Blog Blunders

Argh! I struggle to admit I am not good at computer stuff. I can do quite a bit like manage accounts, email, search the internet, leave messages on other blogs and so on. BUT I cannot seem to fix my own blog. i've been messing around with it but as you can see I haven't figured out how to get the old template/skin to go away so i can put a new, cuter one in. So, this blog comes to you in blog and white. Some day I will have pictures, gadgets, and post regularly - yeah, right.
Well, we have carved pumpkins [wish i could show you a picture :/], gone deer hunting, [just my husband and kids], had the flu [I don't think it was swine but the doc said to treat it as if it was and keep everyone home - ahem, i just got everyone back to school. i want the house to myself. kidding. i love my family and i don't want to endanger the world] and we are finishing up Fall Soccer this week. One of my sons finished Saturday.
By this time of soccer season i am usually sick of the game but it has been enjoyable this year. The games have been competitive and our boys have done well. Both teams finished in about 3rd place which is great by us. Have to tell a funny story about son #1. He's just coming out of a growth spurt in which he got a bit flabby. Nothing too bad but he hated it. Soccer has helped him lean up some and gain coordination. A few weeks ago as we were driving away from practice he was excited about the progress he had made. He said, "I can tell soccer has really gotten me in shape. I can run longer, move faster and I even have a one pack." [not to be confused with a six pack :)]
As for me, I have finally put the canner, steamer, jars, rings, and lids away for the year. I finished up grapes last week. There are still some on the vines but I am done. I need time to do something else. The juice and jam are good which is the only reason I do it. I have this philosophy when it comes to canning/preserving: if it's free, easy, and we like it, I'll do it. We have enlarged our garden, have two peach trees, and the grapes. Anything I have to buy I would rather buy already canned - like pears or beans. I admit they are better 'homemade' but time is a commodity too.
My little preschool class is as fun as ever. Being an aide is great. It's about as low as you can go on the scholastic job chart but I have no pressure of lesson plans and presentation. I show up and help the teacher and kids. I love four year olds - they like me. They are not as hard on my self esteem as my teens can sometimes be [just sometimes. I really love my children] Two of the boys in the class are the spitting image of Tony DiNozo and Tim McGee on NCIS. Yes, I am obsessed with the show but you should see these boys [if i knew how to upload pictures i'd show you] They really look like they could be these 'stars' at 4 years of age. Then again, one of the girls could be Ziva and I can also associate a few of the other boys with Gibbs, Ducky and Palmer. What's that you say? I need to get a life? I have one. I also enjoy psych and Drop Dead Diva.
All this while proclaiming I am not a TV watcher. Hmm.
I have actually been able to write more lately. For awhile, even after school started, things were so busy I could hardly get to it. I am hoping to have a Christmas novella completed by Christmas so i can edit it and submit it. It has been coming together well [for me] but it's just a rough draft and will need work. But as my husband and writing group always say 'just finish something'. I tend to waffle between which story I'm working on. This one has been good for me because it is not big and given me practice at dialogue, setting, conflict, continuity, character development. I still find it amazing that I have been able to pursue writing to any degree. It used to be a dream - fantasy actually- but I have been able to go to conferences, get a word processor, and have a wonderful writing group. I have far to go but I am learning and progressing. It used to overwhelm me because there was so much to comprehend - and I used to be embarrassed to admit I love writing. Now I have found many others who enjoy the same thing. Writing is a long shot but I don't hide it anymore.
Happy Fall, y'all.

So, summer is officially at an end as of Tuesday and Fall is officially here. thank goodness because my feet are the texture of velcro and sticking to everything - the result of several months without shoes. I used to love this time of year because it felt like a 'beginning', more so than New Year's Day. Now it makes me feel a bit sad. it's a reminder that time flies by fast. My children are growing at hyper speed [I know all about things like that thanks to my sons being addicted to Star Wars]. One has even left the nest! Thankfully she only flew over the mountain a ways. When my children were small the days seemed to drag and I looked forward to a time of more freedom. It came and now I wish for the time when I could hold them on my lap and snuggle. My 11 year old still cooperates every now and then.
All that aside I still look forward to Fall. It's the time when plants are at their prime. The blooms are fullest, the harvest is gathered up. The sky seems bluer, the clouds whiter, the air has just enough nip to bring out the jackets. I love the sight of changing foliage. Isn't nature incredible?
I've tried bringing some of that Fall color into my blog by adding wallpaper. It isn't going well. It has distorted the whole setting. I thought I followed the instructions right but it was my first try so who knows. For those of you who are not 'tech challenged' please understand I am learning as I go.
I can always think profound thoughts when I'm not blogging but draw a blank when I have time to post. This is one of those blank moments - tabula rosa. I think the wallpaper problem has distorted my brain. So, I will work on that and when it is cleared up my thoughts should have better reception too.
Oh, tomorrow is a fundraiser for Diabetes at Hogle Zoo. It's always a great thing to be involved in and I look forward to sharing it with my family.

beginnings

i'm finally setting up my own blog. soon i will be adding all the things i have grown to love about my friends blogs. i can't wait!