OMD (which is code for: oh, my dates)

So last week I was up and seeing my hubs off to work. I poked my head out the door after he left (to remind him of something that I forget what it was now) and I notice Mbumbo and his crew in my yard. Actually, it was just Mbumbo pushing a wheelbarrow toward the side yard, but he doesn't do any sort of "heavy lifting" alone. I ran back inside and followed him around the house; looking through windows in each room, as he made his way over to the back patio.

In what can only be described as a 'Psycho' moment, I freaked.

They were chopping off my dates. I repeat, They. Were. Taking. My. Dates.

Apparently it had been as clear as mud to them, when I communicated mere weeks earlier that I wanted them. Mine. Anula was not in yet, so it was up to me to rescue any remaining dates. Pep talking myself, I rehearsed a simple, yet clear statement. Out the back door, into the 108F (42C) degree weather (at 7:30 am) I plunged.

Me: Hi. Where are the dates?
Mbumbo: Huh?
Me: (walking around the house to a date tree, then pointing upwards at the now barren branches) Dates. Yellow. Where?
Mbumbo: Flower?
Me: No, date. Yellow, little, up in tree?
Mbumbo: Oh, no here. Sorry.
(now, at this point, asking why would do no good nor clarify the conversation)
Me: (walking over to the wheelbarrow and hefting out a semi-ripe bunch) Dates. I want.
Mbumbo: Oh, oh, yes.

I ran back inside and grabbed an empty book box (I knew I kept those around for a reason). I helped myself to what was left in the wheelbarrow and went back inside. They weren't my first choice, but they'd do. I had had my eye on the tree in the side yard; two bunches of dates that were perfectly yellow, no green ones and no overripe ones. But, que sera sera.

Anula came in later and was just as puzzled, confused and irate as I was. She had told them flat out that we wanted them. Grrr. Oh well. When life hands you mostly ripe dates, what do you do? Make good dates. We washed them, dried them, then set them out in the sun for a few hours every afternoon. We won't leave them out all day because of the dust and wandering cats or birds.



P.S. I spied on them through the slits in my kitchen blinds the rest of the morning and imagined my eyes were laser beams.

Guilt Trippin'

So, I found this list through a friend. "25 Reasons Your Childhood Self Hates You" As if we couldn't find enough things to feel guilty about. The only thing that was wrong was that I was having a hard time agreeing on all points. Does that mean I'm still a child? You be the judge.

1} You like going to bed early

My response: Nope. Still a night owl.

2} You could buy the best Nerf Gun on the market right now and you don't

Even better. I can buy real guns!

3} You enjoy a day at the museum

Sorry, I enjoyed the museum as a kid, too.

4} You have made no effort to go to Disney World

True

5}You can't remember the last time you played any version of tag

Yes, I can. Phone tag with the repairman.

6} You are getting out of shape

Nope. In fact, the hubby & I are doing a super muscle building program this summer. We'll be ripped in a month! :P

7} You have spent money on a tie and dress shoes

Yes...but grown up shoes & dresses are so much more fun! (i think this list was written by Calvin & Hobbes)

8} You go through the check out line and don't buy candy

I buy candy for my kids! Sometimes.

9} You eat your vegetables and you like it

Well, that's a stupid statement. I ate vegetables as a kid. We ate bell pepper slices and V8 as road trip "treats".

10} You listen to NPR

Yeah, I do. My kid self would be bored & disappointed.

11} You haven't talked to your grade school BFF in years

And I probably won't for many more years.

12} You don't have a hit single and you aren't touring the world in luxury

No, I don't have a hit single. I have tens of twentys of hits! On my blog .... And I am touring the world. In luxury? That's all relative, compared to what?

13} You spend most of your free time with a boyfriend/girlfriend

My childhood self would only be disappointed because it's not 'Jim' (man from snowy river), Michael J. Fox, Doogie Howser, M.D., or Patrick Swayze.

14} You smoke everyday

Not applicable. Not attractive then or now.

15} You lie

And kids don't lie?!

16} You know how to buy Popsicles and that they are extremely cheap and yet you don't

True. All I think about is the sugar. :(

17} You can stay out all night every night but choose not to

I can't even stay awake all night!

18} You didn't make sure there was a basketball court and a video game room when choosing a place to live

Um, excuse me, childhood self. Better things have been invented. I have a Wii, PS3, XBox and a flipping huge T.V. 'Nuff said.

19} You haven't played video games long into the night for quite some time

Long into the night? Refer to #17

20} You like coffee and drink it every day

Not coffee. Coke. (the cola type. :)

21} You are not the President, a professional athlete, or the King of the World

Excuse me, sassy child! I am CEO, Head Mistress & presiding authority of my domain. Need I wield more power?

22} You don't watch cartoons anymore

False. They have cartoons for adults now. Case in point, Futurama.

23} You can find enjoyment from classical music

Immune to this one. We'd play "Guess the Sonata" with Mozart, Bach & Vivaldi at our house.

24} You are an atheist

Not applicable! Who asks kid about religion?

25} You have ordered salad off a menu for dinner

Yes. But still, refer to #9.

And look, I have my own children to warp!



All in all, I think I was a normal child. Just call me Abby, Abby Normal.

A belated birthday

Jacqueline's birthday was this past weekend. I can't believe my baby-est baby is 5. It doesn't feel like it was so long ago that she came into this world. That Saturday when I unexpectedly went into labor, water breaking at home and not having an overnight bag packed! And the not-soon-to-be forgotten epic car ride to the hospital, and how Spencer would not run the red lights!! When all was said & done, it was just a little over 2 hours from her deciding to start the show and then make her appearance.

L to R: Jacqueline, 2 1/2 mos; Grant, 2; Mairyn, 4; Eliza, 6.





How did she go from this?



To this?



Happy Birthday, Jacqueline, baby mine!

He's a survivor

Spence just got a couple DVDs of "Survivorman" and all the kids love it. Especially our little man, Grant. He has been running around the house, scavenging odds and ends to add to his nest/camp. Let's back up to the beginning. (a very good place to start)

First thing: The DVDs arrive. We watch the first 2 episodes in one night. The next day, Grant has hijacked every couch throw pillow and piled them all together. Laid out in a ring, are the long, fat pillows from the pillow pit. Then stacked like masonry, the small square couch pillows are evenly distributed around the long pillows. Then, the huge king size snuggly blanket is thrown over it all and carefully smoothed out and tucked in. Then Grant crouches in the middle of it and the whole thing weirdly resembles Big Bird's nest.

Objects he has scavenged: two wood skewers from my kitchen cupboards, a broken stick (don't ask me where he found that), some strips of fabric from my scrap pile, and other things I don't know if I recognize. When I asked him what the sticks and fabric were for, he said (with a "well, duh" look on his face) "To start a fire!" Oo-kay. It does make sense; Les Stroud started a matchless fire the other night with just a string and a stick.

It's really seeping into his imagination, though. He looks at everything now through survivor mentality glasses. "Hmmm, those palm fronds would make a good roof for a shelter!" I think this kid is definitely ready for scouts. Last thing, I was fixing dinner and Grant wanders in, looking for a snack. (of course.) He hops up on the counter (it's allowed here, the cabinets are even high for me) finds a packet of crackers to eat and all the while, muttering under his breath, "One man ... alone ... no food ... no water ... no help for seven days" At least he'll be prepared if the unthinkable should happen?

Sew it again

It has been said before, but I'll say it again, I love Oliver & S patterns. They released a few new patterns this spring. Yes, back in April. But I still ordered one, even though I didn't have access to a sewing machine. This one is called the 'Family Reunion Dress'. Don't ask me why; they have to name them, I guess. I would think that it's called that name because if a family had a family reunion and they all sewed & had lots of girls, then they could all make matching dresses. I don't care what they call this dress, I love it. It would be easy for a group sew-along. I am so in love with the pleats and neckline! Oh, and the top-stitched hem. *lots of love* It's a bit big for Jacqui, but at least it's not too snug. There aren't many things I despise more than laboring over a piece, only to have it fit "just right" and not for very long. She's right between a size 4 and a 5, so why not size up? I'm already working on another dress that will be white with red stitching. *swoon* I can't wait to finish!

Brutally honest

Just asked Mairyn if she wanted to learn how to cut out a pattern and help me with a new project. Her response: "Uh, nope." Ok, well, thanks for being honest and not going along and hating it the whole time? Today would be a good day for me to hang this around my neck.

*found here*

YouTube Tuesday: Ok, we did it.

After a little more research, the girls and I decided that we could give this stop-motion video business a try. And oh boy, are we happy with the results. Enjoy!