Storms

The rains came the past few days.  As you can see, through my truck window, it is not particularly easy to see through.  This is because we live in a fricking desert and I need to change my wipers, but, since we DO live in a desert and won't get a large amount of rain until November, I have NOT gotten new wipers.  At this rate, it will rain all summer long.  As soon as I break and get new wipers, it will stop raining.  So, I refuse to get wipers.  Mother nature can just bite it.

The skies do have their beautiful sides!  I took these on the way home.

My beautiful truck!  A short time after the rains came that day, the sun popped out.

So, I went out and took a few pictures of our flowers.  Are you folks tired of seeing flower pictures yet?

Neither am I!

I think a Nikon D90 would do a much better job, don't you?  These are pictures from our Canon.  I touched them up a bit.

I hope you all have a very good weekend!  Be safe!  I expect we will be working outside if the weather is good to us.  We have big plans.  A sidewalk and the forms to go with them.  If the sales are right, we might be buying a bit more siding and some more concrete.  I don't know if we'll put the siding up, but with a good sale, you can't pass it up!

I need to deliver a few paintings and see if they are up to snuff...hopefully they are!  Maybe we'll play some Wii or watch some Netflix.  I love summer!

Cold beer will go a long way to make the yard work easier!  Be safe and have fun!

Spring Beckons, April Fools!

I bought some pansies with a $10.00 certificate to a local nursery that I got for my birthday because I agreed to get their e-mails.  I wanted something cool, but it's still too cold for things that are cool.  hmmm, let's take a look at that sentence...maybe what I mean is "I wanted something really nifty, but it is too cold at night for us to get anything that is...nifty."  I accidentally left them in my truck the night before last.  All day.  I got home yesterday and put them on the porch, planning to put them inside before it got dark.  I forgot.

This morning they looked like little frozen flower sticks.  I figured they were goners.  When I got home they looked fine, as though the moisture in their tissues had never frozen solid.  Weird.  They must have anti-freeze!

I had a decent day at work.  I finished up the furniture...thank goodness.  I have a plumbing issue that was given to me to work on tomorrow...I think because it is a simple affair, if it weren't, I'd be asking for advice on swimming or how to stop a flood.  Still, I enjoy a challenge.

It was a beautiful, shiny, happy, clear blue day.  I enjoyed it, but I fear we may be in for worse things this weekend.  I guess we are supposed to get rain, so much for the sunlight.

On a really, really bright note, I texted my father this afternoon and explained that Mt. St. Helens had just suffered a minor eruption.  I could see the ash plume from our area, but wondered what they could see down in the valley.  I followed it with a short description in my next text:  "It is tall and gray and April Fools Day."   He messaged me back awhile later saying he had his hand on the door knob before he remembered what today was and he checked the second message.

I don't think I have gotten anyone on April Fools since college, when I lead up to April Fools Day by hinting to my parents that Cora was sick in the mornings, that Cora had a doctor's appointment.  Then we called them on April First.  It worked, too.  I imagine it seems to have back fired on us, though.

Oh, well.  It was funny, huh?

ISS Watch

Cora saw on the news last night that the International Space Station could be seen clearly last night at 7:22pm, unfortunately she forgot about it until about 8:15pm.  So, being the bright person I am I looked it up on-line.  The NASA site said we might be able to see it at about 9:00pm, so out we went in coats and pajamas to see the ISS.  Well, I should have taken a little time to try to understand the way to locate the orbiting object, because we didn't see it.  I did however snap the picture above.  You can just make out Cora's smile.  The next time the ISS will be over at a nice time and good angle above us will be tomorrow night, about 6:40pm.  So, guess where we will be tomorrow night?  Yep, out trying to see the ISS sail overhead.  Yeah, we're weird.

The weather was crazy-nice today.  I worked in the yard.  Not that I did much.  Cora deep-cleaned our bedroom and our master bathroom (why do we call it that?  It's obviously NOT a master bathroom, because I would expect a MASTER bathroom to have a dive-in bathtub and a toilet with a seat warmer and drink holder...and maybe a mini-fridge with a flat screen TV...and...well, you get the idea).  I, on the hand, raked up some of the dead plants and leaves and dog crap.  I also cleaned out the garden.  I surveyed where we will put the rest of the garden this year (Expansion Program funded by our stomachs) and took measurements for the flower garden expansion that is planned for this year for the front yard.  

The weather was BEAUTIFUL!!!!  GORGEOUS!!!!  I had to go into town, so I drove with the windows down!  It was awesome.  I saw an old friend who I almost didn't recognize because she was in a new ride!  I waved and smiled and went on my way!  

The sky was beautiful!  Have a look below!

What does tomorrow hold?  Who cares?  Today was awesome!  I think we will work some more on the house.  Maybe some more one the lawn, but I don't know.  I have been threatening to take her to a movie...maybe we will do that.  Dunno for sure.

I wrote a post on my airplane blog.  Give it a look if you like!  

Jimh.

The Sun'll Come Out!

I've been teaching HS the last few days.  It is a nice change.  There is more time to sit and relax and less tugging of the arm and asking for the attention of Mr. H!

I need to make another printing of out Transportation books already.  Shoot, they just debuted and we are almost out of them.  I think the reception has been...WARM to say the least!  That makes both Cora and I happy.  So, by the end of the weekend, we should have another batch of the Transportation coloring books ready.  I need to work on the next one, but I don't think I should tell anyone what it is since I felt rushed for the last one.

I took a few pictures the other day.  The sun was trying to poke through a hole in the clouds and it was all silver lining.  A while later it rained hard!  It was a nice day.  enjoy my pictures.

Electronic Rights

Phooey on you! Stupid copyrights people! I bought a song a few months ago. LEGALLY. I wanted to listen to it last night, but my music player told me I no longer had the usage rights for it. Nowhere in the stuff I looked at when I was downloading it did it say you are paying for temporary usage rights. The site I download it from said that the problem may be temporary or may be permanent. Basically, they no longer have the rights to distribute the song. But they did a few months ago...when I bought it.

I think the US recording industry, the copyrights, and these frickin' "legal" sites need to get together and realize that people are more likely to illegally download songs if the legal means is unfairly...well, just plain ridiculous. I am telling you, if the recording industry wants my money, they'd better let me listen to what I buy when I want, where I want!

OK. Off my soap box.

So, it snowed last night. It was enough to elevate my mood. The flakes were coming down and you could actually hear it. A sort of muted white noise. It was all very peaceful. I had been experiencing a bit of adoption blues right before that, but some of that washed away when I stepped out on the porch to view the wonder of nature that was falling on the world around me. This was all very nice until...

The wind began to blow a frigid arctic blast that took the snow which had managed to collect on the ground and blew it to somewhere, and I am guessing here, in Idaho. I believe the house moved a couple feet to the west, too.

Today, I will brave the cold and go out and get some of our decorations. I will also give the house a bit of a cleaning...depending on the amount of energy I am able to exert without depleting my reserves. Cora will probably be working on a dress. Right now, though, I am very interested in creating an edible work of art...that is breakfast or an early lunch.

Yes, I will start with some food first.

Rain that Flew in Sideways

So, Forrest Gump is my hero. "One day it started raining, and it didn't stop for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stinging...big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain that even seemed to come straight up from underneath." I love his thoughts on rain. Tonight's weather spectacular reminded me of that. It was also made up of the stinging kind.

I taught sixth graders today. It was a good day. The kids in the sixth grade class this year are a good bunch. I did not have any problems and basically had an easy day.

Tonight we went into town and then decided to have pizza instead of making something since it was late. I saw six kids in the short walk between the car and the pizza place. All of them said hi to Mr. H, except for one who knows my first name. All in all, it was cute, if a little embarrassing.

I don't know how successful I will be getting jobs on the last two days of school, but I will give it a shot.

Buckets.

Ok, first off, I had a good day at school, apart from the headache and nausea I got during the morning. I took a few minutes to vomit at about 11AM and felt much better. I don't know if it was a big or what. Yuck.
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The rest of th day was great. The last half-hour she let me decide what to do. I took a poll. The kids could play some games or watch me draw on the overhead. They voted for me to draw...weird. I did not mind, since before that there had been numerous kids crowded around me trying to get a peek at what I was drawing. They were a good bunch of kids and I enjoyed being there. It is always amazing to me how well behaved a group of kids become when they are watching me draw.
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So, I got home about 310pm and laid down for a little while to get rid of my headache. Finally I began to feel better. I ended up mowing the lawn and Cora made dinner. Just as I was finishing the lawn I began to get the feeling that I was getting drops of water on me. The sky was beginning to look a little dark. When I put the mower away I heard thunder. As I walked in the house it began to rain...hard.
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Here are some pictures! It also hailed! Wow, what weather we had!!
Look at the size of those splashes! It came down in BUCKETS!
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Toby had no issues running out into the rain, but he showed definite reluctance to enter a hail storm! Here he is looking on as the hail smashes around him. The hail was the size of marbles. Some of them exploded on impact!


Cora wanted something a little fruity. I managed to make a decent daiquiri from some strawberries we had...I even made it look pretty.

Now, the weekend beckons with loads of work! Cora's parents are going to need some help moving some stuff and we have plenty of stuff to do here at home, too! I can't wait to get out of town for a little while...even if it is just to go for a drive!

June First

I know that last year was nowhere near as warm as this. As I recall, it was downright chilly...and I was REALLY missing California. This year, though, I am quite happy with the temperatures. I like going out in the yard wearing a minimum of clothing at all hours of the day...what can I say, I feel better the fewer clothes I have on...as long as it's warm. When the temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit, you are damned sure going to find me with gloves and a coat on, but when it's warm enough, I like to take advantage of my exothermic properties.

Today, I subbed for a fifth grade teacher. His class was remarkably well behaved. His plans called for me to simply be present and breathing. It was a nice change from the norm. The younger the kids the more the work it seems.

Apparently I was the lucky one, since I ran into a fellow sub late in the day and she was looking a bit frazzled. She said she had gotten there and found NO PLANS. I think I had been requested for that one this morning and was somewhat thankful I had taken this job a month ago. I offered her some coloring sheets, but she said she had some Bill Nye videos to show. "Well, then, you've got it covered!" I then hurried back to my sheltered classroom and closed the door.

One of the kids came up to the desk to ask for help on a SUDOKU puzzle he does for an accelerated class he has. I helped him a few times and then realized that perhaps he was just not taking enough time on it. I told him to go back to his seat and work it out for himself. He sniffled. I told him, "Don't cry." He said he had allergies. I said, "No, you're crying. I made you cry." I then told him and the kids near the desk that I make it a point to make at least one kid cry each day. They looked at me unbelieving, then it dawned on them that I was pulling their legs. The kid said, "No, I have allergies." I reiterated, "No, you're definitely crying. HAH! You made my day!" He laughed and went back to his desk, his classmates having a chuckle with him.

I came home early because they spend the last hour in PE, and I finished everything that was necessary. I took some clothes off the line and relaxed waiting for Cora to come home. Now it is a relaxing evening. Of course, the Air Conditioner is STILL on...love it!

April Weather

I taught kinders today. They were great, but what was interesting about the day was the weather. It began a bit overcast. As I walked toward the classroom, though, there was a breeze that made me wonder if I should have brought a parka. If the breeze didn't do it, about 9:30AM it began snowing. BIG FLAKES! It did that for about an hour without sticking, then it stopped. It was wet and kids came in from recess with soaking shoes. I let them take their shoes off...a rare thing for Mr. H. I tied more shoes today than I care to count.

Then, about 2:45PM it began to hail. No, not hail. HAIL! It started soft, and I calld the kids away from their work to watch it. Then it got harder. I decided this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We stepped out and watched it come down, with lightning in the background. I gathered a few pieces of hail to show the kids. Then it got HARD! It a space of minutes the ground was covered in little snowballs the size of dimes and marbles. The roofs of nearby houses looked to be covered with snow! The kids loved it. I enjoyed it.

I did not have a camera at school, but when I got home I took pictures of the front garden. Our bleeding hearts seem to have weathered (Pun?) the storm.

Look at the size! I know it isn't anything to Great Plains' hail, but for around here...well, it's the biggest I have seen here.

I love the cloud formations that movedthrough the area. I wish I had a better camera.

I posted my paintings on Cora's blankets and stuff blog. Have a look! They are for sale!!!! BUY 'EM!!!!

Baby

I don't like my dog. I did not cover him with my shirt because he was shivering in his sleep. Somehow, the shirt just materialized over him. What was cutest though was his little moan of contentment after it covered him. Cuteness...it's a good thing he has significant amounts.

I subbed for third graders today. It was nice. They were a good bunch. I have had worse. The nice thing? I subbed for another teacher whose plan period was at the last of the day. So, I got off a bit early. I used the extra time for a long needed haircut.

My coloring sheets continue to garner popular acceptance from the kids. Several expressed doubt that I had indeed created the coloring seets they were doing. So, using the document viewer, I proved to them that I could draw a decent picture. I did not mind, and it usually keeps them quiet while they watch me draw something. I finished the day signing autographs...weird, I know, but, if the kids are happy, they are not necessarily looking into other ways to create mischief!

The weather continues to be spectacular! It was 75! I mowed the lawn and we had a good dinner. What a day. I think the weather is the main part of it.

Sunday Evening Blues

I have enjoyed this weekend very much. I think it has been the change in the weather. I feel really good. I have a little of my cold still hanging on, but overall, very good! I absolutely love the sunlight!

(that's my ghillie suit, on the fence)

So, today I was extra ambitious (well, for me, I was ambitious). I started by raking some of the mess up in the back yard, dead twigs and stuff. Then I mowed the lawn, fertilized just a smidgin, and watered it. I did some other chores and then painted this.

I am not particularly pleased with it. I was going for a boy's monogram, but I m not certain that the jet works...it seems, as Cora so acurrately put it, that the jet is attacking the tractor... oh, well, back to the drawing board, so to speak.

I am still waiting for a job for tomorrow. I hope it comes along. I like having them ahead of time, then I don't have to worry so much about it...

Cora, on the other hand, has been a dress making fool! She has made a couple good ones tonight. I think I am going to go through my accident reports and fix some of the holes...they are getting tattered...

We continue to wonder about Burundi. What exact size is the little boy in Burundi...Cora bought a few different sizes to be on the safe side. What's the weather there? Turns out it's something like 80 degrees year around. What do we take? Who knows. Hopefully we will soon.

Birthdays and Recent News

It's been a busy week. I've posted, but not many pictures...I tried to fix that tonight.
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My Birthday was Monday...yep thirty-five. Still, at least I am younger than Erin!
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I worked Maintenance this week. I got up and left by 7 each morning; a bit earlier than one does for substitute teaching. I have been forced to do physical labor. As a normally functioning American, I avoid exertion, so this "physical labor" thing is more than a little disconcerting. Now I get to rest!
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We got a referral for a baby boy in Burundi. It looks as though we may be leaving shortly after school ends. We don't have a bunch of information on him, but we are looking forward to every morsel our agency gets. It's only taken 9 1/2 years...but we may yet become parents! Oh, Happy Day! Oh, and to all those who have congratulated us and linked to us on your blogs, thank you!
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Toby continues to try to ignore his pending obscelecence and maintains that his proper place is between us and the computer...wait until he sees BB!

The weather has been weird. Wind. Rain. Snow. Hail. Sunshine. Here are some photos of the hail we got last night...bigger than peas. And it sounded like a freight train on the roof!

note the streak in the passenger door of the car. Also the streak between the bumper of the truck and the hose...

Amazing. I know that people from the midwest have seen bigger hail, but I have also lived through a volcano, blizzards, earth quakes, and floods. When you've had all those, then we can compare the size of our hail. So, BRING IT!

I made flank steak rolled around feta and Spinach for dinner. I added a bit of bacon wrapped around that, and it was...YUMMY!

We meant to go celebrate Ryan's birthday( brother-in-law) with him tonight, but, the referral has us wanting to get things done around the house. Also, Gypsy has escaped twice this week. I need to put in an electric fence so we can fry the stupid dog. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!! I know that if we went down and celebrated with you, we'd end up staying way too late and enjoy ourselves way too much. We would not want to leave and so we probably would get home sometime Sunday evening. We would not get anything done and we need to do that! Cora is also still suffering from her cold...You should see the color of her snot! So, it is definitely best if we stay home, despite our wishes. Happy Birthday my friend!

Friday Festivities

So, once again, I was faced with the most difficult day ever. I subbed for a math teacher at the HS. It is Homecoming this weekend...the kids were colored, which is not being racist, but, rather, observant of their hues. They were school colors...almost every one of them. They were not especially concentrating on learning today, either. Man, they were a rowdy bunch.

The teacher knew this and left simple instructions...page such and such, questions 1-5...easy. OK, that was nice, but by far not the best part. They had a 15 minute pep assembly first thing off...I did not need to attend. Then, given the day, I did not see any need to force them to do stuff they did not want to do. Finally, as a nod to the day, there was another assembly during what would normally have been 6th period...sixth period was mostly moved into the 5th period time slot and the teaching day shortened accordingly. My teacher has 6th period plan...that means I left at 12:45pm. I got there at 7:30pm. I had a lunch. I got paid for the full day!!!!!

I then went into town and got some groceries. Victuals for tonight. Ahh..., the lovely aroma of tacos. Well, what did you expect? Filet Mignon?

Tomorrow we are considering going for a drive before OPEC can try to drive gas prices up again. Here is what I think of you OPEC: Bastards (read it thusly: Bee-yass-tards!)! Where are we going you may ask? Not so sure yet. Maybe the mountains with the dogs...maybe Leavenworth(NO, not the prison.)...of course, my vote is for an airplane museum...I think that may be why Cora did not give me a vote. Shoot, I might have time to convince Toby to change his vote.

Fall is totally here. I had to dump water on my windshield to get the fricking ice off. Why not scrape? Well, people, while I may get up an hour before I have to get there, I spend an inordinate amount of time checking blogs for new posts...so I get out there with the amount of time I would expect to need if the windshield was untainted...so, in my rush to get moving I rinse off the windshield with the water I did not finish the day before...then it freezes and I curse the weather nd the cold. I then let the windshield wiper fluid create a blue ice sculpture, until the wipers can find enough purchase to break it off, then I have a small hole through which to see. I begin moving. Fortunately, there is little traffic at that time. By the time I get to work...well, the hole is bigger and no lives have been unnecessarily endangered (When I need to get to work...I NEED TO GET TO WORK, ITS NECESSARY!!).

Tomorrow, we will have been waiting for a child from China for 18 months. That's a year-and-a-half. Add to that that we have been trying for kids for 8 years...and we haven't even gotten ONE! Well, it stinks. I am happy that we are closer, but sad that it seems so far away.