my favorite fabrics

While I was posting that pic of the piece of fabric I hope to buy, I thought it might be fun to show you my most favorite fabrics. I tried to pick ones that were very different from one another. The first is a Liberty of London print, one I'll never be able to afford. The second, I own, and am making a kid's quilt with it -- it's a Trefle Japanese fabric. The third and fourth are both FreeSpirit Fabrics, but from different designers. The last one is my next buy for myself, where I'll make a bold quilt empahsizing that beautiful rusty red color.

over my head

One theme of my life:
I try things that are way beyond my skill level, and then when it is hard, I quit.

Ugh. I am trying to make this cute pink baby quilt and things are going all wrong. I didn't think when I started that I didn't know how to applique and that I only have very basic skills in embroidery. And, I tried to get funky with the patterns and instead of sticking to three colors, I have a jumble of shades of pink. It might be hideous. It might, more likely, never be finished. I am frustrated as you may imagine. I thought about mailing it to my mom (an expert quilter), but I really want to be able to give this to my cousin at her baby shower without everyone knowing that my momma helped me.
I was going to make a second version of this same quilt for my friend's baby shower in two weeks. That won't happen now that I see how hard this is, and because it is so expensive! So, I'm going to make an alternate and easier quilt using this fabric (as soon as the month is over and I have money in my budget to buy it, which will mean I may be up all night the night before making it): Do you think green is a strange color for a baby blanket? They had light pink, which I was going to use, but they sold out. They also have orange, which I guess I could pair with red or hot pink, but I don't know if that would be too garish for a baby -- I like it, but what do you think?

emotion = amt of sleep

So I can't sleep. This is because Andy isn't home and I watched a scary movie.

So I was thinking, since I'm not really tired, that not being tired is strange. Then I remembered that in grad school all I could do is sleep and that during this past year, my first year to teach, I was dead tired by 8:30 and cranky by 9.

So, I must be really happy to be at home and away from 15 year olds.

So, I'm going to ramble until I get sleepy, or find something else to do that won't take me out of the confines of my bedroom.

Sunday I wanted to blog because it was such a crazy day. I started out really happy -- church was good and we went to lunch with the Hamilton's, Aleithia, and James. Then, I was excited because Andy said he'd take me to the new M. Night Shamalan movie, The Happening. I love Shamalan's movies, I really do. The Village and Signs are two of my favorites movies, AFTER Elf of course.
But, I was bitterly disappointed. I complained to Andy about how disappointed I was for two days afterword. All the movie was, was a pointless, absolutely pointless, display of violence -- self mutilation to be exact. It was absolutely awful to watch. Aleithia and I covered our eyes for almost all of the movie. The only good part was the casting, but then, since we couldn't watch them act, it didn't matter who the actor's were.

But at least I still have the Batman movie to be excited about. Though, Andy and I decided that I shouldn't expect much, since it couldn't possibly be as good as Batman Begins, and if it is good I'll be pleasantly surprised, rather than disappointed.

Then, Monday, I had a fantastic day. Truly fantastic. I just did housework all day and spent normal time with Andy. I love having him in the house all day. The Dorsts came over for dinner (see Jonathan Dorst below in the Damage Inc. photos) and it wasn't all that great, but at least it wasn't bad! Sometimes, when people come over my dinners don't turn out very well... And they brought thier two young daughters. Andy showed the girls a magic trick and I think I fell for him all over again. The girls were very loud, but in a funny way, and it was good for us.

Okay, now I'm very sleepy -- so goodnight.

a good busy bee day

Today I went to Angela's with Lesly and had a blast playing with Grace. I adore playing with her and today she was especially affectionate.
Then, I met Mema in Arcadia at the Pop's resturant on Historic Route 66.
www.pops66.com

She was delivering a car to Guthrie so I got to have lunch with her and Papa.
Then, I came home to try to take a nap (I didn't sleep well last night because Andy figited in his sleep about every 5 minutes)for an hour before I picked up Aleithia.
Then, Aleithia and I headed over to Lesly's to watch a movie with her kids, because Lesly's oldest daughter, Abigail, suggested that I read "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke months ago -- and then she rented the movie. It was a fun, but busy day for me. I'm blessed to have friends. Tomorrow, though, I think I'll hang out with the pups and only venture out if I can convince Andy to take me to see "The Happening."
I'm sorry this isn't an interesting post; I'm sleepy. Zzzzzzzz.

headache morning - a bad excuse to skirt my responsibilities

Don't you just hate mornings when you wake up with a headache?
I think I'm just crabby because yesterday was so beautiful, and I was hoping it would last, but no... today is warm and muggy. Yesterday was cool with a nice breeze!

Oh well. To cure my headache I'm drinking coffee and shopping. I've looked through my new embroidery book and have decided to make my soon-to-be-born cousin, Tayla Lynn, a baby blanket (I know! yet another baby!) so I had to look for cute, but not too bold, pink fabrics. The momma, my cousin Connie, is decorating in the traditional Winnie the Pooh style, so I'll have to make a Pooh Pillow too. It's so exciting!

I haven't started on Max's quilt yet. I've got the fabric, but no ideas on how to make it funky.

Also on shopping... check out www.tradeasone.com, which is where I did my shopping this morning. While making coffee, I realized we were out of beans, so I had to get online to order them (nowhere in Stillwater can you buy both Fair Trade and Shade Grown beans, you can only get one or the other) and I went to the website above to buy them this time. I also like 963 coffee and Cafe Humana because they both give their revenue to the missions field (I'll put links to all three site to the right). But, on Trade As One, you can get other cool items other than coffee. Check out what I got.

It's a big bag (I never used to carry big bags, but for work I need to, and I use them for grocery shopping) made by Guatemalan village women (who are paid a fair wage so they can support themselves) from recycled ikat and recycled embroidered silk blouses.

I also got this, which I've been eye-ing for some time because I don't like my current coasters. These are made by women in the Philippines from recycled newspaper.


off topic...
today's post is going to be long because I'm procrastinating again. Gosh, now I feel guilty so I'd better hurry up.
I'll do reports on my summer reading as I go, but I'll keep it short -- promise.

ABARAT by Clive Barker.
Finished yesterday.
It's interesting to read a fantasy novel written by someone who is completely different than you. In fact, I do it a lot, because almost all the best fantasy authors are strange -- in a different way than I am strange, of course.
This book was fun for me, but I doubt any of you would enjoy it. It was a little grotesque, but even the grotesque pictures (the author did all his own illustrations and man is he a good artist) were creative and interesting to look at. With some I had to flip the page quickly. So -- overall, very creative but I don't recommend it even though I kind of liked it and am going to read the next installation.

THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS by Brian McClaren.
Almost finished. It's an amazing book, I'll write on it, because it deserves it's very own post. The only complaint is the title, because it is misleading. I would have titled it something like "returning to the message of Jesus" or "the mysteries of Jesus' message." I'd change it because, with the title as is, it makes it seem like Mclaren is saying he's got a secret that no one else knows, which isn't what he is saying. Anyway, I strongly recommend this book -- in fact, you may get it for Christmas. ;)

OK I better get some chores done. While doing my chores, I'm going to listen to ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine.

midnight ride

When I was a preteen (or a tweenie as they are now called) I used to ride my bike alone at dusk. Then, when I got a car, I would drive alone with the windows down, sweating in the heavy summer heat (yeah, I know I said I hate being hot, but this is different), sometimes until four or five in the morning. This is, in part, because I never felt like I fit in, and my closest friends had other friends -- so I felt more comfortable alone. Whatever the reason, I now have to find ways to feed my habit of occupying my brain with anything but the norm. I don't drive around at night anymore 1. because Andy would wonder and 2. because it's wasteful 3. because it's expensive. And I kind of miss it.
So, I've been asking Andy for a bike for over a year, and finally, a couple of weeks ago, I got a bike! My friend Tran gave it to me and I love it. It's red and has a lot of gears that I don't know how to use, but I rode it tonight. I'm a little wobbly, but that didn't stop me from going as fast as I could go or picking up a injured box turtle to carry home on the way. While carrying the box turtle, who was continuously scratching me with his left hind leg, a German shepherd chased me until his owner (thank God!) called him back -- and I still kept my balance. woohoo! I make the rocking world go 'round that's for sure.
Anyway, back to the point, there's something very calming about riding your bike in the summer at dusk. The lightening bugs, the people on their porches, the smell of cut grass, the heavy humid air, and the wind in your ears, is all wondrous and lovely. And it makes me happy.

school is over

I've never in my life been more excited for the coming of summer. I hate hot weather. I have to fight from becoming monster-emily whenever it is hot and humid outside. And yet, I'm so very excited.

Whoopee no more Perry. This is sad for me, of course, because I didn't want to leave, but I'm seeing the good in it -- it is a completely fresh start with new students. I can try again to be the teacher I want to be. And I'm upgrading to sophomores and teaching yearbook, which should be a blast. I'm all about electives. I (and friends of mine) prayed that I would only get one job offer, so that I wouldn't have to choose. But we were praying that the choice would be between two other positions that I badly wanted. Both turned me down, with encouragement and complements, but the next day (what's up with God giving me "but the next day"s all the time? that wasn't a complaint, it's just funny) I was offered a position at Wellston. The second interview in a line of interviews this spring. I immediately liked this principal and the school, but I didn't think about it after the possibility of an art job or a charter school job. But anyway, I guess it is where I'm supposed to be -- so I hope I do well.

This is my first week of summer and I've spent it working at Nature Camp where my group, the Awesome Possum Posse, a group of eleven 6-year-olds, are giving me a great week. I just realized that although I'm frustrated with how the camp is organized and although I'm worn out by the tykes, I'm really having a good time. I adore the kids and seriously think about baby-snatching. Just as I used to think with Malee, who first stole my heart, and how I think about Grace now. There's one little girl in particular, Chrissa who blows me away. She ALWAYS needs a drink, but she's incredibly brave and polite. "Miss Emily," she says every five minutes, "may I go get my water bottle out of my cubby?" I love her face. She has almost white hair, a little upturned nose, and dark brown eyes. Yesterday she climbed the highest in this old cedar tree and I asked her to make her way down because, as I told her, she was making me nervous. As she climbed down I positioned myself, while panicking, to catch her when she fell. Well, just as I turned my head, she slips. And I turn to catch her, but I miss and she falls seven feet. Miraculously she didn't hit her fragile body on a lower branch, but landed on a clear patch of dirt. I freaked out internally, but just looked at her to see her reaction so I would know what to do. She picked up her head, looked at me, and said, "Wow, that hurt," then she stood up and said, "let's go catch up with the rest of the group now." I hope to remember that next time I fall or hurt myself.
I could talk a lot about the other kids as well, there are many stories in my head ready to come out, but I'm sleepy and there's still one day left of camp.

Damage Inc

These are pictures from the 4th show of Damage Inc, the Metallica cover band Andy is in. The guy with the gotee is our pastor, Jonathan Dorst, and the bass player is Scott, and the older guy with the glasses is Doug, and his son, Matthew, is the younger guy in glasses.

"Did it think you were its Daddy?" -- Bob

Here's Andy, happily holding a baby Black Vulture. We also call them Vulgars, but actually, they are beautiful and interesting animals. One of their defense mechanisms is to vomit all over the would be villan as this one did to Andy. I asked him if it prepared him for parenthood (since we've been talking about the baby time table), since the thing was ugly, helpless, and barfed all over the place... he said yes. :)

Max is here!

Meet my new nephew, Maxwell Boone Cooper, born the 16th at 10pm and who is 8 lbs and 21 inches long.
Proud parents: my bubba, Jacob, and his lovely wife Kimberly.
I can't wait to see him!

bunny love

my first two bunnies and my first embroidery attempt!

Audrey Della Beall, our niece, is born

proud parents: Andy's sister Emily and her husband Joe.
Yes, weird, huh, another Emily loves the name Audrey. Too bad she got to it first, but what a lovely baby to bestow with that lovely name.

blog on hiatus

I'm just too busy with school. I'll start up over the summer because then I'll hopefully be making crafty things for Maxwell, my soon-to-be-born nephew, and my even-sooner-to-be-born, but as of yet unnamed niece, and little miss Gracie Hamilton and will want to show them (the toys and the cutie-pies) off.

buying things ethically

check this out:
http://tradeasone.com/

good day

I have "walking pneumonia" and my students were wackos today, but I'm having a good day.
One of my kids who hardly ever does any work besides studying his eyelids came after school today and did his entire review for the exam. I was so proud of him.
And Andy and I have been getting along well, which really helps my outlook on things.
I finally bought a new trashcan -- the metal kind that doesn't stain like our old one did. I've been waiting for one since last April, I know that sounds silly, but we just never got around to saving that extra $30 when we had so many other things to save for.
I want to write more, but it is going to have to wait until later.
I hope everyone is well.
Oh, that reminds me. Please pray for my friend Jamie's sister who was in a serious car wreck and I think her neck is broken. Their father is trying to get a flight home from Japan so her mom is all alone. Please pray for Jamie's sister and mom.

"shut down to a whisper"

I'm feeling quiet tonight, so it is funny to me that I felt like writing.
Andy's at Damage Inc. practice. They've made a DVD that he loves to show off if you're interested.
As soon as I can figure out how to make the clips into managable sizes I'll post it here.
Well, my momma bought me a new sewing machine (the last one she gave me on my 11th birthday and I still had it) and I made a pillow tonight on it. It's very cute. It was a trial run for all the stuffed bunnies and turtles I'm about to make for the slew of babies that are about to be born into my family.
So far my sister-in-law Emily is having a girl in March. My cousin, Elizabeth, is having a boy, Cooper Knapp, in Feb. and my big brother's wife is having a boy the day after my birthday in April, his name will be Maxwell Boone Cooper. Cool name, huh. very Texan to me.
I'm listening to A Fine Frenzy and it makes me feel alone.
Kinda like Radio Head or Tori Amos used to make me feel.
I went back to school today. I was surprised to see that some of my students may have actually missed me. I was crabby by the end of the day so my poor 7th hour was dealt with harshly, but they need a kick in the pants.
Andy and I have done a complete overhaul of our house. We've gotten rid of probably a third of our belongings (I let go of 11 pairs of shoes... I was ashamed to know that I had so many to let go of! One pair I forgot I had!) and have begun being more GREEN. Why? Well, because as the bumper sticker says (if you see one rip it off for me) "God is Green." We've always felt that living simply is better for our checkbook, but we didn't realize how much it impacted our poor neighbors, you know the other 90% of the population.
So, if you'd like, I'll mail you a copy of "Serve God, Save the Planet" or if you're the theological type (I'm not, I prefered the practicality of the first title) I'll mail you "For the Beauty of the Earth." OR better yet, Inter-Library loan them from your local library. I'll tell you how to do that if you need help.
I'm out of words and it's past 9. I'm sick with a old bad cold and I'm worn out from talking to more than one human being in a day. Breaks are good, but I have anxiety when I have to get back out of myself and out of my nest.
God bless you in the new year.
Oh - almost forgot.
My new year's resolution.
May I be a better steward of the blessings God has given me. Especially, my time, my health, my family, my friends, energy, food, the Earth.
I love you, God. I love you. Thank you for your abundance and please keep me from taking advantage.

cookie fun yum yum

Audi and I made this cookies the other weekend when she came up to visit.

my momma

http://www.jointhejourney.com/Traveler-s-Log.26.0.html?&tx_watermarktravelers_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=1080&cHash=85d3c35d52

please consider helping me and my kids

https://www.legacymissions.org/ambassador.php?aid=183

finally some sense

"But here's a question worth considering: Why does Pullman have this wrongful impression of the church in the first place? Could it be that he's encountered arrogant, judgmental Christians? Could it be, to some degree, Christians' fault?

At any rate, no, don't be afraid. The gospel will survive the publishing phenomenon of Pullman's trilogy—and any movies that come from it—without so much as a scratch. It's not worth getting all worked up about it."

Christianity Today