Another Spring Tablescape For You

I wanted to show Shilah my latest bird. Frances found him at the popular new store in town. Everybody likes L&M even though, or maybe because, it is a lot like Farm and Fleet. I haven’t been yet, but I have decided that I will go there someday when I can browse as I long as I wish.

Spring Is Here

Okay, now I think I figured out how to make live writer give me what I want in a picture post. More later.

Not In My Kitchen

I found this article today in one of my searches on how to create a replacement window screen.  It is definitely time for lists of projects. I have spring fever.

The article claims that we all have dangerous, toxic bugs hanging off the fridge door handle and everywhere else you've touched the last five minutes, in your food, and all over the counters, etc. Here's my formal, not so humble opinion of such claims.

The article was NOT written for stay-at-home moms who spend  parts of every day in the kitchen preparing and cleaning up for meals.  No, I do not believe that I have mold growing in my kitchen unless it is IN the fridge and I really work on making sure that is not so, as well.  No, I do not have E coli! of all things in my kitchen. Yuck! I surely hope not. When I bring raw chicken to the sink for cleaning and prep I do have, temporarily, salmonella bacteria in my kitchen, most likely, for a few minutes. But by the time I've finished and all that chicken is ready to be cooked/baked/or fried, old Sam and Ella have been killed dead with hot soapy water and bleach.  The meat is safely in or on the pan and in an hour or so Sam and Ella have expired in the oven, as well.

Changing out the dishrag every day and keeping the laundry done up will certainly keep our areas germ free. And did they mention in the article that the high setting on the dryer kills a lot of germs?

 The article goes for folks who eat at home a few times a week and where mom and dad both work away from home. Of course, there's mold and crawlies in the kitchen if nobody is there to clean and cook all day long.  Mom was right when she said to get right at the dishes after the meal is done. "The sooner we get the work done the sooner we can play."

While I'm at it, here's a tip for you.  Using green laundry soap and softeners will keep your wash cloths from smelling badly.  Kill the smell with a cup of ammonia in your next laundering and never buy another bottle of non green soap.  Not only will your wash stay sweet and clean; your sewer won't be building up with a lot of clogging gunk that won't break down. Purex has a "green" soap that works nicely.

In The Quiet

It is getting late and everyone is going off to bed.  I am sitting here in the tidied living room alone. My very low music and the gurgle of the fish tank for my solace.  It feels almost too quiet after a week of having Dru and Lisl and babies here. On the one hand I am enjoying a chance to unwind here behind the computer screen, scribbling. On the other hand it feels a bit empty.

One day, Jube (2 1/2) reasoned with me, "Let me think." when I suggested that he might not wish to play in the firewood rack by the stove.  It caught me off guard to be honest. I really don't think he had to consider whether or not he ought to get away from the hot stove. It was more of a parroting of a parent or an older playmate, I am sure.  Maybe he was stalling, who knows. But I think I've done that with God before. 

This week with Dru's here was busy and full of baby care.  Jube was sick, I was sick, Elv was sick and worked anyhow, Lisl was sick, Lance was sick and worked anyhow, too, and Amy cried one day when I asked her to do something. We finally decided that Jube's goopy eyes was good enough reason to take him to the doctor, Dorcas. Dr.Kelly prescribed antibiotics for a double ear infection and drops for the eye infection. Jube got better, some of the rest of us are still waiting to do that.

When Dru's came off that plane Sunday morning they appeared in Thailand appropriate flip flops and jackets at the MSP airport in Minnesota, where the snow was still a foot deep or so.  We met them with coats, shoes, and carseats for the babies. First thing Monday we went to the used shops and bought some much needed boots, and clothing.  While we sweated all week and kept the fires going, they shivered.  Jube wore the winter coat I had borrowed for him all day long on Monday... in the house, that is.

Lisl claimed that Elv and I hadn't changed an iota adding that she certainly has changed a lot. I think the opposite is true. We know we've changed/gotten a bit older, while she is still the same sunshine to live with as ever. I miss her already this evening with them gone to his folks for a week now.

Havilah became Havee, Havileelah, Halla, or Halee while we got acquainted with her for the first time. She's a sweet baby. Of course, I wouldn't be a bit prejudiced.

What we got accomplished this week was more along the lines of Lisl's life and responsibility.  We took care of babies and meals and clean-up, over and over and over. I enjoyed it but I'll admit that I'm glad my personal baby days are over. It amazes me that when needs come up the old instinctive mother skills come back to me. I am humbly grateful for this. So while I'd like to learn website optimization and building today, I can still remember from yesteryear that sick babies need more fluids than food. I held babies and read books to Benny and Jube this week instead of working on my computer.

In the morning sermon, Dru talked about how each of us has a ministry/mission in life. Culture and missions is a big subject at this house when the married children come home.  We are learning Native American culture and Thai culture while living in the United States in our own special mix of American/middle class/Christian/Mennonite culture.  We live a rich and varied life. I intend to enjoy it well!


                                                      Havilah Glory at 9 months.

                                                      

Becoming Fifty

               We celebrated Elv’s fiftieth birthday last month.  I invited as many of his brothers as could come to help us make the day special. Elv told me afterward some of what they had talked about, which brought me to these observations.

             Elv and his brothers talk about real things.  At fifty, these guys don’t mind talking about the past: the problems and their particular solutions, the fun memories, and the lessons they learned as children watching the older folks. (Things that were caught, not taught.)  

            You’ll know that when grown men get together and are willing and ready to talk about what works in real life from an experiential knowledge, that they have allowed life and the Lord to teach them wisdom. Dependable security for us.

            Elv and his brothers are also thinking about the future these days.  We often think that it is the young men who should be thinking and planning for the future and they should do that.  But in my observation as a daughter, sister, wife and mom, it is the men fifty and older who are talking about/ planning for the future.  Suddenly the rest of their days are in a foreseeable pose. It is a much more practical view now, looking ahead. At twenty, the future seems dim and far away and full of forgiveness. It takes a very wise parent/village indeed, to instill any amount of reality about the future into a twenty-ager. 

            I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, today.  

           

Our Current Snowstorm

We now have 14 inches of new snow. I guess we won't be having a picnic for a day or two. The benches and the fireplace table are both quite snowed under. The table looks like a giant marshmallow.

Sugar on Snow Snowstorm

Here's Lake Superior in one of its many moods.

We had a snowstorm that kept some of us at home all day Sunday instead of going to church while others of our church group fled home to Wiscsonsin. Still others were stranded at the rec center where we were to meet for church and fellowship all day. It was frustrating. It almost ruined the enjoyment of a lovely snowstorm, to be honest, to be all divvied out in separate family groups for the day while the snow piled up and the wind filled the roadways with drifts.