I Love this Bumper Sticker!!

Going around on e-mail:

Bumper Sticker recently seen in Texas:

"I'll keep my freedom, my guns, and my money,
and you can keep THE CHANGE".
Vote for McCain/Palin


Don't forget to vote November 4th!!! :-)

Random Pictures

Dot took her camera up the hill and got some good shots of the boys at play.

Deer took this one.

Dime and his friend after a fishing trip.

The fall leaves have been beautiful around our place.

This tree is out our bedroom window.

Happy Fall!!

Dot's Birthday

I realized I had pictures on the computer from Dot's camera. These are a month old, but still worth posting about. Dot passed her driving test and celebrated her birthday on the same day. She and her girlfriends made pies and then had a blast hanging out.

I thought this picture was a cool idea.

Chest colds and update

I haven't been on the computer much lately. Darling and I have been sick with chest colds. After her bad chest cold as a baby, I think this is going to be what she and I deal with every winter - chest colds. I usually get chest colds in Dec and then can't get rid of them until the end of March or April. (Except for years when I've jogged the whole winter.) This year I started jogging regularly the end of Sept. - I don't want a chest cold. Darling got it first, and after getting worn down I got it too. Bummer - it's only October!!

Last year I tried the antibiotic route - and loved it!! Three sessions of antibiotics - but each time it completely cured the chest cold. I love not having a tight chest. I'm not a big cougher. I took Darling and I in on Wed to see if we could get help - Nope, haven't had it long enough - come back in 3-4 days. Well, at this point we are going back in on Monday.
Darling's cough is looser, but still about the same. She's not a big cougher, just like me, but at night if she wakes up, she coughs and coughs with the tickle. I know exactly what she feels like. After she finally gets back to sleep, my tickle sets in. Usually graham crackers settle it (I know, weird, but it works, I've tried alot of different things), but I'm out. I tried sleepy-time tea, and that has helped! I should go back to bed, but I wanted to check out friend's blogs, and then realized I really needed to update!

The Dr. at the clinic mentioned I should try this inhaler product (which one does every day all winter) and that might help preventing getting the cold in the first place. Interesting thought, but I doubt my regular Dr. would consider it. I usually don't come in, I just live with it, so there is no documentation for regular chest colds. I'm not a big fan of antibiotics. Although maybe now I am! Anyways....

Dunk still needs to drop off my camera to see if we can get it fixed. Always seems like somethings going on after work, so not a good day to take the extra time to drop it off. Hopefully next week, and hopefully it'll work and I'll get my camera back.

I haven't been playing my drums lately - mostly hanging with Darling and trying to keep up with school and life.

I made apple strudel on Wednesday. My Grandma's K's recipe. Mmmmmm soooo good! I miss her even after all these years. She would have loved Darling's chubby sweetness and soft tootsies. I miss Grandma's smell, fluffy hugs, and sweet strudel.

Drum's been playing the drums alot. He really has a knack for them, just a little too loud for us. :-) His clavicle is getting better. He had 4 baby teeth pulled on Friday. One was giving him trouble, so he was up during the night with me.

Dime and his friend spent the night in his fort. Brrrrrrr. So cold! Boys. He finally passed his test at CAP and is looking so forward to promoting in a couple weeks. He's been fishing at the bridge a couple miles from our place, and caught a number of nice northern!!

Duke's reading has really picked up!! I'm so excited for him. He still acts like it's a major chore to read - why do I need to do this, etc - but it's coming. I'm soooo grateful for our NILD instructor - Mrs. L. She's been so awesome.

Well, I think I can go back to sleep now and sleep through everyone else getting up for soccer. Only today and next week and then it is done for the year. The kids are getting so cold, but they are really bummed it will soon be over. I wish there was a place indoors, although Dunk will probably be glad he gets to sleep in on a Saturday.

Bon Appetit - A Book Review

Sandra Byrd's second book in the French Twist Series- Bon Appetit - is a fun read!!
Twenty-some year old Lexi Stuart starts her adventure in France working at a well-known, family-owned bakery in the village of Presque le Chateau. This is in exchange for attending the famous "L'Ecole du Patisserie" to become a pastry chef.
It takes awhile for Lexi to break into the culture of the French and feel at home. She meets her boss' son Philippe and his sweet-hearted, adorable child, Celine. They help her in her adjustments into life in France. Finding an English-speaking church helps her to maintain her bearings and reminds her so that she can remind others that Jesus is the Bread of Life.
I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of the chapters and the introduction into French culture.
"Lexi discovers that as she leans more on God the choices become a little clearer - and making them, well, c'est la vie!"
I'm already looking foward to the third book in this series, as I'm sure it will be a perfect recipe for a tasteful ending.

"Fast, fun, and packed with French culture, foodie appeal, and unique recipes readers will love accompanying Lexi on her journey in Bon Appetit as she tries to choose between two countries, two men and the faith to lean on God while savoring the surprises life brings!"

Author Bio: Best-selling author Sandra Byrd enjoys a successful career writing adult, teen, and children’s books, including the Friends for a Season, Secret Sisters series and the French Twist series, including the first Lexi Stuart novel, Let them Eat Cake. She is also a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines. Sandra lives in Washington state with her husband and two children.
This is a delicious book with an enriching message!!
Want your own copy of Bon Appetit? Leave your comment below on what are some of your favorite items to cook. I have two copies to give away!! :-) I'll randomly choose winners on October 25, 2008.

The Shape of Mercy - Book Review

As soon as I received the book, "The Shape of Mercy" by Susan Meissner, I delved into it with interest. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. This was one of those rare stories that I literally could not put down.

Main character, Lauren Durough, is a rich college girl who wants to find out what it is like to live in the working world. She pursues an education and then also chooses to take a part-time job from interesting 83 yr old Abigail Boyles. Abigail chooses Lauren just as much as Lauren chooses this job - transcribing a diary by Mercy Haworth, a victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. It was gripping to hear about the history of witch trials and how they began.

What starts out as an interesting diary to transcribe, turns into a strong interest in the girl, her life, her story, her hopes and dreams. Somehow Mercy Haworth's diary is a part in the life of Abigail Boyles, and will eventually help Lauren to "take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. ... Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?"

The realization Lauren had gripped me as I looked at the issue of evaluating others in a whole new way. Very powerful.

"Meissner's prose is exquisite...she is a stunning storyteller." Publishers Weekly

"Author Bio: From early school-day projects to becoming editor of a local newspaper in Minnesota, Susan Meissner’s love for writing has been apparent her entire life. The Shape of Mercy is her latest novel in a string of books that delve into the deeper issues of life. She is the author of nine novels and lives with her family in San Diego. Find out more about her at http://www.susanmeissner.com/. "

I'm so sorry to report that I forgot to rsvp that I wanted give away copies for this book. I certainly would have loved to pass this book on. I will loan it out to anyone in my area, but I really want it back to keep. :-) A great book to own or give as a gift.

Drum Surgery Update, etc. :-)

Drum had surgery Friday morning to put in two plates over his left clavicle. The surgery took about an hour and a half. Papa K was in residence. He put in Drum's IV and kept an eye on him in surgery. He's the only family member to have seen the plates in place. :-) When we got home about 5 pm, the pain wasn't too bad, but the nausea was terrible. He finally quit throwing up on Sun about noon. His stomach was still hurting on Monday, but he kept food down in small amounts. By Monday night he was eating frequently and in larger amounts. Yeah! He's sounding more and more like his chipper self. We are so thankful that he won't have to worry about breaking it again. An interesting note was that he has broken it 4 times, and I believe they were all in the month of October - three years in a row, skip a year, and then this year. It will be awhile before he's back doing push-ups, but it'll be much sooner than if there were no plates.
Dot told me she's already sick of driving for everyone, and it's only been two weeks! :-) She was just frustrated to have to go to the dentist because Drum was in no condition to go, so she had to take his place. I just smiled.
The leaves are beautiful around our place. Around the trees in the yard are carpets of fall leaves. I'm looking forward to raking when it quits raining, and I get time.
Dot and Deer get hair cuts today. Basically a good trim.
Dot had a great trip birthday shopping with her Grandma. She got new black shoes (so cute!), two skirts, a sweater, a black belt, a pretty pink necklace and earrings. They hit some great deals, and had alot of fun. Papa joined them here afterwards to check on Drum, and brought pizza!! Hurray for Grandparents! :-)
This morning it is raining so no jog for me. But now I have time for this post! :-) Thanks for the prompting fellow blogger. :-)
Update on the camera situation: I need to call the camera shop to get the number again for the place to have Dunk take it to. I never remember in the day, just late at night or early am. Someday...

Catch-Up

I thought I'd give everyone a quick update from the W Household.

• My oldest dear daughter, Dot, turned 16! Where did the time go? We celebrated her birthday as a family on Tuesday. Her brother got her "Eldest" and "Brisinger". She was ecstatic!
• After a super busy week she passed her driving test! Everyone was so booked when I went to schedule her test, we had to travel 1 1/2 hours north to be able to take the test in Sept. I was way more nervous than her. I guess I had more riding on it. :-)
• We got back and Dot had a huge party! 10 girls over for pie-baking and girly fun. We ate leftover pie all weekend.
• My camera is still on the blink.
• I bought a mp3 player with my birthday money. I'm still working on getting the music on it that I want. Plus, I found out that I am not like my kids. I can't listen and think at the same time anymore. just weird :-) I want to get music on it, so that I can listen and practice on my birthday drums!
• In my spare time, think middle of the night usually, I recently read "Ergon" and "Eldest." Sooo fun! I can't wait to read "Dresingr." I also read "The Shape of Mercy." I think I need to do a review on that. Ooops.
• Last evening Drum broke his clavicle again!!! Same side. Poor kid! We want to get it plated for him, so this doesn't keep on happening. This is the 4th time!! Something's wrong with his healing in that spot. We had it x-rayed, and they said it was all healed, but... He has been handling the pain well. I went and dug out his sling. It sure fits better than it used to. :-) We talk with the Dr. today. Speaking of which, I gotta run...