It is what it is

Summer is over. For me, it's not done yet, but homeschool did start today. Nigel and I are in the schoolroom, but only to finish Geometry (and I need to finish sewing projects too).

Today I ate two Ry Crisp crackers and a big blueberry muffin. It seems that I am intolerant to wheat. I'm not sure if I ate enough rye for it to "register" in my tummy, but until I test again (not looking forward to that) I'm just staying gluten-free. A family friend brought me some special flour mix today so hopefully I'll be able to make some bread in the bread machine.

I'm excited for September. Not only do I love the fall, but I'm looking forward to the fair! My amazingly beautiful and talented sister will be preforming!!!


She has an amazing routine I can't wait to see! She was at the fair last year with a solo performance, but she's improved so much since then (now she's an assistant coach).

Also in September I start school. . .Then things start to move fast!

~Sophia (who could be doing a billion other things right now. . . )

A gluten-free me

Lately I've been getting stomach aches, and the worst one was after I went on a little baking spree. I made (and ate) crackers, breadsticks, bread, blueberry cobbler and cookies. So, I have decided to go gluten free for one week, ending on Monday.

I've already tried going dairy-free; not only was it hard (craving-wise and why-on-earth-is there-dairy-in-spaghetti-sauce-wise), but it was also ineffective.

In my quest to feel stronger and healthier, I've started to do some zumba (no spell check, I didn't mean zombie) via youtube. It's really fun. I sort of feel silly doing it, but it's exercise, I already look silly. Zumba, core training and figure skating is how I exercise nowadays.

Last week I had a test in figure skating. At the beginning of the session, the coach said candidly (and characteristically), "Now, this is one of the hardest levels. Don't think you're gonna pass."
Nobody really likes him. I do though, he knows what he's talking about.

Anyway, I wasn't nervous about the test because I knew I wasn't going to pass. I didn't feel strong on my elements, and I still don't. After my test though, Coach comes up and says, "You were really close to passing, you just need to work on your change-foot spin."

I was surprised. Usually I have to ask about what I need to work on. I was even more surprised that I almost passed first try. Go figure.

~Sophia

A Song

Well, not *really* a song, just a youtube for the ninth!



Brian Regan is great; clean and hilarious!

~ Sophia

Happenings Of Late (pic heavy)

July 21- 23rd, we were at the beach! The weather was slightly chilly and windy, but that’s not new. Though what *is* new is the sky and sea turning bright blue as the clouds disappeared when we were leaving. For the most part, there’s nothing new at the beach, but this year we found. . .

Which meant. . .

Seesawing was really fun until we started falling off!

We celebrated a birthday the next week:

“Look! They have pockets!”

Happy Birthday Tarquin!

We celebrated another special occasion on the 31st:

After four years of dedication, hard work, broken boards, substitute teaching and bruised knuckles. . . Nigel got his black belt! Needless to say, we are SO proud of him; this is a goal he has been working towards for a long time.

This last week we’ve had an aunt and cousin over for a few days. This was

Splashing in the pool. . .

Fairy houses. . .

And fun in the forest! We didn’t get many pictures, but we did get good decorating advice from my aunt, so now we’re remodeling!

Bye bye ugly popcorn ceiling. I won’t miss you.

Before. . .

After!

And with my trusty thimble on my finger, I continue to knit with wool and sew with silk in preparation for our fall and winter events at the Fort. I've so much to do that it’s best to start now!

Take a look at my recipe page; I’ve added something new!

~Sophia