April 8, 2008

• Spring Break

  The girls are off school this week, finally getting their spring break. I am not sure why our school district had it so far from Easter. All the other local districts have long finished spring break. They have been busy reading a series of books about cat clans called Warriors. I think there are 13+ books in the series, so it should keep them busy for awhile. They have also have been learning a software program called Scratch that was developed by MIT for kids to let them develop their own art, animation and computer games. I like it because they find it fun and it encourages them to use logic and creativity and they think it is all just play.

  Meanwhile, Joe is finally taking his driving test to get his California driver's license. Which will finally give him ID that people actually like and allow us to significantly lower our car insurance. Prior he had to be insured as a nonresident, which is not cheap.

  In Girl Scouts, the kaleidoscope project was a big hit and they girls were really fascinated to see the parts of one and how they work. I also built a May Pole so they could practice May Pole dancing for our last visit to the senior home on May 1st. Next week, they will be going to an afternoon tea at a local Victorian home. I may try to call around to local florists and see if any would be willing to donate flowers to take to the senior home for the May Day party.

  We are having no luck on selling the old house. We dropped the price by $30K two weeks ago and the agent already wants us to drop it another $20-30K. Arghh! I hate this market. People don't seem to care if it is a foreclosure or not. It doesn't seem to matter that our place is turn key and a foreclosure will be ripped apart and need tons of money to repair and refurbish. And now, with Congress wanting to reward people for buying a foreclosure over other home with $7000 credits, it will likely be even harder to sell.

  But in happier news, I am really looking forward to May. At the beginning of the month, our friend Daryl will be visiting for a few days. Then later in the month, Joe and I are off to England for almost 2 whole weeks. Then a quick week home, and I am off to Maine for a week at the International Guild of Miniatures intense, week-long school. I will be learning to make this wooden dresser:

  

  We will be learning various wood-working techniques, as well as how to age the wood and paint.

  And this arts & crafts era lamp:

  

  In this class we will be doing miniature soldering for the lampshade and electrifying it for a dollhouse. Both of these pieces will be in the traditional 1:12 scale ( 1 inch = 1 foot).

  I also just look forward to seeing Maine again, it has been over 40 years since I was last there. Oh and I must have a lobster roll! I have signed up for a couple seminars at night too, but am not sure I will get in. One class is making a mini basket of peaches, using Fimo and the other is painting a traditional New England welcome sign with a pineapple on it. Painting is not my strong area, but I think I can manage what she is doing for this project.

  My friend Carol, who makes miniature flowers and plants will also be attending and will be my roommate in our dorm room.  Can you tell I am excited? This is my belated combination birthday and Christmas gift from Joe.

  Anyhow, that is about all the news for now. If all goes well, we are off to the movies with the girls this afternoon to see Nim's Island.

  • 1:48 pm
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