Be My Guest

The guest room is finally done. It's been 5 years since I daydreamed about making this space into some place welcoming. And it's been 2 years since I started the project. What got in the way? College expenses for one kid and a major health crisis for the other one. I was a little distracted.

From the front door...


Down the hallway...



Little tiny room...



View from the bathroom...



View from the bed...



Did you forget something?



There have been people staying in this room before it was finished (sorry Don, Martha, and Rachel). Not visible is the power strip in easy access to the bed, so you can use your laptop in bed.

Wanna come visit me?

I Love A Challenge

I have decided to join the Creative Everyday Challenge.

January's theme is Body.

That's a particularly apt theme for me, as I am training for a long bike tour. This summer Joe and I plan on biking from our house in upstate NY to Key West. We've never done anything like this; we have never even been to the Keys. But I have always wanted to go on adventures during my summers and never have. And I'm not getting any younger. So when Joe came up with this idea, it took me less than 2 seconds to agree.

So back to the theme. I want to creatively encourage my body to be stronger, leaner, and healthier everyday (more then just the month of January) so that I can enjoy our trip (without being a trembling collection of wimpy, sore muscles for the first little while).

Each week during the winter, I'm planning on doing the weight circuit (cybex), spinning (+core and stretch), yoga, and swimming. That's exercising 4 times, a week to begin. I'll add more as the weather improves and our departure date nears. I know the tour will end up training me, and that to begin with my distances will be shorter than I hope for, and I will be more sore and tired than I can imagine right now. But at least I'm preparing.

Along with exercise, I am going to become more diligent with self care, like flossing, vitamins, good nutrition, massage, and skin care.

And what does all this have to do with being creative? I hope, with a stronger, healthier, and better maintained body, there will be more energy for creativity.

Pumpkin Cake

From a co-worker

2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3 cups flour
8 ounces chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin and oil. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan and bake in a pre-heated. 350 degree oven for 35 minutes.

I'm The Cool Mom

Who teaches her kid's friends useful skills while we wait for breakfast in restaurants.

School Bag

We are always receiving promotional items from textbook companies. A couple of years ago, when we were deciding on a new math series, the companies tried to out-do each other. My favorite was the company who "set" the tables for the big meeting with water bottles, chocolate bars, lunch boxes, and a tote bag. I still use the lunch box as a back up.

A company that was promoting a series on nutrition sent me some materials packed in this messenger bag. There was a logo on the flap, a big, ugly orange and yellow logo. I covered it up with a black sharpie.



And then I covered that up with a bitchin' sunflower patch. Now, I happily carry my bag to and from school, even if I don't have any homework.



(Yes, that's my new grown-up teacher chair with wheels. And I got to pick out my new desk... it's a 1950's blond wood one that does not squeak when I write! I love, love, love my new desk and chair.)