Most of this can be deduced from my facebook page, where I share quick snapshots of the days... but I took time to write a friend and decided I'd turn it into a blog post as well. It kind of explains our current state = FRAZZLED!
My life has been non-stop since football season started. We are down to the last few weeks though. We have one to three games left depending on how far we get in the playoffs. Trying to fit dinner, homework, chores, lunch making, and baths in before 8:30 pm is hard enough when you get home at 6 pm. When you have football practice three nights a week, and don’t get home until 7:30-8:00 and still have to do that stuff, it’s nigh impossible. We’ve survived thus far by tag teaming. By tag-teaming, I mean Kevin comes to practice and stays with Luke, and I take the little ones home and start the routine. That works well except when he travels, or has to work late. Those days, I try to do their homework with them in the car. I’ve only resorted to fast food one night and felt awful for that. Cooking on Sundays for the week, or at least pre-prepping stuff, has helped tremendously. It’s a hard time of year though also rewarding. It stretches me as a person – quite painfully – having to be extra organized just to survive in combination with having to overlook other things, also, just to survive. It makes me seem dull, and rigid, because I can’t vary from the schedule without everything domino-ing around me… and people can’t understand the lack of flexibility. On top of all the football, fall is the time we have the fall festivals/fun days at the elementary school, PTA festivals, homecoming, various events on the square… so while I’ve enjoyed this spell, I’m definitely looking forward to the next season… where hopefully I get more time at home, and less time running. Plus, I miss blogging!
Jasper has healed up quite well. I love his sweet furry face! We are contemplating getting him a playmate. Elijah said: We should build them a house if we get him a girl friend. Eliana: Yea, so they can have their romantic time. Me: Well, animals don’t really have their romantic time in a house, per say… they tend to do it just about anywhere. That kinda swooshed over their heads, thankfully.
We have two Americaunas and two Buff Orpingtons laying. Not consistently, but one day, we got four eggs! I’ve named the three Buffs. Arietty (from the borrowers), Clara, and Lydia. They are the most friendly and lovey of my chickens. I keep hoping one of the three Dominiques will be a rooster, so I can name him Django!
We did a bonfire this weekend. That was a lot of fun. We used one of the fireplaces (wood burning) for heat as well inside. We had a problem with our gas line and though it’s fixed, they haven’t made it out to fill up the propane. I guess this time of year, there is a long line in front of us. It was 38 for a low on Saturday night so got a little frosty inside! Good snuggling weather! ;-)
I am going to join the Heritage Herb Club. My first meeting is Sunday. I think we are making herb wreaths and sachets. I have no herbs to share yet, thanks to the grasshoppers, but I will restart with seedlings next time, soaked in my grasshopper repellent solution.
I went to a Day of the Dead tea party on Saturday. It was interesting! There were all kinds of yummy herbal teas, lots of amazing Hispanic food. I learned how to make homemade tortillas! (I think. I have to try them unattended to confirm.) My friend, Rebecca, gave me a Thyroid Booster tincture so I can research the ingredients… I have been reading that fluoride is the number one killer of the pituitary gland that regulates the thyroid function. I started having the conversation with Kevin yesterday about having someone out to test our old well and seeing if we could convert the house back over to the well water, instead of the city water and if not, buying filtration system that is better than the one on the fridge… to remove the fluoridation.
I’ve been reading about canning too. Most of the things I want to can require a pressure canner, so that’s on the list to buy. Also thinking I might try making bread dough and freezing it – have you have any success with freezing dough? Have you tried?
I cooked a pot roast with mushrooms and onions this weekend in the crock pot. I served it on homemade half whole wheat rolls with provolone and au jus. It’s one of Kevin’s faves. Mine too! Also cooked a turkey and put it in the fridge for meals this week. LOVE turkey.