Dreaming What Ifs...

Mail Call Sunday Post #7

Here I am again with another POSTCROSSING Sunday!!!

This gorgeous card arrived from Salzburg, Austria.  It depicts Fortress Monschsberg and the Old Town surrounding.  I agree with the sender that it is one beautiful city!  She invites me to come and visit.  Oh, I wish I could.

I received another card from Austria, showing the town of Graz - a World UNESCO site.  The middle square on the left shows a 14th century bakery. 

Yue Yan Yu sends greetings from Shanghai China.  The card says this is the International Convention Center.  Looks lovely to me.  I wonder if ChrisB saw it on her travels.

Here is my first postcard from the Ukraine!  Olya says it is her favorite city, Kyiv.

And finally, a postcard from another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Domo Valley in Portugal (a Port Wine Region).

Bummers

#1 - Jammin did NOT receive his Perfect Attendance Award at school today.  Why?  Because his 60 minutes at the dentist way back in November was counted against him.  THE F@CKERS.  I think that was a shitty move by the school.   Well - mama is going to make it up to him.  We will recognize this achievement at home!!!

#2 -  I am feeling bad and a bit guilty.  Remember my Freak Neighbor - the one I totally think evil thoughts about?  He was hit by a garbage truck.  Don't laugh.....he was on his bike and the garbage truck made a right turn, caught and dragged him for a while.  He has been in the hospital for over a week now and might lose his leg. I hope my evil thought wishing didn't spur this on.

#3 -  There will be no summer camps for my kids this year.  Having two children attend private school is going to be pricey.  (and I'm starting to freak out a little about how much money we will be spending each month on education).  As far as country-wide prices for private school, this school is probably 1/2 the cost of anywhere else.  (there are deep pockets in this community who donate a lot to the school, which keeps the tuition costs down - thank you Deep Pockets).  Having two children in full-time will double our price.  Thus, all extraneous costs are being cut, like summer camps.  It might be a really long summer. 

#4 -  The Caboose had NOTHING yesterday.  All we did was sing to him.  No cake, no gifts, not even a special dinner.  (he ate left-over spaghetti).  Dave had a long day and didn't get home until 10pm.  I was exhausted after spending the entire afternoon with Jammin's class and the Caboose was on the cranky side.   Well - no worries, folks.  He is getting a full-on party this Saturday....but, I still feel bad to not have honored his actual birthday.

#5 - Before going to bed, I turned the water on the strawberry plants.  I asked Dave to turn the water off before he went to bed.  He forgot.  This morning when I checked, there was a HUGE flood....and into the neighbors yard too.   I can only imagine the freaking water bill.  ACK.

Happy Birthday Caboose

And WOOOOOOSH - just like that, a whole year will pass..........

One year ago today I was welcoming this little man into our lives and being completely astonished at the fact I was a mother of three.

It only seems like half that amount of time has passed.  Where has this year gone?  Did I blink?   

 

Please ignore the pear drippings on his shirt and in his hair

Today the Caboose is one year old.  He's a mover and a shaker now.  He hasn't taken any steps on his own, but that will come.  Crawling is his main mode of getting into trouble.

• He says "Buttercup" (with a lisp).
• He tries to say "Jammin" (it comes out like "enee").
• He cries for "Mama".
• He laughs for "Dadee".
• He loves to eat "Nana" and "Numnum".
• He growls at the dogs and the lawnmower.
• He squeals at the chickens and the cat. 
• He loves to laugh at his siblings.
• He loves to watch Spongebob (oh the horror).
• He won't eat Cheerios.

He is the Caboose and he is one.  When did that happen?  My baby is growing too quickly....I have to hold on tight!

Here is his "Official Portrait"  (a picture of a picture)

 

Mail Call Sunday Post #6

OOPS - I missed the last two Sundays and now have a pile of cards!  Well, not to overwhelm, I'll only show 5 as usual.

I'll continue to add the link to Postcrossing in case anyone else is interested in joining this fun event!

First, I received this lovely postcard of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.  Lisa is graduating from UNC Asheville this May and then heading to Washington D.C. to work in a huge theater.  She says she'll be thrilled to experience a huge metropolis but will miss the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This second card depicts "Strandkorbe", which are rentable lounge chairs on the beach of the Baltic Sea.  Cheta, a German dental student, says they are available on every German beach.  That would be nice to have on the Oregon Coast, I suppose - but the wind would probably blow them all away.

 

This card from Krabi, Thailand had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL peacock stamp on the back.  I should have taken a picture of that.  Next time I'll try to remember.

Interestingly enough, I received two cards from Great Britain on the exact same day.  This first is from Serena, who moved to London from Italy to attend University.  That big white blob is a scratch the card received during mailing....I was a bit bummed. 

This second Great Britain card shows the Manchester area.  James didn't have a lot to say except that he lives here.

Next week I'll be showcasing cards from Austria, China, and a few other fun places!

I Gave Up Caffeine for Compassion

Photo by Robin

It began three years ago while I was trying to conceive my third child.  Dave and I talked about adoption, especially a child from another country.   But, the Caboose put a halt to that plan.

Maria, a close-family friend, spend two years in Nairobi teaching.  On her off time she volunteered every spare moment to a Mother Theresa orphanage.  She came home with stories that broke my fragile heart and led me to share tears for a lonely African baby boy with AIDS. 

Those children live in my heart.

And now, I've been following along the road to India with Robin (and her fellow traveling bloggers) reading and watching the stories of hope, love, sadness, and Compassion.

I knew I wanted to sponsor a child - in particularly a little girl.  Dave agreed, but suggested I needed to give up something in return.  Although $35 a month is not much, who am I to live in comfort and splendor while across the world a child bathes in the street gutter?

I gave up caffeine.  I gave up my Diet Pepsi w/Lime.  I gave up my Diet Dr. Pepper - cherry/vanilla.  I gave up my Diet Cherry Coke.  This was no easy matter.  I lived for that daily soda; my craving of flavored bubbling energy. 

I gave up caffeine to sponsor a child.    It seems so ridiculous and trivial....but that daily soda I am forgoing will make the difference in Nirupama's life. 

I wish I had more to give.  Can you give up something to help a child?  COMPASSION

Chicks in the Garden

Being brave we decided to open the door to the chicken coop and let the babies out to run free into the garden.  They happily spent a few hours scratching for bugs and worms in and among my poppy flowers. 

Occasionally we had to send a child (usually Jammin') to "shoo" them back into the garden and away from the neighboring yard and dog (who only stays put due to an invisible electronic fence.  I don't want the chickens to be a reason for Bailey to jump the line and get a shock).

Our chickens don't look too little anymore.  I swear they grow at least one inch every day.  I didn't see them for two days while recovering from Lasik.  I was surprised at how big they grew in those two days.

   Henrietta Cluck is still the bravest and most social of all the chickens.  I'm watching for signs of "rooster" but she still seems to be growing at the same rate as the other two.  Supposedly by 6 weeks of age the roosters cockerel will begin to grow larger than the females. 

I sure hope she doesn't turn out to be a rooster.  Because guess what - she is our favorite.  She comes when called and seems to enjoy hanging out with us. 

The little brown one in this picture is Lilly.  She turned into a lovely little chicken too.  Her plumage is gorgeous.  Unfortunately, Sherbert, who was the CUTEST chick, is kind of turning into an ugly chicken....(she is in the picture at the top).  Also, she has turned out to be the shyest of the bunch.  When she sees us coming, she runs and hides under the chicken coop.  Maybe because we picked her up too much as a chick.

Oh well, I suppose in the end it doesn't matter - as long as they lay those coveted eggs for me.  It probably won't be until end of summer when we get our eggs, so in the meantime they are free to eat as many worms and bugs as they want!

Jammin' Earns Some Ribbons

Every 3rd Friday in May, Jammin's school holds their annual Track and Field Day.  They invite all the other private elementary schools in the area to compete together in one crazy-busy all-day event.  There are thousands of children competing from 16 schools.

Last year I was 9 months pregnant crazy so did not attend.  This year I was recovering from Lasik surgery so stayed home - but Dave, who grumbled a little displeasure at having to attend the madhouse two years in a row, did get some great pictures.

Jammin' running the 200m.  He came in 4th.  He will receive a bright shiny ribbon for his effort.

Jammin' throwing shotput.  We won't know results until announced later this week.  But, no matter what he will be rewarded a ribbon. 

Jumping over the high jump was no easy feat.  Dave tried to tell him to jump at the middle where the bar was slightly lowest, but the poor kid forgot and kept jumping by the end....and knocked the pole off each time.   

As I tell him everyday "Just do your best."  The rest doesn't matter to me.  At least he tries!!!  And of course, most importantly - he will still get a ribbon for giving it his all.

Focus

Dave held onto my arm and directed me to the passenger side of the car.  I kept the coat over my head to block out the hurtful sunshine. 

I popped the Percocet and quickly ate my Subway sandwich, hoping to avoid nausea AND the burning pain my eyes were experiencing. 

"How does it feel?"  Dave asked, curious.

"Like someone poked sticks into my eyes."  I responded, trying to wipe away the constant stream of tears running down my cheeks.  "But, overall, not really that bad."

An hour later we arrived home.  I was groggy and still a bit loopy from the valium I'd been given before.  Buttercup ran to me, ready for hugs.  Feeling blind, I gave her a quick squeeze and then was led into the house like an invalid. 

Fortunately, Grandma had the Caboose asleep.  Two weeks of weaning has made him a bit clingly.  I wasn't ready to hold him.  I only wanted my pillow and blessed sleep.

An hour later Dave added drops into my eyes.  And then, sleep took hold again.  I woke a third time to more drops and some dinner, and then more sleep.

"How are you feeling?"  Dave asked.

"Well, if I'm ever on drugs, you'll know for sure."  I laughed, succumbing to sleep once again.

And this morning as I rose I was happy.  I could see across the room without contacts OR glasses.  I could see the television and the little bulletin that runs across the bottom of the screen.

The perpertrators shaved off their beards after fleeing the scene.  Police are asking the general public to help with identification.

Maybe seeing the news bulletins wasn't that great after all.

But so far?  Lasik - highly recommended.

Dave's Luxury Chicken Coop

Dave designed the structure for minimum cutting.  The coop was built at the end of our existing shed, adding an extra 8'x8' structure (which is the length most supplies come in at the local home improvement store).  He still has to tile the roof.  The existing shed's cedar shingles have long since rotted, so he will fix both roofs at the same time.

All the paint was leftover from the previous owners.  I purchased an extra gallon of primer since the OSB wood just sucked it up.  I never knew how hard it was to paint OSB, even though I worked with it at my previous job.    The gray just colored the outside and we had enough trim for the inside too.

The chickens have access to their coop by the little door and they can run underneath the coop too.  The outside pen is 8x10 and completely covered with machine wire (which has smaller holes than typical chicken wire).   

(at the time the pictures were taken, the wire was not completely installed).

Dave designed this cool little side door where I can sweep out all the junk from inside out to my wheelbarrow.

All the windows and doors have barrel latches.  Hopefully those pesky raccoons won't know how to open these clever locks.

When we sorted through all the extra paint in our garage, we found a 2 gallon can of "interior texture paint".   Not knowing exactly what this paint entailed, we decided to use it up inside of the coop area. 

After applying the first few brushes of this texture paint on the inside walls, Dave and I started laughing.  Those chickens have lovely textured walls to enjoy.  (Half way through the paint job, Dave remarked, "I bet this texture paint is really expensive."  - luxury coop indeed.)

The pinkish paint was another left-over can that we found hidden within the other cans in the garage.  It was marked "Stephanie's room".  Well, Stephanie, whoever you are - rest assured your pink is being put to good use in our chicken coop. 

 We made a little roost for them out of tree branches.  Once they are bigger, we will put in proper roosts (higher than the nest boxes).  For now, they are content.

Enjoy the coop, chickens. 

Irony At Its Best

90 people get the Swine 'flu and everybody wants to wear a mask.

Yet ten million people have AIDS and no one wants to wear a condom.

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