*flops down on the mattress pile* This is nice... Thanks, PP!

Nice sign, PP. Are you all getting enough cold weather now, or is it still unseasonably warm?
Mmhmm, yes, I like crackers by themselves a lot, too. If I have cheese and crackers, I usually prefer soft cheese with them, but I do rather like Colby Jack and American cheese, I think.

Hello, PA! How're you doing?

Ooh, Mel, you sound like MeadowMaid! She LOVES cheese and crackers. It's usually the first thing she goes for if she wants a snack or is still hungry after a meal. I think cheese and crackers can often be a nice thing, but I'm not that fanatical.

Cinnamon rolls are delicious, gazer! They're the sort of thing we have for birthdays and holidays and special occasions, though, so I don't get them that often.

Ooh...can I try some of that cheescake, Dernhelm?

Hello, stardf, nice to see you again! I didn't try to guess the price of your list, but had you just finished your shopping? Or were all those on The Price is Right?

I'm sort-of trying to do some homework for one of my classes, so unless you all would like to help me determine characteristics of piping models, I should probably get back to that. Hopefully I'll be back again before too long.

Ooh, and this is post 3939.

Yeah, I took all those items from an episode early in the month, where they had celebrities playing alongside the contestants in the games to win money for charity. That particular episode featured Snoop Dogg, and he and the contestant actually won that particular game. I guess even rappers have to do grocery shopping.

*comes into the Square for the first time in a long time*

Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well.

I've been here before... long ago. Since I could never think of much to say, I stopped posting, but I decided to give it another go. Hopefully I can take part in the conversations more this time.

Today has been nice so far. I bought five Doctor Who DVDs from the Fourth Doctor Era, so that's always exciting. Next month, I'm hoping to get "The Deadly Assassin", where the Doctor is on his own without a companion. The premise of that episode has always seemed interesting to me.

I've been working on videos as well. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get my Windows Movie Maker to work.

Aaand I've been doing character development for my new book, which I hope to start somewhere around April 2nd (I know NW better than to think I could ever start writing a novel on April Fool's Day).

Speaking of April Fool's Day, we've gotten a few new mods since last April. It'll be interesting to watch how they enjoy the holiday for the first time as mods.

~Riella

Now, for all of you who like crackers... how much do you think the actual retail price of a box of Keebler Town House crackers is?

But... I don't eat that brand on any sort of regular basis.

*runs through the items* I overpriced the birdfood, but was too lenient for everything else, so my total was off by $6.

I have a rocky relationship with Windows Movie Maker myself, Ithilwen. I'll start a project and save several times early on, then get excited about something and do a bunch of work, think to myself, "It's time to save this!" -- and that's when the program crashes or freezes. What kind of videos are you making/editing?

Hello! I'm extremely bored on this Sunday afternoon, so I decided to pop into the Square and see if anyone else is likewise suffering from boredom.

*waves to Valia, Twigs, PA, Mel, 'gazer, Dernhelm, stardf and Ithilwen*

Ah, I tried guessing the prices, stardf, but ended up coming about $15 over. It's been a long time since I've seen The Price is Right. I used to love it.

Speaking of April Fool's Day, we've gotten a few new mods since last April. It'll be interesting to watch how they enjoy the holiday for the first time as mods.

Indeed! Last April Fool's Day, I had just joined the Mod Team about a week before. Not only that, but it was also my first April 1st on NarniaWeb as an actual member rather than a lurker. So it was both extremely fun and rather daunting. Remember being my Keeper of Cheese Curls or something like that?

I also ditto everything Mel said about making movies. I love to do it, but my program has crashed more times than I can count.

So how is everyone?

I have not made it in here since Thanksgiving. Oy! Shame on me. So much for trying to post on a regular basis again.

Thanksgiving through February is just a crazy time for me and my family. There's Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, my anniversary, my birthday, a whole bunch of other birthdays, my husband's birthday, and then Valentine's Day. After that things seem to slow down a bit.

This weekend is my husband's birthday celebration and I'm trying to get things figured out on what to do. He wants dinner (which the majority of work has been delegated to my mother-in-law and my own mother...) and mini Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes which are... awesome. I will be making those.

How is everyone enjoying the mostly snow-free, warmish winter? I don't know about other places, but it's been unseasonably warm here. We've gotten several days of snow, in fact it's snowing now, but it melts immediately on hitting the ground.

We got my greenhouse patched back up. (A couple panels kept falling out due to the structure settling.) So I've moved lots of plants in there. If you haven't been following my gardening saga this year in the Gardening thread, that's what's taking up a lot of my time this winter so far. As of today, I have 196 seeds planted. A good portion of my peppers and eggplants are up. Hopefully the tomatoes and watermelons will sprout soon.

Re: The Price is Right. I loved that show when I was little. But I ran screaming in fear when Bob Barker got a facelift. I haven't watched it since Drew Carey took over. About the only game show I ever watch anymore is Wheel of Fortune, but that's pretty rare.

*bows out and waves goodbye to everyone*

*Lady Amalther skips into the Square...*

That's "Amalthea" Narrator.

*ahem**Lady Amalthea skips into the Square, hits a patch of ice and slides toward the fountain...*

Narrator!

*...at the last minute she deftly deflects herself from a familiar frozen experience and lands on a lovely pile of mattresses.**Better m'Lady?*

We'll talk.

Meanwhile, it's been so long since I've been in the Square that I didn't know there were mattresses! Lovely idea - and much appreciated. I just came by to check on the chocolate tree. Oh dear, it does need a bit of pruning. Perhaps Fantasia Kitty could use some for her Lava Cakes? An excellent dessert, so I'm told. I've made something similar, but will have to take the time to try the actual.

I would love to stay longer, but, alas, Saturday errands and schoolwork require that my attention be diverted elsewhere. Here's hoping that all the Square Onions have a beautiful day!

*Lady Amalthear heads back to Anvard, leaving a rather stripped chocolate tree behind*

*slides into the Square with a skid and a bump* Hey ho, all ye SquareOnions!

Anyway, hello! Hello! I've called you up to say hello! Can you hear me, oooooooh?

By any chance, is this from a Dr. Seuss book, One Fish, Two Fish, to be exact? The poem I'm thinking of goes like this, accompanied by the usual priceless drawing:

Perhaps we could mention a favourite snack?

Cheese and crackers are definitely yummy.
Plus green grapes. For some reason, those three seem to go together verrrry well. As for other snacks, uh ...
*coughchocolatecough*,
clementines ♥,
whole grain toast (or bread) and smooth peanut butter,
*coughchocolatecough*,
*raw veggies,
*popcorn with salt & vinegar seasoning sprinkled over,
*and did I mention chocolate? ...
Food is just so wonderful, yes?
Mmm, cinnamon rolls, fresh and warm from the oven, indeed, stargazer.
And, wow, nice cheesecake, Dernhelm.

Hey, Twigs, your Location is very clever.

*waves to stardf* Good to see you here again. Btw, I was way low on the price total. Guess I was hoping everything was on sale.

*waves to Mountie, Ithy, and PA as well*

unless you all would like to help me determine characteristics of piping models,

*pictures fashionably-dressed men and women playing little musical instruments, and mice following along at the end of the line*

He wants dinner (which the majority of work has been delegated to my mother-in-law and my own mother...) and mini Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes which are... awesome. I will be making those.

Nice mom and mom-in-law! What did they make for the birthday feast, fantasia? Ooooh, you have a recipe for those Lava Cakes! *drools* Can you send it my way, please, when you have a minute? I bet they went over verrry well.

How is everyone enjoying the mostly snow-free, warmish winter? I don't know about other places, but it's been unseasonably warm here.

I Am Not. It used to be, when I was a wee halfling, that we could count on every winter being WINTER. Not anymore. *sigh*

As of today, I have 196 seeds planted.

Wow, look who skipped (and slipped ) into the Square ... Lady Amalthea!!! Boy, Twigs, good idea to put mattresses in the Square. I'm surprised, though, that the Royal Lady didn't rebound off mattress and land in the fountain, as is her wont.

I just came by to check on the chocolate tree. Oh dear, it does need a bit of pruning.

*Lady Amalthear heads back to Anvard, leaving a rather stripped chocolate tree behind*

Hmmm, something sounds rather inconsistent there. When one prunes a tree, it's not usually stripped by the end of the process. But, hope is kindled: I see some new growth already.

Whew! *nibbles on the leftovers*

Of course "Hello, hello, I've called you up to say hello" is from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. That's practically required reading quoting in our house, along with Fox in Socks and Go, Dog, Go -- though the latter is by P. D. Eastman instead of Dr. Seuss.

*is enormously pleased to see Lady Amalthea in the Square again* *drops a curtsy* Always a pleasure when you visit, milady! Even if, uh, your narrator, uh...

How is everyone enjoying the mostly snow-free, warmish winter?

*scratches head* What is this winter you speak of? I can't decide if I like it or not. I'm decidedly in the favour of feet of fluffy white stuff to go with the chill and occasional biting wind; but wandering around in perpetual half-spring is... different. Could be worse, I suppose. It could be raining.

I'm confused though. How can one have leftover chocolate?

That's practically required reading quoting in our house, along with Fox in Socks and Go, Dog, Go -- though the latter is by P. D. Eastman instead of Dr. Seuss.

Mmmhmm, ditto at my house growing up and at our home now. Add to that list other delightful Dr. Seuss books—some lesser known such as Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Yertle the Turtle, Gertrude McFuzz, The Sneetches, Too Many Daves—and Eastman's Are You My Mother, plus Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumb although the latter is by Al Perkins.

I'm confused though. How can one have leftover chocolate?

Well, you see, as the Royal Lady fastidiously pruned (and ate), there were wee bits left, hidden under leaves and such, so ... yeah.

*finishes baking an Angel Food Cake and some homemade extra-creamy chocolate icing, and gains 5 lbs in the process*

Now my library hold list is full of Dr. Seuss titles, because while I know I've read most of those stories I don't remember them. I don't remember which Bartholomew book I like better... 500 Hats or Oobleck. *adds those too, and Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now*

Nice to see some action in the Square!

How is everyone enjoying the mostly snow-free, warmish winter?

I do not like it,
I do not one bit...

Sorry; Suess-prose is hard for me to write.

We got about 2 inches of fresh snow last night - and it's already gone in today's 'heat.' *sigh*

And the snowmelt - what little we've had - often means cloudy and foggy skies by night and day here - though I did catch an ISS pass the other night, the first in a month.

That's practically required reading quoting in our house, along with Fox in Socks and Go, Dog, Go --

Some friends of mine raised their kids on those books too, and we had great fun with the "Do you like my hat?" "No I do not" exchange when they were young (they'd come up to me with a book, or a toy, or an empty plate - you name it - on their head at the time. Ah, memories! )

I also had the pleasure of introducing that same scheme to some nieces and nephews and other kids.

And just recently I had the pleasure of meeting another friend's 4-year-old sister who quoted it as well.

Fox in Socks, though, not so much. It's a lot harder to read.

Nice to see Lady Amalthear pay a visit as well! Did someone say chocolate?

Now my library hold list is full of Dr. Seuss titles

And, you know, I can't recall 500 Hats. Must look that one up.

I do not like it,
I do not one bit...

Great comeback! "I do not like it, Sam Jo I am"

We had a number of Dr. Seuss LP records, marvelously read and dramatized by ... ach, I forget his name. (I've only listened to them hundreds of times since I was a wee tyke. ) When he recites Fox in Socks, the pace is astonishing!

Yay for having clear skies to see the ISS pass, stargazer.

we had great fun with the "Do you like my hat?" "No I do not" exchange

That's certainly one of my favourites as well, and one that I tried to make sure the rest of the family knows well.

Allow me to offer a Dr. Seuss-ized contribution on one of the current topics:
I do not like it outside the house
I do not like with a mouse or grouse
I do not like it here or there
I do not like this lack of winter anywhere!

When he recites Fox in Socks, the pace is astonishing!

That makes my tongue numb just thinking about it AND ties my spelling skills in knots, as demonstrated by the fact that I tried to type tongue and numb at the same time!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day, everyone!!!!

As bad as my family is at maintaining traditions, Valentine's Day is one of our more consistent and my personal favorite family tradition. Each Valentine's Day, my dad and my brothers all get up early, fix breakfast, and decorate the Dining Room for Valentine's Day. Along with boat loads of chocolate and candy, all the girls get little presents as well. It's very, very fun. And I think I enjoy the holiday more than I do even Christmas or Thanksgiving. I know how horrible that sounds, but it's true.

I appreciate how my family has taken Valentine's Day and turned it into a celebration of love in the truest sense of the word as opposed to a day to celebrate romance. This Valentine's Day was a little odd, because my mother, my little sister, and myself were the only girls in the house. We have been the only girls in the house for the past several months, but I'd never felt the shift in dynamics so keenly until yesterday.

We are outnumbered by the males in our family for the first time in...almost 23 years!

Other than being busy with consuming copious amounts of chocolate and collecting red paper hearts, I've been spending my time flip-flopping back and forth between my two semi-obsessions of playing the piano and dancing. My dance teacher started a new performing group for our school, specifically for our advanced dancers. Of course, I've joined, and I love it, but it's extended my weekly practice time from 5 hours to 8 hours which is a little excessive if you ask me.

On top of dance, I have a piano performance audition coming up in a couple weeks. I'm hardly anything but prepared right now, but I'm determined to become so. I'm playing through each one of my three pieces three times in a row every single day up until my audition date. I'm so, so, so nervous!!! I'm not used to playing in front of people and I'm so scared that I'll just freeze up and not play anything at all when the time comes for me to audition.

And then, in the midst of all this, I'm supposed to start working next week. My work is a stay-at-home job, so it's not too hard. I'll be babysitting two of my favorite little kids all day three days a week. All the same, it demands a lot of attention and time. I'd appreciate y'alls prayers especially concerning my piano audition. For the most part, I just don't want to worry about it, but I want to do really well at it too, as well as I possibly can.

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post on here within the next few weeks. I'm already so busy as it is, but I wanted to drop in and let you know that I hadn't fallen off the face of the earth.

I've been posting pretty regularly on my blog, just random little things and pictures here and there. But if you be in need of more updatish or interesting subjects, feel free to check it out here. God bless, all!