I'll Let Aaron Tell this One

Needless to say, I nearly had an accident. Well, you'll understand when you read this email Aaron sent to Father Wayne.

Father Bless!

Father,

I thought I'd share a quick story with you that just happened this week. Basil was playing in the front yard with his wagon while Sara was helping Juliana in our sandbox. The next thing Sara knows, Basil is really excited and exclaims, "Mommy, I caught a SPIDER!" He runs over to her and holds out his hand to reveal a healthy, adult, female, Black Widow. When I came home from class we sat down and talked about the incident with him at length. The poor guy was SO embarrassed and sad about the incident, I think he'll remember in the future.

Anyway, I just thought it was nothing other than his blessed guardian angel stilling a species of spider that is normally very agressive. Glory to Jesus Christ!

In Him,
Aaron

This is pretty much what it looked like. Big, black and freaky. We have them all over the yard and we're constantly inspecting toys and other things. This one slipped through the cracks. Seeing that sucker in my little boy's hand was pretty crazy. Thank God he was unharmed!

Friday Report Card

Friday is supposed to be...

Laundry day. Computer-free day. Heavy cleaning day. Aaron get home early day. Art with Basil day. Remebrance of Christ's death on the cross day.

What is has turned out to be...

Laundry day. Blog in the afternoon day. Vacuum broken but otherwise clean house day. Aaron get home early day? Make invitations for a "crab party with Basil day. Hurried but sincere prayers and a yearning heart day. Wear a headband day.

Salty Dogs and Rabbit Food

So I was raiding the fridge trying to whip up something for my lunch. The hot dogs left over from a weekend beach bonfire were calling my name. I know, gross...HOT DOGS! But there were also some big fluffy buns hanging out on the counter, also leftover but this time from Aaron's Bratwurst fest last night at the St. B men's group.

So, I fixed it up right and went to town. After eating I felt rather salty and well-preserved myself, but still hungry.

I decided to use the loads of carrots that have been rolling around in the crisper to make a grated carrot salad a la Everyday Food but lacked the complete set of ingredients. The result? Less than tasy, but I ate it. And I actually feel better. Must be all of that vitamin A.

Maybe I'll try the recipe again, after hitting the market.

Just Sharing a Link, That's All

Interesting website, interesting article.

Good thoughts and ideas on kids and toys. It's amazing where trying to put a little thought into living will lead you. There are so many ways to make a difference, so much to learn.

Happy Friday!!

Pourquoi Je Blog et Gratitude

We all know the intelligence level of my blog has been steadily declining. Looking back on really old posts, I think "boy, is this what happens? My brain goes mush and all I can write about is what my kids are doing or what kind of bowel movements we are having??!!"

Well, with less time to sit and compose clever or thoughtful commentaries on life and even less time to sit quietly with a book or news story and then pretend I have something terribly deep and noteworthy to say about it, I am coming to grips with the fact that the bluecanopy has slowly become a casual notepad for quick things I want to share or would like to remember in a few years. Hopefully Blogger won't collapse. I do like having a little space of my own, even if it is really just binary codes combined in some way too abstract way for me to comprehend. I like to think that this is something I can share with my kids as they grow and that Aaron and I can look back on in time.

Whew, had to say that for some reason.

So, gratitude...

coffee this morning
cold watermelon
cool thrift store finds (small watering can for kids and a wooden thread rack)
a shower
paid bills
an excursion out of the house
clean kitchen floor
a husband who loves me
a merciful God
new shampoo
a fun backyard
banana bread
friends
family
...and so much more (but just a list so I don't forget)

have a splendid Thursday.

Cha Cha Cha

I had it, Basil has it, who's next? Yep, the ole' diarrhea. I thought it was something I ate, guess not since he was hit two days after me. Poor fella slept in until 10:30 and the asked to go to bed again at 12:30.

Does Airborne work for intestinal bugs? I suppose it can't hurt. Is it wrong to love the stuff? I mean, I just love drinking it. That and Emer'gen-C but the "Premium Roast Coffee" flavor? Now that's just wrong.

Sorry, being in the house for the better part of a week is getting to me.

Updates and Some Photos

I haven't felt much like blogging lately. I'm trying to get back into my routine. I vascillate between desiring structure and wanting to "take it easy". The trouble is, usually when I'm neglecting the structure I've already put in place, things get harder. The dishes pile up. Laundry stays folded on the back of the couch, and the dress-up drawer stays emptied on the floor. Hmph.

So, picking up the pieces and revising my "rule" has helped immensely. The chaos is slowly reshelving itself.

We recently found out that my 82-year-old grandpa has cancer. Aaron and I visited him over the weekend; he's still as spry and sweet as ever...war stories, updates on the nursing staff, and one-liners (eg. "how are you doing grandpa?", "oh anyone I can"). Who knows how long his body will fight, he seems to be fairly sturdy and healthy despite the cancer. Still, one can see the inevitable end lies somewhere over the horizon...the certain end we must all face. The remebrance of the reality of death is always a good and sobering thing, but thinking about it in regards to someone you love is rough. I ask God to send His mercies upon Grandpa, granting him comfort, peace, and repentance...and I ask you prayers as well.

I guess these should be two separate posts, after dropping such a bomb. But who knows when I'll get around to it again. More gratuitous photos of Plew summer fun. Man, I can't believe it's August already.

Apparently Basil wanted a bit of water play change, this bucket was more fun than the old blue thing in the background.






Juliana had to get in on the action :)





Aaron's new baby...a compost pile. It's fun to do something with kitchen scraps and yard waste. I feel so productive with it out there.











And what did Basil ask to build when we were playing blocks this morning? A compost pile, of course! The blocks inside are "leafes", the produce is self explanatory. He's catching on :) Oh, and he's laying there to guard it from little sister.