I was enrolled in training (I wasn't given a job but depending on how training went I would become a transcriptionist)
• My friend asked me to come over to her place where we stroked her cats, watched movies, and went berry picking 
• My family went on a hike to a darling little covered bridge where the more adventurous of us walked over the wet rocks and crossed under the bridge (being careful not to get swept up in the waterfall)
• My sister and I went raspberry picking 
• We attended my cousin's wedding and I got to talk with all of my beloved cousins again 
• We went back to school shopping
• We butchered chickens (a most gruesome task no matter how informative or useful)
• Dad played baseball with Diane, Sean, and I
• I got to drive on a big road for the first time ever (the kind where you drive at an unholy speed whilst weaving among potential life threats)
• My family attended the graduation party of Eldon's girlfriend and I baked cupcakes for the event
• We started up school again
• Mum bought happy planners for us all and so Diane, Mum, and I began planning
• Diane and I watched our first opera, perhaps you've heard of Semiramide? 
• I actually got to sit under a weeping willow tree as the sun set

            August

•  I baked some sesame seed bread (my first enriched bread recipe ever aside from the disastrous brioche I once tried to create)
• Mum made bunches of sweetcorn; so much that we were up to our ears in it (pun completely intended)
• I was promoted in advance and became a full transcriptionist
• Mum took us all to feed the ducks at the pond by our library (Sean was almost run over by the greedy little things)
• One of Mum's brothers and his family stopped in for short visit
• Mum and Dad had a date night at one of their favorite restaurants
• Eldon became engaged
• I met my Sunday school teachers at one of my favorite restaurants
• Mum, Sean, Diane, and I went blackberry picking
• My best friend and I went bike riding with her family
• Eldon and his fiancee started having pizza nights with my family once a week
• I finished reading through my whole Bible (it had been a goal)
• We went to our country fair 
• We watched bull riding (live) and I was thrilled when I found out that one of the bulls had been in the PBR
• One of my good friends invited me over to her house where we chatted in a hammock (I love hammocks) and then baked cupcakes
• Diane officially entered senior youth at our church after saying goodbye to junior youth
• We went to the fair a second time and Dad gifted Diane and I with some money which we could spend on anything we pleased
• We went to the Flight 93 memorial
• Eldon's fiancee and her brother came over to play baseball like we used to back when we all little children
• I was introduced to the books written by Harold Hill (some of the best books out there)

  The summer months were very busy for my entire family and even more precious memories were created. My desire for adventure was nourished and I enjoyed many delightful adventures both alone and accompanied by family. 

The Highlights of 2018

  The year of 2018 was a very long and eventful one for not only me but also my entire family. There were plenty of beautiful moments that I shall cherish for the rest of my life and there were some moments that weren't quite as grand (I believe most people call these the highs and lows of life) but in today's blog post I shall choose to focus on all of the positive things that happened, both big and small.

  One of my 2018 goals had been to complete six diaries, or one every two months, I didn't quite meet this goal for just yesterday I finished my sixth diary of 2018. I'm quite fond of my little stack and therefore I shall share a picture of them with you.

   I shall consult these friends of mine for today's post because my memory isn't wonderful enough to remember what happened in all of the months of 2018. But, before I jump into the highlights of my past year I must first introduce you to my diaries since that is the only proper thing to do. Starting from left to right I would like for you to say hello to Charlotte, Ella, Lavender, Annie, Luna, and Avril. Now that you have met them, I can continue.

      The Highlights of 2018

             January

•  I earned a 90% in my Algebra on the second day of January, of which I was immensely proud. 
• One of my dear friends announced her engagement
• I made a goal to become more outgoing (especially concerning talking to people I didn't know)
• I read the Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
• I fell in love (with strawberry mint soap that is) 
• My family had dentist appointments and I got to sit in a chair with electrical malfunctions
• I got to meet a bunch of new people 
• Diane and I did some rather painful face masks
• My brother bought his first vehicle
• I turned sixteen            

            February

• I made a goal to expand my vocabulary
• My Dad and I finished a very large puzzle whilst becoming crazier the longer it took
• My Mum, Diane, and I had a bit of an "Austin and Ally" watching fest filled with tons of laughter
• All of us celebrated the Superbowl with plenty of good food (I managed to avoid the game all day and then walked in the room just as the Eagles won, I'm rather skilled)
• I gave up frivolous technology for Lent
• Dad and I went shopping and I managed to hit every corner in the store with my shopping cart
• My little brother learned the fine art of "testing" cookie dough
• The winter Olympics began
• Eldon (the oldest brother) began going to gym night with the youth
• I had to take my physical to qualify for a learner's permit
• Dad surprised Mum with pink roses
• I received a letter from a "twin" 
• I got my learner's permit
• My siblings (excepting Sean) starting going to gym night with the youth 
• I got my first driving lesson
• My family got a new vehicle

           March

• My family all cared for me while I was quite ill
• My siblings and I began going to another youth gathering at our church
• An adorable little girl declared  me to be her puppy
• We got to have Krispy Kreme Donuts
• My Mum took my sister to her best friend's birthday party
• Eldon and I signed up to take part in the Easter Choir at church 
• Mum, Diane, and I spring cleaned our storage room
• I began creating menus including recipes from a Rachel Khoo cookbook that my Mum gifted
• I actually got a 96% on an Algebra test
• Dad set up a bird feeder
• We celebrated Eldon's birthday

            April

• Eldon and I sang in the Easter choir at church
• I fell in love (with ping pong, that is)
• Mum became the owner of a beautiful Bible journal
• One of my friends and I decided to do a competition to see who could do the most algebra
• Mum gifted me with a lovely devotional set
• Us womenfolk (in the words of my diary) decided spontaneously to throw a birthday party for Diane
• We attended a reptile viewing at our library
• We actually had gorgeous weather for a day
• We celebrated Mum's birthday
• One of our cousins spent a little more than a week with us to help celebrate Mum's and Diane's birthdays
• I was introduced to the game of carpet ball which I loved immensely 
• I bought six books from the library for sixty-five cents
• My Dad pulled a newborn calf out of the creek saving it's life and then fell in himself 

 
  It seems that this post would be insufferably long if I were to list all the great moments from the entire year of 2018, so I shall break it up into three posts of which this one is the first. So many of the lovely little occurrences I listed above deserve more than just a small spot as a bulleted sentence so I shall have to turn them into blog posts in the future. What were some of the highlights of your year? I would love it if you'd tell me in a comment.

  Until some later date, fare thee well.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather.....  is dreadful, if you will pardon my negativity.  This Summer has been the soggiest and rainiest Summer I've ever had in my entire life. Unfortunately I have not, not even once, danced in the rain.

Right now I am....  I don't think I shall ever be able to read this prompt and not think "writing a blog post" but I shall try to be creative. I'm making a tortilla pizza for my little brother who wasn't very hungry at lunch time but is now experiencing hunger pangs.

Thinking.... That my dear librarian shouldn't have told me that I can access the entire library on their website if only I type in my card number and password. I've requested far too many books as it is. I had to walk away from the computer or I'd have wanted to check out entirely too many.

On my reading pile.... I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I was in the mood for a bit of classic fiction so I walked out of my library with "The Three Musketeers" (the unabridged version too. The very word unabridged sends a shiver of fear and excitement down my back). I've been working on that book for close to two weeks now (I'm regrettably not very dedicated) and I must say I'm enjoying it a lot more than when I first tried to read it two years ago. The humor in the book is such that only the classics contain and for that reason alone I would recommend the book to everyone.

On my TV..... I was extremely delighted when I found my favorite girly movie of all time, Cinderella! I believe I've already said it once before, but I simply can't keep myself from saying it again...I love Lily James and love everything about the movie.

Listening to..... The odd noise that is created when one peels a sticker off of a sticker sheet and the sound of pens being clicked. My sister is in the midst of filling in her planner for this week and I must say it makes me want to fill mine out all over again.

Something fun to share.... Why is it that I can only think of things that aren't fun to share? I can name a few, for example: chocolate (everyone knows chocolate is to be horded, sharing is unheard of); craft supplies (the only reason that craft supplies should ever be shared is if a fellow crafter is in dire need of one of your supplies and then it's your crafter's duty to be helpful); and lastly, books (far too many bad things happen when you share, or loan, a book to someone).


Some interesting bit of news that I have is that I found out that it's ever so much more fun to pass people on a trail when you're riding on a bike than when you're walking. I think it may be because the greeting is fleeting (no rhyming was intended).

Blog hopping (newly discovered blog).... This isn't a newly discovered blog, but I shall share it anyway since I see no reason not to.


On the menu for this week.... I'm not very sure what we'll be having for the other days but I do know that tonight we shall be having a Mexican themed dinner. As for the rest of the week, I'm assuming we'll be eating food.

On my to do list.... To-do lists are rather depressing. I have a small and quite compact one for each day (it wouldn't be so small but the spots in my planner won't allow for more which I'm fine with) and today's list included doing work, cleaning, school, making a blog-post, and going berry-picking. The blackberries are in full swing so I'm very busy as of late.

In the craft basket.... My craft basket is so overwhelmingly "overflowing" that I'm not sure where to begin. I have some crochet projects, some mending that needs to be done, and a whole lot of journaling supplies I have to sort through.

Looking forward to this week.... This Thursday my brother's fiance is coming over and I'm excited. I do get to see her often but I'm still excited because she's my childhood best friend and before too terribly long I'll be able to call her my sister!


I'm also looking forward to the youth gathering I will be going to, and another trip to the library, and most of all, going to fair which will be starting this Saturday.

Looking around the house.... I see a heap of craft supplies on the school table (happy sighs) and moderately tidy rest of the home. The bouquet of flowers I was gifted after taking part in my cousins wedding is still sitting on our desk. It's remarkable how pretty the flowers are staying considering the fact that I received them over a month ago and that they're real. Perhaps they just dried with their colors still intact. 

Bible reading....I've been reading and journaling my way through my Bible for quite some time now and last night I read the first chapter of Revelations. It's very thrilling for whatever reason to be so close to having read the Bible from cover to cover.

Of Books and Bathrooms

    I'm all for adventures and I believe that all awkward moments are adventures, just not the fun kind. It was precisely that sort of adventure I had recently.  
    This tale starts off as all tales ought to. It was a lovely, sunny day in summer. I drove to the library in the morning and was still feeling victorious as I walked into the library because I had actually managed to park our vehicle perfectly inside the marked lines of the parking lot. I knew exactly what books I wanted so I marched off toward the shelves with the vigor and assurance that comes with having a plan. Within a short amount of time I had the books in hand and went to check out. The librarian was a cheerful, talkative curly-headed woman, her curls alone have secured a bond of friendship between us. After my books were checked out I took them out to the vehicle and then went back inside to see if the rest of my family had decided on what they wanted, in other words, I went inside to wait on them. Mum informed me that a friend of hers is going to meet us so we would wait yet for a bit. With that in mind I realized that I needed to use the restroom (a.k.a bathroom, a.k.a powder room, etc.). Having never used them at the library before, I was slightly unsure how to actually get to them.
     I marched off and found the restrooms. I felt very accomplished at that time. Not only did I manage to have decent parking that day, but I had also just found the bathroom unassisted. The whole "I'll be a grownup in a few years" thing wasn't looking so hard after all.
    The bathroom was a small room with two stalls and two rather old-looking sinks. When it came time to wash my hands I noted that the rather old-looking sinks had knobs that you were supposed to push. Now I can see that the fact that you have to push the knobs meant the sinks weren't so very old or outdated, but at the time I was focused on my task and thought nothing of it. It was admittedly fun getting to push the knobs down to turn the water on. I bopped both the hot water knob and the cold water knob and the faucet merrily spewed a stream of water over my hands. As I washed I noticed that the hot water knob was loose so I bopped it politely to fix it and then decided it was time to dry my hands. I bopped both the hot water knob and the cold water one, neither stopped gushing. I stared at them trying to figure out how to turn them off. I pushed them both down, I twisted one towards the right, then towards the left, I smashed and bashed, pushed and bopped but still the faucet spewed water. I was starting to feel upset at the faucet, I glared at it as if my stare would scare it into obedience. I bopped them both several more times and then turned to dry my hands while hoping that somehow the faucet would stop spewing water in the meantime. Even once my back was turned to the sinks I heard the steady gushing of water. I stared at the wall for a bit longer but the water continued pouring.
    At that point I was a little miffed. That incorrigible faucet was mocking me. It was depositing gallons of water into the sink just to taunt me and I just couldn't allow it to do so. I bopped both knobs once more and when the faucet failed to feel the wrath of my gaze I spun on my heel and marched out the bathroom door, the sound of water splashing into the sink followed me.
    I realized that the faucet had won and that now I had to go tell someone about it. I walked slowly, ever so slowly, over to the librarian and waited patiently for her to finish talking on the phone, instead she told the person to hold on and then asked what the matter was. After telling her, she burst out laughing and told me that the faucets are automatic and they turn off after a minute or so. I managed to laugh as well though I felt it was an act of surrender to the dreadful faucet.
    I walked out of the library that day with far less energy than when I entered, and more than a little thankful that I still have time before I'm actually an adult.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. On this first official day of spring tell us something (besides the weather) you're looking forward to in this season of the year.

  In a little less than a month one of my cousins is coming to visit us, and it's not just an afternoon pop-in, it's a little more than a week that he'll be here. In this massive and unpredictable world it's nice to have family.

2. When it comes to spring cleaning would you rather wash windows or wash baseboards? Clean out closets or clean out the garage? Dust ceiling fans or dust bookcases? Wipe down the patio furniture outside or wipe down the light fixtures inside? Any of these tasks recently completed?

  Just the very words "spring cleaning" make me sigh. I don't enjoy extreme cleaning unless it's a craft drawer or something, because then I discover all sorts of forgotten treasures. I would rather wash baseboards than windows, clean closets than garage, dust bookcases rather than ceiling fans, and I'd rather clean light fixtures on the inside than the patio furniture outside.

  Recently my mum, sister, and I started cleaning out our storage room. Because of that I've found myself cleaning baseboards, dusting bookcases, etc. 

3. Your favorite thing to make/eat that calls for cream cheese? Sour cream? Whipped cream?

  My favorite thing to eat that calls for cream cheese is cheesecake. We have a good friend who makes some of the best cheesecake I've ever eaten, she's the one who really got me into making cheesecake more than once a year. My favorite thing with sour cream? That's a hard question, I love to use it as a condiment for most things. And lastly, I prefer whipped cream on top of strawberry shortcake.

4. I read here a list of commonly mispronounced words. What is a word that gives you trouble when it comes to pronunciation?

  When I look at the pronunciations of words I take note of them but then still pronounce it how I please. When surrounded by non-family members I make sure to pronounce words to the best of my ability but otherwise I have fun...take chihuahua for example, that word is tons of fun to mispronounce.

  A word that gives me trouble when it comes to pronunciation is butylethylmethylamine. When studying my science recently I spent several minutes just trying to pronounce the word when I came across it.

5. What's a song you love with the word 'rain' in the title or lyrics?

   Several years ago I came across Mat Kearney's "Air I Breathe" song on Air1, I liked it quite a bit and even though it isn't really my favorite song anymore I'll still listen to it now and then, (I also like "Love Like Rain").

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

  I love birds! My dad has always wanted to hang a bird feeder but with so many cats around we thought it was a dream that would never come true...until yesterday. I had a cereal around for awhile, it was a muesli, and being such it was full of oats and seeds and dried fruit. I liked it pretty well but it didn't make me feel the best. Yesterday after spotting a few birds in the back yard scratching around the snow, my dad and I both flung out a handful of cereal. I always feel so bad for the birds around here, they come back late February or early March expecting spring but all they find is snow, snow, and more snow. It brought joy to everyone in my family watching the birds eagerly eat the cereal, and because of all that, and the fact that the cats didn't really bother them, my dad hung a bird feeder and now we have whole passels (I'm aware that passel is not a very good word to use when describing a bunch of birds but I was in the mood to write it and so I did) of birds in the back yard.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Best place you've been lately? 

  The local gym. Every Sunday night the youth from our community go to the local high school gym to enjoy an evening of fun and games. I may not be the best at any sort of ball game, but that doesn't mean I can't nor don't enjoy my mediocrity, for I certainly do.


2. What's something you should say yes to today? Or this week? Or even this year?

  I should say yes to practicing for the Easter choir at church. I have never been part of the choir before but this is a year of firsts for me. I love to sing, but so far it has been in the privacy of our home.

3. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form? If so tell us how. In Western cultures the color green is typically associated with jealousy, nature, good luck, and growth. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'green'?

  No I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form. I never have. Last year we went somewhere on St. Patrick's Day and people were being chased all over the place trying to avoid being pinched because they weren't wearing green. I think it's the oddest thing ever to see a bunch of who I thought were self-respecting humans, running about the place, being chased and threatened with slight pain simply because they weren't wearing green, if it were up to me, I'd have it the other way around.

  When I hear the word green I have to think of the Summer, it is so wet and snowy, and persistently cold here, the very thought of Summer seems profound and almost impossible.


4. What's a product or service you love so much you'd happily be their spokesperson? Tell us what makes you such a fan.

  I love my shower soap (I never liked calling it body wash, it always disturbed me a tiny bit), it's  scented "cooling white strawberry and mint" by Olay. I love how it smells!!! The first time I used it I walked everywhere like the White Queen from Alice in Wonderland just because I loved how the wondrous smell of strawberries and mint followed me.

 
5. March 14th is Pi Day. How are your math skills? What's the last thing you did that required math of any kind? And most importantly do you like pie? What's your favorite kind? With ice cream, whipped cream, or please hold the cream?

  My math skills are mediocre to say the least, I just barely tolerate the subject as it is.

  The last thing I did that required math skills of any kind was doing my Algebra. My teacher seems to get a kick out of teaching me for around twenty minutes on how to do something and then says there's an easy way that takes around five minutes. Perhaps most Algebra teachers are so desperate for amusement they resort to torturing the students.


6.  Insert your own random thought here.

  When it comes to watching television shows, I'm rather picky, I'll watch cooking shows and house hunting shows, and occasionally ones about weddings, but I am not the kind of person that can willingly sit down and subject myself to watching baseball, or football, or golf, or hockey, or basketball, or soccer, but the one sport I will watch (aside from tennis) is bull riding. I'm not certain why I like it so well, perhaps it's the way the announcers talk, or the names of the dear fellows riding the bulls (after all, it's not like Ryan Dirteater is exactly the most popular name on the face of the earth) and I could go on giving various theories on why I like bull riding, but the one my Mum finds most amusing is the way I crave Cookies and Cream ice cream when ever I see certain speckled bulls.

Currently...

Reading...   "The Borrowers" .  It is a very interesting book so far. It's certainly a little quaint, but sometimes I like and need a refreshingly odd book, and it's perfect in that case.

Writing... A blog post, a handwritten collection of my life (a.k.a my diaries), and random half finished stories.

Listening...  To my little brother read what I am writing.  He's at that lovely age where sounding out words is great fun. To me trying to figure out how to pronounce a new word isn't the most fun, which is probably why I don't like Jane Austen's books as well as I could.

Thinking...  That winter is downright ornery. It was a lovely, though rather brisk day, yesterday, and then I woke up today to see snow, snow, and more snow. Dad says that by next week spring ought to be tough enough to not get bullied anymore....okay, so those weren't his exact words, but you get the idea.

Smelling... I smell like a man. To explain, the hand soap we currently have positioned in the bathroom does not smell like the ocean at all (the label lies) unless the ocean smells of men's cologne, which I never thought it did.

Wishing... That food would pop out of the computer screen for me (for free) simply because I wanted it too. 

Hoping... That the puzzle the ladies from my youth group and I are working on can be mostly finished by the end of tonight. As a random thought, ever since reading Anne of Green Gables when I was twelve, I wanted to go to ladies' meetings, and youth gatherings, etc. Now that I can I think it's every bit as fun as I dreamed it would be.

Wearing... A dark purple shirt and a dusty blue, or cloudy blue skirt. 

Loving... My library card. I wonder what it would be like if you had to stay at the library to read the books you wanted...actually, it wouldn't be bad at all after the doorman delivers my fourteen and a half trunks of belongings.

Wanting... I don't know that I want anything at the moment, at least not something that I don't have already. Right now I'm enjoying a feeling of contentedness.

Needing... I'm not sure what I need. Though I would like to think I need a cottage, preferably in the countryside of France. Yes, as an aspiring aspire-er I absolutely need a cottage in the countryside of France!

Feeling... Ah dear, I sort of spoiled this one two answers ago. I was feeling content then, and aside from me wanting a cottage now, I think I'm still feeling content.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?

  I wouldn't say I'm operating at a 100% capacity, more like a 94%. I think what's keeping me there is quite frankly my preference for books over productivity.

  Keeping my answer in mind, I think it's fair to assume that I would be much closer to, if not at, 100% if I didn't read quite as much.


2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

  I'm at that lovely age in life where I don't have to deal with taxes, and on a moderately related note, I am also at that age where I'm not old enough to plan Summer vacations.

  Spring cleaning has been started and it's certainly not anywhere near as romantic as it seems in all of the old-fashioned books.

  One task that needs to be done when Spring rolls around? I usually start organizing  my plan of attack for the rest of year, in other words, I break in my New Year's resolutions.


3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?

  Maple syrup and mushrooms are quite popular round this neck of the woods, but I don't like either. I will count chocolate as a favorite food from this part of the country.

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

  Leap at the opportunity. I'm not extroverted by any means, but an unconscious resolution of mine for this year turned out to be leaping at new opportunities and so on.

  Speaking of which, I may or may not become part of the local teen's book club. I've always thought it sounded like splendid fun and therefore I'm rather excited about the idea.


5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

1.   A few genuinely sunny and warm days
2. Playing human Dutch Blitz (the cards are the size of a regular piece of paper, the teams each have a table to hold their cards, and then "run the cards" out to the middle of the room. Other than that, the game is exactly the same as when it has the decency to be small.
3. Going to the library
4. Finding out that I have a "twin". I got home from our homeschool group one day and found a letter addressed to me from someone I didn't even know existed. (She's Amish) To Amish girls, having a twin (merely a person born on the same day/year as you) is exciting. She wanted to become penpals and since I enjoy writing letters I have another pen pal.
5. I noticed that out daffodils are growing and now I'm delighted since that means spring can't be too far around the corner.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

  I love Hallmark movies, there's something so cheesy and predictable about them that makes me love them so much. It's true that not all the actors are splendid at their jobs and it's also true that the scripts tend to follow the same pattern over and over and over again, but that simply adds to their charm. Every time I'm out and about for any period of time, I look forward to being home, and when I think of home I think of books, of family dinners, games, laughter, fun, baking, cooking, conversations, and Hallmark movies. Home is a wonderful thing, and so are all the things we associate with home, therefore I deem Hallmark movies wonderful.

Currently...

Reading... I just finished reading "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" it was such a good book! I loved almost every character in the book, and especially loved the way it was written. Nothing beats a good old fashioned book. Right now I am reading the first book of the Elsie Dinsmore series.
 
Writing... A very odd little story about how furniture polish came to be. 

Listening...  To birds. Can you believe it?! Right now it's sunny and the windows are open and we're enjoying the stunning 70 degree weather.

Thinking... That being a good driver is going to take a ton of practice.

Smelling... The outdoors, I smell sunshine and the dirt of the ground, the fresh scent of spring which I am wholly inadequate to express.

Wishing... That I already had my driver's license, the training part isn't the greatest.

Hoping... That I'll never drive my dear Mum into a ditch.

Wearing... A solid purple t-shirt (my favorite color) and a pale-blue "tiered" denim skirt. 

Loving... The beautiful weather, and the fact that my Mum doesn't panic like (or at least not as much as) all the mums do on TV when they're teaching their daughters to drive.

Wanting... A slice of cheesecake and a cup of tea.

Needing... A break. I may have only driven for an hour today but it felt like a year.

Feeling... Tired and tiny bit hungry. That could quickly be remedied with a slice of cheesecake and a nap.

Catching Up....

     A few things have been happening in my busy little corner over here, and I've been doing a terrible job of keeping you updated. Apparently it's never a good idea to decide to read "one chapter" of a good book before sitting down to write a blog post, because, the post never gets made.
     Now it is time for me to regale all of the the little things that have been going on around here.

        Little Things That Have Been Going On Around Here (don't you just love my creative title?)

1. Even though I somehow forgot to tell you about it, around two weeks ago I had a birthday. It was  a lovely day too and though I know it's not important, I did get some really lovely gifts. I believe one of my very favorite ones was this little gem. 
2. A few of my family members were suffering from the flu last week and because of it various fun events were canceled on our agenda. Thankfully we're all better now and I'm glad that my sickness of the year is now past.
3. The Olympics have begun and I'm so excited about them, the Winter Olympics are far more enjoyable to watch than the Summer Olympics, at least in my book they are (let's all ignore the irony of watching anything in anyone's book) 
4. I have finally gotten around to writing letters again. I always end up having much more fun writing letters than I imagine I will beforehand. Speaking of which, I have officially four letters to write this week. Possibly more. 
5. Last night my brother went to gym night, and I would have gone along but I had just been sick on Saturday and it didn't seem decent to endanger a bunch of other people's good health, so I stayed back as a responsible citizen simply doing what was best for her fellowman.
6. I have been inventing a heap of different quinoa recipes out of my desperation to use up the huge batch of quinoa I had made a little while ago. It seems I'll be having quinoa fritters, cakes, wraps, meat balls, stir-fries, and stews for quite a few meals yet. It ought to be nicknamed the never-ending grain.
7. Our kitchen's thermometer has been misbehaving for quite some time now, it is blatantly ignoring the snow spotted ground and declaring it to be ninety degrees outdoors.
8. Despite my best efforts to love my enemies, I can't muster even the tiniest bit of affection for my Algebra studies. I thought that advanced Algebra has to be a piece of cake compared to the Geometry struggles I endured, but if it is cake, I shudder to ask what the ingredients are. 
9. And something that hasn't happened yet, but I'm looking forward to, this Friday I believe, we will be going to the library again. Some people are ecstatic about traveling to Spain, Italy, Greenland, France, and the like (which I don't blame them) but I'm ecstatic about visiting the library, I have big plans, big plans indeed.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. February can be a little bit tricky given the weather and the winter and the whatnot. I read a list (here) of things you can do to make your February brighter which included-start planning your next trip, take more baths, make your own chocolate covered strawberries, and exercise in preparation for swimsuit season. Anything on the list you might try? Which suggestion on the list appeals to you most? Tell us something not on the list that helps make your February brighter. 

  Ah, chocolate covered strawberries sound incredible and would definitely make my February brighter.

  Something that isn't on the list, yet makes my February brighter, is reading books and crafting things, I've been really enjoying making envelopes and journaling. 

2. Tell us about something you've seen or done recently that you'd say was 'super'?

  Last Friday at TOL (my home school group) my friend and I won the game of Human Dutch Blitz. It was such a super feeling.

3. Best thing you ate in a 'bowl' last week?

   It was mashed potatoes. When I was much younger I thought mashed potatoes were one of the most boring things you could eat, but I absolutely love them now.

4. Something you're 'cheering' for right now?

  For Spring. I go to bed every night cheering it on. Perhaps my whole neighbourhood should join in with cheering Spring on because I don't think it can hear me, or if it can, it's certainly not motivated.

5. The Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 9th in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being all in and 1 being no interest whatsoever) how interested are you in the games? Which event do you most want to see (you'll find a list here).

  I would say I'm excited at around a 6, I'm certainly not fangirling all over the event, but I am looking forward to figure skating.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

  Right now the entire house is filled with the wonderful scent of my Mum's freshly baked bread that is cooling on the kitchen counter. I love the smell of bread, it's such a warm and home-y scent that I wish someone would bottle and sell. I'd never have to feel homesick throughout my life, I'd just pull out the jar and take a whiff.

Sugar-free isn't Sweet...

     Nutrition books and I are very good friends, I could spend hours in the library simply choosing which nutrition books to read next, I take my time when I pick them because it's always disappointing when I'm ready to read them and then I find out they aren't at all what I expected.
     A few weeks ago I picked up a new and intriguing nutrition book called Sugar Smart Express. I've read in other books that cutting sugar out of your diet will clear up your acne (sadly I'm a teen that's afflicted with acne) and now I've finally found a book that actually tells you how to do it, in my excitement I read the book in a few hours.
     It shared a plan on how to "detox" from sugar and I had big hopes of clear skin (and in all honesty I still do), but in order to do the whole plan you have to eat the meals and things that they give the recipes for. To me it seemed like no big deal. My Mum, sister, and I went shopping a few days ago and I picked up all the things that I need for my mission which has been lovingly dubbed. Adventures in Food: Episode Clear Skin.
    Today was day one of phase one. I cooked up my breakfast this morning, a pretty plate of savory pancakes topped with tomatoes.

      With my jar of lemon water beside me, I dug into the pancakes. Words can't describe the shock and confusion I experienced upon that first bite. Each pancake was like a sheet of gritty, slimy, and curdle-y mush. The taste? Unspeakably nasty. With my trusty diary beside me I documented the experience, "I wonder if stomachs can gag, I bet it was hurrying the full signal to my brain..."
  My expression was horrified and disgusted, you don't have to simply take my word for it, apparently my dear Mum sneaked an unsuspecting picture of me as I was trying to summon the courage to take another bite.
 

     It was such a horrible meal that I ended up throwing half of it into the bin (a.k.a trash...garbage...rubbish, whatever you wish to call it)
     I have decided (out of the goodness of my heart) that I shall share the recipe with you. I know the picture doesn't capture the terrible taste, in fact the breakfast looks almost good.

 Basil-Mozzarella Pancakes

1/3 cup rolled oats
1 egg
3 tbsp milk
4 tbsp shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp + 1 tsp chopped fresh basil ( I didn't use basil, I don't like it)

 Blend the oats in a blender until you have fine crumbs (also known as oat flour), add the egg and milk, blend till smooth, stir in half of the cheese and basil, plus a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook as 2-3 pancakes. Top with the remaining basil and the tomatoes.

If you do try them, I would love to hear what you thought about them, though if you don't try them I won't blame you, in fact I'll call you wise.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight...which 'end' phrase might best be applied to your life lately? Explain.

  No end in sight, it seems the book I am writing (it's a hobby of sorts) will never end. Inspiration is pretty much nonexistent, and I don't know how to find it.  Most of the time when inspiration finds me, it's in a random song, a quote, a walk, a happening in my life, and lately I'm completely uninspired. Perhaps it's not so much that inspiration isn't there, but rather that I am not looking for it, my eyes aren't open.

2. What was a must have accessory when you were growing up? Did you own one? If so tell us what you remember about it.

  I did not have a must have accessory, I grew up with my only fashion essential being a dress.

3. Something that made you smile yesterday?

  My sister, being the dear that she is, made waffles and berries for my breakfast, my little brother Sean saw the whipped cream and I let him spray it, his squeals of delight as he created mountains on my breakfast brought  a smile to my face.

4. January 30th is National Croissant Day. Do you like croissants? Sweet or savory? We're having chicken salad for lunch...would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, bread, or a roll of some sort?

  As completely absurd as it sounds (especially coming from a Francophile)  I have never had a croissant, so I have no favorites. As for chicken salad, I'd prefer it on bread, though it's delicious on lettuce too, making it a salad on a salad.

5. Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.

  A beautiful start to the New Year, filled with many adventures, and promises of more.

  I feel quite pleased, that was exactly fifteen words!


6.  Insert your own random thought here.

   I'm sure all of you loyal followers remember random tidbits of me talking about the home school group I go to, well, after a lovely Winter break, I am ready to go back, in two days to be exact. There are many things I am looking forward to, but getting to see some good friends again is the best.

Life as a Mechanic's Daughter

     Somehow, probably thanks in part to movies they stereotype a mechanic's daughter, the tendency is to picture a girl wearing grease smudged overalls, clunky brown shoes, and a red and white bandana in her hair. She knows the names of hundreds of tools, and has an obsession with a welder.      
     I'm a mechanic's daughter, and I certainly do not have an obsession with a welder, not even with a lowly wrench. I know hardly a single thing about trucks, or tools for that matter, it's not a fact I'm proud of, but I feel I must spread awareness that not all mechanics' daughters are like the picture I just painted.
  Yet, being the daughter of a mechanic, and a sister to a brother who is also a mechanic, does mean, sadly enough, that I get called out to help with all sorts of odd mechanic-related situations every once in a while.
   I had a very long day yesterday, I went to the library, dropped off an invoice for a client Dad did some mechanic work for, went to the bank, and to Goodwill. By the time my Mum and I got home, I was exhausted and extremely ready to read the books I had checked out.
    As I walked up the sidewalk towards our porch steps I recoiled in disgust when a horrid stench filled my nose, I'm not the most observant when I'm tired, so it took me a little time to realize that Eldon (my eldest brother) was spraying primer onto a fuel tank that he's working on for the truck he just bought (this is a ton of information, so just bear with me here) for those of you who do not know how primer smells, you'll have to believe me when I say that it's stinky.
    My brother spotted me almost immediately and gestured me over. My Dad wasn't at home at the moment so my brother was short a helper, here's when I come in.
  I know hardly a thing about how mechanics, and people who paint trucks, and truck parts (namely fuel tanks) dry their projects properly, however they do it, I'm almost certain it is not how my brother does it. He had our tractor's bucket raised, then he hung the fuel tank from a very strong wire that he had attached to the bucket, his primer-ing and painting took place in such a position. It's quite ingenious in my opinion. But I was needed to hold the tank carefully as he repositioned the tractor. It was difficult, at least to me, and a mini adventure, and in the end I smelled of primer, but it was rather nice to feel useful even when I have no idea what I'm doing.
  Another time, I was needed to spray starting fluid while my brother tried to start a rather dreadful lump of a tractor. I won't go into detail. but in the end I reeked of starting fluid. Why is it, that everything mechanics use reek?

  This was quite possibly the strangest post I have ever made, and I'm not certain if I understand it all either, but now you know that even though I prefer beautiful things, and sweet things, and rather romantic hobbies and such, I do occasionally help with projects that stink.
   Enjoy your week everyone, and I hope for your sake that all of your projects will be stench-free. 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? Share a recent compliment you've given or received.

  I think I always appreciate a compliment, but some compliments do make me blush, or fidget, I'm not certain why, I suppose I'm rather ridiculous at times.

  A recent compliment I've received was by one of my friends at Sunday school who said I have beautiful writing, and a recent compliment I've given would have been last night, when I complimented my six year old brother's salad that he mostly made by himself.


2. Ten little things you are loving right now.

  I love it when I'm asked what little things I love, I do believe that you can tell more about a  person when they tell you the little things that they love (like snuggling with their cat, and late night's spent reading) than when they say they love something like sports or art.

  The ten little things that I am loving right now, are as follows:

1. Listening to the clock's ticking when everything is quiet
2. The coffee and chocolate granola that I'm eating for breakfast
3. The scent of my shower wash (a.k.a, soap)
4. The pen I use to write in my journal
5. The clicky noise the keyboard makes as I type
6. My little brother's smile
7. Cheery light in the room despite the dreariness outside
8. The bright red poinsettia beside me
9. The pasta maker my Mum just got
10. The smell of soup in the kitchen

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Do you see yourself that way? I read here  a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook? If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?

  Even though I have times when I can be less than ecstatic and bubbling with enthusiasm, I think that most of the time people do see me as a positive person. I am certain that for at least the most of the day, I'm cheerful.

  I believe it's obvious from the previous question, that I daily appreciate little things, I also keep a daily diary (aren't diaries journals that are updated daily?) which always puts me in a more positive mood.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day?

  My favorite kind of soup on a cold winter's day is my Mum's homemade chicken and dumpling soup.

5. The best part of my day is....

  I'm not sure this counts, since it's not really part of the "day" so much as it is the evening/night, but my favorite part is after dinner when I get to settle down and read, or journal, and pursue various hobbies. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

  Yesterday was a beautifully sunny day and smelled delicious just as Spring does, and I was already hoping that it was indeed an early Spring, unfortunately, I woke up this morning to a light new coating of snow on the ground. I would be disappointed, but I suppose our cozy winter days will just have to be enjoyed a bit longer.

Daybook

 Today..... Saturday, January 20, 2018

Looking out my window..... I see a bunch of brown grass showing in the field across the road, and quite a few cows standing around and chewing their cud.

I am thinking.....  That Saturdays are the perfect days to spend journaling.

I am thankful.....  For catalogs with hand-drawn pictures like this one.

One of my favorite things..... Is the paper trimmer my Mum bought last year during the back to school sale. I use it so often, no more crooked lines for me!

I am wearing.....  A sea-foam-green shirt, and cream colored skirt with mauve flowers.

I am creating.....  A new junk journal. I'm still using my old one, but it's rapidly being filled and it's about time I make a new one.

I am reading..... Like usual, a nutrition book. As of today, I am reading "The Happiness Diet", it's a very good book and I love all the history they give on various "foods", take Crisco for example.

I am hoping.....  That my family will still be in good health for tomorrow so that we can go to church. Sicknesses in the Winter are so unpredictable that I'm never certain that our plans shall go unaffected.

I am learning.....  How to make a journal cover that isn't warped, or weak, or lopsided. I believe the journal I'm working on now is my eighth (?).

In the kitchen.....  A pan of blueberry lemon cupcakes are cooling before I can go frost them.

Picture thought..... Just looking at my journaling supplies makes me happy.