Happy Carving.....

Here is the pumpkin that danielle made tonight. Isn't it cute??? We found the example on google and we thought it was cute. There is the haunted house with the moon in the background. And we added the ghosts. It looks super cute outside and lit up, let me tell ya!!! Now we are cookin' the pumpkin seeds for Joe. Happy Early Halloween everyone!!!!!

MOVING......by Danielle

Danielle wrote a story at school. When she brought it home, I looked at the title and got this sick feeling in my stomach, but when I read it, I was a bit relieved. Here it is.....


MOVING......by Danielle

When I moved I felt sad and worried. I felt sad because I might not see some of my friends again. I was worried because I might not make alot of friends at my new school. I had alot of friends at my old school. Last year I went to Mullan Trail Elementary in Post Falls. In first grade I had Mrs. James. In second grade I had Mrs. Holt. In third grade I had Mrs. Teston. Now I have Mrs. Storlie. Our music teacher was Mrs. Clark, our librarian was Mrs. Owens, our music teacher was Mrs. Clark, our PE teacher was Mr. Hirsch and our principal was Mrs. Surrat.

I used to live in Prairie Falls Golf Course. Now I live in Hauser Lake Heights. There weren't very many kids in my old neighborhood. Now there's more kids in my new neighborhood. There wasn't very many things to do, but you could see if someone could come over. You could go for a walk, play in your back yard and that's about all. Now you can go for a walk, you could see if someone could come over, explore the woods, make a fort or you can go swimming at the lake.

I still miss my old house and my old school. But I still like my new school, and new house.

I guess I need to get out a bit more.......

I was volunteering at Danielle's school yesterday, and besides reading with the kids, I had to go make copies for Mrs. Storlie. So, I have used a copy machine before, lots, but when she told me what to do with the copies, I was a bit confused. So, I went down to the office and thought I could probably act like I knew what I was doing and continue on. But I kept looking at the note Mrs. Storlie gave me and I just didn't understand. It said......."copy page 27, 28, 29, and 30 back to back and stapled". Ok, I know how to copy back to back but what the heck is she talking about with "stapled". I mean, there were 90 copies times 2 sheets which was 180 pages stapled together.....this could take me awhile. I could be here WAY after school gets out. So, I showed the office lady the note, and I asked her what it meant, and she walks over to the copier, and she presses a button that says staple, and then she chooses where the staple should be located and she said..."You are set". OK. So I fed 4 sheets of paper in the copy machine, and wouldn't you know it, they came out as 2 pages, front and back, and stapled on the left hand side. Done.
I'm still trying to figure out how a person fits inside the copy machine and staples all the pages together.......

A great bible verse......

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

—Luke 21:1-4

Sharing some fall pics from my front porch......

Should I be nervous???

Danielle, my mom and I went to a new church in Rathdrum. One a bit closer to home than the one we went to on occasion in Post Falls. We had a great experience, and we signed up for the Chili Feed they are having this Saturday, so it should be fun.
Well, Pastor Bloom called yesterday and talked to Joe while I was gone. Joe told him that I should be home this morning, so he could call and talk to me then.

So, the phone rang this morning, and it was Pastor Bloom. We got to talking for awhile, and then he asked me if it would be alright for him to stop by on Saturday. Sure, I replied. So we set up a time, and wrapped up the call.

Here's the thing.....I feel kinda nervous about this. I really have no idea why, but some of it may be that I have never had a Pastor over to MY house. I mean, when I was little, and we NEVER missed church on Sunday, and my mom was SUPER involved with our church, we had the occasional visit from the Pastor. But since I have been out of my parents house and into my own, I have not had the pleasure of an official visit. So, it got me thinking. Since this is a new house to us, we don't have a ton of things on the walls. In my old house, I had crosses, Thomas Kinkade prints with bible verses on them, etc. Well, I think that stuff must still be hiding out in a box somewhere, because I can't find it. So, I am feeling like I need to either find it, or have Danielle color some pretty crosses so we can tack them up all over the walls or something. Yikes. I mean, I do realize that he isn't going to judge us by what is or isn't on the walls, but it just makes me feel a bit nervous. I mean, should I lay my bible out on the table so it looks like I read it EVERY evening? Even though I don't get around to it quite that often......(forgive me, Jesus). I don't know why I am feeling a bit insecure about it right now. I will probably just give in and explain my insecurities to him, and I know he will understand. But I think I would feel better about this if I new what to expect from the visit.

So, if any of you have experience with this, fill me in. Because it seems to be that when the Pastor used to show up at my childhood home, it was always because there had been a death, or sickness, or something going on with our family that we needed his guidance with. Maybe I just don't realize we need guidance now??? Anyway, I am sure I will get over these feelings....I hope. Wish me luck!!

Enough about politics........

Let's start talking about the REAL controversy!!! You know, the issues that REALLY matter!! And if you are wondering what these issues are I will fill you in. THE MYSTERY OF THE SHRINKING HALLOWEEN CANDY. Has anyone else noticed that the size of the "fun size" candy isn't even fun anymore? It is NOT even CLOSE to fun. Every single year the Halloween candy gets smaller and smaller. Do they think we don't notice?? The Reese's peanut butter cups are shrinking. They are thinner and not as wide. How dare they?? Here is the best example I have seen this year......you know the "smartees" that used to come in a see-through roll with like 15 candies total?? Well, this year they have re-packaged them. How Smart......They are now in a small paper wrapper and that looks like a Sweet Tart wrapper. (you know, the sweet tarts have like 3 in a wrapper..) So, the Smartees went from like 15 candies in a roll to their new package with 3 total candies. What a rip-off. This is just ridiculous. I guess in a way if you look at the good side, we won't be consuming as much candy as we previously did....because there is LESS candy per package. But I don't really feel like having the candy companies put me on a diet that I haven't signed up for. Because I just feel like I am getting ripped off here. So, this year, I vow to eat MORE packages of candy just to make up for it. I'll show them!!!

We've been BOO'd

I love this neighborhood. Danielle and I were so surprised on Saturday when we opened the front door and a suspicious package was sitting on the door mat. What is it? We wondered. Upon closer examination we realized it was some sort of Halloween package. It included Halloween stickers, glow sticks, candy, a colorful spooky cup, cool creepy straws, a spider that "grows" in water, a hand towel with cute candy corn on it, a red skeleton that lights up, and a letter. We read the letter and realized that the package was from someone in our neighborhood. It turns out, this is kind-of like a "chain letter", but better....
Someone in the neighborhood starts this by purchasing 2 "goodie bags". Then they attach a letter that explains the process to the bags and then place them on thier fellow neighbor's doorsteps without being seen. The neighbor that receives the "bag" then tapes a print out of a pumpkin on their door (so that everyone knows they have already received one) and makes 2 more goodie bags and places them on 2 other neighbors doors without being seen. Sound fun?? Well IT IS. Anyway, Danielle and I got a huge kick out of this, and every time we look at this "goodie bag" we smile. So, thanks to whoever it was that placed it on our door....we have already carried on the tradition by putting together two more bags and we will try to place them on some doorsteps without being caught.......hopefully. I put a picture of the goodie bag we received. Isn't it cute??

Six things......(thanks lyns...)

1. I am a real optimist. A pathetic one at times. I just truly believe everything will always work out. Joe sometimes thinks it is ridiculous, and often times he wants to strangle me. But I really think I NEED to feel this way just to make it through the hard times.

2. I LOVE living in the sticks. It just brings me closer to "peace". It is kind-of hard for me to explain, but when I am sitting up here on the top of this mountain, in front of my cozy fireplace, snowed in for days, I will be extremely HAPPY.

3. I never want to hear the word "fundamentals" again. Ever.

4. I should be a vegetarian. Just the thought of eating meat sometimes repulses me. But I LOVE the taste. I can't HELP but want to eat it. Although, my mom will be the first to tell ya, I used to have her come over early on Thanksgiving morning, and stuff and butter our turkey, put it in the bag and shove it in the oven before I caught a glimpse of it, so I would be able to eat it that afternoon. I just couldn't eat it if I saw that it looked like a bird without feathers. Unless I was extremely hungry, that is. :-)

5. I love to laugh. Some of you really might not know it....because it takes ALOT to make me laugh. I have never been a silly kind of person, and sometimes I am WAY too serious. Even as I drink I don't get silly. I LOVE good comedy shows, but I am very particular with them. Only certain people can make me truly laugh. And I have NEVER laughed until I cried. But I WANT to. I think I need to just let loose. The only place I know for sure I could crack up laughing is sitting in church on a Sunday. I have no idea why, but it used to drive my mom absolutely CRAZY. We'd be up in the front ready to take communion, and I couldn't stop laughing. Nearly spit out the wine. I think it was nerves. Please God, forgive me, for I have DEFINITELY sinned. :-/

6. I give the "homeless" guys on the street corner money. Even though Joe tells me not to. He believes they aren't "homeless". And I agree, some really aren't. We learned that when one of Danielle's friends informed us that her grandfather dressed up in "dirty" clothes and went and stood on the street corner to get a little extra cash. (her parents would DIE if they knew she said that...) So, I understand where Joe is coming from. BUT, if I have change with me, and I see one of those guys on the street corner....it's gone. Sorry honey.

Who Knew????

I can actually sew!!! Yes, I can.....(I think I can, I think I can...) :-)
Yesterday I bought a beginner sewing machine at Walley World. My moms machine is like 40 years old, and it quit on her a couple of months ago. So anyway, back in High School we all had to sew something to pass Home-ec. I HATED sewing. For some reason, every time I thought I was really starting to do well, I would get this huge knot of thread behind the needle and it was so hard to fix it. I absolutely hated it, but somehow I passed the class. And somehow, I actually sewed a pair of sweat pants. Hooray!!!


So, my mom let me borrow this wicker chair she has had forever, and it has cushions that were some flowery spring print. The spring print just HAD to go. It wouldn't even have come close to fitting in with my rustic theme. So, I got to work. I went and bought some awesome rustic fabric, I took the spring yucky fabric off, and I just pinned it as closely as I could. My mom helped me with threading the sewing machine, because I have absolutely no patience, then I started. I was sewing awyay like I had never sewed before, and then it was done. DONE. It wasn't even that bad. Anyway, I slipped my new covers on, and I was done. Here is the finished product. And I am also giving you a close up of the rustic fabric I bought. I am so proud of myself!! Time to start my next project.....a rustic quilt. Now that is gonna take awhile.....

I couldn't have said it better than this guy.....

There was this comment on the CDA press website this morning, about a letter to the editor. (not mine). This particular letter to the editor was one I see quite often, someone complaining about how much tax the top 1% of income earners have to pay, and how unfair it is, and yaddi yadda..... Anyway, I think this gentlemans comment about that letter was just genious. So I have to post it, and I know all of you may not agree, which is totally fine, it is just something that I couldn't have posted as well as he did......hopefully he doesn't mind my "stealing".

Here goes...

"Yes, the very rich pay more in taxes, in terms of raw dollar amount. But it affects them far, far less than those who do not make as much money.

Why? Because prices are fixed and do not operate as a percentage of income or net worth. A gallon of gas is going to cost you around $3.50, whether you have ninety-four squillion dollars and the gas is going into your 80-foot yacht, or whether you have thirty-two dollars to your name and the gas is going into your '87 Accord to get you to your $9/hr job.

It's a matter of what is left over after you pay those taxes. The rich are still going to have plenty left to live on, quite comfortably --- exactly because things cost the same for them as they do for the very poor. The poor are hit so much harder, proportionally, even if the percentage tax rate is exactly the same --- again, exactly because things cost the same for them as they do for the very rich.

So truly, the only fair way of going about it is to ask the rich --- who will still live very nicely indeed, thanks --- to bear a bit more of the shared burden, percentage-wise. The other alternative, I guess, would be to make prices correspond to percentages of income: if you make minimum wage, a gallon of milk costs .0033% of your monthly income, or $3.80; if you make $300K a year, a gallon of milk costs .0033% of your monthly income, or $82.50/gallon.

Which would you prefer?
posted by -Mahein"

Anyway, I thought it was really interesting. Now, don't get all freaked out....I don't really think the people who make 300K a year should pay $82.50 for a gallon of milk. But the whole idea really makes sense to me. He got me thinking, and I liked it.

The Masterpiece....

For those of you who are younger, and had Idaho History in the 4th grade, you may remember making these Idaho salt maps. I know that was the highlight of my 4th grade year....:-). Last week Danielle and I made the salt dough at home, and then she took it to school and formed it into the state of Idaho. After it dried, she painted it. I just fell in love with it, but she isn't too proud of it, she is kind-of a perfectionist if you will. The only issue I have with it is this......why in the heck did they have her paint it with Boise State colors?? Don't they know that is NOT acceptable. Gold and Black would have been MUCH better!!! :-) Go Vandals!!!