a few things...

Illustration by Harry Rountree

First, I want to say that part of the reason why I never blog anymore is that my blogging app is no longer supported & the only option I've found as a replacement is absolutely miserable. Secondly, my life is so busy right now, it's crazy stupid. I'd love to share my day, even though it's rather boring to hear over the interwebs, because, one day I'll want to remember all the details of this busy life. I could tell you everything from my first sip of halfcaf coffee to eating cold mashed potatoes & zucchini out of a large measuring cup for dinner, but that sounds like a tedious, maniacal prospect. Instead, I'll share with you the items in my day that actually matter to me. Daniel is now driving. He's eighteen, has published two articles for a magazine in England, and has collaborated with some of the big names in his industry on games, music videos, & VR experiences. He has an amazing resume & online portfolio, and has set aside enough money (on his own) to pay for an associates degree, but until recently he just has had no desire to get his license- which is totally fine with me. It's one of the things I love about homeschooling; your kids can be themselves without all the pressure to do things just because that's what everyone else is doing. Anyway, he's a great driver & I don't feel totally panicked when I'm riding with him. So, we visited the college today. We've been there a lot lately: first to check out the fitness center, then to meet with an advisor, & then to talk with someone about scholarships [sometime over the next few days, I have to materialize a highschool transcript-one of the things I don't love about homeschooling.] We had a few other errands to run after that & then we headed home to unload groceries & eat lunch. In the morning, before we left, I posted for our business Instagram over breakfast & now over lunch, I updated the business Pinterest account. After that, I helped Hannah get her setup ready for art fair. Her 100% wool felt, hand-sewn creations are beautiful and amazing! She has the usual lineup of monkey, lion, elephant, aardvark, & blue-billed platypus, but also has some unique characters she invented, one with a mushroom hat, one with wings, & a bunny-looking creature with a star on its head. They're roughly 4-5 inches tall and $20-$30. [We still have to make a sign for pricing, print an artist statement, & pick up tissue paper & bags.] Emmeli also needs help with her art fair setup which we'll work on today, right after I package some herbs, strain some herbal infusions, take care of an important insurance matter, & go back to the college so Daniel can meet his instructor. Her little cards, notebooks, & tags are also beautiful. She uses black ink on kraft paper & does such designs as a foxglove, a clock, some gears, & a quail egg, just whatever is on her mind. Lately, she's also done a little character she created in all sorts of different complicated poses, like eating a cookie while lifting off the ground, holding on to a balloon. I'll try to post some pictures on my Instgram if you want to see. So next in my day, I headed out with Ben to put in some new herb rows. We borrowed a tractor & put in 11 new rows approximately 10 ft. X 50 ft. Despite the fact that there was no breeze & it was horribly hot & muggy, it was a beautiful evening, & I was extremely thankful that we even have the opportunity to do such things. I managed to snap a few pictures for Instagram & there was even a rainbow, because, you know, God is just awesome like that. So you know the rest of the story... in at 10pm to cold left-over supper & every bowl/plate we own in the dishwasher. Then, a quick shower, & into bed to start typing this blog. Life is so well documented these days. It may seem like it's just one more thing, but really, I think we need to drag this anchor to slow us down a bit. I didn't mention Snow, but she was there...kissing my cheek on the way out the door, lending her advice on art fair pricing & setups, picking up sticks to clear the way for new herbs, & even helping me edit this blog, but mostly typing away in her room & that's okay too. Writers are naturally reclusive like that & that's what makes them awesome; they have time to think.