A Reading Milestone

L4 has been writing her name, and all sorts of other letters and even words when she asks us how to spell something.  But this morning L1 and I realized that she has her first sight word.  Are you ready for it?
***DRUM ROLL***
Poop.  Yes, you read that correctly.  It’s poop.  Figures.

Read Full Post »

The Bright Side of Life

Before this look came into our house , the kids enjoyed their dress-up for Halloween.

L3 was thrilled beyond belief when we found his Star Wars garb whilst thrifting. And L4–for those of you who don’t recognize, she is Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls (we don’t have cable, btw, but L4 saw an episode from [...]

Read Full Post »

Down for the Count

L3 is the last healthy one in the house. I’m huddled on the couch with a cat to keep me warm and L4 is watching far too much TV.  I hope to be back, feeling better soon.
*edited to add*
L3 awoke with a fever this morning.  Now I am home sick with two sick kids who [...]

Read Full Post »

New Eyes

Exhibit A: Much-loved glasses, worn for 6+ years

Exhibit B: Much-loved glasses destroyed by Jasper.  Is it because he loves me so much?

Exhibit C: New glasses, about which I’m feeling ambivalent at this point except that the lenses are SO CLEAN.

Read Full Post »

More Freecycle Love

We’re still happy with the chairs with which we were graced from Freecycle.  They’re practical and have been put to good use since they came into our home.  Now we’ve added something a bit more fun and a wee bit frivolous: a vintage typewriter.

It came in a suitcase and is sitting on a freecycle chair!

We [...]

Read Full Post »

My Bliss: Braids, Green, and Earrings

Or shall I wax on about cabbage and ceiling wax?  Braids = one of my favorite hair styles, if a style you could call it.  I love them down my back, piled behind my head, on top of my head, twisted around the edge of my head. . . you get the idea.  And green?  [...]

Read Full Post »

Back to the Chaos

I returned home this late afternoon after living like a single person for 2.5 days.  It was surreal, an alternate reality.  Quiet.
*** updated***

Arriving in Cleveland you can see the city skyline.  I first went to Phoenix Coffee to meet Kim and get some work done for the fall semester.  The red crushed velvet couch is [...]

Read Full Post »

Lemon Fresh

Yesterday was a day of so many random projects.  A day that needed, but was without, a list.  After the laundry was hung on the line we gravitated toward staying outdoors–L1 to chopping wood, me to the garden.  Compost was turned, used, and the designated dump pile begun anew.  My poor neglected lavender bed was [...]

Read Full Post »

Braid Wednesday

About two years ago I saw a picture of Amanda Blake Soule with pigtail braids and poof–I was ready to grow my hair out again.  I had to be able to wear those braids again–the ones I had worn in high school, and a bit in college, and in graduate school, and the day before [...]

Read Full Post »

Eyes Closed and All

I did it!  I finally managed to split wood.  I still seem to be closing my eyes some of the time as you can see below.  But heck, I’ll take it.  We have several face cord of wood that need to be split this summer.  I should get plenty of practice at it.  And with [...]

Read Full Post »