The Farm Report

Category: mumbling

  • She’s the quiet one

    She’s the quiet one

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    I used to brag about Ellery.

    She’s the quiet one. Easy as can be. Agreeable. Could take her anywhere.

    And that’s still true. Compared to the other two, she’s downright docile. But those other two? I think late at night, when Tom and I are sleeping, they’re training her. We’re suddenly finding her jumping off the arm of the couch and giving us a furrowed brow as she stomps her foot. She’s in nearly a constant state of motion these days. For this reason, this is the best photo of her I’ve gotten in ages. Please. Stand. Still!

    On a side note, happy birthday to my sister Susie!

  • Best laid plans

    Best laid plans

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    I have this ten pounds I struggle with. (Well, really it’s 20, but there’s this ten that’s actually attainable without too much effort, and that other 10 is like training for the Olympics.) I’m at the point where I’ve gained back the ten, and it’s time to hunker down and lose them again. My pants are too tight, and I refuse to buy the next size up.

    We eat fairly well around here, but exercise tends to come in fits and spurts. When I can moving on a regular basis, that ten pounds comes back off. And it’s time. But mornings have been crazy and Shep doesn’t nap anymore.

    So I think, “He’s four. Surely he can be trusted enough to stay in his room for quiet time.” So today we talk, into his room he goes, and I go downstairs to attempt 30 minutes on the spinning bike.

    I heard an awful lot of footsteps during quiet time, but I figured we’d have a stern talk when I finished, because, oh, my pants don’t fit. At minute 23, Shep appears in front of the bike with noticeably wet hair.

    “I accidentally put lotion in my hair.”

    I see that, my friend. All over every strand of your hair.

    I sigh. Finish my last seven minutes, and off to the shower we go.

    And this is why I will never have six pack abs.

  • Laundry bugs

    Laundry bugs

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    I find it to be a huge leap in my personal growth that when I’m doing the laundry, and I uncover a little friend such as this, it no longer even fazes me. I think even if it were real, I wouldn’t even flinch, thanks to my nature girl.

    Don’t ask why it’s in the laundry. That’s just how we roll around here.

  • I do exist!

    I do exist!

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    My friend Nancy H. took these photos when we whizzed by her house to pick up Neko after school. Their rope swing and a big pile of leaves were too much for the kids to resist, so we got out of the car for a short visit.

    Nancy had her camera on hand, and took a few photos that included me…a rarity around here. It’s something I should do more often, and I should probably aim to get a few someday that actually include children that are my own.

    On a completely unrelated note, the second photo shows that I am *this close* to having my dental implants completed. The last part of the post has been put in place, and all I have left is for the dentist to give me some new teeth. Yippee!

  • Ahoy, matey!

    Ahoy, matey!

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    Today, the Playmobil pirate ship that’s been in our basement for five years made its debut.

    You know, I’m a Playmobil enthusiast, but GOOD GOLLY this thing was hard to put together. It has these realistic sails that utilize all the correct ropes so you can jib or jibe or whatever the real sailing terms are. I should have taken a picture, but oh, I have the flu and I’m lazy, but it should be noted that this ship is run by a female pirate, and she is the one steering the boat. Pirate equality for all, ARG!

    On a health-related note, everyone has been fever-free today. We have plans to call the doctor on Monday and see if we can get paroled early for good behavior and excellent physical condition.

  • H1N1, anyone?

    H1N1, anyone?

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    Well, wouldn’t you know it? We host a great big party and contract the disease of the season all in one short week! Hopefully, we didn’t give the disease to everyone we’ve seen between then and now. My apologies, to those who we did.

    We took Neko to the doctor. When she got her pneumonia diagnosis, they gave her Zithromax. Strangely, after she started the antibiotic, she developed a fever. So we went back to the doctor. On a whim, they tested her for H1N1. Positive. I mentioned my beginning cough, so they tested me, too. Positive. Suddenly, I was headed home with five prescriptions for Tamiflu and orders to isolate ourselves for, like, eternity.

    The good news is that none of us seems terribly sick. We seem to have a rather mild form of the flu. A cough, head cold, and headache seem to be our major symptoms.

    The bad news? We’re under quarantine for what seems like forever. The doctor said Neko could go back to school next Thursday. A week? In our house? Without going out? I’m having sudden flashbacks to the Shining and Jack Nicholson.

    Since everyone actually feels pretty okay, they aren’t happy to just be propped up in front of a television. They’re itching for activities. We’re resorting to pulling every trick out of the book we can find. Tom made chocolate-dipped marshmallows and got his old Lego sets out of the basement. Neko is responsible for this creation and the scene set-up. (I’m so proud.)

    Holding onto my last shreds of sanity. Off to see what else we’ve got in the basement…

  • Tissues? Tissues?

    Tissues? Tissues?

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    Neko has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Let the games begin!

  • Checkmate. Or however you lose this game.

    Checkmate. Or however you lose this game.

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    Good grief, this has been a dumb week. The kids got a little sick. And then Tom and I got stupid sick. Like hit by a truck and then scraped off the road by someone with a broken shovel sick.

    I think my brain has been working on a four-second delay for a week. The last thing on my mind has been taking pictures of my family. It’s been all I can do to take pictures of the seniors and their various escapades (like the game above). Which all turned out pretty well, except for that part where my weary brain left the camera on a ridiculously high ISO. The photos were mostly salvageable, but, ack, youd on’t wanna do that very often.

    Anyway, back on the horse. Here we go…

  • This is why we love our FedEx driver

    This is why we love our FedEx driver

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    The dogs went to the kennel today in preparation for our trip to San Diego, but they were not forgotten.

  • A little slice of zen

    A little slice of zen

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    I got a project completed today, one of those where everyone is happy in the end and I’m reminded why I love doing the stuff I do. It’s a great reminder that I will keep myself busy and content after the kids are all in school.

    As I was tucking the kids into bed, I noticed out the window that the apples are starting to turn red. After everyone was tucked into bed, I wandered outside to check them out and soaked up a bit of this strangely cool summer we seem to be having.

    I am so thankful for these moments of zen that I occasionally find tucked in the pocket of my day.