Gabby’s Short Story

Gabby was among a group of winners of a short story writing contest from Blimey Cow.  The fellows even sent her some feedback on her writing, which we both appreciated.

Here is her entry:

The Sock

Once upon a time, there was a man. He had a pair of socks, and they were his favorite thing in the world. He took good care of them and kept them clean. They were yellow, his favorite color! late one night he took his socks off and put them in the wash. through the night, he ran them through the dryer. The next morning, he opened up the dryer, and there was only one sock! So that day, he had to wear his shoes, with no socks. Gross. The shoes were orange, but they were no good without the yellow socks to set them off.

How could he go running with only one sock? relax in front of the tv? How could he even keep his feet warm? the sock, the sock, where had it gone? But what could he do? he couldn't take it, he had a plan! He would wear one sock, switching it from one foot to the other, every fifteen minutes. He grabbed his one yellow sock, and pulled it onto his foot, then went for his orange shoes.

But, what was that, at the end of his sock? it didn't seem to be just his right foot? Would it be his cat’s hairball? that wouldn't have been the first time that happened. he reached into the sock and pulled out...his other sock! He joyfully pulled on both his socks and lived in sock peace forever.

Accidental Graduation

Katie has been looking at some aesthetics programs over the past nine months to a year.  Our original plan had been dual enrollment, but after sitting on a waiting list since last May for the most economical school, we toured another school in mid-December.

She loved it.  However, they did not allow dual enrollment.  You had to present a diploma or GED.  I reached out to our homeschool umbrella to ask about blocking out just the second semester English credit (the only thing she needs to graduate) in the first two months of the year and graduating early.  I also noted we had completed a full book of Lightening Literature in the fall term, averaging a couple hours a day with all the readings, comprehension questions, and papers she wrote.

I got back an email that said, in short, “Congratulations to you both, input her grade as a full credit (their rules on credits are completing a textbook or a certain number of hours—our fall accomplished not just one, but both of those), she can graduate now.”

This news came on the last day of our planned semester with one (history) final to go and a packed day at work for her.  I told her she had the option to do whichever she wants—graduate in May with her friends or wrap it up now.  In a few hours, she decided surprise graduation it is.

Cap and gown are here.  Party planning has commenced.

Surprise and Congratulations, Katie!

You did it!

XXXIV: Outside

 

Some brick started going up this past week!  It looks more gray from this distance—what I was going for in my choice, but I can still see some red up close.  I only saw it from a distance (in photos and from the street).  I like it well on the outside of the house.  Hopefully I’ll like it inside when it is placed there.

Inside, we were hoping to see insulation and drywall, but not yet.  I did see the missing outlet had been placed and the bathroom vents were all in.  Those are one step closer to getting the walls in, so I was glad to see that.

XXXIII: Uh-oh

I went to meet another company about propane last week.  It was sooo muddy and rainy.

The brick has been delivered.  It looked more red than it did when I visited a nearby home with it back before Thanksgiving, but it is what it is at this point! 

This door is on the front, but should be on the back…

And this door should be on the front, and is on the back.

There is a crack at the bottom right of this window.

They should be out to fix these things once the weather clears….so.much.rain!

Birthday Season

Around here birthdays start in late September and end in mid-November (excepting Justin).

Ellie picked chocolate but with a crown shape.  She asked for raspberries to help decorate.

Katie chose a donut shaped cake this year with chocolate cake & icing with white chocolate ‘glaze’

Gabby chose a chocolate cake with a ketchup bottle decoration

Nate chose chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, stuffed with Reece’s Pieces

Favorites

I asked the kids which were their favorite ornaments, and here they are—in whatever order Blogger decided to upload them.

Cappuccino from 2021

Star fish angel 2018

Baking cupcakes 2021

Candy 2003

Reindeer Family 2013

Tool box 2021 & Tent (by Gam) 2021

Why is there a random baby in the ball? (It’s Katie in 2005) -Ellie

XXXII: Rough Ins Continue

Can lights

Electric rough in and the propane hookup for the range

Air return under the stairs

Communication panel…kind of funny as there isn’t wired internet or cable out there, but there may be some day

Stub ins for A/C and furnace (I think)

They drained the tubs now

Lucy was so confused!  Here she’s visiting Katie’s room.

XXXI: While we Wait

As we wait, and wait, and wait some more, I’ve been thinking about filling our new home.  Many of our furnishings will just go right in, but I’m debating painting a few pieces.

We’ll need a new bed for Gabby, since all the kids will get his or her own room.

Our current window treatments in the main part of the living space just won’t work due to different sizes and number of windows not to mention wall color.

I’m leaning towards these valances for the library, dining room, and living room:

With these shears:

Then the kitchen window:

I am having fits over curtains for my bedroom.  I adore the ones we’ve had for so many years.  I bought them for Katie’s nursery, but since we moved to Kansas, Justin and I have had them.  They are light and airy, but I lined then to make them a bit less transparent.  We’ll have three windows in our new room though, so the set of two won’t work.  I just haven’t found what I want yet, but am glad that Gabby wants them for her new room!

XXX: Ugh

To help us keep up with the build, about an hour away, we placed a trail camera.

We got occasional updates when the wind blew the tree it was on, showing the work being completed, and then twice daily at 6:18 am and pm.

I even caught my fellows cleaning up after the crew who left quite a mess after framing.

It was great, as the builder isn’t overly communicative.  Then two weeks ago, as we were heading off to church, our camera caught this photo:

Since then we’ve been riding in someone’s trunk, I think.

I miss my updates, but thankfully nothing was taken from the work site.

13

 

Outdoor loving

Badge conquering

Perseverant —fire building without matches or lighter

Hardworking

Diligent

Tall—maybe his current favorite adjective for himself

Happy 13th!!

XXIX: Electrical Walk Through 10/25

 I was able to go and set where I wanted a few specific outlets—as many as I want, but there is an up charge for them, so I didn’t add too many.  We added one to each of two closets, one outside the garage, requested the kitchen outlets be close to the upper cabinets (so we can add under the cabinet lights if we wish; set where I wanted some can lights; chose where we wanted the lights for the staircase (where we don’t have to change them from the stairs (please!); picked the location of the electric panel; added a light to our pantry to make it easier to see; etc.

The HVAC team needs to go through next—hopefully soon!

Struggling

These days I feel like I’m messing up all the things.

I can’t seem to keep up with it all.

I planned a field trip—set the time aside in the school schedules, got the kids ready to go, put the destination into my GPS and (thankfully) was alerted they were closed that day.  The next day, we tried again.  Made it there.  Walk up to buy tickets and find they are sold out.  Sat in the car and purchased online tickets to try a third time.  I’ll have to let you know if we actually make it through!

Then Ellie said she wanted to visit a pumpkin patch.  So on Halloween, I cut the school lists and planned to spend the afternoon at a local patch—they are closed on Mondays, so Sunday was their last day of the season.  😔

I’m behind on some of my grading, failing to hit the literature discussions on some our Mondays, and need to clean out my closet.  Ack!

We called off the second night of our AHG campout because we thought it was going to rain super hard, but it didn’t.

Someone stole our trail camera that keeps an eye on the new house.

Justin had to work late on Halloween.

And I found someone left laundry in the washer all weekend long, as I went to run my Monday washing.

Some days are like that, even in Australia.

XXVIII: Plumbing

We went over to finish writing on the studs on 10/22 and found much of the plumbing rough in complete.

The master bath, is on the right.  The shower surround is in the wrong ‘bay’ of the bathroom and isn’t plumbed yet.

The tub had water in it

As did the kids’ upstairs

The backside plumbing, from Ellie’s room, should we ever need to know what is where!

XXVII: Written on the Door Posts

I think the kids thought I was joking at first, but we took sharpies to the studs of our new home.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. -Deuteronomy 11:18-21

We mostly wrote scripture, but the older girls wrote other quotes too.