Wheee!

  Everything feels a bit surreal today- probably because I'm running on caffeine, but I'd like to think it's because I'm happy :).  This morning I went down to the school admin building in Sweet Home, took a super easy test, and turned in a mountain of paperwork (one reason I didn't get much sleep).  I went to the police station and got finger-printed for the back-ground check, got the results back on my test (100% on all three sections!), and got my information for the sub pool(!).  Then I went home to crash :).
  I'm still going in in the mornings to help with the homework, and now I might have a chance at getting hired to do it :).  I'm looking forward to new opportunities and experiences, though right now the only one I want is my pillow, haha.  Today with the kids was fun, we played gamed with pumpkins and other assorted squash- rolling them, running around them, estimating sizes etc.  Dinner was yummy leftovers from last night, a very simple dish mom used to make that I LOVE.  It's just chicken, cream of mushroom soup, and french onion mix, but it is delicious.

Plated with yummy veggies :)

I love cooking, mmm, and reading, and sewing... and obviously rambling too- good night ;)

It's raining, it's POURING

   I guess this means winter has finally come in earnest- rainy rainy rainy.  Oh well, I enjoyed the beautiful sunshiny days while they lasted :)
  Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were a 1/2 day, a conference day, and a day off respectively which was nice, and I even got to make-up hours on Thursday by helping with set-up for next session.  Yay for working :).  Tomorrow was supposed to be pumpkin games, but since it's pretty cold and wet, I think we'll have a computer-lab day, and save the games for Tuesday when we have the gym.
   On Friday Gma, Gpa, Lori and I went to Verna's funeral in Lebanon.  Dottie spoke, and it was very nice, but surprisingly short.  After a wonderful pot-luck lunch, I headed off to Albany for a day of shopping with Lenore, then to Wiley Creek to see Claire at her dad's house.  When Claire's step-mom died, she left three sewing machines, and Claire was sweet enough to give me one of them, and yesterday she gave me some fun material too :) I'm excited, and there are already plans taking shape in my mind :)
   Cooking-wise I guess I took a bit of a break, but last night I made sesame chicken whole-wheat wraps that were really yummy, and then cakesters with bright blue frosting (for everyone else of course... haha)

The wrap, plus left-overs of the spaghetti dish :)

Cakesters! :)

   I love love love fresh tomatoes and avocados, I'm not sure how I ever survived without them :)
Now I'd better work on finishing my skirt, or I won't have a costume for school.

Life of a Working Girl

Wow, what a week... and it's not over yet! :)
  Monday marked the switch from me partner teaching with Mrs. Webb, to taking over the gym classes, and thankfully it went very smoothly.  I got my lessons ready, and even managed to incorporate the session themes... Yay! :)  I still have a lot to learn, but I'm enjoying it, and handling the added responsibilities as they come.  I also have started working with the homework club in the morning at Foster, checking math, and helping students who didn't understand mostly.  It's been fun so far, even though I have to get up at 6, and I might even start getting paid for it soon :)
  Speaking of getting paid... most of my co-workers are teachers at various schools, and they want me to get on the sub list.  One even said once I am, I'll be her first call.  I'm very excited, and a little nervous too- what a way to kick-start my career :)  I still have to take a test and wade through the paper work, but this is such an amazing opportunity, I'm a little blown-away.
  Today we met with an ecologist, who will be partnering with the after school program at Foster to get the students outside and learning with hands-on activities and demonstrations.  I'm really excited about this, and will be working with her to integrate this into their "PE" time.
  Oh, I made another experimental dish tonight, and though it hardly resembled the recipe it was born from, it turned out yummy.... and surprisingly healthy.  I used whole-wheat spaghetti, baked marinated chicken, olive oil, vinegar (basalmic works best), leeks, spinach, a bit of sugar, salt, oregeno, basil, italian seasoning,  sundried tomatoes, and almonds.  You could also add mild italian cheese and parmesan if you like, but since I'm not really into cheese I "forgot" :)
  Since I've been working *so* hard this week, I decided to treat myself... teeheehee, three new books from Friends of the Library... YAY! Guess what I'll be doing tonight... not sleeping, that's for sure ;)

Lazy Saturday

  Last night the power went out around eight, and instead of doing productive things by lantern light (really cute lantern btw) I fell asleep- glasses still on.  I guess my wonderful day with Shelly and Martha and the boys wore me out :)
  We went to a really fun indoor bounce place, ran around and had a blast until we were exhausted, then picked up Martha's mother-in-law and went to a park for lunch and more fun!  Lots of laughing and running around in the sun :)   I didn't get many pictures, but this one is precious :)

 Oh, and those cookies turned out soooo yummy. :) I found a wonderful death-by-chocolate recipe, and played with it a bit... well, suffice to say they aren't lasting long.  They're good enough that I probably shouldn't make them anymore... at least not until after winter break ;) but more about that later :D
  Today was so fun, after waking up a little late (oops;) we finally got to have some of the sourdough waffles which had been getting yummier and yummier in our fridge this week.  I like the way they turned out, and we even have some left for tomorrow! Thanks Daddy :)
  Then Grandpa and I went to an old cider mill.  The Mill had broken down, but it was still fun, and we got a whole bag of delicious apples :)  After apples, and a little grocery shopping, we went to the grand re-opening of Safeway.  I couldn't tell what had changed, but we had a blast anyway :)  We got lots of yummy samples, and bagels fresh out of the oven- they were so hot I couldn't hold them :D.  When we checked out, the lines were crazy long, and ppl were everywhere, but we found a semi-short express line.  The guy in front of us decided to put some of his stuff back, so we only had to wait a little, but when he came back, Grandpa had him go in front of us.  Safeway was awarding random $25 gift certificates, and we won one! (I think bc the checker was impressed with Gpa :)
  We concluded our lazy day with a steak and potatoes dinner, a cookie, and some brisk exercise for me (well, a little ;)  Now I'm just looking forward to meeting tomorrow :)
  Oh, and I need ideas for these adorable fat quarters I picked up in Corvallis yesterday

A new week

And what a promising start :)
 Meeting this morning was lovely, and gospel meeting was so rich, truly the perfect start to a new week.
I also have two things to look forward to- possibly getting to babysit on Tuesday, and possibly getting some sewing and quilting supplies :).  Oh, and hopefully finishing my skirt.  On Friday I decided I wanted to try making a skirt... sans pattern.  It's the first time I've tried creating my own, just altering it as I go along, and I like it! It probably will take longer than otherwise though :)
 And one other thing, I've been meaning to back up my computer ever since Cara's died a dramatic death- taking all her pictures with it.  I looked around, but didn't really want to spend a lot of money.  I found a internet back-up thing called sugar-sync, and you can use 2GB free.  I like it so far, and if you're interested this is the link- https://www.sugarsync.com/referralrf=fmvdtwzgx2r0o

Oops

 I guess I've gotten a bit behind on this whole posting thing, oh well.  Lets see- on Sat I got to go to the Beavers game, and tho I only saw abt 5 minutes of the game (I was working concessions :) it was really fun.  Oh, and they WON! :)
 We are really enjoying having gospel meetings in Tangent, and getting to know our new workers.  We also really enjoyed having Larry here, visiting Jake and Ila.
 This week at school has been really fun, Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful sunny days, so we had the kids outside playing :).  Today was kind of cold, and the kids were a bit lethargic, so we played "sleeping lions"- whoever came up with that one is a genius.  Essentially, they all lay down and pretend to be asleep, and a couple of the kids go around and "wake them up" by making them move without touching them or yelling at them.  It's amazing how fast those kids fall asleep for real :).  One of the students fell so fast asleep that he forgot where he was, and rolled over and started snoring.  When woken up, he staggered into the wall and tried to figure out what was going on.  I felt sort of bad for him, but I admit I did laugh rather a lot :)
 Now I'm baking cookies from a new recipe I found, so we'll see how they turn out :D
-Update-
Mmm, I like... a lot

Soooooooo good, I think I've eaten three already.  Haha, and then i wonder why my clothes get tight ;)

Long day

So, when I got up this morning, I realized I didn't have a thing on my schedule, but there were three zucchinis in the kitchen just begging me to use them... hehehe.  Thus begins an amazing day of cooking, and eating too, of course :).  I promise this won't turn into a food blog, but I do want to document some of my kitchen adventures :D
  First I tried a recipe for whole wheat and oat zucchini muffins that I got off the Tasty Kitchen.  I did alter it a little bit (added more brown sugar and a little honey), and it was SO GOOD.  I ate one hot, fresh out of the oven, and I wish I had taken a picture of the inside, bc they really are beautiful.

Hehe, after Grandma and I had been at them :)

  While the muffins cooled, I tried a recipe for fried zucchini cakes, with cheese and a few other odd ingredients.  Grandpa liked them, but I didn't really, probably bc they tasted like sharp cheese, and I am not a fan.

  At this point, I took some of both up to Dave and Aunty Ena as a thank-you for all the zucchini they gave us (another one arrived whil I was cooking this morning).  When I got back, it was to the pleasant discovery of an e-mail from Nanette Lundell with her amazing zucchini bread recipe.  I did change a couple things here and there, just from personal preference, but the honor is hers :).  Oh dear, I forgot to take a picture of the loaves, but one is chocolate chip, and one is walnuts with brown sugar.  I do have a picture of my zucchini station though, I managed to use 31/2 monster zucchinis today :)

Then , while the loaves where cooling- I made biscuits! At this point, I came to the realization that the three of us were never going to finish all the food I made, esp since I want to make more soon.  So, a talked to Lisa, and she invited me to help clean up at Will and Shelly Garret's for the surprise, and bring the extra food. So a couple plates of food and I went barreling up the hill to generally help wipe down and pick up.  The new kitchen is gorgeous, I'm so happy for Shelly.  I'm also impressed with Will, and everyone else who helped him pull off a week and a half complete remodel.

A sneak peak at what they pulled off

 What a crazy, wonderful time, as tired as I am tonight, I can't imagine what they are feeling.  Speaking of which, I 'd better turn in.  Tomorrow Scott and Lisa are picking me up to go to my first college football game- Go Beavers! Haha, jk, I don't really care about football, but we're going to be running a concessions stand to raise money for the Sweet Home pool :)
Goodnight