RED in concert

RED's coming to town the day after my birthday....and at the church we regularly visit. Shiver me timbers. (btw, this is my favorite all-time music video...and yes, I've played this here before)

Reading Elizabeth Sherrill's newest book, All the Way to Heaven, and so loving it. So wonderful.

My Contemplative Pug

While I realize that dog breeds are NOT supposed to be capitalized, those with Pugs will agree that this particular breed *deserves* a capital letter at the beginning. :) Here Violet and I sit...(watching videos at Masterpiece Theatre's website about 'Return to Cranford' which comes on tonight)

A good ending to the week

I've definitely learned something during the past week. Because I've been sick in addition to the kids, I've had to re-do what we get accomplished with school, and have had to lower my personal expectations as well. The habit for the past 5 days has been for me to get up with the dogs, check on the kids and see them medicated and then take myself back to bed for an hour or so. And get this---no guilt.

After turning my focus away from coughs, fevers, sore throats and all that illness entails, I can honestly say that it's all been good. Course I'm saying this after a restful afternoon, and am able to think straight. Rest is a great healer. The past couple of hours I've been sitting in the living room, holding Daisy in my lap. Just sitting. And talking to the kids and Gary. No busy work or fiddling. As I said, just sitting.

Back to the homeschooling stuff....the only schoolwork we got done this past week revolved around artwork. Dragged out my college art history books, and actually used them. I'd become so undone with algebra, geometry, and other more difficult classes that I'd forgotten how to have fun. It had been so long since I'd actually enjoyed teaching these kids. But it figures. I've been teaching classes that aren't my strengths. Now we're back to the things that make sense to me. :)

Blessings in odd spots. Even in a sick house.

One more thing...

Seems I've been stressed enough for awhile. After I got up this morning, Violet the Pug began hacking and choking like Daisy the Pug had done a few days before Christmas. Daisy ended up being taken to the animal emergency clinic after 1am back then, and two hundred dollars later, we brought her back home. Shades of that situation flashed before my eyes while I listened to the other Pug cough.

My sensible son woke up to her noises and kept me company in the living room---us handing her off, and trying to keep Daisy out of her face. I found a vet in the Yellow Pages that was nearby and made an appointment for 11:30am. We haven't had a regular vet after a couple of disturbing situations with former dogs and that particular vet's tendency to over-charge and falter over diagnosing our pets. We had to go somewhere new.

So, here it was, about an hour before we needed to leave and Daisy begins to cough a bit too. NO! We just did this. I called the vet and asked if we could bring both dogs. No problem.

This was the best vet visit of my life. Such sweet folks, only about 2 minutes from the house, and no over-charging. The doctor was very calm and patient---taking time to explain things to me, and he didn't over-medicate which is what appeared to happen at the emergency clinic. But, what do I know? An added bonus is that we don't have to separate the puppies from one another, but will keep the big dogs apart from them.

Calm people. That's what I need to surround myself with more often. I get so anxious, and my husband says I'll make an issue out of a situation even if there's not one to make. I tend to get so worked up. I think I just run on such a low battery, needing sleep and that causes me to get nervous. A rest deficit. So thankful that this didn't end up to be a negative situation. But the idea of another sick individual in the house, on top of this endless virus that's made us humans housebound PLUS the notion of a high vet bill just got the best of me. Talk about adrenal overload. Sheesh. But maybe it'd drive any average person a bit nuts.

OK now. Gonna go to the grocery with my honey pie in a bit. I truly love buying groceries. Just makes me feel secure. Maybe it'll do the trick to settle my wired-up nerves. Do you think?

Btw, the diagnosis in both puppies was tracheitis/tracheobronchitis aka kennel cough. Not generally vaccinated against unless the dog will be with other pups. Note to self: have them vaccinated against this after healed up.

(daisy in photo wearing the hat you gave me, molly!)

A cold Friday evening

Loved Mrs. Miniver. Loved it! Finished it last night and am now pouting because I've got nothing half as charming to read. Well, considering that it was hidden in the shelves, gathering dust for who knows how long, maybe there's something else neat hidden from me.

More quotes from it:

'It seemed to her sometimes that the most important thing about marriage was not a home or children or a remedy against sin, but simply there always being an eye to catch.'

'She was tired to the marrow of her mind and heart, let alone her bones and eardrums: and nothing in the world seemed more desirable than a long wet afternoon at a country vicarage with a rather boring aunt.'

If any of you (besides Bonnie who's already ordered a copy) can grab it, then do. Mine is a 1942, but the original is 1940. The later edition has updates from the author. Btw, Amazon has tons of copies available. Good prices too.

Glad my day has passed quietly. The least one's temperature shot up to 103F. after dinner last night and I slept lightly, hoping she'd stay asleep. She did, and her sister (who's 11) slept in as well. Today they kept quiet and were so good. And to my joy as well...all of my chickens will be home tomorrow. Kids off work, husband staying home and all of us here recovering and being lazy. What more could I possibly need? Now oldest daughter is baking chocolate chip cookies, husband is helping one son set up the wireless on his laptop, middle daughter is asleep, least one is cuddling Daisy, and everyone is just chattering. Me, I'm listening to Sara Groves' newest CD Fireflies and Friends. God is good.

This morning