it started to early, but oh well....

These three couch hogs...(the couch is a hodgepodge of blankets and coverings, they have to be washed quite often...) Duke is the chocolate guy, with half an ear. He's the wake up with the birds dude. This fine morning, I watched the sun come up while they went outside and romped around...they came in, I gave them their treat, told them to go lie down, and got back in my still warm bed. Well. This time, Duke wasn't even quiet for five minutes. I no sooner was covered and comfy, and he started in again. I put a pillow over my head to drown out his intermittent barks. I put two pillows on my head. I put my phone with the white noise on high volume, directly on my ear, with two pillows on top. I could still hear him.

Poor guy. He just wants people around. I think he's going senile. So I just got up. It's not terrible, being up with the birds on Sunday morning. It's not the end of the world to be tired. I gave Duke his medicine, and he's happy as can be. I noticed that as I sit here with my computer, he puts his head up every once and a while and looks around, making sure there's someone out here. I think that perhaps I am going to have to maybe perhaps start having him sleep in my room. I have resistance to that idea, because for years and years and years, I had children who would have rather bunked in with us, and though it wasn't easy, I drew that line. Once they were passed the nursing stage, I wasn't going to have a family bed, ha, there wouldn't have been room for me any more. And that takes something, to put a kid back to bed when they come padding in silently in the middle of the night...more than once, I had myself a good fright when some sweet child or other appeared by my bedside and said into the silence, "I don't feel well!", or, the real heartbreaker, "I had a bad dream..."

I know if I let him sleep in my room, even in a comfy bed on the floor, that dog is going to end up climbing into our bed. And I am not sure I am up for that. Labs are very hoggy, and have absolutely no concept of personal space, ha.

Besides being tired, it's a really nice morning. I have my pumpkin spice coffee, my new warm slippers, a furry blanket, and the house is quiet, now that the puppy has finished with her after-breakfast antics. (She has an energetic streak in the mornings, we have to play fetch, and she roughhouses with Suri so much I have to shoo them back out the door a few times until she settles down.)

Yesterday was the basketball game at the Dome...Emily, Abigail, Margaret, Evelyn, Suzanne, and I all worked. We dropped Paul off at the airport...he's in Ireland for a few weeks. Abigail and I rode together, and after the airport, we went to that magnet bakery...oh dear. Half-moon cookies...big cake-like confections with half chocolate/half vanilla frosting on top. And the eclairs...Camille has been asking for a while to try one, so I figured it would be nice to come home from the game with a little surprise...three huge eclairs....now the bad thing about all this is that no one really liked the eclairs except for Cam...and I heard myself say, "Let me have just a small try of that, Cam...." As if I wouldn't like it or something, who am I kidding? I DID like it, and dang if I didn't help Cam finish it off...now there are two in the box in the refrigerator, and that child better eat both of them for breakfast, or I am going to have to smush them into the garbage can.:)

Anyway. After the game, as tired as I was, I promised Sonja, who had stayed home all day with the little girls, that I would take her somewhere. Evelyn and Suzanne showered and we went out the door...it was almost seven o'clock on a frigid Saturday night, seven degrees(-13.88c), clear and cold.

We hadn't decided on what to do, these five girls and I. It was so cold out, and dark out...we decided our house is cozy and warm, so we ordered a pizza and some wings, went to town and got a movie, "Sully", the one about the pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson river in New York (It was pretty good, and the little girls were very intrigued, after we looked up actual pictures and accounts of it).

So we picked up our pizza and watched our movie, and had a nice cozy evening.

Then, because I had had a long busy day and Paul wasn't home, I read a book for too long into the night. I should know better, I mean, one would think that a Sunday morning would be a nice time to sleep in, but ha.

But life goes by in a blink, and these are good years. There will always be something, won't there?

all the cookies....

A triple batch of chocolate chip....



I told myself that I already know they're good, I don't need to try one and see. Because I know me. I know I want to eat all the cookies. Or at least four. And I do better on no sugar! So no tasting the cookie dough either. I can eat so much cookie dough! So it's better to just have none. I got used to this method of self denial way back when I started on this weight loss journey, and it worked for me. I can still treat the kids occasionally, still warm up the house, but not eat any.

Don't get me wrong, I am not going to never eat cookies, if that makes sense. I also plan to eat ice cream again soon, but not just any ice cream. I heard of this creamery that's semi-local, and I want to take a few of the kids, and my sister...

It's just that if I want to feel good, I can't eat the sugar on a regular basis, and when it's out of my system, I don't crave it as much, and I function better.

Anyway...this fine morning I am going with Mirielle to look at a house, and the refrigerator repairman is coming too. If he comes when I'm gone, he's going to have to talk to Joseph, who absolutely loves me for this, ha.

I am bringing Miss Charlotte Claire and Miss Camille too, because they LOVE houses, housing designs, decorating, ect.

So it's been a busy morning. I was exclaiming joyfully to anyone who would listen, how Sunny made it through THREE nights without peeing or pooping near the door. (she never does it during the day anymore, that's something:)). Sonja said I was jinxing myself, but I don't believe in jinxes. ha. I should've listened to her. This fine morning, Duke barked me out of bed at six, and there by the door was a little present from Sunny.

Of course I cleaned it up, swept the floors, then mopped, washed dishes and cleaned counters...washed my hair, got the kids up, had them shower and eat and dress neatly...

And now I am taking a break...guy is here...

spring yesterday, winter today....

It was so nice and springy! I went for my walk, we went to the playground...


And today...well, I woke up and it was no longer 67 (19.4) degrees...it was 20 (-6.6).

The wind picked up, the cold front came through, and brought snow, lots of it.

But yesterday...oh it was nice. We went to the park...sunshine on my face. I know, we were just in Florida, but still...it's my favorite. We went to the library, where we met up with a few good friends, it's always nice to see friends when you go out and about. Then the thrift store, and:

We found an American Girl doll for Camille, the 2013 Doll of The Year, Saige, for $3.99. When I lifted her hair and saw that logo, it was rather fun. Charlotte Claire found Adidas pants, a sweatshirt, and a nice gym bag. The pants are too big for her, but believe me, she found an older sister who was interested.

We stopped into the grocery store because I had cut some coupons and the stuff was all on sale...it's the time to get razors for the girls, and shampoo, ect. And who did we see in that store but my brother Bob! And, it was his birthday, of course I totally forgot and my sister reminded me later, oops.

Anyway...today we're back to winter. It stopped snowing, the sun is shining, but it's still in the twenties. The kids have almost finished school for now and are going to go out and play in it before they finish up for the day.

Mali is coming over today with little miss Lydia, yay! Lydia knows we babysit for her sometimes because her mama has to work, and I think she is smart enough to worry that her mama is going to leave while they visit here together, which makes her very clingy and we therefore get very few hugs and snuggles. When we do babysit for her, she cries when mama leaves, but then settles in and is fine. But I love the visits. She's learning to talk, and when she makes connections, it's a riot. She's only a year and a half, but she seems so smart.

My other granddaughter way far away in Seattle is doing well too. (She's going to be a big sister!!! Grandchild #3, this is getting serious! I really AM a Grandma!) I am hoping Paul and I can visit out there before long. Maybe we could just take a detour down the coast and visit California before heading home.

I am thinking of making cookies today...why would I torture myself, you might ask...I wonder the same thing, but when I think of the girls getting off the bus and being so happy...:)

never a dull moment...ever.

I know it's not only us, every family, ever person has struggles. And compared to the sufferings in third world countries, our refrigerator woes don't even register as a blip on the Problem Radar. But still, as the kids say, the struggle is real...the refrigerator isn't cooling...again.

But, I do have the receipt now:

There. Now I won't lose it, ha.

The appliance guy, Wayne, is coming over on Friday. Until then? All the food in the refrigerator? It will have to be transferred to the small 'fridge from our camper that still graces our kitchen.

See? In comparison, First World Probs.

And yeah, I had a very short and choppy night, thank you Dukester.

But, I am not complaining. This morning we are counting our blessings. I saw an article titled, "One In Eight People Have No Close Friends, Loneliness Epidemic", or something like that. So the girls and I decided to be thankful we have friends. And a house, that Daddy has a job, that we're going to the library. Cam's thankful for the blanket she's cuddled under. I am thankful for this cup of steaming pumpkin spice coffee, which I am sipping after sweeping and washing the couch covers and wiping down the counters. Charlotte Claire is thankful for homeschooling, and that she just found three pairs of scissors in the drawer.

It is interesting, you can decide all you want to be happy, or content, or thankful...but as soon as the wind blows in the wrong direction, oh dear. Sometimes we even think, "Why ME!!?", or the ever popular, "poor me...". But the reality is that it's just another trial, another test of our faith..."no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:11)

So we need the bumps in the road, the rough days, the headaches, the muddy paws and mountains of dirty clothes...so that our faith can be tested.

It's a beautiful day here in central New York state. Later the cold front will come, the wind will bring rain and snow...but for now, it's beautiful. It's like a taste of spring. Camille is so nicely refilling my pumpkin spice coffee. We are getting ready for the library...

and what will tuesday bring?

Messy hair don't care. Ha, I've always wanted to say that, but hey, I'm old, and I look like an idiot saying these trendy things.


The handsome young guy on the right is my son Samuel.


Little Miss Sunshine...she has had a bath almost every day this past week. Running through the creek is her favorite.


Trying to get these three to sit still for a picture...


Sunny smiled for this one, but Suri closed her eyes...and Duke, oh Duke...here's what he did yesterday: he went outside with the kids, and Suri and Sunny...they romped through the creek...but where the creek is deep and muddy, he got stuck. The kids couldn't get him out, so Paul, who was working from home, had to go rescue him. Poor Duke was standing in cold water shoulder deep, and was scared. He was so shaken up, and then he had to have a bath. After a huge drink of water, that dog slept the afternoon away. Suri and Sunny also had to have baths. It's like having little kids. (The kids had to shower too, but they can now do that on their own.)

Anyway. Here's something I like to do: find pitchers or vases at the thrift store and paint them with chalk paint.

The one on the left was navy blue, the big pitcher was 80's blue, and the little one was bright green. I didn't paint the one on the right, I like it as is.

So yesterday after the dentist, Jon and I went to the store for vitamin D, salad stuff, and the makings for lasagna. We also stopped at the dollar store and got some snacks, then BigLots for dog treats and a new toy for Sunny. We got a coffee from my favorite little coffee shack (Jon got an iced coffee), then stopped at the bank, and ahh, home.

Jonathan worked on his mid-year test, which he aced. The little girls showed me the work they did while I was gone, and I let them go outside to play. Jon and I took an after dinner walk last evening, and it was lovely. This warm weather is a treat in February.

So this fine morning, we have plans: The girls have to do their tests, and we are making that lasagna. Then, gymnastics. Mali is coming over with little Lydia, I have missed them. They went to Colorado for vacation, and I haven't seen them in a few weeks. Emily is coming over too.

There is no end to things to do around here, but I am thankful for the times I can sit here and write, and get my thoughts straight.

As for Duke...obviously I don't feel 100% ready to put him down, or I would have done it already. I look at him and I want him to live forever. He's a sweetheart. But he does struggle. He wouldn't get up and eat his dinner again last night, we tried to get him to eat from the couch and he wasn't interested. He does this more and more. He can still get on the couch but it takes him forever. Last night he got off the couch to go outside, and he fell. He was struggling to find his feet, and he just collapsed. He limps and struggles and it's painful for my heart. He is also getting snappy. He is the kindest soul, and has no agression, but Margaret and Adrian got a new puppy...a very calm and sweet puppy, but Duke wants nothing to do with her. I do respect that, he's old, and this is his house. But he was pretty snappy and growly about it, and ugh, with small children around, it's scary to see this side of him. I don't think he would actually attack, I think he's just protecting himself and giving a warning, but what if Lydia fell on him? We just have to keep an eye on him and make sure she keeps her distance. The other Labs are extremely easy going as far as kids go. We maul them and hug them and bug them and they are just unfazed.

Anyway. He does wake us up at night too, and that in itself isn't the end of the world. It feels like it when it's warm enough for them to get muddy and I am standing there at three a.m. wiping 12 paws, because if Duke barks to go out, the other two are all over it too.

What I worry about with Duke is him falling down the stairs. This house has stairs, there's no way around it. He struggles so much, and his doggy arthritis meds don't seem to help much.

So one of these days. It's not like, "Oh I'm tired of Duke and all of his barking, I think I'll get rid of him." It's more like I don't like seeing him suffer, and if I can put him down before he falls and breaks something or before he has to hurt too much, I will. But to be honest, the barking during the night is wearing on me. And not just me, the teenagers who have to get up and go to school in the morning.

Jonathan told me yesterday to just pray about it and I would find the right answer. I just about dissolved in tears, my 12 year old son has some true wisdom.

And...time to get moving. :)

making monday morning magnificent....

We were there looking for hula hoops for their Harry Potter party, to play Quidditch. Would these work?

Anyway. This fine morning I have to bring Jonathan to the dentist, stop at the bank, and the grocery store for dog biscuits and coffee. Paul is working from home and is going to help the little girls with school.

Last night we had lots of people around the table for dinner...Emily, Abigail, Mirielle, Margaret and Adrian joined us for pot roast and rosemary potatoes, carrots, and green beans, with pumpkin bread for dessert. We started a 1000 piece puzzle after dinner, but put it away after a while. It was fun to puzzle and talk though.

I need to brush my clean wet hair, change my clothes, make some Ezekial toast, and get Jonathan moving. It's a sunny winter day, no rain, no snow, but chilly...I'll take it.

And...bye.

free? really?

I love me some free stuff. Who doesn't? But I am not getting all rah-rahed about free college. In New York state, it's buzzing around the politicians.

Here's why I don't think it's brilliant:

1. It's not really "free". Someone has to pay for it. And just for example, why should Paul, who spent years paying off his own college loans, have "free" college taken out of his hard earned money in taxes?

2. Having things that are available to those under certain income levels seems to take away incentive to make more money, work more hours or days, because then benefits are lost. Can you imagine turning down promotions or full time work so you can continue to qualify for free or lower tuition, for yourself or your kids?

3. Samuel joined the Army, with the knowledge that he would be eligible for the G.I. Bill, the pot of gold at the end of the military service rainbow. One time he figured out how much he was actually making per hour, and it was laughable, but the benefits, like college afterward, really sweeten the deal. So if kids get college free just because....because...

4. In my opinion and limited scope, it seems those who are handed free college because of parents' income don't always appreciate it.

5. Seven of my kids have been in college so far, and some of them are still paying it off. The older ones got a little bit of help financially, but most of their tuition has been covered in loans. So now they have good jobs and work, should their taxes cover "free" tuition?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we should just be happy to help. Maybe socialism really does work.

But hey, it's my blog, and sometimes I just like to rant.

Duke barked during the night, but I didn't let him out. So he helped himself to getting through the gate, and peed in the foyer. Then at 6:51, he was barking again. Am I never ever going to be able to sleep in on a Saturday, as long as he lives? And does that factor into the When Should We Put Him Down question, or is it just selfishness?

Emily, Mirielle, Joseph, Evelyn,Margaret, and Suzanne just left to work at the lacrosse game. Jonathan is at a weekend camping trip, Kathryn is leaving for California tomorrow to train for a Pharmacy Tech position. Sonja, Charlotte Claire, and Camille are still sleeping.

Last night, I went on an outing with my sister Cheryl. Hobby Lobby (I didn't buy a single thing, it's too expensive, ha, and I like thrift store prices), Joanne Fabrics, where I bought some pretty card paper for the girls for when they make houses, and some modeling clay that hardens, for making little clay pots. I also bought them some wood birdhouses to paint.

Then we went for dinner, which was relaxing and not too shabby. We ate at PizzaUno because she had a coupon. We rated it a 5 out of ten. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good, either, except for the fries, which we shouldn't have been eating anyway, ha. The grilled veggies were just okay, they were just thrown on the plates, served lukewarm,, kind of mushy. It was fun, but I wouldn't go there again, unless I had a really good coupon.

We stopped at the grocery store, and I am glad we did, because we were out of kitty food. They had pot roast for $2.49 a pound, and we have plenty of potatoes, onions, and carrots here. It's turning colder this afternoon, so I thought a nice cold weather dinner would be good.

Paul is coming home today! I am leaving in for the airport in a little while. Two weeks is a long time to be apart. I should be cleaning the house...:) I've been up for a while, did a little picking up, took a nice hot shower, and here I am, in the quiet, having a second cup of coffee.