Friday Feast

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
I had my hair cut and colored (highlights, thank you) on Tuesday during a kid free day! Yay!
Soup
Name one thing you miss about being a child.
The lack of responsibilities.
Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Olive oil. There is nothing better in this world than dipping a piece of fresh baked crusty bread into a little olive oil with some herbs, salt, and pepper. To.die.for.
Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
Well, I took Spanish for 2 years in middle school, 4 years in high school, and 2 years in college. I can speak it kinda sorta okay. But if I were to learn another language, it would probably be Italian so I could order fancy pasta dishes correctly.
Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
in a very similar place as I am now only with considerably less whining (not me, the kids!) Maybe in a different house or seriously looking at a different house. Still teaching in the same school. Probably running the kids (who will be 7 and 9 ACK!) to various activities. Let's not talk about it anymore, okay?

How to widen your columns on Blogger

I have always wanted my main column wider. I just didn't get why it was so small with all that extra space on the left. I thought I wanted to go with a 3 column layout, but I decided against it. I think I like this better. Here's a tutorial on how to change to a 3 column layout.

Here's what I did to widen my main column and header. Let's start with the header.
Go to Customize, Layout, Edit HTML. Scroll down until you see this (although your number that is in red is probably 660 or something.)

#header-wrapper {
width:950px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
background-color:#3d310b;
filter:alpha(opacity=80); -moz-opacity:0.80; opacity:0.80; -khtml-opacity:0.80;

Change the header width number to 950. (I don't know why 950. That's just what I found online when I was looking at how to do it.)

Now scroll down aways until you see this:

#outer-wrapper {
width: 950px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:left;
font: $bodyfont;

Again, your number is probably 650 or 660 (I can't remember what it was originally.) Change this to 950 too.

One more thing. So far we've changed the actual blog space. Now we need to change your main post column. Scroll down to this:

#main-wrapper {
width: 650px;
float: left;
padding: 5px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
background-color:#3d310b;
filter:alpha(opacity=80); -moz-opacity:0.80; opacity:0.80; -khtml-opacity:0.80;

I think the original number was lik 410. It should be changed to 650.

Now, click Preview and see if your space has widened. If you love it, Save Template. If you hate it or something didn't work, exit without saving.

This is the site that helped me the most. It goes through the steps I showed you above, along with how to make your sidebar wider (which I decided not to do) or how to change to a 3 column layout. I think it's a little easier than the first link.

Let me know how it goes!

Keeping your Widgets Tutorial

Many of you asked for a tutorial on how to do some of the things I have done to my blog, so here it is! But, listen. I have no idea what I'm doing really. I read some things online, played around a little, and finally came up with how I wanted my blog to look. I created a "test" blog but I didn't end up using it. I just always made sure to PREVIEW and exit out without saving if I didn't like how things were looking. Let's take a look, shall we?


The first thing you should do is download/save a copy of your current template just.in.case. To do this, go to Customize, Layout, Edit HTML, Download Full Template. Then save it to your computer.

Now, while you're in the edit HTML screen, let's take a look at your widgets. If you scroll down, nearly to the bottom of the screen you will see a bunch of lines that look like this:

Here's what I did and you could too. Copy and paste those "widget lines" and put them in a Word document, or in an email to yourself so you have them. (Make a note as to WHERE they came from so you know where to put the widget code in the new layout.) Then delete all the old HTML code from your old template. Don't worry...it isn't really gone until you hit save.

Find the new layout you want to use. Paste in the new code for the new layout. Find the spot in the new code where the widget codes should go. Paste in your widget codes. Click Preview...and see what happens. If you're lucky, like me, you should see all of your old "stuff" in your new layout. If so, then you can go back and Save Template. But be sure you really want to save.

2 goofy things happened on mine that I had to fix but were very easy.

My post history and "about me" section ended up being in my sidebar twice. (They must carry over from the old blog but because I copied the widget code, they came twice.) Anyway, all I had to do was go to Customize, Layout, and delete the duplicates.

The other things was my Sitemeter. It is the only widget I have at the bottom of my blog. So, to save you a little HTML headache...if you have anything at the bottom of your blog, move it to your sidebar before you get started. It's much easier to move it when you're done than try to get the correct code.

Well, I just read that and I hope it makes sense. It seems a little wordy, but I swear it's easy. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you.

Next post: How to widen your columns

Ask and you shall receive

Many of you took the time to vote in my little poll thingie over there about what to do with my background. At first I freaked when the majority of you chose to change my background as I change my header because I am not HTML literate and in the past, each time I changed my background using Pyzam, I lost everything. However, I played around with it and learned how to copy and paste all my widgets back in! Woo hoo!

So here is my matching background for my current "wheat harvesting time" header. Whatcha think? Cute, right?

So now that I know what I am doing, I can get all matchy matchy with my backgrounds and headers. I can feel you are underwhelmed with this information, but I am very excited! Please humor me. Thank you.

Edited to add: Look at me go! Now I have learned how to change the width of my columns and header. Yay for me!

WFMW

Each week I get several hits from people looking for a John Deere tractor cake. I feel it is my duty to give what the people want.

A couple of years ago, my mom bought this cake pan. (And if you are here as a lover of all that is John Deere...you must visit this website. They have sunglasses, clothes, hats, home decor, toys, even a John Deere stroller. No, it's not as tacky as it sounds. It's quite cute, actually.)

The first cake my mom made was this one. She baked a tractor cake and placed it on a regular sheet cake. Cute, no?

The next tractor cake was for the Boy's 4th birthday. This time my mom used fondant (very fancy) and constructed a hay wagon full of round bales. The wagon was actually a piece of wood. The bales were coconut covered marshmallows. The wheels were mini chocolate doughnuts. She even made chocolate animals out of molds. However, now Rungreen sells chocolate tractors and animals! Shhhh...don't tell Tractor Boy!

So, why is this a Works for Me Wednesday post? Because I said so, that's why. What works for me? My mom, my mom's tractor cake pan, and this website. Any questions?

Crossing items off the list...

At the beginning of the summer, I made this list. A couple weeks later, I was able to cross some things off. Today, I have even MORE to cross of. Woo hoo!

Thirteen things I will do this summer.
1. Join a gym. I know. I know. I keep saying it...but I WILL do it. Tomorrow.
2. Replace the metal porch railing with white vinyl fencing.
3. Take the hideous border down and repaint the dining room.
4. Gravel one flower bed and mulch another.
5. Get the carpet in the family room cleaned.
6. Go to garage sales on Fridays with happy, pleasant, non-whiney children. (Anybody know where I can get some of those?)
7. Have more playdates with Deb, Noah, and Addison.
8. Keep using my Crock Pot at least twice a week.
9. Go on a date (probably with my husband.)
10. Back all of my pictures up on CD when HP Slimine gets back (if the pics are still there.)
11. Paint the neglected, faded shutters on the house.
12. Read the 5 books from this list that I haven't yet read.
13. Get my daughter off the paci. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

It is so very satisfying to cross things off a list, isn't it? I am MUY excited to share pics from item #3. I have a couple more finishing touches to do, then I will post all about the dining room makeover.

I am working on reading the books from #12. I will get those done for sure, it's just a matter of getting the books finished. Just about the only reading time I have is right before bed and I often fall asleep before I get much reading done! Then I get sidetracked with other books. I am getting ready to start Blood Orange by Drusilla Campbell, then I will read The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer.

Getting my daughter off the paci was one of the biggest accomplishments to date. She was a paci addict so going cold turkey was scary, but it worked. She hasn't asked for it in several days. I am glad that is over and done with. (And for all of you wondering, I did throw them all out just last week. Not a paci is left in the house...that I know of!)

I think I will work on item #11 this week. I am not going to get real involved and take the shutters down. I will just slap a fresh coat of paint on them and call it done.

The other items...eh. We'll see if they get finished. The most important ones (to me) have been done so I am happy.

How about you? Is there one thing you are hoping to get done this summer?

Doghouse, boyfriend, school supplies, OH MY!

Our holiday weekend was relaxing and uneventful. We did take the kids and Gator to our family's farm/creek for 4-wheeler riding, campfire food, and a nice, relaxing evening. The kids and Farm Guy walked this creek with some of our family. The kids LOVED it and came back very wet and very happy. And Mama was happy to sit and have an adult conversation with no children around to interrupt.

Jackie the Cow is in the doghouse...literally and figuratively. Farm Guy had the Gator on the trailer, tied down with 2 tow straps. Jackie chewed through both of them. Completely chewed apart. As if that wasn't bad enough, she also gnawed on the gear shifter thingie. I thought my husband was going to explode. Jackie might just have to find a new family...one who enjoys having their things ruined. Any takers?

With the passing of the 4th, the evil empire Wal-Mart has begun stocking their school supplies. On July 5th. Every teacher out there is cringing right now, I guarantee it. But here's the thing. I LOVE school supplies. Do I love seeing them on July 5th? Not so much. That's just another reminder that summer is halfway over. BUT. I can't help but walk by the school supplies with a little excitement. I finger the glue sticks...smell the crayons...stroke the loose paper. I get all hot and bothered just thinking about it. I know. I have problems. But, you can imagine my excitement when my IRL BFF, Deb, alerted me to the Staples weekly ad. Ladies and gentlemen (are there any gentlemen out there reading?) they have $0.01 folders, pencils, and hand santizer. One cent! The kids and I will be there with bells on when they open this morning.

County fair season is upon us. Is that a big deal in your area? It is here. We are going to one county fair this week and our county fair is next week. Even though we live in a little town, the fair parade is pretty great. We went as a family for the first time last year and the kids had a blast! The kids stood on the edge of the path as they had candy tossed at them. They loved it so I know they will have a blast this year. Speaking of candy. If you ask the Boy what there is at the fair, he responds, "Animals and tractors!" If you ask Little Miss, her response is "Candy and ice cream!" That is so very typical (although I tend to agree with her!)

One of the kids' favorite things to do is pick and "foof" dandelions. Little Miss has recently learned you are to make a wish but not tell anyone or it won't come true. Yesterday she picked one and before she "foofed" it said in a very quiet voice, "I wish for cake and green beans." She is such a nut!

Oh my gosh. The funniest thing just happened. My kids found pictures from the award presentation when I received a teaching award. There is one pic of me with my husband on one side and my principal on the other. Little Miss said, "Who is that guy?" The Boy says, "That's mommy...that's daddy...and that's mommy's boyfriend." Hilarious!

Did anyone happen to see that my title was an "honorable mention" on PW's most recent Name that Photo contest? I just KNEW my entry was going to win. I was slightly disappointed to see it wasn't picked as the winner (I was REALLY digging that camera) but I was happy to see how much traffic I got from just being listed. So, thanks, Ree!

Don't forget to tell me which wedding shower invitation you like best. And if you haven't gone to Scrapblog yet, I highly recommend it. (Unless you have anything else to do today...then you'd better not go. You won't want to quit!)

Last but not least...the answer to the 4th of July quiz. The question was, "Which of these lines is from the Declaration of Independence?"
1)We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union
2)We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal 3)Give me liberty or give me death

The answer is...

2) We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

Good job, everyone!

The first line (which got 29% of the votes) is from the Constitution and the third line (which NO ONE voted for) was from a speech given by Patrick Henry in 1775 to the Virginia House of Burgesses urging colonists to fight the British.

That concludes this week's history lesson. And probably all history lessons in general.