Pots, Herbs and Kindred Spirits

I'm as excited as a kid on the first day of camp! Giddy as a schoolgirl! Happy as a lark! Okay, so you get it. I'm so excited I'm smiling despite only having had 1/2 cup of coffee.

Today, my new friend and I will head over to the Mennonite Gardens about a 30 minute drive from here. I've never been, as I didn't know the best places...or times...or..............okay, so I didn't have anyone with whom I could go. I do now!



Mrs. L's children attend the same gymnastics center as my son. We started talking and I found out she's Christian. Then I found out they homeschool. Then we got to talking about gardening, homesteading and chickens. We talked and talked and talked...and she and I are definitely kindred spirits! So Mrs. L and I are venturing forth.



I'll share the herby goodness of it all later.

I love my sizzler. Really. I do.

I have a Sizzler. He spins, he twirls, he rolls on the floor with the dog. He does cartwheels while eating popsicles, he is a study in motion. He is a trial of my patience. He is the light of my life. Days like today, I turn to the stories section of Sizzle Bop and read...just to hang on. To gain some perspective, and to give us both time to just RELAX.

That's why Sizzle Bop is at the top of my Homeschool--->Favorites List. The following is from the site and is used with permission. (Thanks Carol!)

Why is it called "Sizzle Bop?" The title for this site was an inspiration from my much loved but high energy (and high maintenance) son.

One night several years ago, he came rushing into my room, out of breath, to inform me that something “really serious” had happened. It somehow involved flying pieces of broken light bulb glass and smoke. Fearing an impending fire, I flew to the site of concern. Sure enough, there was a light bulb with a substantial portion missing. I found the offending piece lying almost ten feet from the lamp.

I wondered at the laws of physics that had been at work here when I saw what looked like the remnants of a water drop on a piece of glass. I asked my son if water had been dropped onto the bulb. With very deliberate speech, he said that perhaps…when he had been talking…a piece of saliva...might have been expelled onto the bulb. Why had he been talking to a lamp?…I thought. Then I noticed the desert dry rivulets of previous spit streams that were encrusted upon this defenseless bulb. “Son…?” I called quietly. My incredulous tone betrayed the calm I otherwise possessed. What I’m thinking might have happened here couldn’t really have happened....could it? “Son,” I said again… “have you actually been spitting on this light bulb?”

No answer.
He gave me a very wide-eyed and fearful expression.
Let’s try again.
“Son…why were you spitting on this light bulb?”

I could visualize seventeen or eighteen wheels turning in his head. Finally, the answer I shall never forget emerged. “Because I like the sizzle”

In spite of the very clear dangers, I burst out laughing. (I know that many children go through a saying “NO!” stage. Some go through a biting stage. But no one ever warned me about the “spitting-on-light bulbs-stage”). I think the most revealing part of the story can be summed up in the line “I like the sizzle!”

These kids do indeed like the sizzle. They like to

See the sizzle
Hear the sizzle

and often
BE the sizzle

That is a part of their wonderfulness…and also a part of the challenge in sharing daily ife with them. That sizzle can lead them into wonderful discoveries of humor, earning and experience. But that same desire for sizzle can lead them into difficulties. Our hopes in this group is to limit the difficult side with shared strategies and to more fully celebrate the wonderful side that is so often missed.

And here comes the “Bop” part of Sizzle Bop! There is a daily dance of life that is unique to the shared time with these high energy individuals. In spite of all of their challenges, there is a charged and delightful energy that comes with the package. In our family, we’ve chosen to dance to the music, to join in the bop, instead of trying to turn down the music.

It's official...

I'm home now. Today was my last day at the part time job I've held for 6 years. I'm feeling a tiny bit sentimental, but not so very much. I'm very glad to have this opportunity.

The timing certainly was grand on the Lord's part, though, the kiddo has a severe sinus infection today and needs some extra TLC.

That'll give me something to think about OTHER THAN some special friends I won't see nearly as often now. *sigh*

SAHM I Am...

or soon will be! That's right. A week ago now I gave my two weeks notice.

I have really loved working where I did, but one mama can only be spread so far no matter how much of her there is physically. Papa-Dew and I both agree that it is time to devote more energy to homeschool and my small freelance business. I'm scared, excited, frightened, challenged, afraid, and did I mention scared?

I now have a little less idea what tomorrow holds, but I most certainly DO know who holds tomorrow. So come to think of it, I'm not really so very afraid after all.

Big News Coming Soon...

tomorrow or the day after. But for today mum's still the word!

Fall Heralds Busy-ness!

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Spring is a close second, with Winter and Summer tied for third. A funny thing happens to me in the Fall and Spring, though. My husband calls it Erma Bombeck syndrome. Erma called it Martha Stewart Syndrome.

Autumn heralds a return to order, a desire for the crispness of the early morning and the cool comfort of evenings. It creates in me an instinct must like Nesting. In fact, the "experts" would probably call it just that. Papa-Dew both loves and hates it. He loves that the house is squeaky clean (well, most of it) and decorated, but he hates that it is the only time of year I actually write out a honey-please-do list. Most of the year, I ask him and let his timetable dictate the rest. I make a great effort to not be a contentious woman. Fall, though, all the stops are pulled out. The eyes are batting, the tone of voice is wheedling, and I am not above turning his head with baked goodies and promises of Saturday sci-fi marathons.


Thus far, it's been pretty tame - although expensive. The week started off with a new pair of jeans for me. Then some really darling (and totally on sale) fall and Christmas themed dish-towels to hang on the shelf-rod (pics to come later). You know, the shelf that was gifted me by my precious mother (hi Mom!) when we visited last week. The one he put up today in the kitchen for me.


Then things got expensive. {sigh} But necessary. A new mattress/box springs set. On sale, of course, and discounted for a cash payment. That was nice. I'll sleep well tonight! And so will my sweetie and his poor, overworked back. But before bed, I think I'm really feeling the need to make a list of things to do tomorrow...


Does Autumn motivate you as well? Share with us!