Feb. 3-9, 2019 Loss, Power Outages, Epic Weather, Generator, Felt Birds

Feb. 3-9, 2019 

Loss, Power Outages, Epic Weather, Generator, Felt Birds

Generator saved us again!

Hello, Friends!

  This was a really hard week, in a few different ways; the loss of our electrical power for five days and the loss of my aunt. My wonderful, kind, loving aunt passed away at 92 and I grapple with the idea of whether I can fly to her service in Boston while all sorts of crazy epic winter hit us in Grand Rapids and there in New England.  I've only kept in contact with her, my mom, and occasionally my brother, so my extended family is a short list.  Out of the family I've had, even not meeting her until I was in college, she was so very nice to me and made such an impression on me.  I've been changed for the better having known her.  She showed me how a parent can care, adore, cherish, and enjoy having children and seeing them as the blessing they are--something I didn't see with my immediate family.  I will always miss her and keep her cherished memory in my heart.  

Weather: Generator

It was a pretty crazy weather week--Sunday was fairly nice; sunny and warm.  Then on Wednesday, the crazy ice hit us hard.  It usually a blessing to live in the woods, surrounded by trees; but, this week it was downright scary hearing trees falling all around us.  



Our neighbor's house was hit by a tree and they were without electricity an extra day longer than we were.  It was scary having huge trees so fragile and brittle; thankful we didn't have any damage.  We did lose our electricity on Thursday morning at 9:30 and didn't get it back until late Monday afternoon around 4:00 pm.  What a long five days! 

Chickens:
My Black Hen is still sick.  She continues to be impossible to pamper and refuses to be hand-fed.  I've not had a chicken that is so resistant to help.  I'd been cooking rice and adding healthy things to the mixture each day, sometimes 3x a day, to help keep them healthy and then we lost our electricity this week and had to rely on limited power use with the generator.  This week their food was less exemplary but was glad I could keep their heat lamp for them. 

Migraines and Botox:
This week I had my second round of shots in my head, neck, and shoulders with Botox; which is supposed to take down the number of migraines I get each month.  This time I had my doctor give the shots instead of a student like I had my first time.  I'd love to say he did a better job, but actually, the student was way better.  



I had raised 'eggs' on my scalp where he injected me.  It hurt to even lay my head down on my pillow at night!  He was a brute comparatively; I'm still having pains where he gave the shots in my neck and shoulders but my head finally healed.  



I am going to see if I can figure out how to get a different person to administer the shots next time.  I had a headache and migraine Sunday and Monday, but after the shots, I had the week off from that pain.  I still can't decide if the shots are helping.



Felt Birds:
I worked on my felt birds this week.  I managed to complete three by the end of the week.  One of them turned out a bit odd so I undid it and changed it, but that took the same amount of time as doing a fourth one.  I'm trying a design I saw online and I'm not sure I like it.  The mini-goldfinches I made in December aren't very good either.  It's been a weird year for my felt birds.  I'm hoping to get a few good ones made soon.



Dd Felt Bird:
Dd started working on felt bird this week, but she is keeping it in hiding for now.  I can't wait to see it.  She always does such a good job.

Bird One--you can see the differences most by looking at their differing beaks.

A Girl of Limberlost:
I finished reading A Girl of Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter.  What a good book!  I'm writing up a post on it.

Bird Two

Dh Work Transition:
This was Dh's second week back at work and he is struggling with working with so many people with different ideas on how to get things done.  It was a really hard week for him.

Bird Three

Dh Eye:
Dh had an appt. with Dr. Gindzin again this week.  His eye is healing really well.  He only has one week left of doing eye drops left!!!  

Dd's Academic Progress:

Bible:

Church, Sunday School, Youth program and personal Bible Study:

Week 20 on her Word of Life Bible Study



Youth Program
Dh watched the Super Bowl together and Dd went to the Youth Group party at Judy's house.  I bet she had more fun with all the other kids and fun adults; I know they had a lot more fun food!

Volunteering:

Nursery at church: 1 hour

Both Olympians and her Library (Story Time) were canceled this week b/c of the awful weather, so Dd didn't get a chance to volunteer at either event.  We haven't had a Wednesday night Olypians group in a month now; so much awful weather to contend with.

Treadmill/ P.E.:

3x this week; until our power went out on Thursday morning. She has been waking up and doing her treadmill workout first thing in the mornings.

Cultural Geography (BJU)

Algebra I (Saxon)

Spanish I (BJU)

Introductory Logic

Exploring Economics by Ray Notgrass

Fun Reading:

The 100: Book One by Kass Morgan: In Process

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: In Process

Art:
Making a Felt Bird of her own design

Next Week:
Will our power come back on soon?  Will I go to Boston?  Will Dd's have her Grace co-op classes? 
.............

Jan. 27- Feb. 2, 2019 Dh Back to Work- Wk 1, SNOW, A Girl of Limberlost, Snow blowing, Cancellations

Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2019 

Dh Back to Work- Wk 1, SNOW, A Girl of Limberlost, Snow blowing, Cancellations 

Adding Pictures: In Process

Henry LOVES the snow!

Hello, Friends!
What a cold and snowy week; I'd love to know how many hours I've shoveled and spent snow blowing!  At least with all this snow, Henry is really happy and wanting walk after walk, he is such a snow-dog!  



And I've enjoyed taking photo's of nature while we walk.  The advantage of having so much snow, is everything canceled and I was free to enjoy some reading time.  I'm thoroughly enjoying A Girl of Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter.  I'm going to post a specific post on the books I've been enjoying focusing on this book a lot.  I haven't been so taken with a book in a while.

Keeping a path clear to the electric box in case we lose our power and have to hook up the generator.

Dh was released, by his doctor, to return back to work this week.  Of course, it was the same day we had about 10 inches of snow on Monday.  I had to snow blow in the wee hours of the morning, so he could get out of our long driveway, and then again in the late afternoon so he could get back up the driveway. I did many hours of snow blowing and shoveling this week. 



He said he had a pretty good first day back.  His last day of work, before his Detached Retinal diagnosis, was Nov. 15th!  He had 9 1/2 weeks of recovery.  His first week back to commuting to Grand Rapids and winter decided to finally kick it into over-drive!  We had so much snow and cold temperatures and that made driving a huge issue.  We had been having a very calm winter; that is until Dh was released back to work this week!



Then to Dh's surprise, he was called into work on Saturday.  He put in a lot of over-time his first week back, to his dismay! He wasn't used to standing on his feet all day long after so much sitting and resting with his eye recovery.  After two months of sitting and doing little else, it was a big transition to have to be on his feet 8-10 hours each day.  It was a mentally, physically, and emotionally a very challenging week.  One of his co-workers asked him if he was glad to be back and he replied, "no."  Well, at least he is honest!  Poor guy!  I miss him.

There are six of these young evergreen trees in our woods.  Each time it snows I go out and shake them clear of the heavy snow.  I really hope I can help them grow up.

Cancellations: 
For the first time in my memory the Post Office closed due to snow storms!  Not only the Post Office but just about everything--schools, libraries, work, banks, stores... Wednesday the temperatures were in the negative degrees, with wind chills something like -35 degrees.  



The high temperature for Wednesday was 1 degree.  It was just crazy weather this week, breaking all kinds of records across the mid-west.  Dh's work was closed Wednesday, but was open on Thursday---which was literally just as bad as Wednesday was!  I don't understand why so many businesses opened up when the weather was just horrifically, epic bad!  



Dh slid all over as he drove to work and home, but thankfully he never hit anyone and no one hit him.  There have been so many countless accidents and slide-offs here.  One day this week I counted SIX cars that had slid-off as we made our way to our destination.  We drove snail-speed!



Migraines:
Last week ended with me starting a migraine cluster on Friday.  Saturday and Sunday were the worst days.  I stayed home from church on Sunday and Dh and Dd went without me; as I had trouble just getting out of bed periodically for bathroom breaks.  It was 'that' bad.  I had a residual headache Monday and Tuesday, but I was back to my normal by Wednesday.




Chickens:
Have I shared that I have a Black hen that is sick?  She is just not doing well at all.  I wish I had the knowledge and expertise to give her some antibiotics to help her get over this bug.  I keep trying to hand-feed her, but unlike EVERY other chicken I've ever had, she really doesn't like to be hand-fed!!!  How is this possible?  I'm praying like crazy for her and hope she can overcome these steep odds.  It is cold in our coop, even with the heat lamps going it just always seems too hot or too cold.  I know it is better for chickens to be colder than hotter, so I try for that lean, but heat lamps aren't high tech!  The rest of the hens are all doing well considering its winter and they aren't getting many greens.  



They honestly barely peck at their store-bought pellets and do not act like they want to eat that.  They go crazy for the food I bring in to them and always want more.  Since Dh has been home the past few months I've been scrambling eggs for them and they go crazy for that!  I've been doing cooked rice with odds and ends mixed in as well.  



This week I've used my smooshing stone and added a bag of pistachio nuts along with the rice to add more protein.  They all look skinnier.  With all the snow they haven't been outside as much.  Tuesday night I didn't sleep well; just worrying over the chickens and hoping the heat lamp doesn't catch the outbuilding on fire.  I'm ready for spring---, especially for my chickens!

Bulletin Board:
I kept working on the design, a little each day, tweaking it until I felt like it was done.  It is super hard working on a thin brown paper that I'm taping to the board.  I'm just doing the best I can considering the situation.  I finally brought it to church.

Dd Academic Progress:



Bible:
Church, Bible Study: Week 19 on Word of Life, Sunday School, and Youth Program



Volunteering:
Nursery at church: 1 hour
Both Olympians and her Library (Story Time) were canceled this week b/c of the awful weather, so Dd didn't get a chance to volunteer at either event.



Volunteering as Hair Stylist:
Whenever Dd's buddy, Hailee (a public school kid) has school dances she asks Dd to do her hair.  Then Hailee's friends started asking to also be included; which lead to Dd doing three girls hair this Saturday.  After she did their hair they went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant.   Dd had a great time doing their hair; she is a natural at that type of thing.



Audio:
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte



Fun Reader:
The 100: Book One by Kass Morgan: In Process



Home Economics:



Dd made dinner on Friday: Rice, Mixed Veg. and a Stir-Fry Chicken!  



For dessert, she made "Moo-Less Pie"



Physical Education:
Treadmill x 3



Doctor:
Well-Child Visit; which went well.  Dd and I are switching to local doctors so we won't have to drive all the way to GR when we are sick.  I found last year that Dd would only feel ill when there were inches of snow on the ground and more falling!  Now, she can get sick whenever she likes and I won't hesitate to take her in!!




Grace Co-Op:
Classes were canceled Thursday night; hours before classes, so Dd had finished all her homework for the week.   She's been working hard even if she doesn't meet for classes.

Cultural Geography (BJU)
Algebra I (Saxon)
Spanish I (BJU)
Introductory Logic
Exploring Economics by Ray Notgrass



........

Jan. 20-26, 2019 Snow, Cold, Red Wolf Moon, Dh Released, Migraines, Doc's, Bulletin Board

Jan. 20-26, 2019 

Snow, Cold, Red Wolf Moon, Dh Released, Migraines, Doc's, Bulletin Board

Hello, Friends!

A lot was packed into this week; the complete opposite of the light week we had last week.  The biggest news is that, on Thursday afternoon, we fought horrible snowy/icy roads to go to Dh's eye doctor appointment.  

Eye Doctor Appt:

With the roads being so bad it took longer than our normal forty-five minutes to arrive, but we had left plenty early and still arrived with ten minutes to spare. 



 Dh noticed the gas bubble they had injected into his eye during the surgery, which had been shrinking all along, had finally disappeared!



  Dr. Gindzin looked his eye over and agreed the bubble was gone and that cleared Dh for released from ALL restrictions!  



Dh can go back to work next week; but most importantly he can go back to sleeping on his back, laying down in a bed!  



No longer will he have to sleep sitting up in a high-backed chair in our living room every night!  



Shop Work:
With Dh being released to move around more he has been slowly working in spells in his shop.  He continues the month's long job of building his own workbench and then building attachment holders to lock in the tool to a specific spot; so it will always have a very specific spot as its home.  He is having a great time; we call this kind of work "piddling" and it is great fun!

The holder for the flashlight/beamer (ignore the muddy fingerprints, please!).

A permanent spot for the emergency flashlight/beamer.

Eyeglasses and/or contacts:

Now that Dh can go back to work he needs to sort out something for his vision.  We had just bought him TWO pairs of glasses in October, of course!  The surgery on his eye has completely changed his prescription.  The two eyes were different before, but now they are at extreme ends and therefore the solution isn't easy.  



Dr. Gindzin thought the ophthalmologist would prescribe one contact for the old eye and tell Dh to get a pair of reading glasses for reading.  The ophthalmologist; she was very confusing and offered all sorts of odd things--like wearing contacts and glasses--both?! and, I don't know, it was very confusing.  We were not at all impressed with this part of the office!!!  Unfortunately, we go back to see her in two weeks, right before our check-in with Dr. Gindzin.  For now, she gave Dh two kinds of contacts to test out (for a charge) and he bought an expensive pair of good reading glasses at Meijer to help him with work in the meantime.  I pray this will sort itself out, he will need to read a computer screen, paperwork, and drive, which is three different distances and they only have sorted out one of those at this point.

He put in shelves last week

Sleeping:

Isn't it funny, Dh's first night back in bed and it was very difficult for him.  His body ached all over and he kept waking up!  All those muscles that got accustomed to sleeping in a chair were not happy with the change!



 I'm hoping he can sort out the sleeping change in time for his return to work, don't want him having to go back to work without sorting that out! Weather: Winter has really landed this week!  It was -10 on Monday morning and we had snow a few times this week too.  



Closings: Olympians
Both last Wednesday and again this Wednesday our Olympians program at church was canceled because the local schools were closed due to our horrible weather.  In Indiana, it was common for things to close, but we quickly learned that in Michigan it had to be a big deal for something to close.  



The roads are treacherous!  On Friday, when I was driving Dd to her Grace classes, we passed six auto's that had slid off the road.  One of the auto's, a truck, actually was right behind me and I had just happened to look back and watched him slid across all lanes of traffic and into the median; so crazy.  



After dropping her off in Grand Rapids I had to make the long drive back alone.  The highway that I had just traveled up to take her there was now closed because, as I saw, a white truck had rolled across the road.  That poor truck's top had been battered in the process.  I hope the occupants are okay--hard to say with that kind of damage.  It is days like this that I am glad we homeschool but wish we didn't have to make the long commute once a week for her co-op classes.



Red Wolf Moon:
Dd and I stayed up to see the amazing moon on Sunday night.  It was so cold, something like -2, so we would only be out there for a few minutes and then come in and get warm before heading back out again. 



 It was interesting to see how much the moon moved and how much more of the moon went into shadow in just those few minutes.  



We took pictures, Dd used her tripod and fancy camera to get some great shots; but my camera was practically horrible! 



 But, the memory is in my heart.  I cherish doing these kinds of things with her!  

Doctors & Dentists & Orthodontists:
This week was so full of doctor's visits---I went to the dentist, Dd went to the Orthodontist, Dh went to eye surgeon (Dr. Gindzin) and an ophthalmologist, and had his annual doctor exam.  That was FIVE different doctors for us in one week!  We were so busy Dh and I didn't get out Bible study fit in each day; which was disappointing.  I've really enjoyed seeing him have time for Bible study and treadmill.



Pastor Ron's Last Sermon:
Sunday was our pastor's last sermon.  Afterward, our church had a big pitch-in, or as they say in Michigan, a 'potluck.'  It was really special and sad.

Garden:
Not looking like spring just yet!

 Babysitting:
Dd was fortunate to be asked to babysit again for Teresa!  We love T & J's two kiddos!  It is so great seeing Dd grow up and continue to love caring for kids--always has and probably always will.  She had to drive home after 11 pm, all by herself on these snowy roads.  Dh and I waited up anxiously for her safe return.

Close-Up of board

Bulletin Board:
I've been working on a new board for our church--almost done.

As you can tell- the chickens weren't outside this week!  No dirt-baths for them! Bah.

Chickens:
The girls are all doing okay.  With the crazy cold weather I haven't let them out as much or for as long.  I hate this weather for them---I know they want to be outside in warmth---eating fresh greens, but that just isn't part of Michigan winters.  I'm trying to bring in fun foods for them and boost their morale, but there is only so much I can do now.

Honeysuckle

Migraines:
Well, I hadn't had a migraine all January...so I was due.  I started a headache on Friday and it turned to a major migraine by Saturday.  Saturday and Sunday were really horrible; extreme pain and nausea.  I hate to miss church, but just walking to the bathroom was extremely painful, much less all the work of getting to church.  Dh and Dd went without me. I am thankful I went three weeks without any major migraines or headaches, so that was a blessing.



Academics for the Week:

Bible:

Church, Sunday School, Youth Program

Word of Life daily Bible Study

Audio:
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Volunteering:
Library: Story Time: 9:30 - 11 am
(Olympians canceled this week due to bad weather)
Church: Nursery: 1 hour



Home Economic's:
No-Knead Brioche: This week Dd made two loaves of bread.  It was an ordeal that took two days!  But, it looked amazing!  I can't eat that kind of bread but it smelled and looked fantastic.  She did a great job researching and doing it all on her own.



P.E.:
Dd had workouts this week: 2



Grace Classes: 



Cultural Geography: BJU



Algebra I: Saxon



Spanish I: BJU 



Introductory Logic



Exploring Economics: Started This Week! She has the same teacher that teaches her Geography class.  This teacher seems to make learning extra fun for her!  Joy!




Next Week:
POLAR VORTEX!  LOTS more snow and the high temperature for Wednesday is "0."  Wind chills -30 to -60 degrees in southern Michigan, but we won't be that cold luckily!  Maybe -20? ish?

Dh is going back to work!!!  Yay!  Nov. 16 is when he was diagnosed with the torn retina and hasn't been back to work all this time and our HSA account has been dwindling down each week as his work hasn't had to contribute to it with him being off.  I am SO thankful not to have to deal with Mutual of Omaha starting next week!  This week they are still trying to get the information from our doctors or something---we haven't had a check in three weeks from them; which is ironic with the government shut-down and we get to be in the same boat as all those workers.  I'm praying for us all to get back to work and get back to being paid! 
....