Fishies!!

I added a new gadget to my blog a few days ago. It's on the top left of the page, and it's five fishies in a bowl. If you put your mouse in the box, the fishies swim to it in hopes of food, which you can give them by clicking anywhere inside tha box. Isn't it darling?! They're so much fun to play with, and they are always hungry!

More Rain...

Today I was going to sit on my porch with a good book, and blanket to lay on, a tall glass of ice water, and some pink and white iced animal crackers, but as soon as I walked out the door with my stuff, it started sprinkling. The sky was clear, with only a few tiny sploches of gray here and there, but it was coming down.

Dissapointed, I came inside and watched as the clouds rolled in. It just finished pouring. Today's rain storm lasted about ten minutes. We have had a rainstorm every day this week so far. It will randomly start pouring like there's no tomorrow for a maximum of twenty minutes, and then stop. The skies will clear up, the sun will come out, and then everything will be hot and wet. It doesn't rain enough to make any puddles; just enough to soak everything down...

I just looked outside, and though it has indeed stopped pouring, I am pleased to say that it is still raining lightly. Maybe this rain will last all day and cool everything off?

20 Minute Thunderstorms

Today was spent cleaning up the Royal Bedchambers and doing laundry. We were surprised by a sudden thunderstorm this afternoon which lasted only about twenty minutes but still soaked everything just the same.

After father returned from work this afternoon we went to the library where I checked out a total of five books, and father bought me two from the discard section. Dinner was pleasant, with boiled potatoes, black eyed peas and rice, mushroom casserole, and peach cobbler, and I was cought reading my book under the table during dessert.

We went to the store after dinner, and I bought 2 perennial plants that I planted in pots on my porch. I can't wait to see them bloom next spring! Yesterday I had reworked the soil in all of the pots I have, mixing in moist new soil to help rejuvenate the old soil which had been sitting for a while now unplanted. My little porch garden looks so much more inviting and pretty now. I would take a picture of my garden and post it here, but unfortunately my camera has broken after a year of our being together, and I have still yet to get a new one.

All in all it was a nice day. Tomorrow I have more cleaning to do, and I have to get back on track with exercising, since I've missed several days here recently. So if I want to have time to get everything done I had better get some sleep. Goodnight!

Wings

I went to the library today, and picked up a lovely book called Wings, by E.D. Baker. It was a lovely book about a girl named Tamisin who discovers she is half fairy after wings magically sprout from her back.

The book features characters from A Midsummer's Night Dream, including the fairy queen, Titania, and her husband Oberon.

I found it hard to relate to Tamisin as she tended to be a bit self-centered through parts, but this didn't ruin the book. It didn't just tell her part of the story, though, it also told of a half-human, half-goblin boy named Jak who vows to protect Tamisin.

This book is a great read with an interesting plot that kept me guessing the whole way through, and not only features those afore-mentioned characters from A Midsummer's Night Dream, but goblins, fairies, nymphs, unicorns, and lamias (half-women, half-snake), making it a beautiful fairy tale that inspires me to dance in the light of the next full moon.

Weaving Butterflies Into The Sky

I'm enjoying my afternoon in the sun today, with a glass of lemonade to cool off with while I sit still and breathe in the scent of summer.

Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone

Yesterday my Young Women's church youth group went to the local lake, and we went out tubing. I am really scared of water I can't see in, and the idea of something underneath me, and so naturally I didn't want to step foot in the water, let alone be pulled behind a boat over waves and high speed on a small, 2 person innertube, but after two groups went before me, I finally agreed to go, as long as they didn't flip me over the way they did for the other girls (all in fun). I was scared to death, and was freaking out at first, but after a while, I began getting over my fear and loving it. My friends were right; it was truly a blast being out there. (I reccomend this activity highly!) I stepped out of my comfort zone, and was truly rewarded for it. I can't wait to go again! I might even let them flip me like they were begging to.
And you know what? When my cousins and I go to Carawinds this Monday, I think I'm going to step out of my comfort zone again and ride my first roller coaster.

Visiting Grandma

Today I went to see my grandmother. I spent the whole day at her house, and got to see the four little girls her chihuahua had three weeks ago. She gave me a red, doll sized, Radio Flyer wagon that her neighbor didn't want, knowing I like such things, and without my knowledge bought me a pretty ivory shirt that I had mentioned liking when we had to go to the store. I think I'll say thank you by sending her a card, since we both love to get mail. I love my grandmother.

A Poem By Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

~Emily Dickinson

Snow White's Apple Pie Smoothie

1tsp. Lemon juice

1cup vanilla frozen yogurt

1/2 cup applesauce (preferably unsweetened)

2 ice cubes

pinch of ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Blend until smooth. Serves 2.

The Princess of Castle Favorite

This is Castle Favorite, a small yet truly "princessy" palace in Germany. I imagine this is the palace where Cinderella ran down the steps at the stroke of midnight. The princess that lives there now often goes up the the roof to read Shakespeare's love sonnets and dream of the day when she finds true love. She goes for a ride on her spotted horse every day, and loves to dance. She is an extremely bright and kind young girl, and often finds herself lost in her imagination on rainy days.

Returned

I have returned this afternoon from my trip, and am still groggy from the lack of sleep caused by it. I can't wait to curl up tonight in my own bed and sleep, but until then...
I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived home to find that not only did a doll I had ordered arrive, but my first issue to a magazine I have subscribed to came in as well. I am trying desperately to resist reading the magazine right now, as I want to read it when I am comfortable and warm in my pajamas tonight, but I keep peeking anyways.
Things have greatly changed around my house, but at the same time, nothing has changed. Some of the rooms in the house have been subject to change, but everyone is still acting the same. My stepmother still gets my father confused when he's trying to order at the drive through, my father is still talking about his truck, my grandmother has yet again lost her purse, and my grandfather is still joking about how he's not glad I'm home. Mmm... it's good to be back.
Unfortunately, being gone for three weeks has also changed me. I have a renewed sense of adventure, and am now looking for a small car so that I may get out of the house now and then and go places no one else seems to want to go to, like the museums downtown, or the river walk. No one has time to go these places anymore, but I still want to go. And you know what they say; If you want something done [right] you've got to do it yourself. It is time that I, Louise, Princess of the South, get a job.