Life of the Party

      I think list have always brought me comfort, so here is may goal reading list for this Fall! It is somewhat lengthy, but I hope to finish most of them. This is eight books in total to devour before Christmas. This list will also have a few more books added when our CEU book club meets and gets our new updated list.  1. The Mageri Series Books 3-5.75 by Dannika Dark 2. The Change by Kirsten Miller  3. The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst  4. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult  5. And Then She Vanished by Nick Jones      

     Well, don't come at me for reading the series in the wrong order. The Seven series was supposed to come second after this one, but guess what? I'm going to read them out of order. Darks first book of the series, "Sterling" is a wonderful dive into the world unknown by humans. She has fully hooked me into yet another series. The main character Zoe is a human that was forced to change into a Mage in a brutal attack by a stranger. From there she is taken in my a string of men who would and will fight to the death for a girl who hasn't even given herself to them.      Zoe is renamed Silver and she must quickly learn the world of her magic to survive the coming battle. Her human friend vows to fight for her freedom and consequently becomes a Mage as well. We get to also see her love for Justus her "guardian" grow throughout the book. I would rate this book 3.9 out of a five due to the nature of every man instantly willing to lay down their life for Silve...

      This book just adds to his "There, There" book and I'm here for it. I was so caught up in Orange's story because it seems so real. I know for many people, this is their reality. I think books like this are necessary and really help the authors get their stories out there. I loved the fact that this books starts off with a mini history lesson. Modern history books are whitewashed and do not really tell EVERYTHING that happened or it is written in a way that makes the US the hero in all matters.      Tommy Orange has an engaging way of switching perspectives between a cast of characters. This is a powerful, especially the story of Starr a survivor to the Sand Creek Massacre. I think the public needs to see why Natives have generational trauma. This book brings light to that aspect and what they are currently facing as a result. Once again my reading group from school has picked an amazing piece of literature to read. I was also glad that this story pick...

      July has come and gone so fast that I didn't even get his name. Time passes by so quickly when you're having fun! My raised garden beds have been bountiful, not to mention beautiful as well. July has brought ripe watermelons and vines filled with cucumbers. July has also left behind scorched tomato plants and fast growing squash.      My only wish is for the flys to leave with July as well. I'll miss these days with my toddler  even though they have been overwhelming at times. July marks the last month before our kidding season starts again. So bring on the new goat babies, school, routine, early mornings, and long drives. I await the sunrises that will greet me each morning until the time shifts again.      

      I should be spending my last few days establishing a routine. I have been waking up each morning around eight and that needs to be shifted to five. I need to start going to bed at a decent time again too. I know Thursday is going to be super hard on me, personally. The time adjustment is going to kill me the first few days.      Adjusting Taylor's routine is going to be difficult as well. She will have to make changes as well. I have kept her bedtime to 8:00 pm all summer, so that will at least be a "norm" for her, but her waking hours will shift. I know the first few days will be tiring and she WILL be extremely cranky.      The farm animal's feeding schedule will change as well. I will feed each day when I get home instead of in the mornings. I'm not feeding before I leave from work. It will be in the dark, and I prefer not to experience that. Hopefully the husband will pick up some of the slack and help me out on afternoons when it's...

      I simply told my husband this morning that I needed some personal time to regroup for school. He hesitated at first to let me go and have a few hours to myself, but I didn't really give him a choice. He and Taylor spent the morning feeding animals, riding the ATV, and checking trail cameras.      I however got up at 6 AM and made the hour long trip to get my feet done. It truly is a waste of money, but I don't go get them done all the time. I might get them done 3-4 times a fiscal year, and I deserve it. I also got to enjoy a trip into Walmart without my mini me. I was able to grab coffee, shop, and just relax for a few hours. Moms need this! I know it may sound extremely petty, but sometimes you just need "you" time. I returned home around 10:45 and started lunch.      I don't feel guilty for not being here this morning, for not helping with chores, and for not being the solo parent dealing with potty training. I do feel guilty of spen...

       Man, look at those angry clouds coming our way. The storm is brewing and I know it's going to be a rough one. I cannot wait for this weather to break. The heat makes outside chores unbearable, and I even try to get things done early. I just cannot seem to beat the heat.      Each  storm brings the much needed rain, so I shouldn't be complaining too much. We need the rain. I know my crops will be more than thankful for the rain. 

      Reality hits this Thursday as teachers start their inservice days. I'm somewhat excited to start a new school year with new kiddos, but I'm going to miss time at home with my toddler. Although she drives me  crazy, she's only two once.      This week I will be finishing up my college  courses, mending fences, storing hay, and starting new lesson plans for the upcoming year. Teachers get the "first day of school" nerves as much as the students do. I'm anxious to meet my new team mates and visit with my old teacher friends. This summer has afforded me much needed time to redo think my classroom mindset on data, as well as, recreate/edit my curriculum calendar to include some of the items I've been learning about in class. This new information seems like a good fit for my subject area!     My goats are very sneaky and have found new ways to test our fences. We are currently looking for goat panels to replace the woven fence we current...

 With a heat wave comes storms. Just look at that sky on my way to pick up my classroom items from Staples. This storm brought massive downpours of rain followed by humid miserable waves of heat. I'm so over this weather. Bring on Fall! I'm more than aware I have over a month to wait, but a girl can wish!      My car states that it is 98 degrees outside and trust me, I believe it! My air went out in my car so with the windows down, I'm still melting at 65 mph.      I will have to make multiple trips down to check on the animals. The chicken really go though the water on hot days like this. I even ended up hanging an additional waterer up for them to drink from. My dogs have made the decision to lay in the branch in the cool water. I might join them when I return home. I don't remember it being hot like this when I was a child. I spent most of my time outside playing all summer.   

      Pete is doing well. He is up moving and acting normal, as well as, eating like a bottomless pit. Tank however, isn't doing as well. He is up stumbling around and seems to have lost his hearing and sight. This has made him extremely hateful and unpredictable. I'm doing my best to ensure that he knows it's me that is handling him. Once get catches my scent, he seems to calm down and wags his tail. He is still drooling profusely. Both dogs have stopped their diarrhea episodes and seem to be on the mend!  We are still not out of the woods yet with Tank, but I'm happy with the progress he has made.      I'm still super upset about this entire ordeal and I will not let my husband live it down. He almost killed them and it could have all been avoided he would have just listened to me. A heartbreaking lesson learned. 

      I ordered a pair of short-alls from Jambats, and it was a massive disappointment. I got them during their summer seconds sale. The shipping was $28 and that was just way over priced, but they were shipped from United Kingdom! The fabric is absolutely precious but their measurements are way off. I would highly suggest you order a size larger. I wear an XL in  everything, and I checked their sizing as well.      They should have fit. The XL is more of a medium. I had mom try them on because she loved them. They fit her perfectly. She usually wears a medium to large in clothing. If I order from them again, I will make sure to get a 2 or 3 XL. My blue lamb pair are now a gift for mom I guess. 

      It has come to my attention that I'm a single married parent or  otherwise known as the default parent. It's expected that I do everything and still work a full time job. It's expected that I provide 50% of the bill money. I'm so excited that school is starting back, so I can at least have the ride to work in silence.      This summer has been a tiring cycle of child care, college classes, work, and trying to keep my sanity. My husband only had to worry about work. While he is at work I'm at home doing a three in one job. Even when he is home I'm still having to do  everything. I'm so tired.      Default parenting means that you're the one packing the bags, giving baths, potty training, and looking into every little detail. None of the other stuff gets done unless you do it. When things fall apart, you're the one who gets blamed. "Why don't you like to go out with me anymore." Because I'm the one who has do do everything. Ther...

      This is the first installment of the Shift Chronicles and I'm somewhat impressed with this young adult novel. The main character Alexandra is having to learn the world of being a shifter. She had recently lost her dad and now she has to face a world she know nothing about. She is strong female lead, so I was instantly hooked on this series.      I was however annoyed with most of the dialogue between characters. There could be so much more done in that area. I would happily rate this book a solid 3 out of 5. I did listen to this on Audible and the narration was flawless! Vanessa Johansson is  fabulous and talented.      The story is very predictable, which kills the overall vibe of the werewolf world. There wasn't really a climatic moment in this first book and that was bothersome as well. I finished this book in the early hours of a Saturday morning. My toddler was restless with a fever or otherwise I would have been more int...

      Ummmm. I hate virtual voice for many reasons. I hate having to rewind chapters constantly due to not getting all the  information or not being able to understand the virtual voice rushed monotoned mess. I like Audible because I can imagine what is going on with the narrators. The narrators are literally what makes this service amazing, why discredit them by using some dumb tech.      1. It reads the text as a robot.     2. No tonal  differneces.     3. No expression/ bland     4. It doesn't pause at periods     I understand that it is probably cheaper to use virtual voice to record books on to Audible, but honestly it is lowering their quality of services. If they move to ALL virtual voice I will cancel the subscription and discontinue use. My mom asked if I wanted an additional year of service for my up coming birthday. I don't know if I will if this is where they are heading. 

      As it turns out my husband overdosed my dogs, and they did make it. We are not out of the wood just yet, but they are improving. Both my boys are up walking and barking. Tank specifically is having drooling issues and some loose stool, but he is back to himself. At the worst moments yesterday, I thought he was blind. Today, however he is doing 85% better. He just wanted some pets this morning and some extra food.      I just couldn't believe how much weight they lost in a 9 hour period. Reign, my husband's dog is completely normal now. She is passing a lot of worms in her stool, but other than that you cannot tell that she was battling for her life a few days ago.      Pete is still weak, but he is eating and drinking, which is a good sign. I have given him power punch twice a day. This seems to improve his weakness. He can now get up and walk around. His pee looks like it no longer has blood in it.      I'm just glad the...

      It comes with a heavy heart that I announce that today was terrible, horrific, and miserable. My husband wormed my big dogs yesterday using a type that he "has always used with HIS hunting dogs." It isn't meant for dogs, but rather livestock. Let me repeat that. IT'S NOT FOR DOGS!!!     The vet said the worm load was either too high or their digestive systems instantly became inflamed from the wormer. I paid dearly for that phone call. She said there is nothing that can be done; to give them anti inflammatory medications, along with rubbing syrup on their gums, and offering constant liquid to keep them hydrated. All three of my dogs are in the same shape. They are lethargic, weak, and thin from diarrhea.   She said we can do everything at home like she would in the office. Each dog would be over $1500 to stay the night under her care with probably the same outcome. They might not make it.      My heart hurts and I really mean hurts...

My school's book club had a small summer reading list as well. Our facilitator picked two books by Orange. I was pleasantly surprised with how this story progressed. The sadness is what people experience and I know that might be a major turn off for some readers, but it's LIFE.  I had moments where I had to put the book down, because I feared for the young girl's life. Opal's story specifically had me in tears. I related to her story the most.  You get four perspectives of what life is like for Native Americans. You also gain some insight into what they have to deal with on a daily basis. Opal's character specifically really stood out to me for her bravery. She has endured so much in her life. She took in family and raised her great nephews and raised them as her own grandchildren. I see this all the time. So many grandparents end up raising their grandchildren. They do it out of love, not bravery. She was also brave as a young orphaned child who defended her sleepi...

      I have still not completed all of my course work for my summer classes. I don't know why I cannot find the motivation to just FINISH IT. I can only work on it for about a two hour session at a time. I have finally progressed into module five, and let me tell you... I miss face to face learning. Online classes are not for the weak.     Being face to face has just been my go to. I stay motivated when I have to be present and do not have all these extra distractions surrounding me. I hate to admit this but, I miss notes, books, and lectures. Sounds crazy right? I was the only person in my undergrad classes who took notes via paper. Everyone else had out a computer. I've always been old school. My favorite professor actually asked me why I preferred that method. Simply put: I like to doodle images that go along with my notes. I like having them color coded and I SWEAR that I remember more of the lecture this way.      I wish this Data class...

      Today has just been one of those days where napping has a self care purpose. As my child took her usual two hour nap, I took it upon myself to read, but that didn't last too long. I fell fast asleep along side my toddler. With no one to wake us up three hours passed by like nothing.      That nap was life saving. I woke up to having some energy and willingness to get some of my chores completed. This heat makes everything tiring and not to mention sweltering. My husband is usually here to help out, but he is working the morning shift, so I will have to do the majority of everything by myself. My nap brought great peace to me too. My fussy toddler had my nerves on edge, so the sleep allowed her an attitude adjustment, as well as, me to have a small adjustment too! 

Wow, what a way to end a series! Jennifer Armentrout is truly talented with the ability to keep her audience's attention. Honestly, I thought the book would have ended differently. The character Archer was just destined to be the fall guy, so I was overjoyed when he ended up being one of the "good guys." Daemons character did not disappoint either! I wish the female lead would have been somewhat strong, but she ended the story being overly weak as was expected.      I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. I only wish the series would have  continued. It just seems so weird that the series doesn't have additional books. I always hate when a decent series ends. I was also happy that the book ended on a high note!   

       We had a little adventure today. I would highly recommend it if you have a AWD or 4WD rig and are looking for some slight off roading. It wasn't bad at all and honestly I think a basic 2WD could make the entire trip. Cades Cove has an alternate route that you can drive to leave the park, which leads you to the Dragon. I wasn't impressed with most of the road because my driveway is as rough as it is.      All joking aside, it's a nice little secluded drive that is a ONE WAY. We never slipped a wheel and stayed in 2WD the entire way. Sometimes, you just need time to drive a random road and clear your mind. I would suggest that you have a reliable car because this road is seldom used and there are multiple signs that indicate that you are "on your own." My personal favorite sign was, "Enter At Your Own RISK." I wish we would have stopped so I could get a picture of it.  

 The sheer skill of Jennifer Armentrout is evident in this book. The series has completely redeemed itself and now I'm hooked. Daemon's character is such a knight in shining armor! Let's talk about leaving us on the edge! We find out that Beth is pregnant and they (aliens) have appeared and no one is responding. Daemon and his brother have shifted to their true form and are not responding to their partners.   I'm left with so many questions at the moment. Are these light forms friendly? Deadly? I would rate this book a 5 out of a 5. The pacing was perfect, as well as, the story. As always, Armentrout has outdone herself.   

      The actual season of Summer isn't over, but as school starts back it marks an end to lazy days of swimming and enjoying relaxing days with my toddler. The reality is that Summers seem to get shorter and shorter each year. It is as if I blinked and nearly two months passed me by.      This is the last week and a half of not waking up to an alarm clock. I did really strive to finish my reading list and classes. I was surprised that the classes passed by fast; now let's put this information into practice! My Summer reading list is currently lacking three books. Can I fit them in? Probably not, but one can always hope.      Kidding season is just a month away and the whole cycle starts again. I'm a few days shy of harvest time too.  End of Summer List: 1. Paint the lower barn/shed. 2. Finish the Summer reading list 3. Freeze all the veggies (my raised garden beds did an amazing job)  4. Build a shelter for the new goslings 5....

      Wow, is all I've got to say! The food was amazing and so was the staff. I loved there barn like design of the decor. Our teaching crew all decided to meet up and grab dinner. I drove 1.5 hours to this destination to celebrate one of our older crew members. I would highly recommend the drive and time to eat here. Be prepared to pay higher prices though.      I ordered: Chicken quesadilla with mushrooms (my go to dish when eating out). I ordered Taylor a cheese quesadilla with fries. She ate half of her meal and seemed very pleased with the food. I didn't want to leave my husband out so I ordered him a to go meal: Pulled pork sandwich, greens, and potato salad.  Our meal along with a $10 tip was around $50.00.      Side note: They get very busy at night, so it gets extremely loud. My toddler enjoyed every minute of the all the attention she received from the staff. 

I will start off with my rating and explain why this book deserves this score. The book is a 5 out of 5. Non-teachers just wouldn't get it and would probably rank it lower. It just hit home with me on a personal level from personal experiences as a child to my chosen profession. This book is heavy, truthful, and blunt.  You never know what our students are going through. Sometimes, being present and taking notice of the "hard" students in a positive light changes everything. They might not really be your favorite, but you are there's! I had several moments of tears as I was reading over what this 7th graders was having to live/ deal with.      I was like Randy and in constant fight or flight mode. I was always sassy and very forthcoming with my opinion. I was beyond outspoken and it was a way to hide my home life. I tried my best to stay out of the spotlight. Like Randy, I was very difficult to deal with if you were a teacher who didn't give me a chance. Thank God...

      My child has battled two ear infections this week, and let me tell you.... it's not for the weak. Each night she has been up and down screaming. Even with the medicines they sent her home with, she's miserable. Against the ER's advice I did call her pediatrician and schedule an appointment. The ER wanted me to wait 10 days, but here we are on day five and she cannot function.      I kept a constant timer for her medicine dispersal. She hasn't missed a dose or lapsed with her pain medications. I just hate seeing her in pain. She doesn't understand what is going on. Today, after waking up from her nap she wanted to play in the pool, but she's not allowed to do that, so we opted to blow bubbles on the porch. I checked her temperature when we returned inside for a late lunch and she was 102.7, again. Each time the medicine goes to wear off she begins to run a fever. It's been a cycle the last few days. Her doctor wasn't in office today, so we have a VE...

      Credit scores decides so much for us in a world where you always seem to have some sort of debt. From purchasing a car or home to applying for a new credit card. My medical debt is going to destroy my current score and I don't know if I will ever be able to recover from it.      The medical debt was sent to a debt collector agency who has hounded, threaten, and hassled me to death.   I requested a payment plan to be made at a decent set price not the $580, $432, and $518 payments they are requesting on the three different bills. The gentleman that called this morning said my payment of $285 for this month wasn't enough. Honestly, I think they should take any payment made and be happy. It's still paying toward the overall debt.      He threatened to put it on my credit report. This really upset me and honestly I have worked so hard to get my score where it is. I thought they couldn't do that unless you haven't paid an...

I have a very mixed review of this book. It's a powerful work of art that tells a riveting story of three Indigenous females (Lakota) in various different time periods and their attachments to their "dolls."      Part one brought me to my knees. I cried multiple times while reading this section. I felt so despondent for the main character as she had a difficult relationship with her mother. One that was both abusive and loving at the same time. I'm no expert, but her mother needed some mental health help. I almost stopped reading the book entirely over what this young lady had to endure. This part alone gets a 5 out of 5 rating from me. I want to know more about what happened to this child after what happened to her mother.      Part two would receive a 4.5 rating for me. I couldn't get a mental picture as I was reading. I'm referring to a setting. The story is horrific and boarding schools tore families apart. I just needed more details in this sectio...

Dolly's Imagination Library is such a wonderful program. This was this month's book and let me tell you.... I would gladly rate this a 5 out of 5. Taylor has had me read it to her multiple times and act out each request and wish that Jonah made. The illustrations are also comical! We just overall love this book!     If you have small children, I would highly recommend signing up for Dolly Parton's reading program. You will receive a free book each month! My child enjoys this little treat and I honestly have no complaints!   

   I would like to start off by saying that I LOVE the fact that my lilies bloom at different intervals through out the summer months. These precious babies opened up sometime yesterday. The darker pink ones must have cross pollinated with my white lilies and produced the light pink ones.  It's a shame that none of my red lilies have decided to bloom yet. I forgot to take a picture of my blue bell lilies a few weeks ago. They were stunning! 

Ah, this book has redeemed The Lux series! The sheer craft in the writing has been a pleasure to read. I was overly excited to finally see Katie be more than a doormat character that was beyond weak. Maybe she will own her power as a hybrid in the next book and see how powerful she could/can be. I do wish she would get over her "fairytale" world that surrounds her and Daemon. Daemon's character has really grown on me as well.  I'm excited to see what happens between these characters. The sexual tension in this book would lead me to believe that they shouldn't be a "young adult" book. I'm on the fence about my niece finishing this series. The PG world went to an almost R rating really fast. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of a 5.  Leaving your audience with a cliff hanger is a way to get them to come for more information. I knew Blake's character wasn't trustworthy and now we will have to read another book to find out if Katie survives being ...

      After a long day of playing in the pool, Taylor ended up running a fever. I gave her medication and waited close to an hour. Upon checking it again, I discovered she was at 102.9 and I gave her additional medication. So around 7:00 the fever was still consistent, so I decided we were going to the ER.     She became super lethargic. We live about an hour away from the ER, so her fever had spiked again. They checked it and it was 103.1. Anytime she isn't feeling well I automatically panic. She is my only child and after loosing one I have become so over protective. They gave her the exact same medication that I had given her, but at a higher dosage. Her fever is under control now.      The doctor stated that she has two massive ear infections, which causes the fever. She is on antibiotics for the next ten days.      We just made it home and she is well medicated and fast  asleep. I hope tomorrow brings her comfort and heali...

      Reflection is always key to healing, or at least that is what I'm always told. I looked back in my personal journals and discovered that the amount of stress I was under during covid was crazy. From teaching from my car to finding essentials for our home. I didn't have internet at home, so I spent whole days using my hotspot off my phone to do the active teaching and answering emails.      I didn't realize just how much of an impact it had on my mental health. I was terrified of the unknown and kept making day to day list of things that needed to be done just "in case." In case of what? I didn't add that part of why I made these endless lists.      I spent a lot of time outside doing hobbies that were nurturing. I picked up  gardening and trout fishing. I read through about four separate journals and discovered that I wasn't really living. I was just surviving. My mom and I learned how to properly can food, preserve meat, and ...

      I need some inspiration sent my way and soon. I have decided to engage in an Apple Watch competition with my husband, who might I add is currently kicking my tail. I need to add in some additional steps and  movement or he is going to really embarrass me. He has a natural need to be competitive and he is always itching to win at something.      Any ideas to add additional steps, movement, or simply  encouragement?      I'm still trapped at home completing  online PD sessions and college classes. I also have a toddler always in tow, so any and all advice is greatly appreciated!  PS the close encounter yesterday really made the movement bar rise. My heart was running away with me. 

         My husband is always trading and brining in new animals. I went down to feed today and discovered that we now have to baby geese. I'm not amused or happy. They have no purpose here. I do not plan to eat them or keep them as pets. Hopefully he will move them to a new home soon. I'll post pictures if I remember to take my phone with me.       

In the mail today, Taylor received her gift from her aunt. The Tonie box goes everywhere with us and anytime she gets a new Tonie she becomes super excited. The "Horton Hears a Who" is a must have for her collection. I have officially heard the entire play list at lease 6 times today.  Her collection has slowly grew in the past six months. The price is just too high for each Tonie figurine. When she does receive a new one, it's because her family purchases them. I have only bought about five of them. I wonder if they have sales or discounts?      Shout out to the best AUNT EVER!  I always like to include a rating for each addition or book section. I would rate this Tonie a 4 out of 5. This rating is only a four due to the playlist being so short. I assure you if Taylor was rating this she would give it a 5 out of 5 star rating. She loves this!   

This book has so much potential and I'm glad that I have stuck with finishing this series. Catt's character is slowly growing on me, so I will be moving on to the next book soon. Catt is now a hybrid human/alien and I'm curious to see what happens as the plot thickens. Will Daemon and her stand the test of time? His character is so much like Seth from a different series that Armentrout wrote. Even the banter between the characters seems too close for comfort. I would rate this book a 3 out of a 5 based upon repetition of conversations in previous novel sets. The narration is on point though!   

      I cannot sleep. I think all the excitement today has really just put me on edge. My husband is going to look for the hog as soon as it's day light outside. He is curious to see how big he is and the markings I mentioned. He is afraid that it is one someone let loose. It happens from time to time.      I have relived  that moment for hours. I don't think I will get any sleep tonight. The question is.... What would I have done if my toddler would have been down there with me?  List:  1. Trail cameras will be put up. 2. Call local wildlife to tell them about the hog 3. Check all fenced in areas to see if he had tried to push in.  4. Carry a bigger caliber gun 5. Pay attention to the dogs ( They had warned me and I didn't heed that warning) 6. Do NOT leave out move food than any of our live stock can eat in a 10 minute window. (This doesn't include hay) 7. Move all the hens into the metal coops  8. BE more Aware!!!

    Not to brag or anything, but I live a somewhat eventful life here on my small farm. Today was an experience that I never want to have again in any form. While Taylor laid down to take her usual nap I took the baby monitor down with me to feed the goats. Nothing was out of the ordinary and I went about my business.      I was setting out some fresh hay when I got a nose full of something NASTY! It was wild, raw, and wet. I looked around in the smaller fenced in area and there was no gaps in the siding. This is a very small area 60ft by 84ft where we keep our babies as they are being weened or need special attention. I got to the gate and looked up into the tree line and there it was glaring.      Its ridge along its back was standing straight up and I could tell that he wasn't afraid of me. Wild animals usually run when they see us, so he must have some experiences with a feed pile and human contact. Today, I was glad I had my pistol in my...

Wow, this was a quick entertaining listen to on Audible. I kept it playing as I was doing all my chores. This book's performance on Audible was above and beyond the normal items in the Plus Catalog. From the beginning to the end of the book I was caught up in the story, however I did not see the end coming, nor did I appreciate it. It was such a bizarre twist that I'm not sure how the narrator ended up being the guilty party. A fate determined by a delusional mental nut case. I would rate this book a 4.9 out of a 5, because the ending is so beyond my scope of thought. I'm still sitting here reeling from how it all ended. Audible out did itself with the caste and crew! This is a must addition to anyone's summer reading list.       FYI: I had a follower message me about how I ended so many book quickly. I literally read to my child all the time along with listening to most books on Audible. We do not have TV so sometimes I keep the books playing while we are doing chor...

       I'm always going between three different states. Living so close to the state lines means that at any given time I could be in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. South Carolina is only a three hour drive from here as well. The adventure began with "sales" and the chance of saving some decent money on ammunition. The 2.5 hour drive there was absolutely beautiful and we made some connections concerning our up coming kidding season.      This store was in the middle of nowhere and had anything and everything. I was amazed a the amount of furniture, guns, clothing, and art work they had for sale. Wow, what a gem to find nestled in the country side. Name brand shoes, clothing, and even bags lined the walls of the upper floor. The ground floor had everything you could possibly need to hunt, fish, and trap. It was the best of both worlds for my husband and I. The toddler section was my favorite!      I didn't really buy anything oth...

      So.... Where is the party? I'm in my thirties and all I seem to do is work, clean, and come home. When we're young, we have this false idea that getting older is "fun." Where did that go? I didn't really get to experience that. I've always had a job and had to pay my own way. I have even had multiple jobs in the past just to make ends meet.      Honestly, the "party" idea has changed. As we get older the party is quite literally becoming who we are. I don't think you truly know your worth until your late 20s and your thirties is where you define that internal dialogue. My party consists of reading books to my child, having a home, paying my bills, and having a few close friends. In my small circle, being a functional adult is okay. The party is what you make it.      Rules to follow: 1. Stay in your own lane. Let others lead their own lives. 2. Do what makes you happy. 3. Get a job that allows you the freedom to be with your kids o...

The official first book to the Lux series about humans and aliens. I love the odd twist on the "aliens" and how they a literally light but have a human form they can use. Catt is the female main character and she is somewhat portrayed as being weak and in comes the broody, Daemon who loves her secretly but is too proud to admit it.      As a reader, once I start something I like to finish it. Note every book will capture every reader's full attention. This is one of those books. I feel as if it has a great story line, but the characters themselves need some additional development. As with her last series, some of the banter between the leads is the same. Having the same narrator did not help this situation. I just expected more. I will take an extended break from this series and read/listen to something else. I would rate this book a 2.5 out of five. I'm just not impressed. Maybe the next installation to this series will be better? I will just have to see.   

Ummmm, it's hot outside. I don't remember it being this hot when I was a child. This is a different type of heat too! I snapped a photo of the temperature displayed on my husband's dash. We were in active motion too, so it must have had some accuracy.      I triple checked all the waterers today and checked the small stream into the goat field. I'm terrified it will dry up, because it has done this before! My darker goats must be miserable right now. I'm glad we left plenty of shade trees surrounding both areas. Our air-conditioning is not keeping up with this heat wave either. I moved the setting to 76 to see if it helped give the machine a break. It didn't seem to make a difference. How is everyone else holding up?      We have a chance for rain in our upcoming  forecast. Let's just hope it really does come. I would take any rain in any form at the moment.   

      As the news updates its coverage, my heart goes out to these victims, their families, and the surrounding community! Any help is help. I will be dropping off a food donation in Sylva next week as they gear up to take another semi full of supplies.      Western North Carolina knows this pain all too well! Any help or aid that can be spared needs to be shipped to these areas. The need is there. I have avoided watching any of the social media posts for the most part. I cannot imagine what the parents are going through! 

According to Audible this is the .5 start to The Lux series written by Jennifer Armentrout. I love her work, so I was excited to start yet another series! Shadows is the perfect introduction to the world of Aliens. Bethany is easily one of the most lovable characters. I cannot wait to see how Dawson and Bethany's story progress in this series. Dawson is a triplet so we will get to see how that dynamic plays out as the series progresses. I think this is a young adult book, so I am reading this series with my niece. I would rate this first book a 3 out of 5 because it didn't necessarily provide all the background information the reader needs to know what is going on.       I rated this book a 3 due to the killing of the main characters Bethany and Dawson. I'm assuming they will reappear in the next books to come? You cannot kill off a character in the first book.        

      Well, only my child would get us kicked out of two different establishments in one day. I was both embarrassed and livid at the same time. Taylor was in rare form today and overly  giggly. Any two year old would instantly get excited over a dog and I would look over it.      While in Starbucks, a service dog came in and my toddler was beyond excited! She kept saying "puppy"  and pointing. She also had me read her book three times while we sipped our treats. She had a water with strawberry puree, so don't come at me! This man was in there using the wifi doing official business and Taylor's excitement completely annoyed him. He  promptly went to the manager and made a complaint. After his third complaint in a 15 minute span the manager came out to talk to me. We were asked to leave, but I refused. We had every right to stay inside and finish our snack and drinks.  I didn't want her to take her pumpkin bread to my car, so we hurr...

      Sometimes life gets in the way of making things easy. The struggle is real! I battle the loss of my child everyday. Even in the small things I see her, especially when her sister is achieving milestones. I cannot get past what it would be like to have both twins alive and well today! I wonder if they would have acted the same? I wonder if Tessa would have had the blonde hair and blue eyes like Taylor. They were fraternal so there should have been differences.      I don't really try to dwell in the very traumatic experience of birth. I do however want to know what it would be like to have both my twins home, safe, and growing. I my thoughts go out to every woman whose child was born asleep like Tessa. I think postpartum depression took over my life for nearly a year because I blamed myself. Today, like all other days I'm sitting here wondering how things would be so different? 

      I spent the better part of my day helping my husband put up various deer stands around our property. Securing them to the trees takes a while along with clearing out shooting pathways in both directions.  I wanted to do so much more today. Wasting time in this extreme heat is not a"bonding experience." 

      As it turns out... I will not be taking Taylor to see the fireworks. After much consideration and thought, it was decided that the event was too late, as well as, loud. She would not be able to handle a large group of people along with extremely loud music and fireworks.      I pondered today what it is that we celebrate. My husband sat and really voiced his thoughts. He was worried the entire day about there being some sort of attack or massive ambush. He was also stressed about gathering in large crowds. I guess his stress won out in the end, because we will be here at home.  

      We should be out celebrating, but instead we have chosen to hangout here at home and may wander off to watch fireworks later. Nothing too exciting over here. As a child I would count down the days until we would make the drive to Fontana, NC to watch their show. Too bad, it was bought out by non-locals who have run the village into the ground.      I really wanted to have this same tradition with my own children, but nothing seems to last the test of time. I did put a brighter American flag up and took the time to tell Taylor what the 4th is important, but she's too young to understand.      

      Well, it has been a success and the momma's milk has started to dry up! I felt bad through most of the process, but I'm glad we stuck with it. In the next week or so I might be able to put them back in with each other.         Do other farmers have to do this? 

    After downloading this book to my Kindle, I realized how short the book actually was. I finished this book in two sittings. I was somewhat disappointed with the length, but it sets you up for an additional series about Lakota, Ivy's son. I wonder if the next set of books continues their story! This book serves as a last look at the pack and how things ended. I like ending a series on a high note! I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. I can officially say that Dannika Dark has a new FAN!  I will be reading her other series in the near future.   

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I just knew Lexi would loose her long awaited baby with all the stress. I'm a sucker for happy endings as well! What a way to end a series. I just don't understand why there is a 7.5 book? I guess I will find out in the next few days. I ordered a digital download on my Kindle. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. It is a lovely capstone to this series and it ties up all loose ends.   

      First of all, I feel like a failure in this  endeavor! My child just doesn't seem to get what I'm asking her to do, and I'm trying not to get frustrated. She does REALLY well with her first visit to the restroom after waking up. 100% of the time she goes and has little to no urine in her overnight Pull Up. We celebrate and I tell her how proud I am.      Periodically, throughout the day I take her with 45-50% chances of her actually using the restroom. What am I doing wrong? The reward chart thing didn't work and she seemed somewhat unaware of its importance, so I stopped doing that. Any hints, tips, guidance? 

            It was a beautiful morning to make the drive over to Sweetwater, Tennessee. I'm always amazed at the natural beauty of our mountains. I have lived in the South my entire life and I feel as if it never truly gets old. We had official farm business this morning concerning equipment, so we got up before 6 AM to make the drive over.  The Skyway just isn't traveled as much as the Dragon, so we saw little to no traffic. We didn't have to share the pull offs with anyone and that is always a plus. Traveling with a toddler means that you have to take breaks often, so I enjoyed the few moments to take some stunning photos.  I did notice the sunrise this morning was glorious. The higher we climbed in elevation the cooler the temperature got. The sun quickly warmed up the surrounding area to the high of 89.  I've always wondered why many visitors skip this scenic drive? It's so far out of our way, but it more than worth it. Driving above...

      If you would have asked me years ago about attending an animal auction, I would have said no. With all the horror stories you see on social media, I assumed there would be ill treated animals knocking on death's door.  I can honestly say that there was none of those nightmarish sights at the auction I attended. There was a vet present as each animal was inspected, tagged, and registered. I do not know if this is an established "norm" at all auctions. My husband took some of his fancy chickens and I took one of the triplets to sale.      I almost took him back home with me. I was so upset until I met the young woman who won the bid. The approached me when the young billy kept running over to Taylor. She got our information and will just buy from us directly from now on. She paid a lot more for little Joe than we would have charged otherwise. I had to move Joe to an additional home because I did not want him breeding back to one of his close family...