Opening the Gates of Hell

Did you know that the password to the gates of hell is PLAN? How do I know? Because the last line in my previous post was PLAN and suddenly the gates swung open and a mighty tempest tried to blow me in. As the wind picked me up and attempted to THROW me through the gates I grabbed onto the iron fencing and held on tight.

It took days for the wind to die down, but I kept holding on and was finally able to work myself away from the gaping hole to relative safety. Through the terrible tempest I was able to accomplish a few of the things I had INTENDED to do (according to thesaurus.com INTENDED is a synonym for the PASSWORD to the gates of hell. Hopefully it will be safer to use).

I actually spent about 4 hours studying Spanish. This is a GREAT improvement over the last 3 months. I am learning several verb tenses at the moment.

The most fun I had was the Photoshop Pen Tool class I am taking online. This is truly an amazing tool. If anyone wants to learn how to use it just give me a call and I will teach you what I have learned.

I have written my morning pages 6 of 7 days, read chapter 2 of the Artist'sWay and yesterday I went on my Artist Date and saw the MOST amazing chalk art by Julian Beever. (click on the link to see a YouTube video of this incredible artist). I just love how people and objects are able to interact with his art. Here are some of his paintings for you to enjoy!

I spent half of one day organizing my Energy Medicine workbook.

AND last but not least, I read and marked the first 3 chapters of Isaiah along with reading several chapters in the Book of Mormon.

This week I will continue with my INTENTIONS and see what I can accomplish. Hopefully our second car (used by Alex and Addison) will NOT throw a rod through the engine and I will NOT need to be the chauffeur for the family. Also, now that the first week of high school is over, HOPEFULLY the need to release stress will be minimized.

School Days, School Day, Dear Old Golden Rule Days

"School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick."

Click on the above chorus to hear the music and see the lyrics. Enjoy!

I am SO EXCITED! I have decided to go to school this term. The school I am going to is known among the circles of higher learning as A.V.I.D Learning Center. My instructor in all subjects will be the infamous SuZan Brown and my classmates are Me, Myself and I.

I have worked for years with these incredible individuals and it has always been an uplifting learning experience.

If anyone would like to join me, I have an "IN" with the headmistress and will put in a good word for you.

My classes are:

Humanities (English, Art and History)

English - Write life story - a beginning

Book List: "Breathe Life Into Your Life Story" by Dawn Thurston

"On Writing Well" and "Writing Tools" by Zinsser

"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt

A book of choice by Bill Bryson, Michael Wren or other authors

Project: Timeline of events of my life

Art - Awakening the Creator Inside

Book List "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron

Project: three dimensional art using lapbook techniques and pop-ups

Weekly: Scrapbook Double page spread

History - Personal Family History and Indexing

Science

Energy Medicine using Essential Oils, Herbal Tinctures and Homeopathics

Monthly Resource Class: Butterfly Express, Instructor LaRee Westover

Foreign Language - Spanish: Read, Write, Speak, Listen

Book List:

Book of Mormon and Book of Mormon Reader

Classic Literature (TBA)

Various assignments

Weekly Resource Class: Let's Learn Spanish, Instructor Sandy Drake

Weekly Study Group

Religious Instruction

Weekly Resource Class: Isaiah, Instructor Garth Tesch

Weekly Resource Class: Book of Mormon, Instructor Sis Chambers

Computer Technology

HP Office Classes (HP Website)

Photoshop Classes (Lynda.com and others)

In Design Classes (Lynda.com)

Home Economics

Organization

Book List: "Clutter's Last Stand"

Resources: A House of Order and Flylady.net

Mouth Watering Meals

Book List: " It's In the Bag"

Emergency Prep

Book List: TBA

Food Storage

Book List: TBA

Music - play one of following instruments at least once a week. All are to be played weekly

Accordian

Recorder/Flute

Piano

I think all I am missing is math for a well rounded curriculum. I will have to pick it up next time. I plan to do "Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe" by Michael Schneider. I would also like to take a Storytelling class next semester.

One requirement of all the classes is that I am to blog my progress and share my experience with you.

I have a PLAN. Now the adventure begins!

All You Can ________ Buffet Response

Once again I am responding to Stephanie's Blog (August 3, 2010).

I have decided I do NOT need more things to see, hear, smell, taste, touch or think. I certainly do NOT need more audiobooks to listen to, more digital scrapbooking kits (5000+ and counting) to create with, more books to read, more meals to make or house to clean, and I certainly do NOT need more food to eat. I have enough ideas, plans and projects to fill the ocean and still have some to spare.

What I need is TIME!!!!! and the ability to remember what I am trying to accomplish. I need more time to enjoy all the buffets that are before me. The list is endless. Just this week I created a very conservative list of all the things I want to feast upon RIGHT NOW! It is very intimidating.

Here's my lists:

Education - French, Spanish, Artist's Way, Institute Classes in the fall, HP Classes and Lynda Online Training to gain more computer skills.

Hobbies/Vocation - cross stitching, scrapbooking, energy work

Home and Family - clean and organize home, create menus and meals, decorate and remodel, food storage, emergency preparation

Personal - Journaling and Life story

Physical - Exercise

Social - Correspondence to family and friends, blogs, email

Spiritual - scripture study/conference addresses, temple attendance, church callings: Visiting Teaching, ward web page, scout committee and family history consultant which includes teaching the class on Sunday and indexing.

Yes, this list is conservative!!!

Hmmmm! I just had an epiphany (ah ha moment). I think it is possible that I am a glutenous person. Before me sits an endless buffet of physical, emotional and spiritual food and I am overwhelmed by trying to take in all the possibilities. Maybe I should consider a simpler diet and then I could enjoy life more.

The Clubhouse

On Stephanie's blog dated July 28, you will find a post about Emmuska and Liberty enjoying a clubhouse in their backyard. This reminded me of a clubhouse that I built out of PVC pipe with a little help from Auntie Doris, for Mycal (age 3.5 years) and Elizabeth (2 years) while we were living in Texas.

Auntie Doris (on the right) had come to help before and after Jennifer's birth. This was ONE of the projects she whipped up on her sewing machine during her visit.

Mycal (left) and Elizabeth (right) with their favorite vehicles in their clubhouse.

Clubhouse Christening! Here is Mycal looking the part for such a solemn occasion.

The clubhouse served its purpose until we moved back to AZ. However, it was definitely lacking in creative eye appeal compared to the more sophisticated modern version created by Stephanie, 27 years later.