The House That Keeps On Giving

In a previous post (The Hunt For Home) I wrote about some of the wonderful things that led us to choose this particular house, in which to create a home for our family. Once we moved in, however, the house had a lot more in store for us than we originally thought. I didn't even know how to begin telling you about it, so I just made a "Ten List".

1) "My God, it's full of stars" (It's a movie quote, can you tell me which one?). Although it's thee number one fastest growing area in the state, our town is still pretty small, and as close as we are to shopping centers and major streets, our neighborhood is dark at night. Neighborhood porch lights only do so much when the houses are well spaced apart, and being out of the city limits we have no public street lights. It's gets a little creepy, yes sir it does. We have wild animals around here, and I can get a little freaked out just having a quick cigarette on my back porch past sunset. But you know what else?... We can see stars for miles, even the little baby ones that sometimes make you wonder if they're really there, or if your eyes are playing tricks on you. We can see comets (when they come), and we will see meteor showers (when they happen). We have a perfect view of the moon every night, and it's spectacular.

Doe feeding on the seed
she had spilled from the bird feeder

2) By the way, in case you skimmed past that, let me reiterate... "we have wild animals around here". How awesome is that? The deer walk a path right between my neighbor's house and ours. Sometimes on his side of the shrubbery, sometimes not. Sometimes they eat the seed right out of our bird feeder. There's also a fox that walks the perimeter of his territory in the wee hours, and apparently our side of the shrubbery is part of that perimeter. I've heard talk of coyote around these parts, and I wouldn't be too terribly surprised if there were ever a black bear in the area. On a smaller, less dangerous note, there are plenty of songbirds in the yard, and my son saw a groundhog up by the railroad tracks.

beautiful tracks

3) Let's talk about those railroad tracks, that run across the road about 300 feet from our back porch. There may be days when it doesn't run at all. And there may be days when it runs two or three trips in eighteen hours. And every time it's about to come up on an intersection, it blows the whistle. That's how we know that it's time to gather at the back door and watch it go by. I know that sounds silly, but I love that train. Man, there is nothing on this earth like a melancholy mood punctuated by the lone whistle of a distant train in the deepest darkness of the night. It makes one think of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, and Little House on the Prairie (or is that just me?).

4) You know what else reminds me of Little House on the Prairie? Kind and generous neighbors who stop to chat, and help you out with gardening supplies, and keep an eye on your place while your out, and bring you fresh eggs and home grown garden fare... and who don't yell at you when your dog gets out of your yard and into their chicken pen. Especially if all she wanted was to roll around in the poo and make a couple of feathered friends.

5) When we toured the house, Hubsy was concerned that it might be a little small, and we both wondered how we were going to get all of our belongings inside, without it looking like an episode of hoarders. However, being a house of the eighties, I'm convinced that there must have been some lycra-spandex woven into the drywall, because the house just seemed to get bigger and bigger, the more stuff we stuffed into it. It's bigger than you think. (Ha! That's what he said!)

6) There's history in my own backyard... well, the whole neighborhood, really. You see, my neighbor with the chickens lives in a most fabulous turn of the century historic house. Built in ... I think it was 1809(?). It sits there, cockeyed to the main road, looking all antebellum, and reminding me that once upon a time all of the surrounding property (including our house) was once just acreage upon acreage of farmland, tobacco probably, settled by simpler people in a simpler time. Well, it might not have been quite so simple, but theirs are the shoulders upon which we stand today.

7) Another great thing about this house in this neighborhood is that it's simply NOT our old house in our old neighborhood. That house was just as full of bad memories as it was good ones, and those walls were beginning to haunt some of us. But upon breaking out, our once "monster teen" blossomed into an almost unrecognizable actual human being. Her "new attitude" made it possible for us to bestow certain freedoms upon her, to which she stepped up again to prove her maturity. We've all taken a lot of pressure off of each other, thus allowing us all to be more relaxed and enjoy this family circus!

Rare white peacock feeding after a rain shower

8) Thinking back to that wild animal thing, I'd like to comment on a few domesticated animals that cross our path here... Peacocks, precisely. My neighbor has raised the prettiest peacocks, and we see them all the time, especially after a rainfall, when they wander out into the front to feed on insects in the freshly wet grass. He even has a rare white bird that has been featured in magazines. Even when we can't see them, we hear them throughout the day. It sounds like a game of Zoo Tycoon (if you've ever had a flourishing peacock exhibit).

9) Location Location Location. We seem to be sitting at a crossroads of nature's elements. The front of the house witnesses the rising sun every morning, and the back porch watches it set. We also watch the moon as it practically follows the same path. There is a nearly steady breeze that sweeps across the back yard from north to south, and back again! My indoor plants are thriving in the windows, for the first time in years, and those summer evenings in the backyard are ever so enjoyable!

10) The sound of silence? No. The Sound of Music. Okay, just sound. I've mentioned the train and the peacocks, and the songbirds, but there's also a tone of silence. In the wee hours, or on a cool summer morning, or even just past dusk, there is a perfect peaceful stillness all around us. The occasional car on the passing road just sounds like a rippling wave. But the house itself seems to have a sound barrier built in, for as loud as I cranked my tunes this afternoon, I couldn't even hear the stereo from the front garden... with the windows open! Likewise, from the inside you can't even tell there is a lawn mower hard at work. And I haven't even mentioned the vocal acoustics in the upstairs shower!

Ten Things That Have Me Growing Old Grumpily

Like most other women my age, I am struggling with the process of growing older.  Of course, I do the best I can with what I have to work with, but sometimes, I sure wish I had a little more to work with.  These are my top ten complaints about the ticking of the clock.


1)  Sad Eyes:  When my children were young, I would read to them every night before bed.  We read One Fish Two Fish, Hop on Pop, and other old favorites.  Now that we're all quite a bit older, they have begun reading to me.  We read the directions on the back of the Tylenol bottle, the list of ingredients on the sides of food packages, the cooking suggestions on the pork roast, and so on.

2)  Fifty Shades of Gray:  The gray in my temples refuses to be covered by any coloring kit, even the ones made for "stubborn grays", but I don't mind.  I like my gray temples.  They make me feel distinguished, and I feel like I've earned every one of them.  But the grays that are showing up... ummm... elsewhere... are really starting to bother me.  These are the ones that nobody wants to say that they've earned.

3)  Say Whaaa?:  It has become a running joke in my family, and even I laugh along, but this hearing loss is quite a nuisance.  Aside from the constant ringing in my ears, I 'm bothered by the thought that there may be birds that I can't hear singing.  Or little nuances in the music that I may be missing.  And there isn't a conversation that goes by without me having to ask "what?" about seven times.  Damn you, 1984 Boombox on my shoulder!

4)  Filling in the Blanks:  When roasting a chicken from the scratchiest of scratch, there's no such thing as overplucking the bird.  But when it comes to eyebrows, overplucking is definitely an issue.  After so many years, they just don't grow back.  And the ones that do are like bristles from the brush I use to clean the back yard grill.  So now, in order to keep from looking as if I'm in a constant state of surprise, I've had to buddy up with my eyebrow pencil.  But at least I'm not the like the neighbor I knew as a child, who shaved her eyebrows and then used her pencil to purposefully create the overplucked constant state of surprise look.

5)  Tanning The Hyde:  Yes, in my younger years, I lathered up with oil and laid my body out to bake.  And of course, as a lover of the outdoors (and of spending time in the sun), I have suffered several serious burns.  Although I count myself as pretty darn lucky that I haven't developed any sort of skin cancer (as of yet), I am forced to live my life behind the mask of sun damage.  Dark spots, and an uneven skin tone that keep me covered in Cover Girl.

6)  The Flibber Flab:  I've always heard that those last ten pounds are the hardest to lose, but it's not the weight that bugs me the most.  No, that would have to be the lack of muscle tone.  I said my final farewells to the flat tummy, and the firm triceps long ago, but do they have to add insult to injury by jiggling so darn much?

7)  Tennis Balls in Tube Socks:  I heard this description from a stand up comic, years before I could relate.  Okay, it is a bit of an exaggeration, but believe me, there's no need to thump the melons... I can tell you that they're not as firm as they use to be.

8)  Combination Skin:  No, I'm not talking about that dreaded T-zone, that oil field that sits smack dab in the middle of a dry facial Sahara.  I'm talking about having one foot on either side of the timeline.  Like the commercial says "You've got your mother's wrinkles, and your teenager's acne, simultaneously".  But the hormonal roller coaster doesn't end there, it whisks me right into the next number...

9)  Out of Season:  The hormonal change... It may be a roller coaster, but it's certainly no joy ride.  So many changes are taking place.  Like when the bedroom morphs into a sauna somewhere around the witching hour, and you find yourself pouring ice cubes down your nightgown.  First you laugh about it, then you bitch about it, then you cry about it.  Geeez.  It's a lot like being pregnant... in July!

10)  Cramming For Finals:  I'm a bit unnerved by all the new exams that come with age.  Three years ago, the doctor threw me for a loop, and threw an EKG into the lineup of my yearly physical.  And then early this year, I experienced my first "mammal-o-gram".  How can my body be deteriorating, while my mind is still rockin' out, and crushing on hot college dudes?            


If you can relate to me, on any one of these points... or have a new one to add to the list ... please leave a comment, and share your indignity with the rest of us, so that we don't feel so alone.


 

The Bittersweet of This First Day of School

Today is a very special day for our household.  Not only is it the first day of school, but it the very first day of Middle School for my youngest baby, The Princess.  She's such a small girl, having Turner Syndrome, that it's easy to see her as much younger than she is.  But I guess it's time for me to let go of her hand, and let her grow up.  Punkin, my teenager, has spent the whole summer continuing to grow and mature, gathering good friends, and preparing for the tenth grade.  (Now, she was technically held back in the 9th grade, but if she pulls it together and makes up certain credits, then she may be able to advance in the second semester).  I'm very proud and excited for both of them today!

Now, on to my top ten list of why I have been waiting for the first day of the 2012 school year.  From this day forward, or at least until next June...

(01)  When I clean an item... a bathtub, or the dining room table, it will stay clean for hours on end.

(02)  If I straighten an entire room, I can enjoy the stress free, organized neatness all throughout the day.

(03)  I will no longer be bothered by the constant buzzing of an argument, or the pitter patter of a spontaneous slap fight.

(04)  My children will be rising with the sun, sometimes even a whole half an hour before I do!

(05)  Those same children will be bathing on a regular basis, and once again, caring about their hairstyles and outfits.

(06)  I will be able to complete my household chores, and then sit down for an SVU marathon, without interruption!

(07)  I may actually save some money on the electric bill, not having so many lights on, and three computers running all day.

(08)  I may actually be able to keep up with my list of blogs... the ones that I read, and the ones that I write.

(09)  I can finally wrap up those unfinished projects, that I started back in the Spring... like the ancestral family photo wall, and the half painted upstairs hallway.

(10)  I can have shopping days all to myself!

Amazingly, as I finished up my list about why I'm glad that this is the first day of school, I learned that there was yet another school shooting in our nation.  For me, this is not just another shooting, but a much more personal one.... at my old high school in Baltimore.  Not only is it one of the very best schools in the state, but quite possibly, in the country.  It has always been a good and upstanding community, and no one could have ever imagined something like this happening.  I am shocked, and extremely saddened by the situation, and my thoughts are certainly with the students, parents, and faculty, as well as the single victim, and the shooter, and their respective families.         

The Circus Travels The Eastern Seaboard

The Ringmaster's personal circus recently returned from a ten day tour of the Eastern Seaboard!  It was an amazing time, but we are very happy to be home.  A six hour drive from Raleigh to Baltimore became eight hours on the road, but that's nothing new to us.  There's just something about Southern Maryland that makes people decide to park on I-95 and enjoy the scenery (I guess).  Not to mention the broken down tour bus in the center lane just outside of DC.  A few days at my mom's house, and then we hit the road again, on our way to Connecticut.

Here is a top ten list of our favorite vacation memories, in no particular order.

(1) Geo-caching

For those of you, who might be unfamiliar with this "sport/game", then may I direct you here to learn all about it.  For those who are familiar, let me tell you about our travel caching adventures.  It started at the NC border, where I left my mark in a micro-cache hidden at the Virginia Welcome Center.  On our first day in Baltimore we donated pints of blood to the thorns and mosquitoes that guarded an unfinadable cache in the woods, but we were rewarded with two other finds on that day.  Once in West Haven, Connecticut, we found our first cache right in the town square!  We braved the rain, and the wrath of the nesting American Oystercatchers, to hunt for another unfindable on the beach, but made up for it by finding one on our day trip to the Mystic Seaport!  Before leaving New England, we braved snakes and skeeters to find another in a hollowed out tree trunk in the woods.  On the way back home, I revisited a previous find in Baltimore to place my trackable Travelbug, Benny the Bear.

(2) Batman

This is one of the nicknames for my four year old niece, who regularly dresses up in super hero costumes to rid the living area of dastardly villains.  I haven't seen her in two years, but in that time she has somehow morphed into an eccentric, three foot tall, thirty year old Yale professor... with attitude.  Her precocious quips kept our jaws gaping in shock and awe, as did her rebellious tantrums.  (I may someday have to incorporate a series in this blog, dedicated to her antics, because you really need to experience a series of events and conversations with her to truly understand why my sister is losing her hair, and my mother babbles in the corner after a day with her).      

(3) Mr. Cooper

The working cooper's shop, (the barrel maker), was an educational experience.  The cooper himself, whose name was Sam, looked just like actor Patrick Harris!  He recruited my Princess to assist in a couple of demonstrations.  Then Punkin joined in, along with several other children, to construct a small bucket.  Several hours later, as the village was closing up for the day, and all of the employees and volunteers were heading out, along with straggling visitors, Mr. Cooper stopped me.  With his hand on my shoulder, and his bright blue eyes looking right into mine, he complimented me on the raising of my daughters.  He said that of all the children, they were the best behaved, with the sweetest personalities.  He said that he just knew that that would be my doing.  Up until that point, it had been a wonderful day.  The weather was just perfect, the sky was clear, a little breeze blew off the harbor.  I had gathered and experienced a wealth of historical information.  My Hubsy, as always, was chivalrous and generous.  The girls were happy and not fighting.  And then Mr. Cooper came along, and made me cry, bless his heart.  He just sent me over the top.  I don't think Mike Tyson could have punched the smile off of my face that evening.

(4) The Breaking of the Wind

As we toured a quaint little museum house full of nineteenth century (and earlier) works of art, depicting whaling ships and their captains, and such, the little old lady who stood nearby experienced a little wind in her sails, so to speak.  I must admit that as the echo died away, I resigned myself to the possibility that the culprit was indeed one of my own clan, and so I simply walked away in delightful ignorance.  Hubsy tells me that he immediately and automatically looked in her direction with shock and disgust on his face, only to be met by her own disgust, at his disgust.  Of course, as soon as the lady left the room, the kids ran over to publicly accuse their dad! 

(5) Revolutionary

While checking out the tourism site for Connecticut, we saw that their motto is "Still Revolutionary".  Thinking on our temporary lodging in Hubsy's mother's apartment:  no internet, and only two television channels (both resembling a perpetual Nick At Night marathon).  Whenever you got a cellphone call, or a text message, There goes the channel!  If it weren't for our Kindles, full of gaming apps, and the local library's wi-fi service, the kids would've lost their minds!  Hubsy and I looked at each other and said "Yup, still revolutionary."

Every Circus Has A Horse

(6) Jack And Zena

I am such a sucker for a horse and carriage.  As soon as I spotted one rolling around the Mystic village, I started snapping pictures.  After lunch, since the restaurant was just across the lawn from the carriage stop, we decided to take the ride.  That's when we got a real education!  John (or Jack), the driver, explained how he and some of his 20 horses have appeared in several movies, and a television series.  Matthew McConoughey and Morgan Freeman rode in that very carriage in the movie "Amistad".  And Hugh Jackman was seen riding it in "Kate & Leopold".  He currently films scenes in the series "Boardwalk Empire".  While we were captivated by the Hollywood connection, Zena became captivated by Hubsy.  After the ride, we stood around and chatted with John, and took photos of the horse, as we rubbed her sides.  She kept turning her head, and butting Hubs with her nose, until he petted her again.  I swear, we just can't take him anywhere where the gals don't flock around.

(7) Fort McHenry

Another day of soaking up a little history, especially in the year that marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.  My Dad joined us, as did my sister and the little Batman.  The day started off interesting when we lost Hubsy in a crowded theater room.  After searching the lobby, the bathrooms, the gift shop, and peering outside ...  Sissy  discovered him among the crowd.  We called it her first cache!    During our tour of the grounds, I reacquainted myself with one of the old prison cells, near which I had one of my first paranormal experiences as a child.  No experience this time, though my daughters and I gave loving prayers to any remaining spirits.  Batman beat on the bongos for a while.  Actually, they were barrels of gunpowder.  I hollered to her "they're gonna blow!", and she ran like the wind.  Some superhero.  We found a bird's nest with beautiful blue eggs nestled inside.  We arrived in time to watch the changing of the flag, and watched volunteer soldiers stand at attention while musicians played.  To top the whole day off, Sissy and I stood at the tip of Locust Point (the little peninsula in Baltimore's outer harbor, on which the Fort sits), and memorialized our great great grandfather who drowned near here in 1897.  The following weekend, on our way through Baltimore, heading back home to North Carolina, we were lucky enough to catch part of the Blue Angels Airshow, being performed over the harbor, and directly over our car on I-95!

   

Second Cousin-In-Law

(8)Meeting Friends

Some time ago, I began Facebook chatting with one of Hubsy's long lost cousins.  I say "long lost" because they are both the kind of relatives that you typically only see at weddings and funerals, and my Hubsy typically only goes to the funerals.  Cuz and I stay in touch regularly, and discuss anything from politics and religion to social issues and (my favorite) family ancestry.  He's a real intellectual, and his vocabulary intimidates me, though his never ending stream of shared guitar photos bores me.  But when Facebook says "He read this article:", I think I'm gonna check it out (as long as it's not about the Grateful Dead).

(9) The Time Warp

As I mentioned in the Ft McHenry section, I nurtured my internal connection with a respected and beloved ancestor, Peter Barrows, with a tree and a prayer, at Locust Point.  While trapped in a traffic nightmare in New Haven, I glanced down a side street and was able to pick out the house where my husband's paternal great grandparents had once lived, after immigrating from Italy. Learning the Cooper's secrets in Mystic Seaport gave me a taste of life for some of my earlier ancestors, who also worked in the trade.  As an ancestry researcher, I am completely in love with the history, and wherever I go, I tend to find myself making connections to the family tree. 

(10) Quality Time

Of course, we had our quality time together on this trip, but The Boy had some quality time of his own.  While we were experiencing a celebration of American Independence at Ft McHenry, he was experiencing a little independence of his own.  Ten days alone in the house, with no one to nag him about his chores.  Having to rely on his own feet to get to and from work, without the assistance of our car.  Having to prepare his own meals, without me to answer his pleas of "Mom, how do I cook this?".  He is twenty years old now, and I was hoping that a little taste of life on his own would encourage him to get that second job, so that he could save for his own place.  Hmmm... Didn't seem to work.

Hurricane St Nicholas - A Ten List

I think it's quite ironic that the Atlantic Hurricane season ends just about the time that the Christmas season begins. They both require the same amount of preparation, cause a similar amount of anxiety, and leave us with an equal amount of destruction.  With that in mind, may I present my Top Ten List of the week:

Ten Things That Christmas and Hurricanes Have In Common

1)  Preparing:  Thanks to modern meteorological technology, we can see a hurricane developing, track it's movements, and predict when and where it will make it's landfall. Thus we know when to begin our preparations, although most people wait until a storm has been named to do so. Similarly, we see Christmas coming from twelve months away every year, though most of us don't begin preparing until the season opener, the day after Thanksgiving.

2)  Collecting:  Although the types of materials we collect may vary per event, there are indeed necessary materials to collect for both events. For one, there is a need for sheets of wood and plastic, electric generators and batteries, flashlights and candles, and rolls of tape. For the other, we collect sheets of colorful paper, blinking lights and decorations, and oddly enough... candles, batteries, and rolls of tape. Coincidence? I think not.

3)  Hoarding:  We also gather food supplies for these two separate events.  A hurricane requires gallons and gallons of water, and a generous portion of canned foods.  Things that can sustain us through the physical hardship.  The holiday calls for turkeys and hams, potatoes of the white or sweet varieties, breads, pies, and cookies.  Comfort food to sustain us through the emotional chaos.

4)  Anticipation:  We sit, huddled together in the family room, telling stories, or singing familiar chanties, while we await the storm. Dopplers are tracking the eye of the hurricane and the fat man's sleigh.  Sleepless hours pass, and still we wait.  Then, with the dawning of the sun... let the games begin!

5)  The Experience:  Still, or rather once again, we find ourselves huddled together in one room.  The overhead lights are flashing on and off, or the colorful lights on the tree are blinking.  We either hear the groaning and howling of the wind announcing it's arrival, or of Eartha Kitt declaring what she wants from Santa Claus.  We experience things first hand that we've only ever seen on television; a neighbor's roof passing by like a low flying plane, a Snuggie, street signs fervently rattling, a Chia Head.  

6)  The Aftermath:  In the end, in both cases, we are left with days worth of recuperating.  Outside there may be fallen trees, and roofing tiles strewn about the yard;  but inside there are hollowed out boxes, torn bits of paper, and ribbons strewn about the house.

7)  Communication:  Suddenly, there is a need to make contact with everyone you know to see how they made out.

8)  Vacation:  The kids will now have days, or weeks off from school.  Even though there's plenty to do, they will eventually suffer a case of boredom, and we will count the days until the school reopens, and the kids are once again out of our hair.

9)  The Cleanup:  At first, we'll survey the damage, and then be absolutely frustrated at not even knowing where to begin.  We'll fill bag after bag of debris, and wonder if the county will throw in an extra day of trash service.  There will be the rearranging of furniture to accommodate new items that have been brought into the home, like tree branches or HDTVs.

10)  Moving On:  There will come a time when we will have to put it all behind us, and get on with our regular routines.   The event will not be soon forgotten, and we will continue to speak of it for weeks yet to come.  We may even promise that next time, we'll be better prepared and earlier, (though most of us probably won't).   

Our Family's Christmas Traditions

Some things never change, and some things must.  It's up to us to figure out which things are which.  That's life, in a nutshell.  Holiday traditions are no exception to that rule.  Here is a top ten list of our family's holiday traditions, some that will never change, and some that are in the midst that very process this year.

1)  The Winter Holiday season does not begin until after the fall harvest celebration, otherwise known as Thanksgiving.  Regardless of the stores that tried to force it down our throats while we were still preparing our Halloween costumes.  As tempted as I may have been, which was somewhat tempted, I didn't even dig the Christmas boxes out of my closet until after the turkey platter was used, cleaned, and stored away.  However, my daughter had been hospitalized for two weeks before the Autumn Feast, and I had promised her that I would not put up the tree until she came home.  So this year's tradition was almost thwarted ... but we were blessed once again, as God brought her home to us on Thanksgiving Eve!

2)  The countdown begins.  Some of you have calenders, with little windows that you open each day to reveal a festive scene, as you count the days until Christmas eve.  Some have calenders with pockets that you fill with a treat to take each day until the BIG one.  We have candy ribbons.  My mom made one for my sister and I when we were very little, and each night we ate a piece of candy before bed to help us keep track of the days of December.  She crafted one for each of my children, to keep the tradition going.  I tried to go without the ribbons this year, I really did.  But on December 9th, I fell to the rebellion.  The ribbons are up.

3)  Santa Claus will NOT be coming down our chimney this year.  Not because I intend to light the logs in the fireplace.  And not because we're on the naughty list, although some of us may very well be.  But because the youngest of the young'ens has finally been made aware ... of what I won't say because I don't know who may be reading this, and I'm not one to spill someone else's secrets.  Let's just say that we've said our farewells to the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Slash (for you South Park fans).

4)  Holiday cookies... are coming out of a Pillsbury tube this year.  Last year I spent a whole day kneading and rolling dough, just so my girls could cut and decorate ONE tray of cookies before they declared boredom and abandoned me.  Hubsy, The Boy, and I were left to cut and decorate another three dozen sugar cookies on our own.  I am NOT doing that again.  Another tradition gone.

5)  The Christmas Ham.  Yummm.  Each year the whole house fills with the wafting scents of that roasting thigh of pig, the honey/brown sugar syrup in which it bathes, and the tender hint of the cloves that pin the sweet pineapple slices to the meat.  I can almost smell it now... which is weird because we're having turkey this year, dammit.  I waited and waited for the grocery store to stock their freezers with the hams that go on sale this time of year.  They never came.  Instead, those freezers just kept filling over and over again with turkeys, and at the lowest prices for the biggest birds I've ever seen.  So there's another tradition busted.  Dammit.

6)  Sort of a recent tradition that we enjoy is taking the Neighborhood Tour.  We head out just a few days before Christmas to oooh and aaah at all the twinkles and sparkles that light up the oaks and maple trees, the snowmen, stars, nativities, Santas, and such on display in front yards, and on various roofs.  I think my favorite thing to see is a Christmas tree lit up in the front window of a home, for the world to see.  Last year we began counting how many "trees in a window" we could spot.  Maybe this year we'll make a scavenger hunt out of it.

7)  Mrs Smith will not be invited for dessert this year.  One tradition I am happy to bust.  I have finally learned to make my very own pumpkin pie.  And I'm not talking about popping open a can of Libby's mashed pumpkin.  I'm telling you that I bought three huge pumpkins this past Halloween.  I cut them into chunks, I boiled them, I mashed them, and I stocked my freezer full of the pumpkin guck.  I have already baked four pumpkin pies, and three pumpkin breads since then, and I still have enough for two more pies, and three more breads.  C'mon Christmas.

8)  Homemade ornaments on display.  That is one tradition I simply cannot give up.  Whether it's the ones my twenty four year old made in Sunday School or Kindergarten, the ones my nineteen year old son made in Cub Scouts, or the ones my younger daughters have made almost every year in elementary school ... I have to have them out.  One year I felt so guilty about not including my children's ornaments on my blue and silver themed tree, that I bought a small three foot tree designated only for homemade treasures.

9)  Christmas Eve has always been a very special time for my family.  We've always had our big Christmas dinner that evening, and as we sit around the fire, we open the gifts that have been sent from our out of state relatives.  I also use this time to remind my children about the spiritual meaning behind it all.  As exciting as it is, to get that early taste of Christmas, it's also satisfying enough to help the kids get to sleep at a decent time.

10)  Christmas Day traditions?  I don't think it's a tradition as much as it's just something we always do.  There will be coffee, and Christmas music.  I'll put on the seasonal cable channel that shows us a crackling fire while playing carols in the background.  We'll pass around gifts, and watch delightfully as each person receives something they either desperately wanted, or desperately needed.  There will be horrible photographs of everyone with bedhead (and me without makeup).  Afterward, we'll snack on coffee cake and fresh baked pumpkin bread.  The rest of the day will be spent enjoying our gifts, and each other's company.  We'll make phone calls to Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, and Texas.  We'll pull out the Christmas Eve leftovers, and top it off with coffee (or cocoa) and pie.  At the end of the day, we'll all be exhausted, but who wants a day like that to end?   

Ten Reasons Why I Can't Wait For School To Start

At the start of the Spring season, when Summer weather begins to make it's approach here in the south, I find myself longing for those days when the kids are out of school.  I look so forward to those precious extra hours of sleep in the mornings.  I look forward to the ease of appointment scheduling, without the signing in and out, and worrying about who's missing which classes.  Bedtime battles will ease up, as the kids get to stay up later and later, quietly entertaining themselves in their bedroom, with personal gaming devices, until they drift off to sleep.  Etc, etc, and all those other sweet dreams that a stay at home mom fantasizes about.  Now, here it is, the end of the season, and my rose colored glasses broke weeks ago.  So here is the list of ten reasons why my ears are straining to hear the melodic chimes of the scheduled school bell:

1)  I expected to have more hands to help with the daily chores, but instead I just have more chores!

2)  Wet clothes ... they're in the bathtub, they're in the hamper, they're on the bathroom floor, on the bedroom floor, and hanging off the back porch railing.  They're produced by the neighbor's wading pool, the other neighbor's sprinkler, water balloons, water guns, and my own hose.  Like dirty dishes do, wet clothes tend to multiply, as a clean and dry outfit only stays clean and dry until the next water balloon is launched.

3)  The critters.  "Mom, look at the ____ I caught!" ... fill in the blank with any of the following choices:  caterpillar, butterfly, moth, beetle, frog, toad, or snake.  Luckily the snakes are not so much caught, as they are found... already dead at the hand (or wheel) of a vehicle, or a local cat.  Also luckily, they are most often of the common, non venomous variety.

4)  My front porch and surrounding shrubbery have morphed into the neighborhood landfill.  We have collected an assortment of craft projects (i.e. painted tin cans and Popsicle sticks), broken and/or abandoned toys, scraps of paper, water bottles and their caps, colorful bits of broken water balloons, dried and/or wilted flowers, homemade brooms and the collection of pine needles and twigs that are used in their creation, and empty Tupperware containers with perforated lids that once contained a critter of some kind.  Last week Hubsy created the "Clean-Up Marathon", and invited all of the neighborhood kids to earn a Popsicle.  Everyone raised their scouting fingers and vowed to keep it clean.  The next day there were bottle caps in the bushes!

5)  The doorbell.  It rings and rings and rings.  It's as if the nine other neighborhood kids are lined up, single file, in the driveway, each taking their turn to step up and push the button.  Sometimes, they counter the rings with intermittent door knocks.  They always seem to come in the middle of a movie or a show, or a game, or when my hands are full of painting, or cleaning supplies.

6)  The ins and outs.  Princess loves to play tag with her friends, but she cheats.  When someone gets a little too close to tagging her, she decides that our front hall is home base.  In she comes, then out she goes.  She's in for a drink... then out.  Then her friend wants a drink.  Then they all want Popsicles.  She's in to change her shoes... see what I'm doing... pet the kitty... grab a cookie, etc.  And if she's in for any more than three minutes, the doorbell begins it's repetitive song.

7)  Not the TV show, but my actual Clean House.  When the kids are in school, I can clean and straighten any room, and it will actually remain clean, and smell fresh, for up to six hours, consecutively!  As it stands now, by the time I make my way to the other side of a room and turn back to see the results... a pair of flip flops has mysteriously appeared on the floor, a dirty dish has magically appeared on the table, a piece of clothing has materialized across the back of a chair.

8)  Time to myself.  I can't start a Karaoke Revolution with spying eyes giggling from around the corner.  What if I want to throw on some Jason Derulo and do a little poppin' and lockin', until things start poppin' out of place and lockin' up on me?  I can't subject my children to that.  That's the sort of torture one gets at Guantanamo.

9)  On various days, there are two times the number of children in my house, than I have personally given birth to.  If I had wanted to be responsible for this many human beings, I would've married a Dugger.  (For those of you not quite up to speed, The Duggers are that reality television family with more kids than Kate Goslin and "Brangelina" combined!).

10)  Cabin Fever.  All three kids have have spent the last two months together.  All of the summer fun is winding down, and they're becoming bored with the things they couldn't wait to do all school year. They're beginning to turn on each other. I'm waiting for that moment when I find fifteen type-written pages of "all play and no work makes Punkin a dull girl".  Maybe I should start hiding the axe.

I'm sure that in about eight or nine months, I'm going to start writing another post about "Why I Can't Wait For Summer Vacation".  When you start to see signs of that happening ... somebody please slap me!

The Best Things Are Free!

After spending weeks refurbishing an old run down dining table, it has become one of my most favorite things... that I acquired free of charge.  In honor of my new blessing, here is a top ten list of some other things that I've collected ... at little or no cost to me.  The best things in life are definitely free!

shaving mirror

1) This is a wood framed tri-fold shaving mirror from either the 1930s or 40s. About fifteen years ago, an old man in my community had passed away. After his family had taken all they wanted, my husband was hired to clean out the rest of his belongings, and I went along to help. The family had left so many things behind, and as we cleaned up, we also spent the afternoon learning so much about the old man. Although I had seen him everyday, walking his little dog, I had only met him once. He had stopped to talk to the group of kids playing in the courtyard (my daughter included), and we struck up a conversation. I knew he was a Jewish-Italian-American, that he had been in the Navy, and that he had gone through WWII. What I learned that afternoon was that he was quite distinguished, and had collected some very fine things throughout his life. I saw the hospital photographs and court documents, after he had been the victim of a hate crime. I took with me some beautiful antique furniture, an Italian newspaper from 1944 with articles about the war, and two old Time magazines, each dedicated to the murder of a Kennedy.  I also took with me a new and deep respect for the man I never really knew.  I talk to him sometimes, and thank him for all the things he unknowingly passed down to me.  I think he appreciates that I appreciate them.

bar cabinet

2) This is the solid wood cabinet that I also acquired from the old man.  It has been used as a dining room buffet, a TV stand, among other uses, and now it serves as a printer stand.  It was originally intended to be a bar cabinet, but we don't drink very often so it stores batteries, plastic grocery bags, miscellaneous electronics, and pet supplies.

Uncle Charlie

3) This is a faux carved wood wall hanging, depicting one of my most cherished ancestors:  Emperor Charlemagne (aka Uncle Charlie). We know about him from school, of course, but we know about our relation because of my grandmother who spent her life researching our family genealogy.  This carving had hung on her wall for as long as my brain can remember, and when she passed away several years ago, it was handed down to me, to hang on my wall for the rest of my life.  Those are two reasons why I love it dearly.

The Guardian

4) This black stone lion was brought home by my husband about seven years ago. He found it in a vacant apartment, abandoned by the previous resident. He came to me just around the time that I was studying the art of Feng-Shui. I named him The Guardian, and wherever we live, he is perched on the porch, beside the front door, protecting us from negative energy. I painted his eyes, to give him a sense of life... and his toenails, to give him a sense of style.

painted mirror

5) Here we have a four foot long, heavy as hell, silver framed mirror that likely hung in some restaurant restroom. It was collected by my late father in law, who was a retired apartment maintenance man, who likely found it abandoned in a vacant apartment. He gave it to me nearly two decades ago, and I gave it a face lift. I sponged the frame in pale yellow and blue, and then stenciled on some ivy in mixed greens, and some leafy vines in blue. 

crystals

6) Aaaah, some of my most prized possessions. These three crystals came into my life nearly three decades ago, when my ex-husband found them while cleaning and painting his bosses daughter's apartment. They became the very first stones on a long and beautiful path into a world of deep spirituality, and an interest in ancient Celtic mysticism ... crystal healing, candle and incense burning during prayer and meditation ... which led me to a deep respect for the natural world, and it's sciences.

sofa

7) This sofa was an unexpected gift from the universe! Seven years ago, I had spent weeks trying to find one just like it ... searching newspaper ads, Craig's List, used furniture stores, and thrift shops. They were all either too expensive, or already sold. Just when I was ready to give up, this sofa appeared on the curb in front of my neighbor's house, while they were moving out. I introduced it to my carpet and upholstery cleaner, and it took up residence in my living room. It couldn't be more perfect for those long Saturday afternoon naps.

kitchen cabinet

8) This white kitchen cabinet was a gift from an old neighbor. She was an employee and a resident of the complex where we lived after arriving in NC. We only knew her for about six months before she found a new job, and moved out. Before leaving, she offered us this great country style kitchen cabinet, among other pieces. It was already white, with pine surfaces, but I painted the door and drawer pulls in Hunter Green. We used it for a microwave stand, and food storage cabinet until we moved to this rental house. The kitchen is much too small, so it became a TV stand and bookshelf for my daughters. We have since moved and it has returned to its original position in the kitchen.

Bamboo Shelves

9) When we moved to NC, the apartment beneath of ours was the designated "guest suite". A short term rental unit for residents to house their out of town visitors, like a big beautiful hotel room. Well, when some of the student residents began using it for all night parties, the management decided to turn it into a regular unit. All of the model furniture inside was offered up to the employees. I jumped right on it. I walked away with this bamboo and glass entertainment unit, a long white wicker dresser, and two matching white wicker nightstands. Yay me! Yay free!

Table

10) And the piece de resistance ... without any further adieu... (I have no idea if I've spelled those correctly, but the spell checker didn't highlight them, so I'm going with it) ... the dining room table that was found on the curb after some neighbors vacated, about a month ago. Has it been a month already? Yeah I guess it has. I sanded it, I stained it, I coated it, and turned it into the beauty that it has become. If you'd like to see the photos of the table in it's original state, just look through the recent previous posts (on the right sidebar) for one called "Trash To Treasure".

If you have a cherished freebie, post a pic in the comments!

How To Keep Your Sanity During A Divorce

Divorce can be a wild beast ... a tricky animal at best.  I know a thing or two about it.  I grew up with divorced parents, and I watched my mother go through a second one later on.  I saw it happen to every one of my aunts and uncles.  I helped my best friend go through one of the messiest on record.  And I've waded through those choppy waters myself, once upon a time.  I'm currently watching another couple attempt to tackle the tempest, and it isn't going well.  Like I said, I know a thing or two about it, and I'd like to tell you what I've learned:

1)  It has the potential to turn you into someone that you never thought you would be.  Looking in the mirror, you won't even recognize the angry, bitter, vengeful, cynical person you've become.  And then there will be the days when the reflection is nothing but a sniveling, whining, sack of depression and lost hope sending out the RSVP to the pity party you've invited yourself to.  It's The Faucet Syndrome; emotions running hot and cold, back and forth, and never the same one twice (in a row, at least).

2)  In the midst of these mood swings, is not the time to make permanent, life altering decisions.  In order to stabilize, it's important to find a support system.  Surround yourself with friends and family to help you build the confidence you'll need to move on.  They don't have to be wise, they only have to be honest.  The last thing you want is a group of "yes-men" clinging to your anger to satisfy their own agendas, or grudges that anyone else may have against your ex.  Or their own ex's, for that matter.  There may be strength in numbers, but you can't rely on others for your own strength.  It has to be built from within.

3)  Don't get caught up in the "he said-she said" drama, and don't immerse yourself in the mystique of the International Spy Game ... finding and collecting evidence, and every little stick and stone that you can throw in a courtroom battle.  It may make you feel powerful in the moment, but it only leads to a very anti-climactic ending.  Depending on the laws of your governing state, many of your weapons may be irrelevant or inadmissible.  Most divorces never see the inside of a courtroom.  The battles are fought between the lawyers, through their phone lines, while sitting at their desks.  You reach out to grasp the handle of your perceived sword, but your lawyer only hands you a pen, which is indeed mightier anyway.  Just sign your name on the dotted line, and be done with it.  Besides, all the threats and mind games serve to do is distract you from your original task, which is getting on with your future.

4)  Speaking of weapons... children are not them.  They aren't steel plated or covered in spikes.  As tough as they may seem on the outside, they have chewy centers.  They are soft, pliable, and easily injured.  If it's spikes you want, then go ahead.. involve them in your troubles, engulf them in your anger, use them as your messengers, fill their heads with tales of woe and stories that they aren't ready to hear.  Go ahead and belittle them when they show affection for the other parent, and openly attempt to sway their loyalties.  You will indeed cause those spikes to grow, but don't be surprised to find that they are aimed at you.  And they don't dissolve away as easily as you might think.  They merely shrink to cover their hearts and damage their own future relationships.

5)  Take responsibility for the part you played in whatever went wrong.  A marriage is a partnership between two people.  It takes both of them to build it up, and it takes both of them to tear it down.  The other one may have made life a living hell, but how much fun were you to live with?  Were you a supportive partner, or a critical one?  Maybe you either pushed them away, or kept them in a choke hold.  Maybe your part was as simple as knowing that the whole thing was crashing and burning, but never once reaching for the fire extinguisher... or making an attempt to get out of the smoke and save yourself.  Remember that old adage about pointing the finger at someone else, and how many are pointing back at you?  It's corny, yes, but there is a seed of truth in it.  It took me four years to be able to say, out loud, what I had done wrong in my previous marriage, and then two months of therapy to be able to apologize for it.  Oh, how nice it was to breath that sweet, clean air!

6)  Don't let greed get the best of you.  The "best of you" is what you're trying to rebuild, so that it can carry you forward into a new and better future.  Of course you want to be sure that you get the financial support that you deserve for the kids.  And you need to try to split any assets fairly and evenly.  However, if the fight is turning out to be just another way for you to hold on to your ex, or your anger, or if it's causing pain to those around you (especially your kids), or if it's keeping you from moving on ... then it might just be in your best interest to cut your losses, and walk away.

7)  A divorce can be a great opportunity for you to perfect your Madonna impersonation.  That means "reinvent yourself"!  Lose some weight, or put on some muscle, or just work out to boost your energy level. Dye your hair.  Change your style.  Change your diet.  Discover a new form of music.  Redecorate a room.  Learn a new skill or sharpen the ones you have.  Start a new hobby.  Make some new friends, or get together with some old ones.  Take that walk down memory lane, and rediscover the dreams you once had, that maybe you had let go of.  Make a new you, make a new plan, and put it all into action!  This is a great way to keep yourself busy focusing on something positive, instead of sitting around and stewing about how things have gone awry.

8)  Learn to be alone.  You certainly don't want to isolate yourself, but there are going to be times when you find yourself alone on the couch with ... yourself, and you have to learn how to spend quality time with... yourself.  Being alone together is one of the best ways to learn how to like... yourself.  A quiet walk in the park.  Morning meditation on the porch.  It soothes the nerves, and clears the mind.

9)  Divorce can be a test of your character, and an opportunity to build upon it.  No other attribute can be as life changing as respect, for yourself and your ex.  This is not the time to brag about all that you have, that the other person will now have to live without.  And this is not the time to put your new lover on display.  Those times will come.  But for now, practice the fine art of discretion.

10)  If you subscribe to any religious institution, or just harbor a spiritual ideal, then it's time to take a look at the mantras.  The Taoist would say, "Hey, it is what it is, and all things are what they're meant to be".  The Buddhist would say "Life is suffering.  It's the struggle against the suffering that brings unhappiness.  So accept it, and move on."  And the Christian will say "Forgiveness is the key". If that doesn't work for you, then listen to Julie Andrews ..."Whenever God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window".

So, there's my two cents.  I know that every situation is different, and every person has to do what they feel is best for themselves.  But it can't hurt to learn from other people's mistakes, and it only helps to know that you are not the first person to suffer through any situation, and you won't be the last.

Misconceived Ideas Kids Have About Parents

Going hand in hand with How To Show Kids That Parents Are Not Furniture, here are ten misconceptions that children have about their parents.

1)  The sole and most important reason for our existence on the planet is ... them.  Our careers are only the means to supply them with their every wish.  Our hobbies and interests are only a way to pass the time, until they call on us again, to fulfill their every demand.  What's ours in theirs, and what's theirs... seems insignificant compared to what's ours, and that's why they want it!

2)  That we keep a secret storage unit somewhere, full of batteries, replacement parts, food, cash, and an assortment of other items.  When something is needed or wanted, we simply pull it out of our... "unit"... so to speak!

3)  That we have no interest in sexuality.  In fact, once the last child was born, all parental sexual organs ceased to function.  They may have even completely disappeared! 

4)  That we find their forms of entertainment just as exhilarating as they do.  That we would enjoy a hot bath, a glass of wine, and losing ourselves in a Junie B. Jones novel.  That we sit on the edge of our seats, worried that Justin and Alex are going to get caught using their wizard powers in public.

5)  That we know everything about everything.  (This misconception comes at an early age, disappears, and then returns in their mid twenties).  Now, in the age of Google, it's easy to perpetuate this phase.  Within minutes I can provide a list of criteria that separates a mammal from an amphibian, or the life cycle of an earthworm, or even the Pythagorean theorem.  It's when the questions are phrased in a personal way that I feign ignorance.  "So, Mom, do you remember what it was like during the first ice age?" ... I don't know, Honey, I was vacationing in Bermuda that year. 

6)  That we know nothing about anything.  (This endearing phase fills the mysterious gap between the number 5s).  I would give you an example, but what do I know?  I'm just a parent. 

7)  That we were never children, or that times have changed so drastically since we were, that our memories of it are irrelevant to the now.  We have no idea how frustrating homework can be, or how much chores can suck.  Or, as in number 8, we haven't already been inside that bag of tricks, to get something over on a parent.

8)  That our brain cells disintegrate at an alarming rate, past the age of thirty, to the point of sheer gullibility, rendering us utterly defenseless against the many explanations (aka excuses) about low grades, messy rooms, and missed curfews.

9)  That Mom and Dad run the household as a democracy, where everyone gets a vote in every proposition, and every vote counts equally.  That they have certain inalienable rights, to free speech, free press, and free rent.

10) Mom and Dad will always be there, even when they wish we weren't.  We are also guilty of this.  Not a single one of us, parent or child, is guaranteed a life of eighty or more years.  So, lets choose our battles more carefully, and hug each other more often, while we still can.

The Good Old Days Of The Telephone

I'm not exactly sure how this list came about.  Maybe because my cell was beeping it's annoying reminder that my battery was in need of a charge.  Or maybe it's because the Hubs had texted me three times in a row with "I", then "love" then "you".  It all just got me thinking about telephones, and the good old days, when I was very young.  So here is a list of ten facts about Ma Bell ... or would that now be Grandma Bell?

1)  A telephone was basic piece of equipment that hung on the wall in the kitchen, or sat on an end table in the living room.  The receiver was permanently attached to the base, which was permanently attached to the wall.  So, if Grandma called, you always knew where to find Mom.  Not very freeing for Mom, but it gave us the freedom to finally get into that forbidden thing that we weren't supposed to get into.   

2)  A phone had a rotary dial that went "click click click" when you dialed a number, and "r-i-ing r-i-ing" when you had a call.  That's it.  Click click, and ring ring.  But at least you could never confuse your record collection with your telephone.  You would be committed if you ever said something like "Is that my favorite song playing, or am I getting a call?"

3)  If you were on the phone with someone, and someone else tried to call you, they would hear an annoyingly repetitive beep called a "busy signal", to let them know that you were otherwise engrossed in conversation, and they were just going to have to call you another time.  We missed out on a lot of dates that way, Ladies.

4)  If you weren't at home when your phone rang, you would miss the call.  In fact, you would never even know that they tried to reach you in the first place.  Only your cat knows, but unfortunately she has been driven insane by the fifteen "r-i-ing r-i-ing"s that occurred every twenty minutes, for the last four hours.  Well, there's another party, you won't be attending. 

5)  If you wanted to make a call while you were out and about, it was easy enough to locate a phone booth.  There was one on every corner.  It was a cute little glass house that came complete with a phone, a convenient shelf on which to count your coins, task lighting, and not one... but two phone books.  As an added bonus, you walked away with a staph infection on your lips, and urine on your shoes.

6)  When the phone rang, you had no way of knowing who was on the other end of that line.  It could be the Sweepstakes commission, calling to announce your winnings.  Or the mortgage company, calling to demand your payment.  What a great way to refine our talents for deception.  You could answer the phone in a foreign language.  Tell them they have the wrong number.  Or for even more fun, deepen your voice and say "Dave's not here, Man."

7)  A telephone had a remarkable ability to make a phone call.... oh, yes, and it could also receive a phone call!  It was like multi-tasking, only you had to do them separately. 

8)  There were a number of games you could play on your phone!  You could call someone... and then hang up!  Or you could pretend to be someone else...  What a hoot!

9)  Most phones came with a wonderful feature that would take a message for you, if you were unable to answer a call.  It was called "children".  They didn't use electricity, or batteries... only a pencil and a scrap of paper.  You could read your messages at your leisure, and most of the time, know exactly what you had missed.  Except for things like "Dad called.  He's going to be on a date after work, because he checked your lipstick and you were low on soil, so he's going to put your car in the garbage." (See if you can figure that one out).

10)  You could even listen to music on your phone!  All you had to do was "click click click" to your best friend, who just bought a new album.  Then they would lay their receiver down next to the speakers and play the latest tunes.  Easy!

Ten Reasons Why I Couldn't Create A Ten List

Here are the ten reasons why I didn't have time to write a decent top ten list this week.  I've received such wonderful comments on my past lists, that I feel rather guilty about letting ya'll down today, but the last seven days have just ran me ragged.  Never fear... for I have several other top tens in the works, that I will be refining for future publication!  In the meantime, let me explain why I've been a Top Ten slacker this past week.

1)  An epic battle with the insurance company over my youngest daughter's medication.  A growth hormone that was prescribed by her endocrinologist, to accelerate her slow growth patterns, brought on by Turner's Syndrome.  A medication that she's been taking for about three years now, without issue.  Suddenly, bureaucracy, red tape, and the run around are rampant.

2)  A spin off of number one ... the denial of my teen daughter's ADHD therapy, by previously mentioned insurance company.  Therapy that they have approved for nearly five years.  Oddly enough, as I receive denial letters, the therapist reports that she has already received payment.  Someone somewhere needs to get their ducks lined up in that proverbial row.

3)  Insurance Confusion, Part Three.  Yes, it appears to be an epic trilogy, as the insurance czar also denies select psychiatric visits, which are necessary to monitor my daughter's progress on her ADHD medications.  These three occurances have had me filling out forms, faxing, phoning, and emailing all week! 

4)  Injury number 247.  Take one thirteen year old girl, with long, lean legs, and a fondness for risky physical activity... add one cup each of ADHD, hypochondria, a craving for attention, and a hatred of school.  Mix well, and in the end, you get a phone call from the school nurse outlining the latest gym class accident... an overextended knee.  Although she is fine, it had to be monitored since two years ago, that same knee had been dislocated by (what is known as) the Karate Class Incident.

5)  Happy Birthday!  Take that same thirteen year old girl, and add one full rotation of the earth around the sun!  Voila... a fourteen year old girl!

6)  Cleaning.  Yes, it's the time of year to organize closets, cabinets, and drawers ... dust the unreachables... wash and/or deodorize upholstery, and other fabrics... and so on.  I'll get to that stuff eventually.  But this past week has mostly been spent on returning the house to it's original state.  The state it was in before my husband spent two weeks at home, recovering from a back injury.  Two weeks spent on the couch watching instant Netflix movies, and catching up on DVR'd television shows, surrounded by various pharmaceuticals, ice packs and heating pads.  Aside from the muscle spasms, and nerve pain, it was a nice home based vacation, blessing us with that rare time spent alone together.

 

7)  A good book.  I have a limited time to read this 627 page biographical retrospective before it has to go back to the library.  I don't want to have to renew it, because I recently acquired several other books that I can't wait to dive into.  So, please excuse me, if some of the time I would normally spend writing, is temporarily devoted to reading.

8)  The runaround.  No, not the kind that I've been getting from the insurance company, but the typical kind.  Pharmacies, grocery shopping, doctors appointments, carpooling hubby to and from work so I could have the car during the day, department store shopping for birthday preparation, and a visit to the doctor's office to fill out paperwork for the insurance appeal.

9)  Blogging.  Although I wasn't able to finish my intended top ten list in time for today's publication, I did make headway in the draft I'm preparing for next week.  I also prepared a recent posting for Ringmaster, and my other major blog (FascinationEarth).  I made the rounds to my favorite family and nature blogs, and made a few Twitter Tweets, and Facebook updates. 

10)  Sleep.  Aaaah, sweet slumber.  C'mon, Moms, you now what I'm talking about.

My House And Our Love/Hate Relationship

Please take note of my sarcasm when I say "as much as I adore apartment living", we've relocated to a duplex in a local neighborhood.  As with any new home, it takes some getting used to, but there are some things about this house that just aren't ever going to make it to my good side. But there are good things about it, too.  How about a Ten List detailing my love/hate relationship with this domicile?

#1... I love that my little cottage-feeling rental house backs up against a county-protected lake that is naturally protected by a small forest. I love being encased by tall pines, strong oaks and various other species of trees. However, I hate that both my porch and my yard are completely shaded by low leafy branches and high full crowns, making impossible for me to cultivate any type of edible garden.

#2... I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for my life in the woods. Feathered friends come to socialize at my feeders, and butterflies fly by, throughout the day. I marvel at the occasional doe, and even the random raccoon that graces the property. However, the constant threat of copperheads and cottonmouths sends shivers down my spine, and keeps me in state of anxiety when my children play outside.

#3... I love that the house was built into a hill, which raises my back deck about fifteen feet off the ground, giving me a deeper view into the woods. After a heavy rain, I watch the rising creek (about fifty feet away), rush to empty into the marsh, which drains into the lake. However, I hate that the back yard sits at the bottom of the hill, catching all that rain and turning it into the natural marsh's evil twin.

#4... All of the doors and windows in my home are accented in a beautifully stained oak trim. The window panes themselves are encased in the same stained oak frames. It really brings a country feel to the decor, which I just love. However, I'm pretty sure that these are the original doors and windows that came with the house when it was first built, and they are everything but energy efficient.

#5... I love that my teenage son has a space to call his own, in this three bedroom house. In our prior residence, my hubs and I had the master, and my two little girls shared a room. My son was confined to the "sun room" (a tiny den surrounded by windows), separated from the rest of the house by a curtain hanging from the wide open archway. However, now that he has his own room, I can't get him to come out of it!

#6... I finally have a whole separate room, under the stairs, just for the washer and dryer, and I love it! It's actually quite a spacious little alcove, and perfect for storing away a few extra things. Okay, a LOT of extra things. What I hate, is that the dryer vents are clogged, forcing me to vent the dryer into the house. A wonderful little perk in the heart of the winter. I can turn down the heat, and let the dryer take the chill out of the air. However, no matter the season, I have to keep the laundry room door wide open, or the humidity builds up and causes the decorative "popcorn" plaster to fall from the ceiling.

#7... For the first time since my childhood, I live in a two story residence. Our more private areas, the bedrooms, are on the second floor, well away from the daily living space. It really makes those rooms feel more personal, more sacred. However, I hate that I'm now spending less time in my personal space. In my apartment, my bedroom was just five feet from the living room, and I could easily make a hasty retreat from the kids, several times a day, if I had to. Just for a few minutes, but they would be my few minutes. Mine. Mine. Mine. Now, my retreat just feels too far away.

#8... Being that I live less than five miles from the NC State University campus, I expected there to be a lot of college students on my street, like there were in the apartment complex. But I just love that we are surrounded by families, with children. My kids have lots of friends, and the streets are always full of bicycles, scooters, jump ropes, and laughter. However, I hate that all the kids in this neighborhood leave their empty water bottles, juice boxes, and ice cream wrappers on my porch. I am constantly having to wrangle my broom, rake, and sometimes potted plants away from them. And they ring my doorbell six times a second. I'm not kidding, the "ding-dong" is repeated so often it becomes a discernible beat... you can dance to it.

#9... I have a fireplace that is rather large and rustic, and I love it. It is surrounded on all sides by earthy toned flagstone, and topped by a large natural wood mantel, that looks much like an old railroad tie. What I hate about this living room centerpiece is that it is so large. I have one whole wall that is almost unusable. There's hardly room for chairs around it, or tables on either side. Due to limited space in the room, I did have to put some furnishings around it, and now that side of the room looks a bit crowded, which takes away from the idea of the fireplace being a focal point.

#10... I love that my house is rental. I don't want a bank loan, and I don't want the taxes. I don't want to pay for a new roof, or new plumbing. I don't want home owner's insurance, and neighborhood association fees. But I hate that my house is a rental. I want new carpeting. I want to build out a bigger pantry. I want to do something about that soggy back yard. But I can't, because I'm a renter.