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Friday, 13 November 2009

Monday, 09 November 2009

  • Currently
    An Incomplete Revenge: A Maisie Dobbs Novel (Maisie Dobbs Novels)
    By Jacqueline Winspear
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    Another Monday

    I spent all of Sunday working on lesson plans for November.  Abra has taken over most of her planning, with my help, and of course, subject to my approval.  It was a perfect fall day.  Chilly in the morning, warm by middle afternoon, clear bright blue sky.  Today looks to be similar although they are predicting winds and a drop in temperature by evening.  Fall never lasts long enough. 

    Tim and I spent Saturday in a rented U-Haul moving Hannah and Sean into a new townhouse.  It's two story with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Plus, an eating area and counter space.  Oh, that's not all.  A full size stove and refrigerator.  Yes, she's very excited.  I think she's crazy.  She was within a couple miles of work and school; she is now around 25 miles away.  When I point that fact out to her, she always replies with, "And I love you, too, mom."  Whatever.

    Rachael and Dan may be in town today/tomorrow.  Can you see me smiling.  I didn't think we'd see them until December so this is a very special treat.  If any of you are interested in what life is like in a semi, sleeping in a different state every night, check out her blog that she just resurrected.

    Well, there's history to be tackled and reading, so I'd better get myself off the computer. 

Saturday, 31 October 2009

  • People

    I try so hard to like people, respect different points of view, treat all people with the respect that I believe human dignity deserves.  Then somedays.....  I truly, truly don't like people at all.  I really don't.

    If my daughter, dressed as a witch, is going to offend your very tender sensibilities, for God's sake, turn off your porch light and don't answer the door.  Be it far from me to want to offend your very fragile faith.  Geez....

    Rant over before it gets real nasty.

    One more thing.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN, THE WHOLE DAMN PAGAN HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.  SO THERE.

    Rant really over now.

Sunday, 25 October 2009

  • Currently
    Strong Poison
    By Dorothy L. Sayers
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    Awkward is awkward

    Abby love words.  She tries on new words, experiments with them, feels how they flow over her tongue, keeps or discards them.  Reminds me so much of her sister Rachael.  Her latest word is 'awkward'.  She uses it every chance she gets, even if she has to stretch the meaning somewhat.  Today she used 'awkward' in sentence that was just hilarious.  When I asked her to write it down, she asked how to spell awkward.  Being the teacher, I told her to sound it out.  So after a few seconds, I get A W K W O R D.  No, I say, it's awkward, emphasizing the /ar/ sound.  She disagrees quite vehemently saying it's awkword.  Boy, do we slur our words.  Finally I convince her it is /ar/.  So she spells it slowly, A W K W A R D, and then comments, "boy, is that ever awkward mom."  Well, I found it cute.

    The weather is absolutely beyond gorgeous.  Our yard is covered in yellow, orange, red leaves, the sky is vivid blue, and the temperature is perfect.  I have split pea soup on the stove and grapes in the dehydrator.  I'm listening with one ear to the Steelers/Vikings game (which hubby is watching as though his life depends on it).  BG and Abby are watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Abra is off with some friends doing a community service project at church.  I think I shall make myself a cup of Constant Comment and pick up my book.  Oh, have I mentioned that I love Harriet Vane.  I want to be Harriet Vane when I grow up. 

    I am purposely not writing about anything negative, unhappy or stressful.  Fooling myself.  So far, it's working.

    (Shouldn't have mentioned football; it appears things are not going well.  Huge sigh.  The life of the wife of a football fanatic.)


Tuesday, 06 October 2009

  • Currently
    A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years
    By Gregory Maguire
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    Another Long Overdue Update

    I've been busy with all the end of year garden chores.  I've canned more green beans; my hubby likes them canned better than frozen although I freeze the odd ones I pick to throw into soups and whatnot.  I finished canning, drying and freezing the peaches.  The dried ones get eaten as snacks, thrown in muffins and oatmeal, the frozen ones are for smoothies and ice cream.  I still have apples coming out my ears; I think I've canned enough applesauce so I'm just drying right now.  Oh, the story....

    While I was stirring a big ole pot of applesauce, I looked over at a small child talking to me.  In the moment I took my eyes off the pot, the applesauce decided to attack me.  A big glob bubbled up and landed right smack on the back of my hand.  Oh my God!  As I turned back, I saw the skin sliding off.  Ouch doesn't do it justice.  It is healing nicely.  I have some ointment my mom used to use all the time, Cuticura, and it's working wonders.  Something like Bag Balm.  Good stuff.

    I still have tomatoes left.  I've canned, sauced, made salsa and dried.  I think I'll have enough for another canner full.  There's a box of tomatillos waiting to be turned into salsa verde.  Hmmmm.....  Hannah came over and helped me pick all the ripe tomatoes, peppers (oh, need to freeze and dry those), cukes, eggplant, etc.  Then we covered the green tomatoes cause it felt like frost.  Whew!

    No the even bigger story.  My darling husband, in an attempt to get those last ripe Jonathan apples off the top of the tree climbed to the last step of a 10' fruit ladder.  You know, the kind with three legs.  Can you see what's coming?  Yes, he fell.  I wasn't outside when it happened, but heard a noise at the back door and there he was on all fours trying to get in the house.  Made my burn look like child's play.  He fractured his vertebrae (L4 I think) and is in a big brace.  He was off work for one week, but being contract if he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid.  So he loaded himself up with pain pills, secured his brace and I drove him to work yesterday and today.  Considering that he's taking Percocet, I have some question about the documents he's writing, but you do what you got to do, right?

    I'm putting a big pot of Honey Baked Lentils in the oven for tonight.  We'll have cole slaw from our own cabbage and apple crisp from our own apples.  In spite of the accidents and work issues and insurance issues and no benefits issues, I still love this time of year.  It's my time, when I feel most alive and fulfilled.  It's also Tim's time, too.  I thought he'd be here to share it with me, with an intact back, but it hasn't worked that way.  I'm trying to be a real 1930's type housewife right now - SO NOT ME - to show him how much I appreciate his hard work.  I think he knows.

    I'm not proofreading so....

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    • Name: LivingInWilloughby
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 1/20/2008

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Books I've Read 2008
The Serpent on the Crown
The Tomb of the Golden Bird
The Tale of Hawthorn House
The Path to Love: Renewing the Power of Spirit in Your Life (in progress)
The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life (in progress)
Buddhism for Mothers
How to Know God
The Celestine Prophecy
The Mists of Avalon
The Tenth Insight
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter

Books Read Aloud
Five Children and It
The Phoenix and the Carpet
The Story of the Amulet
The Story of the Amulet
Matilda
Winnie the Pooh
The House at Pooh Corner

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About Me

  • I'm mom to 5 beautiful unschooled girls and wife to my best friend. A few of my favorite things to do include being with my family, reading, gardening, preserving our own food, being outdoors, picnics, traveling, sitting on the beach, drinking good wine, baking, good conversation, laughing and listening to rain. I am a spiritual, thinking person who is enjoying this incredible life.

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