Mmmm Donuts

Fresh out of the fryer... they meet the Dustin Seal of Approval! Next on the list to try...

Fried Ice Cream

It's That Time of Year Again

For many school has already started and for some it will start very soon. Most of the time kids aren't happy with the idea of going back to school. It means that their vacation is over and it's back to work. The prospect of putting away the video games and bringing out the books is no fun. I'm sure some parents like this time of year because they get to send their kids away for the day.

For me, it is the same as it is for the kids. It means to put away the games and movies and pull out the teacher guides and schedules. It means that I have to stay on top of my son and make sure he is doing his school work.

Home schooling is a lot of work - and it's not for everyone - but the work is very rewarding. Your child gets one on one help, they get a customized path to learning, and they have a flexible schedule. It doesn't seem like a whole lot really, but it makes all the difference in the world!

As I think back on the time my son was at a regular public school, I think if he had remained there, they had wanted to place him on a path that would have held him back - literally, they wanted to make him re-do Kindie class, but it would have also held him back mentally and intellectually.

Since he has been in the program we're in now, he has excelled beyond my expectations! He's working two full grades ahead of his age group, scoring in his state tests with students that are about to graduate, and thinking outside the box with ideas perplexing to the average person. I think I made the right choice when I decided to pull him out of the regular public school and home school him.

The vacation is over and it's Back to School - I say bring it on!

A Walk on the Wild Side

I thought I would split off a new blog for nature related topics... go check it out at

http://walkwild24.blogspot.com/

More Surprises

When I wrote the blog New Surprises Around the Corner I had no idea that there were more in store for me! After the nest of eggs, there were the Wild Turkeys, and I thought that would be it. There are no more.

How wrong was I?

The next day I saw this cute little bird watching over my garden. Or is it EATING my garden? It watched me for about 15 minutes as I weeded my potatoes.

I think it's a Cordilleran Flycatcher... never heard of it, but it likes to eat bugs! Yum yum!

Two days later, I get an awesome snapshot of the moon - I love the coloration of the sky.



Then hubby came home after a very long time out . We had so much to do! We went through all the boxes and things from the old house and threw half of it away or gave to Goodwill. You know, old clothes that didn't fit anymore or were way out of style. I'm sure they'll come back in style soon though. I can't believe that I still had clothes from high school! The later part of his home time, I was walking around the house watering my plants and I heard squeaking right above me. I look up and see a small nest of baby birds!


So cute!! I believe they are the babies of the Flycatcher. From up above, they have the same color feathers as the other bird.

And no sooner had I found these little babies when I heard a thud against the window and saw feathers floating toward the ground. I'm sure the bird just stunned itself, so I went outside to see if it was okay. I saw it - poor little thing broke it's neck. Poor little bird...


At the old house, I had never seen so many different kinds of birds!We had robins and chickadees and an occasional mountain blue jay. When we moved out here, I have seen more different types of birds! Ohh and bugs too... so many different bugs out here! No wonder the birds like it out here! haha!

Finally, this morning, even as I type this blog, I notice that there are tons of cars pulling into our driveway and sitting there for 5-10 minutes at a time and driving off just in time for another to take its place. Then I noticed that they are painted and have team numbers written on them. What the...?? It's the Spokane to Sandpoint Scenic Relay Race!


The runners cover 185 miles running from Spokane, WA to Sandpoint, ID over the river and through the woods... lol Apparently, at one of the major exchanges, runners take a quick ride on Tremors, one of Siilverwoods famous roller coasters! We are on the finishing leg of the race. Very cool! I can cheer all the runners on from my computer - I can see out the front window from there!

No doubt there will be many more surprises while we're here - and many good ones I hope!

Wild Turkey

Yum yum! Thanksgiving dinner!

Just kidding!

The other night, my hubby and I were standing on the back porch admiring the cool breeze. Out of the corner of his eye, hubby saw movement. A pack/ flock / family of wild turkeys were traversing the driveway and making their way through the yard to the field that lays just beyond my garden.

There were 8 all together. Mama, Papa, and 6 little ones...and I do mean little ones. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of them - darn! But they looked more like this, minus the fence...


I'm so happy to see more wildlife around the new house!

New Surprises Around the Corner

I was outside working in the yard again, tending my rose bushes that are on my deck, when I noticed three tiny blue spots directly under my feet.



I had seen a bird's nest under the porch when we moved in, but I thought it was empty. Certainly it would be empty as soon as we moved in and started making a bunch of noise.

I hope that momma bird hasn't abandoned her nest because of all the foot traffic now - I hadn't seen any birds over there since we have been here, but maybe she is just being quiet. I did see a momma bird sitting on some eggs in a nest on the other side of the house, but I haven't been over there because I didn't want to disturb her. I don't know if she's still there or not. I don't want them to leave!

First we were surprised with potatoes, an alien embryo growing on the window, and now little blue eggs. I wonder what surprises will show up next?

A Little Spa Treatment

The past month and a half (seems like it's been a year!) has been so tough for me that I decided that it was time for a little spa treatment!

First, let me say, that my son is now covered by Medicaid so his injuries are now covered. I was so worried about how I was going to pay such a huge hospital bill. The hospital bill alone was $14,000. That didn't include follow up Dr visits or the anesthesiologist for his surgery. That was just the ER visit and use of the operating room! So needless to say, I was stressing bad! Like really bad. Not even chocolate would help. haha! After submitting our application for state and county assistance last Wednesday, I got a call from a case worker on Thursday and she said my son was approved for Medicaid retroactive back to April. So he's covered! I told her that she made my day and that if I could reach through the phone and give her a hug, I would. A huge boulder has been lifted from my shoulders!

So now that that bit of stress is gone, and we're actually gearing downward from all the "excitement" of the last 6 weeks, I felt I needed to treat myself.


At our new house, we don't have to haul water anymore. YES! So I can take a nice long hot bubble bath whenever I want! YES YES!! So I grabbed my candles and placed them around the bathroom while the tub filled up with hot water and fragrant bubbles. Ahhh, so nice! While in the bath, I gave myself a facial with a cucumber avocado mask and nighttime super moisturizer that helps keep your face looking young and beautiful. After the bath, I used some of my favorite scented lotion (that I made) and soaked my hands and feet in a paraffin bath. I topped it off with a manicure and pedicure. I felt like a million bucks when I went to bed last night.

Who says you have to go to an expensive hotel for the royal treatment?!