Sunrises and Sunsets

 Good Sunday afternoon! I thought I would take a few minutes to share what I’ve been up to here at home. For 20 years, everything I did was at home and that will always be where I feel the most comfortable, productive and capable. I just get the occasional weekend now to tackle the bigger projects and I try to make the most of that time. My Bible study group is reading through Proverbs together and last week we discussed Proverbs 6:8-11 which discusses working hard when able and preparing for the unknown future. I hate the unknown future so I really like to prepare. Yesterday I canned beans. Today I made bread dough and a pumpkin pie. I thought I took pictures of the beans but it appears I didn’t. So use your imagination and I’ll try to do better next time. I canned 8 pints of plain black beans. We like these for tacos and they make a nice bean salad. I also made 7 pints of “red beans and rice beans”. Just red beans canned with Cajun seasoning and Polish sausage. I’m still working ...

 I'm currently listening to a book titled Isola , written by Allegra Goodman. I found it on a list of "best books" somewhere and requested it through the library's Libby app. When it came to be my turn, I almost didn't accept it.  I am rarely in the same mood to read as I am when I order books. Sometimes a book will look interesting and then sit on my shelf for years. Years. It's not my fault that the Carie that orders books is not the same Carie when it comes time to read the books. I digress. Anyway, I decided to give it a chance. The last 2 books I've started I've discarded before the first hour (audio) or few chapters (physical) were finished. I have 3 unfinished books just sitting on my kindle because I don't love them. It's a very first world problem. So is my rambling. I started the book. By 30 minutes in, I was entranced. The narrator speaks in an accent, I'm guessing French because the book begins in 1500's France. I'm not ...

 I am a teacher.  I suppose I always have been.  Teaching is not the same profession as it has been historically. I've only been a professional teacher for three years and so many things have changed even in that short period of time.  I should be accustomed to change, as there have been so many in the last five years.....A change in my mindset.....a change in my wishes for my children and my future. My circumstances changed as did my name, address, phone number and vocation.   Once upon a time I had created a fictional story. One that I felt was palatable to the world and that portrayed me in the way I wished to be portrayed. I was a stay-at-home mom. I was actively raising my children, homeschooling, homesteading. Things are not always as they seem. When the underneath parts were no longer sustainable, I was forced to change. I'm still a mom, but now I am a single working mom. I "homestead" as much as I am able and I am always learning new things but the ...