A Poppy

Beauties in the Garden...last week before the cold snap!

Peonies Bloomed

June-uary

So while we wait for summer to actually begin (we lit up the wood stove last night, and it felt so good after being chilled all day long!) we have been busy getting caught up on house projects after the busy month of May (some photos will be added in the next few days...while a lot has been done, some things still haven't):

#1 best thing done: The Learning Chair

Now Truitt has a safe place to stand and watch me cook, wash dishes, and just hang out as I bustle around the kitchen and get things done. It has helped tremendously! It is so much easier to get the kitchen chores done now that he can watch!

#2 better late than never: Planted my Victory Garden

Okay, it really isn't a "Victory Garden" however, we are against the war, and we did rip out our front yard, and we did end up filling it with seeds for things we can actually eat. But all of these events did not happen on purpose. I wanted some vegetables, and it just happened to be the only space available. I did consider putting up big signs that say "Food is Beautiful" or "Make Food not War" or "All we are saying...is give food a chance", but then I imagined rabid conservative teenagers demolishing my yard, plus, it seemed slightly hypocritical as this was not our intended goal, and Stephen hates to make a statement that is hypocritical.

So now our parking lot drive way is a courtyard for tomato and bean plants. Our front yard will soon be filled with: chives, rosemary, lavender, cilantro, nasturtiums, butternut squash, zucchini, pumpkins, fennel, sage, thyme, and artichokes. I tried planting carrots and beets under the trees, but my dad says they probably won't grow. Also, how long do seeds live for? The pumpkin seeds were from 2002, do you think they will grow?

In the back I have basil that was potted and the mesclun seeds in pots (that have been dug up slightly as the neighborhood cats used the pot as a litter box!) I also have flowers waiting to be put in hanging baskets. I picked up some cheap planters at Lowe's ($1.47 each) and a bunch of cheap annuals for about the same price each. So for the cost of one hanging planter I will be able to make 5! And if you want to be really cool and cheap, you can actually use plastic grocery bags as hangers! Once the flowers grow and hang you will hardly be able to tell it is a bag!

#3 Re-selling stuff we don't use for money

We cleaned out our clothes closet and got a huge box of clothes. Then I went through the attic and found a ton of home decor items we don't want. They can all be resold and hopefully next month we will be a little richer!

Love Returned

Carter is back.

Stephen went out with the flashlight last night for one last look around and to talk to the last two neighbor's we hadn't yet got to. He was found in the the back yard "kitty corner" to us, supposedly he had been there all day, playing with their cats. I had been calling for him from the kitchen throughout the day, so I am sure he heard me, but had no way to get back over the fence. He must have used our hot tub as leverage to get over there.

So now all is right here in our house. He is curled up on some blankets by one of the heaters. (Aspen has joined him and they are sleeping paw over paw!) We have had lots of cuddles and face smooshes last night and this morning.

My mind is at ease, and I actually got a full night's sleep.

Love Missing

In a twisted stroke of fate, assumptions, mistakes and bad decisions colliding, my precious Carter is lost. His brother Aspen returned earlier today without him. I cannot go into the incident further for fear of ruining a perfectly wonderful friendship. I am emotional and exhausted so I must guard my tongue.

But my heart and spirit are crying for my little Carter kitty. My sweet kitty, my cuddle buddy, the one who always knows when I am feeling blue and comes to console me first. I have walked the neighborhood three times today, but so far he is choosing to stay hidden, at least that is what I hope. He was my feline baby, my very first cat a moi propre. And Truitt has learned to pet and kiss him just like me (full face smoosh, in order to enjoy all of his wonderful soft fur), it is very cute.

Come home Carter, I know you are scared but just come out from the bushes and come home. We are here waiting for you.

If you see him please don't yell, please don't scare him, and please don't take him. Send him on his way. His family misses him!

(Stomach turning, wringing with worry)

Happy First Birthday Little Man!

My sweet little boy is one year old. He is growing so fast. His little legs have lost their baby look and their extra wide stance. He now has a much more toddler look with defined muscles even. Still no hair and still only two teeth, but much bigger all the same. He is beginning to run, and he is trying so hard to talk, he mumbles stories all day long, and we try hard to make out any words or gestures that can help us understand. I can't wait to know what he is talking about. And he must be frustrated too. He has started what one of our parenting books calls "oppositional behavior," not quite a full blown temper tantrum, but aggravating just the same with throwing his head back onto the ground and whining, or crying. To top it off he got a chest cold the day before his birthday party. So little man is in serious need of cuddles, kisses, and hugs right now, for lots of reasons. I am trying my best to explain things to him and just get through the tough moments that still have to happen (i.e.: diaper changing, face washing, dressing). Hopefully soon he will be able to either express himself or understand a little bit more. It is simply amazing how fast the human psyche wants to be independent, and expressive.

We have experienced so much change over the last year and there is still so much more to come, and we are looking forward to every single moment. Truitt, I know I can't catch every fall, or wipe every tear, but I will always be here for you. To quote a Chinese proverb: I will give you roots to ground you and I will let your wings soar to reach your dreams.