Updates from Traci Stensaas

Focus!

Last week I mentioned that our Golden Retriever, Murphy, was a little stinky.  He definitely still needs a bath, but he does smell much better this week.  We can hug him again without having to hold our breath!   He does love his hugs!  He’s like a big yellow puppy bear.  (Teddy bear, yet a puppy at heart = puppy bear!).  It is time to call the groomer and set up his trim and bath.  

 

This week we are nearing the end of the school year and the boys are getting more and more excited to be done with it all!  So am I for that matter.  We’re in week 35 of 36!  It is so tempting to just toss it all aside and call it good.  However, since the weather isn’t great for being outside today (51 and soggy), we could just as well press on and get some school done.

 

Here are a few things we do to keep school rolling forward with focus:

 

Take breaks:  Boys like to move.  If I fight them on that, it becomes punishment for all of us.  So we find a happy medium and get some work done, then move a little.  Then we focus on school again.

 

Breakfast:  It helps to include some protein and limit sugary foods.  It’s tougher for all of us if sugar is included in breakfast.  My husband and I like eggs.  The boys, not so much.  When I am intentional on getting them a small protein shake or something with protein in it for breakfast, it's easier for them to focus.

 

Grace:  We all have our good days and not so good days.  It is what it is.  Talk it through it.  Let it go and move on. No one is perfect.  How many times has God forgiven us?  A LOT!  

 

Be Flexible:  Life happens.  Just a few weeks ago, one of my horses had a severe colic episode so I spent the day with her while my husband took over school with the boys.   They did what they could for school even though their minds were on me and my horse, Dakota.  I did end up having to put Dakota down and send her, with love, across the rainbow bridge; but was greeted with a lot of hugs when I finally came in.  The next day we picked up what didn’t get done the day before, which was minimal.  They do very well with their dad as teacher.  I am so grateful that my husband was here and he jumped right in.  He's a great substitute teacher!

 

Avoid Distractions:  Turn off the television, set the phones or any electronics aside and focus.  It also helps the two older boys if I keep "T" busy.  

 

I also keep diffusers going both upstairs and downstairs.  One of their favorite diffuser recipes is:

 

Other essential oils that have helped us focus or calm down include:

 

We also love the blend Peace & Calming (TM)  because it does just that for me and the boys.

What do you do to keep everyone focused these last days of school?  I would love more tips!

 

Hey all!  Today’s 71 degrees is tough to beat for South Dakota in April.   I’m so grateful!  It definitely makes the "please stay at home" time so much more tolerable!   

So, just a little introduction on myself.  

I’m a boy-mom.  Three young boys still in the house, one all grown up and has a family of his own.

I’m a homeschooling mom.   This is something I never anticipated doing, ever.  But, oh how things change once we have actually have children.  

I'm an animal lover.  I currently have 2 quarter horses and one mini-pony that loves to be on the wrong side of the fence.  She likes free range life.  We also have several barn cats and one large Golden Retriever. 

With horses, I am a huge fan of keeping it natural, and have spent many years studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship.  I love a good weekend horse-man-ship clinic and spending a couple of days with other horse lovers!

I love the oily lifestyle.   That brings me to my purpose for today’s post.  

Life in the country, with horses, cats, and a Golden Retriever can certainly bring about particular smells.  A couple of weeks ago, our dog, Murphy decided to swim in our stock pond.   Yuck!  Of course after a swim, there’s always a roll in the horse yard to add to his essence of country dog.  After a day, he kind of self cleans, but still definitely stinks.  He is an outside dog, 90% of the time.  This week, he found a deceased cat in the ditch across the road and decided to roll in it, then drag said cat onto our yard.   So now we have a stinky dog and my boys are a bit distraught over seeing cat parts on our lawn.  My 6 year old came and said “Um mom, this is kind of gross, but I think Tiger’s tail is on our yard.”  Ugh!  So sorry buddy.

Life is busy and I don’t have time to bathe a double coated, long haired dog every time he rolls in something or goes for a dip in the pond.  I did have time to whip up an oily recipe.  It helps with comb outs, reduces his country odor, and can even help repel some creepy crawlies, since he likes to explore our pastures:

10 drops Lavender

5 drops Geranium

5 drops Lemongrass

5 drops Palo Santo,

5 drops Cedarwood

3 tsp conditioner

½ oz vodka

6 oz water.

Combine in a spray bottle and shake well before each use.  Spray liberally and let it set a few minutes before brushing.  Murphy is a 110 pound dog, so if you have a small dog, you may want to reduce the number of drops and adjust to your liking.

Not all oils are created equal.  Please do not buy oils from your local grocery or large box store and think you will achieve the same results as pure therapeutic grate oils.  I love Young Living products.  I even used my Young Living conditioner in this recipe.