This is the Day

Today I'm going to fill out and send our attendance/grade reports to our umbrella school. We finished school a couple weeks ago, and even completed exams last week. So now we're ready for that last and final step. I've made a cup of tea, the kids have done all their chores and won't need me for a little while. My computer duties are caught up and now I have some time to do it.

I put this off every year. I love the planning, I take a day or two to schedule each day's tasks and print off a copy for each student so that all they need to do is look at that day's assignments and know exactly what needs to be done. And the day-to-day is pretty smooth, no problem there. But filling out and sending our attendance reports is a problem. I always procratinate. Two years in a row, I finally sent them in with our September re-application forms. I don't know why I always put it off, it takes all of twenty minutes, and when it's done, I always wonder why it seemed so overwhelming.

No, I know why I drag my feet. It requires a certain amount of paperwork (the kids' daily schedules from the year) to be in order and in my hand, and my presence of mind to fully focus for a block of time. And it requires both of those things at the same time. I need to have the papers in hand at the same time I have a block of uninterrupted time to sort my thoughts, figure out my filing system, and transfer the information from the year's papers to the form. This is the most challenging task of my school duties.

And I'm going to get it done. Today.

Reflections at Twilight

I sat out on the porch swing after the sun had gone down, alone save for an untalkative baby sister. It was a melancholy evening. Not really mournful, but it had a wistful kind of sadness. The wind seemed to speak of it, while the trees listened, ever moving yet ever fixed in their place. It was overcast: the grey clouds diffused the light and softened the shadows. Green lights twinkled slowly all around. Fireflies. They heard the wind too. The night held something of the sadness of the elves, the sadness for that which passes and cannot be retrieved. I could feel strongly the flowing of time. But just as strongly I felt that I was not of time. I am like the trees: always changing, always moving. But ever fixed, standing still while years and time itself blow past. Time flows, worlds pass, ages are forgotten: yet the human soul lives on.

I Clearly Have Too Much Time on my Hands

I took a whole bunch of the quizzes listed in the left box at http://www.blogthings.com/index.html

How American Are You?
You Are 54% American
Most times you are proud to be an American.
Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe
Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home.
You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

The World's Shortest Personality Test
You are pure, moral, and adaptable.
You tend to blend into your surroundings.
Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends.
You believe that you live a virtuous life...
And you tend to judge others with a harsh eye.
As a result, people tend to crave your approval.

How Do People See You?
Slow and Steady
Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.
They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder.
It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment.
They expect you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then usually decide against it.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?
The Keys to Your Heart
You are attracted to good manners and elegance.
In love, you feel the most alive when everything is uncertain, one moment heaven... the next moment hell.
You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.
You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.
Your ideal relationship is comforting. You crave a relationship where you always feel warmth and love.
Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.
You think of marriage something you've always wanted... though you haven't really thought about it.
In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Age Do You Act?
28 You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

I expected vanilla, I love vanilla.

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Look What We Found!

This was on the floor in the boys' room. For more views, click here and here.

Grapes and Running Water

These are some of my recent photos. They've all been digitally enhanced, especially the last two.




For the technically minded, the pictures were taken with a FujiFilm FinePix 2800Z. DOF and some extra contrast/color enhancements were done on the computer.

May the Fourth be with you

I found this picture online, the full version is here. Happy Independence Day!

A modern-language translation of the Declaration of Independence HERE

We are currently listening to:
One Nation Under God, by The Sons of Tennessee

New Template

We've remodeled our blog. See that picture up top? That's our house! Well, it's our house, but it's moved to a more scenic location (one of Tim's photos of the area), thanks to Tim's graphic magic. We live in a rural area, but not quite that rural. It used to be a lot more rural, but suburbia has been creeping up on us, and now it's more like semi-rural.

What Kind of Soul is Tim?

You Are an Old Soul

You are an experienced soul who appreciates tradition. Mellow and wise, you like to be with others but also to be alone. Down to earth, you are sensible and impatient. A creature of habit, it takes you a while to warm up to new people. You hate injustice, and you're very protective of family and friends A bit demanding, you expect proper behavior from others. Extremely independent you don't mind living or being alone. But when you find love, you tend to want marriage right away. Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul and Visionary Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

What Kind of Soul Are You?

I got this from fellow-mom Elizabeth's blog.

You Are a Retrospective Soul

The most misunderstood of all the soul signs. Sometimes you even have difficulty seeing yourself as who you are. You are intense and desire perfection in every facet of your life. You're best described as extremely idealistic, hardworking, and a survivor. Great moments of insight and sensitivity come to you easily. But if you aren't careful, you'll ignore these moments and repeat past mistakes. For you, it is difficult to seperate the past from the present. You will suceed once you overcome the disappoinments in life. Souls you are most compatible with: Traveler Soul and Prophet Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?