Homeschooling Solo

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T12:15:00.000-06:00

I hope that everyone had a safe and pleasant New Year's Eve, and that you all have a wonderful New Year! Katie easily stayed up until midnight - she is a night owl like I *used* to be! - after we watched one of our favorite movies - "Last Holiday" - and ate all sorts of yummy party foods. It was a great evening and I was so glad that everyone I love was at home, safe and sound.

I am hoping and praying that 2012 will be the year that we hit the road. Still trying to find that elusive rig that is affordable and adaptable for us! Wish me luck... :-)

Missing my Daddy...

2011-12-26T21:22:00.000-06:00

Fifteen years ago tonight, my Daddy passed away at the age of 58. My life was changed forever that night and I have often wondered if he knew what an effect his passing would have on us, and on so many other people. My son was just a little boy and my daughter was not yet born when Daddy died. He would be so proud of the things his oldest grandson has accomplished and the man he has become, and he would have spoiled his only granddaughter more than she already is... she would be his little princess!

Take time to tell the people that you love exactly how you feel. You never know when you may lose them. Daddy knew that he was my hero and how very much I loved him, but I'm not certain he realized what a void he would leave behind after he was gone. I miss him every single day, and so often I wish that I could lean on him or ask for his wisdom and guidance. He was the most intelligent, most kind, most gentle person I've ever known.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-23T13:42:00.000-06:00

Just want to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that you get to spend the holidays doing exactly what you want to do, exactly where you want to be, with wonderful people who make you laugh, staying safe and warm, and with lots of good food to eat! Stay safe and remember to smile at others. It is amazing what a genuine smile can do!!

Merry Christmas!

Kerri :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T14:53:00.001-06:00

I hope that everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving filled with lots of laughter, delicious food, and wonderful people, no matter where you are choosing to celebrate! I also hope that each of us takes a few minutes to truly consider the blessings we have and to thank our family, friends, and especially our local 1st responders and our military personnel for making our lives happy, comfortable, and safe. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU!

Happy Birthday Katie!!!

2011-11-03T08:07:00.000-05:00

Eleven years ago today, my beautiful little girl came into this world at 9:16 am. She was 5 weeks early and I had a very difficult delivery, which you can read about here http://homeschoolingsolo.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-birthday-little-one.html

Today, I cannot believe that my little girl is eleven - standing on the brink of so many changes and adventures. Not a little girl any more, but not quite a big girl either (although I am certain she would totally disagree!) As I look back over the last eleven years, I remember so many wonderful times we've shared and so many things I would gladly change if I had the chance for a "do-over".   But through all the changes and ups and downs, we have been together, and we are as close as any mother and daughter can be. I longed for such a relationship as a child, and vowed that I would make sure my future daughter would have the chance to experience it if she chose to do so - at least I've kept one promise that I made to my childish self.

As we begin our RVing journey soon (I hope), I look forward to discovering America with this bright, vivacious, active, questioning, beautiful little soul. Every day brings new discoveries here in our sticks and bricks, so I have no doubt that we will have some grand adventures (and more than our share of spats and misunderstandings) while on our journeys. Since I am an "older Mom" and she is headed toward teenagehood, we may decide to dub our rolling home "The Hormone Express" with all the changes that will occur while on the road!   ;-) But I pray that we are able to appreciate and enjoy our time together wherever we are and whatever we are doing, and that we take advantage of the opportunities as they come along.

Today we plan to spend the day having breakfast at our special place, shopping at all of our favorite stores, having lunch (haven't decided where yet but I know it will be delicious), maybe taking in a movie... whatever her little heart desires. Tonight we will feast on Chocolate Cheesecake - YUM! I hope that her day is as special as she deserves, and that we build another wonderful memory for her to put into her "bank"... My goal is for that bank to be overflowing with amazing, funny, and treasured memories by the time she becomes an adult.

Sweetie, you are one of the two most precious people in my world and I love you more than I can express. I am so very happy that God chose me to be your Mom, and that I have the privilege of knowing and loving you.   "As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be..."

Happy Birthday, Evan!

2011-09-20T08:35:00.001-05:00

My handsome son is 23 years old today. I say it every year, but I simply cannot believe that he has so quickly grown from that beautiful little baby boy into a tall, strong, intelligent, capable young man. If you haven't read my old blog entry about his birth, you can read it here... http://homeschoolingsolo.blogspot.com/2009/09/happy-birthday-evan.html It was quite an experience!

Evan, I hope that you have a wonderful day. I pray that you continue your pursuit of happiness and that your thirst for knowledge and your quest for answers never die. I hope that you understand that life will knock you down at times, but that you must find the strength within yourself to get back up again and again, and that I will always do anything I can to help. I hope that you know how much you are loved, no matter how grumpy you might be :-).

Happy Birthday!

Our 15th annual "We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today" day!! and Austin the Duck...

2011-08-15T19:22:00.000-05:00

The local school systems had their first day of classes today. Poor little ones, the weather has been atrocious all summer and today it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here is a quick run-down of our 15th We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today day - all scheduling done by the Little One! Our day began with breakfast at Burger King, followed by... (deeeeeep breath) shopping at Kmart and Tractor Supply (duck needed food), 3 hours at Chuck E Cheese, a visit to our favorite thrift store, 3 hours at the splash pad - we had it to ourselves most of the day and again the weather was AMAZING! - then supper at Sweet Peppers Deli complete with a shared slice of their Chocolate Eruption Cake - *dangerous* stuff. That, my friends, was a wonderfully exhausting day! The weather was absolutely perfect for the first time all summer, and we've been promised more of the same for the rest of the week!

Speaking of duck food... Austin the Duck is SO beautiful and we love him dearly, but he goes to his new home this Wednesday. We found him a new home a few weeks ago, but the amazingly sweet young lady (who has agreed to give him a proper-ducky home) and I had scheduling conflicts, not the least of which involved me spraining my ankle two weeks ago, plus we had triple-digit heat for a couple of weeks and I did not want Austin to begin his outdoor life when it was so hot!

But the time has now come and although he seems to be very happy with us - snuggling in our laps, running around the house - with one of us right behind him with tissues, making sure he stays off the rugs and doesn't eat anything he shouldn't!! ;-), swimming several times a day in the bathtub, and playing outside in the back yard, it is time to let him go. He has been an amazing learning opportunity for us all and he has enriched our lives with his soft peeping and whistling, nuzzling bill, curiosity about everything, beautiful feathering, and comical antics. He will be missed. Very, very much. Never would have believed I would fall in love with a duck...

Hello to Ken and Some Good News!

2011-07-27T10:15:00.001-05:00

First of all, I'd like to say "Hello and Welcome" to my newest follower, Ken Wilkes. Ken is a really nice guy who has a blog over at HomelessZillionaire.blogspot.com.    I look forward to keeping up with his adventures as he transitions into the RVing lifestyle. Welcome, Ken!

Another quick update on the Lucky Duck... I think that I have found Austin a permanent home! There is a young lady in our area who has an amazing farm where she takes in rescued horses, donkeys, and other animals. She has a pot-bellied pig, baby goats, chickens, ducks - a true menagerie of rescued animals. I wrote to her yesterday to see if she knew anyone who might be willing to give Austin a proper home, and she wrote me back within the hour, telling me that she would love to have him! She has 3 other ducklings just younger than Austin and 4 adult ducks, so he will have a ready-made family.   I hope that they will accept him. Although we have become quite attached to him and will miss him, we knew that we were just his foster family and are thrilled that he will have such a wonderful home! After I meet this young lady and obtain her permission, I will post her information so that you can see what wonderful work she is doing.

Austin will be at least 5 weeks old this Friday... we found him on a Saturday and he was not much more than a day old, so we have decided that June 24th was his "hatch day".    He has quadrupled in size and is getting some beautiful feathering above and below his wings, on his tail and on his chest. He is sort of growing into his feet and bill. :-) He is going to be a beautiful duck!   He is quickly outgrowing both his "pen" and his swimming pool, so we are very happy to have found him a new home. We hope to deliver him to his new Mom either Friday or Saturday. As I've said before, I have no idea yet if he is actually a "he".   We will know when he/she finds his/her quack in a few more weeks.   :-)

So... other than my son's little car being in the shop again - booooo, and trying to bear the unspeakable heat and humidity along with most of the rest of the country, that is about all that is going on here in Alabama. It is Handy Fest Week here in The Shoals - the festival celebrating the anniversary of WC Handy, Father of the Blues' birthday, but it has just been too hot to enjoy the festivities. I wish he'd been born in October! The music offered is amazing and I love the Blues, but have not made it to a single event this week.   The heat is just too oppressive... I hope that next summer, my house has wheels under it so that I can chase some better weather!!

The Little One and I are gearing up for our new unit studies... This year we plan to use the American Girl Historical Characters series as a basis for our unit, and also plan to study a different country each month.   She loves her American Girl dolls, and really enjoys the books, so we are using them as a springboard for various activities. I am tying the "Country of the Month" unit study in with the AG books when possible. I had planned to do an in-depth study of American history in correlation with the AG unit study, but she really wants to study other countries right now, so I'm going with that. I hope that next year we will be studying American history by traveling around this beautiful country and visiting the locations and monuments which most children only get to read about! So American history will wait until we can experience it in person!

Hope you are all finding a way to stay cool and enjoy your summer. Be careful out there!

Prayer request...

2011-07-02T15:24:00.000-05:00

One of my former students gave birth to her baby boy on Wednesday, June 29th. Brantley had to be airlifted to a children's hospital when he was just a few hours old. He has pulmonary hypertension and a cleft lip which is causing feeding problems.   They are worried most about bleeding in his brain. He is in very, very critical condition right now and I would like to ask everyone to put him on their prayer lists and say a very special prayer for him and his family.

The mommy is a sweet young lady who is only 22.   Her young husband just returned safely from a 6 months deployment in Afghanistan. Thankfully he made it home before little Brantley was born. She lost her Mom at 16, so she has already suffered a great deal in her young life, and now is having to watch her tiny little boy suffer and fight for his life.

Please join me in lifting up this little family in prayer.   Thank you so much!

Lucky Duck update...

2011-07-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to update you on the progress of our Lucky Duck aka Austin... He is growing like a weed and eating everything in sight. He is a very messy little duck, so given that fact and his appetite, I am convinced he is a male! lol Honestly I have no idea, but it sounds good... He loves curly endive and Bibb lettuce (organic) but is not crazy about spinach. He loves strawberries and peaches, but won't eat blueberries. He adores oatmeal and cornmeal mush. And he drinks lots of water!

He is a week old now. The research I did tells me that he was barely 24 hours old when we found him, so he had his 1 week birthday on Friday! He has grown almost an inch !! and gained several ounces. He is a happy little fella as long as someone is with him, talking to him, or holding him. He will peep, peep, peep if he is left alone, though. I can always tell when my Little One has left the room, because he begins to cry. He likes to watch TV, and seems to prefer to listen Journey. Oh wait. Maybe that is me! But he doesn't argue about it. :-) I set his tub on the bed the other day while I was ironing, and he looked as though he were watching a ping-pong game - his head went back and forth, back and forth, watching the iron. He just likes to be wherever we are...

He settles down at night as soon as we turn off the lights, but is up bright and early letting us know he is hungry. I leave oatmeal and lettuce bits out for him at night, but I don't think he eats very much. He is taking almost everything he eats to his water dish now, so it is difficult to keep it clean. We change it at least a dozen times a day, and wipe out his bin more often than that! He also could care less where he goes potty, so we usually wrap a cloth around him when we hold him! :-) We put him in a small tub in the bathtub and let him swim around at least twice a day. He does not like it very much at all, but he needs to practice. I have to remind him that he is, after all, a duck! After his swim, he likes to cuddle up in our hands and go to sleep. Yes we are spoiling him and no it is probably not good for him. But he is so cute and irresistible!

We are looking for a home for him, but my Little One will not give him up to just anyone! Hopefully we will find a good place soon.

The VERY Lucky Duck

2011-06-26T11:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my daughter and I went to our local Arby's for an early supper.   When we went in, we used the side door, but as we were leaving, I decided to go out the front.   Not sure why, but later I was really glad that I did. We were walking along the sidewalk toward the parking lot and I heard a strange sound. I told her that I thought a bird had a nest nearby because I could hear "peeping". But it didn't really sound like baby birds. I was looking up as I walked along and suddenly realized that the sound was coming from below me. I looked down and a tiny baby duck came waddling out from under my car! I stood in shock for just a minute, then set my things in the car and tried to catch it.

This little fellow was heck-bent on heading west - maybe he'd heard the advice to "Go west young man" - and waddled straight for Woodward Avenue. Those of you who have been in Muscle Shoals, AL know how busy Woodward is, especially on a Saturday afternoon. For those of you who haven't, just picture any 7 lane street through a small city on a Saturday and you will get the idea. Cars were heading both north and south, and since there are not any traffic lights in this area, most of them were going quite fast. I could not get between the little duck and the street in time, and out he went into the traffic.   I was standing on the side of the street, waving my arms like a mad woman and pointing at the little guy, hoping that drivers would at least slow down to see what was happening. I watched him until he crossed 4 lanes, then saw a line of traffic coming down the southbound lanes.

I just could not watch this sweet little bird be killed, so I shouted for my daughter to look away and I turned and walked to the car. She and I were both almost in tears - I will never forget the sight of that tiny little brown and gold baby dodging across all those lanes of traffic. We backed out of the parking space, and as I put the car in drive, she yelled "There it is!" It had made it across SEVEN lanes of busy traffic!!! Unbelievable!!!

There is a small strip mall across Woodward from Arby's, and the little duck was standing on the sidewalk in front of Austin's Shoe Store. We were able to go across the street quite quickly, and I parked in front of the strip mall. By this time, the little fellow was waddling down the sidewalk in front of the various shops.   My Little One was begging for me to "save it", so I got out and chased it down the sidewalk. It went around the corner of the building and made tracks - webs? - for the alley behind.

I jumped back in the car and pulled around to the alley, got out again - did I mention that we are in NW Alabama and it is H-O-T?? - and chased it up and down the side of the alley. I would go one way and it would go the other. This went on for several minutes and I finally called to my daughter to come and help me. I had initially made her stay in the car, even though she really wanted to help. So... she came over and we cornered the little guy - who was panting by now - and she just scooped him up! She did in 5 seconds what I'd been trying to do for 5 minutes! Of course she is lower to the ground and much more nimble than I am! :-)

She handed him to me - she wasn't at all sure about holding him at that moment - and we took him back to the car. I was thinking to myself "now what??". I told her to open the trunk to see if we had anything we could safely put him in, and I saw the Rubbermaid tub I use to hold all the "stuff" I carry around - jumper cables, extra water, oil, umbrellas... you get the picture. So we unloaded all the stuff out of the tub and put him down in it. My Little One carries water everywhere she goes, so I wiped out a corner of the tub and poured a little water there, so it could get a sip, and put a clean rag in another corner for it to lie on.

We brought the baby home and put him in the bathtub until I could find a better home. He is a fast little thing, and I did NOT want him getting loose in the house! The Rubbermaid tub had worked well, so I grabbed another one that held some of my daughter's stuffed toys, poured them on my bed and brought the tub to the den. Found a shallow lid to hold some water and a clean cloth to make a "nest". Brought the baby - who I was calling "Lucky" and she had named "Austin" - and placed it in the tub. He went straight for the water and took several long drinks while stomping around it, then proceeded to peep loudly for a little while. He then promptly pooped and began to preen his feathers.

Now of course I was faced with the task of feeding the poor little thing. I knew he had expended many calories on his mad dash across the highway and around the buildings with a crazy woman chasing him. So I - of course - immediately turned to Google to find some answers. He has since eaten quite a bit of cornmeal mixed with water, tiny bits of spinach and lettuce, hulled corn, watermelon, and crushed cat food (he loves that!). He slept all night without a peep (pun intended!) and chirps loudly every time my daughter leaves the room. She is beginning to understand the demands of "motherhood"! She told me this morning that her cat and dog "weren't this much trouble"!! :-)

I have read that ducks and geese imprint on whoever they assume is "Mom", and it seems as though my daughter is who Lucky/Austin has chosen. She is - of course - totally in love with him too.

Since today is Sunday, I can't call a local vet or the local Feed and Seed which sells baby ducks to get any advice on caring for him. We have a cat, so we cannot keep him, but I do not yet know what we will do with him.   He is precious and I know she will not give him up easily, but I just could not leave the tiny thing alone to fend for itself.

By the way, I am saying "he", but of course I have no idea if it is male or female. I am somewhat certain that it is a Hybrid Mallard, based on its markings, and that it is less than a week old, based on its size and feathers. He is a pretty little thing, bright eyed and curious. He will snuggle down in your hand and fall asleep quite easily, and seems to be eating well.

Any suggestions on care and feeding would be appreciated. I'm making sure he stays warm and as dry as you can keep a duck. :-)   I want to make sure he gets a good home where he can live out his days just enjoying being a duck. I think that after yesterday's adventures, he has earned it! He is definitely one Lucky Duck!

Happy Father's Day!!!

2011-06-19T18:43:00.000-05:00

My Daddy was a big man in every way. Tall, large-boned, heavy-set, brilliant, with the biggest heart in the world.   Any time I had problems - which seemed all too often for one so young - he was there with assistance in any form needed. Although at times I bucked against the advice he was giving me, he had an annoying way of being right about so many things, and would readily admit when he was wrong. Although he was definitely not perfect - and never tried to pretend that he was - he was a wonderful person and a great Daddy.

Daddy has been gone for over 14 years now. He died the day after Christmas 1996, and I don't think a day has gone by since that I haven't thought about him and wished that he were still here. He was a wonderful Granddaddy to my son, who was 8 when Daddy died. My little girl never got to know him - she was born almost 4 years later.   She is the only girl in her generation and Daddy would have spoiled her rotten! She has no contact with her father or his family, so she has really missed out on a positive male role model, which worries me very much.   Every girl deserves to be Daddy's Girl.

I would give almost anything to see my Daddy again. To hear his voice, even if I didn't want to listen to what he was saying! To hug him and feel his strong arms around me, reminding me that as long as he was around, I was safe. I don't think I've truly felt safe since he went into a coma a week before he died, and wonder if I ever will.

How I wish that my children had a father like I had.   All I can do is love them and let them know how special they are, regardless of someone elses choices.

To every man out there who has stepped up and done the right thing by his children, grandchildren, step-children - whenever and how ever a child has come into his life - to the man who takes his responsibilities seriously and loves and protects his family - you are an amazing human being! I pray that each and every one of the great dads out there got an extra hug and kiss today, and got to hear "I love you" from the hearts of those for who they have provided an example of how a REAL man lives.    Happy Father's Day to each of you!

I want to say "Hello" and "Welcome" to my newest follower, Four Windows with a View.  Thank you!  I really enjoy your blog and I am looking forward to following you on your adventures!

2011-06-08T15:49:00.000-05:00

OK... must be my turn for Blogger problems. I cannot post a comment on anyone's blog. When I select my Google account to post a comment, it sends me to the sign-in screen, although I am already signed in. Then when it takes me back to the comment section on their blog and I hit the post button, it sends me right back to the sign-in screen again. It will do this over and over again. This has been going on for a couple of weeks and I had hoped it was just a Blogger boo-boo which would right itself soon, but no-such-luck. Anyone have any ideas??

So to everyone who has posted anything in the past couple of weeks :-) I have really enjoyed your blogs and had lots and lots of amazing, witty, and intelligent things to say about each and every one of them :-), but have not been able to post many comments. One or two have slipped through, but that is all. I will try to see if I can find a solution soon.

The following is a comment for Jeana at "Four Windows with a View" that I tried to post in response to her welcome to me. I sure hope you read this!

Hi Jeana!

Thank you for the welcome... I'm afraid you may be bored by my blog, but I welcome you to stop by anyway and become a follower if you'd like. :-) I have been terrible about posting, and rarely stay on homeschooling subjects, but I do occasionally post something that I feel needs to be said!

We are indeed unschoolers and while it is not for everyone, we love our lives and my children are happy, intelligent, questioning (sometimes they question TOO much!!:-) individuals who are very independent and kind. Can't ask for more than that as a parent... They are also aggravating, frustrating and annoying at times... but then aren't we all? LOL

I enjoy your blog. Love Olivia! Looking forward to reading about your adventures and hoping to join all of you "out there" soon.

LOVE the picture of the hummer on its nest. Precious!

It has been near 100 and dry yet humid here in the South... Wish I could send you some sunshine and you could send us a little rain and cooler temps! Have a great day...

Kerri in AL :-)

Quick update...

2011-05-20T21:14:00.002-05:00

... Sorry it has been a while since I last posted. Things have been very busy in our area. Everything is more organized now than it was in the first few days following the tornadoes, of course, and we hope the death count has ceased to climb. The areas have been inundated with wonderful volunteers and the donations of supplies is staggering. The generosity of the human spirit never ceases to amaze me.

Evan was able to keep the emergency radio station running for several days, much to the delight of the residents and volunteers. He was able to use a travel trailer which belonged to Florence City FD, which we very much appreciated. His informative radio broadcasts helped reunite several families with loved ones with whom they'd had no contact since the storms. This touched him deeply and - I suspect - changed him forever. The newspaper which serves The Shoals area did a nice story on him (although they did manage to get some of the facts wrong :-).

The clean-up continues. The rebuilding is beginning. The towns seem to be entering a state of recovery and are beginning to come to grips with the enormity of the damage done by these storms. Volunteers continue to come into the areas, including a wonderful group of Mennonite and Amish who have traveled to the area from Pennsylvania. It is simply amazing what human beings can do when we work together in the service of others.

Gratitude and Pride....

2011-04-30T17:43:00.000-05:00

Well it has been 3 days since the devastating storms rolled through our area of northwest Alabama. The death toll continues to rise. Many people are missing. No count yet on number of homes destroyed. The National Guard is rolling in to give our 1st Responders some relief. WHAT would we do without these brave men and women - the firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, military - there is just NO way to express the gratitude and pride which I feel toward all of these individuals who risk their lives daily to keep us safe. If you are in any of the above categories - whether active or retired - THANK YOU!!!!!

I have a dear friend who is a Chief Investigator, and he told me this morning that he'd lost count of how many bodies he has personally seen in the last 3 days... He is such a great guy and it weighs so heavily on his heart and those of all the others. Seeing families, children, elderly people who have lost their lives, having to "mark" the houses/debris piles. Reporting their findings. I cannot imagine having to do this, and yet he and all the others are doing it without complaint. Again... no way to express the gratitude which I feel.

My son, Evan, is getting an emergency radio broadcast together. The areas of Phil Campbell and Hackleburg, Alabama are still without electricity, etc, so no broadcasts are being made from there other than those being taped and carried back to the stations. This area is just on the edge of major radio and TV coverage, so continuous coverage is difficult. The emergency personnel are working with ONE satellite phone in each area right now.

Evan has coordinated with a radio station in the next small town of Russellville to set up a remote vehicle in Phil Campbell to use to broadcast information for both the ER personnel and for victims.   They did not have the equipment or the "know how" to do this, but he does. I am so proud of him for coming up with such a great idea!

He could already be on the air if we had an RV for him to stay in. We are searching for one and have some good leads, so we hope he is up and running by Tuesday at the latest.    Sure wish I had my rig already, and he would be down there doing what he could to help!

*He just got word that the area they have reserved for him at the Rescue Squad building in Phil Campbell has RV hookups to run off of the huge generators they have in place!! Great news! We were going to try to find a source to donate/deliver gasoline for the generator and now we won't have to!!!* Great news indeed!!!!!

Thank you all so much for the prayers I know are going out for all the storm victims.   Please continue to send them out, and if you are able to offer financial help, please do so. Remember to specify that your contributions to the Red Cross or others be sent to the storm victims of the April 27th tornadoes! Thanks so much!

Prayers requested...

2011-04-28T16:29:00.000-05:00

I am asking the wonderful RVing community for prayers for the people in my hometown area. Although my little hometown of Bear Creek, Alabama suffered little damage, our neighbors in Hackleburg and Phil Campbell (5 miles from Bear Creek to the west and north, respectively) were hard hit during the storms which hit April 27th.

There is very little media coverage of the devastation there - still no count on how many died in Hackleburg and it stands at 25 in Phil Campbell (population is only about 1,100). The accounts which I've heard compare it to a war zone. They have no electricity, no water, no cell phone coverage, nothing. This area is very rural, and unemployment had already exacted a huge toll on the economy there. I'm sure there were many without any insurance who have lost everything. It is a tragedy of epic proportions.

I have not been able to go down there yet - we plan to make the first trip down on Saturday to see if we can help in any way. Please mention the victims in northwest Alabama in your posts and send out prayer requests for the families devastated by this storm. Thank you so much!

Kerri in AL

I'm on a roll...

2011-02-06T13:19:00.000-06:00

... and loving it! Thank you so much to my newest follower, Luci&Loree at LifeWithLuciLoree.blogspot.com! I can't wait to read your blog and find out what adventures you are having! Your little Luci is adorable!

We are having a rare day of sunshine here in NW AL with a high of 53, so we are headed outside. Have to soak up that vitamin D when we get the chance! Hope everyone is having a great day... If you have a preference in tonight's Super Bowl, I hope your team wins! :-)

Stay safe...

Kerri in AL :-)

Another new follower!!

2011-02-05T16:29:00.000-06:00

Thanks to my newest follower, Lynilu for taking the time to follow my blog! I may have to pay Judy a commission for sending so many nice people my way!! :-) I am so excited to have new readers. I have not gotten in the habit of posting every day (my life is too boring for anyone to actually want to read about it!) but I LOVE reading everyone's blogs and am honored that you've chosen to follow mine.

Stay safe...

Kerri in AL :-)

A huge THANK YOU!!

2011-02-05T12:27:00.000-06:00

Let me begin by welcoming my newest followers, Jim and Sandie @ WhereAreTheDixonsToday.blogspot.com ... Thank you so much for adding me to your reading list!

And thank you so much to all who have commented on yesterday's post! You have no idea how much I appreciate that you took the time to read my post. I enjoy all of your blogs and look forward to discovering the new ones!

@Jim and Sandie...Thank you for your wonderful comment! Don't you just LOVE Judy's blog???

@Dennis and Donna...You certainly can understand! You get your (un)fair share of bad weather in IL!

@MeowMamma... You too certainly understand about bad weather... My Little One can't wait to visit Kansas - she is a HUGE Wizard of Oz fan. In fact, that was the theme for her 8th birthday and she was Dorothy TWICE at Halloween! When we do get to visit, I hope to special order NO stormy weather. Think it will work?? :-)...........Congratulations on 40 years of matrimony. What a splendid accomplishment!

@WildBlueYonder... I had tears in my eyes when writing about my little Bullet. He was named that because from the time he could run, he would rip from one end of the house to the other, a little white blur. He NEVER walked!! He had blue eyes and the softest fur! Our pets touch us in so many ways.

@Heidi...Breathe, Heidi, breathe! :-) I'm trying all the recipes you are posting... YUM-ME!

And again @Judy... Thank you for mentioning me in your blog and sending new friends my way... such a sweet thing to do!

And @Froggi Donna, if you read this post... I haven't had time to put your amazing instructions into practice yet concerning links and pictures, but I will. I promise!

Hope you all have a great day!

Stay safe...

Kerri in AL :-)

Forty years ago tonight...

2011-02-04T17:24:00.002-06:00

Wow... Forty years ago tonight - February 4, 1971 - our home was destroyed by a tornado. I was 6 years old at the time (so there is the answer to that question!), but remember it like it was yesterday.

We had eaten supper at my grandparents' house - across the street and 3 houses down from ours. It was looking stormy and my Mom wanted to go home before it began to rain. We had walked to their house because it was an unusually balmy day for February - a "weather-breeder" my Mammow called it. But Bewitched was about to come on, and my brother and I wanted to watch it on my grandparent's *color* TV. We had a black and white set at home at the time and we loved watching that color set any time we got the chance! Since Bewitched was our favorite show, we begged to stay, even pulling Mom back as she went to the door... please, please, please!!! So she relented. We had been in the den watching the show for about 10 minutes when the storm slammed into town.   It was amazing how quickly that the conditions deteriorated - no time at all to react.

The electricity went off immediately and we were plunged into total darkness. There was surprisingly little lightening occurring at that time, and the adults were fumbling for flashlights, candles, etc. Meanwhile, we could hear an unbelievably loud noise and could hear trees snapping off in the woods behind their house - it sounded like gunshots.   Understand... this all happened in about 90 seconds.   Then as quickly as the storm had hit, the winds lessened and the rain began. Torrential rain, coming down in sheets.

For some reason - and I do not know the answer and never thought to question it until recently since I was only 6 at the time - we went out in this rain and got into my granddaddy's pickup - he, Mammow, Mom, my brother and me. Maybe we were going to a storm cellar, although I don't remember one nearby at that time. Maybe Pappow - who was the Chairman of the Road Commission in our county and a very good neighbor - was going out to see if there was damage or if anyone needed help. Not sure why he would take us all with him, if that were the case though!

Anyway, when we backed out of their drive - remember it was still pitch black outside - and the headlights of his truck shone down the street, we could see debris everywhere. We only drove about 30 feet and Pappow saw a power line down in the road and stopped. At that point, my mother gasped and I remember saying "Mommy, what is that?" and pointing at all of this "stuff" in the street. She immediately began to cry. Pappow left the truck where it was, got out and walked down the street in the pouring rain. He came back in a few minutes, and I can still remember how serious he looked.

"It's gone" was all I remember him saying. Mammow began to cry and pray, and I was sitting in my mother's lap thinking "What? What is gone?" Had NO idea they were talking about our home.

Turns out that our home was lifted off its foundation, flipped over and set back down in almost the exact same spot. The roof was still there and was within about 6 feet of the original foundation site. The floor and walls and contents were swept across the street, almost demolishing the house that sat there. It was like a giant had picked it up, turned it over, and then took his big foot and kicked it to the curb. Literally.

I don't remember much about the days that followed, but I do remember some of the amazing events that occurred. My mother had taken off her beautiful Keepsake engagement ring and wedding band when she was doing housework earlier in the day and left them in her "ring minder" (remember those?) above the kitchen sink. She assumed they were gone forever! The next day, when neighbors and the Rescue Squad were helping to salvage what we could, one of the men found her rings - still together ON the ring minder!! - in the mud about 75 feet from where our house had stood. I do remember that this young man came running toward her, waving his hands in the air, so excited. Mom was very grateful, of course, and I am sure she expressed it - being her - but since then I've often wondered if that young man was thanked enough. He could very easily have taken those rings (over 2 carats worth) and never said a word. I hope that God has blessed him for his honesty that day. We had many things that simply disappeared, and I am sure looters were to blame. But his honesty remains in my memory of an example of how people SHOULD behave during a crisis.

Our neighbors whose house was struck by the debris from ours told us that they had been in the basement when the storm hit. She went to the door to open it after the storm had passed only to find debris piled so high they could not step out. She had on house shoes at the time, and as she turned to go back in the house (remember it was very dark) her foot brushed something warm and soft. She began screaming and fainted, because she thought that it was one of us, lying dead on her porch. It was actually my little white cat, Bullet. He was still alive, but terribly injured. My Pappow put him into a box the next day, and told me that he took him to the vet but they couldn't save him.  Years later, I figured out that there was no way that Pap could have gone to the vet 10 miles away with the roads closed and all the damage in the area. He just didn't want me to see my little kitty suffering. I never knew what happened, but I am sure that Pap did what he had to do. I never asked.

About a week after the storm, after the papers had carried the story "Bewitched Saves Family" and everyone in the area had heard about our house, a man and lady from the next town north of us came to my grandparent's house one afternoon. They lived over 15 miles away, but a few mornings after the storm, she had noticed something pink in one of the trees behind their house. Her husband went down to investigate and found a tiny pair of panties with Saturday embroidered on them. Just below the "day of the week", was my name. My Mammow had given me the "days-of-week" undies - most of you ladies have owned them, seen them or bought them for your daughters! - and then embroidered my name below the day. Those undies traveled over 15 miles in the storm before being deposited in that tree! And that nice couple drove down and brought them back to me.    Amazing.

There was, of course, damage to other areas of our tiny, tiny town. My best friend's house was badly damaged, and her oldest brother and his wife were injured. Several other houses were badly damaged. The school's new gym had the roof ripped off. Two old buildings (of about 7)that still housed businesses on "Main Street" were completely destroyed. Several mobile homes in the area were damaged or destroyed. Chicken houses at a farm about 5 miles away were destroyed and hundreds of chickens killed. One farmer lost most of his cattle. And in all of this destruction, only one person was killed. An elderly lady died when hit by flying debris going to a storm shelter. As tragic as that was, it was amazing that more people were not hurt.

I have NO doubt in my mind that my mother, brother and I would have been killed if we had been in our home. Bewitched did indeed "save" our family. My Daddy was in Arkansas on business, and couldn't get through to us by telephone. It was 3 or 4 days before he was contacted by the Highway Patrol - on his way home to see what had happened - and could get back to Alabama.   I still remember how glad I was to see him and how upset he was that he wasn't there to help Mom through the initial shock of it all.

So forty years ago tonight I experienced one of the most life-changing events of my life.   Witnessing the power of nature first-hand was terrifying, especially through a child's eyes. We lost everything we had that night except each other. Mom's rings, some of our clothes and our washing machine were basically all that survived. Oh............ and my pink Saturday panties..........

Yea!!! NO Snow!

2011-01-26T09:35:00.001-06:00

I am doing a happy dance right now. Woke up this morning to NO white stuff on the ground and the rain moving on outta here! The sun is coming out and it is supposed to be in the mid-40s today. Windy, but I'll take it... This weekend the predictions are for sun and temps in the mid-50s!! Yeah Baby... that's what I'm talking about! Bring it on...

I want to say THANKS!! to Froggi Donna for the info on posting links and pictures. That was so very kind of you to take the time to do that! I am going to practice at the first available opportunity, so maybe in a few days my blog won't be so boring any more! Well... at least you will have something to look at and maybe a link to click on, anyway. Doubt it will improve the content any.......... :-P

We are making plans to visit the RV Super Show in Huntsville, AL again this year. Although I have SO much more to learn, I definitely know more than I did at this time last year when we attended. I hope to get ideas on floor plans, furniture, and storage, specifically. We really enjoyed it last year and are looking forward to returning. It is scheduled for February 18th - 20th at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, if anyone is close by... they have wonderful parking and the area is not so large that you are totally exhausted when finished. I'm not sure I would call it a "Super" show, but it is quite nice.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Stay safe....

Kerri in (NO SNOW!!!!) AL :-)

No, No, NO More Snow!!!

2011-01-25T16:01:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my newest followers Craig and Karin! (I have GOT to learn how to do links in my posts! AND post pictures!) I just discovered their blogs and really enjoyed reading about their first year as FTers! Thanks for becoming followers of my blog!

I am thinking of changing the name of my blog. Although I would love to have lots of homeschooler/roadschoolers "following" me, I also hope to be writing about FT RVing soon, plus lots of other subjects. I feel that some people see the title and feel they couldn't possibly find anything of interest here. How about "... And the Kitchen Sink"?? You know, as in "they brought everything AND the kitchen sink". My Mammow used to say that all the time when one of us grandkids would be dragging stuff around with us! :-)....... Or how about "A Little Bit of Everything". Or "No, There Is Nothing Interesing Here But I'm Bored" :-)... I don't know.............. Something will smack me in the forehead soon, I'm sure!

MORE ???!!!****### snow is predicted for us tonight and tomorrow. You know ----- I live in A-L-A-B-A-M-A. It is NOT supposed to snow this much here! It is supposed to snow ONCE a year so we can watch it fall and all the kids (both big and little:-) can play in it and build a little snowman and have a snowball fight and we can make snow cream. Then it is supposed to MELT AND GO AWAY!! I guess the weatherman didn't get the memo...... I pray that we are on the road next winter so we (hopefully) won't have to deal with this. Of course, if I leave, Alabama will have 60 degree sunny days with NO snow all winter!! :-) And southern Florida or Texas or Arizona or wherever we happen to be will have the coldest winter in history... I have such *good* luck. (BIG grin)

Thank you to everyone who left a comment the other day. I truly do love reading your blogs!

@ Judy... I am in NW Alabama in The Shoals area, so I'm about 380 miles away. Let me know if you head further north at any point... would love to meet you!

@ Froggi Donna... Your blog STILL helps me. I love reading about the adventures you and your handsome hubby and sweet puppy have... You seem so happy together!

@ Randy and Pam... You're welcome! I am trying to write more often on this thing, but *life* gets in the way sometimes. Since I'm not on the road, I doubt anyone is very interested in my boring life here!! ;-)

@ Mike... You are very welcome and I truly meant them. I really hope that I get to meet you and Heidi "down the road" someday!

Hope you are all warm and dry! January is almost over!! Yea!

Stay safe......

Kerri in AL :-)

"Thank You!" to my followers...

2011-01-23T13:52:00.000-06:00

I have decided to steal an idea from Randy and Pam Warner (Roadrunner Chronicles) and thank each of my followers as they arrive. While I am sure other bloggers acknowledge newcomers, Randy and Pam were the first ones which I noticed doing it. I just thought it was so very nice of them to say hello to the new additions that I decided to do it, too!

Since I have some "catch-up" to do, I thought I would thank my current followers now. If you are reading this and not a follower, I would love to add your name to my list!

So.... Thank You to Deb, Intense Lives, Heidi, Randy and Pam, Judy and Emma, Tonya, Freely Living Life, Sheri, Visionquest, Wild Blue Yonder, and Froggi Donna.

Deb at One Single Minute has been a good friend for many years. We met when she began homeschooling her children and soon felt like old friends. She and her husband have a wonderful marriage and have done an amazing job raising two great young people.

I must relate that when I began researching the RV lifestyle, Froggi Donna's blogs were some of the first I discovered. She answered so many questions for me, questions which I didn't even know enough to ask!! She is an amazingly strong lady who persevered through heart-break and came out triumphantly on the other side.

Judy of Travels with Emma is an inspiration to everyone who reads her blog, and I look forward to her posts every day. She has a seemingly unending amount of knowledge about most subjects in general, and birding in particular, and shoots breathtaking photographs!

Randy and Pam (Roadrunner Chronicles) are wonderful people who enjoy each other and life to the fullest. Their family has had it's share of heartache too, but they have been an inspiration to their readers throughout it all. We *almost* got to meet when they were in Red Bay, AL having some work done at Tiffin. It was definitely my loss. Maybe next time, guys!

Tonya at Live the Adventure is a wonderful homeschooling mom who writes with honesty and candor about their adventures. She and her family have experienced life in a S&Bs in Ohio, hotel rooms around the country, their RV, and now back to a S&Bs here in AL. Thought you were getting away from snow and cold weather, didn't you?? ;-)

Heidi (Vansteaders) and her sweet husband Mike (Visionquest) are my go-to blogs for innovative and creative ideas for renovations and for delicious food!   Keep those recipes coming, Heidi! And yes, the stir-fry was amazing!   You and I must be soul-sisters... :-)

I would love to read Wild Blue Yonder's blog. If you'll send me an invitation, I would be happy to become a follower! ;-)

Sheri at SmittysInfo is the mom of six beautiful children and an inspiration to all of us who are roadschoolers (or wannabees!:-).   I really enjoy reading her posts about her family's adventures.

Freely Living Life has wonderful posts about their adventures, written in a warm and pleasant way, supplemented with beautiful photographs! I love reading about families who are experiencing the full-time lifestyle.

I have lost my link to Intense Lives, so if you are reading this, please get me back on track! I am sure that it is something I did... :-)

I so look forward to meeting as many of you as I can someday. Until then I hope you stay safe, happy, and content.    Thanks again!

Kerri in AL :-)

Snow, snow, go away...

2011-01-12T12:41:00.000-06:00

... DON'T come back another day! I live in A-L-A-B-A-M-A. What is up with this??? Bama fans are saying that it is hell freezing over because Auburn won the National Championship. I won't go there, although I do consider myself a Bama fan all the way... :-)

We had about 8 inches of snow where we live. Other areas here in The Shoals had from 7 - 12. I know that is not a lot to those of you in/from the North, but here it is a MAJOR deal!! We just aren't equipped to deal with it. We still have about 6 inches in most places in our yard. The streets are slowly clearing up, which is good. The Little One has played in the snow and built snowmen until she is tired of it. Hasn't even asked to go out today! Which is good, since the temp is 22 and the wind chill is 12!! Brrrrrr.... I looked at the national map a few minutes ago and it is chilly, cold, or downright frigid almost everywhere!!! I am picturing all of the wonderful people who are RVing out there with their rigs circled up like covered wagons in the half-dozen or so warm spots in the country!! Hope I am there with you next year...

So.... yeah. It is cold. That is about all that is happening here. I am VERY thankful that we didn't lose electricity, water, nor DSL. I am shocked and amazed that we didn't lose DSL (see earlier posts :-) but very grateful! It kind of comes and goes, but as long as it comes back, I can deal with it. Plenty of food in the kitchen. Everyone safe and sound.   Just wish it was warmer!

The dog (who lives outside) is in the laundry room, making a mess. She is SO funny when I let her out... she has no desire whatsoever to get out in that white stuff, but she has to "go" so she goes.   But Miss-Usually-Sniffs-Everything-In-Her-Path wastes NO time getting back in the house!

I watched a squirrel skate across the yard yesterday, and it was as though he is thinking "ifIjustdon'ttouchthegroundmaybeI'llbeallright"!!! He was moving-on and wasted no time going up the first available tree.   Didn't look like he even left a mark in the snow!

So cabin fever has definitely set in... We've watched movies and played games. Cooked and eaten too much food. Read books and cleaned house. Surfed the 'net and chilled out. I'm ready to get out and about. Take a long walk. Go out to eat. Go for a drive. I might even enjoy a Walmart visit.... Nah, I'm not THAT desperate! :-)

Hope everyone is warm, safe, and dry...

Wow...

2011-01-04T16:34:00.000-06:00

I am reeling from the price I was just quoted to repair my car!!!!!!!!!!!   Unbelievable!   I think I'm in shock!

Last Wednesday, my Little One and I went to Walmart. Came out, cranked up, put the car in reverse... and nothing. Didn't shift. Didn't move. Uh-oh.... So I slid the gear shift back into park and tried again. And again. And again. Got out, looked under the car to see if any pertinent parts were on the ground. Checked the fluid level. Wiggled and jiggled things for good measure. Got back in. Shifted. Nada.

Double uh-oh.   Waited for a guy to walk by who looked like he might now something about cars. Two older men saw that I had my hood raised and asked if they could help. (BTW, they were the 7th and 8th man, respectively who walked by, and were the ONLY ones to ask!) They tinkered with it and said I would have to call a tow truck.

So I made a few phone calls. Couldn't reach my regular mechanic. Talked with another guy. Called a third.  Then I called a good friend of mine at work. He asked if I had a ride home. Told him yes I could get a ride.   So he told me to meet him in the parking lot when he was finished for the day and he would try to at least get the gears to engage so I could get the car home.

So I called my mom and she came over and picked us up. I ran in and told a manager that my car wouldn't move and that I would be leaving it there for a few hours and was that ok? She laughed and said they had cars sit in the parking lot for days, weeks, sometimes months at a time. A few hours would not be a problem.    So I reluctantly left BamaGirl sitting all alone at Walmart...

Met my friend about 6:30. It was COLD. He worked and worked to get the car to go into D, and finally it did! It also just so happened that the space in front of me was empty, so I could pull through. Got home safely and tried to put it in gear again. Nothing. My friend went home, since it was dark and cold and late and there was nothing he could do...

He came back over on Saturday and worked on it for about 3 hours, trying to find a way to repair it. Meanwhile, I'd been on the Internet searching forums for answers. Seems the ONLY solution is to replace the cable from the shifter to the transaxel. The part is manufactured in such a way that when this little piece breaks off/wears out on the end of the cable, the WHOLE thing must be replaced. The cable is almost $200.   Have to order it from Atlanta. It will take 2 or 3 days. Labor is going to be $500, minimum!!!!!! Yep, that is what I said.

They have to pull the axle, remove a huge part of the dash, and remove several components on top of the motor in order to replace it.   He estimated that it will take between 8 and 12 hours of labor to make the repair. And from my research, I believe it. I trust this guy - he's been in business for years and has a great reputation. He has done a lot of work for me and has always been honest and given very accurate estimates. He was apologizing the whole time. Good guy. But $700+ to replace a cable????????!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know that something on our vehicles has to go "in the middle". I know that something has to be in an out-of-the-way place. But it really seems that something which is OH SO VERY DIFFICULT to repair would be made a little better!! Engineered in such a way that a smaller part could be replaced. Or so that it would not wear out/break off. Sheesh!

So here I sit... wheel-less for the next week. About to be several hundred dollars poorer. I think I need a nap........ :-)

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T10:59:00.000-06:00

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and Happy New Year! I pray that each of you get to spend time this year with the ones you love, doing the things you love, and doing things out of love. My Mammow used to say "Always take the time to smile at someone, help someone who needs it, and to say I love you!" Wise words from a wise woman who I miss so very much.

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-23T15:39:00.000-06:00

I hope that each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope the holidays are filled with love and laughter, good food and good company. Stay safe and enjoy yourself, wherever the holidays may find you.

Merry Christmas!!

Kerri

Happy 100th!!!!!!!

2010-11-20T21:17:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say "Happy Birthday" to my two grand-aunts (my paternal grandfather's sisters)... They are identical twins who turned !!!!100!!!! today! Although they've had some problems recently, they are still "sharp as tacks" as my Mammow used to say. :-)

Can you imagine being born prematurely in 1910, weighing less than 2 pounds each, being fed raw egg and honey from a handkerchief dipped in the mixture, sleeping in a shoe box near the wood stove, and living to be 100?? They have had relatively few health problems, are extremely intelligent, and are wonderful Christian women who've spent their lives helping others. They are truly an inspiration to treat each day as a gift and to help someone every chance you get.

I love you Hon and Dodi!! You are my heroes!

Happy Birthday Little One!!

2010-11-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Ten years ago today, I received one of the two greatest blessings in my life. My beautiful little girl was born - head full of dark hair, big gorgeous blue eyes, long fingers and toes, perfect little round head. She was and still is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen, and I am truly blessed to have her as my daughter.

Her birth was - much like her brother's twelve years before - a very difficult one. She was almost six weeks premature, the cord was wrapped around her tiny neck, and she was as blue as a Smurf. She did not cry for eleven minutes, and as I waited for those first sounds I could not believe that history was repeating itself. But finally I heard a little whimper and the doctor looked at me and smiled. As soon as it was safe, he put her in my arms, and she instantly stole my heart.

We stayed in the hospital for several days... after the initial trauma, she did amazingly well and spent much of her time in my room. She was in an incubator, but I could get her out and hold her, and I talked to her whenever she was awake. The head nurse at the hospital's nursery had been there forever, and she told me that she'd never met a baby she couldn't "handle". Well about the third day of our stay, this nurse came to get her for a bath. I took advantage of the time and had one myself, as well. I was just getting back into bed when I heard a baby crying it's heart out, and this nurse comes in, wheeling my Little One ahead of her. "I can't do ANY thing with her! She won't stop crying!" She was more than making up for her first few moments of silence!! I picked her up and snuggled her against me, and she stopped instantly. "She just wanted her Mommy!" I told the nurse. Let me tell you... she was NOT a happy lady! Finally, a baby she couldn't comfort! I couldn't help but laugh. From Day One, my Little One has marched to her own beat and wanted one person - her Mommy - and that is just fine with me! :-)

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl. I love you with ALL my heart and I am SO very glad that God chose me to be your Mommy!!

Sad days continue....

2010-10-17T12:54:00.000-05:00

I wrote in yesterday's blog about some sad and troubling things that have recently occurred in the RVing community. As I began to read blogs today, I found out that two members of this community, Bruce and Margie, were senselessly struck down and killed in California yesterday. What a horrible tragedy for their family and friends, and yet another loss for the RVing world.

My thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends as they try to make sense of a senseless situation. May God comfort them as only He can.

Sad days in the RVing world...

2010-10-16T19:44:00.001-05:00

So much heartache in the wonderful RV community right now............

My heart goes out to Mr. George on the death of his son - I cannot imagine what he is going through and hope that he knows that he is in the prayers of many, many people.    He is trying to take care of his son's estate and deal with his grief, and I feel privileged that he is sharing his struggles with his readers through his blog. I pray that he finds peace and solace in his life again.

Another favorite blogger - Bob - has a brother who had a terrible motorcycle accident and faces a very long, difficult recovery. Bob is trying to take care of things for his brother, plus visiting with him, handling all the details involved, advocating for him, and keeping everyone updated .   Sounds like a wonderful brother to me.

Over at a site which I visit often, there has been upheaval about the site owner's decision to request donations... I read many forums and blogs, and quite a few of them have a donation button or request readers to click on ads or make purchases at a "store"... Helping to offset costs of keeping up a site from which we benefit seems entirely reasonable to me.

This forum/website is one of the best I've visited, with both the moderators and most of the members acting in a friendly, helpful, accepting way, perhaps disagreeing on certain subjects, but doing so with grace and dignity. In the past few days, some of the contributions have been somewhat hostile, and I just hope that the basic dynamics of the site do not change, because I truly enjoy visiting there and have learned SO much from the owners and other members. I am grateful to H & L for all the hard work they've done to maintain their site.

WHY is it that so many people allow the relative anonymity of the Internet to obscure their judgement?   *Some* people would be hateful, spiteful, and mean no matter what, but I believe that most of the aggressive posts I've read at various times would NEVER be stated in such a way if it were a face-to-face situation.    We would all do well to remember that although you don't see them, there are PEOPLE involved in these communications.   We do NOT have the right to correct their grammar or spelling, to insist that they do things as we would, nor to be vindictive when we do not agree with their point-of-view.

The owners of these websites and blogs have a right to express themselves in any way they wish, post any pictures they wish, discuss whatever happens to interest them, and moderate comments posted on their sites. If you don't like what someone has to say... GO AWAY!!! I've read blogs where I found something offensive and I just didn't go back - but I certainly didn't write to them and flame them for their choices, pretending to be the Internet Police. I exercised MY choice to not revisit their sites!

Life is precious and we should spend our time in positive pursuits.   Tell the people you love how you feel. If someone has helped you in some way, say thank you. Do what you can to help someone who needs it.   Let each person you meet along the way know that they matter because they are a human being.   My favorite quote is "Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery. But Today is a Gift. That is why it is called the Present."   Let's not waste it....

One down....

2010-10-08T19:49:00.000-05:00

... and ??? to go! I had my first "Downsizing So That I Will Have Only What I Need When I Go Fulltiming" yard sale today! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! And I am SOOOOOOOOOO tiward, as my Little One used to say! The bed is already calling my name and it isn't even 8 o'clock yet! Been a long time since 5 am though, so I doubt I will resist much longer!

I know it is a teeny-tiny-baby step, but all day long, each time something left my yard, I couldn't wipe the big ole smile off my face.... "Baby steps first, baby steps first" (to quote Bob in "What About Bob?") If you haven't seen it and you like Bill Murray at his funniest, watch it. Love it!

Anywaaaay.... I'm excited and hoping this is the first in a long line of steps toward freedom!!!!

And now I'm going to bed. :-)

I'm sore, but moving - I have no choice!

2010-09-30T11:45:00.001-05:00

There is too much to do! No yard sale for me this weekend..... The Big One has been sick... basically all month! He has allergies year round that are at their worst in the fall. The allergies lead to a sinus infection, which has now become bronchitis. He has been really sick! Now, the Little One is sick, too - stuffy head, sore throat, low-grade fever... Ahhh... nothing like both children being sick at once, is there?

I am recovering from "taking the fall" the other day. Thank you to everyone who has sent me a comment or an email... I appreciate it more than you know! I believe I bruised some ribs during my tumble - it hurts to take a very deep breath and certain ways I move. I feel sure that nothing is broken, but it is pretty sore. My right arm - shoulder to wrist - is still achy, too. But my back? The reason I went for the walk in the first place? Feels great! Guess I popped back in whatever was "popped out" and making it hurt. Strange, but true!

Well the Little One is asking for peach sherbet and I am about to make homemade chicken noodle soup - the cure-all for sniffles and scratchy throats, so I will close.

Thanks again for your concern and commiserations... there's nothing like taking a tumble to bring you back down to earth (literally and figuratively) and remind you that you are human! Here's hoping I'll be able to have that yard sale NEXT weekend - maybe everyone will be healthy and sniffle-free!!

Yep, it is fall for sure!

2010-09-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the Little One and I decided to go for a walk. My lower back has been bothering me and I knew that a nice long walk would loosen it up. The weather has turned cool - it barely made 70 yesterday. Last Monday, it was 99! So off we went around the neighborhood.

We always look at nature here in the 'burbs - watch for butterflies and birds, look at the trees and flowers. We stopped to admire (again) a huge old Live Oak and were discussing how old it is and the things which were going on when it was a little sprout - spontaneous history and science lesson, you know.

On the next block, there is a small but beautiful mulberry tree, very structural and already in its fall regalia. As we were walking toward it, I told LO to be careful, because the sidewalks are not in the best of shape in that area - many cracked and broken places, with many seams that "buck up" and are just right to catch toes of the unaware.

Well... the words were no sooner out of my mouth than... BAM! Caught the toe on my right foot and stumbled forward... as I was falling - you know this always happens in slow motion - I got my left foot under me, then stumbled forward on my right, thinking I could "catch" myself.... but no. No such luck. I FELL forward and - somehow - the old, old manuever that was drilled into us in volleyball and basketball practice in high school kicked in, and I rolled onto my shoulder and landed juuuust to the side of the walk, in the grass. If I hadn't I would have landed face-first on the concrete.

Little One was screaming and I was trying to calm her down while checking to see if anything was broken. Took me a couple of minutes to get up - I am 5'10" and not a small girl, so I hit hard! LO was crying and asking if I was going to die... she'd never seen her MOM fall before! I was finally able to get up and limp the 4 blocks or so home. As we were walking, I felt a pain in my left foot, near my toes, and discovered that somehow a stick had gone between my shoe and foot and jabbed an inch long wound into my foot - only about a 1/8 inch from a large vein in my toe.

Got home, washed off, changed out of my dirty, grass-stained, been-rolling-around-on-the-ground clothes, doctored the foot, and chilled. This morning, I feel as though I have been run over by a small bus, but thankfully I have no major injuries. Except to my pride!

LO asked me if I thought anyone saw me fall, and I told her that I have no idea, but if they did, they sure didn't come out to check on me. I would have run out had I seen someone take a tumble like that in front of our home, but that is just me. I guess I will have to assume that no one saw me. And I kind of like it that way! Why is it that falling is so embarrassing to us, when it happens to us all at one time or another, and is in no way our fault?

I plan to try to walk again today - got to get right back in the saddle! But you can bet I'll be watching for that sinister sidewalk to jump up and take me down, and warning LO to do the same. :-)

Happy Birthday Evan!

2010-09-20T09:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my "bouncing baby boy"! I can't believe that it has been 22 years since my life changed forever... what a blessing you have been. When I think about that tiny, helpless baby that I held in my arms so many years ago, and then look at the 6'5" strong, capable young man you have become... I am completely amazed. I am so honored that God chose me to be your mother.

I hope that you have a wonderful day, and that you know just how much you are loved.

Happy Birthday, Son!

2010-08-11T13:29:00.004-05:00

Quick update on my aunt for those of you who have emailed me and posted comments (which I appreciate more than you know, by the way!). She was able to begin her physical therapy again on Monday, and we were very excited to learn that she did not lose too much flexibility in her knee - certainly not as much as the therapist had feared she would. He is being very encouraging and feels she will "catch up" very quickly. Her gallbladder is "quiet" right now - no more nausea - so she is able to do her exercises and also eat well, to keep up her strength. We are very encouraged by her progress and are so grateful that the blood clots were detected and treated before doing major damage.

It continues to be horribly hot here in AL... I think the heat index is like 179 today :-)!! Cabin fever has officially begun, so we are thinking about visiting the splash pad tomorrow. Most of them around here close when school starts back, but we have one (the largest and also the only "free" one) that still operates daily. I am so ready to be able to enjoy being out-of-doors again when the weather cools off... should be about mid-November, I'm guessing. LOL

I am waiting for the weather to cool a little to have my 1st "Mega-Huge Move-It-Outta Here Cos I'm Leaving Town Garage Sale". It has to be less than 90 in the shade before I will even consider it! I will be SOOOO glad to get the garage cleaned out, and what little I am keeping organized. I'm at a stand-still right now... I've done all I can in the house, and working in the garage is just NOT an option! It is on the west end of the house and catches full afternoon sun... too hot for me! I know it will take more than one sale, but I am ready to "get going"!

Hope you have a great day, and that you "stay cool"! :-)

"We Don't Have To Go Back To School Today!" Day

2010-08-09T19:41:00.004-05:00

Well today was our "We Don't Have To Go Back To School Today!" Day - 14th one in a row for me - different children of course, since my Little One is only 9! She got to choose what she wanted to do (I voted for Florida, but the budget vetoed THAT idea! :-). We went to breakfast, then to the Dollar Tree and a couple of thrift stores (love those!), then to Chuck E. Cheese's (quite possibly her favorite place in the world besides Disney World!), then to Sweet Pepper's Deli for a slice of their Chocolate Eruption cheesecake... mmmm. Good stuff! I'm exhausted! And full.... lol

Everywhere we went, she was asked why she wasn't in school today. It became a little amusing. I let her answer, and she does very well. People almost always comment on how mature she is and how well-spoken. I don't tell them that she has her moments! She IS 9 after all... :-) But she is very poised for her age.

We are still melting here in AL... the high was 99 today with 109 as the heat index. 82% humidity. Will summer EVER end?? I am so hoping that next year we will be in a cool spot for July... I wouldn't even mind needing a sweater!!

Usually in the summertime, she gets bored enough to want to complete some workbooks in her spare time. This year that hasn't happened. She is a busy bee, full of stories and drawings and ideas. We have read several books this summer. Sometimes she wants me to read aloud, other times she doesn't. We've been covering Geography in great detail as we plan our dream life and travels. When I read about an interesting place in one of the many blogs I follow, I will mention it to her and see if she wants to explore it a little - we Google it, look at maps, check the local libraries to see what interesting info we can locate. We have a REALLY long list of things to see now, and we add to it almost every day! Maybe I need to stop reading blogs for a while. Or just keep my mouth shut! :-)

As I lay awake in bed this morning, I thought about all the children in our area who were having to get up and get ready for school, many of them for the first time. I remembered how I hated for summer to end - I disliked school very, very much - and I dreaded the long months ahead. I cannot even imagine what it is like now, with all the competition and judgements that occur... I went to a small county school (K - 12), and we all had basically the same things as far as clothes were concerned, and no had "gadgets" to speak of! We had a "Pong" game (remember those?) which made me somewhat famous in the 3rd or 4th grade, but that was about it!! :-)

I looked at my Little One sleeping peacefully in her bed, totally unconcerned about anything except having fun today, and I was so very grateful. Grateful that I had the courage to make the decisions I have made. That I have had the strength to continue. That I have been blessed with my children, and that they are bright and happy and inquisitive, making being their mentor/facilitator/teacher such a complete delight. Thank You, God for all the Blessings which You have rained down on me. I am truly undeserving, but ever so grateful.

I hope that you all feel as blessed as I do right now... :-)

2010-07-29T12:11:00.002-05:00

Well, the Little One and I are gearing up for our "We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today!!" Day. The local systems are beginning classes on the 9th of August (seems as though it gets earlier every year!) and we are trying to decide what we want to do to commemorate it. Chuck E. Cheese's is always high on the LO's list (although not-so-much on mine! :-) A few years ago, we were in Florida... mmmm... THAT would be nice! But no-such-luck this year. :-(

As is usual with us, we will keep schooling through these horribly hot days here in NW AL. Since the humidly level most days is at about 150%, we stay indoors or in water as much as possible! We will (as usual) take a nice long break this fall, and again next Spring to enjoy the 3 weeks of good weather at that time! :-)

Please keep my Aunt Shirley in your prayers. She had knee replacement surgery 3 weeks ago, and had a terrible reaction to the pain medication she received. She spent a week in the hospital, then a week in rehab but could not complete her therapy because she was so nauseated. She decided to go home, spent a week there, and is now back in the hospital. Blood clots have formed - several have already traveled to her lungs and she is on medication to help with that. They also tested her gall bladder and found several stones, so she must have surgery as soon as she is able. Having surgery while taking blood thinner can be very dangerous. I have spent the last 3 weeks helping them all I can. We thought she would go home today, but they are keeping her at least one more day. She and my uncle have no children, and we are the closest (geographically) relatives. She has really been through an ordeal. The knee replacement went very well and if she'd been able to complete the physical therapy, she would be in very good shape right now. Just proves that nothing is "routine" when it comes to surgery! They are precious people who I love dearly, and my uncle (who has health issues also) is so worried about her. And she is worried about him being worried about her. I'm just trying to be supportive, and am glad that I am well enough to help out. Thanks for your prayers!

This is "Handy Festival" week here in the Shoals honoring the Father of the Blues, WC Handy. Great music going on everywhere! We haven't been able to do as much as we usually do, between the heat and Shirley's ordeal, but plan to go to the street festival tomorrow night. If anyone is in the area, come on out and join the fun. Handy Week is a blast!

Proud of our Men and Women...

2010-06-09T12:50:00.003-05:00

Oh boy... Two posts in one day!

Wanted to relate something I witnessed yesterday. I went down to our local small engine repair place - my riding mower threw a belt and I need to have it repaired - which is a very busy place right now. I waited in line for about 15 minutes, and was kept amused by the two older gentlemen in line in front of me. They knew everyone in the place, were laughing and joking with all of us, and one of them had the most wonderful, mellow baritone voice... I could have listened to him all day! He reminded me very much of one of my favorite singers, Percy Sledge, who was born and raised in our area... Any way, they finished their business and then it was my turn. I spoke briefly with the owner, set up an appointment, and walked outside.

The two older gentlemen were (of course!) talking with someone outside, and about to get into their pickup. As I was coming out, I saw a young man coming across the parking lot. He was on crutches, and I could see that he had a prosthetic on each leg, from just above the knee, and one arm from just below the shoulder. He appeared to be about 25 and was wearing a tee-shirt advertising a local Veterans fundraiser.

The older gentleman with the wonderful voice got back out of his truck and approached the young man. "Are you (so-and-so's) boy?", he asked the young man. "Yes sir, I am", he answered. The older man just wrapped his arms around this thin young man and hugged him, and I heard him say "Thank you, son, for what you have given up for our freedom." The young man said "It was my duty, sir." The sight of this young man whose life has been forever changed by an obvious stint in the military brought tears to my eyes, and I saw that the older gentleman was weeping openly. I smiled and nodded to them both as I walked by, and saw that the older gentleman walked with the younger one and opened the door for him.

I don't know how this brave young man was walking on crutches with 3 artificial limbs, but he was. He parked out on the street, not in a "handicapped" parking place, and made his way across the lot in 90 degrees + humidity. He is a local boy who apparently fought for his country and has come home. Although he paid a very high price, I know his family is so very grateful that he is home.

Since I didn't get to post a Memorial Day message (due to the DSL problems), I have really been thinking about our military and the sacrifices they have and do make. My Daddy and Pappow were proud members of the US Army, and I thank God for the men and women who - at this VERY minute - are making sacrifices to keep us safe in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We are the free, and they are the very, very Brave. God Bless Them and their families. I hope that each and every Veteran has someone who will wrap their arms around them, and with tears on their face, and true gratitude in their heart, say "Thank you for what you have done!"

Long, hot summer...

2010-06-09T11:22:00.006-05:00

I am FINALLY back online! AT&T has taken almost a month (!!!!) to get my DSL back up and running consistently... it's been a loooong month! I sure have missed reading blogs and doing research. But I did get a taste of using "hotspots" for WiFi, as many RVers do on the road... me no-likey! lol Will sure have to get a new battery for this laptop, I can tell you that!

Since the weather has turned hot and humid, Katie and I are filling our days with outside activities in the cool of the morning, schoolwork mid-day, and playing in the wading pool in the afternoon. Ahhhh.... Summertime in Alabama... Sure was hoping to be on the road by now, but I guess we will deal with another hot and humid season. We really enjoyed our 2 weeks (:-) of Spring and the beautiful weather that brought! Hoping that the health problems we experienced (and the costs involved!) are over for a while... Since January, I've had a dislocated hip and a slipped disk - spending a total of 5 weeks in bed! - and Katie broke a toe! Pray for no more accidents...

As for school... we "school" all summer. Actually we "school" ALL the time, but since it is so hot here in AL in the summertime, we take advantage of being indoors and do a little bookwork. We take long breaks with the good weather - fall and spring - and stay out and about most of the time, and school when it is too hot or cold to enjoy being outside. Although we are Unschoolers, this summer we've decided to concentrate on Math using a textbook (gasp!:-)... Math is her least favorite subject (and mine too... ssshhh, don't tell her!), so it should be interesting. :-)

She is still writing stories and is in a couple of reading programs at the local libraries - although she doesn't really need the encouragement! Of course, learning takes place everywhere, all the time. Science is never-ending with her (she loves it), and history is all around us.

We've just discovered a brochure for a local history car/walking tour that we plan to do as soon as her foot is completely healed. Well... we will do the car part of it, anyway!! lol We have Trolley Tours here in town every Tuesday, and plan to take part in that soon, which will be fun. And the festival season is cranking up - the Helen Keller Festival and the WC Handy Festival are both right around the corner! We love it...

It has been TOO long!

2010-05-25T15:58:00.004-05:00

OK... I am tired of the physical "things" that keep happening!! About 3 weeks ago, I hurt my lower back and it appears that I have damaged a disk. It hurts! Slowly recovering, but not as quickly as I would like.

The day after I got hurt (wouldn't you know it would be AFTER!), the DSL went down and has been giving us problems ever since. And of course I was unable to walk down the steps, get in the car and take the laptop to a free WiFi site, so I've (gasp) done without Internet!! I can do without food and water, but the 'net?? Come on!

Any way, after talking with 17 different AT&T "techs", I am no closer to solving the problem than I was 3 weeks ago. The ONLY thing they agree upon is that it is going to cost me quite a bit of money for them to pull up in my driveway and determine the problem. Their customer service stinks, and I am of course exploring other options.

But other than that, life is good... hope it is for you too!

Vegetable-arians...

2010-03-17T17:49:00.002-05:00

I was writing an email to a new friend on FOTR today and mentioned to her that I am a "Vegetable-arian"... my then-3 yo daughter's name for Vegetarians! I am not a strict Veg-arian - and would probably not be welcomed into some of the clubs :-) - but for the most part, I don't eat meat. I do eat dairy products - practically live on cheese and eggs! I'm allergic to peanuts and sensitive to soy, so many of the products which other Veg-arians can enjoy are off-limits to me. I have no trouble finding things I love to eat, which is evident by the fact that my jeans are just a little snug after being off my feet with the hip-thing recently! lol

Since I was diagnosed with Lupus 14 years ago, I've had several problems with my health, all connected to the Lupus. I've had heart trouble, kidney trouble, arthritis, and (the most recent) liver trouble. Eating a Veg-arian diet makes me feel better, and I just prefer it. It isn't a social issue for me. I just don't like meat!

I know there are many of you out there (and my son could be your king :-) who cannot imagine living life without steak, burgers and chops! And I say go for it, if that is what you want to do. But I will stick with my Vegetable-arianism and we will just all live happily together!

Now... what does this have to do with Homeschooling - solo or otherwise, or RVing, or any of the other things in which I'm interested?? Not a thing. Just felt like writing about it. After all, isn't that the point of having a blog - to write about what we want to when we want to how we want to??!!

Hope everyone has a great day! :-)

Clicking along...

2010-03-16T15:30:00.004-05:00

"Here comes the sun da da da da"... I think... I hope... wait a minute... Nope. "It was just my imagination!!" Would whoever stole the sun PLEASE bring it back... we all miss it very much.

I am recovering from the flu. Still nursing the hip. Thanks to everyone who has sent me a note to see how I am doing - I love you guys! I am now back to cleaning out closets and drawers and crooks and nannies. Have to be very careful to not move the "wrong" way and also to rest often! My recent "episode" has pushed our schedule back a little, but we'll get there. And in the mean time, getting rid of stuff is so liberating!!

To help you understand what I am "up against" in this cleaning out and downsizing operation, I must paint you a picture of our situation. We have a large 2 car garage which is packed full -- side-to-side, front-to-back, and almost to the 20 foot ceiling, with STUFF. There is a little path I've maintained to weave our way through. Our lawn mower clings tenaciously to a tiny spot in the very front. The patio furniture stayed out during the wonderful Alabama winter we had. The folding lawn chairs are in the trunk of my car. And nope, our cars have never even SEEN the inside of this place which they thought was designed just for them. They also got to experience the wonderful winter weather!

Now before you accuse me of being the ultimate packrat, let me explain... There are 3... yes I said 3... households crammed in this 1900 sq house. My mom, who is 72 years young, moved in with us 3 years ago when I was very sick which I appreciate more than she will ever know. But with her came her "stuff"...

She had already moved from her home of many years to an apartment, which made her go through and get rid of many things, but you wouldn't believe what she had squeezed into that 1 bdrm apt!! Of course she had things stored at my house too (including her out-of-season clothes), in case she "needed" them. So when she moved in with us, we had 2 of everything - I'm sure you can imagine. She looked at it as a temporary thing, and so didn't want to get rid of anything. That has been 3 years and one move ago...

Add to all this the fact that we've saved things over the years for my now 21 yos. That boy could move out tomorrow and only have to buy groceries! Finding the things that are "his" would be tricky, but it's out there. Plus, he is an electronics junkie -- I have no idea how many mixing boards, computers, stereos, etc are in my garage.

He finds junk and brings it home with a big ole smile on his face, as excited as a little boy who has found a lost puppy, and repairs it and takes parts from this to make that... His talent is truly incredible, but if any of you have someone like this in your family, you know just how much STUFF they have. He is in for a rude awakening when he does move out and all his little toys have to go with him!! The only thing I can think of that could be worse would be someone who works on cars and has junk cars everywhere. Not that uncommon here in Alabama, actually!

Anyway... as I said, we basically have 3 households of stuff in one home, plus all the toys my 9 yod has. She is a stuffed toy collector, and currently has well over 500... I stopped counting when we hit the big 5-0-0! She loves them, each one has a name and a personality and a "history". I must say she has done very well in sorting them for the Yard Sale... especially the ones which were mine (very few) or her brother's (more - my Mom never threw anything away!)... wonder why it is easier to get rid of things that aren't yours?? lol

I am being ruthless in my purging of stuff, but am having to go through ALL the stuff to find my stuff to purge! Add to it that each time I delete something, my mom or my son are like... "I might need that"... Sheesh! But when we hit the road, what I leave will be up to them to dispose of! (Insert evil little laugh here!)

I have to say that sorting through the beautiful little clothes that were my daughters just breaks my heart. Knowing a) what I paid for them (and what I'll have to sell them for!) :-P and b) that she is growing up and not my "little one" any more just tears my heart out! I can just see her in each little outfit as I place it in the Yard Sale boxes... (sniffle, sniffle)

On the homeschooling front, she has been in a "workbook" phase. While I was hurt, she would bring her books and pencil to my bed and would do page after page. We also played lots of games, which she loves. She takes the workbooks by "spells" as my Mammow would have said, and will work industriously until she finishes a book. Then she may not pick up another for a while. That is the beauty of unschooling... allowing your child to do what she wants typically results in more and better "outcome" than forcing her to do that in which she is not interested. At least that is our experience - it was the same with my son!

OK... more cleaning, purging, sorting and stacking! "I think I'm going to Katmandu!" :-P

Have a great day! :-)

When it rains...

2010-03-13T18:29:00.003-06:00

Well as I stated in an earlier post, the old hip has really caused me problems this year. I am still not back to 100% - I would say more like 92.4, but I'll take it! I was at about 12.7% for several weeks! :-/

Problem now is that I have the flu! I had forgotten just how bad it makes you feel... been in bed for 3 days. Headed back that way soon. My little one has done her best to take care of me... she is a doll but I imagine she is ready for Mom to be back in the Driver's Seat! She has been picking the first Buttercups from our yard and bringing them to me. Flowers always help, especially when delivered in a precious little hand with a big ole smile on a beautiful little face! She and her Nana have picked about 50 so far... they say they smell wonderful - I'll just have to take their word for it!! :-)

Hope everyone else is having a better week! Spring is just around the corner... and I am so ready!

Snow, Hips, Horses, and a Sweetie-pie

2010-02-12T11:13:00.003-06:00

Warning... this post has nothing to do with homeschooling or RVing! :-).............Well, we woke up to several inches of snow the other morning, with large flakes floating down... that was a surprise! I loved watching it fall - the silence was so peaceful. The Little One HAD to get out and play in it, of course, and built two mini-snowmen, harassed the cat, and had a snowball fight with a tree (she won). By late afternoon, it had all melted away. She wasn't very happy, but that was my kind of snow... it fell, she played, it melted. No problems!

I have been "under the weather" for the past several days... I dislocated my hip (again) and am in quite a bit of pain. It is an old injury that recurs occasionally... it happened so often years ago that my doctor finally showed me how to get the joint back into the socket... a very painful and so-not-pretty move, but it does the trick. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments get stretched and displaced though, which is what causes the lingering pain. In a few more days, I hope to be back to "normal". It would help if I could take pain medication, but my liver damage from the Lupus makes that a no-no. It just isn't worth it.

When I was 5 years old, we were riding horses at a local farm in south Georgia. I showed very early talent and was riding on my own by this time. I loved it - had dreams of competing! This particular Saturday afternoon, I was not riding my "usual" pony which was a little Welch named Lady... someone else had her out, so I was on a Shetland named Cookie. Anyone who knows horses knows that Shetlands can be finicky. We were out by the lake, and she was being very uncooperative. I guess she could sense the coming storm.

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder shook the air and Cookie responded in kind. She went straight up, came down hard and broke into a gallop. When she came down, I lost my left stirrup and clicked my teeth together so hard that I am surprised there were any left. The force of her landing sent me sideways in the saddle. When she began to run, I was doing the only thing I could - holding on for dear life! She bucked once more, and sent me flying, only I didn't have time to kick out of the right stirrup... she drug me a couple of hundred feet before I could finally get free. I can still see the ground coming up to meet me with each and every bounce, and certainly remember how much it hurt! Thank goodness it was thick grass. If it had been hard packed dirt, the results would have been much worse.

The pain in my right hip was the worst, because my leg was twisted around. I ended up with a hurt hip, sprained arms, black eyes, bloody nose, and a terrible headache. For some reason which I cannot explain, my parents didn't take me to the ER... they took me home and cleaned me up and put me to bed. I guess they just didn't think I was hurt that badly. I was very sore and limped for quite a while with terrible pain in my hip. Probably had a slight concussion too, with the horrible headaches I had.... Hmmm.. that could explain a lot... :-)

The first time I re-injured my hip as an adult, they took x-rays and the doctor asked if it had ever been broken. I told him the story and he said that I had several hairline fractures that had not healed well, and that the the top of the hip-flexor was gone. That is why it "slips out" from time-to-time. I know my parents regretted not taking me to the doctor, but I guess they just didn't think I was hurt that badly. I'm looking at hip replacement surgery someday, that's for sure!

So, here it is almost Valentines Day and I've done nothing to prepare. The Little One LOVES a party, and we have to celebrate each and every holiday in the proper fashion. She wants a heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie-cake, with writing on it in red frosting. :-) So I've got to find a way to limp to the store to get the proper ingredients! She gave her grandmother some money yesterday to buy me a red rose, because she knows how much I love them. (I even gave her Rose as a middle name!) She couldn't wait and just had to give it to me - isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?? She is my little Sweetie-Pie. Mean as a snake and totally monkey-fied some days, but still so very precious to me.

I hope you all have someone precious to celebrate V-day with. Be sure to tell the people you love exactly how you feel!

The Times They Are A-Changing...

2010-02-08T19:41:00.004-06:00

Well, I am not doing so well on the bloggy thing... I was posting a comment on a friend's blog and realized how long it has been since I've worked on my own. Shame on me! :-)

Things have shifted and priorities have changed a little. I am still Homeschooling Solo, and will continue to as long as the good Lord allows it. But we are trying to set off on another journey, one I think will be filled with excitement and good times! And hard work, and problems, but we'll deal with those.

We are looking for an older RV that we can 1) afford, 2) refurbish, and 3) take out on the road! We plan to be Roadschoolers!! The Little One is SO excited... she would leave tomorrow! The Big One won't be going with us - they seem to get their own lives somehow, when we aren't looking, although I know that is the way it should be and I am happy for him. I do hope he will tag along or visit from time-to-time. He has the wandering spirit like I always have, so maybe he will. Or he may go off on his own adventures... Who knows? But right now, it looks as though Mom will be the one leaving the nest first! Wonder if I remember how to fly????

I am trying to find a way to earn a living on the road, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know! I am looking at workamping options, but so many of them seem like quite a few hours just for a FHU site... Most of them also want a couple. A couple of whats, I wonder?? :-)... I need to earn enough to keep us and the rig fed, warm, and dry. Working out of the RV would be great, if I can pull that off. I need something that allows me to have the Little One with me... wouldn't be comfortable leaving her in the RV alone. She is only 9.

Anywaaaay... I will try to post here more often... not sure anyone is interested in the meanderings of a single, homeschooling, hoping-to-be-on-the-road soon, likes-to-talk-too-much mom... I wonder if there are others out there??? Oooh... that is a scary thought! :-)

Happy Birthday, Evan!!

2009-09-20T12:37:00.003-05:00

My baby boy is 21 today, and I cannot believe it. Twenty-one years ago, at 8:10 am he made his silent entry into the world. Premature, cord wrapped around his neck, tiny face as blue as a Smurf. The pediatrician who was in the delivery room immediately began resuscitation and after 12 of the longest minutes of my life at that point, he wiggled and made a tiny sound, like a little whimper. It reminded me of the sound a newborn puppy makes.

I was alone in the delivery room since his father had abandoned us months before. I remember lying there looking at this huge clock on the wall, as it ticked away the minutes, tears streaming down my face, and (funny now) steam rising from the oxygen mask. At 8:35, they finally laid him in my arms and he opened his dark eyes for a minute, looking at me as if to say "well I am here, I'm not impressed, and I am going back to sleep"! (He still looks that way pretty often... :-) He then snuggled up to me and slept for the next hour, with a miniature oxygen mask on his tiny little face. I was so worried because he hadn't cried, but believe me, when he woke up he made up for it! He let everyone in the area know that he was there, alive, and very unhappy! But after getting his tummy full and more snuggling, he drifted off again, happy as could be.

He weighed 8 lbs, 2 ozs at birth, and yes he was 3 & 1/2 weeks early. We were at the pediatrician's office for a checkup on his "due date", and he weighed 10 pounds on the nose. The doctor looked at me and said "this is what you would have had if you had gone full term!"

The night I was in the labor room, there was a bomb threat in the hospital. I was not told anything about it until the next day, but my family and friends had to be evacuated, and I heard the "bomb dog" walk through. I asked the nurse why there was a dog in the hospital and she said "must be a service animal". Quick thinking on her part! She stayed with me the entire time, which was risking her life had there been a real bomb, but she never complained and later told me it was her duty. That is dedication! I have never forgotten the kindness that she and the others there at Russellville Hospital showed me that night.

So today, as my baby boy turns 21 I am reminiscing... thinking back over the past 21 years which have gone by in a blur, faster than I would have ever thought possible. We've had our ups and downs, but through it all we had each other and I could not ask for a better son. He is spirited and questions everything, handsome and strong, kind-hearted and chivalrous, born 3 decades too late (he would have loved the 50s), and one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure of talking with. He is also quick-tempered and grumpy at times (lest you believe him to be perfect!) hates to mow the yard and refuses to keep his room clean, but he has become a young man of whom I am very proud, and I love him with all my heart.

Fuss and grump session!! :-)

2009-07-24T08:48:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted in so long... When I began this, I thought I would have time and inspiration to write every day, but that has not been the case. I am still managing to homeschool, although the lupus has really done a number on me for the past few months. K and I just do what we can, and she has been a trooper. We have done many lessons on my bed - she gathers up her books and pencils and we get busy. As those of you who know me personally already know, I consider us Interest Led Learners/Unschoolers, so using the textbooks is tough for me. So canned and stilted! But I can also see that in our case at this particular point in time, they are serving a purpose. I am so proud of the progress she is making, and the worksheets do help me to document that progress. As anyone who homeschools knows, learning takes place any- and everywhere, and we couldn't stop it even if we tried! I still believe that the most valuable learning experiences are the day-to-day living which we do.

I am trying to find a work-at-home opportunity. If any of you know of a legitimate company, please let me know! I need something which is flexible, and that really delivers on their promises. I've tried some of the survey things, and have never seen a dime from them.

I hope to have time, energy, and inspiration to blog more often in the near future. Thanks for taking the time to check in with me. I hope you have a great day!

A Good Day....

2009-05-31T20:26:00.009-05:00

Sunday was a very good day. Seems that those have been few and far between for us recently. Job losses, on-going illness, loss of friends, financial worries, car troubles... We've had our share recently. But today... We had a wonderful church service this morning. Ate lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant - luscious guacamole. Beautiful weather...

In the afternoon, as I was contemplating our homeschool journey and where we've been and where we are going, Katie was being a busy bee. I was reading an unschooling book - bits and pieces of it, a section here, a chapter there, not straight through of course - that would be so un-unschooly of me! :-) Any way, I was reading about letting kids be kids and delight-directed learning. Good book. Good information. I am totally sold, of course, but enjoy reading about others who are, too. Reading questions from doubters like HOW a child can possibly learn "everything they need to know" (whatever THAT means!) by unschooling, and "won't children tend to do nothing if not "made" to study????" Things like that. So I was pondering these questions and reading the wonderful responses in the book, adding my own response in my head. During all this, Katie was busy....

We are "on break" right now (that means I am not counting days or doing any "just in case" documentation), and plan to begin our "new school year" sometime in late June although we truly school year-round. I was reflecting on the past year and trying to decide if I want to do anything differently this year. What worked, what didn't... you know what I mean. So... back to Kate.....

While I was thinking about all of this, she was on her own. No direction from me at all. Just being a busy little girl. First, she gets out her watercolors and paints a (really good:-) picture...... Then she watches a couple of shows on APT - one about Mozart, another that encourages vocabulary building...... After that, she gets out several bouncy balls (you know, the kind that come with jacks) and discovers the differences in bounce depending on weight and height of release. She is so excited with her discoveries! ...... She then gets out her Wizard of Oz Monopoly game, and cons me into playing "our version" of the game. She was adding up a storm, telling me what I'd rolled almost before I could read the dice...... Then she reads from a Beatrix Potter book (our current favorite!), reading silently and aloud to me......After this, she gets her sketch pad and watercolor pencils out and draws several pictures in the Beatrix Potter style. She is using her beautiful illustrations as a guide....... Soon we decide we want homemade ice cream, so she helps to measure the ingredients and we discuss why we need this one or that one. This leads to a discussion of how ice cream is made and why we need to use the salt, ice, etc. She asked if that is how the "store bought" kind is made. We do a little Internet research (at her request) about it while the freezer is spinning, and I learn some things too! I tell her stories about when I was little and we made ice cream with a hand crank freezer, and how all the cousins would take turns. And how sad I would be if the adults decided to make Black Walnut - ick!..... After the ice cream is all eaten up - yummy and NOT black walnut :-)!! - she went out on the front porch to brush and play with her cat. Shadow was a fur ball this winter, and is shedding like crazy and appreciates the grooming! This led to a discussion about why animals shed and questions about us - do we shed? - and discussions about animal care. Then after supper, which she helped prepare, she and her brother ate fresh fruit which led to a discussion about where the fruit came from (strawberries, peaches, kiwi) and how it is grown and shipped.

All of these "learning opportunities" - Art - painting, drawing and appreciation; Music - history and appreciation; Vocabulary building; Reading; Science - chemistry, biology, plant life, animal care, etc; Math - adding, prediction; Family history; Daily living skills; and others I am probably missing, occurred without any prompts from me. No lesson plans, no testing, no grades... just wonderful learning experiences in the course of a wonderful day. Learning which happens in a natural way, about topics that are important to her, without any coercion or timeline. How much more effective can education be? How can ANY one believe that children will not or cannot learn when left to their own devices??? I don't know how to STOP children from learning, other than by making it drudgery. And even then, most will still learn in spite of that, because they will continue to learn the things which are important to them... Unschooling, Delight Directed, Child Led, World Schooling, Real Life Education..... Whichever label you choose to use.... IT WORKS!! Try it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised! I LOVE Unschooling!! It was a very Good Day! :-)

"Out there" doesn't come close....

2009-03-15T21:02:00.003-05:00

I am sitting here at my desk, shaking my head. I just read an article about what some women feel is the "new" job for all the mothers who find themselves unemployed. The "new" job is.......... being a mother. Does this strike anyone else as ludicrous?? The women interviewed for this particular article - for the most part - were worried about going back to work because they wanted to, and not just for financial reasons.

One commented how "surprised" she was that her 8 year old daughter wanted to "spend her summer" with her mom, and that she was "worried" about being home ALL summer with her children........ WHY should it be surprising that children want to spend time with their parents. Are you surprised by it? I'm certainly not. God intended for children to spend time with their parents, to learn from them, and be guided by them. And why in the world would someone not look at spending time with their children as a gift?

Another mother came to the realization "that she'd always really known" that she preferred to work and was "tired of being home with JUST her children". I find this incredibly sad. I am so incredibly grateful to be home with my children, and often the very best days are when it is "just us"!! WHY does anyone intentionally have a child only to turn it over to someone - most often complete strangers - to raise??? Can someone please explain this to me?

Believe me, I understand all about having to work - a single parent does not have to be reminded of our obligations and responsibilities. But many, many parents PLAN to have children while KNOWING that they will go back to work - by choice or by necessity. Pardon me for saying so, but I just DON'T GET IT....

Another woman quoted in the article knows SO little about her 2 year-old's life (yes, I said TWO) that she had to "get directions from him to find his playgroup room", and the "pediatrician's staff didn't know who she was because they had always seen him with the nanny" when she took her son in for a check-up!! PLEASE..... Does she know ANY thing about her son's life? Anything? At all??

I will probably ruffle some feathers by posting this, but that is OK. Ruffled feathers means we are thinking. If we begin to truly think about situations, maybe that will lead to realizations. And perhaps, just perhaps, that will lead to action. I know that in this case, I might be "preaching to the choir", but some of you may be able to influence other mothers in similar situations. And on those days when YOU think there may be "life out there", please remember that the LIVES in here (our homes) are SO much more valuable than anything "out there" could ever be. In fact, "out there" can't even come close..... :-)

Welcome to my pity-party.... :-)

2009-03-08T21:17:00.005-05:00

As I write this blog, my little girl is dancing around in her pj's with my sleep shirt over them, to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6. We've been discussing Bach - when he lived, why he wrote the music he did (or why we think he did), where he lived, etc. She has asked some very insightful questions, and is loving his music. We haven't listened to this particular CD in quite some time, and I'm very glad that she found it yesterday! My favorite (tonight :-) is Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. It is so beautiful!

Although I try really hard to not mention this often, at times like this I wish there was someone here to share her with. When she is being so cute and asking such great questions, I sometimes wish that there was someone to turn to and smile, knowing that both of us are thinking "this kid is really something". I wish that she could be a Daddy's girl, as I was. She deserves that. At times, I would give almost anything for us to have a man in our lives who is wonderful. I know how much my children are missing because we do not.

But at the same time, I am honest enough with myself to know what they ARE NOT missing by one certain man not being here - and that more than makes up for the rest. Knowing that they are safe and happy, that they know they are loved without question and accepted for who they are, and knowing that I am continuing my homeschool journey without having to justify it to anyone, even that we can listen to and enjoy Bach without rude or obnoxious comment... those things are very precious indeed.

I wish I'd written this!!! :-)

2009-03-02T20:49:00.004-06:00

I found the quote shown below and just had to post it here. Ms. Tate really hit the nail on the head with this -- I wish I had written it! She does go on to say that this is not her usual comeback when questioned about homeschooling, and reminds us that it is usually better to answer briefly and walk away to avoid confrontations about something that we know is best. It just puts a smile on my face to know that I will be THINKING about this the next time someone has a snarky remark to make!! LOL

"I don't go around telling folks in my neighborhood or my church, "I don't understand how you can possibly send your kids to public school. I just don't have the patience to get my kids ready by 7:00 every morning and help them with homework for hours every night. How can you really be sure they're learning anyway, when all you get is a report card every 9 weeks? And aren't you worried about socialization? When your kids spend all day in a room with a bunch of other kids the same age, how will they ever learn to function in the real world?" (bold emphasis mine)

"Defending our Decision to Homeschool" by Mary Jo Tate posted on HomeschoolBlogger.com

Can I hear some amens??

2009-02-23T21:18:00.001-06:00

I wrote this blog for a homeschooling site I am on, and decided to post it here, too. Thanks to Deb who encouraged me to do so! This was in response to a question about a "typical" day for homeschoolers, and she is SO right that there is no one "right way" to homeschool. I know I tease people about being overly organized, but I hope they know that I truly believe we all need to do what works best for our families. Just because I am Organizationally Challenged does not mean I couldn't use a little more of it in my life. And just because someone else is super-organized doesn't mean they can't "loosen up" a little sometimes.

Of course we unschoolers truly have few "typical" days, but we do have a rhythm to our lives with which we are very comfortable. Let me give an example. Last week, Katie and I had two very different days during which we had very different activities, but phenomonal learning still took place........

One day, Katie got up around 9, and was gung-ho about the books. She wanted to "do school". We sat at our old farm table in the "school room" (one end of our den, which SO does not look like a school room!) for almost 3 hours. She did math worksheets, language arts pages, read several stories from a reader I picked up at a thrift store, did two chapters in a Science book... I can't even remember what all she did. But she was happy and chatty and asking questions.... It was a good day......

The very next day, she got up around 9 again, and didn't want anything to do with any of it. She was a grumpy girl and said I "made" her sit too long the day before, and that we are unschoolers and I knew that we "didn't have to sit and fill out pages to be learning"............ I had to leave the room for a minute to wipe the big grin off my face after that statement! So (after I had sufficiently recovered) I told her that we didn't have to open a book if she didn't want to. Now I may hear a collective gasp at this point, but let me finish!

That day, she read 2 chapters from one of her books (those of you who know me know how she has struggled with reading, so that is a HUGE victory for us!!), then she spent at least an hour with her paints and crayons and colored pencils. When she was finished, she showed me a beautiful card she had made for our uncle who is sick.......... Then she wanted to make brownies, so we did that, and she did almost everything all by herself................. She watched a show on APT, then came and began discussing Greek mythology with me, asking questions and telling me about the show she'd watched. We got on the Internet and looked up some things, read a little about it............. After this, she made our lunch (sandwiches and chips) and set the table. (Not as enthusiastic about doing the dishes... hmmm... guess we need to work on that! :-)............ A little while later, I went in her room to put away some laundry, and she had pulled all her puzzles off the shelf and was busy putting them back together. She had mixed up all the pieces to "make it more fun"! ............ Later, she used her computer that her brother built for her, and played some games and did some writing............... Then later still she built an awesome structure with her zillions of building blocks. The most fun part there?? Knocking it down, of course!!

So - completely by herself and with absolutely no directions from me, she covered: Language Arts, science (chemistry), Math (spatial relationships and computer game), Reading, Art, Composition, History, Domestic Skills, Reasoning, Questioning, Computer Skills.... and probably a lot more that I am missing right now.

The two days I've described were totally different. Yet they each produced all sorts of learning possibilities. If I had imposed my will and made her sit down and "hit the books" that second day, it probably would have been a horrible day, filled with tears (hers) and tantrums (mine). Instead, both days were GREAT. And of course this has played out many, many times over the years, with both Katie and Evan. I think it proves that some days need structure, and that many days, we just need to lighten up!!

Have a great day everyone! :-)

Who is your hero?

2009-02-22T12:34:00.000-06:00

After we got back from church today, I sat down to check my email. I was reading some of the "top" news stories on AOL, when I noticed a report about the American people and our "heroes". This poll was conducted by a well-known research company, and was done in a random fashion, as most polls are done.

Do you have ANY idea what the majority of individuals - when asked "Who is your hero/who do you admire most?" - said in response? The number one answer was ........... Obama.............. And guess where Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was on that list?? ............ Number 11. Yes, that is correct................ Now, I am not here to debate whether Obama will be a good President or bad.... whether he is a good man, or a bad one.... I'm not going to get political at all. I just think it is a shame and disgrace that the American people - as represented by a sampling - chose a man who very few people had even heard of a year or two ago as their "hero". Now maybe he will do great things while in office. Maybe not. That remains to be seen. But the fact remains that as of now, he's done relatively little, in part simply because he's only been in office for a month!

Now look at what Jesus has done for us..... How many others have died just for you? Who else can forgive your sins? Who else loves you unconditionally as He does? Now I know that there are many in our country who are either atheists or hold other beliefs. But time and again, in other polls conducted at various times, the MAJORITY of Americans have stated that they believe there is a God, and that Jesus did come to live here on earth and was crucified. That tells me that there are many here in our country are believers, if not Christians. So WHY would there be so few who see Jesus as the ultimate hero?

My peaceful planet... at least for now!

2009-02-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

Good Morning! I am sitting here doing my "morning thing" - reading the news, checking the email, touching base with friends - and I am struck by the quiet and serenity which surrounds our home. Both of my children are still asleep - they are like their mom, night owls who love to sleep in! Evan doesn't have class today and doesn't have to be at the station until this afternoon. Katie is apparently dreaming sweet dreams because she was giggling in her sleep a few minutes ago.....

It occurs to me (yet again) how wonderful this journey called homeschooling really is... it is SO cold outside and the two people I love more than anything are snug and safe, warm and cozy in their beds. I simply cannot imagine a life that involved dragging my babies out of bed on cold winter mornings and shipping them off to an institution. This life we live is so blessed and I am determined to never let it change, if I can help it.

Years ago - when Evan was in public school for 3 years and I was teaching - we did the mad dash thing in the mornings. I had to be at work by 7:30 and - as I said earlier - we are definitely NOT morning people!.......... None of us enjoy breakfast (unless we are eating out while traveling! :-) but I couldn't let him leave without eating something, so that was always a struggle........... He has always been "hot-natured" so getting him to wear a coat on cold mornings was almost impossible........... Although he was a very sweet-natured child, most mornings were just disasters as we rushed around trying to do everything we needed to before going to prison for the day...... It was madness!

I contrast the memories of those mornings with a morning like today, and it is like living in a different world, on a different planet. Mornings are (usually :-) calm and quiet. We move around and do our own thing until we are awake enough to face the day. Breakfast may be at 9 or 11, whenever we feel hungry. If Katie doesn't feel like jumping right into "school", we cruise for awhile. Some days we just kick back and see where the day takes us. Our lives are just so much more peaceful and calm and enjoyable now.

I am sure many people would say "but what about the real world????" (blah, blah, blah :-) Well... this is the same way that Evan and I homeschooled, beginning when he was 8, and he is completely able and willing to get up and out the door when he needs to do so! He has NEVER overslept when he had class or needed to be at work early for some reason. In fact, he had a 5 am!!!! radio show for several months, which meant my shower-obsessed son had to get up well before 4! I think it is ridiculous that some people feel that our lifestyle is not preparing them for the "real world". My children live and move in the "real world" each and every day, unlike the children who are imprisoned in institutions, segregated by age and ability, not allowed to pursue areas of interests except on VERY rare occasions, made to conform and follow ridiculous rules and regs which may or may not be in their best interests....

If that is the "real world", I am SO very glad that my family does not live in it! Give me the peace and tranquility of a morning like this any day. I'll continue to dwell on "my planet", thank you very much! It gets crazy sometimes, but I wouldn't change it for anything. :-)

Discoveries made.....

2009-02-19T08:52:00.000-06:00

Oh I am SO not doing well at the blogging thing! You would think that as much as I love to talk and write, I would be tearing this up. But no - illness, problems, busyness.... all sorts of reasons/excuses for why I'm not doing one of the things I enjoy most - writing. Have to find some "me time" in here somewhere!

Let me tell you about a recent thing that happened to us. My wonderful aunt and uncle blessed us with a trip to the Tampa/St Pete area recently. We stayed in a picturesque little coastal town called Treasure Island, and it was fantastic. This area is what I think about when I think of "old Florida" - the houses were all shades of pinks, blues, greens and yellows. Absolutely beautiful. The town is on an island, and many people walk or ride bikes. There are sidewalks and lanes specifically for that purpose, and many of the locals utilize them. Since it is on an island, there are beautiful bridges here and there, and lots of boats and sea birds. The main part of the little town is so pretty, with a bell tower in the center of the square. As I said, it is "old Florida" but so beautifully maintained, with new developments carefully blending with the old.

The children and I had such a wonderful, relaxing time. We didn't do anything special - played in the pool and walked on the beach. Found tons of shells - for this Alabama girl, that IS something special! We played miniature golf one night under a beautiful full moon and lots of stars. They had live alligators in certain areas of the course, and Katie was absolutely thrilled! She could not concentrate on playing because she was so excited about the 'gators!! Evan takes his golf playing very seriously (even the miniature kind!) and was not so thrilled with her inattention. :-) I guess it sounds boring to some, but it was nice to not have to "go, go, go" on this vacation. We relaxed. We talked. We laughed. We had fun!

We officially "took a break" from schooling for a little while, but of course learned so much while we were there. How can you keep from it?? We found a puffer fish which was dead, but we scooped it up and examined it closely - it's mouth looked like a bird's beak! We saw a clear jelly fish which had washed up, and of course were fascinated by the aforementioned seashells. There were thousands of them - it was incredible! We watched the sun set over the gulf every evening with all of the indescribable colors and lights that go with it. I'm still as thrilled as a child when the last bit of light - plop! - disappears into the water! The corals and pinks and oranges that were displayed were simply breathtaking. It was a magical moment of beauty and quiet reflection for us each evening. I'm not sure how anyone could doubt God's existence when witnessing such an event.

This was the first time any of us had flown, and I will tell you - I was NOT crazy about it! We had uneventful flights down, for which I was very thankful. The flights back were a little rougher, but not too bad. (We flew in on the same day as the plane crash in New York which killed everyone on board.) The safety of it is not really what bothered me. It was more the hassle and the discomfort of the trip that I did not care for. I am tall (5' 10", and on the plump side of chubby - being kind to myself there :-) and my son is 6' 4". We take up lots of space and there just is not "lots" of space on airplanes! But the realization I had on this trip is this: Road trips may be tiring and sometimes frustrating, but the trip to and from our destination is always a very important part of our vacation.

Being in the car together for long periods of time gives us a chance to talk and discuss things that we might see or hear along the way. There is a feeling of "we are in this together" that I enjoy. I also like being able to pack anything I want and not have to worry about airport security. (I like being able to stuff my dirty clothes into a plastic bag and not worry about some overzealous TSA guy going through my unmentionables!! Didn't happen to me, thank you Lord, but I have heard of it happening!) I like being able to carry a cooler stocked with drinks and snacks and enjoying them whenever we want.

I like being able to stop when we want to, and not rely on someone else to tell me when I can and can't eat/go potty/stretch my legs... whatever. As a homeschooler, I am not one to "follow the crowd" of course, and I am apparently just too independent for airline sheeple travel. Now don't get me wrong. I totally understand the need for airport security, and appreciate that measures are being taken, but still felt violated by the shoe removal, x-rays, metal detectors, taking away of my bottled water.... I felt guilty without opportunity to prove my innocence! I don't like that they make you throw away perfectly good bottled water, then charge 3.50 for the same thing inside the terminal. I wonder if they just take all those bottles they confiscate and sell them on "the other side"?? I did NOT like the fact that the sour faced TSA lady sent my purse on through the x-ray machine before I even got my shoes off, and that it sat unattended for several minutes!! You ladies all know how we are about our purses!! Our tickets, cash, credit cards, cell phone - a huge part of my life was in that purse, and she sent it on like it was nothing. I was SO not happy with her, but you feel that you can't voice your feelings because they will take you to that "little room" where terrible things probably happen!! :-} I was proud of myself for not telling her exactly what I thought - great self control on my part. Praying "Lord please keep me from slapping this mealy-mouthed person into next week!!" lol........

So, unless it is absolutely necessary, I don't see myself flying again any time soon. I'll take the road trips any day - me and the kids on the open road, enjoying each other, quarreling a little (OK - sometimes a lot :-), asking the Good Lord to keep us safe........ To me, THAT is a vacation! Besides, I need to get my money's worth out of that travel dvd player............... Have a great day! :-)

Homeschooling Solo

2008-09-21T23:37:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone... Welcome to my blog - thanks so much for stopping by. "Homeschooling Solo" is just what it sounds like - I am a homeschooling mom who has been a single parent for most of my adult life. I have raised two children alone - my son just turned 20 and my daughter is almost 8. I homeschooled my son for 8 years and he graduated at 16. During that time I remarried (and redivorced!) and had my little girl. Although we've been homeschooling since birth, this is the first year we've had to be "legal" (we live in Alabama) so I am getting back into the homeschool community after being "on vacay" for a few years. I am finding that things have really changed, and that things have really stayed the same! I will delve into that more later. What I have discovered more than anything is that I really missed this community and that I am more dedicated to homeschooling than ever before! I am determined to homeschool my daughter for as long as possible. We love it, and as I tell people fairly often, homeschooling is not just something we do. It is part of who we are. And I wouldn't change that for anything.

My son is in college now, and hates it. After homeschooling for 8 years, opening and running several small businesses, being self-taught in some very challenging areas, and working/apprenticing as a radio engineer, he is bored out of his mind at community college. He feels he is wasting his time. And he really is since he could teach many of the classes he is having to take! Although I know from personal experience that a college degree does not automatically equal a job, I do know that many doors are closed without one these days. I hope he will stay with it and get his degree, but he may choose to do other things and since he is officially a "grown-up" now, I have to let him make those mistakes... er, decisions. :-) I just want him to grow and mature in his faith, his relationship with God, and as a man. He will be providing for a family someday, and I want him to be well-prepared.

I dedicate this first post to my two wonderful (most days :-) children, without whom my life would not seem worth living. I love you much, and I thank God every day that I am lucky enough to have you in my life!!

Homeschooling Solo

Happy New Year!

Missing my Daddy...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Katie!!!

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Our 15th annual "We Don't Have to Go Back to School Today" day!! and Austin the Duck...

Hello to Ken and Some Good News!

Prayer request...

Lucky Duck update...

The VERY Lucky Duck

Happy Father's Day!!!

Quick update...

Gratitude and Pride....

Prayers requested...

I'm on a roll...

Another new follower!!

A huge THANK YOU!!

Forty years ago tonight...

Yea!!! NO Snow!

No, No, NO More Snow!!!

"Thank You!" to my followers...

Snow, snow, go away...

Wow...

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!

Happy 100th!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Little One!!

Sad days continue....

Sad days in the RVing world...

One down....

I'm sore, but moving - I have no choice!

Yep, it is *fall* for sure!

Happy Birthday Evan!

"We Don't Have To Go Back To School Today!" Day

Proud of our Men and Women...

Long, hot summer...

It has been TOO long!

Vegetable-arians...

Clicking along...

When it rains...

Snow, Hips, Horses, and a Sweetie-pie

The Times They Are A-Changing...

Happy Birthday, Evan!!

Fuss and grump session!! :-)

A Good Day....

"Out there" doesn't come close....

Welcome to my pity-party.... :-)

I wish I'd written this!!! :-)

Who is your hero?

My peaceful planet... at least for now!

Discoveries made.....

Homeschooling Solo

Yep, it is fall for sure!