Reckless Recreation: The Forms

I thought I would use today's miscellaneous post to update about the foundation.  Because we live in such a visible place and Aaron is a prominent member of the community, we get A LOT of questions about what we are doing.  Everywhere we go people ask; school, church, library, general store...people even stop and ask us.  

Yesterday I decided that we would tell them that we were almost ready to add water to the indoor pool we are building.  We told the kids to tell people that too and Ben got the biggest smile and started to do the "excited arm shake" when we told him that we weren't really putting in a pool.  Poor kid, we broke his heart!

Ok so here is the photographic update.

Can you see the doorknob?

This is what we had to do because more than once several of us opened the front door, forgetting that there was a pit.

Looking out the front door to the right

and to the left

Straight on

Outside view

So the plan is to bring the two sets of double windows forward, remove the current front door and create an entryway from the driveway to the left hand end (as you face it.)  When you enter the new addition you enter the mud room with an easy mop floor, closets and benches that open to store winter gear.  Where the dining room windows were will be left open as an archway door into the house.  The right hand side of the addition will become Sophie's new room.


Under the new addition will be storage.  We are trying to decide if we pour a slab or lay down plastic and crushed stone.  I am leaning toward a slab.


So there you have it!  I'll keep you updated as we move forward!

W.F.D.T.R: Veggie Burgers

A few weeks ago I got a book free at the Giving Closet in Greensboro.  When I opened it to read it the other day a recipe for Garbanzo Burgers fell out.

For dinner we had hamburgers because I knew no one would like them, but I loved them.  I want to try them with black beans as well.  Noah also liked them.


I approached Aaron with a garbanzo burger loaded with ketchup and mustard and asked him to try it.  He whimpered and said something about being scared.  I was about to ask him how much he loved me when he took a bite of his own free will and choice.  He accidentally inhaled the mustard and began choking and coughing.  He put the burger down and said, "It just isn't appealing." 


A few moments later he began eating again and finished the burger.  His assessment..."There really is nothing offensive about this."  Sounds bad but coming from Aaron, who hates chick peas and mushrooms...It was the best compliment he could have given me.

Parenting Practices: Balancing Act

Recent activities have created a conundrum in my brain.  On Friday and Saturday the 18^th and 19^th we watched Sophie’s dance performance of The Secret Garden.  Since January she has had an extra practice each week, and the last month she has been at dance class on Saturdays from 11:30 to 3:30.  

Then the week of the performance she had a blocking rehearsal Wednesday, a dress rehearsal Thursday and then the two performances.

 On top of that I sewed three dresses for the performance.  Through it all we repeated over and over, “This is too much.  There is no way we are doing the performance next year.”  

These are the three dresses (though you can't see them well)

Two of the three

But then we watch the show (which is pretty amazing) and see Sophie dancing gracefully and joyously it all seems worth it and I am already making plans for “next year.”

House staff Member

Her starring role as a bluebird (sorry about the photo quality.  I didn't have time to learn how to shoot performances)

I know this is super blurry, but you can see form and movement through it...right?

Triumphant after the show.

A new found friend who danced the role of Mary

Exchanging info so they can keep in touch over the summer.

I struggle to know what the right balance is in providing extracurricular activities for the kids.  I value family time and I don’t want to be a roadrunner. 

 So often I see something I want to photograph and I can’t stop to do it because I am in a hurry to get somewhere.  I need more time to stop and smell the roses. 

Or calendula etc...

As a general rule the kids can choose one activity per season to be involved in.  Sophie does dance and soccer.  Jacob does gymnastics and t-ball.  Ben has decided he doesn’t want to do baseball but is looking forward to soccer.  Then factor in church and play dates and time is short.

Ben kind of lives in his own little world so he doesn’t really have a lot of extracurricular interests and when he tries something he often gets frustrated because it is hard for him to focus and feel successful.  I always feel like he gets the short end of the stick socially and emotionally.

So the question is: What is the right balance?  I know I need to sacrifice for my children’s growth and development, but what is the tipping point where we are so busy we can’t take time to focus on the most important things?

L.S.N.E.D: Mercury Dime

This is the 1920 Mercury Dime that we found in the dirt pile.  I found a website that talks about the condition of the dime affecting its value.  This dime is in "very fine" condition based on the visible distinction of the cap from the hairline, the ridges in the feathers and some lines on the back, which I forgot to photograph.

 

Did you know that it is called the mercury dime because the image on the front of the dime was often confused with the image of the Roman god, Mercury?  It is also called the Winged Liberty Dime as the image is actually of Lady Liberty.  This dime could be worth anywhere from $.18 to $200, but is probably worth between $6 and $7.  We'll be  keeping it around though, honored that it choose to surface after so many years.

Deep Thoughts: Drawing a Blank

I think I need to do something different on Sunday's because by the time I am home from church I am beat from primary and I don't feel like I have any deep thoughts.  So today I will share a picture from the back of the cement truck.  For some reason I liked it.  If I knew why I liked it then maybe I could call that a deep thought.  I'll work on it.

I had some fun playing with some of the features on Picasa.

Pencil Sketch

I think the neon is super cool, especially the rust on the bottom.

Family Friday: The "Extended" Family

I hate to be a barnyard biddie, but.....

These two were out ALL night...together...unsupervised. 

I wish I could say that he was a gentleman, but knowing his character, I find it unlikely.

For shame!!!!  He is bragging! Is nothing sacred?

Oh the scandals in the barnyard....what would their parents think?  Youth...I mean chickens these days.....