Psalm 27:4 The Happy Palace Homestead

The Family is Home; The Family is Coming!

See, I just don't have the time when the family is here.  I don't have the energy either!  On Tuesday, I had Kurt run with me to do the recycling & then I grapped Kristen & we headed off to Polaris to get my ring cleaned.  I think that Zales is closing as well, since the entire store was 70% off clearance.  The gentlemen that were working were not talkative & the customer service was next to nil.  OH, well.  I won't wait until Dec. 30th to find out! 

Kristen wanted to make a little outing of our trip, so I took her into Williams-Sonoma.  For a 9 year old cook, that store was heaven!!  We looked at gadgets and dishes, and pots and pans.  We looked at choppers and mashers and tea kettles, too!  She really enjoyed herself.  She'd like a gift card to go shopping there sometime.  And of course, we had to stop at Godiva!  We shared a truffle cone - mint chocolate, yum!!  Then we went over to the Christian bookstore to see if they had the Bible study that I've been meaning to get for her for 6 months.  They didn't, but I did come home & order it for her - yeah, me!  Then we went to Sonic for lunch.  Karra didn't get too upset since she'd had Arby's the day before.  Sonic is a real treat for us - usually on the way up to Grandma's.  We've discovered two of them in Columbus, but not close enough to have a Route 44 on a regular basis, or to take advantage of Happy Hour.  There were rumors once that we were getting one in Marysville; I think they gave us a White Castle instead - bleeeek!!

Yesterday, the kids & I went to 1/2 Price Books, to sell the bag of books that Catnip wouldn't stay out of & to treat ourselves.  I got out of there for $20!  That has never happened.  Karra & Kristen each bought themselves something & I got Karra, a bird book (of course), Kristen a how to paint with watercolors, for Kurt we found a book about caring for a mini rabbit & I got a collection of the writing of Laura Ingalls Wilder - her newspaper and magazine articles from before she wrote the Little House books.  I had found this book on-line and added it to my dream list.  Imagine my joy when I found it for $7!!!

We've been harvesting some peas & ate our first summer squash last night.  Joel was in the garden a few days ago & standing by the squash.  He asked, "why are they yellow?" (they grew zucchini when he was young, they're supposed to be green!).  I had to laugh.  "Because they're summer squash."  "Oh, they're not zucchini."  He's so cute!  I have flowers on the cucumbers & lots of buds on the zukes.  The melons are starting to grow in the wrong direction, i.e., out of they're nice neat rows.  Our corn is looking really good & starting to get the stuff at the top.  I need to get Kurt's pumpkin seeds in the ground so that they'll have time to grow.  Kurt's sunflower forest is taking off & the morning glory seeds that Kristen & planted have started to sprout.  Some of my onions are pushing they're shoulders up to the surface & looking quite large!!  I'll probably have some new potatoes pretty soon.  My broccoli & cauliflower have made really nice looking plants (from the sad little seedlings that I planted).  As soon as the peas are done, I'll replant and I'm going to give Kristen's parsnips another try.  I'm looking forward to sharing the harvest when we get over run in another month.  I think my co-teacher at Mpact, Heidi, would love to have some fresh veggies & fruits.  Not mention, it would make a nice "snack" for the girls some night.  Hmm, fresh watermelon - and oh, so messy!

Well, today we're looking forward to Joel's brother, Kyle, & his family coming in for the 4th.  They'll be staying at a hotel so I don't need to do the bed shuffle like at Thanksgiving.  They're also bringing their puppy, Cookie.  This will be an experience.  Now, I still don't have my house put back together from my cleaning spree & the family coming home.  I told Karra she has to run the crew today.  I need to help Kristen with her room (yesterday, she arranged a few things and it looks quite nice, but there's still lots of things left in the hallway).  I have to run to the store for last miniute groceries that I wanted to be fresh, and I'm out of milk  (oh, to have my little cow).  Joel & Karra mowed yesterday and it looks so nice.  I hope he'll do some weed trimming today.  The kids are cleaning out the mess under the deck and if we're really ambitious we'll sweep the garage (don't hold your breath).

Oh!!  Joel changed that stinky toilet seat yesterday!  He took it with him to Lowe's and he said it stunk up his car!!  Oh, that new seat is soooo nice.  One down, two to go!

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

They're Home!!

I got a late start for church last night.  I was finishing up my cooking & washed up the dishes and then when I should have been upstairs getting ready, Joel called to say they were on their way home & should be here by 10pm.  I raced off to the mall to get my ring cleaned & got there 3 minutes before the mall closed to find out that Zales isn't there anymore!  It took about 10 miles on 270 to calm myself down & get re-focused for class.  I wasn't terribly prepared, but I had read the lesson & we were supposed to have a nurse coming in to demonstrate how to splint an injury.

I got to church at 6:30 and one of the girls was waiting there already.  (Heidi came at 10 til 7 because she fell asleep on the couch!!)  Anyway, the coordinator came in and said that our nurse was sick & wouldn't be in.  Sooooo, Heidi & I got to wing it through the lesson.  I had taken their Bible verse & written one word each on index cards.  We split the girls into 2 groups & then I threw the cards up into the air &  then the girls had to race to put them back in order.  It took 15 minutes and they finished within 3 seconds of each other!  The game was a big hit & Heidi said we definitely need to do it again.

I left at 9:10 to get home at 10 to meet my family.  Oh, I wanted to get a Mcflurry so bad, but I drove on by & hurried home.  10:05 - no family.  I locked up the sleepy chickens and then waited for my family.  At 10:40 I decided to go to bed.  I opened windows & turned on lamps in the kids rooms so that the girls could see how messy their beds were before they threw themselves down.  I had just turned out the light after brushing my teeth & saw the van in the drive.  Time?  11:00pm.  It NEVER takes Joel that long to drive home.  They had stopped for dinner at BK in Fort Wayne.

Today I got them to get the van unloaded & Karra & I went grocery shopping.  It took us 3 1/2 hours to go to 4 stores & have lunch at Arbys.  It just seemed to take FOREVER!!  I got Kristen's hooks down & moved up & repaired the holes in the drywall.  She & I sat down to have a pitch-it session.  We spent about 2 hours doing a very small section of her room, but her desk is completely done and she threw out an entire 13 gallon trash bag FULL.

I was able to locate another Zales, so I'll have to go up on the North side tomorrow to get my ring cleaned.  It's the one mall that doesn't have a Build-A-Bear & Karra wants to get a 4th of July dress for Yoshi to wear to the parade.  We'll do that on Wed.  Tomorrow Kristen & I will paint her wall repairs & touch up the really bad scrapes & marks on that wall.  We'll continue pitch-it sessions in her room until we're done.  I'm so glad I started the on-line Bible study with the Sonlight Mom's.  So many times just today with the family home & all of it's pressures & MESSES (it took them less than 24 hours to trash my house!) - I've been able to call on the scriptures that God gave me to deal with my meek & quiet spirit robbers.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

I'm Wearing Out

I just lost my entry.

I was lazy yesterday.  I finished the carpets, put Kurt's room back together & painted Karra's wall repairs & rehung her costumes.  I scrubbed sinks & toilets & discovered that the kids bathroom was gross!! and that the smell in the downstairs bathroom wasn't the girls bad cleaning job, it is the toilet seat!  It's all pitted & rotten looking & stinks!!  I'd sure like to know who has been peeing on the UNDERSIDE of the seat! 

I picked up my garage sale items from Heather - I made $32!!  I picked up some peppers from the grocery for my cooking & an Applebees Teriyaki Chicken Bowl for supper.  And Joel's not here to eat the chicken & broccoli out of my leftovers!

After that I just stopped working.  I guess I'd reached the end of my rope.  I did stay up until 2am watching Retro TV.  I know.  Buck Rogers; Battlestar Galactica; Drive Thru History; McMillen & Wife; Black Sheep Squadron - after which I said "I must go to bed.  Oh, well, one more game of Scrabble"; and then I got interested in the story line on Ellery Queen - Radar was on, remember Radar from M*A*S*H??  Then I went to bed & didn't sleep very well.  I'm going to be so, so tired driving home from church tonight.

This morning, I made 4 lbs. of meatballs for the freezer & a sausage rice casserole.  It's cooling on the counter before it heads to the deep freeze.  I need to bake banana bread - Joel left some bananas here - and I wanted to make apple carrot muffins for the kids.  I'm feeling the lack of sleep right now.  I have to wrap up my kitchen activities by 3 or 4 so that I can get cleaned up & stop at the mall to get my ring cleaned on the way to church.  Oh, & I'd better look over the lesson for Mpact tonight and type up the girls' prayer requests (and remember to take them with me and not leave them on the computer).

Today, Catnip got shut in the cupboard with the pans & metal bowls, almost got closed into the fridge, tried to climb into the dishwasher with the clean dishes & kept sticking his nose & tiny paws into the hot oven while I was turning the meatballs.  Karra had better get home before her baby destroys himself!!

And that's what's happening on the homestead!

Finally, Something Finished!

Ah, accomplishment! 

My bedroom is shampooed.  Kurts' is 3/4 of the way done.  I got Karra's peg hooks moved up the wall & the drywall holes repaired.  I need to find her wall paint & touch up the spots and then I can re-hang her costumes.  Kristen's room may wait until Monday so that Joel can move the bed for me.  That captain's bed weighs a TON! 

The bookcases are anchored to the wall & filled with books.  I moved the Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls that my Grandma made over to the new bookshelves to hide the wall anchors.  I have so many books stored in the basement that I could fill an entire bookcase with just two authors!  Those books are still in the basement.  Joel has a bookcase of his very own with a whole shelf of his engineering books.  No more asking me what I did with them!  I got the kids two bookcases consolidated into one with some room to spare.  My bookcase is about 2/3 full from the one that was over flowing, and I have a box of books for the 1/2 Price Bookstore - oh, fun!!.  All of the games are out of the closet & on a bookshelf - full.  The puzzles are still in boxes in the closet.  I have a second small bookcase in the schoolroom just waiting for fall.  And I have room to store Core K & Core 5.  I have to decide what to do with a Core when I won't be using it again - sniff.

Today, I need to finish Kurt's carpet, take down Kristen's hooks if I can reach them, finish claning the bathrooms and start my freezer cooking (I remembered to put the meat in the fridge to thaw!!!).  This afternoon I need to go pick up my leftover garage sale items & my card table from Heather.  I don't know when or even "if" I'll get to the grocery store.  I have to get my wedding ring cleaned, too.

OK, Catnip did something legitimately funny.  I went down to feed him this morning & walked over to clean out the litter box.  He came tearing across the basement and sprawled over the litter.  I picked up the scoop & started digging around to remove his "business".  He started scratching & clawing & trying to protect his "stuff" from the evil pooper scooper.  It was toooooo funny.  He acted for all the world like I was robbing his gold mine!  Must be a guy thing.

And that's what's happening on the homestead!

Thursday

I know ya'll are just dying for an update.  I couldn't type it up last night because it was storming.  We needed the rain & I hope we get more Sunday like their teasing.  I did remember to go out & uncover the compost so that it could get watered.

The kids called & Kurt went swimming in the lake without his life jacket.   That's big - I bet they forgot to take it!   He said he caught a keeper fish & Kristen & Grandpa cleaned it.  Kristen said that Daddy gave her his fillet knife since she knows how to clean fish now.  Does anyone have a godly cowboy that will wait for my little girl to grow up?  She is going to make some lucky cowboy a happy, happy man!!  Karra misses her kitten who is going to be missing a few teeth if he doesn't stop biting my ankles!!  And putting little claw marks in my leather furniture!

OK!!!  Yesterday, I vacuumed the kids rooms & restored order to Kurt's room.  I moved some things back into Karra's room, but I need to move the peg hooks up the wall & that required purchasing more of them.  Same deal with Kristen's room; I need to move the pegs & then I want to move her desk.  Dealing with her overwhelming room MUST be done before they come home!

I got a lot of phone calls yesterday morning that jumbled up my day.  My Mom called all excited because she figured out how to install the printer for her new computer (she'd had to stop mid download because she didn't have the cord & then couldn't get it to run again).  So, we talked and then Heather called to say that yes, she was having a garage sale THIS weekend!  Oh, I need to get things ready!!  AAAAAA!  So, instead of going to do my errands first thing, I worked up a sweat instead.  I scrubbed my bathroom floor (and then after my shower I didn't want to get baby powder on the clean floor, so I went into the bedroom & got powder all over the carpet!!), and then ironed & steamed the clothes to take to the resale shop & got the garage sale stuff out of the basement & priced it.  I threw in the Rod & Staff Eng. texts that we won't be using anymore.  Kristen will be thrilled if they sell because we weren't done with her English book yet.  I ended up taking over more than I had told Heather I had, so I folded up the card table & took it along, too.

I packed the trunk of Joel's car with bags for the AMVETS; the backseat with items for Heather's garage sale & the front seat with clothes & the doll swing for the resale shop.  I had $17 on account at the resale shop & bought two skirts for Kristen since she  has so few clothes for church, a blouse to go with one of the skirts & if she doesn't like it, I know Karra will & a pair of sweatpant capris for Karra with surfer lingo on them.  And I still had $4 left on account.  I always do that.  I have money & instead of taking it, I get "free" clothes for the kids.

Heather was grocery shopping when I dropped off the sale stuff & 2 dozen eggs (bless her heart), so I visited with her Mom & the boys.  I could hardly believe how much they interacted with me.  Brendan is into body slamming.  I told him he had to be gently with girls - we're fragile!  Sean wanted me to see all of his cars - right in the eyes.  They are both talking so much. 

God is starting to provide for Kurt's little bunny that we don't have yet.  He bought the cage for the bunny with the money that he has saved and then my Dad said that he has most of a bag of rabbit pellets that he had used to lure the deer (it didn't work) and then Heather had a bag of rabbit food in her garage sale.  So, for free & for $2, we have two bags of food for a bunny we don't have yet!  I'm sure Joel will get the stands built for the bunny cage soon & then it's just a matter of finding the right mini.

Sorry, back to my WORK LIST.  Catnip spent alot of time napping on my lap yesterday.  He misses people picking on him - or more likely Joel's lap to sleep on.  I did get the 2nd bookcase put together - only a minor injury when I scraped it across the top of my foot.  I need to anchor them to the wall today & then I can start loading & shifting books around.  I need to get rid of the dress up box - or store it in the basement, but I like GET RID OF better.  The workbench could leave, too.  No one really plays with it.  I'll have to check in later & let you know if I succeed in shampooing my room & Kurt's room today.  Wow, for all I have accomplished, my list is still so very, very long.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Work My Fingers to the Bone . . . Ok, to the Blister

Off the dear family went this morning - excited right out of their jammies! & I had a leisurely early morning before hitting the "big list".  I had forgotten how good coffee tastes before 6am!  I fed the chickens so early they were still on the roost when I opened their door.  I went down to the basement for something & Catnip didn't have any water.  Sheesh, Karra, you woke him up to tell him good-bye - you couldn't feed him & give him some water?

I think I was the most productive before 10:30 - I scrubbed the kid's bathroom floor and even got the sticker & star shaped soap flake off.  I washed the bathroom rugs & sterilized the bath toys to get rid of.  Then I cleared Karra's room (putting tons of it into Kurt's room), made a quick call to my Mom about the carpet shampooer & went to work.  Then I decided to do Kurt's closet before I run out of the pet smell remover shampoo.  I put everything in his closet over and around Karra's things.  Then, I had alot of shampoo left & had to use it so that I could rinse the carpets later, so I went after Kristen's room.  Her things are spread all over the hallway.  Now, don't get me started on that girl's room - she is worse than a category 5 hurricane, tornado & monsoon combined!  The joy in the process is that I get to decide what stays & what goes- hehehehehe.  So, I moved out of her room to the Robitussin spot on the hallway carpet.  That was when Kurt was about 18 months & decided to pour his own dose of cough syrup - the whole bottle - and, no, I never did anything more than blot it up with a wet rag.  Amazingly, it lightened up quite a bit!  Debbie is now really dying at my lack of housekeeping.  She's my gold standard for keeping a clean house - I will NEVER measure up! 

Joel called about 10:40 this morning.  He didn't even get out of our county when he got pulled over for speeding.  This is getting to be quite a habit of his - go camping, get ticket.  The sheriff was merciful (so much for Joel's theory that they're just making money) & gave him a warning.  They had been to Cabela's & were headed to the campsite.  I'm sure they're enjoying their fish supper.

After lunch, I burned the pile of paper & cardboard in the kitchen & scrubbed the floor in the 1/2 bath - with the scrub brush.  Debbie just fainted.  Then  I started sorting books off of the bookshelves.  Small pile for 1/2 Price Books, 2 more to donate to church, small pile for the kids to decide on & a smallish stack of toddler & baby books that I want to keep for sentimental reasons.  And alot of other books to keep!  Started to assemble one of the new bookshelves.  I actually had to break 1/2 way through.  I have blisters on my fingertips - both hands & blisters on my knees - both of them.  I thought it would be no big deal to get both of them put together & shift all of the books around - NOT!  I'm worn out!  I rested for 1/2 an hour & went back to it.  It's all done & looks gorgeous, but I can't put the books on because I don't have a strong enough wall anchor to fix it to the wall.  Now I need to go to Lowes - tomorrow or the next day, or the next.  Soooooo, I headed back upstairs to rinse the carpets.  Fortunately, it doesn't take as long to rinse & I didn't need to MOVE anything.  I have a favorite dinner planned, but I think I'm too tired to cook.  If I do, I'll post it.  It is NOT low cal, low carb, or low fat - but it is YUMMY!

The tiny, gray tornado?  He has been so good!!  I have been spraying him with the water bottle when he chews on the computer cords & he acts very offended by it.  He has slept on the computer chair all day.  I think he stayed away from the upstairs because I was making so much noise & throwing things out of Kristen's room & down the stair.

And that's what's happening on this exhaused homestead tonight.

Smorgasbord

That's what's for dinner anyway.  I had to do something to get myself off the Sonlight forum this morning.  When I start talking about dinner, it's time to go.  I did read a thread from back in April, one of the Mom's was going to Once a Month Cook for 4 months.  80 meals into the freezer in one weekend!  Yeesh.  But it got me thinking.  Since I was going to cook meatballs & a couple of casseroles while Joel & the kids are gone - why not cook & marinade some extra stuff?  Maybe I'll put some pizza crusts in the freezer, too.  Like I don't have enough things planned to keep myself busy while they're gone (and I bought 2 bookcases Saturday that need to be put together).  And I have to keep track of the tornado - I mean, Catnip.  The stinker thinks my kitchen counter is his new playground & that soda is a cat drink.

I need to get myself moving this morning.  We're still in our pjs - I did send Kurt to get dressed since he was standing on the furniture.  The girs are getting their school done & we need to run to Meijer today to get Karra some aqua shoes.  We forgot when we were there two weeks ago buying a rice cooker (and then the next day we had lunch at Maria's & I told her, "Oh, Maria, I bought a rice cooker!" and she said, "No, I got you one."  Turns out, the one she got me was too small for us & the one I got me was too big for us!  We both did a return & she was able to find the middle sized one that is just right.  So, now I have a rice cooker).  So we have to run out for aqua shoes & Zyrtec pills because the liquid and camping are not a good mix.  Tomorrow it's wash clothes & pack suitcases. 

Joel has the front gate installed and the latch side post in.  He got the wire strung around the property between us & the new neighbors.  He tried to dig the post holes along the front & despite the rain on Thurs & Fri the ground is like cement.  Only two holes. 

The kids did great in swim lessons (one of the reasons I've been too busy to write).  The life guard recommended swim team for Karra, but she doesn't want to give up dance in order to swim.  Kristen passed to level 4 and really, really wants to do swim team.  Kurt needs to repeat level 1 - mostly because he's short & doesn't like to float.  It's funny - Karra took 3 years to pass level 3 & Kristen blasted through it the first time!  I checked into swim team at the YMCA & it costs the same as Karra's piano lessons.  For the first time ever I will be calling ahead for dance prices before committing to it.  Budgeting has finally caught up with me.  I love my kids, but we just can't do everything anymore.  Oh, gasp - we're old and practical!!!

I'm going now, really.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Chip Says I Don't Blog Enough

That about sums it up.  She says I don't update enough, but understands that I'm busy.  Hmmm.  Well, there is Catnip.  What a STINKER!  His newest efforts involve attacking the people that love him.  He had Kristen on a chair today (ooooo, a mouse! style) because he wouldn't stop attacking & biting her legs.  Kurt lays on the floor & Catnip jumps at him - boy does Kurt jump!  He was pawing at the rocking horses nose a few minutes ago, so I pushed the ear button to make the horse whinny & clip-clop.  He backed away.  When I pushed the rocker to move the horse, Catnip hit the ceiling!  He's not too sure about that thing anymore.  I've given him Fred's voice & Karra thinks it's a perfect fit.  Maybe I'll let Catnip update the blog someday.

I admit; I'm waiting for the pizza to come home - Papa John's "The Meats".  We're such carnivores!  Lets' see.  I got my Rainbow Resource catalog yesterday.  I had logged on to Sonlight & someone had asked if it was cruel to announce that they had gotten their catalog.  I posted "yes" and then ran to the mailbox & it was there!  Over 1300 pages of curriculum, books, games, kits, and everything that makes a homeschool mom's heart sing (except for peace & quiet.  Okay, coffee & fudge, too).  Anyway, Karra's Eng. went up in price, but the spelling books went down.  So, I'll spend about what I'd figured that I would from the old catalog.  I'm excited to get Kristen some more hands on things for next year.  I'm really determined to cut some of the extras out & really stay home & do stuff - it's a nice theory & always sounds good in June.

We got glorious rain yesterday & now every weed & extra blade of grass in my garden is showing.  I'll ask Joel to till down the walkway tomorrow if he has time.  He's planning to put the fence up between our property & the new neighbor.  That's a good idea since today when Kurt & Kristen were bringing in the trash cans, the neighbor's dog, Diesel, made a run between the kids.  I think he was just happy to see more people.  He was called home & no harm done, not even a scare.hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyjhnnnnn

That was Catnip saying hi, john.

Karra & I are going to a craft show tomorrow morning & then her friend is coming over to see the kitten.  Is that enough update for ya, Chip?  Leave me a comment!

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Not Much

I know ya'll are just dyin' for an update from us.  Well - there's not much goin' on!

The kids & I went to the dentist on Monday and got our hair cut.  Kurt has an eruption cyst where one of his molars is supposed to come in & got to have a bunch of x-rays.  That was cool.  I cut bangs again & of course, had Telisa cut them too short - at least they grow.  Kristen learned her multiplication facts in 1 30 minute and 1 45 minute session with Times Tales.  BEST money I have spent on their education!  Karra has a math lesson that she actually understands.  We have 13 days of our "school year" left.  I know, I know, we're schooling year round, but we just need a break right now.  It will be nice to have a few weeks off.

We bought our front gate yesterday & we're looking forward to getting it installed.  We've had a few strawberries from the garden, but not enough this year to do anything but eat as we pick.  I'll have to take the kids picking so that we can have shortcake & make some jam.  Can't always rely on Mom for my strawberry jam - although she has LOTS more time than I do!  Our tomato plants look good & as usual any pepper plants I put in the ground refuse to grow bigger than when I planted them.  Melons & squash plants are coming up.  I counted 79 stalks of corn poking through the ground & 2/3 of Kurt's sunflower forest has sprouted.  I think I see the carrots pushing tiny feathers out of the ground.  My potato plants are big & I'm afraid that I'm not hilling them up enough this year.  I've always over hilled in the past.  Oh, well.

Joel & the kids started their camping pile (that's the giant mess on the floor that takes over my living room for a MONTH before they go camping).  He had the decency to put the mess on a table this year.  Yesterday we came home from lunch & a movie to find Kristen & Kurt had cleared the table, piled up all of the blankets & pillows from the couch and their bedrooms, and were leaping off of the table onto the landing zone.  Good grief.

Joel & I had a date yesterday - lunch at Chipotle and a matinee of Terminator Salvation.  Not a bad movie.  Then we went to Sam's and came home & then went to the farm store to look for our gate.  The store in Delaware had the rabbit hutch I want for Kurt, but it's too pricey.  We'll settle for a plain wire cage on a leg kit & keep the bunny in the basement.  One of Karra's new responsibilites will be teaching Kurt how to take care of his rabbit (not that I'm ready to get a rabbit, even if Kurt thinks that HE is).

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!

KURT SCORED HIS FIRST EVER SOCCER GOAL!!!!!

I just knew he would get his first goal today.  Contrary to what Karra expected, I did NOT run out onto the field and hug and kiss him.  I did hop & down on the sidelines and dance around and yell - "He did it!!!"  The parents of the kids that we played with last fall, that have seen how far Kurt has come this year, were just as excited as I was.  It has meant so much to me that they have been rooting just as hard for Kurt.  The kids got their little trophies today & Kurt can't wait until I put a shelf up in his room to put it on.  He's pretty excited about getting to play again in the fall.

Before we left this morning, we had a scare with Catnip.  One of kids was carrying him down to the basement & he wiggled out of their arms and fell a few steps to the cement floor.  He let out a quite distressed yowl & then had a sneezing fit.  The vet had told us that he might develop a cough or sneeze since he did have a little bit of a runny nose, but this was scary.  His little eye teared up & he looked scared, like he couldn't breathe very well.  He walked away, but when he tried to eat, he kept sneezing.  Joel sat & petted him & his nose was bleeding a little - I freaked out that he had internal injuries, but he wasn't sneezing blood.  In a few minutes his little nose was all swollen up & Joel thinks he must have hit his nose when he fell although Karra said he kind of landed on his back/side.  Poor baby.  Karra stayed home from the soccer game to keep an eye on him & he slept, ate & drank, and sneezed some.  He's up & playing and acting like Catnip.  He may be moving a little slower, but he's probably sore.  I was going to call the vet on Monday to get an antibiotic for his sneeze, but I think we'll take him back in & have the vet check him over.  He's got a little bit of a bump on his side that wasn't there before.

When we got home this afternoon from our potluck, Catnip has been upstairs & playing around with the kids.  I'll feel better when he sees Dr. Lynn on Monday & we get the OK.

Garden weeding & compost pile moving are on the evening agenda (followed by 4-wheelin' since Joel got Badger fixed & ready for a Kurt lesson).  We did harvest our first 3 strawberries last night - Joel got the first one, I got the second two - since I was weeding. 

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

We Should Audition With Meow Mix

My, that little Meower is LOUD!   The fuzzy, little stinker climbed the stairs (over the soda case barrier - or maybe through it) on Sunday night.  He now freely climbs the basement stairs and cries his little heart out until someone comes to watch him eat or play.  He has got to be the loudest meowing cat I have ever had.  The kids & I took him to the vet this morning and they declared him only 6 weeks old & he weighs 1.5 lbs.  He does have some flea dander so a bath is imminent.  He's pretty healthy and the vet even commented on how well socialized he is (except he likes to bite hands).  She said it should be easy to correct the hand biting since he's so little.  He talked to the vet the whole time & hollered at us for taking him on an outing.

I got everything planted in the garden yesterday and now I'm waiting for the rain to come.  Karra and India planted her front flower garden (they say they watered it, but it looked more like a water fight with each other!).  They put shasta daisies, vinca, zinnia seeds, celosia, and geraniums.  We bought two flower shaped stones at JoAnn's to mark Stephanie & Zoe's graves.  I had Karra put a flower pot in the space that she wants for a bird bath & I'll fill that with petunias in a couple of weeks.  When she gets a bird bath, I'll lift out the petunias and put them on the deck.

When we were out junking on Saturday, I passed up a set of painted flower pots because I didn't think I needed 3 pots, but of course, now I realize that I DO need three because I have herbs that need to be potted this year until Kristen & I can find the right spot for the herb garden - oh, grrrr.  They were very pretty pots, too.

Joel had me help him pull the fence rolls along the south border (between us and the neighbor's garden).  The neighbor graciously turned off his electric fence for the day, while Joel was working out there.  He helped us pull the first role out because face it, sometimes I am just for looks.  ON the second role, Joel put his spinner contraption closer to the ground & I got to hold on while it unwound.  That was interesting.  WE got the girls out to help hold the fence behind the trees (Karra & India got to stand in the shade).  We successfully wove the fence behind the willow trees & Joel got it stapled in place.  I don't think he stretched it tight yet, but it is secure enough for the week.  He put in the fence posts between us & the neighbors that our moving next week.  He didn't want any doubt in the minds of the NEW neighbors that a fence IS going up.  And it was nice to drill the holes while the current neighbors are here, since he needed his machine to be in their yard part of the time.

I guess That's What's Happening on the Homestead!

A Brand New Baby on The Farm!

Well, we got some more things into the garden yesterday.  Kristen helped me plant the seedlings.  We broke the stems on all but one of the climbing tomatoes - the one we didn't kill doesn't look very happy.  We planted one regular tomato (need a couple more), 3 grape tomatoes (2 for us, 1 for the chickens), 3 jalapeno pepper plants (for Joel & making salsa), and two bell peppers (need a couple more).  We put in the broccoli & cauliflower plants that looked the best.  We did get the rest of the garden hoed and raked so that it's ready to take seeds today.  All of the melons, squash, and cucumbers need to be planted.  Joel's right:  I do need a bigger garden.  You're supposed to plant melons so far apart that we could fill our whole garden with just melons and squash!  Of course, right now the strawberries are taking up a large portion of my garden.  Next year, the strawberries will be in the borders.  I've got all summer to place cinder blocks and put in new soil.

Karra & I went junking this morning.   I found a beautiful ceramic nativity for my Mom for her collection.  I can't wait to give it to her!!  I bought two gorgeous little tea cups & saucers with lily of the valley on them.  I just LOVE lily of the valley.  They were the first flower that I liked and I even had them in my wedding flowers.  Karra got some beads for jewelry making & a nice hooded down vest.  She was given a fiber optic light with flowers in it at a sale where we bought some puzzles and popsicle makers (Kristen has been after me to buy some).  I found a couple of books and a nice Land's End sweater for Kurt (for $.50).  Karra made me pass up a $5 cabinet that needed new hardware (I didn't like what was on it) and a fresh coat of paint.  I'm kicking myself.  It would have worked in the school/dining room and later in the bonus room (which will be her college apartment!).

Bet your wishing I'd get to the baby part.  Well, it's NOT mine!  We found free kittens and Karra spent 45 minutes of the people's time trying to make up her mind.  I finally told her, "this one", and home came Catnip.  He's gray and white and very talkative.  I love talkative cats.  He's settling into the basement pretty well.  We'll have to get him to the vet & schedule his surgery (Karra thinks he's a she, but it really doesn't matter now, does it?).  We have a cat again - all's right with her world.  Now, if I could just get Karra to blog about it!

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Oh, Ow, Ooo- What Was I Thinking?

I planted some things in the garden this morning.  My hands have little blisters and my calf is killing me!  First I had to hoe & till aroun the potatoes, onions & peas to let the grass know that it is not allowed to stay there.  Then we planted a row of carrots between the potatoes because I'd gotten the rows too far apart.  Then on the other side of the onions, Kristen & I planted another row of carrots and two rows of parsnips.  We added two rows of peas so that we will hopefully have a succession harvest (and they'll hold each other up so they don't lay on the ground).  Kurt asked if we could plant a sunflower forest, so we put the seeds in two rows and once they start up, we'll plant some morning glories with them to grow up, up, and away!!  The kids bailed on me by then, so I prepared the corn plot and Kristen came back to help put the kernels in the ground.  We were bending & plie-ing & I'm sure it contributed to my aching calf.  Since we haven't made the gym in a while, I consider two and a half hours of gardening this morning as good as lifting weights.  We're hoping to go swimming tomorrow.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend.

1100 miles of car racing - I LOVE MEMORIAL WEEKEND!!! 

Oh, and we have absolutely nothing planned for Saturday - I can't remember the last time that happened.  Sunday we're going to Maria's (Restaurant) for lunch and a visit and we'll have Karra's friend, India, overnight and I'll take her home on Monday. 

Maybe I'll do some garage sales on Saturday.  Karra & I stopped at one on a whim about a month ago and I bought a storage cupboard that needs some glue & TLC for $5.  They had some awesome antiques at this sale and I so wish I'd been in the market for them!!  Joel's not crazy about buying old stuff - not exactly the sentimental type KWIM?

The seedlings are going outside today & staying out on the deck.  It's only supposed to be 51 tonight & that's warm enough to be outside.  They are going into the garden by Saturday.

And That's What's Happening on the Homestead!

A Setback

We've had a setback with our plans to get Karra a new cat.  I had Kurt at the doctor today for his deep cough and she recommended allergy testing.  I was asked twice if we have a cat.  Oh, no!  We have Johnny and it's been about 7 months since Stephanie went to the Rainbow Bridge with Zoe.  So, I told Karra that we can't get Catnip this weekend, we'll have to wait until after the allergy test.  I hate to disappoint her, but this is supposed to be a BIRTHDAY present and that happy event isn't until November!!

I have my seedlings outside right now & hope to start planting them by Friday.  We saved our strawberries from the frost and my potatoes and onions and peas look good.

Karra found a new baby robin nest today.  It's in the corner of the gutter on the workshop!  I took a picture and captured the little noses in the air.  Karra could hear them chirping away when the parents were hunting this morning.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Where to Start Catching You Up?

I hardly know where to start! 

The dance recital was last weekend and went well - okay the Friday show had some technical glitches (and Joel was 10 minutes late) like when Kristen's XM class came out to sing, someone had messed with the mikes and they were all too high.  She stepped up for Daddy to hear her solo & couldn't reach the mike!!!!   The Saturday show went much better, but Daddy wasn't there for that one.  We were all so exhausted that we just haven't wanted to talk about it.  It's over & we can relax for a while.  Karra has piano for two more weeks & then that's done for the summer.

I don't have my garden in and have been so busy that I haven't been able to put my seedlings outside to harden.  Maybe today & tomorrow & then into the ground on Monday regardless.

Joel left Sunday morning for Death Valley & Mom got here at lunchtime.  This week has flown by!!  We went to the zoo on Tuesday and got to see the new baby elephant, Beco.  ADORABLE!!  Elephants are Karra's newest passion (after cats, birds, monkeys, beading and quilling).  Tuesday night Mom & I went to an herb class with my homeschool group.  It was so informative & fun.  The lady showed us her garden and the different herbs and then fed us.  Oh, my!!  We had a sparkling lime/mint concoction, herbed garlic butter, salad with a homemade strawberry vinagrette dressing, lemon-lavendar cake - oh, my!!  Mom & I both bought Colonel Kentucky spearmint plants to start our herb gardens.  Our hostess even had stevia growing in her garden!!!

Wednesday Karra & I had a Mom/daughter outing and she bought a new Build-A-Bear.  A cute brown rabbit named Honey.  We did some shopping and had a quick lunch.  It was alot of fun. 

Thursday we headed out for shopping.  We hit the sale at Kohl's with a 30% discount.  I took Mom to Trader Joe's & finally found the chocolate cereal bites - oh, yum.  Karra likes the strawberry ones for a snack.  We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's & when I took Kurt to the bathroom, I did a little cross-over, toe down move with my leg & my right calf went  KAPOW!!!  I limped through the rest of the day.  It hurt so bad & I couldn't put my full weight on it.  We still had to go spend our money at the 1/2 Price Bookstore (oh, the deals you can find at the 1/2 Price Bookstore!!).  I drove home and put my leg up.  I called the 24 Hour nurse line from our insurance & she said that the POP I heard did concern her & I should go to the urgent care.  So Mom drove us into Marysville & the Dr. squeezed my calf for about 10 seconds and declared it a deep sprain.  It will hurt even more over the next couple of days. - Great!  I propped it up & put heat on it and went to bed.  I swear I must have been stretching that calf in my sleep because it didn't hurt that bad yesterday.

Friday, Mom tried to get me to stay down with my leg up, but I'm too used to doing what's on the list.  I could walk if I was careful & tried to follow through on my step instead of limping.  I ran to get oyster shell for my chickens and then took Mom computer shopping.  Fortunately, we had already looked on line at Best Buy & pretty much walked in and said, "We want this one."

We had shampooed my downstairs carpet Tues & Wed evenings & Mom & Kristen rinsed them for me on Thurs.  Some of the stains didn't come out, but they do look brighter.  Maybe I should invest in one of those carpet cleaners?????  Mom's leaving the shampooer so that I can get to the upstairs when the kids go camping.  I need to get the stair tool, so that I can do the stairs - they are a real wreck.  I think Kurt spilled pudding on them.

We have a soccer game this morning and Joel will be home sometime today. 

I got a phone call last night from my friend, Paula.  She had a group of the old college gang over last night & they called me from Arkansas.  They got another friend on the other phone & we all had a riotous chat.  Gosh, it would be so much fun to see everyone again.  I've been blessed to see Paula & Janna a few times in the last 5 years.  They all do think this former city girl has gotten rather strange with my garden & my chickens and my homemade laundry soap and my plans for a cow.  That's okay.  I like me this way.  It's fun.  I'm enough of a rebel that I don't want to be like everyone else.  It's like we told our Mpact girls:  If the only tool in your kitchen was a spatula how would you ever make a cake?  You need different tools & equipment in the kitchen and God needs different people to accomplish different things.  I like to think of myself as the odd kitchen tool that you don't need often, but when you need it, you NEED it.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Ah, A Breath

Well, my leisurely, catch-up-with-school, day at home turned into running errands all afternoon.  I had forgotten that Kurt's birthday pictures were in at Penneys & needed to be picked up - he's so cute!!  We got those.  Karra was introduced to quilling on Sunday night at Mpact & she wanted to get a tool & some papers, so we hit JoAnn's.  Paper but no tools; so, we hit Hobby Lobby - success!  She and I had looked on line for a fence to keep the chickens out of her flower garden & my hostas (thank you, Debbie!!).  We found a gorgeous one on line at Home Depot.  We would need two of them & it would cost about $56 plus shipping if it wasn't in store.  We stopped by & they didn't have the same fence in the store.  We had found one before & thought that it was at HD, but I guess not.  We stopped off at Lowes to look & sure enough they had the one we had thought was at HD.  It has bigger openings than the very pretty Victorian fence on-line at HD, but it was half the price.  We needed two pieces to get enough for her fence & bought three so we could do my hostas.  We had exactly enough to do both!  The chickens squawked at the fence around the hostas but didn't try to go through.  If they do, we'll take a bird netting & put strips on the back of the fence.  It won't show from a distance & will keep the chuckaloos out of the flowers.  Karra's very excited about getting her garden together & about taking her new kitten, Catnip, outside in the sunny garden.  I think I mentioned before that she stole some of my pavers to make a little patio in her garden - a new place to sit with the birds & work on her gorgeous skin color!  I'll get on her to update her blog soon & tell everyone about the baby robins.

I'm hoping to harden off my seedlings soon & get them into the garden while Mom is here - under milk jug greenhouses of course.  Some of the climbing tomatoes are turning into Jack's beanstalks already!  Kristen & I cut branches from some trees that Joel had taken down & we're going to try making teepees for climbing garden veggies this year.  We could end up with a real mess on our hands, but it's worth a try at something new.  How else do we learn?  I'm off to harden my seedlings for an hour!

And that's what's happening on the homestead!

I'm Busy!

Debbie said she's been missing my updates - well, I'm really busy this week.  We have to get ready for dancer rehearsal RIGHT NOW!  Kurt's got a runny nose & it's raining, so no soccer practice tonight for him.  We're all feeling pretty tired and run down despite sleeping in.  Busy week continues with recitals on Friday & Saturday night, a soccer game Saturday morning (tire recycling for Joel) and a birthday party on Saturday afternoon for Kurt & Joel.  We're supposed to go out to eat after Friday's recital for our anniversary, dance recital and Mother's Day.  I think we'll be too tired to care by 9 o'clock on Friday night!!

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

FISH!

OH, did we have us a fish fry last night!!  (Okay, my grammar is bad & that's usually a pet peeve of mine, but you gotta understand - we had us a fish fry last night!)

Joel took Kristen & Kurt to fish out of the pond Monday night.  They caught 13 crappie, the biggest was 10".  Joel was outside by lantern light cleaning them & we had "a mess of fish" for supper last night.  And yes, I fried them!  I usually bake my fish because it's healthier, but last night I just went crazy.  I sliced potatoes in the food processor & stirred them into olive oil mixed with garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary.  I layed them out in spirals on a baking sheet & into the oven for 45 min.  I battered & fried the fish & we feasted like kings!  All that oil in our systems, we're slicker than Jiffy Lube.

I did get two rows of peas planted Monday and Karra has been working hard on her flower garden.  I have 7 hostas up and need to fence them before the chickens find them.  All of the ornamental grasses my friend Debbie gave me have fallen victim to the chickens (Karra was not happy) and so have two of my three mums that Joel brought home from work.  Destructive little egg suppliers!  But hey, Happy Chickens Lay Happy Eggs!  We really need to mow our dandelions, but I've already had a shower today, have school to do, and need to take the kids out tonight for soccer & dance.  Maybe Joel will mow when he comes home with Kurt after soccer.  The girls & I will be at the high school FOREVER for rehearsal.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Something In The Ground!!

I finally have something growing in my garden besides cement - I mean clay - I MEAN dirt!  Joel & Kristen & Kurt put the fence around the garden last night & Joel tilled it before his nap.  My potatoes have been sprouting in the basement for a month & I put half of them in the garden.  I'd like to begin planting peas, but it's so hot & windy & have to go back to church tonight for Mpact.  I told Kristen we'll plant peas tomorrow when it's shady!

Karra had a really good time at work with Joel on Thursday.  She wasn't really with him, since they had the whole day planned out for the kids.  She got her own ID ag & business cards and a group picture.  The car her team designed was voted the most retro.  I thought the diagram she brought home looked like one of Kurt's Chubs cars, really cute.

Just got interrupted, Kristen gave Kurt a shiner.  Someday these kids will learn not to stand so close to one another when they're pounding on things!!  He gave her a black eye about a year ago by clobbering her in the face with a stick.  Kids

Kurt's soccer game yesterday was so good.  A 5 goal shut-out (I know that's not what REALLY counts).  Kurt had an official assist (not that anyone keeps track).  He was so close to getting his first ever goal.  One of his teammates took the ball and scored.

We have another busy week ahead of us.  The girls have class rehearsals for dance, Kurt as soccer, there's a doctor appointment, a piano lesson & Mom needs to go the gym.  I did really good with my workout last week.  I did two sets & swam 1/2 a mile at each session.

And Thats's What's Happening on The Homestead.

A Gardening We Shall Go, A Gardening We Shall Go, Hi Ho The Dairy-O A Gardening We Shall Go!

Joel came home last night.  I hate it when he's gone.  He and Karra were off to work bright and early this morning.  It's Take Your Child To Work Day and Karra gets to help design a car.  I'm guessing silver with hot pink flames.

It's been kind of a wierd week here.  I think all of this rain has really gotten to me.  I've been so cold & miserable.  I think my chickens have been happier than me.  The sun is shining today and the next few days are going to be HOT HOT HOT!  I'll finally be warm - probably too warm.

I planted my garden seeds on the 13th and the shot up right away and reached for the stars over night.  I've been getting some wonderful advice from a lady at Hobby Farm, so today Kristen, Kurt & I replanted most of our leggy plants.  A few things were still short enough to just put into bigger pots.  We wrapped aluminum foil around the legs of the easel & put the brooder lamp with a fluorescent light bulb in it suspended from a dowel overhead.  I'm hoping to keep the seedlings short until we can get them planted in the garden next month.  Maybe starting seeds in doors is an art form that I'm going to have to practice.  I feel like I'm learning a little.  I'm not about to quit campaigning for a greenhouse though. 

I've got to run right now.  Kristen is trying to fish the kids "boat" out of the pond.  She didn't turn it upside down after her last float and the wind caught it yesterday and dumped it into the pond.  Something tells me this is going to be a messy job!

And that's what's happening on the homestead!