Well, a good friend of mine said something about it's not always easy to do the "right thing" and she is SO VERY right.
I had rescued a GSD that was six months old back in March of this year. We named him Liam, and soon after Bear (Lab/Newfoundland) and Honey (all mutt) were also adopted into our family because they needed rescuing too. This past Tuesday (on the 3rd) my MIL came and picked Liam and my DH up and took Liam to the local animal shelter where he will remain in quarantine for a few more days (10 total) because he suddenly got very agressive towards our Bear and when I pulled him away from Bear he turned and sank two teeth into my leg. It came as a GREAT shock to me. It broke my heart. But, I can not have a dog that has so many issues that we can't help him over come and that I can't trust.
Bear and Honey are making up for my loss admirably. Bear is SO goofy. He truly is our goofy newfie. :) He will lie down at my feet or on the floor beside my bed or follow me around and Honey will come up for loving and pets and sometimes try to get into my lap. Bear is happier because he gets to run all over the back yard free, off the leash, and we have found he does not run, he gallops. He's SO big. I'd say he weighs at least around 90 pounds now.
What broke my heart really was our son. He asked if when the dog got adopted we could know who adopted him and visit him. That made the ache in my chest so much more unbearable! I explained that we would not know who adopted him (I did not tell him the part about IF he was deemed adoptable) but that we needed to pray that whoever did adopt him really knew a lot of ways to get dogs over different things and could deal with a GSD that had massive issues and that he would be their only dog.
The whole atmosphere of the house has changed. It feels less tense, less like a prison, less dark. I actually feel as if a huge burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. We all took it hard in different ways. But Honey ... well, the cats LIKE her, and I am sure that we can get Bear to understand that the cats are off limits. That will just take some training and time. So, soon, the cats and dogs (we've two of each now) can roam the house in freedom except for when I have students here. And then, well, that depends on the parents and kids. I know that there are at least a couple families that are fine with the dogs being out.
We are slowly starting to work towards getting the house back to some semblance of normalcy. Lessons in math or reading or phonics, history, grammar and spelling... Need to give the three kiddoes their music lessons tomorrow. Cleaning house, reclaiming the house from the mess that we've let it become while we were under the gloomy days.
One day, the Lord will bless us with a large house big enough for some big dogs, and we'll have Bear and Honey and a couple Great Pyrenese. Maybe even a full Newfoundland! :) Besides the Dexter cows and the chickens and sheep that I dream of.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Rain Rain go away....
We've truly had enough!
And it has let up thank the Lord. Otherwise I'd be getting a bit worried that we might have to swim instead of walk to Walmart for stuff!
And we can't swim....
But other than that things are going pretty good.
Car has a new fuel intake line that does NOT leak, I have a new student starting tomorrow at 9:30 am and can't wait to meet him, and we got math and reading and phonics done for ALL three kids, I sent off a partial payment for a bill, I have to deposit a check from a student to help cover that but it will get deposited later, and the house is looking lots neater as I go thru stuff and get rid of stuff or find homes for stuff either here or elsewhere! Later on I'll start reviewing history with the kids (we do that together) and then there's be a family read aloud (more from Little house in the big woods, getting neart the end!) and do a few other things.
I feel horrid, but it's because of a toothache and allergy yuck. I've a headache.
I canceled one family's lessons today and we agreed to have them over on Friday as she was not sure if her kids weren't catching something too.
I have a student at 5:15 and I hate to cancel on him as he missed last week due to his big brother being sick. He is a rather quiet calm child to teach, so maybe I can get through that one half hour? I can pray, because I really hate to cancel and make him go two weeks without a lesson....
Ok, off I go to see what else I can get done in a day with the windows open, a breeze blowing, the A/C off, and the sun trying to peek out....:)
And it has let up thank the Lord. Otherwise I'd be getting a bit worried that we might have to swim instead of walk to Walmart for stuff!
And we can't swim....
But other than that things are going pretty good.
Car has a new fuel intake line that does NOT leak, I have a new student starting tomorrow at 9:30 am and can't wait to meet him, and we got math and reading and phonics done for ALL three kids, I sent off a partial payment for a bill, I have to deposit a check from a student to help cover that but it will get deposited later, and the house is looking lots neater as I go thru stuff and get rid of stuff or find homes for stuff either here or elsewhere! Later on I'll start reviewing history with the kids (we do that together) and then there's be a family read aloud (more from Little house in the big woods, getting neart the end!) and do a few other things.
I feel horrid, but it's because of a toothache and allergy yuck. I've a headache.
I canceled one family's lessons today and we agreed to have them over on Friday as she was not sure if her kids weren't catching something too.
I have a student at 5:15 and I hate to cancel on him as he missed last week due to his big brother being sick. He is a rather quiet calm child to teach, so maybe I can get through that one half hour? I can pray, because I really hate to cancel and make him go two weeks without a lesson....
Ok, off I go to see what else I can get done in a day with the windows open, a breeze blowing, the A/C off, and the sun trying to peek out....:)
Monday, September 14, 2009
That time of year again!!!!
well, it is that time of year again... FALL! I LOVE fall. I love the scents, colors, changing weather (from TOO HOT to breath to oh it's getting cooler!)... I can wear my favorite colors without feeling like I'm going to roast, and without getting strange looks from people!
Liam, our shepherd, is a year old now. We have no clue how old Bear (Newfie/Lab) and Honey (Lab/Shep/Rat Terrior) are but they are all healthy and happy and get along great. Bear is big enoug that he can reach the back of the counters if he so chooses to. I need to try and save up for a kit from the Dogfather (dogfather.tv I think) and collars/leashes for all three. They all would be really good dogs if I could just train them better. Bear does not like it when the kids are outside and he can't see them. He'll stand looking out the window and start barking. I feel safer with these three around. :) This neighborhood is ok, it's quiet and peaceful for the most part, but... I feel safer with them around. Liam will prowl the house at night as if making rounds, and so will Bear on occasion. right now Honey is in her crate at night but she is getting house broken so... sometime soon....
I am working on a quilt for our oldest (she is working on it with me), PJ's for J (our son), and I need to cut out fabric for a skirt and a couple dresses for B (12 YO DD), and a skirt or two for me. One might be a patchwork skirt in browns and green of some suede look material I have. But anything that will work! I think I have enough material to also make J a shirt too...I am hoping so. They all need clothes and I need a couple more skirts. I want to make us all aprons (though the girl's and my aprons will be... more female looking! LOL) for when we cook, clean, etc. Keep our clothes nicer.
I am also getting the kids started in lessons again. Math, reading, hist, grammar on Mon, Wed, and Fri... Math, reading, spelling on Tues andThurs. Chore chart... need to get that done. I am praying for more students because I truly need them. I am behind on a few utilities, desperately trying to get caught up! It's rather scary, and I am trying REALLY hard to fully rely on God.
Sold some ornaments. But I need to sell some more stuff. Will be adding soap (basic BASIC soap for now) to our webpage after we get some bars done .. Might try to do that sometime this week if it keeps staying cool like this. It's been raining since Friday and right now we've got our windows open and I'm sittin here listening to DH snore and the rain pour down. Flooding in several areas was being reported this evening on the news. Praying for my mom and dad and MIL.... MIL's house flooded a few years back when it rained and rained... praying it does NOT do that again...
And now I had better call it a night. I hope to be blogging more, and being more active in a few of the groups I am in... Other groups.. well, I may either just be a lurker or go ahead and say bye (but not craftersamongus and a couple others! Like y'all TOO much! :) hehe)...Night and God bless!
Liam, our shepherd, is a year old now. We have no clue how old Bear (Newfie/Lab) and Honey (Lab/Shep/Rat Terrior) are but they are all healthy and happy and get along great. Bear is big enoug that he can reach the back of the counters if he so chooses to. I need to try and save up for a kit from the Dogfather (dogfather.tv I think) and collars/leashes for all three. They all would be really good dogs if I could just train them better. Bear does not like it when the kids are outside and he can't see them. He'll stand looking out the window and start barking. I feel safer with these three around. :) This neighborhood is ok, it's quiet and peaceful for the most part, but... I feel safer with them around. Liam will prowl the house at night as if making rounds, and so will Bear on occasion. right now Honey is in her crate at night but she is getting house broken so... sometime soon....
I am working on a quilt for our oldest (she is working on it with me), PJ's for J (our son), and I need to cut out fabric for a skirt and a couple dresses for B (12 YO DD), and a skirt or two for me. One might be a patchwork skirt in browns and green of some suede look material I have. But anything that will work! I think I have enough material to also make J a shirt too...I am hoping so. They all need clothes and I need a couple more skirts. I want to make us all aprons (though the girl's and my aprons will be... more female looking! LOL) for when we cook, clean, etc. Keep our clothes nicer.
I am also getting the kids started in lessons again. Math, reading, hist, grammar on Mon, Wed, and Fri... Math, reading, spelling on Tues andThurs. Chore chart... need to get that done. I am praying for more students because I truly need them. I am behind on a few utilities, desperately trying to get caught up! It's rather scary, and I am trying REALLY hard to fully rely on God.
Sold some ornaments. But I need to sell some more stuff. Will be adding soap (basic BASIC soap for now) to our webpage after we get some bars done .. Might try to do that sometime this week if it keeps staying cool like this. It's been raining since Friday and right now we've got our windows open and I'm sittin here listening to DH snore and the rain pour down. Flooding in several areas was being reported this evening on the news. Praying for my mom and dad and MIL.... MIL's house flooded a few years back when it rained and rained... praying it does NOT do that again...
And now I had better call it a night. I hope to be blogging more, and being more active in a few of the groups I am in... Other groups.. well, I may either just be a lurker or go ahead and say bye (but not craftersamongus and a couple others! Like y'all TOO much! :) hehe)...Night and God bless!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
My day of doing nothing
Well today I did nothing...
REALLY!
I canceled my students today (had 2 families and they were very understanding) and tried to fight this cold. Or whatever it is.
Stuffy head, sneezing, just generally not feeling good. No, not the flu! I think it's a head cold trying to happen because of allergies. It's coming on to fall after all. Spring and fall are my favorite times of the year (other than winter!) because the temps are tolerable and I LOVE the smells of fall! Pumpkin pies, cranberries, cider, cookies.... Y'all get the idea! So why is it that fall and spring also bring along allergies for me? NO FAIR!
So I drank hot tea and water and rested. By resting I mean I played on facebook for a while, got to chat with some friends online, took a long nap, played a game on neopets (my kids have signed up on the website, and the game was kinda fun!) and read a bit and looked at what I wa wanting to do in the way of a schedule and for lessons (as in what books we needed, what books we had, and what books I need to print off from the Robinson curriculum CD's I have)and also sat and watched a movie with my kids!
I think I needed the down time and the rest. I do feel better.
Now it's eleven PM and I need to make sure to continue getting the rest that I know I need! So, night y'all!
REALLY!
I canceled my students today (had 2 families and they were very understanding) and tried to fight this cold. Or whatever it is.
Stuffy head, sneezing, just generally not feeling good. No, not the flu! I think it's a head cold trying to happen because of allergies. It's coming on to fall after all. Spring and fall are my favorite times of the year (other than winter!) because the temps are tolerable and I LOVE the smells of fall! Pumpkin pies, cranberries, cider, cookies.... Y'all get the idea! So why is it that fall and spring also bring along allergies for me? NO FAIR!
So I drank hot tea and water and rested. By resting I mean I played on facebook for a while, got to chat with some friends online, took a long nap, played a game on neopets (my kids have signed up on the website, and the game was kinda fun!) and read a bit and looked at what I wa wanting to do in the way of a schedule and for lessons (as in what books we needed, what books we had, and what books I need to print off from the Robinson curriculum CD's I have)and also sat and watched a movie with my kids!
I think I needed the down time and the rest. I do feel better.
Now it's eleven PM and I need to make sure to continue getting the rest that I know I need! So, night y'all!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Opening books time!
I don't like to call what we do as "school" because I only liked the music and art and SOME of the English classes when I was in school. Hated math, history was never exciting except for the one year I had a teacher who loved history and wanted her students to love it too, and science...well, I always got stuck with the dissecting part because I wasn't squamish and didn't want to "hurt my nail job."
So, it's high time we got back into the "groove" of opening math books and the Mystery of History book (vol 1) and grammar and spelling books. Haha. I'm thinking of going ahead and using Mindsprinting for math for one child. I need to get her to take the assessment test and see what she is. I am concerned that she has discalcula just like I do (that is dyslexia with numbers by the way) because she has such a HARD time with math and a hard time memorizing her multiplication facts and the like. I guess this year I need to try and see if I can't teach her some of the short cuts that I learned on my own and try to make math a bit easier for her. The next item on the agenda is to see if our son is matured enough now to start learning more words and learning to read more. I KNOW he knows more than he lets on, but he gets frustrated and I need to learn how to make it "fun".... besides me and his sisters and his daddy reading to him all the time! LOL He LOVES that.
Amid all of that, I need to get some work done in the house, do some sewing, some crocheting, coat the finished ornaments and let them dry so I can SEND them, and also work outside in the garden (if it does not rain). I SO hope it rains actually! We need rain badly. Otherwise I will need to really, REALLY water the tomatos and the watermelon vine and the grapes and the blackberry.... the lavender.... rosemary... roses... LOL Adding more and more to water each year!
Have a BLESSED day and .... let's DANCE for the Lord today! It will improve our moods!
So, it's high time we got back into the "groove" of opening math books and the Mystery of History book (vol 1) and grammar and spelling books. Haha. I'm thinking of going ahead and using Mindsprinting for math for one child. I need to get her to take the assessment test and see what she is. I am concerned that she has discalcula just like I do (that is dyslexia with numbers by the way) because she has such a HARD time with math and a hard time memorizing her multiplication facts and the like. I guess this year I need to try and see if I can't teach her some of the short cuts that I learned on my own and try to make math a bit easier for her. The next item on the agenda is to see if our son is matured enough now to start learning more words and learning to read more. I KNOW he knows more than he lets on, but he gets frustrated and I need to learn how to make it "fun".... besides me and his sisters and his daddy reading to him all the time! LOL He LOVES that.
Amid all of that, I need to get some work done in the house, do some sewing, some crocheting, coat the finished ornaments and let them dry so I can SEND them, and also work outside in the garden (if it does not rain). I SO hope it rains actually! We need rain badly. Otherwise I will need to really, REALLY water the tomatos and the watermelon vine and the grapes and the blackberry.... the lavender.... rosemary... roses... LOL Adding more and more to water each year!
Have a BLESSED day and .... let's DANCE for the Lord today! It will improve our moods!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Crafters helping crafters
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=3491
Joyce is one of the members of a crafters group on yahoo that I am in, and she was diagnosed with tumors in her brain and lungs. She has an Etsy account, and her friends on Etsy got together and are working on trying to get people to come together to buy her merchandise (which is some REALLY beautiful jewelry!) and maybe even buy from some others who are giving certain amounts from each sale to her to help her pay bills and pay for medical treatments.
And, please keep her in your prayers for healing and remission and for the cancer to GO AWAY and never come back!
Joyce is one of the members of a crafters group on yahoo that I am in, and she was diagnosed with tumors in her brain and lungs. She has an Etsy account, and her friends on Etsy got together and are working on trying to get people to come together to buy her merchandise (which is some REALLY beautiful jewelry!) and maybe even buy from some others who are giving certain amounts from each sale to her to help her pay bills and pay for medical treatments.
And, please keep her in your prayers for healing and remission and for the cancer to GO AWAY and never come back!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Life with no car
Nope, you didn't read that wrong. We still don't have our car fixed. So, we are walking everywhere still.
We bungee corded a rubbermaid full of clothes that needed washing and walked them over to the laundrymat close by to us and put them through a wash. Then walked them back and hung them out.
We all walked over to Walmart last night and took a look at their slowcookers. We liked one that was a but over $21 that has a glass lid instead of a plastic one. Ours has a plastic lid and it is breaking apart, plus one of the handles have broken off. So I want to see if we can't get another one next month.
I sold a dozen heart shaped ornaments and half a dozen Texas shaped ornaments. I am SO thrilled! The Texas ornaments were already done, had to get the heart shaped ones done, and they are drying from the final coat of paint and just need a coat of gloss and ribbon run through the holes. Then I will ship them out to their rightful owner and pray she loves them!
Need to try to scan in some ornaments and see if they will sell off of our family website. www.daycountrycrafts.webs.com is the website for whoever might be interested!!! :D
We are also starting to get back into the routine of homeschooling and all and I am praying that more of my students come back in the fall and that I also gain some new ones. DH is trying to look for a job and so is our oldest. We really need more $$ coming in, but we are trying to wait on the Lord and listen to what He has in His plans for us. I find myself fretting over the yearly taxes and the utility bills and the kids need shoes, clothes... I am making a pair of PJ's for J, he likes them as they are flannel and have a blue plaid with black bears scattered all over them for the pattern. I also need to finish a plaid shirt that I am working on for him. And figure out how to make some pants for him that have pockets. LOL BIG DEEP pockets.
Our three dogs are doing good together, though it seems Honey (the newest addition) was trying to chew on the rocker and got in trouble in the living room just now and whined about it. Bear left his spot on the floor by my side and went to check on her. Hehe... Big old Bear so big Honey can walk under his belly seems to be protective of her, though he will try to discipline her off and on.
I am at home right now not doing much. I am stuffy and have a headache that is absolutely horrid. I will try to see if I can't get some stuff done like sewing and crocheting and see if we are up to doing some math or reading and J wants to do another experiment from his electric experiment thing he got for his birthday. He's having tons of fun with that!
We bungee corded a rubbermaid full of clothes that needed washing and walked them over to the laundrymat close by to us and put them through a wash. Then walked them back and hung them out.
We all walked over to Walmart last night and took a look at their slowcookers. We liked one that was a but over $21 that has a glass lid instead of a plastic one. Ours has a plastic lid and it is breaking apart, plus one of the handles have broken off. So I want to see if we can't get another one next month.
I sold a dozen heart shaped ornaments and half a dozen Texas shaped ornaments. I am SO thrilled! The Texas ornaments were already done, had to get the heart shaped ones done, and they are drying from the final coat of paint and just need a coat of gloss and ribbon run through the holes. Then I will ship them out to their rightful owner and pray she loves them!
Need to try to scan in some ornaments and see if they will sell off of our family website. www.daycountrycrafts.webs.com is the website for whoever might be interested!!! :D
We are also starting to get back into the routine of homeschooling and all and I am praying that more of my students come back in the fall and that I also gain some new ones. DH is trying to look for a job and so is our oldest. We really need more $$ coming in, but we are trying to wait on the Lord and listen to what He has in His plans for us. I find myself fretting over the yearly taxes and the utility bills and the kids need shoes, clothes... I am making a pair of PJ's for J, he likes them as they are flannel and have a blue plaid with black bears scattered all over them for the pattern. I also need to finish a plaid shirt that I am working on for him. And figure out how to make some pants for him that have pockets. LOL BIG DEEP pockets.
Our three dogs are doing good together, though it seems Honey (the newest addition) was trying to chew on the rocker and got in trouble in the living room just now and whined about it. Bear left his spot on the floor by my side and went to check on her. Hehe... Big old Bear so big Honey can walk under his belly seems to be protective of her, though he will try to discipline her off and on.
I am at home right now not doing much. I am stuffy and have a headache that is absolutely horrid. I will try to see if I can't get some stuff done like sewing and crocheting and see if we are up to doing some math or reading and J wants to do another experiment from his electric experiment thing he got for his birthday. He's having tons of fun with that!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Giveaway at Yara's blog!!!!
Hi! It has been way too long since I blogged.... But, I have been busy.
And I wanted to let everyone (whoever decides to read this) know that a good friend of mine is holding a giveaway on her blog!
http://lcahomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/08/teak-wicker-and-more-giveaway.html
There is the link to her blog with information about the giveaway! I think it is a really neat idea!
you have to Stop by before August 17 & enter to win!
She has all the rules on there and now... if I could just figure out how to grab her button and stick it on my blog! LOL
Lenora
And I wanted to let everyone (whoever decides to read this) know that a good friend of mine is holding a giveaway on her blog!
http://lcahomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/08/teak-wicker-and-more-giveaway.html
There is the link to her blog with information about the giveaway! I think it is a really neat idea!
you have to Stop by before August 17 & enter to win!
She has all the rules on there and now... if I could just figure out how to grab her button and stick it on my blog! LOL
Lenora
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Rain, rescuing puppies, and city
Well, on the 10th of July we rescued Ginger. The neighbor who had her had not been feeding her or watering her and she did not have shelter from the heat and weather. I noticed she was laying in some of the shade that was available and panting really fast, with her mouth open and her tongue lolling out and she was really not moving except for breathing. She was SO hot to the touch! And the kids said she actually had diahrea to some degree. No water, no food. Showing ribs and starting to dehydrate and go into heat stroke. So, I asked if they would let me take her and that was when we adopted a THIRD dog.
Our other neighbor, the nice one who seems to have adopted us as part of her family, paid for Ginger to be fixed and that was done Monday as well as her vaccinations. She is resting now in the crate in the kids' room with her E Collar on and has 2 stitches. She has eaten, and drank some water, and got her morning pill for pain. :) She does NOT like the collar but she can drink and eat with it on.
Liam and Bear (GS and Lab/Newfie) both seem happy to have her back in the house but upset that she is kept apart from them. Vet said that she seems to be part Shepherd, part Lab, and I think there is some chow in there as well because she also has a spot of purple on her tongue. That is ok.... I know God wants us to have her and Liam and Bear and there's a reason for all of this. He will reveal it in time!
Brenna (our DD12) now has a doggie! She said she would be thrilled to claim Ginger as her own!
We did get some rain the past few days. I am blessed that we did. But oh goodness, I would be THRILLED to get more! Still having to water the plants. The blackberry, rosemary, lavender, red flame grape, green grape, jalapenos, and a few other plants that are strictly ornamental are doing ok. The potted strawberry is ok, just no strawberries yet! Our tomatos are NOT happy, but not sure what to do about that. The squirrels got our tomatos so I doubt we'll get any more the rest of the summer the way they are looking.
I want to do raised beds for fall, if I can.
I also want to cut down the fruitless mulberry in the front and get a fruit coctail tree and a five in one apple and some other fruit trees that are either multiple varieties on one dwarf tree or dwarf trees. I want to cut down the crape myrtle that is insisting on growing in one corner of the area I want for a garden and plant several dwarf fruit trees there too. So many plans! All dependant on the Lord! Privacy fence, wringer to wring clothes so I can get rid of the washer, more music students and getting our craft and homemade business going....More canning supplies, a solar dehydrator....the ability to retain rain water to help with water....
And then there is the fact that I feel as if the city is closing in on me and collapsing around these four walls that make up this house. Yes there are more than four walls to this house, but.... I think you get the idea. I am MISERABLE and so wish we were out in the country. But for now this is where God planted us, and for now there is not even a way to go driving into the country. So, I will have to make do and be content and find contentment where the Lord has planted us for now. Because I know God's plans are not finished with us.
God bless and keep you!
Lenora
Our other neighbor, the nice one who seems to have adopted us as part of her family, paid for Ginger to be fixed and that was done Monday as well as her vaccinations. She is resting now in the crate in the kids' room with her E Collar on and has 2 stitches. She has eaten, and drank some water, and got her morning pill for pain. :) She does NOT like the collar but she can drink and eat with it on.
Liam and Bear (GS and Lab/Newfie) both seem happy to have her back in the house but upset that she is kept apart from them. Vet said that she seems to be part Shepherd, part Lab, and I think there is some chow in there as well because she also has a spot of purple on her tongue. That is ok.... I know God wants us to have her and Liam and Bear and there's a reason for all of this. He will reveal it in time!
Brenna (our DD12) now has a doggie! She said she would be thrilled to claim Ginger as her own!
We did get some rain the past few days. I am blessed that we did. But oh goodness, I would be THRILLED to get more! Still having to water the plants. The blackberry, rosemary, lavender, red flame grape, green grape, jalapenos, and a few other plants that are strictly ornamental are doing ok. The potted strawberry is ok, just no strawberries yet! Our tomatos are NOT happy, but not sure what to do about that. The squirrels got our tomatos so I doubt we'll get any more the rest of the summer the way they are looking.
I want to do raised beds for fall, if I can.
I also want to cut down the fruitless mulberry in the front and get a fruit coctail tree and a five in one apple and some other fruit trees that are either multiple varieties on one dwarf tree or dwarf trees. I want to cut down the crape myrtle that is insisting on growing in one corner of the area I want for a garden and plant several dwarf fruit trees there too. So many plans! All dependant on the Lord! Privacy fence, wringer to wring clothes so I can get rid of the washer, more music students and getting our craft and homemade business going....More canning supplies, a solar dehydrator....the ability to retain rain water to help with water....
And then there is the fact that I feel as if the city is closing in on me and collapsing around these four walls that make up this house. Yes there are more than four walls to this house, but.... I think you get the idea. I am MISERABLE and so wish we were out in the country. But for now this is where God planted us, and for now there is not even a way to go driving into the country. So, I will have to make do and be content and find contentment where the Lord has planted us for now. Because I know God's plans are not finished with us.
God bless and keep you!
Lenora
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sad day today
Well, our son's fish Lazarus (long story about that name) died last night.Joseph is sad as are we all. That fish lived a rather long time! And he was so much fun to watch.
So we are going to (per request of Joseph) bury it today. He did not want to flush it down the toilet but instead bury it. Wondering if I can convince him to bury it in the garden... probably not.We let him go pick out a movie last night so he would have something to do and he picked out a care bear DVD that has about 8 episodes on it about honesty. It was pretty good! HE curled up beside me and we watched it together. I think that was the perfect movie because he had gotten in trouble the other day for lying to us about something.
Bear (our Lab/New Foundland) is around six or so months old now and can easily put his head on the table. His back reached my knees now and I don't really have to reach down to pet his head. Liam (our German Shepherd) is going to be 10 months in July and so is almost full grown. He has gotten bigger too! It is so awesome to see the two of them laying on the living room floor sprawled out or stretched out. I have ALWAYS wanted a GS and a NF! And the Lord sent them to us! :) Now if we could just get the training and all down pat and get that privacy fence up! The other day Joseph had sat down on the floor in front of the couch and next thing we knew both Liam and Bear had their heads in his lap and were snoozing. It was so cute! Joseph had a big smile on his face and was just petting on them.
I have to get some salt dough ornaments done, to fill an order. I also need to get some more crocheted coasters done for us and for us to sell. Bear got one of the two I had managed to do for us and chewed it to bits. He is a high maintenance dog always trying to see if something is edible or not. But it is so much fun watching both of them grow and learn and become more a part of our family as the days progress. My finger is doing better slowly, though DH has said I am not giving it a good chance to heal as I should. But it is no longer taped and it only starts hurting and aching and swelling when I have done too much. So, craft projects here I come! Need to pull out material and start refinishing a chair of ours. The stuffing is starting to show! And also need to start cutting out squares and working with oldest DD (17) to get the quilt done that she wants. Have the material, just need to cut it and start! And not look at it and say oh it's so pretty! and go find more material! ROFL.....
It has been extremely hot here. We have had a heat advisory for the past few days. Our tomatos that are planted are ok, so long as we water daily. Our jalapenos that are potted and the three tomatos that are potted are surviving, the jalapenos are thriving. Lavender and rosemary and green grape,blackberry, roses... those are ok if not thriving with the daily watering. The flame red grape is limping alone. But it got hurt in the frost that we had unexpectedly. We actually have around 8 tomatos on the planted tomatos! Green right now and small.I have stevia and peppermint in the windowsill - put 2 Jiffy pots filled with Jiffy pellets into a gallon zip lock and have stevia in that, did the same with 2 more jiffy pots and stuck peppermint in them. Gotta keep an eye on them and see about watering when needed. Neat little seed starting idea! Someone emailed me with that idea and I thought I would try it!
Ok, off to try and get some stuff done for a change! This heat has made me SO tired and feeling more like sitting and reading and not doing much! Think I might bring out that blue material for Arica's quilt and we'll get started on that. :) I feel like sewing! (uhmmm... hand sewing anyhow! Sewing machines still hate me)
So we are going to (per request of Joseph) bury it today. He did not want to flush it down the toilet but instead bury it. Wondering if I can convince him to bury it in the garden... probably not.We let him go pick out a movie last night so he would have something to do and he picked out a care bear DVD that has about 8 episodes on it about honesty. It was pretty good! HE curled up beside me and we watched it together. I think that was the perfect movie because he had gotten in trouble the other day for lying to us about something.
Bear (our Lab/New Foundland) is around six or so months old now and can easily put his head on the table. His back reached my knees now and I don't really have to reach down to pet his head. Liam (our German Shepherd) is going to be 10 months in July and so is almost full grown. He has gotten bigger too! It is so awesome to see the two of them laying on the living room floor sprawled out or stretched out. I have ALWAYS wanted a GS and a NF! And the Lord sent them to us! :) Now if we could just get the training and all down pat and get that privacy fence up! The other day Joseph had sat down on the floor in front of the couch and next thing we knew both Liam and Bear had their heads in his lap and were snoozing. It was so cute! Joseph had a big smile on his face and was just petting on them.
I have to get some salt dough ornaments done, to fill an order. I also need to get some more crocheted coasters done for us and for us to sell. Bear got one of the two I had managed to do for us and chewed it to bits. He is a high maintenance dog always trying to see if something is edible or not. But it is so much fun watching both of them grow and learn and become more a part of our family as the days progress. My finger is doing better slowly, though DH has said I am not giving it a good chance to heal as I should. But it is no longer taped and it only starts hurting and aching and swelling when I have done too much. So, craft projects here I come! Need to pull out material and start refinishing a chair of ours. The stuffing is starting to show! And also need to start cutting out squares and working with oldest DD (17) to get the quilt done that she wants. Have the material, just need to cut it and start! And not look at it and say oh it's so pretty! and go find more material! ROFL.....
It has been extremely hot here. We have had a heat advisory for the past few days. Our tomatos that are planted are ok, so long as we water daily. Our jalapenos that are potted and the three tomatos that are potted are surviving, the jalapenos are thriving. Lavender and rosemary and green grape,blackberry, roses... those are ok if not thriving with the daily watering. The flame red grape is limping alone. But it got hurt in the frost that we had unexpectedly. We actually have around 8 tomatos on the planted tomatos! Green right now and small.I have stevia and peppermint in the windowsill - put 2 Jiffy pots filled with Jiffy pellets into a gallon zip lock and have stevia in that, did the same with 2 more jiffy pots and stuck peppermint in them. Gotta keep an eye on them and see about watering when needed. Neat little seed starting idea! Someone emailed me with that idea and I thought I would try it!
Ok, off to try and get some stuff done for a change! This heat has made me SO tired and feeling more like sitting and reading and not doing much! Think I might bring out that blue material for Arica's quilt and we'll get started on that. :) I feel like sewing! (uhmmm... hand sewing anyhow! Sewing machines still hate me)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Hot and getting hotter
Well, it's getting warmer here. Bear and Liam really do NOT like how hot it's getting. This will be their first summer, as they were fall/winter puppies. But we know what's coming and I think all of us are dreading it.
I got all my jalapenos and three more heirloom tomatoes into pots yesterday. Planted one jalapeno underneath our fruitless mulberry, hoping it does ok there. The potted strawberry looks like it might be thriving. And the six tomatoes that ARE in the garden look like they are doing good. I want to work some more on softening the hard Texas clay we have in the garden area so I can get the top soil my mom got me mixed in, and plant the squash my MIL gave me. I also want to start the stevia and some other stuff - the stevia and heirloom corn seeds are a gift from a wonderful person that is in one of the homesteading/surival groups I'm in! Such a pleasant and wonderful surprise blessing! I'm wondering if I can get some more pots somewhere (maybe check the dollar tree or dollar general within walking distance of me) and see if I can't get some pots there cheap, and get some potting soil. Stevia can be grown in pots, as can lots of other herbs and such.
We have been leaving the house open for as long as possible with the A/C off. Managed to do that ALL DAY yesterday, until later in the evening, and then we turned the A/C on and closed the house up for just a bit to cool the house down a tad. Opened it up again (partially) overnight. Trying to stave off using the A/C 24/7 for as long as possible. But it's a level orange watch today for air quality and we are already feeling so horrid from allergies. So, I closed the house up earlier today and waited unil it was 79 in here before turning the A/C on for the day. Hoping it does not kick in for a long time yet, with the fans we have going right now. I pulled the drapes so it's kinda dark in here, but... we don't have the no - see - um UV protection window screens in our windows yet. If we did, I'd let the drapes stay open. Use natural lighting.
For our preps and simplifying, we went ahead and bought a camping dish set from Walmart that is the enamel ware style. Four plates, four BIG bowls, and four mugs. It also came with utensils but I think we like ours that we already have better than these. These have plastic handles, and the ones we have already are solid stainless steel and good quality. I want to slowly try to make things as simplistic as possible and as easy to take care of and quick to pack as possible in case of an emergency of any kind. DH and I also went through the HS stuff and are working on a list of stuff that we have, a list of stuff that we need, and a list of stuff that we will DEFINITELY use. Simplifying everything is our goal. Slowly, we''ll go through toys, clothes, material I've stashed, books, kitchen....
Already simpler as of a couple nights ago. our microwave bit the dust. Took it to the curb and yesterday I cleared off and re-arranged the counters. Need to redo the cabinets and counters and clean them out of all the stuff we will not ever, EVER use. I want to do a yard sale as soon as we can, health and weather permitting.
I got all my jalapenos and three more heirloom tomatoes into pots yesterday. Planted one jalapeno underneath our fruitless mulberry, hoping it does ok there. The potted strawberry looks like it might be thriving. And the six tomatoes that ARE in the garden look like they are doing good. I want to work some more on softening the hard Texas clay we have in the garden area so I can get the top soil my mom got me mixed in, and plant the squash my MIL gave me. I also want to start the stevia and some other stuff - the stevia and heirloom corn seeds are a gift from a wonderful person that is in one of the homesteading/surival groups I'm in! Such a pleasant and wonderful surprise blessing! I'm wondering if I can get some more pots somewhere (maybe check the dollar tree or dollar general within walking distance of me) and see if I can't get some pots there cheap, and get some potting soil. Stevia can be grown in pots, as can lots of other herbs and such.
We have been leaving the house open for as long as possible with the A/C off. Managed to do that ALL DAY yesterday, until later in the evening, and then we turned the A/C on and closed the house up for just a bit to cool the house down a tad. Opened it up again (partially) overnight. Trying to stave off using the A/C 24/7 for as long as possible. But it's a level orange watch today for air quality and we are already feeling so horrid from allergies. So, I closed the house up earlier today and waited unil it was 79 in here before turning the A/C on for the day. Hoping it does not kick in for a long time yet, with the fans we have going right now. I pulled the drapes so it's kinda dark in here, but... we don't have the no - see - um UV protection window screens in our windows yet. If we did, I'd let the drapes stay open. Use natural lighting.
For our preps and simplifying, we went ahead and bought a camping dish set from Walmart that is the enamel ware style. Four plates, four BIG bowls, and four mugs. It also came with utensils but I think we like ours that we already have better than these. These have plastic handles, and the ones we have already are solid stainless steel and good quality. I want to slowly try to make things as simplistic as possible and as easy to take care of and quick to pack as possible in case of an emergency of any kind. DH and I also went through the HS stuff and are working on a list of stuff that we have, a list of stuff that we need, and a list of stuff that we will DEFINITELY use. Simplifying everything is our goal. Slowly, we''ll go through toys, clothes, material I've stashed, books, kitchen....
Already simpler as of a couple nights ago. our microwave bit the dust. Took it to the curb and yesterday I cleared off and re-arranged the counters. Need to redo the cabinets and counters and clean them out of all the stuff we will not ever, EVER use. I want to do a yard sale as soon as we can, health and weather permitting.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Kids and Corelle
OK, it seems that my kids are not nice to our corelle dishes. We are now officially down to FIVE bowls. We did originally have over 8. DH and I have decided that we need to just go ahead and go country and get enameled metal dishes! Those can only get chipped or dented! :)
It will be nice to change over to these. I had wanted a set anyway! I love the look of them, and we are country folk after all....
We have an air quality alert in effect today so we have the windows closed and the A/C on with the fans going. None of us are feeling that great. But there's still things to be done and we can't just let it go. When we do manage to get land, and animals, it does not matter if we feel a "bit under the weather" or not. We will be resonsible for it all. The gardens, the orchard, the animals.... the land.... the chores.... So, it's a prove we can do it day! I will let the kids take it easy. Oldest seems to have a summer head cold started from allergies. Youngest, our son, is generally not feeling good but can't say exactly what his problems are. Neither are running a fever though. But I don't want to take any chances with them as we've no transportation right now nor do we have insurance. Nor do we know of a good doctor that we would TRUST to take care of our kids and us. So, rest and hydration is what is called for our kids right now.
Have a blessed weekend!
Lenora
It will be nice to change over to these. I had wanted a set anyway! I love the look of them, and we are country folk after all....
We have an air quality alert in effect today so we have the windows closed and the A/C on with the fans going. None of us are feeling that great. But there's still things to be done and we can't just let it go. When we do manage to get land, and animals, it does not matter if we feel a "bit under the weather" or not. We will be resonsible for it all. The gardens, the orchard, the animals.... the land.... the chores.... So, it's a prove we can do it day! I will let the kids take it easy. Oldest seems to have a summer head cold started from allergies. Youngest, our son, is generally not feeling good but can't say exactly what his problems are. Neither are running a fever though. But I don't want to take any chances with them as we've no transportation right now nor do we have insurance. Nor do we know of a good doctor that we would TRUST to take care of our kids and us. So, rest and hydration is what is called for our kids right now.
Have a blessed weekend!
Lenora
Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day!
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day and enjoying wonderful weather.
Today it is breezy, a bit, and slightly humid. We've all the windows open and the fans going, and sitting here at the computer I'm actually a bit cool! Everyone is taking it easy, and I am not sure I'll have the kids do any work today. Other than helping out with day to day chores and reading .... :)
I would like to point out exactly WHY we celebrate Memorial Day! It is for all the soldiers that have given their lives to fight for our FREEDOM... Our God given freedom that our Christian forefathers put into a document called the Constitution of the United States of America. These soldiers who are still living and those who have given their lives fought for that freedom both on our home turf and on foreign soil for people's right to vote, to live, to follow their religion (be it Christian or other), and to have the right to choose to do so. So, if you can, stop in at a memorial and pay your respects. Or stop in to a nursing home and pay a visit to a vet or if you see a soldier home from war or duty stop and give his or her hand a shake and say a heart felt thank you! Give them a hug if you are so inclined. Let them know that we are praying for them, respect them, and admire them for the choices they made to serve our country and to sacrifice for us.
Ok, now go grill! :)
Lenora
Today it is breezy, a bit, and slightly humid. We've all the windows open and the fans going, and sitting here at the computer I'm actually a bit cool! Everyone is taking it easy, and I am not sure I'll have the kids do any work today. Other than helping out with day to day chores and reading .... :)
I would like to point out exactly WHY we celebrate Memorial Day! It is for all the soldiers that have given their lives to fight for our FREEDOM... Our God given freedom that our Christian forefathers put into a document called the Constitution of the United States of America. These soldiers who are still living and those who have given their lives fought for that freedom both on our home turf and on foreign soil for people's right to vote, to live, to follow their religion (be it Christian or other), and to have the right to choose to do so. So, if you can, stop in at a memorial and pay your respects. Or stop in to a nursing home and pay a visit to a vet or if you see a soldier home from war or duty stop and give his or her hand a shake and say a heart felt thank you! Give them a hug if you are so inclined. Let them know that we are praying for them, respect them, and admire them for the choices they made to serve our country and to sacrifice for us.
Ok, now go grill! :)
Lenora
Saturday, May 16, 2009
It's raining, it's pouring
Well, isn't this just fun?
It's raining again.
Well, I still need to actually get out in the garden and get the four squash my MIL gave me in, plus the three tomatoes that a good friend gave me, and the three heirloom tomatoes I've still to plant from the six I bought at Walmart, plus the 6 Jalapeno peppers from Walmart too.... Then there's cucumbers, and corn, and watermelons, pumpkins, and other things. Cantaloup, honeydew..... I might not have as big a garden this year as I'd hoped due to health problems and weather ( I just can't stand the heat any more like I could when I was younger.... A heat stroke will do that to a person....) but today it's not so bad with the rain coming down.
Someone posted something in one of the yahoo groups I'm in about washing with just water and just a TINY bit of soap... I want to go ahead and see about making a batch of soap for the first time ever. In the Encyclopedia of Country Living it has information on making soap without using a scale but instead by measuring. As the "old timers" did it! LOL I want to do that. Need to before the big batch of lard I have goes rancid. Should be ok still, but.... I really need to do that! Wonder if DH would let me use one or 2 of our baking pans to let it sit and age in..... I'd line the pans, of course! :) The natural bars we got at the NTIF are just about gone. Lasted a while.... Especially since we have been using them for both our skin and hair. Our hair has never done better! I really do NOT want to go back to shampoo! And my skin has stopped breaking out and the ecsema on my knee is not so bad either. Need to see about giving a good friend of mine a bar or 2 of the bars of natural soaps I plan on making after I use one myself for a bit to make sure the batch comes out good. Might start selling it! There seems to be a big market for natural homemade soaps right now.
I also need to refine my sewing and my stitches and see about starting to make and sell Renfare clothing. From watching how the Renfare fans do their finances, I'm pretty sure that if they need an outfit and don't want to make it themselves they'll buy. DH could easily to wrist gaurds and other things in leather. Pouches, drawstring pouches.... bags.... He'd be good at it!
Liam (our GS) is 8 months now, and stands at his front shoulders 14 inches. Bear ... well, we know he's younger. We got Bear on a Wednesday about three weeks ago now because I felt Liam needed a friend, and no one had posted that poor Bear had been taken on Freecycle. He is starting to lose all the baby teeth he had when we got him, and getting stronger, and his coat is looking better, and he and Liam are doing GREAT together! Guessing he's about 4 months now. He stands at a big 19 inches tall. Wow... He's going to be BIG! But then, he's a labernard so, uhmmm... yeah. Liam tries to make sure he does not get into mischief, so that keeps him busy. And Bear just has the strength now to get up on his hind legs and check out the counters and the table. Gotta break him of that. LOL This morning, the kids and DH were all on our bed watching QUBO (I think it was Veggie Tales) while I was checking out email so Liam decided that he needed to be part of the pack too. He jumped up on the bed and we promptly told him to get down, and he did. He's minding really well now. Bear hasn't figured out he can get on the bed yet, but then I am not sure if he's got the strength in his back legs to do that right now anyhow. That will come though.
We've had to turn on the A/C, but we are keeping the thermostat set at 80. It is working so far, but it gets kinda warm in the hotter part of the day. So far, none of my music students have complained.
Pulled the carpet out of the hallway and the kids and DH and I worked on cleaning the tile that was under the carpet up and the carpet and padding was taken with the trash yesterday. Carpet is SO nasty! There was so much dirt under the carpet and padding.... I'd love to pull ALL of the carpet up and put down tile and throw rugs. It would cut down on the pet smell BIG TIME and it would be healthier for all of us whether we have pets or not.
I still need prayers regarding saving $$ for the city taxes... We still need to manage to find almost $1,000..... UGH. I am just getting so defeated, and I don't like that feeling. God has proven time and time again that He provides for us, no matter what, and there is NO SUCH THING as a verse that God helps those who help themselves.... How can WE do anything BUT THROUGH GOD? Are we less than the sparrows? A relative of mine and I almost got into an argument recently about this very thing, and I got told to not give her any "religious" lectures, because she's so much older than I and have been through so much more..... She does not know half of what we've actually been through because I've not told her all because all of it is not her business. And how can I because for one, it's always "I wish we could get your car fixed so y'all would not have to walk everywhere.... I'd hate for anything to happen to you or your oldest"..... We LIKE walking, and would still walk for the exercise and to save gas and wear and tear on any car that we might have that is working. God goes with us, and I know this for a fact. Eventually, when Bear gets to the point that he CAN walk further (right now we've got to limit his exercise to let his bones become strong enough to hold his weight and grow to HIM) we will take Liam and Bear with us when we can, and when we get a cart we just might go ahead and pile the other 2 younger ones in the cart and take them and DH and the dogs for long walks! The cart would be there for groceries, the kids when they tired, etc. That would be fine and it would be GOOD EXERCISE. Which is something we need. ALL of us.
Ah well...... Ok, off to take a shower and start my day and get more stuff done! For anyone who reads this, have a BLESSED day!
It's raining again.
Well, I still need to actually get out in the garden and get the four squash my MIL gave me in, plus the three tomatoes that a good friend gave me, and the three heirloom tomatoes I've still to plant from the six I bought at Walmart, plus the 6 Jalapeno peppers from Walmart too.... Then there's cucumbers, and corn, and watermelons, pumpkins, and other things. Cantaloup, honeydew..... I might not have as big a garden this year as I'd hoped due to health problems and weather ( I just can't stand the heat any more like I could when I was younger.... A heat stroke will do that to a person....) but today it's not so bad with the rain coming down.
Someone posted something in one of the yahoo groups I'm in about washing with just water and just a TINY bit of soap... I want to go ahead and see about making a batch of soap for the first time ever. In the Encyclopedia of Country Living it has information on making soap without using a scale but instead by measuring. As the "old timers" did it! LOL I want to do that. Need to before the big batch of lard I have goes rancid. Should be ok still, but.... I really need to do that! Wonder if DH would let me use one or 2 of our baking pans to let it sit and age in..... I'd line the pans, of course! :) The natural bars we got at the NTIF are just about gone. Lasted a while.... Especially since we have been using them for both our skin and hair. Our hair has never done better! I really do NOT want to go back to shampoo! And my skin has stopped breaking out and the ecsema on my knee is not so bad either. Need to see about giving a good friend of mine a bar or 2 of the bars of natural soaps I plan on making after I use one myself for a bit to make sure the batch comes out good. Might start selling it! There seems to be a big market for natural homemade soaps right now.
I also need to refine my sewing and my stitches and see about starting to make and sell Renfare clothing. From watching how the Renfare fans do their finances, I'm pretty sure that if they need an outfit and don't want to make it themselves they'll buy. DH could easily to wrist gaurds and other things in leather. Pouches, drawstring pouches.... bags.... He'd be good at it!
Liam (our GS) is 8 months now, and stands at his front shoulders 14 inches. Bear ... well, we know he's younger. We got Bear on a Wednesday about three weeks ago now because I felt Liam needed a friend, and no one had posted that poor Bear had been taken on Freecycle. He is starting to lose all the baby teeth he had when we got him, and getting stronger, and his coat is looking better, and he and Liam are doing GREAT together! Guessing he's about 4 months now. He stands at a big 19 inches tall. Wow... He's going to be BIG! But then, he's a labernard so, uhmmm... yeah. Liam tries to make sure he does not get into mischief, so that keeps him busy. And Bear just has the strength now to get up on his hind legs and check out the counters and the table. Gotta break him of that. LOL This morning, the kids and DH were all on our bed watching QUBO (I think it was Veggie Tales) while I was checking out email so Liam decided that he needed to be part of the pack too. He jumped up on the bed and we promptly told him to get down, and he did. He's minding really well now. Bear hasn't figured out he can get on the bed yet, but then I am not sure if he's got the strength in his back legs to do that right now anyhow. That will come though.
We've had to turn on the A/C, but we are keeping the thermostat set at 80. It is working so far, but it gets kinda warm in the hotter part of the day. So far, none of my music students have complained.
Pulled the carpet out of the hallway and the kids and DH and I worked on cleaning the tile that was under the carpet up and the carpet and padding was taken with the trash yesterday. Carpet is SO nasty! There was so much dirt under the carpet and padding.... I'd love to pull ALL of the carpet up and put down tile and throw rugs. It would cut down on the pet smell BIG TIME and it would be healthier for all of us whether we have pets or not.
I still need prayers regarding saving $$ for the city taxes... We still need to manage to find almost $1,000..... UGH. I am just getting so defeated, and I don't like that feeling. God has proven time and time again that He provides for us, no matter what, and there is NO SUCH THING as a verse that God helps those who help themselves.... How can WE do anything BUT THROUGH GOD? Are we less than the sparrows? A relative of mine and I almost got into an argument recently about this very thing, and I got told to not give her any "religious" lectures, because she's so much older than I and have been through so much more..... She does not know half of what we've actually been through because I've not told her all because all of it is not her business. And how can I because for one, it's always "I wish we could get your car fixed so y'all would not have to walk everywhere.... I'd hate for anything to happen to you or your oldest"..... We LIKE walking, and would still walk for the exercise and to save gas and wear and tear on any car that we might have that is working. God goes with us, and I know this for a fact. Eventually, when Bear gets to the point that he CAN walk further (right now we've got to limit his exercise to let his bones become strong enough to hold his weight and grow to HIM) we will take Liam and Bear with us when we can, and when we get a cart we just might go ahead and pile the other 2 younger ones in the cart and take them and DH and the dogs for long walks! The cart would be there for groceries, the kids when they tired, etc. That would be fine and it would be GOOD EXERCISE. Which is something we need. ALL of us.
Ah well...... Ok, off to take a shower and start my day and get more stuff done! For anyone who reads this, have a BLESSED day!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Getting in shape
Well, on March 16th we rescued a 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. We named him Liam, as that means protector. :)
He needs/wants LONG walks, more than once a day. He can jump the fence, so we are working on trying to get a privacy fence up. Found the reed fences, that are six foot tall and 16 foot long. They are less than $30 at Home Depot! So, we are going to try and get 2 panels a month and get the fence up as quickly as we can. It will make things safer for us as well as for Liam, and I'll be happier with that privacy.
But I have lost over THREE pounds in the walks that we've been taking, and we went with our neighbor today in her van for a LONG walk that took over half an hour this morning. He was panting by the time we got back to her van, and has slept for a bit on our tile floor I think in an effort to get cool. Then just a few minutes ago he stretched and made a growly yawn as he woke up. LOL
I LOVE watching Liam spread out on our floor, or walk around the house. Or when he's walking beside me. I have always always wanted to have a german shepherd, and now I do! But oh wow, he is definitely a handful. More so because we did not get him from when he was a really young puppy, but at 6 monthes, and he has been abused and neglected. We are reading Cesar's Way and trying to implement what he is teaching. And it is working, slowly. If only we have a HEALTHY dog pack nearby that was also well trained etc.
I am new to blogging... Should be interesting to see where this takes me! :)
He needs/wants LONG walks, more than once a day. He can jump the fence, so we are working on trying to get a privacy fence up. Found the reed fences, that are six foot tall and 16 foot long. They are less than $30 at Home Depot! So, we are going to try and get 2 panels a month and get the fence up as quickly as we can. It will make things safer for us as well as for Liam, and I'll be happier with that privacy.
But I have lost over THREE pounds in the walks that we've been taking, and we went with our neighbor today in her van for a LONG walk that took over half an hour this morning. He was panting by the time we got back to her van, and has slept for a bit on our tile floor I think in an effort to get cool. Then just a few minutes ago he stretched and made a growly yawn as he woke up. LOL
I LOVE watching Liam spread out on our floor, or walk around the house. Or when he's walking beside me. I have always always wanted to have a german shepherd, and now I do! But oh wow, he is definitely a handful. More so because we did not get him from when he was a really young puppy, but at 6 monthes, and he has been abused and neglected. We are reading Cesar's Way and trying to implement what he is teaching. And it is working, slowly. If only we have a HEALTHY dog pack nearby that was also well trained etc.
I am new to blogging... Should be interesting to see where this takes me! :)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
What I didn't know before Liam
Wow... On the 16th of March we adopted a 6 month old German Shepherd male puppy. We decided to name him Liam, because that means protector, and ...that is what I wanted and had been praying for.
He is definitely protective of all of us! And of little children.
But he jumps fences, doesn't like it if dogs in another yard start barking at someone (he seems to feel that they are going to go after the person they are barking at), and though house trained he is rather wild and untrained. He was chained, ignored, and possibly abused. He is attention STARVED and loves to try to make room for himself in our bed at night to sleep with us. (no, 2 adults AND a rather large puppy in a full sized bed does NOT work well!!) He does not know how to walk on a leash, but is starting to not try and take me for a drag when I walk him. He seems to be absolutely petrified of ONE of my students, and definitely needs socialization with other humans AND dogs.
So...I'm waiting for Cesar Milan's Cesar's Way book to arrive from finding it on Amazon at a price that I could barely afford and meanwhile trying to initiate some of the stuff that was suggested to me by some wonderful ladies in the Homeschoolers Flying in Christ. :)
Still don't have a thermostat to replace the broken one in the '95 Escort station wagon, nor do we have it inspected, so...still walking! Which means can't trek to the bank, but can trek to Walmart or go further (almost 2 miles one way) to Kroger or Auto Zone or CVS....Not bad. Gets ya in shape! But we did manage to get 2 metal T bar posts for FREE ('cept labor) to replace the wood posts we have for clothesline posts, will use the wood posts to make our back porch. Planted 2 grapes (1 red, 1 green) today, still need to plant our blackberry. Started 18 rutabegas, 18 radishes (both purple top....LOL) in a seed tray, and our inside plants are doing great. Seems that the pineapple sage likes where I put it, so do the chives, and the other stuff...But will have to plant the lavender my MIL gave me SOON, and will need to change where I have the plants in the kitchen window when we have the back porch up.
And yes...Having a German Shepherd puppy in the house and HERE makes me feel TONS safer!!
Now to go walk and get some tamales...All of us in this house (except our picky boy) want TAMALES!!! :)
Have a very blessed Saturday!
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