Monday the high was 10 (with the wind chill it was below 0). Today on the other hand, it was 62 out! No wonder I always get so sick every winter. With these wacky weather temps, my body is all messed up. Not to mention it is goingto be in the 30's tomorrow.

So, I have a few minutes to post before I have to cook dinner and head off to work. It is so crazy at work right now (I work at Christian Book Distributors) and after a full day of homeschooling then 6 hours at CBD, I am beat.

I have been in a rut with homeschooling this past month. Lots to do at home and no time to do it it seems. So, if I manage to get at least math done, I am happy. Today we did nothing but read. I just wanted a lazy day to cuddle up with my boy and read.

Well, it is almost 4pm and I haveto leave for work in 45 minutes. I think I am going to go cook something fast for dinner. Like canned soup. I make a great soup, but canned was on sale and I had coupons, so I bought a bunch of it for when I don't have time (or feel like) cooking. This may be one ofthose times. LOL.

It has been awhile since I blog last. I have been super busy between homeschooling, house selling and work.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. We had my dad down here. I cooked up a 25 lb turkey for the four of us (tons of left overs let me tell you!). I also made up some Muddy Buddies (or puppy chow as my boss calls it) to bring up to my sisters for desert. Dad, Matt and I went up to my sisters for desert. For once, I didn't go all out with baking. Actually I didn't do any at all, my sister did instead. Although I was (and still am) craving a cheesecake. I may have to make myself one this week LOL. It was nice to see my daughter again (she is living with my sister) and she is doing great in school up there. Almost straight A's this term. She got a B in Algerbra because she dropped from the highest level class to the next highest and loss a grade level because of it. She technically failed the top level class.

I also started to put up our Christmas tree (or Yule tree as we call it). Normally it goes up the first Saturday of December, but with my dads cancer back again, we may not know how many Holidays he has left with us. He has been battleing cancer for like 7 years or so it seems. I wanted him to be part of the "experience". Well, Matt dwecidedthat video games were more fun and he disapeared into his room. My hubby was in the school room messing around on the comptuer. So it was me fighting with the stupid tree (it is fake btw) while my dad watched. His cancer is eating the muscles in his right arm (he actually has two broken muscles), so he couldn't help much. Just watch me get dizzy with stinging the lights on the tree. LOL. I ended up finishing the tree when we got back from my sisters.

I'll be posting the recipes I made for Thanksgiving, as well as the ones I am using for all our left overs. You should see how much turkey stock I was able to make with this huge carcass. (enough for 3 large soups and some extras for adding into recipes).

I am also going to be posting about this cool idea I have for a count down to Christmas. We celebrate both Yule and Christmas here so our normal Yule activities are included in this count down. More on it later.

I love fall time a  ton. Of course my favorite thing to do is go to our local fair. It opened up Friday night, but we didn't go until Sunday. We got there just after it opened (10am), so we missed the traffic. We do know all the backroads to get to the fair grounds, so traffic wouldn't have been a big problem anyway. It's called the Topsfield Fair and has been around for 190 years! It is America's oldest agricultural fair.

So, we get there and park and head into the grounds. The first thing we go into is the sportsman building. Hubby see's a buddy of his and starts chatting while Matt and I check out the Curious Creatures booth. Matt and I got to pet a skunk (stinker removed of course), frog, and a scorpion. Well, the kid wouldn't let us pet the scorpion. Of course Matt goes to me "It looks like Scorponok". (Transformers) As I was telling Matt that this one won't transform, is when the kid was down near us and chuckled a little. They also had this huge iguana that just didn't wantto stay put and ended up climbing above the camo netting that was attached to the rafters and tried to make a run for it outside. The kid did manage to get the escape artist and stuck him in the Water Dragons tank. In time out as I called it.

From there we headed to check out the flowers and garden displays. Stupid me, I forgot I had my camera on me, so I didn't get any pictures of the pretty gardens.

Next was the climbing pole. I always loved watching kids and adults try to climb this very tall metal pole. It starts out thick and then gets very thin as it goes up. It is also very slippery. One kid (probably about 10) made it up. Of course he had already done it 3 times that day, but Matt didn't see those times, so this one really impressed him. Now he wants to head to the park to practice on the firemans pole there. LOL

Produce building was next. Apparently the local homeschool group I belong to hada ton of pumpkins entered in this section, but I didn't find out until later on when I was home. Of course they had the HUGE pumpkin winner there. This years weights in at 1,464 lbs.

If you want to buy the seeds from this pumpkin, it was like $5.00 per 3 seeds or something nuts like that.

We visited all the animal buildings. I love chickens and was showing my hubby which ones I would like to have once we move. They also had huge turkeys there. I was showing Matt the difference between a male and female turkey by just looking at their heads. I had my finger pointed, no where near the cage, when the female turkey lunged out and bit my finger I was pointing with. That darn bird hurt a ton. Apparently she did it againto someone not 3 minutes after she bit me. Here I was telling Matt not to stick his fingers in the cage (another mom even moved Matt's hand away from one cage) and I get bit by this stupid (obviously hungry) bird.

After seeing all the cows, sheep, pigs, and birds, Matt and I headed to the Rabbit and Cavie building. This is Matt's favorite building. He loves how HUGE some of these rabbits are. Our rabbit is an oversized (aka fat) dwarf, and looks like the size of some of these rabbits heads. Anyway, the building was practically closed as all the 4-Hers were showing their rabbits. This of course ment we could not check any of them out. One thing that bumed me out about all the animals is that I did not see one GOAT! I love goats and kept going (like a little kid would) "Where are the goats?".

Food was next. Of course Matt and I had some fried dough. You can't not go to a fair and not get some fried dough. We also had Chinese from a placethat is right near our house (don't ask LOL), German Fries (yum), and apple crisp. Well, I ate that myself. LOL.

Steve had to run to find an ATM and was also running out sweatshirts to the car. When the sun came out, it warmed up enough to just be in our long sleeve shirts. So while he was doing that, Matt was playing around on these tractors and mules.

Right next to all these tractors, we an National Guard hummer. Of course I had to take a picture per matt's request. It was a pretty cool hummer and had 7 tv screens and a sweet sound system in it. Of course a moive was playing, Ironman.

Next we hit all the rides. Bumper cars was the big hit. Steve and Matt went on together first, then Matt went on alone.

Next year he will be the perfect size for all the adult rides. He is just tall enough for them now, but only by 1 or 2 inches. Matt also had to go on his favorite truck ride. he always manages to get the same orange truck. As you can tell from the picture, this is Matt's last year on this ride. It took him a bit to get out of it after the ride was over.

Next up for rides was the fun houses and the glass house. Then we hit the "scary" stuff. Matt loves horror stuff almost as much as I do (I grew up with Freddie and Jason after all). Matt went on the Haunted Mansion ride with Steve before heading over to thehaunted house. Both of which Matt said were not scary at all.

By the time all the rides were done, it was nearly 3pm. We were exhausted and decided to head home. As we were leaving, the crossing guard said to us that soem of the people stuck in the traffic to get to the fair, had been stuck for 1 1/2 hours! I am so glad we got there early as we did. We drove past about 5 miles of traffic of people trying to get to the fair.

The other day I posted about a odd bug I had seen in my yard and have gotten lots of replies and help identiflying it. I am very greatful because of that.

However, today I recieved an anonymous comment saying "How can you teach your children if you don't know that?".  

Just because I educate my children does not mean I know everything there is out there. Hell, even public and private school teachers don't know everything. I honestly had never seen this bug before so that is why I posted about it here to get some help from someone who might.

I know I shouldn't let a stupid little comment left to me rile me up so much, but I have had it. I get comments left to me alot here (homeschoolblogger) and over at Cafemom about my choice in education and faith. I am tired of letting this stuff roll off my back and say oh well. It bothers me and I am sick of it. I usually just delete the comment, but this one is staying.

To that person who left that comment to me, why are you anonymous? Afraid that a homeschool educator might be a better teacher than you? Scared that I actually might know something more than you? Or is it that your jealous of the fact that I am able to stay home and give my child a better education than his peers?

Sorry about the vent/rant post, but I really just needed to get it off my chest.

I have been a Netflix subscriber for a little bit now. As a former Blockbuster subsciber, I love Netflix so much more. More educational movies to rent, although the site does lack some organization, over all, I have been very happy with them.

In the mail yesterday, I recieved 4 cards each for a free month of rentals for my friends. My friends already belong, or don't care to, so I am passing it on to you.

So the first 4 people who send me a message with you email address, I will send you the activation code and website to go to. Please do not leave a comment because I will need your email addresses and I hate for people to leave them in a comment.

I'll update this message once all 4 are gone.

As you can tell, I am not a bug person. I hate them. I honestly don't mind them when they are outside (like the cicada) but inside, in the shower with you, well that just freaks me out.

A few months ago this little bugger was doing just that. I have no clue what it is. I posted it on my homeschool blog, but got no answers as to what it is, so I am hoping someone here knows.

I found another in my sink today, that is what reminded me to ask about it here. It's rather pretty, but it still "bugs" me out. hehe

Today it is in the low 60's here in MA. Even though fall doesn't start until Sunday, I just had to add some fall touches to my blog. I am always changing my homeschool blog to reflect the season and even holiday changes, so I will probably do the same thing here. hehe

The trees have yet to start changing here and I can not wait until they do. I love the colors and smells of fall. It is my favorite season. It might have something to do with me being born in the fall, but probably not. hehe.

The local fairs start up in a coupl of weeks. We normally go to the Topsfield Fair, but are skipping it to try out the Deerfield Fair. Topsfield is like 20 minutes from our house where as Deerfield is in another state. LOL.

Apple picking has started up, so we may hit our favorite place this weekend. Applecrest in Hampton Falls, NH. I have been going there since I was a little girl. Every year we would go and once I met my hubby, I told him we were continuing the tradition.

Time to go to a Nature Club meeting. Chat with you ladies later.

Anyone have any idea what kind of bug this is? It is a rather large bug that my neighbor found while we were chatting not to long ago.

~UPDATE~ I got a comment over at my homeschool blog and we found out it is a Cicada. Cool bug!

I have no idea what is with the wind today, but it is super crazy windy out. Not only was stuff blowing around outside (today is trash day too, so that was going everywhere), but all our stuff was blowing around inside.

Matt's school desk is in front of a window and we had to hold his school work down with a book (or my camera). It took us a little bit longer because if we moved the book or our hands, the papers went flying. I did try moving back to the kitchen, but it was just as bad in there. Eventually we got our lessons done before I had to head out to the store for some half & half for dinner tonight.

I am making corn chowder tonight. Normally I make this when it is cold out or for the Autum Equinox (which is this coming Sunday!), but I had roasted a chicken last night and used the carcas to make some stock that I am using for the chowder.

My kitchen smells yummy right now. Normally I wouldn't cook it this early, but I have to leave the house at 4:30 to meet my hubby and hand Matt over to him so I can get to work on time. I work at 5:30 and usually my hubby is home by 3:30 or 4, but he started at 9am today, so he won't get out until 5 and home until 5:30. Stinks with him not having a set schedule. Ahh such is the life of a truck driver.

Life has been crazy here. Trying to adjust to homeschooling after a long break (4 month break because we finished up in April) and going back to work again. I only work seasonally, so it isn't too bad, but still it is a change after 4 months off. hehe

This year I am still only homeschooling 1. My oldest is now living with my sister in NH and is attending high school, so I only have my youngest home with me. This is his first year homeschooling (2nd grade though), so it isa big change for him. For the most part, he is loving it. He does miss messing around with some of his public school buddies, but some of them live in our neighborhood, so he can play with them when they get home from school.

Going back to CBD (Christian Book Distributors) was a fairly easy transition. I was retrained for one day, then it seemed like my hands were remembering all the moves to make on the computers and I was put back on the order and customer service lines as well as the homeschool spcialist line. So, if you call to order anything or have homeschool questions at night and get a Heather with a sappy voice (my work voice LOL) then it is probably me. LOL.

I love it there! Everyone I work with is super nice and it makes working there so enjoyable. When I came back after my 4 months hyatus (I hadto leave more so for personal reasons then end of a season), I got lots of hugs and welcome backs. It truly felt like I was home again. No other job I had treated me like this.

Well, I need to get dressed (I woke up at 10am OMG! and have been hanging around in my jams all morning) and make out my weekly menu so my hubby knows what to pop in the oven (I work from 5:30pm to closing).

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I have been super busy. With homeschooling now in full swing and I started back up at CBD for the holiday season, I really don't have time for myself. LOL.

I have my hubby DVRing all my nighttime tv shows so that I can watch them during lunch or on the weekend.

The past few weeks I have been at my sisters every Sunday to visit her family and my daughter. This past Sunday was my son's 8th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. His real birthday was on the 2nd.

So eventually, once things get settled and back into a nice smooth rythum again, my posts will be much more regular.

A month or so ago, I entered a contest over a Mindless Jibber Jabber and won an apron. Amy Jo made it and sent it to me a week ago and I totally love it. I am afraid to get it dirty though. LOL. Here is a picture of me in it:

I had to crop the picture to hide my ugly kitchen as much as I could. LOL. My son took this picture of me and did a pretty good job.

The apron has John Deere fabric (so adorable and pink gives it a nice splash of girly to it) and is made from jeans. A nice way to reuse those out grown jeans.

Of course when I first put it on to show my hubby and son, my son kept telling me I had it on backwards. I kept trying to tell him that it was on right because it was an apron made from the backside of jeans. He never got it. LOL.

Thanks again Amy Jo! I love it!

I don't have any before pictures, but once like 5 years ago ther ewas nasty pink striped and flowered wallpaper. Then after I stripped it, it remained a blank wall covered in dings and cracks (and the art work of one little boy in my house).

These pictures show the during, which is after mudding and priming the walls and trim and the after with the base coat and color.

This took me months to strip and I found these wonderful details under 30 (yes 30) coats of paint. I also have no clue why the carpet shows up brown, it is gray.

Amy over at ElCloud Homestead: Waiting on God has nominated me for the Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 Award. I am so honored. I have never been nominated for anything before.

Thank you so much Amy!

The rules once you recieve an award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Be sure to add the link from the person that sent it to you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Be sure to add those links to your blog, too.
5. Leave a message on their blogs so they know they are nominated.

So, without further ado, here are my nominations:

1. Homemaking Homesteader
2. Jonash...Two Of A Kind Working On A Full House
3. By Sun and Candlelight
4. Wingbeats and Reflections
5. Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska 
6. Mindless Jibber-Jabber
7. Honey Hill Farm

 Enjoy!

I found him as I was hopping in the shower last week. He got a nice hot shower. Last night, I found another inthe tub when I was cleaning it out. They freak me out, yet it is a pretty cool looking bug.

Over at Mindless Jibber Jabber, there is this adorable jean aporon that is being given away. All you have to do is leave a comment and post about it on your blog.

Be sure to check it out!

It has been a long time since I have written anything. So much has been going on.

My son and I have been busy doing our Summer Fun School learning about Pirates. I have yet to update my homeschool blog with all the stuff we have been doing, so I will get to that soon.

We have had open houses almost every weekend. No biters, but there have been a ton of lookers.

My little brother got married this past Sunday. It was a Scottish theme wedding. Our side of the family is Scottish (so is my hubbies), so we all dressed in our Ren gear. Here are a couple of pictures from the wedding:

From left to right: Lia (my niece) and Val (my nephew) in front row

Hilary (my sister), Autumn (my new sil), me, and Chantelle (my daughter) in the back row.

Here is my little brother (he towers over me and I am the talest girl in my family) Jason and my bil Chris (sisters hubby)

My cat Gracie went missing for one day, right after we saw a wound on her right shoulder. Matt found her eventually (she was sleeping in teh cellar) and we took her to the animal hospital to get it checked out. She had a abcess that had burst and another one right near it that was leaking yucky fluid. She is all better now and I have to give her two doces of antibiotics daily for the next 14 days. She is also decked out in a lovely Elizabethan collar. So stylish. hehe

She has been following me around all day meowing nonstop. She wants out so bad (she can't go out for 45 days because we don't know how she got hurt in the first place. The vet gave her a rabies booster just in case.) She has been banging the collar on the front door and she litterally threw herself onto our backdoor twice. She was hanging by her claws on the screen. We now have some holes in it big enough to let a bug in now. (I'll post a picture of her doing it as soon as I catch her doing it again. She is sleeping atm).

So, that is what I have been up to recently. I'll be mosting more often as soon as things calm down around here.