Digital Living

 I have been getting a lot of headaches lately with all this screen time. Red-shifting everything has helped, but I am looking forward to a lifestyle that doesn't depend so heavily on screens. On the flip side, it is pretty interesting to do business with people on the other side of the world who I have never met in person. 

Yesterday the girls had some fun playing with friends. Abigail went over to a boy's house for the first time. She had a lot of fun. Nice to be able to connect with a new friend. Swimming lessons started up again yesterday, and the girls had some fun in the pool. Hopefully they can continue for a while!

It is kind of working to be back in school. The students really need it. I was shocked to see how much weight one of my students had put on in the last couple months. Sitting at home in front of a screen is really bad for some of them. Others are happy enough with it though.

Abigail lost her first tooth!

The frogs had their yearly party in the pond.

Craft time with Helene.

Abigail got to play with a new friend.

Hybrid Lessons

 I had to go back to school for the first time in about three months this week. It was nice to see people in person again and only half of each class was there at a time. The other half 'follows' the lessons on line. Those small groups that were there were enthusiastic and engaged, a rare treat! I will have to put a lot more time and energy into school now, but I am sure the enthusiasm will be short-lived.

I have been busy with trying to find more Chinese students and setting up our curriculum. Lots of work to do. Also making progress with the house designs. Too much time on the computer!

The girls went with Naomi to Amsterdam yesterday. Naomi tracked down somebody who started a business making nice blankets, scarves and things out of wool, but they went out of business, so Naomi bought up a little bit of the leftover inventory. Then they went to wish Auntie Edith a happy birthday, and had way too much cake. 

Abigail had a sick day, so we went for a walk in Apeldoorn.

Abigail's first loose tooth.

Fun in Amsterdam.

New Students

 Whew, just finished up locking in two new students for our teacher, Brittani. Can be a bit stressful and exciting, but we are making progress. Got one earlier this week as well, so we will send her a contract and officially hire her as our first teacher. One step at a time.

This was my last week of working from home, so that means my time and energy will take a bit hit. That is a bummer, because there is a lot more that I want to do! Still not ready to go back to school, but I guess I really can't complain. I am in the minority. 

We had a lot of fun at the skate park this week. Amazing how much the girls were able to improve their skills in the past few months without actually being at the skate park. Big changes to their balance and confidence. Maybe we can start going to the indoor one at some point!

Not happy about our car being used as a canvas...can it be buffed out or something?

Fun at the skate park.

Our neighbor was watering his garden. Bizzare.

Vacation?

 I have been working really hard this week. No vacation feeling here! Naomi got to visit some friends though, so she and the girls enjoyed some time off. For me it was nice to have the extra time to focus on the business(es) this week as I needed it. I got the cabinet delivered, and the were really happy.

We had a couple demo lessons for our new teacher that didn't work out, so that is disappointing, but she wasn't quite ready to start anyway so hopefully some more options will come along. Finding students is definitely a challenge.

I finally figured out how to get my designs for the house imported into a solar modeler. It is pretty cool - we can see how the sun will shine into the building on any given day/moment of the year. The warm weather has been amazing this week - a bit of May in February. Got the car washed, the ponds cleaned out, bikes pumped up and ridden, and some other spring cleaning done.

The final result.

Strange weather.

Got the table sanded and oiled - went from black to this!

A few storks in the field.

The solar modeler with the workshop inside.

Warm

 Hard to imagine that last weekend we were ice skating at the castle and this weekend we are going to play tennis and eat outside. How can time skip ahead three months in one week? Strange. Somehow we adapt to it without thinking too much. Kind of impressive, and a bit scary how people are able to to that.

I managed to finish up the project in the workshop. It took longer than expected (that is usually the case) but turned out pretty well. I think the clients will be happy. It was fun to make!

The girls enjoyed their shortened week of school (we had an ice day on Monday) and even got to play with friends on Friday. Now that they are starting to get back into the routine, we have a week of vacation. Haha. I will be working hard on my new business though - we are trying to get our first teacher her first classes this week. One is scheduled for Tuesday, so lots of prepping to be done!

Friday night Naomi took the rare opportunity to sleep at a friend's house. The girls missed her a lot, but we still had a nice time with just the three of us.

Ice skating at the castle last weekend.

Lots of sawdust and a very dirty workshop.

The girls wanted to send a picture to Mommy so she could still check on them even though she wasn't there. 

Before and after with Tung Oil - and a clean workshop!

Last weekend ice skating; this weekend it feels like May.

Cold

 Well, all the forecasts turned out to be largely exaggerated. It got cold this week, for Dutch standards, but not nearly as cold as predicted. In spite of that, there is enough ice to try a bit of ice skating! That doesn't usually happen. We even found a sledding hill yesterday. Today is the end though. It will start melting this afternoon.

The girls have been getting back into the school routine this week, even though classes were cancelled on Monday due to the snow. Their main teacher is sick, so that hasn't helped, but she should be back this week. Sure is a relief!

I am finishing up the cabinet. Hopefully I can get the doors made and installed this week, then a bit of plugging and sanding followed by a coat of tung oil. The end is in sight! I am happy with how the drawers turned out, but, once again, the slides I ordered are not the best. I don't know how to find good hardware.

Building a sledding hill.

Snack time!

Sure looks different from last week.

Drawer boxes.

The first tomato sprout of the season!

Snow!

 Winter has magically arrived. We are getting lots and lots of snow, followed by at least a week of sub zero temperatures and sunny days. This hasn't happened for about ten years. Usually any snow we get (some winters none at all) melts in a day or two. Maybe we will be ice skating next weekend!

I finished up my last round of submissions this week for my novel. That is a relief. Now that I have tried the traditional route, I can move onto self-publishing, which keeps sounding more and more interesting. It will be fun to put a little team together and make this novel the best we can. I don't have high expectations for it, but it is a fun project. Some new information really turned me off to the traditional route - most novels that get signed by publishers don't go anywhere, and then the publishers don't let the author have their work back to do something else with. I would like to avoid that scenario!

Finished up the interior framing, top, sides, and feet of the cabinet. Now onto the drawers and doors. Hope to have it finished by the end of the month. Also fixed the kitchen lights and planted some tomato seeds. It has been a productive weekend so far!

Thursday - warm and springlike.

Sunday - winter!