Mouse Mercy: the life you save today...

...could come back to bite you, tomorrow.

Strange encounter, this afternoon.

I was fixing supper while Carolyn and Ethan were watching the news, when I heard an odd, dragging sound. The kind of sound that urges mothers everywhere to cry, "Do you HAVE to do that?!"

I have a low tolerance for noise.

However, before I could even get out those immortal words, Ethan said, "Hey Mommy...come here. You've got to see this..."

'Twas a mouse, caught by the hind leg, dragging the trap across to floor in a less-than-subtle getaway attempt.

We hadn't even heard the trap snap, so there's no telling how long the critter was waiting to make his escape.

"Mommy! PLEASE don't kill him!" came the plea from Ethan, stalwart 2nd Amendment enthusiast. "Just let it go, outside!"

*sigh*

"You know it will come back in the house..."

*carry trap outside with mouse dangling frantically beneath*

I got over to the field behind our house and gingerly lifted the clamping mechanism (I say 'gingerly' because with very little trouble, Mr. Mouse could have twisted around and bitten me).

The pest was released to the field.

With amazing disregard for my benevolence, the little stinker immediately turned toward the house, running like a gray, furry banshee.

No matter how many times I flipped it back toward the field it redirected itself, utilizing its homing device that continually whispered in its ear, "Food....warmth...HOUSE!"

I finally gave up and left Nolan and Trevor in charge with the admonition, "Now don't hurt it," and hoping that once, JUST ONCE, Nolan would fall prey to his baser instincts.

It was not to be. The boys informed me that the mouse had set up new operations next to the garage, where it will, no doubt, begin assembling a small strike force to retake the living room.

Time to set more traps.
 

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Lil' Ol' Update

I could have said this yesterday, but now I have something to post today, ha ha.

Kendra finally got back to the Grace campus after her trip to England. The flight to Atlanta was late, causing them to miss their connecting flight to South Bend. They were FORCED to spend a night in a posh hotel, courtesy of Delta Airlines, avec two free meals.

It just makes me wanna go overseas, all the more.

So that is good news. And I imagine she is swamped to the end of the semester. We may not hear from her until graduation.

Bueno news on the diet front, as well. After 11 weeks, I am down 2 more pounds, making it 25 pounds lost, so far.

I is happy.

And in taco seasoning news, you never know when you will walk into the grocery store and find absolutely NO packages of taco seasoning. That is not to say they won't offer six different chili spice mixtures, instead.

Fortunately, Ma remembered reading the back of the taco seasoning packet--many moons ago--and seeing the word, "cumin." Purchasing that, along with red pepper, I determined to make my own.

Tonight was the night of experimentation and this is the magic recipe:

Ma's-Famous-Taco-Flavored-Meat-for-Which-She-Asked-Loren-"What-did-you-think?"-and-He-Looked-Surprised-and-Sort-of-Affirmatively-Shrugged

--hamburger (browned) just over a pound
--rice, cooked (to extend hamburger which is an outrageous 3 dollars per pound)
--cumin 2 teasp. (approx)
--red pepper (some shakes)
--garlic powder (a few shakes)
--chili powder (a couple shakes)
--1/2 cup (or so) tomato sauce or paste-based stuff ("paste-based" is not to be confused with "faith-based")
--water (some)

Mix and simmer. Add more or less seasoning to taste.

Obviously, it will be somewhat difficult to add less if you've already added too much, but hey, I can only do so much! At any rate, cumin is the most important ingredient.

Must go. After 8.5 miles on the treadmill today, it is barely possible that I need a bath.
 

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Monday, Monday

The horizon brightens and a flock of cheery black-birds recoil to the trees, startled by my abrupt tug of the curtain.

I gaze out the window, my eyes arrested by the morning sun illuminating winter's leftover skid-loader marks on the lawn.

It's spring, again, in Iowa.

Shuffling downstairs I behold my reason for waking early. It is the lad, finishing up his breakfast and much of the remaining milk, oblivious to shortfall for remaining siblings. And even, that breakfast was to be an egg & bagel, not cereal.

No matter! Time to mix up the protein drink. That pleasing medley of skim milk and chocolate-flavored soy powder.

YUM! Just another reason for getting out of bed, each day.

But what is this? It falls out of my hand and crashes to the floor. But wait, it does not break! And the lid stays on, preventing a nasty spill.

Time to resume shaking the mixture, blending...mixing...shaking....

*splat*

Now THAT was refreshing! Cold milk and brown splotches, all over my person.

I feel just like a canvas, newly adorned for the coming week.

Can life get any better than this?
 

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The Good, the Goofy and the Passive Aggressive

The morning didn't start out too well. Sharp food cravings combined with He-Who-Shall-Not-be-Named displaying a burgeoning talent for passive-aggressiveness.

However, the infuriating behavior has subsided (for the moment) and frustrated feelings have been replaced by mucho amusement.

Trevor was reading aloud from the library book, Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog, and it brought us to tears, we were laughing so hard.

Great book :-) It takes a deft touch to produce a children's book that can affect all ages. Particularly an easy reader.

On an equally droll note, I discovered why the blue dress pants I wore to dinner-and-a-movie last night were so baggy.

They were not my pants.

Not exactly WHO'S pants they are, but they seem to have come from the boys' closet. No one claims them and they are too short for Loren.

Some day I'd like to go into a real store and buy something that comes from a stack of all the same make, with real sizes, and not have to sift through four racks of hodge-podginess.

That's not to say I don't get some good deals at Goodwill, but it is a completely inefficient way to shop.

Well, it's been almost 5 hours since I gave HWSNbN the first school assignment of the day. Perhaps he'll be done, soon...
 

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The Diet Update

Forgot the official 10-week report last night, so I'll post it today and be off the hook for blogging, later :-)

First of all, in the interest of scientific accuracy, I checked back through the January postings to find out exactly when I started this latest weight loss plan. Confirming earlier notations, I can accurately state that it has been ten full weeks, since the beginning (January 10).

As of yesterday, I have lost 23 pounds.

Good for Ma!

That leaves 8 weeks and 12 pounds to go. As long as things don't slow down again, I should be able to make my 35 pound goal by Kendra's graduation, May 14th.
 

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Snoozing in the Tub

I don't think this quite happened, but there have been 5 or 6 times over the years that I've come close. Tonight was one of them.

Monday is always a bit dicey, in that:

---Nolan doesn't get back into the swing of school very well, after taking off the weekend. And today was a banner slacker day.

---Usually go grocery shopping. While the time to myself is appreciated, it is somewhat offset by being on my feet a lot. If I take the two younger ones along I go in the hole, energy-wise.

---Shopping also means missing my nap.

---I went 9 miles on the treadmill, today. The last five took 80 minutes and completely wiped me out. On the plus side, a chocolate protein (supper) shake tastes REALLY GREAT, afterward!

Bonus experiences of the afternoon:

1) Finding roller blades at Goodwill. I knew the boys would be excited. They are just a tad snug for Ethan and Nolan (especially Nolan) and Trevor says they are perfect, which means they are only four sizes too big. Ethan says they have gel wheels (or something) which is supposed to be good.

2) Buying a 10lb tube of ground beef, on sale for $2.49 per pound. Sure, we used to get them on sale for $1.79, and occasionally, $.99 per pound. But times being as they are, and normal prices being above three dollars, I went with the 25 dollar hunk of meat, with plans to space it out over the next 3 weeks (we don't eat meat every day).

3) This next could have injured someone, and no, it doesn't involve my driving. I was traipsing about Wal*Mart, in one of the smaller aisles, about to enter one of the larger avenues, when I heard a strange, metallic whizzing sound. Directly in front of me, flying past perpendicular to my position, came a grown man, standing on the base of his shopping cart. He did a apt impression of the Progressive Insurance commercial, only faster. And he had to have been in his late 20's or early 30's. I can't get any more exact than that, because he literally went past in a blur.

Initially I was too shocked to react. I could have yelled, "HEY! What's your PROBLEM?!"

I also could have rammed my cart out into the aisle, to intercept. Except, he was going too fast and I was too stunned to do anything.

Not that I wish to be a store policeman, but MERCY, he could have taken out a little old lady.

So yes, could have taken out ME!

Still suffering from post-traumatic-cart-syndrome....guess the rest of the groceries can sit on the kitchen floor until tomorrow.
 

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Making Plans

Despite a harrowing morning involving He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, the day is slowly winding down to the peaceful sunset of weekend.

Well, after I put in four more miles on the treadmill.

A little progress on the big graduation weekend: I reserved a park shelter for Kendra's after-commencement bash. It's quite close to a huge playground for the younger whipper-snappers.

And since Kendra's going into the PA program in Des Moines, it won't be a problem if anyone gets hurt. She can always put it on her work experience, ha ha.

Across the street is the famous Warsaw Pizza Hut, and on an unrelated note, all I have to do is figure out some kind of food for the feast.

Hmmmm. I wonder...

Speaking of the Kendra-girl, she is, right this very moment (!) (or thereabouts) winging her way across the east coast and the ocean to merry ol' England.

Expected to land at Heathrow around 8:30 tomorrow morning, British time.

The first day will include St. Paul's Cathedral, the Globe Theatre, the World War II Cabinet War Rooms/Churchill Museum, followed by the British Museum.

And that's all before lunch!

*sigh*

However, we're going to be having our own bit of enjoyment, first weekend of April.

That's when I'll take the four youngest to hear the River City Barbershop Chorus, up by Mason City. Ethan and I heard them last year, and they are truly wonderful. A fellow from our church sings in the group. The program is more than worth the reasonable ticket prices.

Also have made plans for the boys' testing, next week. Wednesday and Thursday are the appointed mornings, with the tests taken in the principal's office. We've gotten through the practice books and all I have to do is review some hot spots and cross all of my fingers and toes...

But first, the weekend!

A movie tonight, with Carolyn, the possibility of sleeping in, and best of all--NO SCHOOL FOR TWO DAYS!

No planning, no nagging, no cajoling, no exasperation...I think you get the picture.

Sounds like a plan.
 

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Surviving the Ides

We've lived through the Ides of March, so that has to be good, right?

Ma is going to make a determined effort to post more often, even if the posts end up being incredibly dull or disjointed.
________________

Today was another gorgeous, springish day, as evidenced by the sunshine, temperatures close to 60, and the soft, spongy ground.

It was so ideal, in fact, that I had to go and ruin one hour of it by having the four youngest hit the ditch for the first stone pick-up of the season. And by the looks of all the gravel, the snowplows have been busy.

All I asked of them was one hour's work with no breaks.

Three were fairly enthusiastic, but Nolan's reticence more than compensated for their willing spirits.

I had to continually tell him....well, there's no point in going into it. Suffice it to say it was a never-ending struggle.

Kept him near me to facilitate nagging.

"I don't hear any stones going into the bucket."

"But I'm so tired!"

"Maybe so, but I bet you feel better than me."

"How many more minutes?"

"You just asked me two minutes ago. And don't empty your bucket yet...the bottom isn't even covered and....(blah blah, blah blah blah)."

Finally, FINALLY the hour was up. And he went running, lickety-split to dump his last, meager bucket-load.

"I thought you were tired....?"

*slows to walk*

Pulling teeth. It's just so much fun.

At least we survived.
 

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My Part Time Job

Yes, it's true. My efforts to lose weight take up just under what a part-job would require: 12-13 hours per week.

That's just the treadmill. If you count the time I am fighting off nibbling, it would be another couple hours, and if you count the time I am eating salads and vegetables (akin to taking a tax write-off for maintenance to one's car if it's used on the job) we can safely bring it all up to 20 hours per week. Easy.

The Diet Report: after 9 weeks I have lost 21.5 pounds.

At least, I think it's been 9 weeks. By the end of the day it gets a little hazy when one burns 1200 calories and eats....maybe just a tad more. The loss rate has definitely slowed down, but things are still headed in the right direction.

Just finished 8 miles for the day and my foot still hurts (joined now by my shin and hip) but Ma is going to stick it out until we leave for Indiana, in May.

But for tonight....winding down and looking forward to a bit of reading on the couch (after the kids go to bed) and a TV show or two.

Just the simple things in life, that's all I need. Preferably surrounded by quiet and no one expecting anything from me.

Helps me rest up for tomorrow's tyranny of the treadmill.
 

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Years Ago

That's when I should have done it.

The closet.

That is.

In a burst of brilliant inspiration, I thought of having Loren put shelves along the walls of our "toy" closet.

(you older kids remember that infamous, dark hideaway...with homemade drawers the original owners had jammed into the cubbyhole...further jammed with our collection of used playthings)

However, since that section of the house will be torn out...someday, Loren suggested bringing down a bookcase from our bedroom.

"But what will we do with the books?"

"There are hardly any books in there...."

So I placed the (hardly) 40 or so books on the floor, where they will keep company with the 200 or so books al-ready on the floor.

Sorting out nearly 2 trash bags of old games, puzzle pieces, and junk, the bookcase easily fits into the closet.

Enter second super idea of Ma's: I pulled out the ultra-heavy, ultra-cumbersome, ultra-useless drawers from the built-in bureau, and suggested laying boards across each drawer housing, creating 3 additional shelves :-D

Brilliant, no?

Loren went one better and carefully cut out fitted boards and nailed them into place for the three shelves I had envisioned.

Now, "Settlers of Catan" and "Pirates Cove" are snug in their berths, along with numerous puzzles, as well as other alternatives to computer gaming.

And there's plenty of room for more.

Ma is very happy :-)
 

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Why Boys Go to Church

When I was a little girl, all they had in our church basement were Sunday School rooms.

Strange, but true.

Times have changed, however. Now there is a game room, and of late, roller blades.

Ham, personified.

Excuse the blurriness. It's hard enough to get boys in focus even when not aided by speed-enhancing devices. Might as well forget it with roller blades.

Youngish boys unwittingly place an impediment in the path, which Nolan spies just in time.
Hope the church's liability insurance is all paid up..

"Hey Ethan....what was the sermon about this morning?"
"Oh 'hi,' Mommy....uh...what?"

Why just roller blade, when you can incorporate dodge ball, as well :-)


Ethan and Paul play "Crack the Pool Cue"....
...as the more mundane play a tame game of ping pong.

If you're wondering where most of the young gals are, they're upstairs, where it's safe.
 

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Procurement and loss

As long as it's Monday, you may as well suffer it up right and do the weekly shopping.

This afternoon's trip was carefully timed to coincide with the public school's dismissal. And it's not simply to avoid the awkward looks from people, though of course that is always so very special. Occasionally the sight of my children has been known to cause alarm. On one snowy day I arrived at the grocery store with a couple of kids and an anxious parent inquired if there was early dismissal for the weather. He obviously thought he'd missed an announcement.

No, I just can't put people through that kind of stress. Instead, I leave after 2:00pm, allowing me time to hit most of the stores and return home with a whole half hour to rustle up some grub.

And speaking of high food prices, I've sunk to buying only 1/2 pound pacakages of ground beef for casseroles, as the going rate is now over 3 dollars per pound.

It will still feed 6 people, particularly if I'm careful not to prepare anything too delicious that would have them scrapping the bottom of the bowl.

Let the family think I can't cook well. It's all part of my master plan to stretch the food budget.

Going on a diet has also helped, since I hardly eat the main dishes.

Thankfully, our Iowa Falls HyVee still has Honeycrisp apples :-) though I doubt if they'll last much longer. Knowledge of the-best-apple-in-the-world waiting for me before bed usually helps me not to nibble after supper.

Today's shopping trip was good in another way....I took Nolan and Ethan along.

As much fun as it is to hear Nolan ask for everything on the shelves or complain because he can't sit in the front seat all the time, we finally rounded up boots for both boys and Sunday shoes for Nolan. Half price or less!

Bought them a bit big so they can last through next winter.

Humdrum stuff, to be sure, but needful just the same.

Also came away with an unexpected pound of bulk sausage from the meat counter. I can always use it to bait the mouse traps (kidding), but it means 3 more bucks on my grocery tab. And somewhere, a shopper arrived home only to be disappointed and disillusioned, never able to trust a man in a white apron, again.

On the diet front, I'm basically down 20 pounds, so "hooray for Ma!"

Also walked for 45.5 miles this past week; a new record. Hope to see some results from that effort, other than an increasingly sore foot. But hey, I aim to keep going until I can cajole off 15 more pounds.

Then I'll have more energy to shop.
 

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Trevorism

In keeping with less computer activity, Nolan and Trevor have been forced to find new sources of entertainment. Today? the formation of a "club."

From my perspective, it appears to involve extra stuff scattered around their bedroom, and loud jumping sounds. Though to be fair, the latter only occurs in the afternoon while I'm trying to read quietly on the couch.

We gain additional insight into the club's purpose through two separate conversations:


Trevor: "So, for our club, you have to do two push-ups every time you go into our room."

Ma: "I see. That sounds...different."

(around the lunch table)

Trevor: "Hey Ethan, do want to be the secretary of the club?"

Ethan: "Mmmm....that doesn't sound all that fun."

Trevor: "It's called The Strong Club."

Nolan: "Shhhh, you weren't supposed to tell!"

Trevor: "It's OK. I'm the president."

Nolan: "Well, I'm the vice president."

Trevor: "Yeah, but you're mostly my adviser."
 

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March Madness

Nothing to do with basketball, I assure you.

More like a combination of spring fever and test prep.

I've started Trevor and Nolan on their practice books for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, coming up the end of March. Should have ordered them earlier. Already I am marking down notes for frantic review, much of it for the Trevor-lad.

I think Nolan will do OK if he manages to read the directions at all carefully.

But Trevor is still lagging in the reading department--despite working with him all summer--and he's going to have problems if he can't even decipher the instructions. Already I can feel my intestines curling into anxious knots.

There is a chance, however, that even if both fail to meet the required percentile, I still won't hear from the Department of Education. The lady who tested Nolan was extremely surprised to learn we had been contacted several years ago. It was the first time she had heard of this happening. Didn't hear from them last year, so that was quite the relief.

I will just have to cross my fingers and pray. A lot.
__________

Loren was down in Cedar Rapids this afternoon and tells of hearing the spring birds chirping and singing.

Not so much as a peep up here, so far. In fact, excluding a few juncos and the odd sparrow in December, all I saw at our feeder over the winter was one, lone woodpecker.

Appears they've given up Ma's food for richer eats, elsewhere.

However, I take solace in my three excursions on the treadmill each day, where one delights in the whine of the belt, the breeze of the fan, and the huff and wheeze of "Our Lady of Sore Feet."

It may be repetitive, but it does provide a break from the circumstances driving me nuts.
 

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Arte de Nolan

The following was shown to me by the artist on Friday morning, one day after having seen How to Train Your Dragon for the 3rd time.



Pretty good, I'd say :-)

And kinda interesting that Nolan depicted Toothless as gliding in from off the paper.
 

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