The Door

...is in.  

Hurrah!

Here's a look:

The only thing I don't like about this picture is the guy seems to be holding up a piece of wood and scratching his head.  I certainly hope the roof doesn't cave in once the job's done.  If so, I will submit this photo into evidence.  Exhibit A.

Once the workers left for the day things like this started to happen:

and this...

I wish I could say it stopped here...

...but, it just got sillier and sillier...

If you have young children then you have probably seen the movie, 'Ramona and Beezus'.  

Thanks, Ramona, for the inspiration.  

What did you do this summer?

Oh, us?  Well, thank you for asking.  Let's see...

Oh, yes, we experienced an earthquake.  That was quite a day.  I thought a tree was falling on our house and we were all going to get squished so I gathered my chickens and ran outside.  My friend, Jen, who is a SoCal native (that's SOuthern CALifornia for us cool people) told me that this indeed is the wrong thing to do in an earthquake.  As she is a SoCal native (again, we're cool) she has experienced a few earthquakes and told me that I should have gone under a sturdy table, or in a doorway, etc...  I am sure you've heard all of these before.  However, being that I am an East Coast native (or, EaCo since I'm cool--right?  That's something that we all say?  No?  hmm... still cool though ;)) I have never experienced an earthquake, but have experienced trees falling over so I ran outside to save myself from being squashed by the tree that I am still sure was going to fall on our house.

Got it?

Let's see, what else did we do... Oh yes!  Survived a hurricane.  You may have heard of Irene?  Now, I use the term 'survived' very loosely.  We have a backup generator and our power only went out for a few hours so we were much more fortunate than some homes and families.  Besides torrential downpours, a few tornado warnings and gusty winds, we fared just fine.  Our county has been declared a disaster area, but thanks be to God, we do not need any assistance from FEMA.

So, we had a memorable summer.  This past August, I have been told, was the second wettest August on record.  So, with all the rain and destroying winds, my poor tomato plants are not doing too well.  They took a thrashing, and well, I just don't want to talk about it.  So much for my homemade salsa with tomatoes from MY garden.  There's always next year--I hope!

I will leave you with one image, and then we are not to speak of my tomatoes anymore.  Too sad...

EaCo represent!

Trash Picker

My son has an affinity for Mc Flurry's.  
The ice-cream concoctions that are blended with goodie goodness sold at that fast-food joint you might have heard of.  

hmm...really shouldn't finish a sentence with 'of'.
...of which you might have heard.  There, is that better?

So, after a particularly hot and sweaty baseball practice he politely asked (as all teenaged boys do *ahem*) if we could stop and get a Rolo Mc Flurry.  You heard it right peeps.  A Rolo Mc Flurry.  That would be ice cream blended with delicious caramel Rolos.  

Hold on, I'll be right back...
Love me some caramel.  Or, do you say, carmel. ??  I love them both.

Now, back to my story:
I graciously said 'yes' and off we went.  He finished it on the drive home and promptly threw it in the trash when we got home.  Such a good boy.

A while later we thought the house seemed particularly quiet.  


It's only when it's particularly quiet do you realize how noisy a puppy can be.  There was no scurrying across floors, no stealing socks out of laundry baskets.  It was just oh so quiet.  So, we called our little darling, just to make sure she was still in the house and hadn't snuck out to play with a goat (yes, our neighbor has a goat--that's a story for another day).  After calling out, "Virrrrr-ginnnnn-yaaaaa" this little head popped around the corner:

Did someone call me?  Pay no attention to the cup on my snout.  

It may be stuck, but I don't mind.

It's oh, so DEE-LISH-US.

Today

Today we went to the beach.

It was glorious.

We ate fish and chips.

We played in the water.

We collected shells.

We laughed and sang and ate.  

This picture has me in tears.

These are my babies.

When did they get so big?

I don't like it.

Not one bit.

Well, I love the photo.

But, not the getting older and bigger stuff.  That needs to stop.  

US & OZ

The photo from OZ is pretty scary...have your hands by your eyes just in case you need to cover them.

Are you ready?

Here it is...

I don't think you'll have to look toooo closely to find the little australian murder machine.      

I don't know if that is really a poisonous one, but he sure looks pissed.

                                                                                                       -Kate

EEK...!!!!  A scary spider.  It might even be venomous.  There are all kinds of poisonous animals down undah.  Not sure what the proper scientific name is, but scary spider seems apt.  

Kate's pretty sure she's correct and the proper name is 'little Australian murder machine'.  

come-see; come-saw

Meanwhile, back in Kansas.  

Well, not really Kansas, but since I was talking about OZ it just seemed like a natural segue.  (not to be confused with a motorised 2-wheeled machine).  

Speaking of murder machines (another segue, thankyouverymuch) have you ever observed the tenacity of Blue Jays?  They are fierce, big bullies.  They knock all the other little chickadees off the bird-feeder and then knock all the seeds off the perch until they find the one that they like.  They have even been known to dive bomb little doggies.  My friend's childhood pooch as a matter of fact.  But, that's another story for another time.   

Or, maybe they feel badly for knocking all the chickadees off the bird-feeder and are putting some seed on the ground for them...?  

But, now I have photographic proof that they are the ones making a mess with the birdseed.  So, if I ever corner them and they say,
'who us?  we don't make no stinkin messes.  You must be thinking of those other birds'.
I can whip out this photograph and say 'AH HA!  PROOF!'  And they will sheepishly fly away and leave the chickadees to eat when and where they like.  

And, one more thing.  How about the contrast between the two photographs.  Kate's background is green and colorful.  Lush foliage that should be present in summertime.  My background is bare branches and even a trace of snow on the roof of the bird-feeder.  

  

US & OZ: December 16, 2010

OZ:

The girls in their sundresses after a day of visiting Santa.

US:

Horses getting a dusting of snow.  Where are their blankets??  

US & OZ: December 9, 2010

From OZ:

Today's picture sum's up Christmas-time here in Oz. Summer with Santa hats.

                                                                                              -Kate

From US:

This is what happens when your hubbie goes out for more tree lights.  

He comes back with a dancing M&M.  

US & OZ: December 3, 2010

From Oz:

December 3rd, third day of summer...

Lara in one of her party dresses, showing me their christmas tree.

                                                              -Kate

From US:

Deer in the Woods

I just love this photo.  If there were snow on the ground I think it would be a perfect Christmas card.  

  

Kennywood

wouldn't you?  hahaha, couldn't resist.  

Anyhoo...

Over the weekend we drove a bunch of hours so the kiddie-winkles could meet their cousins at an amusement park.  

Kennywood Amusement Park to be exact. 

It's historic!

My son rode this ride:

Not my cup of tea at all.  

This is more my speed:

This is my daughter's speed:

Hope you had a fun weekend!

Summer Fruit

Would you like to know what I think is great about Kiwis?

When you have finished enjoying their delicious sweetness, you can fill the skin with more delicious sweetness.

Perfect for little hands.

I think this is where a blueberry fell in the pool:

yum!

I Believe in Santa Claus

If you're 5 years old what movie to you pack when you are going on summer vacation?

Why, a Christmas movie of course!

What is a hot day by the beach without a good ol' wintertime classic?!??

The Year Without A Santa Claus

Classic

I am sure all of you know the Heat Miser/Cold Miser songs.

I'm too much...da doo do do...

Who doesn't tear up when they hear this song?

Oh, Ignatius, you're not too old for Santa Claus.

Just believe in Santa Claus

Like you believe in love

Just believe in Santa Claus

And everything he does

Wipe that question from your mind

Yes, he does exist!

Just like love you knows he's there

Waiting to be missed

Just like love I know he's there

Waiting to be be missed

Nothing like cooling down on a hot summer day with a classic Christmas movie.

Gotta love those kids!