This & That

One Clue

That the kids are all home and it really is summertime.....I ran three loads in the dishwasher yesterday.

Did You Know....

That May is National Hamburger Month?  It was the first official day of summer vacation here and as usual, I'm trying to establish some kind of routine that keeps the kidlets just busy enough not to fight with each other.  For DD, that invariably involves some kind of project.  Since we had planned to grill burgers for dinner anyway, and looking on the internet under "Bizarre American Holidays" we found that May is National Hamburger Month, we looked for a project that was somehow related.  familyfun.com gave us what we were looking for.   DD is becoming more proficient with the big mixer and is getting better at accurately measuring.  The results are the "Shamburgers" you see here.  The bun is a cookie sprinkled with sesame seeds, the pattie is a peppermint pattie, the lettuce is green-tinted coconut and there is a liberal squeeze of red and yellow frosting to hold the whole thing together.   Fun and tasty.  So Happy National Hamburger Month!

The Best-Laid Plans

Between graduations, kids moving and kids visiting, we've had a dickens of a time getting any yard stuff done, especially getting the garden in.  We had big plans this weekend since it was the first free one we've had all spring of getting the garden space tilled and the garden laid out.  But, noooooo....it rained all night long and is still raining, turning the garden spot into a quagmire that we can't till.  Maybe we just won't have fresh veggies this year.....

Blog Challenge!

So we have a blog challenge on the SA message board.  Great idea since I sometimes have trouble thinking what to write here.

ABOUT ME

favorite color: Green
word I most liked to be described as: Competent
best meal I cook:  My family will probably say Thanksgiving
favorite dessert:  Hot Fudge Pudding Cake with a little vanilla ice cream
favorite book:  Anne of Green Gables
favorite outfit:  Jeans and a T-shirt
usually in bed by: 11
favorite sounds:  Great music, laughing kids, a running stream
I wish:  For happy, compassionate, responsible kidlets
What I crave:   Scrap time
Surround me with:  Great music and my scrap supplies and I'm a happy woman!

The Countdown is On....

Yep, this is our last week of school.  And as usual, I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing.  I really love the more relaxed schedule, where I'm not running kids everywhere and don't have to be 12 places in a day.  On the other hand, my two youngest have really been at each other lately and the thought of them being together all the time and giving each other ammunition makes me cringe.  As an example I overheard my darling, sweet daughter give this reply to something her brother said, "Why don't you mind your own business, but thank you very much for asking...." delivered in the snarkiest tone she could manage.  Sigh.   

I'm going to try a new method of dealing with it, though.  Every time they fight, they get an extra job.  I'm thinking I may get lots of little "to do" things done this summer.

Changes

I've decided that I don't really like change very much.  It makes me uncomfortable.  I like my routines and the sameness of my life.  Yeah, then something comes along and throws a wrench into things.  And it's not that it's necessarily a bad thing.  DS #1 and DIL spent the night here last night on the way to the rest of their lives.  They had all their wordly goods in a little U-Haul and are moving to where he will start graduate school in the fall.  Trouble is that it's twice as far away as they have been....a lot more difficult for us to see them and get together when it's an 8 hour drive.  We are so proud of them and how they are moving on down the life road thing.  It's just hard to see my kidlets moving even further away.  And that made me think about the fact that he's the oldest of six.....I could have kids spread in far-flung parts of the country in just a matter of a few years.  I don't like change very much.

Temporary Freedom

I have never in my life said I was looking forward to summer.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a cold weather person and that I hate the heat, but I have had so many musical commitments over the past six weeks....most of it end-of-the-year stuff, that I'm ready to have nothing to do...even if it means hot weather and having my kids home picking at each other.  This will be a temporary feeling, I'm sure.  We're having abnormally hot weather here....up in the 90's and I can feel myself getting grouchier by the minute.  But for a few days, when I have no rehearsals to attend, no piano to practice and I can play, I'm going to enjoy it!

Next week, when school's out may be another story....

No Control

I'll admit it, I like to be in control of my life.  And for the longest time I was in control of my kids' lives, too.  I think it's hard as mother's for us to give that up sometimes, but we eventually have to.  When my kids have gone away to college.....that was a difficult time for me, trying to re-adjust my role and becoming more unnecessary in a way. 

Anyway, this is all leading around to the fact that my second son came home for the weekend and brought a girl with him.  She seems very nice.  We'll see what happens.  It's yet another example of the fact that I have no control.  I can't pick who my boys marry.  That's quite possibly a good thing, but it's very hard for me to just sit, praying that I've taught them enough life skills that they'll make a good choice.  Very difficult....lots of hopes and prayers flying around.

Chicken Legs Yet Again

Just love this.  Every once in a while, totally by accident, I have taken a really, REALLY good photo.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's very special.  So this is Chicken Legs.....21 years ago.  And as I look at this, it reinforces my philosophy that basic personality doesn't change.  He was generally happy and content then as he is now.  I'm lucky that he's coming home this weekend for Mother's Day....and he's bringing a girl home for us to check out.  I'm lucky as well that my own mom is coming up this weekend to spend Mother's Day with us.  That just makes it better.  Photo-ops all over the place.  Hope all you moms have a great Mother's Day!

Veggie Tales

I'm looking at the walls, trying to remember where I'm supposed to be today.  I keep thinking that surely I have three or four places I'm required to show up.  And then I remember....nope, I don't have to be anywhere all day long until the kids' piano recital tonight.  I can sit and do nothing.  I can scrap if I want to.  I CAN BE A TOTAL VEGETABLE FOR THE WHOLE DAY!!!  Ahhhhh.....what a great feeling!