My Mother's Day, 2009

In years past I have not had very nice Mother's Day.  They just never seem to live up to any of my expectations.  My teens are 14 and 16 years old.  They are typical kids.  

This year I decided to at least be acknowledged by those said teens.  A few weeks before MD I forwarded each of my children an e-mail that I had received from Kodak.com.  It was an ad about getting a free picture photo card for your mom on Mother's Day.  That was Hint #1.  

Hint #2 was more direct.  On Wednesday of last week I point blank asked, "Does anyone know what Sunday is?"  My oldest responded, "May 10th" with a very straight face.  Ha, ha, I didn't laugh.  

Hint #3 was a visible message:  On Friday, I went out and bought two hanging flower baskets for my MIL from her two sons:  my husband and my BIL who lives in Maryland.  The flower baskets were set out in plain view.  Of course I asked, "did you see the flower baskets I got Grandma for Mother's Day?"  

Well, on Saturday my hubby decided to go buy me a MD gift.  I reminded him I am NOT his mother.  He understands that, but I think he was feeling guilty because I was out doing yard work pulling weeds and filling up my broken yard cart.  Broken by him just a few weeks ago as he was using it to haul wood.  It has been duct taped back together, but really won't survive in it's present condition for very long.  

After I finished my weeding for the day, I decided to play a bit!  You can see that my new cart is very sturdy!  I am on the sledding hill in my in-laws backyard!  :)

 

On Sunday, I woke up to happy children.  My daughter made me breakfast...a hash brown.  (Note to self:  Need to work on cooking with that child this summer.)  She was very excited for me to open my gift from her.  She is my crafting soul!  She made me this bird house from a gourd she got last fall while we were pumpkin gathering.  Isn't it so cool!?  I LOVE the colors and the leaf prints on it.  

My son actually left the house on Saturday afternoon to go shopping by himself.  Oh the freedom of a driver's license!  I did say a little pray that my van would return safely.  I smiled as he left thinking most of the college students were long gone for the summer and there were fewer cars on the roads now.  

He bought me some incense and a card (showcased here). 

  Another sweetheart!  

For dinner last night I made one of his favorite dishes; homemade individual chicken pot pies.  :)

**********

The topper for Mother's Day was that I had a chance to rest in the hammock my daughter and husband put up before we headed to Brown County State Park to have a cookout with my in-laws.  We had my MIL's favorite meal that night...hot dogs on the grill!  

I hope all my friends who are mom's had as nice of a day too.  Please feel free to use my hinting techniques in the future if you need.  

Feelin' Blue?

I decided to play along with an acquaintance of mine, Stephanie of Steph's Cup of Tea Blog and write about her color of the week:  Robin's Egg Blue

Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors!  The little glass cup above sits near my kitchen window.  I fell in love with it when my husband's mom brought it home from his great-aunt's house about 15 years ago.  My MIL thought I might like a little trinket from this aunt's house, as the aunt had passed away and her nieces were left with the task of going through her things.  I don't know anything about this cup, but fell in love with it's shape.  It looks like a tree stump with leaves wrapped around it.  
When I looked closer at my surroundings I found a few other blue, but not Robin's Egg Blue, things in my possession.  In the past year I needed to get a new cell phone and iPod.  Since there are color choices now that weren't available so many moons ago, I decided to get blue of each of these things!  And then I have just a hint of blue in my counter tops so I went for blue glass canisters.  I have a few vases and pottery pieces too, but again no Robin's Egg Blue.  

To me blue is so relaxing.  In my brain when I feel stressed,  I capture the color of the prettiest ocean scene, gorgeous tropical blue waves with white sandy beaches and an orange glow of the sun rising up on the horizon!  Then I smile a big, contented smile.  

Wild breeds that do NOT play well together!

Last week 

one 

morning,

 I saw 

this guy 

hanging 

out in 

my 

backyard.  The kids were about ready to head to the bus stop (which is through our backyard) and were a tad apprehensive when I pointed out our visitor.  

As I went out to take his photo the door sound scared him off.  My husband watched from inside and as I went out onto our back deck this fellow scurried under it!  

When my kids were well on their way to school, I watched as my friend sauntered out from his hiding place.  Now was my chance!  I snuck out my front door and made my way to the back deck.  I've read that skunks are timid, can't see very well and are afraid of people.  Their first response is to run; NOT to spray.  After about 15 minutes this guy went on his way thorough my in-laws backyard.  

On Saturday night I was reading a book inside my living room.  As I faced my back windows my lap-cat, Jack, noticed something outside moving around.  As I peered through the window I watched the skunk mosey out from under our deck once again.  There is a huge dug out hole under our deck...I guess we know who's roosting there now!  The skunk went about his business snacking on the grub worms in our lawn.  I watched him become spooked several times.  Each scare caused him to run back under our deck.  After a while I noticed something else coming into my backyard.  What I thought was the neighbors cat turned out to be a raccoon.  The raccoon must have a claim on the grubs in our backyard because he went after the skunk.  Both furry fellows ran under our deck.  I didn't see either reemerge, but I did smell a telltale sign of someone who was unhappy!  

My Cinco de Mayo Feast...for the Belly and the Eyes!

On my menu:  Guacamole, Salsa and chips.  Rice and beans.  And for the main course:  Stacked Green Chili & Grilled Chicken Enchiladas.  

Fresh ingredients!  I spent the afternoon chopping, dicing and mashing.  
A former restaurant in town used to make this fresh salsa that I fell in love with.  It's really my favorite kind of salsa and worth spending the time making.  It tastes even better several hours later (or a day, if you can) after the flavors marry.  
I wanted a picture of the Enchiladas before I topped them off and baked them.  Once they are cooked you can't see the layers as well.  
My friend, Sweetcakes, gave me this recipe.  I wanted something different and this was great!  But I forgot to take a photo of the Enchiladas topped with sour creme and fresh cilantro!  Oh well, too late now...they WERE yummy!  

A Response...

I got an e-mail response today from my Governor's Office.  Exactly one month after I sent my e-mail.  

Two weeks ago I actually sent a snail mail copy of my e-mail since I felt like my e-mail was probably NOT going to be addressed.  

I did NOT get my pocket knife back.  And I am sure my state's security thinks I'm a nut case.  

At least I feel like my voice was heard.  

Bluebirds...

...of happiness!  

Last fall I mentioned putting up my old Bluebird box at my new house.  

See: Kitchen Window Eye Candy

In early April, I noticed a pair of Bluebirds going in and out of my nesting box.  I don't know if they are the same pair I photographed last fall, but this twosome did like what they found.  They started building a nest!  A week later we had an egg!  Bluebirds lay one egg a day and in the end we(my FIL and I) had five tiny little blue eggs.  

Bluebirds commonly build their nests with pine needles.  The mossy layer was from a pair of Carolina Chickadees.  The Chickadees were trying to stake a claim, but the Bluebirds won out this time.  

Fourteen days after the last egg was laid; the babies hatched!  My FIL and I were the first to check the box.  

Nesting box etiquette says the box can only check for another week.  After day 12 the babies are big enough to be spooked from the nest.  But they aren't big enough to fend for themselves and I don't want to encourage any predators.  

I will try to get at least one or two more pictures of these infants in the next week.  

:)

May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month

It was three years ago today when I found out that my mom had two brain tumors and needed to have immediate surgery.  

Tomorrow would have been my mom and Art's wedding anniversary.  It would have been 22 years for them.  I remember being with my mom three years ago as she woke up after surgery.  What a way to spend one's anniversary.  

I am not sad today.  No tears.  Last year, two Illinois State Representatives tried to have May proclaimed  as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.  I bet with Senator Kennedy's situation soon more people will call attention to this disease.  In a few weeks the second annual Coach Hep Cancer Challenge will happen here in town.  I still have my red laces from last year.  I hope all who can will support Brain Cancer/Tumor Awareness.  If Brain Cancer touches your life it will change you mentally(no pun intended) and emotionally.  I meant as a bystander too.  Maybe that's a biased statement and any cancer/disease that touches someone changes them and their loved ones.  But I personally know that if BC enters your life it cannot be cured right now.  A lot of other disease seem to have more hope with them than BC.  A few months ago I ran across another cause site that sells Grey T-Shirts to support Brain Cancer Awareness.  I seriously thought about getting a shirt that says "I wear Grey for my Mom."  But I couldn't do it.   

I keep asking myself why?  Why couldn't I buy it?  The answer, I think, is because I am moving on.  I don't want to be doom and gloom.  I want to remember the good and not be dragged down by sadness.  Then that saying I use to say pops in my brain, "Life's too short!"  I will choose to suppose a cause, but to Enjoy Life!