Todd jr.  passed the entrance exam to Edison State College.  He is now a dual enrolled student.  He is in the 11th grade, taking classes and earning full credit for college.  That just blows my mind. 

Nathan and I added Gerbils to our zoo.  They bred and had two litters.  This has been such a wonderful experience for us.  Of course we are swimming in gerbils, but that’s okay.  As long as Red doesn’t get one or 14, we are good. 

Speaking of critters Red eats…. we raised chickens this Spring.  Six hens and one rooster.  We gifted the girls to a home school family that bought a farm.  The rooster found a new home.  It felt so good to raise chickens again.  It felt even better giving them away to people we trust and enjoy.

My Daddy passed away.  He was dieing of cancer, and he took his own life.  It was a very rough week for me.  I am so very blessed with friends and family, though.  Truly couldn’t have made it without them.   The biggest blessing from Daddy’s passing was the reunion with my brother Allen.  Words, there just aren’t enough or the right words to describe how good that was, or how happy I am to have my brother back. 

I visited with my Aunt Audrey and cousins Kathy and Ashley.  I had so much fun.  I look forward to going back to spend more time with them.  While the kids and I were there, we went tubing down the Itchtucknee River.  Oh, that was an incredible good time.  We had never done that before.  We are definitely doing it again.

Now, Summer has turned to Fall.  We are moving again.  Hopefully this will be the very last time.  We have been blessed by Todd’s parents.  They are buying a house for us to live in.  I really look forward to having a house of my own again.  Didn’t really think I would miss that, but I have. 

Wonder what Fall and Winter will bring?

Changes are in the air.  The urban homesteading and sustainability movement is traveling quickly through the people I know.  Many friends are growing gardens, raising chickens, sprouting seeds for sprouts, learning herbal homeopathy, canning foods, and cutting back on electricity by using clotheslines, grills, thermal and solar cooking.  On the down low, many of us are back stocking our pantries.  Preparing for the eventual inflation and possible food scarcity to come.  These last few years of this recession is stirring changes in the American people. 

We are growing green beans, tomatoes and lettuce.  Although summer season is fast approaching, I am trying to eek what I can before the heat kills it all.  We also got some Rhode Island Red chicks.  We really missed raising chickens.  Four of the girls will go to my best friend and daughter.  Two will stay with us, and hopefully Red the Bloodhound will let them live here in peace and ALIVE.

Then Japan, oh poor Japan, they had a HUGE earthquake, followed by a HUGE tsunami that wiped out over 20,000 people.  THEN, their nuclear power plant, which was damaged in the disaster, began to melt down and emit radiation into the atmosphere.    It is terrible over their in the northern half of the country.  My heart just breaks for them. 

Some jackass family, the Dervaes, decided they could legally trademark the term, “Urban Homesteading” and “Sustainable Homesteading” or living or something.  People who practice any urban homesteading, or sustainable lviing, are fighting the Dervaes family legally.  I hope they win. 

The price of food is rising.  Head luttuce is over $1.  Tomatoes push $3 a lb  packaged goods are shrinking, but the price isn’t.  Meat, beef in particular, is getting more and more expensive.  Steak, or roasts are not something we have in this house on a regular basis anymore.  The prices of food is related to the corn, wheat, soybean, oil, gas prices.  These commidities rise in price, and so does the cost of making and distributing the food.  This has spurred on more people to begin or expand their urban homesteading.  Growing our own food is cheaper than buying it.  The growing unrest in the world adds more fervor to the sustainable living movement as well.  Being able to sustain your family, without so much of the world’s help is showing importance.  Relying less on electricity, growing your own food, buying from local farmers, local business instead of corportations is becoming increasingly more important to people.    I haven’t vegetable garden in a few years, but I am this year.  As soon as my friends who have chickens produce enough eggs, I will be buying my eggs from them.  If I can scrape the money together, I want to go back to the Dam Ranch and order a 1/8 of a grass fed cow.  The price over all is better than store prices, and the beef is leaner and better than corn fed lot beef.   Thus starts my journey into urban homesteading and sustainability, slowly but surely

I withdrew from Ashford University.  I couldn’t handle the stress of the classes, and the deliverance of material did not match my learning style.  I was very relieved to finally get out.   I owe them almost $700, and until the are paid they keep my transcripts.  My transfer papers are at Edison.  I hope that I can get everything squared away and start school in the fall.   In the meantime, I have begun ASL classes at the local deaf center. I am dragging Nathan with me.  I so love ASL.  What a terrific language it is.

We have been in Lehigh for 5 months now.  I really like it out here.  I love Stacey’s house.  I like my neighbor, Amanda.  The area is relatively quite.  The wildlife is interesting.  The plant life is… well… scary.  Sharp point weeds that hurt when you step on em barefoot.  The only downside to living out here is the incredible amount of driving I have to do.  It is at least a half hour to anywhere involving friends or school activities.  The amount of gas I go through is killing me.  Not to many people want to come to me, which I understand.  I have to start controlling how often we go out anymore.  Even meeting their friends at the halfway point to swap, is time consuming and eats up gas for all of us.  However, the boys NEED their friends.  It is important.  They shouldn’t have to suffer because I chose to move 22 miles away from friends and family.  I was hoping the homeschool group out here was active, allowing the boys to make friends, but it is not.   Sigh.  I don’t get to see my BFF very often either.  I am a grown up and can handle it.  I miss her though. I miss just running off at a whim.  Now it has to be a planned event, and we have to meet somewhere in Fort Myers.  Being out here is supposed to be worth it, and it is.. financially.  I love the peace, and rural feel of it. So different from the Cape. 

Todd got his driver’s permit in December.  He is a good driver.  He drives every Thursday over to the Cape for Japanese, and Nathan’s drum lessons.  Then we visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Sometimes he drives us back.  I am proud of him.  He is hoping to get a job next.  Now he is 16, and can work.  He recently joined a group of people in an organization called Amtgard.  Live role playing games at a local park in NFM, complete with padded weapons and rudimentary costumes.  (yea)  He loves it.  He gets more socialization that way and exercise too!  Participants range from 14 to grown adults. 

Nathan is gonna be 12 shortly.  He is a ball of fire and energy.  I gotta find something for him to do!!!!!  Problem is he won’t join any groups of people he doesn’t know.  He is shy under all that attitude.  He did decide that he wants to work at the Nature Center.  But, he has to be 13 preferrably.  I think I will try and scrape money together and send him to a summer camp there.   

Thus ends this update.  Life is still good.  We are still healthy and happy.  Red, Rosie and Rumsey are still with us.  We added 2 gerbils to our crew.  The boys named them Japanese words that I can’t even begin to type.  We have a boy and a girl.  Eventually we will add a rat to our menagerie.   FUN

This last year, I have become more nastalgic.  I am drawn back to decades that I can’t remember; 1970′s and before mostly. Wouldn’t it be neat to travel back and experience life then? I realize life then was not much different.. stress wise.. than now, but to experience the pop culture would be neat.  Eh, I am getting older, just wishing that time wasn’t slipping away.  The NOW is amazing and the FUTURE is unknown, but the PAST  is romantic.

I like the New Year holiday.  For me it offers a psychological clean slate.  New hope for things that have yet to be.

It is December 22, 2010.  It has been a busy month.  The kids were involved in the homeschool drama production.. A Christmas Carol.  It was really wonderful.  They performed it on the 4th to a nice crowd of friends and family.  They have attended parties for the holiday as well.  Busy little bees they are.   Our school group this year has been very active and alot of fun. I like this alot.

I turned 40 this month. I was not happy about this.  I am still not happy about this. 

My husband, Todd ended up very ill.  He spent 5 days in the hospital for 2 seperate surgeries to take care of gall stones and his gall bladder.  $36,00o later he is a new man.  He feels fantastic, can enjoy food again, and lost 17lbs. Looking really good.   The boys were so good while Daddy was in the hospital.  They were alone alot, while I was at the hospital, but they kept up on their school work and they kept on the house chores too.  Excellent independant workers.  It felt good to know they could take care themselves, the dogs, and and the house.  I did good training them!!! 

So, here we are 3 days before Christmas.  Barely any gifts for the kids or anyone else, and $15 to our name.  Friday is payday. We will be able to do a little better than a couple tshirts and pj’s.  But, hey, it’s all good.  God provides, and he has certainly done that!  I am very glad that my kids are old enough to understand that money is really tight because of the move and Daddy being out of work from illness. They will have a nice Christmas with family, and will appreciate the gifts they get.  We will appreciate God’s wonderful touch in our lives.

I have been doing very well in my classes.  I have an A, and believe me, I earned every point!!!  An online education is much harder than a classroom education.  I have to work harder for my instruction, since I don’t have a teacher standing in front of me lecturing.  Anyway, I have 13 more classes to go.  I will earn my degree sometime in March of 2012. 

Todd is going to get his driver permit before the month is over.  I can’t believe he is old enough to drive.  WOW.  My first born is alot taller than me, man sized, with a crooked sense of humor and so tender and loving. 

Nathan is growing taller and taller.  He will be looking me in the eye in the next year.  He is so affectionate with me still.  Nathan has one foot into youth and one foot into little boy.  He is a funny little one, so into cats adn dogs and weapons and camo. 

I don’t know why time has to go by so fast. 

I have 3 weeks off between classes.  THANK GOD!  Now, i have the time to finish unpacking the house.  Its been two months since we moved in.  Yesterday, I finally got Nathan’s room set up correctly. he can finally use his room comfortably.  Today we tackled the garage.  We found one whole side of the garage.  We set up Todd’s side and started setting it up.  Naturally, we threw things away.  Tomorrow we tackle the other side.  Maybe by the end of the day, the garage will be useable!!  

It has been very cold this month.  Was supposed to be warm and dry for La Nina.  Instead it has been chilly, with 4 nights of freezing temperatures.  I was shocked at how cold it gets out here.  It was most definetly warmer in the Cape, than here closer to the center of the state.  Of course that means it will be hotter than hell here in the summer, and a bit cooler in the Cape. 

So, I like the neighborhood I live in. I love the house, alot.  I am not fond of Lehigh itself. I am not thrilled with the 45 minute drive to anywhere.  However, it is worth it. I go out in the morning, and I hear the rooster crowing from somewhere.  The birds are abundant.  The ‘hood quiet.  At night, the stars sparkle in the sky, like I have never seen before.  I love driving through Buckingham.  That is country, complete with cows, and goats.  I haven’t heard a police or ambulance/fire dept siren in 2 months. So nice.  

It is a good end to a not so good year.  We have high hopes for the year to come.  God will provide. 

Anyway.  The new house we are renting is very, very nice.  It is several hundred square feet larger than this one, and the room layouts are so open. There is so much more room to stretch out. The living area and kitchen is all one big room. I like that A LOT.  There is plenty of storage space.  Lord knows we need that.  It is nice to have some more room.  There is a large patio, and the front house has a covered porch.  Very charming, with lots of decorating potential.  I look forward to living there for awhile. 

I look forward to being still for awhile.  I have had to do substandard work in my new course at Ashford, because I do not have the time to focus on it right now.  The kids schooling is suffering because we haven’t been able to just stay home and focus on it.  I want to be still.  I want to stay home.  I want to do school. I want to catch up. I want time. I want some peace and calmness.

3 days left.  Gotta go pack more boxes.

Finished my first course at Ashford University with a 101.90 %   Very proudof myself.   Just began second course.  To much chaos going on to concentrate real hard.

Fall weather finally arrived the last 2 weeks.  Highs in the mid 80′s and lows in the mid 60′s.  Humidity has diminished greatly, so it is quite comfortable..

I finally got that garden bed planted out front.  I still need to mulch it, but the landscaping looks much better.  Just in time for me to move!   

It looks like we will be moving in late October, to a city 45 minutes away.  It is a financial move, made possible through a friend. Such a blessing she is.  We hope to be solvent and settled financially in  less than 2 years.  I am excited, nervous and overwhelmed at the thought of moving again.  This last move was just so hard.  This next move won’t be any easier.  So much stuff should not be coming with us.  If I havn’t unpacked it, searched for it or remembered I had it, then it needs to be sold, donated or thrown out.  I am very, very OVER my stuff.    We move in 6 weeks. 

I also returned to college.  FINALLY!  I chose an online university option, instead of heading down to our local college.  It is a ton of money, borrowed from the gov’t., but it fits my scheduling needs right now.  Ashford University is my school now.  I am working on finishing my AA in Early Childhood Education.  Then iwill return for my BS in Elemenatary Ed.  I am very excited.

Back to the move.  We will be moving to a decidedly more rural area.  It’s not farm land, but it is not convenient to stores either.  I will have a few neighbors, but the area around me is very bushy, wild and very Florida.  We will have a veggie garden this year.  Hopefully, I can keep the critters out of it.  The area is very quiet, and a long drive to all the places we go for home school activities.  It will be worth the sacrifice though.

In the last few months we fostered 2 kittens.  What a pleasure that was.  They were with us for 6 weeks, and just recently went to thier forever home.  Red was happy with his new stuffies, and he has been dejected for the last few days.  I think he misses them.  I wonder what we will bring him next.

The kids and I have taken a summer vacation from school.  It has been 3 weeks since we did any formal schooling.  I wanted to take time off to get some projects done.  The project list still stands unfinished, and we are getting bored.  I know I look forward to returning to the structure of school.  Nathan even said he was missing school “a bit”.  However, the list still needs completing!!!  Really, if the days are going to fly by, I should be filling them with constructive work!

The boys had their annual physicals yesterday.  Nathan had a good visit.  He needs a calcium supplement because he doesn’t drink enough milk.  He needs to gain a bit of weight too.  Boy can not live on air alone.  Todd, on the other hand, was EYE OPENING.  I had been avoiding it for years, but finally agreed to do cholesterol testing on both boys ( along with other usual bloodwork )  Todd’s cholesterol at 15 was nearly as bad as mine was at 35!  I was very alarmed to read the numbers, and the realization was frightening.  He is NOT healthy.  I finally agreed to enroll him in Kid Shapers program.  It is one on one counseling with a nutritionist.  The goal is to educate him and us in the appropriate food choices, serving sizes and physical activity.  The boy doesn’t much care, but we do.

That leads me back to July is fading fast, and I am still 100+ lbs overweight and doing nothing but talking about what I am gonna do about it.  I am leading by example around here, and all I am doing is getting in the way. Sometimes, all I need a reality check.

Lazy summer.  Good summer.