Do- Overs, anyone?

 It's the day after Labor Day... the traditional day so many of us grew up with as "Back to School".
Nickole and I will be re-starting this school year today.
Our "best laid plans" went awry when both Tom and I came down with That Which Shall Not Be Named.
Sam was sick for a couple of days.
Tom came up sick on August 15. He was diagnosed on the 17. This was a few days after our neighbors let us know they had both been down sick with  TWSNBN. I came up sick on the 18.
This was like a bad flu, which we began to despair would never end! Each time we thought we were feeling better, it looped around and cut us down again. Tom and I were very sick for about 2 weeks. We are all recovering, slowly regaining strength. (Our neighbor is still sick. He was transported to the hospital ICU, and is now on a ventilator. Our prayers are with Terry and Bandi.)
So, Nickole pretty much had to fend for herself, eating whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Sam cooked some, or brought home take out. Zero schooling was done, though Nickole read a number of her school reader novels.

So, today we are starting over! Nickole began the day by going to help the neighbor. Nickole had asked repeatedly if there was ANYTHING Bandi needed help with. Bandi gave it consideration... and Nickole is helping her weed her fall garden. Since the weather is still QUITE warm, Nickole has been going over early and working awhile. We can school in the heat of the day, and work later on lessons.

Our garden has fallen into neglect. Nickole was sent out to pick a few times, but spent most of that time daydreaming... or something. Sam went out with her later and found a laundry basket full of produce she had missed. (She came in after almost an hour, with three or four tomatoes and a handful of okra.) We are now trying to salvage what we can.
The tomatoes Sam picked are in the freezer. I will need to thaw them and process them down to can. The okra mostly was composted- once it's as big as an ear of corn, you can't really eat it. Tom and I have been to the garden a couple of times. TWSNBN really takes your strength, and it took us each several trips out, resting between, to just get okra, peppers, and tomatoes.

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I was in the garden this morning and came really close to having an encounter with a pus caterpillar. I am VERY allergic to the poison they excrete, so God was looking out for me.

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Hope your day is blessed!

~Tammy~