A fence! A fence!

I was shocked, at 7:30 this morning, when I looked out the classroom window and saw the fence people driving up. Yep, they came back on Sunday! About two hours later, they were finished installing the fence, gates and all the caps on the 4x4s. We now have a completed fence! I will post pics soon.

Almost a fence

The fence company is awesome. Yesterday, they installed all the 4x4s and all the 2x4s.

They arrived this morning, with a Lowe's truck full of pickets, about eight o'clock. There were three working for awhile, then there were two. The two worked until about 3:30. The pickets start at the corner of the garage and go all the way around to the other side of the house. There is a tree near that corner of the house, and that is where they stopped. They are due back on Monday to finish the pickets and install the gates. I cannot wait to see it complete. We were hoping they would finish the installing the pickets since they were so close, but it started drizzling rain and thundering. I can understand stopping under those conditions. But still a bit bummed.

Chloe's missing what?

Tonight was finally the night. Chloe lost her very first tooth! We found out last night it was loose. Today, it was very loose. I won't describe it or anything for those who are squeamish. None of us good get a grip on it, so John tied some thread to it and a door knob. Off it came. Literally. It also flew off the thread, so the search began to find it. Jesse found it. And Chloe is the happiest little thing you've seen.

A fence?

Well, this was the week I was hoping the fence would be finished. Instead, they are just starting today. At least they started this week. They have been delayed due to all the rain we have had lately. I was told they would also be back tomorrow if it doesn't rain. We'll see. I will certainly post pics when it is complete.

Catcitement!

I finally worked on the side of our house we don't usually see. The bed there needed weeding and mulch, since it has never been mulched. After two-and-a-half hours working on the bed, Jesse came around to tell me all three kittens and Momma were in the garage. Well, that's just dandy! We spent the next twenty minutes trying to get them out.

We managed to scare Oreo out, but he was the only one. Honestly, I gave up and went back to finish the bed I was working on. When I came inside I closed the garage door thinking they would get hungry and want out. Ten minutes later I opened the kitchen door leading to the garage. Momma came rushing over to me. I opened the garage door again, but she still did not take the kittens out. But. Big but here. I saw the unnamed kitten, so the race was on to get them out. I think, in all, it took an hour.

The unnamed kitten went first. He would run toward the door then cut back to the back wall. Irritating! I finally knelt down in the little opening where he kept running and bam! I got him. He/she was not thrilled. It tried scratching a bit but I talked to it quietly the whole time I was walking it to the front porch. Then it ran straight for their hiding spot where Oreo had been since his own garage adventure ended. Now, Coal was different. Coal is the runt of the litter and apparently a little angrier than the rest. When I finally caught it, it kept arching its back to turn toward me to hiss. It hissed at me for half the walk to the porch. Not a long trip, but it was clawing like crazy and hissing. Not very nice for someone trying to save his behind.

I think Momma didn't realize Oreo was out because as soon as I had the unnamed cat and Coal out she went right back into the garage. I picked her up and walked her to the porch. I told Chloe to close the garage door as soon as Momma and I were out so none of them would race back in there. Momma went up on the porch and meowed. Oreo's little face poked out and Momma sniffed. She seemed satisfied then laid down on the porch. Catciting!

Books!

Finally, a few weeks later, all the books I ordered have arrived. Well, with one exception, but it was an add-on. Homeschool parents, especially those who do the schooling, will understand the excitement. There is something fun and exciting about getting new books. I haven't had a good chance to study them yet. I did flip through them as they arrived and they look quite interesting. John thinks I'm a bit odd to go absolutely ga-ga over new school books. However, I am simply thrilled to have been lucky enough to find these books when they are out of print.

When a door closes, a window opens

Last night about 11:15, we lost our beloved Buddy. Our, soon to be three year-old, guinea pig. John and I had noticed in the last couple of weeks he had lost a lot of weight. He was also having trouble finding his food when you would hand it to him. He loved snatching food right of our your hand before you dropped it. Then last week I noticed he did not have all the function of one of his back legs. He would drag it more than walk on it. Early last night, we noticed he was not moving and John said he had not drank for a bit. I held the water bottle for him to drink some and told the girls I wasn't sure he was going to make it much longer. About eleven, he rolled onto his side. A few minutes later he was gone. We will miss you our rodent friend.



And a window opens...

Last night after we squared Buddy away for the evening, I took Rosie out to potty. I haven't done that in a long time, but the last few nights I have been taking her. So out we go and both cats, Momma and Cat Black, are there too. On the way back inside I heard a shuffle on the porch. All the animals were on the sidewalk with me. Luckily, I had my flashlight. There inside the cat house were four little eyes staring back at me. Yep, Momma brought her kittens. Two little kittens that in the dark one looked jet black and the other looked just like Cat Black (whom we still believe is one of Momma's kittens). We knew both of our cats were pregnant. And yes we are going to have them fixed, but they cannot be fixed while they are nursing...so much for that right now. :)

This afternoon we discovered Momma as three kittens. That Momma is so smart. I was wondering what had happened to her kittens because she had been hanging around the house the last few days rather than leaving (which is her usual). But coming home this afternoon I noticed a fur ball next to their winter blanket. No fur ball. Kitten bottom! They are under the cat house. Three sweet looking little things. One has the same coloring as Momma, one looks like Cat Black and one. Well, this one is unique. It has white on its face with markings that resemble a Mardi Gras mask. We will keep that in mind when we choose a name.

While we will always miss Buddy, we will enjoy the kittens while we have them.

Typing, really? Really.

So, I have to post this. I was working on ordering books tonight and Chloe was working on her story, "The Cute Puppy". John came down the hall and looked into his office to see Chloe typing. "Chloe is typing," he told me with a broad smile on his face.
I'm sure I gave him a confused look, "Yeah."
"No, I mean really typing."
I laughed. "Yes, John, she is. She's been doing the BBC typing all year."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Its just so cute. Her little hands barely reach," his words trailing off as he turned back into his office to watch Chloe type some more.

I suppose I should share more with John about our extracurricular activities. lol

Bring on the cabbage!

Well, at least it caught your attention. :)

Today, we went to our first Nature Class at the Clemson Extension. Unfortunately, today was the last day of class for this school year. :( A friend of mine has been asking if we could go for awhile now, but we have not been able to attend for one reason or another. The class and teacher were as great as she has been saying. I will definitely go next year.

So, you are thinking, "What about cabbage?" Am I right? Probably (or you just completely forgot about it). Today at the Nature Class was Cabbage Chemistry (or Garden Chemistry). I have to admit Jesse kind of had an "up" on this one, because two weeks ago in chemistry she did a very similar experiment. Ms. Chanda made a purple liquid by boiling red cabbage. They each had a cup of the liquid and started adding things to it to see what would happened. It became acidic then basic and later they did another experiment to neutralize another mixture. The girls had a lot of fun and Jesse was happy she knew most of the answers. After all the chem, we went on a nature hike. Chloe liked the lily pads and Jesse liked the baby frogs. I got to actually meet some people I've "known" through FB and some I had met previously, but was unable to talk to during that event. I think we all had fun and can't wait for the next gathering.

Garden update

I did a bit of work in the garden today. John is ready for the garden to be complete, if nothing else. I created two more beds, though neither one has a plant. I have two more beds to create, more mulch to put down and it will be complete.

I did get a beautiful, well, something. It is not a blood blister but there is blood in there. I was adjusting an edger and felt something funny on my thumb, but honestly thought nothing of it except it felt wierd. I do remember thinking I didn't really "do" anything that would make it feel like that. Oh, well. Nothing I can do but accept the red/purpleness of it and go on.

There have been quite a few birds around the house lately. I even saw one, from the classroom window, sitting in our Japanese cherry tree the other day. I love hearing them talking to each other. Such wonderful sounds.

I don't think I have mentioned the lizard that is living underneath our deck. He/She is a beauty: gray, black and some white. It is quite cute and very well fed. :) This morning while I was out in the garden it decided to keep me company for a while. After retrieving a few things from the garage, I came back to the garden to find the lizard perched nicely on one of the edgers I had not placed yet. It seemed perfectly fine with me being there and stayed, sunning, for a few minutes. I am also thinking about making a nice toad abode but not sure where yet.

We are getting closer to the day the fence will be installed and I cannot wait. I just want it up. I have to tell you John and I are both a bit annoyed. The newest members of our neighorhood had a fence installed this week that looks just like the one we are having installed and stained the same color. Annoyed. John even made me go down the "new road" yesterday coming home so we could avoid seeing it. lol

Well, that didn't work

I told you the other day I reorganized my desk, but I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Well, this morning I reorganized it again. I'm thinking this time I may have it. However, I still have a ton of books on the floor I recently inherited, that I have no clue where to put yet. I also need to work on the closet (in the classroom). I just cannot figure out the best way to get all the school items and ALL of the arts/crafts in here, including my sewing machine and all it comes with. I may have found my match here.

I've taken a break from the yard the last couple of days. Not so much by choice but need. I needed a break. :) I'm hoping by the end of this weekend I'll have the garden compeletly done and the flower bed in front of the deck done (minus the flowers). Please note, I said "hoping".

This month marks one entire year that we have had Rosie. She has grown so much since we first got her. She is still a bit insane but adorable.

Finally, something actually goes my way!

I have to admit I have always been jealous of my friend Courtney who seems to find the best buys ever...and often.

I believe last summer I wrote about finding out all the books my edition of The Well-Trained Mind recommended for science, for fifth through eighth grade, were no longer being published. I searched the web scouring for them to no avail. Today, I was struggling again. While I feel Jesse enjoyed her science this year I'm not convinced she learned as much as I wanted her to. I sat at my computer most of the morning looking at science curriculum and wishing things were different. Then, on a whim, I checked EBay (again). I was surprised to find one of the books I needed. Shocked when I found two! When all was said and done I had found all six of the books I could not find last summer. All six!! Just when I felt all was lost and I was failing my girls in science there they were. Yes, some my say divine intervention. I say the universe smiled upon me today. Whatever the reason, I am grateful, incredibly delighted and excited about what lay before us. Courtney would be proud at the bargains too! :)

Busy week

We have been so busy lately with all the work outside, and it still lingers on. Saying you have to put out mulch, start a garden, and just do general maintenance while waiting on fence people does not really sound like much. But we have weeded the area for the fence twice already and it needs it again (the 23rd can not get here soon enough as far as I'm concerned). Mulch. Oh, geez! How much mulch do we need?! We are getting there but it is slow. I'm hoping by the end of the week all of the mulch we have will be put out. However, we still need more.

Yesterday, the girls and I escaped the yard and the school books for a field trip to the zoo with some friends. We had a great time and enjoyed being outside for a while just for fun. lol We have been asked to go on a field trip tomorrow, but our schedule right now cannot afford another one so soon. And it is to a place where John wants to go and I don't want to go without him, so we are going to make that a family outting one day.

Wow! What a day!

We have had a very busy day today. John left this morning a little before 6am to go to Lowe's. By 8:30, the van was unloaded, we had breakfast and were headed back to Lowe's. Many items were purchased for the yard, which will be worked on in the morning. The girls' did the Lowe's class too. They love going. They just have not defined their thoughts of Mr. Ken (who runs the class) yet. He is English and has his own way of doing things.

This afternoon the girls had a birthday party for their friend Ryan. I believe they had a great time. They saw friends they have not seen in a while (me too!) and beat each other relentlessly with balloons. Who says homeschoolers don't know how to have fun!!

I finally had the chance to see Wendy's garden and I must say she is doing better than I am. What a variety of veggies! I'm jealous. And her cake decorating skills are awesome. The top of the cake was a dragon made of icing. Fab job!!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, neither John nor I will spend it with our mothers. But I am looking forward to working in the yard with much cooler tempatures. I know we won't get everything done, but I am hoping we get a good bit accomplished. Still cannot do some things because the fence is not installed yet. I'm hoping by my birthday most of the mulch will be in and the garden will be done.

One happy plant!!!

The roses my Dad gave me. Beautiful.

And the wars begin!

The water wars that is. Since the grass has been installed there has been a lot of activity back there. But recently it has been the scene of watergun wars. Let me tell ya it has not been pretty. Pretty wet, yes. Pretty, no. lol

It all started over the weekend. The warm weather got to my crew and before ya knew it, there were new guns purchased and the water started spraying! John now has one that holds about 48 ounces and shoots about 42 feet. Jesse got a new one that you can attach a 2-liter bottle to and it does pretty well. Chloe needs a BIGGER gun! I don't have one...do you see a problem with that? I know I do!

We really are enjoying the new freedoms found with being able to go outside and cut loose. We knew it would make a big difference in our lives but really it has changed everything. We are no longer couped up inside or having to go somewhere to play. Yes, we could play in the front but the balls always wound up getting in the street and going downhill. That is a BIG hill when you are chasing a ball. Of course, that is a big hill when you not chasing a ball too. :)

We are looking forward to finishing up our school work the first week of June. I'm sure the girls have plenty of plans for their month off this year. I'm not sure what they are yet, but I'll be hearing about it soon I'm sure.

I talked to my sister-in-law, Kim on Friday and she asked about the yard. So, here is an update. We are currently focusing on finishing up the edgers. We purchased more yesterday, but not all of them are set-up yet. For those who have seen it, the edgers now come down the hill to the second spicket (faucet for those not from the NC country) in the back. I am hoping to get some lettuce started in the next week and I still need to order the blueberry plant that I want. We are still trying to figure out the mulch thing. That is what is bothering me now, all the beds are filling up with weeds so that has to be done soon (still have to wait for fence people for some of it though). We still have two trees that need to come down. John had to work last weekend so I'm hoping the trees get down this weekend. When it looks a whole lot better I'll post some pics.

I WAS proud of my strawberries!

We have really been enjoying our strawberry plants. They have even produced a few already, that were eaten almost immediately. I was happy they were growing and still green. Then yesterday, the girls and I went to visit my parents. Dad told me to look out back at his azalea. It was beautiful and full of pink blooms. My eyes were drawn down though and I was shocked! My Dad's strawberry patch is completely full. The plants almost come to my knees and cover the ground completely! They were gorgeous! Made mine look pitiful and mine came from his yard. Really, I have no excuse.

I did finally get to eat one of our strawberries last night and they are so deliciously sweet.

This morning has been a bit tiring. The last thing we had to do before the fence people return was to move a pile of dirt the landscaper laid out for us. Originally is was perfect, but when we decided to bring the fence in a foot, well, the pile needed to be moved a bit. I spent the very early morning shoveling. Came in for a shower and felt great. The girls went outside to play, then asked me to charge the battery for their car. I, reluctantly, went out to search for the charger and came back in about an hour later. The garage had been totally reorganized and swept. If I had known that I wouldn't have taken the first shower. :)

Anyway. Let me ask you this, "Have you ever had an image of yourself doing something (anything) just pop into your head?" I had an image of myself pop into my head a few weeks ago and I have to admit it has stayed there. Nothing weird or anything but something I wonder how it got in there. I have no idea why my thoughts run they way they do sometimes. I have to admit I have felt more myself lately, with all the yard work. I know that seems like a strange segway, but my thought was of me working in garden, so it really does fit.

John recently bought me one of those large brimmed gardening hats. I love it. My memory says my Grandma Threatt had one and she would leave it on the tables where she would dry her apples on the back porch. I guess maybe part of me feels a bit closer to her lately. I remember when I was younger she always seemed to be doing something outside, either in the garden or the orchard. I wish I knew what kind of apple trees she had so I might could find a couple. Those apples, with Grandma's help of course, made the best darn apple pies you've ever tasted (no offence to my Dad's pies which are darn good too!). I will say that I am so happy to be back in the country again. Yeah, I know we are in a development, but right now it doesn't feel that way. The sounds of roosters and cows say something different. I love it here and I love where we are going with it. Even if it does take us a while to get it there it will be so worth the wait, effort and sweat!