awake

I cannot sleep. I drank some coffee around 10pm and I'm still up on it. Also, I seem to have caught a "summer cold" and my nose has become a faucet. It's not fun to lay in bed, constantly changing my tissue-nose plugs. Finally, frustrated, I found myself poking around the meds for a dry-em-up. I found some Benadryl. What would I do w/o it? Tomorrow I'll use a Neti-pot.



Sarah Jane and I just got back 1:30am. We should've arrived at 9:35, but I overshot our exit off the Garden State Parkway. We knew we had gone too far when we saw flat land and sand in the soil...



God was good and saw us safely home. I have a cold and my nose is running like a faucet. And this coffee... And I think I'm just so happy to be back with my own family. I missed them!



One thing I did while in CT was really fun: Clair took me to see Nunsense at the Ivoryton Theatre. It was great! If you have a chance to see it, go! We laughed and laughed. There were a couple not-nice lines/jokes, but generally it was fine. The one character, "Mother Superior," was played by a man. "Mother Superior" seemed to weigh about 300 lbs, but moved with amazing agility for "her" weight. He/she was a great dancer. Clair was amazed at how nimble this heavy person was. I told her I thought he was padded. After the show, the actor came out in street clothes, and he was a trim man, about 5'7", weighing maybe 150. The padding really looked like real extra weight.














My friend had her baby. She had a girl, her third child, though poly-cystic ovarian disease has bothered her for some time. I think God must feel such joy in making these miracles happen. Makes me want another one. I guess that never goes away. If God wants to, He can make it happen, but so far, in the 15 years since getting my tubes done, nothing has happened outside of the IVF we did to get Noah. He knows best.

Road trip to New England

I find myself in Connecticut. I'm staying with a dear friend I made years ago when we lived here. I came along with Sarah Jane who was determined to get to her long-time friends, Chris and Enna. They went to the beach today.

My friend is Clair. And while Sarah Jane and her buddies were going to the beach, Clair and I were having manicures. I'd never had one before and let me tell you it was most relaxing. Clair treated. (I think she was a bit taken back that I'd never had my nails done before.) Mei, my Chinese nail-doer, was very thorough, and trimmed all my cuticles, massaged my hands and forearms, and even put a very warm towel on them. I think I liked that more than having spiffy nails. The process of having my nails done involved seemingly countless lotions and polishes. I think Mei applied 8 different liquids to my nails and hands by the time she sat me down under the dryer. And then Clair joined me. We sat there, feeling very girly and self-indulgent. A gal massaged Clair's back. (She had offered to do mine as well, but I thought it was extra so I declined.) Now my nails are a tasteful light pink, and I feel very special.

Clair loves the Lord, and so we have spent much time talking about His working in our lives, and how much He has blessed us.

Clair has quite a testimony. She said He manifested Himself to her in a most miraculous way. Jesus told her to read His Word because every word in it was true. I just had shivers as she shared all the details. Clair's working on a book, and I think she'll include this, so I'll not write it all out now. Just trust me - if you are earnestly seeking God, He will reveal Himself to you!

It's just about time to check in on another friend and see how her C-section went yesterday. I imagine she'll feeling a bit ouchy right now. I remember that feeling the next day, after all that wonderful numbing medicine has worn off. You just want to hop out of bed, but you can't. You have to move in slow motion because there are 7" of staples holding your tummy shut...

My newest obsession

This is a red and white Boston Terrier. I'm totally enamored with this pup. And I like the way Bostons look grown up even more!

My only problem is that David isn't a major pet person. If it wasn't for me, we'd have no pets. He does enjoy them, but generally can take them or leave them. (Though he does admit a weakness for cats and boxers...)

Today we go to a picnic, to visit with a family from our church who moved to Florida last year. I'm very excited because I have a surprise for my mother-in-law. I made her mother's Pennsylvania Dutch potato salad. It's sweet and sour. I have Grandma's recipe box, and found it in there a couple years ago. I couldn't believe nobody else wanted that recipe box as we went through her belongings.

Also, I'm bringing a dessert that I call Faux Chocolate Pie. I made it up yesterday. Having a fondness for bar cookies, I started with a basic bar crust, and poured pudding over it. Try it for yourself:

Faux Chocolate Pie

1-1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1-1/2 (3/4 cup) sticks cold butter , cut into pieces

2 small boxes chocolate pudding (the kind you cook)

4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 335 degrees F. Blend flour, powdered sugar, and butter til course and crumbly. (I use my food processor.) Press into ungreased 9"x 13" pan. Bake for 18 minutes. Cool on rack. While it's cooling, make up the pudding (I do this in the micro), and pour over crust. Cool on counter for an hour, then in fridge for 2+ hours. You can put a meringue on top, but I don't.

My family just eats this up! I had to gaurd the last piece for Sarah Jane, as she was working at the hospital til late.

Now, I must figure out a way to sneak a little Boston into the house...

Depression glass

Just thought I'd post a pic of one of the pieces of depression glass I bought the other day. It's a stem pot. I made that name up - maybe it's called something else. But it's really neat. It has a removeable "lid" with little holes for flower stems. Isn't it just too sweet and old-fashioned? I wonder who owned it before, and what they were like...

Also, here's a lamp that Faith's mom has. Faith said it was rather old. I liked how the bottom lights as a night-light. You can have both parts on, or just one. Isn't it dear? I love the color!

And, though it's off topic, I just had to post a pic of Maisy, our Sheltie, how I found her this morning. She's often on her back.

Respite in Rosebud

I went away last weekend. Noah and I hopped into my friend, Faith's, volvo, and headed three hours away to her parents' home in Rosebud, PA, in Clearfield Co.

Faith and I chattered happily, both being ENFP's, and the time flew. As soon as we got there, we headed to the main street for a town parade and fair. I loved the small town of Coalport, right across the river from Rosebud, a walk from Faith's childhood home. As fire engines and sportscars (advertising so-and-so for city council) inched by, the passengers threw candy to the crowd. Noah soon had more than he could carry. Nice ladies walked along, handing out balloons to kids. A Ten Commandments float went by - that was neat.

Noah takes a balloon

After the parade, we walked about and Noah won a bird whistle at a dart game! We ate hot dogs and snow cones, and every other person stopped Faith to say hello. "Oh, that was my cousin," Faith would explain, or her father's cousin, or her aunt, and so on. Everyone knew everyone else, or was related to them. I loved it. Also, I envied how Faith, now, and as a child, walked to her old-fashioned Methodist church, with the bells ringing everyone in. "Frank and I were married here." she told me. Yet again, I felt ripped off by my own wedding in a done-over grocery store, star-pierced lit border, mirrored poles and all... Oh well. The reception was OK. I often find myself wanting to have a vow renewal in an olf-fashioned church. Maybe someday we will - and then go on the honeymoon that David longs for. (Scuba-diving off some island - I'd really like that too!)

But I digress.

I so enjoyed staying with Faith's parents, Tom and Betty. They have a tidy country- decorated home with an expansive back yard. There are many hide-aways in the yard, and I found one in particular a favorite: a white heart swing, tucked under mature trees, near a babbling stream. There were purple and white foxglove growing by the stream. Here I had Bible devotions, and worked on the book I'm reading: The Kite Runner.

The swing by the stream

One night, Faith drove me to a mountain-top with a view all around. We climbed a water tower and saw even further. It was amazing. Then we went to Pirate's Cove for ice-cream, and some guys (Faith thought they were "lit") asked Noah (wearing a pirate hat) where his beard and hook were. At first he looked away, shyly. But then he sneaked out a hooked finger. They laughed. It was cute.

Faith and me (right)

It was a very restful time, and I'm so grateful to Faith for inviting Noah and me along. On our way back, having run out of heart confessions, Faith and I made up a story by turns, about a Victorian girl named Cora with a secret admirer. That was fun to do as we drove past mountains and rivers. The views were incredible. We stopped at an antique shop and I picked up some pink and green depression glass.

Back to the usual now. But I was ready to come home. I missed the rest of my family. Faith missed her squirrel.

family visits

Yesterday and today were family visiting days. Yesterday, we went to my sister, Wendy's, for a BBQ. The kids had water battles, and the grown-ups talked and ate too much. We wrapped up with a game of knock rummy til after sunset, and got home around 9.

Today, we ate Chinese take-out at David's parents' home. "Nanny" and "Papaw" really enjoy having all of us over, and we played games, watched movies, and looked at all the pix from their recent trip to Venice. They went for their 50th anniversary. They made sure to ride in a gondola. Dad told me it cost $100/person - ouch! If I ever go, I'll have to take the Walmart-type gondola. This will be a basic metal canoe with a starter gondolier, mabye around age 13, and we'll just hope to stay dry!

chipmunk cheeks

Josh had his wisdom teeth out this morning. He had a couple extra teeth removed as well. 6 extractions. Poor kid. He did really well, though, and hasn't complained at all.

Job well done

Today was my husband's birthday. I think he was pleased with how his day went. I made him tacos for dinner, followed by New York-style cheesecake. He really liked his present, a coffee-table book all about arts and crafts style bungalows. Beautiful photos. He looked and looked at it, even after all the excitement wore off.

My mother-in-law joined us, just back from her trip to Venice. She brought souveniers with her! She has got to be the best souvenier-getter in the entire East coast. As soon as David had opened his gifts, she started handing out all the others. Soon the table was filled with interesting goodies: hand-painted flutes, T-shirts, jewelry, linens, old-fashioned toys, and knocking balls (which may be whisked away in the night by the peace-and-quiet fairy). By the time all was unwrapped, I had an ecru hand-crocheted table runner, a golddust-filled glass pendant, and a lovely sachet of dried lavendar, mmmmm-mmm!

Mom told us that Dad insisted on getting that fancy table runner for me. He bargained and bargained for it, finally spending about $70 on it. He's so good to me. I still treasure the Canadian gold coin pendant he brought me a couple years ago.

Well, I'm pooped. Time for bed...

Screeee!

Since all the big kids got out of school, a special sound is heard through-out my day...

"Screeeeeeee!"

How is it that a five-year-old can scream this much.

"Screeeee-eeeeee! Ben is on my bike!!! You're not riding it in the middle! Screeeeee!"

"Screeeeeeee! Becka won't let me on the couch! Screeeeee! She pinched me! Becka- I'm never gonna play with you again! I hate you!"

So, what is a mom to do? Send them all to their rooms, put some break-and-bake cookies in and watch a movie...

This really happened.

It was bedtime in the fall of 1992. I had four kids at the time. Girls, ages 5 and 7, a 2-1/2 year-old, and and a baby, around 7-8 months old. I had just put Josh, the two-year-old, to bed, and carried the baby, Ben, on my hip to check that the girls were settling in. My husband, David, was studying for his P.E., his lap full of books and binders, his mind purring along.

As I got to the girls' room, I heard a terrified scream come from Josh. It was one of those get-there-now! screams, and I ran to see what was up. As I approached the room, there was an orange glow coming out of it - fire! I screamed for David as I nearly dropped Ben at the doorway and ran in to get Josh off his bed, which was on fire.

Josh was trapped behind the fire, in the corner the bed was in, but I got around it, grabbed him, and took him out of the room. By this time, David had flung the books off and was in the room. He tried to beat the fire out with a blanket, but it just kept coming alive again. This was because of the mattress, an old one filled with Spanish moss of all things! We had to haul it outside and douse it with water. Still it stayed lit. Finally I suggested David cut it open like a bun, and douse it. That worked.

All this started because Josh snuck some matches into bed.

So I have two pieces of advice for moms:

1. Don't use old mattresses. Use new, non-flammable ones.
2. Don't keep matches. We have only kid-proof lighters in the house now, as we have a five-year-old son.

God was good.

KJV only!

I read and trust the King James Bible only. If you want to know why, check out this site:

http://www.av1611.org/

Lots of good stuff. Educate yourself. Why use a butter knife when you could use a sharp sword?

Shorn Sheltie

I felt soooo sorry for our dog, Maisy, for having to wear a long wooly coat in the summer heat. She was even panting in the a/c. So yesterday, I took some scissors and trimmed her. I left her mane and fluffy tail, but at least her body will be cooler. David hates it. I think she looks like one of the sheep she's supposed to guard.

Here she is before:

And after:

freaky wolf man

Ok, this is just grossing me out. Sarah Jane is watching A Man Among Wolves on the National Geographic Channel. It's about a man who lives among wolves, like a wolf, feeding pups from his mouth, with them licking into his mouth, etc. I used to be quite the tom-boy, but I really can't stomach this. Nor can Josh. So now she's put on something equally disturbing, a show about Hitler's Youth.

Poor Noah. His arm is so swollen from his vaccinations yesterday. I'm glad I only allowed them to give him 2 instead of 4. Good thing we have Benadryl. This happened before and that's what I had to give him.

Noah said the cutest thing the other day. He was dressed as a knight, rocking on his horse, and I asked him, "Are you going to be a knight when you grow up?" Suddenly, he threw down the helmut, shield, and sword, and declared, "I'm not a knight! I'm a mother's child." (mother pronounced "muh-thaw") Awwww. He's my sweet little boy.

Same gold - new ring

I had my original wedding band remade into a 2.5mm plain comfort fit band to match my .33 diamond bezel ring. They look great together. I just got them back today. I'll see if I can post a pic. Yep, here it is:








Isn't that purty?

Time to make dinner...