You know, that honeymoon period of “new” things in life?

Seems it’s passed and things are getting rather ‘rough around the edges’.

The first three weeks with dh away were pretty good. We settled into a bit of a new routine, covering areas dh would normally cover, within home and the business. Things were a bit chaotic, but we managed to pull through, albeit with some sleep deprivation on my part. Driving the two eldest to work, back and forth, proved to be more time consuming then I really realized but whatever right? we made do and we’re getting into it. Today, my son even decided to ride his bike to work, just for the exercise, even though it meant leaving over an hour earlier then he normally would. I applaud him for that. I had told him I really didn’t want him to work Saturdays because that was my ONE day to sleep in, so rather then listen to me, he took the initiative to ride his bike. Yay him! Some times I really do appreciate my children NOT listening to their mother.

We did discuss this though, it wasn’t just ‘pure’ rebellion on his part. lol

I got a text from dh yesterday. He’s not doing too well. That makes things really tough. For him, and for us here at home who are wishing we could some how help. Our family is really good at helping one another when things get really tough. This is the first time we can’t help one of ‘us’. I’m finding this inability to do anything to ‘fix’ the situation rather stressing. I don’t know what to do about it all, other then to pray.

And that’s all my husband has asked us to do.

So we are, and we will continue to do so. All day long, every minute of the day, if that’s what it’s going to take to help him stay strong.

He just switched jobs this week. He’s not driving truck right now. He’s working a job where he’s constantly soaking wet, sweating, and on his feet. He sat for only 10 mins out of over 12 hours yesterday. He’s sore, tired, and he’s feeling very lonely.

I can’t imagine the difference between being home every day, surrounded by my spouse and five children on our homestead, to being out in the middle of no where, knowing no one, and being the ‘greenhorn’ and treated like dirt because of it.

My husband is accustomed to being the boss.

Not the low man on the floor.

Very tough times. Not fun.

I told him to hang in there. Not to let them get him down. I hope he can feel the strength we’re praying for him to have.

We miss him.

21 years ago yesterday, I met my husband.

On that very day, my world changed. I was no longer me, I became half of us.

I still remember the day we met, as clear as yesterday. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday.

(I really need to scan in some other photos of us from way back when…)

I wanted to blog about it yesterday, but I couldn’t. Being the first time he’s been away, for so long, it was too bittersweet for me to blog about.

Today, I’m feeling a little better about it, so I thought I should write before too much time passes.

My husband and I had what most would call, a whirl wind romance. We met Feb. 2nd 1990. On Feb. 22nd I turned 19. On March 10th, he asked me to marry him. On Sept. 22nd, when I was 19 and a half years of age, we were married.

(we were so young!)

I knew the first night I met him that we’d be married. It was like someone whispered it into my ear.

Graydon was not my knight in shinning armor. That’s fairy tale stuff. A knight couldn’t “rescue” me. All my excess baggage would have knocked him right off his white steed…

But, Graydon IS my best friend, and always has been, right from that first day we met. He knows everything about me, and loves me just the same. ?

It’s a constant “joke” around our place when it’s time to dye.

Dye fabric that is.

You’ll hear my kids say, “Mommy’s dyeing.”

It’s not the same in type of course, because you can visually see the difference between dyeing and dying. But when a child says the words, “mommy is dyeing” it sounds the same.

Anywho…

I dyed tonight. On facebook I was asked to share pics, so I’ll share them here.

Here’s everything all ready to go, my dyes etc., gloves, tubs, counters covered, window’s opened.

And here are some of the pretties, in their not so pretty state.

And a close up at the back.

And now they are sitting there, awaiting the cleaning in a little while.

If I get a chance, I’ll snap some photos of the finished fabrics tomorrow.

I decided to tote my camera(s) around with me today and snap a few photos here and there. I didn’t have it with me ALL the time, but a lot of the time, so I thought I’d share some of those snapshots of my day here with you.

This morning I got up before my alarm went off (for this night owl, that’s pretty darn amazing in itself!) and no, I do not have a photo of myself in the morning. I’m not THAT brave.

Drove our 17 year old son to work. On Thursday’s and Friday’s he works with a local mechanic. Both our eldest kids have their learners licence, and will have their ‘real’ license in April. I can’t wait.

On my way home I stopped to snap some photos of a scene I see almost EVERY time, and always WISH I had my camera.

Closer

Closer still

I’m wondering which lense I need for my nikon to get in even closer. One day I’d love a real close zoom lense. I’m real technical with my photography terms aren’t I?!

I’m also wondering how many children, or limbs, I’ll have to sell to get that lense…

Any nikon photography buffs know this info for me? Do tell. There’s just way too much nature around here to not get at least a little closer then this!

Lastly, I’m wondering why this blog makes my large photos SO small even when I keep them within the width range…

Next, I stopped by to snap some photos of this old pickup truck. It’s for sale.

I really like it!

Not enough to buy it mind you… (not that I could anyways…although Joshua would love to…)

There’s just something about an old beat up truck.

Reminds me of one my dad had years and years ago! We called it “Bonky” because when you drove down the street you went “bonky. bonky. bonky”. With a Dutch accent, it sounds better.

I came home and snapped a photo of the flowers coming up in my flower bed.

My husband asked if the snow was all gone. Yep! I’d say so!

We let Stevie out to play a while this morning.

Shaylah loves him, and he loves Shaylah too.

Played with my puppy for a bit.

Had the kids do their chores and we got started on school.

Alesia put dinner in the crockpot, bean slop. I should get a photo of that. Actually, I should have Alesia do a guest blog post and post her recipe. It’s very tasty. I told her we need to rename it as Maple Bean and Bacon Medley.

Once school was done, I finished some work and posted who won the most recent contest.

I had a shower and cut my hair. Cutting Julia’s hair the other night and seeing how healthy it now looks, put me in the mood to trim my own.

I always cut my own hair.

No picture of that either. I don’t like photos of myself much. I need to get over that.

Chatted on the computer with dear hubby for a bit, fooled him into thinking Alesia was going to buy the above truck. Hee hee. Told him I was kidding.

She IS looking for an old(er) vehicle though.

Speaking of old(er), she mentioned a story from work at the dinner table the other night, in reference to an ‘older’ guy, I asked how old this ‘older’ guy is. She told me, “Oh… 48 or something?”

I’m almost 40.

Dh is almost 45.

If 48 is older…? yikes! What happened to ‘middle-aged’???

At 3:30 we needed to pick up Joshua, so we all piled into the SUV and headed out. We also had to run some errands. Joshua wanted to speak with someone about a farm hand job, so we stopped for that.

Along the way, I pulled over to snap a photo, and check this out.

I think it’s a hawk, just not sure what kind. You don’t want to see why he was there… I did NOT snap a photo of that.

Then Alesia treated me to a take out coffee on our way to the feed store.

We stopped by a used auto place and browsed a little.

Stopped by Joshua’s other boss’s place to pick up his paycheque (or paycheck for those of you in the US).

Then Joshua forced me to go to the bank so he could deal with his pay…

I was reminded why I don’t like going to the bank… we got in, and got out, second bank trip in one week. I’m thinking bank trips without warning are better then those WITH warning.

Then off to the feed store to get horse feed and layer pellets.

No more rabbit pellets, because sadly, Shaylah’s rabbit finally died last week.

I say finally because it was to be expected. He had been having the occasional seizure for over a year now.

He was a good bunny. Lived a nice long life. He was one of our first bunnies on the Homestead, yet survived the longest.

Then we headed to the grocery store and video rental shop, where Alesia treated her younger sisters to a movie and treats for tonight. We waited while she went in.

Yes, even Teagan.

No, he does not sit on my lap while I drive. Just while we wait.

And here, I could put the photos of the girls that I snapped in the SUV while we waited, but they would be mad at me. I don’t know why. They don’t seem to like when I snap their photos without warning. Ha!

So we went home, had our dinner that was waiting in the crockpot and the kids had treat night and a movie while I chatted with a friend and wrote this post.

Now I’m going to go out and do a bit more sewing before I head to bed for the night!