belly laugh

We’re back. It is so, so silly to drive away from all these smiling faces. The kind of silly when you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I did both I think. I miss them.

My sister and my son, all the cousins run to her like she is the ice cream man.

We are getting back into the groove at our little ranch. The heat index is 109 today, that just might be hotter than heck don’t you think? We have been working hard, there is much to be done. But not too hard where I couldn’t go to an estate sale on Saturday. It was really a gift from the heavens as we have seen 2 tarantulas and a yucky snake and I was feeling a bit wiggy about this.

Anyhow the sale I shall share later as it was totally awesome, dude. Or as they say back home….wicked cool.

See you later alligators-- I shall check out some of your blogs and maybe if I’m not feeling too lazy I will leave you a comment.

full

A long time ago this dork:

met this dork:The two dorks fell in love and got married. It was April 17th.

We have been having fun ever since. Though we are often busy with one stage or another:

It seems to have only deepened my appreciation for our marriage.

Sometimes I feel guilty at how much I love my husband. Is that possible? Like each child that continuously beats our hearts I feel like our marriage is a gift. A very precious gift that always needs nurturing and in return it fills my heart with unspeakable joy. Never did I think when I timidly mumbled those vows in front of many how much love and respect I would feel for my husband and the life we have grown together.

the sum of it

I am the source of my own problems. Is spending hours looking through my fabric a problem? I think it really is. I can't decide what to make out of what. I did this all afternoon and have only succeeded at making a giant mess.

I told Someone I would seed the yard today. And I don't mean he was like, "Will you seed the yard???" I mean I was like, "Do you want me to seed the yard?"

And he was like, "No thanks..." and I was pleading like I really wanted to do nothing else saying things like "I know you are busy...just let me do it."

And finally after I beat him down he said okay.

And I didn't do it because I was looking at my fabric.

And I also went out for lunch.

And now I am blogging.

And after this I will have a cup of tea.

Writing all this down has been helpful as now I am certain I won't seed the yard today, instead of all that wondering if I will get to it. So thanks for that.

While I'm here I'll share the Happy Camper shirt I began making for Henry and ended up making for Molly. All's well that ends well, right?

pattern: McCall's 4164

Nicey Jane Quilt

Last week was a really good week. Ken took a few days off...this is a big deal. He works harder than anyone I have ever met and to have him home was very nice. The last two months have been the most stressful in our lives, all revolving around his job. The last couple assignments have been hard as a family. The military asks a lot of my husband, he probably wouldn't like hearing me say that- perhaps I should just leave it at that.

Finishing this quilt has given me some strange quilting addiction. Not because I am any good at it--just the opposite actually. I want to do better. If there was quilting law enforcement I would surely be jailed. I broke a lot of rules. It looks as if I was SUI (sewing under the influence) as my seams are all wonky and uneven. All the same, I like it. I'm not scared to use it. I hope it will be loved as a Saturday afternoon napping quilt. Until it falls apart in the wash or someone barfs on it--whichever comes first.

I had to coax my cat off it to take a picture. He is so self righteous! He has put up with a lot the last 13 years (tail pulling, whisker trimming, etc) but to assume he can sleep/shed on my new quilt? It's a good thing I love him. If I told you how much we have spent on airfare for him with each move you would know we crazy love him--he has lived in four countries and four states.

I hope your Monday morning isn't as gray and dark as it is here. What's on your to do list today? What will you have for dinner?

chocolate milk and Fruit Loops

Last night I ran in the commissary on base for a few things. I found myself on the heels of two young airman as I went through each grocery aisle. Every year these young enlisted guys look younger and younger and truthfully I would have thought they were in high school had I not known they were enlisted.

They were very animated with their choices. "Dude...these are sooo good." I imagined what their mothers would think. It was during this time I realized something mind boggling. I realized my oldest could join the military if she wanted. She could sign on the dotted line and move somewhere far away and ride in armored vehicles and learn how to fire a weapon.

Isn't that exactly what these boys did? What many have done for years and years? It inspires me that so many have made this choice. My heart aches for the guys who didn't have a choice during WWII and Vietnam and other conflicts. I can't imagine what their mothers thought then.

I have had similar thoughts before but never with such intensity. I guess with K just returning and my mind still in that never-leave-me-again mode I want to shout Thank You from every mountainside.

Thank You. Especially to you, Ken.

In my own family thank you Grampy, Dad, Uncle John, Uncle Jim, Uncle Gordon, Uncle Lincoln, Uncle Jack.

I am honored to be related to such selfless people.

Hug a veteran.

living a simple life in a busy way

The weather here deserves a blue ribbon, crystal blue skies and perfect not-too-warm-or-cold sunny days. It parallels my spirits. Can you tell I'm happy? Does it make you nauseous? It feels strange to be happy.

We traveled to San Antonio to watch the trombonist perform. We went to the Alamo. Remember the Alamo? I'm glad I got to see it as you know how I feel about Davy Crockett. We bought Henry a cheesy coonskin cap...it seemed like the right thing to do.

We're home now and Ken has been cleaning the gutters and mowing the grass. I've been sitting in the house watching him out the windows.

It's November and I have many things to be thankful for.

One of which is you...my blog friends. You've made my life even brighter.

Happy Saturday!

Thank You

Thank you for all your kind comments... He is home and my heart is bursting with love and appreciation for him.
He is good and very happy to be home. The first thing he said when he walked in the house was how nice the carpet felt on his feet. Unlike me he is not a whiner, I ask him (too) many questions about everything under the sun as I just can't imagine doing what he does. The last three years he has been away 17 months (in three different places). Hopefully this will be it for a while. I can't believe he's home. He is my Hero.

everything is going to be alright

Tomorrow is the day the love of my life comes home. I am a puddle of giddy, nervous energy.

It has been 196 days since we last saw each other. We will hug lots and the children will hang on him like a jungle gym. When we get home I will make spaghetti with homemade bread and he will laugh at Henry slurping noodles. It will be wonderful.

But he never has a second cup at my house

When I was young my Grandfather used to say if an alien landed in our yard he would invite them in for coffee. Just imagining this kept me awake at night. The mysteries of of the solar system have never been of interest to me. Except the thought of glittering styrofoam balls and hanging them upside down in a poster painted cardboard box diorama. That is fun at any age.

Looking up into a star filled sky has always made me feel vulnerable--but lately after my children have gone to bed I find myself looking at the moon. It comforts me. It makes me think of (forgive me here) a Neil Diamond song my mother would play that says something about all the people in the world "sweating beneath the same sun...looking up in wonder at the same moon". The moon inspires many thoughts. Of course I think of the past--from Galileo being persecuted for scientific studies to the lone 1800's farmer on the prairie working his field by night to escape the harsh sun. But mostly I think of my husband (forgive me again) because it's hard to put into words how much I miss him. I like to envision that he, too, looks at the moon. The same moon. This is what brings me comfort-- that something so very far away can make us feel closer.

A Loving Comparison

My husband's family has weathered many a New England winter near the water. Mine has spent many winters huddled around woodstoves more inland. I sometimes envision our childhoods being entwined without our ever being aware. Traveling similar country roads around and around until one day we met. It's ironic this ever happened as when he was three he lived on a tiny island of the coast of Northern Maine and I lived on one of the Hawaiian islands. Geographically it would be difficult to be farther apart while still being in the States. This notion always makes me smile, a journey in life straight from God that is ongoing even as I write this.

I like the past. I have never been tired of living in old colonial homes and envisioning the candlelit nights that spanned decades and decades in the same rooms we pass the time in.

So anyhow what's the Loving Comparison, you ask? I will share his and her photos of beautiful Connecticut and the areas we are from. Even though they are really not very far apart. Even though it may be a bit boring for you. If anything my husband will enjoy these pictures which inspires me to maybe tell him going on vacation without him wasn't the same as I really missed him throwing me into the hypothermia-inducing ocean water even though I always act like I'm mad. Sigh.

his: an old whaling ship being renovated:

hers: a beautiful school steeped in tradition and ivy

his: a nearby home straight from a Charles Wysocki puzzle




hers: a well kept colonial at the base of the hill where I grew up. The boy that lived here and my brother burned up 11 acres behind this house on accident.

his: I love these peaks atop ocean houses. I envision the hours a wife would spend looking out waiting for her husband to return from the sea. She would be so happy to see his ship coming in she would run outside to the wharf and hug him even though he smelled like fermenting whale blubber.

ours: our wee boy tickling his Grammie

I love this flag.

hers: Seeing the hydrangeas in bloom made me happy.

his: a red barn and a little boat.

ours: a little girl who has anchored our hearts. (insert corny snort/laugh here)

This post took me like five hours. It's not funny!

a message

There is such a variety of Dads in the world. They are tall, short, skinny and big bellied. They have long hair, short hair, or even no hair (sorry Uncle Nick). They can be serious and bookish or funny and carefree. All the same most Dads are characters in the big picture of life. We need them to be characters, we would be lost without being able to yell at them about wearing plaids and stripes. And what would we laugh at if we couldn't watch them parade around the yard with their new chainsaw, cutting limbs every which way until the yard looks like a tornado went through it.

I shall share a message in honor of Father's Day because as you can guess he is the best Dad ever.





Love,

Our family is not a traditional one in the sense that you don't come home from work at 5:00 and yell "Honey, I'm home". You are not Ward Cleaver, you are you. When the sting of missing you catches up with our children you always provide just the words of wisdom and care they need. They can feel the glow of your love whether you are near or far. This is because you are a great Dad. Thank you for giving each one of our kids the spark in your eye, the zest to discover life and the ability to enjoy it.

They love you so very much--as do I.

The Dancing Bear

Recently the love of my life gave out my blog address to a bunch of people. I am flattered he did this and at the same time feel a little vulnerable. Kind of like having food in your teeth as your grinning ear to ear. Or that feeling you get when you are way over on your neighbor's property because you saw a huge turtle and he drives in his driveway and you want to crouch in the long grass and hide but instead you wave way too ambitiously. (I am such a fool.)

Does it make you uncomfortable to see him dance like this? He is a funny/great dancer. He will swoop up anyone within reach and hug you until your spine is adjusted. These pictures are from March.

Hopefully I've embarrassed him enough.