Radio Silence

Since my last post:

• Audit at work – stress and madness ensue
  
• Vacation – lovely blur because
  
• FIL fell while we were gone sustaining grave injury
  
• IT conversion at work – stress and madness ensue
  
• FIL not progressing, bring in hospice
  
• Struggle to continue on with major fundraising event
  
• Funeral
  
• Put on huge fundraising event
  
• Spend time with Precious Oldest, home for spring break
  
• Spend time with Precious Youngest, home for spring break
  
• Shake fists at the heavens that their spring breaks were different weeks
  
• Go to the doctor and find out stress has caused weight loss. Go figure
  
• Send out resume and get called for interview
  
• Then….Nothing
  
• Start lettuce and carrots, prune and feed roses, beef up perennials
  
• Begin kitchen facelift
  
• Find out that lack of running water/stove/refrigerator render me useless
  
• Realize I would have made a shitty pioneer
  
• Girls home for Easter
  
• Have 70th birthday party for my mother
  
• Get called f or a second interview
  
• Then…Nothing
  
• Get a call from Precious Oldest – SHE HAS A JOB!
  
• Praise sweet baby jesus that kitchen face lift is done save for painting the walls
  
• Realize day after day after day of dreary weather has stopped me from doing any further gardening. Will likely see first tomato around fucking Labor Day
  
• Start researching possibilities for new kitchen table and chairs
  
• The Saint informs me budget is blown
  
• I keep looking for furniture anyway

Oh people I could weep. It has been a ragged few months. I look at this pathetic list and notice a total lack of nuance yet my life is filled day to day with grace notes I can’t put into words. I don’t want to abandon this space. We shall see.

Things Precious Oldest did over Christmas Break

Hid the baby Jesus 72 times.

Decided all gift bows must be worn



Decided her mother must wear gift bows too



Made her mother read a Christmas bedtime story



Put out cookies and eggnog for Santa



Made fun of her mother's ass while she was digging gifts out from under the tree



Finished her t-shirt quilt

Yeah, all the rest of that stuff was just to show you how cute the quilt turned out!

Thanksgiving In Pictures, Part 2

Everything's More Fun with Babies!

My brother and his wife are very brave. They took a four hour plane ride to come for Thanksgiving with their two and a half year-old sons.





I got in a BUNCH of trouble for getting up from dinner to fix PB&J's,



but they didn't seem too interested in what WE were eating.



They are very energetic

and HIGHLY entertaining



The boys were very interested in the dog but a bit timid.



But once they go the hang of patting gently





Kisses were next!



Can I say borrowed babies are especially precious?

Thanksgiving in Pictures

Turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, creamed onions, brussel sprouts, FOUR kinds of pie. Marvelous.
We were twenty for dinner plus the twins. My sisters helped with prep


Sib #2 made forty eight crescent rolls fit on two pans. It is a talent I assure you.
Sib #3 helped me peel TEN FREAKING POUNDS of potatoes. We LOVE mashed potatoes!

He doesn't look like a twenty-two-pounder does he?

He got some help from an additional turkey breast and I spent a great deal of time looking for more dishes.

The Saint spent a great deal of time opening wine.




Everyone else?
Spent a great deal of time


Enjoying the wine!
All in all a very satisfactory meal!

Fourth of July Re-Cap

Rain was in the forecast:



So we squished as much as we could under a canopy.



We took a chance and set the bar up on the deck.



But I DID make sure there was plenty of seating in doors !



We had a preponderance of young ladies ready to blow stuff up early in the evening.



They had a special project:



After watching many barbies being blown up by brothers/boys over the years,



they decided to try Army Men.



Laid out on a roll of 250 firecrackers.



The Army Men did NOT stand a chance!



Fortunately it did not start raining until just after dusk.



The rain did NOT deter the young people heading off to watch the city fireworks display in make-shift ponchos.



Hope you had a great 4th!

A Must See

On Mother's Day I went with my sister and my mother to see the documentary Babies.

Do yourselves a favor and see it. Awesome!

* Edited to add: Sorry, you'll have to suffer through some long, lame bit before the trailer kicks in!

Tradition…TRADITION!!

A funny thing happens when you have nearly grown children who believe in Santa Clause and tradition in equal measure.

They still get new PJs on Christmas Eve



They sleep with their very well loved Teddy bears



Even if you’re the MOM you get new PJs on Christmas Eve


Because your nearly grown children don’t want you to feel left out


And of course they leave milk and cookies for Santa



And a carrot for the reindeer



Do YOU still believe?