Feb. 2-8, 2020 Swirl Dance, Super Bowl, King Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Free-Range Chicken

Feb. 2-8, 2020

 Swirl Dance, Super Bowl, King Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Free-Range Chicken

Hello Friends,

After my two-three months on Emgality in the fall, I decided the awful side effects were too bad to continue.  This week I went back to Botox as my only helper to prevent new migraines.  Botox isn't great, but helps a bit.  The worst part of Botox is that I always get migraines after getting the shots, so that stinks!!!  Between the Botox and it being the dead of winter, I had a really hard week---I needed like a dozen SAD (seasonal affect disorder) lamps!  But, I only have two!  I am ready for spring officially!  

Snow:

Well, I certainly got my fill of shoveling snow this week!  Dh has brought out the snowblower, but so far I've stuck to the shoveling.  I figure it is good exercise and adds to the time I spend outside each day when I use the shovel instead of the snowblower.  I'm sure I'll be tired of shoveling soon enough, but this week I was old-fashioned and enjoyed it.

Super Bowl:

It wouldn't seem right to not mention the big game!  Dh and I enjoyed watching together---we met in Kansas City and cheered the Chiefs on!





Shakespeare:

It had been a while since we last covered Shakespeare, so I figured we should dip back into The Bard once again.  I'm reading King Lear aloud, with lots of discussion and dissection and Dd is listening to Romeo and Juliet on her own (with NO dissection whatsoever!!).  I've brought in lots of books to review the life and times of Shakespeare, which Dd hasn't been too excited about, but I love all that extra depth and context.

Chickens:

On Monday, it was sunny enough to let the chickens out for forty minutes to free-range!  They were very excited to be scratching around in the area where the sun had melted enough to expose the grass.  The bad news is I have a Tetra Brown ("Floppy" is what I call her; I know, such an uninteresting name...) that is sick and not doing well.  I've begun making her scrambled eggs and hand-feeding her. 

Chicken Feeder:

Dh finished his second feeder for the hens this week. 

Chicken Casseroles:

I enjoy making the chickens special dishes; especially in the winter when they really need the extra calories.  I've been buying some really healthy brown rice from Costco that they really seem to like and I use that as a base and add in all sorts of things like: lentils, black rice, green peppers, romaine lettuce, left-over's, scrambled eggs....  they love getting their special meals.

Bible Studies:

My two Bible study groups are still going.  I'm learning so much!!  But, one of my goals was to make a friend here in Michigan and thought this would be the type of thing I could meet some friendly people...although everyone is nice I've not really met anyone that isn't already over-busy and over-scheduled; which means they don't really have time for a friend outside of class.  It's the same story in all the homeschooling and church and study groups I've joined since moving here five years ago...everyone is already friended-up and they don't have any time to spare.  It is sad to think how hard it is to find friendship among Christians.  The Monday night Ada/Thrive Bible study has very friendly women in it and they do open their hearts during the class--- I like them a lot.  The Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group on Wednesday mornings are never very open and I still don't feel comfortable there.  After the class that discussed inappropriate things, I'll keep the details private because it was so inappropriate, I am really weighing if I want to continue going to this class.  I can print off the worksheets at home and watch the lectures online without having to drive forty-five minutes in the snow to a class where I am uncomfortable. 

 

Lunch with Seth:

This week Dh and I had lunch with Dd and her boyfriend, Seth on Saturday at her pizza shop.  It was great getting to see him once again.  Since he works at an egg company, generally he can't come up to our property because I have chickens and some biological germ might attach to him and transfer to his work and chaos could ensue!  It's a shame we can't see him more often and especially because of my chickens.

Physical Therapy:

After weeks of my right knee hurting I finally had my PT appointment.  It was just a lot of talking and she gave me a few stretches to do at home and scheduled me to come back in exactly two weeks.  I was not impressed---disappointed actually.  I need a MRI to diagnose what is wrong and have to jump through these steps before insurance will cover it...hopefully.

Hiking With Henry:

This is my second winter with Henry.  Our last dog, Sophie, was a black lab and Great Dane mix and she was cold-blooded.  She would shiver in seventy degrees!!!  She didn't love being out in the snow and would only go out to potty and then wanted right back in the warmer house.  Henry, on the other hand, loves the snow and I've never seen him cold!  Even on the coldest days; he seems just as happy as when it's warmer.  He just wants to run out in the woods as long as I'll let him!!!  The longer he is allowed to run and smell the better!  This is another good week of Hiking with Henry!

Dd's Progress This Week:

Church and Bible Study

Grace Co-op Classes:

Science: Anatomy & Physiology (Apologia)

Art: Painting Studio

English/Writing: Analytical Writing for Essay and Research Papers (IEW)

Math: Algebra II (Saxon) with tutor

Read Aloud:

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Audio:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

SAT Prep:

Khan Academy (free online resource): 1:00 hour

German: DuoLingo: 45 minutes

Physical Exercise:

8:00 hours 

Fun Reading:

Kenobi (Star Wars book)

Work:

Dd works at the pizza shop 2-3x each week.



Seth:

Dd and Seth celebrated their four-month anniversary this week.

Swirl Dance:

Dd's best-friend, Hailee, goes to our local high school and invited Dd to go to the winter dance with her and some other friends on Saturday night.  She has a lot of fun!

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Jan 26-Feb. 1, 2020 Snow, Transcripts, Knee PT, Hiking with Henry, Van

Jan 26-Feb. 1, 2020 

Snow, Transcripts, Knee PT, Hiking with Henry, Van 

Hello Friends!

The week started and ended with snow; at least it is beautiful here in the woods bedded down in white powder in a comforting quiet.



 I'm so thankful we invested in snow tires for the Subaru this year as Dd is out and about just about every day on her own and knowing she isn't sliding around makes me feel so much better.

Flu:

An epic flu started on Jan. 25, so I was still very sick as this week started.  I went to the doctor this week and got my flu shot; I really don't want another flu this year.  Dd wasn't officially sick this week, but as close as she could be to it.  She was run down and exhausted and missed her math tutor appointment and had to stay home two nights this week to recover.

Knee:

Around second week in January, I noticed my knee was hurt.  I have no idea what I did exactly.  I went to the doctor this week to have it looked at and they ended up x-raying it.  The results were that my bones were fine and it must be a 'soft tissue' problem and I should have an MRI but somehow my insurance wouldn't pay for that since I don't remember having a specific accident.  So, they are sending me to PT.  It really, really stinks----obviously something is wrong with my knee as it is hurting all the time, but I don't have a say.

Transcript:

I have *finally* started working on Dd's transcript again.  I don't know what is wrong with me, but I haven't wanted to restart this massive project.  I micromanage the details of every subject she does and it takes me weeks to compile all the information.

Van:

I'm not sure exactly when Dh put the van in the garage to try and figure out what is broken on it, but he was working on it some this week and still trying to figure it out.  I helped him get a hose off the engine on night this week.  He is going to put a new one on and see if that helps.  The Subaru is leaking oil too...so our car situation isn't happy right now, but we are getting where we have to be.

Hiking With Henry:

As soon as I was able, I was back to taking Henry for his big hikes in the woods.  I was so busy last summer that I didn't take him on nearly enough big hikes, but with all the mosquitoes and ticks sometimes get too overwhelming.  Henry is such a huge fan of snow and has such a blast plowing through it.

Migraines:

I had a migraine last week and this week, but am doing pretty well.

Dd's Progress for the Week:

Bible & Church

Grace Co-op Classes:

Science: Anatomy & Physiology (Apologia)

Art: Painting Studio

English: Analytical Writing for Essay and Research Papers

Math: Algebra II with a tutor



Read Aloud:
King Lear by William Shakespeare



Audio:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare



SAT Prep: Khan Academy
30 min.



Foreign Language: DuoLingo: German: 30 min.









Fun Reading:
Kenobi (Star Wars book): 30 min.

Physical Exercise:

Dd has been going to the YMCA with Hailee and working out.

Work:

Dd is still enjoying working at the pizza shop 2-3 times each week.

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Jan. 19-25, 2020 Fix Subaru, Babysitting, SAT prep, Eggs, Flu

Jan. 19-25, 2020 

Fix Subaru, Babysitting, SAT prep, Eggs, Flu

Hello Friends,

It was a very cold and snowy week here in Michigan, but we still are way under the normal amount of snow we usually get here.

Flu:

My immune system is really shot.  I didn't feel very good all week. I've had a minor flu off and on for three weeks, but on Saturday I faced one of the worst flu's I've ever faced!  There aren't words for the 30 hours of anguish I went through...yikes...

Chickens:

The chickens are all doing okay.  They didn't get to go outside any this week due to the frigid temperatures.  When they are inside all day I have to clean the coop every 4-5 days.  I don't know if it is just me, but I just never thought it would be so much work taking care of chickens.  Of course, I made them casseroles and rice and special treats most days during the winter and that always adds to how much time I spend on the chickens each day.  I've decided to not get any more chickens after these ones pass.  I think I have fully scratched the itch to have chickens!  Especially since I don't get eggs most days now that they are a few years old.  There is so much work on my end and not even a dozen eggs in a week in return.

Subaru:

We have three running vehicles...usually.  For the past few months the van has been in the garage for Dh to fix, but then this week our Subaru wouldn't start.  It took a little work, but Dh figured out it was the battery that had a problem.  It had corrosion built up on the prongs and Dh had to clean that off and put the battery on a charger.  It still has an oil leak, but supposedly that isn't a big deal.  Dd and I have to share this one car, so we were so glad Dh could get it back running for us.  We really need another Subaru or 'snow car' so I don't have to share with her.  It is super frustrating to share a car with a busy teenager!  I was wanting to look for a job, but I can't do that until Dd has her own car.

Babysitting:

I watched two little girls (4 and 2-year-olds) for a friend in my Thrive Bible study group.  She was working from home in the basement and I just played and read to her girls for a few hours on Monday.  It was fun being with little girls again.

Hiking with Henry:

Winter in Michigan is the best and worst of times.  I just love hiking up and down the hills in our backwoods with Henry!!!  It is the highlight of my year!  The downfall is the lack of sunshine causes my SAD to go crazy; even after spending my mornings with two SAD lamps on me to ease the dreary days.  I am thankful for my Seasonal Affect Disorder lamps to help me through these dark months.

Bible Studies:

I'm still doing two different Bible study classes; Monday nights (Thrive) and Wednesday mornings (Bible Study Fellowship,"BSF").  The Thrive group continues to be very open and friendly and the BSF group is still very educational.  I do really appreciate how both are very informative; I am really learning a lot about the Bible.  

Dd's Progress for the Week:
Grace Co-op:
Dd is continuing to do very well with her co-op classes on Fridays.  She is getting better at getting her assignments done throughout the week and not having to stay up late on Thursday nights.  Learning how to spread out your work and not cram last minute is a valuable lesson that I'm glad she has learned before college.  Her workload at Grace has declined as one of her classes, the American Civil War, has finished.  I'll give her a little break then I am going to increase what we are doing at home since she has time now.



Grace Classes:
Science: Anatomy and Physiology (Apologia)
Art: Painting Studio
English/Writing: Analytical Writing for Research and Essay Papers (IEW)



Math: Algebra II with tutor



Read Aloud:
I'm reading (and dissecting) A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens to Dd.  We are thoroughly enjoying it!

SAT Prep:

Dd has re-started working on the free resource, Khan Academy, for her SAT prep work.  The goal is at least thirty minutes per day.



German:
Dd has re-started working on the free resource, DuoLingo, for learning German.  The goal is at least thirty minutes per day.  Now that she doesn't have any homework from her American Civil War class she can do some of these extra's she hadn't been able to find time to do...



Fun Reader:
Kenobi: Star Wars Legends by John Jackson Miller: In Process

Work:
Dd is still enjoying working at the pizza shop!  I'm glad she likes it so much there.




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