A Dark Adventure

Last night, right before bedtime, lightening struck the transformer and our electricity went out.  Hubs had to go work night shift, but before he did, he moved a couple mattresses onto our screened in patio for the kids and me to sleep out there. Inside was too sultry without air conditioning. The kids were a little frightened at first, and it took Beauty a while to be convinced she could not watch tv and they could not keep opening the refrigerator.  Sleeping on the patio was our little adventure.

It was actually quite pleasant, with a gentle rain. When I closed my eyes, I was immediately taken back to the days when I went to summer music camp. It's funny how these memories can be triggered.  I cannot believe it has been nearly 20 years ago!!!  Anyway, the electricity came back on around 3:30 am.

Carrot Bounty and a Brave Boy

Our first carrot harvest....100% organic!

I am very delighted!  I will both can and freeze these and they will be more than enough for us to get through the winter. We are looking forward to homemade soups and stews and tossing them in with this year's organic peas as well.

In our digging, Buck and I came across this fuzzy caterpillar (if anyone knows the actual name of this, please tell us!).

 

While Buck loves playing in the dirt (obviously), he wasn't too sure about touching the woolly worm.

Beauty Sings with Ken Evans (family video)

Last March Ken Evans, a performer in Pigeon Forge TN, stopped by our church for a small performance. He sang gospel songs and gave a brief testimony.  Beauty had seen him perform in Pigeon Forge while on vacation with my parents and bought his CD. Her favorite track on his CD was the oldies song, "Sherry". So, after the performance at our church, we asked him to sing "Sherry" for Beauty. He did more than that. He had her come up and sing with him.  This tickles us to death because she didn't form complete sentences until she was well into her fifth year. She also had separation anxiety up until a year ago.

Notice how he sounds a lot like the original singer of this song.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for....a little bit of cheese

Okay, so Hubs was right

I am going to make a confession.  It is my husband who has the green thumb in this marriage, and not I.  I have all the great ideas and do all the reading, but he is the natural talent.

About the second or third week of March,  I planted carrots and peas.  The seed instructions said the carrots take around 70 days to harvest.  Two weeks ago, I checked them and there were no carrots.  The green shoots were up and beautiful, but nothing under ground.  I figured I set them out too late or didn't have the ground loose enough or any number of things.  I was all ready to till it over and try again next year.

Hubs said, "Wait. Just give em time."  "But it's already too hot, they probably won't produce, " I argued.  "Wait", he said. So I waited.

Sure, they aren't big enough yet to actually pull up and enjoy, but this is a surprise. To me. Not Hubs.

Sometimes I am glad to admit when I am wrong.

our G-arden

1 row of squash, 1 1/2 rows of peas, 4 rows of Roma Green Beans, 3 rows (42 plants) of tomatoes, 8 rows of corn, 1 row of watermelon, 4 rows of Blue Lake Green Beans and 1 row of .....

Happy Gardening!

Whatever is best

Beauty has always been home schooled. It was a decision Hubs and I made when she was two.  When we realized she was a special learner with specific challenges, I sought out the speech therapy she needed but continued to home school her. Even now, she receives speech services through the public school.

Last Wednesday I did what I thought I would never, ever, do:  I called the public school's director of ARC and told her I planned on enrolling Beauty in the fall.  Since Beauty had already been evaluated by the school to see if she qualified for speech, the special education department is familiar and acquainted with her.  They are tickled she will be joining them come August.

You may be asking why the change in heart.  Well, my heart has not changed. I still think home schooling is the best form of education.....for most children. I have every intention of home schooling Buck.  Beauty LOVES going to see Ms. Payton for speech on Fridays. She loves walking through the school and getting glimpses of the other kids.  Last year she got to know the teacher of the FMD unit, and still asks about her.  I think the school will provide an atmosphere in which she will thrive.  Having met her teacher, the aids and all the special ed staff, I know she will be in good hands.  I also greatly appreciate their respecting my decision to home school, without once ever trying to talk me out of it.

One of my biggest concerns was Beauty getting lost within the "special ed bubble" and the possible esteem issues surrounding that. Honestly though, I am not sure she will even be aware that she is in a "special class", or even care. She spends so much time in her own little fantasy world, she hardly notices the other children. Let's not forget that I have felt called to home school, so obviously do not want to go outside God's will.  The last few days, though, I have a strong sense that He is telling me it is time for Beauty to enter this next stage.  I must trust in the fact that she belongs to Him and He loves her more than even I do. Beauty is a special child with a unique future.  I will do whatever He leads me to do concerning what is best for her. 

It is very likely Beauty will spend some time at the school, getting acclamated to their routine before the school year ends.  I welcome this orientation.

The Kiddos on Easter Morning

Hope everyone is having a blessed Resurrection Day!

Still Here

I'm still here, though I haven't had much opportunity to blog lately!

First of all, our laptop has gone caput.  We think the motherboard has gone bad.  Believe it or not, it will ultimately be cheaper if we actually fix it than it would be to just buy a new laptop.  But, that repair still needs to be budgeted so we'll have to wait a bit.  Fortunately, my dad offered to let us use their old laptop, a mini (and I mean MINI) Dell in the meantime.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

It looks as though Spring has sprung here in the Bluegrass....at least this week.  One can never rely upon KY weather.  We are struggling with our lawn mower.  When we went to get it out of its winter home in the barn, we found that one of the back tires seperated from the rim so after many failed attempts to get it on ourselves, we packed it off to Wal-Mart's tire and lube for repair. Then we had to jump the battery. Then it wouldn't move when we put it in gear.  Eventually we figured out Hubs had left off some kind of key thingy when he put the tire back on.  So finally he drove it to the house, mowed part of the back yard and realized the barren (baring?) was worn out and now that has to be replaced.  The lawmower place was closed for the day, so we'll have to wait till Hubs gets a chance to go by there for a new part. 

I did get some pansies and lavender planted and mulch laid out.  That makes me happy.

Oh, and we were gone last Monday-Thursday on our annual visit to Pigeon Forge, TN.  I'll post pics in a future post.

We gave the Blazer a tune-up which greatly increased its gas mileage-thank goodness!  Hubs has had his truck to three different mechanics (including the dealership) and it still dies at random.  Since he cannot take a chance on that happening on his way to work, he must drive the Blazer which leaves me without a vehicle until we can figure out what is wrong with the truck.  Thank goodness he starts day shift tomorrow, which will have him home by 3:30, but I don't know yet how I am going to get the kids to their weekly speech appointments.  It'll all work out though.  I have a Great God who has blessed me with a wonderful extended family who is always willing to help out when they can.

So, that's what's been going on around here.

As promised, I will post later about our trip.

Happy Valentine’s Day to My Jo-Jo

Us, back in the day. (love my farmer’s tan?)

 

My husband. What can I say about my man-of-few-words, my country boy? Well Brad Paisley describes him to a tee in this song:

I am not usually the goofy, gushy romantic.  PDA has never been my style.  But this Valentine’s Day I want to give a shout out to my quieter half.

I say quieter because he is in fact just that. To say my husband is a man of few words would be the understatement of the century.  That’s okay because he shouts volumes in what he does rather than what he says.

He says “I love you” by changing the oil in the car and by checking the air in the tires. And by tending to our son so I can have some time for myself or our daughter. And by performing mundane labor at a job he doesn’t particularly care for so I may stay home to be our kids’ mom. This list is endless.

He says “I need you” when he asks “what’s to eat?” (I admit this used to drive me crazy and left me wanting to shout-I don’t know! Go look for yourself! But that was then. That was before I learned to speak his language.)

He says “I find you beautiful” when he mumbles “I like your hair like that”.

Yep. When I think about it, he is the gushy romantic one.

Happy Valentine’s Day Jo-Jo!