tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87323708784889845872024-03-05T22:28:08.606-06:00A Wish In the WoodsLunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.comBlogger279125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-66482397247452328182020-11-23T20:48:00.004-06:002020-11-23T20:48:35.940-06:00Revamping<p> I hope to revamp/reclaim my blog to make it art of my lifestyle changes.</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-1013070142100732292018-03-24T09:09:00.000-05:002018-03-24T09:42:46.919-05:00Pizza with a TexMex flavor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKnzNmneUMOp-NnYGU_UyXZ7qhAUr0i8Z1MhBx17gsRbkCVISUDWCvVIGDGy9qpP4lRQn7qvrgW8d77I9y3_YYQazSAnH71NOijX7fvvyFPJmeO8QkFDNd0TG3EG0oO_6-ZHFPzntdC8/s1600/20180323_191644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKnzNmneUMOp-NnYGU_UyXZ7qhAUr0i8Z1MhBx17gsRbkCVISUDWCvVIGDGy9qpP4lRQn7qvrgW8d77I9y3_YYQazSAnH71NOijX7fvvyFPJmeO8QkFDNd0TG3EG0oO_6-ZHFPzntdC8/s400/20180323_191644.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night we made homemade pizza. It was so good! We hadn't done that in at least a couple of years! There's really not a recipe other than for the crust but I can give approximate amounts. This is one of our favorite crusts ever! It's an easy, dense and heavy Whole Wheat crust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven and pizza stone to 425 (We used our pizza stone under the pizza pan)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 cups whole wheat flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3/4 tsp sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tbsp honey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 envelope quick rise yeast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup warm water</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix flour, salt and yeast in large bowl, make a well in the middle and add the honey and warm water. Mix well until a ball forms. (You may have to add a little extra bit of water a tsp. at a time) I knead the dough a few times in the bowl to make sure it's mixed well. Put it in a warm place covered with a damp cloth and let it rise 20-30 minutes while you prepare the sauce and toppings. It won't rise much but it will rise a little. Punch it down before pressing it into a greased pizza pan. Bake the crust for 4 minutes before adding the toppings. Let it cool a few minutes before proceeding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sauce:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup sauce plus 2 TBSP tomato paste</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(I had spaghetti sauce left over from the previous evening's dinner)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp. Chili Powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp. ground Cumin</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 tsp. ground Chipotle Pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">mix together and set aside</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Toppings:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4 to 6 oz Chorizo Sausage, cooked and crumbled.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (or mozzarella)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup shredded Mexican blended cheeses (or cheddar)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup chopped onion (we like to use red onion)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped bell pepper(s) of your choice </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup cooked black beans</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 small can (2.25 oz) sliced black olives</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup corn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">**optional: shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, taco sauce added just before serving.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spread the sauce evenly over the crust and then top with the Mozzarella or Jack cheese.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">add the sausage, onion, chopped peppers, black beans, corn and olives, the rest of the cheese, and finally the crushed tortilla chips.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cook for 15 minutes, start paying attention when it's cooked 12 minutes to avoid over cooking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let cool a few minutes before cutting.</span><br />
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<br />Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-63182059396307655352017-10-01T10:50:00.000-05:002017-10-01T10:50:05.018-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b5i13SAX-Jp6ahPbiColVMJZblnRV6oZ5ayUBE18LH_2QyMvynbZfk51k205PGBiRlxUcd-bDJ4b7zvkGbdYojVeKA5rzvrIi3UdYWxN1h2jub-rzGejL8Sf1AzdeganSP6o6Ml4zzY/s1600/IMG_20170929_084217_966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b5i13SAX-Jp6ahPbiColVMJZblnRV6oZ5ayUBE18LH_2QyMvynbZfk51k205PGBiRlxUcd-bDJ4b7zvkGbdYojVeKA5rzvrIi3UdYWxN1h2jub-rzGejL8Sf1AzdeganSP6o6Ml4zzY/s320/IMG_20170929_084217_966.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
She is sunshine on a cloudy day!Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-27706498145727689802017-07-24T20:19:00.001-05:002017-07-24T20:19:07.449-05:00I am a Prexisting Condition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5uml5EEPMoqHDf_JBJcjCg9nhCsKAKDXvrDCNbxFjjxOqL6GIluOkpr3_I1HtULoUcNNNleYP6rfZxsiNh7fuNYlpgY6Jz3h4NPK4_ZMvs3oTjOYEBhxf5HNKttK_vXlBvCLfnxmpa0/s1600/20170724_092928.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5uml5EEPMoqHDf_JBJcjCg9nhCsKAKDXvrDCNbxFjjxOqL6GIluOkpr3_I1HtULoUcNNNleYP6rfZxsiNh7fuNYlpgY6Jz3h4NPK4_ZMvs3oTjOYEBhxf5HNKttK_vXlBvCLfnxmpa0/s320/20170724_092928.mp4" width="180" /></a></div>
This is my granddaughter Princess Buttercup born with Spina Bifida! She will be affected by REPEAL of the ACA without a compassionate replacement plan!Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-42118056262922740442017-07-22T20:14:00.000-05:002017-07-22T20:34:21.609-05:00HEALTHIER MONGOLIAN BEEF RECIPE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxYsylROqD66NfloaN8_Qg-oy7IjRhg9YvDIJE8DUhtJo_bnOZxIzBLxaC99G9bl5-CKbos1cdhqnICjR-V4pDWN7rpRUkddZ5Zf3C8Mad7lKPbQGWcNAzZGHC0n-AiHN7Oq1Z2Dx5kI/s1600/Skinny+Mongolian+Beef+and+vegetables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxYsylROqD66NfloaN8_Qg-oy7IjRhg9YvDIJE8DUhtJo_bnOZxIzBLxaC99G9bl5-CKbos1cdhqnICjR-V4pDWN7rpRUkddZ5Zf3C8Mad7lKPbQGWcNAzZGHC0n-AiHN7Oq1Z2Dx5kI/s320/Skinny+Mongolian+Beef+and+vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">HEALTHIER MONGOLIAN BEEF <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">4 Servings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce *(or sub 2TBSP
Bragg’s Aminos)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 tsp. sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 tsp. cornstarch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 TBSP. rice vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 TBSP<u> </u>Hoisin sauce <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2 tsp Chili Garlic Paste *(or sub 2tsp
Siracha+2cloves minced garlic+1/2tsp sesame oil)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2 tsp. vegetable oil (I used canola oil)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 tbsp. ginger, minced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 garlic clove, minced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">10 0z.lean sirloin beef, thinly sliced across
the grain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">½ cup thinly sliced onion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">12 oz package of frozen Cauliflower/Broccoli/Carrot Blend
thawed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 tsp sesame seed (garnish, optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Directions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Stir together the soy sauce (or Bragg’s
Aminoszzzz0, sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, hoisin, and chili paste (or the
Sriacha/garlic/sesame oil substitution given above)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Heat the 2 tsp vegetable oil in a nonstick
skillet over medium high heat. Add the ginger, garlic, and beef. Cook until
beef is browned. Add the onions and cook until the onions soften. Add the
thawed vegetable blend and warm through. Add the sauce, bring to a boil and
cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Sprinkle with Sesame seeds as garnish before serving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Serving suggestion: Serve over cooked *brown
rice, quinoa, or Zucchini Noodles <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">*The substitutions I used are starred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-78179032404360424452013-11-02T17:49:00.001-05:002013-11-02T17:53:13.489-05:00This Magic Moment <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Good Evening Universe! As you often do, this morning you woke me with a song in my dreams. This morning it was a song from my youth, around the time I was 16, with all that teen existential angst, I was chubby and socially awkward; this son</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">g sparked a hope and a longing for my own "magic moment". The song came like a prayer, my own unspoken prayer. What I didn't realize at the time was that ***each moment of life is a potential magic moment*** Thank you Universe for this new day with all it holds for each of us. Remind us to "show up" and bless the world with our gifts and talents, our passion &hope, and above all with our open hearts. Open our eyes to all the wonder and joys mystery of life all around us we may overlook this day and miss the love affair with life. My cup is overflowing with gratitude this morning; "Thank you" seems so inadequate.<br />LIFE IS GOOD!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MLkhEmq-eJE" width="560"></iframe>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-68877846167558442352013-07-20T09:36:00.004-05:002013-07-20T09:36:45.919-05:001 Week from Today....One week from today is my son John's wedding to a wonderful young woman, Kasey. How I love this girl! First because of who she is, a warm, gracious, wonderful, bright, caring, beautiful woman, and in addition to that our son is happier than he's ever been in the 40 years I've had the joy of knowing him. If that weren't enough, she is an awesome step-mom to our granddaughter Ashlyn, and she loves me too. (If you only knew how much it touches my heart to say the latter!) To know Kasey is to love her. I can't imagine anyone not loving her. I'm really excited about the wedding! We're taking off Thursday morning to check into a hotel in Fargo where the reception will be held. My mom and youngest sister are coming on Thursday evening. It will be great to have time on Friday to visit a bit before the wedding. We will be staying at the hotel through next Sunday night and coming home on that Monday. I"m taking Monday and Tuesday off from work to regroup. Originally I'd planned to take more time off and to go visit Kasey's parents at their lake cabin, but I need to get back to work.<br />
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Work has been really busy most of the past few months since I last blogged. Some successes in families, and a constant drain on my energy. I fell going into a client's house mid May, and it's taken a lot of time trying to recover from the fall. I damaged 3 of 4 quad muscles in my left leg, had to hassle with Worker's Compensation who has continued to ignore requests, phone calls from me and my PT for more PT sessions, so I'm continuing to do the PT exercises on my own. The month after my fall was a haze of pain and medication. I'm better now, still have pain, but it's pretty much manageable. The whole experience was an opportunity to more deeply empathize with those who suffer with chronic pain. For that I am thankful. And I'm thankful that my pain is lessened to a minor inconvenience at times. I gained weight as I was just not physically able to be so active, and I realize that I've been a little depressed too, mostly from the pain. But the long bright days have been helpful with that too as I'm able to be outside more now. (When this years plague of mosquitoes allows)<br />
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Tom and I spend as much time as we can on the front porch sipping drinks and talking. I have been with this man for 42 years and still we always have so much to talk about! The other evening we stayed up until after 1AM talking on the front porch. It's a joy! We dream of retiring to both have time to do the things we really love.<br />
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Most spare moments I've had I've been working on reading the George RR Martin series A Song of Ice and Fire, I'm currently nearing the end of the 3rd of 5 books of epic length. It's been fascinating to notice the differences between the books and the screen adaptation of these for the series on HBO. The characters are amazing, the plot thickens and twists with each book, with unexpected turns in the story-lines. I love how he makes so many of the women strong women. When asked how he does that, writing as if he knows the mind of women, he replied. "I've always thought of women as, you know...PEOPLE." ha!<br />
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Today I have an art date with Dessa! I've not made much art over the past few months. It's just been so wild with a heavy caseload and my recuperation from the fall. I'm really looking forward to spending the day with her at her house. We were to have done it at our house this time, but Tom has been crazy busy too and we just haven't had a chance to clean. I'm hoping that this week will be different. I'm behind on paperwork again with several new referrals and closing with several families. Both create much extra work.<br />
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Tomorrow there is an "informational meeting" at the congregation here in town to share information on the new Minnesota Law that will allow same sex marriage as of August 1st. We anticipate tomorrow's meeting to be unpleasant. Tom has agreed to do a wedding for two men on August 17th; the couple has been together in a monogamous relationship for many years. There are people in the parish who are upset by that, and want to tell him that he can't do that, that they are his boss and he has to do what they tell him to do. Such bullstinkie! First of all they don't understand the nature of being called to serve, and employment. There is a lot of fear involved, homophobia, ignorance, feelings of powerlessness, and fear of change. There is a very real possibility that we may have to leave here. Tom has to follow his conscience and do what he thinks is right. The law does not say that he has to do these weddings, the law allows for churches to disallow the ceremonies in their churches if they object. He is doing the wedding because he sees it as a matter of civil rights for all people. He is not doing the wedding in one of the parish churches, he is doing it in another setting. But the whole thing has been stressful! There are several people who are strongly supportive of this new law from the state of Minnesota. So it is a possibility that there will be some kind of split. It would have been so much easier for him to say "No", but he has never taken the easy way out, I admire him so for that! He has a gift for ministering to the disenfranchised and those people on the fringes of mainstream society who have no church but need someone to baptize, marry, or bury them. However, even in the midst of the stress we are surprised to find that we are at peace with the idea of doing what we see to be the right thing.<br />
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Having said all that, we are committed, or at least I am committed to staying here through at least May next year. Dessa works as a child protection worker for the county, but is currently pursuing her MSW and her first field placement will be for two semesters with our agency. I will be a site supervisor for her internship. It's an exciting opportunity for me to do this! She and I are most often on the same page for treatment of the families that the county refers to my agency for family counseling in the home. We realize there will be some boundaries between the two roles she may play over this next year, and will define them. She is an old soul in a young body! Should Tom need to leave before that I will be able to find someone in the area with whom I can stay during the week. We managed the long distance relationship thing for 3 years, while I was in grad school for 2 years, and then working for the hospital in Thief River Falls while I worked there until the position for my current job up here opened in July 1998. I have just passed my 15 year anniversary with the agency. :-)<br />
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So dear readers, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow as Tom will moderate the informational meeting and try to keep it from becoming something other than what is should be.<br />
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LIFE IS GOOD!!!Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-39438280864660409292013-03-13T13:49:00.001-05:002013-03-13T13:49:16.786-05:00Still Here.....<br />
The road of good intentions… we all know where that leads! I’ve had the best of intentions of keeping up with my blog but time just slips away. Winter drags on in spite of what the calendar says. It has not been so horribly cold most of the time, but lots of snow and it’s been sticking around. Tom is spending more time than usual at church as it's Lent, so there are extra services. He had Cantata practice two times a week as well. The small choir does an Easter Cantata each Easter Morning at 7AM. He enjoys it.<br />
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The high points since my last entry other than pics of journal pages.<br />
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I had a lovely weekend in the Twin Cities 2/15 to 2/17, visiting the kids and going with Julie and her bridesmaids shopping for a wedding dress all day that Saturday. She found a gorgeous dress! I stayed with Noah and Kay on that Saturday night, Kay’s mother also spent the night so we had a great visit! Tom of course couldn’t go because of church stuff.<br />
The next weekend 2/22, we went to Fargo on Friday night to spend the night at John and Kasey’s. We went with them and Kasey’s parents to taste some of the dishes the caterer offers for weddings. That was fun! I stayed up until 4AM talking to the kids. We had fun with Ashlyn Friday night after we got back to John’s. She is growing up so fast! We had to be back Saturday afternoon for some church obligation of Tom’s.<br />
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My caseload has been in flux again, closing with some, opening with other families, it makes for an extremely busy time. It seems like I’m busy busy busy busy and tired all the time. I’m currently all caught up on paperwork so at least that’s not weighing on me.<br />
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Dessa and I had a wonderful art day on Saturday. Next month we’ll be at her house. Both of us look forward to these art days!<br />
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Last night we were invited out to dinner at the home of a young family from the church in town. Trevor and Mindy, and her two girls Faith and Ava made us feel so welcome and it was a relaxing evening. Trevor cooked Greek dishes, beginning with flat bread and hummus and Tzatziki for appetizer, and then the most delicious Mousakka and also Spanakopita. At one time he was the cook at our favorite restaurant in Fargo, (a greek restaurant, Santa Lucia). We had so much fun!! But I don’t know what was up with my sleeping! I slept all night, woke up about 6:30, sat in the recliner to drink a cup of coffee and the next thing I knew it was almost noon! We had leftover Mousakka for lunch this morning. Yum!<br />
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I’m invited to 2 baby showers this weekend. One is for Mindy who’s having a little boy in July, the other is for Jill who just had a baby girl. She named the baby Ksana. Interesting name :-)<br />
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My office is a mess so I’m going to work on cleaning it up before leaving to see clients this evening. I feel like I could just go back to sleep!<br />
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LIFE IS GOOD!!<br />
Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-48242972564506965812013-03-09T21:41:00.001-06:002013-03-09T21:41:34.780-06:00shut up<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8511935048/" title="shut up"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8511935048_89e215d003.jpg" alt="shut up by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8511935048/">shut up</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I did this spread recently too in my big journal.</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-33788299667142573522013-03-09T21:32:00.003-06:002013-03-09T21:32:48.542-06:00Dessa's journal spread<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8543998422/" title="Dessa's journal spread"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8543998422_09f3c85cfe.jpg" alt="Dessa's journal spread by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8543998422/">Dessa's journal spread</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p></p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-28595311580433966382013-03-09T21:32:00.001-06:002013-03-09T21:32:14.215-06:00Never Hide!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8542910111/" title="My journal page"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8542910111_3f4ce18cd1.jpg" alt="My journal page by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8542910111/">My journal page</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p></p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-29159986846838941952013-03-09T21:31:00.001-06:002013-03-09T21:31:38.552-06:00Show up for yourself!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8544004272/" title="My journal page"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8544004272_6a9471b9dc.jpg" alt="My journal page by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8544004272/">My journal page</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p></p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-68429296720373018502013-03-09T21:30:00.001-06:002013-03-09T21:30:43.419-06:00<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8542895491/" title="My Journal Spread"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8542895491_d1031bda35.jpg" alt="My Journal Spread by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8542895491/">My Journal Spread</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Dessa and I had our art date today. Awesome fun!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-35507958789598160572013-02-09T22:58:00.001-06:002013-02-09T22:58:44.751-06:00LOVE POTION NO. 9<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8460633460/" title="LOVE POTION NO. 9"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8460633460_581e2112aa.jpg" alt="LOVE POTION NO. 9 by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8460633460/">LOVE POTION NO. 9</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Because it's that time of year....<br /><br />What a great day I had today! i spent the day at Dessa's house where we played in our art journals. Dessa is one of the child protection workers at the county. She's an old soul in a young body. I am fortunate to have her as a collaborative colleague, and as a friend. She's younger than my youngest child but the age doesn't mean a thing when we're making art. I enjoy her company so much! We are trying to do the art date at least once a month. She made a wonderful homemade pizza for lunch today too. <br /><br />Tom and I are both over the viruses we had. Finally!!<br /><br />We're awaiting a winter storm to hit in the wee hours of the morning. Not sure yet how much snow we're actually expecting, the forecast keeps changing from 1 to 3 inches to a possible 6 to 12 inches. <br /><br />I've been busy with work as usual, but having a bit of a lull this next couple of weeks.<br /><br />Next weekend I'm going to the Twin Cities to go shopping with Julie for her wedding dress. The months are going to go fast between now and October with John and Kasey's wedding in July and then Julie and Matt's wedding in October. <br /><br />Now off to bed I go!<br />LIFE IS GOOD!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-21301568014272411572013-02-09T22:49:00.001-06:002013-02-09T22:49:44.935-06:00Sweet Inspiration!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8460707774/" title="Food to inspire!"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8460707774_d2bbc7a6f8.jpg" alt="Food to inspire! by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8460707774/">Food to inspire!</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I had an artist's playdate today at Dessa's house. She had these chocolate strawberries on the table when I got there this morning. Definitely sweet inspiration to get us started!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-65466313785335493322013-01-30T08:39:00.001-06:002013-01-30T08:39:06.633-06:00gluebook<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8371160528/" title="gluebook"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8371160528_6c251af4a7.jpg" alt="gluebook by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8371160528/">gluebook</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>January started out with a rush, bang, boom, the rest from my long Christmas break wore off soon. I had to drive down to Fergus Falls on the first Monday of January (7th) to be there for my annual performance review at 8AM Tuesday morning, and then stayed til 4:30 at a training even before making the 5 plus hour drive back up north. Talk about a long day! I got a superior rating on my review but since I am at the top of the salary band there is not much of a raise for me. I have been at the agency for 15 years this coming July. The salary band is not all that generous in non-prof organizations. I did get a bit of a raise in a "lump sum", not all that much all in all, but a bit none the less, my hourly wage stays the same as it was. <br /><br /><br />The rest of the month has passed in pretty much a blur. I had a 4 day weekend over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, most of which I spent in bed or on the couch having succumbed to what was either a horrendous cold bug or the flu. I'm leaning toward the latter as I ran a fever off and on, and don't do that when I have a cold. The fatigue was the worst part! I got behind on the infernal paperwork, but thankfully there's not so much as so many of my clients were ill this month too. I did have a flu shot this past autumn and take my vitamins so I suppose it could have been worse! Tom ended up having to go to the doctor because he was coughing so badly with his bug, Thankfully he did not have bronchitis or pneumonia, but she did give him an antibiotic that really helped him kick whatever the infection was The poor man was not able to sleep lying down for over a week and a half due to horrible coughing spasms. <br /><br /><br />I have some challenging cases currently but closed with 2 families in the past 2 weeks, and will close with another in the next week. Then I will be probably scurrying to bank enough "production hours" to claim my hourly wages for 3/4 time.<br /><br /><br />I've not had a lot of time for art work this month but have tried to do some pages in my glue book as I'm able. I'd forgotten how much fun it can be just to "cut and paste"<br /><br /><br />It's hard to believe that January has come to an end. My energy seems to be increasing, thankful for the longer days of light that fuel that energy. Amazing how much a few extra minutes of light in the morning and evening can do for a soul! Imbolc/Candlemas approaches, it calls to my wild Irish blood, cross quarters between the winter and summer solstices, the tin whistle sets my feet to dancing and the bodhran sets the rhythm of my heartbeat. <br /><br /><br />I'm looking forward to a busy February. Dessa and I are getting together on 2/9/13 at her house this time, for another artist's play day. :-)<br /><br /><br />The weekend of the 15th I'm off to the Twin Cities to go wedding dress shopping with Julie. :-) The wedding will be October 5th in St. Paul, at Matt's church. The reception will be at the Minnesota Science Museum! Very cool! Wedding guests get passes to the museum and validated parking for the day! <br /> http://www.smm.org/rentals/elements<br /><br /><br />The following weekend Tom and I will be driving to Fargo for Friday night, 2/22/13, for a "tasting" at which John and Kasey will ask for opinions on the food from which to choose for their wedding reception in July. :-) <br /><br />The workday calls so I'm off to the salt mines!<br /><br />May you walk in The Light today with increasing vigor and confidence with the growing of the light and lengthening of days. <br />You are God's Beloved! <br />LIFE IS GOOD!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-62360248344016075252013-01-30T07:54:00.001-06:002013-01-30T07:54:20.687-06:00Special Snowflake<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8352283390/" title="Special Snowflake"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8352283390_675f9f81b3.jpg" alt="Special Snowflake by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8352283390/">Special Snowflake</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>The first Saturday in January one of the social workers from the county and I had an artist's play date. Dessa came to my house and we spent the day in my studio making art. The pages she did are also on my flickr page. This was so much fun! We've another date planned for Feb 9.</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-8166642509452986892013-01-30T07:49:00.001-06:002013-01-30T07:49:47.506-06:00Santa visits Ashlyn<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8430056500/" title="Santa visits Ashlyn"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8430056500_b0fe318690.jpg" alt="Santa visits Ashlyn by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8430056500/">Santa visits Ashlyn</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Wow! Has it really been 2 months since I actually blogged about anything about life and love?<br /><br /><br />I've heard from a handful of people that they have been concerned about me due to my absence on my blogs. I'm sorry if you have been concerned. I am fine. It's just that life and work have kept me overly busy with little time to sit down for any length of time to do more than fire off a couple of sentences on a Facebook status update. Facebook for all it is NOT, does have the benefit of doing a quick check in with loved ones when I might not otherwise have the time to read. I confess there have been weeks at a time when I was on the fly and didn't have time to sit down to read the blogs I love to follow. <br /><br /><br />I have not blogged about "life" since the end of November. <br /><br /><br />My caseload increased drastically in November/December. This month I've seen a decrease in numbers on my load, and I've decreased frequency so can take a few minutes this morning to catch up here.<br /><br /><br />December went by in a blur! I did not get any holiday cards sent, perhaps I'll aim for spring or Easter cards.<br />December included:<br />Quarterly staff meeting/Agency Christmas party/luncheon in Fargo and a day of Christmas shopping December 10.<br />We were in Fargo for Christmas with the kids December 14 to 16. <br />-Julie called from the Twin Cities on the 14th to tell us she and Matt were engaged! Such happy news!<br /><br /><br />-Christmas on the 15th was fun! Santa (Kasey's uncle in Santa costume) visited the house, Ashlyn didn't know what to think and refused to talk to Santa. <br /><br /><br />Kasey set a gorgeous table and the food was wonderful. The gift exchange was fun too!<br /><br /><br />However there is always alcohol involved for the boys and their partners and friends so there was inevitably drama connected to due to an alcohol fed misunderstanding in which my future DIL felt slighted by me, when as the designated driver for the two of us, in my haste to get my sloshed husband back to the hotel for the evening (it was after midnight) I somehow neglected to hug Kasey goodbye, Kasey was not there when we went back from the hotel on Sunday morning before leaving to drive north. John was furious with me, barely speaking to me or Tom when we got there, telling me she cried all night, and John said some horrifically hurtful things to me acting out of his own fear and hurt. I called and sobbed out an apology to her voice-mail as we left town, she later text-ed me. I sent flowers to her the next day with more apology and thanking her for all she did to make our Christmas special. It's since been worked out but it was a dark cloud over the rest of the holiday season for me. I would never intentionally slight someone like that, especially someone I love. It's been my worst fear that she would hate me like John's ex did for whatever reason.<br /><br /><br />Julie and Matt came for Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Eve driving back to the Twin Cities on Christmas Morning. Julie and I had such fun talking wedding plans! <br /><br /><br />I took the week between Christmas and New Year's Day off and ended up sleeping most of it. I was so worn out by the pace of the month of December and getting all my paperwork caught up by the 10th and again before I took Christmas break. I worked 3 weeks of 12 hour days and it caught up with me.<br /><br /><br />New Year's Eve we had a nice dinner at home and just watched movies and played Scrabble. My kind of New Year's Eve! We had bought a bottle of Spumante but it's still in the refrigerator a month later unopened. LOL</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-15073263249860256052013-01-28T11:22:00.001-06:002013-01-28T11:22:52.102-06:00Help Out a Sister Artist!Please help a sister-artist out!<br />
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Over the past month my good friend Lisa Vollrath has had a couple of medical emergencies for which she has no insurance. It's been an expensive run for her, and has cut into her ability to work this past month.<br />
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Lisa is an artist who supports herself through her business and her own art work. Tom and I have done what we are currently able to do with a donation to Chip-In. She's someone who's very important to me and I hope that you might find it within your heart to help her out too. On her website there is a link to Chip-In, a link to her Etsy Shop, and a link to Ten Two Studios where you can help her out by purchasing some of her high quality digital, downloadable art images and kits.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lisavollrath.com/012613doctor/">Lisa Vollrath's Website</a><br />
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Thank you for your generous heart!<br />
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LunaLunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-78572867415785338982012-12-12T13:48:00.001-06:002012-12-12T13:48:07.169-06:00Dear Santa...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I don't win this giveaway I hope Santa will find room in his sleigh to drop this off at our house this year! Give a woman an education and power tools and she can rule the world. Resistance is futile!</span></div>
<br />Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-65769632630574185162012-11-27T01:05:00.001-06:002012-11-27T01:05:08.701-06:00<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8223516186/" title="santa's little helper"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8223516186_3f9dbc1c0c.jpg" alt="santa's little helper by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8223516186/">santa's little helper</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Kasey posted on FB, the pic of Ashlyn helping decorate the tree tonight. So sweet! We'll have "Christmas" with all the kids, in Fargo on December 15. I can't wait to see them all again!<br /><br />I took a break from the computer for the entire long weekend, only signing on briefly for e-mail checks and updates on FB from my family. The break was good for me.<br /><br />Tom and I had a quiet Thanksgiving Day, he did the cooking for our meal. It was delicious. I crawled into the long weekend feeling exhausted. I think I'm getting too old for the energy that my job requires of me. We had awful weather on Thanksgiving, mostly ice and wind, so we were actually glad that none of the kids were coming here for the day. Julie was with Matt and his family, Noah with Kay and her family, John, Kasey and Ashlyn had a quiet low key day with the neighbors, Kasey was on call at the hospital so they didn't make big plans. Thursday I read, napped, watched videos and a bit of football. <br /><br />Friday I played in the art room all day, and then in the evening we went to a wedding reception for gay friends who got married in Maryland in August. That was fun and very lovely. <br /><br />Saturday for lunch, we went to Roseau to use a coupon for a free meal for my birthday, I had a margarita and a piece of carrot cake as well. I took a nap when we got back. Sunday was church.<br /><br />I got a surprise today, Anni sent me a gift card for my birthday, a couple days early so that I could take advantage of any Cyber Monday deals at Dick Blick. With the 25% off everything sale they had today, plus the gift card I was able to buy pan pastels that I've wanted for a long time. I can't wait for them to get here to play with.<br /><br />Today was a busy work day, I'm not liking the later hours I'm having to work these days, it looks like there will be lots of nights I won't be home before 8 or 9PM. <br /><br />Julie called on Thanksgiving, she and Matt might be coming for Christmas, but we'll see. The weather can be such a beyotch between here and the Twin Cities. Still I hope.... :-)<br /><br />I"m tired but my brain won't shut down tonight. Ugh!<br /><br />But all in all LIFE IS GOOD!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-7622384495776120562012-11-19T23:30:00.001-06:002012-11-19T23:30:35.248-06:00Postcard-I remember<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8202312796/" title="Postcard-I remember"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8202312796_80b6fd5a61.jpg" alt="Postcard-I remember by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8202312796/">Postcard-I remember</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Postcard, collaged from bits and scraps, for a swap between friends. It's not my finest work but it felt good to take a bit of time to play this afternoon.</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-50111862570087590262012-11-19T23:23:00.001-06:002012-11-19T23:23:13.566-06:00Family Time :-)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qxNMX1cbQd8?fs=1" width="459"></iframe><br />
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I had a really good weekend and took today off to recover. I even got a bit of art time in this afternoon. Thank goodness it's a short work week, only 2 days this week as I've Thursday and Friday off for the holiday.<br />
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I drove to Fargo on Friday night after work and spent the night at John's. On Saturday morning John and Ashlyn and I drove to the Twin Cities for a family weekend with my other son and DIL Kay, and my mother and sister who were driving up from, Southern WI to join us. Great Grandma hasn't seen Ashlyn since October of last year so it was so much fun. I had such fun with the kids and my mom and sister. They had a bit of difficulty finding the hotel Saturday night, but that's not *my* story to tell. :-) All was well in the end. We got a nice visit in before John and Ashlyn and I left on Sunday to return to Fargo. Noah and Kay brought Kay's mom Phyllis over to the hotel Sunday afternoon too. Noah and Kay had dinner with my mom and sister after we left.<br />
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We dropped Ashlyn off at her mom's before I unloaded my stuff from John's truck into my car to make the 4 hour trip back home. I got home about 11:00 PM last night, exhausted by the 7 hours in the car yesterday and a bit of a sleep deficit from the night before, but happy enough to make up for it. The hours I spent in the pool with Ashlyn really took a lot of energy. She loves the water almost as much as she likes books. Noah and Kay came over to the hotel on Saturday night and came back again on Sunday. Mom and my sister stayed again last night so that they could see Julie this morning when her flight from her weekend in Las Vegas got in. Unfortunately Kasey wasn't able to come along for the weekend, she flew off to AZ about the time I got to Fargo on Friday night. She was taking some well deserved R&R with girlfriends. While she and her friends were out on Saturday night they met Justin Morneau and that was pretty cool! My family is going to just love this girl!<br />
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Ashlyn loves her books of nursery rhymes; he has several and wants all of them read often. It's really funny to watch her pretend that she's reading the words when she's saying the words. She was awesome with all the changes to her routine (or lack of it for the weekend away).She's so funny! I enjoyed the cuddles and kisses and giggles.Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-91678502858148349902012-11-05T08:23:00.001-06:002012-11-05T08:23:57.487-06:00It was a good weekend!<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8157798620/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled by northwoodsluna" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8157798620_f0bc02e990.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8157798620/">Untitled</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
Saturday was the best day! <br /><br /><br />We didn't get out as early as we had hoped but still were on the road by 8:30 AM. The driving was a bit slow for the first couple of hours as the roads were icy and there were lots of vehicles with hunters slowing down at every stand of trees to look for deer, grouse and wolves. (Saturday was the opening of Firearms Hunting of deer in Minnesota. Also the opening of wolf hunting season BLECH!!) <br /><br /><br />We got to Fargo a bit after 1:00 and stopped at Michael's to get some art supplies I needed to replace, then on to John's house. It was so good to see the kids! John, his friend Jay, Chuck, John's future father-in-law and Kasey's brother Matt were there building a privacy fence on John's yard for Kasey's dog Hailey. They got all but the gate done. The movers had been there in the morning with Kasey's furniture for the living room and bedroom. Paint samples taped up on the wall, things are changing there! The atmosphere in the home is so different, the energy is so changed! There's a feeling of warmth and welcome in the air. Kasey's sister Kristen and her daughter Cianna were also there when we got there. Ashlyn came bouncing out with her eyes dancing. The look she gave me was so precious! Casey's mom Nancy also came over and we had a nice visit. What a warm, intelligent, interesting family! We felt at ease right away! <br /><br /><br />It was so interesting to watch Kasey and Ashlyn together. Kasey is a great mom! Ashlyn loves her! Kasey is changing all our lives for the better. My family of origin is going to love this smart, funny, warm, genuine young woman! The more I get to know her, the more I love her! Ashlyn and I had cuddle time, and story time, and some art time. I've got new Ashlyn Art on my refrigerator. :-) Tom and I got home around midnight Saturday night. It took a while to settle down after we got home. Thank goodness for the extra hour of sleep Tom got due to the time change. He had his sermon done before we left so he actually got a good night's sleep. <br /><br /><br />Yesterday I was so exhausted! The previous week's running around for work, the colonoscopy on Thursday, a long work day on Friday, then the 8 hrs in the car and the energy of active play with a 3 year old did me in. I either pulled something while playing with Ashlyn, or slept wrong, but when I woke up yesterday my neck was so sore and stiff, I couldn't do much of anything without pain there so I skipped church, changed into warm pajamas and was lazy all day, reading and napping the day away, watching a bit of football with Tom. I needed a day when I didn't have to be "up" for anyone or anything. I did cook 4 lbs of chicken breasts for meals this week. I'm getting back on track this week, menus are planned and calories counted. <br /><br /><br />I've a plan for finishing getting caught up on paperwork this week, and will hopefully have some time for art as well! I need to prep my porcelain dolls for an altered dollar store doll ornies swap I'm hosting for Freakwerx!<br /><br /><br />My allotted hour of internet in the morning is passed, I've got to get to work now. Thankfully my only appointment is early afternoon today as there's no school due to "Deer Monday". The rest of the week will most likely make up for it. :-)<br /><br /><br />LIFE IS GOOD!!Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732370878488984587.post-36332760947415787742012-11-02T06:31:00.001-05:002012-11-02T06:31:15.442-05:00Bring on the Weekend!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8147281951/" title="cute little witch"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8147281951_3d76b32212.jpg" alt="cute little witch by northwoodsluna" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/8147281951/">cute little witch</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/northwoods_luna/">northwoodsluna</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Another busy week down the pipes, I've another long day today, but then bring on the weekend! <br /><br /><br />Today's itinerary:<br />5:30 awake and dressed for the day. Coffee!!!<br />6 to 9:30 AM Prep for afternoon/evening client sessions and paperwork this morning. <br />9:30 to 10:00AM coffee and e-mail check<br />10:00 AM drive to Roseau for lunch consult with Dr. D and the girls until 1:00 PM.<br />1:00PM drive back home, stopping to fill the car on the way.<br />2:00 Arrive home, catch my breath, pick up things for client sessions.<br />2:45 drive to Baudette for session. at 3:15PM<br />4:15 Drive back to Williams, have a short break.<br />4:45 leave to drive to client/family session.<br />5:00 to 6:00 or 6:30 Client Session<br />7:00 Pajamas, Dinner, TV and downtime.<br /><br /><br />I've been driving Tom's car all week, mine is in need of service. He's taking it in this morning for service. <br /><br /><br />Tomorrow morning we're leaving by 8:00 for the 4hr drive down to Fargo to see John and Kasey and Ashlyn for the afternoon. They're having a busy day tomorrow, but they still wanted us to come down, John's working on building a fence for Kasey's dog, and the movers are coming with Kasey's things. Tom might be able to help with the fence, I certainly can help with keeping Ashlyn entertained when Kasey is busy directing the movers! I haven't seen her since July so I can only imagine that she's grown a bunch again! I've got surprises and treats for her to bring out one at a time if need be. <br /><br /><br />Workwise the first three days were busy and crazy. Wed. on top of work I was preparing for a colonoscopy I had yesterday. The whole thing start to finish was a much better experience than it was the last time I had one 10 years ago, and that which my husband had. The prep, shorter time at the hospital from admission to discharge, we were there only 4 hours as compared to the 8 hours we were there before in our previous visits, The nurses were great and got the IV in one try this time (they always have trouble finding my veins for bloodwork and IVs. The surgeon was cute and keeps them all on thier toes but made time to talk before and after the procedure. I got an all clear, nothing there, I'm a member of the 10 year club and won't have to go back again unless I have problems, before I turn 70. I slept for 4 hours after I got home. Tom made me a comfort food dinner last night, having picked up deli fried chicken, we had mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad, I got to eat some of the chocolate I couldn't have on Halloween because of the fasting. <br /><br /><br />I feel pretty good today! <br />Time to get to work!<br /><br />LIFE IS GOOD!</p>Lunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01272330462479906362noreply@blogger.com0