Life of the Party

    This weekend has been so bleak. Nothing has gone to plan and everything is totally depressing. Mom is stuck in her feelings at the moment and biting everyone's heads off. Nothing I do is right and she has just stopped helping with everything. She hasn't even cleaned her own room. When you own indoor pets you have to spot clean, but it's like she doesn't even care.      Along with all mom's strange issues, our washing machine has decided to quit. When I finally got my husband to look at it, he became overly hateful. "He doesn't have time for this." Well, how am I supposed to wash any clothes, including his? It's not like he helps with that. Ah! I cannot win for nothing. I wish we had school on Monday. I hate being stuck here in this environment for four days straight. I'll stop complaining. Everyone has issues, and I for certain we all get annoyed.      Positive note: I'm grasping at straws to grab on to something remotely  positive. I g...

      Why can't this series be a TV show? I'm beyond hooked on this set of books. As always Dannika Dark doesn't disappoint. In this saga we learn that Raven's memory has been stolen, so Christian has to win her over yet again. His sheer patience is romantic enough.  Raven's creature returns and takes his mental block away. As her memories flood in we end on the happy note of the couple finally finding what has been missing.      Thank you Dark for giving Shepard's kid a second chance. I was going to stop reading this set of books if his child ended up in a bad situation. Keystone takes in the young child to be raised by the team. Family isn't always blood.      Can Christian finally admit that he "loves" Raven. Can Raven get over Christain's secret of not swiping her father's memory of her. He has hid this for way too long. I cannot wait to see where this goes. Bring on the next book! I rate this book a 5 out of 5! This is a must read!

      I'm thankful to have the day off from work to honor the elders of my husband's community. I think above all else that elders need to be cherished and respected. They hold the key to knowledge. Some may not appear to truly appreciate this day away from work, but I do. My husband  told me Elder's Day is more than just honor, but it is a day of visiting. I don't really have a lot of elders in my own family to celebrate, so hopefully you will get the chance to visit yours. 

      Marriage isn't easy and you need to understand that it's a choice. You have to build, rebuild, and trust for a marriage to work. Both parties are not always going to be 50/50. Sometimes one or the other spouse has to take the lead. Today was that day for us. I'm so overwhelmed with everything that my husband made one of my famous lists to guide me through this rough patch.      I need to take things one day at a time. I still have to keep up will all my normal chores and activities. I can be a caretaker when needed, but I'm a momma first. I think I just needed someone to really tell me they have my back. I'm not in this alone. I needed that. We're not perfect and we argue, but at the end of the day he has my back.      Marriage is always adapting to new circumstances and situations. I have to trust that I have a partner to help me when things get out of hand. I grew a little today and learned to trust a little more...

      Are you looking for lust, fire, and adventure? Look no further than the Crossbreed series by Dannika Dark. Can our two star crossed lovers get past a memory swipe and  betrayal? Time will only tell. I was beyond saddened that Raven's character was sold back to her abuser. Her story of escape and brutality only shapes her character more. Here we learn about another layer of trauma Raven has survived through. Her creator keeps small tabs on her and erases her memory each time. Will he turn her completely against Christian?      I just want these two to finally have the "happy" ending they both deserve. How can this series continue if they never get the chance to truly fall in love without conflict? Which leads me to my rating. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was just missing something that the other books have.   

      Mom is home resting, but her eye sight is in and out. Her headaches are incessantly aggravating her, but she is adjusting. I don't know what the next few weeks holds for my family, but I know one thing; we will get through this.      Today I pretended everything was okay. I got up and went to work as normal, but in the back of my mind all I could think about was the what ifs. Stress ate at me all day. The "not knowing" is killing me along with the impending dread that is coursing through my veins. It's hard to see a love one go through this. There are no words of comfort to take away the pain or to ease their wondering minds. There is no guided steps to take when dealing with their emotion turmoil.      One day at a time. I have no leave to use, so I will be working as many days as possible until she needs me here. Thinking ahead I need to have a plan or at least a few steps. The flood of calls has also made it hard to process what mom ...

     There are days like today that I wish I could disappear. Sometimes bad news just keeps coming in waves. I took mom to the ER only to have her transferred hours away to Mission Hospital. As it turns out she has a tumor growing in her brain. The pressure it's causing has took mom's sight. She can be doing just about anything and then.... lights out.      The moments of blindness are debilitating, not to mention frightening. There are no words to describe how I feel at the moment. Stress, dread, fear, and loss.      This was the view from the K building on the ninth floor waiting room. The oncology floor is so depressing. I didn't see one patient that didn't look like they were knocking on death's door. Keep me in your thoughts and send mom some good vibes. Man... could today get any worse? 

      Will our loving duo find who is kidnapping babies and murdering women in time? Raven and Christian are fighting their emotions of attraction while trying to fight crime. In this addition, Raven reveals that Christian was the one who saved her from a fire as a child. Will this add to the lust appeal these two characters are facing?      How can they remain fighting partners for Keystone while battling an internal love? Time will only tell which one wins out.      I would rate this book a 4.2 out of a 5. I was somewhat turned off by the latest reveals their epic love story. Being left with so many questions is infuriating as a reader. I will only have to read more to see if Dark redeems herself. I was overly curious concerning her father's knowledge of the Breed world. Could he have been a part of her life all along? Ah, the possibilities.  I don't want to be a book spoiler, but man I want Shepard to have the total revenge he deserve...

      This little one and its momma have made a home with my goats. She must have jumped the fence and gave birth to this young fawn. It's such a blessing to watch it grow. They are wild deer, but until it can jump back over it can call our lower field its home.      Look at those spots! I sat and watched them for over an hour as they grazed along beside the goats. I will leave the lower gate open in hopes that it will follow its mom out. 

 The Mage/Vampire with abilities that are unmatched in the breed world finds herself toiling over the idea of loving a fellow peer, Christian, or fighting the urge to cast him away. Once again we are lost in a spell binding love circle and we do not know how it will all end.      Why can't real life men be like one in Dannika's world? We finally see another side to Christian as he slowly comes around to liking Raven. He gifts her a neckless, but is it just a gift or much more? I cannot wait to see the direction Dark takes us as these two love birds battle it out as Keystone partners. Will they deny the attraction or act upon it?      Of course this book would receive a 5 out of 5 rating from me. How can we not throw praise where it is needed? 

      With all the options of online platforms for learning, Gimkit has become my new favorite go to. I use it as an extension activity in class for those students who finish early and have 8-10 minutes left of class. I pay the yearly pro fee, but I think it lacks features to justify their price. Just use the free verison, because there isn't much of a "PRO" feeling or features to the buy up plan. Do better GIMKIT! 

      I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered some items from Shein. I don't regret it, and I might even do it again. I usually only get items of clothing when I'm in dire need of them. Spending money irritates me to no end. I need a few more dressy outfits for work and decided the $45 dollars was well worth it. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, color, and timely shipping. My husband frowned upon it because he says it rips apart our local economy. I needed the cheapest clothing and it work.      Am I a bad person from ordering from Shein? I didn't have a lot to spend and needed something nice for work. Don't come at me about thrifting. I do that as well, but locally the picking are slim to none. Sometimes, I go and don't find anything worth buying. Our nearest Goodwill is 1. 5 hours away and I don't want to go smell cat pee as I sort through endless clothing items that are over used and over priced.   I do like to rate things, so I would ra...

      With all the afterschool demands and tasks, sometimes I miss out on time with my own child. My time is precious too, and I need to be here. I only get around four or so hours afterschool with her each day, so I want to make the most of it. She is only little once. With all that being said; this year I'm making sure my time is protected and that I am spending every afternoon with Taylor. It just seems very unrealistic for me to do anything after school for now. Plus I cannot afford to pay a sitter. That ranges anywhere from $50- $85. It must be nice having "help." I don't have a village to help me. It's just my husband and me, so asking for extra isn't in my cards right now.      I have also vowed to only work one job this school year, so I will have every weekend with my child. I will not be guilt tripped into taking on more tasks than I can handle. She will not be little forever! I will also be cutting back on doing things for everyone all the time. ...

      Dannika Dark is at it once again. Twisted stories of the breed world wound with a love story only the faint of hearts can read. The Crossbreed series officially has me hooked and I cannot get enough.     In this series we meet a half vampire half mage who is trying to find her way in a world where she just cannot seem to fit in. Being half of both breeds makes her an outcast of both social worlds. She cannot be registered with the high authority, so she is left to live off the streets and beg for what she needs until she is taken in by the organization known as Keystone. A mismatch band of breeds who is secretly fighting all  the evil behind the scenes.      Will she fall head over heels for Christian, the vampire from the Maga series or will she push him away? I was left wondering how she was made, who was her creator, and how will she learn to live in this new setting that resembles a  family? Only time will tell. I would gl...

      Well folks, this is as fresh as it gets. This was my daily  egg batch that I collect from my hens. They have done a fantastic job this summer and I have been pickling the heck out of them. Get you some hens they said. I never thought I'd have to find so many creative ways to store and persevere eggs. Egg production will slow down in the months to come, but dang, my girls are on top of their game at the moment. 13 Eggs from 14 hens.      I have one hen currently broody sitting on 10 eggs, so bring in the chicks! The count down begins!

      Dark's ability to create such an intricate fantasy world of breed has swept me away as a reader. I'm beyond saddened that this is the last book in the series. I'm left wondering what will happen next with Simon. Will he finally fall in love?      This is a stand alone novel that dives into the world of Simon. We learn about his early experiences as a mage and why he is the way he is. I didn't like his character in the main series, but now I understand his  constant banter. It's a coping mechanism and an escape from showing emotion.      Nicole Poole is the perfect narrator, which only adds to this book's charm. It's a must read! 

      Silver's character is at it again, but this time she is out for blood. Can she protect her mate or will she fail? From beginning to end I was captivated by this book. Logan is and will forever be one of my favorite fictional characters.      From death, birth,  arrangements, to love this book has it all. The ending doesn't really seem to foreshadow an additional book, so I'm beyond curious to see what the next installment holds. This book ends on such a "happy note" and I just don't see how it could be any better.      FYI ladies, we all need a Logan in our lives. 

     We took some time out today and went to the Georgia Mountain Fair and it was HOT!!!  It was so hot in fact that we decided to leave and eat off site. Big mistake!       Bronco's is one of the most nastiest places I have ever wasted money at. The food was absolutely gross and I left hungry because I couldn't eat it. First off, the wait staff was utterly rude and impatient. Our food came out, tortilla chips were burnt, my Baja wrap was uneatable, and my child's food was mostly fat. We spent over $53 dollars for nothing. I had to ask three different staff members for a straw, which seemed to annoy them.      How does places like this  dumpster stay open with active business? Do they just catch random tourists?  The lady got mad that I didn't leave a tip. I had to get my own drink, bus my own table. What exactly did they do? Oh, play on their phones and flirt with the male cooks.   

      Have you ever wondered what really counts at the end of the day? Like, you went the entire day, but only a portion of it counts as "living." Yeah, I'm right at that thought process. This week has been an adjustment, and I'm exhausted. Instead of sleeping comfortably in my bed, I'm sitting up with my child who has missed me all week.      She refuses to sleep and has fought sleep all week. Not one night has she actually fell asleep before 11:30. Her bedtime is at 8:00 and we have consistently kept that all summer. She panics in the morning because I'm not there when she wakes up, so maybe she doesn't sleep in fear that I won't be there when she wakes? My husband does the morning routine with her through the week because I have to leave so early. He gets the kid who sleeps in and I get the night owl. It's funny how that plays out.      I just cannot put her in her own room yet. She is still so small and I don't want her to feel alone...

      It's a book out of my "norm," but well worth the listen. The narration was even more than what I expected as a free book in the Plus Catalog. Blackhurst kept me guessing as to who killed the  husband. The "why" was overly surprising as well.      I will NOT be a book spoiler, so I'm trying my best to not to give too much away. Man these women went through so much crap because of one man.      I would rate this book a 4.3. It's not a five because I felt like the story just kept switching from point of views way too often. I wanted to get to know the characters a little more. 

      Somedays I wish life would just go back to normal. A time where all I had to worry about was going to work and feeding my dogs. Now there are so many extra chores, worries, and overall stress. I spend days just trying to get through.      I've started to resent living on a small hobby farm. The constant battle with neighboring rogue dogs has become quite the hassle. As it turns out, sometimes you just have to put them down. It was just Taylor and me yesterday when all heck broke out. I was surrounded by a pack of dogs with my toddler. One got into the pen with my goats, five whom are heavily pregnant. I didn't have anywhere safe to put Taylor so I had to make the split decision to shoot the dog to save my goats. If I would have been in there by myself I probably could have caught it and tried to figure out whose dog it was. With no collar I assumed it was a stray. Poor thing was emaciated and it looked pitiful.  I must have only grazed it, becaus...

      Right here is the most loyal man I know. He is one of two dachshunds in my household. Mr. Buck has been my right hand man from day one. He is around 15 years old and still a spring chicken when someone knocks on the door.      Today, has been really rough on Mr. Buck. His seizures have returned and he is currently stable, but due to his advanced age it will take him more time to recover. He has them several times a year. We had him on medication to prevent them, but it caused other issues that were worse.      He has been my cuddle buddy for so long I don't know what I'd do without him. He is my little guard dog who always protects me. Even with his low stature and all 13 lbs of him, he still manages to bite whoever is horsing around.  I'm hoping he will recover to 100% in the next few days. 

      Book 5.5 in this series was wild. It didn't even have anything to do with the main set of books. These are characters aren't in the main series. This could have served as a stand alone book.      I would have loved for this to be book one for a separate series. Carrie was a strong female lead and diving deeper into the breed world  fascinates me to no end. Once gain, let me reiterate: this should be a solo stand alone book!     I would happily rate this book a 3.9 out of a 5 for sheer annoyance of deviating from the original series it's supposed to be a part of. I also feel like I over paid for this VERY short piece of literature. I just had higher expectations. I would love to learn more about Geminis and their powers. I think randomly throwing this into the mix loses the appeal of the main books. 

      I finally took a picture of my new babies. These are the three that I decided to keep. I have been handling them daily and feeding them out of my hand. I"m going to have these juveniles well trained before the fully feather out.      My toddler absolutely loves to go down and play with them too! Now I need some cute names. There are two females and one male. Any suggestions? 

      There's exhaustion and then there is teacher exhaustion. It usually takes me around two weeks to fully adjust back into "teacher mode." I have around 124ish names along with a million passwords that I have to know by heart by the end of the week. Those first day jitters you get as a student, well teachers have those too. We want everything to be a smooth transition into our grade band.      Up by 5 and on the go until sometime after 10. Yeah, I'm going to have to adjust to that as well. We get lazy over the summer and our routines are altered. So for the next two weeks I'm going to be fighting sleep and adjusting.     My students were and are the absolute sweetest! This year is going to be fantastic! One student even left me a small sticky note telling me thank you for posting her birthday on the wall. 

      Where do I see myself being at in the next ten years? This question was presented to me on the radio this morning via station 99.9. I'm not so sure what my future holds in the years to come. Hopefully, I will still have the same career and my child will be 12. I plan to live in the same area and expand my fencing.      I can see myself possibly going back to school yet again, but I'm not sure what additional degree I would want or need. I can also see where that might be a waste of money if I don't have a set plan. Maybe I will have more of a functional farm by then? Who knows?      It was a great way to advertise a lasting roof. I did sit and actually think about what the announcer said and how the choices we make today have a lasting impact on our next ten years. 

      Asheville Outlets had a "Back to School Bash" today, and honestly I wish I would have known prior to making the two hour drive. It's not often that I get to make the rather long journey to Asheville, so I feel somewhat annoyed with a wasted trip.     The outlet was beyond packed. In the Croc's store alone I must have bumped into thirty people. Trying to shop with a toddler in tow is  ridiculous, even with a husband there to help; I felt overly boxed in. People just let their kids run wild and didn't even seem to care if they were making messes and being rude. I ended up only going into three stores in total, which is a shame. I had several coupons clipped and ready to use. Too many people and too many unsupervised youth makes for a disastrous trip.      There were small booths and family games set up throughout the loop in the outlets. Small children were running here and there. The restrooms were nasty. By the way, the outlets are...

      In my own community, I see so many children with tablets/phones stuck in their faces when I go out and  about. Even in the grocery store they are handed a tablet to appease the child instead of the parent actually dealing with their behaviors. Soon the child learns if they pitch a fit you will simply hand over the tablet. With that being said, I'm completely against children having such technology at a young age. It is my belief that it ruins their attention span. You do you, though. In my house we read, practice, go outside, and do crafts.      I want my child to transition into school flawlessly. I'm not sure how it will go, but I'm determined to work with my child. We read several books everyday along with using flash cards. I have purchased workbooks to work on Taylor's fine motor skills (tracing). She gets to use scissors weekly to hone in on that skill. It's my job to help prepare her. I spend an average of 2-3 hours daily working on school...

      I had to take a break from Ms. Dark. My current favorite  series isn't cheap to continue to buy and our local library doesn't have a copy. This book by Nick Jones was free in the Audible Plus catalog.      I didn't even realize I was entering yet another series, but this book took me by surprise. The life of an unexpected time traveler trying to save his sister who was abducted 20  years prior. I think this book really makes it evident of the mental load that the families have to endure when their children are taken. We usually read stories in the girl's perspectives, but this book is in the brother's point of view. My heart cried out for our main character on and off again. His emotional state of reliving moments made me sit and day dream of what I would do with this power. What would you really do, if you could travel back in time? The possibilities are endless.      Slow pacing made this book very boring for the first five ...

      You just cannot beat a veteran teacher's resourcefulness and how they use that to make their classroom flourish. I think a veteran teacher is defined by teaching experience, so 15 years plus. That will be something I will proudly be that teacher at my school one day.      Today, I just couldn't figure out how to write in bubble letters, and my fellow teacher took time out to show me how they did it the "old school way." She can freehand cut lettering to look like something you purchased from the store. No  templates, no prepunching tool, just pure creativity. Practice makes perfect and I will be spending time this weekend finishing up my letters for my last bulletin board. 

       Oh, girl! This is your next must read/listen. I have really enjoyed this book and the recent developments of characters. The intwined love story of Logan and Silver is phenomenal! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. All male characters that care for Silver are exactly what I want in a man. Where are the overprotective men?      All joking aside, this book is a 4.9 out of a 5. The ending didn't seem to fit the overall storyline. I like that the author leaves you guessing at what will happen next with this dynamic duo.      I don't want to be a book  spoiler, but Justice and the  healer are overall steamy with their on and off again fling. I would love to just read a series about him! Maybe a spinoff? 

      Today has been absolutely peaceful. We had an open house event that was beyond smooth, where I got to meet more than half of the student's parents. I love meet the teacher nights! I hope this tradition continues until my child gets the chance to go to school.      I had a very tranquil drive home as well. I spent the hour listening to Audible and planning ahead mentally. The time passed by so quickly. Peace also came from knowing my child was safe at home with my mom. I didn't have to worry about her as I was gladly meeting parents, siblings, and catching up with my old students. My babies are having their own babies. It's such a blessing to get to be there for that. Seeing their excited faces as they show off their new bundles of joy. I have finally come full circle. This was the year and moment I have anticipated for. It is also a blessing to see how my old students have turned out and to hear where they are now in life.  FYI: I finally got som...

       I was walking out from lunch today and took this photo. Perseverance at its best. When everything is completely against you, you only have you to rely on. Hope is everything in moments like this. You have to have grit to make it through to the light at the end of the tunnel. No one can do it for you.     This small maple tree is growing even against the odds. It has planted itself in a grove that will grow in time as the roots expand. Personifying this tree seems overly strange, but if would did you would know that it had hope. Hope to grow,  flourish, expand, and go through the cycle of photosynthesis.      Today I had hope. The inspiration may have come from an odd plant, but it's there and I'm happy with it. I hope for a better future for my family. We have come so far in the past few years. We are like the maple sapling. Growing against all odds. I have hope that one day we will succeed in meeting our goals. 

      It has been an absolute pleasure to not have all the tourist traffic to deal with. I just couldn't believe how many people actually use the parkway. I was able to make my commute in less that an hour for the first time in forever. I didn't even get stuck in the road construction out my way.  I know it might be harming local businesses in that area. I shouldn't be enjoying the lack of people. The tourist is what stimulates that economy on both sides of the parkway.      I will have to go the long way to Pigeon Forge if the road closure continues. Both routes are stunning and relaxing to drive, so there will be zero complaint from me. 

       Impulse was a please to listen to via Audible. The narration was on point and while I decorated my classroom, I listened to this book. I couldn't get my hands on a digital copy nor a paper version, so Audible was beyond convenient. Silver's character spends the entire book getting into trouble and being weak, but this time she discovers that her cheetah has her back. I absolutely love this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.      All the male characters in this series are heartthrobs. I would go crazy over a movie made from this series. The rating is obviously going to be high in my opinion, so with that being said... I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. This world of breed is captivating in itself and the more I learn about Dark's world the more I hope series like these continue and overlap with her other pieces of literature.       Do yourself a favor and give Dark's various series a chance. I love to both list...

      Sometimes we just need time to be real, time to relax, and time to breathe. I need all three of these things at the moment. I feel as if everything is moving too fast to even really put first things first. I got home tonight and barely had enough time to get all my outside chores done with Taylor in tow.      Time is a thief and it is currently taking all of my precious time with my child. It was so hard leaving her this morning to go to work. She spent the day with her dad, and I felt guilty for not being there. Does this get easier with time?

      This upcoming week will be our first full week back, and I don't know how to feel. I have had a very difficult summer with my toddler and at the same time I'm going to miss her like crazy. I miss work, but I also have this great need to be home. I'm nervous as to what this year holds. I'm also worried about dealing with traffic in the morning and after school. Will I be able to pick Taylor up in time? Oh the stress. I guess everyone goes through this at some point. Now I have to worry about getting new tires as well. I didn't even stop to think about checking them until tonight. Uh!!!! How infuriating!      List:  1. Packed my book bag. 2. Made lunch/ packed it. 3. Packed Taylor's bag with all of her stuff, so her dad doesn't have to panic when he has to leave for work.  4. I spent time answering all my emails from Friday afternoon. 5. Spent around 30 minutes printed materials that I need to finish my bulletin board.     

      Can I say more? No, because Dark's spell binding storyline has taken me away, again! I'm in absolute love with Logan's cheetah character and cannon get enough. In this book, we learn that our main character Silver is in trouble again. She has been captured and in a plot twist has added an additional "family" member, Finn.      She seems to be surrounded by men who will risk their lives to protect hers. Who will she choose; her guardian, friend, or lover? One word.... Cheetah.      With our doubt, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. I love the characters, storyline, dialogue, and overall message. I would highly recommend this series if you are in need of a heart throbbing tell of disaster and duty as these characters are trying to find their way. 

     I ended my first day back at school with a load of hay. Let me tell you something. It's humid and miserable. Loading hay sucks and it's so time consuming. I don't know if I will be able to move tomorrow morning or not. My arms are already sore!        This is a chore out of love because my goats will need this in the coming months. We will have to go and get at least two more loads to get through the winter months. We buy hay ahead of time to beat the price gouging that happens during the Fall season. I would kill to have a hay barn or simply a building for food storage only. We have several sheds in different locations that we store our food in.      I would always suggest to buy more than you think you'll need. It's alway good to have extra than to run out completely. Kidding season is fast approaching, and I will need this hay for that as well.   

  Our new friend is a very loving calm deer who has completely caught my toddler’s attention. She is a welcomed member to our herd. I’m joking. She thinks she is a goat and willingly hangs out with my girls.  She has been jumping over our fence for a few weeks now. I finally remembered to grab my phone and take a decent photo. She grazes and sleeps with the herd. I have seen her come up to the hay feeders and eat the grain we put out also. I have approached her to encourage her to leave, but she has zero fear of me.  I don’t know if this is normal or not? I do however think she knows she is safe. We have been calling her Little Mama. She has a super fat fawn that has recently lost its spots. She must have gave birth to it in the lower field. We have been leaving the gates open in hopes that her baby will follow her.  

      This is my second day of waking up at 5ish and I'm dog tired. This happens every year and yet I'm still surprised at how hard it is to adjust back to a set schedule. Yesterday, I spent most of my day arranging my classroom and putting away last year's items.      Today is full of potential! I might even come close to finishing my last online class, or maybe even start planning out my first week of school. I probably should also make a flyer for open house. The possibilities are endless. Who knows; I might even rearrange my classroom once again.      I do miss waking up to hear my toddler greet me. Leaving before day break really is for the birds. lol