So What Do You Do On Vacation?

Today we worked on the deer hide again. This is the third day in a row. We have to get it done so we can write up our activities before the end of the year. This is a 4-H project for #2 and his buddy. They started it with a hide last spring, and then we had to wait for cold weather again. This time we are leaving the hair on the hide. Today we finished cleaning off the meat, applied the brain, and then salted it down.

We took Harry, the baby goat, to a Cloverbud club meeting. The kids are inner-city and hadn't touched a goat before. Harry was very angry at being removed from his mother and kept butting us while he was in the recycling bin. Maybe he was concerned about being recycled.

We did take time to celebrate the end of school last week. We took the grandparents and boys to Red Lobster. Yum!

This is the tree that split a couple of weeks ago. We are once again having rain and are expecting high winds tonight. I have a head cold, Hubby is getting one, and #2 is having stomach pains. The medication has some side effects like that. Hope he recovers soon.

Poison and Turkey

We had a nice Thanksgiving. Friends invited us over for dinner at 6, so we had the day to ourselves. Hubby was proud to see his highschool band was in the Macy's parade this year. I woke up feeling like I was catching something, so I was happy that I didn't need to feel guilty about not cooking. I made two blackberry pies, pumpkin pie, and sweet potatoes. We went to the market Wednesday evening to get the sweet potatoes, and while we were there #2 told us that his eye was burning pretty badly. I couldn't see anything the matter, and we forgot about it. Friday morning he woke up with his face swollen and covered in poison ivy. I tried to take care of it with Benedryl, but it wasn't cutting it. I asked a doctor to call in a prescription for us, and he is starting to look a little more normal now that he is on Prednisone. Unfortunately, my achiness didn't go away. I now have a bad head cold and would like to tear my head off my body. Hubby started feeling a sore throat this afternoon. I am not a selfish person. #2 has started working on a deer hide again. He tried tanning a hide last spring, but it didn't go well. This time we are trying with the hair left on the hide. He and his buddy have gotten it nailed into a board and started pulling off the meat and fat. I will help them finish that tomorrow and then get it salted down. Can I put that on a resume? #2 told us the other day that we need to get one of the free phones they were advertising on the tv. I asked him whom he would call. No one. In parental sly fashion, I then asked #1 whom he would call. (We were thinking about getting him a track phone when he turns 13; a sort of "coming of age" gift.) He named about 5 girls he would call and talk to... No BOYS! Yeah, I don't think he will be getting a phone for a long time.

Educational Reform

Who knew the history of American educational reform could be interesting? Of course the level of interest depends on the capability of the author. I spent Monday trying to get through a very dry book. No amount of milk could wash that cookie down! Yesterday, though, I read a great book. I am planning to finish it today and get started on some more. Reading through the history and putting it next to my experience with home schooling has given me some ideas. Hope it turns out well; I need that scholarship!

Let The Holidays Begin!

The in-laws were down for a few days to visit. I went to a conference at the university the evening they arrived, so my time with them was a little shorter than the guys' time. Friday we finished school for the year!!!!! We were so excited that we went to Red Lobster for lunch to celebrate. Hubby and I tried to go to see "Blind-side", but it was nearly sold out. Since we didn't want to sit in the front four rows, we went Christmas shopping instead. That way we could send stuff back with Hubby's parents and not have to try and hide it on our trip up next month. So, great news!>>> I am nearly done with Christmas shopping! Yeah, Baby!! We did manage to see Blind-side the next day, and it is a very well done movie. The message is great, acting great, just all around super. I even think I would let my boys go to see it. Then after church Sunday, the in-laws left. It was a quick visit, but very enjoyable. So today is the first day out of school. I told the boys I have to work on some of my school projects this week, so my only requirements of them would be to keep the house clean and enjoy themselves. #1 wanted to know why the house had to stay clean. Such a guy question. I told him I can't think when the house is messy, and I need to be able to think this week. He seemed to accept that. #2 wanted to know if he could stay in bed until his breath tasted so bad he couldn't stand it. I told him sure. He got up a little after 10 this morning. #1 was even later than that. I can honestly say, the breath was pretty dangerous. I have not actually spent a lot of time on my school projects. I think I needed to have part of a day to myself. I even took a morning nap! But now I am at work trying to get things settled for next semester. I am signed up for a class at NCSU to be taken on-line. I don't really know how that works, but I think I get to choose my day and time this way. At least I won't have to drive to Raleigh in the winter weather. Now I start to PAY for the education though, ugh. While M-I-L was here, she kept trying to get me to put up the Christmas tree. She thinks it is relaxing to sit and look at the tree. She's right; it is. But I much prefer sitting and relaxing in front of someone else's tree. I doubt one will get put up at our house this year. No I am not a Scrooge, I am a practical merry-maker. Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Art?

After my parents left, we headed to Durham to Duke University to visit an exhibit on Picasso in Africa. We went with our geography club since we had studied Africa this fall. I have to say, "I just don't get Picasso." We had a nice tour, and the guide was helpful with historical information, but really? At one point she said there was a newspaper in the picture. I thought the "newspaper" was a skyscraper. Why would anyone pay that much money for a painting that you are unsure of its contents? I did see some "normal" artwork of Picasso's, so I know he did have some artistic talent. Perhaps that is why people gave him the benefit of the doubt, but he still wouldn't have gotten any of my money. My own boys have been attending art classes at the local university. They have been there for several years, and this year they moved up to the older grades' class. They aren't as happy about it as they used to be. I think this class is demanding more technique than creativity. One evening #2 was downright angry. "That teacher took my paper and drew on it! Now it isn't even my picture anymore!!" I tried to explain what the teacher was most likely trying to do, but he would have none of it. I suppose that is what Picasso felt like.

What Month Is It?

In Eastern Carolina you may not know what season it is. Some days are warm, others cool. Rain and sun are mixed throughout. The leaves change colors, but not all at once. You can't even rely on the bathtub to tell you the season. Looking at this tub, one might assume that it is summer, but no, someone is capable of getting this dirty even when it is nearing winter. I went to get in the shower last week, and saw all of this grime. I, of course, didn't have my glasses on, and thought, "Why did Hubby leave all of those beard trimmings in the tub?" Once my glasses were on, I realized that #2 had used my tub the night before and this was DIRT! #2 had to get two shots yesterday. I have been taking the boys to the health department to get their shots for free. I don't get in a hurry to immunize since I had a bad experience as a nanny for a child who ended up very disabled from vaccines. But a friend told me that shots are not going to be free after Dec. 1, so I booked it over to get what I think was safe for us so far. My boy was very brave, though he was apprehensive. He had watched his older brother get a shot a couple of months ago, and I think he was trying to be braver than his brother; a sort of Manly Challenge. Anyway, he performed superbly and is still in bed this morning. I think I will let him rest as much as possible...seeing as his body was just filled with 4 diseases and probably exposed to many more just by being at the Health Dept.

Lifting the Fog

Fog moves on little cat feet according to Carl Sandburg; it does have a quiet quality. I had hoped to watch the Leonid meteor shower last night, but when we woke at 4:30 the fog had silently enshrouded our little part of the world.

There were no stars to be seen. We couldn't know that there was a fabulous light show above our heads. All was dank, dark, and dreadful.

I have several friends right now going through dank, dark, dreadful times. They are enshrouded in a fog that has enclosed them in its grasp. They can not see the lights that shine outside of this dark cocoon.

But inside the fog, beautiful things are happening. These also can not be seen just now. Though the light show will be over when the fog lifts, they will see the beauty that was being developed during their times of darkness.

In all things, God works for good. Even when you can't see it.

Work

While my parents were here, I took advantage of my father's butchering expertise. 5 chickens down and 12 quarts canned chicken!! I can't eat regular chicken, so this means I can have chicken at least once a month for the next year. I am asking for an incubator for Christmas, so maybe I will get to eat it more often then. I also canned more salsa for #2. His tomatoes did really well this year. We picked the last of them while Mom and Dad were here. We got 9 half pints of salsa and 4 quarts of spicy tomatoe sauce.

Our mimosa tree died this year, so I asked Dad to bring down his chainsaw. He cut it up, and everyone pulled it down at the end. You can see #2 yelling at me to move as I took the picture. It certainly did come down close to me. The boys were excited to pull the large pieces with the lawn mower. We should have lots of wood for the camp fires this year.

Mom and Dad left Tuesday morning just before all of the rain hit NC. It rained for the next 4 days!! The Bradford Pear tree in the front yard had been splitting, so Dad and Hubby put a chain around it to keep it from splitting more. Alas, it wasn't enough. During one of the storms, the wind and rain proved to be too much. The tree split and fell across the yard. It landed just short of the road, so we were able to wait until the rain stopped to take care of it. A friend is coming today to help chop it up. This is the view from the front porch.

Game Time

We spent the evenings playing games: Apples to Apples, Dominoes, and Monopoly. I remember playing cards at the table when family would come to visit us. We also enjoyed fresh baked cookies, cracking hazelnuts, and eating chips. I don't think the fare was that good when I was a kid; mostly my aunts and uncles smoked.

Play time with the grandparents is always great.

Sunday at the Beach

I had a nice visit with my parents last weekend. They arrived on Friday, and Hubby left. His leaving didn't have anything to do with their arrival; he had a men's retreat already scheduled. Saturday my Dad and I butchered 2 roosters and 3 hens. My lesbian chickens turned out to be late bloomer roosters. The roosters of this breed are supposed to be striped, but these weren't. They looked just like hens. So I guess they were cross-dressers, not lesbians.

On Sunday, I drove my mother down to the shore. This was her yearly beach day. She hadn't made it yet this year. The weather was very nice, and we enjoyed a long walk and visiting.

We had a nice spot under the ramp. There were actually people in the water, but these ladies were NOT!

I wasn't sure how my batteries were holding up, so there weren't many great pictures. It was a really nice day though.

A Special Visit

My parents are coming tomorrow for a few days. They don't visit often, so it is a special treat. I hope to get at least 6 chickens butchered and a tree cut down. Maybe the treat is only mine. Hubby told me today that he has an idea for a Christmas present for me; a website. We are about to be married twenty years, and I don't think twenty years ago that would have sounded even remotely like a present. Of course, the things I guessed that he might be thinking of were a new roof on the shed and a liner for the pond. I guess twenty years can change things. ----------- A teenager has moved into my house. I may ask him to leave before long. Three days and fish, you know. It applies to teenagers, too.

Trick or Treat

We went to our friends' house again this year for trick-or-treating. We always have a wonderful time. The boys this year were a hobo and an orphan from Oliver Twist. I guess the economy was playing a part in the festivities.

One of the 4-H girls plans the food and has a good time preparing for the party. The adults munch all night, but the kids stop and munch in between candy stops.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Trunk or Treat

We had the annual Trunk or Treat at church last Wednesday. Each family decorates their trunk like something, and then the kids from the neighborhood go around to the cars and play games and get candy. This creative family has 3 little girls. They dressed like pigs and got in their little houses. The mother was the Big Bad Wolf. Very cute.

This couple was a cowboy couple. They had Nerf guns to shoot at targets. If you hit the target you could choose a candy.

Hubby and I were scarecrows. I made some birds out of styrofoam and feathers and the kids threw bean bags at the birds. If they hit them, they got candy. I didn't get any pictures though. We were very busy. It seemed to be our busiest Trunk or Treat yet. It was a warm evening and we ran out of hot cider. That is a first!