Getting Ready For Summer Foods

Now that it's warming up my mind turns to outdoor foods and salads and my favorite-home made salsa. My friend Debra is a potter. She makes beautiful things. I was at her place picking up some items for christmas when I saw some little square bowls in her cupboard. She gave a price that can't be beat. I have waited until there was $ to order them. I am on my way to her house to pick colours. Salsa tastes so much better when eaten from the proper bowls. I have finally begun waxing floors. I had a time finding the right liquid waxy shiney stuff. My floors are in bad shape and I have no plans to refinish them. But clean and wax them I will do. Since the Duke poop incident the floors are naked. He is making slow progress and I still don't know if he can ever be okay. By next week we will have to face this and decide. He's better than he was but not better enough.I cannot let him suffer. Right now he's in a holding pattern.

Who is Stellan?

And why should you pray for him. Well if you have not heard of him you are out of the loop and need to go to his moms blog and read up. I have been following his story for a while. When I read todays last post I burst into happy happy tears. This is such an amazing story and it seems that half of the world knows about him. Thank you God, Stellan and his mom are flying home tomorrow.

My second night back home. I woke up several times and had no idea where I was. It was strange. I am so happy to be home. Ol Duke dog is hangin in there for right now. He is eating the most yummy of dinners now and I think he will never want to be well for fear of going back on icky dog food. I am making him boiled chicken breat and brown rice. It tastes so good and the brown rice has such a nice earthy taste. Joe thought it was for him. I spent forever shoveling poop late yesterday and it was awful. I think today Dukes tummy may be better. He has had to sleep outside for the second night and its killing me. He and I both have hip troubles and the cold makes for some killer pain. Joe put Charley out to keep Duke company. Jack is such a loud and crazy barker that he has to be inside. My house looks so naked and sad with no floor coverings. I was looking at pics from a week ago when I had all the little ones here and it was so pretty. I guess it was the only way to force us to make time to pull out that nasty old carpet that has been in the hall forever. The hardwood floors look nice. They will be mighty cold next winter. I think I will find a couple of nice hall runners soon. You know how one thing always leads to another? Yes well all this means that we also have to paint. And get base boards in the halls. I have so many things on my list but fear I will never get to do anything. I am happiest when I am working on my house or knitting or sewing. I have to learn to say "NO" to my kids more. I need time to myself. All my sewing has been set aside for so long I don't have any idea where to find it rigfht now. I am seeking that perfect balance of kid time and me time. The me time most always means making something for someone else but that is what gives me joy and a sense of accomplishment. But I have serious hermit tendencies and have to watch myself. I was away at Heathers(a 6 mile drive from my house) when Joe began his new job. He is doing very well and is also making about twice as much $. They decided to do away with the assistant position so that means he will never have any time off. I have been spoiled. He has always been able to drive me to out of town dr appts and such. He gets no lunch break. Actually I won't mind that. I am always on a roll at that time of day and prefer not to have to stop and make food. I am so happy trhat he will be making enough to put gas in the cars and buy tp on a reg basis. The poor man works so hard and until now he was pretty much unhappy about his pay. We had decided that no matter how broke we were that we would be going to the Joe Cocker concert on June. Now we can afford the tickets but Joe will not be off work in time to go. If that is my biggest complaint in my life right now than I am blessed for sure. Besides, I will just get a ticket for Heather and she and I will go. Girls nite out. I better run and hang out that laundry. Including some recent pics of this and that. Grandkids and Cady, oh my isn't that a surprise. darn, I put the same picture twice and have no idea how to remove it. I guess I will figure it out later, laundry calls.

And Clicking Our heels Together We Repeated That Age Old Mantra, There's No Place Like Home

It's 1AM. I am so sleepy that my chin keeps falling into my chest. But here I am. I just gotta. It's been one heluva week. They boys were good as gold. My problem is that I am a house person. I love home and spend most of my time here in the big middle of HOME. Joe came to see us twice. I think he just wanted food. Cady and I came home twice. It was not a good thing our visiting home. No, it was not. Thursday night Joe came to eat dinner with us. He went home around 10. he called me around 11. Seems our sweet old dog had had a bad problem with his bowels. he has never pooped on our floors. He will stand with his legs crossed if need be. We don't know for sure what caused it but it very well may be that he missed Cady and I. He never stops pacing when Cady is gone at night. He searches the house for her over and over again. Up until last week I was never gone longer that a few hours. I was so glad that I was staying with the grandkids and Joe was stuck with that nasty task. When we are gone we always bring our 3 odgs inside. They all have kennels except Duke and he is never a problem. He could not help it. Joe said you could see where he had tried to find me. he left a poo trail as he ran from my side of that bed and into the kitchen and then back to the front door. Joe worked for a few hours and he said that Duke pretty much missed the rugs. Thank God. Cady and I came home to get a few things yesterday and found a surprise waiting for us. it looks like someone had a garden hose and sprayed my livingroom rugs with poop shot from that hose. I stood there sorta frozen for a while. Then a strange screaming curse could be heard all over the neighborhood. That wonderful rug on my floor was maybe 3 years old. I took such good care of it. I loved it. It is now gone. Joe told me he could clean it. No way. I will not have my grandbabies crawling or sleeping on a poop rug. I think you will all agree with me on this. I am going on way too long. I will finish tomorrow. The story is that we may have to put my Duke to sleep if we cannot make him well. He has had to sleep outside and due to his hip problems that pain is too much. He could not stand today when Cady and I got here. My heart is broken. The girl Cady works for was the vet tech that trained Cady. She told me to make him chicken and rice. It tasted so good. She also gave us pain meds for him. We got him Pepto Bismal and a new fluffy bed. He is better tonight but has to sleep out one more night to see how he handles the food. Dawn thinks his hips won't make it one more winter but that we may be able to get him better and have this last summer with him. Time passes so quickly.

It Starts Small, But Moves Fast(the brain drain)

When I was a kid watching anything Disney was a thrill. The Wonderful World of Color. Remember that? Disney meant quality. Tonight without noticing it I sat through 2 Hannah Montanas. The show makes me gag. My granddaughters love her. But I was so upset with myself when I realized I was ready to go to bed. Like Passing out in the big soft mushy chair. But I was staying up, I was staying up to see how Hannah Montana ended. OH My Gawd! I have sat through way too many kid shows. I am too tired from all the running I did today to read to the kids or any of that other stuff I do. Making a note to self to find and plan something for tomorrow night. Hell, maybe I am wrong here and it wasn't Disney at all. Maybe that slop was on M-TV. I just can't think anymore.

The Big Sleepover

I will be staying at my daughters house all week. Heather and Jimmy and Natalie are in Cancun. Or as Natalie calls it Canna Cunna. She called me today from their room at the Moon Palace Spa Resort. Wanna know what she said? "MOM, I just wanna come home". I think it may have been the total lack of sleep. They had to leave for the airport at 2 AM. She was pretty freaked out by the large iguanas that seem to wander all over everyplace. She turned on the water so she and Natalie could soak in the hottub. Before it was full Natalie pushed a button that turned on the water jets. She said it was like a bad movie. Water shooting all over the room. She was afraid room service would come with Natalies food and see the flood. It shot out and knocked Natalie on her butt and scared her to daeth. I am sorry but I was about to pee my pants as she told the story. Friday I had 4 little ones as I think I told you. One 4 yr old, two 3 yr olds and baby Jody who is just 1. OMG! I may have given birth to 5 kids but they were all spaced a few years apart. Molly, Frema, whatever silly comments or assvice I may have given in the past, all I can say is I must have a bad memory. Forgive me please. I couldn't even take a pee break. I never for even one minute had them fooled into thinking I was in charge. They had no mercy. These little sweet peas of mine that are with me often but not as a gang. It was mob rule. They were the mob and they ruled. When they began arriving at 9 AM my entire house was (okay not my room, never my room)was clean as a whistle. I scrubbed every inch of floor. I was tired but I just knew those toddlers would appreciate how clean it was for them. I am not sure at what point I knew they had me. But when I heard my voice in loud scream mode and saw the fear on their faces I shut right up. I sat down in the middle of them and on a large pile of Ritz cracker crumbs and cheese sticks and began to sing Old Mac Donald. They forgave me right away and sang along. We sang for what seemed like 2 days and only stopped when they ran out of stuff that Old Mac had on his farm. I say stuff because it wasn't just animals. He had chairs and flowers and shoes on that damn farm and for the life of me I could not think of any sound for a chair. We made a campsite in the dark end of the hallway. They had to use every blanket and sheet and quilt that was in the house. I only had to retrieve one barette from the toilet( i got lucky here and there was no poop) and only one of them had an( wet pants) accident. Only one house plant suffered a broken limb. I only cried once and that was when I yelled at them. I never get angry with them and they had no idea what to think of me. I had really forgotten what it is like to have more then one little one to wrangle. It is hard work. You gotta be fast on your feet and have backup plans for everything. Mostly you have to say to hell with the clean house and dive in head first and have fun with them. When my kids were small all my jeans had holes in the knees. Now I recall why. I spent my time on the floor with them. I am a pretty fun grandma but I learned a few things. Anybody can handle 1 child. Though even one is alot of work. I had forgotten just how much work it is to take good care of a family with more than one child. My hat is off to moms and dads that make a home for their famlies and make it look so easy. When I had a cow over those cracker crumbs I remembered what is really important. Dishes and laundry can wait but babies grow up and change each day. Days we can never get back. I hate a dirty house but not as much as I love spending time with those kids. I also learned that I need to have another grandparent share some of the duties with me.( aside from Joe) I may need hip replacement. I don't take a full dose of pain meds when I am taking care of little ones. It's hard for me to say no ever. I took some nice photos of my day of insanity. They are on my computer at home and when I go back there later in the week I will post them. Christian and Seth are a joy to be with and this week will be fun. Seth who is just 7 is now reading chapter books as he calls them. He read to me from the cutest book tonight. Junie B. Jones. This little guy Seth is a sweet and kind hearted boy. He thinks his mommy hung the moon and obeys all her rules. He makes sure we all do too. He is sleeping with me tonight. If not mommy then grandma will do.

It's Rainin Kids

By 9AM I shall have 4 kids 4 and under. Gage-4 Maddie-3 Natalie-3and last but not least is baby Jody who just turned 1. Jody is still nursing. He is down to only at bedtime but still. He has never been alone with me. The car wreck I mentioned on Easter eve ,well the guy that passed away was a friend of everyone in my family and most everyone in town. He is Joeys age. Raced with Brandy and Cady, Heather used to date his dad and babysit his little sister. This is a small town and so it has touched everyone. I met him a few times. I am the only one to watch the kids. I am a bit worried about keeping them all under control. Oh yes, and Maddie has pink eye. Heather and Jimmy and Natalie are leaving for Cancun Sunday morning. Heather would never allow anyone with pink eye near her kids but this is one of those things. Now she has to call her dr and get meds for Natalie just in case. Joey and Jessie are splitting up. It was a sad situation a long time ago and now it's just crazy to drag it out. My grandkids are living in a war zone and I am very angry. Gage is here now. On a good note it looks like Joe will be changing jobs in a week. He will be on salary and get paid each week instead of every 2 weeks. Same company different area. He will be making twice what we get now. Wow, we can have gas in the cars and toilet paper. Cady can have maternity clothes. She is about naked. It really is a blessing. Too bad that a memo went out today stating that everyones dental insurance is now no more. No more sick leave either. Even so, our lives will be much improved. My husband works so hard and deserves this. I will get alot more excited when he actually starts the new job. He works for Chevy dealership and as you know things are not good for the auto industry. Better rest up. Those kids are gonna be all excited in the morning.

You And I, We Are So Blessed

I am sure you heard about this tiny angel named Maddie. It's 2:30 AM so I shall be brief. Her story and that of her amazing mom and dad is everyplace. If you have not read it well you need to. There is so much to say but my words just cannot do the job. Please go to "I Should be Folding Laundry" and Beth will show you the way. See, I have no idea how to link. There is also formaddie@hotmomreviews.com. Both parents are out of work in Calif. This is a very expensive place to live. Wonderful people all over the world have raised huge amounts of $ for the March of Dimes in Maddies memory. They also have an account set up to help Maddies parents pay for the funeral and probably just to live right now. We are always broke or close to it. Joe gets paid on Friday and we will be sending 20.00 to the family fund. If I can only help with one thing then I feel like that is where I want to send our little bit. Cady is sending 10.00 from her unborn baby girl Isabella. I hope that all of you will read the story of this sweet family and then follow your heart. I may not have alot in the way of money but I am so blessed with healthy children and babies. On April 17 1971 I gave birth to a little boy. He seemed perfect. When he was 10 days old he seemed not right to me. I took him to the dr who sent me to the hospital. By midnight that night he was gone. Just like that. A heart valve problem that is now very treatable. Because of Beth( I Should be Folding Laundry) I am just now really healing from that awful night so long ago. What Maddies parents are going through is much worse than my own experience. I know I have wandered a bit here. Forgive me please. I know times are tough for us all. But even so I hope you feel what Joe and I do and dig into your piggy bank and also to remember this family in your prayers. I do not know how people live through things like this. Maddie was their only child. Thank you all for the kind words and support you have given me. Thank you Molly for the giant box of baby clothes for Isabella. It was like Christmas. Thank you Biddie for sending Gage special toys and clothes and books that you somehow manage to afford when you and I are both rolling pennies for toilet paper. Thank you Frema for your kind offer to send jammies and onesies for the baby. Thank you all for being my online family.Thank you for the prayers. Just reading about all the love and kindness being sent to Maddies family, it gives me such a warm feeling in my heart. Blogland is a kind and loving place. People jump right up and lend a hand or foot if needed to people they have never shared the same zip code with. The world is filled with much more kindness and love than we ever hear about on the nightly news. Thank you my dear friends. You have made my life a better life.

So

I filled out the paperwork like a good girl and sent it in. Since that time things have changed. I am watching grandkids so 2 of my girls can go to school. There is nobody else here folks. I am it. I am sure that sitting on a hard wood chair for howeveer many hours a day will do loads for the everpresent pain in my back and leg. I feel like my life has been taken over by strangers. JURY DUTY. I don't care if they say it's our duty and I should be honored. I don't wanna. There are so many people who need something to do. I am lucky to have toilet time some days. I am probably going to end up in trouble. I will be taking a 3 yr old with me to try to explain why I need to be off the hook on this. With my 2 meds it would be great to have me fall asleep during a trial. Joe has been calling in for me and I have lucked out and both times whatever it was got cancelled. I don't even own court type clothing. I wonder if the fact that my drivers licence has been expired for 6 years would disqualify me. Why you ask? Don't ask.

Hoppin Down The Bunny Trail

I keep nodding off and waking back up. I am way too sleepy to post but I am getting so bad about letting things slip away.. So I just better wake my ass up right now. Before I show you Easter pics and tell stories about such, You NEED to see what all the kids are gonna be wanting for Xmas this year. I had Heathers 3 on Friday. A pretty easy group. Cady and Christian took the little guys out back to see the goats,. ( I am called goat grandma by Natalie and Seth calls me Jack grandma. Jack is our Jack Russell) Where was I? They were out there for a while and I wandered out to see what they were up to. Before I got to them I heard Christian yell something in a very excited voice.Everyone came running. The crowd parted and there it was. I very large vulture. Large and dead. Christian had Cady spread its wings so he could take about 100 pictures on his cell. Then he took a video. Seth and Natalie were dancing around and squeeling with such joy it was beyond belief. Except for Cady touching the wingtips I did not let anyone touch the nasty thing. Joe got home and they could not wait to share it with him. He seemed to love it too. It's wings were as wide as Natalie was tall. It crashed into a tree while on the hunt for a small critter.Years ago one almost got my big old white cat. We had to put a lid on our chicken coop as they would drop in for a snack now and then. I know, way too much info here but I had to tell you. I have spent good money on nice gifts that didn't bring near the joy that a dead bird did. I have no idea what is up with the spacing here. The more pictures I added the bigger the spaces became.

Now Easter. Today was one of our best Easters in many a year. (Except for last night)Let me back up to last night. You knew I was gonna take the long way home now huh? I totally planned to attend church this morn. My husband play drums in the band and it is nice when his wife and daughter show up. We outgrew my house several years ago but Heather has too much going on with school and their upcoming vacation and asked if we could cram everyone into my place. Cram is the perfect word too. I was up till 3 AM last night cleaning and cooking and moving all those piles of this n that Joe brought home from Texas last month. It was just Cady and I. Joe was at band practice and then went directly to a car accident. The La Luz fire dept takes all those calls. We are out in the sticks. At 7 Joey called and asked if Gage could stay with us while they went to Ruidoso. Cady stopped cleaning and dyed eggs. ( Gage insists it is DIALING eggs) By 10:00 Cady and Gage dialed 50 eggs and she gave him a bath. I stopped and snuggled the sleepy guy and read him my old easter bunny book. They picked up the sleeping boy and a few moments later Joe came in. I got as much done as I could last night and went to bed. Got up and kept goiong.There was no way I could go to church and have everything ready. I went outside just before sunrise and had my own moment with Jesus. Joe was upset that I didn't go with him but he understood. Cady had to work. Everyone got here at 2:00. I think there was about 22 of us. Cady picked up Christian after she got done with her couple hrs of work and they hid eggs all over the yard. We have one acre. Everyone dyed eggs last night and Cady and Christian went around and gathered them and brought them out here to hide. We broke the old record. They hid 225 eggs this year. About half where plastic with candy inside. There were 8 kids running and laughing all over the yard. It was the best feeling in the world. The Easter Bunny always leaves each child a basket at our house too so sugar was king today. God Bless you everyone. You all have a special place in my heart. I hope your Easter was special.

Late As Always

Yesterday was Jodys 1st birthday. I didn't forget him but I did forget to post it. He is the cutest little guy. He has been walking for 2 months. tryin to keep up with Gage I am sure. His party is the Sat and I will post pics of that. Seth has his first official bike race on Sunday morning. Joe and I are keeping our fingers crossed that we may get an entire week-end soon so that we can clean the yard. Every week-end is and has been booked up for a long while now. The bike race will be very cute. In a few weeks Heather and Jimmy are going to Cancun and I am staying with the boys. Natalie is 3 and Heather could not enjoy herself without the baby so Natalie will be having one hell of a time. They own a business called Pro-Lube. The trip is mostly paid for by one of the companies they purchase oil from. I don't know exactly how it works but it is an incentive program. All they had to pay for was Natalie. All flights, rooms and food and drinks are paid for. Sounds wonderful. Heather has kept up an A average in college so she deserves a break for sure. She is a bit worried about Mexico right now but knows it will be okay. We stay clear of Juarez. Nasty place. I should be doing laundry. I have a break from everyone for a few hours. See what I do instead?