Feline Fetish

Someone fancies my new shoes as much as I do.

On My Mind Monday

The World is not a place but the vastness of the soul. And the soul is nothing more than love, limitless, endless, all that moves us toward knowing what is true. I once thought love was supposed to be nothing but bliss. I now know it is also worry and grief, hope and trust. And believing in ghosts - that's believing that love never dies. If people we love die, then they are lost only to our ordinary senses. If we remember, we can find them anytime with our hundred secret senses.

Amy Tan

On the way to Kohler, I realized that the last time I was there was exactly 3 years ago to the very weekend. We had just learned of my Mom's diagnosis. My brother whisked us away for some pampering really to celebrate because we had so much hope that everything would be OK. I shared a room with my Mom. We all shared some tears, but more laughs. It's a bittersweet memory, but then aren't so very many?

I felt a moment of panic when I took stock of all that has happened since that weekend 3 years ago. Anyone who has lost someone pivotal in life knows that feeling of realization that washes over you unexpectantly at times...wait, this really happened? It's really been that long? I really am still living and laughing and loving? How? Wow.

Away For The Weekend

This weekend me and my man stole away to celebrate our anniversary. It couldn't have been any better. It was a perfect blend of nurture and nature. We both are feeling connected and refreshed. We hiked many miles on a sprawling private preserve along the banks of a river only encountering a few fishermen, spying deer, geese and hunters in blaze orange from afar. November has been mild in our neck of the woods, and it was warm enough that we left our jackets in the car.

After hours of hiking, a little shopping, some Scrabble, a few spirits and hors d'oeuvres, and spa showers, we took the shuttle to this quaint little cottage and followed the lighted path through the woods to enjoy dinner. It was one of the best meals we have ever had, and worth every calorie and penny. We ordered a favorite bottle of Frog's Leap, and made our own surf and turf by sharing my walleye and his tenderloin. Sadly, we had no room for dessert. The food was just as pleasing as the ambiance and the company. It was a treat that we almost had the Lincoln Room to ourselves. When I challenged my hubby to pick a book off the shelf beside us and turn to a random page, he picked a dictionary and turned to marriage. We took it as a good sign...a blessing for 15 more years.

We saved the bottle of champagne that the hotel sent us earlier for dessert, and went head to head for one more game of Scrabble before bed. We set off early the next morning for another hike, and then we toured the trails on horseback meandering through aspen and pine forests and trotting through meadows and fields. Lefty and Garth were the perfect guides (as were Tracy and Marty). We were lucky to have our own private trail ride, and despite the fact that I can barely walk today after 13 miles or so of hiking and an hour and a half on a horse, it was well worth it. I'd do it again tomorrow!

We took our time getting back to town just in time for Sunday dinner at my brother and sil's where we were happy to see T. Bone and Miss Bit after a weekend away. It was a fine end to a finer weekend spent celebrating 15 of the finest years.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Feeling the chi this morning. I woke feeling much more positive than I have all week. I woke early and got out of bed ready and eager to take on the day even if it was only 30 degrees.

Taking the scenic route to work today. A drive along the lakefront is centering for this water loving land dweller. Their were some serious white caps rolling in. This morning the lake would have been a surfer's paradise.

A belated anniversary getaway for just me and my man this weekend. We have one reservation for dinner at a cozy northwood's cabin and the rest of the time to explore and relax as we please.

Grandmas and grandpas who are very excited to have the littles for not 1, but 2 nights.

Both kids are doing so well in school. T. Bone's writing has much improved in every aspect. It's such a gift to hear him finding his voice. Miss Bit's reading has just taken off. So much so that I found her staring at the computer reading my blog the other day!

Treating myself with kid gloves this week. I was feeling a little fragile so I was tender with myself.

Miss Bit asking me what thoughtful was. I told her, "It's you. Someone who cares about others, and has a kind heart and giving spirit." "Oh, yeah," she said. She got it. It's so very true.

Purging...closets, baskets, drawers, bins, shelves and whole entire rooms. It's hard to get rid of things. There are so many memories attached to the trappings in life. I found a box of my Mom's perfectly wound Christmas ribbons and I cried like a baby. I also came across the outfit my Mom wore the last time she got dressed up crumpled in a dry cleaning bag and I cried some more because it no longer smelled like her. Later that day, Miss Bit spied one of her dollies in a donation box. She mused, "I really like that baby, but I want some little girl to have her who doesn't maybe have any dolls." Then she went downstairs to find another outfit that belonged to this doll and said, "Someone's going to have so much fun dressing you up," as she kissed her cheek good bye.

An afternoon with my kids yesterday. Of all things we went shopping at T. Bone's request. He wanted to find a particular red fleece Bucky jacket that he had conjured up in his wildest dreams. We made several unlucky stops, but finally found exactly what he wanted on line just before bed last night. When he woke up this morning the first thing out of his mouth was, "Do you think my Badger jacket is here yet?"

My Mom's tuna casserole. It's my childhood served in a corningware dish.

The right to vote. Turnout was high, but then I guess the stakes are too.

Banana chip muffins. No one even noticed I used whole wheat flour.

Swimming lessons started last night. Miss Bit's friend C. is in her class this time and I got to chat with her Mom, my friend S. Knowing I'm going to see S. will make it easier to motivate out of the house on cold Thursday nights.

Knowing my hubby's great Uncle Karl who passed a week ago in his sleep. He touched many people and was sent off with quite a tribute he more than deserved. Remembering him has made me think much about the kind of legacy I want to leave my loved ones.

A date with T. Bone and Miss Bit and tickets to see Cirque Dream Holidaze in a couple weeks.

"Jings." That's what my girl calls her denim leggings.

Crazy (and cute) cat ladies.

Photographic proof that T. Bone can and does dance.

On My Mind Monday

What I saw was time passing, each moment passing behind me before I had squeezed from it any life. It went so fast, is what I'm saying, that I myself sat still in the center of it. Time was rushing around me like water around a big, wet rock. The only difference is, I was not so durable as stones. Very quickly I would be smoothed away. It was happening already.

Louise Erdrich - Love Medicine

October: You Never Over-stay Your Welcome

We packed a whole lotta fun into this final weekend of my favorite month of the year. T. Bone kicked it off with a pumpkin carving party at a friend's. He actually took time off from ghost in the graveyard and football to carve his favorite team's logo in a big, fat pumpkin.

This crew assembled for a bonfire on a chilly fall night. Marshmallows were roasted, smores were made and these little ladies then washed the gooey goodness down with cups of hot cocoa...cups of hot cocoa with extra marshmallows, of course! Amazingly, no one was burned despite the fact that 13 six year olds were brandishing molten sticks. Camp songs and a few games of telephone and duck duck goose provided ample entertainment.

We headed out early Saturday to watch T. Bone's football game. He played great, he scored a touchdown, and his team won. They are undefeated. Hubby says that winning streak will likely end next weekend cuz' T. Bone won't be there. Next year he has his sights on tackle football. The coaches already have their eyes on him too. I have exactly one year to make a soccer player out of him!

After his victory, we headed to a local college campus where Miss Bit was cheering during half-time. It was Homecoming. We were in the student section. That was entertaining and interesting. I am a dinosaur. It was worth it to see Miss Bit cheer even if she only performed for like a minute and a half. There are 25 girls in her cheer clinic. Only 6 showed up. It was the highlight of my girl's weekend, and the very bestest part was when the "real" cheerleaders gave the girls their pom poms to use! The look on her face when the crowd cheered back at them was priceless. I thought it was so cute that when we replayed the video, her Daddy was her loudest fan in the stands.

Sunday came quickly...especially for T. Bone who stayed up until 2:30 a.m. with his buddy playing video games. That was only possible because after hours of yard work and a late dinner, the parents in charge fell asleep during a movie. It's a good thing too because that movie was Saw. Better to sleep than to see that. The boys managed to get in a couple more games before Sunday school. Hubby took the kids while I stayed behind to make a pot of soup for dinner and catch up on cleaning and laundry. Then we snuck away for a walk when they returned and left the kids at home to rest up for trick or treat. T. Bone headed out with friends to canvas the neighborhood only to return home hours later sans costume, which is a good thing because it sorta freaked out the cats. That's why there aren't any pictures of him...it's not because I love her more. Miss Bit and I made the rounds just the two of us at her adamant request, and hubby stayed home to hand out candy and do more yard work (and maybe to watch a little football too). We spent the better part of three hours going from house to house to house hand in hand. She was super cute and sweet and gracious. She thanked everyone who complimented her beautiful, sparkly costume, and that was everyone. We were two hours in before it even occurred to her that she could eat some of the candy she was accumulating. Well, and then once she started, there was no stopping her. I guess she realized that I wasn't playing sweet police when I said, "I wondered how long it was going to take you to start eating your loot!" Next year she wants to be an angel. I love that! She was an angel for her first Halloween. Nanny bought that sweet costume, and now Nanny's an angel. I thought of my Mom all day long...all weekend. She always joined us for trick or treat in her light-up jack o' lantern hat and black and orange boa. I couldn't wear either one today...just couldn't do it. I want her, not her things.

When we came down from our sugar highs we all felt like this.

Until we meet again Old October...31 days just isn't long enough.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Last night's Monster Bash at school. The kids had so much fun swinging, singing and stompin' with Radio Disney.

There was high 5in' and fist pumpin' too!

Miss Bit's got the moves and the confidence to boogey down.


Must be those pink boots!

T. Bone did not don a costume...

but he did get his groove on for a bit.

Miss Bit using her alarm to wake up this week. On Tuesday, she crawled into bed with me and proudly said, "I hit the snore once and now I'm up."

A game of Scrabble with my hubby. He's lucky we couldn't finish because with words like toked and sex, I was on course to beat him badly.

Healthy, homemade chicken fingers this week.

A fox in our yard the other day. The kids are convinced that O.J. is back.

A little George Winston while I work.
Miss Bit's first love letter unless you count the ones from her mama and daddy. She crumpled it up and threw it away acting like it really bothered her, but I can tell she 's a little smitten herself. I retrieved it and put it in her memory box. I still have my first love letter.

Date night with my hubby mid-week. It was such a treat to catch a movie that wasn't Disney or Pixar. We both mostly enjoyed Hereafter.

Hubby, T. Bone and Miss Bit have a fun day planned today. I believe it involves a museum and lunch out. Wish I could join them, but it's good for them to have a little Dad time.

Tyler Perry. I saw him on Oprah. He's not only an amazing artist, but an awe-inspiring survivor too. He talked about how he carried things his abusers gave him that he didn't ask for or want for a long time. He blamed himself for the baggage, but not anymore.

Snuggling in at night...all 6 of us in the family room sharing afghans and a little t.v. time.

Magic Potions

My beautiful butterfly.

Time to volunteer at school this week. I love getting to know the kids and being there for mine.

Halloween treats delivered from sweet Aunt C, and my girl's reaction upon finding them: "Aunt C. is always so good and nice to us."

T. Bone ordered a carmel mocha during a visit to Starbucks with his Grandma the other day, and he didn't like it. I'm grateful he's over his coffee kick cuz' I don't want to share my Keurig with anoyone...not even my son.

The weather is supposed to be decent for trick ot treat this weekend.

Cirque Dream Holidaze is coming to one of our local theaters.

Miss Bit will be cheering at half-time for a local college football game tomorrow.

Fall festivities. T. Bone's going to a pumpkin carving party tonight and Miss Bit's invited to a bonfire.