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vmalott
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:28pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| My kitchen is done and looks so lovely and cheery!!! A medium golden yellow....in a rich hue. It's very warm. Looks lovely with my big cranberry cabinet. Finished the master bathroom, too...in the most delightful Robin's Egg Blue! |
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Oh, that sounds wonderful! We painted our large kitchen/entry a golden yellow, too...I like to call it "Tuscan Gold". I've been drawn to painting the den, which is just off the entry, some shade of blue, and I think "Robin's Egg Blue" might be just the color I'm looking for! I have a little rug in front of the door in the entry area and it has the colors brown, gold, and blue in it, so it would be nice to pull these colors together somehow. I haven't taken the plunge to paint just yet though.
And, Angela, I am so with you on not thinking about work travel for the DH. My DH's company was just bought by a larger company, which means he needs to travel more than usual to get all this "new" business settled.
I will say, though, that dinner smells divine in the oven! And it has been lovely to have the windows open all day long as opposed to just in the morning. Fall is indeed around the corner! 
__________________
Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
Seven Times the Fun
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Chris V
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:33pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Chris V wrote:
| I just sat down (is that allowed? to sit down in the middle of the day?). |
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Absolutely!! In fact, it is strongly encouraged! It's important to take care of mental health breaks and give yourself plenty of sanity stops!!!!
Chris V wrote:
| I'm so completely overwhelmed with life right now ... |
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 to you!!! You have some worthwhile projects going on right now, not the least of which is nurturing two itty-bitty ones. This season is temporary, and so are the challenges that accompany it!! Overwhelming, but temporary. Live it out and take the little joys wherever you can get 'em!!
Chris V wrote:
I'm afraid that I must make time to plan out this year because my time is already taken up with building a new house, selling our current house, helping to teach our homeschool co-op, and preparing for twins to arrive right around Christmas .. which, by the way, just may just be cutting it all to close to when we are moving! And I just know that after our little babies arrive any and all spontaneity will be tossed out the window. I need to be more structured with our time, or nothing will happen.
That was actually quite cathartic. Thank you  |
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I'm glad you could vent! Your kiddos are still quite young, so I would really give myself permission to let the idea of a totally planned year go!!! If you have a reader or an emerging reader, have a goal of sitting down to read together for a little bit each day. EVERYTHING else will come easily next year. AND....you have some great opportunities to homeschool real life lessons....give them jobs in the cart, counting amounts, watching out for the little sale flags, looking for specific items on an aisle, etc. Name colors while you're out. Sing and listen to music while you're driving. Play Leap Frog liberally!! And call it good enough for the year!
You're doing great, and your new home will be wonderful and so will those little ones when they arrive! There will be quieter seasons. This is just not one of them, but they will come, I promise!!! In the meantime, have another cookie!!!! |
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Oh Jen, thank you   ... yes, I'm crying (a bit hormonal, maybe  ) but mostly just humbled in thankful gratitude for your kind words and encouragement. I really, really needed to hear all that you said. Thank you .
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
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Chris V
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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DominaCaeli wrote:
I am so glad you were able to vent, Chris, and I just cannot imagine how much you have on your plate right now!! You are a Superwoman to be doing it all at once, truly! We just bought a house and I'm due in a couple weeks, but I only have *one* baby on the way and we're not building this house from scratch or worrying about selling another...and even I'm pretty stressed! So prayers coming your way.
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Thank you so, so much for your prayers, Celeste
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:39pm | IP Logged
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Chris V wrote:
I have a little harness for the toddlers but it has become a toy around the house (they pretend to be a dog and the other "walks" them around the yard ), so I always forget to bring it with me ... in fact, I'll put it in the car before I forget once again.
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This could be good.. play doggie when you're shopping.. tell them they're a special trick dog that can always walk on it's hind legs  It's funny but I found my older kids could sometimes get my (now 4 yo)little girl to comply by calling her by her "kitty name".. and calling her like she was a kitty cat or such. I guess Twyla (the kitty name) is more compliant than the girl 
oh and moving SLOW is another key.. you can look ahead and behind the procession as you figure things like cost comparisons.. and even if you're just creeping along.. the kids are way more ok with that, than actually stopping and standing still.
and I just remembered that you'd mentioned headaches..
Your's sounds mostly stress induced but keep your fluids up.. dehydration can trigger headaches.. when you feel a headache starting.. stop a moment.. yawn.. drop your shoulders.. and very gently stretch your neck.. maybe massage the back of your neck into your head too. A few deep breaths. It really does help to keep those tension headaches at bay.
DominaCaeli wrote:
| Funny that almost all of us seem to have some kind of home improvement projects going on! I am trying to figure out curtains right now, which has been a real trial because I would *love* to sew my own but the fabrics I like are so expensive! Ugh. |
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Celeste, fabric is expensive.. I was just thinking that I really want lightweight pretty white curtains in my new red (red-brown really) room.. but I can't even think about that for now.. but one of these days I'll get them
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
DominaCaeli wrote:
| Funny that almost all of us seem to have some kind of home improvement projects going on! I am trying to figure out curtains right now, which has been a real trial because I would *love* to sew my own but the fabrics I like are so expensive! Ugh. |
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Celeste, fabric is expensive.. I was just thinking that I really want lightweight pretty white curtains in my new red (red-brown really) room.. but I can't even think about that for now.. but one of these days I'll get them |
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Oh girls, I had to pop in and tell you about one of my favorite frugal uses for thrifted fabric since both of you mentioned the expense of fabric!!! Check your thrift stores in the linens department! I can find sheet sets there frequently, and if they're in good shape, these would make fabulous curtains or other sewing projects! My mom is always finding some kind of linen that she deconstructs and uses for something else!!! Last Christmas she made 2 entire knight-crusaders outfits from thrifted tablecloths and an old shiny metallic dress!!! And there are ALWAYS bed skirts there!! Always a number of them!!!!! These could easily make set of valances, or if you don't mind tiering, you could make a cafe curtain by scaffolding them! And, I can often find pretty, feminine fabrics in curtains and tablecloths. The cut and style of what I find may not be my style necessarily, but I can claim parts of the fabric for projects or deconstruct them and rebuild them in my style....and even if there isn't enough to do an entire set of curtains, consider making pretty fabrics the trim or accent!
Just mentioning!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 4:51pm | IP Logged
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Chris V wrote:
| Oh Jen, thank you ... yes, I'm crying (a bit hormonal, maybe ) but mostly just humbled in thankful gratitude for your kind words and encouragement. I really, really needed to hear all that you said. Thank you . |
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You're so welcome! Keep eating chocolate and sipping tea for a bit friend! The smiles will help!
I, however, must away to the aforementioned, twice consumed, taco meat. I'm inspired to make some kind of taco casserole tonight!!
I enjoyed sipping tea with all of you!!!! Can I come back with (an imaginary) creme' brulee and an after dinner coffee?????
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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ekbell
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
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Quote:
I'm glad you could vent! Your kiddos are still quite young, so I would really give myself permission to let the idea of a totally planned year go!!! If you have a reader or an emerging reader, have a goal of sitting down to read together for a little bit each day. EVERYTHING else will come easily next year. AND....you have some great opportunities to homeschool real life lessons....give them jobs in the cart, counting amounts, watching out for the little sale flags, looking for specific items on an aisle, etc. Name colors while you're out. Sing and listen to music while you're driving. Play Leap Frog liberally!! And call it good enough for the year!
You're doing great, and your new home will be wonderful and so will those little ones when they arrive! There will be quieter seasons. This is just not one of them, but they will come, I promise!!! In the meantime, have another cookie!!!! |
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I ended up having a completely disorganized year when we moved across the continent with four children (including a babe in arms) and I completely agree! It was amazing how much my children learned even through we dropped all pretense of formal lessons before Christmas.
This year I have a baby due at the end of August and much to my , it's being a lot harder to get things done this time around (basically there is no position that's comfortable but sitting up to write is worst- I'm currently semi-reclined with my iPod trying to persuade myself that I don't want to crunch more mints along with my mint tea as it'll only lead to the consumption of more (mint) antacids - it's probably a good thing that there's no chocolate mint cookies or candies in the house and if I repeat that often enough I might even believe it)
I've managed to buy almost all my curriculum, recruited my science loving teenager to help the next-in-line with her science and have decided that I'm simply going to note down what we get done this year rather then doing more then basic preplanning (ie we'll be using these books this year)
Unfortunately I still need to fill out 'learning plans' for our school board- they don't demand more then generalities and changing plans over the year is fine but it's still a fair amount of writing at a time when I'm seriously sleep-deprived and struggling to deal with getting the house ready for baby.
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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OK, maybe you all can find the humor in this...I'm having a little pity party right now...
I grew up in big cities, in apartment buildings. My family had season tickets to the opera kind of family. When I went to college I majored in Literature.
So, here I am on a little farm in Western Oregon. In the past few months I have tended a sheep with rectal prolapse (including doing surgery on her with the vet on the phone walking me through it), dealt with 3 cases of hoof rot, delivered 2 goat kids, etc. I HATE drool and slime and blood and guts and other gross stuff.
Today? One of the sheep has a golfball sized thing on her cheek. It would be ridiculous to call the vet for something so small. I am going to have to take care of it myself. I am paralyzed with the grossness of it. I just want to hide inside and under the covers. Blech.
Where's the chocolate?
Did someone say school? I am overwhelmed. My eldest is a special needs kid and we have reached a critical point in his education. There is no help for me. I am alone in this. I want to hide from this situation as well. My other kids school stuff will hopefully come together.
I need some chocolate.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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4 lads mom
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Michelle, you are my hero, dear girl....that is quite the caseload...for a Lit major. I’m sending you some cyber chocolate and cyber..gloves...
AND...many prayers for all that you are doing. I am sure you are feeling way overwhelmed at this point...sort of like, “Lord if this is the way you treat your friends....no wonder they number so few?!?”
Have you asked for brainstorming on the “Special Needs” forum?
Many
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Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
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JodieLyn
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Well we got the painting almost done.. just a bit of high touch up that I need to do..
And then I scrubbed the floor.. giving the paint a bit more time to dry before I use tape...
And my 6, 4 and 3 yr olds wanted to help.. so after I scrubbed it.. we're doing a "rinse cycle"..
I gave them each a rag and poured clean water on the floor.. I'll let them swish it around for a bit and then we'll dry with towels.. They're having a BLAST
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 6:53pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| Check your thrift stores in the linens department! I can find sheet sets there frequently, and if they're in good shape, these would make fabulous curtains or other sewing projects! |
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Thank you for the reminder, Jen! I will have to pop into our local thrift shop because I haven't had time to visit in ages! Hopefully I'll hit the jackpot.  I do have a bunch of old sheets from my mom's sewing days that I'm planning to use for drapery lining. But some pretty fabrics for throw pillows and cloth napkins and whatnot would be great even if I can't find the lengths I need for curtains!
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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DominaCaeli
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4 lads mom wrote:
| Michelle, you are my hero, dear girl....that is quite the caseload...for a Lit major. I’m sending you some cyber chocolate and cyber..gloves... |
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Ditto, Michelle!!
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Mimip
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Michelle you are my hero as well! From one city girl to another, props to you my friend!!!!
Well it looks like Plan C or D might be in order since we have a 60% chance of rain tomorrow, sooooo the Arts and crafts are coming out!!!
Everyone will be decorating a folder with paper inside so that the other girls can write greetings to one another!!!! Cheap and made out of the INSANE number of folders I got for $0.01 the other day at Staples or Office Max!
Ideas are coming and I am planning!
Now if I could just convince my mother that the house does not have to be spotless, I might survive!!
I'll update tomorrow night!
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Chris V
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
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MichelleW wrote:
So, here I am on a little farm in Western Oregon.
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Hey neighbor! I'm here in Western Washington
MichelleW wrote:
In the past few months I have tended a sheep with rectal prolapse (including doing surgery on her with the vet on the phone walking me through it), dealt with 3 cases of hoof rot, delivered 2 goat kids, etc. I HATE drool and slime and blood and guts and other gross stuff.
Today? One of the sheep has a golfball sized thing on her cheek. It would be ridiculous to call the vet for something so small. I am going to have to take care of it myself. I am paralyzed with the grossness of it. I just want to hide inside and under the covers. Blech.
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All in a day's work, eh? You deserve the chocolate! That's quite a lot to deal with, even if you're a born and bred rancher-girl, let alone a city girl! You have my applause! 
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the cyber-hugs...and the cyber-gloves. I guess it is kinda funny. I used to garden in sandals with heels, but I can't tell you how many times I have been chased by my neighbor's bulls (his fences need some work and I guess our grass is greener). This is my husband's dream, and I dearly love him. Too bad he spends his days at work while I "run" the farm.
(sigh)
This place is a blessing. My life is filled to the brim with blessings. Now I just need to survive all these blessings!
I haven't tried the Special Blessings board. I confess I have started many a post in that forum, but deleted them all. It's hard to put our "issues" into words and, though I often read the postings in there, I haven't found anyone like us yet. It's ok. God holds the manual on my precious boy and so at least Someone knows what is going on. It just feels lonely and hard sometimes.
But this afternoon tea is for *not* thinking about that stuff right now. We all have lots of real life to get back to, but a virtual break from it all is nice.
By the way, I have lots and lots of bud vases. Would you each like one at your place? In my previous life it seemed important to have enough bud vases so that I could set a pretty brunch table. I haven't used them in so very long and I would love for each of you to enjoy one in your favorite color. They are quite lovely and will hold a little bouquet. Right now there are some little roses on my climbing rose out front. Can I cut a few for you? And maybe a few stems of pale pink lavender? The scent is not as strong as the blue lavender and it won't interfere with your tea...
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Angie Mc
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I don't have time to sit and chat right now but I at least want you to know that I *want* to sit and chat with such a lovely gathering of ladies .
I do get a break here shortly, though. I'll be watching the Dback game soon with my boys and pouring myself a yummy craft beer for the occasion. I'll give a "Cheers!" to you all.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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Chris V
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| Posted: Aug 11 2011 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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MichelleW wrote:
| God holds the manual on my precious boy and so at least Someone knows what is going on. |
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I've never yet heard something put so lovingly true. Your words here are perfectly said. Just beautiful
MichelleW wrote:
By the way, I have lots and lots of bud vases. Would you each like one at your place? In my previous life it seemed important to have enough bud vases so that I could set a pretty brunch table. I haven't used them in so very long and I would love for each of you to enjoy one in your favorite color. They are quite lovely and will hold a little bouquet. Right now there are some little roses on my climbing rose out front. Can I cut a few for you? And maybe a few stems of pale pink lavender? The scent is not as strong as the blue lavender and it won't interfere with your tea... |
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Sounds truly heavenly. I'll take the lavender ... since tea hasn't agreed with me during this pregnancy anyway, and fresh lavender is my favorite
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
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Mackfam
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to you, Michelle! Your faith and trust in God, and love of your precious son are inspiring to me! As is your tenacious willingness to tackle the beautiful blessings of a country life buried underneath a sometimes gritty veneer! Stay strong, sister!!!! Anyone that can handle a golfball sized thingy in a sheep's cheek and dish on roses and bud vases in the next post is my hero!!!!! Thank goodness you're here eating chocolate and drinking tea with us!!!!!!!
And, it sounds like your roses are doing so well!!! Mine are really suffering in our oppressive heat here...though the Japanese beetles don't seem to be as bad. The heat ?? or just an off year for them ??
And, I'm wishing my creme' brulee wasn't so imaginary.  Oh well...maybe I can scrounge SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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joann10
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I have moved on to peanut buttercup ice cream here in chilly New York. (and all the littles are in bed)
Michelle, I would love a little bud vase of roses...pink if possible. The Japanese beetles ate ALL of our roses this year.
I also have to agree with how beautiful your words concerning your son, Michele....just beautiful, and so trusting in God. I tend to come up short in my faith trusting lately. I wish I had some of your strength.
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Angel
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Michelle, I was just outside in the dark bucking a staple gun because *something* (a raccoon maybe?) had pried a corner of the chicken wire off the chicken coop. And there was this one dumb hen who would NOT go in the coop and was roosting on the outside window ledge of the barn and if I'd been just a few inches taller I could have switched her with the moveable electric fence pole (not on, don't worry, my kids use it as a lance!) but instead I was reduced to throwing sticks at her, and then calling two of my kids (in the dark, by flashlight) to tag team her, one inside and one outside, until FINALLY she went in, and now nobody gets a bath because it is bedtime and... the whole time I was thinking...
Hey, it could be worse, I could have GOATS.
I feel your pain, sister.
I'm just glad the ducks didn't attack me. The other day my dd brought a raccoon tail inside the house on a plastic dish. It was just the tail. (On my dish, in my house, but we won't go there.) We think one of the ducks pulled it out. At least they're good for something! We can't eat them after nursing one back to health from a dog attack, but aaaaargh, wondering why I ever decided to order them in the first place!
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Sip some tea with me?
