My Reading Blog

Truly, I feel like I'm on vacation most of the time.  Yes, there's the everyday stuff that needs to be attended to, but overall I'm free to do what I want, when I want.  But we are going on an actual vacation.  For the past five or six years, we've always headed to Florida.  But this year we decided we needed a change, so we're heading West. Off to Las Vegas. Lodging arrangements have been made Friends have been called to arrange a get together Sightseeing events are planned Tickets for a show have been purchased There might be a slot machine or two that needs to be fed Hubby has determined the route Stops along the way have been researched Meeting a fellow blogger (can't wait to meet Lynn) Hopefully warmer weather Packing has been started The car has new tires and an oil change Max will be cared for with lots of lovin' Two more days and we're off.

After many months of planning and preparing, the day has come to begin an after school mentoring program for 8th and 9th graders at our church.  The plan is to welcome the kids after school for some play time and then some study time, followed by dinner with their families invited. The principal at the junior high is a member of our congregation and has been promoting this program for some time, but as usual, not sure that anyone would come.  What's the phrase?  "Build it and they will come".  So we begin today with six students.  I signed up to help the kids with their homework.  Now I haven't seen an 8th or 9th grade textbook for many years.  Since math and science are not my forte, I'm hoping that I'll be able to assist with other subjects.  Of course, there's always a need for listening ear.  We're having a "run thru" prior to the kids arrival.  So we shall see what happens. We have many hands working together to make this ...

When we were with our kids at Thanksgiving, my daughter-in-law had a table topper for Christmas and commented that it was just right size and that she would like some for different seasons.  Could you make them? she asked.  It was from the Dresden Plate quilt pattern and so I was pretty sure I could handle it.  So before Christmas I checked out different websites, got a similar pattern and tried my hand at it.  It wasn't perfect, but doable.  But I knew someone who could help make it better.  I have quilted some, but only enough to say that I have done it. I have a friend who is a quilter and loves challenges.  She was more than happy to help.  So today is our play date.  I've got the fabric and a pattern and we'll see what kind of mischief we can get into. Here's the original pattern that my DIL loaned me.

One major change is happening in our newly purchased home.  We are not tub people.  We like our shower.  Getting older means that stepping up and over the tub is not easy.  So.... We decided to take out the tub in the master bathroom and replace it with a shower.  We got quotes.  Gulped a couple of times.  Researched alternatives.  Got another quote.  Decided to do marble instead of individual tiles.  No grout to discolor, easy to clean.  Sharp looking.  And less expensive than tile. Today the demolition started.  The tub enclosure came out easy enough.  But as with any older home, nothing is square and there was a 2 x 6 where a 2 x 4 should have been.  Nothing major, just bumps in the way (or so I was told by the contractor).  The plumber gave us an estimate, but said that he would not dig out the concrete (we're on a slab), so hubby says "no problem" (his go to phrase).  He'll take care of it....