Freddy Four

One member of our family that I continue to not communicate about is Freddy. His legal name is Freddy Four. Our kids named him that nearly four years ago. Freddy was delightful to the family until the first week was over. Then he became my fish. Freddy is a sturdy fellow. Loves to get all worked up when we put a mirror next to his bowl and he flares out and tells 'the other guy' that this is his turf and get out! He races to the top at each feeding and now graces the shelf next to my kitchen sink so I can watch him deliriously swim around while I'm working. I sometimes wonder what the life expectancy of a betta would be, but as far as I know, this one should be a Grandpa by now! I threaten to the kids that I'll flush him some day. But to be honest, I kinda like the guy. He swam over in the move sitting on a neighbor boy's lap. No worse for the wear! Anyway, that will probably be the first and last post on something as silly as a fish. Unless we have an obituary to write some day...

The end of summer

So we're at the eve of school starting tomorrow. I'm filled with bittersweet feelings. Once again, my three dear little kids will head off into an unknown school year mixing in with the masses. They'll be in a new school and need to meet new little friends. Luckily for them they are quite outgoing and should do well. I spent an hour going through their incredibly long lists of supplies. And!!! I didn't forget anything! Whoooeee. I was sure there's be something missing. Oh, but one goof. I got Trevor a green ruler and it was supposed to be clear. Do you think his teacher will wrap my knuckes (or worse, T's!) with it?

Trevor was desperately sick in IA. And it had nothing to do with dirty underwear. I digress. Anyway, after dealing with chronic wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, I took him in today. Most likely pneumonia. Thanks a lot Marla and family! I should have been thinking. So he's on an antibiotic for the first time in his life and got an inhaler as well. Already he's more spunky and getting the glint in his eye again. He apparently had only 25% capacity for breathing when they checked around noon! Scaries.

Iowa was rich and full and incredibly wonderful. I got reacquainted with my 2nd cousin and family after a 10 year absence. I got to see my 'old' friend from little girl days. I got to laugh with another fellow blogger who I've known since she was a babe in her mother's arms. I got to visit with some people that I regard as true saints. I got to hear things that will encourage me for years to come. I was chastened with some thoughts. I got to oversee our three plus another friend fill up napkin cups. It was adorable watching them take their jobs so seriously. I got to hear the kids say after sitting for four solid days that they wanted to stay just for one more meal, one more hour, one more day if possible. That was a joy.

I said goodbye to my uncle. He's leaving again for the land he loves. He's not ours and even though he's been 'away' for most of my life, it still makes the heart ache to see him go. He does so much for so many and for that we are thankful.

I love the sound of crickets. This new home we are in has some qualities I really wouldn't choose if we built a home (namely the beautiful, dark quarter-sawn wood floor that shows the teensiest-weensiest fleck of dirt). But! It has this screened in porch off the kitchen (that I'm sitting in right now) and it is lovely. Wonderful. Peaceful. And I hear crickets. And the dog snoring at my side.

For all you Lisi lovers (and some of you Lisi tolerators), she loved the doggy kennel experience. We take her to Duane's cousin's kennel. Not your normal-run-of-the-mill kennel that they sit in until their loved ones come back. This is doggy dream world! They have a schedule. Eat. Sleep. Play groups! Lisi was with the puppy group and they romped and wrestled and played themselves into a stupor. Then they go back to their respective spots and sleep and eat and do it all over again. This kennel is a bit like a spa place. They sell essential oils for your dog! They do doggy massages. They do aromatherapy. I kid you not. It almost makes my stomach hurt. When we got home she really wasn't anxious to get out of the van. She was thinking the doggy day camp was more fun. But! She's been nice today. Not naughty. Not devious. No nipping! She doesn't know that she's in for some Boot Camp this week. Once the kids are off to school, I'm going to make a concerted effort to get her to understand a few basics of life.

I need to go back to our old pad this week to get my rhubarb and raspberries. And possibly some perennials. I can't wait to dig up my new garden next spring.

Time to pull down the lunch boxes and get them filled!

Happy school year ahead!!!

PU!!!

So I open Trevor's suitcase to take out his dirty clothes and lying there are five very bleached white pairs of undershorts.

Me: Trevor? Come here.
Trevor: What?
Me: Come here I said.
Trevor: (comes over) What?
Me: Why are these all here?
Trevor: What here?
Me: Your underwear. They all are clean!
Trevor: Yeah?
Me: Didn't you change them at all when we went to Malcom?
Trevor: No, I never had time.

You go take a shower right now! And change your underwear!!!

p.s. Lani: I'm still laughing over the big yellow underpants!!!

Tuesday times

* So Mira went to new student assessment this morning. She is super funny and outgoing with us. She gets into a new environment and clams up and barely can breathe out her name. On our way there she wondered if they would just write 'stupid' across the sheet that they were using to assess her. I found it hilarious. Then she asked if they'd go out to recess so she could show them how good she does on the monkey bars.

* Our dog which isn't the brightest of the litter things finds sneezing alarming. Every time I do it, she comes running over with an alarmed look on her face and then looks out the window with a slight cough-bark warning others of the sneeze.

* I can't wait for tomorrow. A trip to IA with great days anticipated. But I have a lot of clothes to iron before we go. And Trevor is very concerned that the right shirt/pants will be worn on the right day. So I said I'd label them with a tape or something so he and daddy know what to do when. And I can't decide how much or how little to take for the meeting times. The kids are older and don't need to be so terribly entertained.

* It is bone dry here still. After a hurricane-like spring.

* I'm feeling quite at home here now. And I'm even used to the boxes lying around. When school starts next week, I can start getting us more settled.

* I think Trevor has asthma. He's getting worse as he gets older. I have an appt. scheduled for him in September. But his constant coughing and wheezing are a pretty good indication. He's no complainer though...

* Last night I made wh. wheat pancakes and farm fresh eggs (thanks Sarah), and fruit for supper. The kids always grumble when breakfast is supper. But I raced in the house at 5:45 with three starving kids. And they ate it well. So...

* The trampoline is up and running and used very much. It is great exercise for old moms too.

* The walking around this new place is awesome. We're basically in the country and hear all the farm animals. Plus I was entertained by two bluebirds this morning! Beautiful.

Lisi's latest

Hi to all of my fans out there. I've had just a super day again. I heard a rumor that the lady that yells at me but loves me anyway was saying some nasty things about not wanting me around. I know she's full of tough talk. Sure I frustrate her to the nth degree, but hey! I'm a puppy! I look like a dog. I smell like a dog. But I'm a puppy! And I deserve to act like one.

Today was boring. We didn't go anywhere in the van. I love to go places. When you are a dog you never know where you're going. You just jump in and surprise! Here we are! Some place I've been before or somewhere I've never been either. Smells. Fun. People. I love going. But today? Nothing.

Well I was outside with my buddy Trevor. He was busy rollerblading on the front sidewalk and taking these huge leaps off of a ramp. He was busy. I saw an escape to find something to do. And there it was!

A car stopped over across the street. It looked like a friendly guy inside. The car had lights on top. And special bars between the seats. And serious looking tires. I ran to take a sniff. Then I decided it would be fun to follow this guy in a brown outfit to the house. There's little kids there. Don't they like dogs like me? Well Mr. Brown Outfit knocks on the door and it opens and what in the world am I supposed to do? I run in! A new house! Boys! Toys! It smells like supper is on the stove. I grab a toy and head outside with it. The lady grabs me by my collar and tries to pry it out of my mouth. She didn't say 'give', so I didn't. The lady looked frustrated. I should add that I never met this lady before and I don't think the lady here that yells and loves me anyway has met her either. Then I hear my name. Oh no. The lady back at home is looking frantic. She's marching down the street with my leash. I'm done for. Mr. Brown Outfit is walking back to his car and I see my lady coming with purpose. She grabs me by the collar and puts on my leash and sends me home with Trevor. Then I hear her saying all these schmaltzy apologies to a lady she had never met. Isn't that great? I brought neighbors together! Aren't we supposed to love our neighbor? I'm trying my best to do what is good. So there I was stuck on my rope at home watching my lady talking with the other lady. It went on a long time and by the time she was leaving, the ladies were laughing together. So I must have done my job. They like each other. It all seemed successful until my lady walked up to me and said some stern words. I wish people knew us dogs better. It sounded like this... 'blah, blah, blah, Lisi, blah, blah, blah'. Her tone was stern, but as she got done with it all, she did give me a quick pat on the head. I think I did something not quite right, but I'm not sure what.

From the lady that lives here: Imagine my horror looking out the front window and seeing two neighbor ladies (one holding onto my dog) and a sheriff talking in a neighboring yard. I thought we were definitely on a hit list and would be paying a fine for a dog at large. Well, he was there for a different, benign reason, but my dog was wandering without supervision. Back to training we go...

Double whammy

So E. the new neighbor girl is getting comfortable here. Very very comfortable. To the point she says what she's thinking.

I'm in the living room putting together a new nightstand for one of the girls (see... two nightstands are needing to be built if you do the math).

E: What are you doing?
me: Putting together a nightstand.
E: It is taking you a really long time.
me: Yes, I've never done one like this before.
E: You're really slow.
me: I'm doing the best I can.
E: I think it is because you are a girl. A boy would do it faster.
me: Really?
E: How old are you?
me: 43
E: You are that old? My dad is younger and he still could build it a lot faster than you.
me: Well that's nice (what else could I say?)

On a side note: After putting together nightstand #1 in about 2 hours, I got nightstand #2 done in under an hour. Great learning curve, eh?

Cookie Crumbs

Just did up a batch of chocolate chip cookies to feed the masses. Feel like making bullets of my thoughts again. No promises of even a snicker or even a 'hmmm' from them. But it makes me feel better!

* Two of our former neighbor boys are here. Almost feels 'normal' to hear the din and commotion two added to the mix bring.

* Especially in light of the fact we had Rayna gone over the weekend, and T&M gone Sun. night-this morning. So the fighting was less. The noise not as noisy. And the grandparents R. will enjoy a nap later today I reckon.

* I was worried about the range/oven that was built in here when we bought the house. It is a gas set-up. If you know me at all, you would know a good therapy afternoon for me is baking bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, or stirring up another pot of pasta. And so it was extremely important for me to have something I like. Well I LIKE it. A lot. I grew up on gas. No, that sounded wrong. I grew up on love, food, and fresh SD air. But my mom always had a gas stove and so it feels like I've come full circle.

* I'm so happy our water doesn't stink. And now the house smells more familiar. We must have a family odor? I'm not saying we're not clean. I think we are... maybe really are. But yet, now it has a familiar smell again. Maybe it is the bread that rises now. The garlic in the pasta sauces. And the same shampoo on the shelf.

* I told D. last Saturday I was about ready to sell Lisi. I think it is because I'm busier than normal. But I'm tired of the work of an overgrown puppy. And she's figuring out where she belongs in the scheme of life. She's completely adorable. Mostly smart. But very frustrating when the next hole is dug, the next neighbor yard is found, and the next hair is shed. We'll probably keep her. But. Oh boy.

* We begin with a new meeting for Wed. starting tomorrow! I'm sad and happy at the same time. I know it'll be good. But we'll miss our old bunch too. Lucky for us, Sundays are still the same.

* We need rain.

* We look forward to a great conv. in IA next week! I think we'll bunk it.

* The kids just LOVE rollerblading, riding scooters in our unfinished basement. We want to build it out, but now I'm wondering maybe we should wait and let them just be wild down there this winter?

* The trampoline came! It is partially set up already. Should be finished by tomorrow.

* I've froze 30 meals of corn! I'm so happy to have that much done.

* Tonight's menu is grilled bbq chicken, pasta, corn on the cob, cukes w/cream, sliced tomatoes, fruit salad, and dinner rolls. We have a family coming over. The man of the family is Duane's friend from all his growing up years. Haven't seen them in a long time.

* Duane asked last night for mosquito spray. I ran downstairs and went right to the box and there it was! See??? All that looking for libary books paid off. Literally.

* I hope my niece that just moved to KY doesn't forget to come home once in awhile. We'll miss her a lot.

Enough crumbs. Now on to ironing...