Random Life

It has been hot here.  The cats have been feeling it and are hogging the cool air.  This is a position I find Mr. Nibbles in quite often.

I went and got a henna tattoo with some friends on Friday.  A gal around here does it for a free will donation to Voice of the Martyrs.

I have been forcing my children to play Settlers of Catan.  I like playing games, but I have a bit of an addiction issue to video games, so I tend to leave them alone.  I suspect that I will have to start paying them to play Settlers with me in the future.  Here is a board that Iris won.  We know that it was not following the rules precisely, but she liked the way that she dominated the board.  She is the white pieces.

My garden is producing alot of tomatoes and green beans.  I know what we will be having for supper.  This is today's and yesterday's yield.  I have been playing the part of the "tomato fairy" frequently for my friends.

I am glad that I planted a cutting garden this year.  It is nice to have some fresh flowers around the house.  I often but some basil in the arrangements and that makes them smell very nice.

I have a better idea of what to do with the garden next year.  Number one on the list is plant less tomatoes.  I am also going to try to have a better variety of vegetables.   I suppose I need to write these things down before next spring comes and I go buying 10+ tomato plants again!

I don't understand exactly why I have started a blog. I have been so inspired by many other blogs and have been lurking for quite a while. I have decided to write my first post even though my blog is completely unfinished and I don't have much to post. In addition I am working on getting a new computer set up and have no way right now to post pics.
I guess I will start at the beginning, I will tell you a little about my self, I am a mother, graduate student, and artist?/crafter. I have two wonderful kids and and currently stay home with them. My youngest starts kindergarten in the fall, and I am looking forward to no kids at home during the day. When I clean, it will stay clean (hopefully). He is such a social kid that staying at home with mom was not that great a treat.
Secondly I am a graduate student. I am currently writing my dissertation in sociology. I hope, no scratch that, I will be done with my dissertation this year. Again another reason why I am happy that my son is going to school. This allows me to work in larger blocks of time without interruption and without guilt that my son is watching tv or video games while I am working on it. I have been in this graduate process for 10 years now, and I am done. I do wish that I am able to find a professorship at a local college, because our family likes the town we live in and we are tired of moving. Because of family changes, weird landlords and job situations our family has moved 7 times in 6 years. No more of that. We found a great town to live in, which you will hear about quite alot, and my dream house, which you will hear about even more. The house is a work in progress and I love decorating and fixing it up.
Finally, I am a crafter. I enjoy sewing/quilting, jewellery making, and digital art. I am drawn to colour, especially bright colour. I have a small business with my jewellery creations, but that is not getting the attention it deserves because of the dissertation (I will, I will, I will, be done this year). I sell at a local store, do a couple of craft shows, and have an etsy shop. Stop by and see what I a creating now. Well I think that this is long enough for a first post and hopefully I will get the hang of this blogging thing. I hope to make many friends out there and hope to inspire a few people too.