Odds & Ends of October

 

MILLER FAMILY WEDDING

October 21, my cousin’s daughter was married in Minot.  We made a quick trip up to celebrate.

My sister, Julianne, holding Miss M (youngest daughter of my brother, Doug).  Below is Mr. W, my sister’s son.  My and her husband just recently announced they are expecting and due in April!!!

Above: SIL Anne and  her son, Mr. L.  Her daughter Miss E is below, but didn’t want her picture taken right then.  Isn’t her curly hair just the cutest?

My brother, Eric, above.  My hubby, Eric, and my brother Doug visit, below.

My mom, left, and cousin Bobbi.

Below: My aunt Sharon and her daughter (& my cousin) Shelly.

Uncle Eric with Mr. M and Miss E.

Louis fell asleep in my dad’s arms.

FROST - this was a hard frost.  It killed everything in the garden.  Secretly, I was glad!  No more guilt about not getting any tomatoes canned or the huckleberries picked or the canteloupe harvested, etc.

GLASS GONE:  A straight line wind took the umbrella and tipped the table.  It was too much for the glass.  Shattered into a zillion pieces.  Angelina and her dad both had a hand in cleaning up the mess.

NOT PRETTY:  Ok, this really isn’t cool.  I found all this stuff hidden in someone’s room.  That party will remain nameless, but a record of this needs to occur.  I hope I forget, but I hope the said child does not forget and remembers to take better care of their room and the garbage.  Nuff said.

Wednesday DayLook: October 12, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... the soybean field is harvested, the sun is getting ready to rise for the day.

I am thankful for... my husband, who is always supportive and willing to listen.

I am reading… had time to read the diocesan newspaper and The National Catholic Register.  The next issue of StAR arrived, but no time to read last night.

I am praying for... a fellow homeschooler, who is struggling just as much as I.  We’ve agreed that praying for each other just might be easier.

I am hearing... Louis is jabbering to everyone upstairs in the kitchen.

I am wearing… grey capris, teal t-shirt, yellow zip-front hoodie.  I hope bright makes my mood bright.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… only time for washing and barely that!

From the School Room... oh, it has been a struggle to get into a good routine.  We are STILL adjusting.  I tell you, this year has been SOOOOOOO very hard.  I couldn’t do it, if not for my husband, the support from fellow homeschoolers, and the knowledge that this IS what I am called to do for my kids.  Praying for the kids to have the desire ‘to desire to do schoolwork’!

From the Kitchen... made Knuefla soup yesterday.  It was yummy!

From the Garden… harvested more tomatoes  yesterday.  If cold weather holds off, I’ll get more.  The roma tomatoes are so huge … and still green!  Still need to clean out the garden, weed out the flower beds for Fall, and pull annuals.  So much to do.

From the FarmYard… soybean harvest ended last week and they finished up a small patch of corn last night.  The rain gave us a break between crops and settled all the dust.  We plan to move the young flock into the back section of the large coop this week.

A successful moment… I’d consider this post a successful moment.  Haven’t done a very good job of recording the past few weeks.  Maybe the winter months will provide more time for bloggin?

Also, we’ve been praying the rosary in the morning before school.  On those days when we are really pressed, we pray a decade instead of all five mysteries.  I can only say that this has reduced stress tremendously, and I heartily thank and pray for the mother who suggested it.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Wednesday: laundry, Adult RE (Echoes program)

Thursday: Appts for Zeke and I, trip/overnight to Fargo for Suzie (EC meeting)

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: WOG for Suzie, possible corn harvest, 4-H meeting, Dash’s last regular season FB game

A picture memory...

Grandpa Green Acres tried combining while Eric was gone for his District Meeting the last week in September.  It was very wet, so he didn’t go farther than this first strip that day.

Birds and Bees

A while back, while eating in a restaurant, the waitress was joking around with our family and asked, “Where did you get all these good looking kids?”  Quite promptly, before an adult could respond, Graham answered, “We were all eggs!”

The waitress looked at Eric and I, and we were about as shocked as she was!  No, we hadn’t shared anything about the ‘birds and the bees’ with Graham … he’s only FIVE.

So, yesterday, he had occasion to share more with me…

He came up to me, out of the blue, while I was sitting at my desk and announced, “Remember when we were walking on your back and your back cracked?  Remember that, Mom?  Well, that was eggs.  That was Louis.  That was an egg cracking.”

I tell ya, this kid’s mind doesn’t stop.

I have asked the kids to stand on my back – only a couple times – when I was really in pain.  It’s not the best method, but sometimes provides relief.  I won’t be able to do that again without laughing mightily!

The Pumpkin Patch

 

We’ve made a trip to the pumpkin patch every year since moving out to the farm.  This patch is called Potter’s Way and is located near Oakes, ND.  I usually haven’t road the wagon out to the patch – pregnant and drizzly weather one year, little baby the next year, so this is the first year I’ve actually seen the pumpkins in the field.

Louis ran up to the first one and hugged it… then he realized there were others!  It was cute.  He ended up choosing a nice large pumpkin.

Yep, he’s super cute.

In fact, they’re all quite cute!

Tuesday DayLook: October 4, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... it’s sunny.  I’d rather be outside than in the house supervising school.  I’d rather watch my chickens, pick eggs, or clean out the garden!

I am thankful for... my husband, who listens to my rants without saying a whole lot, who admits he doesn’t have a solution to my problems, who is finally home this week (albeit only in the early morning hours and after the combining and equipment clean-up are finished later in the evening).

I am reading… magazines, barely enough time for newspapers, emails.

I am praying for... resolution, fortitude, perseverance.

I am hearing... blessedly, absolutely nothing!

I am wearing… jean capris and a teal t-shirt.

From the School Room... a month into our school year and we are still adjusting.  Well, one child is still struggling to adjust and his mother would just love to forget about it, but can’t because she’s a type A perfectionistic sort who demands that all be done/completed before correction.

From the Kitchen... stopped at Breadsmith yesterday and picked up some Almond Poppyseed bread.  It has been a lovely treat.

From the Garden… believe it or not, tomatoes are still on the vine and ripening.  I’ve harvested 7 cantaloupe and the watermelon are ready, too.

From the FarmYard… the newest layers provide about 6 eggs each day.  They are beautifully small, brown and well formed.

A successful moment… I made it through the past  10 days.

A few plans for the rest of the week… Tuesday: nothing but school & harvest

Wednesday: couple appointments, adult religious education class in the evening

Thursday: nothing but school & harvest

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: harvest and the kids hope to visit Potter’s Way

Just Sayin...

Oh, how I wish there was more time for blogging, but the days are getting ever shorter with the amount of activity in this household. Seems there is very little time for the things a mom likes to do. I am trying to be happy with this, but it’s a struggle. Humor evades me.

This morn, the kids were on ‘their’ computer without permission (while I was visiting with a Grandma on the phone), so I went to change the restrictions. Couldn’t do it because the password would not work. I just used it last week; I have no idea how that can happen. Thank goodness for Kim Komando, whose website can walk anyone through a variety of computer issues. So, the password has been reset, all kids’ passwords are reset, and the offenders are restricted from access for a good long while. Why I should even have to do this is quite beyond my comprehension. The downside is that my teenager also knows how to access this information, but he’d known for a while…apparently he helped Grandma Green Acres reset her password a while back.  Good to know.  

NDSU Homecoming

Dash was thankful it was a warmer, rather than cooler day, cuz he forgot to pack jeans!  Silly teenagers.

Gold Star Marching Band and Thundar are always a hit.

Zeke, Louis and Angelina

 

A shopping cart go-cart – I thought it was clever.

My is a FarmHouse Alum.

Sometimes they’re looking, most times they aren’t!  Oh well.  A fun day was had by all.  The Bison won their game.