30 Days of Thankfulness - Days 13 - 16

Day 13 - Pretty/Fun bowls/containers:

Have you seen Pioneer Woman's new dishes line at Walmart?  When I saw the polka dot mixing bowl, I knew I HAD to have it.  It is a nice sized mixing bowl with a spout which is my favorite kind.  I LOVE polka dots and the red and light blue colors together and having this bowl to mix in several times a week, has made the task more enjoyable somehow.

I have a couple interesting containers in my kitchen that make me happy.  (It's the little things!)  I've had this Animal Crackers tin for years:

And I recently got this vintage peanut butter tin super cheap off Ebay (after admiring my mother-in-laws) and we use it for compost:

Day 14 - Books:

 I. Love. Books.  As a child, I remember reading Nancy Drew books and the Little House on the Prairie books for hours during the day and then reading by flashlight under my covers at night.  We have 14 book shelves and cabinets full of books in our home, plus two walls of Hunter's room have built in bookshelves which are full.  (OK I admit - books are getting out of hand now.)  I am so thankful for books - I can pick one up and gain all sorts of knowledge, help, or just go on an adventure in my mind.  Here is my nightstand with my current reads:

Day 15 - The saving grace of Jesus:

This portrait of Lilly and Jesus is probably my most treasured possession.    It brings me comfort to see Lilly's happy face as she is being held by Jesus.  And when I look at the Jesus figure, I am so thankful for everything He has done, and continues to do, for me.  I don't know I could get through this painful life without Him.  Thank you Jesus!

Day 16 - Dogs:

I'm so glad God made dogs!  They are my very favorite animal.  I've been blessed to have several good, loyal dogs.  OK - I won't call Sherlotta loyal since she ran off and never came back.  :(  But in general, dogs are so loyal and loving.  We're down to only two dogs right now.

Lucia is a Labrador/terrier mix.  She is almost 10 years old now.  She is a sweet dog that struggles with feeling clausterophic.  (She hates being inside.)  Her very favorite place to be is on the front porch sleeping.  Here she politely tried to open her eyes for me, but was too sleepy!

Exhaust Pipe will be 2 years old in January.  His mama Dixie was a German Shepard/Collie mix.  (She was sadly killed by a car last January, right before her puppies turned 1 year old.)  Not sure about Mr. Pipe's father other than he seems to have had some pit bull in him.  Exhaust Pipe is such a happy loving dog.  I'm so glad we have this part of Dixie left.  He's a good boy - he loves hanging out at home and doesn't seem to wander.  He's also hard to photograph because if we're near, he just wants to be constantly petted!

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 12

Day 12 - North Carolina

I love living in North Carolina!  We get to experience all four seasons and none are a total extreme.  (OK - the hot humid summers aren't my favorite.)  We live about 40 minutes from Raleigh, our state capital.  There are so many parks and interesting historical sites within an easy drive.  And if you don't mind driving a couple hours, you can hit beaches to the east and mountains to the south.  I consider the cost-of-living to be good.  (It's amazing how much more you get for your money when you're willing to live farther out from the main towns.)  There are so many homeschoolers here, so many churches, and so many friendly people.

Today the boys and I met with our field trip group for a tour of Yates Mill in Raleigh.   This mill was built in the 1700s - before the Revolutionary War.  Its use continued through the 1950s I believe.  Today there are still corn grinding demonstrations and you can buy corn meal there.

This is the first field trip we've been on that Hunter has been highly interested in.  He asked a lot of questions and was satisfied with the answers.  Mostly.  ;)

Here are some pictures from today.  Some I am pleased with, others I'm not.  I think I need a crash course on working with lighting for photography.

Hunter is now highly interested in finding out if there are any mills powered by steam engines that we can visit.  Hmmmmm ...

30 Days of Thankfulness - Days 8-11 + Solomon's face

If you live where we do, you are rejoicing to see the sun today!  After what seems like weeks of grey skies and rain, we finally got to see the glorious sun yesterday afternoon and today there is not a cloud in the sky!  Adding to my happiness, we are back online after having our internet down for a bit.  :)

Before catching up on my days of thankfulness, I wanted to share about the lump on Solomon's cheek.  If you see him, you can tell it's getting worse looking and I've started getting a lot of questions about it, even from strangers.

The lump first appeared this summer and we thought it was probably a bug bite.  But it still hasn't gone away, and has gotten bigger and turned purplish.  I've tried putting several things on it, but nothing has helped.  In September his pediatrician recommended he see a dermatologist if it didn't get better soon, that it might be a cyst.  Since it didn't get better, and it has really been bothering him (he seems to bump it all the time), I took him to the dermatologist this past Monday. 

Two doctors saw him and did lots of technical talk to each other so I'm not really sure exactly what they decided it was - if they did.  They gave me an antibiotic for him and said that it would flush the toxins to the surface.  Then they said he needed to see a plastic surgeon to have it removed.  The lump needs to be drained and some sort of cellular sac extracted then the mass tested to be sure everything is fine.  If a plastic surgeon does it, then there is less chance of scarring to Solomon's face.

Easier said than done.  Do you know how hard it is to get an appointment with a plastic surgeon this time of year?  I didn't know either until I tried.  They are all booked up through the end of the year!  Apparently people have met their insurance deductibles for the year and have scheduled work to be done and, as one receptionist told me, they want to get work done to "look pretty" for the holidays.  Ugh.

Finally, after many phone calls, I finally found a plastic surgeon in Raleigh that agreed to see Solomon - for a consultation - at the end of next week.  Assuming that doctor agrees to help, surgery will be scheduled for later. 

In the meantime, I am sneaking in - while he sleeps - and covering the lump with some coconut oil mixed with a drop of frankincense essential oil. 

A few people have asked me if I'm terribly worried and really no - I'm not.  After living on the edge with Lilly - a person has to be deathly ill to scare me now.  I really don't think Solomon has cancer or anything terrible. But I am praying about it too.

Day 8 - Hot ginger tea

Sunday was rainy and cold.  That afternoon, I made some hot ginger tea and then sipped it while I read a little of a book explaining how to use my camera.  I don't like coffee and don't drink many teas, but I love my ginger tea with a little liquid orange stevia in it. 

Day 9 - My Lilly blog

I started this blog on August 12, 2010 (see my 1st post here).  The purpose was to keep people updated on Lilly and share prayer requests for her.  I had no idea there would soon be readers from all over the world and how many friends I would make through Lilly's blog.  After she died, I kept writing because it helped me grieve and feel closer to her.

I don't really feel much of a purpose in blogging anymore, other than maybe to keep friends and families updated with our current happenings, since I don't post much of that on Facebook.  It's funny though, every time I seriously contemplate quitting, I suddenly have several people tell me "Oh I still read your blog!"  "Thanks for continuing to post!"  "You seem to address a lot of the issues we currently face in our family - thanks!"  Etc.  That happened recently, so I'll keep blogging for now.  Oh, and I do like it for us.  It's a little family record with photos which my kids may appreciate some day.

Day 10 - Living in the country

Life has been exceptionally hectic the past few weeks, with us needing to be out for appointments or other meetings a lot.  It's wearing on me.  But after tomorrow, things should calm down a little.  After being out, I am always thankful to come home to our rural town. (It really isn't much of a town - there's not even one traffic light.)  I find it incredibly calming to look out our front door and see nothing but trees and a cow pasture.  I also love that we live in an old (Lilly colored!) farmhouse built in 1907.  I've wanted to live in an old house as long as I can remember. 

Day 11 - Sun!

After weeks of gloomy skies, I am rejoicing to see the sun!  I feel SO much happier and even want to skip and sing (not characteristic of me).  There are people that deny that sunlight has any physical effects on us, but I say they are completely wrong.

We enjoyed being outside so much for nature study today, that the boys stayed out to play.  (I'm not sure what kind of contraption Hunter has in his dog carrier.  And no it's not a dog!)

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!" - Psalm 113:3

30 Days of Thankfulness - Days 6 & 7

Day 6 - Tabby's piano playing

Tabby has been taking piano lessons for about 7 1/2 years now.  She's developed such talent that her teacher is encouraging her to begin teaching piano lessons.  Tabby doesn't have time for that right now, but hopefully some day. 

Tabby practices every morning and I love to hear her play.  Some songs she works on for months and months and worries that we'll get tired of hearing them.  But I never do.  I find the music soothing to my soul.

Day 7 - goat milk soap

 I love that we know how to make soap using milk from our own goats.  It takes about 1.5 hours to make 20 bars of soap (from start to the end of clean up), then at least 5 weeks to cure.  Actually making it can be sort of a hassle and yet at the same time, I find such satisfaction in it.  I love knowing how to make things that I once thought I only could buy.  And I like knowing this stuff is really good for our skin!

lavender tea-tree oil soap, just after being poured into the molds this afternoon

"original" blend (spearmint eucalyptus) curing - will be ready in about 4 weeks

refreshing peppermint - wrapped and ready to sell

Soaps can be purchased through Tabby's Etsy Shop:  TheGoatChick.  We've sold A LOT lately and are currently out of everything except Peppermint goat milk soap.  More are in the works!
 

30 Days of Thankfulness - Days 4 & 5

Day 4 - school choice

I am so thankful we live in a country where homeschooling is legal.  Homeschooling is so perfect for Hunter.  We do our academic learning in the morning, then he has hours in the afternoon to just build, create, and experiment.  It is rare for him to ever squander his time.  If he's not making something, he's reading books on how things work, plumbing, electricity, etc. to get ideas for making something else.  This freedom allows such a wonderful way for Hunter to learn and grow. 

Math and geography are the only things I use workbooks for.  Hunter particularly likes the geography workbook - after doing the work he always adds things to the maps.  For example, if it shows a city, he adds heating systems to the roofs of the businesses.

geography time!

 Solomon participates in some of Hunter's schoolwork too.  Just by being in the same room and listening, he has picked up on math chants, catechism, Spanish words, and often gets in my lap to listen when I'm reading.

Just a little homeschooling hint that someone out there might be able to use:  We are currently reading The Burgess Book of Animals for Children by Thornton W. Burgess.  I made the boys each little blank books from cardstock and for each chapter we read, I give them a picture of the animal(s) that chapter is about to glue to a page.  Oh Google Images - how I love thee!  Solomon absolutely loves doing this.  I think this helps make the subject matter more real.  Often, after we read out chapter, we take a quick peek at that animal on YouTube.  Did you know porcupines can sing?  It's pretty funny!

I am also so thankful that we do have choices other than homeschool for when we need them.  It became apparent during Tabby's last school year that I could no longer provide some of the things she needed in our homeschool environment.  So this year she started 9th grade at the private Christian school Frank works at.  It has been exactly what she needed.

ready to leave for school

Day 4 - marriage

I was a single mom for several years when Tabby was little.  Being single does have benefits.  (Though mostly selfish ones I guess.  For me anyway.)  Being married - well, I will just say it is NOT easy!  Especially when you have a "blended family."  But yeah - it's worth it.  At the end of the day, when I think I'm going to lose it if I hear "Momm-MY!" one more time, it's nice to have backup help come through the door.  It's nice to have someone to help make big decisions with or to discuss things on an adult level.  And it's so important for the kids to have both parents around.

St. Patrick's Day wedding

Random

Last Friday, we drove down to Charlotte so Tabby could compete in the state cross country championship.  The top 7 boys and girls from her team ran.  They all did well - Tabby finished the 5K with a time of 25 minutes.  The girls team won 12th place overall and the boys team ... 1st place!

Here are a few random shots from that day:

praying before the run

girls race

 the finish line - Tabby is the girl in blue with the long stride

An engineer I know said recently that engineers don't work harder - they work smarter.  I thought of this when Hunter has developed a more efficient way to bring in the groceries for me:

Tabby's dog Sherlotta ran off about a month ago and has never come back.  Sherlotta (aka Bomblotta - the crazy dog) ran off one morning like she was on a mission and ignored us calling her back.  Her brother Exhaust Pipe seems to be missing his wild romps with her and has been acting up.  He tore up his bed and dragged the stuffing all around:

Does Exhaust Pipe look guilty?  Or just trying to be patient.  :)

In addition to hauling groceries, trailers are handy for hauling little brothers too:

Tabby has been drawing with colored pencil lately.  Here is a series of Odie drawings.  (Odie - the dog from Garfield.)

Solomon continues to work on numbers during his "Montessori work" time.  I bought the shape stacking board when Hunter was a toddler and constantly seem to find new uses for it.  The wooden number cards and buttons are so versatile too.

Last Saturday, I carved a pumpkin, much to the boys delight.  I realized I haven't done that in several years.  They were just fascinated seeing what the inside of a pumpkin looked like.  Then were amazed at how I carved the simple face.  Add in a candle to light it up - wow - that was magical to them.  I have to remember - it's the simple things ...

Hunter built some sort of engine in the box and then added a blower for it to power:

I am still trying to accept that Hunter will probably take most anything apart that he is allowed to.  (I don't mess with things unless they are broken.)  I know this is part of the learning process.  He bought the below lantern, and so when he asked to take it apart, I realized I couldn't say "no."  After he got everything apart, he had the best time using the wires to light the bulbs again.  Now the parts seem to be going to other projects ....

Finally, here is a beautiful picture of the moon that I found on my camera, courtesy of Tabby:

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:3-4