There were crowds and tables to sort through. I went with a list and that helped me control myself.
4/29/13
Books books books
My friend Michaella and I hit up the Eugene book sale held by Friends of the Library. the event was held at the fairgrounds in Lane Country. The proceeds go to support public library services.
There were crowds and tables to sort through. I went with a list and that helped me control myself.
But I think I totally scored. I have already read "The Color of Water", "The Alchemist" and "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet," but I would love to hear your thoughts on the rest of these. Read any of them? Liked them?
There were crowds and tables to sort through. I went with a list and that helped me control myself.
4/25/13
Happiness Is...
I saw a blog post on the Living Proof Ministries page and knew I needed to do this...
Happiness is sweet tea.
Happiness is a job where you make a difference.
Happiness is momma calling everyone to the table for dinner.
Happiness is new office supplies.
Happiness is sitting by the water.
Happiness is spending time with all my siblings with their kids.. and the peace that comes afterwards.
Happiness is warm salty fries and ice cold beer.
Happiness is a handwritten card in the mail.
Happiness is pajamas on a Friday evening.
Happiness is driving with the windows down and the radio up.
Happiness is a phone call from a friend.
Happiness is a sunset.
Happiness is a lack of financial stress.
Happiness is a warm bed on a cold morning.
Happiness is coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
Happiness is blooming flowers.
Happiness is receiving an unexpected gift or thank you.
Happiness is watching a live bluegrass performance.
Happiness is immersing yourself in a good book.
Happiness is knowing I did absolutely nothing to deserve my salvation and received it anyway.
Happiness is going to bed without an alarm clock.
Happiness is a child giggling.
Your turn. Happiness is....
Happiness is sweet tea.
Happiness is a job where you make a difference.
Happiness is momma calling everyone to the table for dinner.
Happiness is new office supplies.
Happiness is sitting by the water.
Happiness is spending time with all my siblings with their kids.. and the peace that comes afterwards.
Happiness is warm salty fries and ice cold beer.
Happiness is a handwritten card in the mail.
Happiness is pajamas on a Friday evening.
Happiness is driving with the windows down and the radio up.
Happiness is a phone call from a friend.
Happiness is a sunset.
Happiness is a lack of financial stress.
Happiness is a warm bed on a cold morning.
Happiness is coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
Happiness is blooming flowers.
Happiness is receiving an unexpected gift or thank you.
Happiness is watching a live bluegrass performance.
Happiness is immersing yourself in a good book.
Happiness is knowing I did absolutely nothing to deserve my salvation and received it anyway.
Happiness is going to bed without an alarm clock.
Happiness is a child giggling.
Your turn. Happiness is....
4/24/13
Emily Turning Five
I received a voice mail from my brother while I was sitting in an ANOVA course at the University of Missouri.. It was April 29, 2008.
Emily Ann Lambert had arrived. 19.5 inches long. 7lbs 9oz.
She was born while my brother was stationed at Fort Drum in New York State so even if I had not been in graduate school, I still would not have been there for her birth. I didn't meet Miss Emily until she was a month old. I have never been around for her birthday. That is just the nature of the academic calendar.
She has grown into a young child with determination and a mind of her own.
She knows what she wants - even when that is daddy's police shoes. Seriously - just ask her. She will tell you. Lots of personality.
She is the older sister - but not by much. (She will be turning 5 while Katie is 3.5 years old and Kinsley just turned 2 in February).
She loves Hello Kitty. And has my mom buying anything with Hello Kitty on it. I think her grandma loves her more than anyone!
She thinks any red shirt is"Pawpaw's shirt" (because my dad loves NCSU so much). I think it is rubbing off.
She has my heart.
Where does the time go?
Emily Ann Lambert had arrived. 19.5 inches long. 7lbs 9oz.
She was born while my brother was stationed at Fort Drum in New York State so even if I had not been in graduate school, I still would not have been there for her birth. I didn't meet Miss Emily until she was a month old. I have never been around for her birthday. That is just the nature of the academic calendar.
I was around to watch her baptism and am proud that she is being raised in a church community.
She has grown into a young child with determination and a mind of her own.
She is the older sister - but not by much. (She will be turning 5 while Katie is 3.5 years old and Kinsley just turned 2 in February).
She thinks any red shirt is"Pawpaw's shirt" (because my dad loves NCSU so much). I think it is rubbing off.
She has my heart.
Where does the time go?
Happy 5th birthday Emily Ann!
Region 1 in Pendleton
I spent April 17-20 in Pendleton, Oregon. This was the host site for the Region I Conference of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). The Region I area is made up of 11 Western States: WY, UT, MT, AK, HI, WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, and ID.
Don't know where Pendleton is: Umatilla County, OR.
And Pendleton is a very western town - home to the only remaining rodeos on grass - The Pendleton Round-up. We did a Calcutta style auction of the Blue Mountain Community College Rodeo Team and then had a skills competition competing by state. Oregon came in 3rd and 4th but I contend there was cheating by some other states.
We had lots of committee meetings, professional development and planning sessions. I didn't take any photos of that part. Someone did arrange a group photo of the Oregon crowd - on a hill, looking into the wind and rain at the wind farm. We all look great *sarcasm*. Oregon has some of the best people!
This is an interior shot of Hamley's - where a lot of my "networking' took place during this conference. If we had a spot like this in Corvallis, I would be just a tiny bit happier.
The area we were in is known for being dry. They get 6-12 inches a rain per year. They received 1/2 inch of rain on the day we took tours of the agriculture in the area. I was there for 1/12th of their annual rainfall. And I was hoping to get out of the Valley for a while to dry out. Oh well.
I had never seen much of the agriculture in this area - except from the Interstate or a local high school campus. The Hermiston area is famous for watermelons and we saw one of the largest mint farms in the country out the rainy school bus windows. We saw dryland wheat and a lot of CRP land that is too rocky or too steep to farm.
We toured Lorenzen's feedlot. It might be the end of the line, but what a view.
We saw a wind farm operating 652 wind turbines. It was loud... but again - what a view. You could see into Washington State and Idaho.
This was the view from the hotel on one of the days we were stuck inside in sessions.
The Blue Mountains are gorgeous.
Wordless Wednesday 4-24-13
I used to have tulips in the side yard. Apparently now I have deer.
At least the ones in the (fenced) back yard are safe.
At least the ones in the (fenced) back yard are safe.
Happy Wednesday!
4/16/13
Why I "find time" to blog
I made my first attempt at blogging when I moved to Oregon as a way to make a record of my adventures.
The pace of starting the Assistant Professor job is, well, hectic, but I was communicating with my family in a format that was not continent upon us both being awake in the same time zone. It was joyous. It is going to be an amazing "journal" to flip through years down the road when the memories from this time in my life have faded.
But, then it happened...the naysayers.
The "oh, it is so cute that you have time to blog" or "you must not be as busy as the rest of us" or "I would love to just write for fun, but I have to write for work."
And suddenly I found myself doing perfectly "bloggable" things, but I just couldn't make time to write them up and hit publish. It doesn't make the experiences less because I didn't write about them.
However, I have learned that blogging is a creative outlet for me.
The process of sitting down to compose a post.
The polishing of the writing.
The joy of actually getting someone to comment!
The fun of chatting about the posts with friends.
The pace of starting the Assistant Professor job is, well, hectic, but I was communicating with my family in a format that was not continent upon us both being awake in the same time zone. It was joyous. It is going to be an amazing "journal" to flip through years down the road when the memories from this time in my life have faded.
But, then it happened...the naysayers.
The "oh, it is so cute that you have time to blog" or "you must not be as busy as the rest of us" or "I would love to just write for fun, but I have to write for work."
And suddenly I found myself doing perfectly "bloggable" things, but I just couldn't make time to write them up and hit publish. It doesn't make the experiences less because I didn't write about them.
However, I have learned that blogging is a creative outlet for me.
The process of sitting down to compose a post.
The polishing of the writing.
The joy of actually getting someone to comment!
The fun of chatting about the posts with friends.
4/14/13
Are you catching "The Deadliest Catch"?
Last summer, I was in the midst of a house hunt and scraping my pennies together. I had given up the fancy cable package with the DVR in favor of the local channel package. Oddly enough, the local channels included all the ones you would expect (PBS, CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC) and Discovery Channel. I tuned in one night to watch this show that looked like nothing else. It was dark skies, neon rain gear, bobbing ships on tossing seas and... crab.
I was watching a show about crab fishing. Really?
And my niece (who was in town visiting at the time) was not thrilled with my viewing choice.
Since then, I have dug into the show. I have watched every episode twice (Thanks Netflix). I wasn't surprised to learn that the show has won an Emmy. When I mention this show to friends, I am surprised to find out how many of them are fans as well.
I know more about crab fishing than any mainland girl should.
I definitely have favorites: Edgar, Johnathan and Andy, Mike, Lenny, and of course Jake Anderson.
I definitely have some I dislike. I cringe any time Elliott Neese is on the screen. I am not a fan. It is a different feeling with Keith of the Wizard - he frustrates me to watch.
If you aren't watching, season 9 premiers April 16 on Discovery Channel. See the promo here.
I was watching a show about crab fishing. Really?
And my niece (who was in town visiting at the time) was not thrilled with my viewing choice.
Since then, I have dug into the show. I have watched every episode twice (Thanks Netflix). I wasn't surprised to learn that the show has won an Emmy. When I mention this show to friends, I am surprised to find out how many of them are fans as well.
I know more about crab fishing than any mainland girl should.
I definitely have favorites: Edgar, Johnathan and Andy, Mike, Lenny, and of course Jake Anderson.
I definitely have some I dislike. I cringe any time Elliott Neese is on the screen. I am not a fan. It is a different feeling with Keith of the Wizard - he frustrates me to watch.
If you aren't watching, season 9 premiers April 16 on Discovery Channel. See the promo here.
4/12/13
What I have been reading lately?
I read quite a bit. So, when thinking about the blog it only makes sense to recap a few of my favorite recent reads.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I didn't read this book; I consumed it. I sat down on a Friday evening and didn't get up until I had finished the story of Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters - and their cancers. Yup, it is a story of children and cancer. But, man-alive, is it a story. I love Jenny Larson (AKA the Bloggess) and I read this post she wrote before I read the book. I should have taken it as a warning! You should, too. It is a good story. I was a sobbing heap.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
This book touched two places in my heart. This is a story about a foster kid and it is seamed through with horticultural references. The subtitle I have seen on some copies of this book is "anyone can grow into something beautiful". It is a truthful story of growth in a realistic, flawed character. I have already recommended it to friends.
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
This might be my new favorite. This book is technically young adult literature, but deals with some heady topics with religious undertones. The snipet on Amazon says "Along with his sister and father, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies, the most tragic of fates." Again, I have loaned my copy out twice already.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
This is a contemporary romance the story of Caroline. She is an interior designer who hasn't had a fella in quite a while. Her noisy neighbor moves in next door and she nicknames him "Wallbanger" (I bet you don't even need your imagination here). Granted, not my typical read. I might would recommend this one for when you are sitting on a sunny beach. For me, it was pure escapism.
If you want to know what I am reading or what I have been reading, check out the Reading Page.
4/10/13
4/5/13
My sister
My sister is having a birthday April 7.
I am her baby sister.
She was born on my mom's birthday.
It is amazing she has allowed me to live to see her birthday without killing me for tattling when we were children or correcting her grammar now that we are adults.
I love her with all my heart.
She was born a month past my mom's due date!
My dad smoked a carton of cigarettes in the delivery room waiting on her to make an appearance.
She looks like my dad while I look like my mom.
She is so much like my dad that they fought a lot when we were younger.
While I hate the miles between us, I love that I can call her and pick up like we have never been apart.
We shared a room (and a four poster bed) until we were teenagers.
She loves to tell stories and is great at it!
She is not so good telling a joke!
She would do ANYTHING for a friend.
She has celebrated many a birthday with strawberry pie.
People think she is the "mean one" while in reality I am meaner - but quieter about it.
She would eat at El Amigo seven days a week if chips and queso were a fat free food.
She makes friends with boys more easily than girls.
She makes friends with boys more easily than girls.
I lost count on her shoe collection when it topped 200.
You couldn't have paid her to read when she was a kid and now she is reading her way through the public library's fiction collection.
She has loaned me her friends as an adult even though she hated that I wanted to be friends with her friends when we were kids.
She is an amazing aunt to Emily, Katie Bug, and Kinsley.
She loves her kids fiercely.
There is a special place in Heaven for her.
She is so strong - perhaps stronger than she has ever known.
Happy Birthday Melissa!
"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost" ~Marion C. Garretty
"Of two sisters, one is always the watcher, one the dancer" Louise Glick
"It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on...
someone to tell on!" ~ Author Unknown
"My sister taught me everything I really need to know,
and she was only in sixth grade at the time." ~ Linda Sunshine
“In a way, I was incredibly proud of her (not that I had any intention of letting it show
while I was beating the crap out of her).” ― Meg Cabot
“You can kid the world, but not your sister.” ~ Charlotte Gray
"I'm smiling because you are my sister.
am laughing because there is nothing you can do about it." ~Author Unknown
"If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly
and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child" ~ Linda Sunshine
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