Not really spring break

It is spring break week – for Columbia Independent School. However, it was spring break two weeks ago, too – for Central Methodist University. Which means I really don’t get a full spring break. Waa waa. But, having a partial break from my 30-hour work week two times in March was actually not too bad. I took the hours that I would have been traveling/teaching at CMU to make the final push on my 2011 photo book. Those long hours hunched over the computer paid off and I am done! This week, I am going to take the morning hours that I would be teaching orchestra at CIS and work in the yard. With our unseasonably warm spring, every plant has just leapt out of the ground and my fingers are itching to dig in the dirt. So much to plant – my three little blueberry bushes, the broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts seedlings I started indoors under a grow-light. So much to transplant. So many flower beds to clean out.

I do love plants. I took some pictures of the little miniature worlds I have created with plants.

see my little turtle?

Continuing with the miniature motif, I also took photos of the two doll houses I am working on.

Notice all the little dogs in them! Ya, I even have too many pets in my pretend worlds. Sarah was sorting through one of her childhood treasure boxes and came across all the little dogs she collected and she kindly donated them to my doll houses.

Finally, Steve is currently in Utah visiting his family and his mother. He left Tuesday and will return this Wednesday. So, while he has been away, I have been entertaining myself with DVDs. I saw Limitless on Wednesday – quite thought provoking. On Friday, while making pizza, I watched Persuasion and Mansfield Park – from my personal Jane Austin DVD collection. Last night, while making tamales for Beckie’s birthday dinner tonight, I watched Kate and Leopold (a recent purchase because I am such a Hugh Jackman fan). Then, because my back was tired, I went downstairs and watched The Big Year – which I thought was great. I was not sure what to expect – not as funny but certainly had a great message and it was about birds! But, I don’t think I could ever do a big year – too much money and too much memory on bird calls and recognition. Earlier in the month, after I finally finished Emma, the book, I watched two versions of Emma on DVD (Gweneth Paltrow version and Romola Garai version – both from my collection). Steve and I watched Hoosiers in honor of March Madness and another time we saw an old Bob Hope flick called Casinova’s Big Night – it reminded me a little of The Court Jester. And, also earlier in the month on my own I watched Hugo – I loved it - Real Steel – surprisingly good and it had Hugh Jackman, and Insidious – eee, too scary for me.