Our home is going through a season of ickies. Everyone seems to be sick in some form or another. Dh is recovering from walking pneumonia, DD1 has a raging strep throat and ear infection, DD2 is battling a lingering cough, the baby has a runny nose, and I’ve got antibiotic worthy mastitis.

Our doctor joked yesterday that we’re spending more time there than here. I’d have laughed, had she not been speaking so much truth.

Meanwhile the yard needs mowed and the upstairs playroom is just begging for a deep cleaning. It’s all I can do to force myself to rest. Intellectually I know that rest is the best therapy for mastitis. But tell that to my home.

Speaking of home. One of these days I will finally finish my laundry room project. I’ve sort of been waiting for Dh to run with it, but am realizing that he’s just too busy right now. If I want it done, I need to do it myself. And really, it’s not that difficult of a chore. I just need to install a shelf, screw in some hooks, and mount the little mop keeper I purchased eons ago.

I wanted to paint in there, but am aware that painting means further delays… Guess we’ll see. As soon as everyone is healthy again, I promise myself that I’ll get in there and get that project finished!

Yesterday I was surprised by a big box of teas from my secret sister. Such a beautiful assortment of different whole teas. The teas came from Owen’s Acres. Included in the box was two packages of Sun Tea Herbs (Lemon balm, lemon verbena, stevia, assorted mints, calendula, sunflower petals, lavender, catnip and Hibiscus) a package of Pure Chamomile Tea, a package of Good Nite Tea (Thyme, Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Catnip, and Spearmint) and a package of Just Good Weeds (Dandelion, Nettle, Plantain, Blessed Thistle, Clover, and Spearmint.)

The Just Good Weeds tea had both Dh and I in giggles last night. We haven’t tried it yet but have heard such great things about thistle for allergies, that it probably won’t be long before we brew some. The one we have brewed is the Sun Tea. It came out such a gorgeous rosy color after brewing. I added some Sucunat to it, and turned it a more opaque brown. Almost the color of soda. When we served the tea to the girls they were delighted to be having, “Pop.” No length of explanation will disway them from their conviction that they are drinking Soda when they drink their Sun Tea.

In fact, I just over heard DD1 whisper to DD2 this morning that, “We get da tea-pop and dink it all gone.“

We’re having a garden crisis. All my plants are yellowing and wilting. I can’t tell if they’re getting too much water or not enough. Which puts me in quite the spot, because the solution is either one or the other, as is the potential death of my plants! Anybody have a guess?

The interesting thing is that the tomato plants that are still in my planters (right next to the garden) are doing really well. They’re getting the same amount of water… so I really don’t know. Maybe it’s the soil?

Gah! I need a close friend who knows what they’re doing in the garden. That way I can make them come over and help me save what’s left of my garden!

Every once in a while I stumble across something that actually makes sense. A program that creates LESS dependence on consumerism and provides valuable resources to those in need. Maybe you remember (or maybe it’s still running in your area) the Tamp*x commercial that gives pads to african girls for every purchase. (Or something like that.) In theory it’s a great idea. Until you start thinking about landfill issues and the waste/disposal problems. Or the fact that Tamp*x is very strategically marketing to an untapped demographic. Talk about name-branding!

Anyway, as an answer to all of that Good 4 Girls is starting a campaign to put reusable feminine hygiene products into the hands of young women in Africa. There are a several ways you can help. 1) Sew and donate. 2) Donate through cash contributions or 3) Purchase new pads and donate them to G4G. Visit the How To Donate page for more information.

on a jet plane, don’t know when we’ll be back again…

O-kay, not really, we’ll be taking the van and I do know when we’ll be back. It’s just that every time I think about going on a trip, John Denver is my first default artist of choice. You know, for the soundtrack of my life.

Not to mention, if it were up to my eldest we would be taking a plane. She says planes are more fun than the van.

I’d have to agree.

At any rate, we’re headed down to my sisters for a quick trip to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. The time away will be really nice, albeit short. I wish we could stay longer. In fact, we had planned to be there already. But Dh is working today, so our launch date was rescheduled.

It’s probably just as well. Staying here an extra couple days gave me the opportunity to plant the peach trees in my front yard. I need to go out today and soak them down again and make sure they’re staked properly. It’s a little late in Spring to be planting trees, so I need to make my best effort to help these little guys take root and grow.

Speaking of growing. You should see my garden. It’s really looking lovely. The squash, zucchini and cucumber are really doing well. My sage and red bell pepper looks pretty healthy, too. I’m a little worried about my tomato plants. I may have moved them too early. Guess we’ll see. Right?

I still have a lot of room the garden for more veggies. The lettuce type plants I tried to grow never sprouted and the bush beans withered away one hot day without shade. (I keep learning new things, too bad it’s at the expense of my plants! lol.) Dh is going to make me a small square foot carrot and parsnip growing box. As soon as that’s complete I’ll be sure to post pictures.

Baby is calling me and the girls are grumbling about being hungry, so I need to go. Just wanted to stop by and let everyone know that I’m still around, even if I’m quiet for a few.

DD3 took her first crawling steps today. She was seated on the floor a couple feet from me, when Dh turned on the vacuum. Apparently fear for life and limb is an excellent motivator, because those little hands and feet just started to go and didn’t stop until she had crawled all the way up to my head. I still giggle when I think about it. She’s such a nutty little kid.

On the 29th, the girls and I celebrated Earth Hour. Turning off our lights and reading books by candle light. We sat together in the bedroom and just enjoyed being together. No t.v. to distract us, just quiet down time. We played shadow puppets on the wall and just goofed around. Dh was working, so it was just us four women-folk.

And before you start scratching your head and wondering if I’ve lost my God-fearing-conservative-mind and jumped on the “global warming” bandwagon, I want to explain that our choice to participate in Earth Hour actually had little to do with climate and everything to do with recognizing a personal responsibility for the resources we have been privileged to be charged with. It is important that my girls grow up understanding that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the things God has blessed us with. Including the energy we use in our home.

The really cool part of it all was that an hour by lamp-light turned out to be one of the most enjoyable hours of my week. I’m tempted to make Earth Hour a weekly event.