Week 7, 8th

MONDAY

Well, it finally feels like we are back to normal.  We have no company, human or otherwise and although it's lonelier, it's quieter.

Lola (BoxerX) is resting her legs and back, she's been playing a lot and is still frequently.  There's no one interesting here at the moment so she is spending time just relaxing on the couch.  I have every faith it'll help her heal up.  Nothing like a rest to let your body fix itself.

Walter (Pug) is pleased for the quiet of GuestPug going home.  Although lovely, GuestPug does follow the crowd around and seems to think Walter should be a better host.  I love GuestPug but it was a rough week for him being here with trying to train baby Alice.  He's back after Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to it.

Alice (Pug) is adorable, painfully so.  She's smart and has settled into the family beautifully.  She's back on track, training wise, after the fun of my mom and GuestPug being here.  Back to the grind, baby Alice.  She's sleep on my foot as I write this, yeah, she fits in nicely.

Five of the 6 chickens are laying eggs regularly now.  Edna has failed to impress, so far but I have faith in her ability to perform.  I will admit that we have been unable to confirm the identity of the giant mutant double yolk egg that was laid in the coop.  We assumed it was Martini because of the consistent gigantic size of her eggs.  I'm keeping a watchful eye to see when Edna comes through.  They are still huge fans of laying in my chair outside and in fact had a line up this morning waiting to jump up and lay.  It's ridiculous and anarchy, fun!

The Banker is back on track as well.  We have a full, regular, week of school planned.  We headed out to get new tires on my car today and stopped at Half Price Books to have a look around.  We decided to switch gears in Latin and we bought him a Wheelock latin book.  We have been futzing around with a few different Latin ideas and neither of us have been delighted with any of them.  We are streamlining to the one Wheelock book and we'll see how it goes.

We also bought 2001 A Space Odyssey, he'll start reading it this week and when he's done we'll do a little project and see the movie, great plan for a science unit, I think!

I feel frantic for some reason, maybe just overtired or worried or fat or all of the above.  I'm taking some well needed and deserved "me" time tomorrow to spend time at Ikea (one of my favorite places to lurk about) with FriendC, I like her vibe and am looking forward to the spending of time.

I don't feel too much like I'm breaking the Banker this week, bonus!

We did stop on the way home and bought copious amounts of Chinese food so I don't have to cook later although I am playing around with one of my tried and true millionaire shortbread recipes, never one to rest on my laurels :)

I think it's cocktail time...

/Tracy

TUESDAY

I'm going out to play today.  Here's a little something to keep you entertaining for a few moment, it's how we roll at my house now.


Sunny lays an egg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azc9aenKymk&feature=plcp

Chicken lays an egg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7spSqyvLMc&feature=plcp

I'm leaving the Banker to his own devices this morning and heading off to Ikea with a friend.  I need the diversion and FriendC is the one to divert me.

I had a culinary crisis yesterday when the insert of my pressure cooker (Nesco Electric) took a tumble and crushed it's side.  I actually wept.  I use the pressure cooker all the time and had just done a massive meat shop, specifically for meat to cook in the pressure cooker! GASP!  I toyed briefly with just going out and buying another one.  I got mine at Walmart for $62 but they are $70 now and frankly I was afraid to spend the grocery money on one.  I called the company and they are shipping me a new insert for $25, it's going to be a long 7-10 days *whimper*  I don't cope well with waiting.

The Banker is going to be responsible for completing his "English" day work, literature, grammar and vocabulary.  He also has to finish the first chapter of his new Latin book from yesterday and I want him to finish his laundry (you BET he does his own!) and empty and refill the dishwasher so I can come home to a clean space and make dinner.  I think I'll make a meatloaf, I haven't made one forever and it'll be quick and easy when I get back.  I was going to make meatballs with the ground beef but since I discovered the pressure cooked meatball, I don't think I could go back to the oven or stove top cooked kind.  I'm a snob about my own food apparently.

I posted a couple of chicken videos for you.  There was an actual wrestling match in the chair between Sunny, who was in the throws of laying an egg and Chicken who needed the spot herself!  Sunny laid her egg on Chicken's head and left, that's why there is an egg on the chair in the video.  I have video of Sunny laying an egg and now of Chicken, very different techniques and yes, it's the kind of thing I notice.  I'm on a mission to get a video of each one of them although Peck lays in a very tiny dog crate so it'll be far less dramatic.

I'm off to do what I want to do today and leave my poor Banker to do all the work, poor Cinderella.

/Tracy

Week 5, 8th

Well, this is just ridiculous.

MONDAY:

My mother is here and we are playing every day.  With the puppy and the chickens and the dogs and the home school and the cooking and eating and playing and restauranting, there's no time for anything silly like sitting down or blogging.

Just quickly, school is going beautifully.  The schedule is working beautifully and the Banker has mastered those pesky concepts in pre-Algebra that had been kicking his butt.  He breezed through the last chapter and aced the test.  We were both terribly proud.  I think he had been concerned and the success did wonders for his confidence and faith in this home school thing.

We are cooking and shopping and then cooking and cocktailing today.  Well, mum and I, the Banker will be doing Latin, Science and Physics.  Sometimes it's good being the grown up.

I'm loving the time mum is here.  She's digging the chickens, Alouette has decided to lay eggs in my chair on the patio,  Luckily the Banker made a nest from my chartreuse Ikea blanket for such an auspicious occasion. The two of them sat and watched her, in my chair and on my blanket, lay a beautiful brown egg then hop down and wander off, job for the day well done.

It's weird here at the moment, I kind of love it.  I'll be lonely as hell when mum leaves, it's been fantastic and amazing to have a grown up to chat to on demand :)

/Tracy

TUESDAY

Every once in a while there is a moment in time that confirms to me the Banker is getting it. "Hey, mom, is it ok if I do another chapter in my Newton iPad book? I'm really enjoying it..." Um, sure dear ;) The temptation to do a fake anger and send him to his room was rather sizable. HAHA I love love love this part of the home school experience. If he digs something, he simply keeps researching/reading/studying it. Wow, what a crazy concept. I think he's finally stopped looking at clocks and doesn't ask me how long he needs to do something any more. He reviews his daily schedule and simply works through it until it's all complete, hands the comp books to me for review and bingo, day done. Sometimes he's working until about 1-2 and sometimes, like yesterday, he works until close to 6 because he's enjoying the experience of learning something and investigating something.

I am having a blast with mum here.  Yesterday we played with coconut rum (she'd not tried it) and make the best cocktail on earth, dangerous cocktail because there isn't the slightest hint of anything alcoholic in it.  Coconut rum (1x) Pineapple juice (2x) 1 banana and loads of ice.  Blend in my Ninja and you've got a smoothie, refreshing, 2 fruits! and it's ab/so/lutely delicious.  I don't think we should have more than 2 in any sitting though, well, unless we have no intention of standing. HAHAHA

The Banker and mum just went for a walk around the neighborhood and now she's getting organized, the Banker is working on his literature work and I've just put millionaire shortbread up to cool and am going to go walk on my treadmill for a few minutes before my shower and then I'll be ready for a Monday Afternoon (which is what we're calling the rum cocktail) and a think about what we should do this afternoon that's almost touristy without being blatantly so.

Alouette and Chicken are still the only ones producing eggs but they're pretty much each giving me one a day.  Alice pug puppy is coming along nicely with her training and is now on a solid 11pm-7am crate schedule and is going in for 2 hour naps without a peep. She has figured out I need her to pee/poop when we go outside THEN she can play and she adores Lola, who has the patience of Job and is the best mother of any species I've ever seen.  Walter Pug may have come to figure out Alice isn't going anywhere and has stopped being so grumpy with her.  She plays, loves on, cuddles (and runs to for support) with Lola  and she sits, stoically beside Walter watching the world go by, she's found her spot in the pack.

For the moment, it's all good :)

/Tracy

Week 4, 8th

MONDAY

Well, it was a very busy weekend. My mother arrives today and I waited until Friday night to start doing anything around my house. You know, silly things like washing bedding and towels so the poor woman can lay down and bathe :)

I'm looking forward to loads of cooking, cocktails and giggling. It's what we do. The Banker is well set with school this time around (we were in chaos when she came down last time in May, I felt like a true failure). He has a much more organized and flowing schedule this time, one of each class, laid out in a relatively cohesive order. He likes the work, completes the work and we seem to have a decent thing going. I hope.

Of course, this morning I started looking online for 8th grade science text/work/project books. I think I found one I might like,


Ready-to-Use Science Proficiency Lessons & Activities: 8th Grade Level

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0130340987/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A1F4CBIOQT8423


I'll have my resident expert, Ms.Zan check it out for me. I always defer to her experience with such things. I think it looks like a good basic resource that we can use to learn, direct and do some hands on work/projects/problems.


I've added an iPad book, Newton's Physics which the Banker is using as a companion to his Khan Physics lessons, in addition to the student extras on physicsclasssroom.com and he's been registered for months with, and gets the problem/s of the day emailed to him from, learnconceptualphysics.com. I think we're covered there :)


I love Ms.Zan's Literature and History lesson plans which I stole, she donated to our cause. The Banker loves those the best, he says they are the most professional of our classes. I like that.


In any event, I think my mother will be impressed with our progress from the anarchy of last year to the more organized this year.


One of my chickens, Alouette, has started to wander the garden to lay her eggs in new and exciting hidden locations. I think it's delightful she's added a playful element to what could be the drudgery of lay an egg in the assigned location, one of us gathering it, then eating it. Really, adding a hunt into the mix is, ok, it's going to be a pain in the a**. The problem is that the girls can jump (!) out of their run and into the yard to wander, forage, eat bugs and generally piss off the blue jays in the area but they can't jump back IN! Husband is moaning and threatening to cover their run with netting but then I can't go in the run, where I actually go and hang out and clean it and rake it. IF he covers it with netting then I have to shrink my bulk down to 3 feet tall and I'm not crawling in ANYwhere for ANYone, seriously.


We have 7 eggs in our little bowl at the moment and plan on having a number of them, lightly fried on homemade bread for dinner tonight when my mother arrives. Nothing says welcome to the farm than, "here, hold the puppy, Hurricane Alice, go hunt for eggs and dinner? oh it's that thing the chicken just squeezed out of her back end, sorry about the sticky butt residue, i'll just go wash that off..."! Hmmm, worth the flight to Texas.


I am not even going to comment on the fact my mother is arriving this afternoon from Ontario, Canada and my husband is flying to Ontario, Canada, tomorrow morning. His company is owned by a company not far from my mother's house. He is going for a week, will be back a week and then both he and my mum fly out the same day, both Canada bound. Different flights/destinations but it'll be weird waving them both off. I told the Banker we are taking the day after that completely and totally off. I said we will do ice cream for breakfast, popcorn for lunch and cookies for dinner that day, in jammies, watching trashy tv. We may even rent a couple of movies and just sit that day.


He's well into his work today, he enjoys Monday. Monday is science, physics, and latin day. He likes the computer and then iPad then computer aspect of the work/information on his first day out of the shoot. Tomorrow is his Literature day so there's more paper and working out of 2 books day, his Nook for his read and then one online exercise. I like the way his schedule is balanced that way.


While he has climbed into his iPad and is reading more about Newton and those laws, I'm off to deal with my final laundry, puppy, chicken coop clean out then dash to the store for limes and yeast and more wine...much much more wine!


/Tracy

Week two, 8th

I'm not going to post daily but will update this post through the week based on day.  I may have nothing to say ;)



MONDAY

Week two seems to be off to a rousing start.  We have a new diversion in the house, I've named her Alice. Good grief, 2 dogs, 6 chickens and now...a puppy! What am I thinking?!?!
     

I am sort of hard core when it comes to dog training so, cute as she is, we're in full on crate training.  Her daytime schedule is 2 hours crated, 1 hour out, no squealing, whining or barking allowed.  So far, she's spot on and hasn't made a peep.  She's also not allowed to come out of the crate until I invite her, also, she's nailing it and waiting patiently until I open the door and then stand back and invite her to come out.  As I said, cute or no, I have things to do and I'm hard core :)  She'll be trained quickly because she's smart, I'm consistent as hell and Lola and Walter are doing all the work for me :).  My dogs are bell trained and it took Alice all of 30 minutes to figure out the bell ringing (Lola and Walter both ring it) means the doors is opening and we're all going out.  She also comes to her name already!  (I changed it to Alice because, well she LOOKS like an Alice)  She is in the crate all night, 11-6:30 without a peep and isn't making a sound when I pop her into the crate so I can get something done.  Puppies are never.ever.ever unsupervised at my house, even for a second.  No accidents so far :)  

I turned my office/craft room/ sewing room/ writing den/ classroom back into the space we needed after transforming it into a sewing space to finish a rug that was ordered from my Etsy store.  I am suspending the store (for the craft stuff) for the time being.  I can't do both in here and I prefer to write.  I finished one rug, at the cost (almost) of the top of my finger, a gash which I keep reopening *ouch*  I am going to trim and ship the white rug and am going to return the money of the second rug.  I don't have the teeshirts here and have no intention of going to shop for them then cut them then make the rug for the cost I charged.  I set the price when I was making them regularly and had the t's in stock.  I am trying not to feel like a failure.  I just don't feel it anymore.  I think it's because I finally made the decision to move on, to write, to follow my passion and am feeling obligated to make these tshag rugs and you can't be creative and happy if you feel obligated.  That's my thought anyway. 

Science, Latin and Physics went fine today.  I did buy the Banker an iBook for his iPad, Newton's Laws, for him to use in conjunction with his Khan Physics.  He's delighted. 

We have a good system with the big purple binder that we pass back and forth with notes and expectations and schedule, daily agenda and completed work.  It's like a game of tag, you're free until it's your turn to work in the binder! 

He finished by 1pm today and is on full puppy duty, I hear giggling and cartoons and the odd happy puppy noise coming from the other room.  Most excellent. I think I'll make him garlic cheese biscuits to go with the farfalle with two sauces I'm doing for dinner.

/Tracy

WEDNESDAY

The week has been a rousing academic success, well, up until 10:30 on day 3.  The Banker got all the work done on Monday he needed to, all the work yesterday and is well on his way on MathUSee day today.   I finally *ooops* graded the rest of his tests from earlier weeks and discovered there was one that he failed miserably.  I mean there's failing a test then there's failing miserably.  The good thing about such an abysmal score is that he was obviously thinking about something completely different.  He was so far off that I think he wasn't paying attention or something else was going on that day.

When I sit and think about it, I seem to recall he did a bunch of tests that one day and this may have been the last one or he was just done with it all. I get that.  He is going to redo the test today, gotta love home school...  the retake without worry or ramifications.  That makes me happy.  He was sort of surprised when I told him how horribly he'd done and agreed he was just off.  You're allowed to be off when you're in the 8th grade, you can't be off when you're in high schools exams or college placement tests but he's 13 and working at home so he is absolutely, completely, allowed to have an 'off' day.

I'm also going to test a theory and give him 'review pages" at the end of each chapter instead of 'tests'.  We are having a hellish day because he's shattered about failure. Having him redo a chapter (at my request as opposed to his decision to review the work) is being met with drama befitting of a 15 year old girl rebuffed in the lunch room over a love note.  *gack*

I'm not delighted.

Alice, that puppy, isn't interfering too much.  I am a hardcore crate trainer so she is in her crate from 9-11:30 every morning so she can rest (hahahaha) sure, we'll say that.  It's so we can get our stuff done and it prepares her for when we go out, did I mention I really really need to go out.  She comes out of the crate for about 1 1/2 hours then starts to fade so we crate her for another 2 hours.  That schedule seems to work for her and then she's ready for bed at about 11 or so and she's down for the night and back up around 6:30.  Not a peep in the night, this is my kind of puppy!

I am going to start the Banker on his photography class later today if for no other reason as for the diversion.  I'm sending him out with a camera.  Sure, we could talk about theory and history, naw, he's going to take pictures, experiment with hue and focus and the best way to learn what the million buttons on my Samsung digital camera do is to use them.

I'm thinking it might be wine time already. I have a hissy pissy teenage boy doing math in a snort and the puppy is only good for another half hour before I have to go be perky and joyful (and I'm in no mood suddenly).  I should take my window of opportunity here and now.

/tracy

FRIDAY

Well, what a week, with my ridiculous decision to get a puppy, which is going beautifully by the way, then the drama that was trying to get through a 12 hour school day and today, one of my chickens laid their first egg!  In the nesting box, wow.  I'm over the moon excited about it.  It's a little thing, barely brown and it's a big bowl on my counter waiting for more so we can have a meal.  I am not going to get anything done today for running outside to check the run, the yard and the coop for another!!

School kicked our butt this week a little bit.  We did math for an entire day which pushed everything back a day and today, which is supposed to be our 'free' day, is going to spent on the final math test then chapter for this week to bring us back in line.

The Banker told me he doesn't feel well and has gone to lay down.  I don't think he feels ill, I think he feels guilty from a little drama outburst he had at bedtime last night.  He wakes up feeling guilty when he's acted like that.  That's a good thing.  I'd be upset if he didn't give a damn about acting like a mouthy 'i know everything and you are obviously an idiot' teenager.

I think it's going to be a low key day and that's fine.  We are in week 2, are up to date on everything I wanted to be into by now and if we put off the next math chapter for a week then so be it.

I realize it's a short week next week and then we lose Friday by having the CoOp start.  Yeah, my time is ticking away there.  I'm still trying not to fret, even with the diversion of Alice and the chickens' egg I am feeling pretty consistently ill about the whole thing.  I will have to decide which subject stream day we blow off.  Just because Monday is Latin/Science/Physics doesn't mean that's the day we'll lose on a holiday.  I'll talk to the Banker about it

I think friends are coming over on Monday to talk about a food trailer (be still my heart) and even if we weren't having people come play, I think we are going to take all the school holidays off.

I have to research chickens today, about their laying habits, I can't spend every minute wondering if I should run into my backyard to check for an egg!  ACK!  I'm excited **GRIN**

Have a happy weekend, I have work to do.

/Tracy

Day one, 8th

Well, we're here, the first day of 8th grade.  Husband left early (for him) and the Banker is still snoring.  I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this 15-20 minute window of quiet and solitude before I go get the boy up for school. I think 9:30 is an entirely appropriate time to start, he will be done 1:30ish because we figured the days would be about 4 hours long.  They'll be slightly longer at the start while we get our groove on.  Although Mondays are easy for me because he's got online classes for those subjects.  I'm basically a resource to him on cyber days, I'm the manager. 

daily summary page

Unlike last year where I printed him out a weekly schedule, the Banker asked for a planner, like in school where I could write the daily expectation and he could write notes, comments and check off what he'd done for the day.  We couldn't find a planner we liked so we have a binder with filler paper and I'm going to a daily schedule for him, with the big three classes listed plus any additional information he'll need or what my expectation is of the work he'll complete.  This week will be a lot of review, some new work but in the physics and science video classes, he's already 1/3 through them so I want him to do quick reviews to get back in the zone.  I like that we'll end up with a single 8th grade binder that we will be able to use as review and reference and even though no one is checking, proof of what we did.

Everything is in place and we're ready to go.  It's Monday so it's Latin, Physics and Science, which is Astronomy/Cosmology and space, day.  Heck of a way to kick off a year.  I thought it rather brilliant to put some of his favorites first.  

I sold yet another rug so I am certainly going to be spending time moving my writing zone and turning it into a sewing zone for at least this week. I actually paid into the promotional opportunities on Etsy to push the recipes and tutorials so let's all keep our fingers crossed people don't want me to DO anything for them but rather just tell them HOW to do it.  

I'll check back in at the end of today.  Although The Banker has been a royal, colossal, teenager for the past day or so, I'm looking forward to diving into this adventure together.  I really, mostly, think it's going to be great.  The abject horror of being convinced I'd broken him has been replaced with a slow seeping fear of it, I'm calling it improvement. 

/Tracy

UPDATE: 

What a brilliant day. The process worked beautifully, the information was accessible in a smooth and fluid motion.  The Banker took a break and took a walk.  He read outside, he read inside, he worked, took killer notes and completely and totally approved of the requirements for work and of the followup.  We.are.delighted.

When a good loaf goes wild!

OH and look at this ridiculous loaf of bread! I added whole wheat to my standard sandwich loaf and then, well, I must have rolled it differently.  It is a different pan than usual, this one is long and thin.  The Banker moans about sandwich bread being too big.  Really, nice crisis, Banker.  Anyway, I thought this would make it smaller.  I am thinking not.  :)

The recipe, the normal recipe, for my sandwich loaf is here:
http://tracyloopers.blogspot.com/2012/02/white-bread-pictorial-journey.html

Also, by way of an update, here's the girls!  20 weeks in 2 days!  c'mon girls, we're READY for eggs!!  I love these chickens, each one has such a personality and really, I've said it before, there's nothin' like chicken luv. :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ5Q47X_KNg&feature=plcp

/happy monday!

Summer Schedule Week 5

It was a crazy week and then a crazy weekend.  I haven't exactly figured out how we got so perpetually occupied.  I think I like it but honestly, the jury is still out. 


The girls are getting bigger by the day, they are a joy, a delight and on the weekend, NeighborL introduced me to NeighborD after all these years of living around the corner from each other.  It's nice to have more people to play with ;).  NeighborD has a 13 yr old grandson who comes to hang out periodically so we are going to introduce him to Banker, maybe have them come over for a swim and chicken stare.  It'll be nice for Banker to meet more kids his age.  He only knows one in the neighborhood. 


I've also been thinking seriously about looking into the new science high school here in my neighborhood.  It's for the cream of the crop kids and it might be something to investigate for 10th or later grade?  Banker and I discussed it and we will go check it out next year sometime as a field trip.  It's supposed to be a lottery, the admissions, but we all know the smart kids get put where they need to be so if I wanted in, I really don't see any reason he wouldn't be in.  His old Middle School's Principal sent her teachers to this school to learn and experience what she hopes her school can one day be, that's reasonably high praise in my books.  Say what I will about the public school system, that Principal was all about improving her school...so if she thinks this place near me is the bomb then I think it's worth a look down the road.


Considering I have felt too far away for anyone to come play with us, we have been with constant home company which is proving to be one of the best summers we've ever had.  Who'd have thought stay-cations could be so lovely. 


This week we have gatherings happening here 4 of the 5 days.  I wanted Math to happen but I truly don't see it working out until Thursday ?!  Banker is like me, we function best in the morning.  I agree that there's no way we can start anything even close to math related at 2-3pm, gadzooks. 


I think I'll have him start on his Tom Sawyer read.  He moaned at me that I asked him to read it on his iPad. Really?  THAT is what you're going to moan about?  Oh darn, don't make me read on the latest piece of technology, mom!  *sigh*  13 is not a pretty age sometimes.  First world problems really drive me quite mad.  I should go and buy an old tattered version of the book and have him sit and read that instead of the electronic version.  I'm just being tight, he has a Nook e-reader but I already have the book on the iPad for free and am so disenchanted with Banker's eye rolling lately that I don't even want to spend the $2.99 to get the book for the reader.  Bad mother or just tired?  I think tired...of it.  I will concede the point that I have it easier than mothers of teenage girls or multiples at the moment but it doesn't make it any less frustrating, though fleeting drama pants moments, they are still exhausting.


I'm trying to be crafty and get my Etsy store organized with the recycled tshirt stuff.  My store is called Tracys Altered Reality, if you search that I actually come up, it's pretty cool.  I only have one listing, the pixie coats I was making but the rest should be up this week, the t-shag rugs and pillows and other things that used to be other things ;).  I need about 3 uninterrupted days to work on this stuff, hopefully today will see a large piece of work done.  FriendC is coming to help me cut tshirts and Banker will be occupied with FriendA and siblings and cousin.  They ought to have fun, hopefully they'll swim and watch chickens and keep out of my hair.


The week looks like this: 


Monday; FriendC and gang - tshirts and working on prototype creation and completion for Etsy store. 


Tuesday:  FriendR and son - it's mother/son/mother/son/chicken day.  Visiting, floating, cocktailing and nibbling. 


Wednesday:  Rubberglove at the GW day.  With offspring, they can dig for tshirts and treasures with FriendE and I.  We will toss them food at a very cool local Mexican dive as payment.


Thursday:  NOTHING! (as of 9am Monday) 


Friday:  FriendS with R and hubba.  Mozzarella making day!  I haven't made mozzarella before and am really looking forward to it.  I have 2 methods we are going to try since were into it anyway.  I'll make copious amounts of homemade italian bread to use as a transportation device.  To get cheese to mouth.  I anticipate a lovely day of cocktails, cooking, visiting, floating and chicken watching. Husband is trying to get out of work early to come play. 

So, ready or not week, here we go!

/Tracy

Summer Schedule weekend 2

Wow, what  week.  No school happened at all, not even  a read.  ooops.  I don't know if I can really complain considering I am our leader and we were too busy to work with all the playing going on.

This weekend hasn't had the hellish start most have, it gives me hope for the next two days.

I got up ridiculously early and went outside to watch the Girls.  They are enormous and happy happy happy in their new run.  They hop to get fresh leaves which cracks me up, I post them on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgDR-BF2ws

In other news;

I think I'm going to get us a manual treadmill.  We have an elliptical which I can't use because it hurts my knees and hips to the point I have to lay on the floor afterwards.  Sort of defeats the endorphin high I'm looking for after a workout. I don't want to sink money into a big treadmill in case we don't use it.

I think both the Banker and I would benefit from a daily walk, it's starting to get too hot here in Austin for me to do it outside.  I think he needs the exercise too.  He is getting the 13yr old boy pudge and he's upset by it.  He doesn't eat candy or sweets or junk at all so it's all hormonal, he'll suddenly grow into his weight but in the mean time we don't need any bad body image moments for him.  I think it's worth the $129, I can always run it back if it doesn't get used in the 30 days we have to try it.

We have plans both today and tomorrow for functions.  We have husband's boss's son's graduation celebration to attend this afternoon.  I shouldn't be disappointed it won't be a "bring a bottle of wine" affair.  I'm sure we will enjoy over sweetened tea and hundreds of people we don't know.  I'll smile and nod and be my most delightful self.  Banker doesn't want to go but I think one boy he knows will be there so that'll help. I don't anticipate a very late evening.

I have a girl party to go to tomorrow, well I did up until 20 minutes ago when I saw it was cancelled.  Unfortunately I'd arranged to take Banker across town (on my way to said girl party) for a sleepover so I'll still haul him over there even though there's no cocktailling at the other end.  Actually, why do I need to wait for someone ELSE to arrange a cocktail moment.  I think I'll get on the phone and find myself a date for after boy dropoff.  Maybe a run to a store and buy myself something pretty.  I'm sick of living in oversized free tshirts, I look like a slob and feel like one too.  I don't need fancy but hell, I need something else.

Husband is in a reasonable humor, we're treading lightly but so far, so good.  Banker is killing things online and I've been in chicken mode since 7am.  I just put them back into the coop to come update my blogs and ponder the lack of any academics this week.  Oh well, we'll work next week.

Wish me weekend luck, I'm trying to have a good one for a change.

/me

Summer Schedule Week 2

I'm going to update this spot all week long rather than bore the heck out of everyone with non home school home school summertime adventures.  I'll go back to daytime when we go back to school life.

I will say that in review of the home school adventure, I did realize it took this long for the Banker to shake school off him. The rules and regulations and structure and rigidity are so deeply ingrained in these kids from the age of 4 (preschool) that it's no wonder it's taken 100+ days to undo it.  I don't think it's all the way undone and I'm sure we'll have more challenges next year regarding home vs public school process and procedure rather than information and knowledge.

I'll share more tidbits as they come to me, in the mean time;

The lion tamer door on the chicken coop is brilliant!   I made a quickie video for my mom showing it off...  I'll do a better video but this is the one so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yS_JL440vI 

The chickens are happy happy happy. They have all figured out how to use the door and how to get out and back in.  I love my chickens.

I love love love their run.  They have space and air and can run and leap and be happy happy chickens.

The pool is up and is being filled as I type this.

I love love love our summertime pool.  18 feet of joy filled with water that stays cool all summer long and it's in full shade so we don't need to slather ourselves up with bottles of sunscreen.  Just leap in and float.  I cannot wait for it to be filled.

I helped a friend today.  I cooked a big roast dinner because I had a hankering.  The Banker is over his sleepover.  He came home overtired and miserable yesterday, it wasn't worth it.  Today he had FriendA come by and they're giggling like lunatics upstairs.  I like this combination of children.  It warms my heart.

We have had a party weekend, FriendK and son here Saturday night then all of us out to dinner.  FriendL here Sunday and then down to friends for a play, to get Banker and I discovered one of my new favorite champagne cocktails.  Champagne and pomegranate liquor, sounds awful but it's delightful and refreshing!  We were out Sunday night for an Indian meal on the way home.  Sewing and laundry and housework and cooking today.  FriendL came by and we visited then went shopping for fabric together. It's been a whirlwind, fabulous.

I sewed.  I loved it.  I am working on "mug rugs", many are quilted but I think I prefer them just sewn together.  About 8x10 inches, they are larger than coasters, smaller than placemats and soak the dreaded water ring around everything.  I'll post a link to an album making as well as to my Etsy store which I may just reopen this week.

FriendL and FriendC are dropping by tomorrow in the morning.  I'll make biscuits and coffee and we'll chat and giggle.  The Banker can finish his math tomorrow because I'm still sort of annoyed with him about his bad choices and teenage attitude he threw my way Saturday night.

Husband worked hard on coop and mowing and pool this weekend.  It felt nice to have everyone working and playing.

I'm going to take FriendA home and come back, pop myself up in bed and stare at TV for a while, all alone.  It's going to be a long week and I need a few moments stolen away.

/Tracy

TUESDAY

Friends over for baked goods, there was no drama with the painters across the street.  EXCELLENT.  Banker is spending his time scrubbing the pool that is 3/4 full so we can loosen the dirt stuck to the bottom them vacuum it.  Ahhh, work in a pool isn't REALLY work at all.

We have no plans for the rest of the day except to lay about.  I like those sorts of plans.  I may do a pay per view movie for he and I and a couple big bowls of popcorn.

I'm going to shop and cook tomorrow for the Ladies who Lunche coming on Thursday.  I think a couple different salads, a thai peanut pasta and a grilled vegetable quinoa salad will be nice and light in anticipation of the cheesecake stuffed strawberries I'm going to tempt them with.

No schoolwork today, today we play.

SEWING LESSONS!  I love giving sewing lessons, on machines today.  I love the enthusiasm of the pre or teenagers.  I love the delight at creating something from a few scraps.  I love the discovery of getting the feel for the foot pedal.  I don't mind at all doing it for free when it's the Banker who wants the lessons and he wants his mother to be the one to teach him.  *joy*


/Tracy

THURSDAY

It's LADIES WHO LUNCH day!  I cooked and am waiting for the Ladies to arrive.  I made thai peanut noodle salad with shredded carrot, cabbage, sugar snaps and red peppers, roasted sliced chicken (I roasted it yesterday)  homemade ciabatta (I caved in last minute), micro greens with lemon vinaigrette, wine (loads of it) cheesecake stuffed strawberries and lemon curd and cream mini tarts.  I made roast tomato salsa this am and have cheese and nuts and pita for snackies.  I made hotdogs for the children with bags of chips and bowls of popcorn for them to be elsewhere while the Ladies catch up.

I love Ladies Who Lunch Day.  I miss those who can't come every time but love the time with the girls.

OOH, there's a doorbell!

/Tracy

Summer Schedule weekend 1

Ah, weekends.  School free time.  


I have started to pack up 7th grade and make room for the summer work and new 8th grade schedule.  Slowly of course, I have loads of time.


Up at 4, playing with chickens at 6, chickens in the run, remark their heads, play with them.  Give them a corncob, wow, I'm glad I'm not a piece of corn! That was like piranhas!  Give them treaties of grapes and dry oatmeal, they love it, I think they might actually like me.


Oh and on an unrelated note I don't like being belittled, I'm just saying.  I don't like being made fun of either.  I'm not a fan of sarcasm 24/7 because it's not sarcastic then, it's just mean.  I don't like my grammar or spelling commented on, checked or corrected.  Obnoxious.  I know some obnoxious people.  


In a brief moment of stress-less, coffee drinking, chicken watching, I asked husband if he liked the chickens, he said it's been too much work... for him.  ?  He said he had to build a coop,  I didn't let that one go, "I WANTED to do it and you wouldn't LET me".   He just stared ahead. I hate weekends.


I cleaned out the coop and replaced the shavings in the gigantic apartment portion.  I think we should remove the plank that comes down from the small hole in the coop floor and close the hole.  We made them a ladder from bamboo that they actually like and that'll work just fine for them to go in and out, plus they can jump from the floor to the open door of the apartment so they don't need the hole.  It's going to be too small anyway and they already have to duck to get past the floor joist.  I'd like to just go do it. 


The Banker is still off screens.  He's going to a sleepover tonight so I'll have no control over screens at FriendM's house but until he leaves, he's off them and I think the point is being driven home.  Good choices make for a happy life.  


Husband yanked the fence/netting down from the run and is replacing it with the same 1x2 inch wire garden fencing his garden is surrounded by.  He said it's so I will stop complaining.  What the hell?  I don't say word one out of sheer fear of the fallout, it's never worth saying a word.  I hate weekends


"look what's missing? look what's missing?  a way in?!" he said


I smiled.  Tossed under a bus. I smiled and said, "yep, once we got a way in it's sweet, I couldn't reach the birds over it, could I but it works fine now...?"  I came inside.


Ahhh, my committee immediately flashes back to joking with a friend about the run not having access into it, nice.  Right under a bus.  I cannot imagine what on earth conversation would prompt anyone to tell husband, "your wife asked what was missing from the run...a way in?"  Obviously it was shared because it's what I said, well, part of what I said. Way to flip out of context, I wasn't mean about it, I was joking, it was a very long conversation and those three words were a very small part of it.  Wow.  I'm rather obsessive about being sacrificed.  I'm a one time gal.  Mental note, future commentary will include, and will be limited to, smiling and nodding.  Wow. 


I hope hope hope he adds a gate or some EASY method for me to get inside the chicken run.  Even better I hope hope hope he makes some EASY connection system to the coop, carrying the birds one at a time into a run is a little bit ridiculous.  I wish I could say something that wouldn't result in the silent treatment and 3 days of muttering at me, stomping and sighing.  The fee is always too high.  Smile and nod.


He's gone to Home Depot.  $7,874.04 worth of lumber, board, wire, fence, hinges and rope in the garage but yet ...  there's a perpetual need to run to Home Depot.  My neighbor gave us a load of wood specifically for a gate on the fence and some additional lumber.  No?  I think it's a man thing, plus it has to be something enormous and intricate I'm sure, something that'll be hard to work and potentially stab me all the time.  I still can't get into or out of the coop without scratching myself.  There's 2 inches of folded exposed wire over the door edges for some reason.  


I poured a glass of wine and came inside. It's 10:30.  It's going to be a very long day.


I don't know what time Banker is going to the sleepover, FriendK said she will be in my side of town and offered to come get him, I hope she does.  I could use the giggly glass of wine friend time. 


There is a square dance tonight I no longer want to go to.  There is a barbecue cook-off that husband is going to "help" ??  a "friend" with that I no longer wish to attend.  I set myself up every single Friday night thinking THIS TIME I'm about to have 2 days of fun of family activity of working together and every single time I have to find somewhere to hide out and smile and nod.  I just want to crawl into a corner and wait for it to be Monday.  


/Tracy

Summer Schedule day 5

Ah, brilliant yesterday.  There was the longest list of chores I could think of to do and Banker did them all, well except one but that's ok, he'll do the math test today. 


Banker cooked, cleaned, vacuumed.  He did laundry, 4 loads.  He moved furniture, swept and dusted.  He fed chickens, put food away and emptied the dishwasher...twice.  He did it with a smile, a good spirit and delightful mood.  He was wise.


I think I may take us to the movies today.  I feel housebound even though I'm not actually housebound.  I mean, we were out both Monday and Tuesday of this week yet by Thursday night I'm feeling housebound?  I think I need to balance out my mental health.  A day and a half at the house does not a hermit make!  Truly.


We have a big weekend ahead of us, invited to a square dance and a bbq cook off and Banker is going to a sleepover which will free husband and I up to spend quality time in our separate corners, quietly.  No offense, Banker but it'll be nice.  I thought about trying to convince the man to take me out on a date or to spend time out together.  He would prefer to sit on the back porch, smoking and playing on his iPad I'm sure.

LOOK at how beautiful they are...and how big!

The Girls are getting giant.  They are 8 weeks old and as personable as they are beautiful.  We didn't have them out to play yesterday but I am planning on quality chicken watching time today. 


I started a thread on my Facebook page about talking about myself in the third person.  For some reason it completely cracks me up.  I think I'll do it when we go out today.  "Tracy thanks you" to the ticket guy perhaps?  HAHAHA  


We played all morning, we dashed out to see Men in Black 3, we wandered Walmart and stopped for a pizza.  We laughed, the Banker was a normal, fun, kid.  No angst, no eye rolling, no drama, no nothing, just a great day. 


He is sweeping, dealing with the dishwasher, while he humms, and is about to transfer his fish, Cornelius, into a bigger, better aquarium he bought with his own debit card.  He's in a delightful mood and look, no screens hasn't done a damned thing to him...except give me a happy kid.  Hmmm


/Tracy  (who thanks you for reading...)

Day One hundred two and one hundred three (weekend)

Edna

I tried not to hate the weekend today.  I was successful for a little while then it got weekendy and so I left.  I went to the grocery store then met the boys at Costco and we all sort of worked together but not really and sort of got stuff done.  It was an ok day afterall.

I was surprised with a new tv today, husband likes to surprise me with things.  That meant we were suddenly very tv heavy for the house. There are 3 of us in the family and we have more televisions than normal people should have.  Banker became starry eyed at the mathematics of televisions here when he realized his bedroom was the ONLY room in the house without a cable hooked up tv.  Well, besides the studio (I don't want one in there) and the bathrooms... although cool, it'd be weird.  We do all have tv ready/worthy iPads so if you add the computer monitors that we can watch tv on plus iPads and iPhones, it's into double digits and that's so very weird.

I agreed to let Banker have a tv in his room for the summer.  It's basic cable, not the box with the HBO channels so we'll see.  I asked him, please please please, don't let me down with bad tv choices.  I have limited faith.  I don't want to be disappointed.

He does have some school to finish from the week with the playdays, I still have an expectation it'll be completed this weekend and/or week.

WalterPug is enamored with the Girls and spends lots of his time watching them through the netting.  He could bust through but doesn't realize it.  *yay*  The Girls aren't the slightest bit concerned by him and he just watches.  It's lovely to watch.  Lola, is coping.

Walter and Peck

Walter watching the Girls

We built a ladder for the girls as well as a run for them by the fence.  Unfortunately there's no way to get INto the run so we have to take them one at a time and put them in then Banker or husband has to climb the pool 'A' frame ladder over the netting to go in and get them, one at a time, and hand them out so they can be put back in their coop.  Weird but the girls love love the run area so it'll work for now.

Husband is golfing tomorrow and I'm supposed to run errands at fabric stores and such but with the new 32" in my room, I may just stay in bed and watch mindless tv, eating bonbons and drinking coffee.  Oh, yes, I like that plan!

/Tracy

Day Ninety Eight

I feel as though we are finally back in the groove.  The Banker is sitting across from me with his gigantic banana strawberry smoothie, (I love my new Ninja! blender!) he has his schedule for the week before him, headphones on, MathUSee video program running on his laptop double screen and I'm furiously trying to get my blog/s done, bread is rising and my coffee is sitting in front of me slowly going cold.  Ahhhhh, routine! Ahhhhhhh, math day.

"Chicken" (the lover of the group)

It rained AGAIN on my girls (chickens 7 weeks old tomorrow!) last night, we threw a tarp over the 'open' area of their coop in an attempt to keep them slightly dry on that side.  The shavings I put down on the weekend really helped stopping it from turning into a mud pit.  When the rain subsides, I'll muck it out and add some dry shavings.  I'll admit it, I secretly like being a farmer :-)

I let the Banker blow off, sort of, loads of time yesterday.  He was SO enjoying the Walking with Monsters series (Netflix how I love you) and ended up watching the entire series in one sitting.  Now then, look what I said, "blow off" time, really?  I need to get over the idea that doing something unconventional isn't educational.  Geesh, c'mon me.

There's got to be information in there and he shouted knowledge tidbits at me throughout the afternoon.  You have to be absorbing information when you are so happy about being given it.  I was also very proud of myself and did not have him take notes in my home school mantra of 'it's only educational and it only counts as "school" if you take copious amounts of notes'.  See, it only took me 98 days to figure that out.  I'm slow but I'm steady and I do get it, eventually.

After the documentaries, we decided to do some more microscope work, that thing rocks.  I killed a fly in the kitchen which was immediately put onto a slide to be observed close up and personal.  It was, unfortunately still twitching and freaked the Banker out.  Me too!  Later I squished another one, substantially more forcefully, pulled off a wing and legs to check out up close.  Euwww, very hairy! and who knew they had hair on their wings?!  Anyway, I put the body underneath to check out those mandibles and, oh my god, they were still twitching.  I threw it away.  No, seriously, it would have freaked the Banker out to see a fly STILL twitching after the removal of parts.  Next time, I'll make very very sure it's very very dead.  It's Science day again on Thursday this week, there'll be loads of microscope work, it's very cool.

I've been thinking about doing some sewing but still can't wrap my head around going in there to sew when he's sitting here working online.  I keep saying it'll find it's level but really, I'd like it to be sooner rather than later.

I'm feeling a little housebound and a little friend challenged lately too.  I see FriendC loads and cyber visit with friends through Facebook and Texting briefly but really, I need some 'live' grownup girlfriend time and am sending out invitations that aren't being answered (either way) as quickly as my lonely soul would like, I'm sure it's not personal that we're all as busy as each other so I'm not getting into a funk just yet but I reserve the right to delve headlong into a thumb sucking, "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to the garden to eat worms..." moment in the not too distant future.  I will organize another Ladies who Lunch soon as well, hopefully before school is out although I wouldn't mind doing a couple with a couple of the public school kids in tow, I like some of them.  I'm also in a little funk for the lack of invitations anywhere.  I think it's funny that when I throw that sentence out, I get loads of replies from friends telling me how busy I always am, I guess it's the perception sometimes, plus my mom was just here for 2 weeks and we were busy every day, maybe it's partly vacation hostess letdown as well.

I think when husband gets the pool up it'll help tempt my southside living friends up north to me to hang about.  I've started making, "wow, when the pool is up it's going to be just perfect back here" noises.  We will see if he takes the bait.

Ok, there's my moan d'jour.  I feel good about the academics today and still plan on a massive review at the end of the week about wrapping this up and getting some dates set for completion.

I'm going to go blend something...Ninja style!

/Tracy

Day Ninety Seven

We lived through the weekend.  I hated Saturday, like all my weekends, but I made some of my own fun.  I went to Calahan's Country Store and bought wood chips for the girls, downstairs and in their apartment.  It immediately eliminated the mud pit.  FriendC came  by with more overgrown chard stalks, about 3 inches around! for the girls to jump on, chew on and generally play with and eat.  Yay. 


The boys did me proud on Sunday, Mother's Day.  I was spoiled with loving cards from them, lovely notes and then they surprised me with a Ninja (blender).  We all went to the grocery store to load up on fresh fruit and veggies to make smoothies and all manner of things and I'm going to be playing all week with the silly thing.  We had smoothies last night, made snow and ice cream as well last night.  This morning, husband actually ASKED me to make him a smoothie which he then ENJOYED and TOLD ME he liked it!  it was a delightful surprise.


I made banana strawberry smoothies for Banker and I to start our day while we discussed the end of the year. I've done a quick review of the lesson plans of the middle schools in the area and think we've successfully covered everything they have.  We are spending today reading and then the afternoon will be dinosaur documentaries Banker has been meaning to watch.  He pulled the, "it's science, ecology, history, astrology AND cosmology, mom!" card and I happily acquiesced.  


I'm writing his schedule now, he's excited for another day of microscope work, he thoroughly enjoyed having the time to spend on it last week.  I may move the schedule around so FriendA can come spend some science day here with the Banker, she seemed enthralled with it when she was here and Banker was excited showing off his squished ant head under massive magnification! 


I feel very close to the end of the year.  We agreed to do another review at the end of the week.  We are not going to take the summer off, Banker will do one morning per week of math, working through the prealgebra MathUSee, one chapter/week and he'll do one morning per week, formally, of English.  The English will be in the form of grammar, comprehension, dictionary hide and seek.  I expect him to read daily or close to daily.  He seemed happy with the expectation so once I determine we've completed what I wanted to complete, I'll kick him loose formally and will start work on his schedule for next year.  


I still need to get with the science gal, who is writing some of his curriculum for me and then I'll meet with MsZan and see if there's any schedule/plan overlap I can steal/use/borrow/work in tandem with Banker and FriendH at all during the next academic year. 


I'm holding off opinion on how I feel it's gone.  There have been solid ups and solid downs.  It's been more emotional (for me) than I thought and Banker has really matured during the experience.  NOT in a good way.  I don't think he'd have been nearly to challenging in public school and although it got up my nose, I think it's been the best thing for him.  The freedom and safety to take on authority, rules, expectations and see how it all plays out.  I didn't cook him or sell him to gypsies, that's a pleasant surprise to both of us.


The girls are getting gigantic, loving their coop and apartment but I still need to get them out of there to run.  I'm afraid they'll take off or try to fly away or that I won't be able to catch them.  I guess I need a moderate form of containment before I let them go.  I want them to have more freedom, the coop is already seeming crowded and once they are much taller, they'll have to duck when they are downstairs at all.


We made noises about husband putting up the pool in the not too distant future so hopefully that'll happen soon.  With my newly done back yard, I intend on spending a lot of time out there floating and generally enjoying life offline.  I hope to have loads of people here all the time to play with me and have loads of time just me.  I hope it'll be good.


At the end of the day, I think I didn't break the Banker all the way.  I think he's a good guy, he cares and even though I don't see any reason at all for me to actually LIKE 13, I peek in on him sleeping and realize I wouldn't change a thing. :) 


/Tracy

Day Ninety Five and Ninety Six

We finished the day yesterday more successfully than we began.  Bonus.  The Banker and I reviewed the expectations to continue this home school experience.  We both have ends to hold up and I hope the talk hit the right cords with him, I have cautious faith.


It's the weekend.  I hate weekends.  Although lately, not much has been the source of great delight.  I just let the girls out of their sleeping area, they jumped off their perch! and they were so very excited to see me.  They jumped into my lap and ate the treaties I'd taken out for them.  I am going to find something today to dump in there so they can scratch it out over the mud, I slipped while straddling their stupid ramp and half twisted my ankle again.  I am not going to moan too heavily about it.  I am also going to find one portion of the porch to de-mud, baby steps because the entire project is too daunting. 


Banker has some academics to finish this weekend and we will finish moving his bedroom from one room to the other.  He slept between husband and I last night.  I woke to both their snoring faces ;)  Normally Banker would have gone back to his room after some TV watching with me and/or husband would have wandered to the guestroom bed but he didn't for some reason.  I'd like to formally thank the maker of the King Sized bed for last nights sleeping.  Everyone had room.


So, I'm going to de-mud a small portion of my newly decorated then destroyed back garden then play with my iPad a bit, then sweep 4,908 times to de-mud the back door every time anyone walks in and leaves their shoes on and stomps up the stairs grinding it in.  But I'm going to keep it to myself. 


No formal plans this weekend, maybe I should find a girlfriend and get out for a bit, oh wait, my sty eye is still swollen and red and itchy and driving me crazy...never mind. 


It's Mother's Day tomorrow, I just want a coffee and some quiet and maybe for them to clean off the porch.  Wow, I'm easy.  I hope husband doesn't spend money, I don't want anything really, just be nice to me for a whole day, say something pleasant or even more frightening, tell me I did something well.  That's what it'll take to make my day.  I bet husband dashes out later and buys a card for Banker to sign, he HATES that and always tells me that he just wants to be able to go and pick a card from him to me, I don't understand why husband won't take him out to do that... I might take him out later if it comes to that actually, there's nothing worse, when you're a kid, than not being able to get to a store or worse, having someone buy something for you to give.


I'm going to go stare at chickens until the day starts then try and duck and weave my way through to Monday.


/Tracy

Day Ninety Four

I am sick of mud.  Mud everywhere, inside, outside, on the floors, carpets, walls, dogs, family, beds, stairs, furniture, chickens, I'm seriously sick of it. 


The poor chickens haven't had a day without rain, torrential rain, thunder and lightening, rain since they went into their coop.  It's stinky and mucky and I'm sick of it for them.  Ok, it's pretty dry under the house portion, the part of their coop they run and hide under there and no one can reach them, I can't rake or clean it out, it's going to turn into a giant pile of chicken shit that'll stink to high heaven, NICE design plan. I still don't know what was wrong with a little shed, chickens in the bottom, shelf on top for food buckets and a run.  I know I keep harping on it but I just don't understand this version. They have to duck walking up the ramp to get inside, already, and then have to jump up 6inches or so to get inside.  They don't like to do the jump because it's dark, even with doors open and they can't see where they're going to land.  I just wanted easy.  


Anyway, I did put a tarp over the 'open' portion, it's only a couple of square feet to just enough for me to turn around in, but the ramp runs in the middle of where you're supposed to try to stand so the only way to be in there is to straddle it and i keep slipping in the mud trying to straddle it.  It's wet and mucky in there from the sides and run off from the copious amounts of water.  They are annoyed and are spending today perched on the edge of their coop looking down at the yuck.  I want to get them out of there but have no net to make a fence and don't want them to have the run of the yard when it's half under water and half slipNslide mud.  I can hardly keep a footing walking across the flat parts out there!  I just wanted them to be able to have some running around space that didn't require me to stand there the whole time.


I woke up with my eye swollen shut from a sty that's about making me ready to scratch my eye out of my head.


The Banker is screwing around, he's in "how little can I do to get credit for doing it" mode and I'm sick of it.  I threatened him the local scary, bad, low performing, thug, gangster, school district schools today.  I think my last nerve is beyond shredded and has been all week.  I'm still frantic and now I'm mad about it.


We are going to have a very silent and stoic rest of the day.  I am having Banker redo the work he's already done, to do more of it and more thoroughly.  I'm going to finish laundry and try not to explode at every little thing, then I am going to watch a Netflix documentary on bees because I like bees and I think it'll be interesting.  I may make Banker watch it with me later, if it's done his English.


Husband is on call all weekend, some new system is implementing at work which means he'll be a bear all weekend probably.  I plan on hiding to a certain extent.  We had to call friends and tell them we can't go away to Disney with them after all next month, money and time and schedules and dogs and chickens and all that just preclude is from happening this year.  I'm disappointed of course but at the same time, a trip like that almost feels like work.  Too much to do too many places to be and see and experience.  I think I'd like to find a quiet hotel or rental condo this summer and just get away for a few days where my only decision is what to have for breakfast, then go lay by on a beach or by a pool with my Nook until I want to nap then get ready and go eat something.  I want some silence, some freedom from decision making, some dog and chicken free time, I need to think about how to make that happen.


In the mean time, I've decided I'm staying in my jammies today.  I need potatoes but I don't want to go out with my wonky eye that's making me crazy and I would need to stop for gas and just don't have the energy.  I think it might be wine time anyway, luckily I don't have to change for that.  I'm watching the Banker write in his journal, then it's back to the academic grind. 


I think this counts as yet another day in a row I am not a happy camper and tomorrow is the weekend *dread* I hate weekends.

/Tracy

Day Ninety Three

We survived the day, barely.  It started badly, got worse then got better. 


Banker worked hard, I made cookies and ate them.  He and I sat and went over some math he was getting annoyed by then he started and finished a chapter in MathUSee and was only 1/2 pt away from perfect on his chapter test.  Sweet.


I'm still tired and frantic today.  We are doing science today.  I have a cool unit for his new microscope today.  We got slides and droppers, it's going to be fun.  I think he'll like it. 


We have friends coming in this afternoon to hang out so school will have to be long done by then.  I'm looking forward to the diversion.  The Banker has some work to do to continue the bedroom move, geesh he has a lot of stuff.  Slow and steady wins the race here, though.  I don't want us moving armfuls of junk, one piece at a time will be a fabulous exercise for both of us. 


Guest Pug will be here today for a two week stint, I really like him.  The dogs like him.  Banker likes him.  It's always great to have him here and I can't wait to see how he likes the girls!  They are growing by the day now and when I look out to the coop, it's chickens I see not my little babies.  They are oozing with personality still and think they will continue to do so.  We play with them every day and that'll continue.  The coop is too small for me to go in comfortably and there's no way I can rake/clean out underneath it.  I'll never know what was wrong with a small shed for them to sleep in and a bigger run for them all day.  I don't know why they need a basement.  I can never ask of course.  I think it may quickly be too small for the girls, they already have to duck to get through the hole in the floor to go up and then make a leap into the air to make to the landing..  I have to figure out a run system for them to be able to leave their dark, damp area every day, I want happy birds and this isn't happy, all the rain hasn't helped of course.  


Then some creature tried to get into the coop last night, a section of the wrinkly fencing that doesn't lay flat on the sides is ripped up, probably the same thing that is leaving me poop on my dresser out there every morning.  Happily "it" didn't get into where the girls sleep but still...  no good.  


So that just adds to yet another day that I feel like a failure, hopefully it'll pass soon, it's exhausting.


/Tracy

Day Ninety

What a crazy weekend.  We worked hard outside, all of us.  Husband let Banker use a DRILL!  I was flabbergasted and the Banker was almost vibrating with excitement, inside of course, he's too cool to actually act excited :)

We moved the girls into their coop
 

 

They are happy happy happy girls.  They come when they're called, call me when they need me and start to scream blue bloody murder exactly at 8pm every night to go to bed.  I love these girls. 

We reclaimed the Gazebo for people, removed the top screens and started to pretty it up.  I got more wicker chairs and a table for in there... it's significantly cooler in there without the screens, the wind can move through easier for some ridiculous reason.  We've spent a lot of time in there since, trying it out.  Now I just need to add the pretty elements.  Nice.  Can't wait for more parties! 

 

 

It's also going to make a killer classroom, play room, iPad movie watching room, chicken watching room, pool watching room and general I'm just sitting in the shade space.  

We took mum to a State BBQ cookoff, fantastic!  Hot and crazy busy and exactly like I hoped and she dreamed it'd be.  Not something she'd do in Canada for SURE! The Banker found a lounger, he was happy.
  

 

We did Mexican restaurants, found Mariachi bands, played, drank, visited and had an absolutely rockin weekend.  I cooked, we hung around, worked with a friend and got to experience ground shaking when the methane tanks messed up at the dump, it was like aliens landing...all day! 

We are doing school "light" today, it's all going to be review.  I need him to take stock of where we are and what we've done so far.  We are not starting until after we come back from the airport from dropping mum off tomorrow.

Mum and I are sneaking out to Pappadeux for a mom daughter good bye lunch then back and friends are popping by to have a drink and hug her good bye.

It's been a crazy two weeks, where the time has gone I do not know.  I still feel lost, with school, but it'll come back tomorrow no doubt.  Next time, we just take the time off or I plan it better.  I feel like an academic failure but know it's not the end of the world. :) 

/Tracy