Thursday, 10-16-08

Not alot going on... Picked my mom up yesterday so she can catch her flight Friday morning to go to Texas for the funeral.

I am behind on school work, but have plenty of time to catch up.

Trying to get back into the practice of keeping a price book, prices are getting all screwy! Yesterday I realized that basic canned veggies are 3 cents a can cheaper at Walmart than Aldi's! So... who knows what else I will find. Also trying to get back on track with a monthly budget. Need to do some adjusting now that there is only four of us here. I should get it down nicely.

Another update...

Goodness, it has been 9 days since I last blogged!

Been really busy with school. Working with the seniors and the school. And family life.

Besides the above, which is pretty much weekly, I also broke a bone in my foot, we lost a pet and the worst...my aunt passed away. I am limping along, my daughter is coming to terms with the loss of her hamster and my mom is getting ready to fly out to Texas for the funeral of her sister.

I took my first mid-term for college, a history one. I am confident I passed, but not sure what my grade will be. I have another one due for Cultural Geography. I had hoped to do it this week, but it just will not work this week, so I will do it Tuesday of next week.

Anyways... life goes on, it just takes some time

This was a hard week....

coursework-wise that is! (I think I just made up a new word! LOL)

Ian was home sick on Monday, I worked on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday...oh and had to go and meet up with Donny since he was home for a long weekend.

I got SOOO behind on my assignments for the week! I usually like to have everything done by end of day Friday... so I have the whole weekend free. I just finished my last assignment less than an hour ago... not what I wanted, but at least I am done before the due date.

I don't plan to let that happen next week, it is just too stressfull.

I hope your week went well....

Still surviving

Been really busy. Course work has really picked up. Just finished the first of 4 essays that I will need to do for History. And that is JUST history. LOL Does not include all the other classes. But I am pacing it and so far so good. My biggest issue is that I hate to be graded! LOL And of course, what is the whole point of college, but to submit work for grades. LOL

Anyway... I am getting there, plus working here and there at the school and for the senior care place. I know it will all be worth it in the end!

Hugs to all you out there that read this blog and cares about the life of one lady in Virginia! ;-)

It looks might once a week (or less)....

might become normal for this blog for now.

My online courses have gotten really busy now, plus the last two started up yesterday and they have just has much if not more assignments than my other three! I am starting to question my decision! I know, I will get through this! (Well, God willing, anyways!)

Kids are doing good....family life is going along nicely. I am starting to get teaching assignments, and so far I am keeping up with my own schooling. So really, I can not complain too much. I knew going into this that I would be losing my online "play" time. I just miss some of the chats I would have!

Anyways...please keep me in your thoughts as I wade through academia and continue being a wife and mother in the process!

Hugs!

The first week of school....

Well, it is over! The first week of school that is. :-D

Okay... I had plans for Monday. I really did, but unforseen occurances befall us all, and that is exactly what happened on Monday.

Picture getting the kids up for school and dealing with one nervous fourth grader (they change classes for science and social studies!!), add in a 2nd grader that did not go to sleep until almost 11 o'clock the night before (not fun!)! Got everyone ready, start out towards the end of our driveway (our bus stop)...and before the kids get half way there, I see it... our oldest daughter's cat lying dead across the street. Let's just say that the first day of school this year will be rememorable, just not in the way I would have liked!

Okay... I call my sweetie and tell him, get the kids on the bus (their choice, I gave them the option to drive them in later), put the dog in the house and got a blanket. Then went across the street to see if there was any hope....there was not. :-(

Oldest daughter came over later, we had a small graveside service to say goodbye to Payne.

Okay... now the plans I had made for that was day to surprise the kids with a new kitten! I had already made the arrangements to meet up with this person and could not change them. Thankfully my oldest took this well and actually said playing with the new kitten helped her with her grief.

The next day was rather uneventful, until Sweetie almost took his finger off with the log splitter on Tuesday night! Three hours at the hospital and 5 stitches later... he was okay. (yeah, it is never dull here!)

Oh... did I mention that I am taking a full course load at the community college, and my classes started on Monday also?? Well... I am and they did! Thankfully the first week of assignments were pretty simple and easy, so I was done by Wednesday.

Our 18 year old came home this weekend, which was a wonderful way to end the week.

Of course.... we have not gotten through Saturday yet.... LOL

Random tid bit...

Did you know that in the state of New Jersey, it is illegal for you to pump your own gasoline?

I did not know that until we drove through the state on our way to Maine! I had never heard of anything like that!

I wonder what the reasoning was for that little law? hmmmm...that will make you wonder for a bit.

General updates on us.....

Okay... I have not posted any pictures because my photo-editing program (the one I love!) did not get transferred to the new computer and I have yet to find one I can tolerate! LOL But I am working on it.

Alright, here is what has been going on in my life for the last couple of weeks:

We were in Maine the first week of the month, which was nice and peacefull and fun! Unfortunately, I got some bad news while we were there! The new superintendant of the school system decided to use his authority and decided that there had to be a substitute with a degree for the assignment I was going to do this year. The principal told him that HR had not found anyone and had ok'd her choice (me) for the position. He would not budge and told her that he did not care WHAT degree the person had, but that they HAD to have one. She was not happy, and of course, neither was(am) I! Although I can understand where he is coming from, just because a person has a degree, does not mean they are qualified to teach a room full of first graders! Oh well, life goes on and I am trying to get a position as a teaching assistant at another school. I will still substitute teach and work for the senior care place until something full time comes my way.

Since I will not be teaching full time, DH has encouraged me to take a full course load of classes this semester! I am scared half to death! I will be taking 4 online classes! I just hope I do not lose my mind in the process!

Our 18 year old is off at college! I was rather "bummed" on the way home. Don't get me wrong, I am so proud of him, but I will miss him! (It helps that he keeps texting me!)

I was able to visit my mom for a long weekend.... it is always nice to visit mom.

This is the final "free" week until the kids start back to school. I have almost all their supplies together...and just a few more things to get before the first day.

Well.... this will be all for now gang!

Back from Maine...

We got back into town late last night.

Had no internet access at the lake.... will update later.

Hugs to everyone

Scripture for today....

The angel of Jehovah is camping all around those fearing him, And he rescues them.
Ps 34:7

What a verse of comfort.

I got the long term substitute teaching position!

I will be teaching first grade! I am guaranteed until mid-January! Then it will depend on if the regular teacher can get early dismissal from her tour of duty or not.

She is trying to save up her leave time to get done early, but if not, I will be subbing until mid May!

I am so excited and honestly, an tad scared!

I brought home a stack of teachers reference materials to start getting an idea of what I will be doing!

I also need to start bulk cooking some, since I will be working full time AND taking two online courses. LOL Talk about jumping in feet first! LOL

I have been tagged...

Okay, Donna over at the Zoo, has tagged me...so here we go:

Here are the rules.

1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell 6 quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them. (I don't know if I can do 6, since most have already been tagged by other people! LOL)
5) Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

Okay here go the Quirky, Boring Details

1) I love to bake, but hate to clean up after. (Is that really quirky???)

2) I read all sorts of "self-suffiency" books, but don't really want to HAVE to grow and raise all my own food.

3) I am a rather frugal person, but secretly, I would love to be able to go shopping without looking at any price tags!

4) I usually have at least 3 different books going at any given time!

5) Although I would never get one, I would love to have a small tattoo.

6) Is it a quirk to not really know what your quirks are?? I would ask my sweetie what my quirks are, but he is not here. LOL

Now... off to see if there are any of my online blogging friends that has NOT been tagged yet.

Update on monthly spending

Hi all,

I have been wanting to post some pictures I have taken with my new camera, but we lost the programs I normally use when we got this new computer. LOL I will post them as soon as I can....promise!

Okay, back to the budget.

As of yesterday, I have spent $246.69 of my budgeted $350.00 for food, and $10.53 of my $50 for animals and misc.

Considering this is the 17th of the month, and I will not need to buy much for the rest of the month, I should be able to make my budget. I think I will use the excess to stock up on any meat sales that happen between now and the end of the month.

So...how is your grocery challenge going?

Using the USDA's Guide for grocery budget.....

I decided to look up the USDA's website to see what they had for their monthly food budget plans. (I always like to see how much less I spend than what they
"think" I should! LOL)

The most recent figures they have are for April, 2008 (here)

For their "Thrifty" plan for my family, I should be spending $694.07 a month on FOOD! Let me just say, even with my being lazy that last couple of months, I did not spend even close to that amount on food! I also did some stocking up and did not come close to that amount!

I am still planning on spending just $350 for this month, with a budget of $50 for non-food items (this will include pet supplies also). This is a very reasonable amount, since I have a nice pantry and have been working with a pantry for years.

Our garden is also starting to produce, so that helps keep costs down at the store. I also need to look into some new canning recipes so that I can stock up my pantry with home made items!

Getting back to tracking my monthly grocery spending....

I used to know to the penny what I spent on groceries every month. I really did, but then I got lazy. LOL

I am back to doing that. I went to the store today and spent $20.92 on groceries. I spent $26.76 four days ago... so as of today, I have spent $47.68. I plan to keep my spending to less than $350 this month.

It should be easy, but only time will tell. lolololol

Ceremony day is here!

well... all the cupcakes are iced, the veggies are cut up, the dip is in the fridge, and we will pick the cake up at the bakery.

I have done all I can.....so we now just wait and hope it goes rather smoothly! LOL

I will let you all know how it went later.

1930's Wife

96 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Something I read on a message board I frequent...

Let me preface this by saying that I have a number of "Northern Friends" that would fit the same role as "Southern Friends" do in this list. :-D

'FRIENDS' VS. 'SOUTHERN' FRIENDS


FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the food. And lots of it.

FRIENDS: Will say 'hello'.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss. More than one.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad, and often.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Cry with you. And for you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together. Then do the dishes before leaving.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you. And most of the time know you better than you do yourself.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' butt that left you. Then walk beside you in the front of the crowd.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, 'I'm home!' If you are not home they will wait.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
SOUTHREN FRIENDS: Are for life. And then some.

FRIENDS: Might ignore this.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will forward this to all their Southern Friends!
'Life is Short ......So Enjoy It!'

First full week of summer vacation over...

And they are still both ALIVE...but barely. LOL

Oh things are really not that bad... just them adjusting to being home together all day. LOL Add in the neighbor boy that I am watching this summer and it can get interesting.

I have signed them both up for the library's summer reading program. I have mentioned it to the dad of our neighbor... so hopefully he will sign his son up also. I would truly dislike having to let them get prizes and he not getting anything. I can only do so much.

The garden is coming along nicely. I just wish it would hurry up a bit. LOL

Not much to post about... but wanted to at least post something, I am sure it has been at least a week, if not longer, since my last post.

Hope you all are enjoying the first official day of SUMMER!

Summer time in the country.....

Such a nice place to be a kid!