My Tooth!

UGH! My teeth are horrible. I had perfect teeth with no cavities until I was in my early - mid twenties. After several years of battling with severe acid reflex, it took a huge toll on my teeth. All of a sudden my teeth literally started to crumble with no indication there was a problem. I have lost so many teeth because I couldn't afford root canals & crowns. One of my front teeth has been in bad shape for a while and had chipped. Last night a huge chunk came out of my tooth. It looks so bad! I guess I will be calling a dentist on Monday morning in hopes of being able to save it. I just really dread forking out the money to do it. I really just want to get them all pulled and get some falsies.

The Witch Family

Big Witch, Little Witch, and "The Witch Doctor"...

Tuttle's Farm

Tuttle’s Farm
2701 N.C. 135
Stoneville

We had a blast on the hayride, find our way through the corn maze, and Cerdwin loved riding the Cow Train.

Meat Hands

Oh these are gruesome looking, but I like it. Fun Halloween recipe for sure!
http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/10/27/meat-hand/

Newsletter time

I finally finished up the newsletter at about 12:30am! I have literally worked on that freaking thing for about 12 hours today. I stopped long enough for some lunch, do a load of dishes, and to fix dinner (aka - toss a pizza in the oven & throw some salad on a plate). It still isn't what I wanted, but I suppose it will do this time. I have learned a great deal of HTML today by trial and error. I still need to figure out a lot of other stuff. Anyway...I hope you like the look of the newsletter. Next month may not be as fancy schmancy.

To view www.DanRiverMommies.com November 2009 Newsletter...click here:
www.DanRiverMommies.com November 2009 Newsletter

I want Wednesday

Can you believe there are only 3 days left until it is November? Did you know that November is National Novel Writing Month? NaNoWriMo is a creative writing project held annually in November in which participants attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. That sounds like something fun to try. However, I don't think I could come up with a creative idea and write enough about to get 50K words. Hmmm....makes me think though. I certainly don't need to take on another project. I can't even keep up with my blog. I think I will try simpler things for November

I want to be able to maintain some focus and get my house cleaned during the month of November so I can decorate for Christmas. I want to be able to pull out all the decor and do it up right since I haven't been able to do that since 2005.

Short term, this week I want to finish cleaning my bedroom and have a fun Moms Night Out this coming Sunday.

What do you want to accomplish in November?

What do you want this week?

Lessons in laundry detergent

I recently had one of those "light bulb" moments. It just hit me that the bottle of laundry detergent was nearly empty and I had just bought it. I looked at the bottle and it reads 32 loads. No way had we done nearly that many loads of laundry. Given there are 3 adults and 1 child in our house hold, we do 12-15 loads each week. I looked at the back of the bottle and the directions explain how much of the liquid to use. It is approximately 1/2 of the cap full for normal loads and about 3/4(1.9oz) of the cap for large loads. Makes sense now! All 3 of us had been filling the cap to the brim. We had used Charlie's Soap liquid for a while before switching to the powder. Since I had to stop using Charlie's Soap, I have been using All Free Clear. Charlie's Soap liquid directions call for 2 ounces...so why wouldn't other brands call for the same amount? Well, apparently they do. We have just been pouring money down the drain, literally. Why did it take me so finally realize this?
I guess it is kind of like other things...we just don't read the instructions that come with so many items.

Manic Monday

What word describes you best? Stubborn

What drives you every day? My desire to make a difference in the world.

Where do you want to retire? Somewhere on the southeastern coastline.

Give Me Five

Give Me Five random things you've never done before.

I have never been west of the Mississippi.

I have never been sky diving.

I have never been to the zoo.

I have never learned to use a sewing machine.

I have never ridden in a taxi.

Once upon a time there were four little rabbits

and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontai, and Peter.


Peter Rabbit Organics has sent DanRiverMommies at large supply of their Organic Fruit Snacks. If you would like to get some samples for your kids, come by the Trunk or Treat at Moratock Park this Saturday, October 24th, 2pm-4pm. We will have all 3 varieties:

Peter Rabbit Organic Fruit Snacks can be purchased locally at:
Whole Foods
41 Miller Street
Winston- Salem,NC, 27104
or online at Amazon.com

Friday Five

1. What’s so ugly it’s kind of cute?


2. What’s the ugliest article of clothing in your wardrobe? I have this black and white crinkly material shirt. So ugly but I love it.

3. What’s the ugliest car on the streets today? IMHO the Honda Element

4. Under what circumstances are you most likely to whip out your ugliest behavior? When someone attacks, berates, or just messes with my child or any close family member for that matter.

5. Which of the United States of America has the ugliest shape? Alaska

Three Things Thursday

What are your 3 favorite foods/dishes/restaurants?

Foods: Pizza, Filet Mignon, and green beans.

Dishes: Broccoli Casserole, Pea Salad, and Squash Casserole

Restaurants: Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery, Margaritaville, and McDonald's

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we are having this week and being able to spend some time with two good friends.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

I want Wednesday

We will be driving to High Point today. I do not like that town! I get lost every time I go. Considering I have only been there about 6 times in my entire life and I have a really good sense of direction, I hope this trip is less stressful. I just want to have fun!

Heads or Tails

The theme/prompt for THIS week, October 20th, is:

HEADS - GO
OR
TAILS - STOP

Make any kind of post using any form of either word.
Some ideas might include photos, poetry, jokes, videos, recollections, lists.

Tomorrow morning, we have plans to GO visit Cheri & Gabe in High Point. We will GO out to eat lunch at Ham's Restaurant and then GO to High Point City Lake Park for the kids to play. Unfortunately, I think they have shut down the merry-go-round and train for the season.
I am looking forward to seeing Cheri & Gabe. Cerdwin & I have both been missing them since they moved that horrible place.

Give Me Five

What are five goals that you intend to meet this week?

1. Not loose my sanity.
2. Visit my friend in High Point.
3. Shave my legs.
4. Get the trunk or treat bags ready.
5. Get the living room and entry area cleaned & uncluttered.

Manic Monday

What is the longest time you've gone with your Internet not working in your home? Probably 3 days. I nearly needed a straight jacket.

How many email addresses do you regularly use? 3

Are you able to access the Internet on your phone? If so, how frequently do you use it? Yep...too frequently.

Pumpkin Carving

I know this thing is going to rot before Halloween, but Cerdwin drove me nuts until we carved it.

......

Enthusiasm is contagious; start an epidemic.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that I was able to sleep get more than 4 hours sleep and no bad dreams last night.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Pumpkin Bread/Muffins

Cerdwin wanted to make banana bread yesterday but we had no bananas. She suggested apple bread, but the internet was down at the time so I couldn't search for a recipe. Yes...I am that bad. I probably have 30+ cook books, but was too lazy to dig through them.

It dawned on me that I had some canned pumpkin and an easily accessible cookbook with a recipe. I was scraping the bottom of the flour bin just to get enough. Note to self: Buy flour on the next grocery shopping trip. She helped measure and mix and had to taste test each and every ingredient. Other shopping list items would be fresh spices. I only have one loaf pan so we made a dozen muffins too. It is so wild that the loaf of bread and the muffins have a really different taste. The muffins are much better. Of course, none of it is going to waste that's for sure!

Since my camera is on the fritz and the closest one handy was Cerdwin's Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera, the picture is kind of fuzzy.

Pre-K/Head Start Decisions

It has been a strange weather week around here. Rainy, cold Monday, blue skies and nearly hot Tuesday, frigid, rainy Wednesday. Today I am terming it Gloomy Thursday.

Between my nerves and Cerdwin's interest we have decided we are going to try a public Pre-K(Head Start)program if an opening comes up. All the schools remotely close to us do not have any openings right now. I had an appointment on Tuesday to fill out the application to get her on a waiting list. When we arrived on time for the appointment the person we were to meet with had left for the day. I was not a happy camper. I was able to get the paperwork that took me nearly an hour to fill out.

I just really don't see that some of those questions asked are necessary. I understand the initial applicants with what is perceived as the highest need are the first get accepted into the program. We are not a family struggling from week to week to put food on the table, facing eviction from our home, or without medical insurance and care. I know we have a number of families in our community in those situations. I wouldn't want those children to miss out on an opportunity to get the benefits from Head Start just because my nerves are on edge and I need a break. I feel like some of the questions are prying into our personal lives more than I want.

The papers are filled out and all the necessary documents are gathered to complete the application. I just haven't made up my mind if I really want to go through with it. I am so torn over this decision. While I am at my wits end with our day in and day out struggles, I love having her at home with me too. I think she would probably like going to school because she is a very sociable child. Her sleep schedule is going to take a major hit though. She is not an early morning person at all. Having to be at school by 8:30am is going to be tough. Even if I go ahead and turn in the application there are no guarantees that she will get in. She will be on a wait list until there is an opening. I could still choose not to send her at that point. What a difficult decision!!!!

Dinner with Family

Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful day. Cerdwin and I went to the inlaws for the afternoon. She was able to spend some time playing with her 12 year old cousin when he got there after school. My mother-in-law was able to get a break from staying with her mother. Cerdwin and I went to dinner with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Erinn, and Cousin Cameron. Unfortunately, Jason was not able to join us. He turns into a pumpkin if he isn't in bed by 9pm during the week.

Since my sister-in-law lives in Clemmons. She had suggested that we go to the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Buffet at The Brick Oven in Clemmons. Whoohoo! I am all in for pizza. The place was packed. Every time a new pizza came out, one of us would make a mad dash for it. If somebody didn't, it would all be gone before you could blink an eye. We ended up riding over to SIL's house and hanging out for a little while. I have not been to her house in 7 years. I just realized that!

Some years ago, after work we all would go to the inlaws for Wednesday night Spaghetti dinner. It was always a great time. I want us to get together as a family more often, Jason included.

Heads or Tails Tuesday

Heads or Tails

The theme/prompt for THIS week, October 6, is:

HEADS - "Build"

Make any kind of post using any form of the word "Build."


I would love to build a place that would be just for moms & kids to come hang out and fun. It would have safe and age appropriate play areas for kids with indoor & outdoor play equipment. WiFi, great ambiance, comfortable seating, delicious beverages, and snacks would be a must.

Give Me 5 Monday

Give Me Five things you would do, if money were no object.

1) Make sure that all of my family & friends were debt free.
2) Take long vacations around the world.
3) Move to a tropical place.
4) Make donations to a variety of NPOs, charitable organizations,and research groups including The March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Mommies Network .
5) da Vinci Veneers

Manic Monday

Manic Monday

Do you read an actual print newspaper? If so, how often? Only on occasion. Maybe once or twice a month.

What is your main source of news? As sad as it may be The Today Show & WXII News 12.

Do you believe that it's possible for the media to be unbiased? No.

Week 6

We are into Week 6 of Homeschooling. It has been a rough road so far. We took two weeks off because we went to the beach for a week and the following week was just down time and trying to get back on track.
This weeks lessons include:
Math - Ordinal Numbers
Language Arts - The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Social Studies - The Pledge of Allegiance
Science - Observation

We are starting to mix in a few Halloween Themed manipulatives to aid our studies. One of my favorites so far is Ordinal Numbers Pumpkin Folder Game from KidSoup. We are going to make a Potato Creature, but I think it could loads of fun to use a small pumpkin if I can find one before we get around to the Top & Bottom portion of the lesson.

The leaves are really starting to change colors so that is going to be great for Science Observations this week.

Dixie Classic Fair 2009

We went to the Dixie Classic Fair with friends this year. It was so much fun. My friend Yvonne's husband got some great photos of our girls having a blast on the rides and eating some yummy food. One of my favorite treats this year had to be the deep fried Snickers bar. OMG! That is just heavenly.