… because the kids “help.”
Jane has got the right idea.
When your shirt gets dirty in the mud puddle you take it off because it needs washing. 
It’s a good first step.
She’s also onto the fact that washing involves scrubbing in water.
Even though she seems to take after me, (laundry does not make her smile) I think she’s well on her way to being an expert clothes washer.
Her drying technique on the other hand…
…now that’s a problem!
We are in the new house. 
We are exhausted.
We are unpacking.
We are eating apple crisp.
We request that you please hold and enjoy some previously written posts until we find our way out of the cardboard box hell we have become mired in.
I’m taking pictures.
I’m planning blog posts.
A virtual tour is being contemplated.
But right now all I’m ready to share are these roses. 
They are pretty.
I’m still working on the house.
Please hold.
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. 
Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow
I bet you don’t even need three guesses to figure out our weekend plans!
The 2013 WWCWR :
Poor Jane.
She came to me, M&M in hand, bemoaning the fact that it did indeed melt in her hand, not in her mouth.
Jane went on to explain that since the first was clearly defective she would like another to replace it.
Sadly, in this world you can’t make it to your second birthday before you learn the realities of marketing ploys and the even harsher news about reading the “fine print”.
Because, as I explained to her, even if the “not in your hand” part of the slogan were a true warranty I’m certain that the fine print on such a thing would ensure that any moisture on the M&M would render the entire warranty null and void.
I then went on to clarify that, yes, sucking on it and spitting it back out numerous times does constitute “moisture” on the M&M.
And so she was left with her unsatisfactory M&M situation until the next time she uses her potty chair.
Poor Jane.
This morning we bought this house:
YAY!
This afternoon I was in a moving funk.
UGH!
I’m sure it was brought on by the conflicting emotions of the day.
The excitement of the new house.
The dread of leaving the old place.
The bored children.
The underlying panic every time I look at the amount of packing and moving that still needs to be done.
UGH!
I’ve decided there is only one cure for such a problem.
Packing can wait we are going out to celebrate with ice cream!
YAY!
Do you know how the shape of spoons relates to political history?
!
Have you heard the theory of knife use and how it relates to overbites?!
Did you know that there were 692 patents granted for egg beaters in a 64 year span?!
Have you heard all the different ways people came up with to turn spits?!
Ice boxes!!? Pots!!? Measuring cups!!? Forks!!?
I would be happy to tell you because I found it all completely fascinating.
You don’t even have to ask.
Just invite me into your kitchen and soon you’ll have me jumping up and down in front of you as I spout off with nerdy factoids that I remember the gist of but not enough of the details so that you will think it’s interesting as well.
It will be like the kitchen nerds version of forgetting the punch line of the joke.
Come to think of it perhaps that’s why I don’t tell jokes.
Perhaps it would be best just to read the book yourself…
Would I recommend it? Clearly!
The author does a fantastic job of relating ancient (and not so ancient) kitchen woe’s to current day practice. I loved it in a way that had me running off to bed to see what happened next, which is impressive in a book about the “History of How We Cook and Eat!”
Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece 
.
One Gravel Driveway + One Hose = One Masterpiece In The Making
…
One Finished Masterpiece + One Little Sister = One Big Stomp
One Big Stomp = Trouble!
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. 
Behind the Willows 