As The Butter Churns

November 9th Nothing Beats A Full House

(Little Sam Horner, 5, and Irish)

    Laughter and shrieking filled the house as Team Donaldson arrived with old neighbors: Liza (6th grade), Audrey (3rd grade) and Sam Horner (kindergarten). Over the years our families have spent a lot of time together for birthday parties, sleepovers, Thanksgivings, Christmases and many Easter egg hunts. Of course, there were hugs and kisses all around. Audrey got a little more than she bargained for when Vivian Irene Rottweiler planted a big wet one right on her cheek. A moment later Irish rushed past Sam, knocking him flat on the wood floor as he went by. Sam went down like one of those plastic clowns you punch, which hits the ground and immediately bounces back up.

    “Are you ok?” Lisa asked.

    “Yeah,” Sam replied, non-plussed, as he got up and resumed looking at the jukebox.

    Despite the rain, it wasn’t long before children were darting everywhere. To the barn to meet the goats! To the side yard to see the geese! To the pasture to feed the cows! Then to the pond on the tractor! Nervous about predators, I wanted them to take an air horn with them to make noise, but I laughed as they reached the pond and I could still hear every word they yelled to each other. They were safe.
(Quinn, Sam, Phoebe and Liza in the bucket. Henry is driving and Audrey is screaming)

    While they were gone, we went about our plan to set up the Cider Press. We'd gotten it for Fort Flashback. It was a common colonial item and we thought kids would enjoy seeing how cider was made. Cider is produced by crushing apples. It is 90% apple - if it contains more water than that it is called apple juice.

    So Lisa, Alexis, Chris and I picked apples and began wiping down the Cider Press. Lisa and Alexis chopped the apples, making sure they were worm-free. (Lisa and Alexis -  chopping machines)

    When all the kids returned, they shoved handfuls of apple chunks into the grinder until the bucket was full. Audrey was in charge of making sure the apples were firmly packed down. After all, we wanted as much cider as possible. Wayne wandered in from watching football and sat down. Contentedly, I looked around. It was if everything was in slow motion, girls giggling, men talking, boys shoving, dogs barking, football blaring. Lisa was chopping, and it was perfect. It’s moments like these that are magical. Ordinary moments.

     It was then that my father entered the room. No, he isn’t back from Paris, but he was channeling across the continents through his grandson. It seems Sam asked Henry whose cool horn was by the music stand - and chaos ensued. Henry walked into the room and began practicing a barely recognizable version of “Jingle Bells” he’s quite proud of. I thought Lisa was going to have a breakdown.
(Wayne & Chris look on as Henry carries on a family tradition and Sam cuts up)

    “Make him stop. He’s just like his grandfather, playing that thing in the middle of enough noise. I just can’t take the playing.”
(Quinn watching Henry add to the chaos. Phoebe working hard)

   “And he’s not as good as his grandfather,” Wayne interjected.

   “That’s not it,” Lisa said. “It’s not how he’s playing; it’s that he’s playing.”

   “Don’t discourage him from playing. Ever,” Chris shushed her. 

   "Ever?"

   "Ever," Chris repeated.

" (Liza, Phoebe and Audrey cider pressing)
  (Henry crushes some apples and Sam watches, with Chris's assistance, as Liza fills the grinder)
(Sam gives it a try)
(Liza working for the cider) (Cider at last!)

   When the pressing began, everyone took turns but, as the press squeezed downward, the turning got increasingly difficult until only The Amazing Chris Donaldson remained.

   When everyone had their fill of freshly pressed cider, the games continued. Jedi Knights dueled in the yard and climbed ropes to show their strength
. (Jedi Knights - Henry and Sam)

   “Sam, if you can climb this rope then you can be a Jedi Knight.”

   “It’s too hard,” Sam complained.
(Sam struggles)

    “If it were easy, everyone would be a Jedi,” Henry explained reasonably. Sam looked around and found a step stool. Stood on it. Jumped up. And grabbed the rope. Gleeful at having bested the master.
(Sam and his step stool)
   “That’s cheating,” Henry accused.

   “That’s right,” Sam said.

   Meanwhile, back in the kitchen Quinn struggled to interpret the Rice Crispy Treat recipe as the other girls hounded her to hurry up. After spaghetti and meatballs the girls settled in for the movie “Harry and the Hendersons” or, as it is commonly known in our home, “Life with Irish”. (Audrey, Phoebe, Liza, Quinn and Irish, who thinks he's a lap dog)
(Liza makes peace with the fact that Irish isn't going anywhere)
   Kindred spirits Henry and Sam excused themselves to play computer games upstairs.  (Sam and Bruno go upstairs)
(Two of a kind, computer boys Sam and Henry)

   Much too soon our time ended and everyone packed up their wet tennis shoes and pond-soaked socks.
(Brotherly love)

   “Henry, you’re lucky,” Sam said as he hugged Henry good-bye.

   “Why?” Henry asked.

   “Because you get to live here,” Sam said plainly.

   “Well, you can come visit any time Germaine and Kevin let you. You can come this summer or sometimes you could fly up with my dad.”

   “Really!?”

   “Really. Right, Mom?” Henry asked, wanting backup.

    “Anytime, Samma.”
    (Henry lifting a giggling Sam)

   After they left, Henry turned to me and said, "Mama, that Sam's a handful. I don't know if Daddy can handle him. Well, he is MY Daddy. I guess he's used to it, huh?"

   "Does Henry the Handful sound familiar in any way?"

October 6th Living In The Moment

   

(October!)

    An entire month has rolled by and it was time again to go to Summit, the assisted living facility. To prepare, I took Luther, Vivian and Bruno to Ferndale to see Lisa at Glacierview Animal Clinic. Bruno needed his rabies vaccination. After being weighed and discovering Bruno was a hefty 13lbs. He really doesn’t look an ounce over 7lbs.

    After I did a sweep of schools I had Quinn, Phoebe and Henry with dogs ready for our 3:15 appointment. What a difference a month makes. We weren't having popsicles outside, it was icy cold. Unfortunately, the director, Stacy wasn’t there so things were not organized like last time.
(arriving at Summit)
    I had prepared the girls on how to answer repeated questions and they were fabulous. Phoebe patiently answered, “Which dog is your favorite?” the same way maybe eight times.

    “Well, I love them all, but I’ve known Vivian and Luther the longest.” Quinn was gracious taking Vivian around asking if they wanted to pet her and assuring them she was gentle. While Phoebe took Bruno around to people’s laps. Once he landed in one lady’s lap, she wouldn’t let him go. Bruno got very comfortable and it made me wonder if they shouldn’t get a permanent dog for the facility. Not Deli.
(Phoebe & Bruno) (Phoebe shares Bruno)
(Bruno is almost stolen) (Bruno gets comfortable) (Bruno and the ladies)
    The visit was far from perfect. Bruno peed on one of the Halloween decorations and was scolded by some nurses. Vivian after an hour of being loved by the residents and eating plenty of vanilla creme cookies from one man’s room growled at a visitor to protect her new people. (the cookie man cometh - you could never get a picture of Vivian catching her cookie as there isn't a shutter speed fast enough)

Luther almost jumped in one woman's wheelchair when she offered him a cookie. And then when Henry had him on the leash he almost took one woman down when it got wrapped around her from behind. (freshly peed upon)
(Luther also got his rope wound in a woman's wheelchair)

    Henry didn’t see Franz. He waited and looked but Franz didn’t appear. So Henry anxious to see his new friend took Luther and went to his room. Franz didn’t remember him. He wondered how Henry knew so many things he knew about him. Henry told him and they had a pleasant time, but it was hard for both of them.
  (Vivian enjoys the attention)
    The truth is, I don't think anyone remembered us, but they enjoyed themselves. And we enjoyed ourselves chatting and laughing with the residents. One woman in particular captured Quinn's heart. She was funny asking Quinn all sorts of questions, telling her to play basketball and making interesting observations. They were fun to watch.

     After we left, Quinn always looking on the bright side said "Maybe it's a blessing they don't remember. Then their days don't seem all the same."

   

October 1st Are You My Mother?

(sunset on the San Juans)

    Wednesday night Quinn called me pretending I was her mother. Not being the ouch-when-kicked-under-the-table-kind-of-girl I played along with the old pretend to be Lisa trick.

    “Mom, Phoebe isn’t doing what you said. She’s reading a cereal box instead of doing her homework. AND she’s not going to bed.” Realizing instantly that Quinn, the older daughter, needed backup and being the older daughter myself, I sprang into action.

    “You want me to talk to your sister?”

    “Thanks, Mom.” Now this might not work with most people, but my sister and I sound so much alike that this was commonplace when we were in college. There was a sorority volleyball tournament in Santa Barbara I was forbidden to attend because my mother, who also happened to be going to Santa Barbara for the weekend, didn’t want my sister to be alone. Having the nerve of a burglar I went anyway, looking over my shoulder wherever I went while Lisa played both our voices on the phone each time my mother checked in.

    “Mom! Quinn is not telling you the truth! I am reading!”

    “Phoebe, listen to me. I want you to do what I told you” Having really no idea of what that might be. “And I want you to go to bed.”

    “Who is this?” Phoebe was a worthy adversary. Was I losing my touch? Were there cutesy words I was supposed to be using? My mind was racing. What would Lisa say?

    “Who is this? This is your mother. Now do what Quinn says. I don’t have time to argue. I’ve got to go back inside. Back To School Night is not over.” Click. Phew.

    Lisa called a few minutes later. I informed her I had indeed impersonated her quite tolerably and she should not out me to her youngest and most suspicious child under any circumstances whatsoever. She, having been through many a scheme with me, agreed without argument. I relayed the troublesome part of the conversation.

    “I would have said this is Mommy.”Drat. I was that close.

September 26th Send In the Clown

 (Phoebe lounges with her "spa" birthday party avocado & oatmeal mask)

(Facial Fun)

(BELOW -Tom puts peanuts on Phoebe- when told of her ridiculous appearance, she just shrugged - "that's my uncle")

     Tom is the birthday party king. Not that the rest of us (Lisa, Chris and I) are any slouches when it comes to making refrigerator mazes for toddlers and safari excursions for rough and tumble kindergartners, but every year he does something to make the kids’ parties special – if he can. One year he made a sixteen-foot wooden elaborately painted she-dragon with eyelashes to stand in the Donaldson’s yard for Quinn’s “princess party”. Another time he created a 10-foot long python cake, face painting became a staple, caricatures and anything else the kids could dream up. As Quinn and Phoebe discussed who'd had better birthday parties because of Tom, they suggested that if he got tired of advertising and Fort Flashback didn't work out, perhaps he could make a lot of money as a birthday party clown. (Pea - as tattoo Ernie) (getting ready for a swirly tattoo)

This year, he didn’t really think he’d be involved, as Phoebe had decided for her eighth birthday party to have a “spa” theme. This meant soak in the Jacuzzi, manicures, facials and sundry other spa related activities. Little did he realize he would become “Ernie” the airbrush tattoo artist specializing in butterflies, ladybugs and the occasional gecko (my Peabrain and Quinnderella with her new geko tattoo)

(close up - with sparkles)

Quinn takes to these parties like a duck to water dancing around, clapping "I want all my butterflies to lie down now"as she snaps. "I'm talking, I'm talking, are you listening? Clap if you're listening."

    She and Lisa were fabulous as the manicurists.
I heard Lisa asking questions like "Are you married?"
    "Ahh no. I'm eight."
    "Is there someone special?"
    "Ahh no. I'm eight, but there is. . ."

I handled the warm avocado masks (avocado, oatmeal, lemon juice and honey) which I applied liberally with a basting  brush. I was told it was ewy, gooey and very relaxing. Luckily, I wasn't at the rinsing station.

Chris handled the service end of the party - batting clean-up.  His birthday is next. Hmm?

By the end of the party, Pea had that airbrush cranking which meant Lisa and I got crazy great tattoos. Lisa got a tortoise on her chest while I chose the snappy looking tri-color gecko

(Lisa presents the party cake - strawberry shortcake  ala' Nana) (Quinn indulges)

September 2nd The First Day

(Henry ready for 6th grade)

   

Off and on throughout the day I glanced at the clock as wondering how Henry’s first day of middle school was going. I knew it would have to be better than mine. I went to A.E. Wright Middle School in Malibu Canyon. It wasn’t a very big school back then, about 200 in each grade, but as the eldest child at a time before “school tours” were common I had never really been on campus before my first day.
(Lauren and Quinn - on the first day of 7th grade)

    I got to my homeroom with Madame Allen ok. She was to be my homeroom teacher for all three years of French. However, while I was looking for my 3rd period, Ms. Vaughn’s ESSR (English, Social Studies and Reading) class I realized I didn’t know where I was going. I studied my computer-generated schedule and looked at the numbers on the doors, but was completely lost. The bell rung and now I stood alone as one redheaded kid with braces raced by late to his class. In a panic and hopelessly shy I considered hiding until lunch. A rule follower from birth and daughter of a teacher, I gathered up the courage to ask for help from some big scary 8th grade girls loitering around the bathrooms. I approached the group respectfully knowing I was but a lowly sixth grader. One of the blondest blonds with a ponytail and crystal blue eyes stepped forward to help me. She said her name was Marlene. I was in total awe, she looked like Barbie come to life.  I pulled out my crumpled schedule and she pointed me in the right direction. Wide-eyed and grateful turned to embarrassed and angry when I realized she’d sent me to the P.E. Lockers. It took most of the period, and I had to walk sheepishly past Marlene and her friends as they cackled, but I eventually showed up to Ms. Vaughn’s class beet red, and sweaty in my brown polyester skirt set. The class fell silent and stared at me as I took the only empty seat in the room. All of them relieved not to be me. I’m just about over it.

    When Lisa, started middle school I drew her a map of all her classes and walked her from room to room. I knew Henry wouldn’t have any problem, he’d been on a school tour, he had Quinn and he wasn’t afraid of 8th graders. However, you can never underestimate the power of possible middle school humiliation. It’s lurking around every corner.
(Phoebe, Winnifred and Charlie at Jordan's- not pictured- after the first day of 3rd grade)

    Henry, he was bubbling over with excitement as he got in the car. The day was a complete success; he’d made it to every class, liked every teacher, remembered is combination. And best of all –he's allowed to chew gum.

August 15th Rolling On De River

    The day had finally arrived to go tubing! To make sure we were there on time, Tom and I made our requisite run to Lowes™ early in the day.  We also had bills to mail, taco fix'ns to buy and so we hurried. The minute we got home, we jumped in our suits, grabbed our tubes and sped down to Acme to wait for the Donaldsons.

    We blew up the tubes, got some snacks and waited. We drove to Strand Road the drop off place for the car and called them. They were going to be even later – they went a different way and got lost. We played games like “Going On a Picnic” It seems there was a miscommunication. We waited for two hours. (Tom, Henry, Sam and Kimona kill time playing games)

    By the time the properly apologetic Donaldsons arrived it was simply too late to go. We couldn’t risk being on the river after dark. And because Lisa was working at the Emergency Clinic and Chris had a business trip to New York, we didn’t think we could go on Sunday. I felt terrible. After all that preparation,  Sam and Kimona were going to miss going.

Like every Hollywood ending - All was darkest before a lady told Chris  there was a short 1/2 mile run we could do. Something was better than nothing. We hopped in. The sun was hot and the water cool. The snowy mountains peered at us from the distance as we bobbed along with the current. (Kimona give it the thumbs up)

(Henry and Sam go head first)

(Quinn trying out the boy's method)

    A few minutes into the float there was a flurry of rescheduling. We’re all going again tomorrow – except Lisa (you just can’t blow off the Emergency Clinic)

(Tired but happy Sam)

(Packing in the Pheeb)

August 5th An "Oink Oink" Here?

   

I woke up to a quiet house. Every one of the dogs, cats and kids were asleep so I stealthily brewed a pot of coffee and lounged around sipping my elixir in my green flannels on the porch watching the mist rise off the valley as the God rays streamed over the hills. The grass was laden with heavy dew; the cows lay in the pasture chewing their cud. The only movements were the robins hopping around looking for worms.

    I wasn’t alone long. Miss Phoebe came creeping out wearing her flannel nightgown backward. It looked familiar the pocket draped over her left shoulder, and then I realized it was my mother’s. My mother would be pleased to know she has created generations of women wearing flannels with tennis shoes or work boots well into the day.

    Phoebe and I began to discuss our latest acquisitions and mergers. How did we feel about the sheep now that they arrived? Was Bruno fitting in? Do the goats have enough space? What did she think of my new compound idea? We thoughtfully discussed these topics and my eventual plans for chickens and turkeys to really round out the barnyard.

    “Why don’t you get a pig?” Phoebe asked with her big blue eyes blinking at me. "Farms are supposed to have pigs."

    “Well, I really don’t want a pig. Maryruth has told me horror stories about pigs and how vicious they can be. And Phoebe, you know how big they get. Really I don’t think a pig is for me.”

    “Have you looked at Heritage pigs?” She ingeniously asked. “I mean didn’t farmers have lots of pigs back then? Maybe there’s a nice little piggy that doesn’t get too big. After all Tante (German for aunt) you have a pig pen in the barn all ready.” So much for the whole dumb blonde thing I’ve reflexively subscribed to being brunette. This little cherub is shrewd.

    The next thing you know we’re snuggled up in front of the computer on the American Breeds Livestock Conservancy website checking out rare, heritage, and colonial pigs. Sure enough we find one Thomas Jefferson documented as a breed  by 1804. They existed prior to that, but 1804 is when they were recognized as The American Guinea Hog. – I guess they couldn’t call them Guinea Pigs. They’re black, stand about 30” tall and get between 100 and 300 pounds. They’re known for their ability to forage and their gentle nature. It seems they ran wild in the forests and swamps until farmers would simply catch them and use them for bacon, ham, sausage and pork chops  of course, but every part of the pig would be used including the hair to make brushes etc.

    The next thing you know, she’s dialing the number to cascademeadowsfarm.com in Oregon. They have rare, heritage breeds, but not necessarily dating as far back as ours. They have Dexter cattle, Pilgrim Geese, Alpine goats, Icelandic sheep and Guinea Hogs. Clearly a gaping hole in our farm is the absence of swine.
(American Guinea Hog Piglet)
    I called Pea and informed him of my new pig discovery.

    “Well, don’t go get one today.”

    “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not getting a pig now, I’m simply researching animals for Fort Flashback in a responsible way.”

    'Did you say my thinking you might get a pig today was being ridiculous? Me thinking you might run out with the kids in your mobile Honda barn and come home with a piglet or two is ridiculous?”

    “OK, you’re right. It’s not ridiculous.” I conceded. “My sister thinks I need a Shick Program.”

    “A Shit program?”

    “Well, maybe that’s how it might work. No. She said Shick animal program.”

    “Oh.”

    

(Phoebe directs traffic)
(the kids "encourage" the goslings to try the pond)
(They don't want to stay in - at first)
(Mabel, Alfred, Clara, Lloyd, Ruthie, Matilda, Cleveland and Quackmire all start to like the pond)
(But only for a short time) (Then they need to go home and rinse off all that nature in the baby swimming pool)

    The rest of the day was filled with scooping donkey poop, picking flowers, mixing cement, plotting fences shooting arrows and vacuuming the house, ambushing the girls with water balloons, (The boys see payback- the water balloon war begins) (Henry has great aim Phoebe gets it) (Quinn gets it) (Sam pelts Kimona)
 teaching the geese to swim in the pond, snuggling Bruno, reassuring Luther he's still loved and making homemade pumpkin pie ice cream with hot caramel sauce.

July 31st Whooo Is He?

(Puppy to be named later)

   

    We woke up this morning without power. My first panicked thought was – did I pay the bill? – Yes. Whew. OK, so I called Puget Sound Energy and only six other homes had reported the problem despite the fact that over a 1000 home were without electricity. Apparently, this was a scheduled outage and we’d gotten a notice in the mail.

    I hate the mail. It’s like laundry so I hadn’t opened it yet. I open all the bills at once and pay them. This particular strategy works pretty well most of the time, but not today.

    I found some old coffee in the pot and heat it up on the gas stove. Desperate times.  I looked for my plastic filter holder so I could make some more, but couldn’t find it. I did find my lasagna pan broken in six pieces on the floor courtesy of Luther and friends. Now I haven’t got a lasagna pan, pretty or otherwise. I may have some glass ones I left at Lisa’s I’ll have to ask her. No matter, I went out to feed the goats. I was shocked and disappointed to find they’d left the door open all night. I walked into the dark barn slowly afraid of what I might find. Thankfully, everyone was accounted for, but Miracle was ticked off. She’d been left to wear her fly mask all night and she wasn’t happy about it. This was the kids third attempt and third failure at the barn animals. The first time the boys fed them, but didn’t let them out. The second time, the girls let them out, but didn’t feed them. This time they all went out there and I presume they fed them, but left them vulnerable all night. We were going to have to have a talk about responsibility when they woke up- if they ever woke up.

    The kids slept until noon – they got dressed and we went to town to get those pesky life vests, some air horns to keep about the property and to deliver the puppy pens the geese are no longer using to the Donaldsons. The puppy without a name arrived today.

    Of course, he is soft and sweet and snuggly and very kissy. He came from the Skagit Humane Society and seems quite happy with his new digs.

    We spent some time meeting him when he arrived, but left so Phoebe and Quinn could get to know their new dog. (names - Charlie and Cooper are being bandied about - pictured with Phoebe, Quinn and Winnifred)

    On our way home we talked about caring for the goats. The kids swear on their lives they closed the door tight. They say they're sure. I want to believe, but the door doesn't just open itself. Does it? (It never has before)

    Our local wild life expert, Kimona spotted a raccoon and a Barred Owl as she chatted about the evils of city life. A girl after my own heart. -

July 29th One Ringy Dingy - Two Ringy Dingy

(Henry & Sam - after they created facial hair with Sharpee™ and make-up - they say they are Paris Street musicians - hmm Dad?)

    Well, the boys did get made up in their sleep, and they did get alfalfa in their cereal and were just rinsing it out when the phone rang. Quinn answered it because she’s twelve and a girl of that age has supernatural phone answering abilities.

    “It’s your husband!”
(The culprits- unprepared for revenge?)
  

    “How does she always answer the phone? Does she stand there all day?” Pea asked like man who can’t fathom answering the phone at all. “I don’t have much time, we just had an earthquake it shook us pretty good. They want us in the conference room, we might have to get out of the building - you can Google™ it. I’m OK, I’ve got to go.” And he hung up.

    We did find out it was a 5.8 and looked at the map, the epicenter etc. We called the kids’ mom, but couldn’t reach her.

    Not too long later, the phone rang again. Quinn was at the pond building a "frog hotel" so the phone answering was up to me.

    “I’m OK. Everyone’s OK.” Began my sister. “We, Phoebe, Nana and I have been in a pretty significant car accident. The airbags deployed. An eighteen-year old suddenly turned in front of me in an intersection. The police are here and have already given him a ticket for not yielding to traffic. I’ve got to go.” And she hung up.

    We waited – every time the phone rang we all looked at each other. What next? It usually comes in threes. Or was Toby getting kicked out of Canada the third thing?

    The phone rang. Quinn answered it.

    “Mom! No! Ahhh, Ohhhh,” Quinn almost whimpered. And she hung up.

    “What!? What?” We all demanded.

    “We got approved for our new puppy.” She said smiling gleefully.

July 20th Our Big Backyard

(Craig heads out to the field)

   

More work and more trips to Lowes™ and Wayne back for more made this day seem like any other day except for when the entertainment committee arrived, our neighbors Kristi and Stan. They came roaring up in their big shiny truck with food. For no particular reason, they sat on the edge of their truck as we worked and chatted. NASCAR, drag racing, tubing (down the river) and guns were mainstays of the conversation. We’re talking serious county. I asked Stan if he wanted a beer and he said “No. I have one in the truck.” (Stan)

(Craig gone native)

    These are two are salt of the Earth. The type of people you call in an emergency and you know, no matter what time it is, they’ll be there. Kristi and Stan laugh easily, feel as comfortable as an old pair of work boots and you don’t have to fuss. They’re people who know who they are, in fact they knew each other only eight weeks when they got married. When it’s right it’s right.

   

Unfortunately they had other plans and couldn’t stay for our barbecue out by the pond. Just as they were about to leave, Annie, Quinn, Phoebe and Winifred showed up. Tom whipped up his father’s chicken recipe that’s being handed down through the family and we didn't dally getting our party going -"shee-it"

 after all it's Saturday Night. (Tom, Annie, Craig and Wayne - seated)

Our last but not least important guests didn’t travel far, for our barbecue at the pond. Kristi (another one) and Olie (short for Olerud- Kristi is a baseball fan) her dog a Katrina Rescue walked over from their new home in Grandpa Horn’s old place, which means I finally have a neighbor lady – like on Califa Street when I had Anice and Nona.
(Annie watches the meal being prepared by the menfolk)
    We gorged on chicken, corn, watermelon (ala ‘Big Lu” with Pico de Gallo and lemon), potato salad and fresh crab Wayne caught out of the bay the other day. While the kids fished, the pack of dogs played and we sat enjoying the day turn into evening.
  (Wayne's dog - Abbey showing all the other pups how it's done) (Phoebe & Henry go fishing)
  (Perplexed Henry actually catches a fish as vegetarian Quinn screams "throw it back before you kill it's little trout spirit" and Phoebe shrieks for no real reason other than it seems called for)

    Annie and I noticed smoke. We were all amused to find out it was a campsite. Our pond is close to one of our property lines and there were campers on the adjoining vacant land. It felt absurd to be in your backyard and  see people really camping not just kids pitching a tent in the neighbors yard, but really truly “getting away from it all”.  I feel extremely lucky.

(There is so much stuff and so many dogs - Wayne drives the food back to the house with Craig and Quinn following behind)

July 18th Sunrise - Sunset

(seagull on point)

We all got up early and fed the animals, had coffee and showed Craig around. Instead of jumping right into our usual project mode, we decided we should take a day to just be a family. We stopped at the new café on Mt. Baker Highway (that used to be “Carol’s Coffee Cup” and then “Carol’s Girls”) for lunch, sat out on the patio enjoying the sunshine and Pellegrino™. Afterward we headed into to do some kayaking off Chuckanut Hwy, the PCH.

Lisa and Chris bought a sea kayak and its just a short jaunt from their house to Larrabee State Park where there is a small boat ramp. Craig and Tom donned their life vests on and hoisted the kayak on Chris’s Honda™ Element and in two shakes of a lamb’s tail they were off on their sea adventure. Henry and I too were off - to his eleven-year-old routine physical. I’d waited a month for this appointment and I wasn’t going to give it up for love or money. So we looked on the bright side and thought this would give Tom and Craig to have some father/son time before we returned. Not that they needed it as they drive to and from work together an hour and a half each way every day, but a rationalization is a rationalization and it was working for me. And Henry.

The physical went like most do, a cough here a shot there, but there was one notable exception. A frustrated nurse complained while taking Henry’s blood pressure that the sleeve was too small for his muscle, she’d have to get an adult-sized one. A sly smile crossed Henry’s face and hung there for a long time. He was so proud.

(Self Portrait)

We called when we were on our way back. Tom and Craig were having a great time tooling around the bay watching all the crabbers empty their pots.
(Craig, Henry & Proud Pea)

It was then the brothers went out together while Tom and I sat on the beach enjoying the sand, squirrels, seagulls and constant boat traffic. The boat dock wasn’t empty once while we sat there. Tom said it was busier than SeaTac. The crabbers would pull in set their traps and leave for a while and then come back and pick up their traps. It’s a wonder there is any crab left in Bellingham Bay.

(Henry & Craig) (more brotherly love)

Our next stop was Quinn and Phoebe’s Broadway Extravaganza. A grand finale for the singing camp the girls attended - given by BAAY (Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth) on State Street. We were a little late and Lisa text me there was limited seating so Craig and Henry went on a walk around town headed in the direction of Mallard’s Ice Cream while Tom and I went in expecting to endure the performance. Instead, we were bowled over by some of the performances. Not all were fabulous, but all were wonderful. The very idea the kids had the confidence to get up in front of an audience and sing. I can tell you right now I lip sync in church.

(Quinn -12 and Phoebe 7)

(Quinn & Phoebe with David Post)
The director, David Post is certainly teaching kids confidence and stage presence. Neither Tom nor I could believe seven-year-old Phoebe standing on stage singing a solo. Quinn! Well, she doesn’t look twelve in my old sequin dress leftover from a bazillion years ago. She was frustrated because she didn’t have time to memorize the lyrics to one of her songs, “Hear the Bells” and so she was rushed and didn’t feel she did at all well on that song.  I was frustrated I couldn’t get any good camera angles. (may Caleb Deschanel  forgive me - my camera and editing work film is far below par, but the girls are sweet).

The girls pestered me at intermission about where Henry was and why he was missing their show, but they were happy he was spending time with Craig.

When we finally got home, the evening proved to be just beginning as Craig came prepared with “Talladega Nights”. Henry popped it in the DVD and we all sat down for family movie night. Imagine my surprise when Karen roared on the screen – a wild  cougar.

I may have forgotten to mention but our doorbell has about 50 different “rings” and one of them is a cougar snarl. Henry has found it great fun to “ring” the doorbell when he feels I’m at my most vulnerable.

July 13th There's Always One

(Henry is sick to death of this project)
Saturday evening, the girls decided to brave it and come out. Well, they didn’t really decide, Henry promised to bake them cookies and guilted them into it. He called from the car while we were at Home Depot™ picking up supplies for our next project. He played Quinnlike a fiddle until she couldn’t stand it anymore and was packing her bag. She said “I can stand up to a lot of people, but not when my cousin starts with the lovey-dovey stuff.” Honestly, I’m not sure if he missed Quinn and Phoebe or was sick of being out here with alone with boring old me.

The evening was filled with flour, shortening and Tom Hanks, but in the morning it was back to work, painting fence posts in anticipation of Tom and Craig’s arrival. Of course, the geese felt they could and should contribute their two cents. Naturally, there was lemonade and lots of resting in the shade as Luther is the foreman. (Luther and Quackmire inspect the work)

In the thick of it is Quackmire. It’s always Quackmire going after Luther’s tail, climbing on top of things, or the last to go back in the pen. (bill full of paint, Quackmire tells Phoebe to get back to work) (Phoebe gets Quackmire with a kiss)
(Quackmire is always in the middle of everything) (Lu's had enough & gets Quackmire to lift off)

(Quackmire goes too far)

June 28th For The Love Of Lu

(Barbara & Kaylee)

    For the last several days I’ve been painting Maryruth’s room, trying to spruce it up, because my friend, Barbara and her ten-year-old daughter Kaylee arrive today from Santa Clarita, California. Barbara and I have known each other since college, I pledged AOII and she pledged TriDelt, which means she’s much sweeter than I am. I like her anyway. She is the only person I buy Diet Pepsi™ for- she drinks about 12 a day, probably her only vice.

    I’ve been cleaning like a whirling dervish, teaching Henry the virtues of being German. We’ve cleaned the shower crevices with Q-tips™, stacked papers neatly and threw away things we couldn’t figure out where to put them. I even found my cookbook holder packed away in a box I’d never considered looking in. We swept, vacuumed and mopped dog hair – they don’t have a pet let a lone four dogs and four cats. They wear black. I didn’t want them to be disappointed with their choice of vacations when they arrived at some doggy-smelling-house. Nasty.

    (Vivian in her usual position all snuggled up)

(Scarlett in the Game Room)

    Lisa and Chris planned a surprise barbecue for Barb with smoked salmon appetizers. Unfortunately, Barbara and Kaylee missed their connection because the Alaska flight left early. I didn’t know planes did that, but they did twice. So went to Lisa’s for dinner while Barb dined at SeaTac.

    My cleaning mission re-injured my back, so I self medicated with a glass of cabernet and sank into a chair while we all watched “National Treasure 2”. It reminded me how obsessed my class got with the Lincoln Assassination - Mary Surratt – the first woman executed by the United States and her son Johnny who escaped hanging. I was so relaxed I couldn’t believe it, when I looked down and realized Barbara would be landing in about fifteen minutes. Henry and I flew out of the house and headed for the airport it was around 11:45PM. We thought we’d make it just in time after all Bellingham International isn’t that far. The phone rang. It was Lisa, she’d checked Barbara’s flight and sure enough the flight had left and landed early. I guess they’re trying to improve their on time record.

    We eventually collected them at the airport. Smiling and waving there were hugs and very heavy luggage. Barbara apparently did not realize there is not a lot of fashion that happens on the farm. We drove home chatting all the way.

    Once home, we ate Henry’s too thin rock hard brownies he’d prepared in their honor and introduced Kaylee to Zoo Tycoon™. Fast friends they were busy as we were catching up until at least 2:30AM.

    The next morning was filled with coffee and laughter. I could tell there was a cute girl in the house because Henry brushed his teeth without being asked. Barbara emerged as she did every morning shampooed, blown-dry, immaculate and in full make-up smelling of perfume. (a serious mosquito attractant).

     Henry introduced Kaylee to all the animals and she took a zillion pictures with her new camera. They went to the pond and played while incapable of sitting down Barbara did my dishes and cleaned my kitchen while we discussed life’s ups and downs as well as people we heard about or ran into over years – past boyfriends, louses, spouses and why her friend Sylvia chose TriDelt over AOII when I "prefed” her. I’m still bitter.
(Henry & Abe) (Quinnderella (12) , Stinkerbell (7), Kaylee(10), Irish (11 months) & Henry(11)

    The girls came over and the imaginary games began. Henry spearheaded a trip to my father’s vacant apartment armed with loads of his almost forgotten stuffed animals ranging from sting rays to platypus’ and began playing “Zoo”. They positioned them on the sofa in the bathtub over a lamp and Kaylee took pictures. The dogs were then recruited against their will.  In the first round Deli was relegated to an alligator, Luther was an African Bumblebee and Vivian was somehow transformed into a snow leopard. In the second round Deli was a seal, Luther a duck and Vivian a hippopotamus.  Irish eats stuffed animals so he wasn’t invited to play. Barbara and I took off on a walk and as we walked away, the last we heard was “Henry it’s your turn to be the mother.”

“I don’t’ want to be the mother why do I have to be the mother?”

“No one wants to be the mother.”
(Phoeb & Kaylee wash Rachel) (Denise sneaks a bath for Miracle)

(Kaylee pulls Phoebe down Coyote Hill) (Phoebe & Kaylee scatter the goats as they sled down Coyote Hill)

The next few days were filled with the same, washing of goats, watering the garden, tractor rides, more brownies, air rifle target practice, lunch at the beer shrine, (Phoebe orders a little piece of pizza)

(Snow at Mount Baker)

(Nooksack River)

(Cougar Print by the Nooksack River)
  (Barbara up in Glacier taking a picture of the ski fence)

a drive to the snow at Mount Baker, ice cream, movies, wild flower bouquets and long talks. We didn’t really “do” anything no projects no “activities” but we still didn’t seem to be able to get ourselves to go to bed before 1:00or 2:00 AM. We ate a lot – Barbara says it’s the all the stars and fresh air. I’m going to have to tell my Jenny Craig™ counselor friend Kristy that one. I rested my back as we talked about times past, love and loss, money, divorce, happiness, change, my mother, her mother, our fathers, and wrinkle cream.
  (Luther watches the goats)

  (Luther gets a turn) (Irish cools off under the dock)
    In honor of my mother we analyzed everyone's sun sign, moon and opened Linda Goodman's "Love Signs" to determine everyone's perfect match. Lucky for Tom - she says we're compatible.

    When at last our time was about up, Kaylee was blue. She started her goodbye tour of the animals the night before, but when she was about to leave her eyes were filled with tears, not because of me or Henry the girls or even farm life. It was Lu; he’d captured her heart. He's a cad that way, Henry and I are sure there would be world peace if everyone had a basset hound so we introduced them to www.daphneyland.com in Acton they showed some interest in Buford.

    Naturally Luther went with us to the airport to say goodbye or we’d have heard Luther's agonizing  “death howl” and frankly Kaylee couldn’t have taken that kind basset manipulation. Snuggled up next to Kaylee on the seat with his ears flopped over her legs his head hanging down in a truly un-natural position (just the way he likes it) he wooed her in his own Luther way. Everyone got out and hugged good-bye –except Henry and Kaylee who said that hugging each other was just too weird.

    As I watched our first visitors from home disappear into the airport terminal I noticed they were covered in dog hair.

     

June 20th American Gothic

Tom’s parting words to me were “You’ve got to get that corn in the ground or it’s all going to be a waste.” Easy to say.

I went out to the field to assess the soil quality. What I know about the quality of dirt isn’t much. I do know that if you put a light bulb in the ground here, a lamp will grow so I’m pretty confident all should be all right. However, after the tilling of the field, the soil has giant clumps. To break them up I got the mower and “mowed” the dirt. Well, I tried. I went out to the field thinking it would be a snap. Naturally, I’m getting used to the fact that I’m wrong on a grand scale most of the time. I could start the tractor and go about three feet when the mower would die. I started getting worried I might ruin the tractor or the mowing implement. I walked back to the house and called my friends at Scholten’s tractor. A woman answered the phone. After explaining my situation and knowing my model number right off the bat, she told me she really didn’t know too much and I’d have to wait an hour or so until the rest of the people arrived, it was only 6:30 AM. You know farmers, we’re up early.

“You know Wayne was out here a while back and he told me there was a woman who knew about donkeys, that wouldn’t be you would it?”

“Why yes, I’m the donkey lady! I love donkeys.”

“Me too. I didn’t expect to like her so much. We’d love to breed her, but we don’t know how to find a jack.”

“I know lots of jacks.”

“But Miracle is a standard Crossback, don’t you have miniatures?”

“Yes. Hmm. But my husband is the auctioneer at the livestock barn in Skagit. Give me your number and I’ll look into it.”

    “Great. My husband really wants to get her pregnant.” The moment it came out of my mouth I knew it didn’t sound right, but whatever.

    “Oh and you know what someone just came in and he says you just need to set it on the higher setting on your side panel.”

    “I didn’t even know you could do that. I’ll try. Thanks.”

    Off I went mowing the field. I thought it worked pretty well, until I started trying to plant seeds. It was then I realized the clumps were really creating a problem. I’d gotten a little walk-behind seeder, but it wouldn’t cover the seeds with soil given the conditions. Phoebe walked out to the field around 7:30 to check on me. She is spending a couple of days helping Henry and me get the crops in the ground.

    My truck died so I couldn’t rent the proper farm implement to break up the soil. Even my Honda can’t take a tractor implement, too much metal.

I called everyone I knew who might know what I should do. After gathering as much advice as possible, I went to Lowes™ and bought an aerator to try and break things up and cover the seeds I’d already put down. I met Lisa at Lowes™ as she’s doing a fence project and acquired farm hand, Phoebe ready for action.
(After hours of assembly)

    This thing was worse than any bicycle on Christmas Eve. Mike and I got the thing put together about 2:30 AM. Without any time to waste “You’ve got to get that corn in the ground or it’s all going to be a waste.” Ringing in my years, I was up and out on the tractor by 6:00AM. The contraption worked sort of. It broke up a lot of the dirt, but it didn’t cover the seeds. Great. Now what?

    I thought of all the farmers who created this country. I thought of the hardships, the heat, and the soil. I have a newfound respect and sadness for all they must have endured. And no wonder they had so many children. I started thinking about George Washington, the farmer. An innovator creating a special octagonal barn with slats in the floor he devised a way to put the wheat on the floor and then have a team of horses tramp over it causing it to separate and thus cut down on the manual labor. What would he do? I said a little prayer. I felt terrible we’ve invested money in these seeds and I can’t do anything well.

    Phoebe was working the seeder while I did the tractor, as I wa