Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Look at what these Polish mosquitoes...



... have done to my son!


Kind of like the guy from the MAD comic book... or at least his left side.




 Dude, I am *serious* ya'll, these mosquitoes here are killer...killer! They leave whelps unlike any I have ever seen and the bites last for.ev.er. Kacio has bites on his face that have been there since the 2nd week we got here (to be fair, he was scratching them, but still). I am trying to find some tea tree oil to dab on their blankets and sheets to keep the mosquitoes away but can't seem to find any online... into the trenches tomorrow to scope some out, because dude. Dude.

Speaking of keeping mosquitoes out. The mosquitoes are  in because we have to keep the windows open all day to let the house warm up. That's right, warm *up.* It's warm outside, 60's and 70's, perfect Fall weather, but the house holds the cold from the nighttime so well that the house is freezing during the day, especially downstairs where no one is really living, and now where we do our schooling. These thick walls mean that the winter will be warm without breaking our budget but right now they are doing the opposite of what we want.

School!!! School is going fabulously, FABULOUSLY! And I don't even particularly like that word, but there is no other to describe it. We have our room set up and it is wonderful and cozy and just right. I cannot wait to share pictures (soon, my pet). The children are loving it as well. It has been so hard trying to do any school with all of our things strewn about the house, never in their own place and in between whatever else was going on, but not anymore! Can you tell I'm excited?! I am excited because for all the naysayers and my own personal doubtful voices (more than one), it seems as though this is all going to work out swimmingly.


Speaking of swimmingly, is it possible that this is in fact a dinosaur bone that was at the bottom of some sort of lake or other body of water and my children have just unearthed it whilst digging their "traps" in the side yard? Is it possible? Or is that just a calf bone that someone threw out into the side yard. Which is worse? Which is more interesting? You decide. Neither would surprise me.

Adelina in her new fancy "twirly skirt" that I just finished up and made her wear today. So perfect for Fall!!
Speaking of calf bones...about the third week we were here we were given half a calf from Martin's uncle who is a farmer and does indeed raise his own animals. (We are still working our way through what must be about a 5th of a pig in our fridge). Our freezer, small in stature, belonging to the SZRON 125, is full of veal bones and veal roast. I have made two soups form the bones so far, rather tasty, but I have yet to finish off the rest of that veal roast so if anyone has any favorite veal recipes, lay 'em on me, I'm open to anything.

And lastly, speaking of the SZRON 125, guess who is getting a new fridge?  *This* guy (pointing to myself).

Woo! Hoo!  No more going to the store every other day because we can only fit one fresh vegetable, one thing of cheese, some cold cuts, and beer in the fridge. Also, no more excuses about cooking or lack there of (I made a killer Rosol today...from scratch... Babcia would be proud). I can't wait for a crisper drawer! And a freezer! And...and.... a higher surface to place family photos so Kacio can't reach them to throw them in the toilet! 

It's been a good week... and tomorrow we are going to our first Sklep Plastyczne...I am excited ya'll. Art and Craft store. I'm giddy with excitement.

P.S. I am most certain that my change in attitude and renewed vigor for life is directly related to the way school is going. So wonderful. Any and all homeschoolers out there will know how good a solid day of work and play can be, when you feel like you are finally, for real, "doing it."

Gratuitous shot of Lina twirling in her skirt. She hasn't stopped all day. And Kacio "brushing his own teeth"  aka... eating toothpaste.

12 comments:

  1. Pattern please! And no I have not forgotten that I owe you an email. Congrats on the schooling going well!!

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    1. the pattern is awesome and easy. I'll email it to you. Here's the ravelry page... http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/barefoot-knits-twirly-skirt.

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  2. Yes! School goes well, life goes well. It's true. The schedule! With the check marks! Equals happy mama.

    We also have to warm up our house during the day right now. It's so bizarre.

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    1. I have such a great schedule all written down... but we haven't used it yet and so far what we are doing is going well. They are all still pretty excited about school so it might get harder later but all the more reason to work now and worry about that later!

      It's like natural air conditioning! (in the winter)

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  3. I have seen those mosquito bitten ears a couple of times on my son. I can tell you that a similar bite at the brow bridge looks even worse. Someone should get a PhD on checking why American born children are so sensitive to mosquito bites in Poland.
    L.L. Bean used to have a line of anti-mosquito clothing. We put some pieces of it next to our kids pillows and it seems to help.

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    1. He had one on his forehead in the same picture covered by his hair...looks like a horn is emerging above his brow. Lovely.

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  4. Tea Tree oil is available in almost every pharmacy :)

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    1. What?! How did I, or anyone I've asked, not know this? I am finding it tomorrow...Thank you!

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  5. Well, this year is so dry that number of mosquitos is soooo small. Next year buy som nets for windows and doors because it could be much worse.

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    1. Oh no! I am convinced that we have some sort of infestation and we are all keeping them alive from inside the house. Like blood sucking pets. ;)

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  6. They look like mosquitoes, but in fact these are different species: they're called here meszki (black fly). Both my girls look terrible (see photo of Karolina I sent you), there were several of meszki in their room 2 nights ago. Good luck to us fighting them...

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    1. Wow, poor girl! This is exactly what Kacio looked like. Well, you saw his face when we were at your house. Horrible!

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