I hope you all had a very restful and blessed Easter weekend! Our pastor delivered a beautiful sermon on Psalm 42 on this last Lord's Day. When we feel alone, we aren't. When we feel we are forgotten, God always remembers us. Jesus Christ is the only one who ever need suffer loneliness. He is the only one who was truly forgotten on the cross by His heavenly Father. He suffered, died, and was risen so that we might never be lonely or forgotten and instead be remembered and forgiven by Him.

My weekend was good, but tiring with a lot of visiting family and friends. Took me a while to get going this Monday, but I'm feeling much better this evening after a long Skype chat with a good friend and a nice long run.

This coming week I get to look forward to potty training my little two-year-old charge...I decided to go ahead and start a sort of comical journal on my life as a "nanny" on my blog. It's fun.

HobbitWeb was lots of fun, Ruby. You would have fit right in with all the hobbits that day - not only your parents Samwise and Rosie, but your older sisters Elanor and Daisy stopped by for a visit. They too were excited about the upcoming movie.

What fun! I shall have to make a mental note to not miss April Fool's on NarniaWeb again. Though, this year it was on a weekend and my weekends have been the busiest this semester.

Congrats on your acceptance and scholarship to university! Best wishes for your college career.

Thank you so much!

Of course I've heard of him! I've even met him! I used to live at Rivendell, so I met him at the time when he and his other hobbit friends stayed with us before going on that famous quest to destroy the infamous Ring. Very nice to meet you, too!

I should have assumed as much! I always forget how famous my father really is.

Ruby, that's wonderful news about your university acceptance. I majored in piano performance, and I well remember my audition day. Nerve-wracking! I'm so glad you're heading in this direction.

Thank you so much, Aunti Jo! I'm so blessed to have folks like you and my mom and my piano teachers who are all excited and eager to see me pursue music! Someday I shall have to hear you play.

How is your wrist/shoulder/arm feeling? Have you been able to get to the doctor's yet?

My joints are feeling a lot better, but we're still going to go to the doctor sometime. I think sleeping on a hard floor is what did it. Still, my joints should not be hurting that much for so long from one night on the floor. I also need to go to the doctor to figure out what's up with my left foot...it's had this fungal looking infection for weeks now and the lotrimin I'm using doesn't seem to be having a great effect on it.

I think it's my dance shoe that is spreading the infection, because my right foot is fine. But my left foot for the past couple of years keeps springing up new weird skin infections.

Wow, congratulations on your acceptance to college, Ruby! How exciting!
And yes, I will you keep you in my prayers. I know how annoying it can be to have a wrist that doesn't want to function.

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the prayers. It seems all my joints don't function well... Ah, well.

*waves to Danielle* Hello! I trust you are doing well, other than that wrist and shoulder of yours which I shall be praying for. May you have a blessed 2-3 weeks that are remaining of your high school days. And congratulations on the scholarship!

Thanks so much, Benjamin! It's so good to see you on the Square. Are you finishing up/have finished high school yet? Remind me where you are again. You have probably explained it to me before, but I've no doubt forgotten.

Varnafinde, great to see you in the Square again. I hope your interview goes very well on Tuesday! Keep us posted.

Well, there's not a lot to say yet, I don't feel the interview went particularly well - I always feel like at an oral exam in that situation (even though they were really friendly and there were parts that were almost fun), and I've never been good at oral exams, always better at the written ones.

There will be a board meeting on April 26th, and that is where it will be decided. After that, and after whoever is offered the job has accepted it, all the other applicants will be told that they didn't get it. So by the end of the month I should know one way or the other ...

*enters waving*

Sounds like a very interesting and fun life you've had Varnafinde. I have always enjoyed Middle-Earth, Narnia and Earth its so living in all three would be a wondrous life indeed!

@ Danielle: Yes, had been a bit since I'd been in so I thought I'd come by and see how everything was round bouts.
Well if you want a straight yes or no answer than yes I've finished school though I hope to learn and never stop for the rest of my days
Why I said a straight answer is because my mom and dad never did keep track of grades and take home-schooling tests and what not, and actually only two of my 11 siblings so far have even gotten their GED/Highschool diploma. My mom and dad did always push the limits and go against the 'norm', in several ways; their walk with God, seeking and trusting him no matter what others thought or said, and also just in the ways of living life. It's kinda odd I know but hey odd is more fun than normal And no not this kind of odd; ...
So yes I have finished school as far as I'm concerned ...but not necessarily as far as the educational system would have it

And now time for my departure Have a wonderful night all!

*leaves waving*

--Benjamin

A very brief hello:

Ben, I don't play the piano nearly so much now as I used to, but I still enjoy sitting down and playing for pure enjoyment at times, indeed. I'm looking into taking up the harp when I'm able, but we'll see ...

Well, a group of five girlfriends are heading off this weekend to the big metropolis of Buffalo, NY, for a mini-holiday. We're leaving our families to hold the fort at home, and are heading off on our adventure tomorrow afternoon (until Sunday evening). Now, I mustn't forget my pocket handkerchief. *nods to Bilbo* One of the many highlights will be going to the Olive Garden on Saturday afternoon, as we don't have this scrumptious restaurant in Canada anymore. But, then, that makes it all the more special when we can go when we're in the States.

So, safe weekend, everyone! And, here, enjoy some Easter leftovers.

*enters waving*

Sounds like a very interesting and fun life you've had Varnafinde. I have always enjoyed Middle-Earth, Narnia and Earth its so living in all three would be a wondrous life indeed!

Not to mention Ditto Town

Varna the Elf hasn't lived in Earth, though. She has visited Earth several times, but never lived there.

Varna the Narniawebber, on the other hand ...

Happy Star Wars day everyone!

....you know, "May the 4th be with you." *rimshot*

That reminds me of an old joke I received today (because nothing's as fun as an old joke you dust off every few hundred years ):

Obi-wan and Luke were eating at a Chinese restaurant, but the younger Jedi was having trouble with the chopsticks. So Obi-wan gave him some sage advice....

Wait for it...

*grabs a piece of chocolate off the appropriate tree and ducks out*

Goodness, this thread has suddenly become very quiet again. I figured I ought to pop in here briefly and say hello to everybody and I hope you are well. Probably due to a combination of end of school, finals, beginning of summer, and nobody else is posting. Did everybody survive school? Did you pass with flying colors? Any fun plans for the summer?

My own last several weeks have been crazy busy with gardening and beekeeping. Yep, I said beekeeping. Our first set of bees ever arrived at the farm on May 14th, and me, my husband, his brother and his brother's wife have all been taking turns caring for them. They're really rather self-sufficient but until they get their bearings on their new home, we are keeping them supplied with sugar water. We haven't figured out yet when we can put the shallow supers on yet (that's the name for the boxes where the bees will make honey), I think we have to wait for them to completely fill up their new digs before expanding further.

And then my big girl Fiona graduated from Intermediate Obedience Training through PetSmart.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/fantasia_kitty/IMG_0523.jpg
We learned that if we do the Advanced class and she passes that, then she will be eligible to qualify for something called the Canine Good Citizen award. I hadn't ever heard of it before, but I guess the AKC will give it to very obedient dogs and it gives you and your pet certain privileges that regular dogs can't have, like you can go into lots of places that say 'no pets' and things like that.
We don't have time to do the Advanced class this summer, but maybe this fall or winter we can consider it. We'll see.

And then there's the usual gardening stuff that takes a ton of time. And the vineyard stuff that still needs to be worked on. Lots and lots going on. Plus, wheat harvest is going to start here soon and that's VERY early, 3-4 weeks early to be specific. So that's taken top priority now that the bees are established.

So now that I've bored everybody with my life, what have you all been up to?

*picks some chocolate off the chocolate tree, roasts a few marshmallows, sticks both on graham crackers, and leaves a plate of S'mores behind for everyone to enjoy.*

*wanders in and shakes dust off of her chair* Wow...time flies by! I can't believe the Town Square II is a) coming to an end! (although, I should believe it, because it's been at least a year? EDIT: Almost two years, actually! :O ) and b) the end of this thread is so slow.

Mortereve, all! I can't stress how much I've missed saying that greeting every day. I remember when I had time to spend two hours in here... gone are the days of mucho leisure time.

Congratulations to Fiona, Fantasia! She looks like a very promising graduate. That picture is adorable!

We learned that if we do the Advanced class and she passes that, then she will be eligible to qualify for something called the Canine Good Citizen award. I hadn't ever heard of it before, but I guess the AKC will give it to very obedient dogs and it gives you and your pet certain privileges that regular dogs can't have, like you can go into lots of places that say 'no pets' and things like that.

That's an interesting award! The only thing I thought of when I saw that was of Lilo and Stitch, when the Cobra Bubbles guy said to Lilo regarding Stitch, "Next time I see that dog, I expect him to behave like a model citizen!"

Ooh, s'mores, my favourite! *squees* *picks one up with extra chocolate (<3) and nomnomnoms it.*

*hopes be back sooner in here!* Summer and leisure time is promisingly near.

*enters the Square looking at all the empty seats. and taking Bella's (wait or is that Ella? I am mortal and can forget ) example, decides to dust off a seat for himself*

Well Mortereve to you all! I hope that you are all doing well on this rather warm Tuesday afternoon (at least it's warm here).

Something fun for me this summer will be my trip to Peru, I actually leave the day after tomorrow. I am getting very excited and just can't wait to be on that plane headed down. The only time I have been out of the country was a cruise to Jamaica so actually living in Peru for a month will be a new and exciting experience for me.

Aunty Jo: Piano is great for just playing and relaxing! My little brother actually plays the harp, he just has started learning in the past year or two. It's fun to fiddle on the harp just because it is very similar to the piano, just backwards, upright and also you are plucking the strings hitting keys of course.

Oh sounds fun Fantasia, I intend to do more gardening in my lifetime and beekeeping would be a great experience also it seems.

*sends a greeting to Stargazer and Bella*

Well I'm off now, and maybe I'll stop by again before I leave for Peru.
Have a wonderful Mortereve!

--Benjamin

*greets Ben* Hello, Ben! Good to see you! How have you been?

(Correct, I'm Bella. No worries, people do that all the time between us, even with our real names. )

That is such a neat thing that you get to go and live in Peru for some time! It sounds like you're very excited for it. I've always been fascinated with Peru's archaeological sites and historical roots. I hope you have a great time!

Well, that must be all. Ooh, exciting news, as well that I might as well share in here! For the very very very first time in my life, I saw a shooting star-- it shot very picturesquely a little distance from the moon and was a wonderful bright green. It was beyond wonderful!!

*poofs to ketchup in other places and all that jazz*

*stops by the CHOCOLATE tree and picks some CADBURY EGGS [which are always in season here!] from there, since our supply at home is dwindling to nada... * I'm a bit confident I positively *need* Cadbury eggs...

It is lovely to see the Square moving again. I haven't been around much due to finals and a busy schedule, but I took my last final yesterday morning so I should have a more lenient schedule from now on. *picks up a s'more to munch on*

As of now, Fantasia, I can safely say I have both survived school and "passed with flying colors" (well, sort of on the latter ). If you had asked me several days ago, however, I'm not sure what my answer would have been. And yes, I do have exciting plans for the summer! In less than two weeks, I'm heading off to Puerto Rico on a school-planned Spanish trip. We'll be there for nine days; and, actually, we just found out yesterday that we'll be staying in a four-star resort for four of the days (apparently the price was 50% off, so my teacher couldn't pass up the opportunity). Then, two days after I get home, my family and I leave for the West Coast for a family reunion. We're meeting up with my sister and taking a detour on the way to California to go see the Grand Canyon - both of which I'm awfully excited about.

Aww, Fiona. *has a special place in her heart for dogs* Interesting about the Canine Good Citizen award!

Bella! 'Tis wonderful to see you! I second your sentiments on the Town Square. Remember those days when ten or so pages would pass in one day? Eep. And to think I had the time to catch up on everything, too.

How fun about Peru, Ben! Going to Puerto Rico will be my second time out of the country as well (that is, without counting Canada). I have always wanted to go there, mainly to visit Machu Picchu. Like Bella, the history of the place fascinates me. I hope you have a spectacular experience!

*drops by the chocolate tree and nabs a few truffles* Methinks we are in need of another Lady A visit.

Hi! Just popping in! Taking summer classes for college.

I second your sentiments on the Town Square. Remember those days when ten or so pages would pass in one day? Eep. And to think I had the time to catch up on everything, too.

I never had that time - so I stopped coming, only stopped by to talk once a year or even less ...

I've only kept up with the Ditto Story (Stories) and posted there. Not posted much even outside of Ditto Town - shown in my post count

Perhaps it's possible to post more often now?

*Lady Amalthea gleefully enters the Square*

Miss Rosario! I am so sorry that I missed being here with you.
Thank you for the reminder that the chocolate tree needs... pruning. Yeah, that's it: pruning. It certainly needs tending!

How exciting about your finals and grades!
I finished my first two semesters and will begin the long journey through three more this fall. Well, not all three semesters in the fall. I'll spread them out a bit. Hopefully my business degree will be complete by December 2013. *sigh*

Guess I had better get to the chocolate tree! Talk to you later!!

*Lady Amalthea is so focused on the chocolate tree that she doesn't notice the tail of a certain sleeping dragon not quite curled out of the way by the fountain.*

SPLOOSH!!!

ratsruffinsprechenlichendogsmellingcatnipping

* The narrator feels it is in the best interest of Town Square to interrupt Lady Amalthea by stuffine her with copious amounts of chocolate! *

*sticks her head into the near vacant square and looks around O.O*
Wow. 101st page and hardly anyone here. I remember years ago when it seemed like every couple of months a new square would open, and I'd have to fight through pages of posts to ketchup! Now.. it's so quiet.

So.. yeah. Decided to pop back in here once again, several months after my last visit, to you know.. chat a bit.. raise my post count.. say hi to the others lurking nearby, ya know?

*grabs a s'more and noms*

How have you all been lately? I've been fairly well I suppose. I'm busy, though. You know it's summer at my house when recital insanity starts.

Recitals are coming up soon. Next Friday to be exact. Dress rehearsals are this Friday, next Tuesday, and Wednesday. Final dance classes are Monday and Thursday. Recitals are next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! I'll be dancing every day of the week, starting Monday.

In between all that, my family also has to clean the house for my mom's best friend coming Saturday, and then clean it again for Grandma who's coming Thursday. This place is a mess (:P) so we have a TON to do! And this is all between running back and forth to dance all week!

Grandma's staying for our recitals and birthday. She's determined to take us shopping in between all of our recitals, lol. I don't think it's possible, but with grandma, she'll find a way!

Aaand FINALLY, i'm dealing with two injured feet right now with a ton of dance recitals and such coming up. To say i'm in a panic is an understatement. I'm already stressed enough with recitals, rehearsals, friends coming, grandma coming, cleaning the house, finishing schoolwork, etc. and now I have to deal with my feet too.

Needless to say i'm a wreck right now. Oh well. Now that i'm done telling my recent life story....

*...slides up to the chocolate tree and with a flying leap, grabs a huge truffle off of one of the higher branches, wanders over to one of the dusty chairs, brushes it off and sits down to eat*