It's A...

Girl! Pink visions of dresses are swimming in my head already. I have a new niece and she is tiny 5 lb, 9 oz. Born some time in the last hour! H had to have a C-section and I'm sorry she'll have that recovery ahead but now it's all over and she has a healthy baby to show for it. Yeah!... Hopefully my dad will send pics soon that I can share.

WFMW - Caring for Long Hair

My hair has just grown past my waist. If I have it down, I am now tucking it into my pants when I dress. This makes it officially the longest it has ever been. Shhhh.. don't tell my grandmother. Ever since I turned 30, she asks my Dad if I have cut my hair. At 94, she seems to think it is inappropriate for a mature woman to have long hair. I wouldn't ever argue with her but if you look at history, I beg to differ :) I think there is nothing more beautiful than an elderly woman with long white hair in a neat and tidy bun.



Long hair is coming back into fashion I think and it does require a bit of knowledge to care for it properly so that it looks lush and healthy. Here are my tips, many gleaned from The Long Hair Site. When I tried to link for you, I discovered the site just closed as of January 6. ARGH! It was such a treasure trove of information. Maybe it will come back.

• Wash only the roots, letting the suds wash down but don't intentionally put shampoo on the ends. Only the roots get truly oily and dirty. Rinse shampoo very thoroughly; I count to 100 while rinsing.
  
• Rinse with cold water, or at least as cool as you can stand.
  
• Wash as infrequently as you possibly can, so as not to strip the natural oils too often. I wash my hair twice a week. If you gradually stretch out the number of days between washings, your scalp will adjust oil production.
  
• Condition only the ends, never putting conditioner on the roots. It's okay if you don't rinse conditioner thoroughly as some of it will protect hair through until the next washing.
  
• The old fashioned habit of brushing 100 strokes each night had a purpose. It helps to distribute the oils down the hair shaft, offering protection from the elements and split ends.
  
• For even more conditioning, try oiling the ends. WHAT? you say oil? Yes, I use 2-3 drops only rubbed into the palms of my hands and pulled down the spread hair. It is the lightest of coating but it helps keep the hair moisturized and reduces static. I generally do this about once a week while the hair is still damp before putting in a bun to stay for the day. What kinds of oils? I like apricot kernel oil but yo ucan also use coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, or even vegetable oil if that's all you have.
  
• Which brings me to the next tip; avoid hair dryers if at all possible. Dry air is the enemy to long hair. That hair is very old and needs babying. If I must dry my hair (mostly only in the winter of if I wash before bedtime) I only dry to roots and top so my head doesn't freeze. I usually let the whole thing dry naturally. Also, if you put it in a bun while wet and it takes longer to dry, that's longer your hair can absorb the moisture. All the better.
  
• Lastly, the ends can definitely benefit from a deep conditioning. I use a mixture of equal parts lemon juice, olive oil, and honey on my blonde hair. If you have dark hair, you can use rosemary steeped water (essentially rosemary tea) or green tea. Coat the hair before you wash and put up in a shower cap. Sometimes I do use the hair dryer on this to warm the hair, letting in more oil. Other times, I have a steam bath going on the stove for my face while it's in the cap so that is enough heat coming through. Leave this on the hair 20-30 minutes before shampooing thoroughly. It make take an extra shampooing but it's worth it. Our hair is always so soft and shiny after one of these treatments.
  

So those are my tips for long hair. It sounds complicated but it's really not and it makes growing out the hair so much more pleasant. I used to get my hair to about the middle of my back and then get frustrated with the texture and tangles. Off to the salon I went. My girls and I have all donated to Locks of Love more than once but now that I am almost 40 and I know my hair will slow its growth, I want to challenge myself to see just how long I can grow it. And these techniques make it much more easy to care for on a daily basis.

For more tips to make your life easier, visit Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer.

Happy Birthday To B

I think this about sums it up. It also shows what I love about my children. What other 15 year old girl gets this excited about getting "The Little Mermaid"? I love that my children can be so mature and responsible and yet still be children as long as necessary. No false sense of COOL, no bravado. Just good-hearted innocence.

3 Days in a Row

Well, I have just put the children to bed and I was successful in 3 inspections. B's room is very tidy. The boys' is about an A-; they have piles on surfaces but the floors are clear. H and R have been working very hard on their room each day and I am cutting them a little slack as long as they accomplish some improvement each day. Today their floor is clear and they vacuumed. Now they have huge piles around and boxes filled with "Stuff". I will have them pick zones and do one each day this week with the goal of a decluttered and clean room by the weekend. As long as they maintain each day's work, they should get ahead. I really can't blame them when I let it get as bad as it is. So today their room is a B- but that's up from a C yesterday.

I am drinking a cup of hot tea to try to clear my head congestion; cedar pollen must be up again. I need to finish a bit of grading, a bit of bookkeeping, and a bit of prepping then I'm off for a hot bath.

To Do List for Sunday

Just thought I'd share my to do list for tomorrow. I got a new Palm and I think I have finally transferred almost all of my information except my Handy Shopper. I think I'll have to start fresh with that one. Anyway, I updated the tasks and this is how it looks for the next few days:

B's bday present 1/28/2007 Priority: 1 Completed: No
Girls' room!!! Priority: 1 Completed: 95% there!

grade papers Priority: 1 Completed: No
General Science test mod 9 Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
Bio test mod 9 Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
chem test mod 9 Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
deposit for One Day Priority: 1 Completed: No

organize coupons Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
grocerygame.com Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
Menus for moms Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
menu/grocery list 1/28/2007 Priority: 1 Completed: Yes
Grocery shopping Priority: 1 Completed: Yes

check for pattern sale at Hancock's Priority: 1 Completed: Yes, nothing today
dsB's hat pattern Priority: 1 Completed: No

nightly check of bedrooms Priority: 1 Completed: Sat - Yes, Sun - Yes
Call for Spot's shots 1/31/2007 Priority: 2 Completed: No
Last Christmas stragglers in attic Priority: 2 Completed: No
Write confirmation letter 4/11/2007 Priority: 3 Completed: No
iron shirts Priority: 3 Completed: No

I guess I'd better scoot off to bed. Looks like it is going to be a busy day tomorrow.

Smart Habit Saturday

I've been watching the last few weeks as Lara at The Lazy Organizer has hosted this event, encouraging other women to pick one habit each week. Her theory is that with one new habit each week, we can build 52 new habits for a new year. Well, that's a bit ambitious for me but I will plan to work on one habit a month, how's that?

I think it is appropriate given how my week ended that my new habit for the next week, and really for all of February needs to be making sure that I inspect my children's rooms each night before they go to bed. This really requires more thought than it sounds. It means that if we have something going on that night, inspection needs to happen in the late afternoon. Truly, it should happen each day about that time since that's when they want to play computer or watch TV anyway. So, that's my plan. Each day we will have two inspection times. One in the afternoon and a final pickup/inspection before bedtime.

My motto for the month of February is "You get what you inspect-not what you expect"

I'll check back in next Saturday to see how we did. Even better, I've put a goal tracker over on the right sidebar. Keep an eye on that as the week goes on and you can tell whether I'm getting the job done or not. How's that for accountability? And to see what other women are working on, head over to The Lazy Organizer. filed in homekeeping

Clove Pomanders

We had a quiet night at home yesterday and I had a project I wanted to do. I found a source for inexpensive whole cloves online and ordered a pound of them. Last night we settled in with ribbon and lemons to make pomanders. Every woman and girl needs a beautiful pomander to scent her prettiest clothes.

The kids had such fun making these and they want to do more of them as gifts. Here are W and H working:

filed in crafts and sewing

Faux Vintage in the Kitchen

I had been wanting different containers for my large kitchen gadgets on the counter. For years I have used mismatched crocks to store spoons, spatulas, etc. But since hanging out at several beautimous homekeeping sites I wanted to change that look. I thought I wanted green enamelware buckets but I haven't found any that I like. Green enamelware is harder to find and that is what my kitchen needs.
Last night I was at the Dollar Store and browsed in the gardening aisle. These jumped right out at me:


Even better, I got all 3 for $7...can't beat that. I think they look as if they are old and they are so pretty in my kitchen. Maybe it will make we want to bake :)

filed in homekeeping

What a Difference a Day Makes

Well, I'm feeling better now. After lunch we all devoted the afternoon to cleaning bedrooms and the area around them. The secret I think was that we ALL were working. We did work for 15 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. Sometimes I did 14-6 to give them motivation. I set the oven timer each time so they knew to listen for the beeping and it would be time for a break again. The boys and B finished completely but the girls will continue to work this evening. Theirs was much worse.

While they picked up their rooms, I mopped the floor using peppermint oil with my water and the whole house smells so fresh and clean. I put a new vacuum bag in this time using peppermint oil on a cotton ball for that scent. It makes me feel better to have a clean floor again.

You know this makes me think of why I keep this blog and one of my goals. In the beginning it was more for family and myself. But I know there are other mothers reading and most of them are dealing with the very same issues I deal with. I want to be real. I want to be honest about the trials as well as the joys and successes. I have read blogs of women who set themselves up as authorities and share all the systems and ways they are in control. They seem to be perfect and it sets the rest of us up to feel "less than". I think this can actually do more harm than good. I especially resent that when it is a very young mom who may not have walked the walk very long. It reminds me of how I felt at the playground when I saw immaculately dressed and manicured women. I just assumed that their houses were perfect, their meals were organized, their laundry was always caught up, and their children never misbehaved. Now I know that wasn't reality but when I was feeling overwhelmed with 5 children under 10, it sure appeared that way.

One of my goals is to encourage other young mothers who are dealing with frustrations and struggles in their homekeeping and childraising. These are both jobs that require lots of hard work and prayer. Society tells us that it is mindless and unworthy of recognition or respect. Those of us doing this work are quietly making our homes a better place for our families. The internet allows us to get a peek into another woman's life that wasn't possible before. I want my readers to know that this is a real mom with real struggles, foibles, and character flaws. I am not always consistent with my children. I even yell sometimes. I am selfish and wish I didn't have to supervise chores. But then I have to pay the piper, so to speak. Today I paid bigtime. But we are all happier and have resolved to be more diligent about the daily pickup. I have promised them I will be consistent about the rule "No screen time until the chores are done".

I learned a long time ago that as a mom, you get what you Inspect---not what you Expect. Today I learned it all over again.

filed in homekeeping

Regrouping

I am feeling a bit discouraged this morning. While I have been working diligently to straighten and declutter the playroom, the children have been doing their best to destroy the rest of the house. The ratios are just not good around here. I can't follow all of them at all times making sure they pick up and as hard as I've tried, they just aren't doing it. So now I have to dedicate my time today to supervising room cleaning yet again. It just never stops. I'm feeling like it may be a Calgon day.

Part of the problem is that two of the rooms are shared. In each of those rooms, the mess is probably 70/30, with one messier than the other. So how can I know when they are finished? I'm just frustrated with the whole battle...

Sunny and Bright

The sun is shining on Texas again today. The children are all out front riding their bicycles and scooters. We've had such dreary weather recently it is a welcome sight.

We started our morning with cinnamon rolls and cocoa. The quick cinnamon rolls used biscuit dough instead of a yeast raised dough. They are a softer "shorter" dough, but they are very quick. Instead of spreading butter on the rectangle before rolling, I use a thin layer of plain yogurt. This gives the moist texture without the extra fat. I sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the dough and then roll and cut.

A couple of tips for cutting:
-use dental floss to cut by wrapping it around the log and pulling to slice through without smaching and distorting the shape.
-when you are at the ends, make them slightly wider since they are not as dense. When you put it in the pan, place it cut side up(end side down) so it will look just like all of the others. You can push it down a little and it will fill uot to be the same shape as the others. I do make sure to sprinkle heavily at the ends so they get plenty of sugar and cinnamon, too :)

The girls and I organized all of my sewing patterns this morning after they finished their work. I was able to fit them in better containers and get them out from under the machines.

This afternoon we read science (Apologia's Elementary Zoology-Flying Creatures), even doing the experiment, and they made biscuits for their homemaking lessons. The lesson was supposed to focus on sifting but I rarely sift. I have a terrible sifter and I find it tedious. I just wisk around in the canister before scooping to aerate the flour and call it done. So we are having biscuits for dinner with our chicken. I think I'll make stuffed peppers to go with that since I'm out of green vegetables.

A quick trip to the library finished off the day and now I am off to vacuum and sweep before finishing dinner. With the sun shining in the windows, the floors just look dingy and dirty.

filed in homekeeping, homeschooling, and cooking

WFMW - Discount Days at the thrift store

Just time for a quickie post this morning. I had heard of special half price days at other's thrift stores but my main ones are Goodwill and they do not do that around here. I was listening to the radio over the weekend, though, and the Salvation Army advertised on the radio. There is one about 8-10 miles away, just past the church. They have half price days on Wednesdays so I may go over there tonight while the kids are at choir. The girls have a project idea for earning money at Kerrville (the Kerrville Folk Festival we attend each year) and it involves lots of pairs of old jeans. I'll hope to find some cheap ones there. Next week I'll share the projects. They are simple projects the girls will sew on their own.

The next time you are at your local thrift shop, ask them if they have a special day with deeper discounts. It works for me! For more tips, visit Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer

A Wrinkle in my Evening

I am in a quandary here. I stopped by Tuesday Morning this evening while the girls were at bells to see what they had in. Actually, I intended to go to Hancock's but they had just closed and TM was next door. As I browsed the store, I discovered a Rowenta iron in the back for $40. This is a regular $80 iron and supposedly the Cadillac of all irons. I have read other seamstresses wax poetic about their Rowenta irons. I was ecstatic. I grabbed it up and paid for it. You know how much I love to iron.

But then... I came home and looked it up on Amazon to see what they charge for it and found mostly negative customer reviews. Apparently it leaks, spits water, shuts off at will, and just overall poops out early on. Most of the reviewers said it worked great for a short time and then conked.

Now I don't know whether to give it a try or just return it and get my money back. I usually use a 20+ yr old Black and Decker that has never given me a day of trouble but is not automatic shut off and, well, I really just wanted this glamorous iron. I'm having serious Buyer's Remorse here.

Anybody have one of these? It is a Powerglide 2 model. I'd love to hear from others and something positive, please.

filed in homekeeping

A Few Things to Share

Okay, I have been doing lots of work today, but I'm taking a break to share a few things. First here is the lampshade I bought yesterday. It's about 6" shorter than the original one but I think it makes it easier to reach the switch. Is there some guide about how to match shade to lamp size? Anyway, tell me what you think. Is this too small, or just fine?

Last night, we did a variation on our tarts, this time using pastry shells with lemon curd and a fresh berry in each.

Here are some pot bellied stove salt and pepper shakers from the antique store. I found ones just like them at ebay and other dealers and they appear to be from the early 50's. I fell in love with them immediately.

Now here is the new space I reallocated today. I won't show the before since it was just a jumble of toys, but here is the after picture.
The left is all fabric I have acquired in the last year and the right side is dedicated to science supplies. They are taking over my world.... I do feel better than this part of the project is completed. I still need to tidy up the sewing area and the school side of the room, but this was a good start.

filed in homekeeping

Another Rainy Saturday in Texas

And that is a good thing! We need it after a drought all last fall. As I type, I am listening to W singing "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" along with his Bible songs CD in his brand new CD player he bought with birthday money. Thanks Grandma, for both of those.

My head is just swimming with ideas this morning. I am inspired by Tracy over at Lines From the Vine to make a list for the year of both books I want to read and projects I want to sew/craft. You can see her ambitious sewing plan over on the right sidebar. I think with a plan and some deadlines, I'll get more of both accomplished. This means I need to explore both my pattern boxes and the bookshelves to make these lists. Last night I cleared a towering pile of books beside my bed to sort. Some are read, some are kids', and some need to be on the new to-read list. Also, I have had a revelation in the last few days. You know how we design spaces to meet our needs and then those needs change? For instance, I used to use my dryer as a changing station and the shelves above held all baby stuff. Well, when my last one abandoned diapers, I got to reclaim the space and had to really think about how to use it.Well, I am at that point again. My upstairs playroom/sewing room/school room is huge and subdivided into parts by function. When I had toddlers and babies, I had one side fashioned into a regular preschool classroom. I have long low shelves with toys, dressup area, art station, etc. But now my littlest one doesn't use that space much and he is doing school with us most of the time. Many of the toys are neglected and the shelves are a mess of unused "stuff". Meanwhile, my evergrowing fabric collection is all over the place. I think you see where I'm going. Today I plan to completely rearrange the area, using most of the shelf space for fabric and tossing the toys they don't play with. He keeps his stuff downstairs where he plays mostly now anyway.Anyway, that is a huge project so it may not be complete this weekend but I'll let you know.

Also my trip to the antique store yielded several treasures I want to share. It's a long rainy day so pictures won't be great but I can't wait. Dh wants to go to a movie this afternoon so I may get a date as well. It's a banner day!

filed in homekeeping

Freshening Up

What a fun day! I made Lemon Poppyseed muffins for breakfast. We finished a 5th day of school this week, way cool! We ARE going to finish Gulliver soon. Boy, once he leaves Lilliput and Brobdingnag, you're only halfway through the book. This is one l-o-n-g book. Today's reading found Gulliver in a new land visiting their Academia and telling of outlandish projects they are working on. We need a dictionary to make it through each day's reading.

After lunch, while the boys finished up their room (Yay!) B and I went to a new antique shop that had opened recently in our little city. What a treasure trove. I always found antique shops to be stuffy and very expensive. What we found today was a very friendly couple who helped us with all our desires. I like to look at kitchen gadgets, linens, aprons, etc. B loves the old books. I will be sharing my new treasures in the next few days, but I think we came out way ahead. The prices were all very reasonable ($3-5 for each book, $2-3 dollars for the linens).

Then we headed to Target for some household things and shoes and jeans. Why is it I feel like I am never done buying shoes or jeans for these weeds I birthed? By the time I get one cycle done, seasons change and they grow again! I also needed a new lampshade for a lamp that is almost 20 yrs old and had been knocked off its table about 30 times too many. I've never been good at this sort of thing so I may post a picture and ask if you decorators think it looks like a good match. It improved the look of the livingroom almost immediately. I need to do a little thinking about decorating. It's never been a strong point of mine. I would rather sew clothes than window treatments. I have to pitch a temper tantrum to get J to put holes in walls around here, never mind that there are unintentional ones in several places and the newness of our "new home" wore off about 10 yrs ago.

We are trying an experiment with the dog. His worst habit is jumping at the front door like an attack dog anytime he sees anything outside. We have a long narrow window beside the front door which we never covered since we wanted to be able to see out. It drives him crazy. We thought if we blocked his view, he would settle down since he would see less out there. I found hunter green contact paper at the store and cut it to fit in about the bottom 2/3 of the window. I just put it in last night but it seems to be helping. We're afraid one of these days he is going to go right through that window.

I read the first 3-4 chapters of Perfect Mess and have decided that's enough for me. I really don't agree with much of what they propose even though some of it makes sense. They argue that much productive time is wasted in the management of complex organizational systems. Maybe so...but they also are of the opinion that making the bed is a waste of time since no one sees the bedroom and you're just going to get back in it. That one I never understood. I guess if it works for you, and I think some of my own family is of that opinion :), great! I don't really think less of a person who feels that way but I would feel like something is undone all day long. Some people can't go to bed without a perfectly clean kitchen; I can't get on with my day unless the bed is made neatly.

The authors offer up as examples several businesses who are unorthodox in their systems, mostly very messy an unorganized in any way. He proclaims them all very successful. They don't have to pay employees for all the organizing and straightening most businesses do. While I can see this, in my world that kind of disorganization leads to missed bills, lost checks, forgotten tasks, and an overall increase in general stress level. My hot spots are never perfect. Shoot most of the time they are on fire. But I do believe in the value of organization, even if I fail in the application of it.

Therefore, instead of wasting any more of my time in this book, I think I'll move on down my list. I started the next one this morning. B went to a girl's event by the Yada Yada group in the fall and I bought a book written by the founder of the event. Your Girl by Vicki Courtney has this subtitle : Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World. I only got the first chapter done early this morning but it begins with some startling statistics about what our girls and our families are facing in this decade. She especially focuses on teen magazines and the influence they are having.

filed in homekeeping

The End is Near

Looks like all the ice should be melting off today. The roads are clearing, J has gone off to work, and schools are opening by 10 am in most cases. While I am content to stay home forever, the kids are not and they are ready to be out and about. I must admit that my stash is reduced considerably. A few of the things we are totally out of are:

• flour
  
• honey
  
• crackers
  
• garlic
  
• fresh vegetables
  
• dishwashing liquid
  
• cheese
  
• syrup
  
• oatmeal
  

Since Wednesday is our Library Day and we did not want to go out yesterday, I tried to renew all books online. Unfortunately, the site was down and I couldn't get in from home. I called my friendly librarian and she was very helpful. She went into her computer and renewed everything on all our cards. That's no small matter; we have 6 cards and have over 100 books checked out at any given time. She was my hero of the day. Even so, the kids have exhausted their reading material so we may have to make that trip this afternoon if it melts off.

I haven't done a "What I'm" recently so I thought I'd do that now.

What I'm Reading: A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place

What I'm Crafting: Secret Project, maybe 1/4 done, frantically stitching...

What I'm Planning for Dinner: Porkchops, Rice, some fresh veggie if I get to the store, creamed spinach if not.

What I'm Hearing: DDR going in the livingroom as well as children filming a reality show "Life with Us" with the videocamera. This is R's project.

What I'm Hoping to Get Done in the Home Today: Finish straightening playroom and boys' room. Clean bathrooms, vacuum and pick up living room, it's a bit of a mess after the last few nights of family togetherness.

filed in homekeeping

Ice Storm, Day 3

Today actually proved to be the most icy of the three also. The roads didn't look too bad according to the newscast at 7 am so J got up and ready for work. Just before he left, he called in and they had closed the office yet again, so he changed clothes and settled in to work from home. The snow all melted and refroze so now things look like this:

And this:

And this:


The kids aren't playing outside today since it is not a fun cold, just wet and messy. We did school all morning and W has gone to play with a friend down the street. The girls are watching a movie and dsB is on the computer, IMing with his friend. Since I am out of flour, I had to find another creative outlet besides baking. Here is what I got done:

They are more hair sticks, this time for me. You can't tell but the ones on the left have a teapot at the top, using a bead cap and a pearl: Here is an example of one:

They are predicting the precipitation to stop by tonight and hopefully tomorrow it will start to melt off. We still expect a wet weekend but at least temps are not expected to drop below freezing again. It's been fun, but I'm ready to get back to normal. I don't really mind staying home but the rest of the family is getting stir crazy and that drives me crazy :) And we are running out of some pretty basic supplies. Nothing catastrophic but I have realized how difficult it is to cook really creative yummy food without...cheese! That's right. The kids wanted pizza tonight but alas I have no cheese.

filed in homekeeping

Quick Prayer Request

I just want to let you all know about a situation and ask for prayers. My sister is pregnant with her first baby, as I've mentioned. She is 37 weeks today and has been suffering from kidney stones for 2 weeks. She is in the hospital for the 3rd time right now with pain and a fever. They are trying to make her comfortable and determine if the baby is ready to be born. If so, they will induce labor and take the baby so they can treat the kidney stones more aggressively. I would ask that we pray for the stones to pass on their own so that no intervention is necessary and the baby can come on its own. She is so terribly exhausted and in pain. You can check out her blog from my links if you like.

It's hard to watch someone you love be in terrible pain and not be able to do anything about it. I can't even be with her yet since she is 5 hours away. I may be going over soon to be with her.

Little Red Wagon in the Snow

It's snowing in Texas! What was threatening to be a horrible ice storm has turned out to be quite an event, but not the disaster predicted. There has been more snow and less ice than they thought. Here are some of the pictures from this morning.
View from our front door:

View down the street:
Some cold children :) :
Here are W and his neighbor friend:
Look at the trampoline:


And while the children were playing in the snow and having a blast, I was inside doing this: Dark Chocolate Chip cookies

And sugar cookies with sprinkles:


I made Gingerbread and homemade mac and cheese for lunch. By the time they came inside, they were ready for a warm, tummy-filling lunch. Looks like it won't rise above freezing until Thursday so we are in for the long haul.

This morning I also changed the bedding on our bed, putting on the warm flannel sheets. I took the opportunity to vacuum the mattress to eliminate dust mites and wash the pad and all sheets in hot water. I am looking forward to sleeping in our warm bed tonight.

One point the newscaster made this morning I hadn't realized until now was the difference between this happening here or in a northern city. First of all, we don't have the technology and equipment to get and keep the roads clear. We have a small team out working round the clock now trying to keep up with the major roadways. But also, most of the cities in Texas have lots of elevated highways and overpasses that freeze relatively easily. Apparently those are less common in areas which are accustomed to heavy winter weather. Those areas can be very dangerous.

Anyway, other than the fact that we are now out of all but the whole wheat flour, we are cozy and well stocked. J will build us a fire this afternoon.

Heard around the House...

"Seriously, pointy ears are so HOT!" - spoken by a 14 yr old girl

It's Official

Classes for tomorrow have been canceled. They are predicting 1/4 to 1/2 inch ice accumulation to last possibly through Tuesday. This is unexpected time at home. We can start a real school week on a Monday like most normal homeschoolers. No one will expect us to go anywhere at all. Scouts has been canceled tomorrow night as well. Since I already prepared my quizzes, I'm ahead of the game for next week. Woo Hoo!

I stopped at the drug store to pick up milk and batteries tonight. It's possible that we'll lose electricity so I wanted to make sure we had plenty of batteries. We have plenty of food for days. It would be bad for the fridge/freezer to lose power but I suppose the garage is plenty cool and the deep freeze is packed. It wouldn't thaw quickly. Anyway, I'm not too worried. Just better to be prepared. It's the Girl Scout in me :)

Off to work on the Secret Project now. See you all tomorrow. Maybe I'll have pretty pictures of ice in Texas.

Another Quick Meal - cooking

I'm all about good, nutritious, FAST meals at this stage of life. I found one today that I could have on the table in 20 minutes. Here is the plate:
The menu is Salmon, Sauteed Vegetables, and Pesto Couscous. If you haven't discovered couscous, it's a busy mom's best friend. Potatoes take quite a while and are full of carbs, brown rice is better nutritionally but takes 40 minutes, pasta is not great unless whole wheat but my family isn't crazy about WW pasta. Couscous is the fastest grain in the west. All you do is boil water, dump in the grain, remove from heat and let sit 5-7 minutes. You can buy flavored varieties but it is cheaper to buy a bulk tin of plain and flavor it yourself. It's easy to do. I added a heaping spoonful of pesto when I stirred this in. My tin has ideas for various add-ins on the side. Sometimes I add roasted garlic and parmesan cheese.

The salmon is baked at 375 for 15 minutes. I topped with olive oil, lemon juice, dill and this wonderful pink sea salt I found in the gourmet discount endcap at Target. They often have to clear out the gourmet stuff since no one knows what to do with it.

I also sprinkled a bit of the salt on the vegetables (leek, carrot, sugar snap peas) when I sauteed them in olive oil. They had plenty of flavor. I only cooked them until tender, not mushy. I love sugar snaps.

This afternoon the cold rain continues. I am getting some cooking and baking done since it makes me feel cozy. Chex Mix is in the oven and butter is softening for chocolate chip cookies. I may do a batch of gingerbread too. And my tea kettle is staying very busy in this weather. Right now I have a cup of red and white tea. White tea is supposed to have even higher levels of antioxidants than green tea. I tried a new Jasmine Green tea but it smells too much like my grandmother's hand lotion for me to enjoy it.

Filed in cooking.

Post #327-- In Which I Solve your Picture Posting Problems and Become your Favorite Blog Techie Mom(Blogging)

Which I am so NOT. But I have solved the problem that Blogger seems to have in its finickiness about which or whether any pictures get loaded. I read around and discovered you have a limited amount of space where they can be stored so if you have recently posted lots of pictures, or like me, want to put lots of pictures in one post, they don't allow that. But if you use a photo hoster and just link to them or copy the HTML into your post, it has no limit. Now I realize I may not be using all the right terminology but I know what I'm doing and I'll show you.

First, go to Photobucket or Snapfish, or some other similar photo hosting site. I use Photobucket so I'll explain it that way. After I download the pictures to my computer, I go to Photobucket and upload them to their site. I have albums, which I am just beginning to organize since I'm uploading more now that I do my blog pictures this way. At their site, you can also edit (rotate, change size, etc.).

Next, under each picture there are three sets of "code". They serve different purposes. For blogging, you want the HTML row, in the middle I think. I copy that code and then go back to my post window (you'll need two windows open to do this most efficiently). Wherever I want the picture to show up, I paste the code in. You need to be in the "edit HTML" tab/mode of post writing. If I want lots of pictures, I just go back and forth, copying and pasting code into the post. You can click on preview to see how it is looking. I found out it helps me to have a bit of text between pictures so they don't get all smushed together (my own high tech term).

When I have finished posting all the pictures I want I just publish as normal and it all shows up. I haven't had any problems at all using this method. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to change the layout. With the old way, I could put pictures on the right, left, or center and change sizes. I guess I could resize at Photobucket, but I don't know how to move them on the page. I'd rather be able to put lots on than position them just so.

filed in blogging

Weather Hysteria

It's so funny to live in Texas and watch the news anytime winter weather is forecasted. The meteorologists around here get so tired of saying "hot and dry", their eyes just light up at the mention of an Ice Storm. Last night it began. Every station carried the obligatory minimal amount of news and lots of coverage about the possible ice that may happen in 3 days. We heard from the Dept of Transportation, police officers, school officials. Anyone who has an opinion about the weather had a voice. The rain began yesterday and it has rained off and on all day long, up to 3 inches for us so far. Last I checked, the temp had dropped to 37. It's gray and dreary. Just the kind of Saturday I love.

I slept late, dressed and had breakfast. Then I made everyone clear their stuff out of the living room so I could vacuum. Once it was all neat and tidy, I started my taped episodes of Martha from earlier in the week. With lots of time until lunch, I settled in with my Secret Project to make headway. I took a short break to reheat some black bean soup from earlier in the week for lunch. Then we watched a movie I needed to return tonight. It's called The Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio . The main character is a mother of 10 who helps keep her family afloat by writing jingles and winning big prizes. There is a little bad language since the dad (Woody Harrelson) is an alcoholic and has rages. But overall, it is a sweet film about a woman who has amazing determination and positive thinking. I loved it.

All the laundry is caught up except for one load in the dryer and the dishwasher is running now. When I finish up here I will write a couple of quizzes for Monday (even though I'm hoping for a snow day, or rather an ice day), and grade some papers from last week. I think the kids are planning a Monopoly game this evening and I need to get back to my Secret Project. I can't wait until I can share it with you all.

Filed in homekeeping.

PE in our Homeschool

It seems one of the subjects that always causes concern to those inquiring about homeschooling is "what about things like PE, music and art?" We've taken classes for the latter two and have lots of opportunities for music education in our "real lives" but PE has never been an intentional subject for me. Over the last few years I have tried to provide more opportunities for the children to get regular exercise throughout the week. We bought a trampoline (great aerobic energy burner), they have played soccer, we go on lots of walks. Now we have a new way to get that exercise...and my kids don't even know it. (Shhh! You can't tell them I had ulterior motives in choosing Christmas presents this year.)

Are you curious about this new method? Here it is:


Yes, this is the new, hip, cool activity called Dance Dance Revolution, DDR for short. It has been sweeping the nation in arcades everywhere. Teens are actually going on DDR Diets and losing lots of weight. The premise is that you follow the arrows and beat of the music to dance. The game has a variety of songs (not exactly my taste in music, but lots of it) and different levels along with tracking for your ability and even calories burned. What started out as the above has turned into this:


They all love to join in. They eagerly await their turn on the mat. I took a turn this morning and it is harder than it appears. This is a great option for the bad weather days when they all have a little extra energy that needs to be expended. Filed in homeschooling.

Supper for a Busy Night

This week found us returning to the schedule of activities, which included church choir on Wednesday night. We have to leave by at least 6 to get there so I need dinner to be fast and easy. I try to make something that John can also eat when he gets home. This week I happened to watch Rachael Ray's new TV show. I can't say I'll be a faithful viewer but I liked her ideas. I haven't been on the Rachael bandwagon up to now, mainly since we don't have cable and I hadn't seen her much. This day she was sharing an idea for a group fundraiser which would be fast and cheap for a crowd. Her idea was frittatas. Now I'm not sure this is really practical for a very large group but I liked it for our dinner that night. A frittata is essentially an omelet which you finish off in the oven. I scrounged around in my fridge and freezer and found the following:

3 dozen eggs (B1G1F on the 18 ct.)
small amount of leftover broccoli
portobello mushrooms
leeks
fancy sausage from Whole Foods (chicken with feta and spinach-organic and $$$)
cheese

So I made this for dinner, with a plain veggie one on the side for R. I made crescent rolls quickly before the frittata was ready to go in the oven and washed some blackberries. Dinner was on the table in 25-30 minutes. Here's a closeup of the frittata:


filed in cooking

New Books are so Exciting

Especially when it's one you've been wanting for some time. This is what I had been wanting since I saw it came out last fall. I couldn't see paying the exhorbitant price I saw on the cover so I just admired from afar. But my BIL, who drew my name for Christmas, gave me a gift card to Borders. Yippee. That meant I was almost there. At least it made it more affordable. Today I went to the mall and found my treasure, over 721 pgs. sitting on the shelf. It's hardcover with a plastic book jacket and glossy pages full of beautiful pictures. I can't wait until I have time to really look at it. I'm sure I won't read the whole thing right away but I'll use it for motivation when I need it in my homekeeping.

Our first day back to school was better than expected. We continued with Gulliver and Job. I had hoped to work on them during the break but we never did. Then we all did math, grammar, listened to W read, and it was time for lunch. The afternoon meant gymnastics and church choir. H's big gift from Christmas was the game Dance Dance Revolution but there was a problem with the delivery and it did not arrive until yesterday. They all had turns and it is a big hit. They don't even realize they're getting their PE in the process. I have to make sure I take a turn tomorrow.

H is having trouble sleeping and she gets herself all worked up about it. We've had crying and worries at bedtime pretty much since we came home from Grandma's. They were all together there and she doesn't like to be alone.

Filed in homekeeping

All Good Things

cometh from the Lord, but all good things must come to an end as well. So it is with this Christmas break from our busy schedule. I have so enjoyed doing projects with the children and getting so much done around the house. Yesterday I just stood in the closet and stared at the 24 shirts I had ironed. I am only making one resolution for now in this year of 2007. That is to stay on top of the ironing. I finally found a fun way to bide the time. I rented old DVD's of fun shows (I Love Lucy, Little House) and played them on my laptop in the bathroom where it is most practical for me to set up. Usually I can't watch TV so I listen to the radio. That's nice, too but I like to have options :)

Today was our first day back to classes and things went fairly smoothly. The girls are excited because we have found a piano teacher for them both (H and R). I had wanted them to do piano lessons but just couldn't imagine adding yet another commitment to the calendar. Luckily, this lady teaches where I do and has openings that match when they are already there but not in choir. This means I won't have to add anything else and they can get piano lessons. It's not cheap but then time is money, is it not? And I went back and forth over it but piano lessons are a worthy investment.

I'm headed to bed now but only after a hot bath. Oh, and I think I may have found something to keep me from reacting to the cedar. It is a homeopathic treatment I found at Whole Foods. THe helper in the supplement department said she takes it and it is wonderful. You take it under the tongue 3 times a day. I started on Friday and I haven't felt anything at all since. Tonight on the news, they reported cedar pollen as "very high". I'm doing a happy dance all over the place :)

Meyer's Cleaning Supplies - homekeeping

I wanted to share a new product I found that I love. I found them at Whole Foods so I don't know how readily available they are around the country. They are all natural, ecologicaly friendly and come in different scents. I chose lavender. These two are all purpose cleaner and a scrub (like comet). I used the AP cleaner to mop my floor yesterday and then used what was left in the sink of clean solution to wipe down all my counters and cabinets. It smelled so clean and fresh I loved it. I use the scrub for my kitchen sink and the guest toilet before we have guests. The rest of the time I use Borax, but this smells so fresh and clean:)

While I was in the cleaning mode, I noticed the kitchen trash can needed some attention. I always bleach out the inside but have trouble figuring out how to get the outside clean without making a mess. I finally found a solution. I put it in our shower and sprayed it down well to soak. Then I sprayed a bleach solution on the outside and let soak again. Next I used a green scouring pad to scrub it all over. Rinsing was a breeze since the shower contained all the runoff. I turned a few times and voila! clean trash can --and a clean shower to boot! I love simple solutions like this one. Now that whole area is much more pleasant.

Don't you love reading about these things? Where else can you read about a woman cleaning her trash can? Now that's literature! filed in homekeeping

Hair Sticks

Here are the hair sticks we beaded for R yesterday:


I really hope they stay together. There is a pin through the beads and a tiny hole in the top of the stick for the pin to go into. I used a beading cement to make them stay and the first try did not work. She wore them for a while tonight while decorating her cake and they stayed fine.:


Here's a front view of the cake decorating:


We are saving the cake for tomorrow night when the guys return from camping so Dad can see all her hard work. Filed in children.

Use it up Saturday

While the children are bathing in preparation for church tomorrow and finishing kitchen chores, I thought I would check in and let you know how much I got accomplished today. I spent the morning and early afternoon ironing and finished 9 more shirts and several of my own dresses and blouses. I need to make the little notes for his pockets. Last year some time I started putting little notes of thanks or love in his pocket when I iron. I now find them in special places he leaves them in when he finds them. I didn't realize how much they would mean to him. Now it makes me want to put more in. I had to go in search of quotes and things to put on them. Sometimes I'm inspired at other times and jot them down. I try to write them on cute papers or use stamps or other ways to make them unique.

I had promised R that we would bake today since one of her Christmas presents was a cake baking set with pans, pastry bag, and all accessories. She made a chocolate cake. That kind of process always goes much smoother if I try to stay out of it so I found myself emptying and straightening the spice cabinet. I determined to try to use up or consolidate some of the food items I have all over the place. One of those efforts was cookies from a jar gift I got from a student. It was oatmeal raisin cookies. I added the last of a jar of peanut butter and a handful of chocolate chips. Yum! I threw out some old spices and other baking stuff I couldn't identify, and consolidated several things I had duplicates of like cinnamon, salt, and pepper. I filled all the shakers and canisters. I washed out the cabinets and put it all back neatly. I have so many things in my pantry and freezer we need to eat up and I keep making more...We did eat leftovers for dinner (chili and split pea soup) and ate up fruit for both meals. I had made a coffee cake earlier in the week with a can of cherries and couldn't bear to throw out the sweet juice packed in the can (it wasn't pie filling but cherries in syrup). I didn't have a plan for the juice but today I made some cherry vanilla tea and added that juice for sweetener. Very refreshing. Slowly but surely I will make a dent in the stashes. Sadly I have this tendency to hoard in more than one area: food, fabric, craft supplies, office supplies, cleaning supplies. I could have been a homesteader and survive on the larder for months I believe :)

I still have yet to go upstairs to tackle the playroom, but I plan to do that tonight when I get off here. It's been my procrastination chore all day, yuck. I guess I can't put it off any longer. Here I go...really I'm going now.

Happy Saturday Night! filed in homekeeping

Sewing- Child's Aprons

I realized I have one more Christmas gift picture to share now that I can. Our Greek cousins celebrate the opening of gifts on New Year's Day to separate it from the spiritual observance on Christmas Day. So their gifts were a secret until now. Here are the little aprons I made for them. I packaged them with an A-B-C cookbook from Gold Medal Flour (I have had my copy for years and it is well worn), and some cookie decorators. They were kind of like markers with food coloring in them you could use. Here is a picture of the aprons.


Filed in sewing

Quiet Saturdays

We made it through yesterday without anyone else getting sick and H seems to feel much better today. She was on the BRAT diet [Bananas-Rice-Applesauce(or juice)-Tea(or toast)] all day yesterday and it seems to have settled things quite nicely.

It had been cool and foggy/drizzly much of the week since we returned but yesterday it was warm, dry, and windy. This is the WORST possible combination for allergy sufferers in central Tx in January. That's because it is the perfect conditions for pollination of the single worst offender- Mountain Juniper. Around here, it is called Cedar Fever, even though the tree is not a true Cedar. I stayed home through lunchtime and was fine. But after lunch I had promised to take H to the pound just to play with the dogs and cats. By the time we got there, I was sneezing my head off and after playing with dogs and cats for an hour, I was losing my voice and miserable. I should have taken a shower when I got home, but I just didn't feel like it. I changed clothes and continued to sneeze. I helped R bead some new hair sticks, which I will share later today. I reheated lots of leftover pizza for dinner and the guys got off on their camping trip. We hung out and watched a bit of TV (B has her grandmother's knack for Wheel of Fortune, beating me 9 times out of 10), read Curious George, and sent the littles off to bed.

Then B and I curled up on my bed with popcorn, sparkling lemonade, and chocolate to watch The Devil Wears Prada. I think it was a good movie, well done with a good message. It was a nice girl time for the two of us.

I sent her to bed about 11 and then tried to sleep. Apparently the dog had other ideas because he rang the bell to go out about every 2 hours all night. He never does this so something must have been wrong. By 6 am, I was exhausted and remembered how thankful I am not to have a baby in the house (Sorry Heather, just being honest BTDT). Since J wasn't here, I slept until almost 9 am. I can't remember the last time I slept that long. I've been getting lazy during this break and it will be tough to get back into an early routine. Tomorrow I must!

I washed my hair this morning, removing the rest of the pollen and today I am planning to try to stay indoors if at all possible. I do have a few books that need to go back to the library but I'm hoping it will rain this afternoon and wash the pollen down. If not, I'm willing to pay the fines not to have to be miserable outdoors again. I have more shirts to iron (15 down, about 8-10 to go) and I need to clean up the playroom which is littered with Christmas boxes. Then I have to get prepared for classes which begin again on Monday.

Filed in homekeeping.

I Guess it was a Virus...

Well, Wesley continued to feel puny and lethargic today, even falling asleep on the floor with the dog in the afternoon:


Then just as I was getting dinner on the table, H started getting sick. Luckily she was in the kitchen already and cleanup was easy. She took a bath and went to bed. I've warned the others to wash their hands thoroughly. J and dsB are planning to camp with the Scouts this weekend. It would be ugly to be out there and fall ill.

I did get lots done today since we stayed home all day. I finished putting away all the Christmas decorations and totally straightened the living room. I cleaned our bathroom, did 3 loads of laundry,vacuumed and ironed 15 shirts. Dinner was baked chicken, corn, and spinach casserole. One thing I am noticing about cooking for my little vegheads is that it causes me to be a little more creative in my side dishes. Casserole side dishes are usually too much trouble for me. I'm much more the "steam-a-few-vegetables-and-make-rice" kind of gal. But I am trying to make sure they get protein at every meal. Last night we had pot roast and vegetables but I wanted something substantial for the girls. So I made Twice Baked Potatoes. Here is a small portion leftover and packed for J's lunch one day, probably tomorrow:


I have done these in the past and they are well liked. I empty the cooked potatoes into the mixer and add butter, fat free sour cream, cheese, milk, frozen spinach (drained), and sshhh (tofu). I blend until smooth and then fill the empty shells with the mixture. Then I bake until hot through. Last night I was in a hurry and did the reheat in the microwave. Tonight I used the leftover spinach and tofu along with eggs, cheese, and cottage cheese to make the casserole. It is similar to one my MIL makes. Even the picky ones ate it. I still have 1/2 pkg of tofu and I think we'll have smoothies tomorrow, especially if H isn't feeling better.

The dessert from last night was fun and yummy, too They are little phyllo dough shells we filled with pudding, strawberries (from frozen), and topped with decadent hot fudge sauce. Here are the girls helping to assemble the tarts:


And here are the final tarts:


I'm off to spend time with J now since he'll be leaving for the weekend campout right after work tomorrow.

Sweet Indulgence

The Chocolate Experience


The day I laid my eyes on you
the very first time
was tempted to try you,
mouth salivating,
a tongue could taste you from afar
Heard alot of things about it,
that chocolate experience, the taste
Even heard about the powers,
snaped me right out of a depression,
how it intimidated me, empowered me.
All these wonderful sensations.
I had no control over,
should I watch tv, pamper myself,
go out and wish I followed my first choice
for the moment, I would feel that way
I knew what it was like without you,
loneliness would set in
hard times, pms days, bad hair days, anytime of the day, any hour
You are my Sweet Sensation
a fondue for my strawberries
White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate,
Caramel, Taffy, Fudge, Chocolate Martini,
Espresso, Coffee, Latte to name a few
Fill me with my heart's desire
Give me my chocolate experience
and see what else it can do?

Written by Adrienne Clark Strachn
for all the chocolate lovers out there



One of our outings last week was a movie and lunch. The movie was Charlotte's Web. I was not disappointed. We all enjoyed watching sweet Wilbur flip in the barnyard and crying as Charlotte produced her magnum opus at the Fair.

But after the movie we headed to our traditional lunch treat at Lagomarcino's, a 98 year old candy shop and old fashioned soda fountain. We ate sandwiches and had ice cream for dessert, then bought candy to take for later. Yes, you might as well have started a sucrose IV drip for the next few hours but oh, it is so much fun.

Look at these beautiful chocolates, all hand dipped in the basement.


And these little marzipan treats look too pretty to eat.


This is a picture taken from our seat in the back. The place has an old tin ceiling and lots of eye candy all over the place, too.

Family Times

Here are some of the pictures of the family just hanging out, mostly on Christmas Day.
Cousins listening to music


Here is Grandma just enjoying having her family all around.


The big boys:


More family sitting round:


And my personal favorite, W fanning the fire. He loved to help tend the fire while we were there. I noticed as I did J's laundry after we returned that it smelled of smoke. I kind of hated to wash that scent out. Nothing more manly than smoke of the fire.

Worlds Apart

One of the reasons I love to go to visit my MIL is that she lives in a completely different part of the country and the pace of life in her little town is so appealing. She is actually very busy and active, on the go much of the time. but when she comes home, it is to a peaceful home out in the country. Here is the view directly out her back door:

For contrast, here is the view directly out my own back door, quite unsightly thanks to that horrendous green shed thing:

I love to just drive around as we go into town looking at all of the little farms with old farmhouses. I realize I am idealizing that lifestyle but I would so love to live on a farm. I'm not interested in farming the land so much as just having space and heritage surrounding me. Here are some pictures of the frost on our first morning there. These were taken as we left church.


We lived in Southern Illinois for just 18 months 12 or so years ago. I loved the whole small town atmosphere. I loved being close to where so much of our food was grown. We went to the farmer's market, the orchards, the Amish market. If the opportunity arose and there was employment for J, I'd move back there in a heartbeat. But for now, we are content to homestead in our little suburban postage stamp of land and shop at HEB. Someday...

Filed in homekeeping

WFMW - Tips for Family Travel

Since we have just accomplished this feat of endurance, I thought I'd share some of the tips that make this easier for us. We've made this trip probably 8 or so times in our marriage so I've developed some coping skills :)

1- Pack light. We always have access to laundry facilities at Casa de Grandma so I allow about 4 outfits per person. I do take extra undies for littles and maybe extra socks since those always get lost.

2- If the trip takes more than one night, pack a separate "hotel bag". This is my best tip, I think. I have each child give me their PJs, a toothbrush, clean underwear and a shirt. They are to wear their pants both days. I pack all of this and 1 toothpaste in a separate small totebag. That way when we pile out for the night, we only have to take the one bag and our pillows. It keeps the individual bags neater too.

3- Have each child pack their own "car bag" with books, games, markers, snacks, water, Kleenex pack and chapstick. Here is the collection of snacks I laid out for my children to pick from. We had a total of 4 days on the road so most of this was to last the whole trip. And there are 7 of us, remember?


4- There is a gadget available at Radio Shack that allows you to plug your electronic devices (like a laptop or tiny TV/VCR) into your car sound system. It has a cassette tape that goes into the tape player and plays through the speakers. This allows everyone to hear better. I think this is it.

5- This may be a given but if there is reason to stop, EVERYONE must try to use the restroom. If you don't institute this policy, you could be stopping every 30 minutes for someone. I call it "preventive pottying".

6- Pack things like paper towels, plastic grocery bags, bungee cords, a few clothespins. You never know when you might need all of the above to clean up a carsick 6 year old only 3 hours from home. Those cords come in handy when you strap him to the roof since his sisters won't tolerate the smell. Don't ask!

For more "Works for me Wednesday" ideas, go check out Shannon at Rock in my Dryer.

Home Sweet Home

Traveling is great fun but even more rewarding is that feeling of sleeping in your own bed again. We drove for the last two days to get home and arrived around 9:30. The first 9 hours of yesterday went well but about 6 PM, as we were approaching Fort Worth, W started throwing up. He was covered and crying so we spent about 30 minutes at a Shell station cleaning him up. At least we had plenty of clean clothes since I did laundry the day before we left Grandma's. We had to strap his carseat with all the souiled clothes onto the top of the car. Thankfully, J had packed bungee cords in case we needed them on the return for extra packages.

When we walked in the door we realized the dog had decided we had been gone just a few days too long for him. He had trashed the place. Pillows, blankets, Christmas ornaments, and other destroyed items littered the floor. He apparently had saved his doggy business for one particular area in the playroom upstairs even though our neighbor had been coming twice a day to let him out and play with him. He had also claimed a spot on the couch, usually forbidden. I spent forever vacuuming the cushion free of white dog hair. It took all morning to pick up and fix the mess of the dog. ARGH!

W continued to be sick through the night but is fine today. It's a good thing. The washer is already in overload, poor thing.

While doing the grocery shopping this morning, I had a scary thing happen. For about half an hour, I had blurred vision with it rendering me unable to read the packaging. It seemed as if someone had pulled on the left side of a screen and the view was all distorted in that manner. By the time I left, the vision was better but I was getting a monstrous headache. I guess that was a precursor. I took ibuprofen and a nap this afternoon and it is mostly gone, but still the after-feeling that I always have from these headaches. I've not been as productive as I'd like either because of it.

I'm off to make pizza for dinner and try to get more laundry done. I've downloaded and named the pictures and I'll be sharing some over the course of this week.
For now I'm thinking this is what I need before an early bedtime this evening: