Recovery and Back to Farmstead Fun

(Sapphire chillin' one evening)

While I had the internet off, I worked on my recovery.  It's not so fun, when you cannot taste your food.  I used hot and cold compresses, took hot, steamy baths, and sipped hot herbal teas.  I am still suffering from the sinus pressure, but thankfully, all my work paid off to help my sinuses drain.  I'm still congested, but much better.  And if you have never had Thyme tea to break of mucus, it really does work (remember I am not a doctor, only sharing my experience).

I couldn't really work on too many "crafty" projects, as my pounding head made anything (even reading) almost impossible.  I did do a lot of sleeping. I managed to write another postcard, and was able to sew up a few fabric yo-yo's.

The meat chickens are slaughtered now, the bedroom closet catastrophe is repaired (which caused us to clean out our clothes and donate 2 bags of clothes to the thrift store), and more goat fencing supplies were purchased (again).

Two of the kids (my son and 16 year-old daughter) picked wild black raspberries.  To be truthful, I wanted to stuff the berries in the freezer, but will try to can a batch of jam today.

We've been getting rain almost every day, and I am thankful for it.  I am thankful I don't have to go out to weed, and I am thankful for the rain in my barrels.  I am thankful the rain gives me time to recuperate a bit more. I'm thankful I got the chance to see the yellow finch family flutter around in the driveway - Mom, Dad and baby.  I am also very thankful for the wooden drying rack my mother and cousin bought for me on their recent getaway.  I'll try to get a picture of it, so you can see how nice it is.

What's next?  The bathroom tile. It's been 3 weeks or more since we tore it out.

Grounded from the Internet

Due to a certain number of kids around here, who can't get their dishes done, the internet is off for a few days (or longer).  I'll see you all when they learn to prioritize and be responsible.

My 14 year-old never made last night's dinner either.  She went "shopping" with her 19 year-old sister, and never came home until after dinner (even though they were told to be back in time to make it).  They both knew I was not feeling well, and I am still not feeling well.

 

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

I've been sick for the last week, and while resting all day, waiting for my appointment to see the doctor, the younger two girls decided they wanted to write letters.

I have been joking with them that when school starts, the only thing they will be able to share is, "I sat around on my bum and playing around on my tablet."

They came up with writing letters on their own.  So, a few of my family members may be getting some hand written letters from either of the younger two.  We actually ran out of stamps and I had to ask my son to bail me out.  He did.

Stocked with stamps again, who knows who they will write next.

Oh, and to share something interesting about this letter writing, one of them had to look on the internet on how to address the envelope.  One also didn't know where to place the stamp.  Even though they both write thank you notes, they lost their memory on all of this.  One said to me, "well they don't teach you this in school."  It looks like they will be getting more practice with their penmanship too.

I guess they will be doing some more letter writing, so their technology won't be "dumbing" them down this summer.  

As for an update on my doctor appointment.  I have a sinus infection and my right inner ear is very swollen.  Hence, why I have not been able to hear very well.  If you've ever had a sinus infection, you know how tired it makes you feel.  Thankfully it is continuing to rain, so I can rest up more, before returning to weed the garden.  Honestly, it doesn't feel like "rest."  It feels more like forced, uncontrollable sleeping.

I have not done anything in my garden besides pick peas, strawberries and squash. Oh, and I picked some more broccoli.

I think tonight will be a good time to sit on my bum, knit, and give cooking instructions to my 14 year-old.  She's been wanting to learn to cook one of her favorite dinners.

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas ~ Jalapeno Pepper Dip

I was searching the internet one day, and found this recipe at

From the Homesteading Journal. . .

 . . . found this cute goat planter at a local store.  We got it for a fraction of the cost Menard's was selling them for (small ding in the bottom, so they marked it down for us).

28 Miles for Dinner

 
Do you want to hear about our terrible, miserable, very bad, rotten day yesterday?  Well, it wasn't really that bad, but if it went wrong it did.  By the way, my daughter gave me her permission to post the photo.  

I didn't have to bake the cake this time, as my 19 year-old was using my kitchen to bake and frost over 100 cupcakes for her boyfriend's graduation party.

First, I woke up miserable from my allergies, and possibly a sinus infection.  I was tired, congested, and cranky.  Not a day to ask me to do anything.

It was my 2nd youngest daughter's birthday.  We had her gifts out, and she was up and running, full speed ahead to get them open.  We didn't even get photos taken (of her opening gifts), she was that quick, and I was half awake.  So far so good.

Then, I had to pay the bills.  On Sunday.  Hubby had me running all over hilter skilter the day prior.  The family knows that when I pay bills to scatter.  Leave the room and be quiet. 

When that was finally over, Hubby agreed to take 3 of the girls swimming, at a pool that was completely re-done, and not even open for a week now.  He took them, the grocery list, the list for the last of the birthday dinner items, all of my empty water jugs, and left.

On the way there, he made a special stop to buy one of the girls goggles.  When the got to the pool, they found that the water slide was closed indefinitely.  Someone had gotten hurt on it already, and they closed it.  The kids were bummed.  Hubby dropped them off and ran an to TSC for a new mower belt, and was to return to swim with them too.  

While he was gone, the girls got in the water with their goggles on.  All the sudden the life guard was blowing her whistle at them, "You can't wear those kind of goggles in this pool!" she screamed at them.  Seriously?  No slide, no goggles.

Hubby never returned to pick the girls up.  He called me and asked for my son to pick them up.  His starter went out on his truck.  The girls were brought home, but birthday girl was distraught, grumpy, severely sun burned, and mad.  "How are we going to get my Mexican dinner and ice cream?" she cried.

I called back to check on Hubby's progress.  The starter was in, and they were about to start it.  He said, "take orders" and call him back.  He'd pick up the take out, get the items on the list, and head home.

I spent a half hour getting orders from the kids, and called back.  "Not good," he said.  "The truck won't start."

So, I went back to the computer, pulled up the menu for another Mexican restaurant, located in another direction, and where I could stop at one store and get the much needed dog food and water that Hubby was supposed to get.  I also sent my son in another direction to go pick up the birthday girl's ice cream.  That was done.

We finally got all the orders, when we realize that we don't have a phone number to the restaurant.  I had used a sister restaurant's menu, and the one I needed had just opened.  Hubby and I had been there, so thankfully I had a business card in the car.  I called in orders, and headed out.

First stop was the store to get dog food and water.  The dogs had no food whatsoever, and we only had well water to drink - blech.  Remember that Hubby had the list and had planned to get everything for me.  I run in with two of the girls, get dog food, and 4 gallons of water.  As we put the water into the car, I see water leaking out of one jug.  Birthday girl went back in to exchange it.  She wasn't happy.

Finally, we get the dinner picked up and everyone is happy.  We drive the 7 miles back home.  We open it all, and see that two meals are not even in the bags - mine and my 16 year-old's, and one meal is not even anything we ordered.  "Why didn't you check it there?"  That question was not the right one to ask me. 

I call the restaurant, tell them the situation, and we drive back to get it.  I call Hubby and tell him, his meal is on the table, and that we are heading back to get the restaurant, again.  He tells me "I go the truck running."  It was an eye-rolling moment.

This time we check the containers to make sure it is the right food.  They didn't charge us. We eat, light candles, sing, and eat cake and ice cream.

I spent the last part of the night putting apple cider vinegar on birthday girl's sunburn.  Hubby tells me "thanks hun, for bailing me out."

The synopsis of the new pool? Nothing to get excited about, and not worth the $5.50/p.p. they paid to get in.  Future swimming will be at another pool with 2 slides, where they only charge $2.00/p.p. to get in, and where they can all wear their goggles.

I am sure that birthday girl won't forget this birthday for a long time.  She's still mad that Daddy's truck broke down in her time of celebration.  She's a kid.

If He Had Said...

If Hubby had said to me, "let's not grow a garden this year" I would have said "okay."  Then I would have secretly done the "hallelujah" dance when he wasn't looking.  Honestly, I think he feels the same way this year.

Seriously.  Look what's next - wild black raspberries.  I decided to skip making mulberry jam.  The birds are too quick for me, and the pie pans in the tree are not working in my  favor.

I admit it.  I have garden burn-out syndrome this year.  And it has just begun.  I think it's the 95° heat index, and the humidity. 

Mom sent me an e-mail sharing her "Snapdragon" days.  It starts out with a nice photo of snapdragons in a garden.  Then it gets funny, with a turtle looking haggard.  I laughed my bum off. It said, "Part of me has snapped, and part of me is draggin." Ha ha ha ha!

We're allowed to feel that way.  Or should I be saying "shame on me?"

It's going to be another "scorcher" today.  I think I'll stay indoors and torture myself by paying bills versus the heat outside.