a lot of things went wrong

This week is vacation week. Brian has the whole week off! We have a birthday party, VBS, dentist appointments and a trip to Washington DC (the dentist in in DC) all scheduled for this week! Not to mention our usual CSA pickups and milk pickup and violin lessons...life this week is chock-full of everything.

we were all tired by this point

And it started off with the unexpected.

We had been looking for a piano for awhile because I want to start Becky in piano lessons when she turns 5 in January. Well, my violin teacher's sister (that's a mouthful) said that a local church was practically giving away their pianos (they are $100 each) and we got one! We bought the piano Monday and if it all works out we will have it in our house on Thursday. We are going to try to move it in our truck and I am letting Brian handle that with two of his friends and one of my friends adult son. I hope it goes well. I know very little about pianos and even less about moving a piano. It is a Console piano and both Becky and I are excited. I hope it doesn't fall out of the truck and we can get it into our house unscathed. Ahhhh!

SO. Monday was a whirlwind of going to look at the piano. We saw four out of the six they had left before wisely deciding to buy the last piano on the ground floor. Stairs I don't think we can do. We got home from the Big Piano Surprise Purchase to figure out where to PUT the piano. We reshuffled the living room and made a mess. After the stress of that (how are we still married) I put the living room back in order. Halfway through I got a phone call. Reuben's dentist appointment was canceled due to the doctors having covid. WHAT? 

Let me back up a bit. SO I found this amazing holistic dentist who says they can help my son breathe through his nose with NO surgery or braces. Reuben cannot breathe though his nose at all. This has been an ongoing problem since he was born that I have tried to get everyone to look at to no avail. Well, I finally found this dentist and it looks promising. We had a consultation in their secondary office which is about an hour away from our home. The problem is the main office is 3.5 hours away near DC. SO the reason we were going to DC and the reason we booked a hotel and were going to visit museums there was...we would already be there for Reuben's dentist appointment. 

And now it was canceled because the doctor tested positive for covid. SIGH. I realize it is not his fault and his practice is doing the best it can, but it was a serious issue for us! We were supposed to leave Tuesday for DC, see some museums, and stay in a hotel overnight for the 10:30am appointment on Wednesday. The call came one day before we left!!! There was no time to cancel the hotel, so we went anyway, knowing we are going to have to do this all over again whenever I reschedule the appointment. Which I have to wait to do until I can sit down with my husband and find out when he can take another day off.

Washington DC traffic is horrible. I definitely cannot drive there. I mean, I guess I could...but I don't want too! Crazy people zooming all over!!! We borrowed a stroller and saw the Natural History Museum and the Museum of American History. (my children broke a piece off the stroller tray and I had to very embarrassingly tell my friend, I am sorry my kids broke this) It was interesting, fun, and tiring. We walked for hours and I am shocked at how much bottle water costs (we did bring some of our own but ran out...) Also, the free parking at DC is gone. There used to be free parking (as of 6 years ago, the last time we went and I remember the spots in the 90s when I was a kid!) but there isn't free parking anymore, or if there is we couldn't find it. The food at the museums is extremely overpriced. I was disappointed in how "woke" our history is becoming, but I guess that is politically correct these days? 

[side rant: What will they change about the 90s and early 2000's one hundred years from now? Will they revile us for all the human trafficking that goes on? For abortion? I wonder what it will be; as we look back on the 17, 18, and early 1900s and judge them with a heavy amount of hindsight bias and presumptuous pride. We are no different in our sins, if anything we are more lazy, more gluttonous and more promiscuous than they. At least in the 1700s most people could live off the land; we are chained to our endless entertainments of television and ticktock as we grow ever fatter on our couches. Sheech. I shudder to think what they would say if they could see us for a change.] 

So anyway, we saw DC, we spent too much money on food, and we made it to our hotel! And then even though we were all exhausted we walked to a HUGE mall for dinner and bought the most amazing Indian food. Everyone ate it and we all crashed in the hotel room, dreaming up things to do tomorrow since Reuben's appointment was canceled. 

We woke up to one of my children peeing the bed. And also we didn't sleep well (who does in a hotel?) so we decided to just clean up and head home. Pee child had to wear a siblings clothes because Mommy did not plan for a pee apocalypse and packed light. No one has accidents anymore in our house and hasn't for months! Let my life be a warning for you: always plan for the pee apocalypse. Always.  

And now we are home and the mini-whirlwind vacation is over and we all had a shower and tomorrow is another busy day where we hope to get the piano into our house in one piece! Hopefully. Send prayers. And then we attend a birthday party and this crazy week will be over.

I don't think I am a vacation person. I get excited when I plan them, but when I'm on "vacation" its just a stress and anxiety inducing trip away from home. Am I doing something wrong or am I just a homebody? The thought of going on another vacation does not sound thrilling to me. I just want to knit stuff, drink tea, and read books; that's enough excitement for this middle aged mother!

How is your week going? 

exciting things that are going on in my life

Exciting things that are going on in my life, a bulleted list.

•  I finally chose a Spanish curriculum! 

After many many hours researching and reading about Spanish programs...we chose Flip Flop Spanish. Part of the reason it took me so long is I had opinions about what I wanted. I knew I desired something that we could all do together (so not parent led, I don't speak Spanish at all) and I also need something easy. I hate prep work. Time is of the essence! Charlotte Mason does short lessons; so I wanted Spanish at a max of 15-20 minute lesson a day. I also knew a native Spanish speaker doing the pronunciations was important to me. And I wanted Mexican-Spanish, not Spain-Spanish (are there politically correct terms for those? If so, I don't know them...) The main reason I wanted the Mexican-Spanish is those who live near us who speak Spanish are from Mexico. Also, cost was a factor. There are some nice curriculums that are 200 to 300 dollars. I wanted something under 150, that wasn't too expensive. 

I am dyslexic and my Spanish accent is HORRIBLE, so having that native voice was a MUST. I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses.  Flip Flop Spanish checked all the boxes. I will let you know how it goes! I don't plan on starting back into school until August. I hope we love it. 

We didn't do any Spanish in our first semester of Ambleside. For the second and partial third semesters of Year One, I did Youtube videos from Language Learners. 

• I started reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

What is a safehand? Spren are annoying. I want to take up sketching after reading about Shallan. I didn't understand the prologue with the guys and the swords and I'm guessing somewhere in the next book that will probably make sense. I don't know if I have the emotions to give to this novel. I'm on chapter 10. 

• I'm going to try to make sourdough bread again tomorrow

I have made sourdough on and off but its hard. Maybe this time it will work, who knows??? I sent my husband to the store to buy whole wheat flour and he bought all purpose! LOL. He tried, and I love him. I found some rye berries in my cabinet and ground them and hopefully they work with the whole wheat starter my friend gave me. I want bread!

• I played in my second violin recital, with Reuben.

He did great. I had a panic attack and did not so great, but everyone makes mistakes. It's okay. I am still trying to forgive myself. I suck. I guess I need to practice more. No, you can't see the video. I am deleting it. Whee! Playing on a stage is not my favorite thing. But later that day my husband taught me how to change the oil on my car, and that was even less fun. I will take playing the violin in front of an audience over changing my oil any day. 

• I am not pregnant

I'm not pregnant! I am okay with it. Isn't life weird? After my last miscarriage in 2020, I never thought I would try again, but my husband really wanted too. We had already decided that once I turned 36 to stop having babies, so since I am 35 this is the last year I would want to try. So we have been since January of 2022 and I never said anything because, for the first four months I was paralyzed with fear! Yet it hasn't happened, and I have surrendered to God, and have peace. But, I guess this means something is wrong? I pray for God's will in my life; I honestly am fine with having no more babies but if God wants it, it will happen! I did have another thermography scan and it came back that I could be estrogen dominant and have low progesterone, so who knows. I am trying to nourish my body as best I can.

Me and hubby. We just started intermittent fasting as well, with an eating window from 10-5, but I usually do 9-4 because I can't make it until 10! Working up to it and supporting him as he wants to lose weight. 

Life has been good, the garden is growing, we are eating 600 yellow squash a day and I am still waiting on the tomatoes. Love you all. 

I'm trying to leave Instagram (and rants about books)

I do better without social media. I haven't been on Facebook in ages (and permanently deleted my profile) but Instagram...I used to love it. I thought I would keep it until they added reels. I like having more than a 90 second attention span, thank you very much. Also they are addicting. I hate the ads, I am not that interested in the story aspect of instagram either. 

I just want the instagram of old, wonderful pictures from those I follow. Facebook has ruined the app. If anyone knows of another photo sharing app, please suggest one down below. Right now I am sometimes using it and often not, teetering on an an hilarious see-saw of deleting but, a few days (or maybe even hours later) re-downloading the app. I'm like Pavlov's dog--I keep thinking I will be served food but all I am doing is drooling on myself in anticipation of something that never comes. It has now been almost a week and I haven't posted and I don't see myself going back. Until tomorrow when nostalgia will bite me and I'll download it again only to post a picture, see a few ads, be attacked by reels and delete it a few hours later when I realize I am letting it suck my life away. 

We planted our third berry bush yesterday--the blueberry. Here is a picture Becky took of me planting it. There were 47 other pictures of me planting the bush, but this one was the best. Becky is four. Also, she is admittedly a much better photographer than I was at four. Trust me.

Anyway, I can't wait to eat these in a few years (well, we can eat 12 blueberries this summer but hopefully we will have hundreds). 

We have started on the Year Two Ambleside free reads. First up, was Along Came the Dog which was absolute perfection and now on my top 20 favorite books ever. It's a slow slice of life book; perfect for children and adults, full of adventure and deep truths. I loved it, everyone loved it. We have colored pictures of little red hens everywhere. Read it. Would also make a great gift to families with kids under 10. You will not be disappointed! 

After that wonderful 10/10 read, I soared on a literature high. We picked Mary Poppins to read next.

It was a complete disappointment. No one liked it. The movie was better!! And I never say that!! I didn't even like Jane and Michael in the book, and I liked Mary even less who doesn't even seem to be a main character. What, pray tell, is the point of the book? I don't know. My kids don't know. Does anyone know?

I might have already talked about this on the blog, but I was thinking about it again today. Is Mary Poppins even a living book? (gasp.) Why was it so popular a few decades ago?? I don't get it. Mary is a grouch, and has no backstory. Nothing happens in the book! There is no plot development!!! The characters wander around, odd things happen, and Mary leaves. That's it. I learned nothing about Mary, nothing about Jane, nothing about Michael and nothing about the twins or their mother or father. I don't think I will read this again when we do Year Two with Becky, but who knows. I am not a rule breaker (as in its hard for me to leave out something the curriculum tells me to read) but...no one liked that book. I kept waiting for it to get better and it never did. This is one book Disney did better. (at least regarding the 1964 movie I haven't seen the newer one).

After that, I took a little break in reading to the kids. But recently we picked up The Story of Dr. Dolittle. This book is not as bad at Mary Poppins, but it is not as good as Along Came the Dog. Also, it is silly. We are making it through the chapters and thinking about reading the first Harry Potter book next (my addition to the free reads) or Heidi because I borrowed Heidi from a friend and need to return it. 

Another thought: why are there so many editions of Heidi and why are they all so different. I get it, it's a translation, but can't we pick one translation and be done? Do we really need 47 of them? And the reviews are confusing. Some say they don't like this translation or that one, so how do I know what I am getting when I buy it? 

This is why I decided to borrow it from a friend. 

Hah. Happy June. Summer is in full thrall, Covid is going around (my town at least) and Reuben's birthday is next month. What could possibly go wrong? I need to make more lists and finish decluttering and meal prepping. Also we need to chop wood because winter is coming.  My heart is full, and my purse is empty, and you can't pay for gas with love. 

I remember when gas was 98 cents a gallon. My mom said she remembers 35 cents a gallon. I wonder what Reuben will remember?  

Joy is abounding and I have enough! See you all later!

Currently Reading

My to-read (and current read) list is a bit of a mess. In an attempt to organize it, I have decided to make a list, and to publish the list on my blog, becauese nothing else interesting is happening right now. Hah! 

Current Reads (started but not finished) 

In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass

Journey Back to Health by Kim Fuhrmann

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong 

Even Better Than Eden by Nancy Guthrie

Home Education in Modern English by Charlotte Mason

Know and Tell by Karen Glass

The Believer's Armor by John Macarthur

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn, MD

Gateway to Homeopathy by Joette Calabrese

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To Read (would like to read this year)

The Way We Live Now by Trollope

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Tree by Leaf by Cynthia Voigt

Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern

A Celtic Miscellany

The House of Sixty Fathers by Dejong

The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Robinson Crueso by Daniel Defoe

How to Conquer a Murmuring Tongue by Jeremiah Burroughs

Hunt, Gather, Parent (Reread) by Michaeleen Doucleff

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I don't think I will get to all these books this year, but we will see. God is good and we are enjoying our summer!

Our Garden

This is our second year planting a garden at our house. I won't count the first year where we spent $75 on plants and grew...I think one tomato? Last year we grew tons of tomatoes!! And snap peas, and a few other things. This year I tried to go big. We have two big garden beds and today just planted a red raspberry bush (tree?) and I am hopeful for gobs of raspberries this year or the next. 

We are slowly starting a mini homestead here! It is fun, and the work is wonderful spiritually and mentally, as well as physically. I am only able to garden like this because my health is so much better; as I said in a previous post I am healed! I am only dealing with one or two symptoms that I am working on, it is as if I am as I was 10 years ago, before I got married and took Cipro. I do very much equate my health downfall with that round of antibiotics. But enough about that! I can use my body, it doesn't hurt, it responds to my desires. I can bend, pick up, lift, carry, and vacuum and clean in the evening! Every day I thank God over some small task I used to not be able to do. Every day as I eat food I have not been able to eat in years; food that I thought I would never eat again...I internally praise the Lord in wonder and awe. 

The summer seems to be flying by, our days are booked and full and I need, once again, to learn to do less so I can read all the books and fall asleep in my new hammock. I have so many books I can't wait to dip into in the next two months, and I am half afraid I have overcommitted my to-read list. 

Reuben turn seven soon and so much is happening right before our eyes. Life is wonderful, but it is flying by. How are you all?