Approaching Glory

Work Daze

The dogs have been fed and are out in front on the big long chain.  Jbird is up (if not awake) and I'm reading the news before I begin today's list of chores and duties.  And the list is way too long.

This weekend is designated as The Big Fall Clean.  My MIL is coming in a few weeks and that means make the place look presentable.  I've got windows to wash, a ceiling that needs the popcorn stuff scraped off and then needs to be painted.  I can honestly say I'm NOT looking forward to that.

Pictures of the crochet leaves to come later today.  I talked with Amy last night and T is doing much better since they surgically removed from her head.  They are going to try for a spinal chemo treatment today - please keep T in your prayers. 

Jbird did very well with both piano and his violin last night.  He's been given a new concerto with three movements.  His teacher is calling it  - "Jay's first real music" - I think he's just trying to boost the Bird's ego some - it's the same piece he's using with one of the college age music majors we know so we know it is a difficult piece and will be a challenge.

More later......

Write On

As many of you know who read here, I make efforts now and then to write and get published.  Well, I just received an email with the happy news that I've  got a piece that will be published.  Needless, to say I'm thrilled.  Things have been hairy around here and this came as such welcome happy news.

I found some neat little autumn leaves to crochet here.  I was looking for something seasonal that could be attached to the chemo caps that I'm knitting up for T.  I'll put a little safety pin on the back of the leaf so she can pin it on if she's feeling a bit of seasonal whimsy.  I might make a pumpkin too.  I also found an interesting Autumn Leaves hat here.  I don't think I've got time to make that one but it sure looks interesting.  I also found a site with a list of hat knitting patterns that goes on forever here.  I downloaded an interesting turban pattern that I've decided to try.

The guys got in at dark thirty last night from the Brave's game.  Unfortunately, the team didn't win - but the father-son duo seemed to have had a good outing.

And I can't believe this but .... I'm getting hooked on "Lost".  I truly enjoy the writer's ability to take us forward, backward, and sideways in such a short period of time.  It's been a long time since I've felt the watcher suspense that this tv series has afforded me in the past couple of weeks.

Off to crochet some leaves.......

And Don't Let the Raccoons..

steal the cat food..  An edict provided by our neighbor to our son who is feeding her pets while she's out of town.  I must say that I haven't seen and raccoons around outside - possums, rabbits, squirrels, and a multitude of birds...

I finished the movie/slide show for AIM.  I made an image cd and a movie cd for them.  I love the cd cover maker that I've got.  I used a couple of the photo images to design a cover for each cd.  I just think that technology is too cool.   Anyway, I think they are pleased with the end result.  I continue to puzzle over the "convert the avi files to DVD" stuff.  Ugh... more stuff to learn.

I'm sitting here munching on Calico Beans.  Yum!

CALICO BEANS

1 1/2 lbs. hamburger meat
1 (16 oz.) can pork 'n beans
1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained (I didn't have any so I left them out)
1 (15 oz.) can lima beans, drained (I substituted navy beans)
1 (15 oz.) can butter beans
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 c. catsup
2 tbsp. vinegar - I used Liquid Smoke
1 tbsp. mustard
Salt and pepper

Brown the hamburger and then put all the ingredients in the crock pot.  Add salt and pepper to taste. TUrn the crockpot on hi/low or just simmer on low.  Tastes even better the second day.

Egleston News

Today we had our annual MRI and check up with the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Egleston down in Atlanta.  Traffic was tough and we had to call them and tell them we were running a little late.

I took one of the chemo caps with me to knit upon as I sat and waited while Jbird was in the machine.  Hubby stuck to reading the newspaper and doing the crossword puzzle.  We left the hospital at lunchtime and found a good Japanese restaurant.  It was a delicious meal and we had a fun time laughing and talking.  Maybe too good - there were some people looking over at us... hmmm..

At 1:30 we met with J's Dr.  This man is a wonderful Dr. but shy on communication skills.  Anyway, Jbird's condition has remained stable over the past year.  He will now be allowed to see the neurologist here in our town and he doesn't have to go back to have another MRI for 18 mos - 2 years.  Good news is nice.  What is so hard with this situation (ACM type 1) is knowing what the boudaries should be for physical activity.  This Dr. is very big on allowing his ACM to lead as normal a life as they can.  He also mentioned the fact that J is close to that age where he will need to be able to make good decisions for himself - so I guess we need to sit down and go into some detail with him about what Chiari is and what symptoms he needs to recognize.

We didn't get home until late afternoon and we all looked and felt like we'd been through the ringer.  And in some ways we were.  All of us were trying to be "strong" for each other - each of us were concerned about what this year's results might be.  Sometimes in the face of the mountains we confront we just have to live.

Chemo Cap Knitting

I'm watching a squirrel scamper across our drive as I type.  He should be glad the dogs are in the back pen!  I was glad to read this morning that the mayor of New Orleans decided to change his mind.  Good move - considering another hurricane is doing its thing heading for the Gulf.

I bought some acrylic yarn to make chemo caps for T.  All my other knitting is on hold until I get a basketful of goodies sent off to T.   I went to Head Huggers and browsed around their patterns and suggestions.  That's why I ended up with the acrylic yarn as opposed to what I wanted to purchase.  Their suggestion was to stick with something very soft and washable.  So - I ended up with - Red Heart Plush in purple and wine - T's favorite colors.   I must say that it is knitting up nicely and it is as it advertises - light, stretchy and soft.  Amy has told me that T is keeping her hospital room "like a refrigerator" so I didn't want to make a chemo cap that would be too hot.   I also got a skein of Caron's Simply Soft in Country Blue that I may make in a different pattern.  I'm probably going to stop in a shop up in Dahlonega today and see about getting some nice soft fleece to make a lap blanket too - even if T doesn't use it - Amy will - she's been drinking alot of hot chocolate to keep warm in T''s room!

T found out yesterday that they discovered some leukemia cells in her spinal fluid.  This means that they will be putting a tube in her head to feed chemo into her spinal fluid.  They are experiencing some childcare issues - please pray that they can get the help they need to watch the kids.  T doesn't need added worry and anxiety about the kids - of course she is missing her children - and that would be enough without added problems.

In my chore/shopping day yesterday I got the wedding present for Amy's youngest daughter's weddding this coming Saturday.  To say that this family has got a lot going on is an understatement.  If you would like to contribute to The Comforter's Blessing  (a fund set up to help the family with visitation expenses and other odds and ends expenses) please email me and I'll let you know how to contribute.

Today is homeschooling, knitting, cleaning, karate, and then off to Dahlonega for orchestra.  I also get to go out to eat with my friend Judy who has just moved back.  It is a beautiful autumn day and I'm looking forward to my time together with someone who I can have a deep and meaningful conversation.

May your day be blessed.

Movie Maker

I took the completed movie to the AIM office this morning.  They loved it.  Of course we found a couple of things that needed to be changed - but overall they were excited about the finished product.

I sent an email off to the composer of the music I used to see if he will give AIM permission to use the music as the background.  I found his site through surfing through blogs.  I'll give a link later, when I get an email back from him.  I ordered his album - I'm that impressed with his music.  I hope he agrees to let AIM use the music - it fits the movie clip perfectly.

Then off to get Jbird's hair cut.  I headed to Wallie World (Walmart) to pick up some cards and autumn decorations to send to T so that her hospital room looks a little more cheery and seasonal.  I got an artificial flower arrangement (she can't have live flowers or fruit) and some other goodies to make up a basket.  Amy will take it to her on Monday.  I wrote a letter to some friends and family to see if they would like to contribute to The Comforter's Blessing.  That's what I'm calling the little fund that I started to help this family with the day-to-day costs of visiting a loved one in the hospital.  If you would like to contribute send me an email and I'll let you know how to do it.  I promise all money will go to the family.  I've seen knitters give generously to so many things - I know that we are caught up right now with Katrina, but I hope we can extend our generosity once again.  Spread the word around.  I'll develop a page that tells more information in a little bit.

Double Up Day

I determined that with everything going on that I wanted to double up on the school work today so that Jbird and I could take off Friday.  The only subject that I wasn't pleased with the amount we got done with was Geometry.  Why doesn't that surprise me?

Hubby and I worked some more on the movie clip project for AIM (Adventures in Missions).  Hubby is great getting the photos in order and then bringing them in with the beat of the background music.  I'm the concept/software specialist.  I design the opening shots - the graphics person so-to-speak, select the music, and write text if necessary.   It's cool that we enjoy doing this together and our strengths and weaknesses even out.

Hubby put the Memorex DVD recorder into my computer.  There is definitely going to be a learning curve on this one.  I did create a quick funny family movie on the Nero6 software that came bundled with the recorder.  I had Hubby and Jbird laughing.  Now I need to find out if I can convert the Windows Movie Maker projects into DVD formatting.  It will be nice to be able to make projects that can be shown on DVD.  That will make the final product much more versatile.  Not that I do anything commercial - but I have had some friends that wanted me to develop a memorial movie to show at the funeral service at their church.  While they could show it if they used a computer/projection format (and assuming their computer had a Windows Media Player on it) if the church had a DVD projection system my CD wouldn't play.  Hence - my investment into the Memorex system.

Tonight we also had piano and violin lessons.  I've got to get another book for piano.  Jbird's teacher started him on a new concerto.  We've batted back and forth on giving up the piano lessons - Jbird is NOT in love with the discipline - but we all know he needs the theory and foundations the piano lessons provide.

In It Together

Still working whole-heartedly on the school work.  We really need to knock the top off the mountain.  I've also decided that Jbird is NOT into the Music Appreciation course - so we'll pick another elective and jump into it - trying to decide whether to pick an online class through a virtual high school.

Met with the guy from AIM (Adventures in Missions) this morning.  He wanted pretty much what I figured.  He wants me to edit the memory movie I made for Hubby so that he can use it as a presentation for groups.  I can do that.  No problem.  I enjoy working with digital graphics and media software.

I hear from Amy everyday about how T is doing.  The kids have their ups and downs.  That's to be expected.  They are doing a spinal on her today - they had some problems trying to do one before.  I am trying to develop a fund that will cover some of the family's costs.  Parking is $7.00 per day and even Tim doesn't get free parking until they've been there for over 28 days.  T will be in there for at 28 days this round.  Remember there are always the "incidental" costs - gas, drinks, meals, etc. - these are the ones that my fund will attempt to cover.  T will get to go home for a couple of weeks and then she'll go right back in again for more treatments.  Chemo starts this week.  Remember - they have three children under eight - the baby turned one in August.  Please remember this family in your prayers.

Working on the heel section of my autumn sock.  I've got to tell you - this is one bright stripey sock!  I think it might look better in a solid - we'll wait and see how the finished project looks.

Dahlonega Drive

I think some of us in the house have a 24 hour stomach/intestinal thing going.  Even Jbird isn't pushing to go to karate today. 

Today was the thirteenth birthday of a girl in the chamber orchestra.  She is a good friend and practices duets with Jbird.  We got her a card and little balloon.  The orchestra surprised her and changed the ending of one of the songs they were playing to Happy Birthday.  She was pleasantly surprised.  Her mom and I sit together most Tuesday nights and talk while we work on our crafts.  Her mother is making an awesome prayer shawl for her daughter's Bat Mitzvah which will take place in November.

Hubby had another Teacher of the Year dinner.  This one was put on by a education sororiety.  Hubby called me after the event and asked me who I thought the speaker talked about.  I laughed and said, "Me!"  He burst out and said, "You're right!"  Turns out the speaker was a former colleague of mine.  She mentioned Jbird and me a couple of times in her talk.  I knew there was a reason why I loved Henrietta!  LOL  Nice to be remembered.

I got a call today froma man from the missions group that sent out Hubby and his two friends to Mexico.  As I've said before, Hubby has been on several missions trip with this group.  They want to talk to me about the movie clip I made for the guys. Uh huh.  I spy work ahead of me.  We're meeting tomorrow.

Chores and Snores

Today we worked on completing the ruthless clean in Jbird's bedroom - too out a couple more black bags of stuff to go.  Next it is back into the computer room and tackle more of the stuff in there.  It is almost embarassing how pack ratty I am - almost.

We watched "Abbot and Costello Meet the Invisible Man"  and "Ma and Pa Kettle Go On Vacation".  They were worth a good smile or two.  We all seem to be tired and mopey today.

I talked to my friend about her daughter-in-law.  T is getting settled into her room at Emory.  She'll be there for a month.  They are going to begin chemo on Monday.  I am going to start a prayer shawl for her this week.

Talked at length today to my friend whose husband was transferred to Utah.  She is currently in support of a new friend whose husband is fighting brain tumors.  We prayed together.  I'm going to have to get up early tomorrow and really get a move on to get even half of what I had on my list.