Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Alternative TV

Several years ago we cancelled traditional TV/Cable in our home and opted for alternative broadcasting such as Netflix. In the last year we bought  a Roku that allows us to get ala carte programming such as The Blaze, Amazon Prime, The Weather Channel and Netflix. Television consumption in the Netflix/Amazon Prime generation consists of finding a TV show, and then watching a whole season on demand.  I don't even think I could follow a weekly series now that I'm accustomed to seeing 85 episodes in one sitting.  Any way I really have enjoyed the BBC.  It started with Sherlock Holmes, which is very disappointing in that there are only a few episodes in a season and then you must wait until the new season ends to get access. Then I found Call the Midwife, which sounds dumb, but it is WONDERFUL!! And my current obsession is Lark Rise to Candleford, which also is missing a catchy title, but is FABULOUS! I think the BBC might rethink the creative team that comes up with their program titles. I tried Downton Abbey but it was not near as good as the shows  I mentioned above and too much soap opera stuff.   I must say I am a huge fan of the BBC period programming and would highly recommend these titles. Other favorites on Netflix were Eureka and yay that had like 20 seasons to go through!! There is nothing more upsetting than getting hooked on a show that has one season... Dr Quinn Medicine Woman is an all time fave in this house. Its the equivalent to Little House on the Prairie that I can actually tolerate. Yes, I'm not a Little House fan..shhh.. I think that might be akin to blasphemy in the homeschool crowd. My husband was recently watching Parking Wars, now that is a job NO ONE wants! Being a meter maid is tough. It was interesting for about 5 minutes and then over and over were people bleeping out the meter maid. My husbands taste in TV is not as refined as mine :)

Oh and the number one best thing about this TV alternative is you can unplug the tiny Roku, or Wii, and lock it up in the safe or take it with you in the car. So if over consumption becomes an issue, quick fix!! I cannot tell you how many times I've snatched the Roku off the mantle (its the size of a bulky cell phone) and threatened to smash it in a zillion pieces. That usually returns the focus back to chores and school work pretty rapidly.

So what's your favorite TV shows?


Monday, November 12, 2012

Blogging from iPhone?

How do you get pics to load if your blogging from your iPhone?

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Facebook and I are NEVER, EVER, EVER getting BACK TOGETHER

Ok, so we are in the process of getting a divorce.  We are negotiating on who gets the kids, and will I get alimony.  Until then I may still creep on face book but I am definitely coming back to my ex-blog boyfriend.  So who is still out in blog land?

Thursday, January 05, 2012

South Pole Elves

Christmas week I decided Mike and I would make some doll beds for Liv's American Girl dolls. The cheap plastic-y ones at target were 45.00 dollars and I knew with my husbands mad carpentry skills we could whip one out for way less. Little did I know that a divorce costs way more than the target beds.... but I digress.. In usual Leisa fashion I find a cute plan on ana-white.com, decide we will make 6. You know 4 for us and 2 for friends, I mean how long can it take, right?

Notice the box of cheap beer under the table... I think that was a step in the process.. Just kidding Mike's dad helped get us started. He is a master carpenter.
Yes, they are adorable, yes, it takes two people to assemble, and yes, I called my husband a bastard in our back yard when our missionary neighbors were out back on their porch. And yes, I covered by loudly proclaiming, " I'm sorry honey, it's just so hard to get all these finished for the poor orphans...."
These still had to have about 5 billion more coats of paint. You can see the finished product with home made quilts in our Christmas day pics.

And I am sure our neighbors thought Santa was bringing us a divorce for Christmas, but hey that's just how we ROLL ;)

Bugsy Malone Jr.








Maddy played Lena in the show. Her character was hideously, hilariously awful!! She sang "Show Business" in this horrible nasally voice and then tripped, forgot lines, and stood on poor Walker! It was so funny!! What a fun part....

Ballet Recital

Liv also started Ballet this year and we had the pleasure of watching her Christmas performance. Her class were deer that found the half dead little girl after the forest fire....Enough said...






Ethan turns 6 ! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe my sweet little baby could possibly be 6. This is how I see him..


And a baby this small would not be getting a skate board!











Ocali Days

In November or October, I am not sure the month's are all running together, we went on a really neat field trip to Ocali Days. It is a pioneer village set up to represent that time period in Old Florida. We went on a Wednesday as a home school group and it was not crowded at all. The kids dipped candles, talked with civil war soldiers, sat in a one room school house, and ground sugar cane. I love these type of field trips since this is one of my favorite time periods. That is to visit, not to live in. Too much work!!














It was so funny to watch Maddy use the washer. She has done this type of thing so many times on field trips that she was instructing the helper girls as to how they had set up the washer incorrectly. You wouldn't wring out your clothing and then put them back in dirty water...

And one of our close friends, who is in LOVE with this time period and wishes she was born into it had a little trouble doing some of the chores. I think if she went back she would need to be born wealthy and on an plantation... Or she would starve and be running around naked. Love you H!!!


And it all ends with school

Rodeo

This fall Liv has taken up horse back riding and would like to become a rodeo princess. I can now appreciate why my parents resisted when I caught the horse bug.. It is EXPENSIVE!! Where am I going to put a horse? Should I build a barn next to the chicken coop? If I get a pony can it co-habit with the chickens. I am sure this might just push my neighbors over the edge. Luckily Liv's momma Rhonda has 5 acres and a pasture full of horses. Now all I need is boots, saddle, helmet, entrance fees, buckle.... We may have to discuss having more than one expensive hobby at a time. I thought the American Girl thing was $$. Maybe I can convince her that she just wants an AG doll horse ;)






On a side note. The Rodeo is hosted by a local church and they do a wonderful job with the kids. It is all free except an entrance fee if you ride. They have crafts, teach roping skills on the ground, there is a park, and a cook house. My kids have such a great time and they do it the third Saturday of the month. It is very laid back and welcoming.





I love this picture with Liv and Rhonda.