As I write this, the children are putting on their snowsuits for the first time this season.  We got all this from Saturday afternoon through today.  We could get another 6-10 inches by tomorrow lunchtime.  As I look out a window facing north, I see a patch of blue sky.  When I look west it is still very cloudy.

The nice thing about the snow is that it really brightens up the inside of the house.  We were able to do lessons this morning without any lights on, and still don't have any on yet this afternoon.  I do find rainy fall days quite dreary and often have all the lights on all day.

I may go out and fill the bird feeders this afternoon.  At lunchtime there was a little chickadee pecking away at the lonesome few seeds left in the window feeder.  We usually have five feeders full at the same time, with different kinds of seed and suet in them.  It is lovely to see them crowding around to eat.

Our lessons right now are going well.  I would really like to make a lot of progress this winter since spring seems to be such a busy time of year.  When we are cooped up at home all winter, we like to travel as soon as the snow begins to melt.  Anyway we seem to have a groove as far as school is concerned.

We plan to celebrate American Thanksgiving this year with a friend who is coming up from the States.  I'm already trying to plan what to have, and am working on getting the house a bit cleaner than average.  I can hardly believe the amount of dust that has accumulated since we started having fires in the woodstove!

On other notes, the weather has lent itself to indoor projects again.  I have uncovered the cross-stitch project that I haven't worked on in a while and have started in doing some in the afternoons and evenings.  I would love to finish that one in the next year, but think maybe that is a bit wishful.  This season of my life time to cross-stitch seems to be almost non-existent.  And often I am too tired to do much in the evenings after the children go to bed.

This post is a bit of this and that, and the snowy outdoors beckons.  I think I will venture out to see whether the kids are actually shoveling or just playing.  Has anyone else gotten snow this weekend?

Two titles because I can't think of just one that works...you can choose your favorite.

It is a gorgeous fall afternoon, and we have just finished lessons for the day--our first full day since Grandma went home.  It went well today.

The children are playing, and I am sitting here thinking of what to blog about because I am procrastinating on other duties--like making dinner.

I am having an unhappy menu sort of week.  I didn't like my menu when I made it, and I like it even less now that I am having to make the meals on it.  And the worst part of it is--we've eaten leftovers for nearly every meal so far, and now I am actually out of (thawed) leftovers, and need to make something new--with hamburger--which is thawed.  And since the main meal today so far was leftovers--so I kind of need to make soup....

So I sit here and blog because my desk is nice and bright, and the kitchen--on the north east side of the house-is not.  And I am trying to think of something to listen to that will motivate me to cook, and trying to think of something to cook...with hamburger.

Back on the weather--it is unseasonably warm for these parts at this time of the year.  To think I could go outside today without a jacket was almost unbelievable.  Granted, the breeze is cool, so one does not want to be standing around outside without a jacket for long.  But snow is not even in the longterm forecast--yet anyway.  And to think we have already seen our first snow of the year...two weeks ago.

Well I'd best be away to try to come up with a recipe--for soup that has hamburger in it, or for something else, something that makes enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.  And hope that tomorrow, I am motivated enough to make something else on the menu.

I am sitting here during a lovely fall afternoon, longing to go outside and enjoy it, but feeling like my feet might not cooperate.  It is only past lunch, and I am hurting.

We are enjoying an extended visit from Grandma.  Grandpa is away and Grandma will stay with us the whole time.  We came home with her yesterday and I am thoroughly enjoying her company--when she is not napping.  This morning she listened to some of the children's lessons, and looked at their books.  Right now she is resting, I am blogging, and the children are doing their reading, I hope.

Yesterday after seeing Grandpa off, we drove home (nearly 3 hours) and were surprised to see it was snowing along the way.  That is the first snow I've seen this season.  It was sticking in some places, but by the time we arrived home there was nothing on the ground here and only a few flakes coming down.

I have many things I want to do, but if they involve standing for prolonged periods, I am miserable.  Just now I think I will go and recline with my feet up.

Aah feet...we need them, and it is frustrating when they hurt.

I wanted to blog earlier but Google wasn't cooperating.  Now it will be speedy before I leave for a walk--much needed, I am afraid.

We had a great time with family in the city.  Got back home last week and jumped right into a few visits around here.  It was a very busy week last week.

So far this week we've managed a couple of good days of lessons.  The children are both doing well, and I am really enjoying the teaching!  I think I enjoy it more all the time.  What rewards we have to see the children catching on!

When not teaching, cooking, cleaning, or attacking Mt. Washmore, I have been knitting.  I am working on my first large project (a blanket) and am anxiously desiring to start on my second.  I am just learning, so I am not fast, but I do find that it is getting easier.  I am so excited that I can actually read a real pattern (even if it is just a simple one).

Needless to say, that means the cross-stitching is sitting on the back burner.  I want to do that too--but time just doesn't seem to allow for doing both at the moment.  The nice thing about the knitting is that I can take it with me and do it when I am in the car--not driving.

I still am way behind on blogs and other computer reading.  I don't know that I will ever catch up.  I am working my way through a couple of "real" books, which means less time on the computer.  (That isn't a bad thing at all.)  There is just so much to read that it is often overwhelming.  Gotta be more choosy....Does anyone else feel this way?

Time to go put on the walking shoes...

So many things have happened lately I can hardly keep up.  Fortunately none have been unfortunate.  Between life and lessons I just don't have time to blog, or to comment on others blogs as much as I would like.

Some of the latest events, including those coming up:

The IPM--International Plowing Match.  We went with friends and had a great day!  The highlights of the day had to include the dancing Farmall Tractors...


and the Steam Shovel.


Upcoming things are a trip to the City to see family, and a week of vacation in one of our favorite places.  Ah life is busy but good.

I am still trying to keep up reading blogs....hopefully I will catch up some day.

I can't believe it is Friday already!  We've done our lessons all week, except for Monday, and today is our first Friday Fun Day.  This is a day when we do lapbooks, study French, and do other home economics things like sewing.  Belle wants to make her Fall Fair entry for this year, so we will sew this week. (I'm quite excited because we now have a small folding table for the sewing machine, so I am not required to clean off my desk every time we sew.)  The only down side is that Boo wants to sew too--on the machine.  At the tender age of six, I'm not quite ready to let him do that, and I don't think he is that interested in hand sewing.

My biggest problem this week, apart from still trying to get over the cold I had last week, is just trying to get up in the morning.  I've always been a morning person, and this difficulty is frustrating me no end.  Today I ache all over and I just can't seem to get moving.  The other day I did get up and go for a walk, and my achiness lessened as I walked.  So I know I need to walk, but when I can't get out of bed until 7:30 it is too late to go for a walk before breakfast.  I'm blaming it on Daylight Saving Time.  I don't feel like my body has adjusted at all this summer.  Grrr.  I don't appreciate anything that disturbs the natural rhythms of my body.  That is my rant for today.  So I sit here blogging instead of walking, and in about five minutes I'll need to get breakfast.

I can't even really remember what all we did this week, grocery shopping and haircuts, lessons, laundry.  It was kind of a boring week--at least as far as blogging is concerned.  I do feel like it was a reasonably productive week.  And next week is my sister, Photogal's wedding.  We're looking forward to that. 

Sniffles and sneezes
Amid summer breezes
Oh it gets old,
Does a mid-summer cold.

That is about the extent of my poetic abilities.  Ah me!  I sit here with box of extra soft tissues and a waste paper basket, and moan at my runny nose and sore throat.  This thing hit me at 4 am this morning!  Out of the blue!  I felt fine when I went to bed, and NOT fine when I woke up.

We started lessons this week, after doing math for a few days last week.  I think it worked out well, starting off a little early but taking it easy.  Our days this week were hit and miss (Aaaa-chooo!), as other things interfered with putting in full days, but I still felt like we got a lot done. (Off to make a nice warm honey and lemon drink...)  I was sorry not to be able to do Friday school--our fun lapbook, foreign language and home-ec day, but I had other things to do, and they weren't unpleasant--just needed to be done.

We were blessed with a huge bag of green beans this week.  I reckon it took me about four hours in total to snap, blanch and freeze them.  I listened to audio seminar things while doing them, and it was actually a pleasant chore.  If I had more counter space and a helper, I could have decreased that time considerably, but I don't.  The job is done and I am very pleased!  We love green beans, so this is a real blessing.

This afternoon another really nice thing happened--although I haven't had a chance to really enjoy it yet.  My Chair arrived!  It is a nice little wing chair that fits me just right, and is our 12th anniversary present to us.  (We tend to use anniversaries as an excuse to buy furniture when we are able--a nice useful gift that we all can enjoy.)  It was my turn to get a chair, as my dear husband had gotten his a year or so ago.  He has a small tub chair that fits him just right!  The really neat thing is that even though we bought our sofa and the contrasting throw cushions, at least two years ago, the fabric that the cushions came in was still available.  We were able to get the chair done in that same fabric, and I was excited to find that the cushions have not faded over the years--speaks to the quality of that fabric.  I would take pictures but the living room is cluttered at the moment, and I'm too tired to clean it up.

Guess that is all my news at the moment.  I'll be away to enjoy my new chair soon, unless I fall asleep first.

A quiet evening in harbour.Looking out to the bay.Wish this was the view from my front window. Alas it is not...
Flowers in my garden. A river scene. The calm after the waterfall.

I am not a photographer, although I would like to learn more about my camera.  I've been trying to take more photos these days to get practice doing different shots.  Wish I had the time....

Belle woke up with a bit of fever and cold symptoms today, so our plans to visit friends were put on hold.  I only hope that Boo and the rest of us manage to avoid it.  My throat has been a bit scratchy today, so I am trying to take it easy.

Yesterday was a very productive day, I thought.  We had compromised on the starting lessons early thing, and the children have been working on math this week.  A head start on that should make things easier next week.  In the afternoon, Belle and I went shopping, and Boo and Daddy went fishing.  I wish I had sent the camera with my husband so he could have taken some pictures.  Belle and I managed to visit four different stores, and came back with nearly everything on the list...

The one thing lacking was a hat for Belle.  We wear hats to church, and alas hers is too small.  And the shops have none for a girl beyond the age of about six.  She is now fretting about what to wear on Sunday.  She has only been wearing a hat regularly for a few weeks but she has taken to it like a fish to water.  I am thinking I may have to experiment with a scarf for a headcovering for her.  It is not my first choice for various reasons, but I don't know what else to do.  Off to google ideas I shall go in a few minutes.

Today I took in a couple of sessions of the Heart of the Matter conference online, and puttered about the house.  I am feeling a little stressed.  After all I start lessons for real on Monday (barring illness now), and I don't know if I am ready.

So many things to do, so little time.

A recent storm.

The children are nearly finished with their two weeks of swimming lessons.  I confess to being on tenterhooks--waiting to know whether they pass their levels, and really wanting them to do well.  Belle did a first yesterday--swam across the pool on her own!  Today she swam across and most of the way back before she was simply too tired to go any further.  Boo is doing well, swimming with a noodle, and coming on with his floats.  He is still reluctant to put his face completely in the water.  I am not sure what all is required for him to pass his level.

We've had to travel to a nearby town for swimming, as our town pool developed a leak.  I have quite enjoyed it, surprisingly.  It is nice to drive by the farms and see the corn growing, and the drive there and back gives us a chance to unwind.  It hasn't been very nice to the gas tank--driving there and back every day.  Our van can sit in the driveway for a week or more without being driven normally.  It is really nice when I can go a whole month and only fill up once.  Unfortunately that doesn't happen much in the summer.

When I haven't been at swimming, I've been doing things around the house, and starting to think about lessons again.  I usually try to have some sort of schedule for lessons, but this year I'm having a bit of trouble deciding how to do things.  I think I may try more of a flow schedule than an organized one.  I am thinking of rearranging our subjects and am not sure how much time I will need for each subject, and when to make a break in things so we don't have our noses to the books all day.  I am also trying to decide what subjects I need to do every day and which ones can go on alternate days.  I am still planning a four-day heavy on the academics, with Friday continuing to be our foreign language, lapbook and home economics day.

I'm also trying to come up with an organized plan for doing chores, keeping the house clean and tidy, and some time for me to plan menus, do budget, and other necessities of life.  The children can do so much now, and I am trying to figure out which things no longer need my constant help and immediate supervision.  I don't want to schedule everything down to the minute so that if something gets out of line I get stressed, but we need to have a general flow so the right stuff gets done.

Boo is ready to give up the Little Tykes desk that was in his room.  In its place we plan to put a folding table for an additional space to do school.  Right now, all the books are stored downstairs in the living room and dining room, but we do most of the actual work in Belle's room.  Her table isn't huge, and if I am actively teaching one of them it is too distracting for the other to be working on something else beside their sibling.  So having a table in Boo's room for them to work at independently will be very good.  A folding table is something that can be put away when we have to put an air mattress up for visitors.  The children's bedrooms are not very big so we have to make the best use of the space we have.  It will be really nice not to have to send a child downstairs to do their independent work.  (What we are going to do for a chair is something I haven't thought about yet.)

I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up because they hurt, and now my battery is running down, so guess I'd better get this posted.

I have been having trouble getting into a routine since we stopped our formal lessons for the month of July.  I seem to be forgetting things I usually do, and I feel generally disorganized.  I still use a list, but that doesn't help a whole lot when I forget to write things down.  One can only hope this problem will resolve itself once our lessons start back up....if it doesn't I'll really be in trouble!

It isn't that I'm getting nothing done.  I've worked on the basement--tidying up and getting rid of garbage that builds up over the winter--you know, those empty boxes that you have to take to recycle because they won't pick them up at the curb, and the overflowing garbage basket in the laundry area.  I've worked on the school area; and although it isn't quite done yet, it does look better.  I've worked on the computer--organizing and catching up with our finances.  I've worked on the file cabinet--and I've only got half a drawer left to do--and it looks TONS better!

It is the stuff I haven't done that seems to glare at me--the childrens' untidy bedrooms, the disorganized shopping list, the laundry (I'm out of routine because we were away), the meals (because my shopping list isn't organized, and because I would rather clean than cook most of the time), the weeds in the yard, the stuff in the garage and on the porch that needs to be gone through, and the general clutter in the house.

On the positive side, the children are helping a lot more!  Right now they are with their father, raking up the cut grass at the church.  Both help load and unload the dishwasher, Belle can put soap in and start it now, and they do help with the picking up of stuff.  Of course now they make more mess too because we aren't doing lessons every day.  But they do work hard.

Well, I'd best be off to do something--before I have to make dinner.  Anyone else suffer from increased fuzzy thinking in the summer?

We've had a squirrel climbing up our window screen to get at our window feeder.  I have tried several times to get to the camera before it spotted me, but haven't been really successful.  I am not sure how to discourage it, but thought a flash going off in its face might help.  I really have no desire to take the screen out, since the weather is supposed to give us a taste of summer, and I do not want the bugs inside.  Any suggestions will be welcome.

We are winding down our school year.  Boo finished phonics--at least as much as I plan to do this year.  All of the lessons we didn't finish (about 10) are repeated in next years phonics, so I am not worried.  He was a bit disappointed to not finish the book--wonder where he gets that from?  But I am not thrilled about picking it back up at the end of June to finish.  The children will both continue to work on math over the summer, taking a break here and there for visitors, trips and swimming lessons.

My list of summer to-do's feels about a mile long, especially considering that most of this month will be taken up with visitors and a trip.  My back still gets tired easily, and I find I can't lift boxes around without feeling some discomfort.  That has limited my ability to do some things.  I have sorted most of two file cabinet drawers (out of four). I would like to say that job is done, but I have half a drawer left to finish.  The other two drawers are full of office supplies, and my husband's files--which I don't touch if I can help it.   I have packed a box of curriculum to post to a friend to sell.  Today I rearranged my closet ( a triangular space under the eaves), and was able to get some additional file boxes into it.  And for the first time in two years-I can close the door!  I also put the piles of study books that have built up in the bedroom into a box where my husband can get at them, but where they are semi-contained for the sake of our visitors next week.  Unfortunately the box is presently sitting in the middle of the room for lack of a place to put it.  And the middle of the room will be holding a playpen next week.

I'm really trying to focus more on what I have done than what I have to do--because when I look at the list, I get discouraged.  Gotta remember that my family is more important than living in a perfectly organized house--and while I don't think I am a perfectionist, I do like to be able to find things easily.  Some days I think I should just forget about cleaning, and hug the kids.  They grow up so fast.

Now I'm really rambling...If I catch the squirrel in the act, I will post pictures.

Sorry I couldn't make the M & M's start with a B.  But I sit here munching as I type.  For some reason I have been craving them like anything lately--like for a couple of months.  Not chocolate in general, but M & M's in particular--and the most frustrating thing is that you can't find big bags of them up here.  It is just too easy to eat an entire 150 g. bag in two days!  In a few minutes the children will be down, begging the rest of them from me.  I like chocolate, but I don't eat it like my dear husband does, and not in the same quantities--until maybe lately.  Oh well, pretty soon it will be too warm and they will melt in my hands and on my desk.  Maybe they won't hold the same appeal then.

I finally got out for an early morning walk.  I took my binoculars, and was delighted to see both the Common Yellowthroat and the Yellow Warbler.  I had seen and identified both of these in the same area last year, and was waiting for their return.  I rarely carry both my camera and the binoculars, and I don't think my camera is good enough to take photos as far away as these birds were.

On another note, my back has been acting up again the last few days.  It is a good excuse to give the children some additional training on loading and unloading the dishwasher, as I am supposed to bend as little as possible.  I do hope that my housecleaning restrictions will be lifted by the weekend, as I prefer my method of vacuuming to anyone else's.

On the bright side, however, I have not had any headaches like my regular migraines since I started the new med!  If we have finally found a solution, I will be very happy.

I just realized that I am way behind on reading blogs again.  They are still not appearing regularly in my inbox, so the only ones I hit are the ones I have on Bloglines.  Still, I can't believe how busy life is these days!

Where does one start?  We've (mostly my DH) been working on the lawn the last two days.  When our roof got done in the fall our grass suffered greatly ( a very small price to pay).  So the weeds took over and the grass succumbed.  That has taken up much of any "spare" time around here.  Now I just hope the seeds take root and the grass grows before the weeds take over again.

Last week was another migraine week--five days in a row.  I finally gave in on Sunday and went to bed instead of to church.  I still had a headache Sunday evening, but by Monday morning it was finally gone.  I do tend to push myself through most of them--still have to eat, do laundry, and maintain some semblance of order to life. 

Really struggling with our schoolwork these days.  I feel ready for a break. But the children are doing so well now that I dislike the thought of stopping when we can still get stuff done.  We have a lot of stuff coming up in June though, so if I can keep things going this month, we will do much less next month.  I tried an upside-down day today, with our afternoon subjects in the morning, and our morning subjects (the most important ones) in the afternoon.  The benefit to that was that we actually got the afternoon subjects done--better than we've been doing a lot of the time lately.  We didn't get to many of the morning subjects though.  I do think I may keep doing that at least a couple of days a week, in hopes that we can make a bit more progress in history and reading before stopping for our summer break.

I've been feeling convicted about spending too much time on the computer and not enough time doing other things.  Unfortunately this conviction seems to have come at a time when I've had to be on the computer more than usual.  I use the computer to pay bills, plan lessons, do our budget, communicate with family, and last week I was listening to the Homeschool Expo online--at least the sessions that didn't conflict with other things.  Now I am busy downloading the audios I didn't get to hear.  Maybe next week I will be able to cut back. 

I had a wonderfully productive week last week, with a field-trip, several trips to town to drop off and pick up my husband at the bus (he had two trips last week), much cleaning and organizing around the house--doing things that don't have to be done every day, as well as doing our lessons. I even had a migraine one day and finished up morning school while lying on the couch.  It was a great week for getting things done.

This week has not started out the same at all.  In fact I think my brain is mush.  I can't think straight and can't seem to accomplish anything.  I don't feel like cooking tonight (a common complaint, unfortunately), so we are having frozen Scottish meat pies and beans--on the menu for this week, just not for tonight.  We've done lessons both Monday and today, and I did do all the laundry yesterday, so I must be getting something done.  It just doesn't feel like much, and my energy level has bottomed out. 

Since tonight's dinner is now on the menu for tomorrow at noon, I am contemplating letting the children have an easy morning, and trying to use the time to recharge my own batteries.  Then Belle can help me make lunch--for Home Ec.

I just answered the timer in the kitchen and was confronted with an open dishwasher partially filled with dirty dishes--evidence of today's distraction.  I started to fill it and then ended up doing something else--rabbit trails.  I know I'm not the only one who ever does this.  `Fess up folks!

Wow!  Life has been busy!

We had a wonderful visit with my sister-in-law last week.  She arrived Monday evening and left on Friday morning.  Needless to say, I was too busy having fun to blog.  We went for walks, played with the children, ate, watched a DVD that my dear husband bought me, and talked, and talked.  We had a couple of years to catch up on, as they work in another country.

Saturday was the homeschool conference in our area.  A group of five of us ladies went down in our van, from our church congregation, and we met two others from our congregation there.  That was so much fun!  We had company on the drive and a chance to visit without interruptions from our children.  I found the conference very encouraging.  It was great to meet up with folk, and even a fellow blogger--Author Donna!  (So sorry I don't have a link just now.  Maybe I can edit later to add.)

On the way home we ladies stopped to have supper together.  What a nice ending to a wonderful day.

It isn't that anything earthshaking has happened.  For some reason I either haven't spent much time on the computer lately, or when I have, I've been trying to keep up with email.  I haven't been near my blog since just after I blogged the last time.

Life just seems crazy these days.  If I keep up with housework (and I'm having enough trouble doing that!), I get behind on the computer, and vice versa.

I'll just hit the main events since I've got only about five minutes until we should be tackling our afternoon lessons. 

I've been to the doctor twice in the past week--both times for minor infections.  Fortunately I haven't had to be on oral antibiotics at all.  The topical stuff seems to be working.  Both times I saw an on-call doctor, as it was over the holiday weekend.  Both doctors were good, and explained things well--the way I like it.  Today my regular doctor phoned to tell me she has samples of a migraine medicine for me--with the idea of not prescribing an expensive medicine unless we know it works for me.

Belle has finished a Math U See level!  This is a big accomplishment for her, and she is very excited about starting the next level, which we began this morning.

In general, we are struggling a bit with lessons.  Or rather, I am.  I am having a hard time being motivated in the afternoons.  We are getting something done every day, but not every subject every day.  I think I have Spring fever.  At least the most important subjects get covered in the morning.  And I hope the homeschool conference gives me a shot of encouragement.  It isn't that the children are struggling.  They seem to mostly enjoy the work they do.  The problem seems to be with me.

We have had more snow lately.  Winter is not over yet here.  But the blessing has been a greater frequency of bright and sunny days.  I like the longer days too.  And I like the fact that I can get out for walks in the morning again.  I went today, and slipped and slid on icy roads, but still managed to enjoy the outing.  I plan to post some pictures of the past few days and this morning.

It has been more than five minutes and I still want to upload some pictures...

 
 

It has been another long time since I blogged.  I have been reading others blogs, and trying to keep up with a multitude of emails (I think I'm on too many lists).  That seems to be about all I've had time for lately.  I wish I could say I've been cutting down on computer time, but I'm afraid that isn't the case.

Lessons have gone well so far this week.  We've gotten almost everything done both days.  I've been pleased at how well the children have been working.  And I am so thankful that we can do this!  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Now if I could just convince myself that getting the laundry done, the cooking done, the cleanup done was just as much fun as getting lessons done, I would be doing really well....but it has to be done, and no sooner done than it has to be done again.  I am reminded of Ecclesiastes at times.  Some days I would just rather be reading to the children than doing any housework!

My dear husband put his back out near the end of last week.  He is in quite a bit of pain.  A friend at church noticed his stance at church, and though she didn't know at the time, she wondered if his back was sore.  She has had back trouble herself recently.

I know I'm moaning, but I think I feel sorrier for him and hope he gets better REAL soon because I have had to add woodstove duty, and wood-toting duty to my other duties.  I brought in two wheelbarrows full yesterday, and didn't have to go to get any more today!  That was nice, but I still have to keep the fire going.  I did get a nice hot one going today though.  I'm quite proud of myself.

And to avoid ending this blog on a depressing note, the kids supplied me with two funnies today. This afternoon the kids were playing in the snow with shovels and buckets. I stuck my head out to find out if they were feeling cold, and Boo (age 6) said "We're hunting for gold, Mom!" He just finished reading The Secret Valley by Clyde Robert Bulla.  It is such fun to see them acting out the things they read.

Talking about the time change next week, Belle says "Mom the days will be getting longer. You'll be able to get more done."  I wish!  Guess we need to do some educating about Daylight Savings Time....

I don't honestly know which one was funnier. What is your vote?

I don't really know why, except maybe that nothing major or exciting has happened (that is good), and I don't really have much to say.

The week is nearly gone.  School is happening, although still a bit patchy at times.  The children will be doing some math today since they didn't get it all done yesterday, as well as our usual Friday subjects.

I think I may have a mildly sprained ankle.  Funny thing is I don't know exactly how I did it.  Unless it happened when I was filling the window feeder and the chair nearly went over in the snow.  I don't remember feeling any pain then--just relief that I hadn't cracked my head on the window ledge.  And I can't even remember what day that was.  I have had some discomfort for at least three days and a bit of mild swelling.  It mostly hurts when I've walked on it all day, and at night when I took my shoes off.  I fixed the night problem by wrapping it lightly before bed.  I can't really see any bruising.

My major frustration of the week is that I've tried to download the BlogBridge Blog Reader, and I can't get it to work for me--at all.  As intrigued as I am by the idea, perhaps I should just stick with Bloglines.

I seemed to have energy today!  What a change from earlier in the week!

I cleaned house, planned lessons, paid bills, worked on expenses, baked a cake with Belle, frosted it tonight, mixed dry ingredients for muffins in the morning, filled the bird feeders, bathed the children....and the list goes on, but it is much shorter now.

The cake was an interesting experience.  We will see how it turns out when we feed it to our visitors tomorrow.  It is supposed to be a chocolate cake, and we had to melt unsweetened chocolate and cool it before adding it to the batter.  The melting went fine (unlike my previous chocolate-melting experiences), as did the cooling.  What I didn't do was warm my metal mixing bowl.  Well, the chocolate hit the cold buttermilk and eggs, and the VERY cold bowl, and solidified into clumps, most of which were beat into smithereens by the beaters (at least what didn't solidify into cement on the inside of the bowl).  But the batter didn't look like chocolate cake batter when I poured it into the pan.  Instead it looked like white batter sprinkled with pepper.  It baked to a pretty golden brown color though, and I haven't yet cut into it to see what it looks like on the inside.

My frosting did turn out to a reasonable taste (I licked the spoon) and spreadable consistency.  I hope that isn't the only redeeming factor to the experience.

One can perhaps ascertain from my cooking disasters that I don't bake very much.  I don't.  And when I do, I usually bake pie.

Belle did a good job with her measuring of ingredients and reading the recipe.  It was fun to do it with her too.

Now I can just hope my energy carries over into school next week.

Today when I woke up, it was....snowing.  So I put on my sweats and resigned (nearly) myself to another day at home.  But by breakfast time, the snow had stopped and the sky was BLUE!  After checking the forecast, I quickly determined that immediately after breakfast I needed to organize my two-page list into something easier to follow.  This took me about 15 minutes.  I ended up dividing the list by shop, and got it into some semblance of order--four stores.  (It wasn't all food--we needed some other things too.)

My husband was taking a bit longer to get ready so I decided that I would help by shoveling the driveway.  Now anyone who has lived with plows knows that when they plow, the stuff they push to the side rapidly becomes like concrete--a wall across the bottom of the driveway.  A lot of the time you can step on it, and not sink in.  We have a lovely huge scoop that you push into the snow and then tip up or turn over instead of throwing the snow with the shovel.  The only problem was that since our neighbour had kindly blown us out with his snow blower last week, I had to either push the scoop over vertical walls of snow, or push it all the way up the drive (long enough for two vehicles end to end with room to spare) to the area that hadn't been blown.  I estimate that I shoveled upwards of 35 scoops of snow.  It may have been more.  I wasn't counting at the time.  My estimate is based on a guess of how many scoops I pushed to a total of 6 locations--to the garage, up the steep bank on the far side of the driveway, up the short bank to the near side of the drive, to the front of the van on the far side, to the side of the steps at the front of the house (we have quite a wide side yard), and to the banks at the edge of the street beside the driveway.  (I am really going to have to find a photo of our side yard to give you an idea.)  It took me 30-40 minutes.  When I was done, I was hot, sweaty, and my face was beet red.  I went inside to change and cool off before we left for town.

This photo was taken last year, but it gives an idea of the distance from the van to the road and the van to the house.

We shopped and ate lunch, and shopped some more, and it was after 3:00 before we got home.  Then I had to put it all away.  The children helped a lot, and that was really nice.  Then the fatigue set in.  I was slightly revived by a cup of tea, but I am very tired tonight.  I am so glad that we got out, and my fridge is full, my freezer will be full (when I get the meat repackaged to freeze), and my shelves no longer look so bare.

Now I have to decide what to do tomorrow.  I sure hope I wake up with more energy than I have right now.   We have a friend coming over in the afternoon, so that will mean we only have school in the morning.  I have to decide whether to do a regular morning schedule, or revise it to get some afternoon stuff in.  I also need to get the meat in the freezer and figure out what to eat.  Right now I don't even know what I wrote on the menu.