Weekend Recoveries

The 'bug' spread to me, and I now can relate to how the kids were feeling.  I've spent a good part of the weekend sleeping and had little energy to do much more than that.

The spinning wheel was dusted off and I sat contentedly spinning a spool's worth of yarn between naps.  This afternoon was the turning point and after plying the yarn I decided to attempt wrapping a warp for my rigid heddle loom.

Last summer Wayne and I found a 'bundle of sticks' at a yard sale in the village.  I had my suspicions that it had something to do with fiber processing and asked how much they wanted for the bundle.  $5 was the asking price and I parted with the money without hesitation.  When we got home, Wayne and I untied the bundle and realized that it was a small warping reel with hand-carved pegs and rods.  Tonight Wayne helped me put it all together, and I reeled the warp for my weaving project on it.  It is amazing to see the ingenuity of the craftsman and I'm thrilled to be able to use such wonderful antique tools in my fiber projects.  I hope to get the warp tied onto the rigid heddle loom this week, but there are several other "to do" items on my list.  I promise myself that I won't have to get sick to return to my loom project--or any of my other 'fiber pursuits' that have been on the back burner due to sewing demands.

Last night I ended up taking Jonathan to the ER due to a severe case of hives.  After his bath he exploded into a rash.  He didn't seem to respond to the antihistamine and the rash was getting worse.  Thankfully, the hives were not in his mouth or throat and the doctor told us to continue treating them the way we were.  It appears he has an allergy to the antibiotic he was on for a tooth infection.  It took 8 days to show, but that is not uncommon--or so we found out yesterday.  Poor Jonathan's face is bright red and swollen into one big mass of hives.  The rest of his body has been covered with a fiery red rash.  He couldn't stand to have any ointments on it, but welcomed a milk/oatmeal bath this afternoon.  Thankfully, tonight the hives are starting to fade on his legs although his feet are still covered with them.  He was so excited to see that they were fading from his legs.  He started yelling, "I'm healed!  I'm healed!"    He's been such a trooper through all of the discomfort.  I don't know if I would have handled them as well as he has!

Katelyn has returned to her normal bubbly self--a sign that she has recovered from 'the bug' and the teeth extraction.  Her typical wit and teasing have returned, and she's been playing her violin and piano again, which is a true sign or recovery.  I so enjoy hearing her play.  Tomorrow she returns to orchestra practice and the regular routine.

How thankful I am that we're on the other side of the week of illness and recovery!

P.S.  We have spring peepers singing!!!!

Temperatures and Tissues...

Everyone is talking about the warmer weather we had earlier in the week, but the temperatures I'm talking about are the children's. 

The past week has been rough on the kids...sneezing and fluctuating temperatures from a cold/flu virus, an infection of a tooth for Jonathan, and 3 teeth extracted for Katelyn.  Jon is on the couch and keeps mumbling, "Oh boy."  For a normally very active little boy, it seems strange to have him taking naps.  Thankfully, his tooth has calmed down now that he's on an antibiotic.  Hopefully, this 'bug' will have run its course before his appointment with the dental specialist on the 17th.  Katelyn is slowly recovering from the teeth extraction, but the 'bug' has added a twist to the process.

So things on the farm are kind of quiet this week...except for the sneezing, coughing, and 'oh boy' sighs.

April Fool's Weather

Today has been a crazy day for weather.  We awoke to sunshine and fairly warm temps.  On my walk to the office I was dodging earthworms on the pavement.

Mid-morning the rain and wind was thrashing against the windows.

At noon we were getting hit hard with hail and wind.

Then the sunshine again but cooler temps.

On our way home from swimming and orchestra rehearsal this evening it was snowing while the sun was shining. 

I guess God decided to give us an April Fool's joke of His own.  I'm just looking forward to those "May flowers" that come after all this weather.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

We hope you and yours have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

I Think It's Right Around the Corner...

I went for a walk this afternoon up around Buck Horn Lake and saw lots of promising signs that Spring is about to burst upon us...

The ferns are sending up their bright green fronds, the snow has melted from under the trees, and the lake has changed from the glistening white ice to a deep grey.  It won't be long before the inky black of the waters below start to show and then it will be 'ice out' which will be a true sign of spring.

I startled 3 white-tailed deer as I made my way around the lake.  A few minutes later another bounded across my path and into the woods.  The other day I watched a deer wade across the cove of the river.  There is definitely a healthy deer population this year. 

The chickens keep escaping from their pen to forage among the dead leaves and scratch through the flower gardens.  Raven believes her job is to herd them back into their pen.  She chases each one to the fence and waits until it flies over before going to herd another hen back to her place also.  It's so funny to watch.  If they don't go back to the fence, Raven will put her paw gently on the hen's back and look over to whomever is outside as if to say, "Please help me with this disobedient bird!"  Once all the hens are back in the pen, Raven proudly wags her tail and searches for more 'wrongs to right'.

Spring?

Yes, I, too, am wondering where all that wonderful spring weather is.  The snow has faded from the lawn, but there is still the remains of a 'snow beast' in the backyard and my daffodils are at a standstill after that last blast of winter.

Jonathan and Ian have been busy digging a pit in the garden.  Jonathan thought he'd dig a tunnel from the garden to the swing set, but then decided that he needed help.  Ian didn't agree to helping, but between the two of them they get enough mud caked onto their clothes that they are emptying the pit even if they don't use a shovel!

Dwalin the goat kid is growing like crazy.  He loves to run around the backyard following Marc as he does his chores.  Mavis (the mother goat) is doing better after a slight surface infection of the udder.  We had to give her antibiotic injections twice a day--I NEVER expected my medical training to be used on goats!

We're still looking for a new location for the Unadilla Artisan Guild.  Wayne is working on another cut glass design and I have 3 quilts in various stages of completion.  The other artisans are busy, too, and we all look forward to the day when we can open a shop again.

The quote of the moment...When discussing the importance of Palm Sunday at church, the question was asked what Palm Sunday was.  Jonathan quickly answered, "Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem."  Ian added, "The donkey's name was Eeyore."  (Now, I bet that's a bit of information you hadn't heard!)

A Taste of Spring

The thermometer was in the high 40's this afternoon and the sun was shining but the most exciting thing was the sound of a red-winged blackbird singing!  Spring can't be far away when we start hearing that beautiful song.

I was able to ply some yarn on my spinning wheel while sitting on the side porch enjoying the beautiful day.  Raven had a great time 'hunting' in the field (going from woodchuck hole to woodchuck hole trying to find the critters).  Marc let Dwalin (the baby goat) out of his pen and run around the backyard.  There is nothing as cute as a baby goat jumping and dancing around the yard.  Jonathan pulled out the baseball and bat.  I think we all have a bit of spring fever.