Ye Olde Feedbacke

Yes folks, it's that time of year again.

Ma is down to only one present left to purchase in the Christmas and four birthday end-of-year gift-buying marathon.

It's been another banner year in regards to swift accruement of parcels, as well as nifty appropriateness according to age, interest and will-status.

Now, you all KNOW how I hate to brag, but I thought it might be nice to share some of the exceptional feedback I have received over the past weeks. My score is 100%, not that I think that's important or anything.

Remember, far from boasting, this is just my way of encouraging people who might wish to join the ranks of those whose purchasing acumen hath reached aerie-like heights.

"Excellent! It doesn't get any better than this! Fast pay&response Thanks A+++++"

"Won multiple auctions and paid right away! Couldn't ask for a better customer!!"

(did you catch that? "Couldn't ask for...better...*sigh*)

"GREAT TO DEAL WITH! PROMPT PAYMENT! PLEASE COME AGAIN! THANKS!"

(really now...the total caps are ALMOST too much)

•:*¨¨*:•GREAT EBAYER•:*¨¨*:•HIGHLY RECOMMEND•:*¨¨*:•THANK YOU •:*¨¨*:•

Ooooo. FIRE-works. Nice touch.

Well, that's all for now. I still need to get my rest.

But I must say, I'm starting to feel better :-D
 

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Soon and Ver-y Soon...

...I will be staying home from church....ALONE.

Still sick, apparently. The cold has gone to the other side of my head (just let me know if you want more detail)

What a shame no one else is ill. I'll be forced to endure three plus hours of peace and quiet.

I can only imagine what it might feel like to be parked on the couch with extra pillows, a blanket, tissues and sanitizer, a nice thick book and the TV remote.

No interruptions.

No having to do anything for anybody.

Sounds like a little bit o' heaven to me. Just don't tell the family.

Soon and ver-y soon..
 

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Bleah

I was working on a post about the library trip yesterday, but since I woke up with my head a throbbing orb of mucousal dizziness...

*tries to remember what brain was thinking*

In slightly good news, I have lost 1.5 pounds since Thursday. And once I finish blowing my nose this evening I should have lost several more pounds.

In the meantime, here is a picture of cheery sunflowers which in no way describes how I feel.

 

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Busy and slightly sick...

...post to come tomorrow.
 

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American Painted Lady

 

 

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I Should Not Be Around People

It makes Ma all hyper.

See, it was prayer meeting night and once again I cannot sleep.

There's something about going away from home and conversing with people that just gets too stimulating for me on a social and intellectual level.

Actually, I can't prove there is any intellectual stimulation in my brain, but it sure do sound good, don't it?

Of course, it being birthday fellowship and Ma having brought chocolate pudding cake and moi having eaten some...I do suppose caffeine could be a contributing factor.

This is why I am currently finishing off another bowl of chocolate pudding cake. This time with vanilla ice cream. Vanilla ice cream compliments chocolate pudding cake so very well, and since there was some left over, it certainly seemed a shame not to pair the two together and pass up the chance to get a queasy stomach AND be bouncing off the walls at the same time.

Besides, tomorrow I'll start another four or five-day stint of that-stupid-diet-thing that Ma does every so often just to torture herself.

Yes, a couple of pounds have crept on and now it is time to creep them off again.

I'm fine. Really. I do NOT have a problem.

Just ask my therapist.

Perhaps another reason I cannot sleep is that there was talk of two babies born to people who are known to us or some people at church. Naturally, this provoked a little replay in my head--while lying awake and staring at the ceiling which I could have seen if the lights hadn't been out--of a couple of my more memorable birthing experiences.

"Push...PUSH!!"

"ARRRGHHH....Just be quiet and let me die already...!"

One of these days I'm gonna have to settle down and decide whether to write a book about all the gory birth details or maybe Loren's initial cardiac arrest or possibly the 9 years of ups and downs between that event and his heart transplant, or I dunno...perhaps the boring everyday happenings of raising 10 children and homeschooling them with the help of my extensive background in the maths and sciences.

Ah me. WHAT to do.

Besides pop another Benedryl...

Before I forget, a HEARTY THANKS to all the people who responded to my query of how to pronounce the name "Aravis" from The Horse and His Boy.

You know who you aren't.

The prize goes to Cousin Terry who, while not referencing the exact question, DID make a comment and thus has established a firm footing in "The Will."

Kudos, mi primo! May the force be with you...Live long and prosper...Further up and farther in!

*searches for extra-strength Tylenol*

I'll be fine. Rea...
 

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Hols of the Day

First off--being the rabid and militant feminist that I am--mention should be made that yesterday, the 25th of September was:

The day Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice. (1981) She was homeschooled, by the way :-D

On to September 26:

National Women's Health and Fitness Day. Personally, I plan to celebrate by mowing the lawn later today. But first I might take a little nap...

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday. Johnny (Jonathon Chapman) distributed apple seeds and religious tracts from the Allegheny mountains to the Ohio Valley. His particular theology was Swedenborgianism.

Today is also National Good Neighbor Day and Pancake Day. I pondered the possibility of taking pancakes to the neighbors, but considering their leaden texture (my pancakes, not the neighbors) I decided they (again, the pancakes) would not be harbingers of good neighborliness.

In 1952 the Yanks clinched pennant # 19. Go Yankees! (it's OK to cheer, folks...since George Steinbrenner didn't own the ball club at that point in time)

And for the rellies in New Zealand, this is Dominion Day :-)

*waves toward other side of world*


Ma's quote of the day:

"I hate quotations."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

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That Pronunciation Thing

So we are reading through "The Horse and His Boy," by C.S. Lewis and this BURNING debate has developed...

How does one pronounce the name "Aravis?"

I've always said, AIR-a-viss.

Some of the kids are claiming nothing but uh-RAY-viss will do.

There could also be AR-a-viss or ar-RAY-viss, as well.

I'm open to suggestions, as Googling and reading the official Narnia forum was not terribly helpful.

No pressure. Just family harmony hanging in the balance.
_______________

In other news, I've just reached 34 MB or 1% of my 2904 MB storage capacity at gmail.

Obviously a little celebration is in order.

Like, ice cream.
 

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September Portulaca

 

 

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Of Pie and Potluck

Exciting stuff, here! Our church had it's monthly potluck and get this....MA TOOK ONE OF HER GREEN TOMATO PIES!

We'll be getting to an in-depth analysis of victim...er, I mean eater-reaction in just a moment...

And I think you'll really want to click on each picture to enlarge. Helps bring out the detail, not to mention increasing the embarrassment factor.

As always, people can feel free to contact me for purposes of blackmail negotiation.

First off, I let Nolan go to a church dinner in a white shirt...
...Ma? What were you thinkin' ?

I took one of the three pies I'd made on Saturday evening, sliced it into small pieces and left a note describing what it was, so like...there is NO WAY anyone can sue me. You guys knew what you were eating.

After that it was merely a matter of cajoling different people into capturing their green tomato pie reactions for posterity.

Here we have Julie and half a Troy. Julie liked it! Really.
Would I lie concerning a meal before communion? I think not. The fact that Julie is holding a bread stick and not actually partaking of the pie at that precise moment is of no consequence.

Here we have another completely unstaged photo-op. Troy, amidst a mountain top experience, having just tasted green tomato pie for the very first time.
He is pensive, yet epigastrically intrigued. Troy also liked it. Seriously.

And we see Luke, a brave lad. Probably one of the youngest to take a taste test and yes, he gave it a "thumbs up!"


In-between those last two people I ran into Liz Currier. She also claimed to have appreciated the special pie, but when asked to scoop up the remains for a picture she declined due to the fact that KEVIN, her brother, NOT TO MENTION OLDEST SON OF THE PASTOR had just finished comparing the green juicy fruit of yumminess to the insides of a smaller relative of the locust. (yeah, Kevin...you are OUT of the will, fellah)

Here is Barb who said, and I quote, "It tastes just like apple pie!"
The reason I cropped out part of her face is that there was a certain wild look and hey, Ma is very reasonable and does not wish to embarrass anyone. I would never draw undue attention to the fact that someone looked wild-eyed by posting their picture on the blog, or at least, I would not post the wild-eyed part of the picture that might possibly have made them look wild-eyed in the first place.

And let's face it, the really important thing is that piece of pie on her fork.

Behold Kain Helmke, obviously lost in pure enjoyment that only comes from unripe members of the nightshade family, nestled between two flaky crusts. And here's the best part: "This is the second time I've had it." "Really? When was the first time?" "When you brought it several years ago."
Hot Doggies :-D That boy is in the will.

I was somewhat shocked to discover THE ENTIRE PIE HAD BEEN EATEN.
Of course, I didn't check the trash...

Following the meal we had our communion time, ending with a combined hymn/special.
"How Great Thou Art" accompanied by most of the Johnson's and one and 3/4 Bell's. (expectant flute player :-)

Nice day, it was.

And by the way, having taken an informal poll of the Hoyt relatives I came up with one, "I like it, but not many in my family do," one or two "I used to like it as a kid," a coupla "Edible's," several "I don't care for it," and my personal favorite,

"I like green tomato pie as I like rhubarb pie--a distinctive palette of flavors which I miss and yearn for from time to time, but would get tired of if partaken of too regularly."

There was also an instance of one married man who would like to try it again but was having trouble convincing his wife to make it for him.

Obviously some grave submission issues here, which my own obeisance forbids me from pursuing.

So, it looks like our "little tribe" will be nearly alone in bearing forth the banner of green tomato goodness on behalf of Hoyts, everywhere.

It's possible, though, that I could petition to make it the official church pie...
 

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Good news

Jason is feeling much better :-)

What's up with Jason, you ask?

He had a little confrontation with food poisoning on Saturday and no, it wasn't due to the cafeteria.

Amazing, but true.

Let's just say...he may never eat hot dogs again.
 

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Post Harvest Haste

Mr. Frey finished up the field this afternoon and you should have seen those kids...

I'd have taken a picture but I was mowing at the time. I do have to work around this joint, occasionally.

As the bean-laden semi rolled out of the drive for the last time, the youngest four were standing not far off with respectful stances in honor of the farmer's hard labor.

Then, as soon as he was safely headed down the gravel road they ran like jack-rabbits into the the newly shorn field, shouting in jubilation all the way.

Time for the freedom of roaming vast expanses...for the joy of gleaning leftover legumes.

Time to forget to come in to use the potty.

Hey, "Don't ask, don't tell" has more than one application, folks.

ANY-way, here are just a few pics...

Carolyn prepares a nest for Trevor and Nolan.


Derek and Melinda stayed up at the house to work on their thresher.
(might as well let the little kids do all the grunt work, after all)

If you can see a small red blob waaaayyyy back...that is Ethan.
Poor Ethan! After Nolan returned from the BACK of the field Ethan asked him, "Where's the rake?"

Oops.

As Nolan was so, SO THIRSTY, someone else volunteered to go back and retrieve it.

Guess Ethan will sleep good, tonight.
 

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Highlights of Yesterday's Pine Lake Adventure

First of all, the lake was freezing !

But when you've got a forecast of almost 90 degrees and it's the 21st of September, you know your swimming options are running out. So we went despite gusty winds and the chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Oh the kids got in the water, but most of them wisely came out and began working the sand.

Derek said it was possible to keep warm but one had to keep moving to the extent that it was exhausting just to retain the body heat. Nevertheless, Melinda and Nolan were content to chill out much of the time.

At one point I was down by the water taking pics and the wind blew up suddenly...I turned around and saw swirling sand in the air. "A dust devil!" yelled Carolyn. "Look, a dust devil !"

Poor little Trevor--who had been relaxing in a lawn chair while snarfing nacho chips--was discovered beside his collapsed chair, surveying the damage in a stunned, toddler kinda way.

"I was juss sitting hewoh, eating chips, when suddenwy diss wind came up and scawod me!" the five-year-old was heard to exclaim to a local reporter.

After a wee bit the wee lad and I went for a wee walk where we saw various flowers and potential sources of E-coli.

At one point I looked up in the sky and glimpsed these beautiful birds...
American Pelicans! Migrating to warmer climes, no doubt.

You'll have to trust me on the identification...though I changed the photo editing to black and white for ascetic purposes, I first bumped up the fill light and saw the defining black markings on their under-wings.

I LOVE THOSE BIRDS.

Bits of ragged gray clouds began drifting over the lake and I kept a sharp lookout on the sky. At the first rumble of thunder I yelled, "EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WATER!!"

(not sure anyone was IN the water at that point, but I've just always wanted to yell that phrase)

The kids tried to expand their burgeoning sand empire but we knew time was running out. Well, I knew time was running out. Even with the first drops of rain they said, "What? Why are we leaving?"

During our entire stay we'd been hassled with yellow jackets trying to steal our extremely nutritious snacks. Playing it quite cool I had alternately killed some with my bare hands and shooed them away, claiming they didn't often sting.

Naturally, while frantically picking up before the impending deluge, one decided to attack my little bunny boy on his big toe.

A big sister led him too me whereupon the stoic child promptly burst into tears. (he'd been just fine before he saw me)

We skedaddled for the van; not an easy thing as the return trip involves climbing up a steep grade and passing through a tunnel beneath the road.

Trevor's recent injury slowed him down. A fellow's just gotta limp after such a harrowing experience and sympathetic sisters have to hold his hand and well...let's just say that the people at the end of the line got soaked.

Naturally, I had to run ahead to unlock the van doors and let me tell you...it was pret-ty agonizing having to stand there under the shelter of trees and hold open the doors, watching them come up the last part of the hill in a blinding downpour.

But I thought I bore up remarkably well.

As did the children, since the rain was warmer than the lake water :-)

Thusly ended our Pine Lake adventures for another year.
 

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Friday's visit to Pine Lake

Pine Lake September 07

Fear not...just 25 pictures, with captions.
 

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Harvest Time!

It was early morning when we saw Mr. Frey drive up in his pick-up. He walked out into the bean field, looked at the crop, tasted a few beans and then left.

Would today be the day?

Inquiring little boys wanted to know.



In the meantime, Ma and the school principal had made arrangements to take the following afternoon off. It would be hot and might well be the last chance to visit the lake. With a visit to the park website it was discovered that the Ecoli swimming ban had been lifted. The Pine Lake excursion was on !

Then Farmer Frey came back with the bean head for the combine. Ethan strolled on out for a consult and discovered that since it was clouding up, Mr. Frey wasn't sure whether he'd start harvesting today (Thursday) or not...a potential conflict of interests ensued.

"Mommy! If he doesn't start today, that means he'll be harvesting to-morrow, and that means....oh NO! What about swimming?!"

"Indeed."

"Well, we can't go to the lake. That's all there is to it."

("Indeed")

There was extreme gnashing of teeth until....harvest begins!


Ah....the beautiful sight of grain flowing into a semi.


Dreaming...


I'm planning to put up a Picasa web album of the best harvest pictures from the last three years.

But that'll have to wait for another day. This afternoon we are off to Pine Lake!
 

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Hangin' Around

We still have hummingbirds coming to the feeder. Melinda has been pretty faithful in keeping them supplied with sugar water.

We think this one is a juvenile, since it has no throat color and it was just sitting for an extended amount of time.


Here's another angle...could that be a tongue sticking out?

A lot of pictures were taken to provide two that had the bird in focus instead of the background.
 

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Attention

I have now completed over half of my Christmas shopping.

*bows modestly*

This also includes four birthdays that fall in November and December.

Coming up later today....HARVEST PICTURES AND COMMENTARY!
 

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National Literacy Day

Which was actually the 8th of September but I guess I was busy that day doing laundry, mowing the lawn or some equally vital endeavor like...eating chocolate. (oooo, now I remember...I worked at the church and then MOWED THE ENTIRE LAWN)

Anyway, as Loren trod on the mill and I did my weight-bearing exercise this morning the Today Show had different celebs reading to various kiddos. There was first lady Laura Bush and Mayor Bloomberg, to cite two examples.

Not sure how NBC managed to work this in along with the really important stuff about O.J.'s girlfriend, but they did.

As a mother I can honestly say that one of my greatest thrills has been to teach each of the children how to read. (the exception being Nolan, who was taught early phonics by Melinda while I was interred at Rochester for three months)

Even after they were able to read on their own, we've still enjoyed the bedtime ritual of different classic series and single books. And if for some reason we'd get out of that habit for a time, I heard about it!

At the beginning of the last school year we began (again) the Lord of the Rings trilogy, naturally reading The Hobbit, first.

It took until sometime into the summer but we finished all four books. Hard to beat that for beauty of language and enthralling drama.

Of course The Little House on the Prairie books have been favorites of the past. But I think some of my kids reread them mainly to drool over various huge meals that are described.

"Too bad we didn't live back then," a certain someone wistfully comments, over and over.

"Yeah, and too bad you don't get to shovel manure out of horse and cow stalls on a daily basis," I am tempted to reply.

I have to remind them that those are not true in a straight biographical sense, in that not every event happened just as it was described, or to the exact people depicted in the book.

But the general geographical description of the different places the Ingalls' family lived is correct, as are the types of experiences and contrivances made by pioneer and prairie families of that time.

Caddie Woodlawn, Cheaper By the Dozen and Charlot's Web are several I'll need to bring back into the schedule.

For this September we again started through the Narnia Series. It's going so swimmingly we may finish before the end of the year:-)

One thing that does get my goat are the myriad serial-type reading materials currently written or advertised for Christian young people.

Throwing in spiritual references in an otherwise mediocre book does not make it worthy of reading, just as tying a ribbon on a pig doesn't make it an appropriate house pet. Cheap food might seem palatable, but can ramen noodle soup sustain one in the long run?

Give me a book that is well-written, even if it contains a few so-called "bad words." I can always skip over problem spots, or we can take a moment to discuss a scenario that would run contrary to our family's values.

One series I did stop reading aloud was Redwall. Enjoyable as it was, there seemed to be prevailing themes of supposedly misunderstood youngsters running away and then coming back in a blaze of glory to save the forest, abbey, etc.

I feel more comfortable letting the older kids read those books to themselves, when the danger of rebellious seed-planting is past.

But that's just me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go stir the macaroni and cheese for lunch...
 

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Arrrrrr!

Yes, it's "Talk Like A Pirate Day!"

And that's got National Butterscotch Pudding Day beat all to pieces.

I took the official pirate quiz where it turns out I am "Positively Pedestrian." I'd link to that except for the one question that constrains a mild-mannered Christian mother of ten.

Then I discovered a YouTube video where Old Chumbucket and Captain Slappy provide instruction in the meaning of the five pirate "A's," Ahoy, Avast, Aye, Aye-aye, and that really critical one, Arrrrr.

Unfortunately, I can't link to that video due to one unfortunate reference which most of my kids were too naive to pick up on.

(they are going around the house speaking in their best piratey tones, "I'd like a muffin!")

Ahoy though, all is not lost. For your enjoyment, here are Captain Slappy, Old Chumbucket and a young pirate-to-be singing, "I'm a Pirate."



Arrrrrr.
 

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Apologies to the younger five...

...for stunting your growth.

Or perhaps it is your older siblings who should apologize.

By the way, how's that whole "It is well known that children from larger families perform less well at school..." thing workin' for ya?

Hee, hee.
 

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Lessons for the day

• If you get up at 5:00 because you've been awake since 3:30 and you just can't take it any more, by all means try not to knock over the chess and checker set that your 8-year-old son has left sitting in the living room for four days.
  
• Don't eat more of the Almond M&M's you bought while grocery shopping yesterday. You can make all the claims for almond-induced good health that you want, but at the end of the day (or the beginning) you're a pig and you know it.
  
• When all else fails, peruse the Internet for birthday and Christmas gifts.
  

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Who Shall Separate Us From the Love of Christ?

 


Carolyn and I attended a funeral this morning.

Merlin was a farmer and raised Draft Horses. The beautiful cream-colored ones.

I hadn't known him terribly well, just enough to realize he had a huge heart as well as an impish sense of humor.

With no known severe health problems he died peacefully in his sleep last week, having made the statement hours earlier, "This has been a wonderful day."

Not a bad way to pass on to heaven, that.

A life immersed in working the land has an eloquence all its own. It is an eloquence not born of fancy words, but rather of hard toil oft repeated, whether or not it be rewarded commensurate to one's efforts.

And Merlin was one who could visit and minister to those in distress, for he possessed a grace acquired from the hard taskmaster of repeated sorrow.

Prayer of the Farmer

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion:
 to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer,
 to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
 you atoned for our transgressions.
Blessed is the man you choose
 and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

You care for the land and water it;
 you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
 to provide the people with grain,
 for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
 you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
 and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the desert overflow;
 the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
 and the valleys are mantled with grain;
 they shout for joy and sing.

Psalm 65:1-4, 9-13

May God bless and comfort the Merlin Lupkes family.
 

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Lego Crane

Melinda spent an hour or more yesterday building a crane out of Legos for Trevor.

It's name is "Wocky," or "Rocky" if you can pronounce your 'R's.'

Trevor seldom leaves Rocky's side. And though it is only lifting a man in this picture, the crane has been known to lift a Lego ambulance.

"WOW! This cwane is SO STWONG!"

Crazy brother has to get in on the picture.
My camera flashes twice: once to prevent redeye and give the subject a chance to make goofy faces before the next flash which coincides with the picture.

If you noticed a flannel shirt, yes, we had a frost last night. Upon rising the temperature was around 31 degrees F. I picked the last of the green tomatoes and have a large ice cream bucketful sitting on the counter.

This means I'll have to do something with them...
____________

In other news, the sickies have recovered. And today I woke up the least dizzy of the past four days. It is SO nice to feel almost healthy :-)

Of course, I wouldn't want to be com-plete-ly normal...
 

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Those Holidays

September is nearly half over and pathetic Ma is only now getting around to the holidays of this month.

What can I say? School started and life has gotten busier. Don't worry though, we're still in time to mention a horrendously momentous birthday coming up very, very soon :-)

Until then, September is:

Apple Month
Chicken Month
Tiger Month
Rice Month
Honey Month
Blueberry Popsicle Month (??)
Classical Music Month
Jazz Month (hey, since Classical music was around first, shouldn't Jazz have picked another month?)
Southern Gospel Music Month (ditto above)

and my personal favorite...

Be Kind to Editors and Writers month :-D

That isn't even half the list but we have to stop somewhere.

Upon looking at this date specifically, I see that I've committed a grievous error in missing yesterday, September 13th which was...

...the birthday of Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey's Chocolate!!

What a culinary faux-pas on my part. I'll have to eat extra chocolate to make up.

On to today, September 14th which is...

National Cream-filled Donut Day (Ick. Can't say as that's terribly appealing)

Today is also the birthday of Clayton Moore, the actor who played the Lone Ranger.

On this date in history:

-the Gregorian Calendar was adopted by Britain and the American colonies (1752)
-the first department store in America was opened by Alexander Stewart
-"F-Troop" (in 1965) and "The Waltons" (in 1972) premiered on television
-Nazis gained 107 seats in the German election (1930)
-1942 Yankees clinched their 13th pennant
-1943 Yankees clinched their 14th pennant (hee, hee...I put that in for all you rabid Yankee haters)
-1741 George Frederick Handel finished composing "The Messiah." He was 56, wrote it from start to finish in 24 days during which he lived almost entirely on coffee.

Just imagine what he could have done with cappuccinos.

There is another grand event for which September 14th is known. (or should be) This is the eve of an EXTREMELY important birthday, for which humility forbids any more release of information other than that she will be 49, lives in Iowa and as can not be mentioned too often, is renowned for the utmost humility.

Any guesses?
 

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Sleeping outside the lines

 

 

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We done picked apples!

When we first moved out to the 'acreage' we became accustomed to the routine of one year 'on,' one year 'off' concerning apple tree production.

Except that the last three years have all been 'on.'

As evidenced by this cluster of more than a dozen on the end of one branch.
I was surprised it didn't break the limb.

Willing apple pickers are always appreciated.


Old ice cream buckets, vim and verve are all that are required.


Trevor works hard inspecting...(come on Trevor, it wasn't that cold)
...oooo, that reminds me...I have to do laundry...

The counterweight looks as though he'd rather be at the top of the step ladder.


These were all from one tree! A prolific Dwarf Wealthy (or Dwarf Worthy--I can never remember)


These are from the three Red Delicious trees, though one is dying.
(way to pack them all in one box, guys)

The bounty sits outside the kitchen entrance in the addition. Loren just loves it when I keep produce out there.

I figure we picked close to 7 bushels.

Speaking of picking, I did much more than usual in that department, for which I am paying, today. It's just a guess, but the reaching and neck twisting seem to have messed up my balance, but I am starting to feel better. Hey, I made it through the whole day without throwing up!

That hasn't always happened in the past with my dizzy spells. Thankfully, the severe ones don't occur very often.

Here's hoping I can get out of bed tomorrow morning without doing the Iowa Reel.
 

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Dizzy

 
Boy, am I.

Might have been the apple picking yesterday...reaching, craning the neck, stretching and trying not to fall off the very top of the step ladder.

I felt similar after jumping on a trampoline about six years ago. Messed me up for one day and then I was better.

*must remember not to turn head to left*

Bleah.
 

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Tabular Exuberance

I had thought my pack-ratting tendencies did not extend beyond used books, clothes from Goodwill and the roughly 100 pairs of unusable children's shoes up in the attic.

But apparently I was mistaken.

Just a moment ago I clicked on the wrong 'x' on my monitor and received this little message,

"You are about to close 57 tabs. Are you sure you wish to continue?"

WHOA!

I would have guessed maybe 20 or 25...but can this really be true, that I have 57 tabs open?

*stops counting at 52*

I'll take their word for it.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the increasing slowness of my computer...

On the other hand, I doubt many people could boast of such open-mindedness :-D
 

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Am I losing my mind?

Or is it just my imagination?

Last evening it was cool enough to sleep under a cover. And this morning brought rain, clouds and the feeling of fall.

So it was with supreme smugness that I remembered the two cans of chicken noodle soup sitting in my overflow larder rack.

Oh wouldn't THIS make a great impression on the kiddos. Hot soup for lunch on an overcast day :-)

I could almost hear the 'Mother of the Year' accolades rolling in.

Fast forward to noon as the family gathered round the table whereon dwelt pieces of freshly cut pear, soup and the fixin's for sandwiches, complete with homemade bread.

Yes, it was a repast fit for the likes of near nobility and I was doing my best to appear gracious and humble throughout.

It was then the comments started rolling in:

"Mommy, did this soup get stirred?"

"Wow, this is really salty..."

Some unseen force moved my glance to the stove, where the empty cans stood in mute witness, their labels clearly marked, 'Condensed.'

"Oh....hmmm...I didn't add the water..."

*dies a thousand deaths*

How lame is that? Almost forty-nine years old and I can't remember how to make soup out of a can.

But tonight should be different. Having just returned from grocery shopping I can rest easy, knowing that after a busy day, a quick and easy supper heats in the oven.

Frozen pizzas. Now surely that's a safe bet.

So long as I remembered to remove the cardboard backing this time...Oh I did! Hooray for Ma.

*groan*

Too bad I forgot to set the timer...
 

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Praying Mantis

I haven't seen one of these for...oh, about 40 years. I was a kid in Indiana and I have relatives that will swear in a court of law that this is actually true, just in case my own children don't believe me.

While mowing under the little apple tree yesterday I saw something moving in the grass. Another foot and he/she could have been mulch. Boy was I glad I stopped!

Everything came to a halt as I brought it over to the house and called all the kids around. (Carolyn declined, due to an aversion to "big, creepy bugs")
(click on these smaller pictures to enlarge)

VERY cool greenish part to the wing. The mantids I remember as a child were all green.

This slightly blurry closeup shows what I believe to be a green curly tongue :-)


"Don't look at me, they went that-a-way."


"I said, THE BAD GUYS WENT THAT-A-WAY !"


The kids tried to tempt it to eat with a baby woolly worm, but the insect carnivore wasn't going for it.
We also tried a stink bug and a Daddy Long Legs, but no dice.

I gotta admit that when it turned its head and looked straight at you...ugh. One can see where the alien movie makers got their inspiration.

I repeatedly told the children, "Don't hurt it!" and as far as I know, they haven't. But I've since read that praying mantids have been known to catch and eat hummingbirds, so I'm feelin' slightly less kindly toward it...
 

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Houston, we have some sickies

So glad we signed up and practiced for special music.

Carolyn didn't sleep much last night, feels miserable and has a low-grade fever.

Ethan still has his sore throat from yesterday, sniffles and now a croupy cough.

Trevor says he feels a little better and his fever seems to have passed but he's coughing.

Nolan came bounding down the stairs immediately behind me this morning and announced "I'm sick." Not too long after that he asked when "Thomas the Tank Engine" was on....(you can never tell with that kid, but he is clearing his throat a lot, and now that he knows he's staying home I hear, "I think I'm feeling better already...")

I have a migraine, possibly from mowing the ENTIRE lawn yesterday. (things get tricky when school starts) But that would not keep me home from church.

Three or four sick kids might.

Too bad. I was really looking forward to the Pastor John's Sunday School lesson, which is on "The Sufficiency of Christ."

Loren's been given strict instructions to fill me in on all the hot discussion debate.
 

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Yes, I could have been an electrician

Finished up my work at the church for this week.

When I ascended the stairs to clean the foyer I discovered the lights were not working. Determining the plug beneath the switch was viable I came to the conclusion I could sweep in the dim light, but I decided to check out the fuse box in the basement.

If nothing else, I could check for spiders.

Every switch was in the 'on' position but observant Ma did notice a pretty orangish square beside one switch.

I turned it 'off' and then 'on' to see what would happen. This could have been pure intuition or it might have something to do with the situation in our home where the microwave suddenly turns off when the refrigerator kicks on just as the micro has been started.

Then, not ONLY do I have to run downstairs to the icky damp basement and brave potential cobwebs to flick the errant breaker switch, but afterward I have to REPROGRAM the microwave clock !

Though frustrating it is not too taxing for my ever nimble brain, but of course you are still wondering whatever happened with the church situation...

WELL, I am happy to report that the orange box magically disappeared when I returned the switch to 'On' and not only THAT, but the upstairs lights worked :-)

Three cheers for Moi!

It takes so little to make some people happy.

And now I am off to do battle with the lawn, of which there is less to mow after being trodden down with the skid loader.

*sigh*

A Ma's work is never done...
 

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Why the Bleary Eyes

"Mommy...."

"Mom-my...I'm sca-wohd."

*groan*

This was after the thundershower had passed through in the middle of the night but well before a glimpse of daylight appeared.

So I stumbled with the little tyke across the hall and got him safely into bed. It's a poignant ritual we go through about once or twice a month.

Part of the mother/son bonding-and-mess-up-your-whole-day-tomorrow kinda thing.

And then I groped my return to our room, somewhat less adroitly as I bumped into the end of the bed, waking Loren.

"Uh...sorry" I whispered.

So much for a good night's rest.

It being now the bright light of afternoon, things don't look much better. The wee lad has a sniffle. He is indeed on the "Purple Stuff." It keeps him in a non-social stupor...he sits by and watches, not entering into much activity accept to provide a sniffing accompaniment to everyone's schoolwork.

*takes Trevor's temperature*

Well that's just SUPER. 101.1

Not terrible, but enough to mean he's really sick and I have to keep him away from my immune-compromised husband.

BOY am I regrettin' not cleaning that shopping cart off with an anti-bacterial wipe last Tuesday. Careless MA!

Funny how this often happens when I've signed the kids up for special music in church.

And we are supposed to sing at another church the following week...

Hrmmmm.
 

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What is it?

 

 

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Finally!

I got a picture of the crazy little hummingbird that is almost in focus.

There have been at least two pair around this summer and despite much effort on Ma's part, the background grass is usually sharp while the bird itself is blurry.

This time one bird came, another quickly chased it away and a third zipped in and took advantage, having several sips and a quiet rest.



Ma is so happy!

And now I'm pretty much booked until 5 this evening.
 

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Ma's Newsy Nuggets

During a brief lull while Nolan is supposedly doing his math problems:

It's official. God wants Iowa to be first, according to Bill Richardson.

Gotta love them politicians.
_______________

Alert! Pasta strike in Italia.

Emergency stands offering free bread and milk are a nice touch.
 

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First Day of School

We enjoyed seeing Ardith for Labor Day but it was WAY too short, especially for some who were working most of the day.

But on to academics...

It had been announced for several weeks, "Don't forget...after Labor Day is the first day of school."

No more morning blog posts.

I knew most of the kids were feeling slightly glum but I was more than a little surprised to find Trevor come down to the kitchen for breakfast with tell-tale redness around his eyes.

"Trevor? What's the matter?"

*sniff*

"I don't want to stawat school."....*sad sniffing*...

"Are you kidding? It's just Kindergarten! We mostly read books...(and hopefully teach you how to pronounce your 'R's'...) It's no big deal..."

Obviously he's picked this up from the other kids.

*thinks of appropriate reprimands*

We got through it. Oh, there was the usual bustle of taking out last years papers, refilling notebooks, looking over listed courses, trading notebooks, finding the appropriately colored notebook dividers, etc.

The kids made sure to remind me that we always do just a half day when starting out...."We do?"

"Yes, Mommy. That's what we did last year...remember?"

"I guess..."

Right off the bat Nolan had to deal with two major changes in his life:
1) he can't do any computer games until after lunch
2) he has to write out his math problems along with the answers. No more photo-copying the math page or having Mommy write them out neatly while he fills in the answers.

"I have to do ALL THIS WORK?!"

"Yes Nolan. It's third grade and you're in the big leagues, now."

*sigh denoting the weight of the WORLD*

Then it was Derek's turn: "Mommy...there's a mistake in this Calculus solutions manual."

(Oh SUPER...like I could even tell...)

"See, right here...do you know what this symbol means?"

"Uh...no."

"Well, I had to count this wrong last year, because they said it was supposed to be like this, and now they've done it like this..."

"...*sigh*...make a note of it and we'll see how they handle similar problems in the future..."

It's the blind leading those who've taken two math courses above me. Let me rephrase that....above what I've forgotten from thirty years ago.

Sometimes I simply have to rely on them knowing what they are doing.

But aside from that, the day went fairly well, including certain details working out to allow the fun of grocery shopping on a hot day in a non-air-conditioned car with Nolan and Trevor :-)

Folks, it doesn't get any better than that.

One school day down, 174 to go.
____________

For those people interested in an extra 6 pictures, I have a small Picasa album with yesterday's garage-filling activities.

sand project

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The Sandman Cameth

On Labor Day. Nothing like a day off from work to get a little work done.

The fellow who was to deliver our sand didn't have to work for the city of Ackley on Labor Day, so he worked for us!

Fifth and final load being dumped in front of the garage.


Children had to watch from a distance while Loren began distributing the sand into the far corners with the help of Mr. Jensen's skid loader.
It is my opinion that most males are born with a gene that allows true life fulfillment only after having operated earth-moving machines.

Once a fair amount of sand had entered the garage area, Ethan and Carolyn were recruited to smooth each load before the next arrived.

That took place yesterday.

Today Loren used the skid loader to compact the sand.
Ethan was allowed in the garage to give signals when Loren was approaching the walls.

I'll have little Picasa album up later today with a few more pictures.
 

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