Bartending

Yes, you read that right. I am going to be taking classes at Bucks County School of Bartending. Well, that's the plan anyway, since I haven't actually paid my registration yet.

It all started with needed a job and seeing that an Irish pub was opening in Lansdale. I figured I could get a job there helping serve food and/or busing tables. Gary (jokingly) suggested bartending, but I thought he was serious. I looked into, and decided I actually wanted to do it.

Attention to things

Recently, I came across two magazine articles while helping Ellie with homework. One on cleaning and one on miscarriages.

The one on cleaning invites you to have mindful housekeeping. Don't just attack your housework like it's a snake ready to bite back. Imagine you're doing the task for the first time. Use all your senses. Consider it a neural workout and let it be mindful, not mindless. Don't think of housework as punishment, but let it cultivate kindness to yourself and others. [Not found in the article, but good advice I think - pray for others while you clean.]

I like her last paragraph. "Cleaning changes things. So much in life is uncertain - you take vitamins and get sick, love people who disappoint you, pour your heart into a job and lose it at the end of a fiscal year. But if you take a rag to a piece of soap scum, it will go away. From that point of view - the pure continuum of cause and effect - cleaning stops seeming futile. It starts to look like the only thing worth doing." The author also quotes a Zen priest as saying the magic soap is your attention. "Attention to the meal you cook, the clothes you wash. Attention is love. And that's transformative."

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The one on miscarriages caught my eye, because I've had two. But even saying that is hard, because I haven't always completely considered them miscarriages in the same sense of a miscarriage to a woman whose pregnancy was 13 weeks along. I knew I was pregnant for only a week, and only because of doing IVF. If I had gotten pregnant without assistance and had a miscarriage at the same week gestation, I wouldn't even have known it. I felt like I was a fraud or something. So I rationalize that it isn't the same. Friends and family have told me otherwise, but still.

So, when I read this article and saw that I fit into the category of women who have had miscarriages, I felt included and that I could more easily say I've had two miscarriages and not feel like a fraud.

Keeping pace and being stupid

Weeds are a pain. So to keep up with them, I weeded the side flower bed along the fence. They can be the worst over there running wild. I also finally finished the spring planting. I got the dill seeds Gary saved from last year planted and planted horseradish root I picked up from a freecycler. And I moved a lonely little pansy plant that came up by itself but was getting overrun by the bleeding heart, to a hanging basket.

I have been faithful to my seeds in the garden and have been giving them water regularly. I am not letting my hard work or our bellies down this summer. I have not needed to weed the garden yet. Note I said yet. I fully anticipate those pesky things poking their annoying selves into my food.

Josh got himself good and dirty "helping" me weed. He more or less dug a hole and moved the dirt back and forth up and down the flower bed, trampling small plants as he went. I finally banned him from the flower bed. It wasn't really that much damage, since the plants in that bed are either bulb ones on their way out, or prolific, hardy things that can't really be destroyed.

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On another note, I had a laundry mishap today. Since our kids are growing like weeds, they need new summer clothes. I got a bag of stuff for Josh from a freecycler, and we bought some from our favorite neighborhood secondhand store. It was a beautiful day so I thought I wash them all. I stupidly threw in Josh's shirt he spit out the fish oil onto. See where I'm going with this? I thought maybe I didn't need to treat it first, so I just added it to the load, not thinking about the fish oil part. Upon hanging said load to dry in the fresh air, my nose caught a whiff of not so fresh fish oil. I had to rewash half the load in Nature's Miracle (I still have some from the last fish oil mishap.) Thankfully some of the clothes made it through without catching the scent. And more made it through the second washing. Still need to do another washing. And probably another. Unfortunately, the clothes are soaking in my last bit of Nature's Miracle.

Attic clean up

Part of our attic has become home to Kulp's Spices. And according to some higher government people, one is not to walk through sleeping areas to get to the spice area.







So, we rearranged our attic. The bedroom (a loose term for where the bed is) is now in the middle of the attic and the spice "store" is in the back. The storage (junk) area is in the front.

The attic still needs an actual clean up, though. We need to go through our things and get rid of what we don't need. We are participating in a neighborhood yard sale this coming Saturday, so we have some motivation to move stuff out.



I also enlisted Ellie and Josh to go through their things. They can pull out toys and such they don't want and have a spot to sell them. They can keep the money they make. So far Ellie has gone through her room. We still need to go through the toys downstairs.

0 times

That is the number of times Gary has thrown up. But he has felt horrible instead. Gary came home from work yesterday and has been in bed until this afternoon.

Ellie and I continue to feel fine.

9 times

That is the number of times Josh threw up in the past 24 hours. We think he ate some bad cheese at lunch yesterday. Nothing he ate or drank stayed down. Gary slept with him to help him through the night. He pleaded for water. If we gave him some, he'd throw it up. We only let him rinse out his mouth. Finally by 5:30 AM, he was done. Gary and he slept until 11:00, while Ellie and I went to church.

[Yesterday morning Hunter thought he'd get the ball rolling with two upheavals.]

Waning not waxing

My enthusiasm for gardening is waning with the moon. I still have seeds to plant and no motivation to plant them. Especially if I'll get all hot and sweaty doing it.

It's gardening time

On Sunday at Gary's Dad's house, I mostly watched and helped some while Judy gardened. She does square foot gardening and makes it look so easy. She has quite a set up, and I am slightly envious.

But she set me up. I brought home her book, the tilling Mantis, the square frame, some mesh to keep birds from stealing seeds, a little more know-how, some seeds and plants, and a measure of enthusiasm.

Here you see what I started with. A garden full of last year's leaves. This will not happen again. Getting all those stupid leaves out of there was a pain. Then running the Mantis through the packed down dirt wasn't fun. I would have preferred an actual rototiller.






Take notice that in the above photo the garden is full of leaves and in this photo the garden is free of leaves and there is an appearance of leaf bags by the camper.

I've placed the flagstone tile reused from AJ's foyer in the garden. It now makes a nice, if quite hot when sun baked, path through the garden. You can also see the square frame and kale. We are going out on a limb growing kale (and turnips.) It isn't a vegetable we go looking to buy, but hear it is quite healthy. So, we are giving it a whirl.


And here you can see (sort of) the drip hose placed throughout the garden.

I have planted most of our early seeds. And I am pleased with my progress. We are hoping for a better harvest this year. Or at least a better germination record.

Josh was my hose runner and Ellie helped fetch and plant. I keep reminding them of the story of The Little Red Hen.

It's done

I was able to move up my crown lengthening "surgery." I have a sore tooth now, since I am finally able to feel again. Dr. K shot Novocaine on both sides of my tooth. It was numb for over 4 hours. My lip felt three sizes too big. I have a prescription for some Tylenol with a kick (codeine.) So far I haven't felt like I need it.

It was a bit disconcerting knowing he was carving out my tooth, not being able to feel the cuts, but feeling the pushing and such. He even used a drill. And then he goes sewing in there. I have stitches. And I have an oral bandage, kind of like silly putty stuck to my teeth. He didn't ask if I wanted to see his work, though. I would have said yes.

My instructions include not HOT foods for 12 hours, no spitting, no straws, and no chewing on that side.

I took pictures, but I can't get one that shows my tooth very well. Gary pointed to my tongue and asked "What is that?"

Phillies open with a win

For their opening day, the Fightin' Phils won 11-1 against the Nationals.

Alleluia! Jesus is risen!

¹Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

²And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

³And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

⁴The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

⁶"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

⁷"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

⁸And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

⁹And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

~Matthew 28:1-9

Birds singing

One of my favorite things about spring, is listening to the birds sing the morning awake. I listen for the cheerily-cheerup-cheerily-cheerup of the robins.




I also hear the teakettle-teakettle-teakettle-tea of Carolina wrens,




and the chiva-chiva-chiva of the tufted titmouse.


My favorite birdsong is that of the wood thrush. It reminds me of summers at the cabin with my grandparents.




Here is a video with the actual song. (There's nothing to really look at, just listen.)

The Potty Train

Last week, Josh's bed had to be changed five times, because his diaper leaked. It was time for the next size up at night.

Friday, my mom asked him when he was going to use the potty. He said in three days.

Monday morning Josh's diaper was dry, so I decided now was a good time to stick him on the potty. I knew he had to go. He fought me, whined, cried, carried on. I made him sit there until he calmed down, then I let him get down. All day it was business as usual in his diaper. We put the kids to bed by 8:00. At 9:55 Josh starts calling out. I go in and he tells me he has to tinkle. Sure enough his diaper is dry. We head to the potty. I run up to the attic for the potty seat. he looks at it and wants to know where the things are on the side. I hurry (I don't know how long I have until he can't hold it anymore) downstairs for the other potty seat with handles. He sits a few moments and puts his tinkle in the potty. Much praise and congratulations follow. With diaper back in place, he goes back in bed.

Next morning, his diaper is dry, and he uses the potty again.

Several more times this week, he has used the potty. But never for pooping. Unfortunately, I think it will still be a while before that happens.

Shopping and saving

Yesterday we went to the mall for the sole purpose to get Gary glasses. We tried LensCrafters. They did not have economical prices nor any deals. We decided to try Sears Optical. They had a mostly the same prices, but they had some deals. Ironically in the processes of taking off his current glasses and trying on new pairs, the arm came off his current glasses. He could possibly have worn them, but he put them in his pocket after they broke, effectively bending the other arm.

Gary is getting a new pair of glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses. He saved 60%. While there, I perused a bit. I ended up buying a matching winter hat, scarf and gloves and a pair of slippers on clearance and much needed pair stockings. Before we actually left the store I decided that I didn't want the hat, gloves and scarf as much as a Phillies sweatshirt, I returned them.

I tried two sports stores looking for a Phillies sweatshirt. Nothing economical that I liked.

At this point the kids were getting quite irritable. Tired and hungry are not desirable qualities in children. So we headed to the car. While driving home, we discussed quick prep dinner options. As we came upon our church, we remembered the youth group was having a spaghetti dinner/silent auction fund raiser. It was 5:30. Did it start yet? we wondered. I convinced Gary to at least stop and see. They were just getting to started, so we signed up and took our seats.

I checked out the items for auction and looked for ones that interested me and had low bids, since we have low funds. I found one. A discovery toy basket and free babysitting. I bid. I won.

So, on an outing that was purposed for eye glasses, we purchased eye glasses, stockings and slippers, dinner, a toy basket, and babysitting. Everything was economical, and we didn't blow the budget.

My heart is hurting

Last night Gary and I were discussing Ellie and her morning bus ride. We thought that two girls she has been sitting with don't like her. But in talking with Ellie this morning, she says there are other kids, not the girls she sits with, who make fun of her and laugh at her if she is dressed different. If she looks "normal" they leave her alone. I am unsure of when this has happened, but today is pajama day at school and yesterday she was really excited about that. Today, Ellie said she didn't want to wear pajamas so that the kids on the bus wouldn't laugh at her. If I had the car I would have driven her to school, so she could wear pajamas.

As she was talking about it, my eyes teared up, as they are now typing this, to hear that someone has verbally hurt my child.

I know that in this sinful world, she will encounter people like this, but I didn't think it would be this soon. She's only five, a kindergartner, her first bus experience, on a bus with children going to Christian schools, and she already has to deal with this problem.

I can't always protect her, and it hurts.

Sure signs

What is a sure sign that Spring is here?











Flowers and green growing things.









Another sign is the appearance of grass stains on pants.

So much more

In learning about Baptism, I am realizing how much I have missed in the 26 years of my Baptism. What I thought I was doing - showing others that I had accepted Christ into my life, joining my church, and following Him through the waters of baptism - I am learning I actually did nothing.

I went through the motions, but God did the work. He saved me, He washed away my sins, He covered me with the Holy Spirit. I didn't realize what He does through Baptism. But He didn't just do the work then, He has done it every day since and continues to save me, wash me clean of my sins, and cover me with the Holy Spirit. He does the work through Baptism, but also through His Word and The Lord's Supper.

God gives me my faith. And what a gift. To have salvation, the Spirit working in me, the name of Christ on me. I knew I had these things, in a sense, but not from my Baptism. Well, I hadn't really thought about the fact that Christ's name is on me. And what that means. If I believe that I have to do something first, before Baptism, than I am limiting God to my abilities. And let me tell you that that is limiting, since I can do nothing without Christ. I can't believe without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes with Baptism. I want my children to have the gift of faith. To have Christ's name on them. To have salvation. To have their sins washed away. I want them Baptized.

There's a lot I had not really thought about, known about, but now I know that I am missing so much. Take the 10 Commandments, the Apostle's Creed, and The Lord's Prayer. They seem simple, but there is so much teaching packed in these three that I have never heard.

I am hungry to learn more.

Crown lengthening

Not a pretty picture.

Last July I broke a corner off one of my molars. Today (we waited for our tax refund) I went to a new dentist (my old one takes no insurance or dental plans) for a cleaning and to see about having a crown put on. He informed me that since my tooth broke below the gum line, I have to have a procedure called crown lengthening. Once home, I decided to look up what "recontouring the gum tissue and sometimes also the underlying bone" actually meant. [The brochure wasn't really all that informative.] I clicked on the link for Wikipedia. My mouth gaped open and I clamped my hand over my eyes. They showed a photo. There was a tooth and an instrument holding back a flap of gum tissue, revealing raw tissue underneath. Just what I needed to see right before lunch. If you'd care to gawk, click on the word Wikipedia above.

Not only do I need such a procedure to fix my tooth, I need to have a filling fixed. My teeth are rather poor quality. I really need to floss, but I don't. I can't stand flossing. I even bought one of those floss tool things, so I don't have to wrap the floss around my fingers. To no avail. We have a love-hate relationship, floss and me. I love to hate it. I need some intervention and accountability. Anyone want to bug me about flossing? I might get cross with you, though.

I hope the kids don't get my genes for teeth. Gary's teeth are perfect.

What to do?

Wednesday Gary and I watched some TV together. We had a nice time. He snoozed a little. The only problem was it was at 2:00 pm. He should have been at work. Ellie had Parent Day at school, and when I picked Gary up from work to drive over there, he came out late carrying his coat and bag. He was told to take some vacation time and take off the rest of the day.

We had a nice time at Ellie's school and she thoroughly enjoyed us there.

He didn't work yesterday either. There just isn't any work to do. He plans to go in on Monday but will there be enough to do? If he uses his vacation now, he won't be able to use it when we have our family vacation in July. Of course that's assuming he still has a job.

He had interviewed at a place in York, but he got the Thank-you-but-we-found-someone-that-fits-our-needs-better letter yesterday as well.

My interview went well at Target. I have to wait 1 to 2 weeks to hear back. I also applied at for a job with the census bureau. Waiting to hear about that.

He applied for a job at a company in Pittsburgh. That's much farther than York.

Friday, another beautiful day

More laundry.










Ellie had off today, and we went to the park with a friend of mine and her son.









Josh enjoying his walk with a stick.











We saw a woodpecker on our walk and heard many other birds.