Day Two - Piggy Issues

Day Two and we were a little better prepared. We started the morning with homemade waffles. We had a list of projects and activities that we want to do over the next two weeks together under "House Arrest for Piggy Issues".

There was a shopping list included, but we figured if we shopped intelligently, we wouldn't need to go out much more. We bought handwipes and hand sanitizer for the car, which will come in handy with the inevitable stickiness and spills that happen in a car where you allow small children to eat. Right now, we will also be careful to wash up a little more than normal too.

We got home from our trip for groceries and the milk IMMEDIATELY jumped to a suicidal finish all over the driveway. Which means... another trip to the grocery store. Just doesn't seem fair. Where is your Omega 13 when you need it? (For those of you who don't know, it's a Galaxy Quest reference... email for details if you need them).

We made a batch of chex mix today, and bought the stuff to do a ton more activities, including fun cooking projects. We went to the reading room because Thursday is our regularly scheduled reading room day and there was no reason NOT to go. Although honestly it was a little chaotic with all three kids.

We got home from the reading room and ran around our backyard. Katie is really into playing with water toys/water tables. So we put about 4 inches of water into a shallow bucket and gave her a plastic teapot to play with. She was happily doing that while I checked on our mint. When I looked back over at her, she was SITTING in the bucket. Quite happily, I might add! So I just stripped her to her diaper and dumped out the bucket into something wider and flatter.

She's also into Ring Around the Rosies. She and Ian play a bunch. I got some GREAT pictures of them dancing around in their underpants, but the battery died on my camera. When it is recharged, I will upload them.

And while I was putting dinner together, they discovered the joy of standing on their heads and looking out at the world through their knees. I took a few pictures of THAT glorious and dignified view of my children as well... see above comment about when I will get those future blackmail shots posted.

Like I said, today went better although I am frankly exhausted from entertaining the kids non-stop. And this is only Day Two. There are ten days more before school resumes. Assuming all goes well. And I certainly pray that it does.

I expect that because the school district was very cautious and proactive, this should be well contained. We are taking the right human footsteps.

So, again before I go to bed tonight, I will take a deep breath, and get calm and centered. I will give my prayerful support to all those people dealing with this, in whatever form and fashion they can.

Here are a few words from a poem by Caroline Gilman that sum it up:
Sweet hour of holy, thoughtful prayer,
Thy peace and calm may we improve,
And in God's healing service share
the truths revealed by His dear love.

Sleep sweetly,
-k

Day One - Piggy Issues

So, today was Day One of what Cory is called House Arrest due to Piggy Issues. Okay, so it's because of the swine flu. We are trying to keep our spirits up.

We only found out late last night that all Comal County schools and daycares would be closed until May 11th. So, we had no time to try to prepare.

Still, we are very fortunate because Mom is here and I am currently working full-time on selling the mail center. So I was able to be home with the kids. There are way more families who don't have that option and had to come up with something on the fly. I suspect there were a LOT of children left home alone today that shouldn't have been simply because parents had no other viable choice.

We made a long list of things we could do that were mostly home-based, not expensive, and might be entertaining. We included things that involve screens (computers, tvs, movies, game systems) but we also included a lot of things that don't. We made up a shopping list of things that we would need to do these projects or activities, and we will do that shopping tomorrow.

We are remaining calm and clear. We are also taking all the common sense human footsteps and complying with authorities.

Right now, the kids are totally unafraid, and that's the way we want it to stay. That resolve was SORELY tested today when Cory had himself angry enough to be in tears because I wouldn't let him get together with his friends. They all see this as some surprise fantastic bonus spring break... and I wasn't ready to lay it all out on the line for him and make him take it more seriously. I hope it doesn't come to anything more than it already has - but I am also prepared that the odds certainly seem to be that it will. At THAT point, it will be better for everyone that we stayed calm and prepared ahead of time.

There was a strange and surreal moment this morning when I drove past the school where the first confirmed case in our county was reported, and the doors are taped over with yellow caution tape. Every Hollywood scenario plays out in your mind and I had to remind myself sharply to keep it on check. Giving in to fearful thoughts doesn't help anyone.

I will NOT be watching 28 Days Later or any of those movies. Although I might consider Shaun of the Dead. I do so love Simon Pegg and his humor.

Tomorrow we have a better game plan in place to help the kids stay entertained and more importantly to help them entertain themselves.

I intend to spend at least a solid half an hour in calming, centering prayer. I expect to pray for all those affected, from those who are dealing with this illness directly to the entire community who are scrambling like we are to make the best arrangements for their children. I will pray for those who can't keep their own thought clear. I know that there are those who will want things to get worse. I can't explain why people would want that, but I know that there are those who will. Whether it's about the spectacle of it, the fascination with it, the Hollywood glamorization of these situations, or whatever form of morbid justification they think would be involved with having it get bad. I will pray for the health officials who are making the best decisions that they can, our government who are trying to make decisions whose impact they can only guess at, and especially for all the businesses who are affected by this immediately, including our own.

Day One was a little rough around the edges, but I know that we will get through this. Hopefully with some grace and a little style. Certainly with homemade edible playdoh, bubble stuff, homemade ice cream, rice crispie treats, new sunflower seedlings, and anything else I can think of!

-k

Katie Rose updates

It started with a bubble bath. And if you look, I MEAN bubble bath.


I mean, every Princess should get to have a bubble bath. And she's clearly enjoying herself, as a Princess should.

Now, she's out of the tubbie, has her hair done, and is brushing her teeth.

This is not only a very cute picture, but a GREAT expression on her face. Sometimes she's had enough of me and my pictures.

And here, she's checking herself out... or a picture of what we'd have if she was twins. God forbid!

I thought you'd love updated pictures of the Princess. I know I do!

Warning Label - Addictive Content

I have a contagiously catchy new expression. It's a long story and I shall give you the VERY expediated version.

I met a wonderful man by phone at work today. His name, and I am neither kidding nor exaggerating, is Hazam Alajmi... pronounced hah-zahm ah-lah-zshmee. I thought he was adorable and I really liked him and I just couldn't stop saying his name. I don't know if his name became a mild expletive, or if I was calling on him as some sort of new minor deity... like a little demi-god... but I couldn't stop. It was fun to say and I was having a rotten day... and Hazam got me through it.

Hazam Alajmi!

Namaste,
-k

The "Break Up"

The lady who has worked at our mail center for several months while Michael and I have gone back to full time jobs gave her notice. We knew it was coming and we are grateful she gave as much notice as she did.

However, today gave me reason to be concerned that she's checked out already and is experiencing senior-itis. There were behaviors that shocked me and it led to a freaked out day for me. It was like at the end of a relationship, you discover something about a significant other and it throws your entire relationship into question. You have to ask yourself how long has THAT been going on and I didn't know...

Not a good feeling.

I still like her and I'm still very grateful for the fantastic job she's done up until now. It was just a really hard emotional day for me, and I'm totally worn out.

-k

Easter Gladness

While we spent most of the day enjoying Doug's ranch, we did do an easter egg hunt in our backyard. Here are a few snapshots from today - some from the ranch, and some from the egg hunt.

-k

Rose Garden

Here are some recent pictures of our rose gardens. The first blooms of the year are always the most magnificent, like the bushes themselves have burst out of their winter dormancy and are celebrating their own ability. Although you can't see all of the bushes, because we have a LOT, this is a good snapshot. And you can see my shadow in the bottom right.


This is one of the two climbing roses we planted this year that will eventually climb up and over the arched bench. We have this roses on the left, which look so fiery hot that you think they'd be warm to the touch! On the other side, we have a pink that will make a really pretty contrast once the two have grown together and overlapped.

It wouldn't be Texas without a gorgeous yellow rose. You can't tell from this picture, but there are DOZENS of little yellow roses on this one bush alone.

The two-toned roses are some of my favorites. I've always used the expression, "that's too beautiful to be real" to describe gorgeous roses. The more I've grown up and cultivated our own flowers, I've come to realize that ONLY real roses could be so beautiful. Fake flowers are never as stunning as the real thing. And if you'll look closely, you can see Ian's tractor toys in the background.

Here are just some of the blooms that we've snipped and brought into our kitchen for a little burst of gorgeousness in our home. And they smell wonderful too.

That's a quick little tour of some of the beauty blooming in our yard right now!

-k

Sonseed

I have to tell you that I've become obsessed with this catchy little video. I don't CARE if it's fake. I don't care, I tell you. My work best friend and I watch this video whenever we just need a little pick-me-up. We drop it casually into conversation We have a picture of the singer, Sal, on our bulletin boards with little post-it's that say "ZAP". We've considered getting matching t-shirts.

If you don't know what I am talking about, FOR SHAME.

RUN, don't casually type, your way over to YouTube and get yourself a dose of Jesus is a Friend of Mine (aka Jesus is my Friend) by Sonseed. Despite the AWFUL ICKINESS of their name, this is an amazing little video. And you want the "original" with the hot pink background, not any other spin-offs (and there are many).

You'll laugh.
You'll cry.
You'll shake your head and wonder what drugs I'm on.

But you'll never forget it.

-k

Katie tidbit

We were driving through the Walgreen's pharmacy window to pick up something for Michael and Katie started saying "fries... fries". It took us a minute to realize what she was saying, and then, after a good laugh, we did go through a drive-thru and get her some fries.

She really doesn't go out to eat at drive-thru's very often, so I was frankly a little surprised that she put that together. Either that, or she and Grandma Bob have a very different daily routine than I think.

-k

The Times They Are A Changin'

Since the Whoop has not sold, and at the moment we don't even have a solid lead, we are considering what happens now. Our employee, who has been fantastic, has given her notice. Fortunately, she gave us a month's notice since she knows not only do we both work, but finding, hiring, and training a new employee could take that long or longer. And knowing that we are actively working to sell the place, it's hard to ethically hire someone and spend the time (and double wages) training them.

What to do? What to do?

-k

Yarn

I love yarn. I love yarn enough to decorate with it, even if I wasn't actually knitting or crocheting it into something. I love the colors, the textures, the potential.

Right now, while my life is topsy turvy and overwrought, and knitting is my source of zen. It helps me relax and do something that keeps my hands busy and my mind at least somewhat peaceful.

I wish I could slip into an alternate dimension where I was independently wealthy enough to be a wealthy patron of some local scrumptious yarn store and could spend time every day knitting in peace and happiness. I know from personal experience that I have NO desire to actually own a retail business every again. Not if you GAVE it to me. But I would love to be able to be a regular who helped supported someone else's dream.

That would just be lovely.

I am finished up the bright blue and white blanket Ian requested. And I have about 66 Million other projects I would love to do. I can fully expect to knit for the rest of my life and never run out of projects that I want to get around to!

What makes you happy like this?

-k