Monday, August 12, 2013

ya thunk i'd up & left, did ya?


Not knowing I needed, and would, I took the summer off from blogging.  A hiatus of sorts.  Time to wade through heavy issues like homeschooling, a month of "vacation", blogger photo issues (which seem to be resolved, praise GOD!) and an unexpected trip back.  We've spent lots of time in the pool, on bikes and with friends.  It's all coming to a close as I make final decisions on homeschooling curricula and the littles spend their last week and a half surrounding themselves with their bestest of besties.  (At least those here in IL.)

With that being said, I'll try to pack in as many photos as possible because you know how I love a photo-filled post.  wink wink.


So, when I mentioned homeschool did you shake your head in disbelief?  I've ridden a roller coaster of emotions for the last 3 months - complete terror, peace, and brain-riddling confusion.  I've always said I wasn't the homeschooling type but, to sacrifice for the greater good, I. AM. HOMESCHOOLING.  There, I said it!  It's been the range of curricula that has sent my head spinning.  So much to choose from, so many different avenues.


Ever watch "Children of the Corn"?  Sorry, I had to.


Don't try that at home!  Ya can't tell dangerous non-helmet wearin' boys nothin'!

After visiting with a friend and seeing her homeschooling "library", hearing her homeschooling stories and encouragement I felt better.  She's seen it all and done it all.  Well, almost!  Friend gave me direction and the kids were able to look through and get a feel for the materials they had to choose from.  Yes, homeschool is about choice.  A blessing and a curse if you ask me...because I'm indecisive.


I learned some things, Miss K is happiest with classical style learning...here's the lesson; the work; do it.  She's very independent and creative.  I can't wait to see how this year goes for her.  The man, oh the man.  I worry about this guy.  He's bull-headed and he's going through a whining phase.  Did I mention he's got me wrapped around his finger?  It's true.  He's the one I might lose sleep over.  Such is life.


So, I never finished our Summer Tour series.  I have more pictures (not as many as I wish I had) but I'll get to it.  Slowly but surely.  Just a little caught up in the thick of things right now.  Who ever said "summer is for relaxing" was crazy!  Our summer has been a flurry of kids in and out of the house; up and down the roads we go, burnin' rubber; trying lots of new recipes; soaking up rays by the pool and finding inexpensive summer fun.  It's been good, it's been fun but, I'll be glad when we find our groove and settle in to a new routine.


We were sooooo excited to host some visitors last week.  Some our best friends from home were here. And although their stay was way too short and hindered by an out-of-the-blue migraine, we made the best of it.  Kids romped all over the yard and into the cornfields.  (Yes, a lecture followed on how unsafe that is.  Luckily, bigger kids teamed up and looked out for the littles and everyone came home safely.)  We ate like kings and queens, making a breakfast feast of homemade waffles with caramel syrup and local maple syrup, sausage, breafas luvin' muffins, and tons of fruit.  Poor Thelma could barely eat due to her aching head but, we ended on a high note Wednesday night with Uncle T's famous ribs.  The next day, we followed them south to the third leg of their trip.  That's where we had the opportunity to take the girls and do a little before school shopping at the outlet mall.  Woohoo, yay for a girls day and the perfect way to end our time together!

No, the man did not go shopping!  He seems to be somewhat of a mama's boy and he wanted to ride with the girls, while Thelma drove her car with the rest of the boys.


Fall promises more visitors and we're gearing up for them as well.  Lord I pray, by then, we'll have a routine down and they'll all get to see more of the kids since they won't be "away" at school.  There's also an opportunity to help out with the ladies retreat back home.  Miss Debbie and I laughed about my title of "emeritus" to their creative group since moving.  That's OK, I'm excited to get to work on their project soon.


Alright, it's late and I just wanted to pop in, say I'm still here and I'll see ya around.




Tuesday, July 9, 2013

summer tour - week one (wagner berry farm)

Week One was officially over.  We spent our week in TN with cousins.  SIL had a special outing planned to Wagner Berry Farm where our main focus would be strawberries and rasperries.  Unfortunately, the raspberry patch wasn't open just yet but, we still had time to seek out some tasty strawberries.


Photos for Instagram were a must.

 
And who could resist jumping the rows?
 
 
Light saber moments... 
 


 
The girls shared special time together.
 
 
And then it was time to head home.
 
 


dinner grits

Well, I've held off as long as I could.  Blogger has completely frazzled my patience for blogging.  See, I've been having this ongoing problem {meaning every single post} with posting photos.  It's a long story but, if you know me well, you know I despise a photo-less post.

Now, we spent 4 weeks on the road and are finally recovering.  We had the best time but, to be completely honest, it was exhausting.  We were so excited to see all our family and friends though.

Despite my loathing of photo-less posts, this is one on those.  Prepare yourself.  While in TN, visiting my SIL and her awesome family, I finally learned to make dinner grits. {swoon}  OK, I see the look of doubt on your face, I feel the scorn in your eyes but, for anyone skeptical of grits - dinner grits - please see this as a totally amazing sister to mashed potatoes.  And yes, I know, grits are made of corn and potatoes are, well, potatoes.  Stay with me here!  I would totally give up potatoes vs. grits any day!  Well, maybe.

{For seven people, Miss TN doubled the recipe.}

Dinner Grits
3/4 cups grits
1 1/2 cups heavy cream (or half & half)
1 1/2 cups milk
2/3 cup onion
1 clove garlic

Saute onion in butter.  Add liquids and cook on medium heat until heated and frothy but not boiling.  Pour grits into pan, stirring continuously.  Cook 5 min. or more until grits reach desired thickness.  Season as desired with salt, pepper, garlic, etc.

See how simple that was?  I've converted at least a handful of skeptical grits eaters since!  Why wasn't this one of the first things I ever learned to cook?  So easy!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

be back soon

Hey there!  I'll be back soon.  We're "on tour" and loving every minute of it.  We'll catch back up this weekend.  Promise.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

three on thursday.


1. I'm finding myself a little sentimental today.  Not wanting to go.  Not wanting to leave.  Handsome Husband.  The dogs.  The garden.  Who will care for them?  Who will feed them and water them?  Clean up after and love them?  I know Handsome Husband can fend for himself.  I always worry about the dogs.  I typed up a long agenda stating how to care for them, about their personalities, how their vaccinations and rabies are up-to-date.  I even ordered new dog tags because all the others have our old address.  This'll be the first time we've left them since we brought them back at Christmas and while our "caretakers" have dogs, nothing cures my worry.  And the garden, isn't it silly?  I worry that the plants will need water, that I won't be there to see the first blooms, their first fruits, that the tomatoes will go nuts before I get back.  Oh it's silly, I know.
 
2. I want to finish sewing projects, can the remaining rhubarb and strawberries into jam, make sure the house is spotless.  I am so ADHD, ADD, obsessive compulsive.  I don't know what I am, I just know I'm one of them.

3. Most of our things are packed.  Although, I'm fighting off the urge to call our vacation rental agency and ask our agent, Demetra with her lovely Carolina accent and raspy voice, ten thousand questions.  And then pack ten thousand and one more things.  I'm an avid over-packer and there are things I want to bring from home (Virginia home) when we return here to the cornfields of Illinois.  Cookbooks, muck boots.  Oh how I love, love, love muck boots.  We have a list and I'm sure we'll find more and more to pack into every little nook and cranny.  In any case, I'm just looking forward to familiar ol' faces and sinking my toes in the sand.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Father's Day ideas and printables

We'll soon be leaving for our "summer tour".  So, we needed to prepare our Father's Day gifts a couple weeks ahead of time.  I hope you fathers aren't looking!!!!
 
We found some great ideas on Pinterest and came up with a few of our own.  We didn't use some of the printables, but they are available and listed below.
 
We put Handsome Husband's pack together for under $20... 
1.  Orbit gum - $2 {for a 3-pk., Wal-Mart}
2.  Pistachios (printable from LizzeJane Baby) - $6 {Aldi}
3.  Favorite candies (printable from artsy-fartsy mama) - $4.50 {Aldi, Wal-Mart}
4. Cream Soda -  $3.50 {Wal-Mart}
5. Reese's Pieces (printables available from Nothing but Country and also Kids, Clutter, & Chaos) - $1 {Wal-Mart}  

 
 And under $10 for the infamous Pop Pop... 
1. Bucket of microwaveable popcorn - $1 {Wal-Mart} filled with goodies, of course...
2. Peanuts  (printable from LizzieJane Baby) - $ 1.50 {Wal-Mart}
3. Root Beer (with printables from iheartnaptime and Delightfully Noted) - $3.50 {Wal-Mart}
4. Cowtails (Not pictured) - You're the moooost best Pop Pop!
(I don't know why my photo with the numbers won't load up.  Grrrrr.)
 
There are still a few things left to get and some that are unmentioned.  I can't divulge all the secrets for the sake of sneaky eyes that might lurk here.  Happy father's day shopping!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

six on saturday

1.  We've had storms here all week and yes, it's been crrrraaaazy!  On the other hand, the corn has taken off...(and so has our garden!)
 


2.  Handsome Husband found two bird eggs today.  One in the garden.  One along the edge of the pines.  I carried this one around for quite a while.  What for?  I'll never know.  And yes, that's a nasty cut I have there, huh?  Eeew.

 
 
3.  We I pulled weeds in 12 rows of strawberries.  The man did more talking and playing with bugs, spiders and worms than anything.  Miss K came at the end to help with a couple rows.
 
 
 
 
4.  Handsome Husband put temporary caging around our squash, cabbage and lettuce to keep out the bunnies.  I opted for all-the-way-around perimeter fencing to keep out the dogs, bunnies, squirrels, what-have-you, but he said no.  I still like my idea better.
 
 
 
5.  We have potatoes folks.  Seven glorious rows.  SEVEN.
 
 
 
6.  I'm reading this.  It's not inspiring, spiritual, or non-fiction.  I needed a summer read that wasn't serious.  This one's ok.  (I picked it up for a quarter at a thrift shop.)  It shares stories about many different couples, situations, and how they all come together in a beach house in Nantucket where one lady is threatening to lose said house and so she decides to rent out rooms.  The stories are eh...a married man who figures out he's gay; a guy who starts a romance with his boss - whose married; a woman whose husband cheated on her and so she divorces him.  See what I mean?  Not exactly what I was looking for or thought it'd turn out to be but, we'll see how it ends.