-written Sunday-
Tonight, I sit enjoying those last few free hours before starting my studies again tomorrow. I needed the break, but I now need to get back to my regular schedule.
This week, I made cookies and brought them to work. I watched Home Alone 1 & 2, as well as the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I worked at the library three days and loved every second of them.
I played Scrabble with my dad, and read five Agatha Christie’s.
I took pictures. And video.
I minimally cleaned my room, and filled out parts of an Honors application. I suppose part of me is putting off the actual essay portion until next week.
I don’t blame me, do you?
(You’re not supposed to answer that question.)

-written Wednesday-
This post has been delayed by a couple of days. I hated to do it, but putting social media on the back burner helped me to accomplish a lot in school. Quite a lot. For all those who have emailed me, I’ll be catching up on my inbox later this week.


note: This week, I’ll be closing off the sign-up for the real people holiday swap. It doesn’t bother me that there are only a few of us. There’s something cozy about the idea of a couple people exchanging gifts and getting to know one another better. However, you are welcome to join in – we’d love to have you. Just click this link and comment on the post.

 
Finding Joy | The ABC's of Thanks
There’s something lovely about taking an entire day to focus on the things we’re grateful for. Although without meaning to, Thanksgiving has also evolved into a holiday celebrating gluttony (as Black Friday has also become a day to celebrate consumerism… definitely intentional). I’m grateful for the memories made with my family yesterday. 
A holiday tradition of ours is to go to my aunt’s house. There, we see all the family that, unfortunately, we only see about once a year. (Thanksgiving. Yep, you guessed it.) It’s fabulous though, to travel on Thanksgiving Day. There’s absolutely no one on the roads.
I’m so thankful for so many things. It’s impossible to even start to list them…
Like last year, I’m linking up to Rachel at Finding Joy with the ABC’s of Thanks. 

abcsofthanks

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, friends!

 

There’s something intensely gorgeous and mysterious about foggy days. Part of me dislikes them. They make me feel uninspired and unmotivated, especially if it’s raining. Every so often, however, I am tempted to like them by the sheer beauty caused by the damp clouds that cover the earth. This morning was one of those times.
After feeding the chickens, I switched lenses on my camera and went towards the barns. I’m enjoying the carefree feeling that being on break gives. It’s different from the normal routine of studying morning, noon and night. I’m loving it, and am so grateful for it.
I have so much to be thankful for, it’s not even funny. I have to say that you’ll probably be getting a “thankful” post sometime in the next few days. After I devour some murder mysteries and work on Christmas gifts.
(more photos on my Flickr)

 
This week starts a bit of a break for me. Admittedly, I’ve had several “breaks” while traveling, but I’m looking forward to something more relaxing.farmgirl-0007.jpgConfession one – for the last three years, I haven’t had Thanksgiving break. I’m lousy at keeping up with schedules, and I somehow always ended up finishing the previous school year before starting the new grade in January.
I’m not sure exactly how it always happened like that. But it did.
This year – senior year, I have my first Thanksgiving break in all of high school.

farmgirl-0442.jpg

Confession two. I’m kind of nervous about having that much free time. My brain is trying to guilt me into doing schoolwork. Because of how traveling has panned out over the last three weeks, I’m about a week and a half behind schedule in most of my classes.
This hasn’t seemed to register with my study ethic, as I’ve observed no change in my study habits at home. I get more work done when I go to the library and study.
Thank goodness I live close to the library.

farmgirl-0039.jpgConfession three – I have a list for this week. Nothing scheduled, except for work. Just a vague idea of what I’d like to do while I don’t have to worry about school.

Catch up on reading. Aka get far more Agatha Christies out of the library than I should and read them.
Make Christmas presents. Possibly spend time with my sweet friend J.
Clean my room. Fill out an Honors Application.
Watch movies. Home Alone and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 are high on the list.

I’m really thankful for the chance to have a break. I must admit that this year is bittersweet, since I know that next year, it will be different. If I go to school where I want to, I’ll be able to come home, but it will still be different. I’m not sure I can swallow that one yet.
Before I finish for the evening, I’d like to mention that I’m hosting a holiday blogger swap. You can find the details here (join up! I’m really excited about it.)
Finally. Happy Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for all of you – more than you know.

(random conglomeration of photos from the past two months)

 
I’m Amanda.

DSC_0645mecollage

I have an affinity for sarcasm, an undenied love for music, and tend to laugh a lot. My friends put up with me. (I don’t know how). Church ladies and colleges love me.
Again, I don’t know how.
I’m fanatically devoted to the people I love – my family and friends. Jesus is amazing.
It’s awesome to meet you.

1} What’s the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest thing about you? 
I’m an HTML geek. I look like a normal teenager, yes, but my not-so-secret-now love is given to coding and website design. It satisfies the artsy side of me, and I like to convince myself that I’m learning mathematical things while I’m doing it. Surely it’s better than doing real math?

2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?
Lord of the Rings. I’m a huge fan.

3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?
farmgirl-3968.jpgMy Nikon. Does *cough* anything else in the house exist? I hadn’t noticed. ;)

4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what is your favorite?
I’m going to be a killjoy. Because I really don’t like animated movies. However, I watched Tangled last week – that movie is the exception to the rule. It was adorable. Generally though, I prefer to see characters being acted out by real people.
Because I’m weird like that.

5} What is your favorite household chore?
I have a tendency to hate household chores until I do them. This includes dreading doing laundry (I do my own) so much that I have piles and piles of the dirty clothes sitting in my room. Then I take two days and do all of it and wonder why I dreaded it so much. Happens every time.

6} What’s your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?
In the summer, I love the non-coffee frappuccinos. In the winter, because I don’t drink coffee, I generally go for hot chocolate or tea. I must add, however, that Starbucks tea is terrible compared to the real amazingness you can get at a local tea shop. This is a recent revelation. And a good one.

7} What is your favorite pizza topping?
I really prefer white sauce on pizzas, with olives, bacon, and peppers. But if tomato sauce is the only choice then I generally go Hawaiian (ham and pineapple). Yes, I’m odd. No, I’d rather not have regular pepperoni, if you must know. It’s greasy and terrible.

8} Waffles or pancakes?
I really like both, but I’m gonna have to go with pancakes.
Now you’re making me hungry.
Dang it.

9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?
I’m big on Scrabble. Liz and I play it online constantly, and I’ll play it in real life with my family in the winter.

10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?
I am the oldest of four. I have three little sisters. Of course I’ve let people win games. Not so much any more though. >:)

11} Have you ever dyed your hair?
Nope. I’m natural. People think I’ve highlighted my hair, but that’s from sunshine and genetics.

12} Do you make your bed every morning?
No. Never.

13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?
Norman Rockwell, if I have to choose between the two. Generally, I don’t like either of them. I’m an impressionist kind of girl.

14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?
Hardwood. Also, this is an incredibly random question. Just saying.

15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?
My camera. :) Can you tell that I love that thing? Far too much?

16} What’s your favorite condiment?
Dijon mustard. I’m generally not a condiment person though.

17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?
Not in my… memory. Don’t ask my mom. Please.
I was very tempted to delete this question, but I kept it because I’m cool. *wink*

18} What was the last thing that made you laugh?
My mom. I love her. She’s gorgeous and hilarious. She makes me laugh all the time.

19} Think fast…what’s the first song that pops into your head?
Riverside, by Agnes Obel. 

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