Hedgetoad Cottage

garden is in!

2010-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

zuchini and cucumbers are planted in the raised bed. Had to put up a fence to keep the dog from jumping into it while barking at the birds.

Planted potatoes in extra spots - just for giggles. I don't know if they will even come up. Not sure that I even want them to, but had to plant them.

planted brocoli - don't know if will work out. Never planted before. spinach too.

tomatoes are also in - 3 large in ground. oregon spring (2) and celebrity (1). Cherry tomatoes on deck in a pot.

rhubarb has only leaf left, but looks better after putting slug bait around the garden. onions are doing ok.

blueberry bushes are red! probably due to weather? do they think the cold makes it fall? do they need some nitrogen?

probably should have the soil tested. Maybe next year after seeing the results of this year. Also, rototilling.

2009-05-11T16:47:00.001-07:00

What the heck is wrong with me?

I wish I'd taken a Picture

2009-04-28T11:29:00.001-07:00

One "clutter counter" was completely cleaned off. All the old mail was either tossed or stuffed into the mail bucket (which will be put on the declutter list). The books were put away, as were the odds and ends of craft supplies, old magazines, newpaper articles, and various random sock. Don't ask why the socks were there... I'm really not sure. I also put away the Easter decorations and dusted. I also finished folding the clothes and washed the bathroom rug.

I did not finish the dishes :(, nor clean the bathroom, put away the toys or any grading. Instead, after the baby was asleep, I laid down on the couch to watch TV and woke up at 11.30pm. That's when I got up to wash some bottles, so at least I'd have those for today. Bad. Bad. Bad.

Today, I managed to get up early enough to shower and make lunch before we had to leave. I had packed the diaper bag the evening before (except for clean bottles), so I didn't have to make a 2nd trip. That's actually pretty good for me. Tomorrow, I may try to squeeze in a shower, make lunch and eat breakfast, all before having to leave.

Also on todays to-do list:

grading (I'm devoting one hour this evening, even if I'm half asleep!)
dishes!
bathroom
vaccuum (man! does that dog shed!)

One of these days I may even add in exercise. But let's not push it for this week.

Yesterday

2009-04-27T13:28:00.001-07:00

number of bottles washed -> 10

number of laundry loads completed -> 4

number of laundry loads folded -> 3

Dinner cooked -> check! It was even healthy! And the baby ate his avacado! Next we'll be tackling green beans.

number of papers graded -> 10

number of lawns mowed -> 1

On today's To-Do List:

more grading!
fold baby's clothes (last load from yesterday)
wash bathroom carpet
sweep bathroom
15 minute sweep on clutter counter
sweep kitchen
dishes

The best laid plans of mice and men, gang aft agley

2009-04-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

You know... I started this blog with tons of ideas and energy. I was going to do decorating, and crafting and sewing and gardening and cooking and blah, blah, blah... Obviously, that did not happen. I haven't touched a craft project in over two months. My cooking can barely be called that, the garden still isn't prepped, nothing has been planted and it's May next week. Don't even think about the state of my house. The best I can report on that end is that I bought a new vaccuum cleaner. In my defense, I did get a new foster child and finished part of my National Boards entry (due in April). I also filed my taxes. whoo-hoo.

I'm a great planner, but a poor executor. And I don't want to be that. As I type that, however, I wonder if I can even change. I'm nearly officially middle aged and as we've all be taught, old dogs cannot learn new tricks. Or can they? Seriously, I dunno any more.

I need to get on an active track. I did actually do a lot more at one time. I was almost organized. Maybe if I takle it one step at a time, I can get back on track. So this week, my goal is keep up with the house. Dishes, vaccuuming, the millions of tons of laundry. Possibly decluttering to help keep it in order, but really, I need to focus on finding a routine and stick to it!

random questions

2009-04-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
my hands
2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
grey - they're all grey
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
no.
4. Do you plan outfits?
sort of - I try not to miss-match and generally only wear my fav combo of green and red during the holiday season
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
relaxed
6. What's the closest thing to you that's red?
the scarf on my grizzly bear christmas ornament/computer montior topper
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I dream a lot, but don't really put effort into remembering unless it's really weird... like the time I a co-worker borrow my foot for her medical school disection assignment.
8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Luckily, no. But it's only the middle of the day. Usually all new students are dumped into my afternoon class.
9. What are you craving right now?
Lunch. I forgot to bring on.
10. Do you floss?
Yeah, but not as much as I should.
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
cabbage rolls and soup
12. Are you emotional?
Yes.
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
no.
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
lick.
15. Do you like your hair?
yes, if it could only hold onto the dye for more than a week.
16. Do you like yourself?
most of the time
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
eww. NO.
18. What are you listening to right now?
Students wandering into their classes.
19. Are your parents strict?
I know they like to think they were, but not really.
20. Would you go sky diving?
no. I didn't find paraponting that exciting, so I'm thinking that I wouldn't find sky diving that great either.
21. Do you like cottage cheese?
honestly, it's been so long since I've tried it, I really don't know.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
depends on what you mean by celebrity... do politicians count? The notorious?
23. Do you rent movies often?
well, I pay for Netflicks every month but I've had one movie sitting on my shelf for about 3 months.
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
the snowman being built by the grizzly bear of the aforementioned christimas ornament.
25. How many countries have you visited?
7?
26. Have you made a prank phone call?
yes - hasn't everyone?
27. Ever been on a train?
many, many times. I like trains, it's a great way to travel.
28. Brown or white eggs?
brown
29.Do you have a cell-phone?
of course
30. Do you use chap stick?
rarely
31. Do you own a gun?
a water gun (actually two)
32. Can you use chop sticks?
yes
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
the baby
34. Are you too forgiving?
I think no.
35. Ever been in love?
maybe
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
going to work
37. Ever have cream puffs?
yes, once.
38. Last time you cried?
last night during that humane society commercial
39. What was the last question you asked?
what day will you all be here? (the seniors are a little sketchy when you have less than a month to go.
40. Favorite time of the year?
summer - because I'm freezing the rest of the year.
41. Do you have any tattoos?
yes
42. Are you sarcastic?
Is the Pope a Catholic?
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
no - doesn't that have Ashton Kutcher? I dislike his acting.
44. Ever walked into a wall?
yes, about 30 minutes ago
45. Favorite color?
pink
46. Have you ever slapped someone?
yes, but not lately
47. Is your hair curly?
flat as a pancake. It's nearly impossible to get a curl.
48. What was the last CD you bought?
I do itunes
49. Do looks matter?
apparently so.
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
no
51. Is your phone bill sky high?
no. I'm cheap like that.
52. Do you like your life right now?
at times - the adoption thing is very frustrating
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
sometimes.
54. Can you handle the truth?
it depends what we're being honest about.
55. Do you have good vision?
Lord-luv-a-duck no! I'm nearly blind
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
not really. I tend to forget about them after a week or so.
57. Do you talk on the phone a lot?
no - I've actually come to really dislike it.
58. The last person you held hands with?
can't remember... how sad is that?
59. What are you wearing?
jeans, turtleneck and fleece pull-over. my standard work outfit thanks to the near incessant cold air blowing in from the "heater".
60.What is your favorite animal?
dog
61. Where was your default picture taken at?
The Courtyard
62. Can you hula hoop?
I used to...
63. Do you have a job?
at the moment. Although I've been assured that it is unlikely that I will be RIF'd the state legislature did away with the initiative that pays for me...
64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
Books, of course
65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
more than once.

Running Out of Time

2009-04-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

In four months I will turn 40 years old. I find that a bit shocking... being middle aged and all. Mostly, because I don't feel middle aged. It's just that time goes by and I have no idea where it's gone. Like a spendthrift who can't remember what happened to the $40 dollars that used to be in her wallet. This morning, I logged into my email and discovered that gmail is five years old. As one very early users, I suddenly realized that the last five years have flown by and what do I have to show for it?

Actually, I have a bit. It's not like I'm still living in my parents basement or delivering pizzas... I just thought I'd so much more figured out by now, and some days it feels like I've got nothing figured out. I'm nearly 40 and I still haven't found myself. Or maybe that's just a big hippie myth. Maybe no one ever "finds themselves" because they're always moving on to something new. Perhaps when you finally say "it's done" you die...

Toile

2009-03-17T14:47:00.001-07:00

I was catching up on my reading at Pretty Organized Palace and go caught up in all the Toile ideas... I'm definitely putting new living room curtains on my to-do list for spring.

Rain

2009-03-17T12:37:00.001-07:00

Rain, Rain, go away... come back another day. And could you make that day in July?

Seriously, the spring rains are here and it's been raining for the past two weeks. Schizophrenic, bipolar type rain, where it's pouring one minute, sunshine the next, only to start pouring again. And it's nearly freezing to boot.

I've been doing so much on work stuff and taking care of the baby that I haven't been able to get anything done around the house. I haven't even grocery shopped in over two weeks - except for baby formula. No menu planning, no sewing, no crocheting, no garden prep... it's just all sitting on this gigantic to do list that keeps growing every day.

And the weather is not making me very enthused about doing anything either. All I want to do is curl up with a nice book and cup of something warm.

2009-03-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

How many days 'til spring?

Only 5 more go!

2009-03-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

THINK SPRING! It's bound to be here soon, right?

Tired of Snow

2009-03-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

Seriously, when is it going to be spring already? It's freezing cold and snowing off and on.... I know it's still early March, but I'm so ready for some heat!

I wish I lived in Arizona.

Bread

2009-03-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

My cousin finally gave me her bread recipe a couple of weeks ago. This weekend I finally made the dough. It's kinda like a sourdough recipe, but without the sour taste. The dough is made and then can be stored in the fridge for up to 14 days... just take out what I need for a couple of days to bake. I just pulled out the second loaf I've made this week.

The best part is that the bread rises mostly in the oven. My house is so damp and cold (the joys of living in the rainforest) that I have a hard time getting regular bread dough to rise once. Twice is an all day affair.

It's so easy, I can easily that I'll soon be converted to baking bread every week!

Busy! Busy!

2009-02-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

Ever have days when you feel like "pollo al fuego"? How about a week? A Month?

I've been doing fairly well on my resolution to be more organized. Some projects are just going to have to wait until Spring Break... like organizing my file cabinet or the sewing room. Right now, the sewing room has become a depository for everything I can't find a home for at the moment, but it's not knee deep yet! My other resolution be more healthy is going OK... I'm trying to eat more healthy things and lost another 1.4 pounds over the last two weeks. Not a ton, but as they say, at least it's in the right direction.

In the meantime, I finished the blue baby quilt. Just in time to welcome a little baby boy! I wish I'd taken a close up photo, but basically, I stuck with outlining the bears on the reverse side to quilt it. It came out quite cute, if I do say so myself.

I've started working on a new crocheted purse for the spring. It'll be a pretty simple thing, just for a day's outing. I'm still deciding if I want to create a liner for it or carry a coin bag in it. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd leave a trail of pennies. Maybe I should felt it? I've never done that before... so it would be an interesting experiment.

If there's one thing I really like to do, it's experiment. Directions, schmections.

Decluttered the Desk, onto the Kitchen!

2009-02-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

I really should post photos... but it was too shaming to let everyone see just how high the piles were! But my desk top was seen by more than one person!

Actually, I cleaned it off the night before a substitute came in for my classes. My students thought that the sub had cleaned it off and were really scared for him! LOL! I had another student tell me that she never knew the top was brown... and this is her second year in my class. That is bad! I'm really trying to keep it up, although a huge alphabetizing project is hogging quite a bit of space. Tomorrow I'm off to S*taple*s to get more supplies to finish that up.

I'm also taking a day off tomorrow. Sometimes you just need a break - a mental health break- you know? There will be shopping involved (all the millions of things I keep meaning to pick up!) and hopefully some laundry. I almost had to wear a skirt today!

I don't wanna...

2009-02-02T15:03:00.001-08:00

Since the holiday season, I've come into a serious case of the "I don't wanna"s. Every chore I dislike is pushed off until another day, only to be pushed back again. Dishes are piled up in the sink, carpets are hairy and the laundry sits in the washer. Additionally, my desk at school is piled high with old assignments, mail to be looked at and books to be read. It looks like a tornado came through and dumped everything on my desks - yes, two desks to fill up with clutter. It's a little overwhelming to even think about getting everything in order.

The Homespun Heart had a post on just this topic, strangely, it's just what I was thinking today... how do I get myself into these situations over and over? And I just have to say to myself, DUH!

There are a lot of reasons for this, but mostly it's because "I don't wanna do it" and since I can procrastinate, I have been. After all, who is going to complain about the dishes not being done? The dog? Sure my students will complain that their assignments aren't graded as quickly as they would like, but most of them aren't really all that concerned about it. More to the point, I'm the one who should be concerned about it! And try as I might in pretending that I don't have a care in the world, it weighs on my mind and ruins any restful sleep I might have.

Today, I'm starting again. It's the new semester, so the piles of paper are going to be recycled. I haven't looked at many of them in weeks and they're really not worth holding onto any more. I'm not leaving for home until I'm caught up, the final grades are done and my desk is cleared off. Tomorrow, I have an all day conference and I'd like my students and the sub to be stunned by the lack of clutter on my desk. When I return, all will be serene.

Out and About

2009-01-25T17:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent most of the day driving far, far away. Ok, not really that far in rural terms, but a couple of hours each way. You see, a very nice gentleman had a nordictrack for sale and it was less than tenth of what a new one would cost. And I really like driving to new places.

Except when I get lost. Well, not lost as in "Ohmigosh, I have no idea where I am?!?" but rather in an a pparently "I missed my turn about half an hour back" sort of way. Luckily, I just used the googlemaps on my phone and found a short cut. Plus, that region has some sort of prejudice against location signs. Nothing is labled...

On my way back I stopped a little local book store to use the bathroom (quite possible the nicest and cleanest public restroom I've ever been in! With smelly candles (lit) and decorated with book posters... seriously cool bathroom). While there I purused the shelves and found MaryJane's Stitching Room. I immediately snatched it up and carried it around the store like it was my baby. If you're a fan, you know that anything by MaryJane Butters is a hard find and when you see something, if you don't grab it, rest assured it will be gone when you come back. I bought it at cover price! According to amazon.com, you can have your own copy for nearly $100. How lucky is that? I already have two projects marked to start - a rag rug and some crocheted hats. I can't wait to start next weekend!

Get Healthy

2009-01-22T16:06:00.001-08:00

One of my new year's resolutions was to be more healthy or become more healthy or take care of my health... all of them rolled up into one. In an effort to do that, I joined W_eightW_atchers. I have a distinct problem in making healthy eating choices (I, would prefer to live on bread alone, apparently). I also manage to lie to myself very well and I need other people to keep me honest. Sad, but true.

Last night was my 2nd public weigh-in. Although not horribly bad, I'm pretty sure that person recording my weight was a little surprised to see that I had actually gained a half a pound. She tried to make me feel better. In my heart, I knew it was the poor eating choices I'd made over the three-day weekend and the lack of real exercise. I'd lost just over 5 pounds in the preceding weeks, but it was already coming back!

This week, I'm really making an effort to record all the food I'm eating. Studies that came out this summer reported that those who kept a food diary lost more weight. Maybe it makes you more aware of you are eating or, possibly, it makes you just stop eating so much because your hand is getting tired. Either way, if I can make if through the week, I'll be on my way to a habit.

And possibly back on track to loosing weight and improving my overall health.

January Thaw!

2009-01-21T13:06:00.001-08:00

For the past week the sun has been out in full force. It warms my house (melts the butter left on the counter!) and make me feel like I should be outside every moment I can. All too soon, the rains will start again and the dull darkness will abound.

All this sunshine has really made me start to think about gardening. Last year I hired someone to remove a concrete pad so that I could have a rather large garden. Unfortunately, the dramatic rise in gas prices meant that I could not afford to have any dirt delivered to fill in the hole. Instead I spent the summer dumping grass clippins and other composting materials in the hole. This spring I plan to buy some dirt and fill it in, but do it myself.

I also have to decide what kind of vegis I will be growing... obviously tomatoes, but definately some butter lettuce (nothing is better than picking off a few leaves for lunch instead of pulling out a plastic bag) and maybe some herbs if I can figure out how to keep the slugs off of them. But what else? Zucchini? Maybe pumpkins if I can get them started early enough (this year, they didn't turn orange by Halloween). Beans maybe? Peas? I'll have to do some more pondering.

In line with my resolution to be more healthy, tonight is my weigh-in at W*eightW*atchers. My current weight is not a healthy one, physically or financially (new larger clothes!) and it makes it hard to achieve any other goals. If I'm too tired to do the dishes, chances are that my kitchen will not be organized. Just sayin'.

Resolution Update

2009-01-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

In pursuit of my yearly goals (yes, I really speak in this manner... it drives my students crazy, but improves their own vocabulary by the end of the year), I've hit a couple of bumps. But I'm still truckin' along.

Although I have several projects still perculating, I'm starting to complete some. Ok, I'm starting to work on some to get them to completion. Last night, I spent the evening quilting a baby blanket. I'll post pictures as soon as I've finished. So far, I've learned quite a bit about hand quilting, including how to begin and end threads.

The kitchen is staying fairly uncluttered. It still needs some work, but it's a process right? I have the rest of the year to be totally organized - no need to rush, right.

Yesterday I went a little crazy with not eating healthy yesterday and I paid for it. Apparently, I've reached an age where I no longer have a cast iron stomach... no more pepperoni pizza with mashed potatoes. So, I'm off to the grocery to buy something worth eating.

Oh yeah!, my heirloom seed catalog arrived! Lots of dreaming tonight!

Favorite Kid Books

2009-01-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

In a continuation of the "best gift ever"...

Little House on the Prairie - actually, the whole series is great, but it is definite must!
The Secret Garden - an orphan girl discovers a love of gardening and in that, a love of life
Little Women - sisterly love triumphs over all obstacles
Charlotte's Web - a little pig meets a spider who shows him the true meaning of friendship
The Cricket in Times Square - when your best friend is a talented cricket, what more do you need?
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh - adventure, intrigue, and rat soldiers
Where the Red Fern Grows - a boy, his dogs and the freedom of country living
Maniac Magee - what is friendship and what is a family?
The Phantom Tollbooth - adventure!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - you've seen the movie? The book is WAY better!

This is just a start, but I definitely recommend them all, whether your child is 7 or 17.

The Best Gift

2009-01-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

Over the holiday, I asked my Grandmother what her all-time favorite Christmas present was as a child. It was Heidi, a book that probably gave her equal parts of fantasy and connection. Although she wasn't an girl living with her grandfather, she was a farm girl too. But most of all, her family gave her time to read, encouraged her to sit and read and provided books she really wanted to read.

As a high school teacher, I can't tell you how important it is to have your children reading at a young age. I don't mean forcing them to read at three, but rather surrounding them with things to read, reading to them from birth, providing books that catch their interest, asking about the books they are reading and letting them see you and talk about what you are reading. One of the best things my parents ever did was fill a bookcase with books - not "children's books", mostly classics - and letting us go have free rein on it. Sure, we may not have fully understood all the literary significance, but they were still good stories. It was years before I knew the connection between communism and Animal Farm, but I completely understood the unfairness of the pigs.

Where to build your bookcase without spending a lot of money? Obviously the library is a great place, but while you're there ask when the next book sale is... you can buy them by the boxful!Also, pick up great deals on books at garage sales, ebay and check out freecycle. Used bookstores are OK, but try the other places first.

Freebie!!

2009-01-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

The first ten people to create a post about Womanly Excellence can get a set of 3 Southern Living at HOME mini cookbooks!! Stop by and check it out!

A New Year's Reflection

2008-12-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Every year, millions of people create New Year's Resolutions, only to forget them before February blows in. Last year my resolutions were:

Keep up with grading - sadly, this did not happen so much. In January, a foster baby was placed with me and it was all downhill from there. This was also my goal for the new school year, again... not so much.
Eat more vegis - I used to really be into all sorts of really healthy foods. I even had a student ask me once if I only ate healthy foods. That, however, was not the past year. I'm not eating healthy and it's probably taking a serious toll on my health this past year.
Build up my savings account - TOTALLY ACHIEVED! I now have an emergency fund with a good start on a remodel fund.

This year's goals are similar, with some expanding.

Throw at least one get together
Peace
Return of excitment for teaching
Health and energy
An organized house
Living within a budget
Less TV/More projects.
Continue building savings
Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Be Positive

Do you set goals? Do you work to achieve them? Or do you forget them after a couple of weeks?

Standing silent

2008-12-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

Last night I stood still on the front porch of my aunts house, trying to cool off... out of nowhere a snowy owl flew by silently about 8 feet from me, probably off to hunt in the clear night. It was breath-taking. If only I'd had my camera...