The longest stretch

We are getting into that long stretch of winter now...where winter seems to go on forever. Bitter cold temperatures lately that make it difficult to get out and take the dog for a walk. This picture was taken on a balmy 20-something degree day. Sometimes Sherman just sits by the coat rack, glancing up to where his leash hangs...hoping I'll take pity on him. We still have a good 2 months to go before it lets up. I always start to feel a bit melancholy this time of year. I think being busy with school work helps. I'm trying to eat the elephant one bite at a time. Once this semester is done, I think the toughest part will be over. I will be more than half way done and I'm hoping that I will be taking fewer classes in the fall. Next spring I will do a practicum and then hopefully find a job.
I am getting tired of putting up with a camera that has no working flash. I hope to have enough money soon to buy a new one.

Every Day Matters challenge #7-a bottle or jar

This took me about 15 minutes to sketch out. Had to take a picture of it...in bad lighting. Hopefully I will get a scanner hooked up soon, if I can figure it out. I enjoy these too. I wish I didn't have too much school work to do. I'd do quite a bit more I'm sure. I skipped a few challenges...not really intentionally. I saw this jar sitting there ready to be taken down to the recycling bin and I was inspired to draw it. I realized later that it was actually one of the challenges. My goal is to draw them all eventually.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Alicia was one of the winners in her grade for the Martin Luther King Jr. poster contest. I'm pretty proud of her.

Every Day Matters challenge #1-Draw Shoes

I have been very intrigued lately with sketch journals. I decided to start keeping one. This is my first real entry. While perusing several art and sketch blogs I found this fun list of drawing challenges. I just thought it seemed like a fun way to sharpen my drawing skills without overtaxing my time. Sometimes I take drawing way to seriously. This sketch took me about 15 minutes to do. Click on it to take a closer look.

Frozen Stiff

Well...it was negative 5 degrees here this morning. The kind of day where the snow actually squeaks when you walk on it. Last night was my first night of cataloging class. Luckily I do not have to drive to Buffalo for it...just up to Rochester.
Mr. and Mrs. F.F. Thompson look cold, don't you think? They lived in Canandaigua over a hundred years ago. You can read a little bit more here if you like. They look a little stiff from the cold. Perhaps they should go in where it is warmer. Mary is holding a miniature of the hospital they helped build in town here on it's original site.
Good news is that my last book arrived today...all the way from England!

Trying to Understand

I have been frittering away my time before school officially begins. Actually...I have done some reading of the textbooks that have come. I am still waiting for 2 textbooks to arrive. I have made some poor decisions while ordering and am suffering the consequences. I am nervous about my textbooks not being here and also about the amount of work I need to do. I think my load looks heavier than it was last semester and that scares me.

I also dropped my glasses and now there is a small crack in the left lens. I did not think it was a big deal because I could look past it, but now it looks like it is growing...kind of the same way a crack on a windshield grows.

Isn't this a lovely picture that I took of St. John's Episcopal bell tower here in my town? I love the way it is framed by all the bare branches. In two months it will be two years ago that I dropped my camera and broke the flash. I have been living with it that way ever since. I am getting good at making do...but I must get better at it. With me going to grad school, we are going farther and farther into debt. Hopefully...it is a step backwards to get ahead in the long run. In the meantime, I will wear the clothes I already have, not go to Starbucks, cancel my membership to Curves, cook using boneless chicken and ground beef, walk instead of drive, eat in,...and whatever else I need to do to cut expenses. I really have everything I need...but as a typical American I think I need more.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
-The apostle Paul,
Philippians 4: 11-13

Admittedly, I am still trying to understand the secret that Paul did. I struggle so much with it.

Ice and Stress

Today there was an hour delay for school because of icy road conditions. I haven't been out in it, but my husband walked to the local Y where he lifeguards and swims. He said the sidewalks were terrible. He called to tell Allen and Audra that he would be driving them to school. Allen had already left. He doesn't like walking with his sister and I think he left on purpose before she was ready. I thought he was leaving awfully early. I told him he should wear his boots, but he would not do that. I am a silly old mom who apparently just doesn't get it I guess. So Audra got a nice warm, dry ride to school and Allen walked to school...slipping and sliding all the way. Upon arriving to school, his feet were probably wet and frozen (see his blog).

School officially starts on Monday for me...but not really, because I have a professor who has already assigned a reading and a short assignment which is due on Tuesday. There is a problem for me with that because I have not received my textbook yet. I ordered a used copy from Amazon in mid-December. I was wondering what was taking so long, so I checked on it. I was horrified to discover that I had ordered it from someone in England!!!! Yes, you read that correctly...the country of England! I went back to the original posting of the book and there is no indication that it was being shipped from England. The shipping cost is also pretty average, so that wasn't an indicator either. Anyway...I immediately went into a state of anxiety over it. Who knows how long this will take to arrive. I finally opted to order a second copy of the book...this time finding a seller in New York State. I ordered it rather late, but I'm sure it will get here before the other one. Luckily I have a friend who is taking the same course. She lives in Fairport...about 3 towns away from mine. She has her book and if mine does not come by Friday, I will drive to her house and photo copy chapter one. It was a blessing that she agreed to help me out.

The semester has not even officially begun and I'm already stressing! Not a good sign.

Getting Back to Normal

Well...the holidays are over. I took a walk yesterday and took a few pictures of some remnants of the festivities. Time to get back to normal...whatever that is. I have most of my decorations put away. It was tough getting back into the swing of things this morning. The kids are back at school.

Next week I go back to school. I am still waiting for most of my textbooks to arrive. Two out of five have come. Not sure I'm ready for it again.

Happy New Year!

Yesterday morning, my alarm rang to wake me up to go clean a house. Ugh...who wants to get up on a cold chilly day? I turned off my alarm, turned on a bedroom light and got in bed again. I know...that's a dumb thing to do. Then I heard the phone ring. It was a my client telling me that there had been no plows on her road. They couldn't get out, and I couldn't get in. I looked outside and that is when I figured out that we had about a foot of snow that fell over night. I went outside and started shoveling. I shoveled quite a bit and then woke up Allen to do some shoveling. Later after more snow fell, our neighbor, Mr. Fiorentino got his snowblower out. He cleared out our driveway and all our walkways!
Hannah had stayed over night. I was thinking that she might bring the new year in with us. I dressed warmly, made myself some coffee, and worked on a puzzle. The girls had a wonderful time. I heard a lot of giggling going on. I think they were all hoping for another overnight. Later on in the afternoon, I ventured out with the girls to meet Martha halfway between her house and mine. It was only about a half hour drive for both of us...maybe a little bit less.
We brought the new year in quietly. Jamie and Allen actually went to bed before midnight. They were too tired to care. The girls were determined to stay up even though they were tired. We got all ready for bed and waited for midnight. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Then we kissed and hugged and went to bed. By 12:15 AM on 1/1/09...our house was dark and quiet.