Looks like Stella is spending some time with the bear this week!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
4 and 20 Blackbirds
I have been asked about the object in the middle of my pie. It is a pie bird, a hollow, ceramic device used to support and vent a pie with a top crust.
I think he's rather cute!
Friday, October 2, 2015
The End of the Season
Today I brought in a basket full of tomatoes and some basil that was past its prime.
They simmered together all day on the stove, and this evening we had a lovely tomato sauce for our pasta. There were 4 containers to stick in the freezer for another day as well.
I also baked an apple pie. Possibly one of the prettiest pies I've ever baked.
There is cheese in the crust, so it baked up a perfect golden brown. I can't wait to cut into it.
It smells like Fall in the house!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Stress Relief
Do you know that feeling when you finally get rid of a bunch of things that have been worrying you - like you've just slid off a backpack weighing about 200 pounds? That's sorta how I'm feeling today, or WOULD be feeling if I wasn't so exhausted.
For the past 2-3 weeks, a rather nasty cold has been circulating through our family, thanks to Miss J, who brought it home from school. The primary symptoms are sore throat, congestion and cough, along with a general sense of wanting to stay under the covers and moan when the alarm goes off each morning.
I was lucky enough to be the last person affected, and for some reason, it is lingering. I have been up every night for the past week sitting/napping in the recliner, because the cough is less persistent in that position. It makes for a sore neck and excessive irritability.
Thankfully though, the other couple things that have been stressing me lately sort of dissipated this week, so now I feel light as a (lead) feather.
Last week I was approached by my Supervisor with the offer of a position with another local practice. I was reluctant to jump on this because the Powers-That-Be recently told JP that they were working on ways that I could help out more at his office, and I am wary of getting in over my head. I did agree to meet with the Dr. on Monday. It ended up being the most awkward interview I have ever been at in my life - after being kept waiting for over 20 minutes in the office waiting room, I spent 5 minutes with the Dr.
I was informed afterwards that the chilly reception was due to a misunderstanding, but the interaction certainly made up my mind about whether or not I would want to work in that environment! Whew...one issue gone.
For the past 2-3 weeks, I've been having numbness of my right hand and arm. I was concerned that it was stemming from something in my neck, because of the positions that it happens in. I finally had an appointment yesterday with the Physiatrist, who did EMGs (nerve conduction studies) in my arms. He told me that it is coming from my neck, but there is no nerve damage. He feels that there is likely compression at C6 in my neck, but that it should respond to Physical Therapy. I was secretly worried that I would need to have neck surgery like my Mom, and the thought has been freaking me out. Poof...another stress point vanished.
Today I am thrilled that I have nothing pressing to do except pay bills, do laundry, go grocery shopping, take L to the Dr., pick up J from school, and take her to soccer practice. You know, all the regular stuff. There is a slight possibility that I can slip a nap in there somewhere!
For the past 2-3 weeks, a rather nasty cold has been circulating through our family, thanks to Miss J, who brought it home from school. The primary symptoms are sore throat, congestion and cough, along with a general sense of wanting to stay under the covers and moan when the alarm goes off each morning.
I was lucky enough to be the last person affected, and for some reason, it is lingering. I have been up every night for the past week sitting/napping in the recliner, because the cough is less persistent in that position. It makes for a sore neck and excessive irritability.
Thankfully though, the other couple things that have been stressing me lately sort of dissipated this week, so now I feel light as a (lead) feather.
Last week I was approached by my Supervisor with the offer of a position with another local practice. I was reluctant to jump on this because the Powers-That-Be recently told JP that they were working on ways that I could help out more at his office, and I am wary of getting in over my head. I did agree to meet with the Dr. on Monday. It ended up being the most awkward interview I have ever been at in my life - after being kept waiting for over 20 minutes in the office waiting room, I spent 5 minutes with the Dr.
I was informed afterwards that the chilly reception was due to a misunderstanding, but the interaction certainly made up my mind about whether or not I would want to work in that environment! Whew...one issue gone.
For the past 2-3 weeks, I've been having numbness of my right hand and arm. I was concerned that it was stemming from something in my neck, because of the positions that it happens in. I finally had an appointment yesterday with the Physiatrist, who did EMGs (nerve conduction studies) in my arms. He told me that it is coming from my neck, but there is no nerve damage. He feels that there is likely compression at C6 in my neck, but that it should respond to Physical Therapy. I was secretly worried that I would need to have neck surgery like my Mom, and the thought has been freaking me out. Poof...another stress point vanished.
Today I am thrilled that I have nothing pressing to do except pay bills, do laundry, go grocery shopping, take L to the Dr., pick up J from school, and take her to soccer practice. You know, all the regular stuff. There is a slight possibility that I can slip a nap in there somewhere!
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Dancing With 2 Left Feet
It has been absolutely CRAZY around here lately. My afternoons are COMPLETELY full (and then some) with picking up, dropping off, encouraging homework, chores, and showers, and trying to get food into my family in a timely manner. Recently I compared it to a finely choreographed dance. To really make it flow, however, everyone has to be on their toes. I am personally genetically predisposed to be a poor dancer, being of Mennonite and Amish heritage. The rest of my family has similar issues, so typically the After School Activity Dance is stressful. We're doing ok, but I wouldn't say that we are making any stellar memories at this point in our lives...no time for that!
Sunday afternoon was L's first soccer game. They did fairly well, for only having 2 practices with their coach ahead of time. L is the tallest on her team by an inch or two. She also scored the first goal of the game! Ok, that was a pretty stellar memory.
L had her first piano lesson of the year on Monday. Her teacher was impressed that she practiced over the summer. (Hooray, score one point for good parenting!) J also had an orthodontist appointment, at which we were informed that the braces come off at the next visit. She is thrilled.
Yesterday afternoon, J had her first away soccer game. The bus left their school at 1 PM, meaning that she lost a good segment of classroom time, for which she had make up work to do last evening. They won their game, but didn't arrive back in town until after 6 PM, which gave her precious little time to do homework, eat dinner and get to bed. It was after 10 when she got there, and I was already in bed by then!
The garden is winding down, thank goodness. On Monday, Mom and I dug the root crops: potatoes, carrots, parsnips and beets. We still have sweet potatoes to dig. I have 5 beds ready to cover with leaves to "sleep" for the winter. The potatoes did not do so well this year. They were very healthy, but quite small and the quantity was fairly low. I did plant potatoes from last year, so we actually came out ahead. Perhaps it's time to buy new seed potatoes for next year? The carrots did quite well. This one has 8 "legs", so we've named it the Octopus.
We got quite a bit of rain toward the end of last week, so things are greening up again, and my rainwater cistern is filled to the brim. The nights have been cool since then, and the days are extremely pleasant. Most mornings look like this:
That's about it for now. J has another soccer game this week, L has another soccer practice, we have parent/teacher conferences at the Middle School, and JP has another checkup with his Ophthalmologist. Must. Keep. Going.
Sunday afternoon was L's first soccer game. They did fairly well, for only having 2 practices with their coach ahead of time. L is the tallest on her team by an inch or two. She also scored the first goal of the game! Ok, that was a pretty stellar memory.
L had her first piano lesson of the year on Monday. Her teacher was impressed that she practiced over the summer. (Hooray, score one point for good parenting!) J also had an orthodontist appointment, at which we were informed that the braces come off at the next visit. She is thrilled.
Yesterday afternoon, J had her first away soccer game. The bus left their school at 1 PM, meaning that she lost a good segment of classroom time, for which she had make up work to do last evening. They won their game, but didn't arrive back in town until after 6 PM, which gave her precious little time to do homework, eat dinner and get to bed. It was after 10 when she got there, and I was already in bed by then!
The garden is winding down, thank goodness. On Monday, Mom and I dug the root crops: potatoes, carrots, parsnips and beets. We still have sweet potatoes to dig. I have 5 beds ready to cover with leaves to "sleep" for the winter. The potatoes did not do so well this year. They were very healthy, but quite small and the quantity was fairly low. I did plant potatoes from last year, so we actually came out ahead. Perhaps it's time to buy new seed potatoes for next year? The carrots did quite well. This one has 8 "legs", so we've named it the Octopus.
That's about it for now. J has another soccer game this week, L has another soccer practice, we have parent/teacher conferences at the Middle School, and JP has another checkup with his Ophthalmologist. Must. Keep. Going.
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