Annie, the Duck Bus

Annie, the Duck Bus

Meet Annie, the new addition to our family – named by Abigail, of course. We picked her up yesterday and brought her home. She is a Mallard Sprinter – hence “Duck Bus.” Today, the Carpenter has become the Mechanic and is changing filters, sparkplugs, and a bunch of other things I know nothing about. Both Phin and Abbi are trying to help now and again: “Phin, hand me that filter.” “What filter?” “The thing I gave to you a little while ago!” “I don’t know where it is.” “Find it!” “Oh. Is this it?” “Yes, son. Thank you.” In a couple weeks we are going to take a trial trip up to Lake Ontario to visit G-G (Great Grandma). The kids have been told that, yes, they can be excited about a trip to “Camp” but that they need to NOT whine or beg about wanting to go sooner. Their solution? “Elroy [the dog]! Do you wanna go to camp TOMORROW?! Yeah, boy! Sure you do! Mama, Elroy wants to go to camp TOMORROW!” Hmph.

On a different note, after we had been singing on the car ride home from getting Annie, I got all teary eyed when Abigail said, “Mama, if you were silent for 100 years but you were still alive that whole time, I would really miss your voice.”

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!!"

Darla is a Genius and I am a Chicken Herder

We went away this weekend! Andrew took the boys on a canoe/camping trip and I and the girls visited with my friend Darla and her daughter (and the young boys; her husband and oldest three went canoeing too.) Anyway, during our visit, the ever industrial Darla made homemade baby wipes using paper towels and a very simple formula. While she was putting them together she remarked that she should make some cleaning wipes to keep in the bathroom; all you need to do is take a paper towel, wipe the counter, the sink and the toilet and voila! Done!

Well, I capitalized on her brilliant idea and now have a container of cleaning wipes in each bathroom... and a 5 year old girl eager to assume the responsibility of the one upstairs! Here is the formula I used:

Solution:

1/3 c White Vinegar

1 2/3 c Water

Nice squirt of Dish Soap

6-8 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract

5 Drops Orange Essential Oil

5 Drops Lemongrass Essential Oil (Obviously, you can use something different, if you want!)

Pour Solution into your container (I used a plastic tupperware container that the 1/2 PT roll fit nicely into)

Cut a paper towel roll in half

Remove the cardboard thingy from the middle (you pull the wipes from the center - ingenious!)

Let paper towels soak up the solution

Clean away!!! (Or find a 5 year old to do it!)

As you can see Darla is a genius.

And I am a chicken herder: this morning after breakfast we all went outside and found that one of the chickens flown the coop, so to speak. Actually, she flew over their "playpen" - the fence to corral them during the day to the specific part of the hogweed infested yard that we want them to peck around in. So Mario (yes, the chicken is a girl, but she has this black mark on her beak that looks just like a mustache) was clucking like crazy, very anxious about being separated from the rest of the girls. I tried to convince her that I was just going to return her to the playpen, but she didn't understand my clucking. So, I had to chase her ALL the way around the fence, stumbling over rocks and fallen trees, tiptoeing around nasty hogweed, around the Ash tree and then FINALLY she ran into the shed where I cornered her and grabbed her!

She, of course, was much relieved... and the kids were much amused.

"Do you have a wife?"

Uncle Philip is visiting. Philip is a friend of Andrew's, a dear brother in the Lord who just finished college. He came for supper tonight. The past few times he has visited, Phinehas has asked him, "Do you have a wife?" Here is how the questions came tonight:

Phin: "Do you have a wife?"

Philip: "No."

Phin: "Why?"

Philip: "Well, I just don't right now."

Phin: "You should get one."

Philip: "Oh. I should? How?"

Phin: "You can catch it!"

Philip: (laughing) "That would be wild!"

Phin: "Yeah, and you can tie it up with a rope like a cowboy!!"

Fortunately, we have a bit more than a decade to change Phin's wife hunting philosophy!

Boys and Puppies

You know that we have a puppy - he is exceedingly cute and it is hard for the children (especially Phin) to resist taunting, teasing, chasing, being chased and just plain roughing around with him. The kids aren't supposed to rile him up in the house. Tonight Phin 'forgot' so I had him take a breather by me in the kitchen while I was doing dishes. Eventually, Andrew started serving the much awaited dishes of ice cream and Phin got a little nervous, afraid he was going to miss out because I told him he was going to sit there "FOREVER (or until I say so)". He started his repentance: "I promise I won't get the dog riled up ever again in the house, I won't ever again take his toys and I won't ever chase him or try and get him to chase me, except for outside, but only if you say so. And I won't make him growl or bark at me again when he is eating by teasing him. And I promise I won't make him run and I will only pet him gently and I won't pull on the rope or tease him with it." (I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud by this point.) "Ok, Ok son, go sit at the table and wait for your ice cream."

Another phenomenon revolving around puppies and boys is the absurd fascination that boys have with poking dogs with sticks. This, of course, is a big no-no. Both boys have swiftly found that to assault Elroy with a stick results in an unpleasant confrontation with either the Carpenter or (if he happens to be at work) his right hand woman. Phinehas only tried it once; Liam had to try it again. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.

Elroy likes squirrel meat. Andrew saw an unwise squirrel digging in my garden and promptly decided to end its life. (NO ONE digs in Mama's garden!) Now, whenever either boy sees a squirrel they want someone, ANYone, to shoot it. For Elroy of course. No, son... Elroy can only eat one at a time.

Catching Up

Well… its been long enough, eh?! In case you are wondering, we haven’t had regular Internet access for a while, so in spite of the fact that I have ideas for posts running through my head on a daily basis, I rarely type them and even more rarely post them.

The earth is fully arrayed in its glorious spring splendor and it seems we can’t get enough of playing outside. We have watched the unveiling and fading of cherry blossoms and apple blossoms, and now are wrapped in the delightful fragrance of lilacs. The honeysuckle and autumn olive bushes are on the verge of bursting forth with their blooms and then we will be surrounded by their intoxicating perfume. We have welcomed back the blue birds, the orioles, and the brown thrashers, the red-winged blackbirds and the brightly arrayed goldfinches. I love spring!

At the end of April I turned 28. For my birthday Andrew bought me a big ol’ cast iron pan – a 15 ½ inch diameter, a round griddle and a new pot. But, better than all that he got me and Abigail tickets to see Anne of Green Gables, the musical. It was very lovely, taking my not-so-little girl to a musical. I loved sitting by her and hearing her warbling laughter, feel her little hand gently holding onto my arm, watching her bright eyes take in as much as they could hold. From the moment we got out of the car and walked to the too-long line, my throat started choking up and my eyes got all watery. I almost came unglued at the realization that my daughter and I were going together to ‘an event’! It was too surreal, and almost too lovely for me to bear. We managed to find seats that were ‘front and center’ and as we watched the orchestra tune up Abbi declared that she wanted to play the trombone, and the flute, AND the violin. During the intermission they served ice cream cones. As we waited in line right in front of a few unpleasant children and their even more unpleasant grandmother I got all choked up again as I re-realized what a delightful treasure I have in my girl! We bought one cone for the two of us and sat out in the lawn where there was a fresh breeze; Abbi contentedly said, “It is fun sharing an ice cream cone with you Mama!” Wow! Melt my heart all over again!

So, that was my birthday. I am definitely WELL taken care of. Now we are spending our time working on the garden and getting the coop ready for the quickly growing chickens. Life is full, fun, and filled with wonder!