A Small Pity Party Before I Clean the Whole Housei

First there is the blemish pimple on the bridge of my nose: It is obscuring my peripheral vision. It's like seeing a mountain in my side view... Mount Pimpleous. It's so big, and encroaching, it need its own zit code!

Second... we seem to have a bird. Which is... hmmm... not what we planned, but Steve has so firmly endeared himself, that I cannot think of turning him away. So, we need to equip ourselves and find a place safe from drafts and cats where we can hang a cage. Then I need to resign myself to cleaning another house, and feeding another mouth a beak.

Third. Well, I am just feeling my regular cycle of gosh, I really, really loathe not having our own house and all the related emotions and frustrations that go with it. Same ol', same ol'. At least our landlord recently declared us his "favorite tenants ever!" He hasn't seen the carpets, obviously.

OKay. It's time to pick myself, dust myself off and start all over again.

A Very Small Chicken

Are you missing a budgie? A green parakeet, that happily perches on fingers and eats from your palm? He's here. He was walking on the lawn, here at Garage Mahal. We are calling him Steve. It's an Aussie name, in honor of the Crocodile Hunter. We put up signs all over the neighborhood and even went door-to-door, but so far no one is claiming him. I know that if I bought the $49.00 cage at the pet shop we would hear from a grateful owner tonight. There are some very hopeful children here.

Yesterday, Today and Mañana

It always seems to be about falling behind, catching up and making plans for tomorrow.

So yesterday was productive, if a little distressing: I got The Call... the one from school... "Your son fell... he wants you." Yikes! Terrible visions clouding perspective and reason. He's OKay. He came down hard, on both elbows. No scrapes or blood, but we had to go to the doctor and check for broken stuff. Yesterday he was hurting. Today he is hurting a lot. I guess that is to be expected, but we are supposed to keep an eye on him, just in case there is something the doctor could not detect by clenching Alex's fist and looking at his arms. Poor guy...

I also cooked a fabulous dinner, baked cookies, bathed the younger ones, washed all the dishes and bought a week's 2 days worth of groceries. What else?

William had his first independent study check-in. Now he is enrolled in an official program with the local public high school, so I can breath a huge sigh of relief and sleep well at night, knowing he is well supported and under the watchful eye of trained professionals. Professionals like his English teacher, who said: "Lord of the Flies. Huh... There are 2 movie versions of this one. The first one is in black and white. I think it is the better one. The new movie doesn't follow the story. You could see the movie."

I kid you not. Could that be any more "Orange County?"

From the movie:
Mr. Burke: Now, when I say "Romeo and Juliet," who comes to mind?
Dana: Claire Danes?
Mr. Burke: That's right, Claire Danes. Who else?
Chad: Leonardo DiCaprio.
Mr. Burke: Right. Who else? Well, you know someone else was involved in that movie who in some ways is as famous as Leonardo Di Caprio. And his name is William Shakespeare. And some great movies have been made based on his plays: Hamlet, West Side Story, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Waterworld, Gladiator, Chocolat...

Or this classic....

Principal Harbert: People, June is just around the corner, let's talk graduation speakers. Ideas?
Shaun: Toni Morrison, she's in town that same weekend for a book signing. She's won the Nobel Prize.
Principal Harbert: Interesting... Dana, didn't you say you have a cousin who was friends with Britney Spears?

Yes, see the movie.



Today is for bill paying, and worrying about Alex, thinking about the weekend, and procrastinating. And tomorrow? Let's see... probably laundry and there's always the hope that I will clean our bedroom. I really want to finish my WIPs, before Maria and Benjamin get too comfortable.

Falling into Fall

6 cooks and no recipe... we are a little off our game, but we are willing to try, try, try again. Max kept saying, "More lemon. Definitely more lemon." While Maria stood on the step chanting, "Suga' pease! Suga' pease!" Alex believes we could have gone with more cinnamon and less lemon. I wish we had let it bake a bit longer.


We happily recalled that come January it will be our 10th anniversary... that is our 10th apple peeler-corer-slicer anniversary. It was a birthday gift for Geoff, procured by Jola, when I was too overcome with morning sickness to leave the house. She added a huge bag of apples, so we could bake our first pie, but slicing apples, and munching them on the spot, proved so much fun we never had enough left for even a turnover.


Alex was in charge of the crust, which we agree came out perfect. He used his birthday crust cutter to cover this crust with birds. Then we brought the two pies to share with everyone at Deanne and James' house. Holly, Izzy, Nick and Rich were already there when we arrived, and the whole evening was spent enjoying good company and good food. And wine. My goodness...


Oh, and thinking up names for the baby coming in February. James and Deanne are expecting! I get so tickled every time I think of this!


What the...?! Another WIP? I can't help it. Yes, I have 3 quilts in progress, 4 children, laundry, a blog...


I stole this was inspired by "Lady Harvartine" and her Zipped Up quilt. It seemed like the ideal start for some Moda charms I've been staring at. As Geoff was leaving for work this morning, I was on the floor laying pieces out, and I think he could see that I was supremely happy.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

heehee... I am laughing at myself. This morning is as beautiful as most mornings, but sometimes a little personal joy can make everything extra shiny and bright, like when one of my favorite talents in the blogosphere makes a really nice mention of me. Seriously, I may be a bit full of myself for a few days, since I am a recipient of a BNRPA! You may not be familiar with the Beautiful Newborn Red Pepper Award, but around here everyone is going to be hearing all about it, all day! Thank you Anna Maria!

And check this out: More BNRPA award winners!
Meg of "Montessori By Hand"... looks awesome!
Linda's blog...so inspiring!
"Fiddlesticknitting" is introducing a rosebud of a baby! Welcome to the world Satya.
"Happy Loves Rosie" is peek across the pond, where Hayley is raising teens and making art.


We had a family day, out in the world. So nice to be together and seeing new sights. The Model Railroad Museum was a huge hit, and no wonder, what with lovely trains puttering down tiny tracks and little scenes of farms and cities. Trains are so appealing!


While the children and I learned about "0" scale and teeny-tiny "N" scale, Geoff was waiting in line for tickets to the Natural History Museum... specifically we were there to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. We got in, and it was an amazing experience, which I am still processing... "Wow" and "Cool" are rather shallow commentaries on such a profound, historical and spiritual occasion, but Wow! Cool! The entire exhibition is an amazing culmination of history, science, art, politics, geography, archaeology, preservation, diplomacy and God. I was especially moved to see the Psalms scroll and this passage:
133:1 A Song of Ascents; of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

133:2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard; even Aaron's beard, that cometh down upon the collar of his garments;

133:3 Like the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever.


Of course, when you are two years old, a little museum time can go a long way. Soon it's time to get out and run around!


Life should be a balance of learning about a long time ago and life right now.


The museum showed many ancient and fascinating artifacts from Israel and Qumran. I liked seeing the dishes and little artifacts that reflected daily living, home life. Their lives are so distant, and yet present. What will remain of this day, of our lives, 2,000 years from now?


Nice to be reminded to savor the day. The blue sky, healthy children running around rose gardens and splashing fountain water.