Sky Blue

Isn't grief such a strange creature? A stealth pilot, a sneaky snake, a crashing wave. Last night, lying in bed reading, Handy Man decided he needed a little late night nourishment and grabbed his Easter basket of goodies. First he pulled out his chocolate bunny and offered it to me. I declined. Next, a Russell Stover caramel egg. Crash! I'm drowning.

The last day I sat at the hospital with Kaye, I brought her a treat- a Russell Stover's treat, a favorite goody to make her smile, smack her lips, smile at me and say, "Dat's good." But she refused it. I see that whole scene in my mind so clearly, like someone had videoed from across the room and now I'm watching. Her sadness, tiredness, lifelessness so obvious to me.

I get why people used to wear black for a year. Don't get me wrong, I have no plans, nor do I think it a good idea to be in a black mood for a year, but at least you'd be recognizable as a grief stricken person. Perhaps just a band on your arm. I don't know. Sometimes I tell Handy Man, "I'm just having a moment." When that sneaky snake wraps around my tear ducts, I don't want to have to explain why I'm suddenly in tears. I didn't mean to be, it is just very suddenly present. I don't need to talk, don't want a hug, don't need a thing but a moment. I am torn because in some strange way those moments comfort me- see, I haven't forgotten, she's very there in my mind's eye, in my heart. Otherwise, I don't want my moment to make the people around me uncomfortable, which it obviously does. Yes, I realize you aren't having a moment, perhaps you never do, but I am.

Well, anyway, a new day with the bluest sky.

I don't post faces of my school kiddos on my blog. However, this year one of my sweet little fourth graders is well known to me and his mama don't mind and he loves blog appearances. Today was a special day.

It was his eleventh birthday and the day we put the eggs in the incubator at school. He got to do the honors. The girls just happened to lay eleven eggs for hatching which I had failed to connect, but he did not and was excited to put all eleven in the incubator.

Then it was Poopie night and Great Uncle Tim and I met up to take the kiddos to enjoy a rare artifact- a playground with a swing. The kids loved swinging so high and the sky was so blue and beautiful.

Wow, he fits in this one.

And what did little three year old Miss Swee-Tee say after a couple of hours at the park, walking to the car? " Are we going to yours?" "Swing in the dolphin swing?" I do not know what it is about that dolphin swing.

We ran by the house and grabbed the eggs laid today and took them to school so Missy Swee-Tee could put them in the incubator as she has not been privy to this baby chick hatching before.

Lord willing we will head back to a incubator full of babies in three more Thursdays.

Oh, an e-mail from the mom of a former student (in tenth grade now ) who wrote to tell me that her son had to write about an event that changed his life and he wrote about his fourth and fifth grade teacher- me. So sweet.

I love me some blue sky days.

Happy First Birthday Giddy-UP

Time to set sail with Pirate Giddy-up.

Ooooh, what is this big, colorful box from my Aunt Lois?

Yes, it makes noise and I can bam, bam, bam!

Gideon certainly enjoyed the festivities today.

A pirate face if ever I saw one.

Hey, where you been keeping this sweet stuff? I love it!

Enough of being polite.

Ahh,now for some bittersweet. When Uncle Adam gets back, Giddy-up will be a toddling boy.

A Friday the 13th Blessing

A Friday the 13th blessing arrived at 7:45 this morning and she is a beauty. Don't you just love her chubby cheeks. I'm not sure of the spelling, but Maryn June, 8lbs 1oz is here.

Wow, lots of emotions this week. A friend learning of cancer, a son leaving, a sweet memory of 4:30 am on this day a year ago, followed by one of the worst experiences of my life, and now, another beautiful girl child.

I'm rejoicing that the hospital room (same place) will now have a different impression on my heart.

Drummer Boy and Gwen (you know mostly Gwen) did an awesome job. Baby was an eager, capable nurser, Daddy was proud, Mama found delivering a face up baby very intense, but hung in there, and delivered naturally. Buttercup will be so very excited to have a sister, though she wanted her named Sallie.

Drummer Boy and Gwen chose not to know the sex from the 22 week ultrasound, but for some reason, chose to give me the envelope with the news. I said to myself that I would not look. That lasted about 30 minutes. I cannot believe it, but I never told a soul, not even Pappy. I did however buy cutest pink clothes and hid them. They were washed and ready and already delivered.

Look at that hair. I can't wait to see it after her bath. All three have had different colored hair.

Is there anything in the wide world softer than baby skin. Love, love, love.

April Showers

April showers bring May flowers. I'm a little unsure what April showers will bring this year as the warming trend continues in the Ohio Valley and most all of my spring flowers have bloomed and have already begun to decline.

A dear friend brought some cast offs from her lovely shade garden. Yesterday was damp, cool and overcast-perfect for transplanting. Handy Man and I got most all of them planted around the property.

Looks like we had a nice rain through the night and another already this morning, so my new beauties will settle in so nicely.

The spinach and lettuce is up. I believe I'll take advantage of the nice rains and try to uncrowd some of that lettuce.

1st Lt. and family headed to Disney yesterday for a week of fun and memory making.

Handy Man and I went over Friday evening to give Bean and Bugg a busy bag (instead of an Easter basket) "to da wode." When Bean was wee, he always brought something he wanted to leave here and asked to take something, " for the road" when he left. Instead it came out "to da wode." Of course, that's what we all say now. I'll be praying "the wode" is easy and safe and many happy memories are made to reflect on in the upcoming year.

Drummer Boy's third baby is due just any minute. Two good friends are waiting on reports from biopsies. All good wishes and prayers welcome here.

Happy April- No Fooling!

So That's What it Tastes Like

When it's warm enough for the creek then the creek has to be explored from one end to the other.

Baby Boy usually has two moods- grumpy or euphoric. He has never been crazy about me. Uncle Jimi is his most favorite person in the wide world. He is growing up though and was willing to allow me to be his creek playmate on Wednesday. He wanted me to get a scoop of rocks and pour them in his net. Then he would fling them into the "pond." Next, he would sternly demand more "pond rocks" and I would humbly obey.

Since his playtimes with me have been few and far between, I figured I'd best capture the King's demand for pond rocks from his humble servant Kymbi on film. He had just finished flinging and then looked up at me.

I snapped the pik (good thing I was quick) as he immediately changed his face to a big "Cheese!"

Then, "I need more pond rocks." "Yes, sir."

Brrrr, the weather may be warm but the creek was cold.

So, when their lips were blue and whatever to see in the creek didn't take priority over warmth, we hauled them out for a good scrubbing.

Now they were ready to settle down to candy eating, er making.

Rae chased the baby whilst we painted. When it was over I told her the boy needed to try his hand at painting, you know, for the archives.

This was so very funny in real time. First, Rae paints the mold and tells him what she's doing.

He isn't terribly interested, but decides to try some finger painting. We tell her to give him the brush.

Okay, this interesting. And what Ol' Mother Hubbard and I were waiting on, the taste!

Well now, this is different and dee-wish-us, but alas, I licked it all off.

Next, the dawning of understanding that what was painted in those mold was the same stuff. Toss the brush, let's slurp out the good stuff!

So, so funny.

Today I ordered his first birthday present when I noticed a new post from a blog I follow, "The Blessing of Verity." This is a blog about a big family with a Down's Syndrome baby, who saw a horrific CNN report on an orphanage in Bulgaria. They proceeded to go get one of those little ones. The environment these children survive in defies imagination. Now more people are going to adopt them. Funds are being raised for the families here- http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2012/03/trembling.html

Of course, it made me stop and think not only about all the toys Giddy-up already has, but all the love he is surrounded by. About his Mama and Papa who have tried since before they even knew he was coming to make his environment the best place it could be, and how I wish that every little person could be so loved.

Anyway, I made a donation to bring Maykayla home in honor of his birthday and believing there will be a new birthday soon for little Miss Maykayla. If your in the mood to spread some love and good, take a look!

King of the Mountain

Lands, this has been the craziest winter ever. The temperature variations are not to be believed. It's like someone has a weather remote and has been channel surfing all winter long. We have hail, sleet, a smattering of snow, blustery winds, then sunshine, warmth-followed by freezing temps.

Well, anytime it warms above 40 degrees, the kidlets prefer the outside. Recently the electric company sent tree choppers out to free the lines. Uhhh, I hate having my trees messed with. I asked them to at least leave me the chips. Big fun I tell you!

Even in winter, there are some treasures to unearth.

The kiddos don't mind the cold near as much as the swing pushers. Bean didn't end up getting his turn until after dark. Ohh, it is so sad. He can't get in it anymore and has to sit on the top. I asked if we should be thinking of a way to raise enough money to buy a real playground swing set, but he shook his head, with a big "NO!" -still wants to swing in that blue dolphin.

Miss Swee-Tee needs a big swing, to feed the girls chicken seed (that's how we grow our chickens don't you know) and lots of candy when she comes to Gramerly's.

Pure bliss!

Gwanfader (Great Uncle Tim) burying the boy.

Swee-Tee wasn't quite ready to be buried, but she thought Bean getting covered was hysterical.

Missy Bugg was helping from behind.

The Hills are Alive

Whew, another Catholic's School Week down. It's a busy and bit stressful bit of work that culminated with a Family Fun Night. This "Fun" night includes a talent show. A talent show that carries the expectation of the teachers participating.

Sadly, ahem, last year I had promised Ol' Mother Hubbard that I would be the creative director of Miss Linee's princess party and had to leave the "Fun" night before the talent show started. I didn't think I'd better try that two years in a row, so, with reservation, signed my name on the line. Boy oh boy, what was I thinking? First I get this e-mail that we're going to do one of those mob style dances that are so popular in malls and train stations now and the song to which the mob would be responding. I no longer recall the name as I was unfamiliar with that tune, but just the title left me curious about the lyrics, so I quickly googled it before responding.

Well, let's just say I would not be shaking my blub at a family affair to the tune of that song. At lunch I questioned the song choice. When the leaders looked into it, they agreed that chaste teachers in a Catholic school should not even know that song, much less be twisting the night away to it. I thought, "Perhaps the whole flash mob scene would be squelched for something a little calmer." No, no, that is not what happened. New news that our performance would still require simultaneously hopping up from the crowd to gyrate to Footloose. Oh goody!

I have a love hate relationship with technology and such events are why. Back in the day, batteries didn't last long, so, since we went last, you could be safe knowing that batteries had been spent taping cutest punkin's performing their best. Now, every other person possesses the power to video tape you in their pocket.

So it went down like this, we are sitting in the crowd and the principal thanks everyone for coming and what a great show it was, etc, the parent operating the CD player, who is in on it, blasts out the song while we all scream like thirteen year olds and run to the stage and break out in, well I don't even know what you'd call what I do. Instead of breaking out, I'm trying to smile and make it look like I have a clue what I'm doing without breaking anything. And what to my wandering eye appears? Cell phones popping up all over, and yes, I know they aren't calling anyone, they are videotaping or capturing my picture.

Did you know I love to dance (Did you care) ? I frequently dance around my kitchen and am content to be in the middle of group at a reception swirling around with no one noticing. I have never had a desire to find my flashdancing self on the old FaceBook.

Those situations are just hard for me. I liked getting some exercise whilst dancing with my teacher friend girls during rehearsals, but being the oldest and the, let's see, okay, I'll just say it, fattest, doesn't make me good performance material. I surely don't want to be in anyone's picture. At the same time, I hate being the old fuddy duddy of the group. Sometimes, there just aren't any good answers.

On a different note, somewhere at school Bean heard someone say that the song they were singing was from The Sound of Music. He knows that is one of my favorites, so that was his movie of choice on Playdate Thursday. I loved watching them watching and loving it.

It's Electric

My sweet son-in-law forwards me sites he thinks I might find interesting. A standard in fourth grade is about electricity. I knew when I read about Squishy Circuits, I would have to do it with my students. I have always had them build a circuit board, and the custodian at work graciously aids them in getting it done. But it's mostly putting it together, there's not much room for messing around with it. Enter Squishy Circuits-awesome. I ordered the battery packs, lights etc and they kindly sent me extras. So, I practiced on my mostest favorite experimenters.

Let's just say it is way cool.

First, you make two types of playdough. The first we made with salt, because salt will conduct the electricity.

I divided the dough in the recipe in half and Bean kneaded his choice of green food coloring and Bugg pink, into their dough. Next, we made a different batch of dough with sugar to serve as an insulator.

Here, they stuck the battery terminals into two blobs of conductive dough, separated by the insulating dough, and lit up there bulbs!

There was a lot of trial and error about how it all worked, but with Pap's help, we finally got it all going. Before that, Bugg asked could she just play with the dough, but I encouraged her to persevere.

This is Bean's fierce bear, which he made growl with the buzzer.

Once Miss Bugg figured out how to make shapes, light lights, run motors and sound buzzers, she was all over it. Ceece and 1st. Lt. were impressed with their little scientists. I was grateful to have a better grasp of how it all worked before trying it with 24 students- good times.

Other times, well. Sister SuZQ and I headed to Pete's last night to help him sort through Kaye's things. Ahh, sad. So many memories. Handy Man came along and David was there. Later another niece followed. There was much to do so it was busy and that helped. Still, strange and heart breaking.

The cousin I mentioned early received more sad news today. Cancer, cancer everywhere. I'll be praying that every day he has is sweet and precious to him and those who love him. His name is Randy if you want to be praying too.

Happy 29th Birthday

Today is Drummer Boy and Rae-rae's birthday. I remember the ice storm of the day they were born. Everything was iced over, limbs falling under the weight of the ice, electric out all around. I thought I was going to have to have them without the benefit of the Handy Man, or anyone else known to me, but my doctor had to deliver a patient of a doc who had an accident in the ice on the way to the hospital, so they put off my induction and Handy Man made it.

Happy Birthday to the two of you. May you have so many more and good health to enjoy them!

I babysat Giddy-up for his Mama and Papa to have a date night for the birthday girl. I thought he handled it very well. That boy can eat! I enjoyed him.

Tomorrow I'll fix a birthday dinner for Drummer Boy and his family.

Never a dull moment.

I visited Trader Joe's for the first time today. I'm sorry it isn't closer, as I believe I would be a big fan.

In other exciting news, a new discovery. I love, love, love Big Red, but I seldom allow myself one because of the sugar, and nothing good. Though I drink Diet Coke, I've never cared for Diet Big Red. Well, happy day, we now have Big Red Zero and it's enough like the real thing to make me smile, the only good thing about it. Oh well.

Nearly There

Well, Handy Man and I have nearly completed our bedroom, the attic room and the craft, kid room with their bed and crib. I've gone through everything and sorted and sorted, trashed and packed cart loads to the Salvation Army. For now, the attic room is easy to maneuver and there's a place for everything and everything in it's place. Same with the kidlet/craft room. There is a worktable for me and two desks with stools and lamps and loaded with pens and papers, markers, stickers, cards, blah, blah. Yeah, it might stay that way for about fifteen minutes. Neatness is nowhere understood in my psyche. I just can't manage it.

Much to the lack of understanding from my friend-girls, I don't really pack a purse. I have one. It hangs on the doorknob. I don't smoke or wear lipstick and hardly ever write checks anymore. Our school doors must remained locked at all times. If I don't carry my keys in my pocket, they'll be lost. I also feel the need to carry my cell phone in the event of being outside and having a need for another adult, plus, I use it to tell the time. I take my students outside frequently. So, since I can only own clothing with pockets, I go ahead and throw a little change purse in there. The littlest change purse though is full of my credit card, library card, license, gift cards, Kroger card- okay, I know you get it. That doesn't leave any room for change. So, when I get home, empty my pockets, plug in my phone, I have a tendency to dump out the change somewhere. Remember the whole lack of a neatness gene? Well I'm not terribly picky where the change lands. This train has a caboose, just hang in there. So we're cleaning and cleaning and Handy Man is laughing every time he finds a handful of change somewhere. Like a little squirrel lives here and hides money. So he keeps finding and collecting, and rolling and laughing at me I might add, and gets a big kick out of the final total, $210.00, yes, in change.

Well, see I had this idea that I'd try to get my gramerlings to buy into the change saving thing and we'd get some chickens or goats for a family somewhere.

For whatever reason, Ol' Mother Hubbard finds this as entertaining as the Handy Man and has a moment in the Target store and thinks she'll buy me a present. All things considered it was a reasonable and needed gift. She knows me, so decides this gift needs to be something I can't miss and will manage my evil non-purse toting, change throwing ways. The gift- why a bank of course.

She's hopeful that it's big enough for me to hit while I'm tossing. Farmer John added a large hole on top and she decorated it with beautiful children as you can see. In addition to a much needed laugh after all that painful cleaning, this gift also inspired me with those sweet faces of all color. This will be a gramerling bank for my little gramerling who needs to come to Rae-rae through a different route. Adoption is so very expensive. $210.00 will be a nice start and the best use I know of my loose change. It's big enough if anyone else wants to throw their change in as well.

Soon enough, he'll be ready for a sibling and we don't care what color.

MLK Day

Wow, haven't posted in awhile. Mostly because I've just been working, working, working. My room and my upstairs needed a very serious taking apart and putting back together, which is about all the Handy Man and I have done for the last three weeks. We're getting there.

Today was a play day. I love me some three day weekends. With three day weekends I can actually manage a day of rest.

Today I went to Michael's, then to visit my handsome blue-eyed boy. Well, I guess that doesn't tell you much, as everyone of mine are blue-eyed, despite the fact that all their Papas are brown-eyed. Well, and they are handsome too.

Giddy-up and I had a long discussion about the differences in cylinders and rectangular prisms.

We also discussed finding the area of 3d and 2d objects. He was enthralled.

So relieved that he smiles now when I come in and I was able to hold and entertain him quite a bit today. He loves to roar like a lion and better still to eat. It is simply the sweetest thing ever when he signs and says, "mo." I told Rae-rae I didn't know if there would be much use in teaching him to sign as he is saying words as fast as he's learning the signs.

Rae-rae fixed us white winter soup and roasted chicken for a warm and tasty lunch.

And, wow, Gardener E. is fixing my supper. I feel so privileged.

Well, there was still a bit of work to be done today. I needed to clean Cluckingham Palace. Much to my dismay, there was a lifeless chickie girl on the floor of the coop. I decided to be a brave and dedicated farmer girl and bury it myself. I'm not particularly surprised that the older girls are giving it up. They have been busy and laid lots of eggs in their three years. What surprises me is it is different breeds. We've lost an Andulusian, an Australorp, a Silver Wyndotte and a Red Star now to unknown causes. I guess I would have thought different breeds had different life expectancies. I fear those new roosters have also caused a lot of undue stress for the girls. I won't make that same mistake again. I kept all of them, hoping I could find them a good home, since they are rare and beautiful. Sadly, no takers. If I can't find them homes this spring then chicken soup is back on the menu boys.

Many times here I've mentioned my beloved Aunt Lois and Uncle Berry. When Uncle Berry became so fragile and disoriented last year, their son Randy moved in to take care of him and keep him home for his remaining days. He has stayed on caring for my Aunt Lois. He went into the hospital this weekend with a bad case of pneumonia. It appears that there may be more wrong and he's in need of our prayers.

Good Grief!

Is there any good grief? I don't know. Pete wanted me to come by and try on some things.

It is very awkward, rifling through someone's else's things. Seems a bit like an invasion.

It does open lots of opportunities for remembering, talking, crying.

I gave him a book a friend gave me. Well, I bought him a new one, as I loaned mine out so often it finally disappeared. He's reading it now, A Grace Disguised. I think he's doing as well as anyone can under such circumstances.

We talked again through all the events of that last day and the days before. Ahhh, me.

It was poop-pie night and I was glad to see Bean and Bugg. I stopped by the store to pick up some Crisco before I fetched them. I forgot it last week, and couldn't make our blessing gems on New Year's. I use Crisco for donuts and Chi Mi Changas (prepared maybe two or three times a year, tops), not a product I keep around anymore. They enjoyed them as much for an after dinner treat as a breakfast one.

They are big into ghosts at the moment for some reason and brought up being scared at night.

I shared my remedy of just saying, "Jesus," over and over when my sleep is troubled. We talked about where people are when they are gone and I shared with them the Jewish thought of loved ones being a star that looks down on us as we go on. Bean said that was an Indian belief as well.

We ended the evening with a bit more of the Hobbit and a picture bbok for Missy Bugg.

I was out of the classroom today due to a couple of appointments. Gardener E. continued with the knitting I started on Wednesday. She e-mailed me that she still had all of her hair, and they had theirs as well, so it's all good.

Just a Spoon Full of Sugar

Aunt Tish blessed us with the most glittery sprinkles we've ever enjoyed at a Gingerbread House Party. Aren't they so lovely?

Though his mama made a valiant effort in trying to entice Blue Eyes into putting the candy on the house, his only interest was putting it in his mouth.
His sister, Buttercup, just wanted lots and lots of icing.

Ah, yeah, that's how it's done. This was about a four story gingerbread house by the time she finished.

Nick was too busy drinking homemade hot cocoa.

In addition to gingerbread houses you could make a candy necklace, a Christmas necklace, a nativity bracelet, or a scratch ornament.

Wow, Baby Boy is intrigued with the necklace making. This picture cracked me up. Ol' Mother Hubbard was patient though and persevered until the end when she spilled the whole thing. It was kind of funny. Well, I thought so anyway. I don't recall her finding the same humor in the spill.