The child is from a country

far away. The name of his birth place brings to mind images of boys on horseback riding around an open country. Also of women in brightly colored long dresses.

He is good and respectful. His family member who watches him while his parents work bows to me when she picks him up.

Today a younger sibling made a face at me. Father saw. Admonished child in their own language.

To be respected is a wonderful thing.

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Mom!

(Photo from my parent's 50th anniversary party August, 2009)

I sat down this

afternoon to write a post. An opinion piece. About how I'm tired of selfishness, opinions that are treated as news stories. I'm tired of ignorance, meanness and the feeling that the world revolves around individuals. I'm tired of fear, meaningless wars.

But what to say after that?

So I am headed outside. To work on some raised beds for my garden. To pet a dog or two. And admire some colored leaves.

And just maybe, the headache that I have will lessen.

Ramblings

Last night when I fell asleep Heinz was curled up next to my face. I told him that I loved him. He raised his head, turned to look at me and made a chirping sound. So cute.

Our youngest came home for dinner tonight and to find his passport. Possible trips to Tanzania or Belize may lie in his future. Medical mission trips.

Conversation with oldest son through IM yesterday:
Me- I have a headache.
S1- I have a computer.

Most of the old decking that was in a pile in our back yard has been removed and has found a new home at a nearby farm. Thank heavens for Craig's List.

Some of the decking is in a pile near the bee hive for raised garden beds. I'd like to say that because of the new raised beds that will be made before spring next year my gardens will be picture worthy. I would probably be lying. But hope springs eternal.

My day so far

1. Testing for my class

2. Parent volunteer could not make it in for her time.

3. Letter P week. Child announced that pe*is starts with P.

Why yes it does.

4. Child being tested on ABC's in random order is making all sorts of weird noises when I point to each letter. "I like to make up my own names for letters," the child said.

Mentally I'm banging my head against the wall.

5. Husband calls and leaves a message during work.

6. S2 leaves a message during work that ends with a plaintive "You never call me back."

For the record I do call back but it is usually at a wrong time - in class, studying, working etc.

7. I go to the grocery store, get gas and promptly forget to buy what husband has left message for on phone.

8. I get near home and electrician calls - he is at the house - I am two minutes away.

9. Get home, unlock house, talk to electrician.

10. Take dogs out to bathroom. Get them back into the house and give out chew bones.

11. Make wonderful salad. Greens, shredded cheese, dried cranberries, croutons, and the end of the salad dressing.

12. Realization hits that there is a second white van in the driveway. The hot tub is being fixed. Talk to hot tub man. Try to look intelligent as he is speaking to me. Hear sound of dish clanking from kitchen.

13. Come in to find that Snoopy has jumped up to counter, eaten salad and is quite pleased with himself.

It is now 1:39 pm.

Pie in the Sky

I watched the first disc of this series last night (from Netflix) and am totally charmed. It is about a detective, played by Richard Griffiths (the Uncle Dursley of Harry Potter fame), who would love to retire from the police and run his own restaurant. Unfortunately for him (and lucky for us) he is not allowed to retire and must handle both jobs.

The mystery's are light for the most part. No gore. More of a real every day life.

And like I said - Absolutely charming.

It is pouring

outside right now. The construction projects were not worked on today. The hot tub repairman is ill. Will come tomorrow. Husband needed a day off from the deck so the rain is a welcome relief for him.

An envelope for S1 came in today's mail. He gave me permission to open it. It was an odd reply to an editorial he wrote for the university newspaper.

The subject of the editorial was Darwin and it was basically a mini report on Darwin's life. Nothing controversial. But it was on Darwin.

Nothing scary in the letter that we received that I can tell. It is several pages long and seems to be photo copies of articles against Darwin. And the gentleman who sent it did put his name and return address on the envelope.

But at the same time it is unnerving. So many murders have happened at this school. And the fact that the university publishes the home addresses of its students freaks me out a little.

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

 

No, my dog is not doing her business on the new deck. She is getting ready to leap. :-)

Today is a big milestone in birthdays

for husband.

We spent it having a morning picnic and spending time with S2 at family day at his campus. Later there will be a three layer German Chocolate cake and solo singing of the birthday song by yours truly.

"Your child is not gifted" said

one of S1's teachers in high school. "He gets good grades because he perseveres."

I wasn't sure that I agreed with that assessment but once a student is pegged for a certain spot in school (12th grade and under) it is difficult for them to move up - no matter what they accomplish (at least in our area).

Fast forward.

S1 is to graduate in May with a degree in Physics and a minor in math and astronomy. This semester he is taking 3 languages - German, Japanese and Arabic. He is the TA for Japanese.

He was asked to write a twice a month column for the opinion page of the college newspaper. Column 3 will be turned in today.

Class rankings came out yesterday to be used for grad school applications.

S1 is number 1.

:-)




**I have no idea how this will translate into grad school acceptance. Life is fickle sometimes and paths never run the way that you think they will. But I am so happy for him and I love good news!!

Yesterdays funny moment

came from the mouth of a 4 year old.

There is a child in the class with big eyes who is adorable, smart, funny and stubborn (as many 4 year olds can be). Consequently I do say this child's name quite often.

A little girl in the class is quite enamored with him. Yesterday she was across the room from him, reaching out her arms in dramatic fashion, yelling "Best Friend, Best Friend".

I knelt down to her level and asked her if she knew the other child's name. A look of disdain came across her face. "It's ________ _______. You say it all the time!"

A thrifting tale

I walked into the rummage store run by our local spca after enjoying a cup of coffee and a scone next door at the coffee house with the lovely old chairs to relax in.

The store can be kind of expensive for 2nd hand goods. Their reasoning is that they are a source of funding for the animals. I just dig a little further into the items hoping for a great bargain.

The chair wasn't exactly a bargain, but it wasn't expensive either. I had been wanting a great piece of wicker for a sitting area in the master bedroom but I wasn't sure about this piece. Until I sat in it and realized that even without a cushion it was highly comfortable. But was the price worth it?

I had to make a decision right then and there. Another woman had spied the chair and was standing less than a yard from me waiting to pounce on it if I let the chair go.

I took the chair up to the register. The cashier looked at her friend who was next to her and said, "Someone is buying your chair!" Yes, another woman had seen the chair but had gone home to think it over.

The chair is mine. Husband loves it. Heinz loves it. Someday I envision it a dark green. But I may change my mind.

Why we have washable quilts on our bed

Look at that underbelly!!

Apple Orchard Field Trip

 

 

 

 

We took our students and their parents to the apple orchard near the famous presidents house. One of my favorite places as on sunny days the view can be spectacular and well worth the drive to the top of the mountain. We picked apples, went to apple school and ended with a hay ride and snack. Lots of smiling faces.