Whirlwinds....

The life in Cali is supposed to be laid back and surfer-esque...right dudes? Well, that may be SOME mid-westerners perception...HAH!

Since moving here a month and a half ago I don't think I've yet to catch my breath! I'm reeling still from the intense 2 week training, from the 14 hour days with the ladies (and the kids and the husband and the housework and the meals, and the errands and the grocery shopping...) whew!

I don't want to complain tho'...I still believe God sent us here for a reason. To minister. Did He promise that everything would be good? Did He promise a life of ease? No trials, no stress? No, BUT He does promise that He is with us...no matter what. Period.


It hasn't all been stress and running around like we have no concept of what we should be doing. There are days where we have fun...

Days where we actually enjoy each other....

Times where we are chilling and not worrying....and there will be more of those times. I. Believe. It.

Today, well, today was a day where I laid low. I've struggled with having a sore throat since Wednesday. Earaches and now a cough. Raw honey and cinnamon have come to my rescue...

Greg and the girls went off to church as usual...here are the girls. Dressed in what they consider their finest.....

 From head to toe: Hat, she bought at camp last summer. Sweaters, thrifted by mom. Skirt, Thrifted by mom. Mismatched socks, what she found in her drawer...uh, yeah! Shoes, school shoes bought at Paylesss. Style, all her own!!!

From head to toe: Shoes, she found them at the thrift. Dress, she found at the thrift. Sweater, mom found at the thrift. Camera, she found at the thrift (still in the package ...she passed up on a toy for that camera). Bracelet, her hair tie...she usually wears a different color each day!



I gotta say this about the girls...They are not only stylish, they are adaptable.  They have gone from family surrounding them to just us. They have gone from a quiet (well, as quiet as a family of four can be) one family home to a duplex where all manner of noise and behaviors go on all hours of the day and night. They have gone from a small private Christian school, to home schooling...to now being in a public school and have even had to walk home alone from said school because mommy and daddy were busy with work related things and couldn't get them (it was preplanned). They are awesome in that respect!

I'm soon going to try and update the blog on our holiday trimmings...minus the snow this year! It's seeming and little NOT like Christmas, I gotta say!

Thanks to all you readers for sticking with me, even when I leave this place quiet for too long!!

Blessing to you and yours this holiday season!

When last you read here...

I was a normal, stay-at-home mom. I home-schooled my girls. I fixed meals for my family, I fed my chickens, the dog, the cat. I cleaned the house (when it was too bad for even the dog to stand). I went to work part time (to keep the sanity on an even keel). I went grocery shopping, thrift shopping and paid the bills. I went to the bank, visited the library. Went with the family to a small, country church....


YEAH, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME YOU READ A POST HERE....IT'S ALL BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEN!!

Well, not ALL! I'm still married, still have 2 gorgeous girls, still fix meals (but don't feed the animals anymore) I clean the house. I go shopping....

Changes have occurred tho' such as...I (and the whole family, minus the animals as they weren't allowed) have moved from autumnal Michigan (nee winterish) to sunny California. Yep, you read it right!

Now, if you follow me on FB, instagram or twitter, you probably already know...about the move. That the reason we have moved is due to jobs offered to us here in Cupertino, CA, may not be known by some.  That would be plural, JOBS!

It's a long story, and I want to keep the reader's interest, so I will not go into GREAT detail. I want to share with you WHY we chose to move our family far away from anyone we know (be it family in MI or OH, or friends in WI).

The man of the Frumpy House & I have for the past 6 years in Michigan been in home health care workers. Greg has cared for 2 young gentlemen for the last 6 years, and I have helped in the care of one of these gentlemen for the last 3. We love this kind of work. Previous to moving back to my home state of MI, we lived and worked in Murfreesboro, TN doing in home (live in) care with adults that have Mental Disabilities.  Now that the girls are older (they were 2 years and new born in TN) we have wanted to get back into the the in home (live in) care with the mentally disabled, as opposed to those with physical disabilities.


That brought us to a company called California Community Opportunities. They were not looking for anyone at the time that we first contacted them. Yet, in a round about way they called us back when they had an opening for what is called a Family Teaching Couple, FTC for short.  They were specifically looking to fill this opening with a family, not just a couple.

So, when all was said and done, we would find ourselves within 2 months moved to CA...getting unpacked and looking at 2 weeks of intense training to do this job.  The girls have stayed back in MI with my parents for the week that it took the Man and I to drive the rental truck out here and for this week that the company pays us to get unpacked and settled! Then one of my sisters has graciously volunteered to fly them out here on the 13th of November.

We are beyond excited to have this opportunity to serve others. It's what we like to think this life is for...to minister to those who have less than we ourselves do!

We just got our internet set up today, so that is why I haven't been able to write on this blog of mine! You know that will pick up as we go about living out this new life!

Thanks for hanging around...please, if you have questions, ask away!! There is nothing I like better than to chat with friends...

Note: I am desperately wanting to continue homeschooling the girls. God has also placed us literally 2 roads away from one of the top rated schools in the country (here in Cupertino). So the Man and I have some real thinking (and as we always do, praying) about what would be best for the family. I selfishly want to keep my girls to myself, but I also know with this new job we will be clocking in 60 hour weeks (both G and I) and that may hinder me being able to do a good job of schooling them as before. I'm torn, as I only want what is good for my girlies....if you are so inclined, say a  prayer for my fam as we make this decision!! Thanks a BUNCH!

In our classroom...

I have used many items from around the house. It's helped keep the cost down, while making the room inviting & fun!

I have over the past year, or so, picked up some vintage planters. They are plentiful in the thrifts....quite inexpensive. I found these two for around $1 each.

Since I'm not a green thumb when it comes to house plants, I had them sitting in the girls rooms holding crayons & pencils & pens. I decided to clean them out, but still use them for pencils. There was just one problem...the pencils wouldn't stand up unless, the opening was stuffed full. I only want 6-8 pencils (nicely sharpened & easy to grab) for each girls. I had to wrack my brain....a pantry staple came to the rescue!

I filled the planter with the dried beans & the helped the pencils stay upright! Yay me!! Sometimes I amaze myself!

This cutie holds our colored pencils...

They work wonderfully, & the girl's have something cute to look at. Better than a pencil box? I think so!!

How about you? Have you taken an item & used it for a purpose other than what it was intended?!? Tell me about your repurposed item! I love to hear about great minds working!!!

A Report Card...

for the Teacher!!

The first week of our first year of Homeschooling is complete! We have actually finished a week and a day! Yay!!

My report card for the first week is B+...I taught what I studied, I taught on the sly fly, I taught with games, pictures and music!! I had a blast! I maybe had higher expectations of what the girls would do, or how they would react to certain things. All in all, I don't have one complaint about their performance, they were on board and on top of things!

L (my oldest) has said that she loves homeschooling and that she wants to homeschool forever!! Prob'ly not going to happen...I'm thinking that she will need to move out of the house at 18 or so!!

Li, loves the schooling, doesn't like not hanging with her friends on breaks...mom and older sis don't cut it when it comes to playing with the "cool kids"!!

Here's a quick look at our week with pics.....

Nature Study...wasn't really happy with my art abilities. Practice, practice!! 

Math is a lot more fun with games!! This memory game is matching the parts of the number 10....(1+9, 3+7, 5+5 etc.)

Home ec is being taught in the Frumpy House! L is learning how to read a recipe and made us pizza for dinner!

Reading "living" books is a major part of our schooling! Find the definition here.

Math...she used to dread it...now she doesn't even know she's doing addition and subtraction.

Always a lunch break...

Give a girl a chance to learn to read 30 words in one week and she thinks she can read a bunch of books!! Go Li!!

Another math game...matching dots. We are using an abacus so this is helpful in recognizing numbers quickly!

Learning about quadrilaterals! Yep, big word, easy concept!!

Writing down all the words that she has learned to read and spell.

     

The end of our first week! 

                                 

The beginning of our second week...late Sunday night means extra cups of coffee for the teacher!!!

                         

 I hope that some snippets of what we have done in the past week isn't boring to you! We had a very exciting week!! There were so many things, that I didn't even get to share with you!!!

Hope that your first week of school (wether homeschooling or sending your sweeties off to school) and that you are all looking forward to what you can learn this school year!!

                                    Today I'm linking up with another great blog Sophia's Ideas

Check her blog out here:

Don't Leave it Hanging...

I have learned the hard way that talking to a child mid-temper tantrum is tantamount to trying to talk a lion out of attacking mid leap...yeah, it doesn't stop anything and only ends in tears and a heap of hurt!!!!

So, we have already gone through the "1-2-3 Magic" magic with you. The time out is rated by the age of the child; one minute in their room, or another doable place, for each year old they are. You as the parent are in charge of how long they stay in there too. Don't think that L can come back out stomping her feet and a "death stare" on her face and do her chores....haha! Not in the Frumpy House!! If in 8 minutes she hasn't come to the conclusion that a pleasant temperament will give her freedom, well dear readers, she gets another 5 in solitary confinement!! You see, I am the parent, I will be the one responsible for her behavior out in this world...some day her employer will call and rain blessings upon my head for her being such a willing and happy worker  **shaking head, waking up from this daydream**.....

Oh! When the child comes out with a willing spirit, life is so joyful and blessed!! She may not feel that, but as long as she is displaying that spirit I'm good with it...one hurdle at a time! The fun thing is, her chore or whatnot is still waiting for her.

The Man of the Frumpy House and I are doing our best to be intentional in our parenting. Not just the disciplining as this small series has shown, but in parenting! We are spending more time talking (not debating, it's not up for debate) about behavior, character, morals, standards, expectations. Talking to the girls at teachable times..."Hey L, see that young boy over there with his mom screaming and crying because she wouldn't buy him the candy? That's not a very pleasant person to be around is it? What do you think he could do, or how do you think he should behave? Do you think his mom would be more willing to listen to his request?" Yeah, you get the idea right?!

Daily, grabbing the opportunity to teach and explain the right and the wrong of interpersonal relationships! IE....how to make your way in this world, creating as few waves as you possibly can!

I'm really pleased to tell you....L has taken very well to this type of discipline. Does she like being sent to her room? NO! Number one reason, she has no one to argue with there. Number 2 reason, she is taken away from her audience and she has no reason to carry on! Does she like it when we start the counting....H*ll no!! She starts stating her "case" as it may be. I don't even let it register! If she isn't complying with my direction...I just get up to "2"!!! That is about the time it clicks in her brain..."oh, this isn't going to work like it used to. I guess I'll just do what I need to do and move on with my day"

This DVD has been a blessing! A Godsend...I kid you not...a life/marriage/family saver!

It has enabled me to teach better, to have a talk, a discussion with L. Where before it was always her will against my will, it is now a matter of her opening herself to being more teachable. Not perfectly teachable, not overnight malleable, not even close to being a "Stepford Child", but oh so much better than what it was!!!

That is how, after years of saying that I would never homeschool my child[ren], I am going to be teaching this year. That is why I'm excited about teaching them! That is how I'm going to be ABLE to teach them!! We are all excited...as I've said before! I'm looking forward to teaching, training, exploring and learning with my family!

Everyday I'm Learning....

It all ended...

when the Man of the Frumpy House and I sat one evening and watched "1-2-3 Magic" video. This is a book and a 2 part video series by Dr. Thomas Phelan (find out more here). We found only the first "1-2-3 Magic" dvd to watch. BUT OH!! The difference watching that video made!

It's been about a month now, a month where the temper tantrums are few and far between. A month where momma wants to go home and spend time with her family (yes all of them). A month where I can finally give hugs, give kisses, snuggle with (although she isn't a very big snuggler) and even eat at the same table with EVERYONE in the family and enjoy it!

It's a month where she's taking care of her chores without having warfare. A month of oral and physical hygiene has been done without threats and wasted time...yep! even that!

A month where the extremely picky eater has finally sat down at the table and tried a bite of "unliked" foods without a NUCLEAR meltdown! Ummm...yesterday at the dinner table she even said, "I'm going to try mashed potatoes". Put a spoonful on her plate and ate a bite....um hello? this is my child right?!? (I will give her this...mashed taters were the only food she ever spit out as a baby...so if she never eats them I won't care)

The past 30 days has had more fun, more laughter, more family time. Well, more enjoyable family time (as she really has made quite a few family excursions quite horrid) the last month!

So, what is it? You ask...I shall do my best to answer!

The basics of the "1-2-3 Magic" is for the parents to not get emotional about the bad behaviors. Not to become entangled in arguing or explaining themselves to their child. Ummm, ok, so basically I've been doing most everything wrong...well, sorry, I've never had to deal with this extreme behavior (and to just give you a background I have worked in a Children's Home taking care of emotionally and physically abused children, I have also been a nanny to a number of children).

It's an amped up version of putting your child in time out (which we have done & it didn't work, probably because we were doing it all wrong). It's giving them the opportunity to take the wrong behavior that they are in and giving them till the count of 3 to change the behavior and move on when asked to.

Let me give you a personal example (please, take it, I have plenty):

Mornings at the Frumpy House....
     L is expected (and has been for the past 4 years) to get up, eat breakfast, get dressed and brush teeth and hair. She does the getting up really well, most days, it's the other items where it gets a bit tricky! She doesn't want to get dressed, she wants to wander around and pester someone first. She doesn't want to brush her teeth and hair ("I like it this way" has been thrown at me many, MANY days when it comes to hair). So throughout the morning, you can imagine the stress and the amount of time it takes just to get her out the door to school!


Because, of the 1-2-3 program it now takes her about 1/2 an hour to get herself ready for the day. She has also been doing some of her chores without having to be told, reminded somedays....but mostly just told once and she gets it done! I. KID. NOT!!!!!

After watching the DVD Greg and I sat down with the girls for dinner one night and we explained what was going to happen in the Frumpy House from now on....

We were not going to tolerate disobedience, talking back, whining or defiant behavior or looks (yep, rolling your eyes at your momma is not floating my boat!).

Let's continue our little scenario...
     L is done with breakfast. She has been told to go brush her teeth and hair. I find her in the living room, picking on her sister most likely. I step into the living room where she can see me and I can see her.  "L, you were told to get your hair and teeth brushed. You best go do that before we have to walk out the door."  BRACE YOURSELF....it's about to start!

"Mom, I can't right now. I don't want to. I like my hair this way..." all said in a very loud voice with a tinge of whine and a scowl creeping across her brow (you got that mental picture now right?)

----In the past this was a red flag, and the momma would charge it...my voice would rise to meet her decibel, I would set my jaw cause I was determined that I was gonna make her get the jobs done and out the door on time.--- NOW....

     "L that's 1" UMMMMM yes, that is ALL I say...NOT KIDDING!

This quietly spoken, emotionless phrase at times makes her dig her heels in and start crankin' it up, "I will do it, just not now!" as she throws down a foot stomp for added dramatic measure!!

     "L that's 2"....yep, still spoken without emotion or raising my voice.

Now, this has usually been the highest I have needed to count (once or twice I have counted 3 and she has been sent to her room to cool off, calm down, chill out (whatever you want to call it)). She has changed her attitude and gone on to do as asked....whew, drama averted! She goes on to take care of her business and I go on to take care of mine, all is quiet and all are at peace!

Our greatest problem is she wants an explanation of why she must do what she is told to do, why she can't do what she wants to do, what she did wrong....etc. basically we have found she wants to engage us is a debate of you say, I say. EVERY SINGLE TIME!!
This magic formula has enabled us to leave the debate out of the process, she knows we aren't going to go into describing why we want her to brush her teeth each morning. She just knows that we are going to expect her to be obedient, without debate.

Now, for those of you readers (and I love you) who are thinking, "this is all good, but it doesn't take care of the core of the problem. Her defiance and disobedience". You're quite right, it is just taking care of the moment, the mouth, the whining....etc. I have no question that L goes to her room mumbling a few questionable things about the unfairness of her mom or dad.  But, I cannot address this with her at this time, she isn't in a frame of mind to listen and say, "You're right mom! How could I be so mistaken! I will jump to obey!"

That comes later friends....

It all started...

On November 6th, almost 9 years ago....

We welcomed a beautiful, big headed (I don't mean inflated ego here, I mean LITERALLY a big head) bald, blue eyed 8 lb 3 oz little girl into our family. Well, she basically made us a family, instead of just a couple.

The "troubles" didn't start until about 8 months...I kid you not! She was wanting to walk so badly, she would toddle around the furniture and such, but she just couldn't quite GO! So, being the great mom and dad that we were we would hold her little hands and just walk her all over the apartment. For what seemed HOURS! The back-breaking effort was taking it's toll, so we bought a push toy...that would give us some relief...or so we thought.

The beautiful, little girl did NOT want to push the toy around and toddle on her way around the apartment...oh no! That, dear readers, would've been the end of the story if our darling daughter didn't take this opportune time to display....her stubborn side! She laid herself down right on the floor behind that push toy and kicked her chubby little legs, and pounded her round little fists and cried her big head off!! NOT JOKING FOLKS!! At 8 months old, my darling, giggling, smiling little daughter threw a temper tantrum!

I looked at this demon darling child, took one large step over her body and walked away, shaking my head and mumbling something about "Oh, Lord, this is not going to be fun is it?!".....

Fast forward to this time and place...my oldest is still beautiful, big headed (more so ego now), blonde curled and the biggest blue eyes.  She has spent the first 8 years of her life teaching us that we do have the strength, with God's blessed help, to do this parenting thing! We haven't always done it willingly (I think I've threatened the Mister with running away more than she's threatened us), or well...but we have done it!

We have read, listened to, researched online and questioned other parents about how to deal with strong willed, defiant, intelligent (oh, yes she is) & mouthy children. We have cried, grumbled, yelled, punished & disciplined our brains out....nothing has worked. For those of you who have laid back, easy going kids....you have NO idea the thoughts that go through a parents head when all they have done, FAILS!

Yes, you feel like you are a failure...a FAILURE!! The thought of going through 18 years of this kind of life is enough to send you to the loony bin (WILLINGLY)!!

So, I will tell you this....I have said over and over to others and to my child (because she has asked) that I would NOT homeschool her!! I struggled just to get her to do her homework on nights that she came home with that!! I struggled to get her to brush her teeth, get dressed, do simple chores...heck, I struggled to get her to eat a meal @ the table without pitching such a big fit that no one actually wanted to sit and eat with her! By struggled I mean DAILY...telling her, talking to her, coaxing her, grounding her, yelling at her...anything I could think of (short of bribing her) to do the things that she needed to do/learn as a toddler/child! DAILY!!!!

So, as you may be able to imagine, when she was out of the house at school the home was a lot more peaceful. There wasn't this constant feeling of anger (hers and ours) floating around. There wasn't the stress, there wasn't the turmoil...until it was time for her to come home. I would then find myself tensing up...almost like I was putting on my armor to deal with the arguments, the whining, the fights, the talking back.  It does not make for a pleasant house/home when you feel you have to gird yourself with armor, just to make it through a day!

The Man of the Frumpy House and I were at our wits end...we had no more to give. We thought we'd just move out and let her be her own boss...heheh! Then he found a video at our local library! It was checked out and brought home, hoping that we would be able to watch it and find some help...please, Lord any help!! Because, boarding school was sounding quite doable about that time....they do have a work exchange program for elementary boarders don't they?!?!

To be Continued.....

School Days, School Days...

Dear Old Golden Rule Days....

and so on and so forth!! My mom used to sing that song a lot...something about taught to the tune of a "Hickory Switch" that she must've liked!  HAAA Just Kidding!

Well, the school year is close upon us here in Michigan. In some states it has already reared it head and forced those summer lovin' kids back into the classrooms!!

This year at The Frumpy House...school is looking quite different....

Let me 'splain!

We Are Homeschooling (wether you like it or not)!

It's been a month of thinking, research, praying, more research, more praying and finally we decided we'd like to give it a shot.  NOT a shot in the dark... a real line the scope up, target practice, get the kinks out first, kinda shot!!  We are in the process of getting our materials and then G and I will be doing a run through of what a school day will look like. Then, when we feel it is going to go the way we like, we will do a practice run thru with the girls (who surprisingly were both agreeable, and excited about the prospect of schooling in the home).

It all started one day with me....(as most harebrained ideas do in the Frumpy House) 

For some reason or other, in reading blogs (2 different ones), a novel and a pin on pinterest I kept coming across "Charlotte Mason". I was like, dude(ette really, as I was talking to myself) what IS Charlotte Mason, or who?

So, one google search later & I was up to my eyeballs in info; videos, blogs, books, homeschooling websites....etc.

I really, really, REALLY liked what I read! I liked what others were saying about it. I liked what the reviewers were saying about the ease of the curriculum/teaching method. I liked the whole methodology!

If you would like to know what the Frumpy House will be getting up to this September through May you can read a good description about the Charlotte Mason Method here.

Some of you naysayers may throw my own words back in my face! I've said many times, "I will never homeschool L, because she is so defiant and it's hard to get her to listen and do what she is told. I would never survive getting her through a school day, let alone a school year."

Uuuummmmm yeah, I will admit to saying that, to repeatedly saying that....for like years! But thanks to a wonderful DVD that the hubby brought home from the library about a month ago (isn't it "coincidence" that it was about the same time we I started researching and thinking about CMM--I think NOT). It's called "1-2-3 Magic" by Dr. Thomas Phelan. All I can say about it now is....it is magic! (I will post a blog about the program and the results soon).

Basically, the 1-2-3 Magic has given me a house that I want to go home to at night. It has given me a child[ren] that I actually want to spend time with. So the thought of homeschooling isn't daunting any more!!!

I'm beyond exited. I feel like I have a purpose...again! I feel like my days will be spent doing something to impact my children/family for a greater cause! I feel like I will be able to spend time with the girls, and be able to be a lasting example of the type of mom I've always wanted to be!  

NOTICE: All the statements in the above paragraph are "I" statements! I am NOT trying to tell any mom (or dad) out there that they are not "living up to their potential" as a parent if they don't homeschool their children....heaven forbid! Just as I expect any parent that may leave a comment for me to use their "I" statements when telling me what a crappy, sequestered, anti-social, over-protected child I'm going to have because I choose to homeschool! It's all about being able to choose what's best for us, for our families, for our children...it's not about opinions and raucous debate!!! Keep it nice friends...just as we would teach our children how to be nice to all people even tho' there are differences....*stepping down from my soap box now, not sure how I even got up there [looks around with confused look on face]*

Will, give great, sarcasm worthy updates throughout the school year...as I see fit!

Hope everyone is looking forward to a great school year, both children and adults!!

Much love, peace and freedoms for all!!

Enjoy....

Feeling a Little...

Down today. Don't know if I can pinpoint a real reason...the sun is shining, there is a nice breeze coming in the windows, I've enjoyed my coffee and some cookies this morning (I mean those last 2 things alone should make me happy)!

So, I decided to look up songs about happiness on YouTube...wasn't disappointed!

Enjoy a little Al Green...wether you are down in the dumps or not, he's sure to make your day a little brighter!!

The "Farm"

When we got chickens a couple months ago, Liyah looked at me and said, "We are farmers now aren't we?" I said, "Sure, if you want to call it that."

Her response? "Yep, I like being a farmer."

Well, she took my phone out for a little spin the other day. She narrated and took a video of our "farm"...
Enjoy!

Can I Can...

depending on wether you place any punctuation in that title it could mean a couple of things...Can I can? Can, I can...

Well, this past Saturday was the day I found out!

I grew up with my mom canning produce from our garden & my grandma canning from her garden. I guess I helped when needed (I do remember cutting corn off the cob to be frozen). Yet, I didn't learn the process of canning my own food or produce.

this year we planted: corn, peas, beets, pickles, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, beans & onions (there may be a couple potato hills in there too)

The last couple of years my mom & I have planted and harvested quite a large garden. It supplied veggies for our two households and two of my sisters. It was eaten, and what wasn't eaten before expiring was just thrown on the compost pile...until this year!

The many homesteading blog and sites I like to read, talk over and over again about canning, freezing, preserving in some form or another fresh produce for winter eating and use. It made me dreamy and starry eyed (I know even my mom thinks I'm weird & she used to do it all the time). What about doing a better job at stewarding our riches? My mom is still healthy and wise (not that she shouldn't be at her young age) and able to teach me the ins and outs of canning/freezing etc.

So, since the pickles are coming on strong this week, we decided it was time to tackle the first canning class! We had almost two 3 gal. buckets full of pickles and my mom already had about 5 bags in the fridge....we were on a roll.

Thanks to the Pinterest phenomenon, I had some pickle recipes right at my fingertips. They looked simple and non-pressure cooker scary! So we printed 'em off and got our ingredients and proceeded to have fun (yes, I said, "FUN")

Li didn't exactly come dressed for the occasion, but it works for her! Sunday dress & barefoot!

Lauryn was exited she found the first pickles that morning! She also picked some of these peppers to go in the bread and butter pickles.

two little girls left their footprints...

not only is she a good pickle picker...she washes them well!

a little fancy cutting and some grinding in my mom's old grinder, makes for some nice looking pickles!

pouring the hot "pickle juice" over the bread and butters....

Dilled...recipe link here: just like Clausen

bread n buttah recipe here: ready in 24 hours 

dill relish recipe googled here: had to go dill, cause I'm sweet enough!

I'm slightly surprised at how easy it all was! There was no "canning" in the hot time over the old stove tonight style. Just some yummy smells and some tasty pickles...I think I ate one pickle for every 5 I cut, chopped or ground!

Yummy!

On Dreams and Things...

It's been quite some time since I've really let myself sit and dream of what "could" be. What I "could" be doing with my life...

When I was a younger version, I thought the best thing in life would be to write and illustrate children's books. To be able to do something fun, that I could make a living at...not bagging or working in a grocery store my whole life (true story, I went to college 3 years out of high school because I didn't want to work the "dead end" jobs the rest of my life. Hmmmm...don't ask how that's working for me).

So, I started college and picked those majors; writing and art. I was still young and thought I had my life all planned out and was going to be the next Dr. Suess, the next Madeliene L'Engle...oh, I was going to be famous! I was going to travel, do book shows, signings, have lunch or tea with other famous authors!

Ummm...not so!

I ended up stressing out too much about what other people said about my art and my writing. Felt I wasn't good enough. Felt that there would be no way that I could make it in the literary world (even at the kid's table per se)....so I changed my major my sophomore year and took up with a Christian Education major.

Why? #1 the curriculum list looked easy. #2 the curriculum looked interesting and #3 I could still graduate with in my 4 year college plan. Yep, truth.

Long story short...graduated, got a job in VA, worked 2 years and decided it wasn't for me. I went home and took a job (hahaha you guessed it, at a grocery store). Between then and now I have worked as a house parent at a children's home, a nanny (for 2 wonderful families and 2 not so wonderful), and then after marriage and one child as a "family teacher" with MR clients and as a home health aide. Now, at 40eh hem years of age I'm looking back and thinking what if? What if? Would I be happier? Would I feel more fulfilled with who I am outside of being a wife and mother (you mom's who read this probably know how easy it is to lose "yourself" while you are mothering young children).

I don't feel like I live my life believing the grass is always greener on the other side. Altho' my mom would probably beg to differ with me.  I think I'm just a natural born adventurer who has let her wings be clipped by others instead of believing that I could fly to any destination I dreamed of....

So, I'm working on taking back a flight pattern...pretty much any flight pattern that is of my making. Wether it is setting aside time to write, draw, read, color, paint, or dream. I am looking forward to making some new flight patterns...possibly sewing, knitting, crocheting, canning (I actually did that for the first time this weekend, more on that later)....working out a 5 year plan on our little 1/4 acre or moving on to a better job, bigger city...who knows?! Me and my God, we are working it all out!

How about you folks? Have you met with a mid-life crisis? Have you second guessed the paths your life has taken? or are you content with the choices you've made?  Have you made BIG changes later in life, & lived to tell about it (& been happy with them)? I would never trade my family for another. I would never trade my friends for anyone else. Most everything else in life...now that's negotiable!

Well, my, my, my....

slap me silly and call me happy late to the party! I have been so busy; keeping things moving along here in the Frumpy House! I've been working my butt off (not really, but a woman can wish, can't she?!?!). Trying to keep everyone "happy, happy, happy" as Phil Robertson would say... (not familiar with "Duck Dynasty" on A&E? Shameful!)

G had the stitches out & a boot put on his foot last week on the 5th. He was happy to see that heavy cast go. The Dr. said everything was looking good and felt good. There was still a lot of swelling and bruising (which G never likes to see). We've been soaking his foot each night in Epsom Salts and the swelling and bruising have gone down measurably!

Then the man goes and tries to get a throw out of the basket this morning, using only one crutch....yeah, he starts to fall and natural reaction is to put his foot down. Youch!! I heard a holler and rushed out...I think it's the first time he's cried about the pain. But, it settled down quickly. We iced it, I bathed it and I went on with my morning routine...deep breathing and craziness!!

The girls haven't been as pleased, with daddy home all day, as much as I thought they would...hahaha!  Because I'm working the 5/10 hour days for Mr. P, they are having to take on WAAAY more responsibilities than they think is "fair".

Thankfully, I found this wonderful "Responsibility Chart" at a Goodwill a few months ago. It was $3.99....not bad for a hand crafted "Melissa and Doug"!!

Obviously, I'm not the only one that likes to write on the  board!! Lauryn wanted everyone to know they hadn't earned their Friday night "sleepover"

So, I whipped that thing out, thought up a few chores that the girls could do (at their level of ability) that would help keep things a little bit less hellish hectic around the house!

Yeah, L want's everyone to know that they didn't get sleepover last week....also, I know how to spell wip(e), someone's little finger did that!!

Lauryn, is 8 and a typical whiner. She has learned to procrastinate with the best of us...much to the man's chagrin (he's the type of guy who will wake up at 6 am, have a load of laundry going, the floor swept and the dishes done by 7 am...(I know it's rough, but I still love him *sigh*)).

She gets the daily chores of feeding and watering the dog, dishes, and wiping down their sink and toilet in the hall bathroom (#'s 1, 2, & 3). Then on Wednesday she runs the vacuum through the living room and down the hall. The vacuum brings out much moaning (hers), wailing (hers) and gnashing of teeth (mine).

Liyah, is 6 and an even better procrastinator than her sister (somehow she does it without drawing attention to the fact that she is indeed procrastinating...hmmm). She has the responsibility of feeding and watering the cat, clearing the table after lunch and supper & sweeping the dining room and kitchen floors after supper each night (#'s 1, 2 & 3). Then on Wednesday she is required to dust the tables and surface area's in the living room (now that is a chore she really enjoys).

Sundays are F(ree) days for the girls...yep, I'm that nice of a mom!!

These daily chores are not required on Sundays, whatever needs to be done on that day I do. Each day their chores are completed without any too much back-talk, whining or procrastination they each earn an hour of t.v. or x-box or games on the iPhone/computer. They also get to call and invite over or talk to friends on the phone when they are done (obviously Li's responsibilities are late in the day so they would not all count against her privileges, mostly how she did the day before counts).

At the end of the week, if the chart is all full (M-F) they earn a "sleepover" in the living room. Complete with pizza, snacks and goodies!! Yeah!!! (Obviously, from the above picture they didn't earn the sleepover last week, we are really working hard to get that sleepover this week!!)

On Saturdays it's been a family affair. We all pitch in to tighten up the ship-shape and work on bedrooms and laundry! The girls both know how to do their laundry so they are quite responsible to do that with some supervision. Then we do some yard work, feed the chickens (yes, I do that daily) special treats from the fridge clean out, and then we have some family fun.

I kinda hate that the girl's summer has turned into more of a "responsible" time than a fun time for them. That is real life isn't it...I always try to tell myself, I'm not raising kids--I'm raising adults. They will need to know compassion, responsibility, serving/giving & group therapy effort!!

The Frumpy House is learning that whatever comes our way we can meet it head on with poise, dignity and a happy face...at least, after my first cup of coffee!

How about you other moms, have you met challenging situations head on with the help of your family (wether they enlist or are drafted)? How has that gone? Did they (or you) live to tell about it?

***All three photos were supplied by family members @ The Frumpy House...as I was at work when I decided I should get motivated and write a blog post!!! Thank you....Greg and Lauryn!

Livin' the...

High Life.

Well, it's been a long 3 weeks folks, I won't mess with you...it's been R.O.U.G.H!! I have worked my self silly trying to keep up with all that needs to be done!

L was gone one whole week to camp. Thank You Jesus...that was one less person to fix food for, clean up after and get after...I packed her up, shipped her off and sent her a sweet email mid week to let her know that, yes, I was still aware that she was my daughter...and I loved her, kinda missed her and was looking forward to hearing all about her week at camp.

Then we had our "vacation" week...yeah, right! I turned 43, had a 10th anniversary party, took the girls to Bible School each evening for 2 1/2 hours (well, traded some nights with my mom so the Man of the Frumpy House could have his surgery and stuff like that).

Now this week Li is gone from 8 am to 6 pm for day camp...did I mention that it's a good 40 minute drive each way! Yeah, I know, I'm glutton for punishment. The digger is, I was planning on TMotFH and myself doing all the shuttling. But, since he is planted firmly on his keister with elevated foot, my mother has been doing all the running (whew, thanks mom!) since I'm working!

So, as you can see (read) life doesn't always get lived the way you want to live it...ask my bestie and her hubby in WI, who were anticipating sharing a few drinks on the patio with us last week when we were vacationing!

But, I'm a bit of a realist, I realize that life will go on even when there is sadness and disappointment. We will not die because we are bored or upset about circumstances (I'm speaking directly to you Greg). We don't know what life is going to bring us, but we can be assured that we will have trials, tribulations, joy, celebrations, sadness and happiness...how we choose to live in these situations is what our life is made of!

Count the blessings, instead of listing in the humdrum....

This is work...seriously. Taking Mr. P to the pool for exercise is good for him, and good for the view!

These little beauties are going to be lovely berries, juicy, ripe and in our own back yard!

Enjoying the little things in life, taking a breather to watch the littles blow some bubbles!

It's good for the momma's soul when you see, albeit short, love between sisters.

So we didn't get to go "out" for our anniversary. No vacation trip, not even a restaurant. This wife worked her magic with the food. Marinated tuna steaks, broiled shrimp and fried rice with veggies.

Watching the girlies enjoy a little carnival ride after the small town parade in our, well...small town!

Who, among us, can really live in complaining and the down-in-the-mouth pessimism when you see skies like this...had to pull over to take this beautiful picture!

The bad stuff comes and goes...we continue to press on in the Frumpy House.  We are learning more about each other and ourselves every day. The one who is the most active and on the go, is now forced to be still and learn patience. The homebody who loves nothing better than to piddle around the house (does anyone else use the word piddle as in "do little things of this and that"? or are you all thinking I have a bladder problem now?) making food, rearranging furniture or art, gardening, watching the chickens, is now having to work 45-50 hours a week to keep the bills paid and the household afloat financially!

IT'S AN ALL NEW JOURNEY...AND FRUSTRATINGLY ENOUGH IT'S GOING TO LAST THE WHOLE SUMMER LOOOONG!!! (The prognosis for G's Achilles Tendon is 12 weeks recovery and then starting physical therapy. Since the job has some physical work with exercising and stretching Mr. P, it looks like this momma will be working all summer!)

The Verdict...

is in! Well, sorta, kinda....

The man of the Frumpy house, hauled his cute tush to the Doctor's office today to see the orthopedic specialist (for the Achilles tendon, if you haven't read previous post).
The news is...he can't tell exactly where or how badly the tendon is ruptured. He can definitely tell it is...somewhere...ummm yeah we kinda already knew that!

So, he has called for an MRI. He says since it's already 9 days out from the time of the injury he wants this to go quickly. So we are now waiting for them to call tomorrow and tell us when and where the MRI will be. Then after that has been done and they can see the damage...they will make a scheduled day and time for the surgery.

Yep, surgery...the dreaded "s" word...which in reality will make another dreaded "s" word...summer!

You know, it takes a lot of hutzpah to have to set yourself on your butt for the summer. The summer when you had; plans for a trip to Ohio to spend time with brother and dad, catching a Tigers/Reds game, an anniversary trip to see friends...the summer when you had plans to go to the sand dunes and the lake with your kids for the first time...not to mention swimming, hiking, biking, ball (uh, no...no more ball)...you know SUMMER!! Vacation time (even tho' you're working).

So, now as it stands, Greg will have the MRI, we will more than likely be looking at another surgery within the Frumpy House (I'm doing great, thanks) this year & we are hoping that our girls have a great summer anyway. With dad laid up and mom working up to 50 hours a week to cover dad's work hours and put food on the table!

You know what tho'!?  I'm at peace...I have a peace that this is going to be for a reason. That we as a family will learn something from this....something that we wouldn't be able to learn any other way. Something that Greg may only be able to learn by being still, as he is NOT a stay home and hang out kinda person!! (Sheesh, if you only knew!)

A way to count the many blessings that we have, instead of looking at all the things that are going wrong. Like the fact that Lauryn is at camp right now having a blast. That Liyah is going to day camp for the first time in two weeks! That they are going to be in our local small town's Summerfest Parade riding the Library float. That they have 2 cousins up from Florida for the month!

That we are blessed with family and friends close by, to help us out and love on us.

Soooo many blessings...I don't ever want to let the disappointments in life take over and steal my joy!!

Hey, thanks for the thoughts and prayers y'all!! I'm going to continue living vicariously through other's blog posts, Pinterest links, Facebook status' and Instagram photos. Some of y'all are having a blast on your summer vacays....and I'm stinkin' jealous happy for ya!!

Famous Last Words...

Outta my mouth last night, "Have fun don't get hurt!" were said as the Man of the Frumpy House was walking out the door to go shoot some hoops @ the church gym with some other guys....

Yep, then 1/2 hour later I hear the car pull in the driveway (disrupting some quiet moments I was enjoying, as the girls were off playing w/ their cousins) & soon see the Man hopping up the sidewalk to the back door...

"You're teasing me right?!" were my exact words...no compassion, nuttin'..."Are you KIDding me?!?" came out next....

I met him at the back door thinking, née praying it was a sprain & some ice & ibuprofen would fix things up..."I heard a pop & then couldn't move my foot" he grimaced.
"Oh, shoot!" I thought, that doesn't sound at all "sprainy"...

Well, after googling Achilles tendon injuries we concluded there was nothing to do (literally there is nothing listed to do for Achilles injuries) but go visit the ER....5 hours later (1 a.m. To be exact) he was home crawling in bed with a half cast, Vicodin, & instructions to stay off the foot & follow up w/ an orthopedic specialist!






Yikes!! Guess what that means...momma Frump works her tail off at the workplace & at the Frumpy House...yep! Nothing like having a broken husband, 2 kids, a dog, a cat, 15 chickens & myself to take care of!! This should be VERY interesting--if you know what I mean...






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Fresh from the...

Frumpy Farm!! HA! I should be changing the name of this blog...if my youngest girly is correct. Since we got the chickens she says, "We are farmers now!!"  If momma has her way we will be considered a small self sustainable family farm in the next 5 years!!

The first step in this direction was chickens!! Encouraged by many other blog, instagram, twitter & Facebook mommas I decided early this year that I wanted to get some chickens/chicks.  Well, with one thing or another (surgery), it didn't happen.

I thought I would just postpone the 5 year plan for another year...no biggie. I would focus on a bigger garden and learning how to can and preserve throughout the summer.

Well, the end of the school year found Mrs. Estes (Liyah's Kinder teacher) asking me if I'd like some chickens...insert "yes" answer here...as she was wanting to downsize her flock.  The only thing between me and some free chickens...no coop...no fence....no home for the little cluckers....!!

Enter my Dad....He looks like this....

From here

So the work fun begins....

 Mom was in on the building, as well as the Terribly Handsome Man of the Frumpy House....as this momma wasn't yet allowed to pick up much weight (due to surgery). I am an awfully good supervisor gopher tho'.

 The only wood that had to be bought was the treated plywood for the floor...all the rest was rough cut boards that my dad had the Amish cut him from his own timber.

 I always have this picture in my head of how easy it must be to put together a little coop...yeah, right! I learned a lot about building from my dad this past week. It all comes out of his head...no plans!

 Frame and rafters up the first day....

 Ready for the door and nesting boxes the next....

 The door? Oh, just something my dad picked up at the dump....yeah, he's that kinda hoarder!!

 Around the corner from our big door is this teeny-tiny door with a ramp for the ladies...oh, yes!!

 The nesting boxes are accessible from the outside! That way my child labor littlest chicken lovers can get the eggs!! Whoot-Whoot!!

 After the coop was safe enough for inhabitants we he got busy on the fenced yard. These poles, yep, a 30+' old telephone line pole became three 10' posts for the corners of the fence. Don't ask me exactly where he got it...let's just say mom's glad to get it out of the side yard after a decade (or possibly 2). The metal posts in between were free, my dad helped the township sexton pull an old fence out of the cemetery across the road from us and got to keep all the posts he wanted (did I say for FREE)!

 Chicken wire was one of the few expenses we had...$50 for a roll of 4'x 150'. I decided @ that price if I had to do some wing clipping to keep them from flying I would!

 Here's one of our new neighbor ladies!! She's lovingly named "Chip-Chip" by Littlest Liyah!! Lauryn has named a beautiful girl "Peck" & I have picked out a few with easily to spot differences names like Cleo, Nekkid, Ginger and Gladys...the others I really can't tell apart so they are just lovingly cooed to and called "Pretty Ladies" or "Lovely Girls" (my husband thinks I'm insane).

 The first few days we had to keep an eye on the girls...literally! No one wanted to walk away and let them be! We enjoyed seeing them walk through the grass and under the trees, scratching and pecking!!

 The best....watching them eat!! They got to get the fridge cleanings (don't worry I googled everything before feeding it to them, I'm a little paranoid about it) this week instead of it going in the trash!! Cooked brown rice and mashed sweet potatoes seemed to be the faves!  They would peck at the potatoes and then wipe each side of their beaks on the grass... too fun!

 See the jungle life!! They are doing well at making little paths and nesting under the bushes on a hot afternoon. I have to keep looking under the bushes and make sure they don't leave my presents there!!

Presents?!?!? Yep, wonderful, lovely, glorious (okay enough already) eggs!!! The first day, even with the move....4 eggs! How wondrous!  Littlest Liyah and I had the first four eggs scrambled with toast and butter on the side....she said, "These are the best mom!!" (oh, these are the first 2 radishes out of my mom's and my garden)

So, the farming life has begun...in the near future, goats (2 for milking), pigs (for butchering), maybe a milk cow (not sure yet about that) and maybe some honey bees on the back 40....
Yes, this is the life!!!


Do any of you have wishes or dreams that you are seeing become reality? Do you have a crazy 5, 10 or 20 year plan like me?  Let me know...I love reading about other's adventures!