Common Ground Coffee House #114

[annsni]

I'm homeschooling the two little ones (2nd and 4th grades) and I had homeschooled the big girls through 8th grades. It's such a blessing - and a curse at times. LOL But it's beyond worth it.

It's a quiet day around here other than the normal cleaning and chores. We unloaded the boat of all of the groceries and anything that could freeze on Sunday and now my dining room is a mess! I need to process everything and put it all away and it's a HUGE job. But I certainly don't need any convenience foods for a while! LOL

 

[Friend of God]

Good Afternoon Everybody,

Ann, you and Spinach have my admiration. I wouldn't dream of attempting homeschooling, but I admire those who do. Even with a MS in Social Work and a BS in Mortuary Science under my belt I wouldn't attempt it.

We're still bringing things over from our house, and finding surprises every day. Things we'd "lost" a long time ago have suddenly re-appeared.

We're still adjusting to "living out in the country" as opposed to living in town, but we love it.

Time to start getting dinner on before the horde starts howling.

 

[annsni]

You'd be surprised, FoG. You do it because God calls you to do it. In my own power, I'd have given up a long time ago but I've seen the benefits and blessing of having my kids home with me. So I do it in obedience to God.

 

[Gina B]

Well, here I am, not at work. I was teaching an art class at the high school for a teacher who was gone for a bit, but she returned today. Nobody realized it was her day to return, so I may end up getting paid for it anyhow. That would be nice...and appropriate since I spent time making lesson plans and spent some money on a project I planned out for the kids. I'm really gonna miss that bunch...they started off the first day whining, but quickly learned the rules and seemed pretty upset that I was leaving.

Good news: I might be being paid anyhow...put in a petition with the administration since I got up early, went in, had the plans, and bought stuff for the project.

Bad news: hubby was gonna clean the place today while I was gone and now I'm here. I may just have to pitch in.

Sudden brainstorm: the church is building and maybe I can remind him they need help with stuff up there and NEITHER of us will have to stay here. We can go clean there. Why is that better? I don't know. It just seems a bit more noble. LOL And the kids won't thank us for a clean house when they get home, but they might give us free kool-aid or something at the church. YAY!

 

[Friend of God]

Good Evening Everybody,

Hope you get paid for all the work and time you put in Gina.

Everybody here either (1) has the flu or (2) is getting over the flu. We are a very sad-looking bunch indeed. The two Grandsons who live with their Mom were actually diagnosed with Swine Flu, so we have stayed far away from them and their house.

Needless to say not much is going on around here, except that I can confidently say that the plumbing in our new house has passed the test, so far.

Brenda and I got out to run some errands, vote, and go grocery shopping but that was the extent of our activity for today.

Dinner tonight is easy...Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and soup.

Time to go play Nurse.

 

[Gina B]

That swine flu is rampant out here. When at the school I use Lysol on the desks, take advantage of hand sanitizer, and encourage everyone to wash their hands after each and every class and after handling shared supplies. So far nobody in our household has it, although I've apparently been exposed to it a few times and only knew after the fact. That's definitely a praise!

Dinner tonight was shepherd's pie. It turned out very nice. We had sweet pineapple muffins for dessert.

FoG, as much as I've tried to guard us against swine flu, I'm wondering if I should just let it go and deal with the consequences. There doesn't seem to be much of an escape! It's everywhere. My concern is that three of us have heart things going on and thus the threat of serious complications is something to consider, but unless we go into seclusion, maybe I'm just giving myself a false sense of security with all the precautions. Who knows. My understanding so far is that it isn't any more serious or causing any worse complications than any other flu that goes around this time of year.

 

[Gina B]

FoG, hopefully the flu stuff is gone now! I'vehad to use a lot of caution to avoid it, but so far nobody inour household has it so far.

Things here are normal. I took off work last week for surgery and decided to take off this coming Monday as well. Tuesday will be a half day to see how I do.

I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year and having us all work together cooking it. Yahoo! It should be lots of fun for everyone! I may, with hubby's permission, spend a bit of time at a homeless shelter. We'll see.

 

[Barnabas H.]

I may, with hubby's permission, spend a bit of time at a homeless shelter.

Poor Gina!!! Look what happened to her.... she has to go to the homeless shelter.

 

[Gina B]

Poor Gina!!! Look what happened to her.... she has to go to the homeless shelter.

HA! At least it's my choice this time! I spent time in one before with the girls and was able to talk during a service and give my testimony. Having been in that position, I feel as if it is almost a duty to go and do this. Having someone talk to you who has been in your position is a LOT more meaningful than someone in a suit and tie whose opinion of being poor means not enough cash to buy the full cable and telephone bundle rather than the economy one. :laugh:

Speaking of testimonies, Barnabas, do you have yours typed out somewhere? I remember it being a tremendous blessing when you posted it at the start of this board.

 

[Barnabas H.]

Speaking of testimonies, Barnabas, do you have yours typed out somewhere? I remember it being a tremendous blessing when you posted it at the start of this board.

Oh Gina, hope you know I was just pulling your legs... Now as far as my testimo(nies) concerned, my computer crashed a while back and I lost about 10 years of my work. People kept telling me to save my files, and I thought that I was safe with all the defensive programs - but I was not. So, I learned the hard way, as so many other people did. Since then I worked hard to recreate most of my work (for the church and other organizations) but most of my own work lost in cyberspace. But there is hope yet - once I am going to retire (as I keep telling Lenke all these years), perhaps then I will have time to get back to writing.... It is always good to see you on board and read your charming comments. Our love to you and your family! :type:

 

[Spinach]

Sukur Kardesler!

Thanksgiving went really well. Had a great time of rest and relaxation! I'm beginning to think about decorating for Christmas. Such fun!

The weather has turned cold, but still no snow. I don't mind at all!!!

How are you all?

 

[Gina B]

Good morning, or something like that!

The weather here is finally cooling off!

I'm home sick and using notepad to talk to hubbie, who just brought me warm milk sweetened with honey. What a schweetie pie!
Waiting for the antibiotics to kick in, then I shall sanctify that moment and call it holy. LOL I was hoping to work every school day this month, so I'm kinda sad since it ends on the 18th and I'm spending the beginning of it like this. Oh well, good intentions...

 

[Jim1999]

Dec 1st and woke up to a light snow covering the ground! Now, that should be enough to make anyone smile....

Cheers,

Jim

 

[annsni]

Awww - I'd love some snow here!!

Right now I'm waiting for my groceries to come (LOVE Peapod) while the kids are doing their school work. I'll be making a turkey dinner tonight since we went to my IL's retirement community for Thanksgiving and ate in their dining room so we have no leftovers. I had bought a few turkey breasts so I'll cook one up along with all the sides so we'll finally have good leftovers for a few days.

I'm in "busy" mode now because of our church play that will be performed on Sunday (and next Friday, Saturday and Sunday). I'm doing all of the sounds for the play - playing the music and sound effects through my computer and it's working out great. But this is the busy week of rehearsals every night so that we're set. What I've been doing is doing my regular stuff during the day and getting dinner on the table by 6 so that I can be out of here by 6:45 to get to church. I'm guessing most nights this week I'll be out until around 10 or 10:30. But it's all good.

I'm also trying to get this house decluttered a bit and I have both the entry hall (a major dumping ground) and the dining room (where we store the kids' school books) are spotless now. Next up will be the living room and then we can bring down the Christmas decorations. I'll do the house decorating and I'll leave the tree to the kids. Hubby will get the lights on and the kids will do the rest - and I'm sure they'll have fun. I prefer a real tree but hubby wants the fake one we have. I'm thinking of maybe trimming some of our evergreens and putting them around the house to get the aroma. We'll see what we do.

But snow? That would be WONDERFUL!

 

[PJ]

Dec 1st and woke up to a light snow covering the ground! Now, that should be enough to make anyone smile....

Well ... I suppose the first snow, the clean and sparkling snow (versus the ugly, dirty been-there-for-what-seems-like-forever snow) is pretty and brings a smile. Are ya gonna go out and play in it, Jim? :wavey:

 

[following-Him]

We had our first frost last night and it was very cold. The less snow we have the better. I have no experience of driving in snow and I still have to do all the driving for another 5 weeks, so I am not looking forward to snow if and when it comes.

 

[PJ]

Yes, driving in it is the kicker for me as well. Maybe we just need to have our own personal Jeeves! :laugh:

 

[Gina B]

We were SUPPOSED to see some snow, but it seems to have snowed in a circle all around us and totally missed. I kept peeking out the door but alas, I am undone, for there is no snow! OH NO!

I mean, oh well. Maybe sometime before Spring springs.

 

[DHK]

We were SUPPOSED to see some snow, but it seems to have snowed in a circle all around us and totally missed. I kept peeking out the door but alas, I am undone, for there is no snow! OH NO!

I mean, oh well. Maybe sometime before Spring springs.

You can have some of ours Gina. We just got 8 inches of the miserable stuff. It is nice to look at, but not fun to drive in, especially when your city has a high percentage of immigrants.

 

[Friend of God]

We were SUPPOSED to see some snow, but it seems to have snowed in a circle all around us and totally missed. I kept peeking out the door but alas, I am undone, for there is no snow! OH NO!

I mean, oh well. Maybe sometime before Spring springs.

Some parts of W. Michigan have received almost 12" of snow since last night, with more "lake-effect" snow forecast for this weekend.

Around here [Mid-Michigan] we've just had a dusting with occasional snow flurries

I'm sure we'll get our share before too long though.