Hello.

     Hello to all who have found this blog on their own. I had given the site address of my blog to just my daughters, but technology is much smarter than I and has made it available for your viewing pleasure too.

     When I write, I will write as though only T and C will ever read this, so I apologize in advance if you get confused by names and places and events. I know that they know what I'm talking about. Don't be offended by anything I write as that will never be my intention. This is just a blog.

     That being said... I'd like to HIGHLY recommend the new Pixar movie called UP! Wow! I loved it! Movies today seem to have a good story in the previews, but then it flops when you see the whole movie. Not this one. Good previews, good story-line and one great movie! Squirrel!

Just One of Those Days! I Gotta Vent or Explode!

     He couldn't find his shoes, so he was allowed to skip school for the 3rd time this week. Don't get me wrong... I love this boy, but I NEED him in school for 3 hours to keep me sane.

     It was the 3rd day in a row of RAIN which meant another day of indoor activities, in a limited amount of space, with 3 small children.

     Dealing with the screaming, tattling, sneaking, selfishness, spitting, hitting, punching and other things too numerous to mention, were the bulk of my day.

    I tried to keep them occupied with Matchbox play-sets, board/card games, "I Spy" books, kitchen projects, coloring, favorite TV shows and just letting them alone to figure out their own activities.

     Nothing seemed to work for very long. I had to resort to the rarely used "time-out", even for the littlest one (It made me smile as I tried to make her understand the "time out" concept. Too funny).

     An afternoon phone call warned Mom of the impending scene of doom awaiting her and after a few words with her kids, things looked and felt a bit calmer. For a while.

     The rain had stopped and we went out to draw with chalk on the driveway. Three minutes into our activity when... 

     She was reaching up on the shelf in the garage to put her OLD chalk away while I went to get my NEW chalk (in veggie shapes). I heard a scream and ran to see her hand, full of blood that she was catching from a cut on her top lip! 

     "I fell on da howse again Miss Jen!" Argh, Not her mouth again! But alas it was, though no damaged teeth this time. Her lip was swollen, it hurt too much for her binky. Maybe the silver lining is, her binky habit will be broken? 

     She was brave and held an ice cube on her boo-boo.

     Mom arrived home later than expected and the boys began to ask for rewards and gifts from her. I was happy when she said NO, they hadn't done enough good things to get a prize! I hope she stuck to her guns after I left. I had to get home. My mother in law was coming over!

     On my way home, he called my cell phone. "Miss Jen? This is Connor. I'm sorry I wasn't so good today. But you know what, Kaya hit me!" I could hear Mom in the background telling him not to be a tattletale. Good luck! 

     He confessed to me earlier in the day that he had indeed hidden his shoes, but forgot where he hid them until we suggested his "adventure" backpack. He knew he'd be allowed to stay home if his shoes went missing. Now I know, it won't happen a 4th time.

     Now I'm off to bed with a good dose of TylenolPM. Good Night!

      

The Dreaded Phone Call

     This morning I received a call from C. A phone call that I had been imagining in my mind since she began driving almost 3 years ago.

     Hello?

     (loud crying) Mom? I've been in an accident!

     Are you OK?

     (more loud crying) Yes. But I'm very scared!

     Where are you?

     (still crying) blahblahblah.

     Calm down. Now tell me where you are.

     (a bit quieter now) You know where the road meets the road at the lights?

     Huh?

     (silence)

     My phone goes dead.

     Before I go on, I assure you that C is fine. She had stopped at a red light on her way to get a bagel before school. A Jeep Cherokee rear-ended her Ford Focus. No damage to him or his car, but the Focus is much shorter in the back side with a bit of cellulite now and no taillights.

     This could have been a much worse scenario, but thanks to my vivid imagination, this was a piece of cake! Now comes the insurance, auto body, rental car inconveniences. But no blood, broken bones or death. Thanks Heavenly Father for watching out for C! 

You Can't Get Theah From Heeah!

     Ahhh, New England roads. Originally built by simply following the wagon tracks of the early settlers, our network of roads can get a person severely LOST if you wander off the beaten path!

     I'm always on the look-out for a new and hopefully shorter way to get somewhere, like from home to work. I have found 3 different ways to go, all are about the same mileage. Each has its own features like twists, turns, hills, traffic and the ever-present red lights.  They all get me there in 40-45 minutes. So depending on my mood or the road conditions, I have choices.

     Today I tried a new way home. I was in Derry, NH and it is so close to Epping, it made sense to follow a "main road" into Derry and then shoot eastward over to Epping. It sounded good! However, the "main road" I had thought looked good, changed into a bunch of "in the middle of nowhere" roads with no signs and I ended up 20 miles WEST of where I had originally taken the "main road" in the first place! I wanted to go eastward, I even used my cars compass, but there weren't any roads allowing that to happen.

    So, needless to say, I did not find a 4th way to work. 

S'mores

     I love to go camping. I don't really like s'mores. There's too much gooey marshmallow which ruins a perfectly tasty piece of chocolate. A toasted mini-marshmallow is all I need for my s'more to taste better. Who toasts a mini-marshmallow?

     At the traditional camping trip or campfire, one ALWAYS has to make these sticky snacks. I've tried to make them easier to create by using Keebler Fudge Striped cookies instead of packing the grahams and chocolate separately. I've also heard of people adding strawberries to the recipe and the Internet has many sites devoted to this camping creation.

     I was just at our local grocery store and came across this recipe that sounds so much better to me than plain old s'mores. They aren't "diet" food though! They are called Grilled Pound Cake S'mores. 

•                             1 packaged pound cake cut into 12 equal size slices (or make your own)
•                             3/4 cup Fluff
•                             3 milk chocolate candy bars cut in half crossways

•                              Grill over a fire (or toast on a griddle) the cake slices, about 2 minutes on                              each side.
•                              Remove from grill.
•                              Spread Fluff on 6 of the grilled slices
•                              Top with chocolate bar
•                              Cover with other slice of grilled pound cake
•                              Serve immediately with a side glass of cold milk

Just For You...

     I don't want to get in the habit of 2 blog postings or more a day, so I hope this is the only time.

     Today we brought C to view the kittens. She likes "Zorro", the moustached female, but  she's not "in love" with her. We'll wait 11 more weeks before we decide for certain on Yea or Nay on bringing home a new kitten. Still leaning towards NO.

     B saw Angels and Demons while C and I went to see Night at the Museum 2 since she had seen Angels and Demons with J the other night. They all liked Angels and Demons. Now I'm going to need to find someone to go with me to see it. 

      I think that Night at the Museum 2... is an OK movie, but not good enough for me to recommend spending money on at the theaters. Waiting for the DVD is a much better suggestion. UP! comes out on Friday. That looks like a fun movie!

     J has been over for dinner 2 nights in a row due to the holiday. He seems to enjoy playing board games with us. Scattergories is our family's newest game edition. While there is no way to plan strategies or use loopholes to win, B still manages to win most of the rounds!

     Gracie likes to cuddle on our laps or capture the dice during our games. And she chases down those pesky bugs that get inside the house, like spiders and ants because she is such a brave hunter and C is not! 

Memorial Day ... as an empty nester

     Things change so fast. 

     Memorial Day used to begin early in the morning. I cleaned the house, put together a brunch, got my girls off to the parade grounds so they could march with their Girl Scout troop or baseball team. I welcomed family members into my house to enjoy the brunch and watch the parade from our yard. Following the parade and a brief ceremony at the Training Field, I watched, as my girls boarded fire trucks for a quick ride back to the Fire Station where ice cream sandwiches and sodas were handed out.

     Then we packed up a BBQ lunch and went to my parents house where we met up with other family members to have a day of swimming, games and gossip.

     When my parents split up and sold their house, things changed slightly. We, too, moved. From having a house on the parade route to a very private area in NH. Living further away meant that family did not like to travel to see us (though we're only 20 miles away!) so the BBQs stopped. My girls did not join teams or troops so there was no one to watch march in a parade. Except one year when Courtney was in Band.

     Now, Memorial Day is just another day. At least I have it off! Maybe I'll go see Angels and Demons with B. 

I Love Frogs!

     Not really, I'm very nervous around them, but I do love a new recipe I found on line called FROG MORE STEW. This name is very misleading, as there are NO FROGS in it and it's not even a stew! It's a "boil" and it sort of reminds me of the New England boiled dinners I made for my family once in a while, but with shrimp and sausage instead of a pork shoulder.

     Once cooked (which doesn't take very long), it is drained and dumped, yes, dumped onto a table covered in newspapers. No forks or plates are allowed! Serve with plenty of butter, sour cream, cocktail sauce and ketchup, along side a large supply of paper towels or napkins. Best served outside with plenty of trash barrels around to discard the shrimps outer shell and corn cobs.

     I wasn't too keen to get messy, so I served mine indoors, using large aluminum baking pans. I provided plates and forks for those who don't like eating too messily. For ambiance, I did use newspaper as a tablecloth! There are many variations of this recipe on line, so I won't bother posting one. But next time, I'm going to add crab legs and/or lobster tails!

Prom II

     C has just left for her Junior/Senior Prom with her boyfriend, J. 

     To get it out of the way, let me say... I wished she could have worn "more", but the color purple (or lilac, or fuchsia or something) looked very nice on her with her blue eyes. J was very dapper in a black pinstripe tux with a matching purple vest/cummerbund and shiny shoes. Both rounded out their look with new sunglasses.

     The kids came to see her off (parents had a golf outing) and Kaya was so precious. C was in her "princess dress" and J was dressed in a" princess dress" too. At least until we told her that boys were princes and girls were princesses. C had a picture taken with Kaya, as well as her and J. I'm sure it's posted on her Facebook page. B took the pics, I hope they come out OK.

     I'm not sure if I can last until 2:30 am, but I'm going to try. They will be dining at Denny's and going to Hampton Beach following the prom. C is so happy! Last years prom is not a happy memory for her (or me), but J is a good guy and I trust him. Her hair and make-up were done by Family Affair this time and it looks so much nicer!

     Happy Memorial Day weekend!!

Actually...

     Both of my girls said this word at the beginning of most of their stories when they were the same age as Kaya (2.5 yrs). That word or "and one more thing". Now I find myself smiling and remembering whenever I listen to one of Kaya's stories. And with her vocabulary growing so fast, there's A LOT of stories.

     Today she wore a white sundress with pink/blue butterflies on it. "Do you see my pretty dress Miss Jen? Actually I love rainbows. We go swimming today? One more thing, Miss Jen, I have new baving suit. You like it too? I see kitties now? Conah and Conah, let's go see kitties! Come on Miss Jen. Let's go! Awesome!" All this happened in about 15 seconds. 

     I guess I'm destined to be surrounded by fast talkers who change the subject mid-sentence. Right T? And spouse?

     It's hot, 90 degrees and it is not cooling off tonight. ACTUALLY, it's going to be hot tomorrow too.  One more thing, it's still too early in NE to put in the window AC units. I mean, we still had snow on the ground a month ago!

I Needed A Laugh

     The new kittens are doing fine. Lightning is being a great mom and has retracted her claws now that she knows we won't hurt or keep her babies. Maxie stays far away.

     What's so funny about that? Nothing. But T posted a comment in a previous post in which she said she'd like to see a picture of the moustache kitty. I barely can use my cell phones features and she wants me to post a picture on a blog that I barely know how to use?!?! Now, the very thought of me attempting such a feat is HILARIOUS!

     T, stop cracking jokes and go to a doctor to get your health checked. I promise not to complain this month about that bill I pay for you if you just GO TO THE DOCTOR!  Please!

Auntie Gracie

     Well, Lightning had her babies. Five kittens. I found them this morning in an old car seat that had another stacked on top of it in their basement. I can't imagine HOW she gave birth to 5 and cleaned up in that tiny space. 

     A solid black girl (boys call her "Nightmare"), a gray boy ( similar to Gracie's coloring but with a different pattern), a black and white (sex as yet, undetermined,  due to the kids wanting to hold instead of inspecting) and 2 charcoal grays/black kittens (see above, I don't know the sex yet). One of the dark grays has the most adorable moustache! It reminds me of the Spaniard in The Princess Bride!

    Two kitties fell off and cried. Mom seemed reluctant to leave the others to rescue them. So I did! I tilted the car seat to allow her to use the taller end. It has edges to keep them from rolling out and they seem OK. I placed an old blanket over the top for privacy and put tall cardboard on 3 sides to help keep Maxie away.

     

     Will I bring another kitty home in 12 weeks? Probably not. I saw Maxie hiss and growl at the babies. I don't want to do anything that may turn Gracie into a hisser! I love her personality too much. 

     It will be an interesting summer having kittens around again. Kaya says, "I loves the kitties so much, Miss Jen!" and wants to hold them all the time. Lightning flashes her claws to remind us that she has them, but has restrained herself.

     Until later! Love you C and T!!

      

Labor...

     When I left work today, I saw Lightning and I believe she's in labor. 

     I remember those times, being in labor. Thankfully, T lasted 14 hrs, with medication and C lasted about 4 hrs with NO medication. My biggest problems with being pregnant happened in the first trimester when food wouldn't stay down.     Ahhhhh, I wish that were the case now, as I am much bigger than I should be. Not that I enjoy vomiting! But I was much thinner.

     Gracie and I just finished a 30 minute "Tag! You're It" session. I am breathless! But it's her favorite game, so I play it. I recall many games I played with T and C just because they like to play games. I like to play games too, but how many rounds of Candy-land or Chutes and Ladders can a grown-up play without losing brain cells?

     Well, Good Luck to Lightning. Maybe tomorrow I'll be posting on the birth of her KINDLE. Yes, that's a new trivia fact I've learned. A group of kittens is called a kindle, not a litter. Interesting, huh?

Just a Day, Like Any Other

     Every once in a while, nothing goes on in my life. Today was one of those days. No magical events or life changing experiences. Not much conversation or work getting done. All in all, a boring day.

     The weather was nice though.

I'll Always Love You , no matter what!

     Today I witnessed a heart-warming moment between Maxie and Lightning (Gracie's mom and sister). 

     Lightning is due any day now and is uncomfortable. Maxie sensed this and my eyes teared up a bit and my heart filled with joy as I watched Maxie lick her pregnant daughter on the head for a very long time, giving Lightning the comfort she needed. Maxie even gave her her favorite sleeping spot in the basement.

     Just a few days earlier, Maxie had growled and snapped at Lightning for no reason, yet here she was now, caring lovingly for her daughter. 

     I snap a lot too. Sometimes for no known reason other than I was in a bad mood. I nag and complain. 

    My daughters must think they're going to fall short of my hopes and desires for them and their future lives with all my moaning and groaning. In my defense, some of my moaning and nagging at them is deserved. School, health, jobs, and being self-reliant are the "hot" topics that can get my nag button going with my daughters, then it's hard to find the off switch!

     But no matter what they say or do, I love each of them so much. I am proud and a bit jealous of many of the things they've accomplished and done in their lives thus far. I look forward to seeing them make better life choices than I did and hope that that day comes soon!

     I won't lick their head in comfort, but I'll give them a hug or two! Love you T! Love you C!

     

If Looks Could Kill

     If looks could kill, I'd be dead so many times over! T was the queen of the killer look, still is. C doesn't make as many... to my face, that is!

     Gracie has got into the act of giving killer looks too. Yesterday, it was time for her monthly dose of Frontline flea treatment. It get placed onto her skin, right between the shoulder blades (so she can't lick it off). This means I have to move her fur around a bit to get it on correctly.

     She has never enjoyed this treatment, but yesterday she gave me such a LOOK of DEATH after I put it on her. How dare I interrupt her nap... and for THIS?! She stormed off into the other room, looking back at me the whole time, with daggers shooting from her eyes!

     But just like my kids, by the time we saw each other again later that day, I was back on her good side. Besides, I had treats!

Whistle While You Work

     After throwing a mac and cheese casserole (homemade!) into the oven for tonight's dinner, I decided to do a quick washing of the kitchen floor (as I was none too neat in my cooking!).

     I was on my hands and knees, my damp rag cloth going back and forth, cleaning the messy spots... when, out of nowhere, I was attacked by a playful cat! It seemed that Gracie had decided, that if I was on my knees, moving my hand, that I wanted to play with her. 

     I wish you could have seen her attempt to get her footing on the wet floor as she tried to get away from me and set herself up for the next attack! Visions of Scooby Doo flashed before me! 

     After about 10 minutes of this, she retreated to her perch in the open bathroom window to watch the chipmunks wander in our yard, safe from the danger I had just endured!

     As I write this, I have a fun memory of T sliding through a cheese pizza and it made me smile!

The Perfect Present

     I'm always hoping that the present I choose for someone will end up being the most perfect gift for them. Do my girls remember the Nintendo 64 or more recently, the iPods? I remember the screaming, jumping and numerous "Thank-You so much, Mom" I received throughout the day.  I think I may have been happier than they were.

     Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between. I am NOT a good gift giver. Unless I'm given a list. But with a list, the surprise of receiving the perfect gift is gone.

     Gracie had her birthday today. What, if anything, does one give a cat for their birthday? She has everything she needs already! Then I found it! A Cat-A-Tonic catnip mat! When I gave it to her, she attached herself to it. Rolling on it, under it, meowing loudly and chewing it! I was so happy! I had found the perfect gift, without a list!

     And no one better tell me that cats behave like that whenever they're around catnip!  It wasn't like that at all... It was the Perfect Gift!

    And nobody better remind me that the gift was for... a CAT! 

   Just let me enjoy this moment, please.

Can I Have Some?

     A question that has been asked by myself many times, but more likely, one that has been asked of me. 

     Today, I got asked that question. After getting home from work MUCH later than I expected, I sat down to enjoy an episode of Heroes (though at the time I didn't know it wasn't airing tonight!) with a small dish of seafood salad and Ritz crackers.

     I noticed that Gracie, who had ignored me up until this point, came walking in the room, nose in air, sniffing! I know she loves fish, but seafood salad is fake, made up of sugar and starches, surely she didn't want any of my snack!

     Of course, she would not be deterred! So I gave her a bite. After sniffing some more, tasting a bit, she decided she didn't like it after all and left the room. 

     As she sauntered off, tail swishing in the air, my mind flashed back to T & C  and how they used to do the same thing. Different food, same result! Smile time!

Catching Sunbeams

     Today was a blustery, sunny day. Perfect to prime a well house that I will be helping the kids paint for their mom's birthday this week.

     Gracie thought it was a perfect day for "fishing"! For sunbeams! I can't stop smiling as I've watched her time and time again, swat at the sun shining through our windows! She mews loudly, not understanding that one cannot catch the sun!

     It's  Mothers Day and my husband gave me a new well house, seeing as our old one finally fell apart. C gave me a new tart burner with strawberry tarts. The whole house smells like a candy store! She also did housework for me to give me a break. My mother-in -law sent me a super funny video.

     At this time, I have yet to hear from my oldest daughter, T, though the day is technically not over until I go to bed. Maybe she is caught up catching sunbeams too!

Gracie, my gray, striped, domestic short haired cat is turning 1 year old this Tuesday!

In my adult life, I never wanted to have or care for any animal, unless it was human! My childhood was filled with animals. Cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, parakeets, rabbits, pigs, horses, ponies, goats, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens and roosters. Neighbors had cows.

Why wouldn't I want to have animals as an adult? The mentioned critters were a part of my life because OTHER people in my family just had to have them and my parents needed something to keep 15 children busy every day! I hated the responsibilities that came with having animals. 

The smells! The bugs! The poop! YUCKY!! Then there was the cost! Food, bedding, and vet fees! No way! 

Then I met Maxie. She's Gracie's mom. She belongs to the family that I babysit for daily. They adopted her when she was 12 weeks old. This kitten/cat was fun, sweet and so tolerant with the kids, including the small toddler who was learning to walk.  I couldn't help but love her too.

But not enough to get myself a cat! Or so I thought. 

Maxie gave birth on May 12, 2008 to a litter of 6. I was able to watch these kittens grow and develop personalities over the next 10 weeks. Butter, the yellow runt, ended up being the biggest! Scaredy Cat, a solid gray, was afraid of everything. Peanut Butter looked like Fluff and peanut butter mixed up in a sandwich and reminded me of all the cats we had way back. Popsie and Lightning were slender, patchwork kittens. 

Gracie, I noticed, whenever Maxie was away from the box, would find her way over to whichever of her siblings was crying or fighting to give them comfort. A true peacemaker. When we would take the kittens out to play, Maxie would pick them up by the scruff of the neck and carry them back upstairs to their box. She always took Gracie last, so Gracie could keep the others calm. At least that's what it looked like to me. Gracie has extra toes like her mother. Her feet are HUGE!

 I had fallen in love with the look and personality of this little kitty and she needed a perfect name. I wanted it to sound like "Maxie", but also wanted to work in her caring, loving traits into the name too. 

Her coloring had NOTHING to do with choosing her name nor did we want to rhyme with my oldest daughters name! I credit my youngest daughter with choosing "Gracie" as the name for our first cat! It fits perfectly! Thanks C!!

At 10 weeks old, she was the only kitten NOT eating solid food! She wouldn't try! All the others had been adopted (except for Lightning and Popsie, the boys liked them too much, though Popsie has since been adopted). Maxie was going in for her "operation" and could no longer nurse Gracie. I had no choice but to take her home early (before the recommended 12 weeks and eating food) while I hoped for the best. She was so tiny, about 2 lbs.

She cried the whole ride and vomited 10 minutes from home. YUCK! What was I to do? Then, she cleaned herself up. Gross, I know, but I wasn't gonna do it! That night, I made a mixture of canned cat milk and Little Friskies soft food in a ziplock baggie. I cut off a corner, held her and squeezed food into her mouth. Messy, but successful! 

Next day, on a whim, I put out dry food as I left for work. I heard crunching and looked to see her eating the food! That's when I knew she would be just fine!

So that's how a cat came to be in my life even though I swore that would never happen. She's an indoor cat, sees the vet for shots and had her "operation" in December 2008. She uses Frontline every month to keep the fleas and ticks at bay. Never has had an "accident" and likes going out on a leash.

Gracie has been much fun this year and in my future blog entries, her antics will be chronicled to the best of my recollection, as well as some of her current doings. She's a one of a kind for sure!

Have a great day! Oh yeah! My son-in-law graduated today. Congrats to him.