Homeschool Peeps!

Check this out.

I may not have anything to give away this year, but I can certainly look. ;)

Hugs,
Melinda

Evendar

I have mentioned before my recent obsession with an itouch/iphone game called Kingdoms Live, and how I live in a realm of my own creation. The name of my forest is Evendar, and my elvish name is Miranna. A group of my friends from this game have decided to set up an inn to tell stories and share more about our characters, since the game only allows 500 characters at a time. If you're interested in some creative and fun tidbits, you really need to visit The Mare & Thistle.

We have so many talented people in our group. We have a story teller extraordinare, who is really the brains behind M&T, who is also creates these beautiful wood pieces. We have a professional artist. We have a professional singer, who also happens to be writing a book. (I can't tell you what it's about, because I promised, but I can tell you, it's GOOD!) All in all, we have a good time inventing this world for each other, and playing our parts in it.

I have been itching to pick up my paints again. So when I discovered that we were adding an artwork section, I had a good excuse to do just that.

This is my first painting in so many years, I'm surprised it looked this good. This is without a fan brush.
But I knew I could do better. Let's just say, I learned alot from the first picture that I applied in the second picture. Especially after a trip to Joann's for a correct brush.

Much better, don't you think? I know I still have a lot to learn, but I've had so much fun painting and mixing colors. My next idea is to take one of my lily pictures and somehow paint that, but something like an extreme close up. I don't know. I know I will have fun though.

Hugs,

Melinda

10 years ago

July 8, 1999. 4 months after my precious Sweet Pea was born. I felt horrible. It was the worst case of bronchitis I have ever had. NyQuil was not taking care of the fever that kept creeping upwards. I felt like I couldn't move. So I resorted to going to the doctor.

I was probably one of the last patients he saw that day. He agreed that it sounded like bronchitis, and wrote me a prescription. Except.... he wanted me to get a chest x-ray just to make certain.

We went, took the x-ray, and the technician told us to wait until we were cleared. So we waited. And waited. And here came, not the technician, but the doctor, who says, "you don't have bronchitis, you have an enlarged heart."

There began a whirlwind of an experience. They did an ultrasound scan which shewed my heart wasn't enlarged, but that I more than likely had pericarditis, an infection in the lining around my heart, which was causing the pericardium to fill up with fluid. I was immediately admitted to the hospital and a specialist was called. He said I needed this certain procedure that he could perform better at his hospital across town.

So they called the ambulance. At this point, while we are all waiting for the ambulance to come, the doctors are taking turns listening to my heart. I seem to remember that they were listening for a certain sound. But you start to get a little anxious when 3 doctors are standing around you.

It took forever for the ambulance to get there and to get all the paperwork filled out. In fact, Dale took Sweet Pea to a friend of ours and beat the ambulance to the other hospital. (ROFLOL)

Then there was the procedure. I remember being put on a cold metal table and my hands restrained. They took my glasses off, but I still saw the needle. A very large needle. If you ever meet me, I'll show you. They inserted the needle, and I could feel it. AND. THEY. DIDN'T. BELIEVE. ME. But they gave me an extra shot of sedative just in case. I still felt it, though.

They drew off 1100 cc's of fluid. You know the 2 liter coke bottles? Roughly half that. I know, because I saw it. And I saw my husband's worried face in the doorway. And then I conked out from the sedative.

I was in Cardiac ICU for four days. I had an amazing nurse that wasn't even supposed to be there, but was.

There is so much more to this story, but I've already written a book. The point of this story is that I came very close to death 10 years ago, and I am still here today. I try to live my life to the fullest, and I try to live the way God wants me to. I know I fall short quite often, but I am very thankful that he gave me a second chance.

Okay, I have to go teach school now.

Hugs,
Melinda

Baseball!

Guess what? I like baseball. I don't know how it started. Maybe it was playing t-ball and softball when I was a kid. Maybe it started with the first professional game I attended with a now gone friend. Maybe it started with my mom's love of the Cardinals. Maybe it started with the Cards winning the world series the summer she passed away.



Regardless, I like baseball.



I have asked and asked to attend a game ever since we moved back to KC. 3 years in November. One game a summer, is that too much to ask? So, Dale surprised me with tickets to the Royals for July 4th. I was excited.



We had good seats.

It was Little Bit's first game. (But in hindsight, she should wait until she can sit still before she attends another one.)

This is DeJesus at bat.

He really didn't seem to do so well this game. Can you see the ball flying in this picture?

Little Bit loved all the sights and sounds. She even loved Slugger. But she couldn't sit still.

Oh yeah. It was Sweet Pea's first game too. :D She seemed to really like it, but she got hot and tired. This picture is at the end of the game when she is pooped. I really enjoyed explaining the little I know about baseball to her.

The best part of the game? The Royals won. :D

Hugs,

Melinda

The Fourth of July - Fireworks

For the first time in many years (or possibly ever), our town was allowed to shoot fireworks within the city limits on July 3rd and 4th. (of course, that didn't stop our neighbors from shooting them All.Week.Long, but that's a different story.)

My daddy ran a fireworks stand for several summers. I grew up shooting so many fireworks out in the country. Very rarely did we go to a professional show. So we had to have at least sparklers.

This is the one fountain we got, called "Dancing Butterfly."
I love how the sparklers leave trails with the camera.

Little Bit was a little nervous. This was her first sparkler and she was a bit afraid of it.

But she got over it and "danced with fire." Why does that send shivers down my spine?

Photo conundrum: Do you use the action setting to get the child or the night setting to get the sparkler?

Dale decided to do 2 at one time. Silly boy. :)

Sweet Pea also liked "dancing with fire" or "dancing like a butterfly."

I think this may be the best shot of the evening. Somehow, Little Bit sat still long enough so that she's not super blurry. But the sparkler is showing it's trails. I don't know. The wonder on her face just captures the whole evening to me.

Well, that's our fireworks celebration. It wasn't big, but we had fun and enjoyed it. :)

Hugs,

Melinda

Flower Garden

I thought you might like to see my flower garden. I'm continually amazed at the variety and beauty in God's creation. The first set of pictures are from the "butterfly and hummingbird" seed mix that the girls and I planted. It sort of looks like a patch of weeds from this distance.
But up close and personal it looks a lot different.

This is an interesting flower. I wish I knew the name of it.

I can't wait to see if the hummingbirds are actually attracted to these flowers. If not, then I hope we get a rainbow of butterflies.

Then there are the plants that were in place when we moved in. I had no idea what any of them were. Except for the rosebush on the side.

What I first thought was an ornamental bush or grass turned out to be lilies. A very unique red.

Then there's a bush behind the airconditioner. This is actually the third color that's come out on the same bush. The first set was an orange, with a dark orange ring in the middle. Then the second set was a darker purple than the picture above. And the last set (maybe) is this pink color. So interesting. I don't know if it's the same bush or three different plantings.

(Practicing my macro shots)

And then there's lantana. I was told to cut down the spiky green parts. Except they bloomed before I got to it. I wonder if the person who told me that knows that this is a flower?

(More macro practice)

And that's my flower garden. I hope you enjoyed the tour. :D

Hugs,

Melinda

Seed Experiment Update

I realized that I hadn't shown you any progress of our seeds in awhile. Remember we planted green beans, pole beans specifically. Guess what?
They are growing, and climbing my pole. :D Oh, and this only started from 2 seeds. We have blossoms now, and little seed pods that are growing. It's been so much fun to watch. Before too much longer, we'll have about a handful of fresh green beans to eat. :D Yummy. :p

Hugs,
Melinda