Tooth

Going . . .

going . . .

not quite gone .

Five Great Things About My Childhood

1. Crest Grab-Bags
2. The Yellow Wallpaper (what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger)
3. Tree forts in the field off Apple Ave.
4. Playing Sardines for FHE
5. Grandpa Hugh's ancient Mac with the best games

Your turn! On your marks...get set...go!

Good News Tuesday

This man loves me.

Netflix

says "Your taste preferences created this row: Critically Acclaimed Violent Dramas"

What in the world?

I've been waiting and waiting for Nate to call. I just remembered that I asked him not to. I meant to go to bed early. Instead I watched Cold Souls and Ballet Shoes. Violent dramas indeed.

I can't seem to get caught up on the dishes.

Today was just a day. There is nothing to report.

A new-to-you photo. Isn't he handsome?

Do You Ever

tell your kids to stop whining about their food when secretly you know what they're eating is disgusting?

I do.

PS. Newman's Own Pineapple Salsa tastes like vomit. Literally.

Miley Fever

Frankie had us all rollin' with her almost verbatim performance of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" at dinner. By the time I pulled out the camera though it had pretty much dissolved into a real case of the sillies.


"So I put my hands up they're playing my song,
the butterflies fly away,
Nodding my head like yeah . . .
It's a party in the USA"

Epiphany

Jensie is ornery, the other two are sweet.
But you already knew that. I've told you a million times.

Today it hit me--What if instead of telling everyone how rotten Jensie is, I focus on all of the good things she does?

Will she live up to the reputation of that person? Will my perception of her influence the woman she becomes? I think so. I only wish I'd seen it sooner.

Today Jensie . . .
got out of bed an hour before I did and served breakfast to her siblings,
pushed Frankie on the swing for a long long time,
hummed "Called To Serve" while I brushed her teeth,
let Asher and Frankie each take one of her books "home" with them,

and made me a twisty-tie necklace.

North is Not Always Up (Why We Chose Homeschool)

Has it ever struck you as odd, or unfortunate, that today, when the proportion of literacy is higher than it ever has been, people should have become susceptible to the influence of advertisement and mass propaganda to an extent hitherto unheard of or unimagined? . . . Have you ever, in listening to the debate among adult and presumably responsible people,been fretted by the extraordinary inability of the average debater to speak to the question, or to meet and refute the arguments of the speakers of the other side?
. . . And when you think of this, and think that most of our public affairs are settled by debates and committees, have you ever felt a certain sinking of the heart? . . . Is not the great defect of our education today--a defect traceable through all the disquieting symptoms of trouble that I have mentioned--that although we often succeed in teaching our pupils "subjects," we fail lamentably on the whole in teaching them how to think: they learn everything, except the art of learning.

--Dorothy L. Sayers
"The Lost Tools of Learning"

Pippa and June

Pearl died. We buried her in the yard with an X to "mark the spot." Something dug her up and ate her. The kids were cool about it though because the hatchery promised to send another little duck our way. They sent a bonus baby too, so now we have six.

Six ducks who'll lay an egg a day for about six years. That's 15 dozen eggs a month.
Holy guacamole!


The first four are growing like weeds. Look what a difference one week makes! Pippa and June look so teeny tiny in there with the girls.

We're working on getting them to eat out of our hands. So far they mostly just chirp and run for their lives whenever we get near them.

I could chase baby ducks all day. True story.

Unaffiliated

Allow me to explain. While Nate's name was on the profile of our blog, the blog was vulnerable to military censorship. Soldiers sign away their right to the freedom of speech you know. If we'd kept his name on the blog, we'd have had to register with an office in Bagdhad where the Army would look over our posts before they became public. Or something like that. As a free citizen I wasn't too keen on the idea. So when I say "unaffiliated," it doesn't mean that we're having marital problems, only that it's MY blog now, as opposed to being both of ours, and I am solely responsible for its content. That way some zealous Army leader can't take what is said here and try to prosecute Nate for expressing an opinion.

Urinary Ramblings

This used to be our blog, now it's just mine. Okay, it's still "ours," but we're unaffiliated so I can talk about anything--even old boyfriends.

I once dated this guy whose first-date "test" was to ask whether or not you peed in the shower. He said it was a good way to tell if someone was really honest.

Gross.

(Do I dare to leave the word "urinary" in the title?)

Later I dated this really skinny guy. He was skinnier than me, and I used to be really skinny. Like, bony even. I asked him if he peed in the shower. He said "No." That night as he walked me to my doorstep he admitted, in obvious discomfort, that he did indeed pee in the shower.

"Your question took me by surprise," he said. "I'm sorry I lied."

He turned out to be one of the most honest people I've ever known. Second only to the the man I married who shamelessly answered "Yeah every time. It's convenient."

He's got a point.

Also, I like a multi-tasker.

That skinny guy, oh boy was he skinny, had bright red hair too. I liked his red hair. And his sense of humor. He once used a napkin to map out his funeral-something to amuse me while we waited for our dinner. He drew himself propped up in a chair, wearing huge sunglasses, and holding a sign that read "Thanks for coming." The sunglasses were there just to lighten things up. They'd have stapled a good smile on too, so everyone'd know how glad he was to "see" 'em.

I wonder if I'm a difficult person to amuse? Don't answer that Nate. Even if we are unaffiliated.

According to my will, I'd like my dead body to be donated to students, but "schlumped in a chair" was very seriously considered.

I'm a dead people person.

Also, it won't be donated to students, but to a university. They, the students that is, will be free to poke and prod, but I won't actually be theirs. I hope this makes more sense in my will.

I once read Rayuela by Julio Cortázar. Rayuela means hopscotch. My Spanish used to be that good. The chapters are written out of order. I wondered how he did it. Did he write it start to finish then scramble them up? Or was is something like this that just worked out perfectly?

I had never peed in the shower, but I know a good idea when I hear it. And now sometimes I do, mostly I don't.

Because it's still gross.

So...

Do you or don't you?

My Kids Have No Standards

Tonight because I hadn't made dessert the kids were forced to improvise. Frankie sucked down a Pedialyte popsicle, Asher had a spoonful of Maple syrup, and Jensie ate half a hot dog bun.

Blast from the Past

I was going through some old CDs trying to find a picture of our first house. The one I wanted never turned up, but I found these along the way. These pictures make me smile. They also make me want to chop off my hair and figure out how to get my 20 year old skin back.

Babies having babies! What are we twelve?

Remember when we used to cut all the hot guys out of the Tommy Hilfiger ads and glue 'em up on our closet doors? (FYI This is Kate's old closet-I swore off the Abercrombie hotties the day I said "I do.")


Best haircut ever! Nate did it in the backyard with a big clumsy pair of kitchen scissors.

Hey Columbus, You've Got Options

photo taken from Jenny-Jack Farm's website

Tired of forking out $5 for a head of lettuce at Publix? Me too! And as it just so happens in addition to our teeny tiny, but completely decent little Farmer's Market, local farmers from Lagrange and Pine Mountain are running a successful chemical-free co-op. Slots are filling up fast for the summer/fall harvest so you need to get on it, and now.

Still not sure? How's this long list of available veggies to whet your appetites?

From August to the end of November you'll get:
Arugula, basil, beets, broccoli, beans, carrots, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggs, eggplant, field peas, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mixed greens, okra, parsley, squash, spinach, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, turnips, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.

M'mmm.

Local stone-ground corn grits, cornmeal, organic coffee, and flower bouquets are available too!

Send an e-mail to Chris at Jenny-Jack Sun Farm (jennyjackfarm{at}gmail{dot}com) and let 'em know you want in.

Maiden Voyage

Today I said to myself "Self, let's review. You've got this bike. What else have you got?"

"Helmets?"

Check.

"Seats?"

Check.

"PADDED SPANDEX?"

Check.

"Well then" said I, "let's ride."

And ride we did. It was harder and hotter than I'd imagined it could be, and I'd be lying if I told you I made it up the steepest hills without having to get off and walk the bike to the top. The kids are surprisingly heavy--I may have to stop feeding Asher all together. The assembly guide to the seats warns that a two-kid set up is the most difficult position for my cargo kit, and that it is only recommended for "advanced experienced riders." I'm willing to bet that six months on the road will make me just that.

Team Bigler

Highlights include:

-Frankie yelling excitedly "You're bike is running!" over and over again.

-Jensie telling me that everyone stopped at a near by traffic light was staring at us with "their eyes really big!" to which I replied "That's because none of them are tough enough to try this." Mwahahahaha.

-Asher whining "Aw man, I thought you were gonna ride all the way up that hill." All in good time my pet, all in good time.

and the text I got from Amy, whose house we'd ridden by, that said "Jacob ran in and said 'I just saw a mystery! It was a big bike with lots of people!'"

When we got home, after getting as far up the driveway I was gonna get, I had Jensie jump down and mark the spot with a big chalk line. Now I know I have to get at least that far before quitting next time.

Me, post ride, successfully not weeping long enough to snap a pic

After getting the kids inside I collapsed on my bed under the big ceiling fan and cried. At the time my only options were to cry or puke, and crying seemed as though it might be slightly less messy. While I lay there all teary eyed and quivery I thought about Heather saying just this morning "You're living your dreams!"

I also thought about all the times over the past year as I talked, and planned, and saved, and hoped, people told me how crazy it was to give up my car for a bicycle--stupid even. And how once in complete desperation I called my dad to ask if he really thought I could do it. His response?

"Do you think you can?"

When I told him I could, that I knew I could, he said "Well then, you can."

He was right.

Chirping

Fine Feathered Arrival

Click on each photo to see these darlings up close

Say hello to
Maude, Daisy, Winnie, Beezus, and Pearl.
The post man just delivered these thirsty babies and we are already in love. Pearl, the littlest seems lost and scared, but the rest are already trying to "fly the coop."

Who Feeds That Kid?

Yo Asher, go easy on the grub man. You could stand to lose a few.

FHE

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:26-27

Family Home Evening was perfect tonight, and I'm writing it all down because, well, this might be the first time it didn't end in boredom and/or tears--ever. The kiddies* were sweet and thoughtful, and our "lesson" lasted about 35 seconds--which was just right for my rowdy monsters.

We read the above verses from Genesis and I explained that "dominion" means that Heavenly Father has given us responsibility over animals--both captive and wild. We talked about how caring for wild animals means preserving their habitat and making sure not to harm them when we're outside where they live, and that caring for our pets is an important job.

They groaned when I told them our activity would be to get a safe bed ready for the ducklings that will arrive this week, but they loved getting their hands dirty and all worked happily--there may even have been a bit of laughter and cooperation involved!

We took care to lay out moist pine pellets for our duckie darlings, and set up a heat lamp, a couple of feeders, some grit, and a large waterer. (They all grumbled about the smell of the pine dust, but kids have terrible taste so that's to be expected. Just wait 'til there are water fowl stinkin' up the family room. They're gonna love that!)

While we worked Jensie went over the lesson once more for good measure, kindly lecturing her siblings to "Remember, God made us responsible for our animals so we have to take good care of our pets and make sure they have good food and a nice bed. And sometimes we have to take them to the animal doctor." She is often more pleasant than I give her credit for.

We finished up by singing the first verse of Follow the Prophet, and knelt to say our evening prayer. Jensie looked around the circle and declared "I wish we had FHE every night! I love when we're all close together as a family." Success!

Then I gave them all an Otter-Pop and sent them off to bed--what an agreeable end to an ordinary Monday.

*Frankie hates when I call them that. She always gets upset and yells "We're not kitties, we're kids!"

Rallying the Troops

Hey Natey,
When you read this you'll be back in the sand.
We're doing well. Playin' hard and keepin' busy.
See you soon babe.
-E

Drawing Near

Today I watched Nate pull our son close, heard him whisper "I love you sweet boy," and realized he's already saying goodbye.

For twelve days we've laughed, worked, whistled, and cried. Resolved not to waste treasured time crying and cried a little more. We've read and we've tickled, kissed and made up. Scolded, and snuggled, indulged and slept well.

It's been nearly perfect. It's hard to let go.

Duckie Downies

I'm not back, not really, but we just ordered five of these cutie babies and they'll be here soon soon soon. I couldn't wait to tell you.

photo source

Baby Blues

Be back soon...