Sunny Saturday

Hi, all. Things are pretty peachy down here in GA. Trent will head back to work on Monday, and he's looking forward to getting back into that routine again.

This past week, he hung curtains that his mom sent for our living room and kitchen. They look amazing.

Today, we went back for round two of our triathlon training class, and we're not nearly as pooped as we were last week. After today's class, I sauteed an onion, fried an egg, and mixed that up with some quinoa, cumin, garlic, pepper, and olive oil. It was tasty and filling. I think Trent and I have picked out a race to do in June, and we'll probably sign up in the next few days.

In other news, after dragging their feet for six weeks, Wichita State finally contacted one of my references regarding the job I applied for in January. (They have yet to contact me, although my reference told me I'm on the "short list.") At this point, the process is taking so long that even if I get a job offer, it will be too late for us to attempt to sell the house in time to move. We've set a deadline of April 1 for a job offer. And we've decided that the job offer will have be very good for us to take the risk of trying to sell the house, after re-roofing and refinancing last summer. With the economy the way it is, we will have to think long and hard before giving up our secure jobs here in GA and potentially taking a big hit with the sale of this house--if it even sells.

We're thankful that we at least have the option of choosing and that we won't be forced into a move (or a job) that doesn't make sense financially or professionally. Don't get me wrong--we both want to live closer to our families, but this job search is taking much longer than I would have expected a spring search to go.

So, that's what's happening in our neck of the woods. We hope all is well in the Midwest, and we love ya!

Tea is Served

The snow is falling. The world is once again cold, white and gray. My longing for spring and all the postings about lovely tea parties has inspired me to include my own invitation for an afternoon tea.

It is Saturday afternoon in early June. The patio and wrap around porch are filled with pots of geraniums and petunias. The guests are greeted by the soft flowing sounds from the harpist. The wicker tables with glass tops are set with fine china, sterling silverware and lavender colored linen napkins. Bouquets of lilacs, day lilies, white roses, baby breath and springs of lavender fill clear crystal vases. The guests are seated in wicker arm chairs with lush floral cushions.

The menu will consist of an assortment of sandwiches such as carrot-ginger tea sandwiches, goat cheese and cucumber mint sandwiches and smoked salmon on pumpernickel sandwiches.

The tea is an Earl Gray

The tea desserts include: lemon curd tarts, scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream, shortbread cookies with white chocolate and raspberries, lavender cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries

The tea is white jasmine.

Enjoy this visit to a late spring tea.

Trent's a swimmer now!

Trent's been toying with the idea of doing a triathlon for a few months now, and the last couple of weeks he's hopped in the water with me for a short swim workout on Tuesday mornings.

Today, we went to a triathlon training class at our YMCA, and it was great! Trent swam 950 yards--over half a mile! In my lane, I paced off some speedy guys and had a pretty stellar workout too. Then, we went to a 45 minute cycle class, followed by a 1-mile run.

The swim workout is longer than the sprint triathlon we'll do; the bike is about the same, and the 1-mile run is about 2 miles less than the actual race. So, we're planning to add some time to our runs each week until we've built up to closer to race distance. We'll see how it goes.

I'm really proud of Trent though. He held his own in his swim lane, and our coach says that he'll be moving up to the next lane very soon. He's a fish in the water!

Hope all is well for everyone!

a valentine's day tea party

Sorry I'm late Honor! My menu consists of an appetizer, chocolate-hazelnut dippped fruit on a skewer. Then a spinach & orange salad with feta cheese, red onions, with italian dressing, served with strawberry & rosemary scones shaped like hearts, and cold glasses of peach tea and cherries. An orange tea cake lightly dusted with powdered sugar topped with heavy whipping cream an rasberries served with hot orange spice tea. The entertainment will be old black and white movies such as, Father of the Bride, with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. All in a garden setting with small wrought iron tables, citrus trees and roses.

A Poem In Memory.....

I post this poem in memory of Bill and Honor Consier; our maternal grandparents. I think they would like it. The poem is also fitting for Valentine's Day. It is written by Robert Burns from Scotland.







A Red Red Rose





O my luve's like a red, red rose,


That's newly sprung in June;


O my luve's like the melodie


That's sweetly played in tune.





As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,


So deep in luve am I;


And I will luve thee still, my dear,


Till a' the seas gang dry.





Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,


And the rocks melt wi' the sun;


O I will love thee still, my dear,


While the sands o' life shall run.





And fare thee weel, my only luve,



And fare thee weel awhile!


And I will come again, my luve,



Though it were ten thousand mile.

Welcome to a Valentine Tea Party

Dear Fiddler Kin,



Carol and I would like to invite you to an imaginary tea party. We have tried to coordinate our efforts, and each of us will present our menu. If we were actually hosting this event, all the food listed byCarol and me would be served.



So imagine yourself in a tea room. The round tables are covered with white linen tablecloths. Red placemats are at each table setting. A vase sets in the middle of the table. The vase holds red, yellow and pink roses. The dish pattern is a Royal Albert Old Country Rose design. By each place setting is a pink card. On the card are these words by James Wright:



Suddenly I realize

That if I stepped out of my body I would break

Into blossom.



Soft music is playing as Carol and Honor begin to serve their much loved guests. Honor brings forth a platter of cucumber cream cheese sandwiches. A cup of darjeeling tea from India is also served. Her middle course is chilled strawberry soup. The dessert is mini chocolate chocolate chip muffins. A light white tea flavored with blueberries and pomegranites is paired with the muffins.



Pleasant conversation brings the tea to a happy conclusion.



HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Improving my financial IQ

I just finished reading a fabulous book: Stop Getting Ripped Off: Why Consumers Get Screwed, and How You can Always Get a Fair Deal by MSNBC “Red Tape Chronicles” columnist Bob Sullivan. In it, Sullivan gives the lowdown on the ways consumers are financially illiterate and advice for how we can stop getting screwed by various entities: TV companies, mortgage brokers, car salesman/auto loans, cell phone companies, student loans, various types of insurance, and investment brokers. Here are some key ideas that were somewhat new to me (or that confirmed my prior knowledge or experience):

1. Credit card companies use your average daily balance to figure your interest for the month, so if you plan to carry a balance, you should postpone large purchases until the end of the month and try to make payments ASAP, rather than waiting until the bill comes due. The fewer days of the high balance you have averaged each month, the lower your interest payment will be.
   
2. When buying a car, never negotiate on the price of monthly payments. Negotiate on the purchase price, the “out the door” price (not the MSRP sticker price). Get your own financing before showing up at the dealership; then you can find out if the dealership can beat it. Watch Rob Gruhl’s short video on how to avoid getting screwed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH651baH7-c.
   
3. One reason for the housing meltdown: too many homeowners without a 20% down payment or equity in their home to offset inevitable market downturns (we are those homeowners). When they stopped paying mortgages (we’re not those homeowners), banks/lenders were left with properties worth less than the unpaid loan on them. Of course, homes shouldn’t be seen as investment properties, so if you’re going to be there long-term, the downturn shouldn’t phase you (unless, I guess, your whole neighborhood turns into HUD homes and crack houses).
   
4. You should spend as much or more time shopping for a home loan as you do for the home itself. The loan is more important than the home. Sullivan’s chapter on home-buying is phenomenal.
   
5. Your cell phone company is probably screwing you. Visit About.com’s Pre-Paid Cell Phone Plan Chooser at http://cellphones.about.com/od/prepaid_phones/qt/plan_chooser.htm to consider your options for pre-paid plans.
   
6. Your cable or satellite TV company is probably screwing you too. Visit http://www.cancelcable.com to learn more about cheap/free online options for watching most TV programs (with fewer ads). In fact, the whole idea behind paying for cable TV was to avoid the advertisements. In addition, call your TV company at least once every six months with competitive offers from other companies and threaten to leave (you have to be willing to actually do so). Usually your company will offer you a reduced rate. Trent’s been using this strategy with increasing regularity with DirecTV, and it’s working.
   
7. Awesome website on financial aid: http://www.finaid.org/. It’s run by a former college financial aid officer whose rule of thumb advice is this: “Don’t borrow more for all your college expenses than you can honestly expect to earn in your first year of employment” (175).
   
8. The last section of his book is advice on pitfall-proofing your finances, and some of his advice differs from Dave Ramsey’s, who advocates just a $1000 emergency fund while paying down debt. Sullivan emphasizes a more sizable safety net. It’s good to get these different perspectives, and this was an informative section, particularly since I pay little attention to my retirement and other investments. I know feel empowered to take some control over our financial future.

If you want to learn more about Bob Sullivan and his stellar advice, visit this book’s website at http://stopgettingrippedoff.net/. A few weeks ago, it had a promo for free copies of his book (I think it’s gone now—sorry), but I received a free (signed!) copy of his book Gotcha Capitalism this week. Woohoo! One more thing—this book is actually a pretty engaging read. And much more informative than Dave Ramsey's material, which mostly focuses on convincing the reader to reduce his/her debt (Well, duh, I'm reading the book. I think I'm convinced.)

Here is picture of Jacob's latest haircut. I think it makes him appear taller. He's my little man. He took one look at me today & said "I like you teeth". My little sweetie.

Holy Cow, Braces!

Well, I got my braces on today. They feel really wierd but I'm looking forward to the end result. Here is the picture that Katie suggest I post. 3 years from now I will be a supermodel. It took about 1 1/2 hours to put on. Now the challenge to to learn on the foods I can & cannot eat. Should be interesting.

Handyman

Hello, Fiddler Kin. I hope everyone has had a lovely week. Happy birthday, to Andy on the 20th. He is 30 years old now. Perhaps he will post and tell us about his trip to Chicago this past week. We'd love to hear about it, Andy.

And, I believe, this coming week Beth will be getting braces. Woohoo!! Are you excited, Beth? Nervous? I can't wait to see them. Take a picture and post it, and then every few months post a new photo. We'll watch the evolution of your beautiful grin. :-)

Trent's been doing some lovely work around the house, as you can see from this photo. He put Kilz on the walls of the guest bedroom before painting it. Very special.

He's also been sanding and staining old furniture.

So, now we have two new/old dressers, a toy chest, and a headboard (which Trent built himself for less than $17 in our bedroom). Here are a couple photos.

It's been fun coming home from work this week to see what new project Trent's undertaken around the house.

By the way, Honor, I read your "This and That" post via e-mail, but I can't find it on the blog to comment on it. I'm glad you shared your experience making crumpets. They do sound like a lot of work, but I'm impressed that you took on the task anyway and then shared it with all of us. I will keep your friends in my prayers, too.

Birthday, etc....

I had a wonderful birthday week. Thursday my coworkers brought me some goodis & I got a starbucks gift card, always a great gift. Thursday evening I went to see Sherlock Holmes witha friend. Jacob & I shared some pizza friday night. Saturday some great friends came to see me & I made them chicken scampi. I cooked lunch because I didnt do anything for their birthdays or christmas. Then we took the kids bowling & came back for ice cream cake, yum. It's been a pretty busy couple of days. Jacob enjoyed have kids to play with. Peter is making me buffalo wings to finish off the weekend.

In a couple of weeks, the 27th, I will be getting braces. Pretty excited about it,but also really nervous. Mosty because of the expense but we started a flex account to help with that part of it. Also nervous about the money because Peter's car has decided to quit running this evening. We just paid it off & the warranty just expired so of course something had to happen, right? It will all work out though. We always find a way to persavere.

We are starting to look into preschool for Jacob. Havent' really looked to hard, mostly just looked at the christian school. The appeal this school has for me is the proximity to my work. I can see the playground from the store. It's very convenient for me, as I'm usually running late anyway. We will check other places though because the christian school is pretty expensive, especially compared to what we pay now.

I'm thinking about making cinnamon popcorn soon. We'll see how that turns out. If it's good, I share it with you, Carol. I know like the cinnamon popcorn at the mall. I did see some at the Sweet Granada at christmas time. You should check that out.

Internet debut of Isaiah Preston...

That is all.