tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50719733672782957282024-03-13T22:43:05.255-04:00Homeschool GardenerThe Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.comBlogger351125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-5052778344197465962012-11-20T07:19:00.000-05:002012-11-21T08:50:52.974-05:00Don't Homeschool<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You read the title correctly. Don't homeschool. I can no longer advocate that you homeschool...at least in the state of Rhode Island. It's too hard, too stressful, too upsetting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has nothing to do with my kids or the teaching or the fabulous homeschool group I run. Instead, all of those joys have been stepped on by perceived authority and power from school committees. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This will be the first in a series of articles on homeschooling. I hope you repost and repost and repost. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Rhode Island, homeschoolers report at the local level, meaning each district. And we have 32 districts in the small state. Yes, that is correct, 32. Most districts approve us without difficulty, we submit the required standard letter of intent when we begin homeschooling and wait for our approval letter (if we even receive one as some districts don't even send that). Homeschoolers follow the law each year-in some respects it's pretty easy. The elephant in the room however is the State Statutes which are vague to administrators and very clear to homeschoolers. And to a certain extent, the Department of Education in RI leaves it up to the individual districts to create their own "application" for homeschooling. We'll discuss "application" in the next post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A post on the ins and outs of state statutes would have to be a series of posts because of the legalities and the explanation needed. For now, let's focus on the homeschoolers. This year in Rhode Island has been a disaster. I have written at least 18 certified letters to school committees speaking out against unlawful policy. I have attend 6 meetings with school superintendents, I have met with homeschoolers regarding unlawful policy too many times to count and have sent 397 emails (yes, I counted them) about policy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's start with the difficulties and incidents this year. And I name these districts as all of this information is a matter of public knowledge and access. CHARIHO school district denied a RI homeschooler based on her not providing a grade level or age. That is correct- a grade level or age. They also approved her other child without this information so the inconsistencies were vast. When the homeschooler did submit an age for her child, CHARIHO cut off all contact, did not answer emails or phone calls, and mixed up her 2 children's approvals in committee meetings. They gave false information about this family at committee meetings and denied her homeschool request. Very quickly after her denial letter was sent, a truant officer came to her home, no paperwork, no nothing and promptly filed a truancy petition in family court. This family sought legal counsel and the matter was quickly dropped. The family was finally approved at the next committee meeting in executive session with no apologies, no explanation, no nothing. The parents then returned to the public forum and spoke out in front of 200 people on these mis-steps so that their voice would be heard in hopes that other districts would not follow suit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there was West Warwick where over 30 (or so) families applications were held for months on end as administrators sent letter after letter requesting more information. Each time homeschoolers refused and still more letters came. Again, parents met with administrators, spoke out at the school committee meetings, sought legal counsel and eventually all the homeschoolers were approved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Northern district has recently sent a truant officer (twice) to a homeschoolers home after she refused to submit information to them that is not required by law. We are awaiting outcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then there is the current district we are working in. We spent months with officials speaking out against an unlawful policy. Even pointed out Commissioner of Education rulings on areas of their policy that were beyond the scope of the law. We were hopeful when we were invited to rewrite the policy. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then families homeschool approvals were denied and</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> contact was cut off and we received word that they decided not to change to the policy based on our suggestions. Wow. Just wow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Where does that leave us. Hmmm-see the next post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>In the mean time, here are some things for administrators and school committees members to think about.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1) <b>School Committees report to the parents.</b> Not vice versa. Let me say that again, School committees report <b><span style="color: #660000;">TO THE PARENTS</span></b>. You are elected officials. That means it is your obligation to follow the law just like homeschoolers are required to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2)<b> It is your job to communicate with the public</b>. That means you need to answer your emails, return phone calls and send out notices. You need to sit at a table and really hear the concerns in front of you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3) There are 1200 homeschoolers in the state of Rhode Island<b>. If you don't play fair</b>, your district will be noted as such all over the message boards and the media will hear about it. The homeschool network is very strong in RI. What happens in one district is quickly heard throughout the state. There is strength in our numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4) <b>We follow the law, you must too.</b> You cannot extend Statutes to suit your needs. You cannot go against Commissioner of Education rulings. It's illegal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5) <b>Homeschool is not public school</b>. We do not fit in your boxes of attendance and curriculum and learning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6) <b>I choose to homeschool</b> because it is my legal right to do so and because it is the best choice for my children. That does not make us "against" public schooling. It makes us committed to education and to our families. Should that not be supported?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7) <b>Sharing your stories </b>of the homeless, unemployed, illiterate, noncompliant homeschoolers that you know really does us no good. While we hear your concern, f</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or as many stories as you tell us about slacker homeschoolers, I could give you 3 more where public school has failed our children, not ALL children, but <b>OUR</b> children. And some choose to homeschool because it is simply one of the many options available to them. The reasons are as vast as the ocean wide. Know the difference.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Please leave your personal stories at home and <b>focus on what is required by law.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8) <b>Don't think for one milli-second</b> that just because you make a policy that we are obligated to follow it. This is perceived authority and power. Homeschool IS mainstream now. The days of homeschoolers caving in to school committees are long gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9) <b>Don't think for one milli-second</b> that we are simply going to accept your unlawful policy as the final say. Homeschoolers know their rights and we fight you every step of the way to maintain and preserve those rights. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10) <b>Build bridges, not walls</b>. Homeschoolers are not your enemy. Work with us and recognize the commitment that homeschoolers have to their children and to their community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next post: <b>Don't Put Me in a Box.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-32812496996772883972012-06-05T20:44:00.003-04:002012-06-05T20:44:58.238-04:00Repurposed Cabinet<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We desperately needed more storage in our home. I had this old white beat up jelly cabinet in my basement. I love it. My husband hates it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_NGKe7lPPE/T86llmo1f0I/AAAAAAAAKXw/NcLZk9pLFDY/s1600/2012-06-04_13-08-26_732+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_NGKe7lPPE/T86llmo1f0I/AAAAAAAAKXw/NcLZk9pLFDY/s320/2012-06-04_13-08-26_732+-+Copy.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I wanted to do something to spruce it up and since I've been spending so much time on Pinterest, I was inspired to repurpose it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ7NQC97VG0/T86lpFeCEeI/AAAAAAAAKX4/PIZONptnyfk/s1600/2012-06-04_13-16-34_361+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ7NQC97VG0/T86lpFeCEeI/AAAAAAAAKX4/PIZONptnyfk/s320/2012-06-04_13-16-34_361+-+Copy.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I had some lovely fabric with a farm theme. It was easy enough to measure the panels and cut them out.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gI27UKDu0qM/T86lsqPrTYI/AAAAAAAAKYA/p61q26iQqOA/s1600/2012-06-04_13-35-18_882_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gI27UKDu0qM/T86lsqPrTYI/AAAAAAAAKYA/p61q26iQqOA/s320/2012-06-04_13-35-18_882_edited-1.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A hefty dose of Mod-Podge was all it took to stick the fabric to the panels. I wasn't so much worried about the edges since they would be covered up with trim.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y4IPRjJBvM/T86lwST9m5I/AAAAAAAAKYI/xYTH0FCNIx0/s1600/2012-06-04_13-50-43_808_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y4IPRjJBvM/T86lwST9m5I/AAAAAAAAKYI/xYTH0FCNIx0/s320/2012-06-04_13-50-43_808_edited-1.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The panels went up very quickly. Note to self: Always check the direction of the pattern BEFORE gluing the fabric down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XIO6Uhhq7ug/T86lzfVW8kI/AAAAAAAAKYQ/aEodQ6Qzp2U/s1600/2012-06-04_14-05-56_500_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XIO6Uhhq7ug/T86lzfVW8kI/AAAAAAAAKYQ/aEodQ6Qzp2U/s320/2012-06-04_14-05-56_500_edited-1.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Before I knew it, all four panels were up and the cabinet was looking quite good.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3y9geqxzKA/T86l3uP5qII/AAAAAAAAKYY/HudXWBRIQ3c/s1600/2012-06-04_18-41-21_952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3y9geqxzKA/T86l3uP5qII/AAAAAAAAKYY/HudXWBRIQ3c/s320/2012-06-04_18-41-21_952.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I trimmed out each panel with some antique black ribbon and my trusty hot glue gun.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNte9fjBJBw/T86l7XfAGmI/AAAAAAAAKYg/wgc4fXWiRv4/s1600/2012-06-04_18-41-03_335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNte9fjBJBw/T86l7XfAGmI/AAAAAAAAKYg/wgc4fXWiRv4/s320/2012-06-04_18-41-03_335.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Voila! A new old cabinet that looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself. I just need to get some new knobs to finish it and have a beautiful tassel to hang from it. The whole project took me about an hour and a half. And guess what? My husband likes it!</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-18154983713778442202012-01-12T12:14:00.000-05:002012-01-12T12:14:09.090-05:00Things I Miss<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In being sick for such a long time there are some things I discovered. I miss things. Not physical things but life things. Here are the things I'm missing after 3 years of dealing with Lyme and co-infections.</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Making my own decisions. Oh sure I make hundreds of small decisions a day but in reality I've had much taken away. I had no choice but to give up my nursing career of almost 20 years. I miss the adrenaline rush and I miss helping people. Decisions should be mine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">I've had no real choice in my treatment plan. Even now, my LLMD tells me what she thinks is best, I may get a choice on which path but reality is if I don't do this, this disease might kill me. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">What I feel I can and can't do on any given day. Somedays I feel well enough to venture to a store. Other days, putting on socks exhausts me. I don't get to decide that. My body does. I'm merely there to cooperate with it or suffer the consequences of poor self care.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keeping a facade. Lyme patients have to have a facade. In a sense it keeps me sane because for a few moments I get to be normal and like everyone else. People look at me and say, "You don't look sick." Sometimes I am grateful for that. If I sit and think about the magnitude of this disease and what it's done to my family, life and relationships I can get very depressed. But my kids and husband need me and if I spend every waking moment crying I'm not much use to them. They do see me cry and struggle and see me at my most raw moments. But there is still life to live. My facade is holding up just fine thank you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss thinking. Lyme fog is awful. Cognition is non existent at times. I live my life by sticky notes and wonder some days if my thoughts will make it from my brain, down my arms and onto the keyboard or paper. If it does-will it make sense? What did I forget today? I'm still volunteering at church and in the homeschool community (by computer mostly) because it keeps my brain active and people still value my opinions (I hope). It makes me feel like I'm still contributing in some way and that my brain still has a few active cells left.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Playing. I miss playing ball and running (any physical activity really) with my kids and being able to go see their activities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Traveling. Anywhere.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Being spontaneous. Not that I was every really spontaneous. Those that know me know I am the well planned out girl. But sometimes it would be nice to just get in the car and go without having to worry about when the next dose of medication is due or to take the kids out for icecream instead of knowing that the trip will be too much for me. With being spontaneous comes planning ahead. I can't do that either because I never know how I will feel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss my hobbies. Gardening especially. Digging in the dirt is very cathartic and meditative for me. Growing the food is providing something for my family. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss being trusted. Trusted to know that I was/am ill, trusted by my doctors, trusted by family and friends to know that I am making the right decisions for me at this very moment. </span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Arial;">At this moment, it's all I can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bev</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-1559458977253741352012-01-01T11:55:00.000-05:002012-01-01T11:55:45.965-05:00Lyme Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrBCZzrIExI/TwCLuxz85xI/AAAAAAAAKXo/_ZsqTdw8gzE/s1600/Iv+care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrBCZzrIExI/TwCLuxz85xI/AAAAAAAAKXo/_ZsqTdw8gzE/s320/Iv+care.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I would post this photo of my what my Friday morning routine looks like when the IV nurse comes to draw blood and change my PICC line dressing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm holding my own for now. I saw the Lyme specialist on Friday. We (she) is doubling my dose of IV Doxycycline and adding in 2 more oral antibiotics. Since I had such a bad Herx reaction a year ago on IV Rocephin she is taking it slow. We did a few months of oral antibiotics, eased into the IV and now we pull out the big guns. I learned my brain lesions were in my frontal lobe. Well that explains a lot. She told me to prepare for some days of suckiness. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A few things have improved. My pain level is a bit better, I'm walking a bit better and I don't get chest pain and palpitations 24 hours a day now. I haven't had a Bartonella/Lyme rash in over 2 weeks. Small blessings but at least I know the meds are starting to work. And my kidneys and liver are so far holding their own and not protesting too much from all the meds so I guess that's good too. How frustrating though that it's been 5 months of various treatments and the meds are JUST starting </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to work. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Things that have worsened are my headaches and I'm having tremendous difficulty with processing, word finding difficulty and following conversation. I forget words and transpose letters in typing. Yesterday I could not make a coherent sentence. It was kind of frightening in a "I'm having a stroke" sort of way. My typing skills have also deteriorated. Blog posting is painful and tiring. My vision has also significantly worsened, much worse after my IV dosing. My brain feels swollen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> It perhaps is. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm tired.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> It's a tired I can't explain to people other than to say, "Run a marathon...then do it again as soon as you finish." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My family is feeling the stress of doing what I cannot. Laundry, chores, running errands, my crankiness and mood swings. It's a life change for all of us. I'm grateful for them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2012 has arrived. I am fighting this. I have to. It's taken up too much of my time and my life. I will endure what ever suckiness it feeds to me. I am stronger than this. I will be stronger than this.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bev</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-76410886550116556532012-01-01T11:22:00.000-05:002012-01-01T11:22:57.793-05:00Brussels Sprouts delux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my favorite recipe for Brussels Sprouts. Even if you hate sprouts you will love this recipe. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ingredients: </span></div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1 large stalk of Brussels Sprouts or a frozen bag will do.</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 pound of bacon </span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Salt and pepper</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chopped garlic</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1/4 head of shredded red cabbage</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2 lemons</span></div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1bavgn9blA/TwCDa457TvI/AAAAAAAAKV8/9jlKSQtT2-A/s1600/2011-12-24_08-25-49_895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1bavgn9blA/TwCDa457TvI/AAAAAAAAKV8/9jlKSQtT2-A/s320/2011-12-24_08-25-49_895.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Christmas I found these great Brussels still on the stalk.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HECdLu-7TB0/TwCDdpuXGoI/AAAAAAAAKWE/1q4dptwk4po/s1600/2011-12-24_08-28-44_927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HECdLu-7TB0/TwCDdpuXGoI/AAAAAAAAKWE/1q4dptwk4po/s320/2011-12-24_08-28-44_927.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">To prepare the Sprouts, snap off each head and place in a bowl. Give the rest of the leaves and stalks to the chickens. They need a Christmas treat too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3xPzacBtIM/TwCDfDves5I/AAAAAAAAKWM/JUpeivQKe2k/s1600/2011-12-24_08-28-51_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3xPzacBtIM/TwCDfDves5I/AAAAAAAAKWM/JUpeivQKe2k/s320/2011-12-24_08-28-51_13.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give them a good wash and peel off the outside waxy and damaged leaves.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MMHFOoiRQp8/TwCDf3Qdv1I/AAAAAAAAKWU/B-iUmlqw3J0/s1600/2011-12-24_08-30-21_61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MMHFOoiRQp8/TwCDf3Qdv1I/AAAAAAAAKWU/B-iUmlqw3J0/s320/2011-12-24_08-30-21_61.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Shred the cabbage and cook it with the bacon in a cast iron pan. Seriously, invest in a good cast iron pan because it makes all the difference in the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hX08LLZeyI0/TwCDg6eVC5I/AAAAAAAAKWc/BJsAdD3Tcng/s1600/2011-12-24_08-34-09_841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hX08LLZeyI0/TwCDg6eVC5I/AAAAAAAAKWc/BJsAdD3Tcng/s320/2011-12-24_08-34-09_841.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut off the end core of the Sprouts and discard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFcEWFN5dIs/TwCDh_2u3HI/AAAAAAAAKWk/tG2-m8FtbV0/s1600/2011-12-24_08-53-31_996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFcEWFN5dIs/TwCDh_2u3HI/AAAAAAAAKWk/tG2-m8FtbV0/s320/2011-12-24_08-53-31_996.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the garlic to the pan and continue to cook until the bacon is crispy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMKVw6BsBWQ/TwCDjgurhYI/AAAAAAAAKWs/E_26HxYo-08/s1600/2011-12-24_08-53-38_69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMKVw6BsBWQ/TwCDjgurhYI/AAAAAAAAKWs/E_26HxYo-08/s320/2011-12-24_08-53-38_69.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsBII6DdAE4/TwCDlP6knmI/AAAAAAAAKW0/cVbsa7TrYn8/s1600/2011-12-24_08-53-50_725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsBII6DdAE4/TwCDlP6knmI/AAAAAAAAKW0/cVbsa7TrYn8/s320/2011-12-24_08-53-50_725.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really crispy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I mean I guess if you were vegetarian you could omit the bacon...eh nevermind.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Don't make this if you are vegetarian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1LXwmSZMH4Y/TwCDn93wfGI/AAAAAAAAKW8/L0Xhm8U52TI/s1600/2011-12-24_08-58-44_861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1LXwmSZMH4Y/TwCDn93wfGI/AAAAAAAAKW8/L0Xhm8U52TI/s320/2011-12-24_08-58-44_861.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">Score a cross hatch in the core end of the sprouts. Don't cut all the way through or you sprouts will fall apart. The scoring helps them cook through.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHNZjo4lGBE/TwCDpNO6dDI/AAAAAAAAKXE/TiHYSFoS2a0/s1600/2011-12-24_08-59-42_751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHNZjo4lGBE/TwCDpNO6dDI/AAAAAAAAKXE/TiHYSFoS2a0/s320/2011-12-24_08-59-42_751.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the sprouts to the bacon, cabbage, garlic mixture in the cast iron pan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cook until bright green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sidenote: if your mother used to cook sprouts, broccoli and cabbage until it was gray in color and mushy please note that this is gross and not the correct color.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Green vegetables should still be bright green after cooking. You will need to cook the sprouts for about 10 minutes on the stove top.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgxrbJW9V4g/TwCDqWd0jJI/AAAAAAAAKXM/Kei3APDVvGc/s1600/2011-12-24_09-01-01_642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgxrbJW9V4g/TwCDqWd0jJI/AAAAAAAAKXM/Kei3APDVvGc/s320/2011-12-24_09-01-01_642.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add 1/4 cup of water and a lid. This will help steam the sprouts a bit.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrGO-3oU3zQ/TwCDrtSJqhI/AAAAAAAAKXU/AtdM6Q1LsEY/s1600/2011-12-24_09-06-36_652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrGO-3oU3zQ/TwCDrtSJqhI/AAAAAAAAKXU/AtdM6Q1LsEY/s320/2011-12-24_09-06-36_652.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the whole pan of sprouts in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pull them out and they are all toasty roasty good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I could have let mine roast a bit more but I actually like them a bit harder and greener.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ein8RTRXAlQ/TwCDsytBbvI/AAAAAAAAKXc/orjQKdapFTg/s1600/2011-12-24_09-09-08_113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ein8RTRXAlQ/TwCDsytBbvI/AAAAAAAAKXc/orjQKdapFTg/s320/2011-12-24_09-09-08_113.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you take them out of the oven-give them a squirt of the juice of one whole lemon. They need the lemon to help with a the bit of bitterness in the sprouts. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Give each person a small wedge of lemon to put on their sprouts as well. Hot sprouts absorb the lemon juice that you added and they will need a bit more.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My kids devoured these.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You will too!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bev</span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-68283696701815096922011-12-20T09:41:00.000-05:002011-12-20T09:41:01.292-05:00You Might Have Lyme Disease If:<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a great humourous article on </span><a href="http://infectiousoptimism.blogspot.com/p/chronic-badass-article.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://infectiousoptimism.blogspot.com/p/chronic-badass-article.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About how to be a lyme badass.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few more of my own.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might have Lyme Disease if:</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have been to at least 10 different doctors, have received at least 10 different diagnosis and have been given at least 10 different medications to try at each appointment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When somesome says, "Do you have anything for a headache?" and you produce 50 pill bottles of various items. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You spend more on prescriptions than you do on your food bill.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You accidentally cut your PICC line in half while cuttting off the saran wrap used to cover the PICC line so you could shower and feel human.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You single handedly fix the PICC line, reconnect, change the caps and successfully flush the line and get it working all before your nurse shows up for the day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have ever had your children decorate your IV pole for Christmas.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your family and friends have renamed you Jekyl and Hyde because your emotions are so labile they never know who they are dealing with. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have researched so much about Lyme disease and co-infections that you have to verse your Primary Medical doctor on the current testing methods and how to read a Western Blot test.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your current symptom list is now longer than Santa's Naughty and Nice list.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exhaustion is so profound that you've fallen asleep in the middle of a speech...that you were delivering.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've ever put popsicles in the silverware drawer or orange juice in the bathtub. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pole dancing takes on a whole new meaning for you. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have 500 sticky notes pasted all over your house so you can remember things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You run out of sticky notes because you can't remember to buy them when you are at the store.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When people say "you look great" you want to secretely bash them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your children can recite your medication regime in it's entirety.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are unable to use both hands to type and even if you can, the email appears to have been written by a first grader.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting on socks exhausts you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You've put cat food in your cereal bowl.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You've been barfing for days yet still manage to eat 3 meals a day. </span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bev</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-81284355561478252042011-11-30T20:38:00.000-05:002011-11-30T20:38:56.247-05:00To Thine Own Self Be True<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw the Ophthalmologist in Boston on Monday. I was grateful to find him as he specializes in Lyme Vision problems. Might I add that 6 people in the waiting room also had Lyme. I had to sit through the rantings of the crazy lady next to me who insisted that Lyme doctors and all the patients with Lyme were "a cult." I wanted to whip out my MRI and show her my lesions. Actually I wanted to shove the MRI down her throat but instead I sat there and shook my head and bit my lip. It wouldn't have done any good to talk to this loon bin. Of course then she went on to say that she once had Lyme and took the IV antibiotics but they made her nauseous so she stopped. Nausea? Really? I would take a round of nausea any day over this. Then she went on to say that she was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and not lyme. Uh-huh. Good luck uninformed person-good luck to you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For quite a while I've had bad eye pain, blurred vision and horrible floaters. I haven't been able to drive in several weeks. The Lyme specialist suggested I go to Boston so another day off of work for my husband and a field trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I wasn't happy with the outcome. I feel like every time I go to the Doctors it's more bad news. After two hours of painful drops, dilated pupils, bright lights and flashes socked into my eyes, pressure measurements and photos of the back of my eyeballs...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">His diagnosis was that I have retinal hemorrhages and small vessel disease. All of this is caused by still active brain lesions despite 5 weeks of IV antibiotics. He gave me the pretty pictures with hand written notes to bring back to my doctors. He also warned me that I would need months of antibiotics considering I had 4 tick illnesses. But I knew that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I wonder how much less suffering I would have to go through had my doctors, maybe even one doctor just treated me appropriately with antibiotics or believed me when I didn't improved. I wonder if I would have brain lesions or would have lost my vision or the hundred other physical complaints I have. I wonder if I'll ever be able to run with my kids again or just take a walk with the dog or not be profoundly exhausted when I fold laundry.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To Thine Own Self Be True. I should have listened to that voice deep inside me who knew something was very wrong. I shouldn't have let doctors talk me into a diagnosis that I knew wasn't correct. Lesson learned. To Thy Own Self Be True.</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-92213628978345779422011-11-12T09:18:00.000-05:002011-11-12T09:18:33.057-05:00Lyme Lasagna<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lyme Lasagna. Sounds appetizing doesn't it? My Lyme story gets longer and longer with twists and turns and many layers...like a lasagna. One layer of the story doesn't work without the other. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've finished week 2 of antibiotics and had my check up with the Specialist. I cannot convey the feeling of general crappiness that I feel. The Nurse Practitioner that I see was quite pleased with my Herx symptoms-herxing means the antibiotics are working. I'm glad someone is enjoying them because in all honesty this is a horrifying process and if I didn't have a really strong support system I don't know how I would get through it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm back in my angry phase. I'm wondering how 9 doctors could have decided to <strong>NOT</strong> treat me. Nine doctors-not one or two but nine. I'm wondering how after 28 different medication trials for Fibromyalgia that they didn't stop to think that Lyme could still be the culprit. They made that decision to not treat despite what was in front of them. Does anyone else find that shameful? What ever happened to "first do no harm". Their medical training teaches them to worry about the implications of long term antibiotics as harmful and to only rely on medical science for diagnosis I guess. What ever happened to listening to the patient? And in my case I had 3 positive co-infections documented and the Bartonella is pretty definitive based on symptoms and the classic rash I recently went through. I suppose I'm faking the brain lesions too. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't know what kind of function I'll get back after treatment.The NP already told me I was in a for a long haul. It's hard to be positive in the middle of treatment when you see little or no improvement. I know it's only week 2 so all the other lymies out there are telling me to be patient.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Treatment sucks. I'm tied to my house. You either spend your days hooking up your lines, infusing, playing with syringes, IV flushes, alcohol swabs, dragging an IV pole through your house, figuring out how to shower, managing spells of rage and crying, waiting for medical equipment deliveries, managing the symptoms from the die off, unhooking, more line flushing, waiting for IV nurses and dressing changes, submitting forms to insurance companies, fighting payments (or lack there-of), getting blood drawn, sleeping (or trying to sleep), or just trying to breathe. Put that on top of taking care of kids, home, cooking, everyday life-yeah you get the picture. Treatment is a full time job.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This week I'm dealing with bad headaches and neck pain, and awful chest pain and air hunger. I can't really call it shortness of breath. It's more like when you were a kid and you swam all day and then at the end of the day you tried to take a deep breath but couldn't because your lungs had had enough. It's that feeling that you can't take a deep enough breath. It's Lamaze breathing 24 hours a day. Walking to the end of the hall exhausts me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">My vision is awful with floaters, black veils, photophobia and blurriness. So now I have to see an Ophthalmologist in Boston that specializes in Lyme vision. The NP isn't hopeful that I will get my full vision back considering how long this has been brewing in my central nervous system with no treatment. Thanks so much sucky non-believing doctors. Spend a day in my shoes and see how long you survive or if you think your decision and former beliefs about Lyme were right. Oh and when you change your mind about what Lyme really is, then we'll make you wait 3 years for treatment. How does that sound?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After my initial 30 days of treatment are done, my IV dose of medication will be increased. Double dosing. O' Joy. Yep-herxing through the holidays. The NP let me know that I have to stay on antibiotics until I no longer have active symptoms and then she does pulsed therapy for how ever longer that takes. In the midst of treatment we do some repeat MRI's to see where we are. A very long haul. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am trying to focus on that fact that I now have a NP that listens to me, that is treating me aggressively with antibiotics and who is hopeful for my future instead of the lyme naysayers. What I say to my former doctors-I'm not really sure and haven't decided. I'm not sure saying anything would help change their mind. Probably not butat the very least-they will have heard me.</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-46358323249770080372011-11-05T16:53:00.000-04:002011-11-05T16:53:58.272-04:00One Week Down<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've had my IV antibiotics for a week now. All I can say is wow. My MD warned me it would get worse before it got better. She wasn't kidding. Initially the antibiotics caused awful chest pain (not new to me just worse with the meds) and very bad shortness of breath. I had some weird virbrating muscle thingy going on (think your cell phone on vibrate all the time). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm on day 8 of antibiotics and feeling chained to my house for a couple of reasons. The antibiotics take an hour to come to room temperature and then take an hour (or so) to infuse and I get them twice a day. Depending on my symptoms, I may have to slow it down. So if I can't breathe, it takes longer for the meds to infuse. Not to mention the bouts of chest pain that send me into a total panic which makes it hard to breathe...and well you get the picture. Last night, oh the headache and neck pain! I can't even call it a headache. It knocked me straight into bed at 7:30 pm and left me in tears and the narcotics didn't even help. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was lots of fun (not really) with very bad blurred vision. My computer screen is enlarged to 200%. I'm hoping my vision will clear up as time goes on cause if not I'm screwed. I can't drive right now (be thankful America) and the exhaustion is terrible. The profound exhaustion is beyond words. I nap like an old woman.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with this comes the immense guilt and feeling of being a burden to my family. My husband is doing everything and he has never once complained. He's carting the kids to soccer and friends houses, grocery shopping, running errands, working full time and he hooks up my IV each morning and night. The kids have learned to disconnect me, yes even the 7 year old. And I'm completely irritable and cranky. Don't I sound like a joy?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Don't tell me (or any sick person) to not feel guilty or burdensome. It comes with the territory especially from someone like me who's always done a million different things at once. Yes, I know-slow down, take care of yourself. Please don't tell me that either because I really don't have a choice to do anything but that right now. I need to be responsible for my own decision making and will do what I feel I can handle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm also asking that you not send me your alternative therapies, articles, potions, homeopathic remedies, magnetic bracelets, or suggest high doses of Vitamin C, ginger, tumeric or garlic- because it worked for you. I know you all mean well but it's all I can do to hold myself together at this point and processing one more piece of information isn't what I need to be doing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The last thing a sick person needs to feel is that they are inadequate in their own decision making. I've had enough decision making taken away from me lately and in the past 3 years. Trust me, I've researched Lyme inside, outside and upside down. My Lyme Specialist is on top of it. I'll get through this. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am drinking gallons of water with lemon every day. It's helping to detox. I'm eating high protein foods and staying away from yeasts and sugars that feed Lyme. I'm resting and doing all the things I'm supposed to. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks for asking.</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-80906105737433067592011-10-27T16:22:00.000-04:002011-10-27T16:22:35.682-04:00How Is Your Facade?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long few months. After a recent visit to my Lyme Specialist, she's pretty sure I'm postive for Bartonella as well. The tell tale rash appeared after two months on 3 different antibiotics. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Last month she switched my medication regimen again. Blech. What a tiring mess. I have become the poster child for Lyme Disease. I'd rather be something else. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today I went and had my PICC line placed. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eAR_8Gb3Bk/Tqm7c_vkCII/AAAAAAAAKVw/aY7b5BiQuyM/s1600/PICC+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eAR_8Gb3Bk/Tqm7c_vkCII/AAAAAAAAKVw/aY7b5BiQuyM/s320/PICC+line.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The staff at the RI Vascular Institute were great. It took longer to take my history and prep my arm for the procedure. They gave me my first dose of medication today as well. All in all-it was pretty easy. My arm is sore tonight and I'm tired but that's about it.The IV nurse will be out tomorrow to change the dressing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The medications will be twice a day for a month to start. I have a little PTSD thinking about my last round of IV meds and my 10 day hospital stay. I'm hoping it doesn't turn that way this time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Last Sunday at church I spoke with a woman who had breast cancer. While I don't compare my illness to hers, we share a lot of the same symptoms and frustrations in just trying to get through our day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I said to her, "How's your facade doing?" She started to laugh knowing that outwardly we look fine and even manage to do it all some days. Inwardly-we look and feel like hell. "My Facade is holding up quite well thank you."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For now-life continues. The kids are still happily homeschooling (most days), we are preparing costumes for Halloween and I chug along. </span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-69981263820474831722011-09-03T10:41:00.001-04:002011-09-03T12:49:27.695-04:00The Second Storm<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a week here in Rhode Island. Hurricane Irene hit and knocked power out for a good portion of the State. We had been without power or water since Sunday and had it restored on Wednesday. We were fortunate to be able to shower and do laundry at a friends house. Many others just had power returned today. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hauling water from the pool to flush toilets, boiling water for washing and cooking on the grill all were difficult for me and I relied on my teenager and husband to help. It's sobering for me to admit that-what I can't physically do anymore. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed my leg muscles wasting away this week-lack of exercise and immobility. My arm muscles don't have any tone either-soft where there used to be definition. I feel like half the person I used to be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Day 10 of my second month of antibiotics was going fairly well. The small twitches and low grade fevers, shortness of breath and chest pain have become common place. On some rare days it trades places with brain fogginess, deep pain and skin rashes. Somedays they visit all at once. It's amazing to me what you can get used to.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoItTAtCWPQ/TmI3kg5OJTI/AAAAAAAAKVo/PaGv7OtLGvY/s1600/eye+droop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KoItTAtCWPQ/TmI3kg5OJTI/AAAAAAAAKVo/PaGv7OtLGvY/s320/eye+droop.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is me. I'm posting this horrible picture because well-it's where I am. It's not who I am but...that's me. Left eye drooping with a facial rash. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Last night the second storm hit. Not a weather storm or hurricane but the Herx storm. I don't even know what time it was but I got up last night from my bed and had a need to vomit. Thankfully I didn't but I quickly lost my blood pressure yet somehow made it back to my bed. I was disoriented and woke up Larry. I think I scared him from the look on his face. I can only imagine what I looked like.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I was jerking and shaking violently for hours. Welcome to the Herx storm. No introductions needed-I know you well. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Somewhere in the nonstop twitching, I managed to fall asleep I think from pure physical exhaustion. Morning did not treat me well. My muscles are sore and lead like from the constant motion, I have no strength to walk today. My left arm won't stop moving. My right hand can't grasp. Creating this post has taken 5 hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After the Herx storm-it's detox day. Tons of water with lemon, ginger tea, Vitamin C doses, rest. It is all I can do today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUaFTFqIqLM/TmI5_1Pi9iI/AAAAAAAAKVs/PpFwOJSBb8c/s1600/cocktails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUaFTFqIqLM/TmI5_1Pi9iI/AAAAAAAAKVs/PpFwOJSBb8c/s320/cocktails.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That and my 3 times daily cocktail regimen. Life goes on. Storms present themselves and then blow out sea. Some linger and stay a while.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I will be here a while I think. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-33151907256028066472011-08-23T20:11:00.001-04:002011-08-23T20:38:21.911-04:00Life with a Twist of Lyme<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been reluctant to share some recent details of my Lyme disease but tonight I'm so pissed off and I need a spot to write. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Three years ago I was diagnosed with Erlichiosis and Babesiosis which are tick borne illnesses. Despite the routine dosing of Doxycyline and a week of IV meds which had to be stopped because of an allergic reaction: I've had virtually no treatment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've had chronic joint and muscle pain for 3 years, mental fogginess, skin rashes, unexplained fevers and a host of other weird and fleeting symptoms. I have seen 9 doctors, have tried 29 different medications, have had countless bloodwork, MRI's, Lumbar punctures and neuropsych testing. I've had every diagnosis under the sun. MS, "post lyme syndrome", Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia to name a few.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Instead of my doctors believing I knew my body and what doesn't work well, they all insisted it was something else. I was told I was malingering. Who uses that word by the way? I was told I was fixated on Lyme by a Neurologist that I worked with for 20 years in Rhode Island-oh let's call him Dr. G. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I was told I had anxiety and depression. Bite me doctors. Just just bite me. I'd like to use another 4 letter word but children read this blog. You should all be ashamed of yourselves and have your licenses revoked. First do no harm? I guess that only pertains to the diseases you actually believe in. And even with positive lab results to prove my illness-they didn't believe. Bite me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just before our family vacation in June, I could barely walk. I was having trouble breathing, I had chest pain and a rash around my eye. My right knee swelled up like...well... a tick. I saw my Rheumatologist who ran another lyme test. I left my cell phone number with the MD to call with any test results but decide to go on the vacation anyway.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All through vacation I felt horrible and came home to 4 phone calls from my Primary and Rheumatologist (did you forget my cell number?). I was now positive for Lyme disease as well and they were restarting the Doxycycline. I had had enough. 3 tick borne illnesses. 3.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've missed out on my kids soccer games, family time, and events. I can't do grocery shopping and I walk with a cane because of pain and muscle weakness. My vision is blurred sometimes and my limbs go numb making driving difficult. This past Sunday we went to the county fair. It required a lot of walking and in anticipation of this-I borrowed the wheelchair from church. A wheelchair. I'm 42 years old. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> In the past month, I had a repeat MRI, and all of my lyme testing repeated as well as some immune function studies. This past month I have spent my days checking off symptom lists and 2 pages of medication lists. I've taken 3 different antibiotics to fight off this parasite and a total of 26 pills a day. The antibiotics caused chest pain, palpitations, severe joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing and a host of other things. Rather I should say the lyme and co-infections dying off caused this. Does it matter?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today I saw my Lyme specialist who gave me my test results. My MRI is now showing lesions on my brain that weren't there a year ago. I have brain lesions. Lyme parasitic things in my brain. It's in my central nervous system.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> My CD57 count is low. This is an indicator that my immune system is shot and willl indicate my chances of relapse. I was told I will relapse and how much of an improvement we'll get on the meds we just don't know. She told me to anticipate years of treatment. She also told me that I have acquired another co-infection that will require an additional anti-viral medication. My B12 level is dangerously low so we doubled the dose and she mentioned that with some of the symptoms I am having that I was more than likely positive for Bartonella (another tick borne illness that the lab forget to check )as well. All from one stinking tick bite.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So where I stand now is this. The plan is to take another month of oral antibiotics in hopes of killing off more lyme (and the other buggers) to help minimize my herx reaction while on IV antibiotics, begin the antiviral medication and increase my B12. In another month I start my IV antibiotics after I have my PICC line placed. In 6 months we repeat the MRI of my brain to check on the lesions. I'm exhausted. I want my damn life back. The life where I could run with my kids, form a coherent sentence, not be on government disability and oh I don't know-pain free maybe. All because no one believed me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The lyme specialist I see is a Nurse Practitioner who opened her own lyme practice after going undiagnosed with lyme for years. My insurance doesn't cover her and the expense has been over $1000 just in this month. I don't know how we're going to continue to pay for this.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In Rhode Island there are no Lyme Literate doctors available anywhere. Most have a year waiting list or more. I now have 12 friends diagnosed with Lyme all who have had inadequate treatment because doctors refuse to believe us and refuse to believe the dynamics of this disease. Bite us doctors, just bite us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I write all of this hoping those affected by lyme or who may think they have lyme, continue to pursue treatment. I haven't lost hope-perhaps a bit discouraged and yes, I'm so angry right now. My advice:</span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Listen to your body and your heart.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you've had Lyme or any other co-infection, get treated and you still have symptoms-guess what? You need more treatment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Don't let a doctor convince you that you have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue syndrome or a psychiatric disorder after lyme.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pursue treatment until someone listens.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read everything, gain knowledge on the testing, the results and how they relate to your symptoms.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Screw the CDC and their atrocious Lyme guideline treatment protocol.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keep a symptoms list every single day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Get a support system in place. Your gonna need it. Emotionally, physically and psychologically.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial;">None of this is meant as medical advice. I hope it reaches one person, one doctor or health care professional. I hope they soon listen to the many of us affected by this disease. And if not....they can bite me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bev</span>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-64872451071080437062011-08-21T17:00:00.000-04:002011-08-21T17:00:17.263-04:00The County Fair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year we attend our local county fair. It's something the whole family looks forward to and we always learn something new. Homeschooling happens everywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UgoTpQAyXk/TlFpQ4XGUjI/AAAAAAAAKTs/D2CxVz3cbR4/s1600/2011-08-21_12-53-56_652_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UgoTpQAyXk/TlFpQ4XGUjI/AAAAAAAAKTs/D2CxVz3cbR4/s320/2011-08-21_12-53-56_652_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCw9U42Ppro/TlFpTYqtGGI/AAAAAAAAKTw/HUCPoa0qr_o/s1600/2011-08-21_12-26-01_303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCw9U42Ppro/TlFpTYqtGGI/AAAAAAAAKTw/HUCPoa0qr_o/s320/2011-08-21_12-26-01_303.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Larry bought a bunch of tickets for the kids to go on rides.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why are tickets so expensive?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WotE010GwNg/TlFpWBaGCbI/AAAAAAAAKT0/kp9Q62PTokU/s1600/2011-08-21_12-26-06_288_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WotE010GwNg/TlFpWBaGCbI/AAAAAAAAKT0/kp9Q62PTokU/s320/2011-08-21_12-26-06_288_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See? You can tell from his face how thrilled he is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJpaJx2KYBM/TlFpYxIVDJI/AAAAAAAAKT4/-pxAj3cpNFk/s1600/2011-08-21_12-27-00_655_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJpaJx2KYBM/TlFpYxIVDJI/AAAAAAAAKT4/-pxAj3cpNFk/s320/2011-08-21_12-27-00_655_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patrick went on the Round Up. While he was on the ride getting his brains spun, we ran into some friends from church.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qndyhPZcWtg/TlFpazynyTI/AAAAAAAAKT8/LdqL-lS86HU/s1600/2011-08-21_12-28-19_804_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qndyhPZcWtg/TlFpazynyTI/AAAAAAAAKT8/LdqL-lS86HU/s320/2011-08-21_12-28-19_804_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prizes are always so tempting to the kids. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxii4DXua3k/TlFpdm6gl7I/AAAAAAAAKUA/ismD4Rr7wUY/s1600/2011-08-21_12-41-12_732_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxii4DXua3k/TlFpdm6gl7I/AAAAAAAAKUA/ismD4Rr7wUY/s320/2011-08-21_12-41-12_732_edited-1.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sure sign that the kids are growing up is that they want to ride the adult rides. The dinosaur spinning thing just isn't doing it for my kids anymore. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG_kK-V_vKg/TlFphROQwtI/AAAAAAAAKUE/pG1kVeE1RdQ/s1600/2011-08-21_12-44-41_812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG_kK-V_vKg/TlFphROQwtI/AAAAAAAAKUE/pG1kVeE1RdQ/s320/2011-08-21_12-44-41_812.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Larry rode the roller coaster with them. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnCCMyyIIc/TlFpjaTwHoI/AAAAAAAAKUI/XDLaRbbivMs/s1600/2011-08-21_12-44-47_961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnCCMyyIIc/TlFpjaTwHoI/AAAAAAAAKUI/XDLaRbbivMs/s320/2011-08-21_12-44-47_961.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because nothing thrills kids more than getting whipped around at 40 miles an hour and watching your cart plunge to the ground only to be lifted again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5tsj1laQeI/TlFpltLCfYI/AAAAAAAAKUM/rLDHMG2SmqA/s1600/2011-08-21_12-45-10_688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5tsj1laQeI/TlFpltLCfYI/AAAAAAAAKUM/rLDHMG2SmqA/s320/2011-08-21_12-45-10_688.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard to catch clear pictures of the carts racing by. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj2ayQzjAYg/TlFpntlmHQI/AAAAAAAAKUQ/33USJ18ej7E/s1600/2011-08-21_12-50-05_140_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj2ayQzjAYg/TlFpntlmHQI/AAAAAAAAKUQ/33USJ18ej7E/s320/2011-08-21_12-50-05_140_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it's a county fair so what more would you expect</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> than a kiddie pool filled with corn kernels?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ea-xhEFNVA/TlFprk2qTKI/AAAAAAAAKUU/sm5IOUJuVgc/s1600/2011-08-21_12-51-01_277_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ea-xhEFNVA/TlFprk2qTKI/AAAAAAAAKUU/sm5IOUJuVgc/s320/2011-08-21_12-51-01_277_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These grist mill stones would look great in my yard. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anybody have any they want to donate to me?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxLGMiduboY/TlFptIGpnGI/AAAAAAAAKUY/9BDzncSTNb0/s1600/2011-08-21_12-51-52_498_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxLGMiduboY/TlFptIGpnGI/AAAAAAAAKUY/9BDzncSTNb0/s320/2011-08-21_12-51-52_498_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan thought the baby cradle sled was awesome.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">All I could think of was the episode of Little House on the Prairie where baby Grace is bundled up and Pa is pulling her in one of these contraptions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I think he was hunting for turkeys or something.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Did I mention that I love Little House on the Prairie?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_CnwXjcdF8/TlFpzKsbSJI/AAAAAAAAKUc/uBcnvexQ_KA/s1600/2011-08-21_12-52-50_879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_CnwXjcdF8/TlFpzKsbSJI/AAAAAAAAKUc/uBcnvexQ_KA/s320/2011-08-21_12-52-50_879.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The old iceboxes were so fund to look at although I can't imagine hauling the ice would be that fun. I'm kinda fond of the icemaker in my refrigerator.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-bQWDgSpqY/TlFp2AtPgFI/AAAAAAAAKUg/WNPjU9yE-VY/s1600/2011-08-21_12-54-14_696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-bQWDgSpqY/TlFp2AtPgFI/AAAAAAAAKUg/WNPjU9yE-VY/s320/2011-08-21_12-54-14_696.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the Spinner's Club sat and spun fibers from some of the sheep at the fair.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HU4N7iiQNrI/TlFp4PaGUhI/AAAAAAAAKUk/-EvtfCQz7cI/s1600/2011-08-21_12-55-14_710_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HU4N7iiQNrI/TlFp4PaGUhI/AAAAAAAAKUk/-EvtfCQz7cI/s320/2011-08-21_12-55-14_710_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daniel Boone made an appearance too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W73ajAt5mJs/TlFp6faQWRI/AAAAAAAAKUo/MAwow4loR_c/s1600/2011-08-21_12-55-39_734_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W73ajAt5mJs/TlFp6faQWRI/AAAAAAAAKUo/MAwow4loR_c/s320/2011-08-21_12-55-39_734_edited-1.jpg" width="313px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan was quite annoyed that I asked her to pose in a dress.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yes, her face is sideways. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rt2vjDlWD-0/TlFp9jXcOiI/AAAAAAAAKUs/z5TrDV_-QfU/s1600/2011-08-21_12-58-12_564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rt2vjDlWD-0/TlFp9jXcOiI/AAAAAAAAKUs/z5TrDV_-QfU/s320/2011-08-21_12-58-12_564.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The food court is always popular. Corn Dogs, Kielbasa, chowder,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> clamcakes, doughboys, oh my!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7HoCMYyfZU/TlFp_WOZ59I/AAAAAAAAKUw/HrzFpQR7z6k/s1600/2011-08-21_13-09-08_11_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7HoCMYyfZU/TlFp_WOZ59I/AAAAAAAAKUw/HrzFpQR7z6k/s320/2011-08-21_13-09-08_11_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The onion blossom was really good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6X1PSIj1xc/TlFqBhdPdvI/AAAAAAAAKU0/OwVfzrVxYEU/s1600/2011-08-21_13-31-52_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6X1PSIj1xc/TlFqBhdPdvI/AAAAAAAAKU0/OwVfzrVxYEU/s320/2011-08-21_13-31-52_15.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The animal barns are my favorite.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> These goats were so cute.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYCNOHCJHg8/TlFqDk8k9oI/AAAAAAAAKU4/3fs8csdaDsQ/s1600/2011-08-21_13-35-04_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYCNOHCJHg8/TlFqDk8k9oI/AAAAAAAAKU4/3fs8csdaDsQ/s320/2011-08-21_13-35-04_850.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People name their animals funny names.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Shrek and Fiona were the names of two goats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lfCRearMLB8/TlFqHeofcMI/AAAAAAAAKU8/hVoidww32MA/s1600/2011-08-21_13-36-26_851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lfCRearMLB8/TlFqHeofcMI/AAAAAAAAKU8/hVoidww32MA/s320/2011-08-21_13-36-26_851.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These were Jakob sheeps that originated from Syria.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They had 4 horns instead of 2.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrzLOo5DM7o/TlFqKiFx5jI/AAAAAAAAKVA/yiBBYOaZjiI/s1600/2011-08-21_13-39-08_655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrzLOo5DM7o/TlFqKiFx5jI/AAAAAAAAKVA/yiBBYOaZjiI/s320/2011-08-21_13-39-08_655.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ginormous pig is there every year with her babies. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This year she had 10 babies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apparently nursing in public didn't bother her....or anyone else.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AV2hWZRziM/TlFqMzyzN9I/AAAAAAAAKVE/vK9_57rn-UM/s1600/2011-08-21_13-40-37_253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AV2hWZRziM/TlFqMzyzN9I/AAAAAAAAKVE/vK9_57rn-UM/s320/2011-08-21_13-40-37_253.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little beauty is named Piper. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We bought raffle tickets to win her.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">How we'd get her home if we really did win, I have no idea. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgevGzfwcgA/TlFqPvu7abI/AAAAAAAAKVI/Jc5sgKZS-Dw/s1600/2011-08-21_14-12-06_72_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgevGzfwcgA/TlFqPvu7abI/AAAAAAAAKVI/Jc5sgKZS-Dw/s320/2011-08-21_14-12-06_72_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strawberry Shortcake ended our day. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sadly this year-I'm pretty sure they were canned strawberries. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYrVjxdXxvs/TlFqR5jA3UI/AAAAAAAAKVM/-3PQZyUhHwY/s1600/2011-08-21_14-12-11_400_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYrVjxdXxvs/TlFqR5jA3UI/AAAAAAAAKVM/-3PQZyUhHwY/s320/2011-08-21_14-12-11_400_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan preferred the Cotton Candy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MT2wZVMIoYI/TlFqUDuiCOI/AAAAAAAAKVQ/1V7BO5ltcrw/s1600/2011-08-21_14-17-35_729_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MT2wZVMIoYI/TlFqUDuiCOI/AAAAAAAAKVQ/1V7BO5ltcrw/s320/2011-08-21_14-17-35_729_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some man at a religious booth gave her a dog ballon sculpture and tried to tell her a rainbow biblical story. Morgan let him know it was also the color of our UU rainbow principles. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-09qWPLvQ7Wk/TlFqWNN4OiI/AAAAAAAAKVU/8RbDxs1Gu6U/s1600/2011-08-21_14-21-04_918_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-09qWPLvQ7Wk/TlFqWNN4OiI/AAAAAAAAKVU/8RbDxs1Gu6U/s320/2011-08-21_14-21-04_918_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We bought some local honey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izl2AxzLAMI/TlFqYXxH-fI/AAAAAAAAKVY/2gwCtWfA7YQ/s1600/2011-08-21_14-21-23_710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izl2AxzLAMI/TlFqYXxH-fI/AAAAAAAAKVY/2gwCtWfA7YQ/s320/2011-08-21_14-21-23_710.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae was facinated with the bees under glass. The bees had started to make honey combs and did a frantic dance around the queen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--e_qEukCL0U/TlFqbzgDdvI/AAAAAAAAKVc/wyi3NVCuIdM/s1600/2011-08-21_14-59-41_818_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--e_qEukCL0U/TlFqbzgDdvI/AAAAAAAAKVc/wyi3NVCuIdM/s320/2011-08-21_14-59-41_818_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We bought two different kinds of honey. The lighter one was wildflower honey and the darker one came from dark wildflowers. The darker one has some molasses undertones and finishes with the sweet honey flavor.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ypoxwMI6EqU/TlFqd1VJw8I/AAAAAAAAKVg/4AdeFqHPW1U/s1600/2011-08-21_14-30-57_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ypoxwMI6EqU/TlFqd1VJw8I/AAAAAAAAKVg/4AdeFqHPW1U/s320/2011-08-21_14-30-57_12.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can't wait until next year!</span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-37055036159528768302011-07-21T08:53:00.000-04:002011-07-21T08:53:42.876-04:004H Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our 4H group has been meeting through the summer. This past meeting the kids learned how to make wet felting, dyeing wool and felted soap.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NL5AqevQfsA/TigZ8EB7Y0I/AAAAAAAAKSc/rpriEH2y2ho/s1600/2011-07-15_13-04-34_123_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NL5AqevQfsA/TigZ8EB7Y0I/AAAAAAAAKSc/rpriEH2y2ho/s320/2011-07-15_13-04-34_123_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dyed the wool with Kool-aid so the whole lawn area smelled delicious. The kids wanted to bring the extra packets home and drink them but we actually don't allow Kool Aid as a drink in the house. The coloring and sugar content react adversly with the kids.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu2U-wqx42w/TigZ-i_UtHI/AAAAAAAAKSg/_5iCPYiYo3w/s1600/2011-07-15_13-13-29_385_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu2U-wqx42w/TigZ-i_UtHI/AAAAAAAAKSg/_5iCPYiYo3w/s320/2011-07-15_13-13-29_385_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids were each given a foil pan and chose their Kool Aid color.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QfUmCk0uBfg/TigaA9VUvSI/AAAAAAAAKSk/lyYRTRpJHOM/s1600/2011-07-15_13-13-37_932_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QfUmCk0uBfg/TigaA9VUvSI/AAAAAAAAKSk/lyYRTRpJHOM/s320/2011-07-15_13-13-37_932_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While some worked on wool dyeing, others worked on making drop spindles.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Axb9LYWTtyM/TigaD8BI3XI/AAAAAAAAKSo/2yUxbZGslDY/s1600/2011-07-15_13-14-11_875_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Axb9LYWTtyM/TigaD8BI3XI/AAAAAAAAKSo/2yUxbZGslDY/s320/2011-07-15_13-14-11_875_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae had a little dye spilled on his hair. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was kinda thrilled he'd have blue hair.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_IOsxevkPo/TigaF0_RowI/AAAAAAAAKSs/Xn5kx6x7sdI/s1600/2011-07-15_13-14-17_156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_IOsxevkPo/TigaF0_RowI/AAAAAAAAKSs/Xn5kx6x7sdI/s320/2011-07-15_13-14-17_156.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a previous field trip to <a href="http://svffoundation.org/">Swiss Valley Foundation</a>, the kids were able to see sheep being sheared. They got to see how dirty the wool was and then at the 4H meeting see how the wool had been washed and cleaned. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5CeonXY0m4E/TigaIxrH0SI/AAAAAAAAKSw/CxtgHRiarCo/s1600/2011-07-15_13-14-41_721_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5CeonXY0m4E/TigaIxrH0SI/AAAAAAAAKSw/CxtgHRiarCo/s320/2011-07-15_13-14-41_721_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They dye colors were very bright.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cCMx28aJeZY/TigaKyPo04I/AAAAAAAAKS0/z8B4qv4TAZo/s1600/2011-07-15_13-14-51_543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cCMx28aJeZY/TigaKyPo04I/AAAAAAAAKS0/z8B4qv4TAZo/s320/2011-07-15_13-14-51_543.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae chose orange for his wet felting project.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lwoXDKTKWY8/TigaMsY1ejI/AAAAAAAAKS4/ybeYjJeWlNs/s1600/2011-07-15_13-14-59_664_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lwoXDKTKWY8/TigaMsY1ejI/AAAAAAAAKS4/ybeYjJeWlNs/s320/2011-07-15_13-14-59_664_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan had a bright purple.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If there was black she would have chosen that instead.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8phH4mGMW6M/TigaSW2tfLI/AAAAAAAAKS8/vYBZZH34rvI/s1600/2011-07-15_13-16-09_256_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8phH4mGMW6M/TigaSW2tfLI/AAAAAAAAKS8/vYBZZH34rvI/s320/2011-07-15_13-16-09_256_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some just smiled so cutely.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hz8PMS924w/TigaUh0W61I/AAAAAAAAKTA/OvYk59t_fWE/s1600/2011-07-15_13-16-20_83_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hz8PMS924w/TigaUh0W61I/AAAAAAAAKTA/OvYk59t_fWE/s320/2011-07-15_13-16-20_83_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the dye was poured the kids placed the wool in the pan</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and poked it to get it all colored and soaked. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SCyrQvPmbg/TigaXtSTnmI/AAAAAAAAKTE/0EQbV4Ka-aY/s1600/2011-07-15_13-16-30_167_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SCyrQvPmbg/TigaXtSTnmI/AAAAAAAAKTE/0EQbV4Ka-aY/s320/2011-07-15_13-16-30_167_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grass was the perfect spot to do this activity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzUcRCj6YWw/TigaZy55snI/AAAAAAAAKTI/XFMzpbceWog/s1600/2011-07-15_13-17-25_155_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzUcRCj6YWw/TigaZy55snI/AAAAAAAAKTI/XFMzpbceWog/s320/2011-07-15_13-17-25_155_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1fxjiltgnlI/TigadN39WCI/AAAAAAAAKTM/tdyLFgjGWYg/s1600/2011-07-15_13-33-01_601_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1fxjiltgnlI/TigadN39WCI/AAAAAAAAKTM/tdyLFgjGWYg/s320/2011-07-15_13-33-01_601_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids also learned how to make drop spindles with the wool. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCVbkmm7-aY/TigahPXWRDI/AAAAAAAAKTQ/wmRo4rjDTlI/s1600/2011-07-15_13-34-30_218_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCVbkmm7-aY/TigahPXWRDI/AAAAAAAAKTQ/wmRo4rjDTlI/s320/2011-07-15_13-34-30_218_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dried the dyed wool in the grass. How pretty.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Except for that bottom one-it kind of looks like lunch gone wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58z0_xmQy5w/TigakXjKYYI/AAAAAAAAKTU/8Yq9qwA6g_w/s1600/2011-07-15_13-43-54_579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58z0_xmQy5w/TigakXjKYYI/AAAAAAAAKTU/8Yq9qwA6g_w/s320/2011-07-15_13-43-54_579.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karen showed how to wrap and wet the felt around the soap to create a scrubby. After dyeing all that wool it helped to get the kids hands really clean.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g2x7xRG2YU/TigaoWBYxkI/AAAAAAAAKTY/T-ZNPKlB5CM/s1600/2011-07-15_13-44-32_655_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g2x7xRG2YU/TigaoWBYxkI/AAAAAAAAKTY/T-ZNPKlB5CM/s320/2011-07-15_13-44-32_655_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took quite a while to get the wool felted. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The kids had great fun getting all soapy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VS1RWv_EBDY/TigasrDYs-I/AAAAAAAAKTc/dDW9Ulb1t3A/s1600/2011-07-15_13-50-04_831_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VS1RWv_EBDY/TigasrDYs-I/AAAAAAAAKTc/dDW9Ulb1t3A/s320/2011-07-15_13-50-04_831_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karen's hands turned bright pink from the dye.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfWYEVB3o6o/Tigaume5ZtI/AAAAAAAAKTg/K9BT6jbtPsg/s1600/2011-07-15_13-50-17_648_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfWYEVB3o6o/Tigaume5ZtI/AAAAAAAAKTg/K9BT6jbtPsg/s320/2011-07-15_13-50-17_648_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the wool was wrapped around the soap it was placed in nylon. The kids dipped it in water and scrubbed away to felt the wool and join the fibers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwkiiYMP2lo/TigazhasUGI/AAAAAAAAKTo/Zt4DcTelE70/s1600/2011-07-15_13-51-34_402_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwkiiYMP2lo/TigazhasUGI/AAAAAAAAKTo/Zt4DcTelE70/s320/2011-07-15_13-51-34_402_edited-1.jpg" t$="true" width="179px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae really was having fun here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> His face doesn't show it but he loved this project.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Our next 4H meeting will be a trip to an Alpaca farm. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The kids (and me too!) can't wait.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-72303718126458965262011-07-17T15:02:00.000-04:002011-07-17T15:02:04.751-04:00Family Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in June we were finally able to take a family vacation to New Hampshire</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndUA6nMTvcA/TiMnkZeQCnI/AAAAAAAAKQQ/JrO3BdBbBnU/s1600/3+billygoats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndUA6nMTvcA/TiMnkZeQCnI/AAAAAAAAKQQ/JrO3BdBbBnU/s320/3+billygoats.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made the obligatory visit to Storyland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More on that later.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPLl7fMy_jQ/TiMnrOoqTHI/AAAAAAAAKQU/FX9HPtKx3d8/s1600/2011-06-19_10-32-11_609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPLl7fMy_jQ/TiMnrOoqTHI/AAAAAAAAKQU/FX9HPtKx3d8/s320/2011-06-19_10-32-11_609.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We visited Glen Ellis Falls.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3ZNV6BgMh4/TiMnxgqtvJI/AAAAAAAAKQc/ag5agCCw17s/s1600/2011-06-19_10-32-24_714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3ZNV6BgMh4/TiMnxgqtvJI/AAAAAAAAKQc/ag5agCCw17s/s320/2011-06-19_10-32-24_714.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The falls were just stunning and the spray of the water was so cool and refreshing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a heck of a time climbing all those stairs back up though, thought we were going to have to call the forest ranger for rescue.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pSm5mVnwDs/TiMnunV-mJI/AAAAAAAAKQY/ium81oVtUJw/s1600/2011-06-17_19-32-41_990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pSm5mVnwDs/TiMnunV-mJI/AAAAAAAAKQY/ium81oVtUJw/s320/2011-06-17_19-32-41_990.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Condo we stayed in was just beautiful. It had 2 full pull out beds and a private master. The kitchen was tiny but fully functionable. It was good to be able to cook some meals and not have to eat out all the time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n59Tv6tz-h4/TiMn0OxpykI/AAAAAAAAKQg/eAtrreeUj9s/s1600/2011-06-19_12-05-14_517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n59Tv6tz-h4/TiMn0OxpykI/AAAAAAAAKQg/eAtrreeUj9s/s320/2011-06-19_12-05-14_517.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we weren't out seeing the sites, we stayed at the resort and played in the heated pool. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two jacuzzi's made me quite happy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrXhRRvTh9k/TiMn2FNgOUI/AAAAAAAAKQk/riIx6Z6pd18/s1600/2011-06-19_13-56-12_923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrXhRRvTh9k/TiMn2FNgOUI/AAAAAAAAKQk/riIx6Z6pd18/s320/2011-06-19_13-56-12_923.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I drank some Good Merlot. See? The label says so.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a03YVZZYqCc/TiMn4m_hgTI/AAAAAAAAKQo/d6h1J_eJH9E/s1600/2011-06-21_09-51-05_101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a03YVZZYqCc/TiMn4m_hgTI/AAAAAAAAKQo/d6h1J_eJH9E/s320/2011-06-21_09-51-05_101.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We drove up to Cathedral Ledge. I was thankful for that. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There really is a feeling of it being a spiritual place when you are this high up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-My3_pEWcETE/TiMn7nWrMLI/AAAAAAAAKQs/M51uaN2HUBg/s1600/2011-06-21_09-51-18_413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-My3_pEWcETE/TiMn7nWrMLI/AAAAAAAAKQs/M51uaN2HUBg/s320/2011-06-21_09-51-18_413.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Mountain climbers actually climb this ledge.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ummmm-no thanks</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYuVM4WvUjo/TiMoE7BzRaI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/RVApGLY813I/s1600/2011-06-21_09-55-02_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYuVM4WvUjo/TiMoE7BzRaI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/RVApGLY813I/s320/2011-06-21_09-55-02_140.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I prefer this view-with fencing to keep me on the mountain. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stewie, my husbands service dog, went everywhere with us. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UK44AFwaZBM/TiMoKG_zP-I/AAAAAAAAKQ4/468YRheYtHI/s1600/2011-06-22_10-02-54_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UK44AFwaZBM/TiMoKG_zP-I/AAAAAAAAKQ4/468YRheYtHI/s320/2011-06-22_10-02-54_500.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We took another hike to Diana's Baths.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This was a much easier hike for me as the paths were level and even and no stairs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qe_O9cJe9GA/TiMoNRjt9oI/AAAAAAAAKQ8/ZLVn4RhaBmA/s1600/2011-06-22_10-17-00_158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qe_O9cJe9GA/TiMoNRjt9oI/AAAAAAAAKQ8/ZLVn4RhaBmA/s320/2011-06-22_10-17-00_158.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The water was so peaceful to listen to as it trickled over the rocks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ys_VI7lnuss/TiMoQvQ0DoI/AAAAAAAAKRA/2gE75kdfooM/s1600/2011-06-22_10-19-05_294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ys_VI7lnuss/TiMoQvQ0DoI/AAAAAAAAKRA/2gE75kdfooM/s320/2011-06-22_10-19-05_294.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Diana's Baths is a multi-tierd waterfall. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the water was so cold. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I mean cold like your feet are in a cooler of icecubes cold.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcY4NaFt9kw/TiMoT9muceI/AAAAAAAAKRE/ZoKRqGTLMRs/s1600/2011-06-22_10-22-25_908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcY4NaFt9kw/TiMoT9muceI/AAAAAAAAKRE/ZoKRqGTLMRs/s320/2011-06-22_10-22-25_908.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids found some really cool fossil rocks here. The curve of the rocks from water splashing on them for hundreds of years was just amazing to look at. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tmTEtz3mLo/TiMoVzSMOzI/AAAAAAAAKRI/-TBs0kxyQsY/s1600/2011-06-22_10-22-51_156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tmTEtz3mLo/TiMoVzSMOzI/AAAAAAAAKRI/-TBs0kxyQsY/s320/2011-06-22_10-22-51_156.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were lots of shallow areas for wading and exploring.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEHPcu6ipLQ/TiMofkXCl5I/AAAAAAAAKRQ/tu4Ug4rFP-E/s1600/2011-06-22_10-34-13_353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEHPcu6ipLQ/TiMofkXCl5I/AAAAAAAAKRQ/tu4Ug4rFP-E/s320/2011-06-22_10-34-13_353.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every corner you turned there were these glorious little waterfalls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtWITx3SQwc/TiMojstFhqI/AAAAAAAAKRU/eto9EH5x6NI/s1600/2011-06-22_10-34-49_752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtWITx3SQwc/TiMojstFhqI/AAAAAAAAKRU/eto9EH5x6NI/s320/2011-06-22_10-34-49_752.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And little holes and indentations where the force of water has made it's way through.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbvCOv-DGhA/TiMoqJnd4DI/AAAAAAAAKRY/znOoswEYFmo/s1600/2011-06-22_11-10-39_952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbvCOv-DGhA/TiMoqJnd4DI/AAAAAAAAKRY/znOoswEYFmo/s320/2011-06-22_11-10-39_952.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">And at the base of the waterfalls there were basins and swirls of water.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey_EcQQzLr0/TiMovHJJ0CI/AAAAAAAAKRc/UYTZNs6sOSw/s1600/2011-06-22_11-17-00_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey_EcQQzLr0/TiMovHJJ0CI/AAAAAAAAKRc/UYTZNs6sOSw/s320/2011-06-22_11-17-00_580.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the walk back I noticed all these butterflys. There had to be at least 30 of them. I read somewhere that they lick the soil to get the minerals out of it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I sat with them and they just flitted beside me and landed next to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arUlLOHSckw/TiMoyIWIE2I/AAAAAAAAKRg/Z6C2W3cGCmc/s1600/falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arUlLOHSckw/TiMoyIWIE2I/AAAAAAAAKRg/Z6C2W3cGCmc/s320/falls.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I found the rocks and the water powerful yet soothing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKxLqeKlCYE/TiMo1FLWCwI/AAAAAAAAKRk/QNfEwEZOiwg/s1600/splashing+falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKxLqeKlCYE/TiMo1FLWCwI/AAAAAAAAKRk/QNfEwEZOiwg/s320/splashing+falls.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2CdCupJ3tQ/TiMo2ui4AKI/AAAAAAAAKRo/K-UGT1-qpMw/s1600/waterbasin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2CdCupJ3tQ/TiMo2ui4AKI/AAAAAAAAKRo/K-UGT1-qpMw/s320/waterbasin.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Such an amazing place.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ahhh yes, And then there is Storyland. My 14 year old declared he was too old to attend and happily stayed at the condo to swim and read. We promised him free food but I have to say the vegetarian choices at Storyland are quite limited. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yi50_dWZHU/TiMo8bsY0VI/AAAAAAAAKRs/-tbxiXOGzKM/s1600/2011-06-21_11-27-52_498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yi50_dWZHU/TiMo8bsY0VI/AAAAAAAAKRs/-tbxiXOGzKM/s320/2011-06-21_11-27-52_498.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae insisted on driving the antique cars. Larry and I sat in the back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good thing Tae wasn't really responsible for driving. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My insurance rates would be astronimical.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr9IGEHEvew/TiMpBOQn2CI/AAAAAAAAKRw/3PgOspYWBM4/s1600/2011-06-21_12-33-47_934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr9IGEHEvew/TiMpBOQn2CI/AAAAAAAAKRw/3PgOspYWBM4/s320/2011-06-21_12-33-47_934.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But life is good when you can share a burger and soda with your big sister.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-RXzlL0FEo/TiMpFSFY-RI/AAAAAAAAKR0/pYxqMi9l5QI/s1600/hats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-RXzlL0FEo/TiMpFSFY-RI/AAAAAAAAKR0/pYxqMi9l5QI/s320/hats.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Storyland has a great gift store with all of these crazy hats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had a blast with the kids!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8T-oJGlvdI/TiMpJRm_NGI/AAAAAAAAKR4/gkNfnD_rZIc/s1600/buddhatae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8T-oJGlvdI/TiMpJRm_NGI/AAAAAAAAKR4/gkNfnD_rZIc/s320/buddhatae.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We practiced our Buddhism while at at Chinese Food restaurant picking up dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQcCO01IVVI/TiMpMXyYavI/AAAAAAAAKR8/1A7MoJCyJF4/s1600/2011-06-21_12-41-34_847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQcCO01IVVI/TiMpMXyYavI/AAAAAAAAKR8/1A7MoJCyJF4/s320/2011-06-21_12-41-34_847.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae and Larry got a little goofy with the Hagar the Horrible hats.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbiaoLJdCL8/TiMpPecSn6I/AAAAAAAAKSA/5aSWr2O_9mM/s1600/2011-06-21_12-47-09_781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbiaoLJdCL8/TiMpPecSn6I/AAAAAAAAKSA/5aSWr2O_9mM/s320/2011-06-21_12-47-09_781.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These glasses totally freaked me out.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I wouldn't buy these for Tae.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had nightmares of him standing by my bed in the middle of the night</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> chanting Red Rum, Red Rum!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ5Hp-xJrmk/TiMpRQpiKsI/AAAAAAAAKSE/FOYK1kOaJtE/s1600/2011-06-21_12-47-46_447_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ5Hp-xJrmk/TiMpRQpiKsI/AAAAAAAAKSE/FOYK1kOaJtE/s320/2011-06-21_12-47-46_447_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goofiness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E004R-3nLTg/TiMpWdCrGUI/AAAAAAAAKSI/nr5JLR_YGDs/s1600/2011-06-21_12-59-08_665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E004R-3nLTg/TiMpWdCrGUI/AAAAAAAAKSI/nr5JLR_YGDs/s320/2011-06-21_12-59-08_665.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cinderella's pumpkin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It didn't go anywhere but is always a photo opportunity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uiORE72PIA/TiMpav2WMvI/AAAAAAAAKSM/AU_DBmiVCz8/s1600/2011-06-21_13-27-55_875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uiORE72PIA/TiMpav2WMvI/AAAAAAAAKSM/AU_DBmiVCz8/s320/2011-06-21_13-27-55_875.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae pie.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ln4inGP0WU/TiMpfeNBUhI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/Am0aiRoASHs/s1600/2011-06-22_15-41-12_505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ln4inGP0WU/TiMpfeNBUhI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/Am0aiRoASHs/s320/2011-06-22_15-41-12_505.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the cool fossil rocks we found. They have leaf imprints on them.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfiu2Q4TB8o/TiMpoxU6JFI/AAAAAAAAKSU/JYQqPvFdaZU/s1600/2011-06-21_13-58-30_515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfiu2Q4TB8o/TiMpoxU6JFI/AAAAAAAAKSU/JYQqPvFdaZU/s320/2011-06-21_13-58-30_515.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's always fun being with the kids.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They make me feel like a kid again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_dfEBWpe7c/TiMpv6kMxbI/AAAAAAAAKSY/Tx3i4b3_0co/s1600/stockade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_dfEBWpe7c/TiMpv6kMxbI/AAAAAAAAKSY/Tx3i4b3_0co/s320/stockade.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But at the end of the day my tired and cranky kids needed to learn a hard lesson.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I offered to throw eggs at them but instead we treated them to miniature golf.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope you have been able to fit some vacation and family time into your summer.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bev</span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-36468197001533632572011-07-12T14:19:00.000-04:002011-07-12T14:19:43.273-04:00Deformity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember the Mandrake roots in Harry Potter?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A real Mandrake Root looks like this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SomocCqUt4I/ThyPl2rSeQI/AAAAAAAAKQI/7hWBZrj6j20/s1600/Mandrake+root.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SomocCqUt4I/ThyPl2rSeQI/AAAAAAAAKQI/7hWBZrj6j20/s1600/Mandrake+root.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My garden carrots look suspiciously similar.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjq9APOCiqk/ThyPp62NefI/AAAAAAAAKQM/pctfuPqFNik/s1600/mandrake+carrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjq9APOCiqk/ThyPp62NefI/AAAAAAAAKQM/pctfuPqFNik/s320/mandrake+carrot.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although they don't scream when I pull them out of the ground.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-8911886289464747312011-07-10T17:07:00.000-04:002011-07-10T17:07:05.862-04:00A Wonderful House Blessing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a wonderful House Blessing yesterday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Many of our church family came and brought food and gifts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ANzAJrau0/ThoCx1J6rAI/AAAAAAAAKPA/a_VY13Q8wLs/s1600/2011-07-09_10-07-35_405_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ANzAJrau0/ThoCx1J6rAI/AAAAAAAAKPA/a_VY13Q8wLs/s320/2011-07-09_10-07-35_405_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a water bowl for putting in stones of blessings.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A larger candle to start the blessing and then each family </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">did a reading and lit a smaller candle.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">These were the words we shared:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><strong>A House Blessing</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate and bless this home with the prayers and love of all who have gathered here today. May the candles we light help to carry our prayers and illuminate our spirits. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We light a candle to understanding. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate this home to deep knowledge.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May its joys and sorrows be shared </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the individuality of each person</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who lives and visits here appreciated.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We light a candle to love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate this home to work, and rest and play.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May our home have joy and high fellowship,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with kindness in its voices and laughter running within its walls. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May the children know strength and courage and joy in all that they do.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We light a candle to joy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate this home to friendly life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May its doors open in hospitality</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and its windows look out with kindness toward other homes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We light a candle to friendship.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May its duties be performed in love,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">its furnishings bear witness that the work of others</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">minister to our comfort,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and its table remind us that God works with us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the supply of daily needs.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We light a candle to cooperation.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate this home to the appreciation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of all things good and true.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May the books bring wisdom,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the pictures symbolize things beautiful,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the music bring joy and inspiration.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We light a candle to appreciation. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate the time and talent of those who live here</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to help build a world in which every family</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">may have a home of comfort and fellowship.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We light a candle to service. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We dedicate this home as a unit in the Church universal,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">an instrument of peacemaking,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a place of worship and love and laughter,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and a threshold to life eternal.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We light a candle to spiritual enrichment. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the flames point upward, so our thoughts rise in gratitude</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for this home, the people in it,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and in prayer, we ask for blessings upon it.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S3XcT4Cd5Eo/ThoCzyerINI/AAAAAAAAKPE/5vIJ0doNEfw/s1600/2011-07-09_11-13-58_497_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S3XcT4Cd5Eo/ThoCzyerINI/AAAAAAAAKPE/5vIJ0doNEfw/s320/2011-07-09_11-13-58_497_edited-1.jpg" width="179px" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My Beehive beverage container looked great with lemonade.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRUNnaa2kCg/ThoC2vq9szI/AAAAAAAAKPI/VWoK6MrSEQ8/s1600/2011-07-09_11-14-10_943_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRUNnaa2kCg/ThoC2vq9szI/AAAAAAAAKPI/VWoK6MrSEQ8/s320/2011-07-09_11-14-10_943_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The table was all set with wine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A fabulous Sangria came out later.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2S3RtEbvOA0/ThoC8CDqhFI/AAAAAAAAKPM/n50xxSk9wEo/s1600/2011-07-09_13-27-41_777_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2S3RtEbvOA0/ThoC8CDqhFI/AAAAAAAAKPM/n50xxSk9wEo/s320/2011-07-09_13-27-41_777_edited-1.jpg" width="316px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The little ones wandered the yard and played with the chickens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta_Yk3Y95ns/ThoC-Tn9HZI/AAAAAAAAKPQ/kdXaOkS-WQs/s1600/2011-07-09_13-33-47_531_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta_Yk3Y95ns/ThoC-Tn9HZI/AAAAAAAAKPQ/kdXaOkS-WQs/s320/2011-07-09_13-33-47_531_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone gathered under the canopy for the blessing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m0kZBGmX7Dc/ThoDBuRa3OI/AAAAAAAAKPU/YpMVGAHr6h4/s1600/2011-07-09_13-40-10_652_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m0kZBGmX7Dc/ThoDBuRa3OI/AAAAAAAAKPU/YpMVGAHr6h4/s320/2011-07-09_13-40-10_652_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reverend Tricia led us to the chicken coop. Yes, even our chicken coop was blessed. We'll see if it results in a better egg production from the girls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8cuipa8K-8/ThoDEuHOBdI/AAAAAAAAKPY/yXGyExpHV5w/s1600/2011-07-09_13-40-55_376_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8cuipa8K-8/ThoDEuHOBdI/AAAAAAAAKPY/yXGyExpHV5w/s320/2011-07-09_13-40-55_376_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chickens weren't thrilled to be participating however</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and took a bit of effort to catch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZkgEd9hrsc/ThoDJtjJvDI/AAAAAAAAKPc/RRiR2Jv02rQ/s1600/2011-07-09_13-41-05_109_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZkgEd9hrsc/ThoDJtjJvDI/AAAAAAAAKPc/RRiR2Jv02rQ/s320/2011-07-09_13-41-05_109_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae finally caught chipmunk (the chicken) who seemed quite amused at the whole situation.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-walbjJvVUTQ/ThoDOP9-b_I/AAAAAAAAKPg/YTyMqlqt23M/s1600/2011-07-09_13-48-22_197_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-walbjJvVUTQ/ThoDOP9-b_I/AAAAAAAAKPg/YTyMqlqt23M/s320/2011-07-09_13-48-22_197_edited-1.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made our way around the house and blessed the threshhold as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After the blessing we dined on some wonderful cookout food and everyone swam in the pool. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lBmKA2YxRQo/ThoDRg-cbEI/AAAAAAAAKPk/mxpQnliONg8/s1600/2011-07-09_18-11-36_952_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lBmKA2YxRQo/ThoDRg-cbEI/AAAAAAAAKPk/mxpQnliONg8/s320/2011-07-09_18-11-36_952_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in the evening, our friend Laurie and her husband Bob, took our family and some other friends out for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a sunset cruise in the boat on the pond, which is more like a lake it's so huge.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was the perfect end to a perfect day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRLLY84WVT4/ThoDWNjg31I/AAAAAAAAKPo/GASYYML6Vk4/s1600/2011-07-09_18-21-11_812_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRLLY84WVT4/ThoDWNjg31I/AAAAAAAAKPo/GASYYML6Vk4/s320/2011-07-09_18-21-11_812_edited-1.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa6GYMqjOXE/ThoDYbG1TGI/AAAAAAAAKPs/zJXRoKjvjZM/s1600/2011-07-09_18-23-14_217_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa6GYMqjOXE/ThoDYbG1TGI/AAAAAAAAKPs/zJXRoKjvjZM/s320/2011-07-09_18-23-14_217_edited-1.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HohlHSSeLjs/ThoDag7cPgI/AAAAAAAAKPw/R6REZqi524k/s1600/2011-07-09_18-24-48_389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HohlHSSeLjs/ThoDag7cPgI/AAAAAAAAKPw/R6REZqi524k/s320/2011-07-09_18-24-48_389.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gues I should feel lucky that the teen wanted to sit with me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckm683fio1I/ThoDeZrekyI/AAAAAAAAKP0/0UbbAwdmE14/s1600/2011-07-09_18-36-35_263_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckm683fio1I/ThoDeZrekyI/AAAAAAAAKP0/0UbbAwdmE14/s320/2011-07-09_18-36-35_263_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The water and sky was so blue. It was so relaxing and the weather was perfect.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqhaNOBI7F8/ThoDgsJsdkI/AAAAAAAAKP4/ARt4cSzq9jE/s1600/2011-07-09_18-43-35_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqhaNOBI7F8/ThoDgsJsdkI/AAAAAAAAKP4/ARt4cSzq9jE/s320/2011-07-09_18-43-35_11.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MaryAnn, Zorro and Laurie check out the water out the back of the boat. I'm sure there is a nautical term for "the back of the boat". Let me know what that is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OUrc2DyLJso/ThoDisx2ZPI/AAAAAAAAKP8/HtJOil7hQOo/s1600/2011-07-09_18-43-45_98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OUrc2DyLJso/ThoDisx2ZPI/AAAAAAAAKP8/HtJOil7hQOo/s320/2011-07-09_18-43-45_98.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tae made sure that Captain Bob drove correctly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IU1A5_RWasc/ThoDla8XU5I/AAAAAAAAKQA/JCUl3cYqifU/s1600/2011-07-09_18-25-41_949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IU1A5_RWasc/ThoDla8XU5I/AAAAAAAAKQA/JCUl3cYqifU/s320/2011-07-09_18-25-41_949.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Captain Bob did a fine job.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was his Birthday too, Happy Birthday Bob!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFqmNhXOOeM/ThoDpgGgdTI/AAAAAAAAKQE/mY28umLv16E/s1600/2011-07-09_19-05-44_66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFqmNhXOOeM/ThoDpgGgdTI/AAAAAAAAKQE/mY28umLv16E/s320/2011-07-09_19-05-44_66.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jet skis and boats were everywhere.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I couldn't ask for a more perfect day.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">To be blessed by my church family in prayer, gifts and friendships.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am ever uplifted by them.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Life is pretty darn awesome.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bev</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-41627026278910879982011-07-08T19:04:00.000-04:002011-07-08T19:04:05.526-04:00House Blessing Preparations<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been cooking all day. Here's the menu for tomorrow's house blessing/cookout. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Layered Pesto Torta with homemade pita chips</span></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheese platter/Kalamata olives</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garlic Goat cheese and crackers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gazpacho Shooters</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grilled/Marinated Chicken and vegetable skewers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baked beans</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Salad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orzo Salad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Balsamic dressing (I could eat this forever)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sangria, lemonade, wine, iced tea, water, coffee</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Popsicles</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ice cream cake</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lime Cream Torte</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cookies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pictures, our candle lighting reading and recipes will be posted over the weekend. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">~Bev</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-12203329741082030612011-07-07T20:31:00.000-04:002011-07-07T20:31:27.268-04:00A House Blessing<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a church service auction and our minister auctioned off a House Blessing. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend our family will be blessed.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We have about 25-30 people coming-all church friends. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After the House Blessing we will have a cookout and some swimming in the pool.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEazeXRzeJ4/ThZOr7MBrZI/AAAAAAAAKOw/XtKsG4OKZpU/s1600/2011-07-07_09-18-23_938_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEazeXRzeJ4/ThZOr7MBrZI/AAAAAAAAKOw/XtKsG4OKZpU/s320/2011-07-07_09-18-23_938_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I've pulled together my linens for the table and some shish-ka-bob skewers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3YvoCAUHzA/ThZOtlyrmpI/AAAAAAAAKO0/nRXBBal0VQc/s1600/2011-07-07_09-18-48_505_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3YvoCAUHzA/ThZOtlyrmpI/AAAAAAAAKO0/nRXBBal0VQc/s320/2011-07-07_09-18-48_505_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend Tracy gave me these canisters.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I removed the lids and will use them as plastic ware servers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OOFDE1ppSJA/ThZOvThI3rI/AAAAAAAAKO4/XDOlJa_Peno/s1600/2011-07-07_09-18-59_313_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OOFDE1ppSJA/ThZOvThI3rI/AAAAAAAAKO4/XDOlJa_Peno/s320/2011-07-07_09-18-59_313_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also bought lots of candles for the House Blessing Reading, some blue gems to put in water for those that want to speak of blessing in their lives and have purchased a small gift for our minister. She has been an Interim but has blessed us this passed year with her wonderful ministry. The house blessing is this Saturday. I'll be sure to post pictures of the event. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so fortunate to have a wonderful UU church community. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-32879173533321238702011-07-06T14:50:00.000-04:002011-07-06T14:50:18.109-04:00The Beehive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3VB-Rd7cvs/ThSuHFzeWWI/AAAAAAAAKOs/MEbguvnjWlQ/s1600/beehive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3VB-Rd7cvs/ThSuHFzeWWI/AAAAAAAAKOs/MEbguvnjWlQ/s320/beehive.jpg" width="178px" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just bought this new iced tea dispenser today.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's very old fashioned looking and I'm very happy.</span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-84349334834216756742011-07-05T20:54:00.001-04:002011-07-06T08:07:07.149-04:00Happy 4th of July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJk18KhCsxw/ThOuTGUxu4I/AAAAAAAAKOA/Y_Qmc9WFcYA/s1600/2011-07-04_20-35-36_497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJk18KhCsxw/ThOuTGUxu4I/AAAAAAAAKOA/Y_Qmc9WFcYA/s320/2011-07-04_20-35-36_497.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent the Fourth of July with some church friends. We shared a meal and dessert first. They live on the water and we were able to go out in their boat and watch the fire works right over the water. What a lovely evening. I never realized how loud fireworks are until you are right under them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I did manage to forget my camera but had my cellphone. The pictures aren't great and don't really capture the beauty of the explosions.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EaqbLwXxLxk/ThOu2dTndUI/AAAAAAAAKOE/vFGzM_8LWMA/s1600/2011-07-04_20-36-15_510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EaqbLwXxLxk/ThOu2dTndUI/AAAAAAAAKOE/vFGzM_8LWMA/s320/2011-07-04_20-36-15_510.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left the dock around 8:30 and the sun was just beginning to set. Gorgeous sky and weather.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0MoFECOMx0/ThOvGy6J6pI/AAAAAAAAKOI/Y-Psr9kmrdg/s1600/2011-07-04_20-40-41_757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0MoFECOMx0/ThOvGy6J6pI/AAAAAAAAKOI/Y-Psr9kmrdg/s320/2011-07-04_20-40-41_757.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wispy Clouds and tangerine sky as the sun set beyond us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KxFzEQ4NHak/ThOvT0zTDiI/AAAAAAAAKOM/LZR4PRFWqJk/s1600/2011-07-04_20-46-17_905_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KxFzEQ4NHak/ThOvT0zTDiI/AAAAAAAAKOM/LZR4PRFWqJk/s320/2011-07-04_20-46-17_905_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The husband and daughter sat up front. There was much glare from the sunset</span>.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMBrMF0nA-M/ThOvqCE0wuI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/BvvnPo-2_Jw/s1600/2011-07-04_21-14-46_194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMBrMF0nA-M/ThOvqCE0wuI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/BvvnPo-2_Jw/s320/2011-07-04_21-14-46_194.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such beauty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fL1vTU38KVU/ThOvs7BQ-AI/AAAAAAAAKOU/FoGKgZonkCo/s1600/2011-07-04_21-20-26_370_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fL1vTU38KVU/ThOvs7BQ-AI/AAAAAAAAKOU/FoGKgZonkCo/s320/2011-07-04_21-20-26_370_edited-1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the colors were amazing.</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ti2mR3g69Q/ThOvxJacUBI/AAAAAAAAKOY/rggjpNZKrFE/s1600/2011-07-04_21-26-50_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ti2mR3g69Q/ThOvxJacUBI/AAAAAAAAKOY/rggjpNZKrFE/s320/2011-07-04_21-26-50_800.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrysanthemums.</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mZghrlx3EM/ThOv56yetLI/AAAAAAAAKOc/PwdHEhwCqtE/s1600/2011-07-04_21-43-40_609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mZghrlx3EM/ThOv56yetLI/AAAAAAAAKOc/PwdHEhwCqtE/s320/2011-07-04_21-43-40_609.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were very close the barge that lit the fireworks. Did I mention they were loud?</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alJshfgunFA/ThOv_PY5ENI/AAAAAAAAKOg/91_Rw-zaWyk/s1600/2011-07-04_21-45-54_581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alJshfgunFA/ThOv_PY5ENI/AAAAAAAAKOg/91_Rw-zaWyk/s320/2011-07-04_21-45-54_581.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHSro_0c1YU/ThOxBz--ipI/AAAAAAAAKOk/F81DB6ENoA4/s1600/2011-07-04_21-33-05_63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHSro_0c1YU/ThOxBz--ipI/AAAAAAAAKOk/F81DB6ENoA4/s320/2011-07-04_21-33-05_63.jpg" width="179px" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just Gorgeous. I really wish this one came out clearer.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Abi4mOGlw/ThOxRrnYSAI/AAAAAAAAKOo/dDy8uIuY17Y/s1600/2011-07-04_21-46-33_827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Abi4mOGlw/ThOxRrnYSAI/AAAAAAAAKOo/dDy8uIuY17Y/s320/2011-07-04_21-46-33_827.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this one too. It was like a fountain spray.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-84584246020779275752011-07-04T13:06:00.000-04:002011-07-04T13:06:57.604-04:00ChangesI am going to be overhauling the blog in content and design. Please excuse while we are under construction.The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-51115079564534389982011-07-03T20:23:00.006-04:002011-07-03T21:10:59.850-04:00Lots On My MindWe spent a week in New Hampshire on a lovely family vacation. I knew before I left that something was wrong health wise again. I'd been feeling awful and had increased generalized pain.<br /><br /><br /><br />My knee swelled up. Sexy isn't it.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWFT2-gAu8M/ThEIcU9KpWI/AAAAAAAAKN8/w-jycw5OB7w/s1600/2011-05-29_17-28-14_81.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625286692317078882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWFT2-gAu8M/ThEIcU9KpWI/AAAAAAAAKN8/w-jycw5OB7w/s320/2011-05-29_17-28-14_81.jpg" /></a> I came home to 4 phone calls on my answering machine. Two from my primary MD and two from my Rheumatologist. My Lyme test was positive again. I immediately burst into tears. I knew it was but you get to a point with chronic lyme that you dismiss symptoms and don't believe what your body is telling you. Please God let it be anything but that.</p><br /><p>In August of 2008 I was bit by a tick. In knew I was bit but didn't know how sick it would have made me. Within 3 days I was gravely ill and told I had Erlichiosis but that a 21 day course of Doxycycline would have me fixed up in no time. Well I improved some but by December I was deteriorating further. I had trouble walking and concentrating and couldn't type. I had word finding difficulty and a worsening headache that wouldn't go away and if I worked a night shift as an RN in the ICU, it would take me 3 days to recover. But the headache. Dear God the headache. Symptoms still vary day to day. My arms go numb making driving difficult. My muscles twitch and groan at the slighest exertion. My left eye droops. Sometimes it takes what seems forever to get through one paragraph in a book. </p><br /><p>More bloodwork revealed that I also had Babesiosis and I would need IV antibiotics. But I had an anaphylactic reaction to the antibiotics after 5 days and then spent 10 days in the hospital being pumped full of steroids, IV fluids, narcotics. I had MRI's, lumbar punctures and had my gallbladder out. </p><br /><p>Since that time it's been an ongoing battle. I've educated myself and despite my doctors believing I have Fibromyalgia, insisted on the Lyme test again. I see a Lyme specialist in a few weeks. Not sure if I am happy about that or just terrified. I have had 5 positive Lyme tests and 3 different tick borne illnesses. There is pain every single day and I walk with a cane. I have word finding difficulty. I'm on permanent disability and have a handicap parking permit. When my disability was approved the relief was great financially but I sat there and stared at the approval and thought, "Congratulations, you're disabled." </p><br /><p>People look at me and see how much I do accomplish on a daily basis. I volunteer at my church, in my homeschool group and do a ridiculous amount of things for my family. Yet every single day putting my feet on the floor in the morning is an accomplishment. Shaving my legs is an act of God. </p><br /><p>I push myself every single day to accomplish the most basic tasks. I have to. I worry how much damage this freaking vector has done to my body. I wonder if my strength will ever come back or if I will have a day without pain or without some weird symptom wreaking havoc with me.</p><br /><p>Yet the CDC insists all my symptoms are in my head. They have set medical protocols that are damaging patients. There is an old Audubon saying, "When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird." Or maybe it's the "if it quacks like a duck" saying that needs to be recognized. </p><br /><p>I take care of myself the best I can. I rest, eat right take the homepathic treatments as well as the antibiotics. Yet somedays even this is futile. I move on because I have to. Because if I give in to this disease, it will swallow me whole. Because each time I give in or let others make a decision for me, I lose a little piece of who I am.</p><br /><p>Imagine trying to do just your daily chores. Things like showering, washing dishes, reading the paper, folding laundry, stirring a pot of sauce. No big deal, right? Now try it wearing 50 pounds and with your dominant arm tied behind your back. Not so easy. Oh you may get it done but how tired are you? How much pain are you in? Do you feel good about the job you did? Who had to help you? How did you get that pot of sauce off the stove with one arm? How does the laundry look after folding? Oh but wait, you must also care for 3 kids, pets, clean your home, grocery shop, go to the bank, tend the garden, prepare dinner and follow a recipe. See where I'm going with this?</p><br /><p>There is a <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">spoon theory</span></strong> </a>that I like to tell people about. While the woman who wrote it has Lupus and not Lyme disease-it's a great analogy. </p><br /><p>I am hoping the Lyme specialist can help. I'm desperately out of spoons.<br /></p>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-36360672336717741022011-06-28T19:45:00.005-04:002011-06-28T19:54:03.518-04:00Up and RunningThanks to a very nice reader, I was able to delete some old albums. If your looking for blog posts prior to 2010........they may be missing pictures. Sorry for the inconvenience but in order to keep blogging and not pay for more photo storage-it was a must do.<br /><br />Starting this week I will have some new posts. In the meantime, here's what we've been up to:<br />-we took a week's vacation in New Hampshire.<br />-we added 8 new baby chickens to our flock of 8.<br />-we planted a huge garden and I have lettuce and all kinds of greens coming out my ears.<br />-our homeschool group has been growing like gangbusters and keeping me very busy.<br />-my daughter won the division soccer tournament, got braces and grew 2 inches.<br />-I ordered a whole new curriculum for the two youngest kids.<br />-this year I will have a 10th grader-yikes.<br />-my Lyme test came back positive resulting in more health complications. ARRGGGHH.<br />-I've tried tons of new recipes.<br />-We have a house blessing coming up in July.<br />-we will be spending the 4th of July on a boat with friends watching fireworks over the lake.<br />-I discovered I love my DROID.<br />-we bought 10 yards of mulch that still isn't moved.<br />-we've taken several homeschool field trips.<br /><br />Stay tuned for some posts and some blog changes.The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071973367278295728.post-26938900437068202482011-06-05T19:39:00.001-04:002011-06-05T19:44:02.182-04:00Blogging<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Maybe I'll start a food blog.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What should I call it?</span></div>The Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17733965758204095859noreply@blogger.com0