Morning Glory

So, my last post about homeschooling challenges touched on just how difficult the day to day process has been in our family.  The choice to homeschool isn’t hard, but the day to day requires more than I ever thought possible.  It has been emotionally and physically exhausting. And, when you homeschool in an isolated area, it just compounds the problem.  For a while, I wasn’t doing/dealing well at all.  I knew it, but didn’t know how to help myself.  Somehow, the means to help myself (probably the result of many heartfelt prayers) offered itself. 

I was forced to make some major changes, especially this year.  I experimented a bit to see what would work for me before stumbling onto/into help.

First I tried staying up late to get some personal time for prayer, reading and just being alone.  If I can’t get time during the day, after everyone is asleep should work, right??  It doesn’t work for me.  I’m already tired.  The praying was dry and the only reading I can handle is fluff…just fluff.  I cannot concentrate or meditate on anything of substance in the evening or late evening hours.  The longer I tried to make this work, the worse my emotional well-being became and my frustration with everyone and everything around me grew.  I didn’t like myself very well and I’m pretty sure my family wanted to ship me off to Siberia.

Shortly before Lent, I knew I had to do ‘something’ else.  I needed to change my pattern; thankfully Lent creates the perfect atmosphere/attitude.  So, instead of giving up Chai or Dr. Pepper, I wanted to instead give up the poor emotional and physical health I’d been stuck in for a couple months.  But, how to do it?  These two books have been a huge source of help and inspiration:

and

Along with reading each of these every morning, I journal when necessary for accountability.  I like looking back to check on myself.  The most helpful advice thus far has been to determine the one thing, if changed tomorrow, that would help me the most.  Mine was rising by 6:15am.  At this season of my life, rising by 6:15am mostly works…if Dac stays asleep I get to read by myself in the pre-dawn light.  If he wakes, he nurses while I read.  My second ‘thing’ was going to bed by 10:30pm.  Necessarily, these two were done together. 

Rising earlier meant I had time to make myself a cup of Chai and read ‘33 Days to Morning Glory.’  It also created time to meditate on the words a little.  I’ve chosen to read ‘33 Days…’ first and then move to ‘Say Goodbye…’  Then, for fun, I play a game on my kindle (if you must know, it’s either Tetris…or ughhh! CandyCrush.  I succumbed and have not much else to say!).

Why has this made a difference?  Well, I believe it’s because oftentimes this is the only thing done during the day for me.  It grounds me.  It reminds me why I’m here.  Even if I end up yelling at the kids, the schoolwork isn’t done by the oldest (again), the 18mo didn’t sleep well last night, I didn’t get a shower (again), the walls are marked with permanent marker (and I just used up my ‘best’ organic cleaner; nothing else I have will take it off), and I generally feel as if I’m drowning in a sea of chores and to-do’s…I still FEEL like I’ve accomplished something I haven’t been able to do for quite some time…read a passage that is uplifting and brings me closer to Christ and His mother, Mary.

And, finally, there is a little bit of peace in my day.  I know I have a little sliver of peace to look forward to each and every day. 

 

Wednesday DayLook: 1/11/12

 

Looking out from my back porch... it’s a grey day.  There are snowflakes falling every once in a while and it just looks cold.

I am thankful for... a somewhat quiet day, husbands who offer to take daughters to dance, the idea of quiet (something to yearn for!), the ability to MAKE time to read, my kitchen, the gas fireplace to warm us at night, the BISON win this past Saturday!

I am reading…

‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ by Julia Child (I am soooo craving poached eggs and hollandaise sauce!)

‘The Omnivores Dilemma’ by Michael Pollan

‘The Pure Joy of Monastery Cooking’ by Brother Victor-Antoine d’ Avila-Latourrette

‘Let Freedom Ring’ by Al and Joanna Lacy.

I am praying for... less stress.

I am wondering… why it seems that only adults loose their voices (from a sore throat or some other innocuous reason) and never kids. 

From the School Room... we are back in the swing, but it’s still not a very smooth ride.  Some students just need to question every darn little thing, and I’m getting worn down and stressed.  There are days when I think the next three years could just not go fast enough.  Please, pray for that kid, cuz my hubby is ready to send him to school.

From the Kitchen... I’m definitely in the mood to spend more time in the kitchen.  Cooking and baking are a stress reliever for me.  I so want to try some of the recipes from the cookbooks mentioned above.

From the FarmYard… the Barred Rock rooster is perilously close to ending his time here on earth.  I don’t dare let Louis (who is smaller) go out there as this rooster is mean to Grandma, Grandpa, Angelina, Zeke and Graham.  The kitties have made a successful transition from being housed in Grandma’s brown garage to living in the barn!  In fact, they often make their way up to our home to walk around the porch.  Happy hunters keep the mice away!

A successful moment… I did finish a puzzle on New Year’s Eve with about 20 minutes to go till the new year (Angelina helped with a handful of pieces), but there are no pictures except for the one below, which just DOES NOT do it justice.

A few plans for the rest of the week… headed to Fargo for a meeting and our CCL chapter is getting together for a potluck.  Blessedly, there are no plans for the weekend.

A picture memory...

Zeke put together the tool bench for Louis and he’s been having so much fun.  And, this is about at much snow as we’ve been able to get this year.  Of course, it melted within three days.

Yes, bright and early on the first day of the New Year, this is what happened to the puzzle.  I tell you, I didn’t even get to look at it in detail.  I was not a happy camper.

This was one of the best gifts this year.  Our old upright piano is on it’s last leg, as it will hardly hold a tune.  So, this will be our back-up and intermediate piano.

The kids’ Christmas program at church was on the Feast of the Epiphany.  This Three Kings cake for the potluck turned out really cute. 

33/52 & 34/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

 

33/52

Other FMCHE Annual Book Sale purchases…

Charity for the Suffering Souls:  An Explanation of the Catholic Doctrine of Purgatory by Rev. John A. Nageleisen

 

Padre Pio: The True Story by C. Bernard Ruffin

 

The Jesse Tree: A Cutout Book by Marlene Konrady

 

Essentials Digital Photography – this is more for Zeke than anyone else, but I imagine I’ll be reading some of it to him.  He has an interest in photography and videography.

 

Below is the Marian Garden Shrine Dash made for me.  He used the old shrine (it completely fell apart) to make a pattern on oak (leftover from building our hosue) and used the ‘old’ statue and added a crucifix.  I think they’re beautiful!  He’s making a few more for gifts.

 

German chocolates brought by a good college friend when she and her kids visited this past weekend.

 

And, the Kroshus crew is out again.  This time, they’re tearing out the front walk (that’s done), lowering the grade so water will drain AWAY from the house and foundation, installing a new walk, and landscaping between the walk and the house.  These guys know how to work…I really like their productivity!

Redoing the drainage.

 

And chickens…

…running out to meet their mistress…

…dust bath time…

…the broody hen…

…older pullets and two cockerels in the holding pen and getting used to the big hens.   The door was opened and the two flocks merged on August 18 (about a week after the two flocks were housed together).  We’ve kept the younger flock separated at night, but they needed outside time during the daylight.  A people-person stuck around the first couple days when they were out together.  On Saturday they were pretty much left alone.  The Buff rooster is definitely the dominant as he gets into the most fights with ‘head’ hens.  I just enjoy sitting and watching them…

 

…the Ameraucanas enjoying the outdoors…

I’m going to harvest tomatillas this year!!

 

And, a sleepy child (Zeke) to end the collage.

 

34/52

And another crazy week!  Lots of travel, first varsity football game for Dash (and he played because they were ahead by sooo many points… ended up winning 68-13), Dentist and Orthodontist appointments, Sam’s club shopping (with the three youngest in tow – they did better than I imagined!), overnight with a good friend for Angelina, peaches from the fruit truck in Fargo, first corn on the cob from the garden.

Big chickens have been successfully merged.  The roosters are settled in with the new hens and their authority established.  The flock is happy and the youngest pullets are getting closer to the ‘laying’ age.

We’ll be harvesting a few more chickens later in the year because the Ameraucana group includes about 4-5 cockerels that we cannot keep, or need, as adults.  So, more for the freezer later this Fall.

The newest three were moved to the Wahoo on Thursday.  They’ve outgrown their water tank home and were just getting too smelly to keep up with in the outside garage!  They have more space and better feed containers in the Wahoo.

Here are a few pics to memorialize the week…

Progress on front landscaping…

and the next day!

At the Ransom Co. Fair:

Zeke and his friend, Brett.  These are Mickey Mouse ears.

Above: Dash showing a pig.

Below: Graham in the tractor pedal contest…he won tickets to the rides (participation prize … but he did well for his first time ever!).

Below: Angelina showing a pig.

Below:  Louis was just happy to run around and see all the animals.  As for me, I was absolutely beat by the end of the day!

Above:  Love this pic of Angelina walking back from the mailbox.  Wheat field being harvested in the background.

Below:  Happy Birthday, Eric!

 

The Ranch Woman’s Manual

At our annual FMCHE Book Sale, a friend  came up with this book.  THANK you, Karla W., for this gem.  She was SURE it had my name written all over it!  Of course, once I saw the title, it went into my ‘purchase’ pile. 

‘The Ranch Woman’s Manual’ (first published in the 70’s) was written by Gwen Petersen.  When the book was written, she lived in Montana with her husband and an assortment of animals.  In fact, she still writes and has a few other books based on her ranch life experiences.  Anyway…

It’s hilarious!

Here’s the description:

A handy guide and aid to those women choosing to spend their lives as RANCH WOMEN.  Contains really helpful, practical, useful tips and hints to keep the Ranch Woman from going berserk.

Over the decades of rural living, Ranch Women have been helpmeets to their men.  With remarkable courage, incredible stamina, and splendid insouciance to the rawer facts of nature, the Ranch Woman has shaped the nest surrounding that hard-workin’, cow-wrasslin’, bull-throwin’ son-of-a-farmer.

Because farm and ranch life is necessarily divided and marked by the seasons of the year, The Manual will attempt to follow a similar pattern.  Our hope is to provide an understanding reference volume (developed in secret women’s conclaves*) (see footnote) for the dauntless ranch/farm wife, couched in language not necessarily comprehensible to men.

*Conclaves: referred to by ranch men as “gab-sessions”.

 

See!  This woman speaks to my heart and mind.  She’s been where I am.  If you should want your own copy, it’s for purchase at numerous online sites.

Monday DayLook – April 26, 2010

For Today:  April 26, 2010

 

Looking out from my back porch... specks of yellow from Dandelions are showing up in my backyard, blackbirds have shown up, a pair of Mallards is nesting in the slough just beyond the backyard (we are all awaiting the arrival of ducklings!), the sandbox has been visited often, and the lilacs are greening up, too.  The day itself is overcast and a little dreary – if we didn’t need the rain it would be slightly depressing.

 

I am thinking about… chicks!!  They arrive later this week & I still need to set up their brooder.  All the supplies are in the garage, just need to put it all together.

 

I am thankful for... baptism.  My niece was baptized on Saturday evening.  Seeing the sacrament received again by another child makes me smile.

 

I am reading… “The Backyard Homestead” edited by Carleen Madigan.  I’m not very far into the book, but the concept is intriguing.  We aren’t limited by space, to I don’t feel the need to organize my yard as intensively as what this book outlines.  However, I’m reading it to learn and pick up little tid-bits of info that I can apply to our situation.

 I am hoping... for a little more rain to wet the ground and settle the dust. CHECK!

 

I am hearing... the wind, not too strong, blowing around the house.  The kids are quiet & baby Louis is sleeping.

 

I am wearing… jeans, a light blue 3/4 length sleeve t-shirt, and grey socks because I had to put on mud boots to go outside and water the chickens (Angelina couldn’t get the cover off the waterer).

 

From the school room... we’re just trying to stay strong and steady through mid-May to end the formal school year.

 

From the kitchen... I haven’t done a very good job of menu planning the last two weeks, so need to get going on it again.

 

State of the house… the dust is getting the best of me right now!  Doors get left open and the dust floats on in and settles wherever it likes.

 

A successful moment… the weekend was really fun … college fraternity reunion … niece’s baptism … 13yo birthday.  I pulled off all I needed to get done: annual summary with substance and a little flair, remembered the baptism gift, packed the kids and myself for the overnight, baked a cake & cooked a birthday meal.  Phew!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Dash, Angelina & Zeke will be participating in the 4-H Communication Arts contest today.   

Wednesday: Angelina has a make-up dance class tonight. 

Thursday-Friday:  The chicks arrive at some point and I also placed an Azure Standard/(Food co-op) order, so will need to run to pick that up, too.

Saturday/Sunday:  Dash is having a birthday party with friends – he’s super excited cuz they are going to Thunder Road (go-carts, mini-golf, etc.).  Eric and I teach the third (and last) class in our NFP series this weekend, too.

 

A picture memory …

Remember this from last year???  Almost time for planting the SFG’s again, and this year we are ready a little earlier …

Eric took a cell-phone picture of Dash at Aerospace Camp 2010...

Time to Read??

There really hasn't been much time for me to read books the last few months.  That and sometimes a person just has to be in the right mood or frame of mind to read.  After reading Inkheart last week, I was in the mood for reading something.  'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' has been in the reading pile on my dresser for quite some time, thanks to Sarah (I won the book in a give-away on her blog).  I did try to read the book before Louis was born, but I just couldn’t get into it at the time.  Then, the power outage on Saturday gave me time to read.

 

I absolutely enjoyed this book!  It did take me a while to 'catch on' to the style, but then I was hooked.  It's a book about romance, a book about WWII, and a book about books.  And, those topics successfully combine into a worthwhile reading experience.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is: 

"Have you ever noticed that when your mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that person's name suddenly pops up everywhere you go?  My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Mr. Simpless, my parson friend, calls it Grace.  He thinks that if one cares deeply about someone or something new one throws a kind of energy out into the world, and "fruitfulness" is drawn in.

This book made me laugh and it made tears come to my eyes.  I couldn’t put it down easily … and yes, it was finished the day it was started.

Package in the Mail!

Who doesn't like packages??  Mail delivery is one of my favorite times of the day.

Anyway, I ordered a few books from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts last week.  A couple were for Advent ... I know it's early, but I won't be doing much after baby arrives.  Better to be prepared.

I also ordered a couple workbooks for Graham.  He's really into cutting and pasting, so I know he'll enjoy these two Kumon books.  In fact, just this moring he came up to me and announced, "I'm bigger.  And now that I'm bigger I should be in school."  *it might not have been quite worded that way ... my memory is fuzzy ...  but that is what he implied*  At any rate, he's always asking me for something to do.  I've been ill-prepared lately, so this is my attempt at planning a little bit more for him.

The book shown below will be a Christmas gift for one God-daughter and for Angelina.  The kids and I have enjoyed all the books written by Jennie Bishop, and I assume this one will be no exception.  The hardcover edition even includes an audio CD.

My last purchase was "30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family" by Rebecca Hagelin.  I'm cannot remember what about the book caught my attention while filling my order, but you have to admit the title is catchy.  I'm sure I felt like we needed saving!!  My reading is somewhat stalled right now, so it might be a while before I post anything about the book's content.