Monday musings

Feel a bit out of joint in this joint.  When you have MYP running through the house, it is hard to be inspired to sit down and pen some beautiful prose.  Or musings.  But I must.

We were just at the strawberry fields.  I took only one of the MYP because it sometimes goes better that way. That and the simple fact that one was out of the country and the other was deep in slumber enjoying utter laziness of no schedule.  Mothers march their children to the fields with purpose.  The wagon ride is fun!  The anticipation is fun!  The berries are red!  You can eat as you go!  And then about 4 1/2 minutes later, you hear lots and lots and lots of complaining from the small fry.  "I'm hot.  I'm thirsty.  How long will we be here?  These are mushy!  I don't have many on my plants.  I'm still hot.  Can we go now?  NOW?  My spine even hurts.  A bug bit my ankle.  The hay is scratchy."  Seriously.  I heard every one of those.  And a few were from the darling I took along.

Then there was Mrs. Sixtysomething.  And "Dad" the old guy she brought along that had a literal folding chair.  She was a cantankerous sort.  There weren't enough berries.  Someone didn't move the flags like they should have.  The berries were brighter on someone else's row.  And every 27 seconds she would say "Dad, ARE YOU DOING ALRIGHT?" really loud because apparently "Dad" doesn't hear very well.  They picked about 49 berries in approximately 20 minutes and then they left.  I went back to their row and saw lots and lots and lots of berries that she left behind.  I think I learned a lesson.

Son #1 has packed his bags and left.  He even crossed the border with the Chicken Farmers and will be gone all week.  I feel a bit fluttery in my stomach that he's gone so long.  And so far away.  They left direct from a baseball game where he hit 3 for 3.  There was a huge smile as he leaped up and crammed himself in his place in the pickup and headed out for an 11-hour journey.  I'm thankful that I hugged him before we even left for the baseball game.  And I'm thankful he still likes that.

A few things I heard today:  "Why isn't T. gone longer than a week?  It seems too short!"  Let brotherly love continue...

"You look like a chipmunk with nuts in your cheeks when you smile like that."

"Mom, you know your breath always smells like tomato juice."  I apologized.  Then she said, "but I like it because it is just how you smell."  Like sour tomato juice.  I think some moms probably smell better.  Like flowers or something.

And I'm desperately trying hard to resist writing about the kitten we have named Simba.  So I won't.  But I can't help but post this picture of cuteness of the slumber party daughter #2 had with him the other night on the screen porch.  Yeah, we're treating him like a barn cat.

Mused out...

Thursday thoughts

Is anyone else battling the end-of-school year piles of treasures kept in lockers this past year?  Considering I tend to be clutter-free, these next days make my skin crawl just a bit.

Numbers don't mean a lot to me in regards to this blog.  But I did find it fascinating that I've just past 60,000 hits since the birth of the Chairman's Wife.

Strawberries are in short supply up in these parts.  The place where I go said it is because of our mild winter.  Go figure.  We need to freeze in order to have good berries.  I do hope to go pick in the next day or so.  It would be considered a crisis if I didn't have some more jam in the freezer.

Ok I admit it.  I am smitten with the kitten.  Yesterday, I was needing to get a lot done around here and when he was awake, I wanted to play with him like some little kid.  He is such a funny rascal.  All two pounds of him.  When he sleeps, he crawls up to my chest, kneads his teeny-weeny paws a bit, then settles down to sleep.  I feel like a new mother again.

See what I mean?  

Exploring the great outdoors

I realize there are two camps of cat owners.  Those that treat them like the Egyptians did...and those that treat them like rodent-catchers that belong in a barn.  We are probably somewhere in between.

The pet store lady told me that dogs and cats are impossible to live with each other.  Oh?

Our almost-teen got braces this week!  Sometimes I catch my breath when I notice the MYP aren't little anymore.

Today I keep thinking of two special ladies that will hop a plane next week and head across the deep blue sea for the good of others.  It makes my heart seize a little to think they most likely won't be back in the states for five years.  But the best way we can help them is to encourage them to go - even though it makes our hearts ache.  They will get the greater joy and so will we.  I'm thankful for this day and age of communication no matter the distance.  And I'm just very, very thankful for them.

Dog-gone it...

I'm not happy.  I have heard that blogs are the place to write down your deepest feelings or share about how your life is going.  Well this is Lisi, and life stinks.

You may have heard that there is someone new at our house.  The Big Lady that yells but loves me anyway hasn't been the same.  Instead of looking at me with dreamy eyes and thinking that the sun rises and sets in me, she is treating me as a mere distraction.  Honestly!  The nice Big Guy still takes me for my evening walk with him, but he's all silly and leans over this tiny little package of cat and acts like it is the cat's meow if you know what I mean.

This cat's name is Simba.  How do I know this?  Well Big Lady has been very, very annoying.  Each and every time I try to even get close to that little two pound ball of fleas, she says, 'Nice Simba.  Leave it!  Niiiiice Simba.  Simba is a good boy.  Aren't you Simba?'.  Well listen Big Lady, how do you know Simba is nice?  I have a hunch he's going to do some very dreadful things in the very near future and he won't look so "nice".  I sure hope so anyway.

And then there is Simba himself.  He's about the weight of my biggest toenail.  He has the nerve to think that this is his place now.  He has arched his back, swatted at my nose, and even growls a bit.  It honestly scares me just a little because I heard cats are ruthless.  Every time he does that, I back away.  If I wasn't a super-gentle golden retriever, I'd probably kill him with one chomp.  But I don't even think that way.  So I cower away and let him drink out of my water dish.  Insult me with growling noises.  And take up most of the time of the Big and many young people around here.  At least he has to stay in the screen porch and I get to sleep on my bed off the kitchen as usual.

Even though it all stinks a lot right now literally (have you ever seen a litter box?) and figuratively, I have a thought that maybe this little fur-ball will grow up to like me.  I've tried to do my best in being kind.  I'm sharing my world and my things and even my people.  So maybe, just maybe, he will remember my kindness and lay by me and purr some day.  But then again, he's a cat. And they are just not as classy as we dogs are.

I think Big Lady might even take me on a great, long hike today.  So I better stop venting.  I know you all love me to pieces, so maybe some sympathy thrown my way might be merited.

Thanks for listening.  Hopefully, life won't stink so bad in the future.

Monday Musings

I sure look forward to this time with you musing...  really I do.

We had a journey to the Twin Cities over the weekend.  The purpose was a memorial service for my dad's sister.  The most important aspect of it was that we could lay her to rest with the peace that she had received the same in the last couple of months.

It was super-special to be with family again.  It was super-special to see some special people again.  Some we know more by name/face than in person.  And in person didn't disappoint.  It was super-special to be with some that I knew 20 years ago when I lived there.  They might look somewhat different, but they 'feel' the same.  One man only knew me by my voice.  So I must have changed (I'm certain for the better...:-) ) as well.  I can relate when some come back on a 'home visit' and they stare at people trying to figure out if that father with the little boy is the kid they remember some years back.  I sure did that.

The topography was exactly the same, but the landscape was very different.  In a span of nearly 18 years, huge shopping complexes and condos are built where old houses once stood.  Life goes on.

One somewhat funny moment was meeting a very kind man that I am related to.  He came up to me after not seeing each other for probably close to 15 years and he said, 'hello Big Lady'.  Well the blog was the furthest thing from my mind at that moment and I was thinking, 'wow, he really thinks I have put on a few'.  He must have seen that look in my eye and then said, 'you know, the blog?'.  Oh yes!  For sure!  heh heh

On our way home, we pulled into the Culver's lot and got not custard, but a kitten.  Simba is officially part of our family (unless he really, really messes up and has to go back to the farm and live with his mother again).  This little two pound golden ball of fuzz seems to be a bright little thing.  He spent part of his first night in the screen porch on the chest of the Chairman (who was nearly against this latest adoption).  pssst.  Don't tell the Chairman I shared this sweetness.  So far, so good.  Until he decides to do some naughty little thing that I'm sure he will do at some point.  He will be mostly an outdoor kitty.  But until he is big enough to not to be supper for a raccoon or prey for a hawk, we will keep him safely in his little box in the porch.

Here are some pictures of the kitty and dog.  I am dreadfully sorry that I forgot my camera on our trip to 10,000 lakes.

very anxious to meet her new pal

Well this is enough this time.  I have some introductions to do between the 75 lb. dog and the 2 lb. cat.  Could be very interesting...  I'm sure Lisi will have something to share before too long.

Thoughts on a Thursday

A couple very special ladies.  They like us and each other too!

The Dad's!  Sharing how wonderful their children are (tee-hee)

Dirty-rotten homework gets in the way of fun...

The Chairman of course! 

Reading...

Found on the download.  It's dark and un-ladylike, but a captured moment someone took.

Proof that I don't take all the pictures.  This was a thrill because it was the first time I let them have it.

Lots and lots of fire trucks came to our street this week.  Luckily not for us.  Unfortunately for the neighbors.  Not sure what happened yet, but there are fire/water restoration trucks at their house now.  Ugh.

One week of school left here at the Chairman's house.  The MYP are thrilled of course.  But I find it sweet when they say they'll miss their teachers/classmates too.  I was even called Mrs. T yesterday by one of our own...  

So a little kitten will be joining our family on Sunday night.  This cat has pedigree that goes all the way back to a barn or possibly an alley.  He's cute and gold and going to cause a lot of disruption here at the Chairman and company.  I'm hoping he can stay.  He'll be an outside cat (we hope).  I doubt he writes any stories, because he can't possibly be smarter than Lisi...

But before kitten comes, we will be taking a journey down memory lane for me.  I will be seeing old stomping grounds.  Places I lived and worked and romped at as a free-spirited 20'something.  We will see where the Chairman proposed.  We will see where we married.  We will see old friends that were a huge help to me when I was young and single and sometimes needing help.  I'm so incredibly thankful to return back after nearly 18 years with a spouse and family that I deeply love.  I have been looking back the long years over and I do feel blessed...  

And we will be at the funeral of my aunt.  Sitting there with a thankful heart.  Seeing some folks that knew her or the family.  Yes, I'm looking forward to the next days.  They are certain to be wonderful. 

Memorial Monday Musings

Had to switch the title up on you so that you wouldn't think I'm predictable you know...  pretty clever, eh?

Do you remember the flood of 2012?  The one I mentioned one whole post ago?  Well one of the ways to make a marriage cruise right along is to sometimes omit telling misfortunes.  However, I made the grave mistake of marrying someone kinda clever.  In fact, the Chairman is quite intelligent.  To the point he realizes that his socks get damp each and every time he crosses the threshold out of the bathroom onto the carpet.  He finally asked, 'what happened???'.  Um.  Well there was this plant that needed watering... and...

We've had son #1 alone for the better part of this Memorial Day weekend.  It just happened that the daughters #1 and 2 had invitations to two different homes.  So we are having alone-time.  It is highly fascinating how different personalities are when they aren't threatened by a bossy or talkative sister.  Interesting indeed.  I am a big believer in that birth-order, amount-of-kids-in-the-family thing.  It does impact personality.  A lot.

I find great satisfaction in cutting scraggly tree limbs.  I'm not sure why.

On a very sobering note, one of our little neighborhood boys was bitten by a dog.  It was a boxer.  I liked this dog. He played with Lisi often when we'd walk by his yard.  But he bit our little neighbor boy.  To the point of 30 stitches.  It makes me sad for the little boy.  And leery about the dog.  The little guy will be fine thankfully.

It was touching to see a line-up of cars stop the other night as Mr. Mallard stood firm in the middle of the road.  Then he quacked coaxing sounds to the Mrs. and the wee ones and they all scurried down to the nearby lake.  I love nature.

Every day (unless there are gale-force winds), the flag of freedom flies proudly at the front of our home.  I think we fly it because it looks good on our white Cape Cod.  But mostly we fly it because we love our country and the liberties we have here.  Today on Memorial Day, I'm thankful for a father that was willing to go on a long boat ride to an unknown Korea and serve by helping in the medic wards in situations none of us would really like to face.

Think this is all I've got to muse today!

Thursdays thoughts

I would have posted sooner, but I was dealing with the flood of 2012.  Just a heads up in case you were wondering.  Do not put a big umbrella plant in the shower and covering a drain and then go off and get distracted by other things that seem important at the time.  You will return to a proverbial flood that leaves you wading in your own bathroom.  The silver lining is that our floor has never looked cleaner!

I was distracted by the outdoors.  Staring at my flowers and urging them to grow.  I LOVE this time of growth and green and new life.  I think I've said this before, so as to not lose the faithful, I'll stop now.

Except for the fact that I planted my vegetable garden yesterday!  Beans, carrots, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers... and more.  I do it because I should.  Not because I love vegetable gardens.

Another one of the MYP will be joining the 'tinsel teeth club'.  We have the most hilarious orthodontist.  I'm not sure what it is, but every time I go in for a consult with one of our kids, I find myself laughing nearly to the point of snorting.  Not good.  Maybe he thinks it's a way to distract me from thinking how much money it all is.  Nonetheless, he should have been a comedian.  But maybe orthodontists make more cash.

I noticed a new country that has lurked lately.  Iceland!  What a location!  Whoever you are, I'd love to come visit some day.  That country has always fascinated me.  On a side note, it is very evident that all the SAHM's are more busy once school is out.  Readership declines for sure during the summer.  I know it sure changes the way I operate.  We have a couple weeks left and I'm savoring the silence.

A lovely couple nearby just welcomed a baby boy.  All babies joining families are a joyous occasion.  But this one is sweeter and deeper because they faced a terrible loss a year ago.  Because of our own experience, when I hear of a situation like this, or a little one being adopted, it gives me pause and thankfulness in a richer way.  It is so nice to rejoice with those that rejoice.  And it is also needful to weep when others are weeping.

Now back to see how the tile dried off...