What A Week, So Far

• The weather: Connecticut can't decide--is it summer or fall, rainy or dry, cold or warm? We had downpours last night and wind warnings today, but beautiful weather yesterday after a 44F morning.
• Health: Sis had her follow-up after being sick and on antibiotics--she's fine. And we got some advice for heading into all of the swine flu in Texas--vitamin C and osccillconium, just to support immune systems. Fine. Can't hurt. Though, I was a bit disturbed to read that the latter comes from a muscovy duck (which we saw at the farm yesterday, more on that soon)--a single duck for millions of doses, meaning there isn't any duck in my pill just some sugar, as is the way with homeopathic remedies. Still, I'm a bit down about the duck. Otherwise, I've had a stomach bug which has kept me close at home the last few days as I begin to feel better.
• Pumpkin Farm: We went on a pumpkin farm field trip yesterday, seeing ducks and a calf, taking a hayride, and best of all for the kids jumping around a huge hay maze. And Mama came with us. Bud also liked the scarecrow that they each got in their goodie bags. And, of course, the pumpkins.
• Church Festival: On Sunday, we spent half the day at the church festival, which for the first time in a few years enjoyed good weather. We mostly perused the book sale, picking up a few kids' books and cookbooks, and played the children's games. Sis chose brownies from the bake sale that ended up being burnt on the bottom; I had promised her we'd make an apple pie at home to avoid having to pay for our own pie, which they'd priced at $8. I hope they got it. Not sure if any of our breads or pies sold. I did find a doll at the tag sale table, a rag doll based on Joan Walsh Anglund characters, like one I've had for years, which I picked up for $3. I used to have a light-blue lined sleeping bag with all the little girls having tea and such on it--the big eyed, otherwise featureless, vaguely historically girls in dresses that I really liked. The look has been, since then, corrupted by Precious Moments, which I find too precious and not at all endearing as Anglund's drawings. Anyway, I was giddy about finding the doll.
• Weaving: After several classes, my loom is dressed and I can start weaving, first my sample, and then later the scarf for Mama. It took awhile to thread all those heddles, especially because the castle on my loom is so big--Albus would sit on top and watch me thread!--but luckily sleying the reed was fast and then it was just tying it on and getting started. No problems yet, after all the problems--broken threads on the warp board, skipped heddles, miscounted inches, and broken warp threads on the loom--that I had last time. I should have the scarf done by Christmas and I'm definitely looking forward to the process.
• Trip Preparation: As I've mentioned, we're going to Texas for more than a week and excitement is definitely building over here at the Hungry household. The kids can barely tell time and so keep wondering when we're going. And then, oddly, they forget and think Gommie is coming here. Sis keeps talking about "Gommie's candy" (hint, hint: have some with you at the airport!) and she woke up this morning talking about all the toys Gommie said she got. Bud, on the other hand, wants to go fishing, saying that we always fish with Pop. That wasn't on our list . . . but everything else is: Texas Renaissance Festival, Chinese warrior exhibition, International Quilt Festival, trip to Rockport to see my aunt and uncle, trip to Pop's cabin to have a campout, and I realized this morning we could perhaps catch a football game with my high school team and that we really should go to the half priced bookstore! Plus, of course, seeing Gommie, Pop, Aunt Banana, Uncle Soccer, Granny Q, and others . . . . And I don't have a thing to wear. My summer wardrobe is worn out but there aren't any summer clothes really available up here now--and it is going to be 90F in Houston today. Oh, well, it's more about the kids anyway. Mama and I are, as usual, highstrung about traveling with the kids, worrying about logistics and such--not just how well they'll sleep and what we need to pack but also swine flu and plane crashes (yes, we are worriers). I know we'll have fun and that Gommie and Pop have gone out of their way to get ready for us (the unparalleled excitement on both sides of the country making me feel extremely guilty that we don't get down there more). It'll just take a bit for Mama and I to settle in and relax (well, for me; I don't know if she will).
• Etc. But before all that, the kids have school; I have a dental appt to check my nightguard which is actually coming off at night which is a choking hazard; we have playdates; and errands to run, from getting our farm box to dropping off the cats at "kitty camp." And so I haven't blogged much and probably won't until either we get there or get back.