I've been wanting...

I've been wanting to tell you about all the wonderful things going on here... but I haven't seemed to be able to find the time! You see, we've been too busy picking bouquets of wild flowers, inhaling their light sweetness.

We've been too busy eating fresh cherries, just picked from the tree in our yard. Granted, they sure aren't sweet - they are very tart! - but they are fresh! And to get them the kids have to climb! You can't beat that!

We've been too busy chasing chipmunks and butterflies and watching the little brood of bluebirds, now that they've ventured from their hidden nest. They flit from branch to ground, from ground to limb, learning how to catch bugs and delight their eager observers.

We've been too busy reading books and riding bikes, weeding the garden and harvesting it's goodness.

We've been too busy watching the fireflies and gazing at twinkling stars.

We've been too busy enjoying life!!

Hope you are enjoying yours!

Twitterpated!

Today, thanks to the Carpenter who noticed first, I saw my first Pileated Woodpecker! Actually, there were TWO! And they were definitely twitterpated. How exciting! I do hope they stick around this spring and summer! Oh... I am getting SO excited for warmer weather; I'm dreaming of bird watching and flower picking and gardening and herb gathering. I think spring cleaning should be done in the winter so that all of spring can be spent out of doors!!!

Restful and Calming

On cold wintery days, there isn't much that I can think of that is more restful and calming than sitting in a rocking chair while sipping a steaming cup of my favorite tea and watching the colorful array of birds as they flock to our feeders. Watching the downy little balls that weigh no more than a breath as they flit from tree to feeder and back again brings me such delight! Red cardinals, drab juncos, feisty chickadees, quick titmice; dull doves, chirruping nuthatches, shy woodpeckers; jumpy sparrows, darting finches. Each type so unique yet all so enjoyable! It is food for my soul!

Incredible!

Our neighbor has a lovely pond out behind his house, tucked amongst some trees. It is fairly hidden from view of anyone - a beautiful, calm, quiet spot. The water is clear; gazing into it you can see scores of Sally and Mander's cousins (remember our newts from this spring?) Frogs chirrup and croak along the edge of the water, jumping in as soon as someone steps too close. Above the water, myriad damsel flies hover and swoop. They are the most brilliant turquoise blue, like little flying jewels, delicate yet bold. There are larger dragon flies with buzzing wings that dart from shore to shore. Along the edge grow wild flowers: Queen Anne's Lace, Crown Vetch, Bird's Foot Trefoil, even Forget-me-nots. Swallows swoop right down to the water, gobbling up tasty bugs, then swooping high up into the air only to turn and come back for a second course.

Yesterday we all went down there for an afternoon dip. The children giggled and squealed, splashed and kicked. I got to take off across the pond for a nice swim. It was so incredible to have my eyes skimming right along the surface of the water viewing the damsel flies, the swallows, and the flowers from an entirely new perspective. It makes me stand in utter awe of the Creator - He who created vast mountain ranges... yet attends to the minutest detail on a brilliant turquoise insect; He who filled the oceans deep... yet fills hidden ponds with treasures waiting to be discovered by eager children; He who created all of humanity... yet formed and fashioned me, knowing the depths of my heart better than I. Incredible, Amazing, Wonderful Lord, worthy, so worthy of all my praise and adoration! Incredible!

Date Night

Here's a new one: Worm Catching.

Yup! The Carpenter... uh... King Worm Catcher and his Lady Robin just got in from hunting Night Crawlers! Golly, I've not done this since I was a kid (and then only once!) I couldn't believe how FAST those suckers were! 3 or 4 would be visible under the light of the flashlight and as soon as you reached for one ZOOM! they were GONE! And when you did grab one, my goodness, they're LONG!

Anyway, that was fun. Next time we'll make it a family event; I'm sure you'll hear giggles and squeals clear across the country!

Sharp-Shooter and Schooling

Yep. I'm now a sharp-shooter. (For today, at least.) I shot a squirrel (for Elroy to eat) on the first shot. The bullet went in right under the poor, unsuspecting creature's chin, dead center. I was so shocked that I actually hit the critter that I forgot to feel remotely sorry that I ended it's life (but when I did think of it, I only gave it a fleeting thought as the bugger had ben in my garden!!!)

Onto a completely different topic: Homeschooling

You probably know that we are planning on homeschooling. We've unofficially been doing it for 5 years now! Well, I was absolutely dreading July 1st, the date I THOUGHT I had to register Abbi with the local school district. Last night I was filled with elation as I discovered that I don't have to do a thing until NEXT year, when she is 6! Hip hip, HOORAY!!!

Random Ramblings

You'd think that since I now have more regular internet access I would post my rambling thoughts more often. I guess not. But here are a few of them, in no particular order:

Summer snow: The cottonwood fluff floating on the warm breeze, sticking to wet, dewy feet in the morning sunlight. I like this snow!

Multiflora Rose: Invasive, persistent, threaded with thorns, choking out other life... but such a heady scent! I can't bring myself to dislike this glorious plant! Now it blossoms in splendor; in the autumn it will be laden with tiny hips, tart on the tongue, full of goodness.

Ice Cream: Whoever invented it was a genius. I hope he died fat and happy.

Lady's Smock: That white and purple fragrant flower that we all call wild phlox. I've had armloads of them brought to me by the children! And there is even one persistent plant growing high up in the crotch of a tree! We had fun imagining the fairies planting it... or the chipmunks... or the birds... or the wind.

Orioles and Full Moons: Last week we had a full moon. The nights were crystal clear and when the moon was at its highest the quiet night was shattered by the voice of the oriole we have nesting in a nearby tree! Incredible music. Breathtaking. Clear, simple, pure, lovely!

Anniversary Apricots: Yesterday was our anniversary! The Carpenter and his wife have been married for 8 years; each grows sweeter than the last. To celebrate we had "Anniversary Apricots" - apricots soaked in brandy with pieces of vanilla intermingled in the jar. They sat for two months; it really was a coincidence that they were ready on our anniversary, but we took advantage of it! They are yummy. Not something that you would necessarily crave and want to consume vast quantities of (like the afore mentioned ice cream). But they are refreshing! If you come and visit, we'll share!

Well, that is all for now, except for a quaint little funny that Abigail said earlier today:

Twice today our Suburban would not start; the battery is old and lacking. So, after the second time, Abigail declared that "Papa needs to get us a new battery. He can get rid of the old one and put the new, baby one in and it can grow up to be BIG and STRONG!!"

Organic Protien

Phinehas discovered an organic source of protien, today. He thoroughly enjoyed swallowing some worms. He did turn his nose up at the grubs, though - I don't understand why. I tried encouraging him to collect worms for the chickens and newts, rather than devouring them. We'll see about that...

Smells of Spring

In spite of the thick blanket of snow that still envelopes the ground, the morning sun is bright and promising. Though it is not the brilliant burning yellow of a summer morning it is the shy brightness of spring peeking over the hills. Despite the fact that the air is still cool and even occasionally downright cold, it doesn’t hold the same crisp nip that makes you want to retreat into hibernation. Rather, it has an earthy softness, a whisper of new life beginning to stir beneath the melting blanket of winter. The bird songs are changing – twitters are joining the regular chirps and you’ll occasionally hear a full-throated song of a cardinal or a chickadee. I’m still waiting for the first robin.

The red squirrels have emerged. I don’t know where they were all winter, but I imagine they were sleeping; I would have been. But now they have joined their bigger cousins in scampering about. Yesterday a big ol’ black squirrel trotted across the yard, obviously too close to the domain of a fiery red squirrel. That little critter ran down a tree, chattering ferociously, and ran at ol’ blacky chasing him away. One attack wasn’t sufficient; little red jumped at him again, just to make sure he was understood. I bet red squirrels are Irish.

We have all succumbed to a nasty bit of a cold. Even poor Lilly is dripping with snot and blowing bubbles out her nose. She is still smiling, though – a real little trooper. We’ve been burning mullein and coltsfoot, drinking tea, eating chicken soup, and blowing noses (you think it is annoying to blow your own nose? Try blowing four other noses as well!!). We’ve been reading books, drawing pictures, and even playing outside – how couldn’t we welcome the first stretches of spring?! Today, Phin has decreed that we need to make more granola. He wants to make cookies, too, but cookies and colds don’t go well together.

So, off I go! Lilly is now awake, I have three wolf pups clambering to be fed toast and eggs, and I need to blow my nose.

Happy Spring!

(Oh! And happy birthday, Gramma Mary! What are you? 49? *wink!*)

Ode to Possum

Well, he came back quite a couple times.

Today, he returned again. It was his last visit.

"Possum, meet Bat. Bat, meet Possum."

Possum won't be meeting anything anymore.

Poor Phinehas,

Our little man that is filled with zeal mingled with compassion.

He cried.

"I wanted him to climb TREES!!!"

At least we didn't eat him.

Fun Things THIS Mama Got To Do:

Make Lydia Belly Laugh For the First Fime. There is no sound quite as delightful as a wee little one giving a throaty, unhindered laugh. To hear it is like listening to a bubbling brook or a warbling summer bird, or to see sunshine dancing through tall leafy trees. And, when YOU are the one tickling and the laughter is a result of YOUR love poured out, in that moment there is nothing that can be more satisfying!

Scare the Feet Off Phinehas. Stealthily, I crept up the stairs, crouching at the top just around the corner from the bathroom; Phin was getting ready for his nap. Happy little boy noises met my ears – hums, growls, and giggles. Right as he rounded the corner, on his way to bed, I ROARED my loudest, most ferocious ROAR possible! Phinehas JUMPED into the air, his mouth wide open with an ear splitting shriek, did a half-twist-with-rapid-feet-kicks-and-arm-waggles, and landed in a heap of hoots and howls of petrified laughter. “You GOT me, Mama!” I sure did, Son!

Track An Opossum Up Over the Hill. It was a bright sunny day. Morning chores and school lessons were over, energy levels were high, and I was just about to bundle up the kids for an outside adventure when I looked out the window and saw a busy old possum, nosing about in the wet dirt under our overgrown Arborvitae (what we call the Cedar Tree). We all rushed to the window to watch as it snuffed around for dropped seeds and whatever else it could find in the only snowless patch of ground available. Phin said I should shoot it so we could eat it, but since I had no humane means of getting rid of the visitor, I instead canceled outdoor activities and we moved on to something else (aren’t possums supposed to be sleeping during the day, anyway?). During naptime, I ventured out to see what became of our marsupial friend. He had rambled over to the pile of campfire wood that we are saving for spring and then moseyed up the hill. Since I WISH I was an Indian (and I just finished reading The Sign of the Beaver) I tried to track it. I followed his swaying tracks across the yard and up the hill, through the dead brown grasses and to the edge of the woods – where, I’m sad to say, I lost the trail (not much of an Indian, eh?). Since it was a bright sunny day with a blue sky and fresh white snow, and since I was now certain that the possum was gone, I bundled up Abbi and Phin and sent them out for some fresh air. They tracked ME up the hill… then ran down whooping like they were Indians! (No, I didn’t whoop!)

Family Life - there is nothing like it!

The past couple of days the kids have been filled with imagination: They have built houses, cooked meals, and taken care of horses. They've jumped off of houseboats with barrels tied to their backs (like in "Ping, the Duck"), driven to the store in their couch-car to buy colorful milk, and been wild indians. It is fun to watch them play together and even better to listen to them laugh! They are growing so fast and changing everyday.

It is fun to rediscover the world through their eyes - when I take the time to do so. Everything is so fresh and new. The other day a wee little gold finch hit the window and was stunned. I went outside, picked it up and brought it in. Each of the kids, save Lydia, had a chance to hold the delicate creature. Their energy filled world slammed to a stop and they suddenly moved in slow motion, quietly cupping their hands as they waited their turn to gently grasp the little bird. Loud laughing voices were suddenly silenced into whispered "Ooo's" and "Aahhhhs." They watched his rapid breath and giggled at the quick movements of his tail.

Right now, the memory of that quiet and contained energy is far away - a distant thought that is more like a yearned for dream: there are squawks and screeches, peels of laughter and loud growls as three children are vainly trying to get onto the couch - the couch that their Papa is lounging on. King of the couch, mayhaps? Life is so much more fun with a Papa at home!

Lydia has started 'talking' to the kids. She will sit in her little chair and make very girly yowls and yells in her high-pitched voice, demanding their attention. They will start laughing and giggling and she will call all the more. She breaks into wide grins each time one of them pauses to give her a momentary smile or greeting; they grin right back, thoroughly enjoying being the recipient of her affection. (Who wouldn't?!)

Truly, I am enjoying this role as mama. The more I embrace it the better it gets; the more I try to keep a bit of 'time to my self' or demand QUIET! the more frustrated I become.

So, since just about everyone under the sun makes new goals for the New Year, I thought I would share some of mine:

• - Be swift to listen - to my children, my husband, anyone who is talking
• - Stop and look, I mean REALLY look, at the things my children notice
• - Enjoy the things they (my kids) enjoy
• - Say, "Sure" more often, even when it is an inconvenience to me
• - Smile
• - Laugh
• - Be Joyful

Speaking of the New Year, wanna know what we did New Year's Eve? Well, just like any intelligent parent of four wily children that have no regard for adults who would like to sleep in, we went to bed! At 9:30. And we DID sleep in... til around 7:10! So far this year we have had fun company, gone sledding, played games, enjoyed yummy meals, and even gone to a museum!

Now, I need to go do dishes. I would like to have them fade into last year's memory but they followed me into 2010. O well! Dishes and laundry seem to be irremovably intwined with my existence. Maybe I should try embracing them as well??? Eh. I think I'll just endure. *grin!*

A Cheeky Fellow, A Winter Clothes Line, and Lydia Grace

Meet Rufus, our resident chipmunk. He has a vast underground domain beneath our back porch which, I am sure, is packed full of delicious tidbits for his winter enjoyment. Have you ever watched a chipmunk stuff his cheeks? It is unbelievable! Today I watched him pack at least half a handful of sunflower seeds into those amazing expandable pockets! Before that he shoved leaves, yes LEAVES, into his mouth like a naughty boy left alone in a candy store. Finally, I watched as he crammed a whole hickory nut into one cheek, leaving ample room on the other side for more sunflower seeds. Yes, he sure is a cheeky fellow; I want to try and feed him from my hand, so I’ve been sitting quietly outside in a wee little chair while he scampers around. We’ll see what comes of it! More than that, I want to feed a chickadee from my hand. Which brings us to “A Winter Clothesline:”



This, my friend, is how every clothesline should be used in the winter! It totally makes using the drier completely justified, even on semi-warm days. This morning I saw a red tailed hawk (not at the feeder) and my favorite: a lady cardinal! This afternoon, during naptime (as I was luring Rufus), I was quietly sitting and enjoying the birds flitting to and fro. Within 30 minutes I saw chickadees (TONS of them!), juncos, a pair of downy woodpeckers, a chicken sparrow (they scratch their feet like a chicken), tufted titmice, nuthatches, blue jays, and a lowly mourning dove (or is it morning dove?). I couldn’t believe how LOUD their little wings are when there are no other noises! I had one junco fly right by my head, only to land within 3 feet of me! How fun! It was food for the soul!

And, here is Lydia Grace. She is almost 4 months old. In the mornings, usually I am downstairs holding her when the boys get up. Phinehas always asks, “Where’s Papa?” but Liam usually rushes to Lilly with a delighted, “BeBe! Lillila!” They are sure fun!