Seeking Balance

Jen's Baby Shower

2010-05-10T09:21:00.001-04:00

We had a great time at Jen's baby shower on Saturday, 5-8-2010. Her sisters planned lots of nice games. In one of them, the player had to pretend to meet some of the challenges of motherhood. They had to hold the baby, hold the phone on their shoulder and hang up laundry with clothes pins. Chris had checked in after turkey hunting so they had him play too. Here is video of Chris accepting the challenge and then Jen topping his score.

Feel Your Boobies

2010-04-30T13:11:00.002-04:00

Today's post is a public service message. All of you, stop playing on the internet and go Feel Your Boobies. It only takes a few moments and it can save your life. Once you are done, find a friend and get them to feel their boobies too. I don't want to lose any more friends to breast cancer. Let's be proactive and take care of ourselves, okay?

http://www.feelyourboobies.com/

Too much

2010-04-22T20:51:00.000-04:00

Lots going on between home and work and classes. I just haven't had much time to blog. Hopefully I will have more time in about 3 weeks. I will be off for the summer then.

2010-04-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

In memory of Dixie. A happy, friendly dog who loved her family and her yard. She will be missed.

First week done

2010-04-08T17:47:00.002-04:00

Okay, I got a session of yoga in 3 times this week. Now to keep this going and increase the length of time I spend doing yoga. I can do this. This week, at least one session will be an hour. I need this. I am going to do it.

This fern is like me now. All curled up and ready to spread my fronds and be beautiful.

1st yoga of the challenge

2010-04-04T19:39:00.003-04:00

We were in Virgina for the weekend. I got up before Tom and took blankets out of the truck and went out into Chris and Jen's new yard to do yoga. Two of the dogs were out and after two scoldings Daisy and Jewlz stayed away from the blanket that was to transform into MY yoga space. I worked my way gently through "Kath's Default, All-Purpose, Great Yoga Practice". I didn't push too hard or spend oodles of time in any pose, just gently felt my way from one to the next. I haven't done yoga since January. Extended poses and pushing the edge just a bit further will come later this month. I did throw in some warrior poses with my suns. It was all yummy. Much more to come. I know already it will be a great month.

Here is a picture of the patch of yard I borrowed. I wish I had taken a picture of what was directly above me. I love trees!

Okay, that's all for now, Amazing Race is coming on. Have to cheer for my cowboys.

The Virtual Yoga Challenge Begins

2010-04-01T10:56:00.002-04:00

So I am way out of shape and my body has been telling me about it. April has arrived and with it the "Yoga Challenge" at Main Street Yoga , my "home" yoga studio. I knew I would not make it to the studio as much as i should for the challenge, so I did not sign up. Then I saw Kath's blog today. She has opened up a virtual yoga challenge. I made print out of her suggested practice so I don't have the excuse that I don't know what to do. My goal is 3 times per week. Let the challenge begin! I am totally ready!

dance in the rain video

2010-03-03T09:40:00.002-05:00

Cool video.

http://www.danceintherainmovie.com/

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

2010-02-23T07:37:00.000-05:00

What an eye-opener!

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

My Handsome Man

2010-02-19T08:04:00.003-05:00

I just had to get a shot of him all dressed up as he returned from his lodge meeting last night. Too bad he was turned sideways taking off his boots and checking voice mail messages.

*sigh* He still makes my little heart go pitter-patter.

Over There

2010-02-16T11:04:00.003-05:00

I have talked to Sam twice though instant messenger in the last two days. He is doing well and excited for the new training he may get. Of course, we have lots of unanswered questions, like where will he be stationed when he gets back and when exactly will he get orders to return. Just what you would expect from his current employer. Here is a picture I swiped from one of his friends Facebook pages. As you can see he looks good. I am so glad for modern technology. It does a mother's heart good.

Snowy Day At MU

2010-02-10T10:01:00.001-05:00

It's a snowy day here at MU but Beecher House is still open for business. Guess I shouldn't complain about the snow. Chris and Jen report that they had 30 inches from the last snowfall and expect another foot. That is just too much.

Almost Christmas

2009-12-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

I'm just not ready for Christmas this year. I wasn't going to make cookies until Suzie asked for the brownies with Reese's cups in them. Now I am going to make peanut blossoms too. The truffles and bon bons are almost finished. The tree is up and looks pretty, but my heart is just not in it. Here's hoping I get more cheerful soon. I am looking forward to church on Christmas Eve and spending time with Tom away from work, other than that, not sure what the holiday will bring.

Snowglobes

2009-12-09T13:41:00.000-05:00

The theme for the door decorating contest at work this year is "Snowglobes." I made mine from a clear plastic bowl. Santa is looking out and reminding us all that he is watching and making his lists. I hope you can all say you have been more nice than naughty.

To the left of the globe is a sign up sheet for Christmas wishes. So far no one has shared what they wish for. I hope some do.

Spring in November

2009-11-29T15:10:00.001-05:00

My hibiscus is blooming! What a pretty site on this cold day. First a straight on shot, then a sort of silhouette. It sure made me smile.

(Taken with an Olympus FE-230 pocket digital camera.)

Making Progress

2009-11-25T16:38:00.000-05:00

The library is coming along. Grandpa's little helper was keeping him moving putting in hardwood flooring.

Ahhh - Heat

2009-11-12T07:33:00.000-05:00

This may not be a real pretty shot to some, but it is beautiful to me. Those red things are pex tubing and they are carrying hot water to heat the front part of my house. Yipee!!

C'mon in

2009-10-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

This post is a bit late. Our new door was installed on Oct. 17th. Thank you family and friends.

Old door-

Our new door.

I bid you peace

2009-10-23T15:14:00.000-04:00

Home sick

2009-10-16T08:32:00.000-04:00

I love my students, I really do. I just wish they weren't so nice as to share germs with me. Home sick today. It is not fun. I want to be out taking lots of photos of this October snow. I'll have to settle for these shots out the windows. Happy fall, y'all.

Last camping trip for 2009

2009-10-13T08:33:00.001-04:00

We went to our resort, Bass Lake Campground for one last time out with the camper. Tom (huband), Darren (son), Janice(husband's cousin), Anthony(son's nephew), and Aly(grandaughter) and myself, all enjoyed the crisp fall weather and beautiful leaves. The campground was celebrating Halloween so the kids got dressed up and went trick or treating. Here is a picture of our little skunk and her friend the Stormtrooper.

Earlier in the day it was time for treats for some of the adults. Janice, Tom and I went in search of a winery. We found this one, Ashley Lynn, near Mexico, NY. They also have a place on Seneca. The wines are all apple based and very sweet. I think Tom really likes them. As you can see the place is also a fruit stand. They also have local cheese and honey and other products. We highly recommend the cheddar from the big wheel of cheese.

Sunday morning the kids enjoyed playing with the leaves as we packed up to head home. This one was trying to escape her grasp in the wind. Carrying it back to Grandpa required a lot of concentration.

Campus Hang Out

2009-10-09T07:12:00.001-04:00

This is not a normal sight on campus. I am not sure what these men were doing, but I couldn't resist snapping a couple photos to share with all of you. I think it would be fun to get a ride on that sling.

Bluebird Video

2009-09-30T08:34:00.001-04:00

My first video. I am playing with this stuff. I hope to learn more about it soon.

Sagan and Hawking

2009-09-29T08:09:00.000-04:00

I can't stop playing this video over and over. I love Sagan and Hawking. This seems a wonderful tribute to them and their work. It also seems like a neat validation of our time on earth as a part of a great chain of events.

Have Space Blanket, Will Travel

2009-09-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

It has taken me a while to get this picture up. It is not something you see very often in our little town. On Sept. 10th, when we left for work, we saw this person huddled on the sidewalk near our house. There were two suitcases sort of guarding them as they slept under a space blanket. The airline tags on the luggage made me think that the person had flown very recently.

We asked around town and the story we got is that this man came to meet someone he had met online. He had flown into Elmira and gotten a ride to town from there. We will never know the end of his story. I sure can imagine lots of them though.

Their Old House

2009-09-25T08:24:00.000-04:00

Work is being done on the cool, old house by the post office in Tioga. They stripped out the inside, demolished the two ends and have now lifted the entire thing in the air. These photos were taken last week. They have almost completed a new block foundation under it this week. I am VERY glad we didn't have to do that.

Blue Birds of Happiness

2009-09-24T07:59:00.000-04:00

It took me a long time to walk from our truck to my office this morning. There was just too much to look at and take pictures of. As I was walking along I kept hearing thunk, thunk as something was hitting a parked car below me. The somethings were acorns. Our flock of blue jays that live on campus were having a ball eating the acorns on the trees that line Clinton St. I was fascinated and had to stop to watch. I took a couple pictures too.

The first pic is of the car that the blue jays were bombing. The second is dear ol' Beecher House, location of my current office. (Let's see this makes office number 10 that I have had on the MU campus.) The windows that you see on the far left are mine.

Ferris Wheel

2009-08-20T11:57:00.000-04:00

This is the view from the end our front sidewalk at night. How cool is that? A carnival almost in our front yard.

On the pot

2009-08-13T19:15:00.001-04:00

I visited the building my husband is pulling cable in to check on him today. Creative use of a 5-gallon pail, don't you think? I am glad that is not my desk he is sitting on. (Photo taken with my cell, then emailed from phone to my baby computer for upload to blog. Sorry for the poor quality.)

On a rope

2009-07-27T17:08:00.000-04:00

I was literally "seeking balance" on Saturday afternoon when I accompanied my students to a ropes course. I later made it to a height of 37' feet off the ground. Made it up there, but couldn't stand up so just rode back down. It was quite an experience!

One Last Picture at the Airport

2009-07-20T17:08:00.000-04:00

It was so good to have Sam home for a visit. He said he had a good time and got to see people that he wanted to see. He hopes to be back again in June. Who knows where he will be between now and then. Here is a picture of us at the Elmira airport this morning. Hugs are better than pictures, but this will have to do for a while.

Hanging Around

2009-07-18T06:54:00.000-04:00

I caught my husband in this pose the other night. I think maybe the cable for the dog run is a bit low. What do you all think?

Off sides

2009-07-03T21:29:00.000-04:00

Things have been leaning heavily toward the work side of life lately. I hope to get back on a more even keel.

Great things happened on July 1st. Sam came home safely for a visit and we found out D & A are expecting another baby. A very good day indeed.

2009-06-17T09:10:00.001-04:00

Sunset from the Tioga-Hammond Overlook this past Monday.

We had friends over for a leisurely dinner. It went something like this:

Hugs and greetings.
Shrimp kabobs from the grill, cheddar biscuits, and a green salad.
A break for conversation and a tour of the house.
Steaks from the grill that had been marinated in beer, brown sugar and some spices served with baked sweet potatoes.
More conversation and a trip to the Overlook and the Outlet in my Jeep with the top down.
Back to the house for a delicious pumpkin-spice cake with cream cheese icing baked and provided by our guests.

MMM, I love summer and entertaining. We need to do this more often.

Office Follow-Up

2009-06-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple pictures of my office now that I have settled in. The desk is much easier to work at now that it is back to it's normal height.

Moved to Laughter

2009-06-08T17:41:00.000-04:00

While I was gone last week, all of my stuff at work was moved from one building to another. Now, I knew when I went in that I would have to unpack boxes and arrange my furniture. I did not expect this. My desk was in the place I asked them to put it in, but it had no legs! I just had to laugh.

After waiting until 9:30 for someone to show up to put them on (I went into work at 7:00), I called Hubby and said, hey, what do I do now?

He suggested I use my exercise ball. So i did.

With the center drawer taken out, I could even put my legs into the knee hole.

Needless to say, I was glad when someone came to put the legs on. He even helped me by modifying the desk so my computer fits inside it and the cords are neater.

Might as well smile.

First Post

2009-06-07T12:36:00.000-04:00

I enjoy other's blogs, so I decided to start my own. I make no commitments to a regular posting schedule, my life just doesn't work that way. Not sure what I will post or when. Hope you enjoy this journey with me.

This is sort of a weird day to start a blog. I woke up at about 1 this morning with a bad migraine. Hubby got me my medicine and I was able to go back to sleep after a while, but still a bit off my game today. Maybe more later.

Cheers!