Primal journal : Coll page 43

[Judg]

One of the disadvantages of home-schooling is we can't blame our kids' bad behaviour on the other teachers and students. It does get uncomfortable sometimes because of that...

[Coll]

Lol Judg ... exactly my thoughts! And I know that kids make their own choices and all that - but I know I grew up in a really disfunctional family and I am sure there are remnants of that stuff making its way into our relationships too. Thankfully, I know that God is in the process of changing me and helping us work through that stuff. So much better than it used to be, but I know we are far from perfect and the kids will reflect that - sometimes it is like looking in a mirror and can be rather sobering, or amusing depending on the trait that is showing up. Tee hee.

Our poor chickens are mid-moult and are miserable from the cold. THey haven't stirred out of their coop today. I just went out for a few minutes and closed up the vents for the night. It is such a sudden change in temperature that I think they are in shock. I might take a jug of warm water out later and set it under the two of them. Only two little bantams to keep each other warm and there are more feathers around the yard than on them at the moment. They had a little treat of some oats and sunflower seeds with hot water - I like spoiling them sometimes There are two in the shed who are a little cosier - they have more feathers!

So, I headed out this afternoon to shovel some of my pile of dirt and do the wheelbarrow thing. I decided to have some fun and 'built' a step out of dirt, river rock and some of the flat rock you find around here too. The steps were never made properly and there is a really big step down onto a slope. Not too bad in the summer but ice and snow can change things quickly Easy to go for a quick ride down the slope in the dark when doing chicken chores late etc. Anyway, I know it won't last because there is nothing to really hold it. BUT, I got some good exercise and it look nice for the moment, and works well for the moment. Got rain and snow on the way in the next couple of days so hopefully this will work for this next weather system that is coming through Fun...

School was pretty painless today - phew! Now the kids and dog are all snuggled on the floor watching a BBC movie about the pacific ocean. Chicken roasting in the oven, no apple crisp as the oven is in use and a different temp is required. Will have to try that tomorrow maybe. We'll see if I feel like it. I did make strawberry icecream - yum! But I didn't thaw the berries for long enough and it made in less than 5 minutes and then got stuck in the icecream maker -lol. I got most of it into a container and then the kids and I waited for the bowl to warm up enough to pry the last 1/4 " off and had that as a snack. Just cream, egg yolks, strawberries and stevia. The kids were ecstatic, 'mom this is even better than the store one!' Going to do cauliflower rice with the chicken - love that stuff! And it sits so well in my tummy!!!

[Sabine]

My new favorite apple is the Honeycrisp, but they are usually so huge that eating one feels like an adventure, rather than just a snack.

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I too love the Honeycrisp apples... they really are crisp! But I have been finding that sometimes the bags of organic gala apples or just recently the organic golden delicious are lovely and small, but still loaded with flavour. I found org. golden delicious at Wholefoods a couple of days ago, $1 per pound! I should stop by and see if the sale is still on because they're really nice. At that price I could make some apple sauce too... warm applesauce with a big dollop of cream sounds rather yummy! Woke up to a dusting of snow this morning! It has melted off now but it sure looks like we may get some more later on. Got to run out and get some scratch for chicken treats (helps keep them warmer) and more chicken stuff.

I slept well last night - though, I have to say I had a hard time settling at first. I had grabbed two cherry tomatoes left on the table after dinner on my way to shower and I wonder if they could have had that affect. Pretty weird that such a small thing could have that affect though.

DH installed a daylight shop light over our school and office area and it has made such a difference to our work. DD in particular is definitely affected by low light levels - she gets all sleepy. Now both the kids are nice and awake for school. It really is amazing how much it has helped! Of course, I need to remember to turn it off in the evenings so that we stick with the cycle of days and nights. I forgot until after 9pm last night... guess that could have affected me too!

Trying to install my Welsh Rosetta Stone on a hand-me-down laptop that DH's nephew gave us for that purpose, and the whole thing has stalled in the middle of the installation. I am so clueless about computers and this kind of stuff is incredibly frustrating. Computers are so useful, but if you don't know what you are doing it doesn't take much to kybosh you! Grrr!

DH thought my step was very cool and was very complimentary about it. Just fun and exercise all rolled into one, good combo I reckon.

Going to IF probably 'til lunch as usual

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I have been feeling odd all afternoon - as if I am losing fat while I am walking around doing chores. Have been hungry - but not the 'stuff yourself with junk' hunger. Just aware that my body was wanting more than it had received ... kind of a hollow feeling, but not what I would usually associate with hunger. Got artichoke and meatloaf going for dinner ... DH will be home really late tonight. Just realised this evening that I have no idea where DH is if something went wrong. He is on the road all day every day and sometimes he is a long drive away. I have asked him to give me a print out of where he is going when he is out of town so that if he doesn't arrive (thinking car trouble etc) I can figure out where to look for him. His inspection today took a lot longer than usual and he is at least an hour and a half's drive away. I tried calling just to check on him and no answer - then I started thinking all the crazy thoughts of how would I know if he had an accident etc. A little freaky to be honest.

It sure looks like snow tonight. I caved and turned the heat on this evening as I was feeling chilled and just couldn't get warmed up. Doesn't help when I can't really wear shoes - doesn't take long before my darling heel starts aching and complaining. Even my slippers rub on the wrong spot - I wore them for a few hours and then had to take them off I guess it doesn't help that our max today was 40F for about 20 minutes! And the inside temp was 51F! Feeling positively toasty now at 55F I am looking forward to snuggling into bed tonight! Chickens were supplied with chopped corn this evening (which they gobbled down as if it was 'the best thing on the whole d.... planet'! I'm ready - bring on the snow!

[Sabine]

That is a freaky feeling, when you're worried about a family member out away from you. Are you having a control problem about something in your life that might be setting you off? You know, when you are feeling helpless in one area, how it can spill over? But an itinerary sounds like a sensible idea. Our imaginations are way too good at brewing up trouble.

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Thanks Sabine... I think it was just the realisation that no-one aside from DH knows where he is going and there would be no way I could find him if something happened to him, thinking mostly on his long trips. He has all that information with him. If something happened to him and he was on an inspection somewhere out of cellphone range it could take a long time to find him. Only the specific realtor and client that he was working with would know - and there are a LOT of realtors in his area. Anyway, he said that when he is heading out to the more remote areas he will leave the info with me so we can find him if necessary. Just feel much better about that. I don't think anything else triggered this - it was just the sudden realisation that he is the only one with the info....

Been racking my brains this morning with the old Rosetta Stone. Did not want to work on the old computer that we got specifically for the purpose of running the language course!! It is too old to get customer support and I am rather computer illiterate - but google came to my rescue and , thrill of all thrills, I figured out how to get it running!!!! Yee ha! DS is now doing his Welsh language course, pleased as punch about it too.

We had rip roaring snow this morning! Fortunately it melted really quickly as it was very heavy and I was worried we were going to have more broken tree limbs like last fall when the snow arrived before the leaves had even turned, never mind fallen off! What a mess! Anyway, no problem this time around. We are going to rig a light bulb in the coop for the two bantams who are in that one - going to be a hard freeze tonight and they are not ready for it. Also being just two of them there isn't much in the way of snuggling up to keep warm. Also don't think my masking tape and brown paper bags will do the trick over the vents tonight - especially with getting wet today. So DH and I will head out once he is home and sort the birdies out.

I am loving my 'new' vest that was in the camper we bought... it is the perfect size for me and has loads of pockets and a snuggly fleece lining. Just the right temperature over a thin long sleeved shirt for inside, esp when I am sitting still at the computer or doing school with the kids. We keep the house at or below 60F in the daytime and at about 50F at night. DD is snuggled in her bed reading for school right now Happy as can be.

[Coll]

Feeling kind of nasty tonight - no appetite and like I am fighting off a cold. Gee, I wonder if having a 40+ degree difference within a few hours could make an impact. Going to take a raw garlic clove once the kids are in bed, just downed a glass of kefir, and going to smear myself with essential oils at bedtime. Hopefully I can kick this thing overnight. Tomorrow is the first day we get to be with DH in a while and I really don't want to miss the ride. Have to take a +/- 2 hour drive to where he is doing radon tests tomorrow and then when done we are going to do something together. No idea what though - with the weather the way it is it is not exactly picnic weather... I am sure we'll have plenty more nice weather but not tomorrow. Going to set the kids up with movies in the back of the car so that we get to talk Kids don't get movies usually unless they have earned them so that will be a bonus for them

[Sabine]

Hope your remedies worked and you are feeling better this morning. Enjoy the day with DH.

[Coll]

Feeling much better thanks Sabine - slept well which I am sure helped Headed out to sit in the sun with a hot cup of tea with the family - lovely day so far, saw some exquisite ice rimed trees and grasses on our way up the canyon today. Will have to share some pictures with you all once they are off the camera. Lots of eating today, figure it is going to just be a feast day. Ate brunch at The Egg & I, yummy but not enough meat