When the Deer Don't Show Up

We've had a nice couple of days. We went to the Children's Museum to try to meet some more home school folks. We were meeting at a play area, so Archie took off pretty much as soon as we got there. I always feel like I'm asking someone out on a date when I have to meet new people. I get very nervous and my words come out weird. Anyhow...after standing around like a dummy for a little while, I finally got up the nerve to introduce myself to some people. The people I met seemed really nice and I even met someone who had also just moved to Cincinnati. It's always nice to find someone in the same boat. There's lots to talk about!

We stayed at the Museum all afternoon and we were both pretty tired out after that. It's exhausting having to be extroverted. I don't know how people just naturally do that! Hopefully we'll meet some of the same people at another event.

I wanted to hike a trail at Mount Airy Forest this evening, to get some deer photos. I left an itinerary with Morgan to let her know which trail I was hiking, and to call the police if I didn't return home after two hours. Just in case I got lost or something. I even remembered my camera. And wouldn't you know it...the doggone deer didn't show up! Not one! I even hiked an extra mile and a half out to see if I just needed to go further. It didn't work. I think I did about 5 miles, counting the hike out and back. I'm sure it was some kind of conspiracy. I bring the camera and no deer. No camera, and tons of deer! I did make it home before Morgan was to call the police! :-)

Since there were no deer, I thought I'd take a picture of the forest. It's a little dark, but the trails are pretty dark at dusk because of all the trees.

The top picture was at an overlook, but the camera doesn't really capture how far down the ridge goes. I took the bottom picture after I crossed a little wood bridge over a ravine and was able to look at the trail where I had been walking before the bridge.

It's a really nice place...and less than 5 min from my house! I am looking forward to checking the Miami Forest (I think) near the Indiana state line soon. It looked promising when we went with Chris for the picnic.

Update for the Week

It's been too long since my last post, so this one will be chock full. First, as promised, my quilt pictures. Here's the one I pieced and my Mom quilted. On the body.

Isn't it fabulous?? I just love it. The yellow squares are all batiks (I love batik fabric) and the black is a marbled fabric. It reminds me of the kitchen floor of our house in Mobile. It was a black marbled ceramic tile. I just loved that floor. It was one of my favourite things about our house there. It and the back porch that Dad and I laid.

We still haven't gotten Archie his bunk beds yet, so his quilt doesn't fit (it's for a double bed, not a single). I want to get him the bunk beds that have the double size on bottom and the single size on top. He was so excited about his new quilt, that we couldn't wait to get the new bed. Here is his Cap'n Jack quilt.

Mom pieced this one and quilted it. The back fabric is a gold coin print and the black stripes are treasure chests and skulls with crossbones. The brown is a map print fabric. Archie loves it. We couldn't buy something that cool!!

Over the weekend, I was getting pretty restless to do something outside. It's been miserable hot here. Yes, Southerners, it actually does get hot above the Mason-Dixon Line. The humidity was miserable (but not as bad as Alabama) and the heat index was above 100 degrees for the past couple of weeks. I haven't been outside except to hurry to the air conditioned car, then to hurry to the air conditioned store, etc. I like spending time outside, so the cabin fever was getting to me.

We decided to brave the heat and head to Newport on the Levee on Sunday. Phillip SAID he wanted to go to the chili cook off. But he hates chili. Apparently, there was a car show scheduled at the very same time and place. I feel certain his desire to go to the chili cook off was in NO WAY influenced by a car show taking place at the same time and place as the chili cook off. (Yeah right!)

As it turned out, we got there and couldn't find the chili cook off OR the car show where they were supposed to be. We went down to look at the river front and feel the water. The Reds were playing across the river, and we got to see a few home run fireworks. Well, hear them mostly. It was daylight. We walked across the Purple People Bridge (the pedestrian bridge linking Cincinnati, OH with Newport, KY. We had ice cream and watched a magic act. Archie got a balloon dog on a leash and we went home.

I went to Mount Airy Forest (just a couple of minutes away from our house) to hike a trail in the evening. The trails there are great because they're heavily wooded and go up and down the hilly terrain. Parts have really nice views and some parts you can't see what's coming up in front of you. The trail I chose goes straight up right at the beginning of it, so I was definitely 'feeling the burn'. On the way back through the trail, the sun was setting and there were so many deer! So, so many! I'd round a curve in the trail and I'd see two or three. Then I'd see five or six. Then I'd see one or two. I saw a few bucks with racks, two fawns, and lots of does. They didn't seem too concerned that I was there, either. They would just watch me until I got out of sight. I was watching them so much, that I got a little concerned at one point, that I had gotten off the original trail. But I found my way back to the car. It was so peaceful watching them. Next time, I'll bring my camera to get some pictures to post. And I'll pay more attention to where I'm going!

Morgan started school last Tuesday. She was very nervous, but seems to be doing okay. Her schedule was very messed up to begin with, but is almost completely worked out. We just have to get her in an English class, because she'll need it to graduate. She is able to use the Senior Late Arrival privilege, because she has a study hall during the first class. So she is allowed to come to school at 9:20, instead of 8:20. Her drawing and sculpting class goes later, so she is done with school at 4:00, instead of 3:30.

They are very relaxed at her new school, like they can bring their Ipods, eat or drink in class, stuff like that. They don't fuss about dress codes, jewelry and other stuff that school officials seem to get bent out of shape about. And it's interesting, because I don't really see anyone pushing the limits of dress. I told her that art people aren't like regular people :-) They're kind of like the night shift nurses at the hospital :-)

Now the Southerners reading this are going to laugh, but schools here were closed for two days last week because of ....the heat!! Unlike Alabama, most schools up here don't have air conditioning. And the triple digit heat was miserable with no AC. So basically, the school year began, then was closed the rest of the week.

I'm glad we'll be done with schools after this year. However, as far as schools go, I like Morgan's new school far better than any of the other ones she's ever attended. Even the administrators are actually helpful instead of looking like you're bothering them if you have to communicate with them.

On the home school front, Archie is doing very well with his letters, and we're going to begin learning to read three letter words this week. I got him some computer games from the library and he was really going to town on his phonics. He can now correctly identify the seven continents and point to them on the map. We're still in simple addition and subtraction with the abacus and a few math games. Our history lessons consist of overviews of culture through the ages (like clothing, games, behaviour, etc) and reading books about specific areas of interest. Archie doesn't know most of our history stuff is school...I kind of sneak it in there when he's not looking!! Hee hee!! Bedtime stories and 'pleasure' reading!

We attended our first home school group outing here. We did a "game day" at a nursing home nearby. Not games with the residents, but we use a room at the nursing home to play games with each other. I didn't bring any games, because I wasn't sure what to expect (or what would be good to bring) but there were tons of games there brought by others. Archie was really clinging to me at first, and wouldn't play anything without me, but after a while, he was able to venture out. He had a great time! His favourite game was the Uno game that shoots cards at you. He played with another mom there and several kids. We both had a great time and it was really nice to get out and socialize again. We're going to something else tomorrow after story time at the library. I'll post about it.

Speaking of the library...We went to Cincinnati's main library branch for the first time last week. Wow! Wow! Wow!!! It was amazing! I could've stayed in the History and Genealogy section week long! The movies! My gosh, the movies! And I didn't even get to see the adult fiction section! It encompasses two huge buildings, with five floors, attached by a sky bridge which crosses the street between them. 542,500 square feet of books and more books. Yes, that's 542 THOUSAND square feet! And they have a coffee shop and gift shop. In the library! How cool is that??? Apparently, you can call to schedule a tour of the library! I've never been in a library so big that they do TOURS!! The kids section was awesome and had a large tropical fish tank. Archie was particularly fascinated with the black and white spotted eel.

I told Morgan she couldn't roam around because we'd never find her again! I only paid for 45 minutes in the parking meter, so we only got to see a teensy portion of it. I might have to do a no-kids day when Phillip is home so I can go all day by myself.

Today was a bit of a blah day. I just didn't have the energy to do much of anything. We went to the library branch down the street from our house and rented some movies. Hopefully tomorrow I will bounce back to my old self. Because tomorrow is a busy day!

Mobile, AL--The Rest of the Week

We had a pretty full week. Phillip went back to Cincy to work and the rest of us stayed the week. I got in a little shopping time at Hudson's Treasure Hunt. We don't have one of those here in Cincinnati, and I really, really miss it! I found some great skirts and a dress. It's one of those places that you really have to have some time to dig around in all the crap to find the good stuff. Literally, a treasure hunt.

Archie and I met our friend, Dr. Joe at the Museum of Art and we had a great visit with him. I am always amazed at Archie's take on art pieces or other items that can be construed as more than one thing. We picked the museum to go to because my Mom's MiddleBay Lighthouse quilt is on display there. They also had a cool wood turning display as well as a glass blowing display. It was a lot of fun to see what caught Archie's eye and it was nice to get to know Dr. Joe a little better by being able to share the pieces we liked and didn't like.


Morgan has expressed an interest in tattooing (doing them, not having them, yet). So I got in touch with one of our homeschooling friends whose husband is a tattoo artist in Mobile. We were able to arrange a tour of his shop. I don't think my Dad-in-law was too pleased with me taking her, but I wanted her to get accurate information, instead of just idealizing something that she didn't know anything about. I told Pat that we would get very large matching battleship tattoos across our chests. ;-)

Toby did such a good job with our 'field trip'! He spent two hours with us during the week and showed us all his instruments, dyes, drawings, flash, etc. He works at the Queen of Hearts, which is through the White Rabbit in the back. Across from the dog track. (Laura, I'd put a website in here, but I don't have it!!) Toby was very forthright and Morgan found him easy to talk to. She thoroughly enjoyed having that time to ask questions and get information. Much thanks, Laura and Toby! Morgan really appreciated the one on one.


We also had a nice visit with our homeschool group friends in Mobile. We hadn't seen our friends since February, I think. I picked Blu Rabbit to meet, because it's too darn hot to do anything good outside! Normally, I'm not a big fan of Blu's, but our options were pretty limited. Archie was looking forward to pizza, but they burned our pizza after an hour of waiting for it. Archie wasn't happy about no pizza, but he was soon appeased by an extra dollar of tokens (we usually don't do the tokens at all) since I wasn't buying lunch there. Typical Blu's. However, I had a great time catching up. It was so fun chit-chatting with my friends. It almost seemed like I hadn't moved. I missed everyone so much and it was nice to have some adult conversation. We stayed most of the day! Here's a picture of Archie with his friend Summer:

And here's one with Kol and Juliana:



Phillip came back on Saturday to pick us up and we left early Sunday morning to head back to Cincinnati. It was a nice visit, but I was glad to get back!

Southern Hospitality Part II and my Birthday Party

We attended our Mobile, AL church on Sunday, the day after the wedding. It's always good to see our church friends again, and Archie looks forward to seeing Dr. Joe in particular. Things were going well until we sat down in our pew and the lady sitting behind us said how good it was to see us, and that, "Jennifer, you're looking plump." PLUMP??? I said something like, "Thanks. Really. Thanks a lot. My husband's going to be throwing that in my face for the next year or so." That's when she realized how insulting she came off and said, "But you wear it so well."

What??? That's supposed to make the comment all better??? She's probably the last person who should call me plump. As I'm writing this, I looked up the word 'plump' at thesaurus.com to see if there was some kind of compliment in there, unknown to me. Here's what it said:

Definition:
fat

Synonyms:
beefy*, burly, butterball, buxom, chubby, chunky*, corpulent, dumpy, filled, fleshy, full, heavy cream, obese, portly, pudgy*, roly-poly, rotund, round, stout, tubby*, well-upholstered, zaftig

Antonyms:
thin

I don't really know how the word 'well-upholstered' applies to me being plump, but somehow I don't think it's a compliment. None of those words seem very complimentary.

After that, I felt ready to get back to the unfriendly north, where people don't speak (because they know that if you don't have anything nice to say, you aren't supposed to say anything at all). If someone's going to call me fat, then I'd rather they didn't talk to me at all. Really. I've been the same weight for two years now. I don't know what's wrong with people...the last time I was in Mobile, someone at church asked me if I had "any news" while looking at my stomach. --See my post entitled "What a wild couple of weeks", posted in July, I think. My Sister-in-law wanted to know what in the heck was wrong with people at my church when I told the story to her. I was wondering the same thing. So, of course, my family has been bringing it up as frequently as possible in jest. Other than that, I enjoyed being at church and it was nice to see most people again.

After church, we went to my in-laws' to help them get ready for Phillip's Granny to move in there. We got lots done in a small amount of time.

My parents, since they weren't going to be with me on my birthday, decided to have my birthday party early. Phillip asked me if that means that he doesn't have to do anything, since I'll already have had my party. Ha! Yeah right.

It was a nice party, complete with Reg E and Sara in attendance. My Mom quilted my quilt I pieced a few months ago and gave it to me. It turned out just beautifully! I'll take a picture of it "on the body", I mean "the bed" and post it soon. I was really excited to see it done! Mom also finished Archie's new pirate quilt and I will get a picture of it as well. It is a really cool quilt!

Dad and Mom got me a patio firepit which I was thrilled about also! I've been trying to talk Phillip into getting me one of those ever since we used the one at Old E's house. But mine is better than Old E's! :-)

I also got some Harvey Birdman episodes on DVD from Regular E. I thought I was the only person who enjoyed Birdman, but apparently other folks do too, since they came out with three volumes on DVD! He also got me a ceiling fan for a tent! How cool is that?? (Literally!) Sara got me a Starbucks certificate for lots of coffees which I love, since I don't often get to Starbucks because I have a hard time with the high price you have to pay for coffee there. But it sure is good! Julie didn't make it to my party, but came by the day before and got me some Burts Bees stuff (also a really nice treat for me) and a shirt. I love Burts Bees products even more since moving up here with all the skin problems I get in the winter time.

It was a really nice day (except for the 'plump' comment, of course) and it was really nice of my folks to have the party so early!

Southern Hospitality at its Best and a Beachy Wedding

I guess I must smell like a "nawtherner" because I experienced some of the finest southern "hospitality" ever while in Mobile last week. Archie and I were in Fabrics by the Pound searching for curtain fabric. The lady was pretty snippy when I asked a question about a particular kind of fabric. While we were shopping, a very electric storm blew up suddenly. I realize it was almost closing time, but the woman there said we had to leave. Right in the middle of the very loud, popping thunder and lightning and sheeting rain! What is wrong with people? Rain down there blows by after about 10 or 15 minutes...She couldn't let Archie and I wait it out indoors? Apparently not.

Then there was the burned, one hour pizza incident at Blu Rabbit...which I guess I'll get into later.

We were visiting Mobile to attend Phillip's Uncle Steve's wedding which was a lovely affair that took place on Pensacola Beach. I got some nice family photos there. Here's a nice one of my Mom-in-Law and Granny.

Here's one of Phillip and I. Sometimes it's difficult to get photos with me in them since I'm always the one who takes all the pictures!

LeighAnne, my Sister-in-law, is probably not going to be very pleased I am including this one in the blog...but I can't help it! It's my favourite! That's what you get when you goof around with the lady with the camera! Joe doesn't look very happy. I wonder what his problem is??

And here's my Mom-in-law and Dad-in-law.

And I guess we need to include the happy couple...I snapped one while the professional photographer was working on her shots. I didn't get Steve's face in it...perhaps it's just as well... ;-) Just kidding, Steve!! You looked very handsome! I really liked Jessica's dress, but I didn't get a good photo of it. Trying to keep up with the kids on the beach, you know!!

Speaking of kids on the beach...it was only a matter of seconds after we arrived there before the kids (and some of the grownups) were already soaking wet! Here's Archie and Lily playing before the ceremony.

When it was time to go to the reception, Archie was very unhappy to leave the beach. He's showing his disapproval here. He looks very unhappy, doesn't he?

But he cheered up post haste because he found out that at the reception, there was SWIMMING!!!!!! Here he is with Lily checking out the water before the swimming officially started and with Lily and Analise on the inflatable horse (um, in reverse order):

It was a great wedding (except for the sticky, sweaty, sticky weather) and Jessica's folks did a great job on the reception. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed very much visiting with our Pensacola family!

Creative Arts School Results

I've been meaning to update all week, but I forgot my connection cord for my camera to upload pictures. It's in Cincinnati. I will be providing a full account of our Mobile activities, complete with pictures as soon as I can drum up a cord somewhere...

I don't need the camera for this quickie update. Morgan was accepted to the School for Creative and Performing Arts! I checked messages around midnight on Sunday and got the news on my answering machine. Of course, midnight or not, I had to call Morgan at her MawMaw's and tell her!

Phillip got her registered this week and hopefully everything will be in order when we get back.

We are so proud of her!

School for Creative and Performing Arts Field Trip

Since we moved out of the Northwest Local School District, we were uncertain as to whether Morgan would be able to attend the school she attended at the fourth quarter of last school year. We are now in the Cincinnati Public School District, so we can pick whatever school she wants to go to (in the Cincy Public District). One school that captured our interest is was the School for Creative and Performing Arts, due to Morgan's talent in the visual arts. I didn't think it would be an option, since they already had their last set of auditions in June. But we found out they would be holding one last audition session this week. We got the audition packet downloaded and filled out and got an audition spot for 8:20 am this morning (Wed.)

The school wanted her standardized testing scores in Alabama (which I didn't have) before the audition, so by some miracle (and lots of phone messages--Thanks Linda!) we got the right stuff faxed to the school in time. I am surprised the fax made it, as school starts in Mobile on Thursday and no one answered the telephone at Baker in Mobile. And I really didn't expect them to be too concerned about helping us. But it worked out! Definitely a miracle.

The audition packet that Morgan had to work on was rather extensive, and she worked all day and most of the night on the drawings due--a self portrait, a still life, a design project and some writing. She was to bring in8 pieces in her portfolio of stuff she had already done as well.

We made it to the auditions on time and sat in the auditorium, awaiting her to be called back. One of the administrators made sure that we knew if we wanted a curriculum with heavy sports, that we were in the wrong place. Which made me chuckle. I think dance is the only sport played there. There is a gym with basketball goals, but I wondered if they were ever used for basketball and by whom.

Morgan was called back and we were told that it would be a couple of hours, so Archie and I explored the school. It is a very old (I'm thinking over 100 or 125 years) building with lots of marble and stone and high archways. There is no air conditioning (like most of the schools up here) but with all the huge windows open, it wasn't too bad, even through the heat wave we're having. There are five floors and the top floor (with the gym) has a great view which looks over the city. The school building reminded me of an older version of the University of Detroit, except with more architectural character.

While Archie and I were exploring, we stopped at a painting re-done on a bumpy wooden surface. Archie exclaimed, "Hey, it's A Starry Night! I know that one from Van Gogh!" A teacher happened to be behind us and said, "Wow, that's right! Very impressive!" Yeah...we home school!

A shout-out goes to my Mom, who shows the Van Gogh movie to Archie. Thanks, Mom!!

We explored the complexities of the stage, from floor to ceiling. Stage to lights. And sound equipment. We checked out the place where they make all the sets for the drama folks. We checked out one of the music rooms. The science section was pretty neat because they had a mural of the periodic table done all over the hallway. It was really awesome. Plus we saw pictures of graduating classes from the early 1920s. We had a fabulous time.

We met up with Morgan back in the auditorium. She says they really liked her "Nightmare Before Christmas" piece and kept nodding and saying positive things about her stuff. They asked lots of questions. She says she felt very positive about the audition.

We did find out that she can go back to Colerain because she's a senior this year. If she wants. She hasn't made a decision, nor has she been accepted to the SCPA yet. We'll find out something Monday or Tuesday, prolly when we're in Mobile. So we'll have to keep checking the answering machine!

I am hoping she gets a chance to decide which school she wants to go to. She put in so much effort for this audition. It showed such a maturity on her part to even be open to the possibility of the new school, even though Colerain says she can attend there out of district this year. I am really hoping she is lead toward this school to further develop her talent and expand her horizons as an artist. Any prayers or positive thoughts would be appreciated!

Another Day, Another Car Show

Our weekend was jam-packed. We went to my cousin, Elisabeth's ballet show on Friday night. I enjoyed myself very much and thought the show was very nicely done. The choreography was very visually interesting. Elisabeth looked so graceful and beautiful during her parts. I wish I could move like that! I do love going to the ballet and her show did not disappoint. I forgot my camera, however (darn it!) so I don't have any pictures.

We got up Saturday to drive to Louisville to another car show. This one was larger than the one in Columbus. In case you didn't notice the weather on Saturday. It was hot. I mean hot. Did I say hot...because I mean it was unbearably, undeniably, miserably HOT! The car temperature thing read 108 degrees when we left the show in the afternoon. Luckily there was a good portion of the show that was indoors (the midway) so we spent most of the day in there.

When we got there, Phillip and Archie were hungry, so we had a cement picnic. Here's a picture:

Of course, it was directly after this, while we were looking for the bathroom, that we found the nice, indoors (where it was cool) place to eat that had more than just crummy pizza. Oh well...

We took a look around the midway, where all the vendors were selling all their car stuff. We tried out some new car seats, mostly 'cause we were tired of walking.

Morgan and I took our turn in the seats.

We went outside and checked out the cars. There were a lot of cars. I liked the sign on this one:

Apparently, my Aunt Julie was at the car show stealing folks' chairs again. Really, Julie...why didn't you stop and say hi? And don't you have enough chairs already? I mean...how often do you sit in all these chairs? Or are they just on some weird display at your home?

Archie liked the monster trucks a lot. We saw the guy who drives "Grave Digger" signing autographs, although I wouldn't have been able to pick him out of a line up, had it not been for the large sign saying he was the "Grave Digger" driver. There was a "Superman" monster truck there, and I thought it only appropriate to get my picture made in front of it, as I was wearing my souvenir from Metropolis...my Official Superman Shirt from the Superman museum.

Toward the end of the day, we checked out the swap meet. It was pretty cool. I've learned that you can find ANYTHING at a swap meet. There were some tomatoes selling for 50 cents, a diver's helmet...you know those old huge round ones with the round window in the front to see out of, lots and lots of rusty metal, old gas pumps, etc. etc. etc. I wanted to buy the diver's helmet, because I saw the very same one at the last swap meet we went to. I'm sure it was the same guy selling...Perhaps I'll see it at the next one. If I see it, I'll know I am destined to have it.

I saw some vehicles made out of junk in the yard, which I guess proves that you actually CAN make something out of all the rusty metal. Here's one:

You can't read it in the picture very well, but it says "Mother-in-law Removal Service" and the back has a wooden trunk with these legs sticking out which kick when the truck goes. No worries, Linda...I don't feel I really need a Mother-in-law removal service! I just thought it was a goofy concept! There were a bunch of other cars made out of junk...like using old beer cans and other weird stuff.

We had a nice time, but the walk all the way back to the car was just awful! It was miserable out there and we were all exhausted from walking around all day. When we got within "seeing distance" of the car, Phillip asked Archie if he wanted to race. Archie ran for a few feet, then almost began crying saying, "It's okay if you win, Daddy...I just can't run anymore!"

We made it back around 8 pm and I think we were all properly exhausted. I did absolutely nothing on Sunday. I watched some of the Alias episodes I got from the library, and generally sat around. I guess the only productive thing I did was to cook breakfast and dinner. But that's okay...a lazy day every now and then is nice.

Traveling to Mobile

For the Southerners expecting us sometime this weekend: We will be leaving around 2pm on Friday and will arrive early Sat. morning. Our plan is to leave the Mobile area on Tuesday, but we aren't 100 percent decided on that yet.

I will be posting (hopefully) later on today our adventures of the past week. Stay tuned!