Pear tree in front of my deck... had my camera on hand for once!

Moon rising

Along Hwy 61 north of Duluth

Our favorite local state park

Interesting rocks along Lake Superior... one we COULDN'T take home.

what to do, how to choose...

A simple decision... throw it all away.  


A value pack with 50 coupons, Discover pre-approved credit card with a 10,000 limit, and a World Vision plea asking for $33.00 to help buy shoes for children.  I was going to throw it all away until I stopped and put everything in perspective...


There is a company who wants me to spend their money and 50 businesses who want me to spend it all on them.   And then there are children who can't even buy their own shoes...  


Forgive me Father when I have complained about the color of my carpet, about not finding what I'm hungry for while looking in a full refrigerator, and complaining I have nothing to wear.  Thank you for ALL the blessings you have bestowed on me.  I praise your name forever and ever.  Amen

Galatians 4: 6-7   Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Sons into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out "Abba, Father".  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.


I have asked my Dad for everything under the sun.  Most of my requests were answered with a gentle, "Think about what you just asked for."   Yeah, maybe ballet lessons on a 40 head dairy farmers salary wasn't something my parents could do.  But I really, REALLY thought that owning a horse wasn't far fetched.  I learned 5 years and 62 bleating sheep later, my Dad had a really good idea what his head in the clouds daughter could handle.  


I need to remember that now as situations arise when there is something I really, REALLY WANT, I need to quiet myself and listen to the wisdom of my Father.  I am his heir and knowing that, he will guide me, discipline me, and reward me with what will make me a light to the world.   


Glory to God now and forever


We make the choice to be a slave to the world or a servant to all.

How do you take a 3 foot tall hulk seriously?

So thanks to my Mountain Man, my two boys know all the Marvel Comic Book superheros.

Yesterday, my youngest and I went shopping for Easter dresses for my oldest daughter and myself.  Since he has to come with me wherever I go, we share shopping experiences.

 Let me say first, I   LOVE  Goodwill and any other thrift stores.  They are perfect for my 3 children who grow 1-2 inches in 6 months to a year.

Anyways..so, while shopping, I pull the Mom card and declare "it's my turn" at looking at "girly" stuff.  Meanwhile he pokes his head out from underneath racks of clothes after hiding to see whether I'm watching him.  This game has been recently crushed after startling an older lady by mistaking her dress for the rack of clothes.... whoops.

Then it's his turn and we head for the toys isle.  This isle, I have to admit, is a treasure chest.  You find an occasional find, but otherwise it's settling for a "new" used toy.  For my Mowgli, this is just fine.

However, this last visit, WE SCORED!!  We found the right hand from a pair of Hulk foam hands.  If you could get to know my little Mowgli, it pretty much sums up his personality.  He was punching trees, the ground, and walls.  It came in handy after a disagreement over the swing, but that was nixed and he was given his last warning.

Some kids have teddy bears or woobies or pillows they cuddle with to go to sleep, he's got his Hulk hand. We just have to take the batteries out every night...I can sleep through thunderstorms; however, last night,  I had dreams of a green monster breaking walls above me and growling out "HULK SMASH PUNY HUMAN!!"

My start

This is my Dad.   WAS my Dad.  

When I think of him now,  I remember an 1976 Olive green Ford that smelled like corn dust and old oil.  I remember butter pecan ice cream at night.  I remember softball in the fields.  I remember his "presence".  What you saw was nothing compared to what was hidden in that smile, or hug, or "What you thinkin' about?"  All I needed some days was an arm over my shoulder.  That arm could have stopped armegeddon.  To me it symbolized protection, deeper love I could ever imagine, and a stronghold from which I could leap from.

He died from a massive heart attack when I needed him most, or thought I did.  I found out my wings could hold me.  I've smashed into trees, flew too high and lost my breath, and flew into places I didn't know how to get out of.  However, through all, I've stayed in the air.

Time to open your eyes...

There is a thin veil that separates heaven and hell.

Our spirit leaves God the Father passes through hell and becomes a person

born with an original sin.

Christ took it upon himself to leave the Father, live as us to pass through hell and come back alive and unblemished, to become our mediator.

We are made in the likeness of Christ - body, mind and spirit.

We are chosen to die with Christ, put to death the original sin, 
and live to become half-brothers/sisters with him, 
to share in his inheritance when our time is finished here on earth.

Those that see this must act like co-heirs; 

we cannot just look the part, 

we must act the part,

with the grace and mercy of Christ Jesus.  

Each of us that holds Christ's light (His Love) in us 
will illuminate the world.  
The veil that separates will be no longer seen 
but seen through 
and the whole world will know 
the Lord's power, wisdom, might and glory.

Light bulb!... among other things

This is how I came upon an AWESOME inspiration....

- What we see in the mirror is just the "tent" we wear...

- A hug/hold from my Dad was a force field from ANYTHING that may be happening at that point in time.

- My children are being taught to be teachers, soldiers, and followers of Christ, and my littlest bear is going to
   be my protector and guardian.

- A friend dropping off a simple gift, unprompted, at the absolute perfect time.





All this prompted a really good joyful cry in my car, imaging myself being 
DOWN-SHOWERED with all of God's rich graces, mercy and gifts.  


So that as it slowed, I find myself kneeling
under a TONNAGE of ....joy.

You better not mess with me, my Father rules the world.

Apart from finding myself somewhat insane, I really don't matter in raising my children.  I really don't.  They have been created by Someone so much more adept and creative at making people do what He wants them to do.  He does it to make us better than we ever hoped.  It may not be our idea of a perfect life.  I tell that to my children.  I WANT them to be happy.  If I see in the future what they would like, I show then what to do now.  They know what they want.  They just want it NOW!  God is the same way.  He knows what would make us happy.  Trust in HIM and listen.

I have come to know these things...

My children are in my care only for a while.  They are here to make myself feel better about how I was raised.  I remember thinking and I think saying, "If I was my mom, I'd do this better."  Well, here's my chance.

They should be raised to do something life changing.  Whether it is be to rule their own life ( in some cases, this is an absolute feat)  or to rule the world.  Raise them to be generous, kind, understanding, worldly and ever mindful they will be judged and tested at the end.  Raise them as you would royalty.

Gianna Jessen

Psalm 127
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children [1] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.  

Luke 12:22-27

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Luke 12:22-27

a city built on a hill...

is built with the knowledge of the attention and many obstacles.

Camping in 2010

First cast of the year

back in the kayak again

Old enough to learn

What are we catching again?

Getting the big one..

Catch and release

Tent sweet tent

spearing pole

Standing guard

Terrace view

pretty posies

8 foot sunflower growing out of my compost

white gladiola

Dahlia

Morning Glory

I planted this flower as a blub and I have no clue what it is.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It only blooms for a day.

Red Gladiola

Nastursium

Pink Lily

Score ten for the American team

So my littlest one is in training phase...he knows exactly where that porcelain throne is and does a neat trick... 

His hips are exactly the height of the toilet, he throws his leg up over the back edge of the toilet seat like he's about to ride a gluttonous grandfather buffalo and sits there like he's sitting on a balance beam. 

I almost think one of these times he's going to throw his hands up and arch his back and declare himself gold metal winner of the toilet straddling event.   

His reward?  Being able to wear his brother's superhero underoos over his training pants.  Small victories... but for who?

May we remember...

I have 80 acres of woods through inheritance.  I have 5 acres of river property.  I have a house with a corner lot which contains gardens, a play structure, sidewalks, and the chance to fly any type of flag I want. 


I have chosen to fly the American flag.  I don't agree with most of the issues of our president.  However, I am grateful we can vote again for another president to clean up his messes like every other president before him. 

We have a military who is dispersed to protect our rights as Americans and for that I am able to forget 363 days of the year what it is like not to be an American. 

I thank my cousins


I thank my nephews


I thank my friends


I thank my uncles


I thank countless others who have served, lived, lost, sacrificed both their lives and time from their family to protect me.

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!

an ongoing birthday present

SUCKER!!

5 times.  And it's my bunny Thing 3 who has had a culmination combination of all of the the bad -isms Thing 1 and Thing 2 never had.  I'll just stick with one of them:

Thing 1 never had a problem with staying in her bed.

Thing 2 stayed in his bed after he woke up; his naps usually lasted 3-4 hours!

Thing 3 doesn't have time to sleep.  It's an inconvenience and completely unnecessary.  Then he has a very inconvenient blow out that would shatter Mike Tyson's worst day into the next decade. 

Then my little bear decides he needs loving.  Bats his ribbon long eyelashes, puts his perfect little head on my lap and says, "mama, uppy?"

We crumple on the floor together while he kisses my nose, cheek and eyelids and I giggle.  

"Thank you Lord for giving me the cutest kids in the world.  I'll talk to you in 10 minutes when this starts all over again."

Riddle me this?

Mountain Man and I are looking for a more kid friendly vehicle.  The one we have was bought for delivering exercise equipment only.  I'm using it because the day after we got it... the gas prices went through the roof. 

The two good things about it is you feel like you can run over B52 bomber and it's red.  

That's it.

Bad Gas guzzler, and you can watch how fast it guzzles too!  In pretty green florescent digital numbers!

A Kid Torture Chamber with Thing 3 being the torturer.  He's still pretty flexible so he does the splits and gets both Thing 1 and Thing 2 with a "WhupaH!!"  I get to hear the "MOOOOOOoooooOOOOMM!!"  He loves his shit-kickers, so on colder days I put Thing 1 in the front seat with the seat waaaaaay back.  She loves it.  Thing 2 still is in the back seat, but now he's the police.  "Mom!  He's throwing something out the window!"   "Mom, he's taking his shoes off!"  "Mom, he's throwing his shoes out the window!"  "Mom, he's doing SOMETHING!"   

*SIGH*

Bad thing is I can't get the new beautiful kid friendly vehicle until next tax season because... IT'S SO NICE NOT HAVING CAR PAYMENTS!!!

Life is such a riddle  or  lesson in patience.   I may just become the runner up for the Mother Theresa award.

yes... but....

So... one of my best friends live in Kazakhstan, my other best friend recently went to Aruba, my mother-in-law spent a month in Florida, my sister-in-law saw New Mexico, Mountain Man's best friend is in Florida and I'M THE ONE STUCK WITH TRAVELER'S SICKNESS!! 

WHAT . THE  .  HELL!

The good news is I am fitting into a cute little red t-shirt that I didn't think I was going to ever fit into.  

Would I rather be 15 lbs overweight and in a small villa south of France?  or would I rather be here sucking down yogurt and gallon jugs of water, 15 lbs skinnier?   

Ever had one of those days where you just want to stick your tongue out at the world, wrap up in a soft white, knitted blanket and stare out into space for the whole day?

Yeah, me too.

But I only get an hour into it after the kids have gone down for their naps

and then the phone rings, 

or the dog starts barking 

or I have to go to the bathroom.

Oh well, at least that hour told me there was more than just that cloud in the sky. 

Hello life.  Whatcha got for me today.

como park

Out of all the beautiful flowers, palms, ferns and tropical plants and fish... this magnificent creature was the best.  

A woman walked past me looking at him and said to her partner, "Let's go, this is depressing."  

Yes, but you are still walking past looking at him.  What were you expecting?  Como park takes only donations.  Enough said.

learn about the Minneapolis Como Zoo

Well now, upon a time...

Little Orley stories

After scouring the internet for down-loadable children audio books, 

I came upon this little doozy.  

My mom used to tell us these stories verbatim, 

voice inflection, accents and everything.  

Now I can pass down these priceless works of art to Thing 1 

to make her forget the awful dreams... 

which have helped by the way.  

My brave little one. 

See what????

Thing 3 was looking at something across the water.  He loves anything with a motor.  First he was looking for the plane.  

 Then he was looking for a boat... We didn't know it would be a car.

ah..... pleasures!

It's like I've been camping for the last 4 years...

We just installed a new water heater and brought the water pipes up to code.  (I don't think a rubber hose connected to the old water heater was good.)

Yesterday we were all able to take showers, run the dishwasher and I didn't have to choose which one of three light and white loads I was going run with warm water.  I could do all three!!  ... and then finish the dirty pans with hot... really hot water!!!  The plummer guys even fixed the toilet, my kitchen faucet and shined up my copper wind chime!!  And I couldn't even give them any baked goods!

Little by little, this house is starting to shine.

Rock a by baby....

Thing 1 came to bed last night and bumped Mountain Man out onto the couch.  Good thing he did because she had a HORRIFIC nightmare that she could not get out of her head.  

So I got the MP3 player with a bunch of downloaded Hans Christian Anderson stories and she listened to not one, but THREE of them.  

She's been doing so GOOD with not having nightmares or dealing with them.  I want to WRING the neck of the thing that is doing this to her.  VAMPIRES for pete's sake!  Where the heck did she find out about VAMPIRES!!!   She says school. 

That's ok.  I learned a lot of things that wasn't in the standardized curriculum.  She will also learn she has the ability to find the truth.  It may not be from me, or her dad or the teachers at her school or college.  

But like me, she WILL find the truth and she will swim in it and grow and develop and when she's 35, she will have a child like herself that she will comfort and download Hans Christian Andersen or Runyard Kipling or A.A Milne stories which her child will listen to and be comforted by.

too big for your britches...

Thing 2 was trying to stretch his wings at age 5 and testing the waters....

"Mom, when I'm 19, and I'm taller than you, I'm going to be the boss of you."

( this is coming from a 5 yr old BOY... who just told me 2 days ago, TWICE, that I'm beautiful.)  Just giving you the context of where this is coming from.

"Baby, even if you were 7 feet tall. I'd still be the boss of YOU."

Thing 2: "But, I'd be taller than you and bigger!"

"Baby, even if you were Dad's size, 7 and a half feet tall, AND the president of the United States, I'd still be the boss of you."    (At that moment, I needed to go to the kitchen to grab more milk)  

I heard as I was walking away...*sigh* "Boy, I didn't see that one coming."



I'll remember that when I think I can plan and handle my day without any help.

Have a Happy Easter!!!

http://www.uulyrics.com/music/michael-card/song-gods-own-fool/


Michael Card's "God's Own Fool" 


Seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to men
He must have seemed out of His mind

For even His family said He was mad
And the priests said a demon's to blame
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane

Chorus
When we in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
When we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong
And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell-
Believe the unbelievable
And come be a fool as well

So come lose your life for a carpenter's son
For a madman who died for a dream
And you'll have the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam
So surrender the hunger to say you must know
Have the courage to say I believe
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see

Chorus

So we follow God's own Fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable,
And come be a fool as well

the light bulb flickers...

While I was waiting in the wings with Thing 3 at church because he thinks he can sing and talk all the time, I was making up my own sermon.  

It was Maunday Thursday and the pastor was talking about the Last Supper and how it was supposed to be a festive time.. a celebration from slavery.  I could recite the story verbatim, however, that's how close it has always come... a good story.  

Here's mine:

What if George Washington is still living or Thomas Jefferson; depending on who you believe was most influential in the making of the U.S.A.  They've been close family friends for as long as you've lived.  Helping others remain free and living well.

On the 4th of July, you decide to invite them for a picnic.  At this picnic, they tell you they will die the next day.  Not only will they die, but they will by the hand of one of the family members. 

That's as far as I got.... Thing 3 started writing on me.  Then another thought struck me... why aren't more moms Christians?  Talk about a connection with Christ... loving your children no matter what because they are yours.  Constantly helping them instructing, and disciplining them because you only want what is the best for them. 

yeah, but.... ok.

So the shots saga ended with 3 in the thigh and increased screaming with each one.  Ended abruptly when Mountain Man told him his bravery was rewarded with legos.  

sudden quiet; "Star Wars Legos?" (sniff, sniff)

Two days later I was admiring his Speeder and his braveness, he said, "Mom, I really wasn't that brave."  

I hope this honesty continues.... he'll still get rewards for having shots.

wait a minute....

Thing 2 completely FREAKED when I told him we were going to the Dr. in one hour.   

"NO!!  I'M NOT GOING!   I'M NOT GOING TO THE DR'S!  NO   NO  NO  NO  NO  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"  (about 10  minutes of that)

Found out he wanted his sister to go with him.  The little scheisen told him that he was getting shots.  "Yeah, you're probably going to get shots.  I cried really hard when I got them and then I couldn't walk and my legs hurt for 2, no 3 days."

So after he calmed down to a whimper, I adamantly told him NOT to have Dr. W. put another nose on his face.  Also, if they needed to switch anything,  an ear on the forehead may work better because the two on the sides of his head were probably broken.  He actually looked at me as if I wasn't kidding. 


Mountain Man is going with him...there are no brave fronts in this house.

Dear Lord...

I pray for my children they find the talent 
not to exclude friends 
but to bring out the best 
in each person they meet. 

I also pray they find angels that help them soar.

Ewww......wait.. cool!!

Thing 2 started turning over my border bricks to see what was underneath.  I usually worked in my garden along side him and did an occasional, "Ohhh cool."  or "What it THAT?"  or  "Wow... don't bring that inside."   

Thing 3 has taken up that hobby.  I have to watch him a little more closely.  He tends to eat things.  Therefore, I'm catching the "Finding things under a rock" hobby. 

I found myself face in the dirt to see what insects can flatten themselves to live under the rocks, watching other "things" upclose, also what kind of eggs and tunnels they make.  Then little fingers push between my nose and the dirt to mess things around a bit to get things moving.  We did this for about half an hour before I realized we had turned up the entire side of the house.   

I used to admonish the kids for doing this because it just didn't look nice and made the blocks crooked.  

Wow... talk about a buzz kill.  I'm going to put myself in time-out.

here it goes....

I've started planning my Mom's 70th birthday party and it's a secret.  I'm thinking.. no, hoping no one in her family has her gift of gab and slips up.  That includes me.  I'm no gabber, I'm a thinker and I think out loud especially concrete things.  

It's 2 months out and I'm pretty much doing everything.  Only because I'm a control freak on my own ideas.  I've had this in my head since her last birthday.  Now I finally have a chance to act it out.   

I'm completely psyched on this whole situation because it doesn't include diapers, homework or Legos.  And...

I'M IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. 

Now, that may be all in my head.  However, even after 3 kids, I still am baffled by what my children say and do.  I'm ok if the shelter isn't available, or someone doesn't have tables, or doesn't bring in enough drinks.  That situation can be remedied.  I'm NOT ok with Thing 3 puking, while a very able Thing 1 pushes Thing 2 out into the front lines at that very moment to ask for a snack with chocolate milk.

Did I mention the party is 4 hours away with no Mountain Man help?  Just give me my ipod and some chocolate and a little cocktail if you have it.....

get me out of here!!!

A grandfather took his grandson, William, to a Civil War Re-enactment one afternoon.  Being 5 years old, the re-enactment seemed so real to Will that he didn't want anything to do with being up close and personal with the actors.  So the grandfather took William to a hill overlooking the battle all the while reassuring him these were just actors with fake guns and no one was dying.  William was starting to calm down and watch the action when a general close to them yelled, "Alright boys!  Fire at Will!  Fire at Will!!"

I'll show you mine....

The best thing about spring is that you get all dirty.  It's been around 50-65 all week for Thing 1 and Thing 2's spring break.  For Minnesota, that's amazing. The best thing.... the kids' boogers are a whole different colour.  That's how I can tell they had a good day.

.

Whatever - Part II

There's just some people you hope do well after you're through with them... 

http://shop.kindredmarket.com/collections/all-tees

.....and there is people that you hope their 6th business goes under..... again.   Yes, a woman scorned.  I'll get over it..... after my therapy session.

Have a great day.

Whatever...

Why is it I never have my camera when eagles are around or within shooting distance?

Why is it when I turn my back at the park, that's the moment Mogli decides to see if he can fly?

Why is it I find the exact right words minutes before or after a conversation or a fight?

Why can I find the right clothes to wear any other day but when I need to show off, I look like a hooker going to church?

Why do I have my most profound thoughts right before falling asleep?

just shoot the damn thing....

I'm trying new things with my camera.  I'm shooting with my Tv settings and finding it sharper.  However, shooting in the sun and finding the perfect setting is difficult.  Overexposure has been my problem.  But when I get it right... well, duh.

There was so much spray coming off the falls...I tried to capture it.

  Then I changed the settings... still not happy with it though...

 Just makes it look overexposed... any ideas?

This was my super macro setting...

  I played with the light with this shot... at least 10 different ways.. all with the same setting...

Then it was just finding cool things to take pictures of... 

 I thought it looked like an aerial photograph of an Arizona red rock formation.

peal with me

The earth has a rhythm.  If you are out in nature for a time, you find yourself walking in time with it.  It's not a march, or a tiptoe.  It's how water runs through a stream or how a bird's calls come with it's own cadence. 

After being out on one of the warmest days in March I can ever remember, the morning after had me gasping for breath.  I felt like I was pregnant and completely zapped of energy. 

I sat out in the sun in the early afternoon and apart from feeling the sun soak into my soul, I could not take a deep breath.  Until I heard a robin peal out in the tree above me.  Everything let go and I laughed.  A bubbling laugh that exploded...kind of like milk shooting through your nose at a unexpected joke. 

I have felt my "wings" have been clipped.  Not by anyone in the house or by the seasons.  It is because of the proximity of the streets, houses, people, cars, the amplified gas station attendant a block down saying "PUMP 3, YOU ARE READY", etc.

I pray that robins include me in their bewitchment more often until I can find 5 acres or more all to myself where I can spread my wings.

our endeavor

This was halfway done.  We had painted the trim on the windows and found it to be a huge mistake.

Harley was very patient with all his regular sleeping spots taken. 

See the mistake... Mountain Man kept saying "They shouldn't sell poop to people... it's just not nice."

another way of learning an old habit

embrace life

tell me you love me.....

I made these when I had an intestinal bug....weird, I know.  I was hungry, but I wasn't knowing it was going to get me in the end.  (hehehehehe)

My husband calls them snowshoes.

peanut butter

butter for smoothness

powdered sugar

whip this until it's oh so creamy and dreamy

melt any kind of chocolate you prefer... dark, milk chocolate, or just chocolate bits.

place waffle butter pretzle chips down over waxed or parchment paper
squeeze some of that creamy pb on the chips and then DRENCH them in the chocolate.

I let my kids do the chocolate.  I HIGHLY suggest you do that.

I'm not doing pictures for your sake. 

soft gooey insides

I watched "Chocolat" and I realized I see myself as Judy Dench. 

Don't pity who I am.  Don't you dare pity who I have made into myself just because I am actually living my life as how I see fit.  Also making sure the one I love have fun with me as they see fit. 

Seen as a grumpy woman, only because she can't love the people around her hard enough.

smells like rain, must be rain

I had the windows flung wide open yesterday with fans going at full blast.  Granted it was only 37 degrees, but the sun was shining and I was getting laundry done.  I only hung a blanket out on the lines all day.  It was a wonderful smell of the outdoors... however, this morning it smelled like dirt. 

It rained last night and now it smells like wet snow and dirt outside.  Not necessarily a bad thing... just different from a winter smell.  Spring is coming. 

get a room....

 

My right hand ring from 

Right Hand Man.

My Mountain Man.  

The one who fights to love me 

and loves to fight me.

The rock and the water beating at each other 

to find they are more beautiful after the storm.

Call me Grace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

pushing up daisies

My father died 10 years ago.  Before he died, he wanted his body donated how ever it could.  His arms, legs and eyes were able to be donated to whomever needed them. I met a man today whose wife was having surgery tomorrow to correct her cataracts.  Even though it was 10 years ago, somehow, I was able to connect part of Dad to the present.  Dad was and is like that.  He finds himself in my life here and there.  Through my children, through little "isms" of my husband, through memories and dreams I live.  I heard a quote, "God is in the dirt."  When I thought about Dad, he was always working in the fields or with the animals, or somehow with his hands.   He had pride in what he did, even though he was only a farmer.  Lived, breathed a farmer, and died a farmer.  When you live and love your life... you find you live forever through someone else's eyes.

snow and superheros

Why is it such a age difference between 4 years old to 5 years old?  

He grew up overnight.

  

 

You can always apologize later.....

I love this!!!

if .....then what?

Last thought before I fell asleep....


What if the Packers played the Dodgers in a double header of Baseball then Football?  


- I don't think the basemen, especially the catcher would be able to play in the football game.
- I think the Dodgers would win.
- The pitcher would play the quarterback and vise versa.
- It would be played in April.
- It would be played in LA.
- No coaches and no refs.
- Softball rules.
- Tickets would cost $1.

Ups and Downs

I've been skating for most of my life, but I'm still a clutz. Somehow, I think I do ok. Maybe I would really know if someone would summon the balls to tell me I look like a drunken ibis. When my family and I went skating, the kids were playing tag with me. Of course my youngest can only stand and watch us since he pouts throughout the winter season due to the several layers of clothes he is forced to wear.
So every once in a while I would grab him on the fly under his arms and have him barely touch the ice like he would be running on water. Unfortunately, I lost my footing and we both went face first into the ice. My hands caught the ice as I heard some part of my son's face hit the ice. In my head, I'm thinking, "not the nose, not the teeth, not the nose, not the teeth." When I looked at him, I'm not seeing any blood. Then I see the streak on his jacket and I look at his chin. A 2 inch long bright red gash had opened and was dripping, no gushing all over his jacket.

I was about to run him all the way home on my ice skates and drive him to the ER when my husband laughed and told me after my son would stop crying, he would thank me for the start of his scars he would accumulate over the length of his life.

Then he took the tissue away from my son's chin and it was only a 1/2 inch little red V and it had stopped bleeding, thanks to the 20 degree with a wind chill of 5. After 5 minutes of gauze and rainbow band-aids, my son had a little colourful chin guard and bragging rights.

Being part Canadian, I am partial to ANYTHING Canadian.  Saying that, I thought the opening ceremonies were the best ever!!!  I tried to find a video of it, but all I found was more hype on the different achievements of David, the producer than on the actual performance.

anyways, the following 16 days are my "mardi gras" so to speak.. Enjoy!!!!  It is history!

No matter what.... it's still American!

 I love the Muppets....

cravings

The package of frozen blueberries were burning a hole in my freezer... so to speak.  So I dumped them in a glass dish and put my mother-in-law's recipe for Almond Lace cookies on top... only made it more diet-like.
1c oatmeal
1/4c. flour
1t. baking soda
1/2c slice almonds
 1/2 - 1 c. honey (depending on sweetness)
1/2t cardamom
1 egg white
1/4c melted butter
1 pkg of frozen blueberries

 

My 1 year old son ate a 1/4 of it 15 minutes after it was finished... and then I tried it.  It came out better than expected... a little less sweet but tasting very fresh.

And then I made Rosemary Italian bread.... That was a mistake.. I don't mind doing 50 more sit-ups and 30 extra minutes on the elliptical.  

Like a dummy, I feel guilty for going out and leaving the kids with anyone else besides me.   Controlling, maybe.  Thinking my kids are a little too much for someone else, maybe.  I know my place, I know my responsibilities and I know the kids are mine.  My husband secretly agrees with this.  He denies it wholeheartedly, but I know what he's thinking.  I know what everyone thinks.  I can read minds.... and this is why I need to get away!!!!!

So...One night, I'm laying awake thinking about the next "date" (a work banquet) my husband and I are going on.  I am wracking my brain wondering why I think this way.  I finally fall asleep.

hurry up and wait

I ordered my seeds from Jung's catalog while it was snowing. It's tradition. The picture in my head is always larger than life. I'll have to figure out how to keep my dog from peeing on my plants outside of the white fence so I don't get the runs again. I've decided to make a pole bean arbor on either side of the sidewalk that runs from the house to the garage. We might not be able to eat one side of the beans as they will be "outside the white fence". I'm also thinking planting in my landscaped area in the front of the house with cabbages, lettuce and some tomatoes. However, since that is the runway to the squirrel tree, it's not going to be a good idea. I may have to rent some lawn space from my neighbor. Or I'll just pay the kids to run interference for a $1.

give a man a fish....teach a man to fish..

So.... A man saw a beggar and decided to give him one of the fish out of his creel as he had enough to feed his own family for that day. The beggar was happy and thanked him again and again. The next day, the man saw the same beggar in the same place waiting for him and for another fish. So the man took the beggar down to the river and showed him the fine arts of fishing. After catching enough fish for the man and his family and for the beggar, the man took the beggar home and showed him how to cook the fish. The beggar looked as if he had tasted heaven's food itself. The beggar thanked the man and his family profusely and left. The man didn't see him for a long time. One day, the man and his wife went to a Five Star restaurant and had a wonderful meal. The man wanted to compliment the chef and was told the chef was already on his way out to meet him. The chef sat down and asked how was the fishing these days. The man was confused. He then looked closer and saw it was the beggar. The beggar went into how that meal at the man's home inspired him to show other's the wonderous display of taste buds to something made well and eaten. The beggar/chef went into how he went to school on government grants, graduated culinary school, started working for a uncle's friend at a local diner until he had enough altered recipes to break out on his own. He then fell into better luck as to his grandmother died and in her elation of her grandson "getting back on his feet" left him all her money. He took that money and bought this restaurant and now pays others to work for him and he sits back and watches the dough rake in. The man and his wife were happy for him and wished him well. When the bill came it showed the full amount. The man and his wife were taken aback but paid it anyway and left. The next month the man read in the newspaper that restaurant was closed and the chef was sentenced for filing false income tax returns. The chef was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison. The chef also admitted that he underpaid employment taxes by $250,000. The man folded the newspaper and asked his son to finish all his chores so that he would earn his full allowance.

chapter one towards my mini grape arbor

I finally have twigs from a real-honest-to-goodness grape farmer/winery. Because of my selective hearing, I can't tell you the name. 4 twigs from my Mom on my baptism birthday. I think she's the only one who celebrates baptisms anymore... I think it's pretty cool.... and that I got grapes... you know the thing about "I am the vine, you are the branches..." a very humbling verse, but also very staggering in the fact you are very much connected to the King. Anyways... so as I'm planting the branch twigs, I found I only have two of them. I found them in the bushes by the deck two days later. They are in the ICU and hopefully if I nick them, they will be green and I will plant them. I still need to find an umbrella of sorts while they "get their legs" for about 2 weeks. They look like baby cows which were just dropped, very unstable and fragile. I've been crossing my fingers hoping for some growth or a show of green or buds or something. I'm a very impatient gardener, checking on my plants everyday... it also forces me to pounce on the weeds sucking up what my plants need. Now that I think of it... am I the same way with my kids? Jumping on every bully that comes their way? Yikes!!

Finally, sweet and BIG!!!

After 3 years of growing strawberries and watching them creep their way into neighboring plants, I have moved half of them under my pine trees. They are much happier. Even though they are not in a sunny place for half the day, the leaves are bigger. The fruits are slower producing so we will see which are sweeter. So far, I have picked a quart from my central garden and have won smiles from the kids.