Nature Study up close

These cute screech owls live in a tree just outside hubby's classroom window on the second floor at school. They were born at the end of the school year, and are now a little more shy, so they don't get this close to the windows anymore. He still sees them during summer school.
(click to enlarge)

Oh, My! Taiwan?

The Hubster has been asked if he'd like to go teach English in Taiwan for two weeks. Can you imagine? It all depends upon him getting his passport renewed, but what an amazing opportunity and summer work for him! Prayers are appreciated!

Update: The company/ministry found a couple of people who could stay on for two months (instead of just two weeks), so that was a quick answer. Hubby is motivated to renew his passport anyway, to be ready for any other trip that comes up. That in itself is awesome. I have always wanted him to be able to go on a misson trip, and he has wanted to pursue temp teaching jobs overseas just recently. This has given him the motivation to really go for it!

Javamom

schedule update

Add to the schedule for the week:

Babysitting my precious great-nephew today, who is almost three years old. He loves guns (nerf, crossbows, what-have-you) so he will enjoy being with our boys! We keep a rubbermaid full of toddler toys onhand (up in the attic) for just these moments. We'll get down the Thomas wooden trains and tracks, as well.

Take dd to a b-day party tonight, to a card-making party tomorrow, then to babysitting tomorrow night.

On the schedule this week

~Drive the teens to various youth group activities
~Have a friend of birthday son stay over, so he can attend the big birthday party
~Co-host an outdoor water-fun birthday party for our newest teenager and his friend
~Lead CM bookclub at Starbucks (very enjoyable, convicting, enlightening, all at the same time
~Drive the teens to various social get-togethers
~continue decluttering excess stuff, organizing records, bookbinding supplies, rearranging books (need another bookshelf).
~Sweep and mop the floors, vacuum the dust bunnies
~Hand back American Lit. notebooks to my students
~Drive one teen to get applications/meet with prospective bosses
~Happy Birthday to me...somewhere in there!
~Eat grilled salmon for my birthday
~Host a brunch for friends of my teens
~Drive the teens to more youth group commitments
~Meet with one of my best girlfriends for a birthday dinner
~Drive oldest teen to worship practice
~Take 15 yo dd to make cards with friends on Saturday, visit with the moms while there
~Remember to thank the Lord that oldest son (a year and a half later than most kids here, but there were definite reasons for that) will get his driver's license in 2 weeks!

Taximom...
I mean Javamom

Vintage Book TLC ~ Needs work

Now that my press is ready, I can begin my next restoration!

My New Bookpress!

This press is Hubby's first press (and a very good one, actually). He plans to make a bigger one for use with multiple books.

Wish we were camping

While the kids are at camp, I am reminded of chaperoning the Junior High camping trip last summer. 'Twas a beautiful time! Except for the chiggers...and the spiders and bugs that crawled over us on the nights that we slept under tarps...But the cappucino was great, even in a plastic cup!

I have a bookpress! I have a bookpress!

I wish I could post a picture for you all to see what hubby made in the woodshop today, but the kids have taken the digital cameras with them to camp. I'll try to post a photo this weekend.

This first attempt is a small press that will work for standard or smaller books, or even for pressing hand-made paper. It was a warm-up for a larger one he wants to make next; one that will nip or press multiple books at one time.

I'm just so happy about getting my bookbinding home workshop all ready to go that I can hardly get started quickly enough. I've been working on a special journal book for a graduate, but other than that, I have two real binding jobs lined up already: one restoration and re-case and one binding project pages into a hardcover, handbound book. I'm off to purchase a few supplies!

Javamom

How do they do it?

How do cats sleep like this? Tigger should be suffering serious back pain. This is his newest common napping place. Maybe the window sill is too sunny at this time of day.

Sweet project!

Hubby's latest project in the woodshop. Remember, we call him The Candyman!