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.