Sonya's Way

The tale of dirt

2010-06-17T22:52:00.000-04:00

Six cubic yards, noon, Tuesday, June 15, 2010Approximately 1/2 a cubic yard, 10 am , Wednesday, June 16, 2010Around noon on Tuesday, a very large dump truck delivered 6 cubic yards of soil mixed with compost to our house. Since the electrical wires hang low, the driver had to dump the dirt right in front of the door. But, 3 pre-built raised beds and 3 impromptu beds, and less than a yard is

Just call me a pink farmer!

2010-06-16T05:04:00.001-04:00

This is a pile of six cubic yards of dirt that was dropped off yesterday. Now it is about half gone. Of course, it is going to rain this afternoon so we have 2 1/2 hours to make this disappear. The plants are loving it though. I finally get to put out some of the seedlings into the real world, not just the sun room world.More pictures to come. Seeing how it is 5:14 am and I am gearing up

2010 Strawberry Crop

2010-06-15T22:23:00.002-04:00

These are from OUR garden. Last year they did well, but we didn't get anywhere near as many as this summer. We are up to up to 23 pounds. AMAZING!Of course, that means more early morning picking sessions. Yeah! summer means becoming a farming in my off hours.

Quince evolution

2010-05-09T09:41:00.001-04:00

These light peach are the flowers on the quince bush on Mother's Day 2009.This Mother's day they are bolder in color. I love the changes.Thanks for pretty flowers kids!Love, Mom

Spring has sprung!

2010-03-24T20:48:00.001-04:00

This is the first crocus of the season at our house. Yes, there were more in bloom down the street, but spring takes a bit longer to show up here. We have lots and lots of trees around our house. I am seeing lots of tulip green shoots coming up also.I have uncovered our garlic bed, but the garlic is looking a bit sickly, maybe I didn't take the leaves off early enough. Maybe they will look

WOW! Daphnia COOKIES!

2010-03-14T22:15:00.001-04:00

I am thinking these are Daphnia cookiei, or maybe, Daphnia gingerbreadius. Either way, these are cookies that Jessica Devoid made for Christmas this year. Oh, how Daphnia get into the psyche and never let go. They are just so cute. (And, before you start saying, "What the heck are Daphnia?", check this link out.)

Storm Damage from a few weeks back

2010-03-14T16:28:00.000-04:00

This is just one of the many uprooted and blown over trees we saw while walking in Winant Park a while back. The strangest part was that we didn't see any trees down until we got to the base of the old ski tow line. Then a TON of trees were blown over. It looked like toothpicks in a row. Very weird. I am so glad I wasn't out there in the storm.

I want one!

2010-03-10T21:36:00.001-05:00

We were down in Waltham, MA, on Sunday, so we stopped by the Lyman Estate Greenhouse. Can I just say, "I want one of everything please!". There were great flowers, warm temperatures, green, flower fragrances, fish in a pool, and GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!The sun is coming back, but not soon enough for me. I have decided I want a greenhouse, a fountain, more pitcher plants, more cacti, more green, and

First Annual Holiday Preparation Party!

2010-01-16T12:33:00.001-05:00

The fire was lit and chestnuts were roasted. Four types of cookies were baked--gooey pepermint, chocolate, peanut butter, and some other type I can't remember. All were yummy! The scent of hot cider filled the air and crafts were constructed. Next year, more warning and more baking. I can't wait.

2009-12-17T20:53:00.001-05:00

SERIOUSLY! I am inviting YOU to come to our house this SUNDAY for holiday merriment!You know you want to ! Just stop by anytime between 1-8 on Sunday.

Step 1

2009-11-06T07:04:00.001-05:00

Step 1a: Grow pumpkins even if you didn't plant any pumpkin seeds.Step 1b: Put a lot of fencing around impromptu pumpkin patch to ward off squirrels.Step 1c: Wait until pumpkins are very large before picking.Step 1d: Read my blog in the future to see what to do next.

I am taking pictures of my hobby

2009-11-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

Still LifeI couldn't get any stiller than thread that has been sitting in by sewing box for a year. I have made a few projects lately, but not many. Maybe having to take pictures of my threads will make me realize how pretty the threads are and just how many projects I need to finish.

Halloween HN Style!

2009-10-27T20:21:00.001-04:00

As we were driving through Rye after taking water samples today, we went past house with 52 carved pumpkins spread out along the rock wall. Here were 3 of my favorites. I was VERY impressed. Megan was so impressed she wanted to do the same thing in her neighborhood. If you have an extra carved pumpkin to share, just let her know!It does seem sort of bizarre though, Brady & I don't have ANY

My Sunday Night Activity

2009-10-18T23:08:00.002-04:00

My first effort for the nightI was watching the Bears trying to beat the Falcons on tv tonight when I decided I should do something productive. I took my new 24 pack of Crayola Crayons and the coloring book Kat & Zoe sent me earlier this year and went for it. What coloring book might this be you ask? It is "Color Your Own Classic Movie Posters", of course! (I have now put this image on Amazon

Candy Striped Leafhopper

2009-09-22T16:10:00.000-04:00

Yet another bug in the yard. This is a Graphocephala coccinea, more commonly called the Candy Striped Leafhopper. I am still learning about taking pictures, but this guy was too cute to not post. I am not sure it is a good picture, but he was hanging out on the basil and posing. I figured it was better than the one I took of the mosquito that was in the process of biting me. What we

Tasty new recipe!

2009-09-14T23:00:00.001-04:00

This may not look like it, but this is a Cantaloupe Pie! We had an extra pie crust and an extra cantaloupe. There are 5 more coming in the garden. It was pretty good--not super solid, but tasty. It is like cantaloupe custard--trust me, it's good!It would have been even better with a bit of whipped cream, but when you need a sweet fix, this will do.

Brady's B-Day haul!

2009-08-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

Here is the Birthday pile for Brady's Birthday. There are 2 more coming in the mail. "What was in those presents?" you may ask. Do you really want to know, this is Brady we're talking about. There are wrestling books, Ralph Wiley books, Christmas music, and a book on really dumb ideas throughout history.Also, of course, I got most of them for free after all my surveys. Yep, all from me

Not for the faint of heart

2009-08-18T22:42:00.001-04:00

This little lady, a cross spider, has created a web in our tomatoes plants outside the front door. Don't worry, it isn't poisonous and only about 1 inch long. I am hoping she takes care of lots and lots of mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs. I will check her out tomorrow night to see if there is any thing in the web.

Cabbage White-Pieris rapae

2009-07-10T11:08:00.001-04:00

This male was out in the impromptu butterfly garden. Apparently the Cabbage White was an introduced in the mid 1800's and has hurt cabbage crops. It hasn't gotten our garden because we don't have any cabbage or cabbage relatives. It definitely was a fluttery butterfly and pretty in it's delicate way. Just before it left the garden for good, it was moving its head back and forth--so amazing that

American Painted Lady

2009-07-03T12:30:00.001-04:00

In the garden today was this pretty butterfly--an American Painted Lady or Vanessa virginiensis. It was sipping away on the flower & let me snap a bunch of shots. We have a butterfly garden without even trying!

Spring Azure

2009-06-28T18:23:00.001-04:00

We did see this one in the spring, I just forgot to post it. This is a Celastrina ladon or a Spring Azure. Very pretty.

Eastern Comma in the garden

2009-06-28T18:20:00.001-04:00

Today we saw an Easten Comma butterfly on the compost pile. Technically it is a Polygonia comma, but I am not that technical. It has a grey comma shape on the underside of its wing, hence the name. It just hung out for a while--long enough for me to go inside to get the camera. Thanks butterfly!

Mmmmmmmm!

2009-06-17T07:39:00.001-04:00

If my calculations are correct, we are up to 8 pounds of strawberries this season--from our own plants! If you just have some patience, good things happen. We put in about 8 plants in 2007 and now it is a strawberry patch with no definite boundary. I LOVE strawberries!

Latest addition--Raspberries!

2009-06-16T00:27:00.002-04:00

This is the latest addition to the yard. We made a raised bed with stone. It was a bit more pricey than cedar, but it is very permanent. The raspberries were half price at Lowe's. We sure do get a lot of good stuff there.What is there? Three rows of retaining wall on top of pea gravel on top of landscaping fabric. Then a bunch of garden soil and pine wood chips. If the raspberries are

A Spider in the Garden

2009-06-13T22:11:00.002-04:00

This is a nursery web spider and it was hanging out on our new rock wall today. It was kind enough to wait for me to go get my camera so I could take the picture. It didn't bite anyone and after the photo shoot it went on its merry way.

Feline Message

2009-06-04T21:43:00.001-04:00

Message from a KittyI don't know which kitty left it's mark, but someone wanted to come in for a visit. This is on the door to our sun room. I know it wasn't Rocky since he never gets out. Some kitty just thought it looked like a good door to try. Bummer that I wasn't there to give out some pets, love, and kitty treats. Maybe next time!

Mother's Day Presents

2009-05-10T10:46:00.001-04:00

White flowers The white flowers on the low growing quince started blooming last week. We've been calling this shrub Graham's plant. It is quieter because it grows lower to the ground. It flowered first. Brady thinks this one has stronger smelling flowers.Not pink, but peach, colored flowersThe second quince shrub has flowered in the last few days. The flowers are all over the branches, very full,

Saturday Night Rainbow

2009-05-09T23:02:00.001-04:00

This is what we saw tonight outside our houseA thunderstorm came through Concord tonight. During one of the breaks in the storm, Brady looked out the window. He saw this rainbow. I was able to get a couple of shots and this was the best. It was a really beautiful rainbow. You can't see it in this picture, but it was a double rainbow. Maybe we are getting more signs. Maybe not. We've been

Just a quick Rocky in a Box picture

2009-01-29T20:50:00.001-05:00

JUST TOO CUTE! Silly, but CUTE!

Our sunflowers liked our neighbors' yard best!

2008-10-17T06:53:00.004-04:00

It is just not fair! After I planted these sunflowers, watered them, propped them up when the wind blew too hard, AND tried to keep the squirrels away, these flowers had the nerve to turn their back on me. I feel like a horrible gardener. Where can I learn to be more compassionate to the plants in my yard so they don't hate me so much.And don't try tell me they

Things I've Found on the Internets

2008-09-06T10:06:00.010-04:00

Here is one of the most bizarre things I have seen for a long, long time. Yet, in some strange way, it calls out to me "BUY ME! You know you want me, BABY!" What can I say? I am totally amazed by this guy. Not only is he sitting on a toilet and holding a tape dispenser for you, the toilet bowl holds paperclips. Then, when you pick this guy up, the magnet in his

Bert & Ernie are sweet enough to eat!

2008-07-20T23:08:00.005-04:00

This was totally worth the $1 I spent at a yard sale. Who wouldn't want to have a Bert & Ernie cake pan? Of course, I didn't buy the expensive cake decorating products. I just made a white frosting and then colored a bit at a time. Thank goodness for Easter Egg dyes!My hint is that chocolate chips make GREAT eyeballs! Maybe I will make a cake for you if you visit. It

dragonfly on day lily

2008-07-19T13:55:00.016-04:00

dragonfly on day lily, originally uploaded by sonya carlson.I had to buy a camera for work. That means I then had to try the camera out. It is a pretty amazing camera. Here is the coolest photo yet. This dragonfly was hanging out in our garden for quite a while and let me take a bunch of pictures of it.More to come!

Off the web--Camera Issues!

2008-06-28T07:50:00.005-04:00

My cameras aren't talking with either of our computers so no pictures are coming through. That really stinks! I wanted to show off our first strawberry. So far we have gotten about 3 pints from our strawberry patch so far. There have also been some snap peas that we harvested also. The cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and blueberries are coming along. We also have some 2 1

Plate-pre-firing

2008-06-07T12:26:00.003-04:00

Last month I went to You're Fired for a Concord Women's Social Group Meetup and painted a sunflower on a wavy plate. It was kind of expensive--$21 for the night--but I did get a really awesome plate out of it.There will be another one of these get-togethers later this month, wanna come? Let me know.

It's been WAY TOO LONG!

2008-06-05T06:54:00.002-04:00

This is the last moose I saw. It was LAST SUMMER! That is way too long. I am in a Moose drought. Of course, it would help if I went to a place where a lot of moose lived, but I am working on the seacoast beaches right now. I have actually only gone on one day of sampling and that was to Rye and Seabrook.I am not sure when I will get to the North Country again, but

It is a purple yard

2008-05-27T21:46:00.000-04:00

Again, our yard has produced new flowers this year. Last year, there was one iris. This year, we have five flowering irises at the moment. There are at least 5 more buds to bloom soon. Next to the irises are purple flowers on the ground cover plant. To the left are lilacs in bloom. Then there are some weedy plants springing out of the brick driveway that are also

If only some of these would come up in our yard!

2008-05-26T22:12:00.002-04:00

I have never seen seeds for these plants on sale at a garden center. I am not sure if they can be cultivated. Even though they are white, they are plants. These plants are parasites--their roots tap into the roots of another plant and take the sugars from that plant. That way, they can survive without any chlorophyll. It would be wicked cool if this plant came up

Shilling for a non-profit, a good one!

2008-05-25T05:57:00.003-04:00

Some of the advertisements I have put on my blog have been for bad products--like that Cranenergy Icky Cruddy Junk--and some have been purely for my gain--like getting points on Mypoints--but this time, it is for a good cause and only a bit for my gain. If don't know, I volunteer every so often at the Red River Theatres in downtown Concord. It is a movie theater that

Think, think, think

2008-05-24T12:34:00.002-04:00

Brady & I saw this copy of the Thinker when we went to the sculpture garden in Grand Rapids last fall. Apparently there are over 20 copies of Rodin's sculpture. It was just one of many huge, small, cool, odd, and amazing sculptures there. I totally recommend a visit if you are any where near Grand Rapids sometime soon. I don't know if the Thinker is still there,

Updates of my life, part 2

2008-05-23T07:54:00.000-04:00

More updates coming. Don't try going to my other website, the one I was all excited about a while back, http://pubpages.unh.edu/~scarlson/, it isn't there. Perhaps I can get it hosted by Living Indefinitely. We shall see!The vehicle that was bought with the money worn by the moose in this post is no longer with us. The car started dinging when I got off the

Updates of my life

2008-05-22T19:04:00.006-04:00

Just in case you were wondering, I thought I would update you about past posts on this site of mine.P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->Back in June of 2005, I wrote about my obsession with Hello Kitty. I am still in love with all things Hello Kitty, but my mouse died. It was actually an imitation Sanrio product, not licensed, so it quit working in about 3 months. I do have a

Maine: The land of the WILD BLUEBERRY!

2008-05-21T06:34:00.002-04:00

Here is a note of caution--when in Maine, watch out for the Wild Blueberry! It might just sit on a bush and look juicy. I am slightly bummed that we didn't stop here at the HUGE blueberry building on the side of the road in Maine. Somehow though, I am pretty sure that all there is inside is a huge variety of blueberry products for purchase. This wild blueberry was

My bike has a bunch more doo-dads now!

2008-05-20T06:17:00.006-04:00

Back when I got my bike, it had only a helmet and lock as extra added items. Now it has a head light, tail light, rack, horn, and grocery bag added on. It was that souped up bike I rode last Friday for "Ride/Walk to Work Day". It is only a three mile ride one way for me, but I got two free breakfasts. I took a bagel from the folks at the statehouse and half of a

Every job has its poop!

2008-05-19T18:03:00.006-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->If you look closely at the table, you can see that there are brown blobs behind the doggie. Yes, those are what you think they are, doggie poops! Of course, they are made of clay and are not the real thing. I am giving that little girl a beach ball because she "Scooped the Poop". It was Discover Wild NH Day and I was doing outreach for the Beach Program. We were

My greatest plant care error

2008-05-18T17:52:00.005-04:00

I feel extremely guilty. I bought a pitcher plant like this one at the Whole Foods in Portland, ME, last summer and it didn't last through the winter. I think the lack of watering may have been a huge factor. But the plant was SO cool. It actually attracted a fly immediately after I bought it. I don't know exactly what else I could have done to maintain the

Will this one come back?

2008-05-17T17:46:00.001-04:00

Last year, at Shane & Gabby's wedding, I got a bulb as a wedding favor. That was the COOLEST wedding favor by far. I planted the bulb in the section of our yard that used to be for the flag pole. However, the flagpole rusted and fell over. Seeing as how it was a very rusted pole and the pulley mechanism was pretty much ruined, we didn't bother putting the pole back

Poor Rocky! He gets NO love!

2008-05-16T17:08:00.003-04:00

Here is Rocky at his most pathetic. Since Rocky and Schmooshy fight like crazy if they are ever in the same room together, we have to separate them. For 12 hours a day, Rocky is put in the basement. Then we switch the cats and Schmooshy get the basement. When we come back to the house, often, Rocky will sit in the basement window and give his poor, pathetic "

A new season of rhubarb BEGINS!

2008-05-15T22:31:00.003-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->Outside the window of the den, the rhubarb is growing bigger. We are so lucky to have inherited rhubarb plants. However, we have rhubarb envy. Our next door neighbors, the ones with the greyhound and the rectangular yard, have a GIGANTIC rhubarb plant. Their plant is already putting up its flowers!I was talking to the neighbors today and it turns out they have grape

What is deal with birds flapping their wings at me?

2008-05-14T22:05:00.004-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->I don't know how I get so lucky, but here is another set of birds flapping their wings at me. I am pretty sure these are peregrine falcons. Of course, I might have been totally wrong, but everyone else seemed to agree with the assessment. It was amazing. We were in the wilderness of Maine and we saw these beautiful birds. They just opened their wings and floated

This loon is having a great time!

2008-05-13T21:55:00.003-04:00

Here is a flash from last summer. This is the loon on Crooked Mountain Pond in the middle of the blueberry patches of eastern Maine. The stars were aligned in the right way this day. I happened to bring my camera out with me when we went sampling. I happened to have it around my neck just when this loon surfaced near us. Then I just happened to click the moment

My skills even reach the flowers!

2008-05-12T08:26:00.002-04:00

This is a picture of one of the flowers that bloomed this year in front of the Carlson's Cute Hidden House. We had no idea that such a wealth of flowers were waiting underneath the soil. I think this should count as more stuff I get for free. I mean, we are paying for a house and land. The flowers are all bonus. So, this is something else I am adding to my list

A REAL cactus flower!

2008-05-11T05:26:00.001-04:00

This cactus bloomed twice last fall. Once it was white and the second time, seen here, it was this pretty yellow. I couldn't believe how big the flower was compared to the plant. HUGE! Now I am reading that most cacti are not self pollinators. I wonder if this one needed a bat? Either way, the flower was not pollinated and we didn't get any cactus seeds. BUMMER

April showers bring May flowers

2008-05-10T05:12:00.002-04:00

Here is one of the many May flowers that are blooming in our yard. I just love violets. We have a bunch in our lawn. Violets make a lawn so much more appealing! Of course, I don't know what happens if you walk on them or mow them, but they are there. All colors too. I just had to post this one--look at those violet veins. These are wild violets, so of course I

Yet another knitting extravaganza

2008-05-09T06:04:00.003-04:00

This knitted beauty is a 12 pointed star that I knitted for a friend who is a mathematician and loves to make hundred sided models for fun. This was another project that was sent to my email in box from the great folks at Berrocco. Not that I have ever bought any yarn from this company at all. I am sure the yarn is great, but if you do go to their web site, sign up

I should have posted Squiddy long ago

2008-05-08T10:04:00.002-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->I am awful proud of the things I knitted this past year. The best one, by far, is Squiddy! I made him for my friend Gabby who studied squid for her Ph.D. The directions for Squiddy came right to my mailbox last year, so I knew I had to make him. It was a lot quicker and easier than I thought it would be. It took only a couple of hours and then I threw him in the

The cutest, sweetest kitty EVER!

2008-05-07T06:19:00.004-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->It isn't often that I get a chance to take care of other people's kittens. Okay, it hasn't ever happened before. But in 2006, our friends Shane & Gabby needed someone to watch their darling little kittens, Puggy & Puttie (I hope I spelled the names right. I am always getting that wrong). Since Brady and I were still living in Lee, NH, it wasn't much of a stretch to

It happened AGAIN!

2008-05-06T21:55:00.009-04:00

As I was sitting in the living room wasting time after I came home from work, I saw a UPS guy walking up to the front door. He handed me a package and, of course, it was for me. I didn't recognize the address or name. I knew I hadn't bought anything yet here was a package, for me!I opened the package and there were two bottles of "

Spring is SPRINGING!

2008-05-05T18:35:00.003-04:00

Is it possible? Is it really going to stay warm for a bit? The ferns think it will. They are finally uncurling in the back yard. I just can't get over how cool our back yard is. Ferns, tulips, rhubarb, grapes, flowers that I don't know the name of are all blooming in the yard and we didn't plant a single one of them. Not having planted these green things makes it

People enjoy a "Bliss" Party!

2008-05-04T15:25:00.005-04:00

You may not believe me, but it is true. I was sent a box full of 9 (nine) bags of chocolate, magnets, notepads, pens, and napkins. Hershey's is introducing a new line of chocolate, I guess, called "Bliss". To help get the word out, I was selected to be one of the people giving a house party. Of course, there was no one who actually came to my house on Saturday,

Here is one of the free things I tried

2008-05-03T22:12:00.004-04:00

!--P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->I am always proclaiming my ability to get things for free. Now I am sharing with you:Go ahead and click the dunkin's coffee cup. Fill in your contact info. In 4-6 weeks you should get a sample of their coffee. By that time, you will have completely forgotten that you asked for the sample, so it will be a pleasant surprise when you go to

Okay, just a bit of a lag in posting

2007-11-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

Here is the one picture I was able to take before the batteries in my camera ran out. The two people in front of me are friends of my friend Sharyn. We all were walking across the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day of this year. It was the 50th annual bridge walk and there were an estimated 57,000 people who walked or ran across the bridge this year. Supposedly 85,000

A new way to tell the world what you think

2007-11-12T10:52:00.001-05:00

The website, List after List, although still in beta phase, is a fun diversion for the day. It is exactly what the title says it is--a bunch of lists. And these lists are about anything and by anybody. I've created a couple of lists already. No one has commented yet, hint , hint! Why not check out Why Chicago really is My Kind of Town or Examples of why American

What a GORGEOUS day!

2007-11-02T07:17:00.002-04:00

Here is a picture from the boat, M/S Mt. Washington, on Lake Winnipesaukee. You know I am a real resident of New Hampshire--I spelled that lake name right the first try! If you are wondering, or even if you aren't, Lake Winnipesaukee is the LARGEST lake in New Hampshire and has a bunch of people living on it, using it, and making money from it. If you don't believe

Duckie Butts!

2007-09-08T21:40:00.001-04:00

What could be cuter than duckie butts? These two duckies were just eating, eating, eating from the bottom of this pond at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What a fun day! This was the first time I saw so much sculpture I actually liked! I think it was the placement of sculpture with flowers that made it so special. If

Another look at Farm Animals

2007-07-18T23:05:00.001-04:00

These are the next series of photos I am sharing with the world. These animals are all living on farms in Maine. We visited them last year. We plan on going again very soon.If you want to see these pictures at my google site, click HERE!

See my old pictures as a slide show!

2007-07-08T09:22:00.001-04:00

How wild is this? I can now put a slide show in my blog! This particular slideshow is from last August when my mom, uncle, and brother visited. Cool, huh? If you want to see this pictures at my google site, click HERE!

2007-07-01T21:14:00.001-04:00

Here is the backyard!The garden & the chicken coopWe finally bought new batteries for the camera so there are pictures to post of the HOUSE! I went to get the camera today thinking I would just have to recharge the four batteries, but low and behold, all of the batteries were GONE! Since we have moved there are some things we just can't find. The battery recharger

Here it is!

2007-03-24T13:43:00.002-04:00

This is our new house. Well, almost. The paperwork is making its way through the channels, what ever channels those might be. We will be home owners! And, it is a two bedroom house. I just got an offer of a queen-size bed for the extra bedroom. That means you, you!, could come for a visit. And there isn't any work to be done, it is ready for us to move in! Brady has

This is what GRADUATION looks like, baby!

2007-02-07T14:49:00.001-05:00

I am sooooooo proud of this document! Not only does it signify the conclusion of four and a half years of hard work, it also shows what a good picture framer and photographer I am! Did I say it also is my diploma from Graduate School at the University of New Hampshire? Sure, I may not have a full time job yet, but I am FINISHED! YEAH! And, then there is the

Hello Kitty says "Hello Instructor!"

2007-01-31T11:56:00.001-05:00

Here is the present Brady gave me as a "Congratulations!" on my first day of teaching. I know I have taught Anatomy & Physiology labs before, but this was the first time I am teaching Anatomy labs all day long. It was a LONG day. I decided to have my office hour at 8:30. Then class from 9:40-Noon, 2:10-4:30, and 7:10-9:30. I am no longer having an early morning

I guess I am going to Graduation!

2007-01-30T07:25:00.001-05:00

-P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->Brady noticed it first this morning with a "Oh my GOSH! (That is the G-rated version)" For my graduation, William J. Clinton and George H. W. Bush will be the keynote speakers. And for verification, you can check out Foster's Daily Democrat. I guess it was meant to be. Hillary Clinton spoke at my undergraduate ceremony at the University of Illinois and now I get two

Rockhopper Penguins hanging out at the NEA!

2007-01-21T11:48:00.001-05:00

These four penquins were relaxing on the rocks when we were at the aquarium. I love the one flopping on the right. We even got to see them being fed. Apparently they are very picky eaters and know the weekly menu. Saturday is a fish they aren't too fond of so they just wait until Sunday to eat. PICKY!They did do a lot of preening and tail

Tye in the Giant Ocean Tank!

2007-01-20T20:03:00.001-05:00

Our friend Tye was an intern at the New England Aquarium It has been a week since we went to the aquarium and I can't believe it! Last Saturday a group of us were able to make it to see Tye do her last dive as an intern at the NEA. What a cool internship! She got to dive with the animals and feed the turtle. She didn't get to feed the sharks, but I don't think

I actually FINISHED a project

2007-01-19T23:33:00.001-05:00

The finished sweater! I hope it fits! Here is my chance to show off my knitting skills. Of course, I started this back in May while I was trying to find some way of finishing my thesis. Knitting was supposed to be a way of relaxing from writing, but sometimes writing took a back burner to this. Of course, it did take 8 months to finish this project which is way

Robin Young is COOL!

2007-01-18T13:06:00.002-05:00

Robin Young and Helper Monkey Okay, so maybe that is a lame title, but I had to catch your attention somehow. Last night, NHPR hosted Robin Young at Phillips Exeter Academy (PEA) and I attended. Since I was early and volunteered, I got to fold programs and help hang up the NHPR radio poster on the podium. Next was a trip to the pre-event wine and cheese fest in another building on campus.

Widest Christmas Tree EVER!

2007-01-14T14:25:00.001-05:00

What an amazing tree this year! It is the widest tree we have ever had. It is still up today and we won't be taking it down for another week. It smells like Christmas here in our apartment. That pile of presents has long been gone, but what a pile it was! Lots of DVD's--CSI season 5, Twilight Zone episodes, and tons of old movies. Now we have some good movies to

Here's looking at you , kid!

2006-08-04T06:30:00.001-04:00

This is the bug that came home with me from the Lee Transfer Station on my windshield wiper. It was so determined to stick it just kept clinging on even when I was going 55 mph on Rte 125. With my extensive background in entomology, I am calling this a long horned beetle. I don't think it the Asian Long Horn beetle. At least, I hope it isn't. Supposedly there are

Sleep is a good thing!

2006-07-31T11:05:00.001-04:00

P{text-indent: 30pt;}-->This weekend I kitten sat Putti (the one on the chair) and Pugi (the one under the chair). Our friends Shane & Gabby had to go out of town, so I graciously offered to play kitten aunt for the weekend. Pugi would sleep on me! Of course, I did have to pick him up and put him on me, but he did stay. They are just the cutests kitten boys I have EVER seen! Rocky thinks

Day with the Animals!

2006-07-24T07:13:00.002-04:00

Don't be surprised if Brady and I are inviting you to our farm in a few years down the road. (Or maybe a bunch of years down the road.) We visited 3 farms yesterday and petted a lot of animals. In Saco, Maine, we stopped at the Liberty Fields Farm. So many goats! The woman there took the 8 gallons of milk collected daily into delicious chevere cheese. Supposedly it

Hello Kitty!

2006-06-02T10:06:00.001-04:00

Rocky is saying "Hello!" to Hello Kitty! You can't see what he was doing before and after this picture--attacking Hello Kitty, but what can you expect? Rocky hates all other kitties including ones that are stuffed.The great thing about this Hello Kitty is that if you pull the cord on her backside she purrs. Her purr is so powerful she will actually move from the force of the purr. She looks like

Tell Them Public Matters!

2006-05-23T14:04:00.001-04:00

Here is a link to tell Congress to keep Public Radio!

No ruined roads near us!

2006-05-16T22:44:00.001-04:00

A little bit of water on a sidewalk in Durham, NHI am not sure how we got to be so lucky, but we have missed out on the devastation that has hit the rest of southern New Hampshire. Our old street in Newmarket is under a mandatory evacuation ban and so much water that people have to swim to their apartments. We had a puddle of water in our parking lot for a bit on

This is "under water" according to the UNH PR

2006-05-16T22:26:00.001-04:00

Does this field look like it is "under water" you?I have to say I am a bit disappointed in the public relations information put out by the University of New Hampshire. There is nothing I hate more than liars and that is what this picture shows. According to UNH, the graduation ceremony on Saturday has to be moved to another field because this field is under water.

Call me the WEB MASTER!

2006-04-29T23:23:00.001-04:00

Do I rock or what? Here is the latest webpage I made. Okay, so my counterpart in Lakes Management class made the original one, but it was on Tripod so it had all sorts of ads. Here is the clean one with all sorts of information about Silver Lake, Hollis, New Hampshire.Sure, this has NOTHING what so ever to do with my thesis, but it NEEDS to be done. Well, according

An open letter from the Queen

2006-04-05T13:16:00.001-04:00

This is Schmooshy, not Sonya. I am in charge so I have taken over Sonya's blog. Sonya better let me do this because I call the shots around here. I am in charge because I'm the most beautiful cat in the world. I have the softest fur and the best purr. And even though you people are too stupid to appreciate it, I am also the nicest cat ever.Today I looked out the window and saw a whole bunch of

I have gone COMMERCIAL and I'm Proud of it!

2006-02-22T18:55:00.001-05:00

I received an email yesterday telling me that if I blogged about My Points, I would get 25 extra points. What does that mean? That means I am going to get 25 points closer to getting a $25 gift certificate to Bath & Body Works. How does that happen? MyPoints sends me emails with links to websites that are selling stuff. Then I click on links. I can get a lot more points if I buy stuff, but

The Birthday Presents were Non-Stop!

2006-02-22T18:49:00.001-05:00

I had a birthday yesterday and Brady got me 11 presents! WOW! I wouldn't normally count my presents, but this was AMAZING! Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was one of the great presents I got. That means you are welcome to come by and watch this wonderful, hilarious movie. Come on!

Rocky is an unhappy Christmas Kitty

2006-02-08T17:30:00.001-05:00

He looks so cute, why is he so mad? I guess he just can't be tricked into thinking wearing a hat is a good thing. I know it is now February and that Christmas is long over. BUT, when you get such a cute picture, what can you do? Yes, this blog has picture after picture of the two cats that live with us, but wouldn't you if they were so cute? This tree is now in the great big burn pile at the Lee Transfer Station. It served us well. It was quite fragrant and every time we walked in the apartment, we would say "What a nice smelling Chirstmas Tree!" I took this picture just before we took the tree to the dump so it isn't as beautiful as it was when we first got it. If you look to the bottom right of this

This is our new kitty neighbor

2006-01-11T11:05:00.001-05:00

This is the black and white kitty that lives next door to us. In this picture she is sitting on our van preening. I took the picture through the screen door so that is why it looks a bit hazy. We call this kitty "The Black and White Kitty". She is outdoors a lot and comes to see us when she is outside. Often times when we pick her up, she melts into our arms and never

Visiting the REAL Chocolate Moose!

2006-01-10T23:04:00.001-05:00

Meet Lenny The Moose! He is a 1700 pound, solid chocolate moose that lives in a pond at Len Libby's in Scarborough, Maine. Brady and I toddled up there for a day trip last month. In addition to Lenny, they have lots of fresh chocolates. You should drop in sometime when you are south of Portland. And no, I don't have any stock in the company. Okay, so there isn't all

The Wonders of Duct Tape!

2006-01-09T00:24:00.001-05:00

The Wonders of Duct Tape!I was getting really, really sick of misplacing the remote controls. Or worse, the remotes would end up on the TV or the VCR. What is the point of a remote if you have to get up to get it? So, the solution? Yellow Duct Tape TO THE RESCUE! It didn't take me all that long, maybe an hour, to make this nifty Remote Control Holder. There are four

UPDATE: I remembered my winning entry!

2006-01-08T10:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I wrote about my win in the Lowe's-Frigidaire contest. At that time, I couldn't remember what my winning tip for "speed cleaning" was. This morning I had a flash of memory. Are you sitting down? It is pretty exciting!To easily and quickly pick up lint, hair or other small pieces of garbage, use band of duct tape wrapped around your hand with the sticky

Prize Winner of Lee, New Hampshire

2006-01-07T18:32:00.001-05:00

I realize that I have taken a very long hiatus, but I am BACK! (Keep that applause down to a dull roar!) Anyway, I just had to write a bit today. I had such a surprise that I couldn't stop laughing. In the early afternoon today, there was a knock on the door. We don't usually get unexpected guests or deliveries, so I was very surprised to open the door to the FedEx

Here is what kept me from blogging

2006-01-06T19:33:00.001-05:00

Here is a picture of the quilt I made for Kat & Scott's baby last November. Of course, the baby isn't due until April, but there is nothing like being ready. Don't look too close at the seams, they don't match up too well. This is only the second quilt I've ever made. I still have to take a picture of my first quilt, but I will soon! I love making quilts that don't have to be perfect. A county

Look at what I pulled out of the lake today!

2005-11-07T22:16:00.001-05:00

It might not be spectacular if you are out of the zooplankton loop. The exciting news is I just collected a fourth species of Daphnia from the Old Durham Reservoir! Can you believe it! This is a species I've never seen before. Folks, meet Daphnia dubia! This is an extremely long daphnia--look at its long tail spine! If you need help with daphnia anatomy, check out the

You GOTTA believe!

2005-10-27T05:34:00.001-04:00

What can I say? Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox! They won the World Series against the Astros in 4 games after an 88 year drought. Oh, and congratulations again to the Boston Red Sox for winning the World Series last year agains the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games after an 86 year drought. Do you know what that means? You guessed it---the CUBS WILL win next

Bet you can't wait for Christmas, can you?

2005-10-22T17:39:00.001-04:00

I can do ANYTHING with Duct tape!My little brother is not so little anymore. He turned 23 last week. And since I am even older, it took me 4 days to get his birthday present in the mail. I can't seem to find the ribbons for wrapping presents. I found the wrapping paper, but not the ribbons. I did find the duct tape. That was a blessing really. Good thing Zyla's exists