Rutabaga Dreams

Everything is still going really well here in camping land.  We’re all getting in really good shape with all this walking and work we’re doing, and it has been fun to see the changes in our bodies over the last 6 weeks or so.  Matt has lost at least 2-3 inches from his waist and is much more muscular in general - his wife approves.  :-)  I’ve lost a few more pounds and put on more muscle, which, coupled with the dirt is not exactly the most attactive look for me.  Matt is kind enough (or oblivious enough) not to say anything.  The kids have both shot up at least an inch or two, and they are both leaner and more wiry.  Even Gregory, at 20 months, is a muscular little fellow!  *grin*

I’ve been keeping busy in my camp kitchen.  I’ve figured out how to make bread (yeasted and quick), muffins, pigs in a blanket, cornbread, and crackers in our BBQ.  I don’t get the same oven spring on the yeasted bread that I do in an oven, but otherwise it works quite well.  I do miss my KitchenAid, but I’m getting better at kneading by hand.  I used to do it several years ago, but I kind of lost the knack when I switched to the machine.

The kids are still really enjoying the property.  Gregory has taken to carrying a hammer with him where ever he goes.  He finds it first thing in the morning, and it frequently is placed right outside the tent when he goes to bed.  (No, I will not let him sleep with the hammer, although he’d like to!)  He’s starting to say more words, but it is a slow process for him.  He’s getting there though, repeating more words and trying to say more phrases too.  Even with his limited vocabulary, he still does a pretty good job and getting his point across through words and gestures and he doesn’t (usually!) get frustrated quickly when we don’t understand him.  He is walking very steadily all over the place around the property and climbing after his sister in some places too.  They are having a blast together, although they do squabble over the hammers at times (you’d think with three hammers it would work out…).  Here’s a couple pictures of Gregory - one with his two favorite things (he was tired and went into the tent on his own), and one showing just how dirty this little guy can get in the course of a morning.

Emma is doing very well too.  She loves ranging all over the property and she’s created her own pizza shop and her own house amongst the downed trees and other landscape “features”.  She spends quite a bit of her day lost in play, improving her areas with pieces of scrap wood and various things she finds around.  It is really quite amazing to see her imagination at work, and to see what she comes up with!  Emma and I started back at school at the beginning of August, and everything is progressing very well.  We are currently doing school in the early afternoon, while Gregory naps.  Her main subjects right now are Math, Latin, Copywork/Handwriting, Reading, Religion/Prayers, and Memorywork.  I’m really pleased with everything we’re using and how it is all going.  She’s enjoying it too, just in case you’re wondering.  :-)  Here’s Emma showing off her climbing abilities and also one of her reading to Gregory.

We recently aquired a dog from the county shelter.  She’s a five year old black lab mix that the shelter named Jocelyn.  We call her Jos, since she responds better to that and it just seems more like a dog name.  She’s really sweet, and great with the kids - very gentle and calm.  She unfortunately has heartworm, but we’re working on getting that treated through the shelter so that we don’t have to shell out quite so much money to take care of it.  She fits in really well with the family, and we all really like her.  Here’s a picture - she’s a little hard to photograph because she keeps running up to me whenever I point the camera at her, but this gives you an idea at least. 

And now it is long past time for me to head home and get some lunch!  I hope you all are doing well!