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...