Farm Girl Sisterhood, Complete with Merit Badges

Last year I mentioned finding a great book called MaryJane's Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook for the Farmgirl in All of Us. that celebrated the farmgirl in every woman. I've been getting FarmGirl Magazine here and there. The other day, I picked one up and visited the website.

Imagine my joy when I discovered the FarmGirl Sisterhood is going strong, and now offers Merit Badges. My inner farmgirl and my nostalgic Girl Scout unite! I perused the offerings, and am estatic. This is exactly what we are needing around here.

Today will be Honey's 20th day of illness. I've tried to downplay it, as it is just been such a negative. It started with swine, and then strep on top if that. She didn't respond to the antibiotics, and on one of our myriad of office visits picked up a cold on top. That moved quickly into bronchitis, and it's complications. She finally rounding the corner, but our days are filled with breathing treatments and a third round of yet stronger antibiotics. Ugh!

With all of this, she has been struggling to do anything resembling school work. Frankly, she's had days where she is struggling to stay awake for three hours at a time. Asking her to do algebra is ridiculous, as she will forget any lesson we might happen to muddle through. She's been keeping up with her history and German, surpisingly, and is still acing her Plato Science (that is still fun!). I've had to bag a lot of the dynamic literary analysis in lieu of easy grammar review that she can handle in bite size chunks. And all those added academic courses like philosophy, journalism, and sociology are now moving to multi-year status.

She is still facing at least another week of this, and who knows how long until she is mentally recovered. We've already faced the reality that we will be doing math long into the summer to ensure she's gotten it. Her evaluator is right on board with us with these changes. We know that her resisitence is very slow recovering, and are already looking for nesting type projects that keep us close to home.

Honey, however, is mentioning that she likes mini-goals. These badges will become for us a real way to add a little direction. And the variety offers not just hobbies like needle arts, but environmental concerns, horticulture, cooking and community service. How fun!

My Organized Office Space!

Just thought I'd share my wonderful new bookcase, and how nicely it allows me to organize my office space. It doesn't even clash too badly with the toile wallpaper and stenciling...so I am thrilled!

Not bad for a Friday project!

All Kinds of Stinky Goin' On!

Poor HoneyGirl is really struggling to get better. Another trip to the doctor, a higher potency antibiotic for seconday infections. After, of course, a 20 hour battle with the pharmacy, insurance company and office staff to finally discover that the new Dr. had created her own abbreviation for Zithromax, also known as a Zpak. Her creation, however, is the actual name for another medication, used for heart patients. Grrr!

We are spending all our time at home, other than going out for some fresh air on the patio. After more than a week of doing little school, she claimed utter boredom and has started on her own. She's got a system down of waking really early, having some lemon tea, and doing some reading. She takes a nap early, then wakes again around 11am. She can usually manage about 2 hours of school work, then pops in a movie which she promptly naps through. When she wakes, she does another subject, then we play a game or watch a movie together.

Her slow recovery isn't the only stinky here, I must sadly report. Last night around 1am our dog Bear went out and came running through the dog door like a crazed banshee, rubbing his face on the carpet and wimpering. He'd finally met the skunk that has been creeping around the neighborhood. It seemed to be just a warning shot and not full blast, but it got him right in the eye. We flushed the eye, then did tomato baths . He's smelling better than the carpet! Had to throw out the dog bed and living room pillows, which he rubbed his face on in his initial frenzy. Thank goodness for leather furniture that washes so easily!

I sit now, with windows open and candles aflame, waiting for the reek to leave us. What a time to be home sick. It seems that he is now afraid to go out without someone, so I have been making the trek out with them (and loudly announcing my arrival!) Got out my old 22 to clean today, and I am planning on staying up a bit later at night. I'm goin' on a skunk hunt (insert Elmer Fudd voice here), and I am thanking my Daddy today for teaching me how to take care of varmints like this!