Then the really big news came.  I went to my PCP for a referral (yeah, I go out of network sometimes).  And he checked my blood pressure.  That blood pressure has been elevated since my pregnancy in 2005 but was now 84/134.  My blood pressure has consistently been high since last April when I spiked out in the operating room.  My doctor told me to keep an eye on it and that I would need to go on medication.  He said that no diet or exercise could combat it.  He said it was hereditary.

Is it proof that the green smoothies work?  Was it just a coincidence?  I don’t care.  I will say that I feel better when I add the greens to my daily diet, I have almost zero cravings for “junk” food, and am noticing my clothes fit better.

Now that you have the ingredients in the squirt bottles put them in those squirt bottles in the shower.  Get everything else ready for your shower and jump in.

Now fill the bottles up to the one cup line that you marked with a sharpie. Normally, you will do this in the shower but for demo I am filling this bottle at the sink.  Now, shake it up.

Squirt this onto your scalp and massage as if it is lathering.  It takes a couple of minutes to squeeze the whole cup into your scalp.  Enjoy yourself.  Think about those times you went to a salon and the stylist rubbed your head at the shampoo station.  Massage that cup of goodness into your scalp.  When you are ready rinse.  Doesn’t it feel squeaky clean!

Now fill the apple cider vinegar squirt bottle to the line with water, shake and squirt.  The ACV is a rinse.  Squirt it on and then rinse as if your were using a conditioner.  Doesn’t that mane feel soft!

Now, I know that this method works.  It’s simple no frills and my hair is clean and soft.  I will start to experiment and add ingredients for smell and for individual hair needs.  My hair is straight and fine so I don’t need a conditioner daily.  I am interested in any ideas for new concoctions.  I hope to have some additional recipes by summer!!!

I haven’t been knitting at all. Embarrassing! But I haven’t had the time. I know, I know. I guess the real reason is I have been in a knitting funk. I have a tiny lace weight yarn that I just knew would make a lightweight TN scarf, but the truth is, I do not like knitting with lace yarn. I have tried it before and I don’t love it. I need to stick with wools and worsted. Those and sock yarn are my favs.  It’s cute but I must stop with the lace.  It’s not my thing.  I thought this would be so beautiful in the pattern for Bad Oyster.  I meant it to be a scarf for a friend.  Maybe, if I can get over my lace hate, I can finish by Easter.

Anyone have ideas on dominating lace?

Have a great year!

I am still very behind on my holiday preparations.  It’s a bit late to worry about it.  We are traveling this year so I am using all my worrying credits on the weather and the long drive. lol

I did finish a gorgeous scarf for my mother, bought pajamas for all the relatives and hope to finish up with some gift card shopping tomorrow.  Procrastinators unite! Tomorrow….

As for home education during the busiest holiday month of the year I am totally cheating!  I decided to order http://www.shirleysprepackagedcrafts.com/ for the month of December.  This way I can kick back and leave the planning to someone else.  Hahah.  I will let you know how that turns out.  We are still plugging away at our basic phonics and math.  I added a spelling program and Loo seems to LOVE it.  She asks to do it!  She is more aware of words and there function.  I hear her sounding out words in the car.  She ask me what EVERYTHING says.  My plan is to ease back on the core knowledge subjects a bit for the month of December. I want to focus on doing more crafts and art projects.  Of course, continue with reading and math but bulk up on some art things I have been lazy about, the really messy ones, complete with glitter, paint and strings.   Maybe those glittering messy crafts will be just the homemade gift that will be the most cherished the year.

We decided to grow a butterfly garden this year.  We saw one at a state park last summer.  We thought the garden was nifty but we didn’t do a lot of research we just got some of the plants we remembered and planted the seeds.

Well, only the zinnias sprouted.  The other seeds were not watered properly as we planted them and then about 4 days later we left for another state and stayed a week.  Not the way to nurture seeds! Luckily, the zinnias are amazing.  Beautiful, hearty and  apparently attractive to swallowtails.

We have done our research for next spring. It’s important that we have plants for caterpillars to eat too. Duh!

I felt like we were in a rut this morning when I started off our lessons.  The captain was able to join in a game of math match memory.  So after 10 minutes and a ton of giggles I felt better.  When I got sighs out of phonics I figured the day was going to be a bust.  So I put things away and we set out to the library.  We picked up a few books and browsed the puppets.  Yes, the library has puppets available to be checked out just like books!!!  She snatched up a Siamese cat and a peacock.

We listened to Mozart on the way home some love songs from his various operas.  Then we swung by Target and got a couple of cheap curtain rods.  I had a yard of fabric she thought would be perfect for the curtain.  Then I cut up an old duvet covet for the puppeteer cloak.  Only $6 and such an unexpected learning tool.  Those adorable puppets can narrate with accuracy and without a hint of intimidation!

I decided to do homeschooling with her because it’s summer and I didn’t want her watching tv all summer.  She loves math and I want to encourage that love.  Finally, I wanted to test myself and see if home educating is something that I could do if we choose or need to go down that road.

I added a page to this blog listing the subjects and materials we are using.  Here is what we managed to do last week:

We made this little book to document the book we read via Five in a Row.  I drew the cover, of course, and the island of Japan but she did the rest.

I love this one because we discussed facial expression.  I didn’t photo our math lessons.  But you get the idea. We are using Rightstart with tons of games and manipulatives.

Here are some examples of her cutting.                                           

We do a lot of painting and there are simply too many examples done a day to share here.  She likes to make cards for people.  She will ask me to spell a word for her and she like to write it herself in the cards.