Updates

Just thought I'd give you all a little update about what's been going on around here.

Home schooling is going pretty well. I can't believe that we have completed 6 weeks of school already. Jacob is adjusting to the increased amount of writing required in our new curriculum.

The garden did great this year---lots of green beans, tons of tomatoes, and a fair amount of cabbage, zucchini, and butternut squash. We didn't get too many cucumbers this year though. I was very fortunate to be bless with as many free apples as I wanted this year. I have been dehydrating, canning, and baking many things with my bounty of apples. I have also put a bunch of bruised apples into the freezer to use as treats for the girls this winter. I have also been shredding zucchini and freezing it as well. I plan to do some more canning once the weather cools down.

My arthritis and psoriasis have been very bad this summer. I still have about 80 percent of my body covered with psoriasis, but it is starting very slowly to clear up. All of the rain we have had this summer is causing much more pain and swelling in all of my joints. I had a trip to the E.R. last month. I wasn't sure if I had a nasty sinus infection or a badly abscessed tooth. My face was so swollen that my eye was almost swollen shut and I lisped when I talked because my lip was so swollen. I thought it was the tooth, however, it didn't get the typical gum boil that most abscesses develop, so I wasn't sure. I was very sure that I couldn't take much more of the pain that I was in, and I have a very high tolerance to pain, so off to the E.R. we went. Turns out it was an abscessed tooth. They prescribed antibiotics and pain medicine and a dental visit ASAP. I had the tooth pulled last week and have been feeling much better this week.

I have to get busy winterizing the chicken coop this week. It's supposed to get chilly next week and the girls won't like it very much if they can't stay toasty overnight. I also want to start my Fall yard/garden clean up soon. I have a ton of organic matter, courtesy of the girls, to be roto-tilled into the garden this year. I also need to work on expanding the garden area along the back fence and enriching the soil there too.

That's about all that has been going on around here. I hope everyone enjoys the last of the warm weather this weekend. I love the cooler temps and changing colors, so I am looking forward to next week. Maybe I'll bake some yummy homemade bread.