[tomorrow]

Today I started my third week of eleventh grade. Is it just me, or did I start early? It seems like a lot of people just started today....

I'm hoping for a good day tomorrow. [better then today] I'm going to [try my best to] pull myself out of bed in the morning [which is very hard to do] at an early hour, and have an enjoyable day. I do like the early hours of the day but it's just so hard to get up.

 I recently discovered that google has a place to read and save ebooks. I think that's awesome! A lot of the classics are free. So, lots of reading ahead? [perhaps tomorrow] Yes, I think so.

Well, that's all. Goodnight.
-Eliza

pinterest loves

Isn't Pinterest great? The perfect place to gather inspiration and ideas.
-Eliza

It's cloudy and stormy outside and I'm enjoying my last few days of summer. I start school on Monday. :) Oh, and eating oranges. Yes!
-Eliza

random thoughts

Christian artists I've seen in concert and/or met.

1. Mark Shultz
2. Jamie Jamagochian
3. Scott Kirpane
4. Charity Von
5. Point of Grace
6. Avalon
7. The Martins
8. Selah
9. Charles Billingsly 
10. Todd Agnew
11. Pocket Full of Rocks
12. Matthew West
13. David Phelps
14. Shaun Groves
15. Shane and Shane
16. Meredith Andrews

We got a JCrew catalog in the mail today. I like a lot of their clothes but it's all so expensive! I mean really, really expensive. Who would like to buy a light summer scarf for sixty bucks? Not me! :)

States I've been to.

1. Arkansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Missouri
5. Kansas
6. Colorado
7. Arizona
8. Tennessee

Yeah, not many. :)  Well, were getting ready to go watch "Father of the Bride". And I might eat some Frosted Flakes while I watch it. Well, only me that is. I'm crazy about cereal, and my family thinks I'm nuts. ha I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wait, sometimes I do. :)

Odd post but oh well. :)

-Eliza

{the story with not yet a title} part three

(see part one and part two - previous posts)

The younger girls scrambled up the steps while Stella and Jill sat on the grass. "Ahh, it's hot out here." Jill said. "I wasn't expecting it to be quite this bad. It's quite a bit cooler back in Missouri." she said. "Missouri?" Stella asked. "Yeah, we just moved here." Jill answered. "Oh, I didn't know. I figured y'all already lived in the area." Stella said. "Oh, no. We've lived in Missouri since I was two years old." Jill answered. "Oh okay. So you liked it in Missouri?" Stella asked. "Oh yeah. My friends are there and my ballet studio." Jill said. "You do ballet?" Stella asked. "Yes. I started when I was ten and loved it ever since. I'm going to have to find a new studio here." she said. "That's really cool." Stella said. "I like to write. I've written a small book and I'm currently working on another." she said. "Really? Would you mind if I read it?" Jill asked smiling. "No one has read it before. But you could read it and tell me what you think." she said. "Yeah!" "Well, why don't we go get it now so I don't forget." Stella suggested. "Alright." Jill said standing up. They walked to the house, and went up stairs to Stella's bedroom. "I don't quite remember where I put it." she said digging through her desk drawers. "I see your an Elvis Presley fan." Jill said admiring the many Elvis posters that decorated her walls. "Oh yes." Stella said with a laugh. "I am too. I mean, I don't have posters of him on my walls, but he does have some pretty great music." Jill said. "You can say that again." Stella said turning to smile. "Oh here it is. I don't remember sticking it there. Well, here you go. I hope you like it. But if you don't, I want to know." she said handing Jill a worn paper folder. "Thanks. I'll bring it back when I'm finished and I'll let you know what I think. I'm sure it'll be great." she said smiling. "Alright. Would you like something to drink? That heat is just hard on you." Stella said leaving the bedroom, Jill following. Stella poured them both a cold glass of Coca-Cola, and brought it to their sun room, a small room by the stairs. "So, what was your home like in Missouri?" Stella asked after taking a long drink. "Well, we lived in a neighborhood. A fairly small, three bedroom house. It was kinda tight for us all. It was great when it was only Frances and I when we were little but not after Essie and Don were born." Jill said. "My Dad was laid off from his job and he searched for almost two weeks for a new one. During that time my Mom had to take a temporary job leaving me at home with everyone. Dad soon discovered that there was nothing there for him. Between that, and our cramped house in a tight and crowded neighborhood, my parents decided to move to south Texas." she said ending with a smile. "Wow. Are you sad about the move?" Stella asked her. "Well leaving everything behind is sad of course, but I'm kind of looking forward to starting over. And I'm certainly not going to miss that small house and tiny yard." Jill replied. Stella smiled. They continued to talk about various things while sipping their Coca-Cola. "Stella?" Mrs. Wicks called. She came around the corner to see the two on the couch. "Oh. Jill, your parents are ready to leave." she said smiling. "Alright, we're coming." Jill replied leaving the couch. "Has it really been an hour already?" Stella asked surprised, after looking at her cellphone. They went to the front porch where everyone had already gathered. "Thank you Stella, you've already made me feel so welcome to this big, sun baked town." Jill said smiling. Stella watched as the Duncan's drove away.

baby squirrel.

Yesterday morning Laura came and told me that Dumpling (her dog) had found something and was carrying it around in her mouth. She said it was like half mouse and half kitten. And she said it was a pinkish color. She put it under a bucket so that the dogs couldn't get to it. So I went out there, and when she lifted the bucket I immediately knew it was a squirrel. Same little ears, same toes, and same shaped head. It doesn't have a fuzzy tail yet but it does have some of the coloring of a squirrel. So I went and got some gloves, and brought it inside into the sunroom and put it on a towel. Emma came home with some kitten milk and fed it that with a syringe.

That's what it looked like when she lifted the bucket. Curled up in a little ball. :)

Right now he is in a shoe box with water bottles full of warm water and a towel. :) I'll let you know how he is doing in the next couple days. :)

Eliza

{the story with not yet a title} part two

{see part one-previous post}


"Oh. Do they have kids?" Stella replied. "Yes, they have three daughters all about ya'll's ages and a baby boy." Mrs. Wicks said, sweeping the kitchen floor. Suddenly the telephone rang. "Finish please." Mrs. Wicks said handing Stella the broom. "I never got to finish what I was saying." Mildra sighed, turning to leave the room. Stella  finished and returned the broom to the closet. Mr. Wicks came through the front door and into the kitchen. "Hey Stella.  You know were having company for dinner?" he asked her. "Yeah, Mom told me." she said. "They should be here in about-" he paused to look at his cellphone. "20 minutes." he said. Stella went to the living room where Kate was still watching her movie. "Oh good, it's over." Stella said coming up behind Kate. She picked her up, and hauled her upstairs in a playful way, Kate giggling the whole way. "We got to get ready." Stella said when she reached Mildra and Kate's bedroom. "You should wear this." Stella said, grabbing a tshirt that was colorfully designed with glitter. "What are you going to wear?" Kate asked her big sister. "I'm not sure yet. Put that on and some shorts, and I'm going to go get ready." she said. "Okay!" Kate answered. Stella crossed the hall to her own bedroom. She looked through the clothes hanging in the closet, and fiddled through the ones on the floor. She finally decided on a coral tank top and shorts. She sprayed on her favorite perfume and added a necklace. After she tamed her hair, and got it looking decent again, she did Kate's hair for her, and the two went down stairs to help with dinner. "Where's Mildra?" Stella asked her Mom when she reached the kitchen. Stella started to butter the bread. "Why, I haven't seen her." Mrs. Wicks said. "She needs to get ready, they'll be here soon." Stella said. "I'll go see if she's in the tree house." Kate said, leaving through the back door. Stella put the bread in the oven and finished setting the table. Then the doorbell rang. Mr. Wicks came running down the stairs to answer it. Stella went into the living room to make sure everything was in order only to see that Kate had left crumbs all over the couch. "Kate!" Stella thought silently as she hurriedly brushed them into her hand. She ran back to the kitchen just before Mr. Wicks let them in. "It's almost ready." Mrs. Wicks said. 'Will you please finish so I can go introduce myself?" she asked. "Yeah, sure." Stella answered. She pulled the bread out of the oven, poured the sauce over the noodles, and went out into the backyard to check on Kate. "Stella, I found her! She was in the tree house!" Kate hollered. "That's great, now run, hurry up!" Stella said. "Just be really quiet when going up the stairs. Don't go two at a time like you usually do." Stella said looking at Mildra. "And don't come down until your wearing clean clothes, your hair is brushed, and you smell like something other then chickens." she said. Kate giggled looking at Mildra. Stella and Kate went into the living room where the others were. "Stella, this is Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, and their daughters. Jill is sixteen, Frances is eleven, and Essie is five. And their little baby boy, Don." Mrs. Wicks said. "It's nice to meet you all." Stella said. Kate, who at times was not the slightest bit shy, went right over to Essie Duncan and introduced herself. Stella just had to smile. "It looks like our little sisters will get along just fine." Jill said. Stella turned and smiled. "Hi. I'm Stella." she said. "It's great to meet you guys." Jill said. Mildra came down the stairs and Stella walked towards her. She brought her over to Frances who was standing behind the recliner where Essie and Kate were now sitting. "Frances, this is my sister Mildra. Mildra, this is Frances." Stella said. She left them and returned to her spot next to Jill on the bench. They watched Frances and Mildra. "Maybe, just maybe, one of them will have the nerve to say something first." Jill said with a laugh. The room had become noisy with everyone talking. Mrs. Wicks suggested they all move to the dinner table and so they did. There were many conversations going at the same time amongst them and it remained that way throughout the meal. After dinner, the girls went out to the tree house while their parents talked over business.
To be continued.

{the story with not yet a title} part one

 The warm breeze swept across the grass blowing her hair in her face which she softly pushed back. She closed her eyes. Her cheeks were quickly turning pink from the intense Texas sun which was known could give you a sunburn in just minutes. She opened her eyes again when she heard a bee. It had landed on the grass beside her. She turned her head so that her nose was only inches from it. She jumped up and ran towards the house which she could see in the distance. She soon stopped and turned around to make sure the bee was gone. She brushed the grass off her shorts and walked the rest of the way to the big farmhouse. "Stella?" she heard as she neared the front steps. It was her Mom. "Yes?" Stella answered after taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out. Her Mom opened the screen door and stepped out onto the front porch where Stella had just plopped into a big chair. "Water all the flowerbeds and the potted flowers for me please. We're having company over for dinner tonight, and they look just awful." Mrs. Wicks said. Stella pulled herself out of the comfy chair which she badly did not want to leave, and leaned over the porch rail to look down at the plants in the flowerbed. "Why, they look awful." she said turning to look at her Mom. "Well, we haven't had rain in weeks. And it's so hot out, what do you expect?" her Mother turned and walked back into the house, the screen door slamming shut behind her. Stella made her way down the porch steps, and around to the side of the house where the water hose was. As she watered the poor wilted plants, she got her hand wet and wiped it across the back of her neck. It felt as if the sun was directly above their house, pouring all it's heat onto their poor thirsty ranch. She hurriedly finished watering the plants and went inside. It had occurred to her that she had forgotten to ask her Mom who it was that was coming for dinner. "Stella! Stella! Come here!" she heard her little sister's voice calling, the second she stepped in the door. A gush of cold hair hit her face as she stepped into the air conditioning. "What is it, Kate?" she responded, heading for the kitchen. "Come here!" the little voice answered. "Just a minute." she grabbed a glass of sweet tea, and went into the living room where her little six year old sister was on the couch watching a movie. "Stella, look. It's your favorite part." she said pointing at the TV. Stella couldn't stop the smile that came across her face. She curled up on the cold leather couch next to her sister and drank her sweet tea as she watched her favorite part of the movie. After she finished her tea, she went upstairs to her bedroom. She closed the curtains to keep out the heat from the sun, and turned on her fan. Even with the air conditioning it was hot. She looked in the mirror to see that her hair was a giant mess on top of her head. She just sighed and grabbed her computer from her nightstand, headed to her desk, and turned it on. Then she remembered again that she had to find Mom so she could ask her who it was that was coming over. She shut her computer, and went down stairs. She found her Mom in the kitchen talking to Mildra, her little sister who was ten. "Hey Mom." Stella said leaning over the counter top. "Stella, get back from the counter, I just cleaned it." she said. Stella stepped back, glanced down at the counter and noticed a small smudge of dirt. "I forgot to ask you earlier who it is that's coming for dinner." she said. "I was talking Stella, you interrupted me." Mildra said annoyed at her older sister. Stella ignored her, and instead, looked at her Mom in wait of an answer. "There's a family who just moved down the road a ways and he needs a temporary job until he finds something better. Your Dad is considering hiring him to help him with the cattle." Mrs. Wicks said.

   To be continued.

-Eliza