Iris

I am extremely fond of this picture. I took it a couple days ago and just pulled it off my camera this evening.

More work in garden

I got my surviving two cucumber seedlings planted today. I'm not sure they'll do very well. I need to start a lot more, and I may try some direct seeding. I got the two pepper plants I bought at the kids' school's nature and plant fair planted. I planted four tiny eggplant seedlings I grew from seed myself. I still have several little sweet pepper seedlings I grew from seed to plant, but I think they're still a bit small to transplant.

I might need to water the area in which I put the green's seeds and the flower seeds. The ground is getting dry, and they won't germinate without some water. We had a tiny bit of rain the evening I planted them, but it's dried out now. It's amazing how dried out my yard is now that trees have leafed out and are using water again. What a muddy mess it had been this winter.

I need to go get K from preschool.

None

While my mom was here, she watched K so that I could go on a field trip with J's class. It's the first time I've ever been able to go on a class field trip because one can't bring siblings, and I've always had at least one at home with me. It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I got to go. We went to Pocahontas State Park and did nature things, like dipping nets into pond water to see what we could find (baby crayfish, tiny fish, mayfly larva, damselfly larva, little clams, etc.).

I finally made it to the gym today! I only went once since my mom was here, and that was when she watched K one afternoon. Between the field trip, going to the airport, K's flu, my flu, and N and J skipping school Monday due to stomach pains, it has been a very long time since I've made it to the gym.

I take my final exam next Wednesday. I've started studying, but I haven't made it very far. Mr. K's mom and dad are coming for the weekend because J has her first communion this Saturday, so I won't be able to study a lot. I'm hoping to get a lot done tomorrow. I might get a bit done tonight, yet, too.

I've been getting some things planted in my garden. I got in seeds for zinnia and sunflower seeds, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, and an Asian green two days ago. About five days ago, I put in some rattlesnake bean seeds.

Busy, mom left

I took my mom to the airport just after 7 a.m. today. She's back home.

K has been ill for a few days. She has the fever and cough. It would appear she has the flu I had a couple weeks ago. She's been home with me instead of going to preschool. It makes my classwork harder to do. She's very miserable. I think she should be doing better soon if her illness follows the progression of mine.

J has been doing her horseback riding lessons. Her fourth and final lesson is tomorrow night. Mr. K took her to the first two, and I took her last night.

Today she and I went out and purchased a first communion dress, nylons, a veil, and white shoes for her. She has her first communion on May 1. Her paternal grandparents will come for the event.

J has a Girl Scout cabin camping trip this weekend. After her riding lesson tomorrow night, we'll have to get her stuff together so it will be ready to take on Friday. She's missed scouts this week and last week because her riding lesson was at the same time.

My Mom Visits

My mom is visiting right now. She's been her since Wednesday and catches a flight home next Wednesday. It's good to see her.

We've been at the kids's school's nature fair today. I bought about five plants for my garden. They have a greenhouse there in which the kids start the plants.

None

K had her birthday Saturday. She's four.

J is getting four horseback riding lessons starting tomorrow through our county's parks and recreation program.

N still refuses to have me explain anything to him about where babies come from. He's ten.

My mom is coming for a visit Wednesday and staying a week. My house and yard are a wreck. I was unable to pick things up last week when I was so sick. She'll just have to live with it. I'll wash her sheets tomorrow and get the hide-a-bed ready.

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. I'll probably read my textbook while I wait.

My accountant got our taxes ready today. They must be postmarked by Thursday. We owe a lot. It looks like we can't write off many thousands of dollars that our rental houses cost us because we are limited in how large a write-off the losses are.

Mr. K has eggs in the incubator and is trying to see if he can get them to hatch.

K goes back to preschool tomorrow and is bringing sugar cookies to celebrate her birthday with her classmates.

Spring break ended today, and N and J attended school again. That was very nice.

Still sick or sick again

I've been horridly ill with the aching and fever. I've been aching since Sunday, but I thought it was from using unused muscles to garden on Saturday. Then it didn't get better and my joints were aching. I finally took my temperature last night, and I was at 100.4 °F, which isn't too bad, but it explains the aching.

The kids are home for spring break. I took them to the zoo yesterday morning, but I was glad to leave before noon because I was aching so much (now I know why--I had a fever). I slept very poorly last night between aching and throwing up bile.

I didn't get up at the regular time except to feed the cat. I stayed in bed all morning, but I was too achy to sleep, and too sore to sit up and watch TV or read for long. I couldn't eat (no urge, upset stomach), so I couldn't take any ibuprofen. I texted Mr. K and asked him to bring popsicles and pink sherbet if he got the chance. He did. After some of that, I was able to get down some dry, whole wheat toast. Then I took two ibuprofen. That allowed me to sleep for about an hour and a half. I woke up in a sweat, probably when the fever broke. I think the kids probably spent the day playing on the computer without supervision.

My aching is starting again, and my fever is back. I need to take more ibuprofen, but I want to do it closer to bedtime so I can have it last for more of the night.

If I had to guess, I'd say I have the flu or an enterovirus.

Happy Easter!

I had trouble sleeping, so at 5 a.m., I got up and took a shower, shaved my legs, and decided to go to the 6:30 a.m. outdoor sunrise Easter service at K's preschool's church. It was a lovely service. I'd never been to that church before. There were tiki torches marking a path through the woods to the outdoor altar area. Behind that was a pond. They had a fire in a fire bowl.

We were invited to the parents of some friends of ours for their annual Easter egg hunt. The kids had a great time and got a lot of candy in the eggs. K and I made some homemade brownies for us to take with us.

In the evening we went fishing. J got the biggest bass. A bass stole my rapala (a fake lure). First another bass broke one of the hooks in one of its treble hooks. It was fun. Mr. K spent a long time cleaning fish. J and I are having bass for lunch tomorrow.