spoken for

I know, it’s totally eerily quiet around here these days. I guess there’s just not enough hours in the day.

So, things in my life lately?

– We’re healthy and plan to remain as such. I dare say that this is the healthiest I have been in a long time, or, at least, the longest I’ve gone without being sick or suffering a sinus infection. Vitamin D rocks. So does garlic and Xyzal.

– Speaking of garlic, having recently learned a bit about its natural healing properties, I decided to plant some of my own. I did it as I was instructed but… eh, apparently it’s not cold enough here yet and it’s already growing!

– Which is quite the opposite for our dear globe willow tree that we all love so much… she is dead. D.E.A.D. I’m so sad. Apparently she got a disease that is common to the trees but by the time she was showing signs, it was too late. I’m not sure what we’re going to do about her, exactly, but she’s going to have to come down.

– School is going well. In fact, Elijah finished a math book today. Flew right through it, so already I have to get him a new one.

– I’ve gotten to do some portraits for a few people here recently. Besides the ones I’ve already posted, I got to shoot this family not long ago:

And this sweet little girl the other day:

Not to mention various things with my own kids! I need to get started on our Christmas cards, though, likely, I’m going to send most electronically this year. (And I really mean it, this time!) But wait until you see them, the photo I have is so very cute! :-)

– Been busy with a lot of website stuff lately, too. Doing some Flash sites for some people, working on a big Joomla site (which is a major pain in the butt because none of my stuff works with the newest version), and finally got to do a Chyrp site which should help further ease the loads on my server as that site was once WordPress and one of the “trouble” sites.

– Trying to get caught up in video work, too. Finally starting to get somewhere and get into a sort of schedule. I just need to remember to make a DVD each week instead of just putting it up on the internet and forgetting about it!

– Also still crocheting. Can you believe that I’ve stuck with it this long? Who knew? Have finished 3 Christmas gifts so far and am halfway through another one. This one is taking me a long time though, or at least it feels longer. But the end results will be worth it! I have plans for at least two more bigger gifts, too, then some smaller ones.

– One thing I wish I was active in lately is my digital scrapbooking. However, I just don’t have enough time in the day! I figure after all the daily activities I must do and sleeping and eating, I have about 4 hours, if that, and that is often spent working or on crochet!

– I’ve also been a candle-making fool lately. Or at least it seems that way. I’m not really making a lot in quantity but have been at it near constantly the last two weeks because of orders and what not. I can’t really make large batches because of Kayleigh, for the most part. Even just a few candles, as they are hardening, release a lot of scent into the air, and the last thing I want to do is irritate her little lungs. I’ve been covering the ones I do with a little towel and I have the ceiling fans going when I can, and the air cleaner going all the time. Having the bathroom window open when I can really seems to help, too. Orders are good, though, I needs ta pay mah bills :)

– And finally, on the work front, Steve has to have a forced week off this week. All the guys in the company, over the last 8 weeks of the year, are required to take off 3 of them. There just isn’t enough work going around these days – and it’s always slower in the winter months, anyway. So we filed for his week of unemployment, which will help some. I’ve been trying to cut corners where we can. So we shall see what we shall see. But, really, I’d rather him work 5 weeks out of 8 than none, so hopefully he will get to do that and on those 3 weeks he takes off, someone else gets to work in his place and get some income of their own. I know we’ll be cared for, though, whatever happens.