Sweet Tea

It does a body good. *grin*
I've been trying to drink more liquids...does tea count?!
*laugh*

Today, I'm just lounging. Do you hear that? I'm lounging. On Saturday. I'm not rushing around trying to get things tidy for church tonight. It's glorious. *sigh*

Now, back to drinking my tea and lounging....
*cheesey grin*

Of books and baubles

Parenting notes I want to remember.


Books I want to read:
Becky Bailey's I Love You Rituals
Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solutions (I hear there's one for Toddlers, but I haven't looked yet.)
Lawrence J. Cohen's Playful Parenting (I'm currently reading this one.)

Helpful sites to add to Parenting Resource list:
http://www.beckybailey.com
http://www.lalecheleague.org
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

Encouraging article:

By Kathy L. Abbott
Beverly MA, USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 17 No. 6, November-December 2000, pp. 204-206

Like having a child, the decision to breastfeed is as much an emotional commitment as it is physical. Nursing a baby requires a total commitment from you the mother. The demands it places on both body and mind are considerable. The decision to breastfeed can weigh heavily on mothers. Some women gladly embrace the commitment, others are more tentative. But how long should one stay the path?

That was the question I struggled with while nursing my little Anna Lee. Nursing an infant made sense to me, but I wondered how long I should continue. Role models were few and far between. A casual remark from a friend who mentioned she hoped to nurse exclusively for at least six months became my first guide. Six months seemed reasonable enough. I would try it.

All went well and before I knew it, the first six months were over. My husband reminded me that now it was his turn to feed our little one so we decided he could offer her solid foods. There seemed no need for me to discontinue nursing. Unlike the first month of round-the- clock feedings, nursing Anna was easy now. So why should I stop?

When Anna Lee turned a year old at the end of October, it seemed like a good time to wean. Birthdays are very significant so it was easy to feel swayed by an arbitrary number. Twelve months was a whole year. Shouldn't I stop now? After all, too much of a good thing is, well, too much. "But how could I stop now?" I asked myself. She was just learning how to walk. So many bumps and bruises, so many tears after each little fall. Nursing was still such a great comfort to her. How could I take that away?

Christmas seemed like another story. By then, I really felt ready to wean. The stress of the season was getting to me. I just didn't have time to nurse any more, or so I thought. The days whizzed by and, to my amazement, by mid-January I felt comfortable with breastfeeding again. With the holidays behind me, the thought of weaning just seemed silly. "What got into me?" I wondered.

After that, we coasted. Nursing was no big deal any more. In fact, I was beginning to feel a little proud for having breastfed so long. But then came another October and Anna Lee's second birthday. Once again, I began to doubt myself. So did those around me. "She's two years old now. Don't you think that's long enough?" asked my mother. I bit my lip and continued.

However, the holidays came again and the stress quickly engulfed me. By December, I was once again ready to quit. "This is ridiculous!" I told myself "I can't keep doing this! I have too much to do right now." Then came January and like magic, all feelings of wanting to wean had disappeared. It was then that I realized that I seemed to think of weaning as the answer when I was under stress. When I had many demands to meet all at once, nursing somehow seemed to be the easiest one to eliminate. Only during the calm following the storm did I realize that it wasn't the nursing that I wanted rid of. It was the stress of holiday expectations and preparations that weighed me down.

By now, the headaches of the "terrible twos" had begun to rule my life. For us, the biggest battle was getting Anna into her car seat. Safety was an issue on which I could not compromise. Anna seemed to relish the feeling of control that came with refusing to cooperate. She knew that I wouldn't start the car until she was buckled up. Without her cooperation, running a few simple errands was a total nightmare. By the time we returned home I would be angry and exhausted. But by then, it was often naptime and we would lie down together to nurse. Forgiveness was essential. I found I had to let go in order for my milk to let down. Those naptime nursings melted away the anger in both of us, allowing us both to relax and feel close to each other again. I can't imagine how I would have survived the year without them.

By the end of the following summer we were down to just two nursings a day, bedtime and morning (and, of course, during the occasional long phone call). My schedule then changed abruptly, and our leisurely mornings together were replaced by a hurried routine of getting up and out the door. It was taking a toll on Anna. Our morning nursings were sometimes forgotten in the rush. Standing by the car one morning, she looked at me sadly. Softly, she said, "Please nurse." I didn't even bother going back into the house. Instead, we walked right over to our secluded hammock and lay down together. Enjoying the warm summer morning, I let her nurse until her heart was content. She was golden after that. My sunny child had returned!

Another October and another birthday (her third), but this time there were real signs of wanting to wean, only these signs came from Anna, not from me. Her language abilities had really taken off. She was singing and telling stories and sharing secrets. Nursing was less and less important to her. She fell asleep without it. More and more, she was just going through the motions. As the holidays approached once more and all the stress that goes with that time of year, I once again found myself panicking. Only this time the thought running around my head was, "How will we ever make it through the holidays if we can't nurse?" I had finally seen the handwriting on the wall. Our nursing days were almost over, and at last I understood the truth. All those times spent nursing hadn't been an added stress. They had relieved stress, both Anna's and mine.

About this time, I gave some thought to becoming an LLL Leader. LLL had given me so much support during those three long years. Maybe it was time to give some in return. While I lay in bed one night reading THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, Anna snuggled in beside me. "Read it," she insisted, "read it!" So, I began reading aloud about a mother joyously watching her small baby nurse at her breast with big shining eyes and a smile that seemed to say, "Thanks Mom." I put the book down, and Anna looked up at me. "Please nurse!" she said, smiling gleefully. She nursed for a short time and then, looking at me with the widest of grins, she said, "Thanks, Mom!" and with that we both fell into giggling so hard that her father came in to see what all the commotion was about. I knew she would nurse again after that but for me that wonderful, "Thanks, Mom!" would be the last word. We were finished.

By March, Anna was completely weaned. One night just before bedtime, she told us that she was hungry. I laughed and said to her father, "If only we were still breastfeeding. That was such an easy way to solve that problem." Immediately Anna cried, "Breastfeed, I want to breastfeed!" I looked at her in amazement. She had always said, "Please nurse," not breastfeed.

"That's not what you used to call it," I told her. "Can you remember what you called it?" I asked. She couldn't. After three years of nursing, she no longer remembered. I could hardly believe it!

In April, I told my nurse practitioner that we had weaned. "Do you miss it?" she asked. "No," I told her. "Now I have a little girl who tells jokes, makes up songs, shares secrets, and tells me her dreams. We have other bonds. And it was so gradual, I guess we both weaned together." We had followed the path all the way to the end.

Suregery update

I tried to update earlier and there was some kind of "bug" with blogger, so that's why this took so long.
Jan. 10 was a very hard day. Hard emotionally, and physically. Surgery didn't happen @ noon as planned. The hospital had some screw ups - highly inconvienient would be an understatement. Eventually, after 4pm (and having not eaten all day) Cambron finally went into surgery. Because the surgery takes a min. of 3 hours, having a late start, recovery time, etc. He was kept over night. I had to take the other children home for the night. (Hospital is out of town.) I was very sad to be leaving.
The surgery was a success and yet lacking the result we wanted. His hearing is permenantly impaired (more than it had been) because the earbones had deteriorated. The good things are that even tho there was much more skin than previously thought, it is all removed. The eardrum is perfectly repaired - the graft worked. There may be more to share but at the moment I just can't think of anything. You can ask me if you want.
We are going back next week for a follow up and to discuss options.
So, I'm done for now. I thank God yesterday is over, Cambron and Noel are home, and we can get back to whatever is closest to "normal".
We still have much ahead of us. Thank you for all the prayers.
From my heart -

oh, and I want to add that Cambron was so BRAVE. He stayed cheerful - he's still cheerful today. I'm so proud of how well he handles this stuff. WAY better than I do.

prayers for Ds - surgery

We have a surgery scheduled Jan. 10 at noon for our ds(6). We're doing the first stage of a series of surgeries to remove skin that has grown thru the perf. in his tympanic membrane(eardrum), into the middle ear and grown around the earbones. Very delicate surgery. Prayers appreciated. (gentle surgeon's hands, schedule on time, no complications, a smooth as-comfortable-as-possible recovery, an understanding nursing staff - and plenty of rest for all involved so they can make sound decisions!) I'll update when we get home. Thanks.

x-posted from blog

the games a-foot!

Five strange things, eh? And just five.

Ok.

1. I don't like to kill bugs - spiders included. I'd rather catch them and take them outside. Some you just have to kill. And that gives me the willies...esp. if they crunch. *shudder* And yet, sometimes I get a sick satisfaction out of swatting flies....now, if that's not strange....

2. I LOVE science. I'm afraid of chemistry. I think it has to do with fear of failure and all the math involved. Metric measurements are intimidating. I don't know why - I lived in Europe for Pete's sake. But I still love science. I even like reading about it....and sadly, I've dropped Chem twice. *wince* Someday, I'll get a tutor - or Chemistry for Dummies. *sigh* Most likely, Chem for Dummies. *grin*

3. I like to sleep with my toes hanging off the end of the bed. *laugh*

4. I don't really like coffee. I like cream and sugar. Coffee gives me an excuse to have lots of both. I like cream and sugar in my tea, but since I like the flavour of teas, I usually just take honey.

5. I hate monopoly. Absolutely. End of story. I don't know anyone else that does. *shrug*

*Bonus - my Darling Husband says I am a 60-something yr. old biddy because of the way I keep an eye on the neighborhood. (I think he uses the word "nosey" - not sooo nice connotations. *ththtppthth*) Was anyone reading this over here the day I spotted the man across the street in his tree, with the saw up over his head, while he was precariously perched on a lower, not too strong looking branch?! (It was moving, let me tell you - and I DON'T mean the branch he was sawing on. *giggle*)

meme for strangeness....

I've been tagged by Rabenstrange. *grin* Guess what I get to share?! Drum roll, please.......
Five strange things about me!

The problem is that I am limited as to number - only five....

So, I'll have to come back to this. I'll have to selective. *laugh*

a little bit here and a little bit there...

So, it's ten to one a.m. and I am sitting in front of my screen scarfing Mi Abuelo salsa and chips...think I'll have memorable dreams? *laugh* Well, I don't know that for sure, but I do know I will have fingers that look like polish sausages in the morning because I add so much salt to my salsa. Salty chips, salty salsa....yeah, I like salt. *grin* If I were to be an animal I'd be a horse so I could eat apples, carrots, and have a salt lick. *laugh* Speluncking in a salt mine anyone?!
Sadly, I don't think it will counter-act the amount of sugar I eat to maintain my sparkling personality. *wink*

Anyway, on to what I was intending to share....
Long, long ago, in another life I was an avid Anne Rice fan. So long ago, in fact, that I haven't read probably half of what's out there with her name on it. Recently, she has had a change of heart and change of focus in writing. So, I am excited, after my initial reticence, to get my hands on a copy of her woven words - Christ the Lord : Out of Egypt. Currently, it is on hold at our public library. (Are you as shocked as I am? they actually have it! Ooh! *laugh*) I have read a couple reviews and articles about this book - here is one by George Barna - and I am actually very excited. While it's on hold I'll finish Barna's Revolution.

Now, on to the water faucet to attempt to minimally dilute the saline content of my being. And what shall I dream tonight, pillow fairies? *laugh*

a new year......YES!

I love the beginning of a new year. It's fresh - more so than just a new day. The opportunity to turn over a new leaf (or in my "let's do it ALL" way - turning over a whole tree of new leaves *laugh*), is inspiring.

Ahhhhh.....the freshness of it all. *smile*

I think I am calloused to the phrase "New Year Resolutions". So, I am "resolving" or "purposing" to make some lifestyle changes that will, with persistence, change the way I am characterized. One tiny bud of change that I am praying will leaf out in full green beauty is consistency. Already I can boast - even though I know I'm not supposed to *laugh* - that my kitchen and laundry have been completely, COMPLETELY done at bed time EVERY DAY THIS YEAR! (yes, I realize it's only been two whole days, but don't deflate my joy balloon with facts or sarcasm, alright?! *laugh*)

Ahhhhhhhhh......the freshness.

Since things have seemed stale for a long time, this freshness is an unsurpassed pleasure. I fully intend to breathe of it deeply for days, if not months, to come. *smile*

cross posted to xanga

Book list for girls - UPDATE #2

I'm compiling a list of books I enjoyed as a girl - and still enjoy as a bigger girl. *chuckle*

Anne Of Green Gables and the other Anne books that followed (thanks for the thought, Jessica!)
Magic for Marigold (both of these books are written by L.M.Montgomery - I've made her name a link - she has written many stories for girls and all the ones I've read have been fabulous! I highly recommend them!
A Wrinkle in Time &
A Wind in the Door &
A Swiflty Tilting Planet, and other stories about the Murry family (Megan and Charles Wallace are wonderfully real characters) by Madeleine L'Engle are favourites as well as A Ring of Endless Light. (From here I discovered the poetry of Henry Vaughn *smile*)
Little Women (well, pretty much anything by Louisa M. Alcott for that matter!)

um...*laugh* I think I'll stop - I've sort of been drawn into the last two linked sites...
Perhaps I'll add more later. *sheepish grin*

Ok...I'm back and adding to the list. *smile* I may have to do this over a period of days. And Rabenstrange - yes, I read those you mentioned - quite happily. *smile* Just hadn't gotten to them yet. I'll start with them this time.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis link 1 & link 2
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (who interestingly is listed as a principle collaborator in the translation and literary revision of The Jerusalem Bible. This, along with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, were read aloud to us by our Aunt. It was great fun. We made maps and all sort of things to go along with our readings. Great memories. *smile*
The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

add again later. *smile*

The Nancy Drew Mysteries by "Carolyn Keene" These are really good fun to read. I discovered these in the third grade and I am looking forward to reading them with Cosette. (We've been reading the Hardy Boys Mysteries with the boys. *smile*)
The Bobbsey Twins by "Laura Lee Hope" is another mystery series, but for a younger audience. My mother introduced them to me, but by this time I was too engrossed with Nancy to be interested in the "little kids". *laugh*
Agatha Christie Mysteries...by Agatha Christie. *laugh* I picked up a lot of great vocabulary reading her books in elementary and middle school. Gastronomic was one of the words I remember having to figure out...as well as a few french phrases. Once on a car trip I didn't have a dictionary and had to ask my Dad. *grin* I love words - so new words are as delightful as the mystery itself.

Does anyone else see a theme running here? *laugh*

There is also....
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Bambi by Felix Salten Strangely, I only read this one time - on a "cross country" type road trip. I don't remember if it was here or in Europe, so I'm having trouble "dating" the experience. I am sure it was before fourth grade, tho....I don't remember much about the book other than I cried very quiet tears in the seat behind my mother and next to my sister's carseat. I just recently placed this book in the donation box and I wonder what about it moved me to hold onto it for so long. I vaguely remember some beautiful descriptive writing from the beginning. Reading at this link, I am not surprised I had to finish it, and that I did not reread it. I am surprised that reading that book at such a young age did not make me completely anti-hunting. Esp. since I know I saw the Disney version when I was small. Of course, if I actually had to do the hunting myself I might very well be a vegetarian! *laugh* Anyway, as a mother, I wouldn't recommend reading this with your children...esp. if Dad hunts. And I am really wondering why I thought to include this book on this list in the first place?!?!
OK..this is becoming a post all in it's own! *laugh*

enough for now.....

gentle reminders

This evening as I prepared dinner for the kids (Noel was teaching class) a song came on the radio that has significance to me. The words of the songwriter mirrored my heart the year our second child was born. There was so much that I didn't understand - like why God allows babies and children (like my son) to suffer for no apparent reason for one - and I was really having a hard time dealing with it. Sometimes I still have a hard time dealing with it. Thankfully, it didn't break my faith, though I was angry with God more than I had ever felt anger before or since. One particularly rough night this song came on the radio and it was the cry of my soul and I was able to break down and cry. I did tonight as well....amidst the spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce, the forks and the cups of milk. Truthfully, I still don't understand. I will never claim to understand - and like Job, I wasn't there when the Lord created the universe or breathed life into Adam. I don't know how the stars are made. I don't know how things exist outside of our "box". But I know God has it all under control - even while I do not always agree with how things are and what He allows. He alone knows it all. And He knew I needed a good cry and a gentle reminder.
Thank you, Father.

Jesse Tree devotion
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31
God is the creator of all things. God made the world and everything in it: the air and the water, the plants and the fish, the animals and the people. When God finished creating the world, it was perfect. When God first created people, even they were perfect. They did not sin or do anything to make God unhappy.

Even though there is now sin and and sadness in the world, God still cares for us. We have been given a beautiful world in which to live, and God has asked us to take care of it. We can care for the world by showing kindness to all living things.

The world is God's gift to us. God wants us to enjoy this gift, but God also wants us to treat it with care.

Thank you for your redeeming plan. I pray for steady, gentle surgeon hands, compassionate nurses and staff that are attentive and accomodating to our son. Please give our son your peaceful, assured presence to calm his fears. Please allow Noel to be with him as he drifts off to sleep.....keep him safe and bring everyone safely home. And also, Lord, if there is opportunity to share you let it be known.
Amen. amen....

tip toes and pre-op stress

I have one little Prima ballerina twirling around the school room. One of her brothers watches her proudly and clapps to encourage her. It is good to see them getting along after arguing this morning over those silly pop-ons. (or is it pop-onz? *shurg*) It's a good moment for reflecting on the joy my children bring and the smiles they so freely give.
It is also a moment where I realize that my snappiness is really due to pre-op stress. I don't know why I didn't think about it....I guess having such a "break" between surgeries let me "forget"? Anyway, I see it for what it is and there we have it.
If you pray, please pray for ease of procedure, comfort, peace for my child and speedy recovery.

strings of lighted hearts

Please look.
Pray,
&
Remember.

We are all one flesh
in the body of Christ.

and then again...

We went as a family to see the Nutcracker Ballet last night. It was a beautiful performance - even the boys enjoyed themselves and all three children danced to the car afterward. The Russian and the dance of the Rose are my favourites, and of course I love the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. On a not so good note, I had an allergic reaction to someone's perfume and today I am in a full blown state of head congestion with a severe sore throat. *sigh* I vaguely remember this mornings messege at church - something about entering God's rest...I was more focused on not clearing my throat every two minutes or worse, having a coughing fit. When we got home I made it long enough to get the kids lunch and then went to bed with Boo watching cartoons next to me while the boys played video games happily in the living room. When I got back up a couple hours later, I was very grumpy - achy still and generally *UG* feeling. The kids ended up with corndogs for dinner - again. *sigh* I griped at the kids, snapped at the kids, and was basically not a very nice mommy. *frown*

Then at dinner I remembered that this is the first night of Advent and that we were going to be getting our "ornaments" colored for our Jesse tree (which I did not explain very well to my oldest who thought we were not doing Christmas presents this year because, well...I was not clear and there was much confusion about having two trees), and then having our first family devotion tonight. What kind of attitude was I having? Was this conducive to anyone enjoying the preparation for the birth of Chirst? -NO- Would it make a lasting memory? -YES, but not a good one-

All achiness aside, I needed to step off my "poor me, I'm icky feeling" martyr box and realize the JOY. I apologized to the kids who were ever so gracious. I was forgiven and we all exchanged encouragements and then....a little bit later I was being snappy again. *frown* Lord help me, please.

I am determined and have purposed in my heart for this to be a wonderful experience for our children and to create warm, joyful memories this year to be thought upon with loving reflection in years to come. I want to impart to my children that this is not just a time for "getting" and "giving" but foremost "receiving"(Christ).

Our devotion tonight is:

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-2
Reading: God has a plan for everything. Long before Jesus was born lived a man named Jesse. Jesse had seven sons; the youngest was named David. When David grew up, he became a great king of Israel. God had a plan for Jesse and for his son David, even before they were born.
Jesus was also a part of Jesse and David's family tree, born many, many years after David. People waited a long time for the birth of the Savior. The season of Advent is a season of waiting for us, too. We wait for Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
It is hard to be patient, especially when we are waiting for something wonderful like Christmas! But it is important to learn to be patient, and to trust that God has a plan for us, too.

Patient?! Exactly the characteristic I lacked today. Lord have mercy and thank you for your grace! Let this be a season of great anticipation and joy! Amen.

Blessings. stuffings. naked trees.

I'm sitting here taking a "break" from what I am preparing for tomorrow and the upcoming Advent season. I'm pondering and answering my youngest as she gets progressively louder in her request for more crayons. *laugh* She has more than she can use already - but she wnts more none-the-less. Isn't that how we are? We have much and we still want more....Lord, thank you for your ample provisions!!
This will be a very jumbled post - I just want to get some thoughts out and share a few things.
Today I am making pies - 2 apple and 2 pumpkin, preparing a vegetable tray, and making two cheese balls for pre-dinner munching. I also want to get some aspects of the house a bit cleaner and hope to get all the clean clothes put away!! I printed out the Jesse Tree ornaments for the kids to color at our family devotions, as well as the devotions themselves. *smile* I love Advent! I'm also looking forward to crafting an Advent wreath this year. This afternoon the children are going to make a "Thankfulness Banner" .
I read a book yesterday that shared a really good point - the wording was excellent and I want to share that:

You see, my friends, deep down inside where no other person can go with you, in the innermost chamber of the heart, only two options exist. You are either alone, or you share that inner sanctum of the soul with your heavenly Father. No one else can go there. Not friends, parents, husband, wife, no one. Either you and God live there together, or you are by yourself. And if you are alone, it is an aloneness that will remain for all eternity.
~Michael Phillips, Destiny Junction

That's it.


Now there is something from a parenting angle that I wanted to have here so I can refer to it at a later date if I want so I'll post that as well.

Basically, I believe that my job as a mom is to be a suffering servant for my little one and always wash her (adorable little)feet before I take any glory myself, because she is the "least of these" in our family. It's a pain in the butt sometimes, and I do resent it sometimes, but that's because I'm sinful. I don't think that Jesus resented us, and He suffered all the way to the cross for us. And I am called to do the same for my babies. I just do it sinfully.
That's what I think AP is, putting your kids' needs first, and not giving them any reason to think that they are lesser than their parents, or that they cannot count on them, or that their needs are unimportant. But not that they can get away with whatever they want to.

~Devona www.loveandblunder.blogspot.com (which I read posted by TulipMama on the GCMblog

Alright, now I must away with me...more to do, think, and see!

And of course,

Happy Thanksgiving!

sluggish updates

Ok..so I am sort of dragging along here. I did take a nap on the couch with Cosette on Sunday afternoon. *smile* But that was really the extent of my relaxing. *sigh*
So, in honor of blogging and just because I can and truthfully, because I can't think of a single thing I've wanted to share in the past couple weeks, I shall post today's TO DO LIST. Drum roll, please.....*drumming of fingers on desk*

*put my clean sheets in the dryer DONE - even got my duvet cleaned! yeah!
*put boys sheets in washer DONE- and dried
*sweep up doggie's grass off the floors (she rolls...and rolls..and rolls) DONE
*bathrooms - intense cleaning this time (includes wall tiles around boy's toilet & under the base) HALF DONE - ONE DOWN AND ONE TO GO
*mop floors
*dust (including fan blades, mini blinds, and window sills) DONE
*vacuum DONE
*laundry, laundry, laundry...........
*plan dinner DONE - yummy
*poison my crunchy invaders...again DONE
*make out a couple thank you notes DONE
*post some of a reading list for an aquaintance DON'T HAVE TO - will exchange later *grin*
(of course this is after school is done *wink*)

oh, and just to state something to vent a frustration - grits can get EVERYWHERE!! (esp. when a 2yr. old eats them. *grin*)

edited one time to mark finished items. YEAH!!! Currently enjoying Pride and Prejudice on A&E.
ahh............*sigh&smile*

update

I've neglected. I'm sorry. I'm pooped. *laugh* Hopefully, I'll be able to update in a refreshing way tomorrow. *yawn* Now, I need to move away from this chair before I fall asleep.......back to work! *groan*

nothing

Nothing to say except that I am early to bed in hopes of being early to rise.
*shrug*
oh, and it's fall cleaning time.

Diatomaceous what??

Diatomaceous earth. Now, there is an alternative to aerosol neurotoxin to eradicate my bug problem. *giggle*
Ok..actually, I am serious. But I just love that word. *grin* Gives me flash backs to biology in ......*thinking*.....oh, 9th grade. Sitting in the back ooohhhhing and aaahhhhing over hugely enlarged pictures of diatomes and my friend Becky deciding then and there she would be a marine biologist. *grin* I think she joined the armed forces actually after attending Notre Dame. We lost touch when I moved State-side. Wonder what she's up to now???
Anyway. Something else. Back to what I was posting about - DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. (IF this were a miniseries that would still be echoing. *laugh*)
I think it would be an even better choice than the Boric acid I have been using. Either way, it must be understood that it isn't completely without hazards - I mean, you still don't want to inhale the stuff. Who needs microscopic bits of fossil lodged willy nilly in their lung tissue? Not me. *grin* And keeping in mind that we need beneficial insects (yes, I know that the others are beneficial in their own ways but I'm not addressing those) we don't want to use this where it might cause a worse problem in the garden if sprayed all over or erratically without thought. (isn't that last part redundant? *laugh* " ....red tomato..most tomatoes are red....it's redundant." *laugh*)
Apparently, I have no focus today. *grin* So, I'm going to stop. Feel free to check out the link or do a google. *smile*

*ug*

So, I'm doing laundry today - a lot of it. I've been in and out of the laundry "room" several times this morning. Because it is part of what used to be a back patio there are lots of cracks and holes along the floor and the door. Because there are cracks and holes we get bugs. We also keep the dog's water and food back there - so it looks like a buffet, I guess.
I am not co-habitating with yucky bugs. Now let me define what is yucky: roaches, those big ones with the hard, reddish black, segmented exoskeletons. Ew. They creep me out. I can't even step on them because they "crunch" loudly. *shudder* SO. I decided to poison them. I put boric acid in the cracks, in the holes, and under my machines. *frown* And it works. Not instantly mind you - they still come in and wander around in the dark after we go to bed - but they don't live long enough to make a home and breed. This is a good thing in a way - for me. It's not so good for them. *frown*
I'm getting weird.
About 15 minutes ago a roach came out in daylight by the back door. It didn't run away at my approach. It sort of floundered - if a bug can do that. So, there it lay with legs twitching and and writhing in what must be a painful death.
And I feel sad. *frown* And guilty.
*UG*

Borrowed Meme *laugh*

I took this from Pearl. *grin*
The idea is to get pictures of key places in your life (I added one):
*Where you were born
*Where you were raised
*Where you are now
*Your name
*Your Mamaw's name
*Fav. food
*Fav. drink
*Fav. song
*Fav. smell

So, here you go - "about me" in pictures. *laugh*

I was born in Panama:



I was raised in these places:

Ft. Carson, CO. This is Pike's Peak.


Ft. Sill, OK. This is New Post Chapel, where we went to church and youth group the second time we moved there.


Pirmasens, Germany


Dunsen, Germany (So small all I could find is this map! *laugh*)


Ft. Irwin, CA NTC near Death Valley


Augsburg, Germany


Where we are now: Almost right back where I started. *laugh* This is just outside of our "busy" town on the Great Plains. *wink*


My name - that yielded pictures of Christie Brinkley and Christy Turlington. *laugh* I think I'll leave them out. *sticking tongue out*

My "Mamaw's" name


My fav. food *laugh*


My fav. drink


My fav. song (ok - one of my fav.'s) Take On Me: A-HA


My fav. smell.....ummm....*shrug* That's really, REALLY, hard.
Babies, freshly mown grass?? I'm perplexed. *laugh*

There. I'm finished. *wink*