WHEW WEDNESDAY

Tuesday I thought about United Co-op....then I thought about Produce co-op. I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about what is working and what isn't working. I called another produce co-op coordinator and chatted about how she runs her co-op. On the weeks when ours is too low to order, I may order from her. I know I need produce. I've made some decisions.

I wasn't sure that I was saving enough to make running the co-op worth my time and effort on weeks when I can't take any free produce. We didn't have co-op last week. I went to buy some pink ladies and they were $2.99 a LB....I get them for .99 a LB......I coudln't buy any....but by today...I had to buy something......

This bakers rack is usually full of baskets of produce, pineapples on the racks, oranges on my counter....and we are down to NOTHING.....in either fridge, or on the bakers rack.... The compost heap was starting to look tasty. It was time to cave and go to Sam's Club. This family would not make it until Friday. I have heard several times, "I can pick it up at Sam's cheaper than $28 ". I got this.....

ONLY this......a bag of gala apples (they aren't Pink Ladies), a 10# bag of navels, 3 lbs of bananas (6), 2.5 lbs of grapes and 3 cucumbers.... $25!!!! I only pay $28 for a basket full at co-op (veggies, lettuce MORE). It's worth it. I've been restructuring.

I think a single share is too big for most families. It was built on the premise of 5 servings each, for 4 people, every day.....so 140 servings max. It's had about 100 - 140 servings, but we hear over and over that it's too much. SO.....we are going to restructure....make the single share more in keeping with what I guess a normal family eats. Now WE aim for 10 - 13 servings a day....so I would think 5 a day doable....but it appears it is still more than most families eat in a day. I will ADMIT that I got very sick of lettuce a few weeks ago. I thought I would die if I had to eat another salad. Being out of all greens this week has cured me of that. ::snort::

I'm revising our brochure and FAQ and then will send out an email to all whose emails I have who have EVER belonged to produce co-op. Just letting them know what we are doing. It may work for some and they may come back. If not, I have three plan B's of what to do at the end of May. ::snort::

I also took care of some PWOC things.....ordered some door prizes for our tea ::shhhh::: (Thanks again, Trish), sent in numbers and announcements to the chapel, thought about what to get for dinner on Friday night Project night, tried to come up with a date for our board planning retreat....just things.

We did school.

I went to the gym. Yep - whipping my bohonkus - I hope it shows some results. ::snort::

I took Jared to meet with the personal trainer at the gym. While he did that the littles and I ran to the library (got the "new" Grisham book - finally) and Sam's Club.

A full day.

Kathy got me started on this Works for Me thing.....I wasn't ready to post until Thursday last week, so saved it for this week. I published it and went to link to the big site...and WAIT it's been changed.....THIS week is what DOESN'T work.....but I'm ready for next week. ::snort::

Off the top of my head - a few things that don't work for me (though they may work fine for you).

~Strict schedules for school, home, parenting, family life.....routines work better for me.

~Many natural deodorants - I still stink.

~Comparing my self and children to others.

~Fitting in a box.

~Playing the victim.

~Walmart.

~Potty training young toddlers.

~Teaching young adults to drive.

~Chlorox mops.

~Son says Tom's toothpaste but *I* love it.

~Gorgeous plants in TX - I have caught Charly's black thumb of death.

~Living up to other's preconceived expectations when they hear I'm a quiverful, homeschooling, crunchy, pastor's wife.

~Labels. ::snort:: See above.

~Fish Oil.

~Fluffy Bible studies.

~Out of context Bible teachers.

~Being expected to be a groupie.

~Many traditional curriculums.

~Civic pep talks in church.

~Cliques.

~Protein drinks.

~Instruction manuals.

~Running free and wild - give me the gym.

~6 year olds who know how to install programs on computers.

~Homeschool co-ops - though I'm dreaming of next year and a new plan. LOL

~Super, self-righteous, practically perfect people - we're all sinners saved by grace.

~Memes that change topics mid-month.....I suppose I need to keep checking back...and that is not directed at THIS one - I never even checked to see if they had a schedule. ::snort:: So what doesn't work for me is skimming instructions?

~Address books.

~Schedules.

~Killer Geese.

~Killer fruit flies swarming from the composter.

That's enough. For more entries on this theme go here. More of my WFMW posts can be read here.

Hero or Celebrity?

We ran across this little blurb in school today and I thought it had some great food for thought. It's taken from "Ancient Greece! 40 Hands -On Activities to Experience This Wondrous Age" by Avery Hart & Paul Mantell.

A hero overcomes obstacles and helps others.
A celebrity is famous.

A hero seeks honor and wisdom.
A celebrity is famous.

A hero is interested in becoming all that he or she can be.
A celebrity is famous.

I think it is noble for my children to seek to be heroes as they follow God. . . as for celebrity, without heroism, it's fairly hollow.

I AM Sorry!

I was working away on our United Order when I heard Stacia utter the most terrifying words in our household during this season, "I AM sorry! I am". I grabbed the camera.

She has discovered puffed brown rice......and it was all over the floor....


I headed for the broom.....When I came back she had a big white bowl, milk, and a spoon ..... and was singing, I LOVE YOU MOM! ::Snort:: She took care of clean up herself.


I ordered a case of puffed brown rice as it is to late to split with anyone. LOL

Oh the Things That Happen When Mom is Away!

Our darling dog, Beatrix Jamima Puddleduck G, is aging. She's a sweet dog. We love her dearly. We rescued her when Jared was a baby - 14 years ago. Josiah picked her out. She was 3 - 4 years old when we rescued her and had been an abused dog - broken leg etc. OK - I need to stop or I will write pages about our dog.

Bottom line is that the birds here in TX TORMENT our dog. She's not quite up to chasing any longer, which previously was her favorite past time....and they seem to know it. Evil birds. They've taken to eating her food....and squawking at her as she lazily observes.....

Mike and the children tackled this problem over the weekend, while I was gone.

Mike put the dogs dish in her kennel. Then attached string to the door.....and wound it through the patio, and into our library. The children crouch by the hours in the library and wait for a bird to attack the dish. They drop the door....the bird is caught. They mark the bird and release it....and they are charting to see if any of the birds are dumb enough to repeat their offense and how fast word will spread to LEAVE THE BEAGLE/AUSTRAILIAN SHEPHERD'S FOOD ALONE!

Surprisingly the grackles seem to have learned. Several doves were snared yesterday. This beauty was caught in the act. I really wanted to get out Bre's old dove cage and keep her in the house.....

That said...no birds have been harmed...and I wrestle with the whole thing, but they have been harassing our dear pet.

Gym Rat!

I'm blogging at the gym. Now THIS is a workout I could get into. ::snort::

I've lived at this gym today. I worked out this a.m. - a nice, long cardio workout.

We did school. I'm so thankful how our TOG studies are tying in to the study PWOC is doing on Judges. At this point I have to MUCH info and am not sure what I'll talk about tomorrow night.

We ran to speech.

I began to finalize our group's United order.

Julie and chidlren dropped by to return our canoes. The yongest two were very sad they didn't stay longer.

I made Granola/Oey Goey Bars....got a meatloaf and roasted veggies ready to pop into the oven.

Jared and I came to the gym, while dinner cooked. I met with the personal trainer and he lifted weights. I now have my own work out and weight routine written down to try. We shall see. Maybe more thoughts on that later.

We ran home and had dinner.

I am back at the gym. Jamin is lifting weights and I just finished writing the assignment for next week. I think we need another month to study Deborah, Barak, Jael and such.

::snort:: Doctor next to me just got a call from a panicked mother whose child has swallowed a penny...sort of nice to sit her and be on the other end of the drama. ::snort::

Ah, Jamin is done. Time to go home. It's been a long day and I'll be back here tomorrow....now that the boys know how things work around here, they'll be able to come alone.

Pastor's Kids


Do you see him? Can you see his precious little head above the oran?

The little ones wanted to sit in the balcony last night. I thought we might be less of a distraction to the students up there and so agreed. Zander headed for the organ. Mr. Ivan said, "don't worry, no one can turn it on." I looked skeptical. Mr. Ivan said, "He won't be able to turn it on."

I le Zander "play" along with the praise team...imagine my SHOCK when loud, rolling, chords began to come from the organ.....oh my WORD.

Mr. Ivan was shocked. He had Zander show him how he maked it work - involved several buttons and such....

It really was fairly funny....and some folks didn't even realize there had been extra sounds. ::snort:: Doing our bit to "lower the mark" for pastor's kids everywhere. ::snort::

This was as funny as when another chaplain's child - NOT OURS - was hiding in the altar during service and the cross began to move.....poor chaplain. ::snort::