Life of the Party

      The last month of work before summer break is always hectic. I just have summer vibes coming my way and I am beyond excited to plant my garden. I already have beans, squash, and corn coming up. I am roughly 11 days away from the official start of summer break.  If you have teacher friends reach out to them and saying good vibes their way. That last month is always tough. 

      Well... It's a lengthly read, but well worth your time. Honestly, I thought her teen daughter, Preeya was the one behind most of the mishaps at home, but boy I was wrong! It will get you fully entertained and the imagery used is just enough to keep you going.      Would I read it again? I like to be fully transparent and not lie. I probably would not pick this book up a second time if it was my choice. It is a read and done kind of book. Although I did enjoy it, it could've been so much more. I actually watched the Hallmark movie that was similar to this plot and a lot of it I was able to predict what was happening next. I was wrong about her daughter though.      I would still get this book a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Anderson sure does know how to keep you hooked into the book. If it wasn't a Hallmark movie, I think it might've been a Lifetime movie. It just seems so surreal that I had already seen a movie with the same storyline ...

      Oh, it has been a Monday. Truly, I've had a disastrous day, and nothing has went right. I locked myself out of the building at work three separate times. I lost my keys to may car to leave work this afternoon. When I arrived home... three of my goats were out running around having the time of their lives.      I'm one tired MAMA too. I had promised to bake homemade cookies and my toddler didn't forget that promise. Farm chores  plus cooking cookies and supper has about kicked my butt for the day.  Can I have a redo? I think I could have managed my time better if I knew what was inshore for me.      All joking aside. I hate Mondays, especially when I feel rushed to get things finished. 

      Girl, we don't have mean girl energy as adults. That's high school drama that needs to stay in the past. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to every adult woman that I have to deal with on a daily basis.   Snarky comments don't really get you far with me. Carful... your inner demons are showing!     "Take the high road" is something my mom has always said. I try to live by that. I'm in no way perfect and make mistakes everyday. Have your social cliques, but remember karma is always around the corner. I took a deep breath as I sat in my car to leave only to realize I handled that situation with as much grace as I could. Maybe I'll do better in the near future. There is always room for improvement. 

      This was a VERY long book, but well worth my time. I listened to it on Audible and read some chapters on my tablet. Denzil has completely redeemed herself as an author in my book. I was hooked from the very beginning and maintained even interest throughout the total book.      I'm a sucker for a mystery thriller that fully engages its audience. There was not a dull moment. I finished this book in a little over four days. I would listen and read it again. It was that good! Max's character is so layered that I would love a sequel to just cover her psychopathic ways. I just wanted to know so much more about her childhood and what had happened. It kind of makes you worry as a parent to who your kids are friends with.     Of course, with the Raven review that I have provided this book I will also rate it at five out of five stars. I would also like to make the comment that have any book that you can visualize every scene because the imagery is do...

      Oh the twisted games we play with our loved ones. Everyone is always captivated by their significant other and sometimes I do think couples play "games." I was mentally taken in by the plot and wanted to know how everything ended.      I have read and listen to multiple books that this author has produced through the years and honestly, I think this is one of our best works. Maybe one day this will actually even become some form of movie. I did listen to it on audible and the switching of the characters perspectives was seamless and perfection. I love when an author can intertwine two characters perspectives to carry on the full plot while keeping the interest of the audience.     With all the praise said above of course I would rate this book of five out of five stars. I didn't understand why the good website didn't have a five out of five star rating. To me is the perfect crime/ mystery book. I would highly recommend if you were looki...

      Well... all I have to say is... it's a book. Man, this bit started off strong. The amount of imagery that the author put into each chapter was beyond comparison to anything else I've ever read. I'd say the first half of the book is definitely five star quality in my opinion. As the story progress, though we switch between multiple point of views, that seems almost random.      The book really has no point. And the plot is so sporadic that honestly, I lost interest and almost quit reading it multiple times. It had so much potential the first half of the book that the second half was a complete letdown. I was not impressed with any part of the second half of the book. I wonder if the author himself was high while  writing it. Maybe he was schizophrenic? Since nothing was really connected and everything was disjointed. It was like reading the writings of a crazy person and trying to piece together a story of their four different personalities. I wou...

      Let's be very open and honest at this moment... the last couple of weeks in April is so hectic for most teachers as you were transitioning into May. May brings about EOG testing, stress for end-of-the-year celebrations, and just things winding down. I've had to go back-and-forth to eye doctor, along with having eye injections, and still dealing with field trip stuff.     I'm not complaining by no means. But this lady is stressed. I still cannot see out of my right eye in my peripheral vision. That in itself is a massive problem and if the issue persists over the weekend, I have to call to make an additional appointment for more injections on Monday. Yay me. Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice as you read this?

      It's beautiful... well, what I could see of it. It was a massive disappointment for me, honestly due to the fact that the cave was not illuminated to the point where I felt safe. At no point in the introduction did they mention that you needed to bring your own flashlight. Safety hazard! I ended up smacking into the ceiling, which was about a foot below my height. I didn't even see it coming.     At one point during your tour, they turned the lights off in the cavern so you can experience total darkness. My toddler decided that was the time to scratch my eyeball out, literally. I ended up going to fast pace healthcare while in Sweetwater Tennessee. Once we arrived home three hours later, I ended up in our local ER. I have orbital scratches on my eyes from my child. It has been absolutely painful. All the occurred on Sunday and I'm still dealing with the repercussions of our adventure.   This one will go down in the books as an epic failure.   ...

       This book wasn't too shabby! It was a delightful read/listen to and from work, but I feel like I have heard this particular plot before. The ending was similar, and very expected. I will not be a book spoiler, so do not worry. I had a fear of befriending anyone during my own pregnancy for this very reason. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out more!      I would rate this book a 4.1 out of 5 stars.  -Would I read/ listen to this book again? Honestly, no. Everything played out exactly as I expected it to. There must be a movie adaptation to this book somewhere. As I was listening to this book, I actually envisioned whole scenes so I am pretty sure this was made into a movie at one point.      Spring Break thus far.... I'm so nervous about work that I cannot keep my thoughts from it. Even now I'm sitting here stressing out about next week instead of enjoying myself. Some break I'm having.... shhhhhh

      The week before break my students had the wonderful opportunity to visit this historic site and move through classes/ sessions with the park rangers. I was overly impressed and I enjoyed every minute of it. I would love to go back and wonder through all of the buildings and read all the information posted around the park area.      This is the Blue Hole, and I was mesmerized by the color and depth of it. The Ranger informed us that it is a place of spiritual significance to the three Cherokee tribes. One of these being my husband's tribe. He wants to go see and experience it for himself. I think we might make the 2.5 hour drive and visit sometime this summer. We were told about traditional weapons, black smithing, sacred flame, and the information surrounding the park's significance as a gather area.      I would highly suggest that you take some time and go visit! 

    Where did I see myself spending Spring Break? Anywhere but here at home, at least I have a plethora of good books to choose from.      I haven't posted very much this week due to the stress of my job and current situations that I'm having to deal with. Too much is happening at one time. I did however finish this book on a high note of romance. This VERY short story is about the treachery of family being hidden in plain sight. Our main character enters a story by helping out a farm to rebuild their foundation for a percentage of the gains made. I'm stilly somewhat smitten with the grouchy farmer!       I would how they recommend this book because it is short, sweet and simple. The stories plot has been ever used, but it is still nice sometimes to read a quaint book like this. I would write this book a four out of five stars. I do wish the story would I have more plot twist or characters who were more memorable, but overall it was well writ...

      I've been somewhat lost today. With lack of sleep today was tough, and I could hardly manage to keep my head above water. I was sinking fast. I pulled over several times before getting to work just to walk around my car in hopes that I could wake up. Nothing has worked...     Nothing has gone right today either. I awoke to a freezer. full of edible food had went out. All the food is spoiled and unusable. The house smelled so nasty, so that is something else I will have to sort out when I get home. I leave my house before 6 AM, so I'm sure its super nasty... I'm so not looking forward to getting home to yet another task that needs to be completed.      I was up most of the night with painful leg cramps and irritable stomach cramping as well.  Can I get through this work week? I started a new medication last night before going to bed, so I think that attributes to the new symptoms. I just need sleep and a break from all the responsib...

      I was beyond thankful to have the day off from work. I did however end up doing stuff for work on my said day off. I ended up having to drive 2.5 hours to Asheville in order to pick up snacks for our field trip on Wednesday. The kids have been fundraising here and there and we needed snacks to feed the kids on our extended trip that goes past our eight hour school day. Although this was something extra that I had to do, there will be no thanks or gratitude shown to me in the morning. I don't think people realize how much time teachers actually spend outside of school doing school related things. I think I can easily say I clock in over nine hours per week on extras.      It's all part of it though. Maybe one day things will change and we will see a shift in public opinion, but for now I will just keep on trudging through. Man... it was a rough day to have a toddler out and about because most schools are on spring break. 

      This isn't the regular obligatory Easter posts with pastel pictures and happy moments. I'm not exactly the most religious person and I have never claimed to be. I hid eggs for Taylor to find and we went to my husband's family dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I just kept thinking something was missing today.       Then it hit me like a rock... this weekend was opening day of trout season, and I didn't even wet a hook or spend the first minute on a creek bank. I used to count down every year to this very weekend. It seems like a life time ago. I also miss my Dad and Grandpa so much on days like today. We would have spent the majority of this weekend catching trout and swapping fishing stories. Man... I miss the good old days of having a united family. We were dysfunctional with my father being an addict, but I miss both men. They would have had a fishing camp set up too.      When Taylor gets big  enough I will inst...

      I was so thankful to have Good Friday off so you will not have any complaints from me in that department. Was it a good day for me? Well, not really. My day was filled with appointments and  disappointing news. I have avoided my annual paps for a while now. I know as a woman that seems a little backward. A few years ago, I had a little bit of a scare. To give you the correct sequence this was about a year before I had Taylor. They took multiple chunks out of me in a biopsy.       I think the trauma in the wedding game that went hand-in-hand waiting for the results after that really did mess with me. Everything came back but none but there's always the potential it will develop into full on cervical cancer.  As a preventative, I'm supposed to go once a year and have a pap like most women. I have it been in a few years.  The last one I had was six months after giving birth to Taylor. She did see some concerning things today... So here we ...

      I looked on goodreads.com and saw that this book had a lot of negative reviews, but in actuality, it is a really good book with an awesome plot. Do I think it could really happen?.... Ummm maybe. I could definitely see a money, hungry husband committing the crime of poisoning his wife.      I immediately fell in love with this book and was swept away with who was going to die, and who did it. Obviously the title gives away so much. The readers instantly know someone will die and the book cover let you know it has something to do with a pendant.       I would highly recommend this book to those who need a thriller and mystery book in your life. I hate that other reviewers completely rob this book of all of its potential. In my opinion, if you don't finish a book cover to cover, you have no right to do a review in the first place. I would write this book a 4.2 out of five stars. I know some of the things just seem unbelievable, but i...

           This is a nice cross between a young adult novel and a mafia tale of horrors. It has just enough action, love and fast pacing that I was completely captivated covered to cover. I actually read this book instead of listening to it on audible so I feel like I enjoyed it even more. Our main character Penelope is by far one of my favorites.          One of my students had this book in class and suggested that I read it. This is her copy of the novel and I was glad she let me borrow it once she had finished. It's not often that middle schoolers have similar taste in books as I do. I will forever take recommendations from the said student. I loved how even in the end of the book I could not predict who had committed all the crimes against Penelope's family. It's really hard to talk about a book without giving away the main plot. I cannot stand when reviewers give you sneak peaks into what happened. Don't be a book spoiler! ...

      So, I've stuck with it for over two months now, and I can finally see some improvement. I weighed in this morning and guess what????     I weighed in at 223lbs, which has be over the moon with excitement. I know it's not ideal, but man..... I'm making progress. 

        This book has so much packed into it that I was completely overwhelmed. You have ghost, murder, crime scenes, magic, and overly indulged, self-centered lead characters. Now don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed this book. It was just too much at one time in one book. And it was almost comical to what Mitzi was having to deal with.      Our main character Mitzi has went to claim her inheritance from her recently deceased grandmother. Upon arrival into a small town, she is arrested for murder as she walks out the back of her lake grandmothers bookstore.  And along the way she finds clues to slowly solve the murder. This also set us up for an additional book, but I will not be reading anything else in the series.       I would write this book a 2.5 out of five stars due to the fact that it was too much in such a short time. 

       I always do love a good mystery. I also love it when the author keeps me guessing the entire time. Sarah a Denzil does remarkable job of keeping her audience completely captivated while having plot twist throughout the entire book. I highly recommend if you love the genre of mystery to really dive deep into this book. My last three days of commute have been absolutely thrilling listening to the story and trying to figure out who is the true psychopath. I would write this book a five out of five stars due to the fact that I was thoroughly entertained cover to cover.  

      Today has been something for the books. I'm overly tired and beyond thoughts of positive vibes. I'm exhausted from lack of sleep and constant worry. I have so many things going on at once that I cannot seem to get my act together.      I'm worried about medical bills again and saving money for Taylor's birthday. The woos of living on a farm are not helping anything either. I'm in constant battle with my neighbors over driveway rights. Apparently, they want me to move my fence, but that isn't happening. I have not blocked their right of way. You can still drive  through there. Along with that I have mom's  constant complaining and negativity. She is slowly losing her marbles. I don't know how to tread this path. Navigating that alone has caused me so many sleepless nights.     School is stressing me out as well. We have so many components going on at one time. I spend around 5 or more hours a week working on additional tasks for sch...

      It was a decent book, but nothing to call home about. A romance writer tries to navigate the world of dating only to realize the world isn't a fairytale like she writes about. Brontës character is overly silly and she cannot see what is right in front of her face. Ryan is not the "textbook" hero and we get to see the romance built while she dates a bland Sebastian character who isn't really what she expected.      I would rate this rather short book a 4 out of 5 stars. As a reader, I needed more insight to the characters. It seemed to much like a Hallmark movie.

      Well, I was finally able to figure out who the author was. It is Travis Beecham, or at least that's who I think it is. I have finished the third book that has currently been released. I do know there has to be more in the series because it leaves you with a cliffhanger as to what is happening next. I'm glad that the third book did pick up pace and continue with the story. Also love, the fact that the action in the plot picked up as well.     I do not like listening to an audiobook that has all the kissing sounds that the characters are making. It just leaves an unsavory feeling for me. I think there needs to be very distinct voices for each character because I kept getting the two sisters mixed up because the voice sounds so similar between them. In this installation, we realize that our main character is two people in one. She is Darcy and the Long lost away to Queen at the same time. Can she defeat the queen in our own mind or will she take over? I guess...

      Sadly, yes I did jump in on this hype product. I usually avoid following the bandwagon, but I'm glad I didn't this time. I bought a pair of their cloud loungewear, and I am overly excited about the material. I do think it is majorly overpriced for what you get. I found the same material at Target for nearly half the on sale price. And guess what? They call it cloud material too, which leads me to believe it's all about the name printed on the material, not necessarily the actual cloth. I'm embarrassed to say I feel like I wasted an extra $30 when I could've had two sets for the price I paid for the name brand.  Maybe next time I will shop around and be smarter.  I don't usually waste money on frivolous things. I just really needed some warm, comfy clothes. I would rate this brand, a three out of five stars due to the outrageous pricing. 

      It feels more like a "show" each day as you try to engage your students. You have to compete against reels, social media, and the constant need to check said media outlets. Sometimes it really is tiring with all this technology and our kids are losing valuable written skills.      2026---- Blooket, GIMKIT, Wayground, and any gamification of materials has a solid place in my monthly plans. I use one of these at least twice a month for vocabulary repetition in hopes that they can at least remember what our Tier III terms are. Let's  build up that vocabulary!!! EOGs are on the way.           I miss books. Man, that makes me sound so "old school," but it's true. I miss using paper based materials in the classroom. Students need to put pencil to paper with out the use of AI/ ChatGBT to do their work. Students need to using their own writing voice each day. Of course, that's a personal opinion. Those fine motor skills are ...

      Well, folks I do believe my mom has the first stages of dementia. She's forgetful, agitated all the time, and is extremely egressive in the late afternoon hours. She retails me things  she's already stated and is easily emotional. She's always wanting some sort of confrontation and makes it seem like I'm the problem. I was raised by two narcissistic parents that I could never do enough for. Nothing I did was ever right. I graduated from high school with honors, and college twice with a 4.0, but it has never seemed to be their versions of perfect.  So here we are again... I cannot do anything right. Even my cooking cannot please her.      I'm over her mean inconsiderate comments and undermining actions. She angers me to no end. I need a break! When she doesn't get her way she pitches these toddler tantrums, much like the ones my own child has now. I feel like I have two toddlers to deal with all the time. I have to walk on eggshells day and n...

      I've been avoiding this post for several days for several reasons. I have not made progress on losing weight, but I have made progress on picking up my step count each day. At the moment with my tennis elbow, I cannot lift weights, but I have made the effort to walk on the treadmill at least twice a week. If anything, I have gained a little weight and I'm not too proud of that. I am not gonna lose hope and faith that I can succeed. Where do I see myself in a few months?     I see myself living a healthier lifestyle. I have made a point of being more active. Any advice?

      Ladies, this is our new must read! Love, action, and vampires is the perfect mix for the perfect romance. I keep trying to find the original author, but I don't seem to be able to locate them. I was very impressed with the second book, but it is definitely in the low point of a series.      I'm still hooked in the story and cannot wait to see if Darcy makes it out. I also would absolutely hate it if the author ended up killing Darcy as a main character. Honestly finishing the book would be out of the picture if she was written out. I love short, simple books like this because it's an easy read and it doesn't take long to finish one. I was able to find the written version of this along with listening to the audible version of it too. I think switching between the two sources really helped me get into the story.     So I finally called the date that the book was written in. Apparently the story is supposed to take place in 2044. I do wonder if...

      Wow, just WOW! This dystopian book really hits the spot, providing its listeners with action, pack scenes and heartfelt romance. Will this family survive the change of a beloved sister? Who doesn't love a good book about vampires? I literally could not put this book down.     I think my favorite character is Whisper, and I cannot wait to fully see how she develops into a powerful protagonist. Overall would write this book a solid five stars and I would happily recommend anyone in everyone to listen/read this book. Sometimes authors, just know how to really captivate their audiences. 

       Fire Exit as a title just didn't seem to fit the overall story.  This is about a white man who fathered a child, but was not allowed to be a part of their life in order for that said child to claim their native heritage. This white man lives across a river from his estranged daughter, only to watch her grow up, but not have anything to do with her.     I just wasn't expecting it to be this boring and slow. I was so disappointed in the lack of character development along with the slow pace of the book. As a rule, I do not read others post about any book beforehand. I want to build my own opinion of each text that I read. In many ways, it was a collection of ramblings of a man whose life is completely shattered by his mother's dementia and his lack of involvement in his child's life. Not being able to connect with any of the characters also disassociated me with the story. Once I start a book, I finish it whether or not I like it. I did, however r...

       This topic has such a detrimental existence in my life. I hate diabetes and have had to deal with it and its effects almost my entire life. It's been a constant struggle to maintain a decent A1C level and I have truly tried to maintain numbers that my endocrinologist would be proud of.      In my youth, I had people treat me as if I was fragile and couldn't compete with my peers. I made the youth basketball team only to be dropped from the roster once they found out I had diabetes. It's different today. I remember receiving labels that caused scrutiny from my trusted teachers. They would pick apart everything I consumed at lunch. The nasty comments and frowns was enough to make me avoid eating anything while at school. I can distinctly recall a time that I had sugar free water flavoring in a bottled water and the teacher took it because she said... "you don't need all that sugar hitting you at once." I guess she felt like an idiot when my mother...

      This morning was unreal. I awoke to a massive storm that seemed to almost rock the house with each monstrous thunder clap. The pelting rain made my morning commute almost impassable. The downed trees was also something to mention as I was desperately trying to make it to work on time.  I ended up pulling over on the side of the road to let the rain pass. I hate hydroplaning and it really scares me to no end. My favorite radio station announced that it should be snowing by late afternoon.      So let's get this straight... we went from beautiful 70 degree weather to massive thunder storms only to result in snow by mid day. Yeah.... NC weather is lovely. You have to be prepared for everything. I packed a rain jacket, boots, and a warm hoodie to get through the day. We can go from 0 to 100 in a matter of hours, so having the right gear is appropriate. We are still in our kidding  season, so I can just about determine that more goats w...

      Not overly confident that I haven't heard these stories before. I was not overly impressed with the storyline of these six books, but I did enjoy listening to them on my very long commute to and from work. I will warn you though that the book should have a rating system. I would write this book possibly an "R." I was super embarrassed in chapters were scenes got completely out of hand. I ended up hitting the skip button to skip over those said scenes. I really enjoy romance books, but not books that are just overly graphic like this.     I fell in love with the original shifters so when I entered book 3, and it was a different set of characters I was somewhat disappointed. I did come to love the set of three Wolf shifters in the last three books though.      I would write this book at 3.5 out of five stars. I think this genre has just been overplayed throughout many book series and possibly cannot be stretched any further. Honestly, the last...

      OH Girl, here we go again! Did you see this coming? No, me either...     I love looking back at old journal entries and seeing what used to be "stressful" and silently giggle to myself. This time six years ago I was worried about observations and paperwork. Lord, times have changed. I was also worried about getting my foster children to all of their various appointments. I think at one time there were 5 standing weekly therapy/ family appointments between my three girls.      Reflection is the best way for me to see how truly things have changed. I only have one child to care for now and I don't think I would change that for the world. Living on a farm has also changed so many things for me personally. I yet one more being who is dependent on me to get and keep my act together. I cannot just let something slide.      This year I  have the following to check off my list... 1. Potty Training for my toddler 2. Worm the goats...

      Lonely is the person who is in a marriage but never gets to see their spouse. Lonely is being surrounded by people every day but still have that deep seek feeling of being alone. No one knows what is truly going on inside their head and no one really cares.      I think I'm at the point in my life where I'm just lonely....   I spend a majority of my time either at work or with my child. It's really weird to put it into words, and I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. We work opposite shifts and at this point my friends at work know me on a deeper level than my spouse. He sees me a total of ten to twelve hours per week, so our bond has also dwindled. We used to spend evenings together after Taylor had fallen asleep. Now, I spend that last hours buried in a book to avoid my own thoughts. Could this be depression again, but with a slightly different mask?      Don't worry....      If it gets to that point... I'll ...

      It's been a while since I've read one of Spark's books, so give me some grace if you're a fan. Usually, I adore his various love spell binding books, but not so much with this one. The ground work was there, but it was certainly missing something.      Well, let's start off with the ended so there is no confusion. I absolutely hated the ending of this book. Why on earth would the two main characters part ways. I know we don't always have to have a "happy" ending, but dang... come on let Wren find her happiness. I also didn't like the jumping around constantly. Wren needed more substance to her over all character. Ghost or not, why didn't we have more chapters in her perspective?      I felt like he was going for one of his classic love stories, but fell short with following through. I miss sitting and actually reading because it provides me with a different level of enjoyment and contentment. Remain, although it was a total let dow...

     Unfortunately, my child is still struggling in the debts of despair with RSV. It has taken every ounce of energy that she has or could muster to make it out of this. With every passing day, she just seems to grow sicker. We have to even as far as taking her to the ER multiple times. With each visit, they tell us that her body just has to get through it. My toddler has been battling this sickness for days. She is weak, tired, and cranky from the incessant coughing.     Does anyone have any tips or tricks on how to alleviate her symptoms?  She's currently on three medications and they are not working. I guess we will be going back to the pediatrician again for the same exact issues. At this point I think they need to update her diagnosis and say that it's something else.

      As I'm slowly driving myself crazy with all of these extra tasks that keep getting thrown my way, I have found that my Comfort zone is definitely with having a list in my hand. So here goes nothing... School List: 1. Secure all items for student raffle  2. Purchase a receipt book. 3. Purchase raffle tickets. 4. Purchase items for drink sale. 5. Secure locations for my kids to finish their community projects within the school. 6. Turn in Grades 7. Turn in Lesson Plans Farm List:  1. Purchase hay for the remainder few months until the field start to regrow. 2. Be on the lookout for a new Billy for or breeding program 3. Check daily to see if the geese have hatched. 4. Administer warmer to all those who are currently milking. 5. Check all eye lids for anemia/ administer proper medications 6. Document said the medication's in booklets. Home List:  1. Schedule all pediatric appointments for Taylor in the upcoming months. 2. Women's health check as well. 3....

      My poor toddler has struggled with RSV for days and that's why I haven't really posted regularly. She needs me to hold and cuddle with her. She's been pitiful and in a lot of pain. Along with RSV she has double ear infections that seem to be driving her crazy.      The meds that she has been on for days don't seem to be changing anything. I will be promptly calling the pediatrician in the morning for further assistance with this matter. Taylor cannot simply go on like this. She is cranky due to pain and suffering. I have tried a variety of over the counter medications to see if they will help, but nothing touches it. So, no sleep and lack of patience as been my ultimate downfall. We even took her to the ER today with them basically stating: we've done all we can do. She has to work through it.      Here is to another night of fitful sleep. Send my baby some positive vibes if you can. She needs all of them she can get. RSV sucks! Her wet...

      This month has thus far been overly abundant. Butters gave birth to an overly beautiful doe that is a keeper! I was beyond impressed with her first kidding season and she has made an exceptional momma. With the good also comes the bad... Miracle, didn't really have the same happy ending. Her one and only kid didn't make it. She kidded late in the night and we were not there to assist her in her first kidding session. Her baby did not live and she's heart broken.      The only positive that came out of Miracle's loss was her allowing our other baby goats to openly feed from her when she returned to the herd.      My husband and I have also banned together to drop the weight. I think having a support system will go a long way. So here goes nothing... Stats:  227 (I gained weight, and I'm beyond angry at myself) Average step count per day: 6788 Goal.... (200lbs)  BTW: I don't want to talk about what my country has recently d...

           On the coldest night of this winter season came about two of the most beautiful babies we have had thus far be born on our farm. Late last night I just had a feeling that Honey would go into labor. She had acted beyond strange and was extra affectionate.     With flashlight in tow, my husband and I made the trek down to check on the goats. Lo and behold, we had to be beautiful babies be born. Hello world, meet, Huck and Harmony. Honey did an amazing job and I couldn't be more proud of our two newest members of our farm family. They were both up and moving this morning. My husband sent me this lovely picture of our proud mama and babies.      I was hoping that she would hold out until this cold weather left us, but like with every doe, her body has a mind of its own.  PS. My husband hated the names so Harmony is now....... Helga!

      I find the title ironic in itself, because this book is a lie as a whole. The author left us mid story at the end of the book, which completely infuriates me to no end. The idea is there, but the author just couldn't execute the foundation that she so desperately built.      I trudged through the book hoping it would pick and get better, but that was futile. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I would love to have had a story that explored more of the world of edem. Scholte just missed the mark.      Did the editors not read the book in its entirety? I can see why the Good Reads website rates this book so low. I normally do not succumb to looking up ratings, but I just had to see if anyone had the same opinion.      I would rate this book a 2 out of 5 stars. It should really be a one, but hopefully someone will pick up this book's ground work and expand on it. This is not how I wanted my weekend to start. 414 pages...

      My step count for the month has rose a little bit. As you can see, there are days I do not wear my Apple Watch at all. But my step count is steadily climbing. I see this as progress. Honestly, after my appointment on Monday, it's really hard to focus on any positives. When you try your best, but still get beat down at each appointment it really gets demoralizing.     I guess I will just keep chipping away at progress and hopefully reap the results in the near future. There's not much to say on this point. I am still motivated, but I kinda need someone in my corner as well. If I'm telling the doctors things that I am doing to change, there should be a little bit of a positive vibe radiating from them. My goal for this week is to try to make sure each day I am above 7000 steps. I really need to work on closing all three rings each day.     I wish Apple had a way of having competitions with people worldwide instead of just who you are friends with. ...

      After three very long books, I was absolutely devastated with the ending to this. I wanted and even needed Morgan's character to finally eradicate the kingdom from Queen Guinevere. Some part of me just absolutely needed to see her annihilate. The woman who caused her so many hardships in book one in book 2. Morgan's character overall just needed to end on a happy note. Please tell me Sophie Keetch is going to write a fourth book.     My inner mama heart was also shattered to learn that one of her sons died. As an audience, we didn't even get to hear what happened to the youngest child that was basically stolen from her. So many unanswered questions. This book was just written and released back in 2025 so there may be a slot chance that the author will continue the story and give Morgan her ultimate victory. The ending seems so rushed as well. Maybe her funding ran out? I cannot believe that brother and sister gave each other for all the hateful and spitefu...

      Where do I find myself in this blanket of darkness? I have been up for hours with my toddler who seems to be stricken with night terrors along with a slight fever. She and I both haven't slept and grow sleepy with contempt.      She awakes with cries that only I can quieten, so here we are... my sitting on our sofa holding my toddler as she slips in and out of slumber. This time will soon pass and I might just miss these nights where she needs me the most. The solicitude that comes along with motherhood is something we don't really discuss at  length. Yes, you have other people in your life, but no on is really there on the late nights or early mornings.      I have found a new peace with motherhood. One that has brought me so much joy and sorrow at the same time. You are raising a child to live without you, but at the same time you are their support. I know one day she will not run to me, especially in her teen  years, b...

      I am absolutely disgusted with Duke Energy. The past year they have had several hikes that has led us to basically rethinking whether or not we can afford basic electricity. At receiving this month's bill, I was completely broken. Our bill, even with the use of propane had the difference of $220. Our neighbors of the road, had a bill that was well over $600. How could people afford to survive and make rent with having electricity prices so high.     Before you make the assumption that we can just simply switch utilities, you need to understand one thing about small communities. Duke energy is our only provider for electricity in our area. You have no other choices. And if you have children, it is a requirement that you have electricity in your home. It's not like you can simply skip out on this. We leave our temperature set, wear extra warm clothes, and have additional heat sources. We are simply surviving, not thriving at the moment. Duke energy really ne...

      So twice a year, I make the long 2.5 hour drive to see my endocrinologist. Yes, it is essential that you go and see your diabetes specialist a few times a year. Although it is a costly appointment for me, I still make the effort to go. I was really hoping for some good positive vibes, but unfortunately, that did not happen this go around.     I always share my updates with everything on my blog. I was more than thrilled to have an A1C of 6.3, but the PA suggested otherwise. According to their weight scale, I weigh 227 pounds I had previously gotten down to 225 but have failed to maintain that weight your body does fluctuate daily so I understand that as well. Due to the fact that I have not lost significant weight or had a lower A1c, my doctor was not very pleased with me. According to their chart in the main office, though I was right within the blue goal range.      She did mention that since I'm on a steroid for my tennis elbow that my su...

      The sheer essence of this book has been amazingly favorable for me. I have fallen in love with the story, and yes I long for more. I cannot wait to start the next installment! Morgan's character alone has made this series so enticing.      My "mama" heart sank when the wizard tricked her out of her newborn child. She has lost two children and I felt every stray thought she had. Being able to identify with the main character is always a blessing.      Blood ties do not mean everything. Keetch has out done herself with this rendition of Merlin. It's the story we have never heard, but so desperately needed. Can she regain favor with her brother or will she always be an outcast without her children. King Author is casted as a man of great uncertainty. I loathe his character in this book and wish that Keetch makes him pay ounce of flesh for what he has done to his sister. Power corrupts all! What is the importance of a crown? Can she ge...

     Oh the dreaded Dexcom.  You do not want to hear my reviews of the Dexcom, because at this very moment, I am beyond infuriated. My newest prescription of the meter itself have all failed to pair with the main device. So if you don't know, your insurance only pays for four a month. Each one should last roughly 5 to 7 days, but when they fail to pair with the main meter, that piece is absolutely useless. They will not reimburse you or give you one as a replacement either. You have to go without having continuous blood sugar measurements.     So now I will have two weeks without wearing my Dexcom, which completely terrifies me as a diabetic. I no longer have the one where I can sit and prick my finger and drop my blood on a little stick. I have become so reliant upon the system that I don't know how I'm going to get through the next couple of weeks without having it. I like being able to know minute by minute what my sugar is. Completely disappointed in th...

      It's happened to me... my elbow is absolutely  ridiculous and I cannot seem to get regular chores done. Here I am feeling all sorry for myself, but I know some people have it worse than me. Maybe the symptoms will slowly go away with time. The gave me steroids to help, so here goes nothing!     Oh the pain sucks! Wish me luck!

    Well, this is a diamond in the rough! This is just want I needed in this dreary weather; a love story that  intertwines Native American culture cover to cover. The main character, Lucas has been an absolute dream. Avery, our very overachieving female lead was a complete delight. This book was one of our Keeper's of the Flame book club choices for this month, and I'm glad it got the highest vote.     Avery falls in love with her roots and cannot seem to balance her singing career and her farming background. I think I could listen/read this book multiple times.      Where have I spent my late nights... Girls, it was with this book and warm herbal tea. My child doesn't sleep, so this has kept me company on those long nights of toddler tantrums.          I especially enjoyed the Hallmark version of a western tale. The epilogue added a upmost finesse to the overall book. Getting to hear directly from the author of the ...

      Where do you see yourself on a random winter weekend? Ahhhh, I see you don't really  have an answer, so let me tell you about my weekend. My weekend was filled with endless chores, yearly, chores, and toddler tantrums.     It's that time of year again, folks! Your taxes have to be done. As always, I dread this time of year. We were lucky enough not to have to pay in this year, which is a massive positive. So many of our friends and family are getting eight to $10,000 back, but we are just happy that we broke even. I have dreaded this weekend for the past four weeks. Every year, there's a new surprise that seems to just randomly pop up during tax season. My toddler pitched such a fit in the office we almost got kicked out.     This weekend was also filled with hoof trimming. It is always my job to hold the goat as my husband is leveling off their hoofs. As it turns out, my biggest goat, Fancy, now out weighs me significantly. She tossed and t...

      Where has all my time gone? I feel as if I'm constantly scheduling out every aspect of my life. I have a planner in calendar for school along with a personal calendar. I budgeted out in significant events along with major appointments every week. What I have noticed of late, is that all my time is really taking up with commuting. That long hour and 15 minute can you really does eat up my time each day.     I'm still in the journey to a healthier way, but I also need to realize that Tom constrains really do play a major detrimental role in my effectiveness. I'm still putting for the great effort. There are no excuses, but there is reality. The reality is that two hours and 30 minutes out of my day is spent in a sedentary motion under the wheel. Even when I get home, my time is so consumed by my toddler that I don't get to carve out time for myself. I am going to try to adjust and make sure I dedicate 15 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 days a week to myself. Talking ab...

      Well, now let's talk about surprises. Ladies, this book was written for us. It does not have the smutty sex scenes that seem to plague, most romance novels, but it does follow a plot that truly encompasses a childhood puppy love. I was really sad that the author did not bring back her first love in this first book.     Morgan, our main character empowers every fiber of my being. She is prideful and cunning while maintaining a lady's level head. The male characters of this book, however, does seem to infuriate me with each new chapter. Will our heroine end up finding her lost love from her childhood?     Kirby even entraps us with the usage of magic while slowly showing us glimpses of what is to come. I love her foreshadowing endeavors! I would gladly rate this book a 4.5 out of a 5 due to how this book ended. I do not like being left in the middle of a story. The author should always leave you wanting to know more, but not mid story line. I ...

      Yeah I'm still up. For those of you who do not know... I have a toddler who doesn't sleep and can go days without adequate sleep. The pediatrician states that some children go through these phases. It has in fact not been a phase. From the very night we brought her home, we have had to deal with this.  Ah, yes, and I still work a full time job on little to no sleep. We are currently on night 3 and sleep has still evaded us.      How will my Friday go? Ummmm, Only tomorrow knows those  answers. Sometimes I take off time and find a random parking lot and sleep. If I'm at home, no one helps me with Taylor and I cannot rest. Being the default parent sucks sometimes. I use my sick leave and sleep. Don't come at me with "it's dangerous," because I frankly do not care. Going nights without sleep is also detrimental to my health. I refuse to get caught at work napping, I would rather use my person sick leave for that along with my car and secret pil...

      Even with a dreaded two hour delay, I made the icy drive to work. I was hesitant first to even attempt the drive, but I do not have to leave to take the day off. I really should move closer to my place of employment. It was a disastrous drive. I slid out of the road multiple times while also having to dodge neighboring vehicles slowly skidding into my lane. Would I do it again... absolutely not.     Everything was fine until I reached the mountain. Crossing the gap on the lower side of the south end was absolutely ridiculous. I understand that the roads were wet and a lot of people thought that means that they were clear. Honestly, that witness on the road with that elevation means that that was ice. Not just any ice, black ice. Yes yes yes I understand that they are much the same, but I was absolutely terrified this morning. Normally my commute consist of listening to an audiobook, but I was on edge so my soul focus was on just trying to make it to work. ...