Well there are several inches of snow on the ground and I am contemplating my garden. I have been looking through seed catalogues and spending hundreds of dollars on all the things I want...at least in my head I have. Always seems strange to me to contemplate my garden in the middle of winter, but I'd like to plant peas this year and they need to go in March or so.
Thanks to our new limited budget, I am going to make a go of actually planting and harvesting enough food to keep us through most of the winter. Not my favorite thing as I like the idea of a garden much more than the actual dirt. Probably because my allergies are so very horrible that it is awful to go pull weeds and what not. However, that said, I will be doing it anyway to try and salvage some of our money...maybe if I pull it off we won't be so deep in the red next year.
Blech to not enough money!
So this is what I want to plant for sure this year: corn, peas, green beans, wax beans, tomatoes, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, carrots, radishes, spinach, beets, zucchini, crook neck squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkins. I'm sure there is more, but my list is not in front of me.
We also have a rhubarb patch, grapes, apple trees, pear trees and I would love to add a heavier bearing cherry tree as well as a couple of peach trees. We really are blessed with abundance in this area. Of course this is assuming a good spring and summer. Last year it was so cold and wet that our garden didn't really do all that well and we got almost no apples or pears and oddly I didn't see any rhubarb come into the house.
My other desire which probably won't come to fruition this year is to add a couple of Goji berry bush/trees and at least two paw paw trees. They both sound yummy and beautiful.
Off to clean and continue planning what is going to be a massive garden.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Well it has been more than a month since the last posting and my playroom/house is wonderfully (mostly) still organized. I still have to tackle the craft drawers, but I think that will be waiting until after Christmas.
I just love being able to see my floors *smile*
Today will be a day to multitask. Though my laundry is clean (we won't discuss the several loads waiting for me upstairs) it needs to be folded and put away, I need to start sewing my 2 year olds Christmas present (a "Toothless" dragon, from How to Train Your Dragon) since I couldn't find them in store anywhere and online were running $150-$200. That wasn't gonna happen! I also need to start her Christmas PJ's (the other two kidlets, plus one set for my friends little girl are already done). I would like to clean out the window in the kitchen to display all my Christmas nativity scenes and what not. I think however, that I might save deep cleaning the laundry/bathroom for Monday.
Now as to budgeting...I still don't like not having money, but I can tell my mindset is changing because I walk out of the stores with only what's on my list, perhaps minus a few items that were non necessities instead of what's on my list and then some. I was still a hundred dollars over my food budget last month, but hopefully that will be rectified this month. Where we have run into a snag is that horrible column called "Extras". You know all that miscellaneous stuff that doesn't deserve a column of its own, but needs to be put somewhere. Yeah well that horrible column was sitting at almost $500 last month. Really?! Why do we need $500 worth of misc.?
On the upside of the whole budgeting thing, I have managed to procure a job watching a little girl during the day while my older kids are at school which will allow the kids to stay at their current school as it covers the cost of their tuition plus a whole extra $10. Whoo hoo. I am very grateful for this opportunity that God has provided as it meets all the criteria that we felt the ideal job for me should have at this time. I can work in my home, it covers the cost of the kids schooling, gives me the same days (mostly) off that the kids have, and best of all the little girl is my son's teachers daughter so when I pick him up, I drop her off. I also think it is a bonus for my 2.5 year old to have that experience of not being the youngest and learning how to deal with someone much smaller than her.
Well that's all for now.
Well just to add on at the end of this day, my laundry still remains unfolded, but the kitchen is clean, the downstairs is vacuumed, toys are put away, kids' rooms are cleaned, Toothless is maybe half done. Now my back is tired from all that sewing, but I feel good about my day. Perhaps I will even fold laundry while me and David watch a movie.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The hard part is getting started!
The hardest part is getting started. From oozing out of my bed early in the morning, to getting ready for bed at night. I have also found that once I have started whatever it was that I had been dreading (mmmm it can't be 6:30AM already!) isn't as bad or as hard as I thought it was going to be. My current dread/project is undigging my house from the mountainous melange of toys that my three munchkins have brought into it. When did that happen by the way, every time I turn around there are more and more toys...especially those oh so wonderful (if you're a kid anyway) happy meal toys. I'm telling you we must eat at fast food a lot more than I supposed if the exponential growth of these toys is any indication. Currently I have literally swept out the living room of all toys, clothes, and debris and deposited the pile in the play room. Now I have to start the sorting process. We are often telling our kids "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do" and today I have to tell myself that. On the up side my laundry monster has been tamed (for a day at least), the children are dressed and groomed and departed for picture day at school, I don't have to go anywhere until 2:30 this afternoon, and when the toys are sorted (and some of them disposed of...a whole day to do it without interruption wahoo!) I will have a clean, organized playroom. Yay!
Now what you have to understand about these pictures is that they were taken after I had been sorting and cleaning for about 3 hours...AND there is even more upstairs in the kid rooms.
Well ta ta for another day from this mama living in her muddled house.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
And the rain came down!
Well it has been a while since my last posting. I am doing okay. Dealing very well with the miscarriage, I can even talk about it without crying!
Now as to the rest of my life, sigh, it is getting financially tight. My husband still has his job (good) but his hours are cut back (bad) which means our finances are not doing well at all. The conclusion of this is that I have to get a job. Up until today I honestly thought that meant a full time job, but taking a good look at all of our necessary monthly expenditures and holding it up against David's new income we should be able to meet our needs with out me getting a job, or taking our kids out of their school. However, a part time job on my part would make this much, much easier to do.
Without the job I would have to reduce our grocery bill to $500 a month...sounds not bad until you factor in two dogs, a cat, a guinea pig, 3 kids and that grocery includes all paper and cleaning products as well as food and that Nathan's goat milk alone costs $40 a month (more depending on how many Wednesdays are in a month). I'm not sure how to do that, but I am sure it is possible. People live on waaaay less than this and survive. That said anybody got any really good, doable tips for me on cutting that grocery bill down? On the plus side of this I could stand to lose a few pounds and this may just force me to do it!!
Oh dear it just hit me, this is the first time in my life (as an adult of course) that I have had to be financially savvy! We are dipping into the red every month and that simply just won't do.
In better much less depressing news, my children are still adorable. Megan has progressed to informing me when she is "stinky". Which means wet or in actuality stinky. One step closer to potty training (yay and boo!). She also sing songs "Let's go get my Emily." every day on our way to get Emily. She sure does admire her big sister, though that doesn't stop her from pushing Em's buttons!
Emily was emptying her backpack out today and said "Mom, can we keep my "m" paper? I want to remember how good I made M's." Very cute.
Nathan is doing so very well at school and is probably the best reader in his class. He rarely makes mistakes in math, is picking up science well, and his spelling has really improved this year. His cursive is still...interesting, but is much improved from last year and his teachers are super at pointing out all the letters that he has done really well instead of constantly pointing out all the letters he didn't do so well (though they do get a nod).
I love my kids and just thinking and writing about them has cheered me up incredibly.
Now as to the rest of my life, sigh, it is getting financially tight. My husband still has his job (good) but his hours are cut back (bad) which means our finances are not doing well at all. The conclusion of this is that I have to get a job. Up until today I honestly thought that meant a full time job, but taking a good look at all of our necessary monthly expenditures and holding it up against David's new income we should be able to meet our needs with out me getting a job, or taking our kids out of their school. However, a part time job on my part would make this much, much easier to do.
Without the job I would have to reduce our grocery bill to $500 a month...sounds not bad until you factor in two dogs, a cat, a guinea pig, 3 kids and that grocery includes all paper and cleaning products as well as food and that Nathan's goat milk alone costs $40 a month (more depending on how many Wednesdays are in a month). I'm not sure how to do that, but I am sure it is possible. People live on waaaay less than this and survive. That said anybody got any really good, doable tips for me on cutting that grocery bill down? On the plus side of this I could stand to lose a few pounds and this may just force me to do it!!
Oh dear it just hit me, this is the first time in my life (as an adult of course) that I have had to be financially savvy! We are dipping into the red every month and that simply just won't do.
In better much less depressing news, my children are still adorable. Megan has progressed to informing me when she is "stinky". Which means wet or in actuality stinky. One step closer to potty training (yay and boo!). She also sing songs "Let's go get my Emily." every day on our way to get Emily. She sure does admire her big sister, though that doesn't stop her from pushing Em's buttons!
Emily was emptying her backpack out today and said "Mom, can we keep my "m" paper? I want to remember how good I made M's." Very cute.
Nathan is doing so very well at school and is probably the best reader in his class. He rarely makes mistakes in math, is picking up science well, and his spelling has really improved this year. His cursive is still...interesting, but is much improved from last year and his teachers are super at pointing out all the letters that he has done really well instead of constantly pointing out all the letters he didn't do so well (though they do get a nod).
I love my kids and just thinking and writing about them has cheered me up incredibly.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Ahh, Summer Bounty!
Ahh, the bounty of summer has begun. I just went down to our lovely garden and picked the first fruits...OK so technically first vegetables. Our zucchini is now getting big enough to pick. Yay! I think I will make cheesy stuffed zucchini and if I have enough chocolate zucchini muffins to freeze for our trek north at the end of next week.
Only 11 more sleeps until we leave for Canada and already I'm beginning to get a little panicky at being ready to leave. In between now and then I have a chiropractor appointment, a hair appointment, a dental appointment, 3 evenings of VBS (which we are putting together from scratch (myself and one other lady) ), and the final event is the evening before we leave, I am hosting, as matron of honour, the bridal shower of my cousin Melanie (my husbands side)! I keep telling myself to breath deep. Oh did I mention that I'd like to have my house clean before we leave as well so we can come home to a clean house. I may have to call around and see if anyone can come help with that last one! Any volunteers out there?
Well I am now off to work on that delicious crop of zucchini! "Nummy, tummy" as my sweet (90% of the time anyway) two year old would say (well maybe she wouldn't say it about zucchini, but maybe the chocolate zucchini muffins!)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Not so great news...read all the way to the end!
So I had been having some trouble back at the beginning of June. I felt like I had a really terrible UTI. Thing is the doctor couldn't find any infection, though he sent a sample to a lab and they managed to grow non-specific bacteria. I went twice because the antibiotics just didn't seem to be working. Next step...a specialist. I am so tired of specialists at this point (a history of problems I won't share here) which I thought were finally figured out and over, and here I was supposedly headed off to another one.
Saturday June the 5th I decided to just go ahead and take the test. You know the test with the little pink lines? Only I used a test with a digital read out. The only reason I took the test was because both times I went to the doctors office (saw two doctors in the practice) was because both of them asked if there was a chance I could be pregnant. Guess they should have just run the test themselves and saved my poor body all those antibiotics. Yes that is right, I am pregnant with baby #4.
Apparently when I get pregnant and am on birth control pills my body acts like it has a terrible UTI even though I don't. Of course I instantly went off the pill and my pseudo UTI cleared up almost overnight.
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about being pregnant yet again. My brain had moved on, we were done at three, my visions of how the future was going to go were in place, but it didn't take long for me to start getting used to the idea. At this moment (June 22, 7 weeks pregnant) I am still in disbelief that I am actually pregnant. Not even feeling that morning sick, just a tad bit in the evening. I am tired, but not as exhausted as I remember being with the others.
Week 8 (June 29th)
Well, here I am a week later, June 29th 2010, 8 weeks pregnant and feeling about the same...perhaps this baby has decided to be kind to me and spare me the morning sickness.
Week 11 (July 20th)
I guess I spoke too soon. Although I suppose technically s/he has spared me "morning" sickness as this little seems to kick in at night....right around supper time! I consistently started getting "evening" sick at 9.5 weeks and am now at 11 weeks and it is getting very slightly better. Exhaustion also set in. It's amazing how quickly you forget just how tired you can be! All in all my mind is starting to adjust to the addition to the family, though I must admit to some panicky feelings when I try and picture myself getting 4 kids out the door to school come February. Two in school and two to stay with me. Maybe my in-laws will spell me for a few weeks and take Nathan and Emily to school for me...I suppose that I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I figure it never hurts to be prepared.
Oh by the way my official due date is February 8th. If this little one goes late I could end up having a mothers day baby (Emily), an Easter baby (Megan), AND a Valentine's baby! Wouldn't that be interesting :) That would be six days past due date...Megan went 8 days past. Of course if s/he is born on Valentines day s/he would be my only non-Sunday baby. All three of the others have been born on a Sunday.
August 19, 2010
Since today is the day of hope, speaking up and remember child loss wether it is through miscarriage, stillborn, infant death, or accident, I am going to celebrate the brief life of my fourth child. I wasn't going to post this, but feel like I would like you to share with you and sort of get it all out there.
I have been feeling like it is taboo to speak of my miscarriage which happened three weeks ago yesterday, but have since decided I have every right to grieve, openly or otherwise. Man I thought I was done tearing up at the drop of a hat, but here I sit with tears leaking our of my eyes!
Overall I am doing well. I have many blessings and know that God has his hand on all things. I am thankful that if happened fairly early (12 weeks), that I have three healthy wonderful living children, that my husband loves me so much, and for the friends and family who knew when it happened and grieved with me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Busy Bee Day
I am not sure what happened to spring sunshine. I think April forgot to end so that May flowers could bloom. Here we are on the 18th of June and I have little hope that the corn in our garden will be knee high by the fourth of July. I sure hope September and October are extra nice to make up for this wet, cloudy spring.
In other news I had three extra kids added to the household for the day. My niece Bridget, nephew Seth, and my friends little girl Bailey. All in all I find having friends over can be easier than not having them. Other than general supervision and guidance, oh yeah and feeding them, they entertained themselves pretty well. A few squabbles here and there, but nothing serious. However, it amazes me that adding even one more kid can increase the dishes by so very much, but adding three has pretty much emptied my cupboard bare. I have done dishes no less than 5 times today. Amazing. Had a light bulb turn on after supper...I made the kids clear the table, rinse the dishes, and put them in the dishwasher. Revolutionary I tell ya! I guess I can't totally blame the kids for all the dishes. I made home made mac and cheese for lunch, and homemade chicken enchilada's for supper, and am about to finish making two chocolate cream pies.
David and I spent last Saturday cleaning up the downstairs of our house. I think 80% of that was toys. We have reduced the toys downstairs by probably 90% and it looks so nice, and the kids are actually playing with what is there instead of just stirring them into even greater chaos. It will be one week tomorrow that I have managed to keep the downstairs of my house cleaned. I amaze even myself sometimes.
The kids enjoying the pool...so what if it doesn't have any water in it :)
In other news I had three extra kids added to the household for the day. My niece Bridget, nephew Seth, and my friends little girl Bailey. All in all I find having friends over can be easier than not having them. Other than general supervision and guidance, oh yeah and feeding them, they entertained themselves pretty well. A few squabbles here and there, but nothing serious. However, it amazes me that adding even one more kid can increase the dishes by so very much, but adding three has pretty much emptied my cupboard bare. I have done dishes no less than 5 times today. Amazing. Had a light bulb turn on after supper...I made the kids clear the table, rinse the dishes, and put them in the dishwasher. Revolutionary I tell ya! I guess I can't totally blame the kids for all the dishes. I made home made mac and cheese for lunch, and homemade chicken enchilada's for supper, and am about to finish making two chocolate cream pies.
David and I spent last Saturday cleaning up the downstairs of our house. I think 80% of that was toys. We have reduced the toys downstairs by probably 90% and it looks so nice, and the kids are actually playing with what is there instead of just stirring them into even greater chaos. It will be one week tomorrow that I have managed to keep the downstairs of my house cleaned. I amaze even myself sometimes.
The kids enjoying the pool...so what if it doesn't have any water in it :)
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