Saturday, June 12, 2010

We are safe

Apparently, there were severe storms south of us and people are missing.  We got rain yesterday.  Some of it was heavy, but otherwise, we we were fine.  We took the opportunity yesterday to get water and while we were getting water, we found out that the spring is actually privately owned.  I met the owner.  She was getting mail and heard me yell at the children about something.  We talked for a bit and she is a homebirth mom and is tandem nursing a three week old and an almost three year old.  She said she has no problem with us continuing to use the spring.  I felt bad.  I thought it was county/state owned. 

It was rather amusing meeting her in this way because here I have Charlie who had just finished ripping a hole in his shirt across the chest.  Hannah had taken her dress off because she had spilled stuff all over it so she is running around in just tights.  Bethany is being, well, Bethany. 

When I went back with a breastfeeding information packet that I put together with my contact information later that day (I had given her my number earlier) I met her husband.  I apologized again to him and we talked to him for a few minutes and he is not only ok with us taking water from the spring, but also we can help ourselves to the watercress.  He had said that his wife mentioned meeting us and was excited about meeting me and was wanting to call me.  Apparently, bad impressions can also be good impressions.

We also took the opportunity yesterday to introduce ourselves to the homeschool family here.  They are the next "driveway" up.  (They are about two 40 tracts from us.)  They actually have three children.  Two boys and a 14 month old girl.  They live much the way we do.  They have a composting toilet and advised us to "not bother."  That it is not worth the money.  We would be better off continuing with an outhouse or do what I had described in the past.  They asked what we do for electricity and we told them about the solar panels and the generator.  "If I want to do laundry, I have to run the generator."  They are in the same boat.  Only they don't have a washing machine.  They have to go to the laundry mat which is a few towns over.  We shared different ideas of what we are planning for alternative power.  They have a big, beautiful garden and shared some of their swiss chard with us. 

We asked them about who to contact with homeschooling and they didn't know either.  Their children are still young.  Their oldest is maybe a year older than Bethany.  So, I am thinking Missouri since if they went to school, they would be going to a Missouri school even though we are Arkansas residents.

I spoke with M last night on the phone.  She is a homeschool mom who has been homeschooling for 10 years in the state of Missouri.  She can help guide me through Missouri required documentation and all that fun stuff.

Anyway, back to work.  We've gotten quite a bit done today, but we still have a lot more to go.  Break time is over.

4 comments:

Lisa A. Goff, writer, stained glass, homeschooler said...

Glad to hear that you are all safe. I could see on the map that the flooded area was quite a distance south of you. What a terrible mess they have . . . tragic.

Are you getting big muscles, too? Ha, ha. Charlie and Bethany must be little Popeye's by now I'm guessing from reading their blogs.

Wyatt Earp said...

I was just checking in to see if you guys are okay. Good to hear you're not washed out.

Monique said...

I thought of you and your family when I saw that on the news. I was not exactly sure were you located. I am happy to hear it was not you.

Anonymous said...

I am very glad to hear you and yours are all safe!!!

Okay, so here's my two cents: what in the holy h3ll do you do with swiss chard???? I received some in my CSA box last week and it's still languishing in my fridge!

-KES