The drama of it all

A few days ago K was having a sleepover at a friends house. She called home that evening all distraught and fretting over a huge disaster that had just happened. WHAT?, WHAT?, I say, after listening to her voice and hearing all the sadness and concern hovering there. (In the back of my mind I am listing off all the terrible things that must have happened) She says, I brought my beads over here to M's house and on the way something terrible happened. The container got turned on its side and ALL my seed beads spilled ALL over. (Oh for cryin out loud)(I say this in my head) Oh, okay, well have you tried picking them up perhaps? Well, they didnt actually spill on the floor. They all just spilled into each other in the container and now the colors are all mixed up and its going to be impossible to sort them all out and its just awful, mom. Okay, well, it sounds like you have a couple options. Sort them out. Or not. Everything will be fine. Just find something else to do for now and we will figure it all out when you get home.

Fast forward to yesterday. We finally had time to assess the situation and this is what we found. Every single color has now merged with another becoming what they sell as rainbow mix.


This is the size of a single seed bead.

This is the size of many seed beads.


This is going to call for some serious specialty tools.

The spoon allows us to remove the beads from the little cubbies.


The card? Yeah, I had to ask, too. S said, well, I was thinking I could use it like you see the pharmacists counting out the pills.....So, what begins as a pile then gets moved around with the card in hopes of some actual sorting going on.

There was A LOT of discussion on how this was all going to work out. Would it work out? What would be the best way? Was there a BEST way?


And of course, strict supervision is required.


And everyone knows that supervisors require snacks.


And when the supervising is over, well, then he needs busy work. Or we would have have had an even larger seed bead mess. So, what began as this.


Got turned into this.


He really made quick work of that entire bag.


After what felt like many hours of sorting and led to several original cases of "a pain in the neck":


We salvaged what we could and they went into this new container that has separate locking cubbies. So as to avoid another seed bead disaster.


And then, we threw in the towel and declared these unsorted beads, the recyclers. The dreaded, dig thru the tub looking for a few spares....

But, shhhhhhhh. Dont tell K. They had all these for 50% off at the craft store.


I think it should be more than enough to get her going again. They will wait for her here, on the counter, until she arrives home from school.

Out of the mouth of G

G came to me this morning.

He said that he felt the need to be bundled up.


Why is that, I ask? Because I just ate strawberries.


Do my mittens smell stinky, he asks?


Hiding from the camera. (Do you see that huge smile under those mittens?)

Are you done NOW, mama?

Road Trip!

Mim threw out the idea that she had been thinking of doing a little shopping. Where, I say? West, she says. Well, damn if I didnt know that it was Trader Joe's that she was speaking of. (okay, really? I had no idea what direction it was, but when she said the city, I knew right away where she was headed.) We dont have any of these wonderfully fantastic grocery stores in the vicinity, so when we want to go we have to make a road trip. We call all our friends and get their lists, too. Why? Because its the right thing to do.

Naturally, being the good friend that I am, I had to ask if she needed any help on her trip.(Sometimes known as inviting myself) And, of course, she did. So, I did my part and drove. Funny that. I didnt REALLY drive. I hate driving in the city. In fact, if the road has more than 2 lanes on my side of traffic....I break out in the cold sweats....my head begins to jerk and I start rambling about spiders in my bed. But, I did help. I sat in my seat and kept her company and every once in a while I even hollered at the GPS system. Dont say it. I know. You totally want me as your helper next time you go on a road trip. Well, get in line...Ill pencil you in!

Sigh. Imagine this picture with a warm glow and angels singing. Thats how I felt when we pulled up and got out.


Yay! Me in front of TJ's. Ive decided I need to start a TJ's scrapbook. Every time I go to a new one Im gonna take a snapshot of me there....(so far that means I have 2. Missouri and Oregon.)


Look at all the pretty flowers. Makes me yearn for Spring even more.


I heart these.


I have to say that I began to panic when I couldnt find my dark chocolate covered pretzels. The last ones I had were from my trip out west in January. So, as you might guess those were long gone and I was in need of some more. Luckily, we found them.


I was very happy about that.

We finished our shopping and got all checked out. Im really not sure what the little tickets are for that you put your name on the back and give to the cashier. But I do know that Mim got one and I did not. Hows that work?

Next up? Whole Foods. This is where you can literally eat your entire lunch by walking around the store and having samples.

Mim had never tasted goat cheese...so I kinda strong armed her into trying it. You gotta at least try it, I say.

Blech. Spat. Sput. Blech. She didnt really like it. I believe her words were...at first it was nice, kinda citrusy....then it hit me. It tasted like earth. I personally think it tastes like goats smell, but ya know, thats just my opinion.

After the goat cheese sampling we mosied around a little more. Looked at this and that.


This? This here. Mim was in heaven. I, on the other hand, was not. Who knew there were so many kinds of olives.


I hear that these black ones are pretty tasty. Ill just take that on someones word. Every time I try them...tasty is not the word that comes to mind.

It was a great trip. Cant wait till we go again. Dont worry tho, Ill ask you for your list when we go.

Love at first sight

My Saturday seemed pretty normal. The day went along like normal. Ate some good food, dispersed some time outs, did some garden planning. Thats normal, right?

Well, clearly things changed at about 8 or so that night. I am still sticking with the story that somebody spiked my sweet tea. And it musta been with something pretty darn strong. Because somehow, what began as a little internet adventure in search of the dog behind this commercial, landed me at this site. How can that be, you say? Well, Im not really sure. All I know is that I was feeling a little dizzy and my head was spinning a bit.....but yet, I kept looking.

What happens next is still a little fuzzy to me. Sunday morning comes along and all I know is that I came home from the grocery store and the kids had their coats on, the snack basket was packed, the water bottles filled, and S had made me a turkey and swiss sandwich. (To Go).

A few hours later and after many, many heartstrings had been pulled, we were headed back home, but now as a family of 6.

Friends, meet Darby. Shes about 8 weeks old and the cutest thing you ever did see.

We rescued Darby from a no kill shelter about an hour away from our house. Her mama had been found in a live trap. Somebody called the shelter and they went out to rescue her....and, well, the rest is history. She ended up having 7 pups in her litter. 5 boys and 2 girls. Darby was the last one left. She was also the second to the smallest.

See? She weighs in at a hefty 3 lbs.


It was a long day for little Darby. She is all tuckered out.

But come this morning? Id have to say she was all rested up.

There were a few growls at the couch.


Some definite escape paths routed out.

Her and J shared some secrets.

And she had some belly rubs.


Come here, Darby.


Yeah, thats it.


Good girl.


Okay, well, thats a little too close.


And, of course, she chewed on her bone.



She was so fast at times that I couldnt even get her in the picture.


And about the point where I was about ready to succumb to pure exhaustion....she managed to do it first.