It's Coming!

I can sense it...SPRING is on the way! Our March came in like a lamb, so that's not to say that we won't have some nasty weather in the coming weeks...as a matter of fact, I can almost guarantee it. BUT we have had sunshine three days this week!! 

I'm enjoying a quiet Saturday - After we went out to breakfast, I cleaned the house this morning and Hubby has been in the basement working all day. I have caught myself up on all my emails and blog reading. Linda, I tried to comment on your post today and kept getting an ERROR! message. After three tries I gave up. :( 

I made a casserole for lunch tomorrow, I'll post the super easy recipe in my recipe file section if you are interested. We'll have tomato soup and grilled cheese tonight for supper. Hubby has a hockey game to referee tonight, so the house will be quiet...especially since our cable TV was disconnected. I haven't missed it too much yet...come Monday night, two weeks from now when I want to watch Castle, then it will be a VERY DIFFERENT STORY! My dear Bobby has been serenading me all afternoon. 

The afternoon is nearly over...hard to believe I have so little to show for it. 

Contemplating

my day as I finish my coffee this morning. I have already had one cancellation for the day which leaves only one student coming later this afternoon. 

Most of my projects this week remain unfinished, so I need to dig in and get busy. I need to pay bills, trim Suki, practice, make a menu and grocery list, work-out and write a couple of letters. After I finished typing up the history on my great-grandmother I had an overwhelming need to write my cousin. I haven't got started yet, but a letter arrived from her in the mail yesterday and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. 

It's also time to make my ATC cards for this month...the theme is nightmares. I'm trying to be creative here, yet I don't want to put in as much time on them as I did last month. 

When I opened the cable/internet bill, I saw that they raised the rates yet again. They now want $141.13 per month! Hubby keeps talking about discontinuing service - he took the bill with him to work today, he said he's going to call. The problem is I still want/need internet here at the house and if we cut off just cable service they will raise our internet cost since it will no longer be "bundled". All in all it's possible we will only save $20. or so. 

I long for fresh air and sunshine; I'm starting to feel very claustrophobic. I am sensing the coming of spring, however...the longer days, sun trying to peek through the clouds more often, etc. By focusing on my projects this winter, it really did make the time go faster. 

Coffee cup is empty...time to go.

Peering Out

From beneath a pile of snow? Possible, but no, rather from under a pile of family history research. 

This weekend I brought out my family history scrapbook and tied up some loose ends on my great-great grandmother, thus completing her pages and moved on to her daughter. I completed 20 scrapbook pages, mostly of typed out history as I have so few photos from that time. I also spent Sunday afternoon and evening typing up all the information I have on my great-grandmother and will now locate all the photos I have of her and set to work on her section of the album. Thank God for my cousin who has supplied me with some wonderful stories that she remembers from her childhood! I plan to write her today and let her know how I'm progressing. I'm going to work on those members I know and have pictures for, then I'm going to bite the bullet and subscribe to ancestry.com and see if I can find out more. 

I love working on my family album, but I must say, I do find myself missing my mother so much as I "spend time" with each of the family members that she knew and loved so much. I found myself so homesick for her and family that I dissolved into tears at one point yesterday. I long to see and hug those who share my blood lines, to feel a connection to someone...a sense of belonging.  

Plans for today include catching up on some housework, going to the bank and the scrapbook store, writing my cousin, making a loaf of bread and salmon patties for supper; Hubby and Suki both need me to cut their hair. My one student for today has rescheduled for tomorrow, making Tuesday a very busy day. I'm looking forward to seeing the second part of the anxiety filled season finale of Castle tonight!

Two verses that touched my heart from God's Word this morning: 

Joshua 22:5

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁵ Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Also: 

Joshua 24:15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁵ If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Prayers continue for my two children currently without jobs. 

I had to laugh at Daughter #2's sweetheart yesterday. After lunch I made some cookies and Daughter offered him one (he's not one to eat many sweets) and he ate it. A few minutes passed and he asked me - "are those cookies for anything special?" Daughter answers for me "for consumption" - I said "I made them for you to enjoy." He then said, "so it's ok if I have another one?" I told him he could eat all he wanted and he had a couple more - stating how good they were, then when they were leaving, he went past the kitchen and took some more "for the road". 

Snowed In

Schools remain closed across the area, we haven't had a storm this bad in quite some time. You know it's bad if they cancel hockey around here!! Hubby left work early yesterday since his load was light and no one was coming in. He actually brought work home to do, but  took a nap in front of the fire instead and never did get anything accomplished. That's ok, he never takes time off. We spent the evening together in front of the TV watching Castle DVD's and eating snack food. I know I'll regret the eating part. 

This morning one of our large dogs, Mae, fell down the basement steps. She is quite old now and her hips are failing her, but she soldiers on. Today the steps got the better of her, but after some love and encouragement from Hubby, she was up with no visible injury. Hubby carried her upstairs where she has stayed. 

I had one student cancel yesterday and 2 others are rescheduled for today. I hope they make it. The weather isn't as bad as yesterday, but I think the schools closed because the road crews haven't had time to catch up. I guess the roads are quite bad and the snow continues to come down. So...if everyone comes, I'll be quite busy teaching today. The neighbor behind us has a 6 foot privacy fence and there is a section of it that I can no longer see due to the large drift (obviously at least 6 feet high) in our back yard. 

I still haven't decided on my next project to tackle. It's between sorting through photos and finishing my ancestry album. The latter will certainly take longer, but the picture sort is also quite a large project. 

Well, while typing this I have had 2 cancellations for today - there goes the budget. I have $60. left in my checking account, the first of the month coming and no idea if a payday is in sight. Must trust our Heavenly Father to meet our needs. Time to take advantage of the time off and get busy. 

Hunkerin' Down

It's blizzard conditions across the area this morning and all schools are closed for miles around except Daughter's university. I hate the thought of her out in this! Praying she stays safe. I will be amazed if I get any students today which means I'll be missing out on $67.50 in income for the day. Why oh why does it have to come down like gang busters on my busiest teaching day? 

Last night's episode of Castle did not disappoint. I'll be counting the hours until next Monday night. I have the strange feeling though that they will finish with a cliff-hanger as this will be the season finale. 

I should be able to finish my computer files project today, at least as far as I plan to go with it. I'm not sure yet what my next big project will be, I'm thinking maybe getting my heritage album back out, but there are other things needing attention as well. I'm doing my very best to stay productive this winter and making the most of the time I am shut indoors.

Prayer concerns remain the same - especially for Son's job situation.  I plan to help him out if I can come payday, but I don't know when that will be and I have to pay several bills myself. I'm trying not to worry and trying to leave it in God's hands, but truth be told, I am worried. 

Blessings today...I don't have to go out in this storm! 

Quiet Monday

Not much going on around here today. I have finished my morning chores and I'm planning an afternoon of computer file sorting. I used to be a better multi-tasker, but I'm finding more and more that I need to see my projects through to the end before starting another. I'm feeling better, just the congestion and nasal crud remains which is enough to wear me down before the end of the day. 

I AM looking forward to the start of a two part episode of my favorite show tonight...Castle. It looks to be a nail-biter and tear-jerker. 

Another winter storm is due - we're on advisory until Wednesday night. Thursday looks to be the only clear day this week. I'm so ready for spring. 

Prayer concerns: 
1. Son - that his lay off at work will be short lived and that God will provide for him in the meantime.
2. Daughter #1 and Hubby looking for God's direction in jobs.
3. Daughter #2 getting through the semester at school, and nursing a knee injury from broomball. I just hope she hasn't torn something. 

Blessings: Hubby is home from his weekend away refereeing a hockey tournament. He seemed to have a very relaxing weekend which I'm happy for. 

Down for the Count

I feel as though I have lost a week from my life. I have been wrestling with some sort of bug...cold, flu, I don't know but it's awful. I have run the gamut of symptoms and I really need to feel better and get my life back. I'm hoping to feel well enough tomorrow to catch up on some housework - this place is a wreak! 

Poor little Suki is having an arthritis flair up. She is so miserable and the baby aspirin doesn't seem to be working. 

Son called last night, he's been temporarily laid off from his job. He was told as soon as business picks up again he has a spot back on the payroll. He was living paycheck to paycheck as it was and now I have no idea how he is going to manage. He was doing so well and working so hard to pay off his school loans and now this. I really just wish we could catch a break somewhere.

I was so sick on Valentine's Day that we didn't do much to celebrate. I made him a card, he bought me flowers, we went to the grocery store for ice-cream and watched a movie. I'm not terribly disappointed, I don't feel comfortable spending a lot of money right now and I'm just happy having him with me and being in our home, together. 

Well, sick or not, I have some extra responsibilities this weekend so I'd best get to it. 

Celebration Report

Last night we drove into town to enjoy dinner with our daughter and her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday.  Our time together was nice, but not the drive down in the snow. I bit my nails most of the way.

We went to a new Mexican restaurant in town - the food was different but good...the service lacked a bit. It was good to have a nice visit with the kids, I took her gifts so we could watch her open them, I think I made some good choices, she seemed to really like them. I still can't believe she's 21. I can't believe where the time has gone - life speeds by so quickly.

The snow keeps coming down. Rumor had it yesterday that the road grader and snow plow were broken - after a snow storm and none of the roads were plowed. It was a nightmare trying to get around. Our street was one of the worst, because we live across the street from a "snow-dump". This is where the trucks full of snow come to dump their loads and they often make a mess in the middle of the street in the process. I had to have my students park a half block away, because they would have surely gotten stuck in front of our house. Fortunately this morning, all necessary equipment had been repaired and was back on the road. Our street is down to one lane, but at least we won't have people high centering out there. 

I got word yesterday that my mentor's father passed away on Saturday - offering up prayers for the family.

It seems I have caught my Hubby's cold, I was awakened at 4 a.m. with an awful sore throat. I got up and took an Ibuprofen and some Airborne. I think now at 8:30 the Ibuprofen is about to wear off. I never did get back to sleep and tried to go back to bed this morning, but once I'm up, I'm up. 

I think I'll lay low today and try to rest as much as possible. 

Special Day, February 11!

Today is my baby girls (daughter #2) 21st birthday! All my babies are now adults...boggles my mind! We are planning to head into town to meet her and her Hunny for a birthday dinner at a new restaurant. I'm just hoping the weather doesn't get in the way of our celebration.

Winter storm Orko brought wind and 8" of fresh snow last night and we're supposed to get another 4" today with winds gusting to around 40 mph. Schools in the area are on a 2 hour delay. The way the snow is coming down now, we won't have any trouble getting that 4".  

Last night's wet snow, freezing rain, and rain continues for Monday thanks to the winter storm moving across Upper Michigan. Advisories have been issued for the west half of the U.P. and some of them don't expire until Tuesday morning.

Today's U.P. weather forecast details are available on our website:http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/weather/severe

Plans for today include a general clean-up around the Little Turquoise House and the finishing my daughter's birthday card and wrapping her gift. I have one student today, if the weather doesn't keep her away. She's a high school student and sometimes her mom won't let her make the drive since they live quite a ways out of town...understandable. I got quite a bit done on my computer files yesterday - I worked until I could no longer focus on the screen and my brain couldn't keep track of where I was in the sea of folders. I hope to get back in there and keep going before I forget where I was. I'm still not happy with the files section of this computer. Google has proven itself untrustworthy to keep my files safe. I lost all the pictures of my ATC's...I was in there, saw them and was preparing to move them into a folder when they all disappeared and I can't find them anywhere. I'm so upset! 

Blessing for today: My baby girl. 

Trade

A winter storm has arrived. I called to make sure Daughter #2 was safe in her apt. for the evening...good thing I did, she had no idea it was getting as bad as it was so quickly. 

I had a nice video chat with Daughter #1 today - so nice to have a computer that is video chat capable. 

Yesterday was my ATC trade. All my cards I made now belong to other traders and I came home with a handful of new cards created by other artists. You saw what I created, so I thought I'd share with you what talent the other traders have. Enjoy! 

Hunkering down for the night...

ATC's

I told you I'd be back to share more of my projects with you, so here I am. 

I attended a class at the scrapbook store just after the new year and got myself into a project; trouble is, I'm not sure I have the time to see it through. It's fun, it's creative and it's social, but it takes away from time I'd rather be spending on my scrapbooks. 

It's called Artist Trading Cards. If you Google it, you'll see all kinds of them. Each month a theme is given that must be followed, but other than that, the artist is free to create what they want on a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch card. Each artist makes enough cards to trade with all the others that are trading, so if there are 12 traders, you need to try and create 12 different cards. I understand this to be kind of a big deal. You have to agree never to sell your cards - only trade. There are even groups that trade with other groups all over the world. We actually include a group from downstate.  

For the month of February, the theme is "felt" which means there must be felt on the card in some way. In looking for inspiration, my mind took the word "felt" and started thinking of feelings that are felt like love, sorrow, joy, kindness, which eventually was replaced with the Fruits of The Spirit and since it was February, and also because coincidentally, our pastor spoke that week on the Fruits of The Spirit and how they must come from the heart, I started each creation with hearts cut from felt. 

I had fun doing them and I'm pleased with how they turned out...so much so, that some of them I don't want to trade, but if I don't put them all out there, it spoils the whole Fruit of The Spirit idea and I won't have enough to trade with everyone. So here they are, my first attempt at artist trading cards. Theme is felt, my collection is The Fruit of The Spirit and the name of each card is the fruit it represents. There are doubles of a couple of them because I made one, then had a better idea. I hope you enjoy seeing them.

 Our trade is this Saturday at noon. Our theme for March is nightmares and the trade is scheduled for March 9th. I wonder what the seasoned traders will think of my contribution? The question is, do I continue to participate? 

A Glimpse of the Sun

I'm enjoying the sunrise with my coffee this morning. There is the lightest snow imaginable falling right now and it's so nice to see the sun - I don't know how long it will last, but I'm enjoying it while I have the opportunity. A bit of a late start this morning - Hubby and I have had a lot of late nights and haven't been sleeping well. 

Plans for my day include:

1) Some cleaning

2) 3 students from 2-3:30

3) Begin organizing my computer files

4) Blog about ATC's

I'll be back in a bit...time for more coffee...

Sewing and Mending and Hemming...OH MY!

As you all know, I have been MIA for most of the month of January. If you wanted to read back in my blog, you would read something about goals and an overwhelming list of projects to tackle. So one day...don't remember when exactly, it dawned on me that my projects were never going to get done if all I did was complain about how overwhelmed I was. DUH! I decided to limit my time on the computer, do my chores quickly and close my eyes when it wasn't done to my usual standard, then I took one project that has been haunting me and spent every waking moment available to get it done. The first project to attack was a 4 year backlog of sewing and mending. I never liked to sew, and the older I get the more I dread it, so much so that I had to literally unearth the machine from my studio closet and in order to get to it, I managed to clean out the entire closet on the way...day one and that's all that was accomplished. That's ok, that too needed doing, it just wasn't on my list. It took a little over a week - in between cleaning, laundry, cooking and teaching - but I managed to finish the following: 

1) Mended 4 tops, 1 pair pajama pants and 2 bags 
2) Hemmed 3 pair pants
3) Sewed buttons on a coat and a pair of pants
4) Made a new cover for a pillow I've had on my bed since I outgrew my crib and got my fist "big-girl bed". It's seen many covers over the years to match new bedroom decor, but it's always been on my bed...even in college.
5) Made a pillow for the couch out of an old embroidered dishtowel.  
6) Made 6 potholders to match my kitchen decor, two of which were just recovering existing potholders.

I still have one top for daughter #2 that needs some work, but she needs to try in on for me. As with all projects, I look back on the accomplishment and wonder why it took me so long to get it all done, but it does feel so very good to have one monkey off my back. 

I have missed you all and checked in with everyone and left messages (I hope I didn't miss anyone). For some reason, I am no longer getting notified of your new entries in my email. I hope to hear from you all soon.

Stay tuned for the next entry of what else I've been doing to keep busy. That's all for now from my snowy neck of the woods. 

Hello Sunshine!

We are expecting record temperatures today...in the low 40's! It is so nice to see the sun; I am a totally different person when the sun is shining. Best get out and enjoy it today, the rest of the week calls for rain turning to snow, then Gandolf will hit!

Already today I have dusted, vacummed, mopped, washed dishes and wiped down the counters. After a quick shower I will be heading off to the grocery store - since we finally got a half paycheck yesterday - then back home to work-out and make some cards. No students today.

Daughter #2 made it back home safely last night after visiting with her Honey's family. I imagine we'll see them both on Sunday.

Well...time to get going...

DO!

I've been thinking a lot about my list of things I want to accomplish ASAP and yet time and distractions cause me to lose focus and determination. I'm at that place where there is so much to do, I am overwhelmed. 

Today: 

1) Hopefully finish downloading some pictures I took on my phone that have been waiting for a new home in my new computer. I didn't realize how many I had on there!! 

2) Prepare testing sheets for students

3) Email fellow teachers to request requirement information for student testing

4) I just completed my first work-out of the new year. I chose ballet conditioning to start with. WHOA! Already my legs feel like jelly, my abs are sore and I can barely lift my arms. I enjoyed doing it though, that is until I couldn't lift the various body parts anymore! Tomorrow I'll choose something else, I have enough options I shouldn't...note, I said "shouldn't" get bored. I keep forcing myself to envision my spring goal. 

I feel as though I am starting my new year a week late. Christmas came and went so quickly as did my children and I miss them dearly. I miss them being little when I could throw my arms around them at any given moment. 

I started a new student yesterday - she is 70+ years of age! I'm excited! There are certainly different challenges teaching an older person. I do pray she does not become discouraged.

The day is nearly over, and there is still so much to do...

Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Another Week, PLEASE!

Many of you have been blogging away, I however, have been at a loss for words which has also been complicated by fatigue of all kinds. 

The message in church this morning was on not spending our time looking too long in the "rear view mirror". As drivers, if we do that, we will get in an accident. We also don't want to spend too much time looking at the gauges for the same reason. With the arrival of the new year, I have to admit I have been spending quite a lot of time looking back and looking at my gauges...ie, where I am regarding my goals, etc. As always this time of year, I feel as though I have taken 2 steps forward and 3 steps back and I need another week to get my bearings. Unfortunately, that is not an option as some of my students have already returned and the rest will be back this week. 

All that being said, I will make a quick glance in my "view mirror" to get you up to date, and then it's time to move forward. 

As I glance back to Christmas it's mostly a blur. All the children were home, so there were 6 people and 5 dogs in the Little Turquoise House and it was busting at the seams. Daughter # 1 and her Hubby spent most of their time in my kitchen baking up vegan delicacies, Son kept a spot warm on the couch watching TV, browsing the internet and de-stressing from his job. Daughter #2 read...a lot - she actually inhaled two books of pleasure type reading. I was able to see the movie The Kings Speech, I can highly recommend it and I saw my first ever 3D movie, The Hobbit. 

Christmas Eve we opened our stockings and Christmas day we opened our gifts. This year we did secret Santa and each of us were responsible for buying only one gift. It worked out very well, the gifts were nice and the focus was more on family instead of spending. That day was a culinary disaster, even though the turkey had been sitting in the refrigerator for 3 days, it still was not thawed completely and so we pulled out some chicken breasts and made up a plan B. Daughter #1 cooked dinner for herself and her Hubby since they are vegan. It all came together, but it felt unorganized and it certainly didn't look like the celebration meal I had envisioned. 

Daughter #1 and her Hubby returned to Chicago the morning of the 26th and Daughter #2 had to return to work so Son and I spent some time online researching laptop computers as I was in need. I said "was", because in a moment of weakness I put a new laptop on my charge card. Almost immediately after making the purchase, I had a horrible case of buyers remorse; all I could think about was spending the money on something that wasn't a real "need". I tried something new, I purchased a mildly used Samsung Chromebook. I'm here to tell you, it wasn't until today that I have felt comfortable enough with it to say for certain this was a good purchase. Chromebooks do not run Windows, they run Google Chrome and they come with next to nothing as far as instruction goes. At first, everything seemed so easy, but it wasn't long before I had a real panic situation going trying to figure out how to store files and use my external hard drive. Thanks to my Hubby, it's all better now and I am friends with my new laptop. 

Now that my "glance in the rear view mirror" is done, it's time to get my eyes back on the road in front of me. Like most of you, the new year brings with it thoughts of resolutions and goals. I usually fail at "resolutions", but at the same time I do have a lot of things I want to accomplish this year. As always seems to be the case, first on my list is healthy habits and losing weight. I'm planning to try something new this year...dance. I think dancers have the most awesome bodies...toned, strong and elegant. As a child I was given a choice between learning piano and learning dance. Sometimes I wish I could have done both. I tried some Zumba last year and I plan to do that again and add ballet elements and yoga to that mix. In addition, I plan to do some bike training to prepare for summer riding. 

Besides health and well being, I have a lot of projects I have on my to-do list. I have music to practice, sewing projects to complete, books to read, scrapbooks to finish, cards to make and give, research to do, and now that I have a computer again and can access my files, I can get back to taking pictures and writing all while teaching, gardening and maintaining a home. My biggest problem is organizing my projects and making the most of my time. 

As has been my bad habit in the past, I have once again taken a hiatus from blogging and then written a lengthy epistle to make up for it. I haven't checked into blogger for quite some time; I'm sorry that I missed so much, I will catch up as I can, or perhaps just join in from here. 

Happy New Year!

Philippians 3:12-14 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Eyes on the road and looking straight ahead....

Friday??

Today has felt like Friday all day. 

The Dr., rather the PA said my mole looks to her more like it has been scratched or irritated in some way. I'm not sure I agree, but I do see where she is coming from. I'm unsure, because I don't remember bumping or scratching it and there are no scratches or anything around the mole, it's only on the mole itself. Anyway, she hesitated to remove it right away because of my lack of insurance and we'd have to send it off to the lab, etc. She said waiting for a couple of weeks even if it was a cancer starting wouldn't make any difference. She said to put an anti-biotic cream on it and watch it for a couple of weeks and if it's not improved to call and she'd remove it. It does look slightly better than yesterday, so maybe she's right and I was too jumpy. Time will tell.

 

I left early to go to the Dr. and stopped by the post office, the bank and the church to turn on the heat in the sanctuary so I could practice. It takes about an hour or so to warm up. After my appointment I went back to the church and found it was still only 50 degrees in the room - either I didn't do it right or someone came in behind me and turned it back down. I practiced with my coat on, in the cold. Normally I don't have to do that, but because the Sunday School will be using the room to practice on Sunday morning, I won't be able to. I will still be playing the hymns un-practiced on Sunday because I don't know what they will be in time. We will also be performing the Christmas program on Sunday morning in lieu of our usual worship service and I have no idea in what order things will happen. Yea, I'm a little stressed.

After my freezing practice hour, I did some grocery shopping and came home, got some lunch and played on the computer. I figured a little down time was ok since I have no students tomorrow or Friday and will be home alone to get finished with my light cleaning and preparations for the kids to arrive. I may do a little yet tonight, depends on Hubby. I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow, putting on some Christmas music and working uninterrupted...I hope. 

'Night all!

Third Time is a Charm?

Daughter #2 came by last night and spent the night here, it was good to see her. We had a nice chat over coffee this morning and she made chocolate chip cookies that I'm trying very hard to stay out of. She just left; she has a Skype interview for an internship this afternoon with Specialized Bikes. I have mixed feelings as to whether or not I want her to get it. Yes, she needs the experience, but it's in California and she doesn't know anyone out there. 

I feel in a sense that I'm just getting my day started even though I already have supper in the crock-pot, I cooked lunch and cleaned up the kitchen as well as my floors. 

I don't have much planned for the afternoon, maybe make some cards and I have a lesson to teach at 5:30.

Soooooooo, I have a mole on my arm that I noticed this morning has changed drastically. It is much darker than it used to be, raised up and slightly red around the outside. I'm trying not to freak out here, but I have an appointment to have it looked at on Wednesday. Please pray it's nothing. This is the third cancer scare for me and I just pray it turns out benign like the others and that "third time is a charm" in that, this is the last time I have to deal with this.

T-I-R-E-D

I hope you've all had a good weekend. I've had a lot going on, and as a result, I am tired...physically, mentally and emotionally.

Friday I helped Hubby at the shop which always means a lot of standing and mind numbing, repetitive work. I was there for about 4 hours and then taught two hours of piano lessons, prepared supper and finally crashed in the recliner with a massive headache.

Saturday afternoon was the winter recital for my piano students. It started at 2:00, but that means getting there at about 11 to get the heat on in time to warm the space and get a table set up, decorations in place, check on the condition of the piano, rearrange some furniture and get the coffee going. This year I invited family members and friends to participate by sharing with us their talents whether they take piano from me or not. I asked people to bring other instruments, sing, do a reading or play the piano. There weren't many takers, but one family stepped up and brought their violins. They have two little girls, one played the violin and the other the cello and dad played along with them. It was so sweet! Then later in the program, the dad came back up and played a beautiful Bach prelude. What a treat that was!

This was a first recital experience for several students, most did very well. I have one adult also taking part in her first recital and she started out fine but something happened in the middle and she couldn't get back on track. I felt bad for her, but she seemed to handle it alright. I need to have a chat with her soon to make sure she's ok. All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon. There is some tension between me and one of the mothers, so that is always draining on me, something happened between us years ago and we've never been the same since; she always makes me feel inadequate. Also I hate talking in front of a group, and not being able to get programs printed, I had to do a lot of talking.

This morning I arrived at church ready to go in and start my regular practice time and lo and behold, there was the Sunday School classes practicing for their Christmas program. I didn't even think that the space might not be available to me this morning and as usual, no one thinks to alert the organist. I had three pieces of music I had to combine into a single prelude, none of which had registrations prepared. I also saw in the bulletin that there was a hymn I had never ever played before and of course two other Christmas hymns which only get played once a year, so they weren't practiced. It was a fly by the seat of my pants kind of day and let me tell you, anything that has to do with the seat of my pants is never pretty!

Hubby had to leave church early to take care of an issue at the rink - someone...maybe more than one someone didn't show up to their assignment which means Hubby has to find a way to cover it. I had to ask a fellow church member for a ride home and it's now after 3:30 and he is still not home.

It's a gray day...it's raining. Someone at church said "well we don't have to shovel it", true...but once it freezes it's going to be an awful, slippery mess! After everything that has transpired this weekend, I feel like just curling up in a big quilt and not only calling it a day, but calling it a weekend. My emotions are not handling things well and so I'm done folks.