Verbosity

Stocking Stuffer Triumph!

2012-01-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

My son, the intrepid snow reporter for KGMI – among otherthings – spent most of last week on the road, checking conditions and findingtrouble spots and areas for others to avoid. He would never be able to do this,except for his trusty old “Heavy Chevy”, a pickup truck that has seen a lot ofaction over the years. It has big tires, and a noisy muffler, and already is inless than pristine conditions so is available for risk-taking.

The perfect vehicle for snow reports…

Last week, Heavy Chevy was getting a work out, and asconditions continued to need monitoring, Old Trusty faltered a bit. As Dillonwas delivering one of his co-workers to her home in Ferndale, the truck startedfading, and they limped off I-5 to a gas station. Dillon ended up getting towedhome that night, and spent the rest of the evening thawing out the carburetor beforeHeavy Chevy was in working form again.

Concerned that he would lose his mobility if some systems onthe truck were not tuned-up, Dillon intended to get the necessary parts in townthe next day. He had finished his morning reporting trek around the county, andwas warming up the truck to head into town when he decided to put the chainson. During this operation, he bumped the valve stem on a front tire whichcracked and immediately started hissing. He quickly plugged the gap, but thenhe was stuck! If he let go, the tire would go flat, and he could not get totown without that tire on the truck to go fixthe tire on the truck or anything else!

EMERGENCY!

He couldn’t even leave the front tire to go get help. Aftersome tricky maneuvering, he got his phone out of his pocket without letting goof the valve stem, and called Tiffany, who was in the house. They had to figureout a way of keeping air in the tire long enough to get to town – a mere 2miles, but it could just as well have been 10 – to fix the tire and maintaintheir mobility.

What to do? What to do?

(And here comes my moment of triumph…)

Dillon to Tiffany: “Didn’t Mom give me some glue in mystocking? Find that and bring it out here, but be ready to head for town rightaway because if this works, we’ll be in a hurry.”

Tiffany found the glue: “Quick Grip” often touted by my blogfriend Julie Jacobs, for her most challenging craft projects. And, I admit, Ididn’t think the boys would be too excited about getting a tube of glue intheir stocking – but hey, it was practical, and nice to have on hand.

Little did I know…

Dillon globbed the glue on the valve stem, and they waitedfor it to set up…not a sure thing in 18* weather! He finally dared to let go ofthe valve stem, and it held…no leaking. They gave a little more time to let itthicken, and see if it would keep holding…Then they jumped in the truck andheaded for town in a hurry! They had to go through a few small drifts, and theberm the snow plow left at the intersection, not to mention more ice and snowon the road. They kept Heavy moving and were hoping they wouldn’t run out ofair before they reached Zylstra Tire…Success! They had enough air to drive intothe shop, and there found that the tire had not leaked a bit during their trek!They explained their situation to the tire guys, who were quite amazed thatthey had been able to make it – a broken valve stem and glue, through snowdrifts? Amazing!

When the tire guy went down to look at the problem, hetouched the valve stem; it gave way, and immediately, the tire went flat…

But they were in town, where they could fix the tire, andget back on the road to continue reporting for the safety of Whatcom Countians-- all because Mom(that would be me) had put a tube of glue in Dillon’sstocking!!

I pretty much rock.

And now all Dillon’s friends want to know where he got thatgreat glue…so if you see a bunch of farm trucks, and 4 wheel drives in theparking lot at Michael’s Craft Store you’ll know why.

Oh, it's a good day!

2012-01-16T15:20:00.001-08:00

We're getting the winter I had hoped for, and I have resolved that I am snowbound. I could get out, but I don't need to, and I don't want to. Just happy to be enjoying the beautiful scenery outside my window...

Daisie was thrilled with the snow today...unlike yesterday. She was eager to go out for our walk yesterday, but halfway through she was carefully stepping in my smoothly frozen tracks from the day before. The melted and re-frozen snow crust was scraping her feet at every step. Later, when we tried to get Olive some desperately needed exercise, the results were even worse. Poor little Frenchton had bleeding feet in short order, and that did nothing to improve her mood! So much pent up energy, and chewing her only release...It's getting expensive for Caitlin between the rawhides, and the destruction that she has caused of late...

I won't say anymore about that -- except that you better not leave her alone with the furniture...

No such problems today! The 4-5" of soft snow was cause for rejoicing for this boxer -- and I hear, for the little Frenchton as well! Crazy running, snuffling, and eating of snow!

Nice snow beard, Daisie!

"Mom -- I'm trying, but I can tell you that I won't be able to eat it all...Sorry."

I don't know why, but boxers always think they have to clean up the snow by eating it...

I've had dreams about a snow day, and how I would spend the whole day doing projects that I never get to...Nowhere to go, there would be no excuse...

The truth is that so far, I have done no projects, have drunk 3 cups of coffee, and boiled some eggs so if the lights go out I'll have protein. Oh -- and I read 3 chapters of my book, and had a nap -- pretty much at the same time.

And I looked out the window...

A LOT!

I think I will consider "Looking Out My Window" an official snow day project.

Purgery...

2012-01-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nope, I didn't spell it wrong. (Okay -- it's one of my own word creations, but its apt...)

There's been a whole lotta purgin' goin' on in this here house.

It's so much fun!

In my fit of New Year inspired organization, I made plans to unclutter my little office/work area. As I contemplated what containers, boxes, baskets I might need to corral my most important stuff/tools/junk, I realized that I really had no more room for containers/boxes/baskets on my counter...Hmmmm...

It occurred to me that I had several cupboards of stuff that I didn't get into very often. If they were empty, I could open up some counter space...And that's when the purging began!

I found sewing patterns I had never used, and wouldn't fit in anymore. I found embroidery hoops for making those lace wall-hangings that were popular in the early 80's. I found bottles of hardened acrylic paint. I found hanks of inexpensive trims and lace that I had bought at Sprouse Reitz during my wardrobe sewing days. Most impressive, I found a partial box of White King laundry soap that I had saved since 1995, in case we might do that fun snowman craft again...I had a hard time throwing it out as it was still usable. However, the evidence indicates that it might not be a craft that will be repeated -- especially since my kids are all in their 20's now.

Oh...yeah...

I had so much fun purging the craft cupboards that I went on to the Cupboards of Miscellaneous Household Supplies That You Should Have on Hand Just in Case. Of course, there was a plethora of phone cords. We could have hooked up a phone in the house, connected all the cords, and put it in the outhouse in the field for the workers. There were many little plastic bags of hardware that seemed to of specific use for something we did not have anymore, or did not know what it might be. There was a large assortment of screws and bolts and nails in a little box...and I realized that if we needed some kind of screw or nail or bolt, we never used these. We went to the shop where they are in categorized bins. There were bottles of thickened leather conditioner, and old shoe polish, and instruction manuals for stuff that now resides in a landfill. And there were partial rolls of wallpaper...and tile sealer we had never used and clothesline and Christmas light bulbs for the lights that we no longer have...

It was a revelation! And now I look at every cupboard with a gleam in my eye...What useless stuff might be contained within? What space can I regain for my useful stuff? What treasures might I find to bring to the Thrift Store, where someone else can buy it, and take care of it instead of me?

Because, at heart, I am still a Dutch girl, and if an item is still useful I have a hard time throwing it out...I like to imagine that someone at the Thrift Store will see that extra 50 feet of clothesline, and think "Just what I needed!" and go home happily with a bargain found.

That's the way I justify my purgery.

My Reading List from 2011...

2012-01-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

One of my goals each year is to read more, and read more books that are not just entertainment. I did pretty well with that this year...Something about turning 50 just seemed to make my quest urgent. I feel like I don't have time to read "stupid" books; and I've finally given myself the freedom to put one down, or send it back to the library if it seems to fall into that category...A catergory that is solely of my assessment and discretion! And, therefore, I shall leave out my DNF(Did Not Finish) titles, so as not to offend anyone else who might have loved what I deemed "stupid".

1. DECISION POINTS by George W. Bush -- A little too much policy explanation for me to "love" it, but very interesting and enlightening...Behind the scenes information gives perspective.
2. A DOG'S PURPOSE by Malcom Gladwell -- Made me want to believe in re-incarnation...kind of. Nice story.
3. CITY OF MAN by Michael Gerson & Peter Wehner -- A book I need to learn, not just read! Very thought-provoking input on a Christian's engagement in politics, and how that should look. Excellent!
4. BLACK HEELS TO TRACTOR WHEELS by Ree Drummond -- A definite Guilty Pleasure read...So much fun I couldn't put it down sometimes!
5. THE KENNEDY DETAIL by Jerry Blaine -- Excellent! Very informative as to the lives of Secret Service agents assigned to the President, with surprising details about the Kennedy's. What sacrifices these agents and their families make! Also, the ongoing effects of losing a President on their watch...touching and heart-breaking!
6. HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo -- Amazing story, and I'm not sure what I think about it -- except that God can do whatever He wants, and reach people in the most unexpected ways. And I do know Heaven is for real!
7. AFTER THE LEAVES FALL by Nicole Baart -- Chick Flick equivalent, just entertainment.
8. THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker -- I have never seen the movie, and always wondered about the story because of Oprah Winfrey. When I caught a show where she talked about how The Color Purple "was her life", I decided I had to read it...and hated it. So sad that people really live like that...
9. UP FROM THE PROJECTS by Walter E. Williams -- His autobiography. What a guy! Brilliantly devious in his younger years, but his choices and character brought him wisdom...A completely different outcome from the previous book...A man I really respect.
10. KNOWN & UNKNOWN by Donald Rumsfeld -- Great book -- though sometimes I felt it was a "long, hard slog" (inside joke) just because of the volume of material. I loved reading the back-stories of what we saw in the news. Mr. Rumsfeld is a brilliant man, with great integrity. He has participated in many arenas of government over the years, and did all well. Another man I greatly respect.
11. REKINDLED by Tamera Alexander -- An indulgent read...another Chick Flick equivalent...but I like this one better!
12. AT HOME: A SHORT HISTORY OF PRIVATE LIFE by Bill Bryson -- Sometimes tenuously connected stories of the origins and development of things we find in our homes: kitchens, cupboards, toilets, even the house itself...So interesting! Except for the last page, I loved this book.
13. WHEN MONEY DIES by Adam Fergusson -- The story of hyperinflation in Germany after WWI...Terrible times, and there are parallels in our country today. Very enlightening...
14. UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand -- Louis Zamperini: what an amazing man! Until recently, I had not learned much about the Pacific part of WWII...I am awed by what was suffered by our men as they fought and were prisoners there. To remain unbroken is the grace of God.
15. ONE CALL AWAY: ANSWERING LIFE'S CHALLENGES WITH UNSHAKEABLE FAITH by Brenda Warner -- I've always been curious about the Warner's. This book made me an admirer of Brenda's toughness, and her lack of guile.
16.NOTHING DAUNTED by Dorothy Wickender -- This was supposed to the story of two society girls who left civilisation to go teach in a one-room school in the wilds of Colorado. Moreso, it was a story of Colorado's wilderness towns and travel between them. Still an interesting read.
17. IN THE GARDEN OF THE BEASTS by Erik Larson -- The story of the US ambassador to Germany in the years preceding WWII. Ambassador Dodd saw what was happening long before the President and State Dept. did -- And they would not listen to him. Very good book!
18. IN MY TIME by Richard Cheney & Liz Cheney -- After reading this I am convinced of 2 things: There should be someone in every administration that is willing to be unpopular for speaking the truth. Among many other things, this was a strength of Dick Cheney. I am also convinced of the brilliance of another man, who like Rumsfeld, very ably served his country in many different capacities.

So that's my list for 2011...I have a list of books that are already on my shelf which I shall endeavor to get through this year...Can't wait!

It's STILL the most wonderful time of the year...

2012-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

I love starting a new year. I've had my fun with the holidays -- the decorating, shopping, baking, partying and eating...When the New Year comes, I am ready for just plain living again. And I am so ready to re-organize, re-schedule, re-purpose, re-do, re-cycle, re-use, and re-whatever! It's so exciting to start fresh, with new plans for good changes.

I have been looking at a lot of these lately:

There are skoodles of them, and I'm sure that every one will be just the ticket for my new life. My new life in which I am more frugal, more efficient, more organized, more disciplined in food & exercise, more crafty, more well-read, more-godly...you know, the life in which I AM the Proverbs 31 woman...

Oh, the joy of preparing, and planning, and proposing...The anticipation of all the good that is to come...

I LOVE IT!! And will likely spend this entire week in a happy pursuit of all things new and better...

And then we'll see about next week...

History would reveal that a lot of my resolutions never come to fruition...

...for some reason...

But I will bother with those details later, when the year is not new...

For now, there are a whole lot more lists that I need to peruse!

It's a New Year!

It's here!

2012-01-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

As I said on Facebook this morning:

May 2012 be filled with sweet stability,

and a generous sprinkling of adventure for us all!

Blessings to you all!

Dangerous knowledge...

2011-12-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Okay...I have to admit that some of my floors did not get cleaned before our Christmas celebration. Yep, dirty floors on Christmas...{tsk,tsk...head shaking} Amazingly, we had a good time anyway!

Who knew??

But now I do...and this could be dangerous knowledge. Happy times in the presence of dirt? A world of new opportunities has opened up for me...

The kids spent Christmas Eve Day here. We had breakfast, presents, snacks, stockings, lunch...coma-like naps...Dillon & Tiffany headed north to produce the Christmas Eve performance for their church. Randy, Caitlin, Jess & I got blizzards (just the ice cream kind) and watched "A Christmas Story"...amidst contented sighing.

Christmas Day was turkey dinner time and my parents joined us. Christmas night was ham dinner and we joined Randy's parents...Monday was another day of sweet sluggishness as we recuperated from all that good food...

Last night was the Likkel Christmas Party. We celebrated the larger Honcoop Christmas earlier on December 17th...Both parties are such fun, with much laughter...We older ones marvel at the carmeraderie of the cousins, and thrill over the antics of the wee ones of the newest generation...

We are feeling very blessed!

Our one-shot wonder family photo...even the dogs were looking the right direction!

The girls had...

...a large pile of boxes...

...but the boys each had only one...

They were not amused...

Until they opened them to find a bunch of smaller boxes...heh, heh, heh.

Daisie felt she needed more attention...

We kept Olive busy with this...

...so she wouldn't always be doing this.

Stockings are still part of the fun...

...and even though they're big kids,

they still fall asleep clutching their toys.

Yes -- God blessed us every one!

It was a wonderful Christmas!

I'm ready...

2011-12-23T18:36:00.000-08:00

Last week, I used Facebook to gloat that I would be home for the whole day...the WHOLE blessed day!

Don't do that -- trust me.

Within an hour, I had to schedule an appointment for the dog to go to the vet due to a bleeding split toenail. Just after I got off the phone, Caitlin called to say that an RV had backed into her car in the grocery store parking lot, puncturing a hole in the door, and making large scrapes down the side. I went to help her. I came home to a phone message that my friend Sharice was back in the hospital with an emergency surgery, could I come back in to work the next day? (OF COURSE!) The day ended with a call from my niece wondering if they could come spend the weekend with us because their previously planned accomodations now housed barfing children...(OF COURSE!)

And so went my quiet day...

But it all turned out just fine. Daisie got her toe fixed. Caitlin's car is still drivable, and the guy who hit her did not have to be convinced that it was his fault. Sharice's surgery finally fixed her terrible leg pain, and we had a great weekend with our niece & nephew and their two little boys.

And despite all the busy-ness I have had this Christmas season, I am ready for the holiday!

I did a lot of shopping online and in Lynden, so there are presents under the tree!

I got my decorations up, with a few exceptions -- and those exceptions might stay that way. I don't miss the garlands that I have to fiddle with all season, or the lights on the staircase...It's still festive, and a LOT easier...

Even Daisie got decorated...

The only thing that hasn't been done is baking...as in ANY baking. Bless her heart, Caitlin made cut-out cookies, and for the small price of helping her frost them, I got to keep a bunch. I will still bake next week, but now no need to overdo...{smile}

Don't worry -- I"ll get over the baking thing.

The stockings are stuffed and ready...

...All that's left to do is Christmas Eve breakfast -- Yes, we're celebrating already tomorrow morning.

Then, turkey dinner for Christmas Day...

And all the time: remembering what it's all about...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

--Charles Dickens

May Christmas be in your heart, and merry for all the right reasons!

"Please, dear God, can we have some more?"

2011-12-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

Disparate Activities That Make Me Feel All Christmas-y

2011-12-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend I participated in two very different holiday events. The first was the Jingle Bell Run -- a 5k fun run that raises money for arthritis research.

And no -- I did not run.

It was the Dickson Medical Clinic's final run of their race-a-month commitment for a year. It all began a year ago with the Jingle Bell Run, and 12 races later, it ended there.

But they don't just run in anonymity...They make sure they look festive -- and they do get noticed! They made the newspaper this year.

I was proud to know them.

They dressed as Jovi from the movie Elf...

Don't they look cute? And Caitlin even has Hermie hair!

Of course, they needed an Elf...

Buckley, goldendoodle and official Dickson Medical Clinic mascot, obliged. Doesn't he look excited about wearing the costume that Caitlin made for him?

In fact, he was so excited that he could hardly hold still.

And he was pretty popular too...

These are just a few of the folks who stopped to take his picture.

Buck -- you're a sport, and we love ya for it!

Miss Olive was also in attendance, The Farmer's charge, and Buckley's distraction from his confining costume...It was thrilling for The Little, and The Big Un.

While the dogs were entertaining the crowd, the DMC girls were finishing the race...

Mission accomplished! One t-shirt race per month means they each have enough now to make a quilt memorializing their accomplishment.

Because right now, they have no plans of doing it again...

We were proud to witness the completion of their year of races, and the Jingle Bell Run is such fun. Everyone is full of good cheer and laughter. People make sure they look festive as they run, and their dogs, and ponies (yes there were ponies!) too. Being with thousands of people being happy, and of good cheer is a great way to enjoy the season.

As the Jingle Bell Run is raucous and jolly, by contrast my next activity was solemn, and beautiful, and introspective...I so enjoyed the beautiful music of a choir of 80 voices accompanied by an orchestra of 25...It was so lovely! At times the music, melancholy and haunting, and then rejoicing, triumphant!

I so appreciate the members of the various CRC churches that sang and played with all their hearts to focus OUR hearts on the Infant King...

This weekend held a wonderful contrast of fun, and joy!

Both are God's good gifts...

Did I read that label right? Fisher Price for puppies?

2011-12-05T06:19:00.001-08:00

BEFORE...

...AFTER.

Olive does not have jaws of life.

Even Fisher Price doggie toys cannot withstand the punishment...

...Nor can large pieces of furniture.

But you've heard those stories before.

And isn't it funny that Fisher Price sell puppy toys...just like the infant toys we bought our kids back in the day?

I couldn't resist getting this for Olive, and I'm pleased to say Chatter Pup Telephone gave it all to save anothe piece of furniture for me.

Thank you, Fisher Price.

I still love Rudolph...

2011-12-01T18:24:00.001-08:00

Tuesday evening, Caitlin and I sat down to watch our favorite show, NCIS, and were surprised to find out that it was replaced by a Special Presentation of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

We were not too excited about this development.

But I decided to do something I rarely do anymore…I sat and watched the whole kiddie movie from start to finish! I have Rudolph on every year during Christmas season, but it’s just playing in the background while I do other things, important things, things that need to get done.

Tuesday night, I just sat there and watched…and loved it!

Remember back in the day, when nothing on TV was available on demand, or on dvd? The Christmas Specials were anticipated and put on our schedule for an evening of family fun…IT WAS SPECIAL! And not to be missed!

Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town – sometimes even Drummer Boy…And don’t forget the celebrity variety shows with music and dancing, and skating sometimes…

I miss the rarity, and therefore, the special anticipation of seeing something so pretty, and cheerful.

It’s so different now! Today the availability of Christmas shows, not to mention the huge selection, has left us all sated, and oblivious to special things.

And so I enjoyed sitting the other night, and taking in all the winsomeness of Rudolph and Hermie, Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snowman, the elves, the deer, the Burl Ives snowman. The technology of yester-year was so primitive by today’s standards, but I still find myself wishing there was somewhere you could go and see those little creatures as living beings. They are just SO CUTE!! The story is simple and sweet…

And I just like to hear Santa say: “Rudolph! FULL POWER!”

NCIS, with its mystery and death, just didn’t seem so interesting after that. But I watched it too…well, until I fell asleep…I just can’t do a full hour of TV after 9pm…

Thanks to Rudolph and his friends, I was all fired up to go Christmas shopping on Wednesday. The Farmer was out of town, Caitlin graciously exercised Daisie in the afternoon, so I could head right out after work and spend some hours power-shopping.

Though dinner time is a pretty good time to go shopping as far as crowds go, I succeeded only in finding out where the things I wanted were not…Pretty much a bust for Christmas gifts.

Amazon.com, I love thee…

And now I’m going to have to watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town to get in the mood again…

We did it!

2011-11-28T07:40:00.001-08:00

Despite the Preparation Paralysis, The Lists and I, with some help from Caitlin, The Farmer, and all the family members that contributed food items, pulled off a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Whew!

And I've been relaxing ever since...The Farmer took care of dissembling the tables and chairs, and even vacuumed the messy floors for me! (And the way he vacuums, it should be good for some time now...don't tell him I said that, or that I don't plan to vacuum for a while...)

Caitlin took over camera duties for me, but since I forgot to turn the flash off "auto", we all have porcelain complexions, and so do some of the walls...but at least we have a record of a very good day with family!

More to be thankful for...

Crock Pot Cadre...

For your entertainment: Guess the Jelly Belly flavor...

...or play with Olive!

She didn't stop playing all day, and left our place exhausted.

More than just pumpkin pie for dessert...

The youngest men created their own game, some complex competition mostly likely based on a video game of some sort...I didn't ask them to explain it, and they didn't offer.

Meg's completely natural reaction to pumpkin pie...

Visit, visit, visit...

Games, and brain teasers ala Jim.

Traditional musings on what we are thankful for...

even large corporations!

"Thank you for the food before us,

the family beside us,

the love between us..."

AMEN!

Preparation Paralysis...

2011-11-23T06:47:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Almost, but not quite...

I'm anticipating all there is to do with hosting the dinner for 26 family members this year, (and yes, I am bragging about how many I am feeding because back when I started this home-making gig, I could barely feed 2... I'm still kinda amazed about it myself!)

Anyway, I'm prepared, but paralyzed.

I've made lists, and lists of lists and organized and re-organized my thoughts and plans...It's just too soon to DO any of it!

Oh! I am so ready to take on this big task and accomplish it -- but if I start now, Thanksgiving will be a long line of people, waiting at the microwave to re-heat their dinner.

That just won't cut it.

So I wait -- and in the waiting I fear that my over-active mind will soon join the paralysis, and on the Day of Action, my anticipatory energy and clear thinking will have dribbled away into paralytic paranoia and incoherence...

Only my Lists will save me...

Excuse me, while I go make some more...

Oh -- and watch NCIS...It IS Tuesday.

Imaginary friends?

2011-11-17T19:46:00.001-08:00

The other day I caught myself relating a story to Caitlin – and it gave her pause.

“Oh, Cait – Linda’s granddaughter, Nora, said the cutest thing the other day!” I proceeded to explain how Nora had arranged all the magnets on the fridge, then stepped back and pronounced her work ‘BOOTIFOH!’ “She is so adorable!”

Cait asked, “Who is Linda?”

“My blogger friend,” I replied.

“So where did you meet her?”

“Oh – I’ve never MET her! I know her from her blog…”

Cait looked at me with wonder – and not the awesome kind.

It’s like I told her I had an imaginary friend, or something!

But Linda is REAL, very real! We’ve never met, but I’ve commented on her blog a couple of times, so – she…well, probably…knows who I am. She’s a friend. I wonder what she and Nora have been up to, and how her husband does such great barbecue (well, it LOOKS great), and I’m waiting to hear when the newest grandbaby arrives – any time now.

I need to check in to see how Liz is feeling today…She’s had a rough time with vertigo and migraines since her darling baby girl Jane was born…I’m so relieved to hear that she is doing better. And I’m happy for her as her first book just came out…way to go, Liz!

My friend Melanie just braved the wilds of the Amazon on a trip with Compassion International. I wonder how Caroline and P survived her absence, and she survived being in the presence of reptiles and monkeys, of which she has a deathly fear…

I should check in with Kristen and get some more of her great frugal girl ideas…She is very disciplined! I am put to shame when I read her “Food Waste Friday” posts…

Amanda has a fond affection for decadently rich desserts…some of her recipes are scary rich! Like the one where you put chocolate chip cookie dough in a pan, top it with oreo’s, and then brownie batter on top of that…Sin on a plate! I love Miley & Howie too – her pair of adorable Boston Terriers. I know they would love playing with Olive…

And then there’s Edie, who just moved into her new home – the new home that replaced the one that burned down just one year ago…I so admire the way she’s handled the loss, and the disruption of their lives…And I love her new house!

I so enjoy these gals, every one of them! I’ve learned from them, and laughed with them, and got teary a few times over their troubles, admiring their strength and perspective.

So what if they don’t know I exist?

I talk about them to my family --- which has made The Fam worried about me. They think I’m losing it… relating stories about imaginary friends…

I don’t know why they doubt me. I’ve proven before that my internet friendships are with REAL people. After all, I’ve MET the Pioneer Woman…SHE knows I exist, and that has not made one iota of difference. Our friendship is as strong as the day it began…

I know it would be the same if I met ANY of my “blog friends”!

Frankly, I think The Fam should be grateful. If I didn’t have my blog friends to satisfy my need for human interest, just think how much interaction they would have to endure from me! Yes – think about all the emails and phone calls and questions you’d be fielding every day, dear family!

I"ll give you this: some aspects of blog friendships are similar to imaginary ones...All interactions can be kept on the positive side...There is no conflict, neither is there any obligation...If you choose well, bloggers and imaginary friends are very lovable...none of those pesky sensitivities or expectations to bother with!

I maintain that all friends – even imaginary ones – serve a useful purpose in our lives.

So, Family, stop worrying about me! I'm fine...I'm probably healthier for having a plethora of friends who don't know I exist than if I didn't. I'd appreciate it if you would treat my friends with the same kind of respect as I treated your imaginary friends. I always took an interest in them, didn't I?

And not one of them even had a blog, as I recall...

Olive doesn't live here anymore...

2011-11-10T07:29:00.001-08:00

As soon as Caitlin moved into her own home, she began to wean Olive away from her daily trips to the farm. Within a week, Olive was staying at home on her own.

We do miss her…Well, more accurately, The Farmer really misses her. Daisie and I feel her absence – and sometimes that is just fine. Don’t get me wrong…we love the little fiend, but we, uh, don’t mind having a break from her constant…uh, constant…interest in activities destructive and energetic. Despite Daisie’s relief at being the only dog in line for a biscuit, she still spends part of the morning waiting and looking out the window for Olive to arrive. I miss the morning naps Olive liked to take on my shoulder, and The Farmer is missing the tussles that interrupted his time in the office.

But it’s all good…Cait walks Olive morning, noon and night, so her confinement at home alone is working out very well.

When Olive is home alone, she is confined to the dining room behind the pet gate. In this area, Caitlin has floor length curtains, and floor length chair covers; her boot mat with her FatBaby Ariat boots(leather!), and her running shoes.

I thought she was asking for it…

But Olive has not wrecked a thing…she spends hours alone, unsupervised, and she has not wrecked A THING!

This is, in my experience, nothing short of miraculous.

But apparently, her miracles are site-specific…or something! During her visit here on Saturday, my coffee table was stripped of its leather-look trim in the brief moments in which we did not respond to her distress at a toy (the most precious ever!!!) being stuck under said coffee table. She also made her regular stop at the bathroom garbage can to lift some used Kleenex to shred and spread over the bathroom floor…and again there was a snowstorm of polyfill from the latest disemboweled toy.

I don’t know why she hates me. I don’t know why MY house is just a big box full of stuff to shred and chew…

As I said goodbye to her that day, I said to her: “ Why do you wreck my stuff? Haven’t I always been nice to you???”

Cait’s reply: “Mom – I think that’s the problem…”

What Caitlin doesn’t know is that I try to mete out justice – but I can’t catch the little bugger! I’ve even given a few swings to try to swat that little hiney of hers, but I always miss, and usually strain my shoulder trying…and chasing her around the coffee table seems more like a reward than a precursor to punishment.

Not to mention, it’s fairly humiliating…and amusing to other residents of this home who will remain unnamed…

My last ditch effort to protect my possessions will be to go to the country store, buy a bag of large animal parts that have been dried, or puffed, or cooked, or something, and keep them on hand to give out liberally when a certain little Frenchton comes for a visit…

It’s cheaper than buying a new coffee table…

So how did it get to be November?

2011-11-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that the trees are starting to give up their leaves. We're almost to the point where the beauty of fall disappears into monochromatic winter gray. How did that happen?

It seems like it's been a leap from late summer to holiday time...and I'm feeling regretful because Fall is my favorite time of year. But I wasted a lot of it this year, spending all of September in some kind of a blue funk...A blue funk for which I kept trying to find a cause, and never really could. I finally decided to just act like I wasn't in a blue funk, and voila'! it helped! I think I shall deem that hormones were the cause -- because they are the cause of all things inexplicable...

Anyway, then October was a whirlwind of cleaning and painting, and new home excitement with Caitlin's move...and now it's November...A November in which I am a working girl! How strange for me!

My friend Sharice, who is the office manager of her husband's truck repair business, had a major heart surgery just 2 weeks ago, and will spend the next month recovering. In the meantime, I am trying to fill her shoes in the office. I go to work EVERY DAY (I don't know how you people do it!), and her husband Jon is getting to exercise patience as I try to learn truck terminology...It's weird stuff, people! Gladhands, and drag links, and stepped flywheels, and what all! And to make it even more challenging, they abbreviate the terms on the invoices. I tell you, I was relieved to find out that "assy" meant "assembly". I was beginning to wonder what kind of stuff is on these trucks! At least I don't have to know how the stuff works...most times, well -- sometimes, I can remember the terms, and that's all I need to know...get it on the bill, then send it out!

But I have to say that working EVERY DAY is really cutting into my Facebook time, and my coffee shop time, and TV watching, crafting, and just generally sitting around...Oh, yeah, and I still have to do housework! As I said, I don't know how you people do it -- and I admire you greatly, but I'm not interested in a career...

I'm spoiled...I know it, I know it well. And I will not complain about having to work EVERY DAY, because I am happy to do it, knowing that Sharice can rest every day, and get strong again...and not worry that her heart is going to do something drastic and dangerous. This makes me smile...

AND I should admit that going to work has made me more productive at home, and it's a bit of variety in my life, and I am enjoying the challenge of learning something new...I just hope when Sharice gets back she finds that I learned correctly, and that I didn't bill someone for a part that doesn't even exist...

(Last rose of the year...)

The (happily ever) After...

2011-11-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

BEFORE...

AFTER!

Excuse the remainders of moving clutter...Cait was going to wait til it was all pristine, but I was too impatient.

BEFORE...

AFTER!

(What was I thinking?! I should have taken a close-up of the very perfect hardware that Caitlin got from Anthropologie...ON SALE!!!)

BEFORE...

AFTER!

She LOVES her BIG closet!

New light fixture in the dining room -- waiting for a paint color decision to be made...

The chair covers look great!

It's so nice to have a utility with enough room for your boot dryer!

(...and other stuff you want to hide...)

Surprise, Olive! You have your own special gate to look through...

...but only when your Girl is gone.

Otherwise, you own the couch...

well, and whatever else you decide to.

So there's the AFTER...didn't she do well?

I love it, and it's a good thing our Girl has her own ideas.

They really are much better than mine.

I still lay claim to being the superior cleaner...

and I maintain it IS the foundation of good design.

Isn't it?

Still no pictures...

2011-10-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

...but the deed is done! The girl is moved into her own house, and she even let me try to arrange her furniture! We tried many combinations as her little room with one angled wall was a challenge! But finally she came upon the right arrangement. Already she has pictures on the wall, and the kitchen shelves all arranged...It's looking very cute and homey, and today I am going to get some pictures for the "After" post. I promise...

I was going to do it yesterday, but I was exhausted...I am not accustomed to carrying boxes and small pieces of furniture, and trying not to drop my third of the washing machine as we carry it in...Not to mention doing it all in a steady rain...We know how to pick moving days! Same kind of weather the last time we moved her!

I needed some recovery time...which I gained by sleeping through much of the Seahawks game...and I note that lately, it is the best way to watch a Seahawks game...

Anyway, it's quite satisfying to see Caitlin settling in and making this home her own in ways that she never did in the rentals. Even Olive is thinking that she likes the place...though she's a little surprised about the pet gate that limits her ramblings throughout...The window by the staircase makes up for it. She likes to watch the world go by...and defend her home against all passersby.

It's all good, and worth the recovery time!

Progress -- without pictures...

2011-10-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Just an update for you all who are waiting with bated breath to keep up with my mesmerizing life...We are making progress in Caitlin's condo...After some paint swatches that were not "it", Cait finally found the color, or at least the closest thing to it, that she wanted on the living room wall.

AND (drum roll) -- SHE LET ME PAINT IT ON THE WALL!!

I feel so fulfilled now.

And I got the rest of the place cleaned (aka sanitized), and now I have a repetitive stress injury in my wrist and thumb from all the scrubbing. Randy says it's just Mr. Arthur-itis, but I am choosing to believe it will heal and go away...eventually.

Anyway, the cabinets are all painted, and lovely...the new dining room light fixture is up, and move-in day will be later this week...after the carpets are cleaned, and Cait recoats my living room painting.

And THEN we will give you some pictures...we've just been too busy...and our hands seemed to have alot of paint on them...

Caitlin's New Digs: Before

2011-10-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

After some diffugalties, (family word -- dif-fugue-ul-tees) Caitlin has finally taken possession of her new home! She has survived the exasperating process of buying a foreclosed HUD property, wherein she was required to file for a contract extension because HUD was not ready. She and her realtor and her banker had done all their work, only HUD wasn't finished, but Cait had to file the extension...(bureaucracy, I hate thee). The next exasperation came after we had gone to dinner to celebrate her closing, and got to the condo to open the door for the first time. Because the HUD office is in Seattle, they leave the keys in a contractor box, and give you the code to open it on closing...Except, we couldn't find the contractors box anywhere. "Hi, new neighbors!" Cait muttered as we stalked around the outside of the condo, shining a flashlight in every possible hiding place...Nope, no box to be found. Calls the next morning, revealed that HUD had "forgotten" to put the lock box out, and the keys were still in Seattle. Cait was instructed to get a locksmith to break into her new home. At least, HUD offered to foot the bill...I'm sure it will only take a few months and a dozen phone calls to get that money...

Finally, she was in! And we are excited!! And here are some "before" pictures, as we have a number of improvements planned...

The Entry and the Living Room...which will soon sport a new color on the walls...

The Open Staircase on the other side, glimpse of the Kitchen on the left.

The Kitchen...cabinets soon to be painted...

The Dining Room

The spacious Utility Room

Great little deck and yard

Master Bedroom

View from Master to upstairs landing

Main bath (there's also a half bath downstairs)

Second Bedroom, aka sewing room, library, oh the possibilities!

As I said before, WE are excited, and full of ideas...However, I am slowly becoming aware that really only ONE of us will be implementing her ideas...

...and it's not me.

I'm afraid I have fallen into that parent trap of vicariously living through your child...In this case, fantasizing (I find out now) that I will get to be a co-interior decorator, designer and style maven on this project.

It ain't going to happen...

because (duh!) IT'S NOT MY HOUSE.

Oh...yeah...

The best I can hope for, since my fall into fantasy, is to help implement another's design ideas. My inordinate enthusiasm has relegated me to my rightful place...Mother of Homeowner, who may or may not be allowed to paint the color the Homeowner chooses.

In lieu of my fantasy, I have now put my creative energies into cleaning...EVERYTHING. I'm good at it, baby! I ROCK at cleaning! I have the empty Magic Eraser boxes to prove it! And I am setting the foundation of good design -- CLEANLINESS! What is good design without cleanliness, I ask you???

I content myself with this role, and maybe if I am good and remember "THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE", I may even get the opportunity to wield a paint brush with more than primer on it.

Be still my heart!

Forgive me, Daughter Homeowner, for forgetting that I already have a house, and now it is YOUR turn to be decorator, style maven extraodinaire! You're doing a great job, and REALLY I am so happy for you.

Can I please paint now?

She runs AND she sews...

2011-10-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

We have a new boomerang in residence here. Caitlin is in the process of buying a condo and as she waits (and waits) for the paperwork to be completed, she and Olive are here for a short stay.

And she is messing up my house big time...

But all for a good cause!

Recently,Caitlin and I made what was supposed to be a brief and focused trip to the fabric store. It was neither, and we came home with projects! And enthusiasm -- which, for the most part, has not left us though it has become a little..uh...intermittent.

Anyway, Caitlin has been messing up my house as she sews chair covers for her new-to-her dining room chairs.

Cait started with a pattern, but soon found it was way more complicated than it needed to be...

So she made up her own...She's good that way.

The finished product!

(Apologies for the bad exposure!)

And more bad camera action here...so the colors don't show very well...but Cait chose a different fabric for each chair. What you can't see here is the mustard yellow color in the prints that will match her vintage formica & chrome table...It will be so cute!

And as for my projects? Well, yes, I had some...

But first Olive and I had to watch some TV.

It's football season, you know...

Moments of Meekness...

2011-10-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

OR...Olive Gets a Bath.

This is one time the Little Fiend is somewhat off her game. You can see it on her face...

"Gram! Get me out of here!"

Oh, the humiliation!

"My life is crap..."

No need to feel bad for her...She gets her revenge by burrowing into Cait's bed to finish drying off, and then having a long mope there.

It's a break for all of us -- but don't tell HER that!!

I worked in the yard...

2011-09-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

...for 5 hours on our gorgeous Wednesday this week. And now I am tired and sore. My body feels old, which is a great disappointment to my brain which still believes that we are somewhere in, say, our thirties. Of course, this is the same brain that can't find files containing familiar people's names, or reasons I am standing in the garage, so I don't take its disappointment too seriously.

I just took it easy today, read my book, and gazed fondly on my carpet-like lawn as leaves tumbled across it...Probably the same leaves that tumbled across it last weekend when the wind was coming from the south. Today it is coming from the northeast. Nonetheless, I am enjoying seeing them again.

We had a couple of special activities over the weekend, the first of which was a baby shower for our newest great neice, Miss Bethany Clare. We got to hold this sweet little bundle and give her ruffly clothing of all colors, half of which were some shade of pink. Such fun! And of course, there were goodies, and we got to question, Becca, Miss Bethany's mom, about the wee one's habits, routines, and general cuteness...It was great!

Classic Aunt Cindy..."ohhhhhhh, sweet babyyyyyy"

Great Grandma Bev, who was not unhappy as this picture suggests. She was just looking down to make sure little Bethany was still comfortably snoozing...

Cait and Auntie Deb check out Little Miss Perfect.

Baby shoes!! We love 'em...

...and fancy pants! This momma's going to have some fun changing baby girl's clothes!

The rest of the greats were present, and played their shower games in the sandbox.

Later that evening, the menfolk joined us for dinner, and then Great Uncle Randy got his turn to hold the baby...

Oh, she is a punkin!! We are so happy for Brandon and Becca to have such a wonderful blessing...and they will be great parents for sweet Bethany Clare. It was a wonderful family day...We are blessed!

On Sunday, we had an entirely different activity as Caitlin engaged in the modern form of torture known as The Half Marathon. She has been ~~torturing herself~~ training for many weeks, and though I admire her tenacity and determination, I can't help wondering why this is fun to her. Of course, if you saw me run (which I would NEVER allow, though if you drive by when Olive is out it may happen) you would understand why I can not relate to her pleasure in this activity.

Anyway, Randy and I brought her to the race, and promptly lost track of her in the throngs that were massed in line for the bathroom...And we needed to get her sweatshirt from her before she began to run! Between the Bellingham Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K about 3000 people participated...and 2000 of them were trying to get to the porta-potties. I tried to park myself where Caitlin was sure to pass by, but to no avail. Fortunately, I finally found Randy, who had parked the car, and he, being taller, could see further, and eventually found her...This was about 3 minutes before the race was to start.This little drama was enough to get my heart rate up...We wished Cait well, and then tried to get where we could see her start -- and were fortunate to see her among the masses.

She's in the background, straight behind the little guy in the green jacket in the foreground. (White hat, white shirt, why didn't I go to Picnik and put an arrow on this pic?!)

We managed to catch her on the loooooonnnnnggggg hill...

...And her finish!

For Cait, it was just one of those running days where she never got her rhythm, and never felt good while running...kinda disappointing after all those weeks of training...

...but she finished, and respectably...and she was tired, but not incapacitated by any means...

...and she had done it!!! BIG smile...

...She got her medal!

While Cait suffered through her run, Randy and I enjoyed coffee and a scone, and the beautiful fall weather -- warm and breezy. We had a great time, and as we headed home, the rain began to fall.

Just in time for bowls of chili, football, and naps, an extra long one for Cait!...A great start to Fall!

A particularly productive day...

2011-09-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

I've surprised myself. I accomplished a couple of sizable tasks -- and on a day which began with an outing! I got to have breakfast with a dear friend of mine from high school days...such fun! And usually after I've been out of the house, and had a bit of fun, I am useless for the rest of the day.

Perhaps my friend Karen's ambition and productivity rubbed off on me a little -- because I came home and...

...canned 18 quarts of peaches.

And I really don't like canning...but The Farmer loves canned peaches, and store-bought jars just don't cut it...So, after last year's peach debacle, I am trying it again.

I could have stopped right there and called it a good day, but something got into me and I decided that I wouldn't wait for The Farmer to have time to help me put together my new shelves for the garage...

...so I did it myself.

It was obviously necessary. The jumble was growing out of control.

It looks a little better now...a major re-organization is needed...and I love to re-organize!

But that's a project for another day.

After all this productivity, I was too tired to make dinner. Fortunately, Cait brought Chinese home...blessed girl! And now the jacuzzi is calling me, and I will answer -- because my back is feeling funny...in a hurty sort of way.

Don't expect much tomorrow.

Or the next day.

I can't seem to work hard more than one day in a row lately...Is this what happens after 50?

I would like to thank...

2011-09-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

...my interior ~~destroyer~~ designer, Olive O. Honcoop, for convincing me that it was time to update the living room furniture.

AND I would like to thank my stylist, Tami, The Lady in the Stone House, for the marvelous idea for getting it done!

It only took a couple of hours of removing the many staples that attached the skirt, $7.50 worth of navy ribbon, and a bit of hot glue. And just so you know, no animal was harmed in the reclamation of this furniture...though at times it was considered.

Lucky for you, Olive, I think I like the couch and love seat even better than before...

But just remember: you weren't hired to be my designer.

I'm not ready for pumpkin spice lattes...

2011-09-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

School has started for all the chillun of the county over the past two weeks, and of course, summer has finally come in full force. I feel sorry for all those girls who bought new sweaters and cords and now cannot wear them...or if they do, they look really dumb...and sweaty.

I think I did that a few times because I never felt that my summer clothes were acceptable...I remember getting the Fall edition of the Sears catalog, probably in late June, and then poring over the pages and the styles and picking out my favorites. Oh, the joy of getting your berry paycheck and placing the order!

I remember picking out shoes that were sporty, puffy tan leather with red laces and a nice crepe rubber sole. I thought they were great...until I got to school and saw that anybody who was somebody was wearing navy blue leather wedges that they got at JCPenneys...That happened to me a lot -- a year behind on the style curve was the norm for me. And no more money to correct my problems, and besides I was kind of scared to return things to the stern Mr. Helgath at the Sears Catalog Store. Better keep it and live with the semi-humiliation.

I did finally get my navy blue wedges...when they went on clearance. Too late...

Anyway, with the weather so summer like, I'm sure the kids have put all their sweaters in a pile for later...and are wearing shorts to school. We couldn't do that, you know...We were lucky when the powers-that-be finally allowed us to wear pants to school...and then jeans! Radical changes!! I would not have worn shorts to school anyway. I worked on a farm all summer, and there it is problematic to wear shorts. Those hay bales don't feel too great being kneed up by bare legs. And there were other substances that were better absorbed by fabric, not bare skin. So my legs were always white, not tan that is, and I would never wear shorts to expose that. I never really did get to the point where I realized that these two states were mutually exclusive...not wearing shorts/getting tan legs. The rest of me was a nice golden brown...which made it all worse.

And so I started school wearing long sleeves and corduroy pants in fall colors...and I was glad when October came.

{Hmmm...I do believe this entire post is a digression...new record!}

Anyway, I am glad that I am not in school right now because, as I said, I am not ready for pumpkin spice lattes, or sweaters, or corduroy pants. I am thoroughly enjoying our late summer weather, and an blissfully pretending that it is not September yet.

Though I must admit there is that scent of Fall in the air, and foggy mornings, and heavy dew, and overnight temps in the 40's...And football is really messing with my denial as well.

Soon I will have to let go of summer, and dive into what is actually my favorite season, Fall. I just haven't had enough sunlight yet...I'm going to wait for the first rainy day, and then I'll think about that latte.

Blazin' Berries!!

2011-09-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we tried something new. That's big for us...we generally just stick in the mud. But this time, we stepped outside of the norm and took on the Lynde 500.

It helped that I was personally asked to sponsor a cart -- and that I knew very little about the actual event. It was advantageous to Mr. Troy Luginbill, the requestor, that I love the Lynden Pioneer Museum and want to support that treasure in our community as much as I can. I actually agreed because I didn't have to find a cart -- they had one for us -- and I only had to try to find a team -- Troy said he could find some people if I couldn't.

Things started off well when Nephew Derek responded with great enthusiasm to my query of his interest. He assured me that he would find a team, and it would be great! And fun! And I told him there were PRIZES of MONEY!!!

I was just tickled that I didn't have to tell him about the prize money until AFTER he had said yes. Things were looking up.

So I picked up our borrowed cart -- which was painted in gray/black camo, but had some awesome cutout flames. The guys came to try it out and were enthused. No one but me had time to re-design the color scheme so I got out the rattle cans, and hoped the result wouldn't be too girly...that the boys would not be embarrassed to push that baby around the track.

The result? Our own Blazin' Berry on wheels...

It had to be a raspberry -- and everyone was good with that.

I had the barest of information about the race, and procedures...most of which came from reading the rules in the entry packet, and which I broadly misinterpreted. As the day went on, I kept saying, "Oh! I get it now..." But I was never quite right until the end of the day...mostly right anyway.

So my team, my Blazin' Berries, brave gentlemen that they are {Derek, Tom, Noah, Brennan}, came into the event blind as to what was ahead. We came with high hopes -- 8 teams, 4 money prizes! Young strong fellers, 3 of whom had actually practiced pushing the cart...How hard could it be?

Then, we saw the track...

and were confused.

And then the boys saw the Marines,

and they were intimidated.

And then, they had the teams meeting,

and we still didn't understand.

And then, the emcee, Hot Rod Serling,

began to wax eloquent about things we knew not what...

Right about then, there were 5 of us wondering why we thought it would be fun to do this on Labor Day...But there was no going back now! Marines or no, we were in it.

The boys rallied and readied for their first heat.

Nerves, nerves! How to steer? How to push?

(Hey, it's a LOT harder than it sounds...trust me!)

And, first time out, WE ARE WINNERS!! Way to go Blazin' Berries!!

Second time out...

we lose a wheel. The hub cracks and binds it up against the frame. We can't even finish...

But that's okay -- many heats yet to come. The guys have a consult with the pit mechanic...

...and go on to the next heat...which is close, really close...but after that heat, we are a man down due to heat -- I mean hot heat, and lack of fluids or food or somethin', and too many races too close together...

and another one coming up soon!

Brennan's dad, Jim, jumps in to keep the team going...God bless him! He's just been observing that if he had to push those things he might just pop a hamstring...and now he get's to see if it happens.

Go Jim, go!! But don't get hurt!!

He does great! But then, we lose our steering. The rinky dink running gear gets so sloppy that our front wheels are pointing out in opposite directions by the last curve of the race...The race in which we were LEADING, thank you very much you rinky dink (mumble, mumble) running gear design.

The mechanic is frustrated, the pushers are exhausted from fighting the wayward wheels, and in spite of that, it is the Blazin' Berries that give those Marines a run for their money in the next heat!

Take that you, you big intimidators!!

We ALMOST win...and we ALMOST win a lot more times as the day goes on...

But this isn't horseshoes...and the money prizes slip out of reach.

Our last hope is to win the design contest, which is determined by the cheers of the crowd. Our Blazin' Berries unit gets long and loud cheers, and ends up tied with the...Marines...

Take a moment to look at the above carts...I ask you: which has more style, more fluid lines, more beauty in its function??? I quote Jaden, Brennan's 5 year old brother, who said: "I like yours the best." Thank you, Jaden! I believe you are right, so very right!

I don't know how it happened (and I will say nothing here about the fact that the Marines passed out free lanyards to the crowd just prior to the voting because that would seem petty and bitter and sour grapes-ish) but in the cheer off, the Marines won. Yep, the crowd went all patriotic on us, and gave it to the Marines. And I don't want to hear anything either about how they gave the prize money to Toys for Tots when we just would have all gone out for dinner on it...That's immaterial as we did not win and no one could prove that we would be so selfish...

Still all was not lost...Our team won the Spirit Award for "trying to take a slice out of every opponent". I'm not exactly sure what Hot Rod Serling meant by that, but I'm sure it was sincere, and we will all enjoy the pizza, thank you very much!

And we did have fun, and we laughed A LOT, and we had fun with the boys' families, and we helped raise money for the museum, and Derek has forgiven me for getting him into this.

In fact, I thought I overheard the boys talking about how they would do it better next year...

Heh, heh, heh...you didn't think I heard that, did you...

Now we'll just have to see if I remember that you did...

A note of thanks to the fellers: Derek, Tom, Noah, Brennan, and his dad, Jim! You were great sports, and you've got game! Thanks for runnin' in the Lynde 500!

On the side...

2011-08-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

While we were caught in the loop that is harvest, there were a number of other things going on in our world.

Caitlin bought a horse! It has been 8 years since her dear old Sammy passed on, too long since she had enjoyed equine companionship, so she decided to go for it. She found Sadie, a Rocky Mountain Horse, 17 years old -- which means she has lots of life left in her, but very little foolishness. Cait can just get on and ride...perfect! Interestingly, Sadie had lived all of her life on Orcas Island -- and had to be moved across the water to her new home. Dillon and Tiffany took on this adventure with Caitlin, with our pick-up, and a trailer that Cousins Gary & Cindy graciously lent for the occasion. All went well, and Sadie took up residence on the mainland for the first time. She is boarded at the Wiersma's stable, just a short hop from Cait's house...Can't tell you how much all of us are enjoying the smell of horse again...really! Leather, sweat, horse...it brings back good memories.

Here are the lovely girls:

Neither can I tell you how happy it makes me to see Cait on a horse again...

Beautiful Sadie...

Down in The Big City, Jess is getting to enjoy Big City Events -- like SeaFair. I have to say I was quite jealous when he sent me this picture of the Blue Angels whom he was able to watch from the 520 bridge...

And thanks to his boss, he also gets to enjoy some uncommon perks. Here is his view of the Mariners game...from the owner's suite!! Lucky guy...

Dillon and Tiffany were able to go with her family to Hawaii in a last minute turn of events! It wasn't a long trip for them, but much enjoyed and much appreciated. Dillon sent me some pics -- familiar to us because we had stayed in the same condo complex on our first trip to Hawaii.

You know how it is...When your kids are experiencing wonderful things, it's almost better than doing it yourself...

{I said ALMOST...}

Back at home, Daisie was healing very well from her surgery. She was pretty much back to normal, and more playful than she had been for at least a year...But then one Sunday morning on our walk, she got a good look at a coyote -- closer than she had ever been to one -- and she decided to catch it. She, of course, did just what she was NOT supposed to do and burst into top speed down the rows. She was gaining on it when the coyote decided to take evasive action across the rows. I tried to keep track, but lost them. I assumed I would find Daisie on the other end of the field, but never caught up to her until I arrived back at the house. She was lying in the back yard, and I could see that she had been licking her surgically repaired leg...bad sign! I was so busy looking over her leg that I didn't see right away the bleeding wound between her eyes. Her face is quite dished there, so I couldn't figure out how a coyote could have torn her up -- and no obvious teeth marks to boot. As we looked her over more closely, we could see that she had probably made contact with a post hook as she flew through the rows...Yeesh! It hit her between the eyes, peeled off the top layer of skin as it traveled upward, and no doubt gave her a whopping headache. As for her leg -- it seemed to be fine, {sigh of relief!} though as the day wore on she began to limp -- on her formerly good leg...{visions of a second surgery}So far, she tends to favor it when over-used, but for the most part she is still walking pretty well. I am hoping to stave off the next surgery for another year...we'll see.

Of course, there remains much to tell about Olive...

There was the work day where Olive decided not to greet Daisie as usual when she came into the house...No, she decided to run underneath her out the door and begin a chase that lasted for 15 minutes. Once again, the instigators were the barn swallows, and Olive was obsessed with capturing them, and oblivious to her surroundings. Of course, she ended up on the road. Of course, I ended up flagging down cars, and running, running, running trying to head her off. We ran the yellow line on the road. We had people stop and try to talk her into coming to them. (FAT CHANCE) Fortunately, 4 members of the crew and Randy were close to the yard and came to my help. Even an old man, on his way home from the casino, pulled on to the yard to offer Olive a cookie lure. {Olive ignored it. Daisie displayed her best manners and received it with graciousness...} The old man gave me the remaining cookie, and left. Olive actually paused for a moment when she discovered a dead bird on the bark bed. I picked up the bird and tossed it away from the road, and closer to the house. I threw pieces of cookie to slow her down...Meanwhile, the human corral was closing in. After a few more bird tosses -- and a few more Olive escapes -- she paused long enough for Randy to make a leaping tackle, and apprehend the fugitive. Breathless and silent, we all headed back to the field (and Olive, to prison), until I told the kids that it was okay to laugh. The whole incident WAS funny...and disturbing. The next day, invisible fences and training collars were the topic of the day.

Since then, Olive has spent a lot of time in the house...enough time to go through at least one toy per day. She loves to disembowel the stuffin's out of them, and is very efficient at this. It often looks like is snowed here...Fortunately, she doesn't eat it, so we let her go at it, as it keeps us free for a brief period of time. However, after 14 toys (2 weeks), she inadvertently discovered the ultimate tug toy...my living room couch...Ultimate in that it never quits tugging back, unlike Gram and The Boss.

The result?

I should note here, that Olive's Gram can be quite stupid. I should know that you can never trust a puppy, especially when it's been quiet for a while. Conversely, in Olive's case, you can probably trust that she WILL do something you regret...And she did, more than once.

I like my furniture, and don't want new, so I have a new project on my list...It will take some creativity, and currently, the living room is fenced off to give Olive time to forget her newest tug toys.

Fortunately, these things happened right around the time we went to visit these guys:

Brown's Beautiful Boxer Babies!

{1 little boy & 1 little girl still available!}

I wasn't even tempted...at least not much...I do live with an everyday reminder that they don't stay sleepy and lovey forever.

And that's a good thing, isn't it, Randy...

We HAVE picked happily ever after!

2011-08-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

With the exception of .39” of rain that gave us a welcomed Sunday off, the weather has been very cooperative for the rest of picking season. We only have a few days left, and, contrary to our early expectations, it has been a good year.

The endless winter left us with the conviction that there was no way the bushes could grow large enough to support a normal fruit set, but the dry, (somewhat)warmer weather in June allowed them to grow like gangbusters! The continuing mild temperatures, though decidedly un-summerish, made the plants very comfortable and they set a lot of fruit, and a lot of that fruit grew large, and pretty! And once ready to harvest, there were lots of berries coming off right away. This made for challenging times in the processing plant as they had lots of fruit to get over the belt and into the pails each day.

We filled our orders a week ago. With plenty of fruit still on the bushes, we have picked into barrels since. Rarely do we pick for juice this many days of our season – but it’s all good, though we all are ready for the end. It’s time, too, as more than half of our crew is involved in the Fair this week, and soon football practices start, and really, it’s weird to pick this late into August.

The bushes look like this now...

...instead of this.

You can see the yellow leaves of this year's fruiting canes. They are dying down now, and the darker green is the primocanes that will become next year's floracanes (fruiting canes).

In our first year field, the primocanes have grown tremendously...See how far above the post they are? This winter these long canes will get tied and looped over to be ready for next year's harvest.

Even our older fields have very good new growth, which is hopeful for next year's crop -- though there is a lot a weather between now and then.

Of course, The Farmer spent a lot of time doing this: unloading & re-loading the machines. It kept him quite busy -- and that's a very good thing! He was happy to switch to barrels this past week, because then he could be busy pounding posts in the baby field, and that's done now too! A lot of pressure has been relieved.

A couple of days from now, picking will be finished. We'll miss seeing these kids who have been here as much, if not more, than they have been at their own homes. They are a hard-working, quality crew, and we are SO thankful for them...and we like them...and they make us laugh...and they keep coming back.

God bless them!

Despite the endless winter, and the downpours at the start of harvest, it became a great year in the annals of Honcoop Harvest History...We're thankful, and relieved,

and ready for post-harvest life...soon!

Then the sun came out...

2011-07-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

...and everything looked so beautiful.

The crew worked hard, and we picked a lot of berries.

We weren't cold anymore.

We smiled a lot...

...and we picked happily ever after.

(Wouldn't that be nice?)

Yep -- it rained...

2011-07-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

It rained overnight on Wednesday -- just like they said. What they didn't say was how much -- and it turned out to be .58", which is a lot for one short night.

The good news was that sunshine showed up early in the day, and better yet, a breeze! Great drying conditions...This allowed us to delay our start 3 hours, but still get in a full day of picking. The fruit was soft, and more mold showed up, but since we were able to get in the field right away, we will be in good shape once we pick out this rotation.

So -- no drama materialized...no one had to pick in the rain (Hurrah!) And the forecast is positive for the next few days...What will we do with ourselves if the sky is clear and the sunshines???

We'll have a day to ease into that new reality, because, you see, it rained this morning at 6 am for a while...

So we are on delay again...but the clouds are starting to part, and the breeze is picking up...

Been there, done that...

Progress...

2011-07-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

...We've been making it.

And that takes a lot of pressure off the not-so-great weather situation. We have been able to pick full days for the last 3 days, and have cleaned off the "old" fruit. We've even gained a little time on our picking rotation, so we are "ahead" in case it does rain tomorrow as they predict.

And, by the way, I incorrectly stated our picking schedule. Each row is picked every 3rd day -- not every other day, as I stated in my last post. Sorry...I've only been doing this for 25 years. I get mixed up once in a while...Or maybe it's that 50 thing.

Anyway, the weather is still not prime, but it's not crappy either. We are thankful for afternoon breezes that have helped clear out the morning humidity...Even humidity is a boon to the mold, so we don't like to see hazy skies, or fog during harvest.

I know, we are VERY picky...no pun intended.

And while we're on the subject of mold, I thought I would show you one of those mold "bombs" I was telling you about. As you can see, the bomb is snugged up against some pure and innocently ripening sister berries...That's how it happens -- the infection goes on. Of course, after taking this picture, I defused this bomb and threw it too the ground, but the sisters had to go with it. It was already too late for them...Begone!!

You didn't know raspberry farming was so dramatic, did you?

Fortunately, our strategy to get over the field as quickly as possible seems to be working. Yesterday, we started our second time over the field, and already there is less mold to sort out. {insert happy face}And it never got too bad to begin with {insert even happier face}

Sadly, the forecast calls for more rain tomorrow, and some lingering showers into the next day...So we may have to do it all over again.

Will the rain come before we start tomorrow? Will the pickers get into the field? Will mold bombs multiply? Will the heavens open, or just shower us enough to make a sticky mess? Will the crew refuse to endure the misery that is picking in the rain?

Oh, the mystery and drama that bad weather brings to farming!!

Stay tuned...

Harvest: Days 2 & 3

2011-07-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Our second day of harvest began with rain, steady rain...and so -- Day 2 never got started. We cancelled picking for the day.

Ironically, this gave me time to visit the Raspberry Festival in town. I think I have been to this event before, but only for a brief stop -- probably because I had to go to town for something else. We are usually too busy having our own sort of Raspberry Festival to participate in the fancy one in town. I didn't take advantage of the $1 raspberry sundaes they were dishing out...Uh, why? I have that stuff every day. I opted for the poffertjes instead...that's a rare treat!

We had high hopes for picking today...Okay, maybe not HIGH hopes, but hopes anyway...Things started off well, with no rain, though it was very muggy, and everything was still wet from overnight showers...and we made it to lunch break (which is 2pm or so in our workday) but then the rains began again. The sky was getting lighter, but everything was drenched. The cost/benefit analysis was getting out of balance the wrong direction, so we sent the kids home...

I have to say that this season is not starting out in a good way. Looks like the next 2 days will be picking weather, but another downturn is coming Wednesday and Thursday. There we go again...

The challenge right now is that there is "old" fruit on the bushes. These are blossoms that matured ahead of the curve; the early blossoms that show up become ripe red berries that are ready before there are enough to make the machine pick worthwhile. They are getting soft now, and with the rain they can get mushy and {ominous music} moldy...

Even though it's raining, fruit continues to ripen, and these old soft berries are like little bombs of biological weapons in the midst of the rest of the crop. Our best defense is to get them off before they are too soft or moldy, and get our picking rotation going so the ripest fruit is getting cleaned off every other day (or so), making less fodder for the mold monster.

Pretty hard to do when it is raining...

Same difficulty with our other defense against mold: fungicide. It's hard to spray protection on the bushes when the rain immediately washes it off.

The wrong weather can sure take the fun out of farming...

But that's farming -- I think retirement for us will mean not caring what the weather does on any given day...Not sure I can imagine that.

In the meantime, our challenge is to make the best decisions about when to be out in the field picking to capitalize on the good weather moments. We have to balance getting the fruit off with not picking too many green berries as we do it; and especially in these wet times, avoid having so much wet debris -- leaves, too soft fruit, more leaves! -- that we are throwing out more than we are keeping. If we had our druthers, we'd always wait to pick until the bushes were completely dry...Can't do that with our current forecast. We've got to keep picking because in the long run, it will be better...but it can be a wet and mushy mess in the short term.

Poor crew! It's not gonna be a fun week...but they are troopers, and stick it out, all the while doing a good job in sometimes ugly conditions. We are so thankful for them!

And tomorrow should be a better day...

..Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

The First Day...

2011-07-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

The day after our downpours, we were able to get in the field and get Harvest started. It was a decent weather day, a bit muggy, but no rain...

Everyone fell into the routine quite easily, and the fruit was nice -- big berries, and not too soft from the rain yesterday.

We are not "behind" with picking -- just right on time, which we gauge by how much fruit is coming off...enough to make it pay, but not so much that we have probably lost some on the ground already.

We kept the kids going a little later than usual because the forecast was not good for Saturday. Sure enough, just as we finished, the sprinkles began...

It looks like Day 2 will bring us a dilemma...

And so Harvest begins...

2011-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

After our endless Winter, and almost non-existent Spring, we are poised to set a new record for The Latest Start to Harvest Ever. Our previous record was July 13th...Today we were going to smash that record, and begin.

Okay, I know it is only one day -- but when you are accustomed to starting Harvest in late June or early July, this seems like a long time coming.

So today, July 14th, is the day...Or it was supposed to be...because it looks like this outside:

Even The Little Opportunist was stopped in her tracks when the door opened to the outside...

...just not worth it for her -- so you know it's pretty bad!

It's 9:45am and our weather station says that we have had .95 inches of rain since midnight -- and because it was barely showering when we got up at 7am, most of it has come in the last 2 hours...

Nope, we will not be picking today...

I think The Farmer has found the only sensible action for this kind of Harvest day...

Apparently The Latest Harvest Start Ever Record will be broken tomorrow.

We hope...

Update: By the end of the day, the rain total was 1.91"!

Seeing red...

2011-07-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

...but in a good way.

Yep -- we're finally getting some ripe fruit out there. It's taking a long time...Our previous Late Start Record was July 13. We may set a new one this year. The Farmer is predicting that we start on the 14th or the 15th. He's also predicting that the season will be short...probably on the fast and furious order.

Rufus, our favorite weather forecaster (ovs.com, click on Weather Cafe) didn't have such good news for us on the long-term forecast. It looks like Summer's high pressure ridge is setting up just a little too far west. That will allow weather systems to slip right over the top of it, and slide down the east side trough and give us cool, cloudy -- sometimes showery weather.

We're mentally preparing ourselves.

We've had our crew wearing shorts and tank tops, and cooking out there...A couple days later, they're breaking out the stocking caps and sweatshirts...The best weather requires a wardrobe somewhere between these 2 extremes. We'll keep hoping that ridge will shift east...

Other things are growing too...The last couple of years I've planted a wee garden...just enough to take care of during busy season, and we enjoy eating the beets, bean, radishes, carrots, and zucchini. Well, we enjoy the zucchini for a while, and then we begin to feel guilty that they are growing as big as a man's leg, and we don't want to eat them anymore.

Anyway, I took a picture for you to see my little patch...

And then I thought: "I can't let them see it looking like that -- surrounded by weeds in mossy hard ground!! How embarrassing!!! How faithless to my Dutch heritage!! It may look like that a lot of the time, but you certainly don't let people see it that way!!"

So I fixed it.

And there is my lovely wee garden...

Now, please excuse me. I need to go sit in the jacuzzi because my back and a plethora of other under-used muscles are very sore...

At least my ego was saved from being bruised.

Holiday Aftermath...

2011-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

I need a visual reminder today...

...because it just doesn't seem like Tuesday.

Holidays do that to me; and it was a good holiday.

We enjoyed our annual Cowboy Breakfast at Likkel's Northwood Pavilion.

My dad built a new firepit, which made for Cowboy Cooking Perfection.

The cooks get some credit too! Dad, Dillon, Tiffany and Erin made it happen, while Mom kept up the supplies from the refridgerator...Glad we don't have to do without the fridge like the Cowboys...

Lots of good visiting going on...

The menfolk discussed the world's problems...

The Little Opportunist found the rawhide in Cait's back pocket, but fortunately never escaped the confines of the leash.

Still, she managed to fall in here...

Competitive games of badminton ensued...

Amazing after the greasy and deliciously filling breakfast fare.

A new feature in the pavilion decor this year was the directional mileage signs to family members various residences...The only sign pointing east is Alicia's, who was lonely for the Cowboy Breakfast in Spokane...We missed you too!

Later in the evening --

the amateur pyrotechnicians treated us to a show.

There's something about explosives and fire that thrill the menfolk.

Me -- not so much. I tend to watch the show with 9 -- 1 already dialed, just waiting to complete the call for help. In my estimation, the adult males involved with the pyromania just tend to join in, rather than control it. I was so pleased when my boys got to the stage in their lives when it was not so attractive to blow up their money...

I have to say that though the show had some really impressive bangs and bursts,

this is still my favorite kind of night sky.

It was a good celebration of Independence Day!

And now it is TUESDAY---- TUUUUUUESDAAAAAY...

Gotta remember that.

I repeat -- Oh, Olive...

2011-06-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

Caitlin arrived to pick up Olive last night not 5 minutes after I had put her on the cable outside. Olive greeted her "Girl" with the usual enthusiasm, and then ran over toward the back door where we were headed, and was promptly flipping in circles and kicking her little leg out.

We immediately asked her if she had been stung by a bee, and she answered with continued frantic activity. Inside the house we went, and Caitlin inspected her for a stinger...

It's pretty hard to find a stinger on a dog, much less a primarily black dog.

However, when I took a turn, I got lucky and found the stinger still poking into the pad of her little back foot. We carefully removed it, and Olive was relieved.

For a little bit...

And then she started acting funny...restless, but slow...holding her head up funnily...standing still...I said to Caitlin that we need to keep an eye on her. Something didn't seem right.

About that time, she started hurking...and hurking...and hurking. Caitlin scrambled to get her outside while I cleaned up the messes. Soon other...uh, stuff was trying to...uh, exit her body, and by the time Caitlin brought her back up to the house, Olive was going into shock! Her gums and the inside of her lips were as white as her fur, and she was weak, and not standing well.

The call to our vet yielded their answering machine and the number to the Emergency Vets in Bellingham. Cait called there, and described what was going on and it was recommended that we get there ASAP. Cait wanted to drive (I wonder why?) so I had Olive in a towel on my lap. We had barely got on the road when Olive's eyes went glassy, and she wasn't responding to us. Cait asked, "Is she breathing?" I lifted her limp little head and couldn't tell. "We're going to Kulshan. Somebody might still be there." (All this occurred between 5:20 and 5:35.)

Olive started blinking and stirring, so we knew she was "back". We kept jiggling her and checking her blink reflex. The closer we got to the vet, the more response we were getting...She would move her eyes toward the sound when we said her name, and when we carried her into Kulshan, she actually perked up her ears. Thankfully, they were not gone for the day, and graciously took her in.

Dr. Jordan examined her, and was pleased to tell us that her heart and lungs were sounding good, but she was definitely in shock. They took her to the back and gave her injections of cortisone, and Benadryl. They wanted to monitor her for while (yes, please!). It was merely 5:50 when Cait and I sat in the waiting room, knowing Olive was going to be okay, taking deep breaths and resting our rubber knees.

Olive perked up well, and not long after 6 o'clock, we were on our way home -- with instructions on how to administer Benadryl should she continue to need it through the night, and the suggestion that Olive may need to have an epi-pen with her because it was a pretty serious reaction.

What? We have a dog that needs an epi-pen...on a farm where there are 80 hives of bees in residence for one month of the year...

This is going to be fun.

We've done it before...Dillon had an epi-pen with him after a number of increasingly severe bee sting reactions. Fortunately, he could tell us when he had been stung...and where...and he was smart enough not to chase the bees...Can't say the same for Olive.

But at least we know that she has our Number One Dog Rule down: Don't die!

New Stuff...

2011-06-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

It seems like not much has been going on around here of late. We're watching the raspberries grow, and the road paint truck did come back north and take care of the fog line we were missing -- but I didn't think there was much else to tell you...

Until I thought about is some more...

We had our deck replaced...with that Timber Tech stuff, so no more staining or painting or, in lieu of these activities, watching it slowly rot. It's so nice and clean and perfectly new...and ready for summer. (Please come, summer, please? I want to sit out in the sun on my clean deck...)

The latest batch of experimental raspberry cultivars were planted...Someday I'll have to explain this project to you.

Daisie has started using her 4th leg again...Kindly pretend you see a leash in this picture. Yes, we are doing poorly at following the doctor's instructions...but we do have limits on what she can do -- they're just not the same as the doc's. It's so good to see Daisie become her old self again, though it increases the difficulties with exercise limitations. She'd love to run a bit, and she's interested in playing with toys and people in a way that we haven't seen for a LONG time...which makes me feel very badly for how long she suffered. And there will still be more suffering as she can't run or play for a while yet...

Yes, she feels so much better, but right now, her "life is crap".

The Farmer brought home his latest ~~toy~~...uh, equipment, a liquid manure spreader, custom made to fit down the raspberry rows! Part of the big Manure Project, which will not go into practice until next year...Oh! The painful waiting! More on that later...

Olive has learned to be on a cable when she is outside; and she has learned that it is painful to chase birds while on a cable outside. However, she is not deterred. I fear her neck may become unnaturally long so I limit her time out there. Besides I don't like watching the abrupt turnarounds that result from hitting the end of the tether at a full run...Oh, ouch!

Last, but not least, I got a new coffee pot...well, coffeemaker is more accurate I guess...But I love the the old term coffee pot, or 'put on the coffee pot', or drinking a 'pot of coffee'. This little baby doesn't even make a pot, but I'm still going to use the coffee pot term. Because I can.

I have tired of the messy 'grind & brew', and as The Farmer has eschewed the consumption of coffee, it makes more sense for me to make a cup at a time, rather than a pot, for myself.

And it's cool! I love the little cups of coffee grounds -- they're so cute and you can keep a variety of types and have something different with every cup! And it's SO clean, and I got it on a killer sale, and now I have something more to shop for online, and I LOVE MY COFFEE.

And I'm sure you're all so happy for me, and so glad to know all about it...

But it's BIG for me, and besides what else do I have to talk about what with watching the raspberries grow and all...

Thank you for listening.

Oh, Olive...

2011-06-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Olive is 6 months old. She has reached the age where you often see in the paper:

FOR SALE:

6 mo. old puppy, needs room to roam, raised with kids, house-trained, comes with dog house, dishes, leash and toys. Purebred, asking $XXX

Which being interpreted means:

6 mo. old puppy (seems longer than that),

needs room to roam (won't come when called, and has wrecked our yard already),

raised with kids (and they suffered only minor injuries thus far)

house-trained (as long as we are),

comes with dog house, dishes, leash and toys (we want to forget this ever happened),

Purebred, asking $XXX (we dropped a chunk o' change on this and we want to get some of it back).

(But on the other hand if you just take the dog, it will be the end of the damages...)

Now, don't worry...I am not proposing the sale or excommunication of the inimitable Olive Oyl Honcoop...Not at all! The difference for us is that we knew this would happen. We expected these days of weeping and gnashing of teeth -- and I don't mean Olive's tears or teeth!

But I have to say, it does get wearisome sometimes.

Of late, Olive has learned that often when you "COME", the good times end. You may find yourself inside, instead of outside, or in the crate, instead of out of it. Gram might pick you up, when you would rather be fighting someone, or hunting something. Olive is not stupid, unfortunately, so she has imposed her own moratorium on "COMING".

She will not. period. end of sentence.

This tends to be problematic...VERY problematic, and now coupled with her latest obsession, it has become intolerable.

I believe I hear Olive snort-laughing right now...{insert teeth gnashing!}

Her latest obsession is chasing barn swallows around the farm...You know, barn swallows -- those kamikaze birds that love to swoop just past your head, then circle around and do it again...And they LOVE Olive...she's a dream come true because she takes the bait, and follows them wherever they may go...around the back yard, figure eight to the front yard, take an extra loop out over the road...

YES! THE ROAD...Those dastardly little birds are trying to kill my grand-pup!!

And my efforts to save her have provided the neighbors and passers-by not a little entertainment.

The other day, Olive forced her way out into the yard as I tried to block the back door. She immediately zoomed off in pursuit of a swallow, and I ran after her, yelling the futile command: "OLIVE, COME!"

It was as if I didn't exist.

My next tactic was to get between her and the road, so I headed to the side yard, where I frantically tried to head her off...Considering that I was already winded just from yelling, "OLIVE, COME!", it was not the most effective tactic...and I wouldn't win any awards for agility either.

Fortunately, the birds were a bit wary of me and changed course, away from the road...But only momentarily, and then the swooping fiends made the loop out into traffic, as did Olive...

My heart in my throat (and my stomach too, come to think of it, and my lungs were probably squished up there somewhere as well)...I ran to the road waving at a guy in a pick-up truck, wildly motioning at the black and white blur that was Olive. He indicated that he saw my trouble, and slowed down...The bird and Olive completed their sweep out over the road and headed back into the yard. I gratefully waved my relieved thanks to the driver, and turned back just in time to see Olive headed roadward AGAIN...

More frantic motioning and wild waving, and the man in the pick-up came through once more, waiting as Olive and the bird made the swoop back into the yard...Though he was obviously laughing heartily at the scene...

As was my husband who, during this little escapade, was driving back and forth with the tractor and mower. He had the good sense to only smile at me, but I know that when I couldn't see, he was laughing heartily too...{insert gnashing, gnashing of teeth}

And there was still more to laugh about...Though Olive had abandoned her bird-chasing, and was flopped, huffing, on the ground, the moratorium on "COME" was still in place. I did my best to wheedle and cajole -- Daisie even tried to help -- but Olive.would.not.come! She would sidle up close to us, but as soon as I lunged after her, all I caught was a fistful of air...She's so stinkin' fast, and slippery little!

{insert near weeping from frustration}

Finally, I sought help...The chuckling Farmer came by in the tractor one more time and saw his wife, hands on hips, nostrils flaring, wild-eyed, mouthing: "HELP ME!"

And he, knowing what's good for him, did.

Olive would not come to him either, but she adores him and when he went into the house, she figured good things were going to happen there, and she went in.

And she hasn't been out since.

Nor will she be, until the moratorium on "COME" has ended...

Except on the leash, because I am well house-trained.

Boomerang no more...

2011-06-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

Today we are packing up the pickup, a U-haul trailer and a Taurus with all of our youngest son's worldly goods...or at least as many as I can shove out the door before he stops me...and bringing them down to his newly leased apartment in Federal Way...or is it Kent...well, somewhere in the area known as South Seattle.

Our bright feller has acquired a job as the Director of Communications for a King County Councilman. He works everyday in downtown Seattle. He likes that. My kid likes the city...wow...

Anyway, his residence is located in the district for which his boss is the representative. His boss is Pete VonReichbaurer...of "saving the Seahawks for Seattle" fame.

It's a great job. {insert cartwheel} {retraction of previous insertion to avoid -- [insert debilitation]}

Anyway, we're so happy for him! He's a great kid, and I will miss him as I think the boomerang has now stopped...

But he will make a wonderful visitor!

That's great...That's JUST great...

2011-06-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

I've been telling people that we are not expecting a good year for the raspberries, what with our endless winter and all. In fact, just today I responded to a query as to whether the crop looked promising with a strong "nope"...

So tonight at dinner, at our favorite hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, The Farmer gets asked the same question: "How are the berries doing?"

His answer: "Good! They're coming along, doing well!"

What? They're doing what????

When did THIS happen?

I've been mentally preparing myself for a harvest that was worse than last year's non-stellar crop, and now I hear that it might not happen? And I'm going to have to go back and tell all the people I've talked to that I was wrong...the berries are okay?

Great...just great...Just when you think you've got the whole roller coaster thing figured out, suddenly there's a new thrill to experience...We might just have a good year.

I'm not sure I can handle it...

But I will summon all my powers of flexibility and do my best to rise to the occasion.

My apologies to all those to whom I unwittingly lied...and to you, dear raspberries, for my shocking lack of faith in your abilities to come back.

Just don't make me into a liar again, okay?

Ladies and Gentlemen...

2011-06-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

WE HAVE ROWS!!!

Yes, the babies have been born, and we have evidence that things can, indeed, grow in spite of the endless winter we have enjoyed. Hurrah!

We've had enough warmth and sunshine to green up the grown-ups, and get them to start filling out. And enough rain to keep us from mowing between the rows -- jungle!

Sadly, there are some things that just can't be fixed.

Now you know what winter damage looks like...

It's ugly.

We are seeing the promise of harvest...but still waiting for the weather to turn...please?

I know it's riveting reading, this blog where I chronicle watching raspberries grow...

So, in other news:

We got new paint lines on the road! It's hard to see here, but the left one still needs to be repainted.

Apparently they just head south down the road until they run into another county, and then they turn around and do the other side. They should be back in a couple of weeks...

I'll be sure to let you know.

"It's been a quiet week, here in Lake Wobegon..."

Happy Birthday to Daisie!!

2011-05-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Because of her current condition, we were determined to make Daisie's birthday extra special for her. We tried to avoid the mistakes of previous years and choose only things that she would enjoy.

She got a new, soft collar to wear during her recovery...

...and a couple of DELICIOUS birthday biscuits!

She loved them!!

And as a special favor, we did not make her wear a birthday hat.

Better yet, we made Olive wear it...

It made Daisie's day!

{wink}

Patheticism...

2011-05-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

...is not a word, but I think it should be. There's a lot of it going on around here since Daisie got home from the doggie hospital. Poor thing...Pitifulism is another candidate for describing her state as well.

Actually, I think either, or both, could be the name of a new American religion...for the "Somebody ought to help me" people. I know they're out there in droves...But that's a post for PISH TOSH...

Anyway, Miss Daisie came home on Thursday, and her patheticism was justified. She was one hurtin' pup! Her incision is probably 9 inches long over her knee and down her leg. She's all bruised, swollen and then to add insult to injury, I asked them to also remove some masses that she had on her neck, shoulder and rump. (They had been tested and were benign, but it's good to get rid of them while she was under anesthesia anyway.)

The result is a patchwork quilt of hair and hairlessness, and stitches almost anywhere you try to pet her. The one bright spot -- NO CONE OF SHAME!!! Well, so far...if she gets toothy with her stitches instead of just licking them, that will be the next indignity.

Now -- I'm going to post a picture or two, and if you tend to be squeamish, or scared of hairless animals, you might want to scroll down quickly.

If you're like me, you want to enlarge it to count the stitches and see how many different colors are present! I'm kind of weird that way...I did always want to be in the medical field. I don't mind blood; it's the other bodily secretions that put me off.

But I digress( -- and twice in one post!!)

The poor suffering Daisie...although here she is at least moving around. Two days past surgery, and already she is showing improvement, though from the look on her face you can see where I got the term "patheticism".

Frankenstein leg...lots of staples...

Our patchwork dog...in the healing sunshine.

There are lots of "awwww's" that are voiced when anyone sees her...She's getting a lot of tender loving care from us all. I even made her scrambled eggs for breakfast, just to get her to eat something.

And this morning I noticed that she keeps checking her dish without eating any dog food. Hmmm...she wouldn't be exploiting her pathetic state now, would she?

Well, I will GLADLY make her some scrambled eggs one more time...and especially because we haven't told her yet about the exercise restrictions...3 MONTHS on the leash!! Yes -- that would be the 3 SUMMER MONTHS ON THE COTTON PICKIN' LEASH!!

It's gonna be a long one...

The Three Legged Dog...

2011-05-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Poor Daisie -- she REALLY did it this time...

At about one year of age, Daisie partially tore her ACL, right rear knee. It's been a weak spot ever since. Whenever she plays hard -- chasing, jumping, making lateral moves, and 360's(you would be amazed at what boxers can do!) -- she ends up limping for a few days. She is put on enforced rest, no easy task, and the problem resolves...

A week ago, she came in from her wanderings in the field, carrying her leg, obviously miserable. We have no idea what she did this time, but whatever it was finished things off in that joint, and surgery was unavoidable.

So yesterday, I brought her to the vet -- not her favorite place in the world -- and when I left she was shaking with nervousness. Of course, only "animal people", as I call them, work in the vet's office, so the assistant was very sweet to my nervous Daisie as she took her back

to The Great Unknown and Likely Not Fun Place.

I am pleased to report that I maintained my composure and acted like "this is just a dog and I do not need to act as if my child were going under the knife"...

But: MY CHILD WAS GOING UNDER THE KNIFE!! And I spent a restless, unproductive day wondering about her...

I admit it: I am an avowed Dog Lover and dedicated Animal Lover, with few exceptions (ferrets and reptiles are 2 of them). I joke that we got our boxer because the kids would no longer let me cut their meat, and I needed someone to mother. The truth is, of course, that I hadn't cut their meat for a long time, but they WERE more than happy to see me mother someone other than them.

And I was happy to do it.

They do think I am a bit overdone on the dog-mothering thing -- especially when I speak for Daisie (I am known as "The Voice of Dog"...). However, when they consider the alternative, they refrain from turning my attention off the dog and on to them.

My dog obsession and highly anthropomorphic imagination can be blamed on my dad, who got a dog for the farm on my first birthday. Of course, I interpreted this as getting a dog for ME. We named her Happy, for Happy Birthday, and she was with us for 13 years, through two farm moves, and she contributed to my life a love that has stayed with me, and will forever...

PUPPIES!!!

Back in those days, you didn't spay your dog, and there was always a home for the puppies that resulted. Over her lifetime, Hap had 97 puppies (yes, we kept track) and I loved (and wanted to live with) each one of them. I still love the smell of puppies -- and no wonder when you consider the scenes above. Oh! Those were happy days...

So yesterday, when the dog who lives with me now, was not at home, and "under the knife", I was just out of sorts. Things around here were not right... I am so blessed to have a house dog now! I had to wait 42 years for that, and I love it!)

I admit it, Daisie's my baby...

My family is just grateful that she's too big for me to carry in a purse.

Class of '79...

2011-05-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Back Row: Lori Timmer Jones, Kaye Baron, Colleen Bode Unema, Gaye Vander Giessen Davis

Middle Row: Lorrie Korevaar Whatley, Elaine Gunst Dixon, Leslie Likkel Honcoop

Front Row: Lisa Mellema Groeneweg, Bonnie Van Dellen Korthuis, Mary Broersma Long, Karen Polinder Herrema, Kathi Vander Haak Jansen

A week ago today I was privileged to join 11 of my high school classmates for a weekend of collectively celebrating our 50th birthdays.

I've been thinking all week what to say about it...It was so great, that I have been struggling to find a way to describe it.

32 years after graduation, we still like each other. We've retained many of our youthful personality traits, but they are manifested in much more mature ways now...better fun than ever.

We have history, and don't need to explain where we came from. We certainly reminisced, and laughed, and confessed a little, over the events of the past -- but we all had the same framework of memories.

We shared about where we have gone with our lives in the days since...the joys, the disappointments, the surprises, the tough times, the blessings...and we were sad and glad for each other. We have always wished each other well, but it was a weekend to hear what had come in our lives since the early days of our friendships.

I admire them all, these wonderful women, with their wisdom, their graciousness, their character, their vivacity! I am privileged to know them, and to connect with them once again.

I suppose not many people would be anxious to spend a weekend with the girls from their high school days. It speaks to the quality of these women that this weekend has become a highlight of celebrating my 50th year.

I feel so very blessed!!

You did what??

2011-05-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Farmer bought this truck...

...ON EBAY!!! ...IN AN AUCTION ON EBAY, NO LESS...

The Farmer has been looking in every boneyard (aka old abandoned equipment/junkyard), for months now, trying to find a truck suitable for his newest venture in the world of manure (aka natural fertilizer) application. (His obsession with natural fertlizer has been alluded to, and actually is worthy of its own post...I just can't bear to write about it.)

Unable to find what he was looking for, he resorted to searching (and searching and searching and...)online, and then discovered Ebay.

Oh.For.Goodness.

His trepidation about buying online was reduced to hesitation, then was hindered only by lack of opportunity, until the other day I found him hurrying in and out of the office to check his computer. I figured something was not right -- something like the status bar had disappeared and he didn't know how to find it back, or he accidentally minimized his email and thought it was gone forever after spending 1 hour typing 3 well-considered sentences...You know, the usual.

But no -- he's checking to see how many bids have been added to his because he's buying a TRUCK!! You wouldn't just test the waters buying, say a garden tool or lawn mower accessory on Ebay...

No! Let's start by buying a Kenworth!

I was seriously stunned...but coherent enough to ask when the auction ended, and let him know that he better be online then because that's when the bids would fly.

I guess it's true that I could, therefore, be accused of complicity, or collusion, or conspiracy in this crime...

but I didn't think he'd WIN!!

At 7:15pm, I joined him to watch the countdown, as he won his truck...

Oh boy.

Fortunately, this truck was located in Seattle, not Michigan or Wisconsin or even Boise as some he had considered were. So yesterday, Jess brought The Farmer down to The BIG City to pick it up.

It's JUST what he wanted!! Old enough to be reasonably priced, new enough to be able to do the job...and just enough rattling for character.

It HAS to stop raining now so that The Farmer doesn't have as much time to spend on the computer -- because the ice has seriously been broken for him in the world of online shopping!

I'm scared.

THE SUN IS SHINING!!!

2011-05-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH!

FREAK SUNSHINE BATHES NW WASHINGTON IN WARMTH!!!

Wait -- it is now pouring rain and hail...wait...wait...okay!

BREAKING NEWS!! SUNSHINE RETURNS TO LIGHT STARVED WHATCOM COUNTY!

Really! It's newsworthy!! And it just makes us feel like this:

We're stopping everything to SOAK IT IN...

Although, I actually am feeling a surge of motivation...

And it's a good thing because my desk looks like this:

Of course, this also means that I will spend much of the day INSIDE, catching up on chores that I ignored while I moped at the downpour of yesterday...

We're starting to feel like we are in a Narnia-like time warp, where it is always Winter,

and never Spring.

So, while yesterday we stared at the rain in despair,

today, we gaze out the window in wonder.

Or we would if the windows weren't so dirty...

{Just call me Eeyore}

Signs of age...

2011-05-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

1.Well, that didn't take 'em long...

Actually, for an unknown and strange reason, I got a bunch of mailings from AARP about 25 years ago. I finally got fed up with it and sent them a letter saying that I was a 26 year old mother of a 4 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old. I didn' t have time to think about retirement and besides, at that point, I was entirely doubtful that I would live that long...The mailings stopped.

Until now.

2. Paperless billing -- tired of filing more and more papers, I have begun to avail myself of this convenient option.

So far, it has cost me 3 late fees...It's getting to be an expensive convenience.

3. As I left the grocery store parking lot, I saw many people carrying lovely bouquets of flowers to their cars, and then I remembered that was what I came for. I had to go around the block and come back...on the upside, we have more than enough eggs for the rest of the month.

4. I know there was something else...hmmmm...

5. #2-4 have been happening for some time now...It's just bugging me more this week for some reason.

It's my birthday...

2011-05-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

...and I've had a great day!

It actually started with dinner last night. The Farmer treated me and our kiddos to Anthony's. Marvelous!

Then today, I had carrot cake for breakfast.

I went for coffee at Woods with my ma, pa and sisters.

I found treasures at the thrift store and antique shop.

I ate potato chips for lunch, and a cookie.

Flowers were delivered!

I enjoyed all the lovely greetings on Facebook, and in the mailbox.

The lawn was mowed for me.

I sat and watched the dogs lay in the sunshine...

I put my new treasures in their places...and enjoyed looking at them.

I didn't cook dinner.

And, best of all, I never hurried once!

I repeat, it was a great day...

And I'm glad about that, because I was a little ambivalent about my birthday this year. I love my birthday usually, and make sure its full of stuff I enjoy...

But this year, I turned 50...

That's me, and my mom, fifty years ago...

(I was a red-head then...wasn't it cute?!)

(My mom was pretty cute too!)

I've always thought it silly when people had "trouble" with getting older. Getting older never changed my opinion of them in the least! Of course, things (meaning things about your body) change, but you're older! What do you expect? Why be upset about it? The main thing is that you are still a good person, no matter what happens to the outside of you!

That was my theory anyway -- and it was a good one, until it was MY body that changed...Until I looked in the mirror and thought, "What happened?" So much of my life, I've been waiting until conditions were just right for me to look my best...What was I thinking? That it was going to get better??? Ha! I wasted all my prime years thinking I looked bad...stupid girl!

But more than the wrinkles, rolls, age spots (I prefer to call them "freckles", large "freckles"), and diminished physical capabilities (I can be injured just bending over to pick up a sock these days) is the disturbing realization that I am now MY PARENTS' AGE...

In my mind, my parents have been 50 for, oh...about the last 20 years. I mean, every year I think of them as being 50ish --- and I think of me as being...um...thirtyorfortysomething.

But that's not true anymore...FIFTY! ME! And if that's not hard enough to accept, I have to acknowledge that my parents aren't in their 50's anymore either...What???

As The Farmer says, turning 50 is sobering. It brings up all kinds of contemplative questions about what you've done with your life. It brings you face-to-face with some hard truths...

Apparently, I will never be a singer like Evie Tornquist. It's not gonna happen. I don't think there's much chance I'll be famous. I'm too tired to buy an old house and restore it. I doubt that barrel-racing or even horseback riding will be in my future...I will not ever have that hobby dairy farm or puppy boarding facility... And I still don't have any ideas about that book I was going to write...I won't -- (because I CAN'T -- that's the painful realization) do everything I've always dreamed about...

It's hard, facing the facts.

But it's kind of freeing as well...It's a lot of things you can stop worrying about, or pushing for... It's the "IYAM WHAT IYAM" stage of my life... In the last year -- my 49th, and what I have called "The Year of Completeness" (seven sevens, you know) -- I have stopped striving after superfluous stuff (which of course meant that I had to recognize that which is superfluous -- more contemplation)... I am much more discriminating about the things in which I choose to put time and effort. I think I finally have reasonable expectations of myself -- and maybe even of others! I realized that I'm a lot less gracious, and a lot more picky about "The Rules of Life"(as arbitrarily determined by my own interpretation of right and wrong) than I need to be so I'm learning more acceptance and graciousness. I don't worry like I used to...God takes care of stuff -- all stuff! Life's too short to be fussing about something all the time. I make an effort to enjoy what I am doing, seeing, feeling in the moment.

I guess these are the benefits that come with the costs of being 50...I just wish sometimes that these epiphanies had come sooner...Undeniably, 50 is the back side of the hill...

Here's hoping the hill is long enough to really enjoy the late acquisition of wisdom!

I am a little nervous about that...

It's the most uncomfortable time of the year...

2011-04-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

There is always a point in the early spring (which this year has come much later in the calendar year due to it being inordinately cold for an extraordinarily long time) when we don't like looking at the berry field...

These will turn green, instead of yellow-green, won't they?

These will fill in, won't they?

We do know some hard truth about the baby field...

Winter damage is visible.

You can see that the lower portions of the canes are quite leafed out...but the upper portions -- not so much. Babies are more susceptible to winter damage, and it shows up on the top of the canes. These should look somewhat better over time, but it will not be a good year for this field.

And sadly, as you go around the county, you see that we were not the only ones to suffer winter damage...It looks like Whatcom County may have a short raspberry crop this year...and the longer La Nina stays around, the more challenging it gets.

So we take whatever positive weather news we can -- and we hear that next week the rain will be WARMER!

That's progress...

Easter was a double blessing...

2011-04-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

This year we celebrated Easter with both sides of the family! Usually it's one side or the other, but this year was special because the littlest Honcoop, Miss Brielle, turned ONE on the very same day!

That's worthy of 2 ham dinners, I must say!

We enjoyed the noon meal at my sister Meg and brother-in-law Jim's home. She set a lovely table for us all:

We had a lovely spread of food as well:

I've become the designated deviled egg maker, taking over for Mom. I can now rival her abilities in the deviled egg department, but not in the pie department, so we always like to have Mom bring dessert -- This time rhubarb pie, and Strawberry Mile High...yum! Dad requested "14 dozen" deviled eggs, but 4 dozen did the trick...

We left full and happy...

And then enjoyed the egg hunt at nephew Lance & niece Jessica's place,

Home of The Birthday Girl!

Miss One Year Old Brielle!

Her brother, Colby...

Her cousin, Madelyn...

It's fun to have egg hunts again!

The kids had fun, even as it began to rain, and the fickle adults all congregated here:

Pretty lame!

We let the kiddos' parents and grandparents direct the rainy hunt.

Great Grandma & Brielle

"Auntie" Cait & Brielle

After the somber contemplation that comes on Good Friday, Easter Sunday is always a happy day...

And none happier than this year, with it's multiple celebrations of life!

We interrupt this Long Winter...

2011-04-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

...for a weekend of Spring!

What a treat! Sunshine, temps that went beyond the 50's...Ahhhh, blissful! The county was noisy with tractors and buzzing lawn mowers, and the ka-ching of cash registers at nurseries everywhere!

And lots of people were smiling -- did you notice that?

We smiled too, but not easily until the end of Saturday. Our favorite forecaster had predicted a week of drier weather, and a sunny weekend. "Drier" had turned out to be a relative term, and meant that we got only 3/4" of rain over the first 3 days of the week, instead of the 1 1/2" of the week before. This was making it very difficult to get the field ready for planting...it was still pretty wet...

We knew that even if most of Thursday and Friday were dry, the soil would not be in optimum condition. The forecast trend indicated that our next opportunity to plant would be mid-May -- and no matter the soil conditions, planting that late is not optimum. It became a matter of choosing which was less bad...So -- we decided to try to catch this window.

The trick would be to delay planting as long as possible into Saturday, allowing the field time to dry -- while also getting enough workers to plant the field in a short amount of time. We weren't going to work on Easter Sunday, and besides, the rain was supposed to return by then.

Randy did a great job getting the dirt ready, and our friend, Gregorio, really came through for us, getting a crew of 20 (count 'em!) workers!!

We started planting at 2pm on Saturday, and finished by 7pm. Of course, Randy's day had started much earlier as he had to go over the field with the cultivator one more time before we started. Then he had to mark the rows. Planting day is always a lot of hard work, but I was blessed to have my load lightened as Jess and Caitlin joined the crew to help! Cait filled buckets with roots; Jess ran the buckets to the workers as they needed refills, and I got the cushy job of driving the truck along as we went.

I did take turns with their more difficult jobs...so I did suffer a little, but not nearly as much as last year. It was a treat to have them work with us, and to know that they were enjoying their day in the sunshine.

We all smiled big, and sighed with relief at the end of the day when every row was planted. It was a great weather day, and we had a crew of hard workers who did a quality job. So satisfying to get the job done...This is the latest we have ever planted.

Now we can sit back and wait for them to grow...

Doesn't look like much, but under that flat spot is a future raspberry plant...Grow, baby, grow!

To cap the day, Dillon and Tiffany showed up with a delicious berry crisp for our dessert that night...a perfect tribute to the work of the day.

So much to be thankful for...

A long neglected chore...

2011-04-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

I vacuumed my fabric upholstered furniture today. It's an event -- because it doesn't happen very often.

My grandma did this same chore every week, and maybe my mom did too, for a while. I remember doing it for her on Saturdays. Me, not so much...but a while back, while sitting in the living room with guests, we laughed heartily at something, and I slapped my hand on the arm of the sofa and created a "poof" of dust.

That was motivating.

So now, 4 or 5 months later, I finally dug out the upholstery tool, and went to it.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

There! Doesn't that look better?!

Perhaps these kind of results have something to do with my motivation.

And for those of you who right now are composing a pithy comment about the dog I vacuumed off the couch, this note: No dogs were vacuumed or harmed in the making of this blog.

The Little Opportunist just jumped up there when she saw both my hands were busy.

But she did look pretty cute, didn't she....

I digress...

I should report that despite the lack of visible change, I did perform a "poof" test, and we should be good again for a couple of years. I also checked for any spots on the upholstery and discovered that the fabric I chose causes vertigo when examined closely. I saw spots all over -- the room, I mean. Most spots weren't real -- but the bad news is I'm not sure which ones they were.

All this concern for the The Room Where Nobody Goes...

I never planned to have a room like that. In fact, I have always eschewed the practice of creating a "formal living room". My plan was that the family room was where the kids would gather, and the living room was where the adults would gather...But -- the family room is open to the dining room which is open to the kitchen, and everyone congregates there...

...which is lovely -- you know -- everyone wanting to be together.

In the meantime, my living room is lonely and has become The Place Where Flies Go to Die...

(and lately, Where Puppies Go to Do Stuff They Shouldn't)

Sounds pretty dire for a room that really looks pretty inviting...

I moved my glider chair in here because it's a pretty perfect room for reading -- sunshine over your shoulder (well, once in a while), cozy fireplace for the cold rainy days (all the time lately)...navy blue walls (okay maybe that's weird, but I love it)...a piano...a mix of old & new furniture...

I love sitting in here, sipping my coffee, reading my book...

But its a little lonely, so next time you stop by, make my day and sit with me in the living room.

But do it soon, before I have to vacuum again.

Pale & Puny...

2011-04-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

The sun has come out recently -- though it has not been accompanied by warmth. I took some pictures of the berries which are valiantly trying to grow in these winter-like conditions. They are looking pale, peaked, puny...

They need warmth, sunshine, less rain...

As do we all!

The forecast is for fairly dry weather, so we are hoping that by the end of the week this field will be full of raspberry root stock -- ready to grow as soon as the weather cooperates!

It's going to be a busy week!

The Faces of Accountability...

2011-04-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

Try to sneak a snack at our house, and this is what you will see:

Someone knows how much and how often you are eating.

It gives one pause...One is forced to consider what one is doing...

Fortunately, these diet police are easily bought off with a corner of cookie...

So in effect, they ARE reducing my food intake.

At least that's the way I like to look at it.

That's a fine how-do-you-do!

2011-04-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

This morning, Spring just came right out and thumbed her nose at my previous request.

Apparently, I did not ask nicely enough...My freshly mowed lawn was covered with snow. Our freshly fluffed dirt field was white. I thought I said "please" as in "please STAY" as in you are welcome here...

We are still on Planet Earth, aren't we? Where we supposedly have 4 seasons?

On the upside, Miss Madelyn was here today, and when we went outside for puppy duties, she exclaimed excitedly, " 'no, Auntie! 'no!" (which being interpreted means, "Snow, Auntie! Snow!" though at first I thought she was echoing my sentiments, "NO!" about snow...) Anyway, it helps one's attitude to have a child want you share their excitement...And that was easier to do as the "no" was melting.

Miss Madelyn was her delightful little self, here playing her own version of The Car Game -- which is sooooo fun! She makes up the rules, and when I put a car in the wrong spot, she shakes her head and gently says, "No, Essie..."

Unfortunately, at the same time, puppy Olive was in a particularly manic state...Toddler, toys, manic puppy -- not a good mix. So, Olive gets to have a lot of crate time, which only heightens her mania when she is set free...

This was the kind of mood she was in -- when I tried to take her picture, she attacked my camera strap. She flew about the house, stealing toys, and security blankets, and jumping up on the coffee table where all the Fisher Price Little People were gathered in tidy rows waiting for their turns on the merry-go round. Daisie had to get very gruff with her, and Olive was in no mood to take that lying down -- and oh! the noisy wrestling that ensued! Oh! The endless reprimands, and Little People rescues...

Unexpectedly, our biggest challenge was the confusion that resulted from the overlap of a potty-training puppy and potty-training toddler in the same house. You would think the similarities would be a double win, with each encouraging the other. After all, treats were awarded for each successful effort. However, by the end of the day, I had Olive happy to go potty in the house, and Madelyn thinking she would prefer to go outside!

I'm not sure how that happened. I know for a fact that I never gave Madelyn a dog treat...because I was really careful about that. Maybe she just didn't know who I was talking to when we were outside and I was repeatedly saying "go potty"... I caught her before anything...uh...untoward happened...

I may never get to babysit again...

All in all, it must not have been traumatic for either one, as Madelyn basically declined her daddy's request to go home. She wanted to stay here... be still, my heart!

And Olive, then free to run about, ironically decided that she would now spend the rest of her day sleeping.

I must have a word with her about her schedule...

Spring, please stay!

2011-04-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

It acted like Spring yesterday giving us all hope that perhaps one day before July, she will come to stay for good...or at least until summer, if summer comes this year.

You can tell I am from Western Washington. Good weather only serves to make us suspicious. Certainly, payback will be coming...

The Farmer was thrilled to do some farming!

I was less thrilled to mow the lawn...but I am enjoying looking at its tidiness today...despite the thick moss that comprises 30% of it right now. I should also announce with joy that the mower did not plug up even ONCE!! This rarely happens when mowing April grass.

The dogs played outside, while I tried to capture some promises of future beauty...

Lilac...

Magnolia...

Daffies, already delivering on their promise...

(these aren't the ones I forgot to plant...you don't want to see those.)

Vinca minor too...

It was a lovely, lovely day...I always marvel how a bit of sunshine can make such a difference in one's outlook...To borrow from Dickens: I shall keep Springtime in my heart and try to keep it until we stop setting precipitation and low temperature records for the year.

Well, anyway, I'll try.

A new perspective on tedium...

2011-04-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

Last week I complained to you about the tedious tasks I have to accomplish...oh, foolishness!

First of all, I put myself in this position with my almost obsessive compulsions.

Secondly, when you consider some of the alternatives, tedium is nice. In fact, I kinda like it...

You see, last week even as I wrote the words about tedious taskwork, my dad was finding himself in severe pain. I got a call that he and Mom had headed to the ER -- and so began my new-found affection for tedium.

For a couple of days, Dad had suffered with bad stomach pains...but they would subside, so he kept just enduring them...And let me say here for you stoical, high-pain-tolerance types -- it is a "skill" that can turn around and bite you in the butt -- and leave teethmarks! By the time Dad was convinced that perhaps the "11" rated pain on the 1-10 scale wasn't going to go away, it was constant and only relieved by the removal of his now-gangrenous gall bladder.

Gangrene...it ain't pretty...not that we saw it live and in person -- but we were worried to hear that it was even there! We were on secondary infection watch...and though his pain level was down to 6 or 7, Dad was still pretty miserable.

But miserable is a relative state, and since he was much less miserable than he had been, he did feel "better" (In the future, we will ask: "Than what?"). And truthfully, he did make good improvement, but after he was sent home on Thursday, things regressed from not so good, to bad, to horrible. Having learned the vagaries of stoicism, he agreed to return to the hospital by ambulance. There was no way to get him in the car with the nausea and pain he was suffering.

Some hours of testing in the ER identified that the secondary infection we feared was effectively creating a blockage in the intestine...not good, not good at all. Antibiotics, and other measures were taken to relieve his distress, and 18 hours later, he was much improved...A couple more days of ups and downs, finally yielded to more ups than downs, and he is home again -- but finally doing SO much better. We are so thankful and relieved! It was, at times, scary, and all the time, distressing to see him suffer.

And I would have much preferred the tedious week I had previously planned...In fact, I had lots on my calendar last week, and how I hated to call people up and cancel on them...They were counting on me! But everyone was so gracious, and I realized that despite being inconvenienced, they were glad to take it on because they wanted to bear part of my burden, and support me. You guys are wonderful!!

I wouldn't wish my dad's experiences of the last week on anyone!! No way! But I want to acknowledge that good has come out of it -- We felt so blessed by the prayers, expressions of love and care, in words and in tangible ways...We have a freshened perspective --what was previously a bad day, doesn't seem so bad anymore.

And tedium seems less tedious...

I think I'll go scan a couple hundred negatives...For some reason, it just sounds like fun.

Oh my...

2011-04-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

It was a melancholy week, what with all the sadness about town -- and the enduring winter-like rains thwarting our hopes of Spring, and our wish for warm sunshine to cheer us.

I spent too much of the time dithering about, hoping that I would suddenly feel better about life in general...which only made me feel worse.

Funny how that works.

In an effort to pick myself up and go on, I pressed on with one of my projects. One of my projects, dear to my heart, but so tedious that it seems endless.

Perhaps it wasn't a good choice.

I am nearly finished, though, and I want to finish -- to check it off the list -- so badly that I can taste it! I have this compulsion about family history -- it must be kept. Our lives together must be documented and saved and on record! So, I currently have been scanning all our negatives from pre-digital camera days. The plan is to archive them somewhere safe, in case we need them...

Which likely we never will...and I HOPE we never will, but I will be ready just in case. I am choosing not to think about how many hours I have spent on this endeavor, and that the most likely return on investment will be solely the satisfaction that it's been done. I don't really know that if the house burns down, we will reprint the pictures. After all, my journaling documentation of our history is all in the photo albums, which would indeed burn if the house did...not to mention all my calendars from which, a few years ago, I reconstructed the years that I had not documented thus far.

(Especially the year I had 3 children, 3 and under...I believe I may have taken some artistic license in re-creating that one as it was pretty blurry...but I digress...big surprise.)

Come to think of it, I need to find a way to preserve those one-of-a-kind albums so they have back-up too...

I feel another tedious project coming on!

I need a new compulsion.

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls"...

2011-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've chosen not to write of some of the sadnesses of the past few months, but another loss in our little town compels me to reveal a heavy heart.

It's been a winter of many losses: from the nonegenarians who represent the pillars of our community, to toddlers, teens, and babies born too soon...all gone too soon, by our estimation.

I believe God is in control. I believe all those I refer to are safe in His care -- but I admit I don't understand His choices nor His timing oftentimes...

Yesterday, a wonderful, middle-of-her-years woman was taken in an illness that ripped her from her family in a matter of hours...How could this happen? How could this husband, sons, and daughter now be left alone, without her gracious, wise, loving ways. The center of their world is gone...

And sorrow upon sorrow as their Grammie passed only days before...

Today our little town is full of heavy hearts for the sadness of people we love, respect and admire. It is hard to see any beauty in this situation, but it comforts my heart to see so many gather round this entire family in prayer, and love, and support -- holding on to them in their broken-heartedness.

All of us carry a little of the sorrow, the bell is tolling for us all...

The Current Regime...

2011-03-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Little Usurper surveys her newly acquired kingdom...

Daisie: "That used to be mine..."

The times, they are a changin'...

Spring Tease...

2011-03-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of an unusual winter here, in that it has been winter ALL winter! That doesn't usually happen...We usually get a bit of spring somewhere in February -- even January sometimes...Everyone gets excited; the farmers get out in the field -- and then winter comes back. Last year it came back and stayed until...oh, about June!

But this year, winter has been winter. I've heard rumors that it has been one of the coldest on record, not for depth of cold, but for average low temperature...lots and lots of frosty days.

A lot of days lately have looked like this:

We've had a lot of storms blowing through...And there have also been plenty of days that were just gray, rainy, not-so-pretty days.

But this week, we've gotten a little tease of Spring -- which is about right as the first day of Spring is tomorrow. How strange would it be for Spring to come at the appointed time? For here, that would be unusual!

Beautiful skies...especially the blue!

Buds pushing out on the raspberry canes...

The canes are all tied, and the robins are in residence...

The sun is shining again today, and it's actually tempting me to get out in the yard. {SHOCK}

I know that if I succumb, I will be sorry tomorrow.

Perhaps I should check the ibuprofen inventory first...

Happy Spring!

I'm a grandma!...well, kinda...

2011-03-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

I mentioned earlier that our daughter Caitlin acquired a puppy...so now I have a GRANDPUP, and I am a grandma, of sorts.

I don't mind at all!

I have a fond affection (make that FOND, FOND affection) for puppies -- especially those of the short-hair type...Can't get enough of 'em!!!

So Caitlin brought home her little "Frenchton" -- a designer breed, I guess, as she is half FRENCH Bulldog (my favorite kind of little dog) and half BosTON Terrier (my second favorite kind of little dog.) A perfect combination! Caitlin named her Olive Oyl.

She is ADORABLE!!

But then, I am her Gram -- I would think that...

When I told Randy that Caitlin had bought a puppy that had to come by plane from Arkansas, and that she would have to also find a new place to live, he frowned deeply. Oh! The lack of consideration for convenience! Oh! The inefficiency and impulsivity!!

Now he drops crumbs on the floor for her to eat, and asks if its his turn for her to sleep on his lap.

But he refuses to be called Gramps, just as he refused to be called "Dad" for Daisie...He is, to both of them (and sometimes me too) The Boss.

The Boss who's wrapped around their little toes...but you didn't read that here.

As for Daisie -- Randy was convinced that she would not tolerate another dog in her world...But she has more than tolerated The Little Usurper. They like each other -- except for when they don't...which is usually at the end of the day, or after a particulary irritating bout of rough-housing.

Like most little dogs, Olive doesn't know that she IS little, or that Daisie, should she so choose, could hurt her badly. Apparently, Daisie doesn't know this either because she is regularly assaulted by Olive's needle-like puppy teeth on her jowls. Not once has Daisie put a tooth on her in return, though she bats her about with a swing of her head quite regularly...It's painful, having fun -- and very noisy too, I might add...

It's the equivalent of dog heaven to them...

...and afterward, they are tired, cozy friends.

Being a grandma now, I get to puppy-sit -- 5 days per week! Olive is too small to stay alone for the hours Cait's job requires, so we get to have her at our house everyday! Oh yeah, and Cait too!

For all my wisdom via hindsight about child-rearing, I find that I have fallen back into the same old bad habits of years gone by. I fuss, wondering if she is doing alright...I worry whether I am leaving her in the crate too long...I hate to wreck her good times when she is doing something that we will later regret that she knows how to do...I wait for her to "tell" me what she needs, rather than deciding for her -- and you know what that means -- CLEAN UP!

I'm a puppy-centered whuss.

I was with Daisie too...still am...and I love it.

But someday, I'm going to have to get some work done...

Someday...

Reflecting on Maui...

2011-03-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

Oh, Maui...{sigh}a wonderful 9 days...a true vacation, where we relaxed and enjoyed the luxury of being unhurried...

There's just something about Hawaii for me...I relax there like no other place! What is it?

I think because it's just so different from home, but still wondrously beautiful... Whatever time of year you go there, you are instantly transported to summer, the season of vacation...And, of course, there's sunshine and the beach...you know, SUNSHINE...BEACH...

{Sigh}

We WILL be going back.

This trip, we arrived a bit more savvy about how to negotiate the wonderland. We knew what we wanted to do...we didn't need to read lots of brochures about our options.

Kamaole 1 Beach

We headed straight to the beach where Lon (aka The Farmer's Brother or Farmer 2) and his wife Deb, taught us the art of Beach Bummery. We were quick learners.

Our instructors, hard at work...

The Farmer embraced the lessons, and spent hours practicing!

Me, on the beach -- my good side...

We spent the next 4 days on the beach...doing nothing, and enjoying everything.

That is The Farmer, bobbing/noodling in the water...our favorite form of exercise.

Farmer 1 and Farmer 2

Beach Bum Instructors and Students

Our daily encampment...

Pale and white, in a matter of days, we were transformed to pink, red -- and hey! a little bit of brownish-ness...My anticipation of Maui had included some grave concern about the state of undress I would have to display there...Uh, I know that clothing is my friend --and I feared that the exposure a swimsuit requires would engender some...well, surprised looks, and, perhaps, uh, some heckling...

I need not have worried! As I traversed the beach in my comfortable, but modest, swimclothes, I became aware that there are many people on the beach who seem to suffer a sort of backwards body dysmorphia...They think they look better than they really do -- especially in a two piece! And, apparently, these people had thought this for many days as all manner of rolls, and folds, and...and...uh, volume, were deeply tanned. {Gulp} I was thrilled to find out that I was unremarkable in every way. Pure joy!

As for these backward dysmorphics, I gently remind: Yes -- a tan will make things look better, but a tan still may not elevate things to the level of looking good...But thank you for erasing my worries about hot weather dress!

Interspersed with our beach bumming, was the need to eat food -- which we did at some lovely restaurants...oh, the life! Besides, we needed to celebrate Deb's birthday, which we did at every opportunity!

Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi...

...at the beautiful Five Palms.

Scrumptious desserts...

...after the best steaks of our lives at Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Amazing food and service!

The Farmers, 1 and 2, took a helicopter tour of the island...marvelous!

After our Beach Bum Instructors had to return to the mainland, we did our best to bum as they had taught us...but we also explored the island a bit.

We drove past sugar cane fields...

...toured the Sugar Museum...

Headed further south to Makena...

...and ended up in the moonscape that is Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve.

This looks like clods of dirt, but it is all lava rock of various sizes.

It is a lava flow from probably the 1790's that came from a fissure on the side of Haleakala.

It's a wasteland, in the middle of verdant green -- surreal!

Power lines and a water line go through (over!) this area...no way to dig in a line...probably no need for a water heater either!

Ho'okipa

We drove through a bit of the upcountry to Makawao, and the Hana road, then back tracked down to beautiful Ho'okipa, and around through Paia -- hippy town, and back to Kahului. Ventured a little ways up the Iao Valley, but then back to Kihei. There's so much beauty everywhere on the island!

We did NOT do 2 of the most famous drives: Haleakala, and the road to Hana...Well, we did a bit of the Hana road...And if you are wondering why we did not do all of it, the reason is simple: The Farmer is not interested in going someplace that you have to drive the same way back. He prefers to take a different route home, to the point of skipping the whole trip to avoid this dilemma.

All I can say is it's a good thing we don't live on an island...It could be problematic.

We moved from Kihei, to Kaanapali for the last 3 days of our stay, where we joined the other members of the Co-op Board for meetings...Well, the guys had work to do -- the rest of us created our own agenda of meetings: "Meet you at the beach..." "Meet you at the pool..." Meet you at the Starbucks cart..." Meet you at Whaler's Village for shopping..."

Our resort in Kaanapali...

It was a beautiful place!

The beach...and Black Rock, the snorkeling spot...

Fun times! It's always a treat to spend time with this group as we have so much in common as farming families. A lot of our experiences are unique to this vocation, so it's great to have some concentrated time to commiserate, confab, and laugh a lot.

Dinner at Kimo's in LaHaina with the Co-op Crew...

I believe this was a committee meeting...

It's always too soon to leave Hawaii, but it really was time to be home...We sat on the beach in the morning...Drove down the coast with the windows open, the wind blowing our hair, the ocean brilliant blue, the sun hot...Then we got on the plane, and after 5 hours arrived in snowy Seattle, where we spent 15 minutes scraping the ice and snow off our windshield so we could see to get home.

It was a bit of a shock.

But it didn't diminish the wonderful respite that we had enjoyed...and the memories I keep mulling over on these last days of winter. It's just nice to know that it's always summer somewhere.

It's March -- and I'm still tired from February...

2011-03-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

It's March, the month of Spring's arrival, and it doesn't seem like it.

Though we have a beautiful blue sky this Friday morning, it is frosty and cold, and follows a week of occasional snow, a memorable windstorm, and generally wintry weather.

It's all good to me. I'm not ready for Spring yet. I'm too tired from a busy, but very good, February!

January ended with the very good news that Tiffany (dear daughter-in-law) was granted her permanent residency (aka green card) in the US! Hoorah!! She now has no worries about expiration of visas, and she has employment authorization for the US, should she choose to work down here. The issue of her legitimacy as a resident here as been put to rest...and that is a relief!

We celebrated!

The next event of note was Caitlin's purchase of her dream puppy -- which she found online, and whose birthplace and current residence was (drum roll) Arkansas! Perfect pup is a Frenchton, which is a French Bulldog/Boston Terrier cross...and adorable! This purchase for Cait was a big deal because (bigger drum roll) it meant she now had to find a new place to live as her current abode had a "no pet" policy...And the day after her purchase, and commitment to move, her friend Abby called to say she was ready to take up Cait's offer to be roommates...Which Cait was enthusiastic about, but had to admit to Abby that she didn't know where they would be living anymore.

A ~~frantic~~ concerted effort ensued to find a pet friendly home. Fortunately, when Cait responded to a craigslist post about such a home, she was emailed by her former piano teacher, who was excited to have Cait apply (despite the fact that years ago Caitlin abandoned her music tutelage for riding lessons...forgiving woman!) Whew! One problem solved...

The next week, my dad reported to the hospital for his ankle replacement surgery...4 hours of surgery, and a long day of waiting, but we were blessed to see him doing well at the end of that day, with no pain...(nerve blocks are a gift from God!) He was in the hospital only 2 days, but then began 6 weeks of no weight-bearing on his new ankle...a test of endurance! And even more so as his ankle now feels better than it did before surgery, despite the incision and trauma of rebuilding it...Whew! Lots to be thankful for...

We were able to move Caitlin's furniture into the new place the next weekend before we left for our vacation to Maui. This just happened to coincide with the rainiest, windiest day of the month. (U-haul, we love you!) Caitlin moved to our house to take care of Daisie, and wait for her pup's arrival...postponed for a week due to bad weather back in Arkansas.

We left for Maui, the day before the puppy arrived -- I was quite disappointed that I would have to wait 9 days before I could meet the little bundle, but for some reason forgot all about that once we hit the beach...Oh, Hawaii, how I love thee!!! 9 days of relaxation in the warm sun...while Caitlin cared for 2 dogs, finished moving her stuff, cleaned her houses, dealt with winter weather conditions and was generally as exhausted as a new mom with an infant...I must admit that the sand and sun of Maui made me quite callous to her plight...

Soon enough, or maybe too soon, it was time to return to the Great Whitish North. We sat on the beach in the morning (80's) and that same night, we scraped the icy snow off our windshield and drove recently snow-plowed roads home. (20's!)

Were we really in Maui?

It WAS great to greet our girl, and her darling pup,Olive, and our Daisie...I do love home (more than Maui!). It was just a little cold here...

After 3 hours of sleep, it was time for me to get up and assume puppy duties for the day...which consisted of many naps, thankfully! 2 days of zombie-like behavior, and then it was time to make sure Randy was ready for his annual trip to DC.

We drove the poor guy to the airport on Sunday, and then returned to Cait's new house to unpack and help her settle in...

And since then, I've been puppy-sitting daily, which gives me good reason to sit with a sleeping pup on my lap for hours...Daisie, Olive and I are really into napping...and we're good at it. We'll work on that other stuff, like "sit" and "no" and "leave it" later...but not too much later.

Today, I get to pick Randy up at the airport. He'll be so glad to be home!! And I will be glad he is too...time to get back to normal life on The Farm...if there is such a thing!

And hopefully, we'll be recovered from February before April comes around.

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

When you've been married for 31 years, and together for almost 35 years, your expressions of love are more on the reality side of things than the mushy romance side of things...at least ours are.

I found the perfect sentiment for The Farmer...

Really, when you can say something like that to your significant other and they snort-laugh and smile at you, isn't that TRUE love?

Anticipation Lost or The Backside of Winter...

2011-02-13T15:35:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, I haven't had much to say of late. The blog has been quiet. I can't think of what to write that's of any interest. I pondered this and realized the same thing happened last year.

It's something about January...and maybe February too...the doldrums of the year...the most boring months. -- Well, except for the year I gave birth to our first child -- that was the best January of my life!

No way to top that one anymore...

As I pondered further I realized that these 2 downer months (January & February) follow my favorite months of November and December. November and December are the Months of Motivation and Anticipation!! Cozy times, anticipation of wintry weather, and happy holidays ahead -- time to get ready for storms and parties, fill up your days with special activities, looking forward to making happy memories!

Correspondingly, it seems that January & February are the Lack of Motivation Months, The Backside of Winter, where all the anticipation is gone: the hope of wintry weather has faded, the holidays are but a memory, and you realize you forgot to plant your daffodils so no happy sunny faces will be popping out of the ground to cheer you...

I wish it wasn't so, but I can't seem to live out the high times without balancing them with low times. I guess I just have a finite amount of energy and emotion at any given time. If I use it up too fast, I must take some time refilling the resevoir.

Maybe if I see January and February as re-charging time, I can find a new appreciation for the doldrums*. We KNOW that a wind will pick up again soon...Perhaps this way, I'll be ready.

January and February may be boring, but they certainly have been beautiful!!

*doldrums: an old sea-faring term that referred to a quiet sea with the absence of wind & movement

You didn't want your sailboat to be stuck in the doldrums as you would go nowhere.

The Greats...

2011-01-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

In the last week, I've had visits from the Great Nieces & Nephew...Always entertaining, always makes me glad I had my kids young...

Miss Madelyn had been busy learning how to use the fork and spoon, and it was a study in concentration!

She was so careful to get the spoon well-loaded, and then if anything dropped off it had to be put back in the bowl for the next try.

Then the perilous journey up to the mouth! And no matter how large the bite, you put it ALL in, twisting the utensil for the unload...

Ahh, success!!

I get such enjoyment from watching them work through a situation, and solve problems. I wish I had been more aware of the wonder and benefits of letting my kids work out solutions to little problems like these. I was too focused on getting the chore done and on to the next thing...totally missing the learning moments.

Too soon old; too late smart...sorry kids o' mine!

Miss Madelyn woke slowly from her nap -- and adorably, I might add.

But soon, she was right back to work!

Daisie couldn't keep up.

Yesterday was Colby and Brielle's turn to visit. The Littlest Miss,had learned some mad skills, and was obsessed with displaying them!

She's pretty happy to show this off, and was always trying to stand up somewhere.

But the truth of the matter is that it was pretty tippy a lot of the time!

Still, no deterrent to keep trying, neither were the thumps and bumps of the near missses!

She is one busy and determined tiny little girl!

She is greased lightning doing the army crawl -- and I think she chooses the army crawl because then she can keep a toy in each hand while she goes...Adorable child!!

It was a trick to get a picture before this would happen...

And I don't have a single one of Colby this week...bad Auntie!

I should have taken them when Little Miss was napping, but we were too busying playing with the choo-choo, and the tractors, and reading farm magazines, and trying to keep the potty-training going...

Again, I say, I'm glad I had my kids young!

In the afternoon, when both the kids had finished napping, I just didn't have enough hands to take pictures too...Oh my! Colby and Brielle are 18 months apart...My Dillon and Caitlin were 14 months apart (God planned that, not me)...I'm not really sure how I did that. I guess it helps that you're only in your 20's and you just do it -- although I admit it was far from perfectly done!

If I knew then what I know now, I would have...

--cut us all some slack: we were all learning!

--given us all more time: becoming/growing is a LONG process.

--lived more in the moment instead of always focusing on the next chore/step/milestone.

And there are probably a thousand more things I could list here...

But I won't.

Suffice to say, too soon old; too late smart.

I'll make up for it when the grandkids come.