New Shoes

L was devastated this afternoon when we tried to put on her "pitty bown shoes" and they didn't fit. The tears were finally quieted when I promised her we would look downstairs for new ones tonight, and give the other shoes to Baby B. She was completely delighted when we found another pair of pretty brown shoes in the box of hand-me-downs in the basement, and ran up the stairs to show them off to J and Daddy.

It reminds me of a man I met on a garbage dump called "Smokey Mountain" in Manila one summer during college. He was a scavenger, who likely made his home on the dump out of recycled/found objects, and sold other such things to make a meager living. He had recently found 2 shoes while scavenging, and though they didn't match, there was a right and a left, and they were close to the same size. He showed me his loot with pride, and was clearly thrilled with his good fortune that day.

Even though I was profoundly touched by this experience 20 years ago, I had forgotten how to be grateful for the small things: the smile on L's face after receiving "new" second-hand shoes, the smell of J's hair when I kiss her sleeping cheek, the warmth in my bed of my husband on cold nights, the senile old dog that loves me so much that he waits outside the shower for me to come out, the knowledge that I will always have matching shoes. I will try to remember to live each day with a thankful heart for all those little things I sometimes take for granted.


T

Christmas in July!

Much to our surprise, the man in the brown truck rang our doorbell this afternoon. Seems he had too many packages to carry in one load. We received 6 big boxes from Agora Cyber Charter School addressed to J. At first I nearly panicked. I mean, this means that school REALLY starts soon, and I REALLY am teaching J this year!

An hour later, J and I sat down to open the brown cardboard boxes. Inside were more boxes! Brightly colored ones...just like Christmas. We opened box after box: "Language Arts K Standard" held a dazzling variety of award winning picture books, some of which are already favorites. "Math K Standard" held a plastic container of brightly colored geometric shapes, and colorful stacking blocks, while a slide whistle, tambourine and CDs were inside the "Music Preparatory" box.

While we're on the Christmas theme...last night, my "craft" table was looking very much like a scene from the Island of Misfit Toys in the Rudolf movie, with broken toys piled up beside my sewing machine. I decide to spend last night after the girls went to bed attempting to repair said items, the loss of which would be devastating to my girls. The biggest success story is the fairy wings, which long ago had begun to shred. I managed to repair them with a pair of old stockings, a glue gun and shiny star jewels. J was so thrilled that she wore them all day.

What fun! Now I'm a little bit excited, and J is VERY excited to do school. (And fairy wings with stars really DO help you concentrate better.)

T

When a Primal Scream Just Doesn't Cut it

I'm so ashamed of myself!

I worked (for hours and hours) today on putting trim around the new mantel in the living room. It should have been easy...every thing was cut to fit, all I had to do was nail it in. I tried several different finishing nails, even went back to Wayne Lumber (the I -heart- Hot Moms guy was there again...different t-shirt today) for yet another type. THEY WOULDN'T GO IN! I tried really hard not to shout the slew of 4 letter words that were boiling to the surface, but I have to admit that a couple slipped out.

Finally I just put the hammer down and screamed. Really loud. Really long. Then I cried for a while. What I really wanted to do was bash something. Didn't do it because it would just be one more mess for me to clean up. Meanwhile, my girls were staring at me like I was Satan incarnate. J said "I really wish I could help you Mommy. It looks kinda easy." After hugs all around, I proceeded to get them ready for bed, but I didn't really feel all that much better!

Is there a secret to keeping yourself under control in those out of control moments? I'm seriously hoping that I didn't freak my kids out too much. Maybe family counseling in lieu of a summer vacation this year is in order!

Lesson learned: chestnut is an extremely hard wood (rivals hickory - discovered that one while trying to install child locks on the kitchen cupboards several years ago), don't attempt battle with it until children are at someone else's house and out of hearing range.

T

A Hard Life

Over dinner this weekend, J and her friend, M, were discussing their future vocational goals. J stated that she wants to be a Veterinarian. "I want to have a hard life when I grow up." said M. Perhaps the stunned silence that followed prompted her to explain. "I want to live in a log cabin and cook all my meals over the fire. I want to have a corn crop." (True to her love of all things Pioneer!)

"We have a corn crop." I announced. M didn't appear to be impressed.

In all honesty, our corn patch is not all that impressive. Personally, I find the stately rows of tall, green stalks very beautiful. I only managed to get about half of it weeded and mulched this year before running out of mulching material. The weeds between the remaining rows were knee high, so I actually pushed the mower between the rows this weekend!

I was delighted by the thunder storm last evening! I refilled the rain barrels, and imagined how happy the garden and corn patch would be with all of the water. I surveyed the landscape following the rain with dismay, however. Two-thirds of the corn patch was flattened. Several limbs and many branches littered the ground. The bird feeder was dangling upside down from the suspension wire.

This morning, coffee mug in hand, I strode out to right the fallen stalks. An hour and a half later, I had 6 rows tied up and had weeded another row, straightened and filled the bird feeder, and tossed most of the litter into the woods. With a satisfied sigh, I came in for a bowl of cereal with blueberries.

Not a hard life, certainly, but hard work. Hard work that yields amazing rewards and is personally fulfilling. I can handle that!

T

Today, in my garden...

This is my tiny garden harvest today, minus 2 lovely strawberries which were immediately devoured. The new items we are trying this year are:

- Gurney's Hybrid Sweeter Yet Cucumber

- Burpee Kaleidoscope Mix Carrots

T

Tractor Poop

It is hay cutting time up here on the hill. Last year, after watching our neighbor, Mr. D, put up the hay, J dubbed the big, round bales "Tractor Poop". I shot this short video to show why!



T

Overheard at GE

Elderly Man: My primary care is out there in Rogersville...Cornerstone.

Elderly Woman: oh, I see

Elderly Man: A doctor by the name of ah, a, Martin. Dr. John Martin.

Elderly Woman: Oh yes, I've heard of him. A lot of people like him.

Elderly Man: Yeah, and one thing you can say for him is that he takes time, he's thorough.
N

Naked as a Jay Bird

Last week, I finally found out what it means to be "naked as a Jay Bird" under unfortunate circumstances. While Waynesburg was being whipped by a nasty storm, complete with toppled trees and felled branches, the only damage here was 3 baby birds blown out of their nest. They were Blue Jays, I think, judging from the activity I had seen in the Maple tree lately. 3 pink baby birds without a stitch of feathers to cover them. J was devastated, so we had a baby bird funeral. She still had to go off by herself to recover from her emotions.

J is such an emotional child! She feels things very deeply, and at her age (5 going on 15) she hastens to let us know how she is feeling. As I write, I am listening to her cries and screams of injustice. My stomach is tied up in knots, because I never know if I have done the right thing when I discipline her, but I can't back down once I've made the decision. She is extremely tired after 2 mornings of swimming lessons, picnic in the park and pool in the afternoon. Add to that play with the Elaine children this evening, and she is in meltdown mode. Did I do wrong since she has been crying for 20 minutes now? Oh dear, how to know!?!

Once she is sleeping, I will likely go to her and cradle her head in my arms. If only these night time visits would make up for the pain she is feeling now! My dear, sweet daughter! If only you knew how painful the discipline is for the parent as well! I love you, I love you, I will always love you! Even my heart feels cold...like a naked Jay Bird.

T

The Perpetual Hostess

Our final overnight guest of the summer has gone, and after washing sheets and towels, I slumped onto the couch to watch "Finding Nemo" with the girls. We have had overnight guests here 19 of the past 30 days, plus a weekend away from home. I am just plain pooped from all the cleaning, planning, grocery shopping, cooking, entertaining, just overall being NICE.

In all fairness, my mother-in-law was here since the 2nd, and she really was quite easy...took long naps along with L and went to bed early. We did have to remind her over and over again that certain physical complaints came along with being 86 years old, and weren't due to any serious illnesses. But overall, this was the easiest of the bunch.

Now I'm ready to enjoy my home with just the noise of the girls play, interjected with a few fights (wow, can girls ever scream!). I want to enjoy sloppy meals made on the spur of the moment instead of well planned and prepared ones. I'd like to walk around half the day in my pj's if I so desire.

Of course, now I need to return, without excuses, to working on my list of home repairs...next up: excavating for some brick work. We also have J's swim lessons next week with the inevitable "making a day of it" at the pool a time or two.

DH and L are home with fast food for dinner, so I need to act as if I've been productive for the past 20 minutes. My best wishes and love to N.

T

APRICOTS

Thankfully, no "Little House on the Prairie" disasters occurred with my beautiful apricots as I waited for them to ripen. We did watch deer, groundhogs, and rabbits enjoy some of the windfall. With the help of my Mother-in-law, I got some canned and made some into jam. We also have been enjoying a huge apricot cobbler for dessert for the past few days, and have had many to eat fresh. Hooray for home grown produce!

T

Move Over Obama Girl!

This afternoon, L was singing herself to sleep: "Obama, oh Obama! Obama, oh Obama!" I'm convinced this has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that "Obama" is really fun to say, but due to my children being brilliant political minds.

I'm trying not to let my emotions guide my ballot finger in these elections, but I have to admit, I get goose bumps when I think about the staggering posibility of witnessing the first African American President come to office in this country. I am weary (8 years weary) of this administration, especially of an American leader who has his own best interests, not those of our country at heart. I want change!

So much for my political soap box. If you are interested, check out more Obama propaganda at http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/

T

Fruit of the Season

The apricots, which we've never had the opportunity to harvest

here, are looking luscious on the tree...not quite ripe, but SOON!

We picked these sweet babies on the way up the hill from the mailbox this afternoon.

T