Month: May 2020

The Amazing Weather is Back…and We All Freaked Out in Our Own Way

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Me, I finally planted by new containers with my new plants from my new soil pile (the 6 yards of garden dirt, not the 10 yards of topsoil). 

They make me so happy to sit our on our front deck.


The girls and I took a walk after Dwayne and I separated a screaming match between Piper and Wes.  Dwayne took the boy rollerblading, and brought back a kid reset for the world.


I thought Piper was just being cute tying her shirt up like this.  Turns out, she was just able to carry her tablet under her shirt in the back so she could still listen to her story.


 Wes rode around the neighborhood on his hoverboard, stocking foot and carrying a piece of drainpipe he had spray painted earlier to make it resemble…something junkier?  Notice I try not add “because” to any statement about Wes’s antics. Who wants to plumb those depths?

Piper ended up in a sundress, on the roof, holding Lion Rosie.  Again, I don’t wish to add a “because” clause.
And with temperatures flirting madly with 80℉, this needs no explanation!

  

Before the Rains Come

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*I* can’t get over this beautiful weather, but apparently this weather can. We’ve had such amazing days, which makes the Stay Home Stay Safe policy really just feel like a lucky vacation–a snow day, but you know, completely opposite pressure system. 

To make the last of the good weather for a day or two, Wes and I rebuilt the fire pit that accidently found itself under the trampoline after my recent yard-attack, and the kids were thrilled to have hotdogs/sausages for dinner.  Dwayne graduated long ago from pyromaniac to pyromaster, and his fire lasted until the kids had the kitchen cleaned up.  It was the most beautiful evening–we so lucked out getting this house 17 years ago. I don’t think I ever need to live on water or in a mountain or any amazing destination, but I think I always want a sunset view.

Piper’s Projects

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 This girl loves creating and crafting!


Baby Sam has been the recipient of many Piper Inspirations.  Here, he is holding is new toy fish, made lovingly from old rags.


Then Kyla wanted to discard an apron that had been a fun COVID-19 Remote Birthday party, and Piper snatched it.  The original design had Kyla’s name under the yellow spot, and the now-blue pocket had other party-related wishes on it.  

And then Piper got a hold of it.
  


Here are some close ups:


I love her flower designs.  She printed off images she liked, and then scribbled all over the back in pencil, making herself poor-man carbon paper.  Then she could then transfer the image to the apron and color them as she wished.


I am particularly fond of the paw print edging.

She captured Rosie and Timmy,
and even her BFF’s kitten (the brown one near the bottom of the apron).  Oh, how she enjoyed the hours on this.  Another parent might make a dig about putting half this effort into her classes, but I’m as restrained as I can be this month.

May Day! May Day!

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We couldn’t find evidence that we started this tradition earlier than 2012 but Kyla and I are keen on keeping it up! 

Kyla did 99% of the work, even if Wes gets pictorial credit, and made a simple bouquet of white lilacs and blue forget-me-nots for each neighbor before delivering them as anonymously as the Ring generation allows her to.  She gets a high from it, and it was a perfect way to spent a “school at home” lunch break. 

Also, if you come across this cleverly painted rock, know it is Kyla’s handiwork!
 

Antics of Cats and Kids

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Of all the creatures in this household, I think the cats like homeschooling best.  Timmy Whitefoot and Rosie Grayfoot both enjoy having their people home with them all day.  

Kyla and Rosie do homework together each day.

In another room, Piper and Timmy “do homework” together. (Piper has finally caught up with a month of homework.  Timmy is going to fail middle school if he maintains these study habits.)


Then, Mama came across an article on NPR about this bird saving device. The BirdsBeSafe collar claims to decrease songbird killings by 87%, affecting only the birds who fall down laughing at the hunting cat.  I bought two that day.

The cats seem perfectly happy with their new fashion.  I theorize that they have found their inner lion. 
 

So the cats to mind, but oh!  Piper was mad.  She protested the horrid collars, and marched in solidarity, with herself.  Her first collar was made of paper, and was quite uncomfortable, which of course, is how she assumed the cats felt.

Then she made a cloth one (which lasted in all its glory until the next time I insisted she shower.  The color faded somewhat, but my towels got a little more colorful!)

 

 See, Rosie doesn’t even mind.   

So far, so good.  We haven’t been brought any presents by cats disgusted with our inept hunting skills.