The season's guide for Sisteri, a women's creative group, is posted. I use some of these ideas for my writer's group.

 
I tried posting 4th of July yesterday, but I didn't post. I guess I should have read that things couldn't be published first. Anyway, 4th of July started with strawberries, blueberries and whipped topping on french toast. During breakfast we got a call from DH's mom saying hurry down so dd7 can be in the parade. We get down there and dd7's friend was there decorating their $1,500 go-cart. We helped with the task then the girls with their red, white and blue clothes and American flags hopped in the car. We drove them to the parade, trying to get through traffic because they left late and we are following, sort of. The girls hopped in the go-cart, I made my daughter put on her helmet before her friend drove them off in the go-cart. Everyone was saying how cute they are and I got to play proud mommy briefly before her friends dad and my mother-in-law took off with them. Hubby and I enjoyed the rest of the parade. Lots of one nation, under God signs because of the incident where they tried to ban the pledge of allegiance in schools. There were also a bunch of hippies with flower power and make love not war signs. They also got clapped.

We got back to the house and I took a nap. I wasn't feeling all that well. Apparently the girls were swimming most of the time. I got up in time for grilled chicken and steaks. When it got dark enough dh lit off the little fireworks that dd picked out. The girls wanted to spend the night together so DH and I went home to watch Gosford Park. Maybe because it was late and the many characters were getting confusing, but I didn't think the movie was that great. It definately had it's amusing parts, but I didn't think it lived up to its hype.

My son is in Illinois with my mom and Dad until Tuesday. They wanted him to get to play with my cousins from Texas. My Dad is the oldest of 10, so my my uncle's kids are the exact same age, within a month of my kids.

Yesterday, after I got out of work, DH and I drove to Grand Rapids to browse. The only thing we bought was cat food.

 
Stress Relief for Parents Found at Momscape.

Happy Fourth of July: My 4th of July Page at Sweet Petite's

 
Writing
I am getting back into the habit of daily writing practice. My writing has taken a back seat to learning how to work full time outside of the house and taking care of the house and family now that my kids are in school. I found "A Writer's Book of Day" by Judy Reeves at Barnes and Noble. It has daily writing prompts plus suggestions, writing quotes and ideas for the writing life. I had gotten too serious in my writing, searching for perfection, writing queries that are just right, only writing for publication. Somehow the joy and fun got lost. I am hoping with my new writing practice and this blog I will loosen up.

Time with daughter
My mom took my son to Illinois with her to see my cousins from Texas. They are my uncle's kids, but are the same age as my kids within a month of each other. My Dad is oldest of ten kids. We wanted to make the days without her brother special. Last night we let her pick out fireworks that her dad will light off today. We ate dinner at Bob Evans-one of her favorite places so she can have breakfast whenever she wants. She hates fast food. After we got home we made fourth of July sugar cookies. I had forgotten how long they take. But, my artistic daughter was so happy to decorate the cookies and kept looking adoringly at me to say "I love you, Mom."

Personal Eco-Systems
Phil Humbert has a helpful, free e-book on making Personal Eco-Systems. Personal Eco-Systems are basically ways to make your surroundings work for rather against your goals.

 
A Chinese Proverb:
If you want to know your past, look into your present conditions.
If you want to know your future, look into your present actions.

 
List Yourself by Ilene Segalove, Question 1

List all the qualities you love about being human:
Some of my answers....
Making decisions
Taking care of things other than myself
Learning new things all the time
Goals, drives, dreams
Playing the piano, music
Making art
Love/loving
Writing

 
"It is as though each day is a treasure hunt and

a journal is one way of seeing if you found the

treasure that God has hidden for you this day."

--Frederick Buechner quoted in "Living Prayer,"

by Robert Benson.

Tonight was book club. We discussed Agatha Christie's book "A Body in the Library". It's funny how much of the things she talked about are still discussed today. The drugged "film" people, the arrogant and uncouth youth, the gossipy ladies.

We also discussed banned books and got some web sites :http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.html

Banned Book Week

Lots of banned book resources

I also redid our budget and make a five year plan for our finances. Now to get DH to go along with it. His Dad and DH were running electricity to the garage.

 
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."


- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I ended up working late, then grocery shopping and chores around the house. I played Sorry with the kids and spent time with DH. But, I didn't do much of what I personally wanted to do. I think I will go to bed early and finish reading my novel.

 
I've been working on the Clean Sweep

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.


- Erica Jong

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

 
The Beach
A perfect weekend-going to the beach twice in a weekend. I am from the Chicago suburbs where we have to drive at least an hour to a beach. I love being just 20 minutes from a beach that we don't even have to pay to get in.

DH and his dad and a couple friends finished the roof of our garage. I am really lucky that my husband is so handy. Saved us lots of money since we've been married. DH's mom brought pizza and I got some pop so we had an impromtu pizza party for everyone helping.

This week my husband has off, but I have to work. I also want to finish my coach site, finish Agatha Christie's "A Body in the Library" for Tuesday's book club, and play a lot.