Oh my. I have been such an unreliable, absentee blogger. I know the three of you who read every day have been hanging by a very fragile thread. I do apologize. Really. I can’t begin to explain what has happened to me. I think Father Time put the clocks in my house on high speed. Or maybe I have too much going on? I’m not sure who’s at fault, but it’s either me or Father Time.
Between planning for school, working, crafting, and tons and tons of paperwork lately, it seems I barely have time to sleep. And housework. Don’t get me started. Let me just talk for a minute. I do not have toddlers anymore. So why is my house such a mess? For some reason, teenagers, and even 20-something-year-olds, like to stay up late and eat. At the same time. And for some odd reason, teenagers, and even 20-something-year-olds, don’t like to bring their dishes to the kitchen when they are done. What did I do wrong? I mean, I know I did something right because they do remember — even my boys — to cut the Boxtops off the cereal boxes before they throw them away, but in other areas I have clearly failed. Let’s talk about something else.
I had a good laugh today. The phone rang. It was a dear friend of mine. She said, “We’re giving away Baby and we wondered if you wanted her.” Good thing she didn’t say we’re giving away A baby, because I would have totally forgotten that I was an employee for someone, and I would have ripped my headset off and gone and picked up my new baby. It turns out that they were giving away Baby, their dog. Oh. Now that’s a whole nother matter altogether, and I’d say I’m probably the last person on earth that anyone should offer a dog to.
In fact, I have just spent the last half hour outside with Annie, a.k.a. Fatso Beagle. She was tethered to the mulberry tree while I fed the bunnies. Maybe somewhere in all of my babbling (see above) you’ll find a reason or two why I might be out in pitch black, at 10 p.m., feeding eight bunnies. I actually just had the children look me over for large, creepy spiders because I know I ran through several webs out there, in spite of my flashlight. I have no idea if Annie wet outside while we were out there. I highly doubt it because I need to shampoo my hallway carpet, UH GAIN.
Oh. Back to why no one should offer me a dog. I cannot get Annie housetrained. I don’t think I can say it any simpler than that, but I’ll try.
I. Cannot. Get. Annie. Housetrained. And I probably needed some kind of therapy before I even made that four-hour drive across the state to buy a beagle.
The other night I had a dream that probably represents some deep unresolved issues. Yeah, on the surface it might seem like it just represents my disturbed state over the relationship I’ve had to develop with the carpet cleaner, but really, I think there could be some more serious issues at play here. Why don’t I tell you the dream, and maybe you could analyze it. Give it a stab, won’t you?
So I was at home doing my normal thing when suddenly my dream shifted and I was in front of the computer reading the posts on our homeschool group e-mail loop. Wow!! The group leader, in her abundant spare time (she only homeschools 6 children and does about a gazillion other amazing things) had decided to tear up her wood flooring and post it for sale.
Immediately I picked up the phone. (You know how dreams are.) I told her I was very interested in her floor so I made an appointment to meet with her and her husband to look at it. Nevermind that I’ve been on that very floor dozens of times. (You know how dreams are.) No. I wanted to see that floor and probably buy it. It was urgent.
When I got there, it was very formal. She and her husband were waiting for me. I walked in, and what did I do? I went to a bin that held some fresh pieces of torn-up wood flooring and I broke off a piece and put it in my mouth. Then I began to chew. And chew. And chew. I could not really say anything because I was chewing. I chewed for a long time. On that wood. That I had planned to buy.
At some point I had to borrow a trashcan to start spitting splinters into. Once again, I was speechless because I had to keep spitting out splinters of wood. Believe it or not, I think the leader of my homeschool group and her husband were pretty speechless too. Go figure. It was some time around this point that they told me they had been planning on selling that flooring for $9,000. Boy did I feel like a big ol’ wad of chewed up splinters. Who would want to buy a floor with a bite out of it? Then I woke up.
I don’t know. I mean, I think there’s just a ton of deep issues that could be trying to surface in that dream. But I don’t have time to worry about it right now. I have more important things to do, like clean carpets and flail my way through big spiderwebs at 10 p.m.
While you’re analyzing, let me just throw in one more dream. Okay? I’m not sure it’s as serious, but it could be. I dreamed I was in a large airport terminal, totally panicked, because I had gone out shopping with a complete stranger (how we ended up in the airport is a mystery) and I had left a huge pan of bear meat in the oven at home, cooking at 400 degrees, and I was worried that the house would burn down while I was gone. Meanwhile, there was a pack of mountain lions loose in the airport terminal and I was trying to warn people. No one took me seriously. At all. In fact, the look in their eyes when I tried to warn them was yeah, she’s a psycho nutcase for sure. I ended up hiding from the mountain lions, curled up in a little ball on a conveyer belt with a bunch of canvas bins that held airport terminal trash and dirty clothes. By that time I did not care what had happened to my mystery friend who had wanted to go shopping in the first place. I was just trying to figure out which would be worse: going where ever those bins were going, or facing a pack of hungry mountain lions. Then I woke up.
I know you didn’t come here for this. My readership of three probably just plummeted to one or two. But I had to say these things. I actually have a bunch of unposted pictures, and un-talked-about school plans, and more creature information, but I’ve just been so busy. I promise to be a better blogger soon.
I’ll leave you now. I’m expecting some really good dream analysis from you guys.
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
Dear Lynn,
Your posts are always so interesting….
As far as the dream of flooring in the familiar house of your friend…..Well, the house is representative of the Self. Dreams are the overflow of the conscious mind processing that which is unresolved. So, perhaps it is a foundational thought/idea/proposal that you are literally ‘chewing over’ (rumminating)over to digest and get a better grip or understanding of….the spitting out, could indicate too much for you to process at the time. Could it be feelings of overwhelmedness….or reluctance to proceed for whatever reason.
About the airport….could this suggest a new venture that holds something in it for you that brings forth feelings of fear and a lack of control over certain aspects of the situation. Trying to pick homeschooling materials can do that to a person! I dunno. Just one of endless possible explanations, to be sure.
About Annie…when she has a ‘accident’ do you spray the area with vinegar water? (5o% water, 50% white vinegar) That really helps not only with the smell, but in molecularly rearranging the scent so she doesn’t continue to establish her markings over and over again based on lingering scent.
Do take extra good care.
Jen
Chin up dearie – there are lots of us hanging off your every word. we do know that real life gets in the way of blogging time though – we will be here when and if you have time to talk.
Can’t wait for the school plans and other deeper more aesoteric stuff!!
Can’t do a dream analysis, but girl I have some crazy dreams when I get stressed. I mean really crazy. It does sound like you have a lot going on. Maybe you could take a week of school break. Just take it off. It will all work itself out in the end.
Jen, what an amazing analysis. I’m serious! I am not a believer in “dream books” per se, where a candle represents this, a dress represents that, but I totally beileve that major issues are dealt with in dreams, and I also believe that crazy frivolous thoughts that we don’t have time for during the day do surface in dreams. It sounds like we feel the same way about dreams. I have had a mountain of stress lately for sure, mostly a stressful tax issue that I don’t even want to think about… I know we’re just having fun with the dreams, but I do think the things you mentioned are probably real things I’m dealing with!! You take care of you, too.
Jeanne, my Australian friend.
Thank you for your support. I’m ready for a daily blogging schedule again! I’m hoping to post some school information really soon. I loved reading your post about spelling. I was a natural speller too, and I know how it feels to have a nonspeller. Here, however, the problem never went away, and I realize that dyslexia runs on my husband’s side of the family, but they are all oh so mechanically inclined! xoxo
MamaHen, the sad thing is that I’m so excited to start school! That is probably the one thing I’m wanting to get in place right now and just relax and enjoy.
I actually have got most of my planning done. Now I just need to do some extra shopping and wrap my mind around the fact that we’ll be digging in our heels soon and I need to be consistent! 
It’s O.k. Lynn, we all have days…well weeks…ok. maybe months like this. Take a mental break with a beautiful magazine and a cup of tea and things will sort themselves out…eventually (lol)!
Yes, Mrs. M., it does seem as though it’s been months! LOL. I know things will simmer down at some point.
A beautiful magazine sounds like a wonderful idea. In the garden.
PS — Jen, I forgot to answer your question about Annie. We do not use the vinegar solution, but there’s a great product called Out! that we use. It takes away the odor for us, but not sure what Annie is still smelling. Hmmm.
You need to post your puppy potty training dilema on the fiar board. There is someone there who is amazing with dogs and can probably help you.
We love your blog.
oh, lynn, it was definitely worth the wait for that post! you’re hilarious! i usually remember my dreams if i wake up an hour or so before i should “really” wake up. they tend to be pretty weird, too. if your home represents self, then maybe i’m all crazy because i generally have elements of my old house and my current house all mixed up in my dreams. hmmm. and naughty little annie – maybe she will be out with the bunnies soon? if it makes you feel better, our dog puked in our bathroom this morning. and you know what was in it? that yellow and black caution tape that construction workers use!!! our street is being repaved, so it somehow must have blown into our yard. now why on earth would he think THAT would be such a treat? we have our own dog issues, believe me!
and don’t get too jealous over the fact that we have a separate schoolroom. actually, we use our 3rd floor attic. my husband finished it off several years ago. he did a fantastic job and even made built-in bookshelves along the sides. the bad part is, being our attic, the ceiling is very low and slants down toward either end. i can stand up along the middle, but need to duck if i veer off to one side. it’s great for sitting at the table and we have some of those beach chairs which are a little lower, too, but we have no wall space to hang anything. where there would be wall space are two big windows on either end. that’s why our chalkboard rests on the floor leaning against a box and we must sit on the floor to use it! our boys are 7 and 10 and heightwise it’s still okay for them, but someday it will probably feel too cramped!
it was wonderful “hearing” from you today!
connie
OK, no thoughts but just a big, fat thank you for the funnest moment of the day….hilarious. Hang in there. Things seem to be a bit crazy for lots of us right now. Good, busy crazy. Your posts are the best.
Oh, my, Lynn! You have been quite busy awake AND asleep!! All I could think of while reading about your first dream is that maybe you have ‘bitten off more than you can chew’ as far as projects, work and household stuff – maybe you’re a wee bit overwhelmed? And as for the second dream, you are obviously worried and concerned for the welfare of others.
My sink also seems to mysteriously collect dirty dishes after I’ve gone to sleep and that’s also when the food in the house begins to dwindle……those teenagers!!
I think you need to carve out some ‘you’ time for yourself!!
Liane, your analysis, I am sure, has hit on something key: too much going on. I felt okay until the big, summertime paperwork thing hit us — long story, won’t go into it here. It has consumed a whole month of my time and now that it’s done, perhaps I can get back to being just super busy, instead of out-of-control busy.
Thank you for the encouragment. Nice to know I’m not alone. 
Angie, yes, I meant for it to be shared in a humorous light! I have tied a knot and I’m hanging on! I won’t let go! Things seem to be settling down a bit. Finally!
Oh, Connie, the caution tape made me laugh! Annie chewed up a shoe last night! Grrrrrrrrr! I was so annoyed, but then I can’t stay mad for long. Who knew I’d love a beagle so much? In spite of the slanted lines, your school attic sounds delightful! We do school all over. I’ll just be content. I guess that’s what we all must do about some things, right?
Becky, that’s a great idea! Time has been so limited, I still have not followed through, but I’ll do that. Thank you for your encouragement!
Dear Lynn,
Don’t you love those crazy dreams? I would go with the “bit off more than you can chew” answer, too. I hope the tax situation has cleared up~ Onward and upward!
Love,
Marqueta
Dream 1- I think of a floor as something that covers up dirt. Chewing the floor – could be a sign that you feel that there are things that can’t be hidden anymore. I think it’s significant that this Superwoman who is able to manage a gazillion different things is in the dream. Do you feel guilty about not being able to do everything you want to, or about things not always turning out the way you want them to?
Dream 2 – This is also about hiding dirt, in this case the trash and dirty clothes in bins.
People not paying attention to your warnings about the mountain lions could be abut you feeling that others don’t take your concerns seriously or don’t pay attention to your feelings.
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