climate shock

It's time to begin planning our school year.  I know because people are talking about it.  Usually I know because I'm tired of being hot, tired of the long days, and tired of the lack of structure that comes with the long days.  I find myself dreaming of quiet days, squirreled away in my cozy walls with my 'students'.  I dream of  chilly mornings, quilts and slippers, cocoa and read alouds, copy books, time drills and even the faulty science experiments.  I LOVE when it's almost dark by the time dad comes home to the lavish hot meal I enjoyed cooking throughout the day.  In fact, I LOVE waking up while it's still dark, snuggling up with my favorite knit afghan, coffee in my favorite cup, with my favorite morning meditation (the Bible and My Utmost For His Highest), knowing that the sun isn't going to fool anyone into thinking it's time to be moving for at least another hour.  And I LOVE starting our new school year.

Usually these are the things I'm dreaming of at this time of year.  Problem is we haven't stopped having chilly mornings, quilts and slippers, cocoa... and well, the read alouds have stopped because of the lack of structure and the long days.  This has just left me confused!  

My head knows it's time to plan for fall, but my body thinks we still need to sweat some.  Maybe if my garden would produce just one ripe tomato...  Just one?

Blessings, Debbie 

there's no place like home!

I was concerned because a couple of our hens have been playing Houdini lately.  They are escape artists.  I was worried that if they could get out of their fence and into the backyard, they could in all practicality then get out of the backyard fence to dangerous freedom.  The problem is that once out, they just don't seem smart enough to get back in.  They want in, and as soon as I come outside they run to their gate.  I shouldn't have worried.  All is under control.  I think our Morkie (Maltese, Yorkie) must have a little Border Collie in him!  He at least has little man dog syndrome...

Well done little man dog...
And Houdini...  You do that again and I'll change your nickname to Einstein!


Blessings, Debbie

Holly Hobby and A.A. Milne

I mentioned that the breeze here has been chilly in the evening.  Crazy, irresponsible me for not seeing that a lightweight cotton dress and pinafore does not a cozy dolly make.  Poor Holly Hobby was positioned near a window where all night long she would silently shiver.  I'd find her smiling in the early morning sunlight, uncomplaining.  So, the white home spun vest that I knit to match the colorful one that keeps the bear cozy, now sports a clay apple button and keeps Holly Hobby cozy!  I'm pretty sure her smile will be even brighter tomorrow morning...

Everyone recognizes A.A. Milne for his endearing Winnie the Pooh.  But I get at least as much pleasure from his poetry for wee ones.  This is my 1924 edition of When We Were Very Young.  I had this on casette (I know, dating myself again) when my biggles were littles.  They would fall asleep to the lilting melody of Milne's humor in rhyme.

James James

Morrison Morrison

Weatherby George Dupree

Took great

Care of his Mother,

Though he was only three.

James James

Said to his Mother,

"Mother," he said, said he:

"You must never go down to the end of the town,

if you don't go down with me."

James James

Morrison's Mother

Put on a golden gown,

James James

Morrison's Mother

Drove to the end of the town.

James James

Morrison's Mother

Said to herself, said she"

"I can get right down to the end of the town and be

back in time for tea." ...  A.A. Milne

I don't want to tell you what happens when mother does not heed her young son's advice.  The end is quite shocking!

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along
Blessings, Debbie

a breath of fresh air

I'm sitting next to a window that is allowing the most perfect breeze.  Not strong enough to bother papers, just strong enough to keep the air moving.  It has a chill to it which is strange since the air without the breeze is actually still very warm.  It was a hot day... for us... mid 80's.  I know it sounds like nothing to those of you who have been suffering from extreme heat, but for those of us that just hopped out of the low 70's it's kind of a shock to the senses.

I'm feeling pleased with myself this afternoon.  Instead of just sitting and staring, I found something to sit at and stare at.  Improvement!

 No, we haven't stepped into the 21st century electronically.  priorities.

About 5 years ago the kids gave me the Sarah Plain and Tall trilogy for Mother's Day.  I love these movies! Have you seen them?  I love Sarah's (Glenn Close) clothes.  She has the most fabulous turn of the century Maine style.  Seeing it transplanted to the dry mid-west, accentuates the breath of fresh air that Sarah brings to the Witting farm.

And what about Cassey's winter warmies?  Does anyone have a pattern they'd like to share that even comes close to this wonderful homespun look?  Something knit, I don't crochet.  When staring leads to inspiration and get's me to do something besides sit... I'm almost back.

Blessings, Debbie

just me and the body snatcher

As I stated once before ~ misery loves company.  Although I am a bit unnerved at the thought that these feelings are common and may last awhile, your encouragements and advice are like balm to this weary woman.  I read each of your comments with thankfulness and prayer.  I'm on day 3 of the fish oil Mary...   

This said, things (I) continue to be wonky.  This morning Annie (the pom) got me up early.  As soon as my husband woke up, I hightailed it back to bed and slept until 11:30!  This after going to bed 2 hours early the night before.

Couple that with my new favorite pastime... sitting and staring...  and you can forget everything I just said about company (the kind that misery loves).

I have no company.  I am alone.  I am an alien, that's all there is to it.  I've been inhabited by a body snatcher.

On that note you may discount anything you see here in the future that seems unusual.  I can no longer take responsibility for the content, you understand.  I've already informed my family that I refuse to be held responsible for my actions as wife and mother until the snatcher vacates! 

This is my family leaving for the lake without me.  Do you blame them?  Truth be told, they actually wanted me to come...  Weird.  I told them that I needed to make different choices for a few days.  Choices that involve sleep, sitting and staring, and fish oil...

So they left me at home this afternoon with my workaholic/napping buddy...  Let's see, shall I sit and stare some more or take a little nap?  Argh, too much to think about..  Move over Cory!

Good night, Debbie

be still

The waters are still a little murky.  Not tossing about like waves, nor turbulent.  Just kind of bothered at the surface.  It's hard to explain, so most of the time I don't really try.  Life is rich and full.  My days are filled with goodness and laughter... but then there's this dull rippling.  A shroud of tired that I wear under my jeans and tees, my fancy finery, my nightclothes.  I can't seem to remove it.  And as of late, I can't seem to hide it for very long.  What a blessing it is to have family and friends who make things that could be difficult... well, easier.  Such understanding surrounds me that I am in awe.

So, how strange that with all of these wonderful people around, I seem to want to be alone more.  I feel a deep need for solitude which I'm trying hard to fit into our busy schedule.  Ahem.  

Either God is telling me something... or it's menopause.

Blessings, Debbie

summer lovin'

What I Did For Summer Vacation

by Erin and Audrey (not really)

Babysat.

A lot!

Perhaps this could be considered summer school.  Actually... it's just summer love.  One of the jobs pays, one doesn't.  In other words, money is just a fringe benefit.  Not only would they do it for free, they do. 

Blessings, Debbie

homespun in monet's garden

I always carry my knitting bag along with me, making sure that the knit I am traveling with is appropriate to the trip.  This past weekend we drove 3 hours to help my daughter and son-in-law move into their new apartment and to attend a wedding.  Last week I printed this pattern.  It was the perfect car project.  It took me almost the exact length of the drive to make it (at a very nonchalant pace)!  We were staying with friends and when I arrived, Sue put the vest on her antique bear and now, that's where it lives...

For the trip home, I cast on another in an off-white homespun that I picked up at the thrift at the same time as the colorful one that lives at Sue's.  Again I finished before we arrived home, all it needs is a button!

For this weeks read I decided to share another book from our home school collection.  Linnea in Monet's Garden has been a favorite in our art study with all of my kids.  We even found, years ago, a video of the book at the library that was wonderful.  They no longer have the video and they didn't upgrade to DVD.  Maybe interlibrary loan?  It's worth checking.

Just think ~ I've been in a famous artist's garden!  And I've been in Paris!  My friend Mr. Bloom was with me.  In fact, the whole thing was actually his idea.  But maybe I should begin at the beginning.

    I love flowers (I'm even named after a flower), and I'm interested in everything that grows.  That's just the way I am. 

    And that's how Mr. Bloom is, too.  He's my upstairs neighbor.  Mr. Bloom used to be a gardener.  He's retired now, which is good because it means he has lots of time to spend with me.  Mr. Bloom knows just about everything there is to know about plants.  It seems like that, anyway.

    When I go to visit him, I like to look in a book that Mr. Bloom has about the French artist Claude Monet.  Monet loved flowers, too.  He painted lots of pictures of them.  Probably his best known flower paintings are his pictures of water lilies.  Linnea in Monet's Garden

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Blessings, Debbie