Friendly Fowl

I didn't mean to succumb to the owl craze that is sweeping
decor, household goods, and clothing...
but when I saw this cookie jar winking down at me from a high shelf
in the thrift store, I knew I had to take him home with me!

Besides... if I didn't, someone else would have.

I hadn't met a winking owl yet, and the mellow blue and white of his
porcelain plumage was gentle on my eyes - unlike some of the brown
and orange versions of this nocturnal fowl I've come across.

Originally I thought I'd snag my five dollar sweetie for the first
person I could think of who collected such things,

and then he landed on my mantle.

I doubt if  Mr. Owl is going to stay perched over the fire place,
but he and I are growing fonder of each other every day.

What can you do about the charms of a critter who winks at you
every time you glance his way?

Maybe a home in the kitchen.
By the coffee and tea?
Maybe on a bedroom shelf...

I think he may be here to stay.
I can't help it!

Bugs climb a dirty mountain of snow

(Bet you can't guess what this post is about!)
On this bright sunshiny day, we ran to town for our usual grocery restock.
In the store's back lot was a  mountain of (rather filthy) snow.
I don't know where it all came from, but was probably donated by some local parking lots.
Did we take a closer look?
You'd better believe it!
See the four tiny figures on top?
My hoodlums.
See the size of that dozer?
Adds some perspective, doesn't it.
It doesn't take much to entertain this crew!
We're simple folk. :-)

Testing testing.....

And WHO doesn't love an extra-large picture of Carolina in red with white hearts?

The truth about my photos is that of operator error.
It turns out I used all my 1 free gig of storage and had to purchase more.
Who knew?
I can't be bothered with such silly and inconvenient things, so I put my people on the job.
And since my people are so good at what they do (or more probably "my people" loves me a lot)
Announcing that...

Bug clan photos are back online!  Woo-HOO!

Then There Was Missouri...

Days 7 & 8  were delightfully full of fun, and pictures of it (thanks in part to Miss Emily who took care of my camera while I visited with her mom)!

Okay.  This is the BEST!  I LOVE seeing a hitching post outside of the Dollar General or McDonalds.

only thing better is that buggy being driven down the road by the Amish who own it :-)

...............................................................................................................

-A break from the regularly scheduled programing-

Now that I bragged about being able to post a few pictures, the long of it is that you get no more until next week at soonest.  My "experts" are at work in the field (meaning elsewhere besides my beckon and call) and there are technical difficulties to be overcome.

Despite the fact that posting pictures is not my forte in these next few days, I daily overcome difficulties (getting poop cleaned off the carpet for example) and will continue to, regardless of lack in picture-posting.

If you are patient through this picture-deprived week (or so), I promise to attempt (is a "promised attempt" an oxymoron?) regaling you with life at it's finest here on the ol' mountain home front.

As I stated:  there is no lack of posting material and I will try to keep it tasteful and poop-less if possible!
That is... if you oblige me with your comments to prove you are still with me :-)

So here's where I part from you to remove rolls from the oven, pick out a place to plant garlic, get my Leek soup-maker making Leek soup, order a kitchen timer so I don't overcook my bread AGAIN, and to change a... (ahem), diaper. 
One that is about to make me keel over.

Could be worse.


Truly,
the Momma of the Bug clan

Treading water - check. Still breathing - check.

I know I am in trouble for not posting the usual sustainance lately.
I wish I could give you a great reason for it, or even tell you how successful I've been at getting something else done.
Alas, it is a sad case of:  Keep Your Head Above Water
You know the game, if you don't keep your head above water...  you drown. Haha.
 Drowning is just not an option and I've learned that if I can tread water for a while, I may eventually come out of the haze.
As it is, treading water is not so unpleasant:
The children chip away at school which is mostly reading right now.  The three biggest are really excelling in this department.  The little ones listen a lot and our pens are fast running out of ink too.
The garden is pretty tired but there are some things ripening that I'd lost hope of seeing this year, for instance the boys dug up some sizable potatoes.  This was an accomplishment because we were under the impression that Potatoes set  when they flower.
Ours never flowered.
The boys think they are the Non-Flowering variety, but I think we got lucky. :-D
No more bear-in-the-trash escapades.  No wildlife spottings to speak of (I don't count squirrel), but still plenty of tracks.  The kids are finding new mushroom varieties left and right - some are rather beautiful... in their own way.  It's amazing what you can spot when your eyes are searching for hidden treasure.
I am really enjoying my new fireplace.  It warms my feet, my hands, my heart.
I am teaching Zachary to take over dish-washing.  It started out with a bang, but it's been good for both of us to have to work on follow-through.  You know, a quality job, done in a timely manner with a cheerful heart takes practice.
I'm sure I'll learn something from him before we're through with this lesson.
And I'm pretty sure that when he really gets it down, I'll move him on to something else and start fresh with the next one in line.
It's going to be a process.  Maybe I'll be able to let Zachary train the next guy...........
We get gravel delivered tomorrow for the driveway in front of the house - that is a big baby step.
This weekend we tidy up the house, make arrangements for Winter plans, and pack.
Just for a family vacation.
AJ and I have talked about seeing the Fall color on the East Coast some day and have finally decided to go.
With all the children and a camera (but I don't know about laptop), we are going to New England to catch the Fall color!  With stops in Colorado, Missouri, Kentucky, and West Virgina, we will circuit through Maine and see some other things just for fun as well.
Maybe Niagara Falls again?  The Columbus Zoo?  Lake Champlaine?
We're pretty excited and looking forward to being together for some memory making.
I'm looking for the end of the haze.
(Will it come?)
Wait... don't answer that!

On Saturday...

Breakfast at the Diner with the kiddos

Starbucks

Me and my Love window shopping for a pretty wood stove

Me and my Love buying a pretty wood stove (!)

An Antique Junk show and three mirrors later... are we mirror collectors?

A new pizza joint "home of the 7 pound pizza" (And they weren't kidding! - It was fabulous food too.)

A little grocery shopping with some birthday food shopping thrown in for AJ's birthday this weekend.

Hauling the new wood stove to its new home

Unloading the van

Tucking kiddos in for the night

A little Jeeves and Wooster

And to bed with sweet sweet dreams of seeing the crackling fire...
in my own living room...
in my own pretty fire place...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......................................................

Looking at my sidebar...

...it feels like it's time for a make-over.
At least some current pictures of the kids?

Eczema Update

I can't thank you all enough for your helpful thoughts and encouragement.
It was wonderful just to know that Eczema isn't uncommon (although I don't wish it on any of you!).

I have stripped Bryce's clothes, and I tried the oatmeal/milk bath, but he really struggled in the bath, making it hard for me to contain his wayward fingernails.

I picked up Aveeno and Eucerin, but want to see if eliminating the fragrances from the laundry detergent makes a difference and use the goo as a last resort.

I had hoped to see something better today, but the poor guy woke with red cheeks. He had pulled back the blanket he slept on, exposing his face to the bare port-a-crib pad.
It may be a wild guess, but I suspect that pad to be the cause of those red cheeks.
I'm sure it's been treated for flame resistance.
Just a guess.

Seems like everything is guesswork at this point.

It does appear that dairy is often the culprit for Eczema sufferers, but then there is my friends' baby...

When attempting to cure her own baby of Eczema , my friend was a true martyr.
She suffered through an elimination diet: no wheat, no dairy, and no something else (what was the other thing Jana?), and after keeping to it faithfully for an eternity of time and seeing no difference in Baby's rash, she had her muscle tested.
The doc figured out that eggs and chicken were Baby's problem, and upon leaving the doctors office, Friend promptly went and bought herself a hamburger and milkshake, cut out all eggs and chicken, and Baby cleared right up!

I love that story!
It gives me hope:-)

We had Bryce muscle tested, and that's where the diagnosis of a chemical sensitivity came in.
In fact we had him tested once again a month later just to be sure, and he tested the same.
So far I haven''t hit on the solution, but I am faithfully taking the oils, giving Bryce the oils, and even avoiding Dairy, refined sugar, and coffee, along with highly processed foods.

Bryce is no longer constipated so that's a praise, but it seems like his skin is getting worse.
I have been wondering if it's going through a healing crisis because his digestive tract is working better.
Maybe his body is getting rid of built-up toxins post haste?

As you can see, I'm very good at making surmises! ;-)

I don't prefer science experiments of this nature though, and would be thrilled to move on to other things.

If you'd be inclined to continue throwing me your thoughts and ideas, experiences and remedies, I would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks again All!

-Me


P.S.
I'll post something funner soon.
How 'bout a bazillion pictures of our ski trip with the little Bugs?
OK it's a deal!

Enlighten Me...

Bryce is the most amiable, kissable baby.
Like his siblings before him, he is just too hard to resist when casting that bright smile my way!

I began mister Bryce on his first solid food last week: Avocado, and Brown Cow Vanilla yogurt.
He is my first baby to slurp it down like he'd been waiting on me all this time :-)

One thing is throwing me for a loop these days; Bryce has been battling Eczema.
It is not merely dry skin, but an outbreak especially bad on legs and arms.
I am working with our dear Doctor Monk to determine the cause and eliminate the detestable rash, but so far I am not seeing the results I'd like.

Here is where I make a query of you mommas - please give me your Eczema 2 cents!

A couple clues:
We believe Bryce's Eczema to be caused by a chemical sensitivity, exacerbated by lack of the good oils his skin needs. I am trying to avoid eating anything with chemicals in it (those long unpronounceable ingredients on food labels), taking several kinds of oils including fish oils, and giving Bryce Cod Liver Oil, and Probiotics.

Here' my thought: if he is indeed chemical sensitive (he did not show up sensitive to wheat or dairy) I should probably make some outward adjustments.
What about laundry detergent?
Chemically treated clothing? Did you know that a lot of baby clothing is treated with Formaldehyde, or that those new tag-less labels inside the neck of baby clothing also has potent chemicals in the ink? (Think that's bad? [!])

Anyway, I have no idea where to start with this information.
I'm not prepared to make an overhaul on everyone's wardrobe, but I would do some drastic experiments for the littlest Bug if it might help.

Favorite laundry detergent? I'm thinking about trying Soap Nuts.
Would 100% cotton clothing help?
What natural ointments would help his skin? I'm going back and forth between Bag Balm and Coconut Oil.

I can't promise to try every favorite tip, but I'd be obliged if you'd bring it on!

I Created

Just the hum of the generator to keep me company now. The children are at least quiet (if not sleeping) and the computer is all mine!
What to write? What to post?
Sheesh. Maybe I should go get my book and curl up (yeah right - seen my belly lately) on the bed with the glow of the candle. Perhaps that would be more relaxing without the hum of the generator...
Decisions, decisions.

I painted a sign today. It was so much fun to have an achievable project that required a little creativity of my own. (I don't consider making dinner creative these days - at least not in a way that gets me animated, but paint? Woo-hoo!)
I have a few empty spots on my walls which I want to paint some Bible verses, but the paint will be there for a while so I want to make sure I know what I want to write.
What I worked on today will be photographed in a couple days as I need some hardware to hang it. Rather than painting directly on the wall for one certain spot, I scrounged up two weathered 2x's and painted my Marvel Hill quote on them.

"And this is the marvel of marvels, that He called me Beloved..."

- From The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis.

I used chalk to freehand the writing, then painted over with white acrylic paint.
In the living room.
With Carolina's company.
What is it about doing a project like that that just inspires the most hard-to-resist affection from little ones? The whole time I was trying to paint, she would sidle up to me and put her face in front of mine, puckered little lips requesting kisses...
It made it hard to see what I was trying to work on, but who could resist? I'd rather have Lina than a sign any day! (So she got her kisses).

Eventually I finished my painting. Enough for today anyhow. It's a treacherous gamble to sit on the floor pregnant with a number 6. All my joints and ligaments are loose enough to ensure a lengthy rise from the sitting position! (Ouch!)

Perhaps you would have preferred some pictures to listening to me ramble, but the photos of my upstairs porch were taking forever to upload and now I don't even have evening left to read my book.
I gave up - at least on the pictures. For tonight.

My book may still have a chance:-)

On This Evening

Momma Bug should blog tonight but is instead sorting through a pile of printed photos that need to be put into albums before the next pile of pictures is printed.
...Or before the baby is born...
...Or I forget who is who...
...Or Jesus comes back...

(Please don't wait for ME, Jesus, feel free to come back any time!)

I just want the general months in order since the last two years were so eventful and full of memory making. Plus I always try to get the last baby's scrapbook (first year) dome before the new baby arrives. Uh... little behind there, but you never know, I still have another seven weeks!
It could happen;-)

I'm afraid I'm not very good at sticking with the task when it comes to pictures though. I get all distracted LOOKING at them - fancy that!
















Such as this one. I like this one.
















Or this one - it's even better!

I've only had my digital camera for a year and a half, but digital is a different animal. I have more pictures to put away than I'd taken in the lifetime before I got it.
Too fun!

......................................................................................

Olivia came to me quite seriously today and put her hand over her chest
"I can feel my baby moving inside Mom."

To which I responded by gravely placing my hand on her chest and trying not to smile too much replied
"You know what that is, Olivia? That's your heart beating."

I just appreciate her frame of reference. You know? Just three years old, and while ignorant about many things, yet such an experienced person in other matters.
She told me she is planning to call my baby "Jonah".
I like it.
If it's a boy, that is.
And told her she should run it by Dad.
........................................................................................

And that's the way the cookie crumbles on this day.
Between pictures and the real thing, one can't do much better:-)

In Response to Comments...

Mama K - Your McKenna will be most sorely missed by this crew. Give her a huge hug for me from Susanna, Olivia, Zack, and Clay! You never know...
You might want to visit Idaho;-)
We sure enjoyed your little girlie's while we were here and can't wait for the next opportunity to get reacquainted. Love you!

Jana, I feel for you! Can't wait to visit with you as well:-)

Gals of Chico - I was sorry to miss seeing or meeting several of you, but I guess I was a bit of a homebody and just relished watching the children play in the yard, sipping iced tea, and doing... nothing. It was very nice, and that pace has officially come to an end!

Heather, I'm sure my day was better than that. I watched seven road construction workers remove our piano from Gramsie's porch using a zoom boom. It was entertaining to say the least!
I look forward to hearing your wonderful voice soon at any rate.

Mother Hen-of-many-cowpokes...
I think you're right, it's high time I use post space to explain our gypsy-ish life. I guess I started blogging just as our life on the go began. It is very strange - this traveling here and there - even (or maybe especially) for me. I am a homebody too, but this is an adventure I wouldn't miss! Anyway, I've discovered the obvious: Home is where my husband and chiluns are. THAT is a wonderfully comforting thing to remember:-)

Thanks all for your prayers. I look forward to actually getting on the road (in a while - we still have some loading details).
I like traveling.
It means SITTING for a while;-P

Love,
-me

Drawing a Blank

I know you are jealous of the fun and beauty in the last post - and in California?
See... California is not all beach contrary to popular belief. Northern California (true Northern - as opposed to Northern meaning San Fransisco) is one of the hidden gems among the most beautiful places in the United States. We used to get National Geographic's Adventure magazine, and you wouldn't believe how often some area of Northern California was spotlighted for the best of the best in outdoor recreation!
Unfortunately the more conservative and less populated part of the state doesn't stand a chance in pulling any weight by vote. You are welcome to blame the more dense part of California for California's moral corruption, and give us in the north credit for the best terrain, best fruit and nuts ;-P and also a fair amount of cattle ranching and dairies.
But I digress... Except, I can't remember what I was originally going to post about... Hmm.
Oh well! I'll just have to come back when I remember - if ever that occurs.
I guess that explains the fruit and nuts part...

Seasonal Allergies... O' Glorious Spring!

Such is the price one pays for living where everything grows so happily. I hadn't forgotten exactly, but lets say I am remembering in full force the effects of blooming grass and trees.
My nose is a little raw from non-stop dripping and that's the pits, but the itchy eyes, nose, and throat, along with wheezy, rasping breaths make me truly sorry for sufferers of asthma and other maladies.
There is nothing like the Northern California Springtime though, so I thought the Smiths, Tjaden's, and our other far-away friends might like to see the home we were grown from. We've been wishing you each were here to share it with:-)

This is a drive-by shooting of our last (and very beloved) little home. We stopped in and met the new folks and I am secretly happy to say that they bought the "to-do" list that came with that house and three and a half acres, and it turns out that they are about as "fast" at checking things off it as we were!




































The Sacramento River























This is part of the drive between our place and town. Always been a favorite drive to take along the foothills even before we moved out there. I grew up at the edge of land like this and I love it! I am afraid it's true... I'm a valley girl;-)

A Thing for Green

When lately having taken a "friendship test" and asked the question "If you were a crayon, which color would you be?" I answered Cherry Red, or a Periwinkle Blue. I just LOVE color - and if I had to pick one I'm sure I'd consider yellow too. You have to have yellow! What would a sunny day be without yellow?


But the truth is... I have always had a thing for green.



















I chose a silvery shade of green for a prominent color in our outdoor wedding, and when I was fourteen or so my best friend called me "Analene Green Jeans" (I actually had some - green jeans)!

And when I was two or three, I was so in love with Green that it was common fact throughout the family and my Auntie wrote a book for me called "Analene LOVES Green!" It was a story mostly true about my green birthday cake, the green clothes, and my saving all the green M&M's out of a bag.

Family lore tells that around that time, my grandma bought me a lovely red dress (HER favorite color) which she could not convince me to try on. When Asked why I didn't like it, I purportedly answered "Because I don't LIKE red. I ONLY like green."
And that was that from then on.

I have figured that green must be God's favorite color too since the world is covered in greens of every hue, and while my likings have branched out into the camps of many lovely colors, I've remained loyal to that noble color because of tradition.

































These days though, I have been shocked to find myself gravitating towards green again - not because of loyalty, but because... I like it!
Now I know you can't put just any shade of green with any object. For instance, I am not a big fan of Aqua green paint on houses, or John Deer green on a Dodge Sprinter Van, and certainly no limey-green for your living room wall (believe me, I've tried it).
However a mixing bowl of each shade in your kitchen? Now that's a cheerful thought!


The talented Cousin Ella made these beautiful green and white dish rags to share with me, and this shade of green is the one that has me most right now. It turns out I had already bought some fabric for cloth napkins which will BEG me to add a couple other Pistachio green things in my Idaho Kitchen (where the walls are already painted Baltic green;-)). I think this shade makes me think of the ferns that were in full array up there last Spring when we first layed eyes on Marvel Hill.



Anyway. A long-winded post to share a little trivia about myself and to say that Analene does indeed still have a thing... for green.

And That Was My Day

MUST. DO. SOME. BLOG. HOUSECLEANING!

(not tonight though.)

I was going to get with it today and post something for "Help For Growing Families"
(see sidebar), but I didn't.
Nor have I yet cleaned up the clutter accumulating on the side of my blog. Not sure yet what will go - I can never decide what to get rid of - but clean I must, so (eventually) clean I will!

Tonight though, I review the day and it was good.
We learned about sentence structure for school work.
The boys and Susanna played outside in the snow for a couple hours.
I unpacked our clothes from, uh... when we got home two weeks ago. (It was an accomplishment, so I had to list it!)
Zachary made dinner tonight.
Carolina got her first molar, and was a much happier little girl once it broke through!
Olivia is all growed up with her big girl underwear, and trips to the bathroom:-)
I wrote a letter today.
The boys shoveled half the driveway of snow when they were outside (I owe them now!).
We all napped.
I had a couple nice phone conversations:-)
And... I won this award from my friend Katrina.

The Lemonade Award:

For blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude
and I am so honored that my friend thinks I fall into this category!
Thank you Katrina; and part of my blog cleaning-up involves adding some new blog links to my list - may add yours to "my favorite blogs?"

I pass this award on to my friends at these blogs:

1. In Due Season
2. The Life and Times of Jess
3. 2Homeschool
4. Life is Short. Eat Cake.
5. Down From The Door
6. Cultivate Your Family
7. There's No Place Like Home

It's far too late to be getting to bed early, and really to late for me to be gallivanting around to all your blogs to let you each know that I think you're super at making lemonade... so, please accept this award with my thanks for your friendships.
I love you gals:-)
And that was my day!

-me

Homesick

This is a good opportunity to introduce my beloved friend Sarah whom I met at Richardson Springs YWAM base (how long ago Sarah? was it in '96) twelve years ago!

She is precious precious friend, and today she posted some pictures she took when she and her Hubby and two boys came to visit us at our home in Northern California two Summers ago.
I hope you say hello to her, and check out our rooster, the famous Mr. Fancy Pants!

Thanks Sarah! I was a bit homesick looking at those pictures. That place really felt like home to me. It was fun to reminisce:-)

A few more "oldies" from the Las'Lenas farm

Uncle Ben


















Uncle Dan


















Auntie Mattie Grace (And our barn in the background... sigh...)


















My boys:-)

Good Greif!

Not only is Susanna a collector of... stuff, she also stores it in a heap BESIDE her clothes dresser - along with her clothes mind you. When she wants to look for socks and underwear, she searches through those drawers. This is fruitless of course, because everything she takes off goes into that heap (rather gross when you take dirty socks into account!).

Anyway, that is the pile I am attacking this afternoon, along with sorting through the other children's clothing too.
Won't they ever take a break from growing and wearing things out?!!
It's a small price to pay, I guess :-)

If I make it out alive, I'll keep you posted!

Favorite Things

This is mine. My own stuff that is "me".
I am very eclectic, and don't have a style other than "Happy" or something along those lines, but it's been over a year since I've lived in my own home with the stuff Analene (that's me) would make a nest with.
Uncle Wyatt's has been very fun, and I have enjoyed homifying his bachelor pad, but besides my desk and the shelf behind it, this particular house is not me. There are pieces of me here and there, but I have been decorating someone else's house, and I miss having my own spot.

In Idaho this last trip, I mudded and painted the two rooms downstairs: the kitchen and living rooms (more pictures to follow). My dear husband let me pick paint colors, and that is saying a lot when the priority is really more along the lines of, say, indoor plumbing.

One of the highlights of putting my mark on Marvel Hill, was receiving a large package from Gramsie and Pops back in California, containing a few of my favorite treasures.

This sweetie is a chipped-up-glued-back-together piece of work, but that made it pretty affordable at Salvation army for a dollar fifty!


















Here's the thing, I don't normally go for trinkets of this sort, but as you can see, she has a personality and I needed her. That's that!
The daisy-girl made her residence on the windowsill over the wash basin (one day sink).

This clock is new, but it's still on trial because it has aloud tick, and in a house where there are absolutely zero appliances, we think that tick is kinda annoying!

















Even if the clock goes, the plates that flank it will have a place somewhere where a splash of color is wanted. They are both from my mom and remind me of her, because she is the one who shared with me her LOVE of vibrant color!

This is an old magazine Gramsie gave me as a birthday gift. I framed it and hung it in the Bird Cottage kitchen in California, and now it lives inside the front door of the Marvel Hill cabin in Idaho.
Gramsie didn't think it would pack and mail very will because of the glass, so unwrapping it was a lovely surprise!!


















It was the most home-like feeling to hang this picture by the front door. It just said "this is Analene's home".
I like that.



















It's nice to have a home home somewhere when you've been a Gypsy for any length of time:-)

A Garbled Account

New post, new post... what should it say? I don't know, that last one just came to me in a creative flash. I like those kind of posts. They're much easier to write!

You haven't seen THIS one, have you? Thought some of you might appreciate it:-)























Okay now, I have been wanting to ask: Is there someone watching behind a tinted piece of glass to see the reaction of people typing those crazy word verrifications where you leave a comment?

The reason I ask, is because those "random" piles of letters often shock me!
For instance, WAX BUN was the last one I had to type, and I was looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was giggling!
Do you know what I'm talking about here? Okay... uh, never mind.

---------------------------------------------------------

Today:

One child over ear infection.

Dinner delivered to us by a sweet friend (who will surely spoil me!)

Nap - uneventful, which I consider to be a good thing.

Trip to Chiropractor, discovered that three of us are Zinc deficient (at least three), and glad to be getting on the road to wellness.

Stop in at Dollar Store for some new puzzles. Clay had to spend his birthday money too, so he bought a puzzle, paper clips, and scissors. The other three dollars were spent at our...

Jaunt in to Michael's for beads and pipe cleaners, where I got sidetracked by the 50 cent bargain bins in the front of the store - OH! What Clay bought with the last three dollars? A Jelly Fish.
(what do you mean, "what do you mean?"!)

Grocery store where my children were out of control when this man pushing a cart with two-year-old twins in it says: "Hey! I saw you in the Post Office once - your children are SO WELL BEHAVED!" and his wife: "OH! He told me about you!" then under her breath: How do you do it?! They (pointing to her children) are just wild!"

I'm thinking two things here.
One: okay Lord, I get it.
And two: if possible, don't wait until you are 45 to start having kids - especially TWINS!

At home, a much-subdued momma sweetly puts on the delicious dinner made by some other busy woman, and proceeds to end the evening by...

Starting Clay's puzzle with him. THAT was fun! :-)

Another child and an ear infection.

I am debating whether to go climb in bed, or if my night would be better spent puttering at projects so I'm already awake for the umpteen crises that will arise once I am comfortably tucked in.

See? Aren't you glad you asked? That is what you get when you don't ask for it - my garbled account of a strange day. It comes from a strange personality with very little on the brain consisting of more than what time Zack can take Tylenol again.
The truth of the matter as it concerns recent pictures on this blog, is that my computer is talking back to me, and my husband isn't here to make it behave.
One of these evenings I'll work through it over the phone with him (he's out of town), but he's got plenty to do without my computer issues.
Later anyway.
Tomorrow's a new day:-)