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It had already been a tough week for us - out of the house nearly every day for errands etc... besides my work schedule all week.  Then, I couldn't stop sneezing.. and sinus yuck kicked in.  With all of its additions, fever, hacking cough, not that hungry because my stomach can't take the vibrations, can't stay awake for more than a few hours at a time etc.. When I do drift off Mark said I was waking up saying funny things... I remember waking up a lot for water, with the cough medicine doing strange things to my dreams (mixing with my book topic)...

It's two to three days later and I'm still hacking a bit of it out - but my lungs are much clearer again.

There are so many books I'd like to read but I can't stay awake long to read even the one I have.. we did watch a few movies  though, with me drifting in and out yesterday and more present with them today.

Mark had the sinus issue a little, but seems to be getting better.  Esme has a bit of a cough and sniffle - chicken soup is doing pretty good for her.  She drank a small bowl of lemon tea with honey for me the other night before she went to bed.

The girl dogs are doing just fine after their surgery - they didn't chew at their stitches much and Mark hasn't seen any reason to be alarmed.  They're both active and following their usual routines.

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Took Lucy and Freckles to the vet this morning for spaying.  We bought three chickens yesterday morning at the flea market, but only two of them survived the night -- not sure what happened to the smallest one, but oh ... poor thing was dead this morning in the chicken house.  That puts us at four total.

Went out to the garden and planted all the rest of the seedlings - Hungarian wax peppers, roma tomatoes - not great seedlings but we'll see if any of them catch.  The three Roma seedlings I put out first have all done well, but the next two had died... put up a sunshade over this batch to see if that will help them for the first few days.  Also planted the cleome and borage seedlings - the comfrey had died.  Planted the painted lady runner beans and the morning glory (dwarf ensign).  I really like the cosmos have come up so well - they should be red, and pretty.

Have to work tonight, and friends due for fishing tomorrow if all goes well.

First Haircut

She got a trim a few months back, but now she really got it cut in preparation for school starting back in a few months.  We hope she'll be able to brush it out herself by the time August rolls around.

 The hairstylist was crying a little bit from something else - and this made her very emotional, too.  Esme cried just a little bit because of it, but it turned out very nice.

I saved a lock of it for her in her baby book.. it was over four inches long.

//and update : My dad was out of the hospital and seemed to be back in spirits... it sounded like a very scary time for them.  We talked to him on the phone for about an hour a few nights ago.

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I'm worried about my dad being in the hospital - haven't heard much from them.  I sent them a text but didn't get anything back so maybe it didn't go through.  Will try again on FB.

Esme had her pediatric dental exam at the big office in Jackson yesterday - it went better than I was thinking it would.  She is scheduled to go back in June for the actual treatment.  We bought a new easel at the store there, some more pastels and a sketchbook.  When we got home several boxes turned into a dollhouse for birds.

Esme with several of Minion's kittens.  They are exploring the world.  We watched National Treasure 2, a documentary about the Antiktherion mechanism and Cracking the Maya Code since school officially ended... and now Esme is reading a book from the library.  We've started Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for night reading but it is slow going.  I'm trying to get over a sinus crud and the weather just keeps fluctuating.

We have a playdate set up for this weekend... not much else to report.

Family Photo board project

I came home with a spare piece of wood framing out of some packaging tonight  - and was wondering if I should stretch some fabric over it and make a painting.  But, I had this idea instead - something I could put family photos in, keep the dust out and change it once in a while.

I cut a piece of cardboard to size, stretched muslin craft fabric over it, stapled it with a staple gun around while pulling it tight, then painted it with gloss acrylic paint.  After it was dry we cut some old trim to length for top and bottom and cut a piece of vinyl tablecloth type material (remnant from Walmart) to size.  I stapled the top of it to the top edge and then pilot-drilled the outside-corner in three places, screwing it down over the top of the top edge.  After pinning each photo in place with tiny sewing pins, I pulled the vinyl down tight and used Jumbo binder clips to bind the bottom quarter round and vinyl to the bottom edge of the surface.

And, tada.  We have framed photos.  I don't think we really have any up in the house otherwise - just on computer and in books put away in drawers.  We have lots of family art up.. and now some photos.  I think Esme was saying she might want one for her room at some time...

Friday test week last day of second grade homeschool

8.45    - PE; stationary cycle
9a    - CC Math Workbook
9.15    - reading: Changes for Felicity ch 3 to end
10a    - cooking: scrambled egg sandwich
10.15    - video: Hidden Kingdoms ep 2
11.15    - PE: running laps
11.30    - writing two pages 74/100
2p    - done

We had a long discussion about public school and expectations when she returns tonight.  We told her to think about third vs. fourth  - in case we have a choice.  She doesn't have to decide just now, but there are a lot of things she does have to mull over.