Chapter 38

My Happy Place

The kids and I got away earlier this week to my happy place, my dad's farm.  

When I was little it seemed like one of the only places I felt like I fully belonged.  It always brings me peace.

The countryside is so serene.

Even with overcast skies the green wheat, within a few weeks of heading out, is beautiful and brilliantly colored against the sky.  Pictures just can't capture the amazing creation.

While we were there we helped my dad fix fences.  

We made some new friends.

 

We love this place so much and want to spend a lot of time here this summer.  So we got this crazy notion to plant a garden out here.  

The only problem is it's been well over a decade since a garden has thrived on this land.  My dad and Jake tried to get the big mower on the back of the tractor hooked up so it would take down the weeds quickly.

But such is farm life.  They had a few troubles.  We went with the lawn mower instead, which worked too.

There was a lot of squealing when we found a snake!

Alex and I wanted it dead.  :)  Beth wanted to set it free somewhere else.  I'm not tellin' who won.

We also found a lizard which  Beth and Lucy made into a pet immediately.  We didn't get a picture of him but he was set free at the end of the day.

After hours of mowing and raking years of weeds, we dug our way down to the dirt.    

I had a few more pictures that looked like American Gothic, but apparently Jake didn't want his picture to be fully revealed here.  

(um, he must not see all the pictures I post of him. ha ha.  shhhh. let's just not tell)

Bessie.  ;)

We eye spied Eric's Datsun.  He was not happy to hear the last time the kids were out here there was a skunk living in the engine compartment.  

I did not go near the Datsun.  I hate skunks. ;)  But apparently the kids found it all clear.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  One of the days my dad took us into Durham to eat at the Main Street Cafe.

Good ol' Mennonite home cookin'.  It was yummy!

It's always sad to leave the farm.  The views leaving are breathtaking.  This particular hill where this is taken is beautiful at sunset.  

This time we took a photo just after the storms blew through.  Still breathtaking.

Beware.  There may be a lot of happy place pictures this summer.  I am not a city girl at heart!

Dirty Dogs

The rain lately is drivin' me crazy!

Bebe needs lots of baths...

Ornery little boooger.

Moby is a little more cautious.  But I guess the mud pit in our backyard doesn't help.

At least that white fur cleans up good.

Hey, and seriously.  That couch is off limits.  Why is there a sleeping dog on my couch??? 

I didn't see this until I looked through the pictures on my camera. No one seems to know how it got there. Hmmmmmmm.

Graduation 2011

Well, sort of.

We just aren't your "normal" homeschool family.  
We don't do much that is "traditional".

BUT - my mom said that all her other grandkids graduate from 8th grade and get a gift.

So today Jake and Alex had 8th grade graduation.  
Technically, Jake is going into 10th grade but since we don't do things like normal people we celebrated Jake and Alex together.

My folks took us all out to dinner last night.  

And today as they were leaving my mom said, "Oh yeah.  I forgot," and handed Jake and Alex graduation gifts in the front yard.  

Thus deeming it "graduation". (We rock at ceremonies apparently.)

I took it as an opportunity to exploit them all and make them get their pictures taken.  
This is a rare event.  

BOTH my teenagers are smiling.  

This day also marks the first time Jake and Alex musically played together in a recital.

Alex played piano.  Jake played guitar.  

If you know E and I this is pretty much a miracle that they have any ability to carry a tune.  

(and although some of the practicing included claws and tears and a bit of frustration, I am happy to report that they got along beautifully during the recital)

Jake did declare the minute their duet of the Lord of the Rings song "In Dreams" was over that he will never do that again.  

He loved playing in front of an audience. HA!  :)

And while I had people sort of cooperating in front of the camera I threw Beth in. (Let's just say Lucy was not cooperating and we missed her!)

They're so sweet and awesome.  I just love them.  

Sadly, Grandma and Papa B left just before I had the bright idea to take pictures.  Boo.  Next time, I guess.

Oh, and just for fun I got in on a pic (although Eric was not a very nice photographer and I had to crop much of me out of it...or maybe there is much of me so I had to crop the picture.  But whatever.  This is better...)

Hey look.  I think I know where Beth gets her pointy chin!

To return the favor to Big E I took pictures of him and the graduation/recital duo.

Um, yeah.  They are somethin'.

Eric thought the only reason Jake was taller than him was that the ground wasn't level.  He made Jake and Alex switch places.  

And then he made a cheeseball attempt to make his neck look longer.  :)

I think Jake is being nice in this picture; Leaning his head in.  

I have come to grips with the fact that I am short.  There's no denying it.

These kids are growing up way too fast.  

After a season of busy, busy busyness we are strategically planning a summer with lots of down time.  Lots of family time.  Lots of friend time.  I don't want this season to go by so fast. 

You also know you are a true momma of kids that grew up out of no where when you tear up like a big ol' baby during a piano recital.  

Hmmmm.  That might've been me.

For real.  I love these kids.

Food is Ridunculous

The food situation has become ridunculous at our house.

One kid was confirmed with Celiac Disease.  Another is postively allergic to gluten.

And after a nice bout of intestinal issues for the past several years it is now believed that I, too, have a love hate relationship with gluten.

Probably not the best thing for the daughter of a wheat farmer.  :)

It's a good thing, though.  Many of the ongoing symptoms from the past several years have now been accounted for.

But going gluten free is expensive.  It's reallly difficult.

Did you know gluten is in a lot of canned items that don't make sense?

Did you know that there are risks of cross contamination even if a product doesn't have gluten as an ingredient but is made somewhere where gluten-filled products are made?

Did you know that "Pam's Cinnamon Rolls" are now a thing of the past? (gasp)

Eric teared up when he thought about the possiblity of there not being butterhorns baked in my kitchen ever again. Poor E.

It has been incredibly challenging for us to cook.

Big E is also very particular and likes variety.  But a gluten-free diet doesn't contain a ton of variety.

I like to make him happy so this is hard.

We try to stay fresh and unprocessed to make it easiest. 

And our grocery budget has become astronomical.  

LOTS of fresh fruit and veggies and meat. 

Today while we were discussing the situation with a dietician she said, "The best thing you can do is get out of the country.  Your diet will be much better."

Hey, yeah.  We're workin' on that.  

The GOOD news is we can eat rice, lots of it. 

(that's a Jake portion...Kindle and all.)

Oh, and cassava is on the good list too.

 

Bebe

We have this new puppy.  Her name is Beatrice.  

Or Bea or Bebe for short.

She's really cute.

Moby is finally warming up to her after giving her the silent treatment for a while.

He was NOT happy that we invaded his quiet, old man space with a vivacious, obnoxious puppy.

He was LESS than impressed with her.

But now, he finally is willing to play with her.  

He is gentle but still seems kind of annoyed sometimes by her.  

Nap time is still a priority for Moby.

Bea is a sweet girl...although today she peed in the "off zone" room.  

She's not allowed near my chaise lounge chair where I go for solitude and peace.

But somehow while we entertained the roofing guy someone let her loose in there.  

But really, she's mostly a good dog.

We are hoping she becomes a really mean guard dog.

What is NOT helping is Lucy.

Last week Bebe was with us at a friend's house and I peaked out the window to see Lucy pushing the DOG in a baby swing.  

Just like she was a doll.  

And today I looked over and saw Bebe spinning on my leather office chair. 

She was just a huge blur.

Um, yeah.  

She is totally going to be a violent dog.  

Maybe just to Lucy, though.

:) 

back in the game

Wow.  I totally went under water these last few months.  Swallowed up into the abyss of life.

But I am hoping to be back on my blog regularly.  Life around here is just too humorous to not document.  If we aren't syndicated for a reality show at least we will be able to read this to our kids when they deny it in their 20's.  ;)

AND, it seems life is taking a few twists and turns here.  We are on the brink of a some changes and I want to be sure we are writing our story as it unravels.  

For now, rest assured, I still look like this:

And since I am blazing tired, I will leave you with some happy pictures from the outdoor market we love to frequent. (we were there today! :) but these pictures are older)

* pictures courtesy of miss alex b