fruitful recovery and a vegetable mystery

Well, the boy is on the mend! He ate some grapes and strawberries yesterday, and had a couple of bites of a hot dog. Yeah, don't judge me by that hot dog, I am fully aware that it is the last thing he should have eaten. But, when your kid hasn't eaten in 6 days you give him anything he wants to eat.
The lab called and the doc says it's not mono. Halleluiah!! There is an infection and they don't know what it is, but they've put him on antibiotics and though I haven't checked his fever this morning it was down yesterday. He stayed awake more yesterday and definitely had more energy. He was happy that it seemed to be subsiding as he is tired of all this:) He's ready to be a 12 year old boy on summer vacation.
I'm ready to be a mom who sleeps in her own bed(next to her dear husband) instead of on the couch next to a snoring child who walks in his sleep.
Again, my heart goes out to Damien who has been ill or weakened so often in the past few years for long periods, and to Kate who was so devoted to caring for him in those times. Thank you Lord for an end to Jedd's short tunnel and also that the Howards are truly seeing the light at the end of their extensive tunnel.
In the spirit of good health I report that my gardens are also flourishing. I actually was able to go out yesterday and pick some baby spinach leaves for our chicken salad last night. What a wholesome feeling! We really lose a connection when we never experience growing anything to feed and nourish ourselves. If you don't have anything growing this year, I really encourage you to plant anything, tomatoes, spinach, whatever, in a pot if you must. Just one thing to connect yourselves to the dirt:)
I am amazed by the speed at which some things have grown. I did most things from seed this year. Pumpkins are just growing like Jack's beanstalk. Wildly. Onions, spindly and hardly there yet. Cucumbers and strawberries are showing their little fruitful beginnings. Peas are sending tendrils climbing up the fence, which is truly amazing to observe. God has created these plants to send out feelers to pulls themselves up. Cucumbers too. But not the tomatoes. Why? The tomatoes will just flop over and fall on the ground in their weight if not caged. Well, to be fair so would the others, but give the others some string tied across or a cage and they pull themselves up with those tiny threadlike tendrils. And here's a question for those of you who are real gardeners. Where do the seeds come from for things like carrots and spinach? They haven't flowered. There is nothing inside them as there is watermelons and tomatoes. It is a bit of a mystery to me.

barf bags and birthdays (cheerful, no?)

I awoke this morning to day 5 of Jedd being ill with a fever hovering around 102. We've spent the past three nights sleeping on the big red wrap-around couch in the living room. He tends to get a bit delirious at night when he's fevered and sleepwalk, talk and generally freak me out by his behavior. His eyes are open, he looks awake, but he's not. So I stay on the same room with him because I really think one of these times he's going to go outside. That's not a thought I relish at 3 a.m. This is a kid who won't go to a different floor of the house alone at night. Can you imagine if he woke up outside alone at night? Hmmm...
We went and had bloodwork drawn yesterday and throat swabbed and a very funny ( from my side of the door anyway) experience of the lad trying to pee into a sterile cup and then dropping the lid into the toilet. The doc said she'd call today with the results. The nurse had her money on thrush. I really thought that was for babies only.... The doctor had her sights set on mono. That would be sad since he's supposed to start his sailing class next week. Oh well. God knows best. Last year he lost his week old eye glasses, in sailing class. Maybe this will prevent him from doing it again.
On a happier note, It's our dear friend Henley's birthday today. 17! And while Jedd and I will stay far away from the planned festivities, she will be in our thoughts and prayers all day long. I will ban Jedd from the kitchen while I make her birthday cake. She wants a giant cupcake for her cake. I mean giant. Like a regular cake size only, a cupcake. There is a mold out there but we couldn't find it so now it's a challenge. And I am game for that! I have all kinds of little toys culled from the shop for party favor bags. I am a party favor fan and I learned from the queen who was Henley's mom. I really miss my friend Crystal today and I know it's a bittersweet day for Henley and her sister, Cavin.
Lord God, today I lift these three up to you, Jedd, Henley and Cavin. I ask for strength in Jedd's body and a spirit of peace for him throughout this illness. I thank you that you have given us a doctor who shares her wisdom with us and really cares about her patients.
And Father, I lift up Henley and Cavin. I ask that you would continue to lighten their hearts and give them peace. In this coming year give them strength to get through the difficult days and find joy in your world. Let them feel your presence and your truth.
Amen.
'

I really miss writing on this little blog, but I have nothing to say. Nothing. I am reading truly depressing words about the state of the world and how Russia is teaming with Iran and together they could bring about the end of the world. See? Depressing. I'd like to go back to the days of my childhood reading when Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler would solve a crisis within their own sphere, of the missing bridle from the stable or some such triviality, which would set their world off its axis. But all would always be set straight by the end of the story.
Well, I know the end of my little family's story will end straight, by the grace of God, but I am saddened by the thought that there are those I know whose own stories might not end so well if Iran should send over nuclear warheads in the coming days, months or years. See? Depressing....

oil companies and movie stars

Two days ago, the senate voted to sue OPEC. If you haven't heard this already, it's not a typo. Our leaders have decided to sue OPEC for breaching American anti-trust laws. Huh?! Does this frighten anyone else? I'm not even thinking of retaliation on the part of OPEC in the sense of them raising oil prices yet again. I'm thinking that this is what Al-Queda keeps accusing us of being...arrogant Americans who think the globe revolves around ourselves.
Did anyone watch any of c-span's coverage of our illustrious leaders interrogating the presidents and ceo's of the leading oil companies of this nation? Patrick Leahy (of Vermont)had the nerve to ask each of the gentlemen their salaries, which ranged from 2.2 to 12 million. Exxon-Mobil's president made the 12 million. He is in charge of 59,000 employees and is the leader of the lergest corporation in the world. Does anyone think he makes too much? And what defines "too much"? How come the senate didn't have Tom Cruise in to explain why he made 20-30 million per movie? Do you think Leahy had these same questions for Ben and Jerry when they made their first millions for selling ice cream?
I am a bit sickened by this turn on business. What came out in these questionings was that government made up to 14 cents on the dollar of gas sold at the pump, while the oil companies made about 4 cents profit on the dollar. And the senators didn't even blush at this. They just stayed the course on their attack. Hannah Singer was watching this with me at 6 a.m. Dear girl just scolded the television right along with me!
The only senator I saw who had any sense at all seemed to be Jeff Sessions (I believe of Alabama). This is a new name for me and I'll be listening for more of him....
All we can do at this point right now...is pray.....please, please pray!

I feel like a storybook character today.

It is brisk and fresh outside today. A lovely Saturday morning with an entire day of the unkown before me. I've checked the progress of the gardens and made strawberry-cream scones to share with friends from "over the bridge". They've come and gone, after we'd indulged in harmless gossip and page-turning of shop catalogs.
I've ambled my way to the store where I visited with neighboring shopkeepers and discussed the progress of sales for the week. Things are sloooooow. But I'm still smiling. Why, you may ask? Because, it's brisk and fresh outside today. Silly you!

freshfaced

Do you know the wording, "fresh-scrubbed", which usually implies natural prettiness? It is usually applied to young women. I gotta say that now in my late 40's I have met this saying for the first time in a personal way. If you are in your 40's, go to your bathroom and give your face a good healthy scrubbing. Then, quick! look in the mirror...it only lasts for about 10 seconds, but in that fleeting amount of time, I feel "fresh-scrubbed". I wish there were some way to bottle this. I have no explanation. But my cheeks are rosey, and my skin is creamy. It seems cruel that it is so short-lived. I think my husband is going to have to start standing next to me each morning and evening while I "tidy"up. But then the toothpaste spitting might be a bit of a turnoff.....unless the next saying to make its way to the forefront is to be "spitshine..." Now there's an ugly thought.

tomatoes and oil paints and Ayn Rand

Jedd and I have just put plants and seeds into the first garden we've ever done together. There is much more work to be done, but it was so exciting. It's good for a kid (and his mom) to feel the dirt between his toes to truly appreciate the veggies that appear on the dinner table.

I've been clearing out the old and sprucing up the yard. The pond has been cleaned out and jedd put together a filter with a little fountain and installed it. Now it gives the impression of a bubbling brook. (It also tends to make us all feel the need for the loo)

I spent an afternoon at the garden shop with Janna picking out new perennials for the shady side of the house. Very exciting. Today, I actually planted one of the seven bought. Usually they sit around in pots till they're dead or dangerously close to death before guilt sets in and I stuff them in a hole. This new streak I'm on is holding staying power so far.

We bought a new battery for the camera so I may be able to actually put some pictures up soon.

Tomorrow is a new session for painting classes. I have no theme picked out to paint yet. Ah well, the right thing will pop up. It always does doesn't it? Yeah, I'm loving my life right now...

The current read is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It is time for you to read or re-read this classic which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It is such an appropriate book for this age. I heard today that a new government committee is being formed to discuss profit limits for corporations. !? Yeah, Ayn Rand had this fear 50 years ago.

major decisions

After many hours of inner turmoil and debate and yes, prayer, I have come to a monumental personal decision. I am only keeping the shop open 3 days a week. It will be closed the other 4. Amazing how once a decision is concretely made, that one can truly feel as though a boulder has been lifted off the shoulders. The weight of a burden is a true weight. So now the shop will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Janna working most Thursdays (she'll be going home to London for three weeks during May) . The juggling of shopkeeper and homeschool mom was not working well for me. I want to look back through time and know that I spent my quality time with my kids. I already feel like my house is cleaner and can imagine the weight dripping off my hips at all the free time I'll have to simply take walks with Jedd and the dog. (I'm not fooling myself into thinking because my schedule is lighter that the twins will suddenly find many hours of free time in their days to join us regularly)
I continue to invest money into stocking up on toilet paper, shampoos, soap, laundry detergent etc. These things will not be going down in prices and will not go bad. I feel like it truly is a business investment. We could put our dollars into cd's (bank, not music)that will give us a payback of less than 2% in 6 months or a year. Or put our dollars into products that will most assuredly be rising even further in cost than they already have. By 10, 20, 30% or higher. I, even in my humble little brain, see a better payback on inventory for the home. If you're not already partaking in this happy little mindset, you might want to consider it.....the next time you shop, really think about how much the same things you're buying cost a year ago. What are you paying now? What could the drawback be to this? Even the Wall Street Jouranl came out this week with the same suggestion for the same reasons....and at the same time we are preparing our homes for the future, aren't we stimulating the economy? I would really welcome your comments on whether or not you also are putting by a bit extra in the cupboards.....if not, are you thinking those of us who are are being extreme or is there just no extra cash available...I'm really curious as to where others stand on this. Oh, I'm not talking about running out and loading up on warehouse size bags of rice by the way(unless your family are large rice eaters)....although I confess I bought a 32 ounce bag and stuck it away. But I have stocked condensed milk ( which I use a ton of in macaroni and cheese) and powdered milk for bread making and because if milk goes up any more I' m going to start cutting my milk gallons out with it to make it stretch more. Annie and Jedd are milk junkies. And I always load up on flour and sugar since as you've read in past blogs we are baking fools in this house. King Arthur Flour company has free shipping till the end of April so you may want to take advantage....

a small happy list

Things I look forward to....almost daily.....
Coffee in the morning...
The return of "The Office"....
visiting blogs...
reading....
Thom's return home from work each evening....
Emma's return home from school each day...
Jedd's head deep in the pages of whatever book he's immersed in...
listening to Glenn Beck go off on whatever his rant (s) of the day will be...
cabbage at the cash register...
deliveries at the store....
Annie's latest essay....
popcorn at night....
a morning egg

obviously this is in no specified order:)

Good Mornings

My favorite time of each day is morning. The dog usually pads into my room about 7 and gives a lttle whine to be let out and fed. My first words in my head are usually, "idiot dog"...as I push the covers back and shift my weight to an upright position. The words are just habit at this point. In the beginning they were said out of frustration because I couldn't see why he woke me up instead of going down with Thom at 5:30 or 6 and being cared for by him. (thereby letting me sleep another half hour or so, I'm lazy)

But, I realize that I treasure this morning time. I open the back door for Eli, then switch the gas fireplace on to take the chill of the room before scooping kibbles into the dog's bowl. Coffee is started and I clear up glasses from the living room and pull open curtains while it's brewing. I wipe any crumbs off the counter and table and tidy things up happily. Emma comes down and we have time together before she takes off for school. (it's good to have drivers in my girls. I no longer need to dress and drive her across town to school)

The radio is my background noise and I get the news of the world as I sweep the kitchen floor. What a life! This is my time with God now. Its changed throughout the years and I've no doubt it will change again. The seasons of life working the way they do:)....But how priviledged am I to not have to go milk cows and muck out barns and throw slop to pigs? Maybe that's not a good example because I''m sure if that was my lot I could find time in that to appreciate God as well. I think a better example would be, how priviledged that I don't have to send myself or my children off to the streets to beg or sell themselves to survive for another day....

I love my life and am thankful that the Lord has given me eyes to see what a gift my lot is. How does your day start?