The Tour – Part 3

Oct12

Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! I can’t believe you are still sitting on that bench! Life just got the best of me for a bit, we took some trips out of town and John was gone and we all got sick and… well you know how it is- just life.

But please, please, get up. Let’s go for a walk, stretch your legs, we’ve got more to see!

We’ll head out the back gate here into the woods. Watch out for the dogs though. Well you can’t see them yet because they have already sprinted up ahead and do their best to catch chipmunks, but they’ll be flying back past us any moment. Storm usually has a giant — stick! Is your leg OK? LOOK OUT! I’m so sorry! The girls think they are being careful while waving big sticks around but obviously they aren’t! But if you can keep your footing with the dogs about and protect your eyes from the sticks, this trail is really rather nice. We’ll just follow it here as it winds about a bit to the far end of the property. Alright, I can see that just looking at all that buckthorn and multiflora rose is making your blood pressure rise. Please try to look up a little higher and check out the oak, maple and pines instead and before you know it, we’ll be in the orchard.

Here we are! Careful! Don’t walk there! You’ve got to watch your step, there are downed apples everywhere and it’s such a nice day that the yellow jackets are out it swarms! Our orchard is small compared to the one you drove by when you came up the driveway. We only have about 30 trees. (Well 32 and one pear to be precise.) Of course you can have an apple! Try as many as you like – well not that one! You gotta watch for worms! Here try this one instead, it’s a Baldwin it’s John’s current favorite. Or over here you can try an Erwin Baur, I love that one. Clara’s favorite is the Yellow Delicious, Jane eats them all we just try to keep her from picking them off the ground. Go ahead and pick her one of those Golden Russets there, they look brown and weird but they are tasty. Ivy – no Ivy scorns all our apples for the neighbors – 32 varieties and we still can’t please everyone.

As you can see we are swimming in apples, we can’t even pick them fast enough this year.

But the chickens are loving the windfalls.

And so are the ducks who are living in the coop we moved. Didn’t I tell you about that? Well…. (The Tale of The Perfect Little Chicken Coop)

We’ve been making apple cider and apple pies, sauce, butter… And that reminds me, have I told you about John? Here we are drowning in apples and he BOUGHT ten pounds of apples! Yes, bought them and brought them home because he thought it would be “a good project” for him and Clara to turn them into dried apples.

Seriously.

What do you mean “What’s that”?

That is a bag for you. You can’t leave without a bag of apples! I’ll help you pick – Not on that! That ladder is a safety hazard, only John is crazy enough to use that one! Here, use this one.

You know, on second thought, let’s get you back to the house. I’ve got lots of apples all ready picked there and you finish the tour with the inside of the house. Just follow Jane and try not to get hurt anymore…

“Come on!”

So… have you always been this accident prone, or is this a new thing?

(continued in The Tour -Part 4)

The Tour – Part 1

The Tour – Part 2

Weekly Photo Challenge: Good Morning! (?)

Oct10

Weekly Photo Challenge: Good Morning!

Isn’t that pretty?

That’s what I’ve looked at out my front window every morning this week.

The fog sits between the rows of apple trees.

The windows at the peak of the barn reflect the colors of the sky.

Birds sing…

Kids wake up fighting, clothes are misplaced, breakfast is cooked and then scorned, school wants kids there on time, my yogurt spills in the truck, other drivers gesticulate and swear at me until I realize I’m driving 10 MPH through town, I call people the wrong names, drive the wrong way, mess up plans to meet friends, wake up without my voice, forget my tea at home…

Mornings – they may be pretty but I’m not ready to call them “good.”

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Oct9

Things you should know.

1) Despite what the title may lead to you believe this book is not a book filled with flowers, fluff and happiness.

2) When my book club met after reading this book we had more book related discussion than we often do.

3) Some of the story is rather unbelievable.

5) Some of it is frighteningly believable.

6) You should never give someone a bouquet made of peony’s and yellow roses.

7) Would I recommend it? Yes.

Turning Four

Oct7

Clara started off her fourth year practicing some life skills. After all, it’s never to early to start.

First up was how to climb without falling out of a tree and giving yourself a black eye.

I did not take this picture, as the only thing that I’d like less than watching my family crawl up the side of a wall is doing it myself. Jane and I stayed home while John and Clara were joined by another Dad/Daughter duo for the adventure. So, while I’ve no stories of my own to share I can tell you that the girls came back all smiles and giggles. I heard about how they got to climb “ROCKS AND ROPES MOM!” They showed me just how very high their dads climbed (At least as high as a newly four year old standing on the back of a couch can reach.) and I heard all about how there are “rules about climbing.”

No falling, no black eyes, happy kids. Life skills progressing well.

After a day of play we met John at his work for dinner, cake and presents and Clara worked on life skill number two for the day.

How to open gifts at a wedding shower.

Clara opened each present with her mouth wide and girly squealing sounds coming out of it. Then she’d see what was inside – “I love it! It’s just what I always wanted!”…”What is it?”

I figure she’s about half way there. Which is further than I have ever made it with that particular skill.

Finally I must add that I made Clara a moth cake. It’s been confusing more than a few people, they think they can’t understand what she is saying but it’s true. I made her a moth cake. A Rosy Maple Moth cake to be completely accurate -because I like being accurate and Clara likes chocolate cake with pink frosting – and moths.

The cake looked like this, which I thought was pretty darn good for a moth.

But Clara’s face when she saw it was even better!

In her list of life skills she’s working on she can cross “how to melt her mothers heart” right off, she’s got that one down pat!

Happy Birthday Clara!

Cheerful Noncompliance Strikes Again

Oct3

Clara and I are having a little trouble seeing eye to eye today.

Or you could more accurately say that I am cranky and Clara is cheerfully non-compliant. I must have missed the lessons that Ivy was giving her in cheerful noncompliance but I must say, she has mastered the skill. Also, it seems that cheerful noncompliance turns me from a cranky mother to an insane mother, which is unfortunate for all involved.

Like most insane mothers I tend to talk (read: lecture) more than I should.

After an afternoon (read: two hours) of frustration I was trying to convince Clara to go do something really fun and exciting outside (read: I was desperately trying to convince her to get out of my sight in the nicest way possible). Finally she was headed out the door and I, in my insane mode, had to give her a few last directions (read: I shouted lectures at her all the way to the door from the other side of the house) all which revolved around not letting the muddy dogs back in the house.

Again.

My girl Clara though, she’s super talented. She has not only got the hang of cheerful noncompliance but has also mastered cheerfully irritating compliance.

To my ridiculous barrage of directions a little sing song voice trilled out:

“All right, I will keep that in mi-ind.”

She went out, the dogs didn’t come in, I rolled my eyes took a deep breath and enjoyed three minutes of bliss.

Then she tried to boil her sister like a lobster in the shower.

But that, is a whole different story.

Now I have to go, the only cure I know for insane mother syndrome around here comes in a delightfully shiny, red and silver can – and we are out.

Time for a trip to town!

Toad in the Hole

Oct2

I’ve been making Toad in the Holes as a quick breakfast for the girls and I can’t decide if I should continue.

Is it the best breakfast food to keep everyone happy?

Or are the resulting plates just too ridiculous?

(And no, they won’t trade plates when they are “done.”)

The Gates by John Connolly

Sep30

So, you know, the gates of hell are opening and a small boy needs to save the world, same ol’ same ol’.

Except.

Except there are footnotes!

And I really do love footnotes.

These footnotes are not just any kind of footnotes, oh no.

These footnotes are the laugh out loud kind of footnotes.

And…

…get this.

It’s the first in a series.

I haven’t read them yet – but I’m going to.

I’m mean really, a humorous, young adult book with footnotes in a series.

It’s like John Connolly wrote it just for me.

Would I recommend it? Oh – The Large Hadron Collider is in it too. What more do you need out of a book?

This Moment – Waiting For Ivy

Sep27

A Friday ritual . A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/daily-prompt-waiting/

The Tour – Part 2

Sep24

The virtual tour continues… (See the The Tour – Part 1 if you missed the beginning.)

If you’ll remember you had just followed Clara through the arch of wisteria (and, crossing my fingers it will take, my clematis) and past the garage.

As you step out from behind the garage you’ll finally see our house.Cute as it is don’t get distracted and keep your wits about you. Clara’s favorite tree is just along the sidewalk and I’m sure by now she’s in position to show you her tricks.Many unsuspecting people (myself included) have gotten bonked in the head by the end of the branch as she jumps off the one she is crouched on and leaps to her right to grab the next branch! (Yes, the contusions on her face are from her tree climbing adventures how did you guess?!)

If you can manage to avoid any concussions you may get lucky and see one of the few redeeming factors of the plethora of hostas that surround the house.

The hummingbird moths love my hostas even if I do not.

I know now that you are finally standing in front of the door you really want to check out the inside but look at Trip-

The yard is narrow! See the gate leading out to the woods directly behind Trip?

He is waiting very patiently to meet you!

I’ll even promise to keep him from jumping on you if you promise to keep a secret. Please don’t let him know that a dog who climbs on top of cars and jumps on top of round bales would have no trouble leaping this cute little fence!

Speaking of dogs… what do you think about this spot?

You have now gone through to Trips side of the gate and are looking back at Clara’s favorite tree. It is the mostly leafless one right in the middle on the far side of the sidewalks.

The overhang on the back of the garage is set up as a potting bench and looks to be a perfect area to harden off plants coming out of the greenhouse. On the other hand, it would also make a perfect spot to turn into a dog kennel with a small covered outdoor run and access to the garage. It’s a big decision. If you’ve got any brilliant thoughts let me know!

You’ll have to talk and walk though. Past a few flower beds and across the very small lawn Jane is waiting to show you her new chair and the goldfish in the tiny pond behind her…

Well, as usual, I don’t have any idea what she said, but she sure had a lot to say!

Now that she’s busy throwing wood chips in the water lets go check out my shady vegetable garden.

You just chatted with Jane beyond the willow you see on the left side of this photo directly behind the house.

Yeah- I know- tomatoes don’t really ripen so great when they are in shade half the day. I’m thinking of planting grass seed and a much needed clothes line here next year and finding a new spot for the garden.

What do you think?

Clara’s bench is right under the large willow that can be seen in the garden picture.

Can I convince you to join Clara and I in the backyard for some planning and dreaming before we move on?

Don’t worry we won’t stay too long, there’s still lots to show you!

(Continued in The Tour – Part 3)

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns

Sep23

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns

I’ve never been a fan of hostas.

Their huge leaves look overly tropical and out of place nestled under pine trees. Their mounds of foliage jump out and grab your attention – in the most boring greenish way possible. I suppose I understand how the leaves can be attractive- until Japanese Beetles attack and all you have left are attention grabbing, pillowy mounds of weird, tropical looking plants riddled with holes awaiting an imminent frost that will turn them into giant, brown piles of mush…

I’ve never been a fan of hostas.

But, the new house came with shade.

Lots of shade.

My hosta hating self is now the proud owner of lots of shade and lots of hostas.

But you know… if you take a picture from underneath the leaf, give it a bit of pick-me-up in Photoshop, then turn the whole thing upside down… I almost like it.

Of course it no longer looks much like a hosta.

In fact it almost reminds me of a water slide.

I have always been a fan of water slides!