Shoo Lie Loo

My Top Five Things to Smile About Today....

5.) La Di Da - an app for my iPhone that does reverse karaoke. You sing, it reverbs and makes you sound like an American Idol finalist. The kids and I made up many, many songs today....

4.) Red reflectors - Lucy called them "lollipop plants" because she thought they were growing out of the ground. God bless childhood imagination!

3.) Living on high ground - after this week's record rainfalls and flooding, I'm relieved that we did not suffer any water in our basement or serious power outages.

2.) Good friends - you know who you are, and you know WHY you are my good friends. Thank you for listening, for understanding, and, best of all, for putting up with me.

1.) Being a "Mamie" - after reflecting with the kids tonight on many of their babyhood and toddlerhood videos on Dropshots.com, I once again realize how incredible it is that I'm a mama. Henry has recently given me the nickname of "Mamie" (I used to call my Mama "Merm" - and this is when I was OLDER!). He loves having given me a nickname, and I'm honored to wear it.

Love and peace to all!

Experimental Photography in the Yard

I hadn't moved beyond the iPhone for a while, so it was fun to break out my actual camera yesterday to take some interesting pics of some natural touches.

 
 
 
 
 

 

New Floors In Progress

 
 We got this laminate flooring for a steal. Someone ordered 89 boxes of it and then decided it was the wrong shade. For us, perfect at $14/box. Foyer is down and about half of the living room is done. Yay!

Happy!

I think the format for my last few blogs has been rather gloomy.

Today, despite the torrential rains, I'm going to try to be...happy!!!!!

Seriously, today has not been a BAD day. It's actually been rather low-key.

I didn't blog last night, and rightly, I shouldn't have because I was in a very bad way. And, according to The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, moods are somewhat contagious. Had I blogged, my small following might have caught my infectious "life sucks" attitude.

In any case, I can find the humor and the reality of last night's happenings.

Lucy graduated from preschool.

Let me try to summarize this as quickly as I can - dryer dies, dress for Lu is two sizes two large, misplaced comb, wrong school address provided by hubby, Henry crashed the ceremony by going on-stage as another preschooler is handed her certificate to give Lu her flower from Daddy meanwhile doing an arm waving and hooting/hollering shout out to the audience, I bawl like a gigantic baby during the ten-minute video showcase of the year, Henry nearly mowed down a very large woman on crutches with a broken foot as we were leaving, I carried Henry "football style" with him kicking and screaming to the car as Lucy just watched in astonishment, we skipped ice cream due to Henry's ongoing fit, we landed at home and went inside where Henry proceeded to continue his angry protest by punting one shoe at the TV and chucking the other at the fireplace mantle, knocking over a picture frame, I wound up my arm like it was a Cubs season opener and gave him three quick swats on the rear to which he completely melted and unfolded into a Jello-y, slobbery, blubbering mess (since I've never ever ever ever ever spanked my children).

Two hours later, I'm absolutely a wreck on the phone with my BFF Erika while I spill my guts. I disclose the spanking, the whole train wreck of a night, the fact that I hate playing the role of "single-working parent" while Chris is on second shift...

A talk with her absolutely incredible oldest daughter, who promised to polish my Spanish, followed by a conversation with her insanely sweet youngest daughter calmed my frayed nerves. And I was able to wake up today slightly improved from the rotten night prior.

Of course, when Henry woke Chris up this morning, the first thing he said was, "Do you know what Mommy did last night? She spanked me...and it hurt!"

Chris said his response was, "Yes, I know. Mommy told me. She also told me that you were being so naughty that you left her no choice."

I was sad to hear that it had resonated with Henry, but also I was very glad that it had resonated with Henry. Because I daresay I wish never to spank him again. And I feel fairly confident that my do-good daughter will never be spanked because just the thought alone will send her into a self-confidence monsoon.

So, tonight I was very nervous about picking them up from school.

But...I was met incredibly enthusiastically at the playschool gate by Henry - big smiles and "Mommy, Mommy guess what????? I was good today!!! No spitting, no hitting, no biting, no fighting!!! I was good.....except I wrestled with those guys but we were all doing it and Ms. Sue said it was ok cuz no one got hurt. So can we have ice cream?? Oh, and Mommy (chin down, face sad) I think I threw some rubber (the rubber mulch around the play yard). But I didn't hit anyone!"

Isn't it AMAZING how a child doesn't hold a grudge? At what age do we decide we can't forgive and forget and move on?

So, tonight was awesome, to say the least. With all this rain, we put on rainboots and puddlestomped and made a HUGE mess. We ate ice cream on the front porch. We took muddy showers and wrapped up in warm PJs. We watched one episode of "Yo Gabba Gabba" and went upstairs for a bedtime book. And here it is, only 9:30pm, and my daily zen pantry is fully restocked!

All I have to say is....thank God for tomorrows.....

 

 

Wintergreen Resort - Wisconsin Dells

Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center ... one of Wisconsin Dells most luxurious yet affordable resorts.

The resort takes great pride in maintaining immaculate surroundings and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. They invite you to discover why so many families, couples and businesses return year after year to this delightful resort.

Wintergreen Resort allows your family or group to spend fun-filled days visiting the Dells most popular attractions then relax for the night at the Wintergreen Resort at a truly irresistible price.

via www.wintergreen-resort.com

We are going to head to this indoor water park for Memorial Day Weekend to celebrate Lulu's birthday (this was her wish for her February 2nd birthday, but we couldn't make it happen then) and Henry's birthday is on May 31st. So it's going to be a weekend celebration!!!!!!!

Lucy, the Preschool Graduate

Writer's Block

I haven't been blogging with my usual zest lately.

Part of that is because my body seems to be working against me lately.

I type a few words, my hands start to tingle. I pick up the phone and hold it for a few minutes, my fingers start to go numb. I wake up in the morning, my neck and back are breathtakingly sore.

So, I called a chiropractor today. A first for me...

For someone who loves to write and work with their hands, this is most frustrating. Additionally, for someone who enjoys sleep, no matter how hard it may come being a lifelong mind-rushing insomniac, waking up with jolting spinal and neck pain just isn't working for me.

When I was in my early twenties, I was diagnosed with a "severe" scoliosis. When the MD showed me the x-ray of my "upside down question mark shaped spine", I was shocked! I'd never really been plagued by back pain, but I had always had occasional numbness or tingling. My scoliosis was further impressed upon me when I had an epidural and a spinal placed for both my c-sections - and it took the docs forever to find a spot.

Anyhow, after a significant weight loss after my initial diagnosis, all symptoms of carpal tunnel and back tingling seemed to vanish.

I started jogging three miles a day along the Fox River. I was frequently at the Y on the eliptical. I was working out muscles that remained nameless to me.

I also started doing yoga with religious enthusiasm. I still remember the days of stretching out in a darkened room, lit only by candles, with the thermostat set to high to make it 100+ degrees, other people of all shapes and sizes attempting both simple and advanced poses. I also remember the instructor coming to my sweaty, slippery mat to help re-position me into the proper pose (because, well, my spine just didn't want to do what I wanted it to do).

No matter, the longer I did yoga, the stronger my core became. I'd go out to my car a sopping noodle and devour a banana to replace the potassium I'd sweated out. And I'd be completely loose and calm yet reinvigorated due to that strengthened core. (Anyone who says yoga is for wimps has obviously not given it a real go...)

Eight years and two kids later, I find myself in a very different spot. I still have the energy of my younger days, or so I think, but I believe that is brought on by a desire to try new things, to show the world to my children and to be as creative as time and brain cells allow.

My body certainly isn't what it used to be. The pounds have slowly crept back, and my lack of a real exercise routine has shown just how disastrous a non-structured healthful lifestyle can really be.

So, when speaking to the chiropractor today, I asserted that I needed a "total body overhaul".

First thing is to get an assessment of my spine and my nervous system. To nip the neck pain and this new on-set of hand and finger tingling in the bud is my personal goal. I'd most certainly like to do it without medication, surgery or a week in a spa (not that I have anything against those treatments when all else fails, I'm just too swamped to even think of such things).

I think a good, realistic exercise plan along with a dietary makeover might be the ticket.

I think this might also be a good teaching opportunity for my children.

As parents, we often neglect ourselves to take care of the things we believe our children need from us. But a parent who isn't functioning on all eight-cylinders at least some of the time, is doing a huge dis-service to their children. After all, if we aren't taking care of ourselves, what example does that set for them?

I preach, yes, I preach....but I am not practicing. At least not from the exercise/diet/self-maintenace perspective.

So, even though it's taken me far longer to type this blog than normal (due to this incredibly annoying tingling), I feel like I've committed myself to a semi-public audience.

I am supposed to meet Dr. Van Develde next Tuesday, Henry's 4th birthday. I have the day off from work. At first, I thought it was selfish to use an hour of the day to go to the chiropractor on Henry's big day. But, after further consideration, I realize it might be a really good gift to him, the gift of seeing his Mommy step out there to take back control of my posture and physical well-being.

If not, I guess I will have to resort to using Dragon to "write" my blogs...and then my voice will probably give out!

Good night, all. Take care of yourselves if you love yourself and your family. We all count...

 

Henry Working On His G's

He stopped near the end to play with the kitten. :-)

Porse Paper

Ok, so she wrote her name at the top. But still, a lifelong memory!

A "Porse" is a "Porse", Of Course, Of Course...

When in need of creative inspiration, one need look no further than the bosom of their own home.

On Monday night when Lucy is tumbling, Henry and I have been finding ourselves at the library. He plays in the toy nook while I look for books.

It just so happens that they have a fabulous Parent's Shelf right on the Children's Floor. So, before choosing our storytime and bedtime books, I look for ideas for myself.

This past week, I found a book bursting with things to do with children. I believe there is no craft, no outdoor activity, no imaginary play concept, no homemade ball of Playdough that isn't contained in this glorious book. (Although I'm having difficulties with making paperdoll chains...the instructions leave a bit to be desired. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that it might be my spatial reasoning deficit getting in the way...how I loathe geometry....)

Anyhow, this week, I've been turning to this book "365 Fun Things To Do With Preschoolers" for fun ways to spend our evenings.

Some of my favorites: 

• Letter finding games where you assign each child a letter and fill a sheet of paper with both lower and upper-case P's or G's or R's mixed with other letters. They circle their assigned letter and cross off any additional letters. I found this worked great with Henry practicing identifying lower-case d's, which he sometimes confuses with lower-case b's.
• Car quizzes where you ask your children to tell you their definition of certain interesting words. This week, we talked about "graduation". Priceless to hear their responses...!
• A chore jar filled with tasks that are simple or require adult assistance. We filled an old coffee can with strips of paper, each one with a chore written on it, and they took turns pulling out their chores. A spray bottle of vinegar and water (aren't you proud, Mom??) and some fun music and the house starts to look less disastrous.

One of the ideas that I've come across is to take a picture and adhere it to a bar of soap with canning wax to turn it into a gift or a fun bath tub accessory. Problem is...well, we don't have a bath tub. But this was one of those ideas that I just couldn't pass up.

So, I called the playschool on Thursday and voila! I'll be showing up at the school next Tuesday around 9am-ish to help the class make soaps for their dad's as Father's Day gifts. (The teachers are taking photos of each of the kids with a toolbelt and hammer, which we'll use as the photos on the soaps.)

Earlier this year, when it was "Dental Health Month" at Lucy's preschool, I volunteered to take in two dozen hard-boiled eggs dyed in tea along with toothpaste and toothbrushes (which the teacher supplied, bless her) to demonstrate to the kids how they should be brushing the plaque off of their teeth. Of course, Chris and I tested the project on one of the dyed eggs to make sure it worked, as know one likes to make a fool of themselves while speaking publically - especially in front of impressionable preschoolers with a tendency to chatter and laugh at just about anything.

Well, I thought that I better get the supplies early to test out my "picture soap project".

Four times I walked past the prominently displayed canning section at Wal-Mart before breaking down to ask a stocker to point me in the right direction.

Once we came across the canning section, conspicuously displayed in the front row of the kitchen section, I searched each shelf repeatedly for "canning wax". Wouldn't you know it? They had sugar-free pectin, canning kits, freezable jars, pickling spices and salts, and even pretty gingham jar wraps. But not one container of this now elusive "canning wax".

So we left Wal-Mart with 16 bars of Fresh Scent Zest soap but no canning wax. Now where to turn?? Does such a thing even exist? Oh book of books, please don't let me down... I'll try to use part of this weekend to get this wax, otherwise I'm going to be ridiculed by Kool-Aid faced four and five-year-olds on Tuesday...

More to come on that...

Now, for my unusual title.

Lucy, our firstborn, has long been referred to as "the serious one", a "CEO in a sundress", an "old soul". For a long time, Chris and I thought she just didn't like us. Now we realize that this is just her personality. And, every now and then, she surprises us with her uncanny ability to find the humor in a situation.

Tonight, we were having Family Movie Night (which Lucy pointed out is really not "family" because Daddy is at work...I tend to agree, but we have to give it a name as we mourn his absence while he works second shift for one more week). Lucy and Henry each chose a snack at the store.

Henry chose cinnamon mini-donuts and Lucy chose bakery cupcakes - some were yellow frosted (of course) and some were red. She carried the package of cupcakes inside only to find that a few of them tipped over on her voyage from the van to the front door.

For some kids, this might be silly or they may just ignore the fact altogether. After all, a smeared cupcake tastes the same as a non-smeared cupcake, plus there is the fact that we don't usually buy or get to enjoy cupcakes at home (unless Grammy is down and spoiling them OR it's someone's birthday).

Not our Lulu.

She was in hysterics by the time we got inside. Tears were streaming down her face as she awkwardly held the plastic tray of cupcakes. Thru those tears she angrily declared that the cupcakes were now "dirty" thus inedible.

After taking the tray from her and asking her to excuse herself upstairs while she regained composure (and knowing all too well that she was hungry, hot and tired), I took the cupcakes into the makeshift kitchen and stowed them away to prevent further mental damage.

Meanwhile, Henry was chucking his shoes into the closet and chasing Pearl around. Could there be two more opposite personalities?

To make a long story short, Lucy quickly composed herself and came downstairs. We did not discuss the cupcakes.

We had dinner and watched a really cute movied called "Five and It". While the movie was playing, I took advantage of the time to catch up on laundry, change bedsheets, etc.

After the kids had eaten their dinner, Henry declared quite assuredly that it was now time for snack. After a quick shudder went thru me, I excused myself to the kitchen. I opened the tray of upside-down cupcakes, hunted down a spoon and smoothed frosting on a yellow cupcake (as it had by now all slid off). I did one for each child (as Henry decided a cupcake would be better than a donut after all).

I presented the cupcakes to the kids and....silence. They gently gnawed at the cakes while watching the movie (which is so cute and awesome and was created by the late Muppet Master Jim Henson's  daughter and features a turtle-like magical sand fairy and an English palace...need I say more???).

Whew...tragedy averted and tears...there were none. These are the things I'm stressing over lately, dig?

Anyhoo, after the movie was over, each child demanded a letter-finding game, which I had happened to drum up for each of them before work this morning. Today, Henry's letter was G and Lucy's letter was P.

After X'ing the incorrect letters and circling the right ones, Lucy presented her paper, complete with her name neatly printed on the bottom, to me for final approval. She had done a fine job, as I knew she would. She knows all of her letters, so it's more fun and "puzzle-esque" for her.

So I decided to take it a step further. "Lucy", I say, "can you tell me some words that start with the letter P?"

"Pig!"

"Great!"

"Pippi!!" (as in Pippi Longstockings)

"Excellent!"

"Porse!"

......

"Porse?", I ask.

To that she crinkled her freckled nose and replied, "Yes, a porse. It's a pig and a horse. Ya know, like if they had babies? It has a pig face with a pig snout that is very long like a horse. And it has a big body with a fluffy tail, and it can fly. It's clearly a porse."

Oh the joy that I felt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I picked her up laughing hysterically and hugged and kissed her repeatedly and told her how creative and thoughtful and insightful her definition of a "porse" was, and, of course, the word "porse" clearly started with a P!!!!!!!! And I wrote the word "porse" at the top of her paper so that I would never forget this moment when my serious child, the same one who cried over toppled cupcakes just a few hours earlier, caught me off guard and taught me that she is a dichotomy. She reminded me that we should never judge people, especially about what we think we know. All too often those people will surprise us in the most amazing ways and capture a moment in time in our hearts that hopefully will last forever.

Lucy, I promise, if I can find one, I will buy you a "porse" for your next birthday!!!

 

Homemade Kiddie Coat Tree

Made from original stair spindles. Painted with a coat of satin Paprika over black primer. Hooks came from basement.

Little Feet, Big Change

As you know or may have heard, our floors are in terrible shape.

At first we thought we might be able to save the downstairs floors, which are all original pine plank hardwood. But, after much research, many calculations of both time and money and just plain resignation, we determined months ago that the downstairs hardwood is a loss. (Upstairs is a different story - to date, we've found no water damage and very little surface wear. So we are very hopeful that we can keep them authentic with a little care.)

Chris and Henry ventured to Restore in Peoria on Saturday, and it was a bust. There was only one box of hardwood that would cover probably a stoop. I stayed home and managed a playdate between Lucy and her friend Leah, the first playdate we've hosted at our house since we moved here.

When Chris came home and we discussed this misfortune, he thought he might try HOBO (HomeOwners Bargain Outlet) in Joliet -- Dad, I think you would love this store. They sell overstock of just about anything you could want for your house.

Before Henry and Chris were to depart for Joliet in further search of a flooring alternative, I ran to Menard's to get some (you guessed it...) spray paint. While there, I happened upon some clearance laminate flooring . Thank God for the iPhone - I was able to text Chris a picture of the flooring and also forewarn him that I was, once again, sending him on a wild goose chase that did not jive with his blueprint.

However, once he saw the flooring (especially the price!), we mutually decided to use a few extra couple bucks to buy it. Turns out that a local woman had ordered 18 boxes of the stuff only to find that it wasn't the right color...so, we got it for an "unadvertised" deal at $14/box.

Chris has been laboring over this flooring for the last two days. It's a labor of annoyance. We bought enough to do the two rooms that we use that have the worst floors - the foyer and the family room.

The foyer is all but done - the trim and thresholds are the only real missing pieces. I can't tell you the sigh I breathed (literally) when the padding and vapor seal were put down and all of those nasty allergens were tucked away beneath "American Chestnut" floor boards - which, per the warranty, should last no less than 30 years.

The kids had a blast sliding to and fro, their socks and barefeet not catching on cracked wood or nails.

The biggest downfall is that the floors now make the walls look three times as bad as they did before in their offensive, putrid pink-purple nightmare combo (complete with peeling wallpaper, nails, nail holes and unsanded spackling...) However, that's a fairly easy fix. Find a good wall covering to hide the nasty painted-over walls, and then repaint that wall covering....maybe it's sounding easier than it really is (as it tends to go for me in my little world).

In any case, I will be very pleased when the floors are done. If you aren't comfortable walking around in your own house unless you have thick-soled shoes on and an updated tetanus shot, it's really not a home.

On another note, I've been delving further and further into my creative endeavors with inspiration and a supportive audience at my other website: http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/profile/Kimmberli

I spray painted the last of the pieces for my homemade, completely self-designed and assembled (minus a wee bit of help from hubby to teach me to use the important-sounding "compound miter saw" and also to use his grit to twist the double-threaded metal dowels into place) coat tree.

I used leftover original stair spindles that were in the basement, a piece of square board that was pre-cut (also found in the basement) that seemed to fit the bill and hooks that we found...guess where....the basement.

I spray-painted the coat tree in satin Paprika with, again, a black primer undercoat and finished with a high gloss coat. I was ASTONISHED when I went upstairs tonight to see if it was dry and to finish those hooks - it really looks amazing....I can't believe I, who lacks spatial reasoning and an eye for geometry, could creat something so unique! (And free!!)

I hope that the hooks dry tonight so that I'll be able to post my "after" picture tomorrow and so that the kids can be more independent haning up their jackets, sweaters, etc.

Anyhoo, it's getting late, and I have a big work day ahead of me tomorrow. Hope all is well in YOUR world, and I hope that creativity spawns creativity....

An Old Lamp Gets A Makeover

I got this at a thrift shop for $2. A little paint (glossy red) and throw on the shade - conversation piece! Chris calls it my 'I Dream of Jeanie' lamp. I think it's sort of Wonderland-ish.

All Washed Up

When Western Illinois' weather went from "the freezer to the frying pan", I finally met my breaking point.

I could not stand one more day of walking into my "someday" dining room to see the clothesline full of clothes that were now starting to smell musty and dank after hanging for just a few hours with a fan rotating on the line at full speed.

So did I break down and beg hubby for a new electric dryer?

Sorta....but not really.

Instead, I begged hubby to let me purchase a 1980s Hotpoint from a used furniture store for $75 and some change that I used my lunch hour to haul home. (Hubby then heroically and sneakily hefted the thing out of our van, up the stairs from the backyard and into our makeshift laundry room by himself and then installed it for me while I was working...he's an awesome guy....heart*heart*heart)

A little over 24 hours later and my inner zen and peace with life hath been restored.

I'm glad that we spent the last five months hang-drying our clothes, for it has given me an enormous sense of appreciation for something as simple as a machine that cooks your wet undies.

I know that many families have hung their clothes thru the years and many still do it today. I also believe that those families are, for the most part, living in houses that are not 110 years old AND under renovation. Therefore, the dust and dirt that acquires in the average household is probably quadrupled here, if not more so. Additionally, there may be outdoor clotheslines available for those ridiculously hot and humid days, where Mother Nature acts as both fabric refresher and air dryer. We are not so lucky in that our yard has too many trees and too many birds. Gosh, now I sound like I'm justifying myself...it's an old dryer, for Pete's sake!

But I have my dad's sense of pride when it comes to wimping out.

I don't think this is "wimping out", though. I think it's more of a coming to terms with allergens and realizing that this is a battle I can't win without an ally.

Oh, and our socks and jammies truly smell completely fresh and clean and free of lint and cat hair for the first time since November...(sobbing tears of joy)

Now....maybe it's time for an oven....

 

Bunny Planter

I got this awesome glazed ceramic bunny planter at a garage sale for free. No distressing or painting required - it was in perfect condition as-is.

I've planted some miniature orange marigolds in contrast to the pale lime green. Color splashes everywhere! I love spring!!

Mossy Sundial Planter - Just Planted

Preview Post - JUNKMARKET Style.

Henry Goes Nuts!

We are hoping for some entertainment. Chris suggested we add whole shell peanuts to the squirrel feeder. Henry was my big helper while Lulu was on a playdate.

Ode to my Stinky, Noisy, Enormous Old House...

O' must and dust, o char and gristle...

The hair on my neck you maketh stiff bristle.

O' clunky furnace with your rattle and thumps....

O' retro air conditioner with your whiny ker-plumps...

O' orange calico shag with your padding turned to dust...

O' rickety-shakety old front porch, your railings full of rust...

O' giganitic, enormous house of mine with all your nooks and crannies....

Without your warmth and charm, we'd be on the curb on our fannies...

Each day, our home brings us a new joy. Today it was the excitement of realizing that, for a fraction of the cost, we can keep our mini-mansion cool on a hot summerlike day.

Two window a/c units, one circa 1980 that came with the house, are blowing cool, steady streams of recirculated, refrigerated air. And I admit, those are some musty smells that I'm okay with as the sweat on my brow turns to frost.

I do have to joke that hubby stuck a meat thermometer a la The Nutty Professor to see if the old unit was actually cooling the house down (after I stood in front of it and told him it was blowing cold air to which he "tsk tsk"ed me and said we needed to be sure). Below is a picture for those who think I make these things up.

(For real, I love you, sweetie, you're mechanical and creative genius is the best!!!!!)

Have a cool, sweet night, ya'll....

 

Pearl, the Mighty Tigress

Hunting in our elephant foot plant...

Summer Comes Early

One of the things that bothers me so about this time of year is the fact that I have to switch out the kids' clothing on a daily basis.

If it's a good week, I've prepared in advance and have outfits lined up for Monday-Friday, PJs included, for both children in their clothing sorter.

Granted, with the laundry room project currently stalled, we've embarked on yet another venture to attempt clothing organization. Each of us now has a small casket-sized bin in which we can store all of our personal clothing items without worrying about cat hair or dust. (Wrinkles are a non-issue - so long as we are sans dryer, I'm totally ok with any of us having a few crinkles here and there.)

I've also added large lingerie bags for each family member - socks and undies go in there, and I'm hoping this will cut down on the sorting and processing time.

Anyhoo, I once again digress.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day of the year, thus far. We're supposed to reach the 90s! We are also supposed to have some storms - and we live in the infamous "Tornado Alley". So anytime, especially in May, that we hit record highs AND the forecast is calling for storms, I get a little antsy. In this house, however, we have a huge, sturdy and mostly empty basement. So that does give some comfort.

As I type this, it's a balmy 77 degrees outside. I'm hoping that keeping the house al fresco as much as possible will keep us from breaking down and installing window a/c units. Ceiling and standing fans will have to suffice for now. The window in front of me is open, and a slight breeze is fluttering the blinds.

Yesterday gave us the first glimpse of this incredible weather.

It was Mother's Day, and Chris surprised me and the kids by taking us on an authentic paddlewheel ride down the Illinois River. We had lunch on-board, and then we spent the latter half of the ride on the top and mid-decks looking out over the water at sailboats and buoys (which the kids thought were seriously cool). We wind, sun and water made for a perfect mixture of spring joy, and I think all of our minds were soothed by the thought that the real spring is now here.

I was also gifted with a squirrel feeder, which Chris installed in our front tree today. It's the kind with the little pedestal where Sammy Squirrel squats and lifts the lid to grab a handful of food. Chris bought a bag of squirrel food and filled it to the brim with colorful corn kernels, nuts and other squirrel treats. 

Wouldn't you know it? Not one squirrel came by today... I waited all afternoon, watching from my office window. Nothing. Not one squirrel came by to lift the lid. (I did, however, spot a beautiful red-breasted grosbeak for those of you who care to know every critter that comes to our yard...) Better luck tomorrow - I think they are embarrassed that we would give this very personal gift to them after they have been so rude and downright gluttonous at the birdfeeders. I'm personalizing this, right?

Today was also beautiful. It was sunny and warm, and we enjoyed a very mild spring shower around 3pm. Not enough to make even a puddle but enough to cool the earth and make the lilacs pop with their heavenly fragrance.

Lucy had tumbling practice tonight, so Henry and I decided to take advantage of such a lovely day. We walked from the YMCA to the library where I finally picked up my library card. (Mom, I promise to do my best not be a delinquent and to return my books within the specified timeframe...I don't want to be announced on the local radio station nor do I want to be tossed in the slammer for abducting "Froggy Goes to School" from the kiddie shelves...)

After the library and choosing just two books (both for the kids), Henry and I went to a local coffee house. Literally - a coffee "house". It's an old Victorian that someone has turned into a cute "rooster-themed" coffee shoppe. Henry spent 74 cents on a grape juice box, and we again ventured into the sunshine.

We walked around the town picking up interesting rocks, looking at every car that went by ("Mommy, can we get a car like that one??"), investigating planters, petting a goofy coonhound named Thunder and watching bunnies scamper about in the bushes of the old buildings. We also found a tree from the original Potter Farm back in the 1850s, the site of today's downtown Kewanee. We also found a sign that told us that Abraham Lincoln had twice visited Kewanee shortly after his infamous Gettysburg Address. How cool is that??

Additionally, Henry also got a "shout-out" from a car speeding by. I have to admit, I was a little shocked to hear "Hey there, Henry!!" as the car went careening down Tenney Street. It was his teacher, Miss Katie. Nice that my three-year-old son is more popular and well-known here than his mom... As you can imagine, he was delighted... :-)

After Lucy's class ended, we came home and did quick showers and dinner. Then, after what I considered to be waaaaa-aaaaay past their bedtime, I finally shuffled them upstairs. The new books will have to wait until tomorrow, I'm afraid.

It was a nice day, I have to admit. And the sunshine really makes your heart sing. Blooming spring flowers, birds, bikes, tank tops, flip-flops, hair flapping thru car windows in the breeze....all welcome to eyes sore from many days of rain and cold muck.

So, tomorrow is the "unofficial" start of summer. And guess what? I think I might be ready....

Animals on the Offense!

I'm back from the dead....it's funny how, at 34 years of age, a sinus infection can leave you a shriveled, sniffly mess standing outside of St. Peter's famous gate. Unable even to stay up past sundown to type on a computer.

In addition to the confounded rain and repeated wardrobe changes of spring, allergies rank up there as "worst season ever".

But, once all is well again and the rain subsides for a day or two, spring officially makes its way back into my good graces. Especially now that the magnolias and flowering crabs are in full bloom, tulips encircle nearly every tree and birdnests quietly peep with the first sounds of spring babies.

Which brings me to the topic of my blog du jour...spring animals.

Moving from a subdivision with immature trees, we rarely saw squirrels. As a matter of fact, I could probably count on one hand the number of squirrels I saw while living for five years in my previous home.

Sure, there were birds - robins, red-winged blackbirds, the American goldfinch, Canada geese, mourning doves. And I had feeders in the backyard and the front. (If you are not a birdlover, you'd be amazed at how much mint you can go thru feeding those goldfinches...they can really tuck it away!)

Also, living near the canal, there was an abundance of grassland-dwellers. Rabbits, toads, coyotes, foxes, turtles, frogs, field mice, giant caterpillars...

I would have to say, though, that I was never "approached" by an animal in Channahon. They kept their distance unless I was on the prowl (i.e. cornering a terrified toad in the flower garden so that I could show him to the kids).

Kewanee animals...they are NOT the same. Literally and figuratively speaking.

I've yet to see a goldfinch, but cardinals are all over the place! I haven't see a coyote or a fox, but I've seen an abundance of the previously-elusive squirrels. So much so that we joke we are living on a squirrel farm. (Which fits, as we are all a little nutty here...ba dum dum...*wink*)

Going back to my roots, I'm a nature-lover like my dear ol' dad. I see an animal with a crooked wing, I'm there with the Scotch tape to fix 'er up. An orphaned raccoon?? I'll take him in!

It hasn't come to that around here, though. Most of these animals are keenly self-sufficient (minus some cats who shall remain nameless). I've yet to see one of the 2,000 squirrels living on our block smushed in the road. They can scramble across the road in front of a Buick careening straight at them at 40 MPH like they are running to the end field during the last ten seconds of the Super Bowl with the entire defensive pack knipping at their heels! Cross my heart!

I digress.

My point is, I'm a nature-lover. So, with this new selection of wildlife and the unfamiliar trees, bushes, flowers and, well, habitat surrounding me, I have been doing my research.

One of the things my research has lead me to is an app for my phone called "Wildbird Lab". (It's free.)

It uses the GPS feature on your cell phone to locate where you are and approximate the types of birds you might expect to see in your area. You click on the bird's name and voila! There is a picture, a map detailing their migratory pattern and a sample of their call.

I picked up this handy little app about a month ago. Whenever I see a bird, I push "submit", and it sends my data to the folks at Cornell University, who apparently are tracking bird specie whereabouts. And then it kindly thanks me for "contributing to citizen science". I feel I'm making a difference, even as the battery in my phone burns my hand.

One of the features I especially like is the sample of the birdcalls. I've managed to get the attention of several cardinals, sparrows and blue jays by playing the call. I find it fascinating as they swoop in to see where that lovely bird noise is coming from. (It's also entertaining...)

The other night, I heard a white-breasted nuthatch calling from a few trees down. They have a rather annoying cackle call, but the picture on my app showed a lovely small bird that looked like a miniature blue jay. We had recently switched out our feed for a more nut and berry blend, so I thought I'd give this guy a call.

It worked. Well. Very, very well.

Along comes the confused, and, apparently, very lonely nuthatch. I sighed with happy fascination to see him do a few observation swoops around the front yard and along the porch as my phone cackled back at him.

And then, to my surprise, he actually came on to my screened-in porch.

Now, I'm not at all afraid of birds. The most frightening thing about birds, in my mind, is the possibility of getting pooped on as I dodge for my car. (Hey, Chris has already been a victim this spring of this fowl act...ba dum dum *wink*.)

But this guy, though small in size, has a beak as pointed as a quilting needle! And he was FAST! He was on the porch lickety-split, my phone still cackling away, him bouncing off the screens here and there looking for either an escape or the bird to which he was attracted as I little-girl danced and jumped here and there to avoid his swoops. If common sense had taken hold, I would have gracefully stepped back to the opposite side of the porch. He would have eventually figured out he had been dooped and would have been on his way. But no - I thought it best to stand my ground and watch him struggle for an escape. God forbid if he hurt a wing....who'd rescue him??

After several minutes of our ridiculous game, I managed to prop open the front door to holler "Chris, you gotta see this!!!" (To cry for help would have been a sign of weakness...)

Chris came out on the porch. He's so used to me, God love him. He just stared and said "Wow, sweetie." I really believe that is all he said. Some husbands may have been banging garbage can lids in desperate aid or shouting for another brewski from the sofa. Not my Chris. Maybe it was his calming presence. Maybe it was a shift in the wind. Maybe the nuthatch finally figured out the there wasn't a nuthatch dame waiting to nest with him. But moments later, he lit off the porch thru the door and flew to land in the tree.

Enough excitement? Heavens no....but this time, I was somewhat innocent...

The other day, as I was stepping out to get the mail, I was encountered by a furry critter. He stopped - paws mid-air. I cocked an eyebrow.

Yep, it was a squirrel. On my porch.

Well, without saying a word, all hell broke loose! The deranged squirrel began doing a "Wall of Death" routine along our porch screens, dashing here and there horizontally as I stood and simply watched. I wasn't about to approach the guy. He was clearly "in the know" that he had made a bad choice. I continued to watch as he scrambled this way and that, probably cursing those diabolical screens.

After a good five minutes, he found his way thru a teeny slit in the bottom of one of the screens.

Grateful to be alive, unharmed and free? Not a chance...the little brat climbed into our front tree and started belittling me with screechy squirrel barks, accompanied by vicious tail shivering! The audacity of the little scoundrel!!!!! I swear if I had a squirrel-speak translator it would have been "You wanna piece a me, huh?"

The nuthatch had made my heart race. The squirrel...he probably got my systolic blood pressure up a little bit.

I summed it up to "squirrel drama" and a freak incident. Until today. When it happened again...

Once again, it's a peaceful spring day. I step out onto my front porch to collect the mail (which I'm now considering to be an act of bravery). And again, I'm confronted by a squirrel. Probably the same one, but most assuredly fatter than last time.

Again, he went into full-blown panic mode. Horizontal dashes along the screens. Apparently unable to find or unable to fit thru that teeny screen hole from the last time.

After several mad dashes with me just standing there stupified, he decided to charge me. And I decided to dodge. He came dashing across the green Astroturf, his little squirrel claws digging in deep, and he rounded the corner to the front steps and was away in a flash! Only to reappear in the tree in nanoseconds to start with his squirrel-barking and tail-wagging show.

As I told my co-worker Mickey earlier, he and I shared dialogue this time. I told him that, if he decided to pull this trick on me again, I would be wearing him on my head.

I hope that does the trick.

Otherwise, I'm deleting the bird app and assigning Chris to mail duty.

Have a GREAT night!

 

 

 

 

 

Prints

My friend Elizabeth and her husband are getting ready to adopt!! To commemorate the adoption agency's 30 Year Anniversary and 3,400 adoptions, Elizabeth is making a quilt. We were honored that she asked Lulu and Henry to be the handprint and footprint models for the quilt!

Pearl Growing Fast

Well, I Had To Be Fair...

Yes, Those Are Hedge Clippers

Hey, I let the girl ride a real live alligator...never let it be said I don't let my kids try things!!