Well, I wrapped up my summer by putting the finishing touches on the family room - the window treatments came from JCP - I decided not to make them myself - great decision!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
new window treatments to go with carpet
Well, I wrapped up my summer by putting the finishing touches on the family room - the window treatments came from JCP - I decided not to make them myself - great decision!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
New Carpet
What a busy summer - we finished it out by getting our downstairs painted and new carpet in our TV room - here it is!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Me and my pets
We are supposed to have a picture of ourself and our pets for our front display case - so here is mine! I had to collage it on picasa since my animals don't enjoy being with each other all for a picture.Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Cool Recycled Handbags & Earth Friendly Clothes
Check out this cool website for unique and fun things - that are good for the environment. This is an online boutique.
http://www.juteandjackfruit.com/
http://www.juteandjackfruit.com/
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Charlaine Harris Books
I've decided to start a different blog post for books that I am reading by Charlaine Harris. She is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse books that the HBO series True Blood is based on and that is how I began reading her other books.
I've already read book 2 (A Bone to Pick) in the series that I am going to start - the Aurora Teagarden Series, so now I'm going to see how it all started with Real Murders. These books are - you guessed it - murder mysteries - with a southern slant. More after I read.
Apparently I've already read Real Murders - it sets up the premise for the other books - plus it does containe a real murder to be solved. Aurora Teagarden and some friend belong to a True Crimes Club where they meet and discuss some of the more well known murders throughout history.
So, onto book 3 - Three Bedrooms, One Corpse - sounds intriguing doesn't it!?!
July 17 - finished this book - and it was good as I suspected it would be. I love the setting - rural Georgia - just outside of Atlanta - but one of those sleepy small towns where everyone knows everyone and so the murderer always turns out to be someone we wouldn't suspect. I also like that this author reminds of us important info. from previous books in the series, but only as needed, so her books could stand alone.
Book 4 - Julius House - having read the previous books I know this is an abandoned house - the family mysteriously disappeared and Aurora - the main character in this series - is thinking of buying this house. Additionally, this house is on the outskirts of town - not walking distance to anything, unlike Aurora's current townhome. So... I guess I will learn more about the house and whether or not Aurora moves into the country. Finished this book in a day and a half!!! It definately solved a previously unsolved mystery.
Book 5 - ( July 18) Dead Over Heels - will be interesting to see where this one takes Aurora - the previous book tied up a lot of lose ends.
July 24 - Just finished this book - took a little longer then usual due to staff development that I noticed we've all started attending or teaching :) Anyhow, if people continue to get murdered and other people in this small town get arrested for these murders, soon Aurora will be the only one left in the town. This book was interesting and again we had no idea who dunit until the end.
Book 6 (July 24) - now starting A Fool and His Honey (I do love her titles) and from reading the back, this book will take Aurora out of her small town and into Ohio - I guess that is how the author will manage not to kill everyone in the small town off :) More when I finish this book!
July 25 - Ok - seeing that I finished this book in a day I can say it was good and suspense-filled! This book had a lot of twists and turns and surprises & was one of my favorite of this series. It could easily be a stand alone.
July 28 - Book 7 - Last Scene Alive - Just finished this book and Book 8 has been ordered - This book brought the series all the back to its beginning and was very fast paced. Definately need to have read Book 1 to fully appreciate this book. I am anxiously awaiting book 8's arrival - in the mean time - I guess I should start reading the Blue Bonnets to prepare for this coming school year. I will be starting a new blog for Blue Bonnets, so that my students can use it :)
I've already read book 2 (A Bone to Pick) in the series that I am going to start - the Aurora Teagarden Series, so now I'm going to see how it all started with Real Murders. These books are - you guessed it - murder mysteries - with a southern slant. More after I read.
Apparently I've already read Real Murders - it sets up the premise for the other books - plus it does containe a real murder to be solved. Aurora Teagarden and some friend belong to a True Crimes Club where they meet and discuss some of the more well known murders throughout history.
So, onto book 3 - Three Bedrooms, One Corpse - sounds intriguing doesn't it!?!
July 17 - finished this book - and it was good as I suspected it would be. I love the setting - rural Georgia - just outside of Atlanta - but one of those sleepy small towns where everyone knows everyone and so the murderer always turns out to be someone we wouldn't suspect. I also like that this author reminds of us important info. from previous books in the series, but only as needed, so her books could stand alone.
Book 4 - Julius House - having read the previous books I know this is an abandoned house - the family mysteriously disappeared and Aurora - the main character in this series - is thinking of buying this house. Additionally, this house is on the outskirts of town - not walking distance to anything, unlike Aurora's current townhome. So... I guess I will learn more about the house and whether or not Aurora moves into the country. Finished this book in a day and a half!!! It definately solved a previously unsolved mystery.
Book 5 - ( July 18) Dead Over Heels - will be interesting to see where this one takes Aurora - the previous book tied up a lot of lose ends.
July 24 - Just finished this book - took a little longer then usual due to staff development that I noticed we've all started attending or teaching :) Anyhow, if people continue to get murdered and other people in this small town get arrested for these murders, soon Aurora will be the only one left in the town. This book was interesting and again we had no idea who dunit until the end.
Book 6 (July 24) - now starting A Fool and His Honey (I do love her titles) and from reading the back, this book will take Aurora out of her small town and into Ohio - I guess that is how the author will manage not to kill everyone in the small town off :) More when I finish this book!
July 25 - Ok - seeing that I finished this book in a day I can say it was good and suspense-filled! This book had a lot of twists and turns and surprises & was one of my favorite of this series. It could easily be a stand alone.
July 28 - Book 7 - Last Scene Alive - Just finished this book and Book 8 has been ordered - This book brought the series all the back to its beginning and was very fast paced. Definately need to have read Book 1 to fully appreciate this book. I am anxiously awaiting book 8's arrival - in the mean time - I guess I should start reading the Blue Bonnets to prepare for this coming school year. I will be starting a new blog for Blue Bonnets, so that my students can use it :)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Summer Reading
I started out this summer by finishing Pretties - the second book in Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras - I plan to read the last two this summer as well.
This was a book we started in lit. circle at the end of the school year - so my girls who are reading it are still blogging about it - so I have to keep up!
City of Bones - this is part of a series - sci-fi - action - keeps the reader hooked - I just don't love sci-fi - but I know I will read the other books in this series.
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve - ok this is the first "grown up" book I read this summer - a quick summer read - great for recovering from pnemonia
Sea Glass - also by Anita Shreve - currently reading - will get back about this one! This author was recommended by one of my former students' parent.
June 27 - I finished Sea Glass - what an incredible story that takes place during the Great Depression - interesting read w/our current economic situation.
I am now reading Fortune's Rocks - same author - it takes place 1899 - I've heard from several people that it is an amazing story. These three books all take place in the same house - it is more then just 3 seperate stories. Very interesting - I love realistic/historical fiction!
Finished Fortune's Rocks - it was by far the best of the three books I read by Anita Shreve - an absolutely incredible story!!!
Now, onto a young adult book - Specials - the third book in The Uglies/Pretties series. Some of my students from last year are reading this book over the summer and blogging on our class blog about - so I need to catch up!!!
July 7 - I am now reading the last book in the Uglies/Pretties/Specials series - The Extras also by Scott Westerfield - this book is more of a stand alone - but is based on the sci-fi setting & vocabulary developed in the first three books. I highly recommend this series for middle schoolers & high schoolers - it is a Brave New World meets Big Brother type sci-fi book with all the drama that middle schoolers/high schoolers love!
July 12 - I finished the Extras - the last book in the above series - it was more of a stand alone book then actually part of the series. It introduced new characters. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first three in the series, but real sci-fi lovers will enjoy it.
July 28 - Time to start reading the Blue Bonnets to prepare for the upcoming school year. Every summer I try to read all 20 (won't be happening this summer but at least I can get a head start). I also read aloud at least 5 during the school year so that all my students can participate in the end of the year Blue Bonnet party and also get to vote on their favorite Blue Bonnet. I will start a new blog for these books and will add the link to this blog.
This was a book we started in lit. circle at the end of the school year - so my girls who are reading it are still blogging about it - so I have to keep up!
City of Bones - this is part of a series - sci-fi - action - keeps the reader hooked - I just don't love sci-fi - but I know I will read the other books in this series.
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve - ok this is the first "grown up" book I read this summer - a quick summer read - great for recovering from pnemonia
Sea Glass - also by Anita Shreve - currently reading - will get back about this one! This author was recommended by one of my former students' parent.
June 27 - I finished Sea Glass - what an incredible story that takes place during the Great Depression - interesting read w/our current economic situation.
I am now reading Fortune's Rocks - same author - it takes place 1899 - I've heard from several people that it is an amazing story. These three books all take place in the same house - it is more then just 3 seperate stories. Very interesting - I love realistic/historical fiction!
Finished Fortune's Rocks - it was by far the best of the three books I read by Anita Shreve - an absolutely incredible story!!!
Now, onto a young adult book - Specials - the third book in The Uglies/Pretties series. Some of my students from last year are reading this book over the summer and blogging on our class blog about - so I need to catch up!!!
July 7 - I am now reading the last book in the Uglies/Pretties/Specials series - The Extras also by Scott Westerfield - this book is more of a stand alone - but is based on the sci-fi setting & vocabulary developed in the first three books. I highly recommend this series for middle schoolers & high schoolers - it is a Brave New World meets Big Brother type sci-fi book with all the drama that middle schoolers/high schoolers love!
July 12 - I finished the Extras - the last book in the above series - it was more of a stand alone book then actually part of the series. It introduced new characters. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first three in the series, but real sci-fi lovers will enjoy it.
July 28 - Time to start reading the Blue Bonnets to prepare for the upcoming school year. Every summer I try to read all 20 (won't be happening this summer but at least I can get a head start). I also read aloud at least 5 during the school year so that all my students can participate in the end of the year Blue Bonnet party and also get to vote on their favorite Blue Bonnet. I will start a new blog for these books and will add the link to this blog.
Raising Dragon
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My final summer activity (besides relaxing and hanging out!) is raising my first reptile! I am raising a bearded dragon. It has been quite an experience. At first I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep him alive. Now, I am wondering hwo to keep the crickets alive long enough for him to not go hungry! He is a BIG eater!!!
Jewelry Making
A&M inspried earrings and bracelet
UT inspired jewelry
My favorite piece so far is the "falling leaves" necklace and earrings.
The purple necklace was my first try using nylon filament to create the floating look - very challanging! 
The mis-match earrings were for my neighbor - she loves crosses and always wears mismatch earrings!
This is my first jewelry attempt.
The other activity I've under taken this summer is learning how to make metal jewelry w/beads. I'm just getting started - but I've posted some pics. If anyone has helpful hints - let me know!
More jewelry to be made - especially as I am couch bound with pnemonia (not part of the summer activity plan!)
Therapy Dog activities
This summer, besides trying to recover from pnemonia, my dog, Sugar, and I plan to do therapy dog work. Sugar is a regular at the City of Frisco public library as a participant of the Read to Rover program. The next Read to Rover is July 13 - so Sugar is resting up! Sugar is a registered therapy dog and also a R.E.A.D dog - she has visited nursing homes, schools, libraries, and barnes and noble to spread her love! Sugar is a 4 year old great pyreneese who loves to sleep in her spare time!
She doesn't love to dress up - but her small dog owner friends insist - so she plays along for the pictures!
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