Girls with Curls, or Not

Not only did I get a little snuggle with our new baby girl, but big sister Buttercup wanted to come home with me from Mom's last Sunday, Mother's Day. It was such a treat to be able to spend some one on one time with her.  First she wanted to pick the eggs.  Then it was time for some swinging.  She was not in the least deterred by the gentle misty rain falling, so I decided I wouldn't be either.

I so wish I had a video of this particular swing experience.  I grabbed an umbrella for me and put a towel on her head and a plastic bag I found in the car around her shoulders.  It was a long clear bag and when I started swinging her it came undone and looked just like she had a set of big, translucent wings. She laughed and laughed and laughed at her fairiest self.

 

 Next, we needed a change of clothes and some play dough fun.  A little beauty shop here.

 By this time she'd worked up an appetite and felt the need for one of the eggs she had picked. Which she scarfed right down.

It was a fun time.  

On Thursday Miss Swee-tee came back to my classroom to find the eggs she's put in the incubator transformed.  She was so gentle with them and this yellow one was her favorite.  She held it for the longest time.  So cute.

Ahhh, that's a big part of the reason I keep this egg/Chickie girl thing going. And well, another reason are these amazing eggs.  The yolks looked like you colored them with a deep orange crayon.

Squeeeeeaaaaaaaal!!!!!!!!

Caution-Long Post

I am not much of a squealer and, traditionally, not a lover of surprises, but today was an exception.  As I've mentioned before, May is so incredibly full, busy, crazy and stressful.  Add some unusual things, like lots of folks I love going through some tough times, my kid leaving for a third world terrorist country and some things I don't even know how to classify,  and it just hasn't been a lot of fun being me.  It seemed as if I have just slogged through this week, trying to keep my emotions in check and my head above water.  

Tuesday was my big fourth grade  field trip to Indy, which includes a long visit at Conner Prairie.  Somehow it was so bittersweet, as that is where 1st Lt. did his training and it was the day of his more official deployment.  That means for a time now, as they actually leave the country, he's off the grid for us.  No more texts, his truck is sitting in my drive, Ceece adrift on this new sea.  Anyway, I got into a conversation with a woman there (volunteer at Conner Prairie), and we got on the subject of 1st Lt.'s deployment and she asked his name and how long he would be gone. She told me, "I will pray for Adam and his family everyday all year."  Ahhh, sweet.  Then I actually got to the talk to the blacksmith that trained him.  Earlier, at the Indiana History Museum and the Capitol, there were military reminders everywhere.

Field trips are always so exhausting for me, without the missing.  I didn't get home until 9:30. Then back to school Wednesday for another full day, all day and then more of the same today.  I was so tired, I had no idea how I was going to get through the evening entertaining the poopies and still have some energy to prepare lunch for the Sisters coming to visit tomorrow.

Anyhoo, I waltzed in this afternoon and there on the table lay a package for me. Hmmm, did I order something?  Airmail?  What is that exactly?  Funny, my next thought was, "Oh, oh, it's from 1st Lt." until I realized, he isn't anywhere to send something airmail yet, duh.  

Wait, wait, could it be the pattern from that nice Australian artist I met through her blog?  Squeeal!  Is that it, she really sent it? I mean, I know she said she would, but people are busy and it's soooo expensive to send packages these days.

But wait, that isn't a flat package. Would a pattern be lumpy?  Let's open it.  Yes, here's the pattern of the lovely little gnomes I so enjoyed. Squeeeal! And this adorable little box. With a tiniest gift card with a wee felt heart and bitsiest felt leaf. Squeeaal! And inside the card, in the loveliest, tiniest writing, a note that read, "A friendship offering, which I hope will be enjoyed."  Be still my heart, such sweetness.

What, I don't believe it! SQEEEAAAL!!! Inside was the family, the cutest ever gnome family, made with the tiniest stitches and the most detail I've ever seen. SQUEEAAAL!

That little basket is full of fall goodness in such minute detail and each piece so perfect.

 Lastly, a beautiful postcard.  Wow! Wow!  Looking back at the package it noted the worth at $20. Wow!  I couldn't even put a price on it.  I have already looked at all of it ten times and every time it makes me smile so big and delights my heart.
I have always been weird about gifts, because I'm weird about things I like.  I do not mean to be, but I've never been into purses, or shoes, or jewelry. It just doesn't do much for me.  I have however always been into woodland lore of fairies, gnomes, elves and am endlessly fascinated with detailed stitchery.  Hence my having to find an audience around the globe, because I've never found anyone close that shares my interest and fascination.
So, I most humbly and gratefully accept the gift of friendship, kindness and thoughtfulness from my "Fruits of the Heart" friend.  Thank you!
But hold on, that wasn't the end of surprises.  I got a second thing in the mail. Can you believe it?  The precious mama of a dear friend sent me a card with the most touching sentiment that melted my heart.
I love, love, handwritten notes and I got two in one day.

So, now it's eleven o'clock, so obviously such lavish surprises energized me for the evenings activities. It's surprising to me sometimes who extends their love in a tangible way that I can carry with me for days. I was truly blessed today.

Crazy Mayzie

A busy day.  No matter how many times I observe this, it never fails to fascinate.

 I never tire of the excitement generated in the classroom by these tiny babes.  It was touch and go with a couple of them.  I've never had this problem before, but two of the eggs were dry and I had help those wee chickies out of their wee shell.

Lots of frenetic activity between chicks, preparing Mother's Day gifts and a Spring Fling to round out the afternoon. 

Then it was time to turn my focus to my sister SuZQ's granddaughter's pre-prom activities. Once I waded through downtown horrific, everyone in the universe showed up, traffic, it was a fun time.

I'm ready for some weekend!

A Tub Side View

Where did you spend the weekend?  I spent it tub side with my sweet babies.  It was time for Baby Giddy-ups pictures, but first he needed to meet his sweetest little new cousin.

 

Hmmmm, is there something more interesting out there.

I'll just stay put and keep splashing away!

When one gets in, they all follow.

Can't think of a better way to spend my time.

In the Garden

And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

~Percy Bysshe Shelley 

A sweet family blessed me with a garden center gift card when Kaye passed away.  I wanted to wait until I had time to walk around and think about how I wanted to use it.  I have a Pussy Willow someone had given me for Daddy, as well as a front garden bed overrun with vinca from a one of his baskets.  I like having things to watch grow and change, and to remember.

 When you have the behemoth yard I have here, you wouldn't think it be challenge finding a place to put another garden spot, but it causes me some stress.  It can't be in the path the wee folk take in their fleet of motorized vehicles, because careful drivers they ain't.  It can't be where additional parking is needed when we have 40 people for dinner. Can I keep a 5 gallon bucket of bubble solution from accidentally falling over in it? We do some serious bubble making here.  It has to be far enough that the chickie girls won't be dust bathing in it, or close enough for me to shoo them out.  Why would I put it somewhere out of my general line of vision if it's for remembering and smiling?  I am very careful, or try to be, about another spot that Handy Man has to mow around.  Oh fuss and bother. 
 Finally, I returned to the closest bed that was overrun with, well lots of things-vinca, daffodils, Lily of the Valley, peppermint and even though I kind of loved the crazy wildness of it, the truth dawned that really, it just looked bad, so out half of it came to make room for the "Kaye Patch."  I chose several perennials and annuals in coral (which she loved) and bright blues. This picture doesn't do it justice. I love it and it will make me smile a lot.

Have you ever bought these?

You know, just roll them out and in two months you have a beautiful Old English Garden. Right.  I know better, but I still love these.  I only buy them when they've been shipped to a place like Big Lots or Tuesday Mornings for way less than the price on TV.  That probably means they are old and perhaps seed viability is diminished. That's okay. I mean what would you do if all 2000 seeds came up anyway?  I love them because you never what you are going to get.  It does create a weed barrier for a time, so you can easily move some of the seedlings out.  Between the two of these there are 25 different kinds of seeds, Many I will recognize from the seeding stage, but I love discovering a new flower and having to figure out what it is.  My summer entertainment.

Do you know what this is?  Ahhh, my garlic.  We keep trying to grow garlic and haven't had much luck so far. I read an interesting thing about garlic. If you can just get enough to keep planting, it will, over time, adapt to it's environment and perform well. This year we have it in three different places and will mark it and plant it back in the same place in the fall. 

So, in addition to the above, I've planted corn, zinnias, dill, basil, cumin, okra for Mom and Aunt Lois, squash,beans and nasturtiums, cosmos, marigolds and love in a mist as well. I so love the hope dropped in the soil with each tiny seed.

Happy Birthday Aunt Bett. I hope you and Aunt Lois are having a big ol' time!

Loving It

The Kentucky Derby has never interested me much, but I sure love being off for Oak's Day.  I spent some of the morning shopping, the afternoon planting, and the evening fixing dinner and enjoying the company of a couple of special friends, who are retired teachers that come and help me in my classroom.
Remember this:

Well, it looks a little different now.

A couple of Saturdays ago, I used it to make a delicious salad with warm bacon dressing for a couple of other friends lunch, also teachers in this case, only not retired. 

 Fresh as fresh can be, along with a few lilacs, roses and clematis for the table.

Tonight I used the spinach to add to my kale, chard and mustard greens and the lettuce for a wilted salad.  I am in love with that little herb box.  The weather was quite warm this week, but I'm glad cooler temps are returning, as I hope to enjoy several more salads before these greens bolt and the herbs move in. Lands, gardening is infinitely easier when it is at waist level.

My cold seems to have turned the corner at last. I felt pretty lousy after working outside for  a couple of hours this afternoon, but my head hasn't been throbbing for quite some time now.  Such a lovely feeling.

I'm so excited about the little flower bed I redid today.  Pictures to come.  Happy Weekend!

Another Crazy Week

Wow, May is just like December when you teach. There is something else to do, cook, see, attend, change, fix, plant, etc. every minute.  Add a head cold to that, and the Ol' ISTEP test, a bad dream, then up at 4:40 am and a schedule change at school every other minute.  It's  making me blue and we're only 3 days in. UGH.

All is not lost however.  A snuggle with a sweet newborn who was happy to meet her Pappy.

A big accomplishment for my Blue-eyed boy, who previously didn't leave his Mommy or Daddy's shadow.  He asked to feed the chickens, so I brought him out.  He did turn at the door and say, "Mom, Dad?" then headed on out with me, as happy as could be.


Time for planting. Let's get a few pumpkins started.

Take me out to the ball game.  Love watching the boy hit and run.

Ahh, the painful parts of life.  So disappointing to get to third, but not make it home.

No picture, but when I went to Rae's on Tuesday, baby Giddy-up helped me wash dishes for twenty five minutes.  Earlier I'd brought a couple of birthday gifts that had been dropped off at the house.   He spent thirty minutes opening and playing with the multicolored curly ribbon and the maracas (sp?) were -big hit.

A few potatoes for the garden, along with 14 tomatoes and a row of cucumbers is always exciting, especially thinking of harvesting it. 

Lastly, a phone call from 1st Lt.  He said they are learning lots of things and staying busy.  Everyone he's with is about his age or older, so he said everyone is getting along fine and doing what needs to be done.