Moles in the Basement II

I should be packing, given the time of night it is already. I do have J packed (she wanted her own suitcase this time, and helped to pick clothes), and L's things and mine are laid out on the bed. This requires me to actually finish before I can go to bed! We are headed out, early in the morning to Lancaster area in PA. Husband to a thoroughly stimulating Medical Convention, girls and I to his sister's. After a couple of days we will go to my parents', and are planning on seeing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" with them on Saturday. I hope to visit one of my college friends, and check in on my Grandparents in the Retirement Center. All in all, it should be a nice break from the daily grind here. We are heading back Sat night, in order to be rested up for J's violin recital Sunday afternoon...a whirlwind of a trip!

All this to say, that while gathering suitcases from the basement, I came across another mole. This one was long deceased, and on the 3rd shelf up from the floor in the storage room. Another mystery...can moles climb plastic shelving poles? Perhaps they are coming in through the boarded up window under what is now the Sun Room? This rodent did, however, heed my orders to stay off the new carpet!

A pleasant week end to you all, well wishes to JT...hope he's feeling better. Here's hoping for more sunshine and a meeting of the Elaines next week!

T

A Few of my Favorite Things

Prompted by Tonya, I have considered what things, indeed, are my favorites....or make my life easier.

1. Organic milk. - Nothing makes my morning tea taste sweeter than a few swigs of this tasty stuff. That morning tea....better than sex....the judges are still out.

2. Bob the Builder/Lightning McQueen. - Or any toy, of which we have two, that entertains the boys for more than 10 minutes is a BIG hit in my book. Just found a few new supplies at Big Lots. Cost for two new Bob toys $5.00, 30 minutes of "peace" or a least limited bickering - priceless.

3. Estee Lauder lipstick. - I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of a free "bonus time" bag from Estee Lauder. Somehow my mother received two. Anyhow the lipstick, at first glance considered too "trendy" for the likes of little ole jeans and a t-shirt me, was applied in haste only to discover that WOW! I almost feel glamorous (even though no other makeup applied and hair disheveled). Very impressive.

4. New brassiere. - I know that previous Elaines have addressed the possible merits of a $75. bra changing your life. But since Consumer reports rated a $11. Target bra a good choice I opted for it. Feels pretty good. And now when I wear my t-shirt, my B-cups don't sag. Bonus.

5. I-pod. - Current favorites include Colbie Caillat "Coco" and old favorite "Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack", though E. has been requesting "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "Girls just Wanna Have Fun" lately. Go figure.

6. Digital camera. - Well, in most regards I consider myself a pacifist. But, I admit, lately I've become a little trigger happy with the digital camera. I was a 35 mm film addict. Loved the adreline rush of taking the film to the store and eagerly awaiting it's return. Now I just snap, snap, snap away.....delete the bad ones, and keep the good ones. I wonder if Randy at the Giant Eagle customer service counter misses me.

7. Big Blue. - During the course of pregnancy I developed a bad "body pillow" habit. I can't survive or sleep without my blue body pillow, affectionately referred to in our house as "big blue".

In the words of Forrest, Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

S.

SEND POSITIVITY, STOP

GOOD CHANCE AT EDGE OF INSANITY STOP SEND POSITIVE ENERGY IMMEDIATELY STOP MEETING SOON STOP SALLY SEND PATIENCE STOP TONYA SEND INEXAUSTIBLE ENERGY STOP NANCY SEND INGENUITY STOP

THANKS FROM PORTER STREET STOP

Things that make my life easier

I have been musing this week about all the things I have access to that make my life so much easier. I thought I'd list them for my own benefit, and just in case it's a new one for you!

1. Giant Eagle Cookie Card - I can't believe how much quieter the girls are when they are munching a cookie while shopping. So they look a mess when we get to the check-out...I don't feel as much of a mess! And it benefits a good cause!

2. Swiffer dusters - I used to take everything off of shelves, spray Pledge and wipe...every time! This product really saves me time, and no more spraying! Actually, I like several Swiffer products, including the Carpet Flick (although the handle keeps breaking) which I use in between hauling out the vacuum, and the Sweeper which I use instead of a mop and bucket since I have very little hard surface to clean.

3. Coffee Maker - since I am the only coffee drinker in the house, I finally put away the behemoth coffee/espresso maker and bought a tiny one that brews right into my mug. Less clean up, less messing around. It's great!

4. 2-in-1 shampoo for the kiddos - My girls have long, fine hair, that amasses tangles in great quantities during baths. We used to shampoo, then spray with a no-tangles solution, then continue to pick and pull their locks into submission. I tried several conditioning shampoos before settling on L'Oreal Kids...we've put away the spray, and comb right through wet hair without causing tears. The girls love the many great scents.

5. Plantskyyd - I've mentioned this before, but it bears mentioning again. I LOVE this stuff! It works for about 3 months to keep deer away from my plants, it's safe around the kids and dog, and completely chemical free. OK, so it's really nasty to mix and apply (it's made of bovine blood products...hope that doesn't offend you, N) but it's worth it for the results. I finally have been able to enjoy my azalea blooming for the first time in 4 Springs due to prudent spraying and wrapping in deer netting over the winter.

6. Flossers - I hate flossing, but once I learned that daily flossing can literally add years to your life, I thought I'd better start doing it. I use something like this which is much easier and less messy to use.

Well, I'm sure there are more. I'll post them when they come to me. Any time saving products or tips from the rest of the Elaines?

T

Fluffy and friends

Here are some pictures of the hatchling and some friends. Not as exciting as a baby...but it will do.

N

Baby Chicks Arriving

Perhaps you know that we are incubating eggs.

Day 21 came and went and nothing. We had decided that we weren't going to have success, when low and behold (!) two egg teeth out of two of the eggs appeared! Occasional cheeps have also been heard. So we'll see if they actually make it out!

This is definitely a learning experience...especially for one child who has yielded to the temptation to help one of the chicks and turned an egg--in spite of specific instructions not to interfere or help. This child seems to always know best, you see...

We'll post pictures. And perhaps hold visiting hours! (It couldn't be a busier week, though!)
N

The Greening of Spring

In hammock embrace
I sway beneath
The leafy skirts of Willow.

I hum the song of the honeybees,
As they attend the Cherry Bride,
Tenderly adjusting each blossom
Of her fragrant and flowing veil.

From their earthy beds
Golden trumpets herald
The return of sun and wing.

I soar with the clouds!
I anticipate
The greening of the spring.

(my feeble and cliched attempt to express my joy at the arrival of my favorite season...T)

The Zen of Sewing

I really enjoy sewing. I almost meditate as I stitch, so absorbed am I in the thread and the line of stitching. I practically jumped for joy this afternoon, when I re-discovered a bag of fabric, meant for little girl clothes this summer!

I pulled out my machine today after WAY too many months to whittle down my list of sewing projects. I did successfully finish 2 out of 4 projects this afternoon while J worked on her scrapbook in the craft/computer room/library. She chattered away, while I created, lost in the bliss of the soft fabric and the pale thread. L overslept her nap as I was too distracted to notice the time. Tonight, while I was trying to pay the bills before moving on to yet another sewing project, she was singing in her room: "school bus, school bus, oh, oh, oh school bus!", not yet ready for sleep.

My project tonight was to re-create for J a lab coat, fashioned from an old one of mine. They are having dress-as-what-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up day on Wednesday at Preschool, and we were notified last week. Our dog's veterinarian wears scrubs, but I didn't think I could fashion those on such short notice...thus the lab coat, sporting the inscription "J.... M....., Pet Vet".

While sewing, I remembered that my Mother sewed many, many things for me when I was a child. I didn't adequately appreciate them until I learned to sew for myself as a teenager. I saved a homely doll that was much played with as a child, just so I could save the dozen or so outfits that my Mother made for her. The girls now play with this doll and these clothes, and it gives me warm fuzzies!

I'm not anticipating that my girls save the things that I make them now, but I hope that they too can discover something that brings joy to themselves and to others like this hobby of mine does.

T

Reveal

We finally have our basement re-do finished! It looks so much different. Of course, when I was most of the way finished, I realized that I had no "before" photos, so we have to make do with this "before ownership" photo to compare.

We went from this:

To this:

The guest bedroom (yes, it is tiny!) had dark wood paneling on the wall at the head of the bed and the same orange-ish carpet. Now it looks positively glowing!

Hooray! I'm very pleased with the results. Thanks for the whitewashing suggestion, S!

I propose a meeting in the new facilities when K and B are able to be out and about.

And not a mole in sight.

T

Time for Digging in the Dirt!

Yes indeed, I'm finally convinced by this weekend that Spring is here. I had been a bit hesitant based on last Easter's snow, but I couldn't help myself...this weekend I had to dig into that dirt!

We had quite a busy weekend, which successfully took my mind off other things. We surprised the girls by taking them to Sesame Street Live in Morgantown on Saturday. It was fun for Mom and Dad to see their mesmerized faces as the giant furry monsters galloped around the stage. Unbeknownst to me, I got really good tickets...2nd row, so we had a good view of all the action!

Then we moved into the first of many work weekends in the attempt to grow things and get the house ready to sell. J roto-tilled both garden plots and the area for my new flower bed. I raked the clumps of grass and big rocks out of it, and transplanted a few clumps of daffodils there from the front field. J did LOTS of clearing between the pines. I climbed on the roof and cleaned out the gutters. We got some pruning done (better late than never) and I sprayed the azalea and lilies against deer nibbling. Of course, they had already browsed most of the lilies, which were only a half inch tall! I use Plantskydd and it works really well...lasts about 3 months, except when there is a lot of growth. I will probably have to spray the lilies again in about a month, and then again when they bud.

I am anticipating the arrival of my plants from Gurney and Burpee. I planned my new flowerbed with deer resistant perennials, and may stick in a few annuals as well. I found a book called Gardening in Deer Country, by Vincent Drzewucki, Jr., which was really helpful in that undertaking.

Of course, in the midst of all this, the men installed most of the carpet downstairs on Saturday. Everything but the guest room is put back together. They also repaired a wrinkle in the living room carpet, which involved moving furniture upstairs as well. I took that opportunity to vacuum places that hadn't seen the light of day in several years, and J finally was able to remove the satellite receivers that we no longer use. (Don't miss it either!)

The girls spent the entire day outside today, including lunch. They came in with rosy cheeks, shining eyes and ravenous appetites. They fell into bed tonight and went right to sleep. J and I will soon follow, with sore muscles and exhausted bodies. But ahhh...the anticipation of growing things has me eager to get back out in the morning. Drat those jobs that interrupt my hobbies!

Happy Spring! (And happy birthday to K and little B!)

T

Best for Kids or Best for Mom?

At violin lessons yesterday, the instructor casually announced that she was leaving and offering no more instructions after the recital on May 4th. I immediately felt my stomach lurch, and then plummet down to the region around my socks. For the past six months, I have watched my daughter feel pride in herself as she was able to master one song and technique after another on this difficult instrument. I felt pride myself, as I noticed her become more and more willing to try. So now what? The instructor recommended a program at Duquesne University, which meets nearly every Saturday during the school year. Now my stomach was tying itself in knots. I get very anxious even THINKING about driving in Pittsburgh, but to do it on a WEEKLY basis??? What about our very sacred weekends? No more weekend trips or sleeping in. Less time to spend with Daddy, who this week made it home for dinner once, and home for bedtime twice. But...do we just throw away all the time, effort, travelling, tears and money that we spent on the past six months of instruction?

I feel incredibly guilty at the thought of not wanting to continue because of the inconvenience of city driving and weekends lost. J, I think, feels a little bit relieved to think about not doing it anymore. The practicing, you see, was interrupting her play time. Where do you draw the line between what is best for your child, and what is best for you? What is really best for my child?

I face a similar quandary when trying to decide about Home Schooling J next year for Kindergarten. As far as our family schedule goes, doing schooling at home would be infinitely more convenient than sending her to the public school. I was also under-whelmed by the curriculum at the public school after meeting with 2 of the Kindergarten teachers this week. Some of the curriculum I've looked at with the cyber charter schools looks really amazing! I have very little patience, which is a problem when adding children to the mix anyway, but even more worrisome when anticipating being the sole instructor for my child. Is is worth the convenience to my family to perhaps have J's schooling tainted by my faults? Is it worth jeopardizing our relationship?

Is there a special trick to making those kinds of decisions?

I should think positively. Maybe this experience could be the greatest thing for J and I that we could ever imagine. Perhaps Duquesne would know of someone else who does private lessons in the area. After a week of many ups and downs, I'm feeling pretty down today.

Rainbow Marks End to a Long Week

I shot this photo of a double rainbow over Route 19 yesterday afternoon. It was the most spectacular one I've seen! It was a nice resolution to the stressful past 5 days.

Blessings!

T

Note-writing and Bodily Functions

C provided me with the following update:

I've been feeding her only fruit and vegetables....

N

P.S. I think we need a meeting soon...