Mouse!

I was going to blog but I just saw one of these run through the kitchen.
Heaven help me...

Gone to the beach...

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea. ~Isak Dinesen

Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think. ~Robert Henri

He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea. ~George Herbert

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe-
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we?"

Said Wynken,Blynken, And Nod.


The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in that beautiful sea-
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish-
Never afeard are we";
So cried the stars to the fishermen three:

Wynken,Blynken,And Nod.


All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam-
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea-
But I shall name you the fishermen three:

Wynken,Blynken,And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is the wee one's trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:

Wynken,Blynken,And Nod

My dad used to play and sing this song on his guitar. I pictured the song happening as he would sing it and I always worried that they wouldn't be able to find their way home. It's been so wonderful for me to document the songs that meant so much to me as a child. And of course they mean so much more now.

Eugene Field wrote this song. He also wrote one of my favorite poems titled, "Little Boy Blue."

"The Little Blue Man"

One morning when I was out shopping

Though you'll find it hard to believe

A little blue man came out of the crowd

And timidly tugged at my sleeve.

"I wuv you! I wuv you!" said the little blue man

"I wuv you! I wuv you to bits."

"I wuv you!" He loved me said the little blue man

And scared me right out of my wits.

I hurried back to my apartment

I rushed in and I closed the door

But there on the desk stood the little blue man

Who started to tell me once more

"I wuv you! I wuv you!" said the little blue man

"I wuv you! I wuv you to bits."

"I wuv you!" He loved me said the little blue man

And scared me right out of my wits.

For weeks after that I was haunted

Though no one could see him but me

Right by my side was the little blue man

Wherever I happened to be.

One evening in wild desperation

I rushed to a rooftop in town

And over the side pushed the little blue man

Who sang to me all the way down

"I wuv you! I wuv you!" said the little blue man

"I wuv you! I wuv you to bits."

"I wuv you!" He loved me said the little blue man

And scared me right out of my wits.

I whispered, "Thank goodness that's over!"

I smiled as I hurried outside

But there on the street stood the little blue man

Who said with a tear in his eye

"I don't wuv you anymore!"

Please bear with me as I take a stroll down memory lane. I remember my mom singing this song to me as we sat at the piano. I remember feeling SO bad for the little blue man when he said "I dont' wuv you anymore." It's so funny how things stay with you.

Red Wing

There once lived an Indian Maid,

A shy little prairie maid,

Who sang a lay, a love song gay

As o'er the plain she'd while the time away;

She loved a warrior bold, this shy little maid of old,

But blythe and gay he rode one day

To battle far away.

Chorus:

Now the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing,

The breezes sighing, the night birds crying;

While far beneath the stars her brave is sleeping,

Poor Red Wing weeping her heart away.

She watched through the day and night,

She kept the campfire bright

While under the sky each night she would lie

And dream about his coming by and by;

But when the braves returned,

The heart of Red Wing yearned,

For brave one day her warrior gay

Fell bravely in the fray.

I love these melancholy songs. They are dreamy, and the tune makes them hauntingly romantic.

My first memory of this song was when my dad would work nights, I vividly remember looking out the front window waiting for him to come home and my mom would sing this song as I waited. I remember it sounding so sad. I've always loved it.

"Barges"

Out of my window looking through the night

I can see the barges’ flickering light

Silently flows the river to the sea

And the barges they go silently...

Barges I would like to go with you

I would like to sail the ocean blue

Barges have you treasure in your hold

Do you fight with pirates brave and bold?

Out of my window looking through the night

I can see the barges’ flickering light

Starboard shines green and port is glowing red

You can see them flickering far ahead... Chorus

One of these days and it will not be long

You will look for me and I’ll be gone

Face to the wind far out upon the sea

Where the whales and dolphins sing to me... Chorus

So out of my window looking through the night

I can see the barges’ flickering light

Silently flows the river to the sea

And the barges they go silently... Chorus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRO!!

I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again. But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best. ~Patricia Volk

To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. ~Clara Ortega

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend. ~Cali Rae Turner

Happy Birthday to a girl whose family and friends mean the world to her!

We are all blessed by your love!

Happy Birthday!!!

OCP (Owlets Council Patrol)

"Got ya!" "You have the right to remain silent..."
"She resisted arrest but we got her in the end."
"Crime doesn't pay."

"A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words"

tough crowd
All eyes on me.
the pressure!Here goes nothin'.
"Hey guys I did it!"

A True Equestrian

A little giggle... a little pat...

a little kiss...

Date Nights

Noodles and Co. is Caroline's favorite restaurant, she refers to it as "the macaroni restraunet"
"Daddy's got it all under control."
"Here, let me blow it a little."
Caroline keeping Elizabeth company. Caroline always plays with her after she's finished eating.
Mission accomplished.
Yum!

A town square concert
The girls in a $6 stroller that Jennifer bought us at a church rummage sale.
A quick stop at the craft store.
And of course we stop by Lowes.
What a cute little waddler.

Final stop...ICE CREAM!
Date night isn't date night without ice cream!

Everyone Loves Maria...

Last Sunday we celebrated our good friend Maria's 35th birthday. She hosted the event at her house and there was lots of good food (which isn't surprising, she IS Italian). We love Maria and are so blessed to call her our friend. Happy Birthday Maria! We hope that you have a MUCH better year this year than last year.
Gretchen, Joseph, and Cami
Sandra and Mary
The Burtons and Charlene
Allan with my main squeeze holding Elizabeth
Little Miranda "Feliz Cumpleanos Maria!"
Allan, baby David, and Sandra
Brian and Paola
Happy Birthday Maria!

"Hey Nick!"

Before pictures of our upstairs bathroom.Hey Nick! Rob's not wearing any make-up for the camera, he's really this cute! And also, Rob's been using his brute strength and bear hands to tear down the shower and drywall.


Look Nick, Rob's wearing flip-flops! I bet you'd never do that! Oh yeah, and if you could only see how he ripped the paneling from the walls.