These last few months.

In the Yard and Garden:

Planting of 4 trees

Blueberry bushes

Tomatos

Bell peppers

Cucumbers

It is a far harder thing to do with the shoulder issues so few gardening projects for me, just enough to cushion the grocery budget through summer.

The wildflower bed in the front is very pretty with lots of bachelor buttons.

On Education:

Third Quarter grades

 Five to six days a week at least 5 hours a day and my dream of giving an education to the children has been hard won. Dash will continue next year and want to attend Jr High, Dove wants to return to Jr. High next year.
My hopes for a firmer foundation are being met.

I have been earning a new skill in my beading now I am able to better knot and string.

Around the house:

LAUNDRY

Letting go of clutter and passing it on gives space to the bikes.

Just trying to keep up

Parenting:

My days are full of school, fixing three meals a day from scratch and being available to the kids and my husband.

Adoption day 14 for Dove

Dash had his 11^th birthday yesterday.

 It was a different more mature day. All these many years of making a party and spending a budget on that was changed to all of the budget onto one item. His desire an Itouch, not a phone but a tool for filming and correspondence/media.

 Happy Child. The sweet Grandparents took the children out to lunch yesterday and I dashed up to the grocery and purchased a small cake. Due to my arms making one was not doable. The injections the afternoon before left me far too tender.

 Big sister get to share her knowledge for she had one given to her last year for Christmas. All I do mean all kids these days have phones. Mine DO NOT. We much prefer to have the control over contacts and do without incurring monthly bills. I do not even have a cell. We really hate any bills except what must be to have utility and mortgage, insurance.

Daddy Man set up the new tool

It was hard to allow such an expensive item but we kept to the limits. It was wonderful to see Dash so happy and not begrudge his choice to forgo a party (I had to buy a small cake :)

Boundaries have been a huge focus in the training of the last 3 months. My desire is well able young adults, functioning as successful independent people. We are really focusing on responsibility and reality thinking. When you throw a ball up it will come down and one must consider what they will do about catching it or letting it get away to be lost.

The things of the spirit:

For the last several months my spirit has been healing the wrongs done me during the knee replacement. Those feelings left me in a real struggle filled with anger and pain. I really felt that God had abandoned me, or had asked just too much of me. Endurance is a hard thing. One day I will understand when comforting another where only those experienced intimately could. I think that perhaps the pain medication might of actually been stolen by employees. It is a common issue in nursing homes.

Health and self care:

Shots in each shoulder two days ago allow me to sit here and type a while. Although still tender the level of pain has resided significantly. Avoidance of any further surgery left me all but lame in both arms so pain was insistent and tasks stacking up. I was under the false understanding that no further cortisone injections were available that my limit had set me up to have corrective surgery as the next step. So for several months unwilling to go there I have been in pain unable to do much that required me upper body strength. The surgeon has ordered an MRI and surgery will occur on my right shoulder eventually, but today my pain is greatly improved! Bless GOD!

Creative outlets:

Sun catcher

 Mixed media, those are beads (of course) for the back ground. Sorta starry night image. I have yet to do the highlight in the eyes.

 My heart is my offering.

I have been working on a painting for our anniversary as a gift to my husband.

 This is so fun for Dash and his buddy. Imagine two 5th grade boys loving pix-elation the precursor of pointillism.

 Keeps the iron hot every day.

Relationships:

Our 30^th anniversary is in two weeks and we will get to go on holiday.

The children have sleep over’s every other weekend. My house is most often full of children making U tube videos’. They have such fun writing scripts and filming each other.
All of you have been so neglected as has my writing been. Just dealing with the levels of daily pain , slowed by it, I have all I can do to tend to each day. Now that my shoulders feel a lot better due to the injections I have been able to type! However I should stop soon.

Last night Dove and I spoke until well after midnight. She opened her heart up. Best hours spent listening.

Finance and Budgets:

We much prefer to have the control over contacts and do without incurring monthly bills. I do not even have a cell. We really hate any bills except what must be to have utility and mortgage, insurance.

Taxes are done! YA!!!!

We have been saving for our two day stay in Sedona AZ, a Hot Air balloon ride over the red rocks. We were able to match a goal for Dash and gave him a gift that excluded any party. The amounts spent in times past were not too different. We are now partially retired, well at least the checks will come monthly on our years past employer. It really will help us to have a little ease raising the kids into the teen years.

Goals ahead:
In May we hope to have enough saved up for a new refrigerator. My current one is 25 years old! Still works but it is hard on my back to bend now that my knee is now able to be knelt on. We hope to get one with the freezer on the bottom.

This and that

The three of us (four if you count the dog) are cozy this morning doing school. The lessons of vocabulary, spelling and literature filled the last hour. We normally break at 11 for time to be physical and silly before lunch.

This weekend the garden had a makeover to accommodate the cop being used to block the hens from the garden area. It is coming time to plant for the spring crop. The four of us worked together to make it happen. The side yard also was cleaned even though the kids gave a strong effort it is not perfect but much better than it was.

Infusion was Saturday and the kids both had sleep overs. My dear nurse gifted us a female canary for our dear Steward. Her name will be Stella. She also was so generous and gifted me a platter for the hutch. Really pretty one with inscription of Flowers. It felt like Christmas.

This morning fatigue is really hitting me. I feel as if I could close my eyes and sleep would descend post haste. While teaching all stimulants are avoided. It causes frustrations to come into tempers. Best to be sleepy and hang in there.

Have a wonderful day

Another week of online school

We are getting the swing of things here. The independence is beautiful! They are growing in so many many abilities. We had one very hard day where I was almost ready to throw in the towel but like any good mom I endured the test. Oh boy was I tested.
With a kid that has so many lingering special needs Dash pushed me to the point that on Tuesday after the dentist ( a new $$$ crown) I did not want to even come home for a few hours. I stayed out and grocery shopped and walked around a book store for a long calming while.
When I returned it was all honeymoon with him and has been ever since. We ended the week on a good note.

Infusion tomorrow so I am dragging some. Sleep eluded me until after 3 a.m. last night.

Dove has her first dance tonight or rather this afternoon at the Jr High. In just an hour and a half she needs to be dressed and out the door. Dash has a probable sleep over tonight. So it will just be Steve and I in the morning when my nurse Ashley arrives. She is bringing my sweet Steward the canary a mate for free. Ashley's Mother has a few extra females. This may endear Stewey to us for he can rip the flesh off your eardrum if given a chance.

God Provides

the principle said Dove could attend
a bird perhaps we will call her Stella
grapefruit, lemons, tangelos
a 35 pound bag of dog food, note that the bags have now become 29pounds at the same price.
flowers in the yard
endurance
Buy one get one shoe pair half off. A child got a new pair of shoes and was startled that she could get them. This was a friend of Dove's. Her face when I said I would cover her...priceless. Two 14 yr old with new shoes, best friends receiving at the same time. It felt so good to be able to do it.

On line home school, virtual corriculum

This was a wonderful morning to start a day with. Maple brown sugar muffins for all.

With the start of a new year comes a start of a new semester. Last semester Dash was here with me doing his online K12 5th grade. He passed with HONOR ROLL! Dove was at the Jr High her grades were good too. A's and B's mostly with one C. That one A in math was very hard won with a promise of being able to do an elective this next semester. She however was still not allowed to do one and has once again two math classes assigned. This is a class with another student tutoring her.

Dove came to me asking once again about K12. Once before we all but had the registration complete and her girl friend talked her out of it. This time she is VERY serious.  Dove will get some sound testing next week to get a proper base point to her math abilities. This will be so good to give her a nice strong foundation she does not have at this time. I showed her all about her duty and responsibilities if she stays home and she wants to do it. She was accepted and will begin on the second. To my amazement I am so HAPPY! We will be doing full time school the three of us at a good 5 hours a day. I will have added duty but added freedoms as well. We will look into the YWCA membership as we become able. This giving opportunity for extra alternative classes and exercise for all of us.

Once again I will be full time homeschooling both of my children. This thrills me. It is a lot of hard work and takes great patience to do. The added curriculum right at hand, books delivered gives a  wonderful ease to it. The best of both worlds for us. We will have the AIMS testing off site in the late spring.
Even with the hardships of the knee replacement we finished out this semester well. Now that I understand the process and know how to do all the tasks required for attendance and daily plans it will be a lot easier. I am so startled at how VERY happy I am.

Mid Terms at 50!

Are you smarter than a fifth grader? I am wondering about how smart one must be. Dash is at Mid Terms and is doing great! I have learned or learned again so many things that I had forgotten. It takes a good 5 full hours of my day to see to Dash with his K12 on line public school. We are a pair doing well together after a very rocky start. Now that the road is smother it is a real pleasure. Math is the only subject posing a problem for now. Steve spends a good hour or so EVERY night doing the daily math lesson with him. He has real learning disabilities that are so challenging. It seems to be stress like related amnesia. At least I wonder about that. He forgets every thing he did the day before and every day it has to be retaught. Steve is a saint to do it.
Dove needs help too and she gets a lot less of it unfortunately. We are working hard to get her to speak up and ask. Balance is a real obvious effort each day. Dash may finish the first semester a few days early. With extra time earned he will get between one and four days extra off. We will see how the next two weeks go.

I am well, spent most days with little left to blog. Our design for the studio is wonderful. I love it! It is helping me to reconnect with my own heart. Been sorta wondering and just walking in a fog now for so long. Friday I will see the spine surgeon. The very thought of facing it is so overwhelming. The pain is so unbearable without the nerve and inflammation medications that they are now a must. I hope that it will be a non-surgical fix. I have just really emotionally gone flat line, too much to even think of. I love my new knee, due to my back I am not even able to walk around the block! Ooo that just makes me mad. I'll just keep my heart alive and focus on beauty in all that is around me and within me. I know I am blessed beyond measure. I think once the unknown clears as to my back, life will enter into direction. What ever the future holds knowing will help.

The absence of kindness, when children believe a lie.

Being missing in action has left a tole on my family. Warm meals and clean sheets may not sound like much but it makes a real difference. Kindness in its absence leaves for survival. Yes as all who have said were right "they will get through it", but it took a tole here. My kids missed edification and the luxurious lifestyle of moms gifts of kindness. The clean, warm kindnesses offered by a present mother.
In the absence of kindness irritability grows, self sufficiency can become resented. It is now for me to heal the edges of resentment with patience that honestly I have not been able yet to pull up. Being worn out before 10 a.m.is left me discouraged. Using as many tools as I can with Dash has left me to tears. He is with me 24/7, Dove is at Jr High.
Special needs kids have an extra layer to cover, to heal and peal back from my absence. Dealing with low self esteem left from an absence of being built up daily is a heroic challenge indeed. One I certainly feel ill equipped this morning to handle. Attachment Deficit Disorder is a hard special need to deal with. Dash being with me all day still needs to be at my hip constantly. I am not hardly able to go to the bathroom. I can sit here near him while he does his work and he is fine. Being so stressed I took to doing something about it. Here is what I have come up with that may help me this morning.
My son has hardened into a 'choice' to think he is a failure. Like an identity. We have done all we know to expose this as a lie, a choice to believe or not. We feel we may have failed him ourselves. For him to think of himself this way devastates me. It is based I think in the inability to accept that he is an imperfect human with an intolerably high IQ. It is not accepted by him if he does not do everything perfectly the first time. He is being taken to his knees in hopes all of this will help him find some humility and peace.
I really am taken into places of anger and frustration with him due to some poor parenting practices. Each kid is different to parent. Some kids are harder. This boy of mine is so amazing bur really stubborn. Being his home school coach is a full time job, it has left me wanting to be able to praise him more. He tosses any praise aside and disregards it. Lord I need wisdom and I need health for the strength to do this all better. It is so hard. I feel worn out at times not wanting to fight or yell at him ever again. So I will do my best to avoid the traps. I am a parent who has made mistakes and now I need to keep learning how to do it better. My habit of trying to encourage him when he is angry has to stop. He can not hear it and it just makes me escalate into frustration.

At the moment we have a honeymoon stage. Oh it is just so exhausting. I am not speaking with him as I am typing so he is now singing Christmas song and talking well chattering with the dog. As his coach with school I have to work so hard to praise as I correct. Hard work.

1. Don’t yell or challenge your child when he’s angry.

Many times parents deal with angry outbursts by challenging their kids and yelling back. But this will just increase your feeling of being out of control. The best thing you can do is remain calm in a crisis. Think of it this way: Even if you get into a car accident and the other driver jumps out and is furious at you, if you can remain calm, they will probably start to relax and be reasonable. But if you come back at them with an aggressive response, and say, “What are you talking about, that was your fault,” the tension just stays at that heightened place. So don’t challenge your child when he’s angry—that’s just like throwing a match onto a pile of firecrackers. Just wait until he calms down.

2. Don’t try to reason with your child when he’s in the middle of a tantrum, tirade or angry outburst. ME!

Many parents I talk to fall back on logic when their kids are angry. After all, as adults, we reason through things to defuse tense situations. This is always a challenge with kids because they don’t have the same capacity to stop and reason like we do. So when you’re dealing with your angry child, you have to leave that verbal place where you feel pretty comfortable and use different techniques. Saying, “Why are you mad at me? You were the one who forgot your homework at school,” will only make your child angrier. Instead, wait until he calms down and then talk it through later.

3. Pay attention to your physical reactions.

It’s important to watch your physical reactions because your senses will tell you “Yikes, I’m in the presence of somebody who is very upset.” You’ll feel your heart start beating faster because your adrenaline will be heightened. Even though it’s difficult, the trick is to act against that in some way and try to stay calm. Remember, you’re lending your children your strength in these moments; you’re showing them how to handle anger.  By staying calm, you’re not challenging your child by yelling back and engaging in a power struggle; this only escalates the tension. And paying attention to your own reactions will also help your child pay attention to himself because he won’t need to worry about you or your emotions. When you don’t respond calmly, your child will work even harder at his tantrum to try to get you to pay attention.  So you really have to tap into some solid parenting skills to handle the outburst quickly and effectively.

4. Don’t get physical with your child.

Sometimes on the Parental Support Line we hear from parents who have lost it and gotten physical with their kids. I took a call from a dad whose teenage son mouthed off to his mom, and the father shoved him. The fight escalated. The son would not speak to his father because he felt his dad should apologize to him; the father, on the other hand, felt that his son caused the problem and worried that his authority would diminish if he apologized. I advised him to say, “I lost control and it was wrong for me to shove you. I apologize.” That’s it; end of story. You don’t go into your child’s role in that situation at all because it is an attempt to place the blame on someone else for your actions. Rather, you want to teach your child how to take responsibility and make a genuine apology. Don’t worry—you will have other opportunities to work with your child around being mouthy or defiant. But it’s important to be a good role model and address your role in the fight going south. Remember, if you get physical with your child, among other things, you’re just teaching him to solve his problems with aggression.

5. Take a different approach with younger kids.

If your small child (eighteen months to age four) is in the midst of a temper tantrum, you want to move ever so slightly away from him, but don’t isolate him completely. When small kids are upset, you want to help them to start to learn that they can have a role in calming themselves down. You can say, “I wish I could help you calm yourself down. Maybe you can lie on the couch for a little bit.” So have them calm down until they feel in control. By doing that you’re asking them to pay attention to themselves. So instead of, “You have to sit there for ten minutes by yourself,” it’s more of, “When you feel better and you’re not upset anymore, you can come on out and join us.” You can also give them a choice. You can say, “Do you need time to go into your room and get it together?” Again, don’t challenge them when they’re in that mode.

6. Don’t freeze up.  

Some parents freeze up when their kids throw tantrums or start screaming at them. The parent is emotionally overwhelmed and becomes paralyzed with indecision or gives in to the child. If you’re this type of person, you may find that sometimes your child will get angry on purpose to engage you; they’ll bait you by throwing a fit or saying something rude, because they know that this will cause you to give in. So your job is to not take the bait—don’t get angry, and don’t give in.

I think parents sometimes have a tendency to renegotiate with their child in these situations. Often, they’re having a hard time managing their own emotions and so they don’t know how to coach their child properly in that moment. But remember, if you give in and renegotiate, even every once in a while, you’re teaching your child that it’s worth it to act out.  Instead, let them calm down and try to coach them to use their problem-solving skills later. In my opinion, once you start doing that, you’re not passive. You are making a conscious choice to not get into an argument. You’re saying, “I’m not going to renegotiate; I’m going to be calm.” Although it may not seem like it on the surface, all of those choices are actions—you are making a choice not to give in.

7. Give consequences for the bad behavior, not for the anger.

When your child throws a tantrum, starts screaming and really loses it, make sure you give him consequences based on his behavior and not on his emotions. For example, if your child calls you a foul name during his angry outburst, give him a consequence later for that infraction of the rules. But if all he does is stomp into his room and yell about how life isn’t fair, I would let that go. Kids get angry just like we do; they need to feel that they have a safe place to let off steam. As long as they’re not breaking any rules, I think you should allow them to have that time to be angry.

8. Don’t give overly harsh punishments.

Giving harsh punishments in the heat of the moment is a losing proposition. Here’s why: Let’s say your child is angry. He’s having a tantrum and shouting and screaming at you. You keep saying, “If you don’t get it together, I’m going to take away your Wii for a week. Okay now it’s two weeks. Now it’s a month…do you want to keep going?” But to your dismay, your child keeps escalating; the more you try to punish him in order to force him to stop and get control of himself, the worse he gets.

We have a name for that kind of discipline: It’s called “consequence stacking.” What’s really happening here is that the parent is losing emotional control. I understand that it is hard to tolerate it when your kid is upset—we don’t like it. But what you want to try to ask yourself is, “What do I want my child to learn?” And the answer might be, “I want him to learn how to not throw a fit every time he has to do something he doesn’t want to do. I want him to learn that when he gets upset, there’s an appropriate way to get out of it.” The worst thing you can do is join him and get upset yourself. Harsh punishments that seem never-ending to your child are not effective, and will only make him angrier in that moment.

9. Take a break.

On the Support Line, I’ll often ask parents who call about their child’s angry outbursts the following question: “When you and your spouse are mad at each other, what do you do to calm down?” Often, people will say they take a break and do something on their own for a little while until they can calm down and talk it through. This technique also works with your child, but parents often don’t think of it because they feel they should have control over their kids. But remember, when somebody is angry, you can’t reason with them and you can’t rush it. The bottom line is that if you stay there in that anger and keep engaging each other, it will not go away—it will just get bigger.  So take a break and come back and interact with each other later when everyone is calm.

10. Role model appropriate responses when you’re angry.

I also tell parents they should try to role model dealing with their own anger appropriately in front of their children. What are some good ways to do that? Say, “I’m getting frustrated—I’m going to take a break.” or “I can’t talk to you right now; I’m really upset so I’m going to wait until I’m calm. I’m going to come back and we’ll talk later.”

Admitting that you’re angry and you need some time to calm down is not a weakness; it takes a lot of strength to say these words out loud. Remember, you’re teaching the lesson of how to manage your anger, and that’s exactly what you want your child to learn.

 

Arizona Virtual Academy

This year Dash asked to do K12 Arizona Virtual Academy. Homeschooling is really going well. He is getting very interested in science, math and history. Other subjects are found to be interesting just not his favorite. It takes a bit of my time and effort but I enjoy giving that to him. What better career :)
My knee is doing better.
Dove wants to do the K12  now.

Knowing; never be alone in it again.

For it has now been a month out from the gift of this new knee.  How I have challenged greet changes in my character. How much suffering at the neglect of proper pain control repeatedly. Yet how neglected a thought of so so many many opportunities to see Gods hand upon me.

Again Friday once more in the face of a lack of pain medication I saw His hand came for me mercifully.

It was that at my physical therapy appointment that a rap camp upon the door. Softly at first then again, as I lay there in the dark. Heat upon and under my knee and my back, electric stem as well. She tipped her head in. "your husband is on the phone, He is asking about the authorization from the surgeons office. He is at the pharmacy trying to pick up the prescription"

Laying there I began to weep. Then the thought of it being a Friday I wept I shook. Knowing what it has been to repeatedly suffer the full bore of bone to metal. Knowing full well that error upon error has pressed my mental stamina and physical endurance to my limits of reason and sanity...I wept.


'Please Please Please Please God have mercy on me. No more'

As the lights came on, ringing a stop to the comfort of the heating pads. My breadth pulled in within me. The front staff helped as we came to find that the surgeon has NO after hour contact. I called the Walgreen's bypassing the call center going straight to store.


There he was His name was John. He made every effort to no avail yet told me he would let me know. Retuning to therapy with trepidation the choice to go on was made. Either way I was in for a hurt. Sooner or later but both. With knee replacement one can not allow the tissue to go un worked or a limp will be so the rest of days.
Steve came for me with my beautiful daughter in tow. We headed for home.
A vision came of me in the wheelchair in store. Many calls so far out of Johns duties was met an OK by my primary doctor who was at home. He succeeded for us.

Mercy mine. 

As rest and pain are yet a balancing task.
Was there not mercy when the outcomes were unmet?When hour after hour I felt the fullness of pain. Knowing the bone connection. Was there not mercy even then?

In this I know what it is to suffer unbearable pain. In this I have witnessed faces forced to do nothing but stand by and watch. What it is to have a friend hold me as my fist pound out in retched pain (Lisa always within my heart your prayer and embrace). What it is to risk a pill to ease it, not knowing the long term consequences. What it is to be loved by so many. What it looks like when others are not. The face of loneliness and fear of isolation. What it is for our elders in their hour of need when imprisoned in nursing home bureaucracy. The kindness of one soul who took me under her care because "you felt so alone in this". The delight of admiration from others while I was in the face of courage. To go home to a professional group that will help me get fine, feel safe to rest. So many things yet to clarify. To have an amazing friend, a husband who has always loved me as this.

Tonight sitting here in the silence of the summer rain I know mercy. Mercy that knowing all of the horrid things over this last month they will become turned into a passion, love. Toward myself first then others likewise who too know 'alone'. They might in my knowing never be alone (without someone understanding what it is like) in it again.

Back into life at home

Steve went back to work today with an early new schedule. He will get off that much earlier and be able to pick me up then Dove. He will drop me off at therapy (5 days a week) and come home to the kids. Later to return and and fetch me.
God has blessed us with a loving neighbor across the street. She has been around for years. A single woman who over the years Steve has kept eye out for. She will be covering me by taking Dove to school each morning (a 7 minute ride) . That way she does not need to ride the bus (over and hour here to there). Much safer as well regarding her social cognitive.
Dash and I are home. He is doing his on line K12 schooling. We are doing great!
Pain changes my voice stress concerns Dash of if I am angry so he is understanding now what is causing it. Getting up and down a lot for him to enter my pass word I think is good for my leg. I rode the stationary bike sorta for 15 minutes this morning. Just sorta rocking back and forth.

Well for the first morning so far so good. Pain is tough.

Our dear friends of 10 years+ are leaving state in two days. We all were blessed to spend several hours together last night. Made for a very late night. The kids played, we visited and shared our journeys with each other. We all prayed and wept. They are moving up to Montana. Some will fly and then the guys (including another fellow friend of ours) will drive up the vehicles and do a weeks fishing along the way. What an adventure along the way. They are walking into their dream.

Would it be that we were each courageous and fortunate enough to do so.

Zero balance budgeting and the cost of electricity

What a difference a few changes made

With the year and a half of zero balance budgeting focus on costs that could be reduced. We began Dave Ramsey's program 18 months ago or so.
Utilities are our only other monthly after the mortgage. I began to focus on what numbers could be whittled down. On our budget we use % based categories. Depending on misc quarterly and yearly bills (that are saved up for on each monthly cycle) some months those %'s alter.

25-35%  mortgage
5-15 %   utilities (Electric, water, phone, internet. We have a pay as you go cell for emergency us only)
5-15%    groceries (people and pets)
5-15%    personal (includes, life insurance, computer, allowance,school supplies, holiday gifts and pet care, mag subscriptions)
2-7 %     clothing (adults, kids)
5-10%    savings (major fund to cover 3 months wage is the goal, kids education)
10-15%  charity
10-15 % transportation (includes auto ins. broken into months and set aside as well as a line if we were to have to pay a deductible, fuel and repair, registration)
5-10%   recreation (movie purchase, restaurants, travel fund, admissions)
5-10%   medical/health (co-pay, Rx, durable medical, dental)

There is  a column for actual and one for the estimates. After studying the estimates the budget is set. Fudge room is added. One upon a time I did not have a line for recreation and learned that it is a very necessary thing that gives muscle to the goal. Something to shoot for.
One day I will do gross instead of net and add a line of all the payroll deduction such as medical ins., taxes, and the like.

This has worked well for us and we were actually able to get a vacation to Disney this year.

We are on a payment plan of the balanced budget with the electric company so we pay the same every month. It is reviewed every four months. Recently it came down $25! a month with a bit of hard work
Hanging out laundry
window awnings
shade screen (came with the house)
duel pane windows ( came with the house)
time of use plan (1-8pm in summer to reduce electric use) run machines at morning of evening hour
Kids training :)
Watch the sun open West windows in a.m., East windows in p.m. Closing east in a.m. and closing West in afternoon.
Run fans and AC is set a bit higher
Chill house during overnight hours
AC is on a timer set to the time of use schedule
as is the water heater
Calking is the last thing yet needed to be done now.

Well now that we....

Brought the freezer 

and refrigerator in from the garage. 

The opening of the laundry room door to the garage every time we needed to fetch something, plus the garage being 120+ during summer gave us pause. It was the last thing on my list. A list that has been a year long goal. It is said that it can save at the least $15-20 a month per unit.

We are now testing the inside temps on each unit.
The freezer of one was set too low.

We extended the light blue valence for the counter was a bit inset of center to the window.

By adding a plant the wall is hidden. I'll miss the window a bit, however the ease of all of the units within a reach is really amazing. It will really make life easy with this knee thing too. It was hard to think of the house looking strange, I let that go. By pulling some tricks out of my hat I think in no time it will look much better.

 Never mind the mess :) a work in progress. The studio was also rearranged last month and has yet to get all ordered. I have done a great deal of fung shui around the house. These areas once organized will really serve us so much better. Making meals is already a lot easier not making trips to the garage.

 The old side by side really looks nice here. 

It is the drinks, everything baking (next to bread counter) and everything sandwiches/lunches.All nuts, yeast, and the like. Right next to the place that they will be made use of. I will wash the lettuce and the kids are able to begin making more things for themselves. This will also keep the snacks like fruit.

This will make mornings of making lunches all in a few steps span. The juice travel cups will be kept here as they were in the garage.

 The fourth of July weekend gave way to soda at $.20 cents a can.

 The old in house refer moved over next  to the dish washer is now the 'meal making center' everything for meal preparations are here. It is also the Ice chest next to the RO water outlet. It is so convenient.

Kept at 40*

 The deep freeze is for long term storage of grains and seeds. 

The meats are also kept here.

this is deep freeze to be kept at 10*

 Fall garden seeds are in the jars for this years planting.

 The white refer's freezer is far too cold.

By testing your units you can fine tune what energy your using.

 The freezer can be 0-30

Refer 30-45 better under 40

See the range of temp for each purpose?

There is no sense in cooling more than you need.

It is imperative however not to let your refer be above 40*

That is what started this whole post. We have been working hard on this job all weekend. It was a concern that the house would look bad. I actually LOVE it!

Well this week as you see will be full of cleaning and clearing up clutter.

Dove is home from science camp

She had a wonderful time! So grown up.

99 students from her school attended. She shared a room in the cabin with 5 cabin mates. Her and these other girls won the 'dress the cabin counselor up like a critter' competition. They also won the Spirit Award for best over all academic and class's participation. This was inclusive of behavior, citizenship and all. The ONLY two awards given! I am so proud of her and her friends. This group of girls really show such outstanding character. Oh that Dove has this circle...she is so blessed and such a blessing.

Out of 99 kids!

One of the girls in another room happened to fall the afternoon of the last day. Dove and her best friend were first responders. The child feel down an incline. She hit her head and was unresponsive. Dove and her friend stayed with her. She looks to have broken a leg. Goodness! Dove ran to get the adult who was just a few yards behind them on the trail.

She loved the food.
Today I kept her home to rest.

 Just as the mother plant kept covering the seedling.

Waits until it is established

It must then be cut away...

To revel the new growth of youth. 

Now strong the cover mothering allows it to thrive.

She is such a joy.