Heatwave, Hurricanes, Raining Cats and Dogs

I guess you can say we've been having some odd weather, especially for Maine. This past week has hit 100 degrees repeatedly. The days have been torture and the nights unbearable. We even had some of the local schools close early due to the heat! Snow, maybe. But closing because of extreme heat in Maine is a phenomenon.

We also have a hurricane on its way. It should hit in about 3 hours. I guess it's actually a tropical storm now. Tropical storm Earl. The wind has already picked up and the sun is thankfully finally covered with clouds. After keeping the windows closed for almost the entire week to keep the heat out, I've now opened every window in the house to

invite the breeze through.

We are expecting some strong winds and heavy rains with the

ensuing storm front. But it started early last night. Raining cats and dogs. Well, cats anyway. I stepped out on the porch to let the dog out when I heard a loud yowl. Dapper barked and skittered back into the house like the sissy dog he is. The yowling continued though from a different position in the night. It sounded like a kitten so I stepped out to see if I could locate it in the dark. Sure enough, a small, long haired, gray kitten huddled in the bushes. Meowing with every breath. I tried to coax her for a while but she was unsure and would run by me, coming close but not stopping. A bowl of milk wasn't tempting enough, but a can of tuna couldn't be resisted. By inching myself closer in the dark and letting her sample the tuna, I was able to grab her and bring her in.

I guess she's about 10 weeks old. She's a ball of gray fluff, though badly matted with burdocks now. She hissed and clawed and hid from us in the screen porch, so we left her there for the night with the rest of the tuna can, the milk, and some water. She cried most of the night. This morning I picked her up without much trouble. She liked the cuddling and soon relaxed and purred loudly in my lap. We introduced her to Dapper, who was very jealous and curious about this bundle of fur. The kitten rubbed on his face and he lapped her ear.

We are looking for her owner, but don't hold out much hope of finding someone to claim her. We will be placing her in someone else's home as soon as possible. Though the kids are enthralled with the kitten and have tentatively named her Misty, we just can't have cats in our home. So, she's up for adoption.

Progress Report 34

I'm starting out this week with a bang! I was up early this morning and cut out two jumper patterns and material. I hope to spend some time every morning sewing to finish these uniforms before the week's end. I also put together two stands for Eric's office and am trying to get the kids back on track for their school work.

Last week I was able to bring in the dresser for my bedroom, clean out the garage a bit, pick all the pears, and an appointment was set with the mechanic. I spent a lot of time last week at Katie's house canning pears and tomatoes. We also picked grapes which we hope to turn to jelly this week.

I bought my own canner last week and had Katie show me how to use it. I'm very excited to be able to do my own canning at home. Eric has already bought ingredients to can chili. Yum! I also made some sourdough starter so I can make my own bread again.

I've been in contact occasionally with Row too. Business seems to be going well and I'm proud of her pursuit of knowledge in Business Ownership 101. The recent additions to her website have been great and, I'm sure, will be an asset to her as well. I hope this week offers her opportunity to forge ahead in progress.

This week I will:

1. Work on SS room
2. Can chili
3. Make Lemonade (homemade... the best!)
4. Make bread
5. Make jelly
6. Catch up on laundry
7. Sign kids up for 4-H

Progress Report 33

Last week was difficult to say the least. With the illnesses of Strep Throat and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease to contend with, I had my hands full. Monday night, we had the kids to the doctor and got antibiotics for the Strep. However, there is no real treatment for HFMD. Which turns out that's what Ella had. The antibiotic kept her from getting the Strep but it didn't keep Geoffrey from getting HFMD. He came down with it on Wednesday on top of the Strep infection. Ella is nearly all better, with only a few blisters left, most of which were on her hands. Geoffrey has several painful blisters on his feet that are very uncomfortable when walking.

The most difficult part of HFMD is that beyond the initial fever and sore throat, the kids feel fine (except for uncomfortable blisters). They want to play and go to town and do the usual things that they normally do. However HFMD is highly contagious so they must be kept home to prevent infecting other children. We did make one exception and allowed them to go to Fort Knox with their grandparents on Saturday. At their own risk, of course.

Rowena and her family made a quick stop her Saturday to drop off the kid's swing set on their way to a family party. I'm always glad to see them. Even if it's for just a few minutes. The swing set is in need of some repair, so that will be a project for this week since it is disassembled at the moment. Thankfully, we found enough lumber in the burn pile behind the property to make the repairs.

Last Thursday was also my last day working for my employer in Carmel. My three years cleaning her home has been an invaluable experience. I've learned much about housekeeping and have many amusing stories to tell. With a shift in their home economy, I was no longer needed. Thankfully, Row has finished my business cards just in time for me to go find some new clients!

Getting done with my position at that residence didn't bother me much. We were smart enough to not have a budget that depended on that income. Many of the extras that we enjoyed will be cut back, but it won't hurt too badly. I'm actually excited about not having to go to work today, and taking some extra time to put into my own home. Fall is quickly approaching and there is still a lot of unpacking and offloading to be done. And I still have one regular client to keep some cash flowing.

This week I will:

1. Clean out garage
2. Pick pears
3. Prepare for yard sale
4. Fix swing set
5. Bring in dresser
6. Call mechanic

Progress Report 32

What a week! KPK is now over but it was so much fun! Unfortunately, several of the children fell ill at the end of the week. Geoffrey and Ella being two of the many. It appears Strep Throat and Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease are going around. Geoffrey tested positive for Strep but the doctor suggested we treat them both since Ella had some symptoms, including a fever of over 103 degrees and sore throat. Both of those symptoms are also symptoms of Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease and the mysterious blister on her hand two days ago makes me wonder. In any case, treatment is under way.

This week will be mostly recovery... from illness and camp. I'm in the process of getting the laundry caught up, and the house picked up. We went to the library yesterday as well as helped pack up camp items at the church. Hopefully we will get an appointment with the mechanic to get Eric's car looked at, and then mine. I'm also working on getting a yard sale ready. I'm supposed to do it this weekend, but we'll see as the week progresses. I have to work Wednesday and Thursday. I need to start sewing some school uniforms and there are a few other things around the house that I'd like to get started on. I'm not pushing it though.

This week I will:

1. Call mechanic
2. Prepare for yard sale
3. Work
4. Start school uniforms
5. Paint fence
6. Hang clothesline

Progress Report 32

I worked really hard this week. I stayed focused and really moved through a lot of projects and deadlines. I'm actually very proud of my accomplishments this past week. From the client meeting on Wednesday, I've secured another job. I have gotten final approval on two others, so now they are in the printing phase, which includes Mandy's cards. I also completed an Etsy web banner and have been asked about a branding project. I did some last minute race car decals for a friend of J's and got another small decal job for a radio car going to England for an international contest. That's right. DbR is going international! haha

This coming week is going to be very busy too. I have two meetings Monday afternoon, which will determine whether I begin printing invitations this week. I need to complete the flyer printing and start cutting decals for the Houlton Humane Society. I also need to get started on the proofs for the new invitation job I have.

1. Keep plugging away at the client jobs.
2. Finish Arianna's school shopping. (She begins on Wednesday)
3. Two client meetings on Monday, Maine Ctr for Women Work & Community meeting on Thursday.
4. Headed to Bangor on Saturday. Sorry, Mandy, only a quick trip this time, but will be dropping off the kids swing set.
   

Progress Report 31

Last week went well. It was very busy, but knowing that and not expecting too much from myself, I accomplished everything on my list.

Today is Monday and our KPK activities were supposed to kick off early this morning. However, we were headed to the coast and it is raining and expected to rain with thundershowers all day. I thought about going to work since I'm available. But instead I'll clean my own house. This weekend was a whirlwind with the family reunion in Dexter on Saturday, Sunday school, and KPK prep on Sunday as well as the making and selling of over 10 dozen cookies. (The cookie sale went very well. The kid's made over $30 in a night.) So my house looks like a whirlwind also. Eric's mother and her German exchange student are coming to visit today. So I guess I'll stay home and clean up a bit.

Last week, Row finalized my business card for the Occasional Housewife. I can't wait to get them in my hand! They look fantastic, and I love that they are custom and no one else out there has my same business card design. Eric has been working on getting my website ready, so that customers can find me on the web.

This week I will:

1. Attend all KPK activities and services
2. Plant perennials
3. Empty hanging baskets
4. Organize desk
5. Create new goal charts for kids
6. Laundry
7. Dishes

Progress Report 31

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. And of course very little has gone how I had planned it, some good and some not so good. I was inundated with new jobs this week, which is fantastic! However, it is a case of "be careful what you wish for." I had to spend a few hours each evening at the studio working, which left other things at home neglected. I impressed myself on how productive I was during that time working for DbR. It was as it should be, plugging away, checking things off. It felt great!

We had a terrible rain storm this past week and found that the roof in my studio leaks like a sieve. Luckily the water came in and pooled on and around my work bench and not my equipment or computer. But, this means that the plan to go to my family reunion in Dexter has been preempted by putting a new roof on the studio. The worst part about missing the reunion, is missing Mandy and not getting to meet our new niece. The rest, I think, I can manage without. I will be seeing Mandy in a couple of weeks when we go to Bangor for a weekend. It's just a matter of waiting.

1. Keep checking client projects off the list. Lots of printing to be done this week.
2. Client meeting on Wednesday. Still got lots of prep work to do.
3. Catch up on laundry.
4. Bake two apple pies and a raspberry pie.
5. Next Saturday is J's family reunion.

It's going to be a busy week.