A Change of Pace

We've had a small garden on our little plot of land for the last 7 years or so.  It started with one raised bed and a bunch of tomato plants.  Over the years it has changed location, grown in size, and provided lots of enjoyment from working together with the kids and eating its tasty harvets.  Last spring we built an 11 foot long trellis that arches over one of the walkways.  We grew cucumbers and melons on it quite successfully and it was the most beautiful part of our garden.

This year we've planted scarlet runner beans and kentucky blue beans to grow over it.  The kids are so excited; they loved sitting under the arch last year enjoying the shade and seeking out the veggies.

The rest of the garden this year is going to be really low key.  The only other fruit bearing plant we've put in are three tomato plants.  We've got some basil and mint growing, too but that's the extent of it.  While our garden is a lovely set up we don't have an irrigation system.  Watering all our plants by hand in addition to weeding and tying up melon vines translated to around 2 hours in the garden every day.  While it was enjoyable work (well, minus the watering) it's a time commitment I can't give this year.  We're hoping to be able to sell our home next summer and that means we've got to spend more of our free time sorting, decluttering, painting, and clearing out all. our. stuff.

We scattered flower seed in the raised beds toward the end of March and have been enjoying some small, delicate blooms for the last few weeks.  Other, larger flowers will bloom as summer sets in.

Sensory What?

A few weeks ago Gabriel went in for an assessment at his pediatric therapy group. He goes in once a week for speech and language therapy but we knew he was still struggling with something else; something we couldn't put our finger on or give a name to.  We had been given a questionnaire to fill out and simply doing that was eye opening.  Behaviors were listed that we had assumed were simply a part of his personality, or quirks we noticed and thought odd, but didn't see them as a sign of something deeper.

We received a response in the mail about a week later with an explanation; Sensory Processing Disorder: Sensory Seeking.  There was a brief explanation included and the suggestion that we read a book, The Out-of-Sync Child, while we wait for our insurance to approve occupational therapy.

So here we are; waiting.  I've been reading the book, and it's companion, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun and have been able to understand a bit more about what this disorder is and how it affects Gabe.  There are still a lot of questions, naturally, and we still struggle to find activities and ways of responding that are practical and effective.  We have taken a deep breath since receiving the assessment though; simply having a name for his journey and finding these books has proven to be a relief.

It's Show Time

Gabe provides the in-fort entertainment; a puppet show rendition of Little Red Riding Hood, with special appearances by the three little pigs.

For Real

This really resonates with me right now.

Over, Under, Over, Under...

Ana, working on a weaving loom during some quiet time today.

She says the brown color looks like chocolate, that's why she likes it.  My daughter for sure.  

Thhbbppt

Mara's thoughts about my request for a picture.  

She's currently curled up on my arm watching a movie and enjoying being up way past her bedtime.  A virus started making it's way through our house last night.  She had a hard time sleeping and ended up passing out on the floor this afternoon.  Heaven only knows when she'll go down tonight but she'll likely end up back in our bed at some point regardless.  

Moving Forward

I have no idea if I'll be any better about updating this blog than the last.  I haven't posted there in almost two years; so long that it feels a bit foreign to me.  The lists of blogs and buttons no longer reflect how I spend my time online; it feels like visiting a memory.

In these last two years we've made many changes: some friendships were broken while new ones were built; our homeschooling journey has picked up speed (and another student); repairs have been happening to our home as we hopefully prepare for a move in the coming year; our restaurant business has been increasing while we consider the possibility of shifting in a new direction.

All in all, it's been a busy time and I want to get back to documenting it.  Hopefully, this is step one.