I smell like earth and fresh rain....

I love being an earth princess! I was playing outside, saying hello to the wormies, as I planted broccoli, spinach and a variety of lettuces. I hope our first crop grows strong, and we can keep the bunnies away.

We may have help in that department. While I was at work, the boys told me we had two stray dogs running circles around the house. Later they could see the dogs were chasing a rabbit.

I half expected to find rabbit chunks in the yard, but thankfully no carnage was found. In fact as I finished pushing in the seeds, I felt like I was being watched. I lifted my head and sure enough there was Peter R. eyeballing me! Looks like we'll have to put up the rabbit fence tomorrow.

After gardening, the boys played hoops with DH. It started to rain a little and it was so perfect! Even DS11 agreed saying, "This is exactly the kind of weather I'm ordering in heaven. Cool and rainy."

I enjoyed walking around the grass barefoot and feeling the cool light rain on my skin. Its the perfect weather to put a little chill in you and when you eventually head inside to put the kettle on, tea nirvana time!

Yesterday was almost perfect too. We spent Easter at G-Ma's. We had lots of yummy food, great weather for playing outside and if only DH was feeling better, it would have been a perfect day. He is still battling a wicked sinus infection. When will my family trust me and join me on the garlic side?

Tomorrow I need to get into cleaning mode. My parents arrive later this week and will spend the weekend with us. Time to clean the ceiling fan! :) 

Other wishes for the week ahead....DH gets over his sinus infection...a job opportunity surfaces.....the cleaning gets done....more garden playtime... and another pass for jury duty next week.

 

New Friends, A New Beginning.....

I went to the library this morning to consider joining a free weight loss support group. I was skeptical, but it turns out no one is trying to sell anything, and it really is what I could be looking for.

There were only two women there, a pretty poor turnout, but both these women were so friendly and willing to share such personal struggles. We decided our group is just for support, no weighing in, no required calorie counting or food logs. We'll meet twice a month, without agendas, to share our journeys, compare tips and support each other.

I hope our group can grow, as we shrink. I suppose the low turn out could have been because its Easter weekend and spring break for many. Our town certainly doesn't have a shortage of over weight people!

One of my new friends has asked me to bake her some bread and she'll pay me. I don't know what possessed me to say yes to this. I'm not a professional baker. I mentioned how sometimes I grind our own wheat for better whole grain nutrition, and she seemed so interested that I knew how to bake bread. I can't fathom why she wouldn't make it herself. She has a recipe for a rye she wants to try, and to me, baking bread seems easy. Why would someone pay me to bake their bread?

Perhaps this could lead me somewhere? I've had others suggest I sell my baked goods. I just don't think serious income could ever come from it.

Maybe its because spring has sprung and Easter is here. My spirit is open for anything. Making new friends this morning didn't seem scary at all. I'm feeling better in my imperfect body, in my imperfect world.

There's a Pearl Jam song, Amongst The Waves, that affirms what I've learned. I've been wounded, but have survived and now I'm stronger because of it. There is love in my life, coming from all directions, if I open myself to feeling it.

I'm torturing my family. The first Easter cake is cooling and the aroma is heavenly. They can't eat them until tomorrow!

I'm not sticking out my pinky to be fancy. I pinched it lowering the futon and now have a wicked blood blister.

Tripping...

I told DH I want to rip up all of our grass and get one of these for the front yard!

An album for field trip photos... unschooling style of course!

Fridays Are Fresh Days...4/2/10

Random Friday Notes....

I can't believe its Good Friday already. I'm looking forward to Easter because I need to renew my spirit. I need a fresh start. Unemployment stress has kept this dark cloud over everything, and I'm tired of it. I'm ready for the sun to shine again in our world, and Easter will remind me of another Son who is always shining for us.

Easter also means our extended family with gather and that will lift me up. Sunday we'll be feasting in K-town and next weekend my side hopefully will repeat the experience.

I turned up our Square Foot Garden and she's ready for planting. I'm going to gamble and try some lettuces. We have makeshift cloches, so perhaps we'll get some leafy greens despite the rabbits and the threat of frost. If it doesn't work out, oh well. We'll sow again into the ground in May.

We're hoping to build a few more raised beds. We have to or all these seedlings we've started will have no where to go come May.

The big purge is on. Today we donated our 1993 Saturn SL. It had sat in our garage for over 5 years. It needed work and we ended up buying our Grandpa's Cavalier instead. I don't know why we just parked the Saturn in the garage and didn't try to get rid of it sooner. Maybe because it was our first car we bought together, as a newly married couple. We actually bought that car instead of taking a honeymoon.

Now that its gone, it feels great! We can clean up the garage and better utilize the space.
 
We finished season 2 of Dexter. BRILLIANT!!! Can't wait for season 3 to arrive from Netflix this Monday.

No jury duty next week! Boo Yah!! I have to call again next Tuesday to see if I'm wanted the following week.

I'm thinking of checking out a "free" weight loss group starting at our library. I want it to be a group of local people interested in supporting each other, but I'm skeptical. I hope it isn't someone trying to pitch a product. I can't afford Weight Watchers but the accountability of a bi-weekly group would be good for me. Online groups haven't worked for me.

We have an arrangement with the boys. If we go to a rock concert, they get to have a sleep over. Since DH & I saw STP last weekend, we're picking up pizzas and the man cave will turn into video game central tonight. All will go well unless we lose power!

It's Dandy Blend Chocolate Almond Frappuccino time. I blend together almond milk, Dandy Blend herbal coffee substitute, chocolate syrup and ice to make a healthier version of a Mocha Frap- No fat, no dairy, 130 calories of perfection!

Current score... Kid 2 Parents 0 ... Its going to be a long April Fool's Day if I don't get creative soon.

It doesn't feel late at all. Perhaps I drank too much tea today?

SleepyHouse Garden 2010 - Seed Starting

I think I may have bought more seeds than we have garden space for. I was left alone at the store and went a little overboard. Some of our seeds are leftovers from last year, and some we harvested from the garden last year. It amazes me, the abundance that could potentially come from one tiny miracle of a seed.

This year we thought we would experiment with seed starting. Last year we sowed directly into the garden and our growing season wasn't quite long enough to harvest our melons. Maybe if we start the plants indoors, we'll be able to reap more benefits.

Always being frugal, we fashioned growing pots out of newspaper. I'm hoping this works. We really don't have any southern window exposure, and the other obstacle we have going against us is Yumi. She loves to nibble on stuff she shouldn't!

I'm also a little concerned about the hardening process, but we'll figure it out as we go along. If all else fails, we'll sow the left over seeds directly into the garden.

We're planning Roma tomatoes again, since these grew so beautifully for us last season. I'm almost out of homemade sauce in the freezer.

We're trying broccoli and carrots, our favorite two veggies, and I'm trying sugar snap peas for me. I'll also grow myself more Butternut squash.

We're shooting for melons again, even though they didn't work out so well last year. I want to grow sweet yellow watermelons and the boys are sticking with the traditional red.

We have lots of different varies of lettuces to try. We're going to sow these directly and use our inventive cloches, recycled CD cases. I'm adding chard and spinach to the mix as well.

We've never had any luck with herbs, but hopefully that will change. I want to grow Cilantro, garlic chives, basil and Rosemary. I even picked up some catnip for Yumi.

Flowerwise, I want to grow lots of Sunflowers. I thought it would be fun to surround the deck with a forest of sunflowers and in fall the birds can eat the seeds from the flower heads.

We're also going to try strawberries, although I know this is a long shot. I have a strawberry pot that came with root plants, but frankly, it was very difficult to recognize those roots! We went with an ever bearing variety just for fun. I don't really expect to be able to harvest lots of fruit. I will most like find an organic local farm to pick from. Last year we all got sick from the chemicals on the plants.

I also saw this neat sack pot for growing potatoes. You keep adding dirt as the plant grows up and by the end of the growing season, you dump the pot and pull out your potatoes.  I'm not buying the special sack, but I'm wondering if a regular pot would do? If I can find some good seed potatoes, maybe we'll give it a try.

Its killing me. I'm watching dump truck after dump truck of black dirt being shipped away from a build site nearby. I just want to throw myself in front of the next truck and yell, "Dump it here! In my yard!!!"

Chazen Art Museum

"That is not a doughnut!"

 Yesterday we visited the Chazen Museum of Art. The museum has been in the news lately because of a controversial sculpture of two goats, embraced and kissing. What upsets some people is these goats are both male and their privates parts are, well... at attention.

My family didn't see what the big deal was. Frankly, we found the sculpture silly. There were many other pieces in the museum that were much more interesting.

The photography work of Filip Dujardin was inspiring. He alters true photographs of buildings to create new, imaginative buildings, although they would be impossible to build from an engineering standpoint.

I liked Ferrari's Madonna and Child because it portrayed Jesus about to nurse from Mary. With all the controversy on Facebook about photographs of breastfeeding, I loved how in 1525 it was no big deal.

DS11 liked Gleizes' Schoolboy. I guess I should take him to see some Picasso next.

I wish we could visit more art museums. We can't afford to travel and big city museums charge expensive admission. We have plenty of art books, but it can't replace seeing a piece of work in person. 

Our STP Concert Experience

It had been almost 2 years since DH & I last saw Stone Temple Pilots in concert. Our hopes were high and for the most part, the night did not disappoint.

Most of the show was amazing, but things fell apart at the end. Scott seemed to be forgetting lyrics and his band mates were not too pleased. At one point, they stopped playing while Scott continued to sing, seemingly unaware the music had stopped. They returned for one encore performance, but Scott messed up that as well. At the end of the show, Scott exited one way, the band mates the other.

We had prime real estate on the floor, about 3 rows from the stage. Most everyone around us was cool, but when the show began, the morons showed up and took over. The mosh pit got a little rough. At one point, I remember something hitting me in the head. It was a foot. The pain was very brief and we continued moshing until the smell got to me. Apparently last night's drunken morons don't wear deodorant and being mashed up into those stinky pits, it was distracting me from the music.

We moved back a few more rows and found the cool crowd again- those who wanted to enjoy the music and the performance. It didn't take long though before one poor soul was shot out from the moshing in front of us. He was way too wasted. I felt bad for him. His friends should have had his back, but he was lost and confused. He could barely stand up and did fall several times.

Mr. Stoner began to piss off the people in our area and eventually Boulder Man showed up. I have never seen such a human. DH says he was like something out of Lord Of The Rings, Orc like in size. I watched in amazement as Boulder Man picked up Mr. Stoner and threw him back, like he as a piece of waded up paper. Everyone around thanked Boulder Man and we all went on to enjoy the rest of the show.

I don't understand why anyone would spend the money on concert tickets only to get so wasted. How can you remember the show the next day? Why not save the money and get wasted at home, without having to bother anyone in the process?

After the show, I worried about Scott. He is such an amazing performer. I think he has the perfect voice for his genre and he moves way better than Jagger. When he's on his game, he brings something incredible to every song. STP has such an amazing catalog of music, and no one can sing it like Scott. His performance last night has me worried his demons are still around. I don't understand how someone so talented can't rise above it all and succeed.

On the drive home, we stopped to wash some of the concert residue off of us. (Beer spilled on my arm, sweaty moshing, legal and not so legal smokiness...) I stepped out of the car and to my surprise, my left foot wouldn't cooperate. The pain was intense. A few hobbling steps later I recognized it. My plantar fasciitis was back. I guess my feet weren't used to rocking out. The rest of the drive home, DH & I joked about being old.

We stopped for late night burgers at a Wendy's drive through. Why do burgers, wrapped in foil and eaten in your car at 1:00a.m. taste so good?

All in all, our date night was excellent. The show, the people watching, the bonding, the burgers. I'd love to do it all over again, even with the injuries. I'm wearing my Birkies, so my foot will heal quickly. I don't notice the bruise on my head from being kicked by Crowd Surfer Dude, unless I brush my hair.

Thursdays Thoughts

We stayed up very late streaming Dexter episodes from Netflix. When we come to the end of season 3, I'll go into withdrawal, until season 4 is released. This show is brilliant!

Slept in this morning, of course, but I still feel relaxed rather than rushed. I hope I can keep this feeling going into the weekend.

Tomorrow night is Date Night!! DH is taking me to see Stone Temple Pilots once again. Its been so long since we've been to a big rock show. Its about time I lose more of my hearing.

I should clean my house, but I think I want to get my hands dirty in the garden instead. It is too early to plant outside, but I can still get things ready for planting. We never did get a growing table set up. Maybe I will have to get creative and find a spare horizontal surface somewhere to start a few seedlings.

I know I shouldn't be jealous of my neighbor, but yesterday an industrial sized dump truck unloaded black gold all over her driveway. I've been watching her transfer wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow of the most fine looking garden soil into her veggie patch. Some wives may prefer gifts that glitter, but for me a load of black dirt would be heaven.

DS14 has finished reading The Stand and now he's considering whether to read another mega novel or try a regular size book. DH thinks it may be better to keep track of pages read rather than number of books because Jake keeps choosing to read 1000+ page novels.

I better get going. We have homeschool posse this afternoon.

Death Pecker

We discovered our favorite hiking spot, Magnolia Bluff, may be home to a "Death Pecker!"

We came across this tree on the trail and for the rest of the hike, we enjoyed making up stories about a giant wood pecker we've named the "Death Pecker." We had the park pretty much to ourselves so it was fun to laugh and dream up funny scary stories of how we could possibly come to our demise at the beak of the Death Pecker!

Thankfully, we survived and we live to hike again! I may just have to carve a Death Pecker Letterbox and plant it in this park.

Today's hike was one of those rare moments where we drop everything and head to the woods just because we can. We don't get too many good weather days, so we need to take advantage of them when they're here. Plus the beauty of unschooling is we can take learning and creativity with us, wherever we go. I doubt we would have  been inspired to create the legend of the Death Pecker if we had stayed in the Sleepyhouse. We needed to be in the woods and see this gorgeous dead tree.

 

Want To See Something Depressing?

My neighbors are in denial. I just saw a jogger run past my house in shorts. He quickly turned around and later ran back wearing a bit more clothing. I'm guessing the kid on the bicycle without a coat probably won't do the same though. That's wouldn't look cool.

The poor robins are refusing to peck through the snow to score frosty worms. The other birds are tunneling their way to our feeder.

For now I'm sipping chamomile. Later I'll bundle up, scrape off the car, and head to the hardware store for paint. On a day like today, I should stay in the nest and see how much feathering I can do. I'm done with playing in the snow for the season.

 

Friday's Fizzle...

I've hit the wall. I should be painting or being productive in some way, but here I am on a Friday afternoon feeling already spent. I just want to sip hot cocoa and put my feet up.

No coincidence my body seems tuned to the weather. The sun has left and our 60 plus temperatures are now plummeting back down to 30's. We could have 3 inches of snow by morning. At least I'll still have my sunburn to prove to me it wasn't a dream. Spring was here for a few days, and I forgot to wear sunscreen.

DS11 gave me this Yu-Gi-Oh card. I think it is very cool of course, but its actually a very weak card. He knows I think its super cute. He's also been busy making home made Yu-Gi-Oh inspired ATCs. I may have to make an ATC to trade with him for the Domo card he made.

My work this morning went well, except for the final classroom of 3 year olds. Most of the class should have been at home, in bed. I felt so badly for them. Their tiny noses oozed green, thick, nasty badness. Unlike every other safety "Reach-Throw-Don't Go" demonstration I've taught, this room of kids did not seem too enthusiastic. They looked like they wanted to curl up with their blankets and crash out. I thought it was odd too this youngest room had the most kids with the fewest teachers. Maybe they had stuck all the sick kids in one room for the day? The other two classrooms were energized and ready for fun.

I understand the challenges of being a working parent. For 3 years I tried to do the super mom thing. I can remember I never took real vacations because I had to use my vacation days for sick days when my son would become ill. I spent one entire week not enjoying a chicken pox staycation.

We need to allow everyone more time off for illness. We'd all be so much more healthy if people were free to stay home when they or their children were sick. Most schools and daycares have the fever rule, but I think if anything is goopy and dripping, it calls for isolation from others.

Remind me to drink extra Emergen-C this weekend.

Once when John Holt was speaking to a school audience, describing his views on the their structured curriculum, a student asked him, "But surely there must be something important enough that everyone should learn it?" He thought for a moment and replied, "To learn to say 'I'm sorry', 'I don't know', and 'I was wrong'."

Thirteen Thoughts....

1. The paint color is almost decided. Now I have to stop myself from over thinking it and find the time to get it on the walls.

2. More locker room drama at work. Why doesn't anyone bother to read posted signs?

3. I'm in a breakfast rut. I need to go to the library and borrow some magazines and books for inspiring healthy breakfast menus.

4. We hit the 60's yesterday, and today it will be similar. The weekend forecast is snow, some say 3 inches. Only in Wisconsin.

5. I am so addicted to Dexter.

6. I got out some of our Easter decorations, but I have scaled back. Partly because I couldn't find all the boxes and partly because the dark cloud of unemployment stress is still stealing our joy.

7. I'll be happy if I can accomplish spring cleaning, I don't need the Easter decoration flair.

8. I know its silly, but I still feel like I'm losing an hour everyday thanks to daylight savings.

9. Maybe its time to make up some granola to stash away? I haven't made granola in forever.

10. Homeschool Posse comes over today! Yeah!

11. I better vacuum.

12. And go to the Pig for refreshments...

13. That means I should get off this computer pronto!

Last night's shift brought more locker room horror. I'm hoping tonight's shift is uneventful. I've had enough gross out moments at work lately.

Tuesdays Rambling Thoughts.....

I finished priming the bathroom. Now the real hard work begins, choosing a color. I am very challenged when it comes to finding paint colors that work on walls. I may just ask DH to go to the store without me and come home with anything, as long as its not yellow or brown, two colors I KNOW should never be used in a bathroom!

DS11 has no desire to see the new Diary Of A Wimpy Kid movie. He's read all the books and is a fan, but just from seeing the previews, he knows the movie will ruin the books. I can respect that. Kirsten Stewart ruined Bella for me, and I couldn't bring myself to read the rest of the series.

I made chocolate chip bar cookies after painting yesterday. It did improve the aroma in the Sleepyhouse, but now I need someone to hide them from me! Why is it I have no diminishing returns when it comes to chocolate chip bars?

We received our census yesterday. It probably took me 5 minutes to complete it and get it back in the return envelope. I don't understand why people are refusing to complete it? It only asked for names, ages and race of people living at your address. The government gets more personal information on us every year come tax time. People refusing to participate are only hurting their state's chance to have proper representation in congress.

Last night it was battle of the remote. I wanted to watch International House Hunters, but my children wanted to watch some Repo show. We kept flipping back and forth between commercials. 

The Repo show was obviously staged. Its suppose to be real repossession professionals going out to collect cars, but everyone seemed to acting Jerry Springer style. It didn't matter, for some reason, my boys enjoyed it, even though they admitted they too thought it was acting and not reality.

House Hunters International is so much better! :) I find it so interesting to see how much real estate is in foreign countries, and what you get for your money. I also enjoy wondering what these people do in order to be so wealthy to afford a house in a foreign country!

Wow! How is it 9:30am already? Darn time change! My DH is up. I think I'll see if he wants to walk the hood with me. Have a great Tuesday!

Moanday...

I am not a morning person and when you throw this wicked daylight savings at me, it only gets worse. I forgot to change the clock in my car so when I left for work, the demonic red digital glow read 3:55am. I'm grateful I work mostly nights. If I had to leave for work more than once a week at 5:00am, I'd be a grumpy girl.

I need to get my haircut. DH usually prefers I keep it long enough to pull back but even he has noticed it has gotten really long. I can't remember the last time I had it cut. Its probably been over a year, maybe two. I don't like getting my haircut. I don't like strangers touching me. I can justify that we don't have the money for it now, but the simple truth is, I hate having my hair cut, and I'm too cheap to pay for it! Dare I cut it myself? I knew someone who did this and it looked terrible, so I don't think I will.

I have to make a mess today. A big mess, but not a fun mess. I need to sand down the drywall mud and prime it. We've been sharing a bathroom with the boys while we fix the drywall tape in our bathroom. I'm ready to have my bathroom back, so I'm motivated to get messy today.

Well, I better get busy. The sooner I finish the dirty work, the sooner I may just have a chance to enjoy some of this sunny weather.

Feeling a little guilty DH is still very sick while I'm feeling better. Of course he doesn't want to try my raw garlic, Emergen-c tricks. He's sticking with nasty Nyquil. Yuck!

Happy Pi Day!

I am not baking any pies or circular foods today. This weekend isn't going as planned, but sometimes you just have to roll with it.

We have finished the dry wall taping, but before we could sand and prime, the cold virus took over. DH & I have spent most of the weekend resting and blowing our noses. Perhaps today we'll have more energy.

The boys are over their colds. DS11's been into Yu-Gi-Oh once again. Last summer he wanted to sell all of his cards, but had no takers at the yard sale. Now for some reason, he's really into playing again.

The snow's just about all melted away, and I'm amazed at how my flattened bushes have sprung back up. We have lots of rabbit raisins in the yard, and I asked DS14 if he'd like to help me sweep them up and into the garden for fertilizer. Can you believe he said no?

We saw our first cardinal at our feeder. I hope he comes back and brings his friends. We're going to try and built our own platform feeder soon. The Canadian geese are back, but thankfully, they don't stop in our yard. We've even seen a few Sandhill cranes flying overhead. I'm bummed the field they used to hang out in next to us is now developed with new homes. I wonder where the cranes will hang out now. I can hear them in the area, but I don't know where they are.

We're happy to report our basketball hoop is still standing. Every spring the ground gets so mushy, we're afraid one of these years it will fall over. March Madness has us all inspired to be out shooting hoops.

If DH is still unemployed, I'm sure March Madness will distract him. He used to want to take days off from work to watch the games. This year, he won't have to. -Now that I've said that, please let a job offer come in!!

It seems unbelievable that its been 5 months we've been in unemployment survival mode. I really didn't think it would be this long, but I hear about so many people being unemployed for a year or more. I'm grateful we'll made it this far, but it's still very stressful.

My Sleepyhouse crew is starting to get up. According to the clock, I should be making lunch not breakfast. Daylight savings always screws us up. Have a great Pi day!


 

13 For Thursday- Better Late Than Never With Minutes To Spare Before its Friday!

13 Last Minute Thursday Thoughts

1. I think the cold virus I shared first with my boys and now my husband, is trying to work its way back to me.

2. Great visit with friends this afternoon! I'm praying they don't have to move.

3. Disturbing night at work! The details of which are too horrific to share. I'm grateful my boss will deal with it so I don't have to!

4. After a short work assignment tomorrow morning, I'm taking the rest of the day to do something for myself.

5. Wait, I just remembered. I have to apply the second coat of mud to the sheet rock tape I put up today. After that I'll choose something fun to do.

6. I saw a Robin today, although it didn't land in my yard. Spring has to be coming!

7. I could spend all day surfing the Better Homes and Garden's website for inspiration. I can't wait for gardening weather.

8. Does anyone still use that internet term, surfing?

9. I wish it wasn't late. I'd love a Dandy blend coffee substitute right now.

10. Why do I always think to drink beverages right before bedtime? My timing is way off.

11. I suppose an Emergen-C would not be a good idea either. Those B vitamins will keep me awake.

12. DS11 made me laugh. He told DH to do his yoga stretches in front of me.

13. I'm positive now we embarrass our children!

DH now has the cold virus that's been making the rounds in our Sleepyhouse, and I feel like its trying to jump back to me. I hope I can fend it off again. Bring on the garlic!

Tuesdays Ramble...

The boys are still sick, but they are on the mend. I hope they feel back to normal soon. They aren't sleeping too well, but when you have a head cold, you're stuck in that catch 22. You need the sleep to get better, but you can't sleep because you can't breathe laying down.

I need to catch amnesia. I need to forget how much I love chocolate covered dried cranberries. I need to forget Tenuta's exists. They make the best chocolate covered candy. There seems to be an extra thick layer of chocolate on every piece!

We stopped at Tenuta's last Sunday when we drove to K-Town to check on G-Ma's cat. We never saw the cat, but did see evidence it was still alive. We also treated ourselves to Kenosha, Wisconsin, thin crust pizza. K-town thin crust is different than New York style thin crust. The crust is cracker crispy. No folding allowed!

I need to kick into gear and get some serious spring cleaning done. I know I'll feel better for getting it done, but at the time it seems so overwhelming. I just need to take one thing at a time.

How do you tell someone you love immensely that his version of Oscar the Grouch has to go?  For now, I'm going to practice grace and try to see past it. I can only change me.

I'm thinking of going back to being a vegetarian. I was for a few years, but I didn't really do it nutritiously. I was substituting meat with too many prepared soy based foods. I think I'll slowly go back, one healthy meal at a time until I have an arsenal of healthy choices.

I'm motivated to work this change after seeing the Academy awards. I haven't seen the film, The Cove, but just the trailer upset me so. I cannot believe anyone in the world would eat dolphin. As I sat there judging this Japanese town, I realized what a hypocrite I was. I don't eat dolphin, but how is eating other animals any different? If I raised chickens or cows, I don't think I could slaughter and eat them. I could on the other hand, grown a garden full of veggies and not feel any guilt.

Speaking of gardening, its time to start collecting more supplies. The boys have promised to help me make more square foot gardens this year. If we add a few more raised beds each  year, eventually we'll get there, to my dream of having less grass and more plants.

I was trying to read our village ordinances regarding registering your yard as a "natural" restoration project, but it was very confusing. You can't just stop mowing your grass and let it go wild. You can only keep certain plants. It has to look "good" and since we're on a corner lot, we have to maintain a certain vision angle I can't quite figure out yet. (Cars have to be able to see to turn.) For now, I think it will be easier to replace our grass with veggie gardens. I just can't grow anything over 2 feet tall on the corners.

Well, I better get moving. I may not have a dog to walk, but I think I may have convinced a certain grouch to walk with me.

Enough snow has now melted, I may finally be able to remove the Christmas lights from the bushes today.

Snow drifts on the sides of the roads are melting, exposing the decomposing deer carcasses. Spring is coming back to Wisconsin.

Now its DS11's turn to have the Suds. He doesn't want to try my raw garlic trick either. All he wants is Popsicles and somehow, I can't see how I could get him to eat a Popsicle with raw garlic in it.

He's Got The Suds....

We'll have to miss our home school posse today. That cold virus I kicked rather quickly last week has unfortunately set up production in DS14. Although he did drink an Emergen-C yesterday, I can't convince the kid to try my other homeopathic remedies. Maybe I should make garlic bread only this time, I'll add the garlic raw, after the bread's been toasted. Think he'll notice?

Yumi has spring fever. She's been attacking our legs when we try to walk, like she did when she was a kitten. Even though she's not an outside cat, she thinks she is. She'll sit by the door and meow to be let out. Its not going to happen cat, so give it up.

She's been tricking us into over feeding her. We usually feed her twice a day, 1/4 cup of kibble in the morning and 1/4 cup at night. She's been waking up DS14 at 6:00am and he'll give her the 1/4 cup. I would get up after 7:30am, her dish would be empty and I'd think I needed to feed her. Now we are writing down when we've fed her so she can't trick us humans into giving her more. I knew she was trying to pull something similar at night. DH would feed her at supper time. 15 minutes before I get home from work around 9:30pm, she'd chow down the rest on the plate so I would walk in the door and think she hadn't been fed. Its strange as if she can almost tell time.

I started reading Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson. I'm early into it, but I think I'm going to enjoy this book. The chapter I'm at examines the "books are better than games" debate. Mention your child reads books all day and most people will think highly of your child. Mention your child plays games all day and most people will think your child is less intelligent.

When you examine this stereotype closer, children playing games are often using critical thinking, and social interaction. They have to use their brains to make decisions which will reflect the outcome of their game. Many games are played in groups, (online gaming), so it can be said gamers also must use socialization skills.

When a child reads a book they follow the story's lead, not their own. The reader has to go where they are taken. Most reading is done solitary, without group interaction.

This is not to say reading books is not as good as playing games, or vice verse. It simply points out how we need to question these stereotypes and open our minds to alternatives.   

My workout partner is up and running. I better get moving myself and join him. Have a great day!   

I'm excited we'll be in the 40's (Fahrenheit) by the end of the week. You know its been a long winter when you get excited about 40 degree weather.

Donos - Vanilla flavor

Description:
I can't call these donuts because they don't have holes. I didn't have a donut pan. I used a bundt cake shaped muffin pan, which is even stranger. The holes baked shut. They still came out tasting really good and since they were baked, not fried, much less fat. I tweaked a recipe I saw in Family Circle magazine.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 C flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 C milk - I didn't have buttermilk so I used skim.
1/3 C dark brown sugar
1 egg
4 t unsalted butter, melted
2 t vanilla extract

Icing
1/2 C powdered sugar
2 t milk
1/2 t vanilla extract
sprinkles


Directions:
Heat oven to 325F, spray your pan with non stick spray.

In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients. In another bowl, mix the wet. Mix the two together to form a very sticky, wet dough.

Spoon the dough into a zip lock bag. Snip off the corner of the bag and pipe the dough into the pan. With moist fingers, smooth out the dough if needed.

Bake for 15 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack while you mix up the icing.

Stir together the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Spoon the icing over the Donos and add sprinkles if you wish.

Low Fat Banana Bread

Description:
I tweaked recipes from both my husband's family and mine and came up with a perfect low fat banana bread we all love.

The secret is to roast those bananas before you mash them. It really brings out the flavor of the bananas.

Ingredients:
4 large ripe bananas
2 large eggs
2 t vanilla
1/2 C applesauce

1 3/4 C flour
1/2 C sugar
2 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 C chocolate chips

Directions:
In a 325 F oven, roast the bananas in their skins for 20 minutes. They will turn black. Allow them to cool, and then peel and mash them.

Beat the eggs with the vanilla and the applesauce. Add in the mashed bananas.

In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry until mixed. Add the chocolate chips.

Spray your loaf pan with non stick spray or grease it. Add the batter into your loaf pan and bake the bread at 325 F for 50-60 minutes.

Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from the bread pan.

I've been summoned for FEDERAL JURY DUTY! Last summer they sent me a questionnaire, and I was hoping my occupation, "homeschooling mom", would be excused. A few years ago I got out of local jury duty this way. Apparently the federal government doesn't understand I can't call in a substitute teacher.

Another Babble (Blogger's Block)

Why is it, when I have my turn on the computer, I can't organize my thoughts and make note of the blog worthy events that have transpired in my life?

Phone's been ringing and DH's had more interviews but no offers yet. I don't know how much more unemployment twilight zone I can take. It seems like we're heading in a direction, but I don't know which direction that is.

I beat back my cold virus. I was grateful what could have been 10 days was only 2.

I'm back on the Wii, but haven't attempted to throw air punches. My boxing injury did take over 2 weeks to go away. My latest favorite is the virtual biking around the Wii Island, trying to find the flags.

Except for figuring out how to fix our snow thrower, I haven't had time to flex my autodidact muscle and that has to change soon. I have to work on organizing my time better. I've been too busy trying to steer the raft through the rapids. I haven't had a chance to enjoy any scenery.

I need to seek out inspiration. I'm suffering from a lack of exposure to nature and art.

Time's up. The Sleepyhouse is awake and its time to put on my Mancake apron.  I think I'll add blueberries and cranberries to my Womancake.

Have a great weekend!

Its not quite blogger's block. Life just doesn't feel cohesive.

Wish I could relax. I need a distraction. Preferably one that brings blessings.

WPA Homeschooling Conference

Start:	May 7, '10
End:	May 8, '10
Location:	Oshkosh,WI

Wisconsin Parents Association's homeschooling conference in Oshkosh. Our family is hosting Apples to Apples, Letterboxing and Artist Trading Card workshops.

http://homeschooling-wpa.org/

Fluids, rest, a little activity to get the lymph moving, garlic, apple cider vinegar, Emergen-C, it all seems to be working and the Rhino is losing!

I'm fighting off the rhino. I'll be chopping garlic, gargling with apple cider vinegar and eating veggies trying to beat this cold back. I don't have the time or money to get sick.

Fixing The Snow Thrower

I was dragging by the end of the week. The combination of work, stress, recovering from injury and fighting off illness really slowed me down. All I really wanted to do is perfect the art of couch potato. I couldn't completely zone out. Our snow thrower wasn't working and with a storm predicted, we really wanted to fix it.

After researching online, (what would we do without Youtube?), we think we diagnosed the problem and set about the fix. This is huge for us, because we aren't normally mechanically inclined.

The auger and fan would turn until you threw snow at it. Then the fan would stop. We took apart the machine and replaced the auger belt, even though at first glance, it didn't look like it needed replacing. We put the thrower back together and ta daa.... it began to throw snow again. Of course the real test comes tomorrow after the storm arrives.

I'm proud we troubleshooted and attempted to fix it ourselves. Of course it helped knowing we couldn't take it anywhere to be fixed in time for the snow storm. We could have committed ourselves to snow shoveling the old fashioned way while waiting for a professional to fix our problem, or we could take a stab at it ourselves and perhaps find a solution on our own. If the machine truly throws the 6-10 inches we're expecting to get, I'll be so happy! If not, at least we learned a great deal more about our snow thrower.

We conquered our fear of the unknown and didn't allow our inexperience to intimidate us. We'd have to take the machine apart anyway to fit it into the car to drive to a repair shop. What was the worse we could do? It was already broken.

Actually, we did practically break another small part, but we're ready to fix that if it breaks all the way. The auger cable was really poorly designed, using a too soft metal for the holding pin. The pin is cracked, but we have a fix ready if or when it decides to give way.

Sometimes finding solutions, uncovers more problems, but the autodidact learns from them and with that comes confidence. We just can't give up. We have to keep learning.

Garden Planning Notes- Building Cloches

I'm already planning for spring. I vow to go bigger and better with how much we can grow. I'm finding inspiration from tons of books and magazines, and lately the bee in my bonnet is building cloches.

I would love to have a greenhouse, but have no money to build one. I think we're going to try building a cloche or mini green house. Many cloches are constructed by simply draping plastic over wires or flexible tubing, but I found a website that suggests you go even smaller, making tiny cloches out of plastic CD cases. I'm not sure yet how we'll connect them, but I thought the boys could help me build cubes out of old CD cases and our baby plants could each have their own mini cloche.

Another idea I want to try is using hanging baskets wrapped with that plastic you use for insulating drafty windows. I envision several hanging cloches catching early spring rays, hoping to get some strawberry plants growing. Once the danger of frost is gone, I will unwrap them, although I can see the plastic CD cube idea being more reusable.

In regards to the photo, although I'm interested to see if this would work, I doubt my neighbors would be that understanding. Plus, do I want my family drinking that much soda?

"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." - John Holt

African Supper Plate- My version

Description:
I don't really know how this is "African" but I adapted a recipe my aunt uses.

I chose to serve it over brown rice to make it a bit more healthy, and I used NO sodium beef bouillon. I didn't miss the salt at all.

I also chose to use my slow cooker and make this over the course of one day. My aunt's recipe takes two days, marinating the meat on day one.

Ingredients:
Meat with marinade:
2 pounds of beef, cut into 1-2 inch cubes- I saved money by purchasing a round tip steak at $2.49 a pound and chopped it up myself, but you could just purchase "beef stew" meat
2 C of water
2 beef bouillon cubes - I used no salt beef bouillon packets from Hormel.
1/2 t curry powder
1/2 C white wine

Brown Rice:
1 1/2 cups of brown rice
3 c water
1 T butter

Toppings:
tomatoes- chopped into bite sized pieces
cucumbers- chopped into bite sized pieces
green onions- diced
mandarin oranges- I use unsweetened, canned in pear juice, drain the juice
pineapple chunks- unsweetened, drain the juice
cashews- chopped
flaked coconut

Directions:
In your slow cooker, add all of the meat & marinade ingredients. Slow cook on medium to high for 4 hours.

An hour before you want to eat, mix the brown rice and water in a pot with a tight fitting lid and bring the rice to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the rice for 45 minutes or until done. Add 1 T of butter to the hot, cooked rice and stir.

While the rice and meat are cooking, chop up your veggies and drain your canned fruit. Place each topping ingredient in a separate bowl to allow your guests to build their African Supper Plates, salad bar style. This way if you have a picky eater, they can choose what they want.

To assemble your African Supper Plate, begin with a base of brown rice. Add your meat, spooning some of the marinade over the rice. Add cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, pineapple, oranges, cashews and top with coconut. It will feel like you're making a Sundae for supper! Enjoy!

(You could choose to thicken your marinade by adding corn starch before serving, but I didn't bother since we spooned it over rice.)

Our Valentine's Weekend..rolling into a ramble....

We invited G-Ma to visit for the weekend. We introduced her to 1 vs.100 and now she is hooked as well. Its absolutely crazy how time flies when you are playing 1 vs.100 on XBox live.

I snuck away for a short while to visit with my Diva sisters. The other Divas were not feeling well, so it was just me, my cousin and my aunt. They made me African Supper Plate. It was amazingly delicious. I snagged the recipe because I knew I'd have to make this again very soon. In fact, here it is 48 hours later, and I'm planning it for Monday night's supper.

Its white wine & curry marinated beef which you serve on top of rice. You top the beef with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, nuts and flaked coconut. I can't explain it, but the fruit works with the veggies & meat very well.

We watched a great chick flick movie, My Life In Ruins, and now I want to travel to Greece.

Sunday, Valentine's Day, the menfolk took G-ma & I out for lunch at Laredos. I scored some amazing guacamole. They serve it in this authentic stone bowl, which if you want, you can take home with you for $30. Would I really use this bowl for anything else? Probably not. I decided to take my leftover guacamole home in Styrofoam instead. 

Overall, we had a great weekend, but it was over shadowed by unemployment stress. For at least the next two weeks, we have to go without filing for an unemployment check. DH is considering working on a potential project for his ex-boss. He won't actually get paid for it until May, but even so, because he "works" on it now, he can't file for unemployment. Whether you get paid now or later doesn't matter. Its the time frame when you do the work that matters.

We don't want to commit fraud and I don't want my husband to go to jail, so we're opting to be honest and not receive a check for a few weeks. We'll live off of the tax return and hope and pray DH's ex-boss actually does pay him in May. Its scary. I don't feel we can trust the man.

I'm still trying to focus on moving forward and keep hoping and praying there will be more opportunities to rise up out of this. Despite how great our family is and how blessed we are to have what we do, there is still this dark shadow over everything. You can't really enjoy anything fully, because underneath, you know the stress and uncertainly is still there. I can embrace my family and the fun we share, but when the pleasant distractions are over, reality bites you. Its the last thought you have before drifting off and the first conscious thought that greets you the next morning.

Every few days you break down, have a good cry, but then you pick yourself back up and keep looking for hope and opportunity. I have to keep telling myself this is making us stronger, but some days that's a tough sell.

Sometimes, you just dream about how you wish your life was going instead. It can be an escape, but it also teaches you what's really important. For me, my heart's desire is to be home with my boys, homeschooling them through high school. I'm happiest in my nest.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you all have the chance to share love with those around you today. "Love ain't love until you give it up," - Vedder

There's No Place Like Home...

This is Yumi's way of saying, I've been away too long. She doesn't want me to put on my coat and leave again.

This week was too busy. I had to spent too much time away from home, away from those I love and from the work I enjoy doing the most, taking care of my family. I'm really hoping someday to be able to get back to only working 3 nights a week, part-time.

Part of my work week had me in daycare centers, doing water safety demonstrations. I thought my presentations went pretty well, but I can't help but feel for those children. I know this will offend some, but there really is no place like home for child development. I can say this because I've been on both sides of the fence.

The three years my oldest spent in daycare still haunt me. Its my only regret in life. If I could go back in time, I would have left the corporate world sooner. No one can love your child the way you do, unconditionally. And discipline without unconditional love doesn't work.

I have nothing against early childhood education centers, but children shouldn't have to spend the majority of their conscious awareness hours with a teacher rather than a parent. Daycare centers have to structure the entire day in order to handle so many children, and all that structure doesn't allow for respecting a child's individual needs.

Its too bad we don't have more options for parents to stay home with their children. I would love to see early childhood learning centers where both parents and children could learn together. How fun would it be to attend preschool, enjoying games, arts and crafts, and stories together and then be able to continue the fun at home? Preschool teachers could be mentors for new parents showing them how to motivate creative learning within the home as well. Moms and Dads could meet others to establish supportive friendships.

Why does our society push for the separation of child and parent so soon? Is it because the government wants you to work to fuel the economy? How well is that working out right now? Is it because parents can't be trusted?

Or is it that many parents had children without realizing how much work it was going to be and they just want out?

I'll get off my soapbox now. I can be a downer when I'm stressed and depressed.

The boys and DH are addicted to 1 vs 100 on X-Box live. The past several nights they have been playing with great success, scoring many rounds in the top 100 out of over 10,000 plus players. If only they could play on a real game show and win us lots of dough! :) For trivia fanatics like us, this game is perfect.

DH's interview went very well, but he probably doesn't have all of the qualifications they are looking for. When he asked why we was chosen to interview since he clearly didn't have the required skills listed on his resume, the president of the company said, "Frankly, you wrote a cover letter. You would be surprised how many resumes we get without cover letters. It was your cover letter that made us want to meet you." Even if he isn't called back, it was reassuring to know he can interview very well and his resume and cover letter writing skills are above par. It was the boost I think he needed to keep going and not give up the search.

Tonight I think we'll do pizza and watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. All I want to do is get into my comfy clothes and de-stress. I really need to recharge this weekend because next week will be similar to this past one.

Another crazy day with no time for computer fun. I miss you and will have to catch up Friday afternoon.

DH's interview will have to wait until tomorrow. The snow is strong enough to be annoying, but not strong enough to warrant me staying put. I swear my city is running chlorine pool water through my tap and our second car is breaking down, but I will persevere. I've got just enough fight in me today, there's no chance stress will break me.

Random Babbling....

Can you crave smells? Right now I want to smell candles that have been snuffed out. Is that strange?

I've read recently when it comes to heart disease, not drinking enough water is as damaging as smoking. Teas and other beverages don't count. It has to be plain water. Guess what's always going to be within my reach now?  I'm hoping to become a chain water drinker.

We're under a severe winter weather warning for tomorrow. We could end up with 11 inches of blowing, drifting snow. You would know it, DH has an interview tomorrow, and I'm suppose to work at the pool. I need spring soon.

I decided to try Wii Gold's Gym Cardio while jumping on the mini trampoline, (re-bounder). My legs now hate me, but I keep telling them Capri weather will come back soon. It will all be worth it. Plus, I did greatly improve my jump roping count. I think the trampoline helped with my rhythm. I hope I can keep it up.

We watched Whip It before the Superbowl yesterday. Now I want to unpack my long lost roller skates, and tear it up. My children are mortified. I can remember being young and spending virtually all weekend on those skates. My dad bought them for me because I saved him the cost of a hotel, agreeing to drive 12 straight hours home instead.

Why does Netflix mail travel so quickly but it takes several days to send a letter? Does Netflix pay the USPS more? Don't get me wrong. I think its awesome we're saving over $80 on our cable bill and still able to watch all these movies. I'm a complete Netflix convert.

Wish there was a Bookflix. Or would that be "Netboox"?

DH is going to call soon and tell me he's on the way home. This means I'm going to have to figure something out for supper. Hope I can sell everyone on leftovers.

What's been going on 2/7/10...

Breathing a sigh of relief this morning. I fixed our internet and phone outages. My men will be very happy to learn this when they wake up.

Yesterday we headed to K-town to visit with DMIL. She spoiled us with quite a delicious feast, hot beef sandwiches, shrimp scampi, pizza, mojoes, french fries, spinach dip, and donuts for dessert.

Too full to move much, we watched several scary movies, some more cheesy, some more scary. Fear House- started out cheesy, but it didn't last. Plague Town- good scary potential, but it didn't deliver as promised. Our favorite- The Locals- more of a mystery that gets you thinking about what's going on.

We've been asked to host a few workshops again for our state's annual home schooling conference. I had a feeling we'd be invited back, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it again this year. The conference falls on our anniversary and who knows if we'll still be in unemployment survival mode?

We decided to plan on helping out, and I'm sure we'll find a way to make it all work. The conference is something we look forward to every year, and we enjoy being able to help the Wisconsin Parent's Association because they do so much to ensure Wisconsin keeps our great homeschooling law. Our family's admission fees will be waived for volunteering so its only our hotel cost, gas and food we have to come up with. It will be a fun weekend away.

Our workshops help other home schoolers meet each other and have fun at the conference. Last year we introduced an Apples To Apples game gathering and it went over very well. We're also bringing back Letterboxing. This year will be our 3rd year hosting this. We're worried we're running out of hiding spots, but we'll just have to get more creative with clues.

I'm really excited that WPA asked us to bring back the Artist Trading Card workshop. Last year they didn't request this one, and I had families stop me at the conference asking me why we didn't have one. Of course this means I have to get back to making ATCs, something I've really stopped doing. It will feel good to bring my artsy side back out. She's been hiding away for too long during all this stress.

Today I'm also planning to de-stress with a little domestic goodness. I started spring cleaning on Friday and I want to continue on that. Of course we'll watch the game tonight as well. We'll be rooting for the Saints.

I better get moving. I can hear my men folk starting to stir. 
 

Wednesday's Ramble Into Unschooling Thoughts...

I'm trying not to freak out. DH is away doing a favor for his old boss and of course, a potential job lead calls. Oh, the irony. It is impossible for DH to call this recruiter back because he is currently sitting just feet away from Mr. Ex-Boss. I have this sinking feeling DH will miss out on an opportunity because he is trying to help bring work back to his old employer. I told him the first chance he gets, break away to return that call!

I came down with a nasty headache last night on my drive home from work. I tried to sleep it off, but by 3:30am it was so painful, I couldn't sleep. I took a few Advil and calmed my meningitis fears. A local college student lost their battle with meningitis, and because I work with so many college kids and being in a lack of sleep state, I worried irrationally that I may have contracted meningitis.

This morning I woke with a duller ache and a more rational thought. I'VE BEEN STRESSED OUT- ITS NOT MENINGITIS!! I don't normally get headaches or even sick for that matter, but with all the stress I've been under, this is perfectly normal. I need to focus on taking better care of myself.

I asked the boys to start thinking of something they could do that would produce tangible evidence of their learning. (Will I be forever deschooling myself?) I didn't care what they did, but I just felt like we needed something to show that unschooling does indeed work. (Again, I'm sure this is because I've been stressed.)

DS14 decided he would like to produce videos. At first he asked for a new camera, but I reminded him we're in unemployment survival mode. There's no room in the budget, work with what we've got. He impressed me with his resourcefulness. He found a computer program I didn't realize we even had, and he taught himself how to use it. He now has a few short clips under his belt, and he's asking for permission to post them on Youtube. Unschooling does work.

You may already realize the unschooling benefits, but forgive me for wanting to point a few out. (Like everything in my blog posts, its mostly for my benefit.)

1. What he wanted couldn't be given to him. He had to go and get it for himself. (motivation)

2. He taught himself a new computer program without anyone's help. (creative thinking)

3. He enjoyed the work he put in to the project. (satisfaction and confidence)

4. He used his sense of humor along with his intelligence. (joy)

5. He has a desire to share his work with others. (community)

6. He wants to produce more, even bigger and better. (continued growth)

Its not difficult for me to see the future benefit of "playing" around making video clips either. If he doesn't end up in movies or television, he could have a future in advertising, archiving, or technology. This could branch out in any direction he wants to take it.

As for DS11, his fascination with Canada took him to a place I didn't expect. I knew coming off of watching the Winter X Games, he had his mind on the winter Olympics. I thought he would be more interested in learning about Vancouver, but one of his first bits of information he shared, "Mom, We need $10,000 if our family wants good seats at the opening ceremony. If we're going to watch Shaun White, we'll need another $3000." He's also figured out its going to take us over 33 hours to drive there. (He doesn't want to fly in airplanes because they crash.)

I had to remind him as well, we're in unemployment survival mode. He said its okay if we just watch the Olympics on TV.

So does this mean DS11 is headed towards a career in financial planning, accounting, travel agent, chauffeur, airline safety expert? Who knows. The point is to focus on how their interests will lead them to possibilities you may not expect. This is how I need to deschool myself. My job is to help them realize they have all the power if they want to claim it. Its not about meeting the expectation of others, but about exceeding the expectations of yourself.
  

1/31/10 Ending Weekend Notes....

We've mostly been couch spuds this weekend, but that's okay. All too soon, things are going to get crazy busy.

The Winter X Games have been on almost constantly in our house, and if given the chance to live my life again, I'd be a snowboarder. I wish I could fly like they do. They're simply amazing. I wonder if I could get my body in shape, if I'm too old to learn to snowboard without braking bones?

We worked on our taxes, hoping to get those done ASAP. Trying to save money this year, we're attempting to use the free programs available from the IRS website. All I can say, is next year, hopefully the unemployment crisis is over and we can afford to purchase a regular tax preparation software.

We watched two very good cheesy movies last night, Chiller Drive In Theater had Phantom Planet, and then we watched the end of The Incredible Two Headed Transplant on the THIS network. DH was so sweet, keeping the salt off of my popcorn.

We also received our first Netflix movie in the mail, although it wasn't one of my choices, Saw 6. Although I like a good scary movie, I don't like torture. I'm hoping the next one we receive will be something I'll enjoy.

I missed getting to the library before they closed or I would have picked up the book I have on hold, Food Not Lawns. Instead I've been reading a book my neighbor lent me, The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. Its got just about everything you could think of. I'm going to research building some cloches for our garden, and I'm tempted to make french fried dandelion blossoms. This book is dangerously good for an autodidact like me. I'm going to have to see if I can find my own copy at the used book store someday.

I'd like to do something special for Groundhog Day, but I don't know what yet. We don't have a local celebration, but maybe I'll suggest we visit the zoo in Madison. I don't know if they still have their groundhog, but maybe the prairie dogs will tell us something?

Random Acts Of Kindness Week Begins

Start:

Feb 15, '10

Practice more random acts of kindness this week.

Valentine's Day

Start:

Feb 14, '10

Diva Night!

Start:	Feb 13, '10
Location:	Rockford,IL

Valentine's Diva Night!

Wear Red Day

Start:

Feb 5, '10

For Women's Heart Disease Awareness

1/30/10 Beginning Weekend Notes....

It was crazy cold Friday night, but that didn't stop us. We picked up an early supper of McDonald's for the boys and then left the teenagers at home alone. Along with my sister, DH & I headed into Madison to see my nephew perform with his band, Seven Signs. Its a more crunchy type of metal than I'm used to, but my nephew is really good! We're looking forward to going back and see his band again in a few weeks.

Being back in a bar/nightclub, I realized how much I have missed enjoying live music. Once we're back on our feet, I think DH & I will have to get back to rocking out on a regular basis, even though our favorite band is still without a lead singer.

After we got home, the boys were still up, enjoying having the house to themselves. Together we stayed up and watched Ghost Hunters. I must have been tired because it started to spook me a little. This morning, I now realize how Ghost Hunters fake it and its all acting. I'm so silly when I get tired! :)

As nostalgic I feel realizing my boys are no longer babies, and they need me less each day, I do have to admit, having this extra time to devote to my husband and my personal life feels good. It makes the time we can spend together as a family better.

Just a few things I want to make note of...

The roller coaster is still going. I've told the Big Guy I'm ready for this ride to stop, but apparently, that's not His plan. I have forgotten what normal feels like. DH mentioned to me this is the longest he's ever gone without working since he was 13. Its breaking my heart to see him so down. You have to understand, he has a strong work ethic and its killing him not being able to provide for his family.

Awkward moment - I spoke personally with DH's Ex-boss. He called looking for DH, who ironically was on his way to meet with Mr. Ex-Boss. "I feel really bad. I want you to know I'm doing everything I can for you guys and hoping work will come back soon." I know for a fact this is bogus, yet I had to thank the man. Its not my place to throw a match onto that bridge.

Onto some good stuff- DS11 told me the other night, "I want to be better friends with Jakob," (his older brother.)

"Why? Are you guys fighting?"

"No, I just want us to be better friends."  Awwww!!! We talked about what makes a good friend and he decided he would try to be a better friend himself.

My neighbor friend has shared wonderful news with me. Her cancer is shrinking!! Her doctor diagnosed her with 4th stage lunch cancer and gave her a 1% survival chance last October. She decided to declare war on her cancer and attacked it back with lots of prayer, healthy living and chemo. I'm going to continue to pray for her healing.

LOL!!! I just proofed that last paragraph and saw I had typed "lunch" not lung. I'm leaving it in because I need a good laugh!

Tonight DH & I are planning on going to see our nephew's band, 7th Sign, perform. Its a bit more hard core metal than I'm used to, but its my nephew. I want to see the look on my sister's face when her baby drops an F bomb into the microphone.

I think we'll stay home this weekend too. We were tempted to take a road trip to K-town, but we want to get our taxes done. I'm hoping there's some refund dollars we can add to our account to help get us a little further.

We knew we had to do it, and when this last bill came, we were pushed into action. We cancelled some of our cable services. We're giving up movie channels along with my beloved BBC America. Evil Charter cable had raised our bill to $232.00 a month.  We have to keep the internet going. Its a must for job searching and home schooling, and we have to keep the phone service. We live in an area where we don't always get cell phone coverage and every outgoing call is considered long distance. We can give up HBO, Showtime, etc. and cut almost $80 off our monthly bill.

We're going to try Net Flix. For around $9 a month, we can have unlimited streaming of movies to our PS3 and soon our Wii. Supposably you can stream into 6 different sources, which should be more than enough for us. The first month is free, so we'll see how it works.

We know we can watch stuff on Hulu.com as well, but for the most part, we realize we watch mostly movies, play games and read books and magazines for entertainment. I'll learn to live without my BBC fun.

We're tempted to try Magic Jack for our phone, but I've heard mixed reviews. I've heard the connection isn't always that great and there are dropped calls.

I better stop babbling and get moving. My water glass is empty and the rest of the Sleepyhouse is finally starting to wake up.

 

"Self-knowledge helps release you from fear."- Norman Vincent Peale.~My unschooling heart knows this!

Reading Norman Vincent Peale's You Can If You Think You Can. I need the pick up.

"Best Sleep Over Yet..."

After all these years, I have the recipe down perfect. Deliver pizza, soda, video games, cake and morning cinnamon rolls to the Man Cave, invite over the posse crew and birthday parties are easy.

I just can't believe my baby is now 11. Where has the time gone?

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Start:	Feb 12, '10
End:	Feb 15, '10
Location:	http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Count birds for 15 minutes and help the Great Backyard Bird Count
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Avatar was entertaining enough. I won't punch holes, even though I could. If you do plan on seeing it, I recommend 3D.

Fridays Are Fresh Days...1/22/10

I'm so glad Friday is here and the weekend can begin. Not being scheduled to work on Fridays anymore has really made a difference in my stress level. I have this one extra day to catch up on all we've missed during the week before the weekend begins.

The cut in hours does mean my paycheck is smaller, but I have to trust God will help it all work out. We may have to begin dipping into savings, but that tax refund is just around the corner and that will help us buy more time until DH can find work.

The news on the broken car- it was a stuck caliber and brake work. Bad news is that means $400, although I'm grateful it wasn't a transmission problem. I was thinking it was going to be thousands, so the $400 hurts much less.

Today we're using our movie gift certificates we received from DMIL at Christmas to see Avatar in 3D. Going to a movie on a Friday, in the middle of the day feels like playing hooky! It's going to be great, even if the movie isn't.

Tomorrow we'll have the birthday sleep over. 7 young men in the Mancave, eating pizza, drinking soda, staying up all night playing video games. My only responsibility- make homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next morning.

Sunday our neighbors across the street are having us over for supper and football. I'm looking forward to garden planning with my mentor as well. My neighbor friend is a long time master gardener and with her guidance, I have decided to chop up most of our lawns to grow more organic veggies. 

Monday DS10 turns DS11. I do have to work that morning, and we have an appointment in the afternoon, but we're hoping to still take him out for supper in honor of his official day. Last night DH & I already began reminiscing about how quickly our son has grown. I think I'm going to have to pull out the baby pictures and get that scanning project going.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thursday 13 - Broken

13 Broken Things I Wish We Had The Money To Fix

1. My Vibe- :(  It started making a loud noise when I go over 55mph - thought it was the muffler but as I parked tonight, it made another awful noise and now I'm worried it has something to do with an expensive transmission.

2. Water softener - Noticing our water seemed a little on the hard side, I reminded DH to add salt to the softener. We discovered it was still full of salt even though we haven't added any in months. Now that we think about it, we can't remember hearing it run for quite awhile, but we did have it set to recycle at 3:00am.

3. The exhaust fan in the boys' bathroom is not working at all

4. The exhaust fan in our bathroom is broken too. It runs, but makes an awful racket.

5. Trying to plug Christmas lights into an outlet in the dark, I pushed too hard on a polarized plug and broke the outlet. It still works, but there is no resistance when you insert a plug. That can't be good.

6. Our teeth - I could use a few crowns and DS soon to be 11, needs braces

7. The recessed light over my kitchen sink. It would be much more pleasant to see how clean my dishes can be.

8. My camera.  The USB port no longer works and lately its taking cruddy photos.

9. The graphics card needs replacing on the downstairs computer.

10. The internal cooling fan is broken on that computer too.

11. All inside doors in our house do not close or open well at all.

12. No real lock on the boys' bathroom door. We busted it years ago when DS fell in the shower and we feared he had a head injury. Our improvised lock is just a hook, since we have to replace the entire door frame now.

13. MY OUTLOOK!!  The financial strain we're under is taking a huge toll on me. I'll go to bed now and hopefully things will look brighter in the morning. 

Looks like this day is going to require a little more effort to make it a good one, but I'm up for the challenge.

Our Weekend Update...(3rd in 2010)

Weekend lunch date with DH was sweet. Thanks to a coupon, it only cost us around $10 and we had plenty of leftovers to munch on for supper. We ordered our usual- pesto cavatappi for me and buttered noodles with shrimp for DH. 

We decided to move the computer desk in the Mancave, but that meant we had to complete two giant clean up projects first. One of which was moving our home school storage lockers. Years ago, DMIL bought us a set of lockers from a university surplus store. They are amazingly deep and hold tons of stuff, and when I say tons, I really mean tons.

We had to go through 18 lockers full of almost 10 plus years of homeschooling resources. It was an exericse in homeschooling anthropolgy. I uncovered evidence of the early days when I thought we needed packaged curriculum, to the more current favorites of unschooling magazines and art projects.  Now I have a box of stuff to donate and a box of stuff to try and re-sell. Would we be true home schoolers if we didn't have a little bit of purchase regret? We all do it! It took me a few years to realize I didn't have to shop the curriculum fair at the yearly home schooling conference.

Now that the computer desk is moved, we have more room for more bodies in the man cave. We are preparing for this coming Saturday's gaming sleep over, in honor of DS10's, coming 11th birthday. I discovered we have a few air mattresses we can inflate, not that anyone will be sleeping on them.

I just hope my clutz curse if over by then. For some reason, I've been injuring myself in stupid ways. Reaching for the soap in the shower, I drove my fingernail into my razor, slicing through the nail and into the nail bed. Now I keep catching it on everything. I can't wait for it to grow out, but everytime it catches on something, it rips down a little further. Keeping a bandage on it is not an option for me because I can't stand not washing my hands and wet bandaids gross me out!

Movie wise we discovered a few weeks ago we have the RTV channel, which I think stands for Retro TV. We now look forward to watching cheesy monster movies on Wolfman Mac's Chiller Drive In Theatre. We also discovered we get the "THIS" channel and this weekend they had on Killer Klowns In Outer Space with extra scenes! This is one of our favorite cheesy scary movies. On Sunday night we introduced the boys to another Alfred Hitchcock classic on BBC America, Vertigo. The boys did not see the twist coming at all. Last week we introduced them to The Birds.

Weather wise it never really got up to the 37 F they promised, but we did have freezing fog, which is breathtaking. I really wish I had a decent camera. All the trees and surfaces had frozen ice crystals growing on them. Our world looked like it was covered in powdered sugar.

The warmer weather is bringing stray cats back to our yard. Every night Yumi gives us heart attacks when she begins to yowl at the window. The past two nights we noticed it wasn't any old Tom cat, but Mojo from last year!

Mojo is the cat we tried to take in last year at this time, and after constantly trying to escape out the door, he was successful. We lost sight of him, but he must have a home somewhere in the neighborhood, and this was why he kept trying to get out.

Yumi was not happy to see him though. They have a boxing match through the glass door every time he comes to say hello.

DH & I are heading out on a lunch date today. We received a buy one get one coupon for Noodles! Can't pass that up! We have to try and find something for DS10- soon to be 11- 's birthday. We're at a loss. He only wants one thing. He did this at Christmas too, not giving us a list with options.

I'm grateful its warming up around here. Its crazy how good 33 F feels after going through below zero's. I know we have plenty of winter left, but I'm going to really enjoy this week of warming.

Free-Ed.Net

http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/
Free online courses

Heading to the Social Security Office hoping for no lines and a quick result. Bringing my sense of humor just in case!!

Anyone Know How To Get Blood Out?

Getting ready for work at 5:00am, I walk into the kitchen and find Yumi sitting innocently, staring up at me. Directly in front of her is a little, although chunky, ball of shivering fur.

"Get it Yumi!! GET IT!" She still just stares at me.

I'm afraid to move for fear the critter will sprint. I call out to DH & DS. The three of us stare down waiting for either Yumi to pounce or this mouse to run. Yumi casually walks around the mouse to where her treats are kept. 

"Aren't you going to feed me?"

I'm amazed the mouse doesn't run. DH grabs a towel and throws it over the poor thing. It still doesn't run. He carries it outside. Its shaking but still doesn't try to get away. I head off to work hoping the critter will eventually scamper away.

I come home at lunch and to my dismay, there is now a frozen mousicle in my front yard.

In the daylight, we could now see the blood on the carpet. Yumi must have had a good old time with that poor mouse before we even got up. No wonder she just looked at me, wanting her breakfast. She had her taste of mouse sushi and decided she'd wait for dry kibble instead.

I'm hoping this is the same mouse we saw last fall. One morning I had gotten up to discover little beatie eyes staring at me from on top of the curtains. Yumi must have scared the poor thing up the drapes and onto the curtain rod.

DH & I tried to capture it, but it jumped in the wrong direction, falling to the floor. It then scampered across the kitchen floor, and my fat cat couldn't keep up with it. It ran under the stove. We took the stove apart trying to find it, to no avail. We set out a trap with chocolate and peanut butter, but it never took the bait.

On the plus side, I've never seen droppings so "Jerry" must have been living where we couldn't see him, until our "Tom Girl" Yumi found him. I just hope Jerry didn't have roommates, or we'll have to switch to hard flooring. I'm having trouble getting the blood out from the carpet.

We Love Having G-Ma Visit!!

She always brings us Infusino's take and bake pizzas!! They are so yummy!! We can't live in K-town because we would be eating too many of these.

We enjoyed a rather nice visit, and cousins came over with bread sticks too! G-Ma read our tarot cards after we ate.

My reading dealt exactly with what I've been dealing with. It didn't tell me anything I didn't know and it didn't necessarily predict my future, but it gave me hope that if I continue diligently working through my stress, I will come out blessed. I must stay strong, and have faith God is going to see us through this and onto something better.

DH's reading was spot on as well, dealing with his unemployment stress. Plus you could directly see connections between both our readings. It was very cool and cosmic. It affirmed that we have a strong  marriage, but we knew that. :)

We introduced G-Ma to Wii Sports Resort, and she brought back our Wii Fit Plus. I'm looking forward to giving it a try now. Gold's Gym is great, but I need variety or I get bored quickly.

Speaking of boredom, I'm getting cabin fever big time. Its been so bitterly cold, its unhealthy for me to be out in it. We broke down and turned up the heat from 60 F to 64 F. I'm sure I don't want to see our heating bill, but hopefully we'll find a way to pay it.

I'm pouring over garden magazines and catalogs, planning for spring. Our beloved next door neighbor is fighting cancer and together we are planning more organic gardens. I'm ready to go bigger and better, and with her help we will. Together we're both saying we don't care if we have any grass left in our yards! It can all be organic gardens!!

G-Ma also found mad money rolling across a parking lot. She treated us to lottery tickets with it. We dreamed about what we would do if we won.

I personally don't need a big house or furnishings. All I want is land and lots of it!! I would grow, grow, grow everything from veggie gardens, to berry patches, to apple orchards and pumpkin patches. I'd have a Christmas tree forest along with wild land for critters of all shapes and sizes.

I'll have to wait longer for that dream. We only hit a few numbers, but it was enough to buy us lunch!

Can't...get....warm. Too...cold....out... for...humans!!

Rambling, Thinking It Through.....

Crazy night last night, literally. I was such a mixture of emotions. Its unsettling how one moment I can feel calm, cool, collected and the next, my world is falling apart.

I tried to find my balance but by the week's end, I had lost it. Interestingly it was when I had scheduled in free time that it crashed around me. I guess when I don't have to have my game face on, it is safer to let go. I'd rather spend my free time in a happier mood though.

It was the typical "I can't do it all" demon. Wife, mother, worker, within these roles lie so many responsibilities, and each one I want to give my best to. Why is it easier for me to look at what I didn't get done, instead of what I have accomplished?

I do think its better to continually examine myself and question how I can do better, but why do I have to beat myself up in the process?

Today is a new day. I have another chance to get it right.

I'll give you a 5 gallon bucket and a 3 gallon bucket. You can have all the water you need, but nothing else. How can you measure exactly 4 gallons of water into the 5 gallon bucket?

I sipped this cocoa as slowly as I could without it turning cold. Now I guess I have to get dressed and head out into the snow. Sigh........

First Day Back To Reality

I can't say I was looking forward to going back to work after spending two glorious weeks at home, but DH made it a little easier by going out at 4:30am and starting my car for me. We're currently having bitter cold, single Fahrenheit digit temperatures so this small gesture was actually quite huge. He did not have to get out of our warm, cozy love nest to do that for me.

When I got to work, I knew I'd have a pile waiting, and I knew I would not be getting out at my usual time, but all that work did make the time go by quickly. Still, I'm grateful the rest of the week, I'm working closing shifts. Don't let my name fool you. I'm not a morning person.  

It was great coming home to have lunch with my family and after a little digesting, I managed to throw a few punches in Gold's Gym Wii. I've decided now that I'm not working a crazy flip flop schedule anymore, I have no excuse not to exercise.

I did a little more onion research. The layers are really leaves.

I tried to get into Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but 7 chapters into it, I'm still not hooked. I can't stop comparing Jane's brilliant writing to Mr. Grahame-Smith's, even though I remind myself to have a sense of humor. I'm really hard to please though when it comes to fiction.

I'm hoping I can convince my family to brave the cold this coming weekend and do a little eagle watching. Its about an hour's drive from us, but I need to make a nature connection. I miss our forest hikes. Its easy to hide away indoors when its this cold, but you reach a point where cabin fever starts to make you a little stir crazy. I know watching bald eagles plunge into the river will lift my spirits.

Also on the agenda, I need to take some time and write down goals. I'm working my way through 48 Days To The Work You Love by Dan Miller. (If my boss is reading this- don't panic. I'm mostly reading this book for Sean.)

I've also just finished Secrets Of A Buccaneer Scholar by James Marcus Bach, and I have to say, its made me an even better unschooler. It reaffirmed everything I felt to be true.

Happy New Year!

We stayed in last night, enjoying the nest. The boys had friends over, gaming in the ManCave until supper time. DH & I feasted on pizza while the boys decided to use their free McDonald Value Meal coupons, so everyone was happy. The boys went back to gaming while DH & I became couch potatoes.

They joined us in time to watch Travis Pastrana jump his rally car. Watching daredevils on ESPN on New Year's Eve is becoming a tradition now.

I barely made it to midnight. Took flack for that. We did two countdowns. The first was on Fox I think, and then DH turned on MTV and one minute late, they were replaying the ball drop. I'm surprised there is no local coverage. I can remember growing up around Chicago where WGN always did a countdown.

I'm not making any resolutions, but I am dreaming up plans for 2010. Of course the obvious dream is the end of unemployment/job stress and continuning health improvements, but I'm also focusing on on life's little pleasures. I want to go bigger and better with our garden this spring, along with purging and organizing the Sleepyhouse. I have to get back to some kind of creative outlet.

I know I should avoid endeavors that require money, but I'm really hoping we can start traveling. The boys are at an age now where this would be so great for them. I know we will find a way to make it to my husband's family reunion this July, but there are so many other places I wish we could travel to.

I'll keep praying and we'll see where the Lord takes us. For now, I can count my blessings and stay positive looking forward. Its within our power to make this a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!! I'm hoping the fresh start brings us prosperity.