A Watchlet

Have you ever heard of a "watchlet"? Well, my friend actually made the name up. I make jewelry... have you seen it? Look back a few posts, you may come across some things. I needed a watch so, I decided that I would make one and see if I really liked it. It was silver and gold (bali) I liked it, I actually sold one at my home show jsut from wearing it, I guess that really is a great form of advertising. Well, I took the thought and went a little further with it and made a bunch of "fun" watchlets, these watchlets look a lot like the braclets that I make. Whe I was away a few weeks ago, I was playing with the beads and made a stretchy 2 strand watch. I LOVE IT! Well, since then I have been asked to make more of these "watchlets". They really do look just like a braclet with a face on them. I am going to try to modify them and see if I can make the bands "removable" sot hea tyou can make your band match your outfit (or your mood). Does that sound great? Any thoughts on this idea? I am always open for suggestions. Really, I am... Well, I am goign to try to figure out the changeable band thing! Have a great day...

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MOOSE!!

Well, he did it! Phil had a lovely moose in the truck last night when he came home. HUGE... 7oo pounds. It had a 51 inch rack. WOW that is impressive! The hunt for moose is a special treat here in our lovely state. Phil was telling me yesterday that only 550 permits are given out each year, there are 15000 people who put there names in to be drawn each year.(you have to put your name in for a lottery). You can put your name in each year but, if you are drawn you are not allowed to put in again for 3 years moose or no moose. That is the chance that you take. So, Phil has put his name in and has been drawn 2 times in the last 5 years. And even fortunate enough to harvest a moose both times. Something that doesn't always happen. Another thing that they do is tell you where you are going to hunt. Makes it a little harder! So, we may have moose in our backyard but... If he didn't get drawn for this area too bad someone else probably will be out there getting that one.
So, there are about 300 moose checked in at the end of the 1 week hunting season. What does that mean? They really are not that easy to A. find B. harvest I am just glad that he was able to get his 5 days into the hunt, it was a long week without the Dad being around. Bedtime (which he has the privilege of doing every night) was up to me. They look forward to that special time with their dad, they talk about the things of the day, they talk about what is going to be going on the following day. He gets them silly and then can calm them down... I really don't get that part. So, back to the normal routine of life again. Moose meat in the freezer. Mount to be on the wall. Where am I going to put THAT head? Next to the caribou? I guess I have a little time to figure that one out.


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Enjoy!

What is the cost of winning?

OK... I have a soap box that I am going to get on here for a moment. Please feel free to comment and really let me know how you feel about this. I have been struggling with this for a few weeks.

I have a daughter who is into sports (as you know if you have read this before) Not a big girl, OK she is very slight. Doesn't appear to be an athlete when you look at her but given the chance she is a great player. And she is still learning how to play the game. Whatever it may be. She played basketball last year and when she made the team the coach very quickly told me that she didn't bring much to the team. WOW... I thought that was BOLD! I know she isn't a "strong" player but she gives it her all... Not all the girls do that. She ended the season with a letter and a pin. She also was awarded most improved player. She did great at she learned what she needed to do and did it!

On to softball. She made the team they played in a U16 league! Remember that one? 12 and 13 year old girls. They did great! No championships but they did great. She even caught a few "flyballs" go girl.

Now we are at soccer. Once again she has never played this sport... She is doing what the coach tells her to do and doing a great job during the games keeping the bench warm. OK she goes to a SMALL school. I have been a little concerned about this position that she plays (as a bench warmer!) she is a sub, but they only put her in when they are way ahead or way behind. No time to give her a chance to play and learn to play with the team. Most of the parents on the team feel that the girls need the game time to learn how to play as a team and feel the girls will work together and be a better team next year if they work together as a team. Well... The coach feels that they are there to WIN and that is it. Middle school soccer NOT varsity please remember that! I am having a hard time learning this lesson because I do not like seeing my daughter sit on the bench most every game. And to hear the coach say things that are very discouraging to the team.

Winning is great I will agree with that no one like to lose... As the saying goes show me a good loser and I will show you a loser. However, at what expense do you allow the kids to sit on a bench and not be really part of a team. How are they supposed to learn the game if they aren't given the chance to play. Practice? They don't really play a game in practice, they are not really giving it their all at practice. She is discouraged that girls 2 years younger than her are starting the game and really are not much better than her. As a parent it is very hard to sit back and watch all this go on without saying a word to the coach. OK... I did say something to the coach. We totally disagree! And most of the people that I speak with either parents on the team. The Athletic Director or other staff from school feel that Middle school is a time for them to learn the sport and learn how to play as a team. Seeing how she did in her past 2 sports, basketball (a different coach) and softball (where they all had to be on the field and play) She proved that she was able to play the game and do it well. Is it wrong of me to be upset that the coach will not give her the chance to play and feel like part of the team? She played last week. And played GREAT there were 5 girls that were missing (almost all of the starters!) She did a wonderful job. They played a team that has played together since kindergarten! So, there was not a chance that they would win. I think that she did prove herself to the coach that if given the chance to play in the game she will do a great job.

So, really what are your thoughts on this one? I need a little input on this! I can be very passionate about things and can be too emotional to look rationally at things so please, help me look closer at this one and let me know your thoughts! Thanks...

Fall Foliage and RAIN

We went for our annual drive up the Kangamagus yesterday. We decided last year that we would spend Columbus Day driving up north to view our beautiful state. Well, it rained. Hmm... I know it is a surprise! The trees are not as colorful this year as they usually are this time of year. WHY? My forester husband had something to say about it! The dry summer we had? The unusually warm fall we are having? Among some other things. Any of these things can make the foliage not so great. Oh well, we spent some quality time in the car with the kids. I remember last year they complained the whole drive up there and pretty much the whole way home... We did explain to them to look at the license plates how many were from NH and how many were from other states. They come here to look at OUR trees. They did get excited about that. We didn't need to remind them of that this year! Thankfully they see that people appreciate the beauty that God has placed around us!

Well, the highway has changed a bit! Has anyone been up there lately? It doesn't look the same. They are making it more "touristy" scenic views, bigger pull off areas, grassy land right up to the highway... And why do that? To attract wild life of course! I am sure that the deer and moose will walk right up to that plush green clover and devour it! They have done some wood cuts along some area on the road. Phil was explaining to me that it is for the moose habitat. They like the areas where the trees are cut down and the little sapling are all that is left. So, I am sure that the people who drive all the way up here from Maryland, North Carolina, hey even Texas to view our foliage will have the special treat of seeing a moose along the road one of these days!

I said to Phil, watch in a couple of years they are going to put a toll at both ends of the highway they are going to have to pay for all these "improvements" some way! It is all at the North Conway end of the highway. But I do think that the work will head all the way to Lincoln eventually. Maybe not! We will see!

We went on a little 4X4 trip yesterday in search for moose as well. (we didn't see any) We went about 4 miles in on an old logging road in search for moose. Phil is headed up that way for his own moose shortly. So we did a little scouting! I think that he pulled some strings to get another moose tag. How many people put in for their tags and never get one? You need to wait 6 years to put in for a tag after you have gotten one already. And well, why his first year after putting in (again) did he get drawn? Rigged I tell yah' rigged! Another vacation. Yeah, he will tell you it is hard work, BUT, I know differently :)

Random thoughts yeah, I know... I am rambling! Oh well what can I say that is just me!

It takes FAITH!

So I had the privilege to attend the Women of Faith conference in Hartford CT have you ever heard of it? Well, I really enjoyed myself. I was able to attend with a few of my very good friends, we really enjoyed our time of learning and also the fellowship that we had with one another on the breaks and in the evening! I don't think that I have laughed as hard as I did while we were there in such a long time. I laugh yeah, but we are talking tears running down my cheeks laugh! It was great fun.
The conference was great the theme was FAITH. All the speakers spoke from their hearts of different things that they have been through to make their faith stronger. If you wan to hear some of their stories you can go right to their sites. The one that I know really pricked my heart the most was Tammy Trent if you have a chance and you are not familiar with her please read her story. What a testimony she has.
If you really want to laugh hard, check out Patsy Clairmont She is packed full of energy, I am not sure how old she is, I am sure that I could find out easy enough. But I certainly hope that when I am her age I am able to do half the things that she can do! What a hoot she is!!
Sheila Walsh this is another speaker that I really enjoyed, these women have all had real trials in their lives and really want to have people learn from their experiences and teach them, such hearts and devotion they have. I used to listen to Sheila Walsh back in the 80's when she was a "cool" hip happenin' singer! Yeah... She didn't last too long on the Christian artist list. She figured that she would do better as a speaker I guess, and well... I agree! Some of the other speakers that were there were... Lucy Swindoll, Nicole Johnson, Kathy Tricolli (another 80's singer!) and Marilyn Meberg.
It was a great time. I am so thankful that Phil was able to take a couple of days off and take care of the kids for me, he even took them to the fair and I hear that it was a sight to see! Phil and all 6 of them! haha... He strapped Claires carseat to a wagon! I wish I had a picture of that one!
Well, I guess that is about all in a nutshell. There was really too much for me to write about but, I hope that you can see from this that we had a great time and God was truly glorified over the time that we were there!
Oh yeah, have you ever heard of Chonda Pierce? Now she is funny!