Cheers,
A
9.14.2011
9.09.2011
Chasing Tails
Was.
Jennifer left us on Wednesday evening. Suddenly, and without warning she was gone. The house, though still occupied by 5 adults, 2 children, 2 cats, and a 3-legged beagle, feels empty. Hollow. As if the pivotal piece of a magnificent puzzle is missing.
I can't help but feel like a complete idiot for blogging about the loss of my family dog. How profound an effect it has had on me, my brother, most of all my mom, who has a cavity in her chest where her heart once was. Empty. Aching. Threatening to hurt for the whole of her existence. Jennifer was a dog, not a human. Not a child or a parent or a sibling. A pet. Four legs, shedding fur, stinky breath.
Except she wasn't. She was as much a member of our tribe as any of us. Another of my mother's children. My dog-sister. And I ache as though that is exactly what I lost. A sister. A best friend. Gnarly breath and all.
I'm sure the ache of her absence will eventually dull, and our hearts will heal. There will be a new puppy who will fill the space that Jennifer once occupied, her barks echoing through the now silent halls, her nails clicking on the hardwood, her nose wetting our faces. She will fill our home, and our hearts, without ever threatening to replace Jennifer in our memory. Instead, she will serve as a constant reminder that time heals all wounds, that love carries on, and that pets hold a place in our lives of immeasurable value.
I love you, Jennifer.
I'll remember you always.
A
9.06.2011
Wednesday Wisdom
I had a family photo session on Labor Day at one of my favorite locations in Osceola.
A photo preview will be up on my photography site shortly.
Or right now, depending on when you're reading this.
Ah, the wonders of technology.
I've been sewing a lot lately.
To show for it I have a finished quilt,
another one in the process,
a gift for my bff's soon-to-birthed baby boy,
and a Festivus dress for Elena.
I've been knitting, too.
I'm working on a cowl (that I'll likely never finish because it's hat season),
and a baby blanket for an upcoming newborn session
(see above comment about a bff's soon-to-be-birthed baby boy)
as well as a hat (for said session. Man, I'm a great bff....)
I also have some hat orders that have come in
that I have to get crackin' on.
Oh, and one for Faith for being so amazing with grammar.
Or an apron.
I can't decide.
Neither can she.
Turns out we're perfect for each other.
But I digress.
I don't have any photos to show of my craftiness.
Please keep your disgruntled disdain to yourselves thankyouverymuch.
Photos are coming.
Promise.
I made a half dozen felt flower headbands over the holiday weekend.
The girls hate wearing them.
Super.
I painted my nails dark grey.
Essie's new fall grey.
I love it.
I'm addicted to Spotted Cow beer.
Thanks to Anda, and my trip to Madison in July.
I want it on tap,
but I'll settle for it in a bottle.
Lucinda has been on vacation for two weeks.
We've barely talked in that time
and I miss her like crazy.
I feel bad for being glad that her vacation is up today.....
Sorry, Luc.
College football started over the weekend and I bet on Georgia
even though I knew Boise State was going to win.
Good thing I didn't bet anything of any real value...
Sorry, Noel (aka, my brother).
I found myself missing Texas the other day.
Was sort of weird.
But not.
We'd have stayed if some of you would have been there with us....
That's the news for now.
What I can remember of it anyway.
Cheers,
A
9.02.2011
One Year Later
I wrote the following post a year ago (tomorrow).
It's still all completely true.
Except the part about the shoes,
they're not so new anymore.
Obviously.
But the part about hats?
Completely, wholly, fully, without-a-doubt true.
I mean it.
......
09/03/2010
*Messy Hair. Especially when used to disguise short hair attempting to go long.
*Yoga.
*Uninterrupted sleep.
*The hum of my sewing machine.
Wait! Wait just a minute.
What did that say?
The one about sleep?
What was that one?
Un-in-terrup-ted?
What's that mean?
*The promise of crisp fall weather.
*The return of knitting season.
*Hat orders.
Seriously. I LOVE hat orders. You should place one.
F'real.
I'll make you a kickass hat.
Promise.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Oh, and go check out my first ever quilting tutorial.
Cheers,
A
It's still all completely true.
Except the part about the shoes,
they're not so new anymore.
Obviously.
But the part about hats?
Completely, wholly, fully, without-a-doubt true.
I mean it.
......
09/03/2010
Because this is my blog.
Because it's Friday.
Because it's a three-day weekend.
I thought I'd share my favorite things with you
dear readers.
*{new} Spectator Shoes.
*Deep Red Nail Polish.
*Ecco Domani Pinot Noir
*80 degree weather.
*My MacBook.
*Mac's iPhoto Booth.
*Messy Hair. Especially when used to disguise short hair attempting to go long.
*Yoga.
*Uninterrupted sleep.
*The hum of my sewing machine.
Wait! Wait just a minute.
What did that say?
The one about sleep?
What was that one?
Un-in-terrup-ted?
What's that mean?
*The promise of crisp fall weather.
*The return of knitting season.
*Hat orders.
Seriously. I LOVE hat orders. You should place one.
F'real.
I'll make you a kickass hat.
Promise.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Oh, and go check out my first ever quilting tutorial.
Cheers,
A
8.29.2011
The Fabulous Faces of Feske
I adore this girl.
She's one of my longest friends.
She just got a fabulous new librarian job in a big town in southern Wisconsin.
She is moving away.
I am soooooooo happy for her.
But I'm gonna miss this face.
I only just got it back....
Cheers,
A
8.24.2011
Test You're Grammer Knowlege! : Answers (and Winners) Edition
This quiz was so much fun to write, and to grade! I loved every single minute of it.
Two people managed to achieve the elusive Grammar Nirvana, and being the giver that I am, I feel they should both win. So, without further ado, congratulations are in order to Kristi Ryman who is the winner of the photo session with Athena Pelton Photography, and Faith, who is the winner of a hat (or, being that you are also a knitter, I'd be happy to upgrade you to an apron!) Both of you lovely ladies, email me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prizes!
And now, by popular demand, the answers:
1) ______ so kind for letting me use ______ unicorn bicycle.
a) Your, your
b) You're, your
c)You're, you're
d)You're, youre
2) I promise, ________ I am finally going to read James' first draft. Maybe.
a) tommorow
b) tomorrow
c) tomarrow
d) tommorrow
3) I wish _____ house wasn't all the way over ______.
a) they're, there
b) their, there
c) there, there
d) they're, their
4) It's just ___ far away.
a) to
b) too
c) tooo
5) I've lost so much weight all my pants are _______. And I live in a land of make-believe.
a) lose
b) loose
c) still way too tight because I'm still jiggly and won't buy bigger pants. (I will accept this answer as well. Jerks.)
6) Which is correct?
a) For all intensive purposes.
b) For all intents and purposes.
c) For all in tents with porpoises.
7) My patience for insufferable Grammar usage lasted ________ 2.7 seconds.
a) less than
b) fewer than
c) less then
d) fewer then
8) Which is correct?
a) Lay, lady, lay.
b) Lie, lady, lie. (Bob Dylan has been released on probation after serving his sentence in Grammar Prison)
9) I _________ need to have more quizzes.
a) definitely (Tip: There is definitely no A in definitely.)
b) definately
c) defanately
d) defenitely
10) That lady I sit next to on the bus is so ______. In a good way. Sort of. Maybe.
a) wierd
b) weird (Tip: WE are all weird.)
11) The _____ my liberal vitriol has on my father in law's patience _______ my ability to keep a straight face.
a) affect, affects
b) effect, affects (Effect is to a noun (thing) what Affect is to a verb (action).)
c) effect, effects
d) affect, effects
12) The opposite of "on purpose" is:
a) by accident
b) on accident
13) _____ should we invite to the party?
a) Who
b) Whom (Tip: If you can answer the question with 'him,' use whom. "We should invite him.")
14) It depends on _____ is going.
a) who (Tip: If you can answer with 'he,' use who. "He is going.")
b) whom
15) We _____ going to read Himbokal's blog, but _____ too bored by its content to bother.
a) were, were
b) we're, were
c) were, we're
d) we're, we're
16) Which sentence is written in the second-person narrative?
a) If you think this quiz was fun, you're obviously delusional.
b) I think this quiz was fun, and am obviously delusional. (First Person)
c) DRL thought this quiz was fun, and is obviously delusional. (Third Person)
17) _____ cheat on this quiz?
a) May I
b) Can I
18) I'm so _________ that I didn't post this at exactly 7:30.
a) embarrassed
b) embarassed
c) embarrased
19) ______ you sure _______ answers are correct?
a) Are, you're
b) Our, your
c) Are, your
d) Our, you're
20) Which is correct?
a) I can run farther than you.
b) I can run further than you.
c) I cannot run at all. I hate exercise. Duh.
d) Both a and c (I will accept this, too, because, duh. I hate exercise.)
e) Both b and c
Good Luck!
EXTRA CREDIT:
Correctly retype the title of this post. Test Your Grammar Knowledge!
Thank you, all of you, for playing along and taking the first ever Family Pelton Grammar Quiz. As a token of my appreciation I am going to give away another session with Athena Pelton Photography.
I have selected the winner from all who played using the random number generator at random.org.
***drumroll please*****
The winner is:
Amanda Renner!
Contact me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prize!
Cheers!
A
Two people managed to achieve the elusive Grammar Nirvana, and being the giver that I am, I feel they should both win. So, without further ado, congratulations are in order to Kristi Ryman who is the winner of the photo session with Athena Pelton Photography, and Faith, who is the winner of a hat (or, being that you are also a knitter, I'd be happy to upgrade you to an apron!) Both of you lovely ladies, email me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prizes!
And now, by popular demand, the answers:
1) ______ so kind for letting me use ______ unicorn bicycle.
a) Your, your
b) You're, your
c)You're, you're
d)You're, youre
2) I promise, ________ I am finally going to read James' first draft. Maybe.
a) tommorow
b) tomorrow
c) tomarrow
d) tommorrow
3) I wish _____ house wasn't all the way over ______.
a) they're, there
b) their, there
c) there, there
d) they're, their
4) It's just ___ far away.
a) to
b) too
c) tooo
5) I've lost so much weight all my pants are _______. And I live in a land of make-believe.
a) lose
b) loose
c) still way too tight because I'm still jiggly and won't buy bigger pants. (I will accept this answer as well. Jerks.)
6) Which is correct?
a) For all intensive purposes.
b) For all intents and purposes.
c) For all in tents with porpoises.
7) My patience for insufferable Grammar usage lasted ________ 2.7 seconds.
a) less than
b) fewer than
c) less then
d) fewer then
8) Which is correct?
a) Lay, lady, lay.
b) Lie, lady, lie. (Bob Dylan has been released on probation after serving his sentence in Grammar Prison)
9) I _________ need to have more quizzes.
a) definitely (Tip: There is definitely no A in definitely.)
b) definately
c) defanately
d) defenitely
10) That lady I sit next to on the bus is so ______. In a good way. Sort of. Maybe.
a) wierd
b) weird (Tip: WE are all weird.)
11) The _____ my liberal vitriol has on my father in law's patience _______ my ability to keep a straight face.
a) affect, affects
b) effect, affects (Effect is to a noun (thing) what Affect is to a verb (action).)
c) effect, effects
d) affect, effects
12) The opposite of "on purpose" is:
a) by accident
b) on accident
13) _____ should we invite to the party?
a) Who
b) Whom (Tip: If you can answer the question with 'him,' use whom. "We should invite him.")
14) It depends on _____ is going.
a) who (Tip: If you can answer with 'he,' use who. "He is going.")
b) whom
15) We _____ going to read Himbokal's blog, but _____ too bored by its content to bother.
a) were, were
b) we're, were
c) were, we're
d) we're, we're
16) Which sentence is written in the second-person narrative?
a) If you think this quiz was fun, you're obviously delusional.
b) I think this quiz was fun, and am obviously delusional. (First Person)
c) DRL thought this quiz was fun, and is obviously delusional. (Third Person)
17) _____ cheat on this quiz?
a) May I
b) Can I
18) I'm so _________ that I didn't post this at exactly 7:30.
a) embarrassed
b) embarassed
c) embarrased
19) ______ you sure _______ answers are correct?
a) Are, you're
b) Our, your
c) Are, your
d) Our, you're
20) Which is correct?
a) I can run farther than you.
b) I can run further than you.
c) I cannot run at all. I hate exercise. Duh.
d) Both a and c (I will accept this, too, because, duh. I hate exercise.)
e) Both b and c
Good Luck!
EXTRA CREDIT:
Correctly retype the title of this post. Test Your Grammar Knowledge!
Thank you, all of you, for playing along and taking the first ever Family Pelton Grammar Quiz. As a token of my appreciation I am going to give away another session with Athena Pelton Photography.
I have selected the winner from all who played using the random number generator at random.org.
***drumroll please*****
The winner is:
Amanda Renner!
Contact me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prize!
Cheers!
A
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