I'm getting Spring fever!

at 03/17/10 3:11PM
I should be getting spring CLEANING fever, but alas, it's more like, "Ah , spring! I want to plant something! I must get out the Breck's catalog and order more bulbs. I need to go to BiMart and get planting soil and bark mulch. I need to go to the nursery and check out patio fountains and get some landscaping ideas and advice. I want a magnolia tree, which kind grows well in Oregon? Hmmm......what likes mostly shade and is pretty self-maintaining? How do I get rid of that weird invasive species plant, and get the grass to grow under the fir tree in the yard again? What should we plant to replace the hydrangea that died? Rhody? Azalea? Lilac? Pampas grass? Pussywillow?"

These are the things that go through my head when I can't sleep! As well as deep spiritual thoughts about saving those who are living disobediently right now. Is there something more I can do? Lord, I know prayer is powerful, and You are in control, but sometimes only being able to pray and leave the rest to You feels inadequate. Help me feel useful to You, Lord. It's in Your time-help me to remember that and stay busy doing good!

  • juliev
    JUST SAY NO TO PAMPAS GRASS!! But, if you choose to not heed my advice, you are welcome to some in our yard that is currently living on death row.
    by juliev at 03/17/10 3:36PM
  • robynbobm
    LOL^.
    I vote another hydrangea, and make sure the soil is the right pH. Or a lilac if it is far off enough the bees won't be annoying. Or build a trellis/gazebo thingy and put a wisteria by it! Bulbs are already blooming, I think you are too late there.
    by robynbobm at 03/17/10 3:44PM
  • beavermom
    lol, Julie! Fun fact:In ancient Greece, tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage; catching it was acceptance.
    by beavermom at 03/17/10 3:45PM
  • beavermom
    Rob, Dad doesn't want anything tall-it's down by the power box by the well house. Something bushy that will get to around 5 feet would be good.
    by beavermom at 03/17/10 3:47PM
  • cyber_space_cadet
    Wow, pretty!
    Providing a good example and then praying to Him with Total Trust. That's the ticket. You can't effect change in someone who doesn't want to change. As humans, we're just not that good. No matter how frightened we are for someone, it's up to THEM to turn things around with God's help.
    by cyber_space_cadet at 03/17/10 7:38PM
  • stylinmama
    I have to do a landscaping overhaul. I'm jealous of people who's yards are already done! :)
    by stylinmama at 03/17/10 9:01PM
  • ryan_s
    I really like Daphines, they seem to do ok in shade too, and have an amazing scent. Lavender. Honeysuckle grows anywhere (just about). Roses are always a good choice too. Tullip trees are cool too, but they do get very tall. magnolia's are nice too. Good luck!
    by ryan_s at 03/18/10 12:37AM
  • lifeisgoood
    Sounds like you are due for a Sunday lunch with Barry Root.
    by lifeisgoood at 03/18/10 11:37AM

Merry Mathmas and Happy Pi Day!

at 03/15/10 3:57AM
Pi Day (3.14) was a great success! There were many pi's to consume, my favorite of which was my daughter's sweet potato pi. Apparently, Jonathan liked it too! He ate half of mine!

Also today, we celebrated Mathmas. What is that, you say? Mathmas is the celebration of Brian's last math class EVER!! It is celebrated with much math silliness, a mathemagician, quotes, jokes, and riddles, and concluded tonight with watching Victor Borge's "Inflationary Language". Look it up on YouTube-hysterical! It co-incided with Pi Day, so good stuff was had by all!

It also happened to be our friend Phil Woolbright's birthday, so we called him and sang to him on Mark's speakerphone. It was a good evening, filled with fun and sillliness and friendship and family. I love days like today!
  • cyber_space_cadet
    Glad you had a wonderful Pi Day! Ours was uneventful other than trying to recover from the lost "springing back" sleep.
    by cyber_space_cadet at 03/15/10 9:16AM
  • lifeisgoood
    I have a (obviously non alcohol related) Mathmas hangover today.
    by lifeisgoood at 03/15/10 3:38PM
  • beavermom
    ^sugar coma?
    by beavermom at 03/16/10 3:52PM
  • robynbobm
    :)
    by robynbobm at 03/16/10 3:57PM
  • linz_foster
    We just sold the mirror with the light fixture and vanity this weekend - sorry! :(
    by linz_foster at 03/16/10 4:38PM

Saturday's Results

at 03/13/10 7:42PM
Well, the chorus placed 4th! In all of Oregon! Woot! With high enough scores we will probably qualify for District! We won't know for sure until all the Divisions have their contests and post their scores. We also won the Small Chorus category, so we are on the show of champions tonight! Yay! They did really well and got lots of compliments and good advice from the judges. One of them is an old friend who used to live here, and now lives in Spring, Texas. (wherever that is!)

So, chorus and quartet both got 4th place, and we are very happy with the results. It has been a good, fun contest. We are blessed to have the location (W.Salem HS) only be 15 minutes from home, so we are napping till time to go warm up for the show, in our own house, on our own couches/beds!! That has never happened before. Aaaaaahhhhh!

We can't post videos,(some have asked) but Jennie took some pictures I'll have her post on Monday. If you live in the area, and want to hear the guys sing, our annual show is April 24th at Canby HS Performing Arts Center. See one of us for tickets! If you don't live nearby, I encourage you to check out the local chorus in your area and go to one of their shows! Especially if you live near him, or her, or in the Dallas TX area-the Vocal Majority is A-MAY-ZING!!

Have a blessed Sunday everyone! ANd don't forget to turn your clocks FORWARD! (Bleah!)
  • ryan_s
    Cool! I think Spring, TX is eastern Texas, but I could be wrong. I think Derek and me will come again this year to the April show. Last year was cool with the front row.
    by ryan_s at 03/13/10 7:52PM
  • cyber_space_cadet
    Congratulations! :)
    by cyber_space_cadet at 03/13/10 10:19PM

Friday's results

at 03/13/10 3:37AM
Well, Caric and Jordan's quartet, Relative Minors, got 4th. Missed 3rd by only a few points. Which means they are the 4th best in Oregon, which is cool, but we were hoping for top 3. They sang really well-the cleanest musically I have heard them do. They got a 74 in the Singing category, which is a really good score. I'm proud of them, and feel sorry they were disappointed. Dad Mitts' quartet, the Tonsorial Four, won the Novice award! Yay, grampa!! Tomorrow is the chorus competition. Should be fun! The Eugene chorus is doing their pirate package. I'll try to get a picture to post. I'll update soon!
  • cyber_space_cadet
    Did you get a video of them singing? Sure would like to see it if you did.
    by cyber_space_cadet at 03/13/10 7:31AM
  • robynbobm
    heh heh, pirates :) Good luck boys!
    by robynbobm at 03/13/10 11:12AM
  • lifeisgoood
    :)
    by lifeisgoood at 03/13/10 5:56PM
  • beavermom
    Dot, can't post videos because of ASCAP regulations. But Jennie took some pictures I'll have her put up!
    by beavermom at 03/13/10 7:26PM

Busy Week!

at 03/09/10 1:15AM
There is at least one, if not two things on my calendar, for every day this week! At least the end of the week is a fun and rewarding activity! It's mostly Dr. appointments until Friday, and then it's the guys barbershop contests. I'm looking forward to that! It's always fun to get together and see how everyone has improved. This contest is Division IV of the Evergreen District. Our Division is basically the state of Oregon. SO we get to see who's best in Oregon! And this contest qualifies them to go to District, which is: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, western Montana, Alaska and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. Fun times! I'll post when it's all over and tell you how they did.
  • cyber_space_cadet
    Now THAT is something to look forward to (sure beats doctor appointments, lol!). Hope all goes well!
    by cyber_space_cadet at 03/09/10 8:04AM
  • robynbobm
    :)
    by robynbobm at 03/09/10 2:28PM
  • niffer
    woohoo
    by niffer at 03/09/10 11:26PM
  • pepsi_lover
    I'm crazy, I love music, so I'm crazy. The music is creative.
    by pepsi_lover at 03/10/10 10:51PM
  • pepsi_lover
    Perhaps it's only noise when one is not open minded. People learn to see things in a different perspective and/or actually give things a real chance before giving it their 100% critique. To not say it's music would be saying creativity is only defined a certain way and everyone should follow that idea. Kind of like not liking certain vegetables b/c one does not consider it a vegatable, and yet people everywhere do. Then again, when it sounds totally senseless, then I pretty much throw it out the window.

    I feel the song on my blog is eerily beautiful, it's choral with piano and strings. The tone of voice the singer takes matches the setting well.


    by pepsi_lover at 03/11/10 9:48AM
  • pepsi_lover
    well I didn't exactly mean to come across as thinking you were critcizing, but I do agree that screamo is just reckless and the majority of rap isn't good, but I've heard clean raps, they're actually not bad.

    I took a music appreciation class one fall, and I hear music in totally new ways than what people just listen to on the radio, it's kinda amazing.

    People like to say Evanescence has sort of a "ethereal" sound, pretty much they address emotions in their most basic, raw forms....not recklessly, just expressively. Some of their tracks are more choral and strings and piano than rock guitar, though they blend the two in an interesting way. If you note, sometimes the instruments are matching the lyrics in "strength", like the line "Feels like the weight of the world..." they play what sounds like xylophones during the first 5 words (innocent like sounds), and bursts into rock guitar (heavy feeling) during the words "the world". Overall, the way they play during a song kind of measures the intensity of the expression that is being made. That new song I put up is just eerily beautiful, I listened to it 4 times in a row today. lol They are one of my favorite bands! New stuff, August '10! (I'm excited) ^_^

    RIP Kelsey Harris. Lifehouse did an excellent job writing & recording the song "By Your Side" in dedication to her, it's so moving.
    by pepsi_lover at 03/11/10 9:50PM