The Cottage on the Hill

This afternoon, we had a bad storm. I could see it coming, but usually we have pretty mild thunderstorms this time of year. Suddenly, the wind started whipping really hard. I couldn't even see out the windows because of the amount of debris blowing in the air. There was a big crash and I grabbed my son and called for the dog and down in the basement we went. Looking out the basement window, I could see trees crashing down in the woods next to us. We were down there for an hour before my neighbor tapped on the window. He checked up on us and let me know that a tree came down and hit the side of his garage and took out his power line. There was a worse storm up north a bit where my husband was working. He watched the tornado, but it never touched down. Thankfully, he's home safe and sound.

Thank you, veterans! My maternal grandfather and my father are both veterans. Memorial Day weekend was well spent. :) Saturday, we spent the evening with our neighbors and ordered out pizza. Sunday, hubby had a re-enactment and I went to church. I missed sermon, though. My son messed his diaper and got hungry, so I spent it in the nursery. :/ The sermon was from John 11, so I'll have to read that. After church, I spent time at my parents' house, but decided to come home and putter around the house. I had allergies all weekend, so I was a bit under the weather. Memorial Day, hubby and I packed up Donald and went grocery shopping. We got 100 mahogany clams and 100 littleneck clams for the picnic. I made strawberry shortcake. At 3pm, we had a family picnic, and for the first time, all the grandchildren got together. We had a photo shoot of course. I played badminton and bocce ball. It felt good to be active and agile again after being pregnant. My dear grandmother ...

So my children aren't penalized for being absent due to illness, religious reasons, or going to re-enactments. The local public school has some really messed up policies on catching up on schoolwork if you're absent. Our neighbor's son's friend was not allowed to catch up on school work after he took a week off from school when his grandmother died.

Yesterday, I felt the tingle. Overnight, it became full-blown...a sore throat. I HATE sore throats. My bathroom vanity is covered in my arsenal against sore throats....salt water, listerine, hydrogen peroxide, and when I'm done with my errands, I'll gargle with 15 year Scotch. I also suck on chewable vitamin C tablets and take in plenty of fluids. I just pray that if it's contagious, my son doesn't get it. My brother introduced my husband and I to a fantastic confection. Neither hubby nor I can eat chocolate. (Don't feel bad for us, we don't even like the taste of it anyway.) It's made by Ferrero and called Raffaello. "An almond surrounded by a fine milk cream, then covered with a crisp delicate wafer and sprinkled with tender, shredded coconut." It is SO good and apparently hard to find.

Praise God, praise God, praise God!! I am getting so much done today!! I organized the walk-in closet. I cleaned the front and back porches I made a hanging quilt rack to display a hand-made quilt given to my son. I hung shelves in the nursery I planted beans and weeded the raspberry patches and the slope behind the garage I e-mailed people who needed responses I walked up to the feed store and ordered a bag of dog food to be delivered today AND visited with the owner's wife I burned the cardboard that was piling up I organized the lower cabinets in the kitchen I planned my day for tomorrow I figured out what to make for dinner I still have to exercise, so I better do that now. :)

There are so many things I want my children to learn that the public and private schools don't teach: 1. Local history 2. More in-depth American history 3. Religions (I think it's important for my children to know about other religions besides Christianity) 4. More hands-on learning 5. Labor and trade skills 6. Instead of sports in Phys. Ed. why not learn about physical fitness as a whole 7. More in-depth music and art, depending on the child's interest Learning at home provides them with such a wide span of exploration that public and private schools can't provide because they have to generalize.

I have 3 weeks until I see a large number of friends and acquaintences who haven't seen me since I was pregnant. I have a few pounds left over from said pregnancy which make a lot of my clothing a bit on the tight side. I would like to be better fit for when I meet them. Plus, it's cheaper to lose weight than it is to buy a new wardrobe. So, I started an exercise program, one I HAVE to stick to. 20 minutes a day, I can do either aerobics, pilates or various individual muscle workouts (leg lifts, etc). I also have to cut out unnecessary snacking and focus more on proper meals and between-meal healthy snacks. So....my measurements are 30" waist, 40" hips, 22" upper thighs. My weight is 138 lbs. Today, I did 20 minutes of aerobics (non jostling dancing), first with my son in my arms, and then with 10.75 oz cans of soup as weights. *laughs* I believe in planning my day not around my son, or despite my son, but WITH my son. After he nursed and was changed, his...

I grew up fairly sheltered as a child. I did go to public school, but I was so horribly shy, I didn't really get to know my peers and what was "in" at the time. At home, I wasn't allowed outside unless supervised and usually it was for chores. I couldn't watch mainstream TV, movies, read mainstream books, or listen to mainstream music. My dad worked 3rd shift and my mom isn't much of a social person, so I didn't have friends over much. For the most part, it was my 3 brothers, my sister and me. Some may contend that this is not good for a child. It keeps them out of the loop and alienated from the rest of the world. As I look back, I can see how being sheltered in those ways actually helped mold me in a way that I wouldn't want to change. You see, we were expected to do chores, and because of this, I know how to garden, can, cook, etc. I have an appreciation for these things and being more self-sufficeint. Not being allowed to partake in the m...

Have you ever noticed that celebrities who do nude scenes or pose in dirty magazines or those obese women on Maury Povich who dress scantily usually say that the reason they allowed themselves to be seen like that is because they're not ashamed of their bodies.... Apparently, those who dress modestly are ashamed of their bodies. I'm not ashamed of my body. Well.....I do have a few post-pregnancy pounds I'm not proud of, but I'm not ASHAMED of my body. My body doesn't bring me shame. I cover up because my body is special, unique and a temple. I cover up and don't let the world see my body because I respect my body. Sure it's just a shell, but it's the shell God gave me along with all the connotations that go with it. Out of respect for God, my husband and myself, I do not bare all. It's respect, not shame that keeps me covered up. And it's a shame so many people, women especially don't feel the same. And for those readers who think I...

I've noticed something recently....it's people and how they treat a lady with a baby. Bubby is usually carried around in his carseat carrier. It can be quite cumbersome and heavy at times, but I've been building up my Mommy muscles. Running errands, I spend a lot of time going in and out of buildings, some of which do not have automatic doors. At these particular buildings, I've observed two different kinds of people that remind me of the Goofus and Gallant section of Highlights Magazine: 1. Gallant: Those who not only hold the door open for me, but those who actually run to the door to make sure I make it through easily. 2. Goofus: Those who pretend they don't see me and let the door slam in my face and leave me to fiddle with it, trying not to wake the sleeping babe in the carseat carrier. It makes me wonder why these people don't help. Is it because of the superwoman I can do it myself mentality that's been floating around for 30 or 40 years? Is i...

Finally, a bright sunshiny day! Bubby is a new baby today! He's eating better and sleeping better. His naps have been going so well, I was able to get my garden in!! Thank you, Jesus! I still do have to plant green beans. I ran out of seeds. Bubby has taken well to his nursery. The first night, I slept on the floor while he slept in the cradle. That way I could respond to him quickly and easily soothe him in case the new room frightened him. Last night, he did well until 3 am and then he just cried and cried whenever I stepped out of the room. I tried patting and shushing him (see www.babywhisperer.com ) but he just wouldn't calm down. So, I finally took him to bed with me where he suckled for a bit and fell asleep in my arms. Today, I've been putting him in his cradle for naps and he's taken well to it. He also napped in his stroller outside while I gardened. He loves the outdoors and I got some color! Give me that vitamin D! I'm not a tanner, but I...

Bubby is moving into his nursery tonight! It's so cute! It's farm-themed and even has a rug that's got roads on it. So tonight my sweet son is going to sleep in it. Or at least that's what I hope for. :) It's a big change for a little baby. :) It's been raining raining raining. I want to get my garden in, but it just keeps raining.

My first Mother's Day was so nice. Nothing out of the ordinary or extraordinary occured, but it was wonderful nonetheless. It was a rainy day that started off with stress. I've been stressed out and short lately, but I was determined to go to church. I did. The message was excellent and one I needed to hear. Being honored as a mother helped change my perspective on things. Being read Proverbs 31 KJV convicted me. I fell in love with my son all over again and much more strongly as he spent the service either in my arms or in his carseat carrier by my side. Thank you, Jesus! My little brother finished college on Friday and moved out yesterday. My husband and I miss him already. When we came home from visiting hubby's parents, we came home to an empty room, a note and gas money. I honestly want to cry. My brother is only 10 miles away now, but our house won't be the same without him. Still, we started on the nursery right away. Hubby will be happy to stop tri...

My state's public education system is horrible. I know...I went through it from grades K-12.

May is here!! May is my favorite month. Where I live, it's the month when the tulips pop, the trees blossom, the leaves form and the lilacs bloom. It's the month when we can get our gardens in. It's the month that starts family picnics! Days are longer and warmer in May, but not too hot. This year May is extra special because for the first time, I get to celebrate Mothers Day! Being a mother is so special to me. I know there are feminists out there who believe that being a mother isn't fulfilling. When my son stares at me with those big blue baby eyes and studies my face, I can't think of one thing more fulfilling than that! Out of love, my husband and I got married, came together and through the miracle of God's perfect creation, our son was formed in my womb body, soul and spirit. 8 months later, he was born, healthy and vibrant. Now, nearly 6 weeks after his birth, he has grown and developed. Daily, I see changes. Daily, I see how much he's ...