St. Mary's Falls...Here We Come!!!

Hopefully, providing I can get my tennis shoes on by the weekend, we're going to take a much needed day trip to St. Mary's Falls trail/hike near the Blue Ridge Parkway with the kids.  We're regulars up that way.  We've regularly hike to  Crabtree Falls, and Spy Rock (you can read my recent blog about our Spy Rock hike HERE).  We'd like to hike to The Priest, but I'm not sure my younger ones could make the hike...so we'll save that for a little later.

St. Mary's Falls...it's more of a trail than a hike...which is a good thing as I limp along with a broken toe!  I can't wait to pack a picnic lunch, and spend the days with the kids...without gameboys, PS3, DVD's, iPods, cell phones and the like to interfere!  

Hopefully, we'll see some of  this:

And this:

So, while I gripe and complain about living "in the middle of nowhere" quite often, I love that within 2 hours I can have the mountains or the beach for our viewing pleasure and memory making!!

I'm Not Getting Back Out of the Bed Again Today!!

Broken toe...what a way to start the week off!  Who knew a little toe fracture could hurt so darn much?  Oww!  I've already banged it again and dropped the box of Splenda on it this morning...figures.  I'm waving the white flag and retreating back to my bed for the rest of the day!

I have lots of crochet projects to finish, but my new soy yarn keeps whispering my name from it's hiding spot in the corner...so much for "out of sight, out of mind" theory.   Let's see if I have the will power to block the temptation and finish the 7 sets of fingerless gloves I have started (don't think there's a huge demand for singles) but never finished.

And while I'm sitting still (that rarely happens) I couldn't help but wander over to Etsy to peruse the yummy crocheted wares!

Japanese lace crochet pattern from Kakaeight

As much as I'd love to crochet an afghan, my ADD tendencies would get in the way.

Beautiful!!  Wool n Hook

My youngest would LOVE this owl purse pattern from Angels Chest

And how adorable is this viking hat from Heather's Things?

I want this!!!!  MODA Crochet

Ok...time to stop procrastinating and work on mates for gloves!

Darn, Patty....

of My Life Under The Bus....has made me want to learn how to etch...like I need another obsession!

Just take a look at these:

And these....

One of my favorites....

I can't stop myself.....

You can find your favorite on Etsy (click the pic)

Although, Patty's shop is closed for a "hot  minute" she'll be back soon....just prepping for a show, and believe me it takes lots of WORK!!!

BUT...you can enter to win her give-away HERE and you can find her on Facebook HERE

I'm Warning You Now....

I just need a vent...a school related vent (surprise, surprise).

**Let me preface by saying that I don't expect teachers to do all the teaching...we work diligently at home on a daily basis.  Everything I'm posting here, I've already voiced to the school...and I just get blank stares.  We live in a "one school" county, meaning the school she is in, is the ONLY public school in the county.  Period.  We simply can't afford private schools or even tutoring until I find a full time job. 

My youngest is dyslexic...well the school can't deem her that because it's considered a medical diagnosis, so her IEP has decoding deficit listed as the learning disability...doesn't matter how they word it to me...it's the same thing.  Anyway,  my child is 10 years old and can't read or write more than her name...and I'm dead serious!!  She's been receiving "special ed" classes for 4 years now...and in my opinion, there should be a little more progression.

This year = new school for her.  I walked in the first day and requested an IEP meeting with all of her teachers, and although they didn't understand why I wanted all her teachers present (don't you have to read in every subject?) they obliged.  I thought we were off on the right foot, and I was being a proactive, concerned parent advocating for her child....instead I feel like I got the old brush off!

It seems that her "special ed" this year consists of the special ed teacher in her regular reading class with the reading teacher assisting WHOEVER needs assistance..."integrated learning."  Now, I'm no educator, but you can't just pick up a 5th grade reading book and expect her to catch on...it doesn't work that way!

Fast forward to last week, when for the 100th time, I receive a letter to sign her up for "optional" after school tutoring.  I declined, as in the past these are usually more of a group-everyone-into-the-cafeteria-and-we'll-do-homework-together sessions, and that doesn't work for her.  Well the principal didn't like my "no thank you" comment I wrote on said 100th letter and quickly picked up the phone to call me.

Gracie failed her math SOL (Standard of Learning) last year, so this year not only does she have her regular 5th grade math class, she also has an additional remedial math class as well.  I understand the remedial math class is mandatory because she failed, I've gotten over it. 

Back to phone call from the principal...  She tells me that the tutoring is also mandatory, even though the sign up sheet clearly states "optional."  I bucked her on that, and requested state/county documents stating the exact policy...still haven't received them!  Ms. Principal then goes into chipper motivational speech mode and says "we just want her to pass this year's SOL!"  Fire lit through me!!  My response was "well that's where we have our problem...see, I just want her to learn to read & write!"

So here it is the first week of October, and the kids have been back in school almost two months, and still no confirmation on getting her in the remedial reading group!!  If their actions don't give someone a clear view of their priorities, I don't know what would!  They could care less about teaching her to read/write...as long as the school is accredited....over my dead body!

I won't even go into how today, the so called special ed teacher called me...after getting Gracie out of class, asking her for my phone number and then using Gracie's cell phone (because she didn't want to take the time to go look it up) to call me about a meeting she said she scheduled but "forgot" to notify me about??

Guess where I'll be bright and early tomorrow morning? :)

Now, because I didn't want this to be a complete b**chfest, here are just a few examples of how dyslexics "see" words/numbers on a page:

Click Here For Interactive Examples

And also two other examples:

Now...how is she EVER going to pass their precious SOL tests without learning to read?  They can put her in every remedial math class but if she can't read the printed material, she can never pass!  Why am I the only one who gets that?

AARRRGGHHH!!  If you've gotten this far...God bless you!!

Having a Ball

...of yarn that is!  I have such an addictive personality.  I think I love yarn just as much as I revel in beads, wire and clay!  I have bins, upon bins of colorful balls of yarn....and just as many bins of finished/mostly unfinished projects.  I'm not the expert crocheter, and you can forget knitting...it seems I don't have enough coordination to knit more than a huge knot of yarn!  But, what better way to spend an autumn morning than perusing for more scrumptious "must have" balls of fun?

Woodlands super chunky from Funkyarns

Recycled sari silk yarn from Amber Threads

Thick & thin merino wool from Autumn Rose  I love the colors in this one!

Recycled T shirt yarn from Mike's T Shirt Yarn

And finally, my favorite yarn to work with...bamboo!!!

Bump on a Log bamboo yarn from Quovadishandspun

Hand spun carbon bamboo yarn from Larkspur Funny Farm

Yep...it looks like it's going to be a crocheting kind of day today...anything to avoid delving into the show jewelry to what can and can't be repaired/reworked!

It Was Just One of Those Days...

Pinterest

....you know, the kind where you should've just stayed in bed?  Yep, that about sums up yesterday's show.  Don't get me wrong, we did well, and I love venturing to new shows, and meeting new people, but everything went wrong...and I mean EVERYTHING...to the point that it would have been hilarious any other day...

Pinterest

I wake up early...3 a.m. early, but I was ready to go...feeling good about EVERYTHING...that's what I get  for being so cocky! :)  We had a great spot...on the corner, in front of an awesome historic home renovated into The Lake House Restaurant.  So, you're wondering what went wrong?

Well, as quaint as the town of Clarksville, VA is...I failed to take into account possible gale force winds...ok maybe not gale force, but damn close!!

Now, Virginia isn't usually chilly in October...but of course yesterday was freezing and windy!  Because we had to set up in the parallel parking spaces, we had nothing to stake our tent or sides to.  I really wasn't worried, as we have it weighted down pretty well...or so I thought!  Three of us finally got the sides up without getting blown in to the land of Oz, and began setting up.  By this time, I can't feel my hands, and because I'm vain and wanted to look cute...it's not like I brought gloves, wrist warmers, or anything remotely warm!  Dear, sweet, husband walked over to grab me a cup of coffee that I could soak my hand in drink to warm up a little before the crowds flocked.

Disaster #1 for the day?  Our sign easel was blown down the street...in pieces, I might add!

I think it can be repaired.  Actual easel is history, but I think even though the frame is in pieces, it broke at the corners, and came off of the backing.  The actual banner has a few scuffs, but it will survive.  I will not mention how badly a brad through the finger felt later in the day when I picked it up to load back in the van.

Granted, it really doesn't have much weight to it, but it's never been a problem at outdoor show before.  Oh well, I wasn't going to let one hiccup ruin my day before it started!

Day was going beautifully, and had quite a few interesting conversations with customers (my husband says I always attract the "colorful" people wherever I go) but I was constantly on guard, as they left the street open (first I've ever seen where that's done) and I was afraid I was going to get sideswiped a couple of times.

Wind was a problem all day.  Just little things, such as knocked over display busts, etc...nothing major.

Pinterest

2 p.m.:  Enter gale force winds!  Seriously, It was everything all 3 of us could do to hold on to the tent so that it wouldn't blow into the street and hit cars driving down the road.  I know my tent is cheap crap, but due to four children who think they need to eat three times a day...and every day at that :) ...it's not in the budget right now, so I'll forge on with what I have!

2:30 p.m.:  The good Lord gave me a sign that it was time to pack up before we killed some poor unsuspecting soul with our para sailing tent, when this also took a loss on to the sidewalk...

Our "new" (2nd time out) earring display.  We upcycled a cracked and needing love oval window frame from a Habit For Humanity resale store, and we worked our butts off to put this together.  The easel my husband made and then the oval is screwed to the easel.  I guess it weighs at least 50 + lbs...it's MASSIVE!

Anyway...down it went, earrings to the sidewalk, and we hurried over to access the damage...it wasn't pretty!  I'm not a crier, but I was tempted when I saw that a lot of the more detailed pairs were broken....beyond repair, and I literally had to turn and walk away when I saw that the only artisan lampwork I've ever owned were broken.  I was able to salvage 2 of the best (still chipped) matching beads that I can wear myself.

Here are the victims in their splendid glory:

Both from Modern Trails on Etsy

Again, the damage to the display can be repaired, so it's not a total loss.  But, needless to say, we totally broke down and came home after the sign from above...chapped lips, frozen fingers, windburned skin and all! :)

In the long run, I'll look back on this particular show and laugh...in fact, I can almost chuckle about it now...I'm sad that some of my work was lost, but A LOT of it found new, well-loved homes before the catastrophe!

**Pssttt...my oldest is out for the evening and I snagged her laptop so I could post photos to make me feel a little better!

Round Three...

Because I'm young (don't laugh...it's not funny), because having 4 children leaves me with too much time on my hands, but mainly because I'm just "not right" (I'm a lefty by the way) here I am up at 3:30 a.m. (again) on a Saturday morning!  Yes, I'm aware I probably could be committed on that fact alone...never mind this is show 3 in as many weekends...and the 4th out of 5 weekends...I'm expecting the white-jacket-men to show up any time now!!

Now after the above insanity, I've also been working on some components and I'm hoping to open an Etsy shop in October...just as soon as I catch up on some sleep...I'm exhausted!!

My poor laptop is still dead as a doornail, so no pretty eye candy just yet....bear with me...

Well, short blog, I know, but the alarm is signalling it's time to wake everyone, and get my circus on the road, if the kids don't dollar-me-to-death today maybe we'll have a great day! :)