Shopping

Haven't done a bit of it (shopping that is) for my family. When you all are standing in the return line, I'll be wrestling with the large, hairy woman over sale items. She is stocking up for next year, I'm purchasing post-Christmas gifts. Want to take bets on who will win?

Transmission

I peered out the window yesterday at my husband who was carefully scrutinizing one of the parts of my car. It turned out to the transmission dip stick. Favorite husband says the fluid looks "burnt" which is not good. Monday brings the changing of the fluid and will, hopefully, find no pieces of metal which is a very, very bad sign. I guess I'm getting a transmisison and front tires for Christmas. Now I am saying "bah humbug."

Too Warm?

It rained here last night and the snow is melting. Could it be too warm?

Merry Christmas

I'm skipping the politically correct "Happy Holidays." In fact, I'm almost becoming irritated by the generic greeting. At what point did society become so sensitive that people are unable to accept a greeting that differs from their own beliefs? I don't mind having someone tell me "Happy Hannukah," "Happy Easter," "Happy Sweetest Day" (a Hallmark holiday if ever there was one). I'm slipping closer to "Bah Humbug."

School Update

Well, I have been anxiously checking the progress (on-line) of the grading of my Comp I class. There are 50 points outstanding right now. I am down 10 points for the class for the semester. If I didn't completely blow it the final project (a power point presentation) I should have an A. I did get an "A" in Intro to Psych, so at the moment, I am a 4.0 student. Now I'm searching for scholarships for old people like me.

Hank

Our 80 lbs. puppy - yes, only 7 months old. Someone found the garbage in this photo and had neglected to rid himself of the evidence. Hank failed obedience school the first time and has a slot booked in the next session.

NO TRAVEL

We are cocooning today. School goes on when you are homeschooled, but not much else is happening. No travel is advised through our segment of North Dakota - the mall has even closed! Keeping warm....

Gas Prices

The sky is falling?! No, it's just the gas prices plummeting. Isn't it sad when I say that our prices are ONLY $2.07/gallon? My favorite husband said that we will have a celebratory dinner out when the prices drop to $2.00/gallon. The $ we will save in the tank (compared to the $3.00/gallon) will more than pay for a lovely evening.

Chickens

The chickens are being transferred to their winter quarters today (my parent's barn). Making this happen meant that Hank's dog cage and the cat carrier were hauled to the barn, all exits were blocked after nightfall and the fun began. The kids went out and captured the fowl, stuffing them into the cages. The cat carrier was reserved for a mother hen and her three chicks. Our youngest came in with a tale of catching the largest gray rooster by the tail. He still has his feathers, but didn't escape her clutches.

Maybe Dad will have better luck with eggs. Our girls have been hiding them everywhere but in the nest boxes. I have asked the kids to build a chicken tractor for next year (go ahead and google it).

Boycott

Am I the only one irritated by the Christmas music and merchandise that was in the stores before Halloween? I was doing a really fast grocery run last night in a national chain store and was quite irritated to pass aisles of Christmas items while ignoring the Christmas carols playing on the overhead speakers. I'm not planning to do anything with Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Bah humbug!

Happy Birthday

Today my youngest brother turns 34. He is celebrating an "adult birthday" today - he is at work. I wonder if he brought treats for the other staff? Best wishes.

What's up at our house?

I am still in school - 4 papers due in 4 weeks and not a complete thought to be found in my head (hence the updated blogging - procrastination at its finest). My "a" in intro to psychology is still holding, we'll see how comp I is looking after I meet with the teacher today.

The kids are great. They haven't been riding the horses quite as much because of deer hunting season. I know, most hunters are incredibly responsible and wouldn't shoot at a horse and rider, but it's the odd weirdo (with a gun and ammo) that worries me - you know the stereotypical guy - he's been drinking, dressed in brilliant orange, has a gun and a deer tag, and the season ends in just a few days.

My favorite husband has been attending classes this week for work. It's odd to see him heading out the door in "civilian" clothes vs. the lovely maroon scrubs.

I've been doing the odd bit of cleaning - my mother-in-law is coming for a visit next week. She is quite wonderful and doesn't expect any special treatment, but hey - doesn't everyone clean when their mother-in-law comes to stay??

Weather, weather, weather

TODAY is predicted to be the last day of beautiful (depends upon your definition) weather until April. Temperatures in the 60's are unheard of in ND in November, but yesterday was amazing and today is expected to be the same. All outside work or play that happens best without gloves should be completed today. Snow is predicted for this weekend. Brrr.

Flunked!

No, not me, Hank. Hank is attending obedience school on Monday evenings. This week the instructor took me aside and said that I may wish to enroll him in the next series starting in January - not the advanced series, but a repeat. She tried to soften the blow by saying he is a puppy, has a hard head and needs to realize he isn't in charge. So, starting in January, Matthew and Hank are continuing to attend obedience school - after they finish the current series in December!

Grades, Etc.

I am rejoicing, grabbing the good news and not thinking about tomorrow. The university that I attend allows students the ability to review grades on-line. Thus far I am getting a solid A in both intro to psychology and comp I. A bit of a disappointment though - my first paper came back 47/50. I made a couple of foolish mistakes and have, hopefully, learned lessons for the next one.

Special thanks to my cheering section here at home. They tiptoed about while I was agonizing over my first college paper.

This weekend I need to draft a contrast/comparison paper. Topics are still shuffling around in my mind - the instructor says it has to matter to you and you shouldn't know the outcome until you have done the "t" chart. Huh? Motherhood doesn't operate in a t-chart world (my previous careers didn't lend themselves to this process either). The majority of the decisions in my world happen either very quickly (stop hitting your sister/brother; yes, we need orange juice; the tank is 1/2 full, we are filling up) or the data is still being collected for the really big ones (I could have charted the college decision). Pending.

This afternoon the kids are enjoying the newly-repaired wood splitter. They are stocking a little shed with split wood to burn in the wood stove in the house. No t-chart needed here - heating costs are going up, wood is mostly free....you do the math.

The girls studied about South Africa this week at Wednesday school (the year's focus is Africa). Child #3 chattered for 50 miles on the way home about diamonds, apartheid, Nelson Mandela and more. I don't get to sit with them during the unit study time - I hang out with the five high school students who have younger siblings in attendance. The spread between a four year old and an 8th grader is broad enough for Mrs. Lund to teach without adding high schoolers to the mix. In addition, high school students need every moment to study (at least their parents think so). My "job" is to make sure that the high school students have a quiet place to study. I don't teach anyone except my child. This does give us time together to review tough concepts. I also have time to study without distractions like laundry, housecleaning, the telephone, etc.

I need to get the soup on (literally) for tonight. The french bread is rising and the soup needs to be bubbling.

Happy weekend to you!

How are you?

I am very, very tired. It has been a long week – and I’ve got a few more days before I start again. However, who says when the week begins again? Does it really start with the first day of the week or can you arbitrarily decide when you want a new week?

Child #3 has been sick with a cold since last Wednesday. She is improving, but managed to share. Her colds typically drop into a cough, mine goes to my sinuses. My Dad has had cardiac issues, not resolved yet, but will be. We finally found shoes for church for child #2. She is 11, but wears the same size of shoes that I do. Appropriate footwear for an 11 year old and a thirty-something (nearly 40) year-old differ dramatically. The list could go on and on, but I'm turning the corner and as soon as the fog lifts outside it will lift inside too.

Shopping

My favorite husband went shopping (at a farm auction) and look at what he brought home! Particulars? Ford, 1950something, dump truck-obviously, drove it home, ? .


He was excited so I'm happy too!

The view from my front porch

The photo was taken today, October 6, at 8:20 A.M.

Just for the record - it was 80+ degrees (farenheit) on Sunday (10/2).

This is ND weather at it's finest. Yesterday I-94 was closed from Mandan, ND to the Montana border.

The Forum reviews some of the events of yesterday related to the storm. http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=104980&section=news

My vow to keep the heat off until November changed last night!

Hey baby, where have you been?

I've dropped off the face of the blogging earth. What do I do when I'm not blogging? Well, fun stuff like putting together a rough draft of my first paper for Comp I, getting school up and going for my kids, farm work, housework, laundry, blah, blah, blah....I'm sure you can relate!

Congratulations to friends Don and Gina on the wonderful news that they are expecting baby #1!

Say it isn't so

Apparently Fargo is no longer a "small town" where you can leave your car running in the parking lot. What is this winter going to be like? Imagine the AAA calls.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=103507&section=News