Sept. 8-14, 2019 BSF, Canning, Cleaning, Grace Co-Op Begins, Power Outage, Fallsburg Park Festibal

Sept. 8-14, 2019 

BSF, Canning, Cleaning, Grace Co-Op Begins, Power Outage, Fallsburg Park Festival

Pictures Coming Soon!

Hello Friends!

This week Dd's official "Senior Year" began.  We plan on her having another senior year again next year as a "Super-Senior Year."  

Grace Co-op School Schedule:

Science: Anatomy/Physiology (Apologia)

Art: Painting Studio

History: The American Civil War

Writing/English: Analytical Writing for Essays and Research Paper

Math Tutor:

Algebra 2

Senior Year(s):

This week her co-op classes started on Friday.  On Tuesday Dd drove to her math tutor's house for her first Algebra 2 class.  Unfortunately, her Algebra I teacher doesn't teach the Algebra 2 class at Grace, the teacher who she had for Geometry does, and Dd didn't click with her teaching style.  So, to keep the math teacher that she learns best with she will have to drive 45 minutes, each way, to stay with her and continue learning Algebra.  I wish she could just have lessons on Friday's instead of turning two days each week into driving.  The amount of snow days in Grand Rapids is amazingly high!  The less she has to drive in the snow the better.

Garden/Canning:

Dh got into the canning action this week!  He canned 6 quarts of potatoes this week.  We planted five beds of five different potatoes this year.  The green beans are still coming in and I'm still canning as often as I can.

Cleaning:

With the past few weeks being so busy with the flooring and all our furniture moving all around I needed to spend time this week just cleaning---the bathrooms, the kitchen...hard to keep up with it all.  We had to take off all the covers on all the switches and outlets.  I am trying to get them all back on now that the painting is done.

Furniture:

This week we were able to get some of our living room and dining room furniture back where they belong!  We didn't get it all back in this week, but at least we have a sofa and chairs again!!  

Bible Study Fellowship:

BSF started this week.  It totally wasn't what I had built up in my mind.  I thought it was going to be a  'college level' class with high expectations for me, the student.  I found the women in the class were just like the women in my last Bible study at church; some new to Bible study and some beyond my level.  The majority of ladies in my small group are fairly young women with young children and babies.  There is nothing wrong with the group, it was just so different than what I had built up in my mind!!!  I'm looking forward to growing with these ladies.  

Flooring/Door Ways:

This week Dh had a very, very busy time at work but he did try to figure out how to work on the doorways.  His first attempts didn't work right and he had to keep trying until he finally got it together correctly.  He does such a good job and he makes sure everything looks professional; which takes four times longer, but is worth the wait!

Fallsburg Park Festival:

Saturday morning Dh and I had another special date together!  We went to a festival at a nearby park that showcases artist.  We had a really nice time together.  After looking at all the artist booths we sat at a picnic table and just listened to some live music.  

Power Outage:

There are two major things that makes living in Grand Rapids so very different than any place I've ever lived; and I've lived in state after state after state in my life!  1) Very Little Sunshine!  The only place in America that has less sunshine than Grand Rapids is Seattle, Washington.  We just have so many cloudy days and many of those days have precipitation in one form or another.  2)Power Outages!  Unless you live in a place that loses it's electricity often you probably can't relate to this.  I know I never had lived anywhere where I needed a generator as often as I do here.  The other part is that when we lose our electricity it doesn't come back on for usually more than 24 hours, often days!  It is, unfortunately, part of our "normal" life here.  Saturday and Sunday this week were without power-- we had tornado warnings and super bad winds.  Dh and I were bunkered down in the basement with our critters.

Donating to Thrift Store:

I took in four big boxes of stuff, mostly clothing, to our thift store this week.  So glad to be able to let go of stuff.

Gardening/Canning:

This has been a remarkable September for Grand Rapids!  Usually our high temperatures are around 70 degrees, but this year has been close to or in the low 80's.  Our grapes are purple and getting better and better each day!  We look forward to making jam soon.  I'm still picking green beans and canning them every few days.  I'm still watering and weeding as the garden is still doing really well!  I'm making kale and swiss chard smoothies most days from the greens in my garden.

Dead Hen:

Hestia, one of my favorite Black Sex Link hen's died this week.  She was just laying on the ground, peaceful and as if she were asleep.  She had been coming out the door as I went in each morning and eating grass and things until I would pick her up and put her back in the coop.  If I had to guess what happened I'd guess she must have eaten some green bean beans.  I didn't know they are a toxic poison to chickens.  I don't know, for sure, what she ate or what happened, but I do know she was a master escape artist and would gobble up anything she could eat.  I also know I have a big garden full of green beans and perhaps she ate one too many of those toxic white beans... I really miss Hestia!  She was such a great hen!!!

Dd's Progress This Week:

Dd's Academic's This Week:

Grace Co-op School Schedule:

Science: Anatomy/Physiology (Apologia)

Art: Painting Studio

History: The American Civil War

Writing/English: Analytical Writing for Essays and Research Paper

Math Tutor:

Algebra 2

Pizza Shop:

Dd is really enjoying working at the pizza shop!

Home Economics:

Dd has been making PUMPKIN ROLLS from scratch!  She made one GF so I could have some and brought the rest of it to her friends at work.  Her friends liked it so much she made another roll just for them.  She can cook and bake like a pro!  

Physical Therapy:

Dd had two Physical Therapy sessions this week.  She is supposed to be doing exercises at home each day; up to four times a day.

Dd is still really busy, between friends, working, lessons, and her twice a week PT sessions.  I really miss spending time with her and having our old easy-going interactions.  She is really growing and stretching as she becomes an adult.  It isn't an easy process for any of us.  I love her SO!

Next Week:

Garden, Canning, BSF, closing the pool...

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