Writing and Therapy

 

This pen, another one from my collection, is great for writing.  It's a "Wellness" pen.  It even has it written on the pen.

The ink contains a fragrance that is pleasant and said to create a "wellness" overall feeling, when you write. 

....there has been a lot of writing going on in this home lately.   Two of us in particular.

Money.  Have too much, and it can get out of control and cause you to lose focus.  Don't have enough, and it forces you to make unwanted, aching sacrifices.

  To feel so powerless to prevent certain things from happening, can be a tremendously emotional roller coaster.  Especially when it involves your own children.

It becomes extraordinarily stressful and very overwhelming. 

Helplessness -  shattering sense that nothing will be the same.  Headaches, heartaches, stomach pains.  Asking God why did it have to be this way.......

Parenting is enormously complicated, and raw.

......more later.

 

Book Review ~ Illness Continues

First, the Folk magazine has beautiful photos in it.  It focuses on artisans, enjoyable stories, crafts, recipes and more.  I only have a few more pages to read.  It's one that you can read from beginning to end, but with less advertising than you'd find in other magazines.


Pepper in Her Pie, Book 1
Amish Pioneer Series
By Mrs. Cleon Martin 

This series is written for teens, but if you enjoy reading Pioneer stories, you'll enjoy this book.  An Amish couple with a new baby ventures from Indiana to the flat lands of Kansas.  The characters and places are fiction, but the actual events are based on true acts.  I located the series at my local library.  Your library may very well have it too. 

The title of the book refers to a lesson taught in the story.  If you enjoy the Little House series, you'll enjoy this book.  I'm waiting for the next two from our library.


Illness Update:

Two daughters now have the flu.  I've been sleeping until 10:30am to 11:15am.  Not on purpose either.  I hope Hubby is up to bringing us home more supplies.

Frog Legs and Port ~ Homestead Updates ~ Out of Hay

I forgot to mention that I got the chance to taste frog legs.

In case you haven't noticed, I do post a column on the left side of my blog, recording new foods we try each year.

We also got the opportunity to do a wine tasting, and we tried Tawny Port for the first time.  This we loved, but the price on the bottle is a bit over $38.00.  

About the frog legs....

They don't taste like chicken either (at least to me).  They have a fishy taste and the meat is somewhat rubbery.  

Homestead Updates:

My doctor's office agreed to call in a prescription.  Thankfully, I didn't need to drive up and spend about $90.00 just to see her.  Hubby agreed to pick it up for me.  As you can see Dr. Tiggles has not abandoned me.  In fact, when I spiked my fever, it was Nurse Jesse and Dr. Tiggles that were laying right on top of me.  

I have a book that I'll be updating you on soon.  So far, I am enjoying it when I am up to reading.  And an update on Folk Magazine.
 

My youngest daughter crocheted me a bookmark.

The farm animals are most likely miserable being locked in these last few days - loads of rain, with snow off and on.  Not the best weather days here.

My son is still not feeling so well.  However, the worst has passed. 

We are completely out of hay.  I'm not sure the girls are ready to have farm animals, as they make no effort to help get the hay.  The work is completely put on my husband, so this upsets me today.  It will cost is $9.00/bale, since we now have the horse, it is used much faster. 

I have realized why people have succumbed to giving their horse away for free - very expensive to feed.  Especially when the owner of the horse does not have a job.
  

 

Recovery...I so hope it to be

Thankfully, hubby and I purchased some mineral bath salts, made with organic ingredients, on our recent weekend away.  We are both enjoying them to recover from this recent bug.

A photo of what's above the bathtub.  I have two wall candles like the blue one above.

Thankfully, my fever finally broke last night.  Two and half days of misery.  Speaking of  misery, it's not over yet.  Even my eyeball sockets hurt to the touch.  

I really want some homemade chicken noodle soup, but no one in the house knows how to make it. Boo hoo to me.  Hubby did bring home (better than nothing at all) canned soup.  I am pretty sure I don't have broth or chicken anyway.

I think I got the flu, and not hubby, since I had already had the upper respiratory crud for 6 weeks, and was just getting over it.  I really wanted him to wait another week for the drive, but he insisted.   I tried telling him that I was not up for it.  I don't think he'll insist the next time.  He's worried he'll get it now. 

I mustered up the energy to wash my bedding, and bathrobe.  I bleached a load of towels too.  This morning, I am leaving a list of to-do's for everyone who isn't sick.  I once gain, woke up to the wood stove, completely cold.  Hmpf.  Kids!

It's not just me sick, or my son.  I hear a lot of coughing and nose blowing from the others.  And word has it, that there is a lot going arond the school.  "Nurse Hilda" has abandoned me as well, due to not wanting to get sick.  I handed them the lysol, and told them they better start cleaning, or I was coming out of my confined room.

Of all days, Dad came for a visit to see Blondie and the kids, but left as soon as he heard I was sick.  

I am not allowed to drink coffee, as it will dehydrate me, so I have one stinkin' headache.  Thankfully, Mom gifted us a box of Green tea and it has been my life saver these past few days. 

As for Lola, she seems to be okay now, but I really need to get her a chicken saddle.  She needs time to let her feathers grow back (Sparta has been a bit rough on her).  If you know of where to get one, please let me know.

Another winter storm is due to pass through here today.  And it looks like I will miss my youngest daughter's Science Fair night. 

Running Away Got Me the Flu

I literally took only a few photos this past weekend.  This one was taken when we stopped to stock up on artificial growth hormone free cheese.  

Once we got our cheese, we browsed the countryside, but with only a few things on our minds - inexpensive fencing supplies, hay, and some R&R.

Hubby planned the entire trip, and we very much enjoyed the jacuzzi Friday night.  Saturday night, however, was a different story.

All of our regular lodging locations were booked already.  I'm guessing many folks got their tax returns and were taking much needed winter getaways.  

Saturday, I felt off.  I told hubby we should just pack up and head home Sunday, and not do our usual Sunday trip taking (like we normally do).  He agreed with it.  Even Saturday night I felt off, and didn't feel like eating anything. 

Sure enough Sunday, I woke up sick, and by 5pm, had a fever of 102°F and almost all the flu symptoms you could expect.

The kids enjoyed their Amish baked donuts and bottled Sarsaparilla.  They also, devoured the cinnamon/raisin bread.  All of which, I did not partake in.  I guess we'll have to make another trip to stock up on cheese and foods from the Nature store (where we located more organic meats), and found the best natural cough syrup that works great (but tastes horrible). 

Conversations heard while heading to my bed to sleep:

"I gotta Instagram this!" squealed my 13 year-old taking a photo of her bottle of Sarsaprilla.

"This is on my bucket list!" added my 19 year-old, also holding her bottle of Sarsaprilla. 

My son got sick over the weekend too, so the cough syrup, and natural loose leaf tea were all needed anyway.  My son took out a sharpie, marked his initial on the top of his Sarsaparilla, and put it in the fridge.

I need to wash my bedding, but I am still running a fever.  And yes, they are getting washed in hot water and dried in the dryer (yep! This pioneer is wanting all those bugs killed off today).

Lola, our tetra tint hen is sick.  I hope my daughter can look at her today. 
 

Ten Minutes of Torture ~ School Closed ~ Playing Hookie

I am feeling better somewhat, so I walked 10 minutes on the treadmill.  This was torture, considering I coughed a few times (I was told you should not exercise with a cough).  I took it easy, but those ten minutes felt like 2 hours.  I have not walked, nor exercised for several weeks now.  I think I heard bones creaking - ha ha ha!

School is closed today.  It works out for us, although we have some errands to run, before Hubby and I run away for the weekend.  Yep!  We are on the road, so say a prayer.

First we need to go visit an insurance office.  Our current insurance company first quoted us $4,600/year for insurance (with the two sold and a new one to replace), then she called back with $3,600.00.  

We didn't like this woman, as she avoided our questions, and didn't answer us on others.  My son was the driver in an accident over 3 years ago, and we asked about her reviewing our coverage, and possibly going down.

So....hubby got on the phone and got more quotes for car insurance.  This time we were told, that accidents go off after 3 years, however, hubby had a speeding ticket a year ago (tsk, tsk, tsk).  Anyway, she's quoting us a much lower rate - $2,400/year.  The other place told us that it is 4 years (she "thinks" that accidents are removed). 

Hence, the trip to town, on icy roads to get the better insurance today.   Say a prayer for our safety today and this weekend.

Farm updates:  We are low on wood and hay (very low).  We are searching for hay, which is the worst of our problems. 




A year of quotes:
"It's time to start living the life we've imagined."
   ~ Henry James

Pampering Myself ~ More Snow

Hubby had to work late, so I decided to do foot soaks and pedicures with the girls.  Well, some of them.  With 5 kiddos still in the house, I plan to do more self-pampering for stress reducing reasons.

I failed to get housework finished, but did get the bedding on the clothesline yesterday.  I'm not stressing over it, but will write down what I do get done vs. a "to-do" list.  Then tackle what I haven't completed.

Also, with the older two (19, and almost 21) not being employed yet, I have a list of chores for them too - chicken coop cleaning, taking donations to the thrift store, taking recycling to the recycling center, taking returns to the library, picking up jugs of water, and a few other jobs.  

The snow is still falling, and is making laundry day havoc.  

 
We had some strong winds prior to this snow arriving, and have tree branches to pick up now.

As you can see the days have been cloudy, and the sunrises have been hidden most mornings.

Hubby and I started discussing our spring plan for ordering more layers and meat chickens, however, I lost my copy of Backwood's Home Magazine (detailing the types to buy for meat).  I hope to find it this week.

Yesterday I baked banana muffins that were absolutely wonderful.  I've been baking banana bread for a long time, but never got the rave reviews I got over this recipe:  Banana Muffins II

I still have one rotten banana to deal with, and may make our zucchini-banana brownies.  

 





A year of quotes:
"There is nothing we cannot live down, rise above, and overcome."
   ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox