The Mirror

So, a while ago I saw this video on www.quirkology.com It said that for most people, they either figured out the trick right away, or they never figured it out. I didn't figure it out until Jc watched it with me and we did a little searching (she was the brain behind it). So, can you figure it out?




Don't worry, if you can't figure it out, in a few days Jc will post another video that might help explain it a little better.

~Ellentia

Olympics

It's funny, almost as soon as I posted those terribly boring three paragraphs, I remembered that I was planning on doing an Olympics post. I have been staying up until 11:00 or 12:00 every night to watch the games. I have really enjoyed them. My favorite event was definently the 4x100 mens freestyle final. However, the men's and women's all-around individual competitions were really good. If you didn't see the mens 4x100 freestyle, you really missed a good race.

The commercials have been good this year. In my humble opinion, as a whole, they are better then superbowl commercials. The best individual commercials come from the superbowl, but all around, there are more good commercials in the Olympics. My favorite commercial, though not strictly Olympic:




And another good one:




There are so many great athletes who are in the Olympics this year, but there were also lots of people who didn't make the team. Here are the honorable mentions:




~Ellentia

So, since I last posted, nothing really exciting has happened (maybe that's why I have taken so long to post again!). I am loaded down with school this year and to be honest, I'm not sure how I'm going to get it all done! Each subject by itself (except Chemistry) isn't a problem; but putting them together is going to be tough.

Okay, enough school. This year I am planning to enter into the state fair competitions. The deadline for entry forms is Friday. I need to hurry up and get my entries settled. Thankfully I don't have to have the actual piece finished, I just have to have the forms mailed in. Surprisingly (ha ha) there are a ton more categories then there were in Nac, and it is difficult to know which ones I'm looking for.

Dad has finally re-started the girls ensemble at church. I love the song he picked! I hope that we can learn it fast so we can spend more time on the fine-tuning. I am a little worried that the middle part will have some trouble because the girls in it, as far as I know, have not done a lot of singing, and the song is syncopated. But, I am not too worried, because Dad is an excellent teacher and the girls will probably do fine.

~Ellentia

NM!

So, last week was a lot of fun. Our family minus the father and daughter who work went to New Mexico. Nat went fishing for a few days with our Grandpa and Mom and I learned how to quilt from my Great-Grandma. Libba watched movies while we quilted in the mornings and Phil just ran around making a nuisance of himself. Enjoyed learning how to quilt and if I had time I would probably attempt a small quilted somthing-or-other but since I already have way too many hobbies that I am working on, and school is about to start in earnest, I figure it would be a good idea to not start something new.

While I was in NM, I signed myself in to Bondage. Literally. Remember the Oklahoma History class I was in last year? Well, the teacher, Mrs. Bond, also teaches American History. I shall have to slave away for her again this year. It will be a little easier because I know what to expect now. We also signed up for choir again this year. I was going to do a different choir because I am not fond of the way the homeschool choir is run but it didn't work out. Oh well, I will try to ignore all the frustrating things that happen every 30 seconds.

So, now for pictures from our trip:

First, some scenery. It is so beautiful in NM. As M0m says, the sky is the bluest in NM.




The clouds were spectacular on the trip to Las Cruces.


These are the Organ Mountains, my favorite mountains. Las Cruses is right by them so you can see them a lot in the city.


These are the Organ Mts. at sunset. I wasn't in the best spot for picture-taking though.




More sunset.


Friday we went to the park.


It was hot.


This is Mom and Mimmie quilting.


This is the water tower that mom and I walked to Saturday morning. It was a lot longer on foot then it was on a bike.


I thought I would close with some cactus flowers. (there isn't a ' at the end of cactus is there?)



~Ellentia

Dayspring!

So, I am finally back from camp. I am glad to be back, I was so tired by the end of the week (sleep deprivation does that to you). My BASIC (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) group was really awesome! We all really got to know each other and in the middle of the week everyone was participating in the discussions. I learned so much from everyone in my group.

The camp is located in this really cool red canyon and on one side there is a cross at the top that lights up at night. You can hike up to the cross but you're not supposed to hike anywhere else. I did anyways. There was a place where the rock was at an angle and there were handholds and footholds so some friends and I climbed up that. It was more difficult then the trail but it was a lot more fun.

Of course, every year there are the usual free time activities, volleyball and basketball tournaments, swimming, hiking etc. and this year I was on a volleyball team. I think were were the worst team but I had fun playing. It was rally scoring and best 2 out of three games. Our first game we lost 15 to 3 and the second game we lost 15 to 5.

At the end of free time there were electives you could go to. Connecting to God through art, connecting to God through relationships, connecting to God through culture and connecting to God through conflict. I went to all except the conflict one. The art one was arts and crafts, you could draw, paint, make beaded things or make paper things. I decided to sketch. The relationships and culture ones were open questions and discussions.

The most annoying part of the week was the first night. One of the girls started shrieking because she saw a mouse and then all the other girls started shrieking. It was rather funny because they all started jumping on beds and suitcases. I personally didn't care but the other girls were scared out of their wits so at 12:30 we all had to pack up and move to a different cabin! I was not happy. It's not like the mouse was gonna eat them in their sleep! My friend and I named it Joany, and it was a very cute mouse. I voted to catch it and keep it as a pet. Somehow I was overruled.

So, now for the pictures. These are in no particular order:

This is the cross at the top of the canyon that a lot of us hiked up to; me for the scenery and others for the cell phone reception.


View from the top of the cross


Mountain Men!


This is the lovely foot circle at the cross.


Hiking buddies at the cross, notice the cell phone ;)


This looks like a cave but it is only a few feet deep.


Before we had free time we had total group and we would play games. If you lost, there was a punishment. This is the punishment for Jc, on the right.


Every night after worship we had "late night". This is at the disco dance.


This was the Spider that I found in a window, it is still alive.


During BASIC we had a butterfly land on Steve's hat. It sat there and licked his hat for about 15 minutes. We named it Steve Jr. because it seemed to like Steve.


There were lots of animals at camp (of course). This is the baby deer, I didn't get a good picture of the mother.


There were also goats, about 12 of them.


There were canvases and oil pastels in the Tabernacle and people could draw during worship, there were some pretty awesome drawings.






This is the cool climbing place that we found. It wasn't really that difficult, but it was a lot of fun!


This is our unofficial devotion group that met the first three mornings. I missed the last one because I was so exhausted that I woke up after it started.


This is the chapel that my BASIC group was supposed to meet in but it was so hot that we met right outside the chapel.


And this is my totally amazing BASIC group!


This post has taken forever to create and there are a bazillion pictures but I couldn't decide which I liked best. Well, that was camp.

~Ellentia

Camp

I'm off to camp, be back later!

~Ellentia

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I last posted. This week I have been home all week long except for Wednesday night; and tonight I am going to a party. I am so ready to be out of the house for a while. I bet though, that Jc wishes that she had more time at home (at least I wish it for her).

I was going to post parts from a funny e-mail that we got but I can't get to the e-mail right now. So, instead I will post a quizz:


Okay, that didn't work, I will try again later...

~Ellentia

Running in the Rain

This evening Philip was being very fussy, so Jc and I went outside for a walk with him and were joined by Mom and Libba. As we started out it began to rain lightly. We continued down the street and then turned back for home. After we dropped off the little ones and Mom, I suggested that Jc and I walk around the block once and then come inside. It wasn't raining too hard and Mom agreed. I would not have made the suggestion to walk more if I had thought that in a few minutes it was going to rain in earnest, but as it turned out, we were only halfway home when it began to rain much harder.

At first this was alright but then I realized that we were going to get very wet. We began to run as it rained harder. We passed a few cars and some people on their porch and they must have thought we were very odd indeed to go walking in the rain. I didn't really mind though, it was a nice outing in the rain. We finally got home, dripping wet. I felt like we ought to have snuck in through a window or something. But since we had asked, and received permission, to go for that walk in the rain, we had no real reason to sneak in the house. My hair has punished me for getting wet though, it has become most difficult. I will probably have to wash it to calm it down.

~Ellentia

Kings' Dreams and Schemes

Well, the music camp is finally over. I can't wait to see the video of the show! The performance was last night and to tell you the truth, those dear little campers did fantastic! The show was of course a huge success. The song with the black light worked really well. We practiced with the black light before the performance but there were lights on that we couldn't turn off so the effect in rehearsal was not nearly as neat. During the performance we had the room completely dark and we had a few extra black lights and all the kids started oohing and ahing on stage when everything started to glow. Us three stick girls had fluorescent pink dowels and they really popped in the black light.

For the Daniel in the lions den song we had five little kids dressed up as lions. We hadn't ever practiced with the costumes or even put them on the kids and one boy was way to big for his costume. However, they all looked really cute! There were lots of things in the musical that were really cute and funny, it was probably a good thing that I was running the words in the back because I was laughing too much to have been backstage.

I am glad it's over though. It was fun while it lasted but if it had been much longer, I probably would have collapsed!

~Ellentia

Kings Dreams and Schemes, the story of Daniel

Wow, it's only day two of the children's music camp and I'm already exhausted! I have been helping those dear little campers learn to play hand chimes correctly and many of them are resisting my well meant suggestions. If you tell them to set the chimes on the table they bang them on the table. If you tell them to quietly pick the chimes up they promptly try and ring them and seem surprised that it makes a sound! However, when they are supposed to be playing, half of the kids suddenly lose their desire to ring the chimes and the other half seem to feel it's their duty to ring twice as loud and often to make up for the kids who aren't playing!

After four such sessions with the campers, we take a lunch break and then get to watch the little dears run around outside. Yesterday they played kickball and one of the kids hit a homerun, passing by all of the fully loaded bases and managed to be the only one who came home that play.

I have also been running the words for the songs on the projector and attempting to learn hand motions that involve a long dowel. During one of the songs three of us "teen leaders" are going to add to the effect and kneel on stage and wave dowels around. It will be dark and everyone (including those darling kids) will have white gloves on and there will be a big black light to make the gloves and dowels glow. This is going to be fun...

~Ellentia

4th of July

Well, I hope you all had a happy 4th of July, we did. I will post pictures later, after I get them uploaded from my camera, right now I really don't want to undertake that adventure.

Nat was in a parade and afterwards we went swimming (I got a little sunburned, drat). Then we had a cookout with some friends for dinner and finished the day with the fireworks. Overall, it was a pleasant day. (I hate the word pleasant, but I can't come up with a better word to use.)

~Ellentia

13!

Wow, today we officially have 3 teenagers in our family. Nat turned 13 today, happy birthday Nat! He had a party last night that consisted of water, Bill Cosby and no sleep. Okay, maybe they got a few hours of sleep, but that's it. We also pulled out the chocolate fountain that we got for Jc's party in June. Since Nat was at camp when we got it we kept it a secret and surprised him with it last night. Overall, I think he and his friends had a good time.

Preparations...








Lighting the candles



~Ellentia

Not Much

Yesterday Mom, Jc and I all came back from picking up Jc at camp. The concert on Saturday and encore on Sunday were both wonderful. Great job Jc! I hope to join you next year!

The summer music camp for kids is approching fast, and with the coming of the camp, my babysitting is increasing. Libba and Phil are determined to drive me crazy! Haha, Phil has picked up the habit of staying in bed after I wake him up from nap. He'll shake his head and say "no" and then about 15 to 20 min later he'll call and be ready to get up! I wish I could do that in the morning...




~Ellentia

Lord of the Dance

I was recently on a website and noticed a song called Lord of the Dance. I was surprised to discover that it was sung to the tune of Simple Gifts, an old Shaker hymn, and that it was the song that played several times during the Lord of the Dance show. I found two different versions, but I think that the second is better known.


She danced on the water, and the wind was her horn
The Lady laughed, and everything was born
And when She lit the sun and its' light gave Him birth
The Lord of the Dance first appeared on the Earth

chorus: (sung between all verses)
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, you see!
I live in you, and you live in Me
And I lead you all in the Dance, said He!

I danced in the morning when the world begun
I danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun
I was called from the darkness by the Song of Earth
I joined in the Song, and She gave Me Birth!

I dance in the Circle when the flames leap high
I dance in the Fire and I never, never die
I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea
For I am the Lord of the wave's mystery

I sleep in the kernel and I dance in the rain
I dance in the wind, and through the waving grain
When they cut me down I care nothing for the pain
In the spring I'm the Lord of the Dance once again!

I dance at the Sabbat when you dance out the spell
I dance and sing that everyone be well
And when the dancing's over do not think that I am gone
To live is to Dance! So I still Dance on.

I see the Maidens laughing as they dance in the Sun
And I count the fruits of the harvest one by one
I know the Storm is coming, but the Grain is all stored
So I sing of the Dance of the Lady, and Her Lord:

The Horn of the Lady cast its sound cross the plain
The birds took the notes, and gave them back again
Till the sound of Her music was a Song in the sky
And to that Song there is only one reply:

The moon in her phases, and the tides of the sea
The movement of the Earth, and the Seasons that will be
Are the rhythm for the dancing, and a promise through the years
That the Dance goes on through our joys and tears

We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the Horn is the wailing of the wind
The Earth is wrapped in Stillness, and we move in a trance,
But we hold on fast to our faith in the Dance!

The sun is in the southland and the days grow chill
And the sound of the horn is fading on the hill
'Tis the horn of the Hunter, as he rides across the plain
And the Lady sleeps 'till the Spring comes again

The Sun is in the southland and the days lengthen fast
And soon we will sing for the Winter that is past
Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn
And we dance the Dance of the Sun's return!

They danced in the darkness and they danced in the night
They danced on the Earth, and everything was light
They danced out the Darkness and they danced in the Dawn
And the Day of that Dancing is still going on!

I gaze on the Heavens and I gaze on the Earth
And I feel the pain of dying and rebirth
And I lift my head in gladness and in praise
For the Dance of the Lord and His Lady gay

I dance in the stars as they whirl throughout space
And I dance in the pulse of the veins in your face
No dance is too great, no dance is too small,
You can look anywhere, for I dance in them all!


And now, here is a different version:

I danced on the morning when the world was begun,
I danced on the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from Heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

Chorus: (sung between all verses)
Dance, then, wherever you may be
For I am the Lord of the Dance said he
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance said He.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John
They came with me and the Dance went on.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high
And left me there on the cross to die

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to dance with the Devil on your back
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance and I still go on.

They cut me down and I leapt up high:
I am the life that will never, never die.
I'll live in you if you live in me
I am the Lord of the Dance said he.







-Ellentia

*edit*

Wait wait, I found two videos that I like better then the first one:

Alzheimer's Eye Test'

Count every ' F ' in the following text:


FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
(SEE BELOW)

HOW MANY ?










THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.

The reasoning behind is further down.














The brain cannot process 'OF'.

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!
Anyone who counts all 6 'F's' on the first go is a genius.


Three is normal, four is quite rare.


I found all six the first time I counted. However, to make sure that I got them all before I looked to see how many there were, I counted again (going backwards) and only found four. Do I count as half-genius? ; )

~Ellentia