june 30 city kids

june 30 city kids
Originally uploaded by noearlybird.

Just had to take some pictures of these straw or hay bales. So round, so heavy, so pretty, so smelly, so full of bugs. The kids thought it quite an adventure until they got close and their noses noticed and the bugs said "why we are glad you kids are here!".

It was a really fun day. Got some tasks done mid-day and headed off to take pictures and to mail stuff at the USPS. Went to the park, it was too hot to stay too long. Next the grocery store, got the kids a hoverdisc.

Came home, the kids swam in the now crystal waters of our pool, gollee those chemicals do work. We went back out to get some helium for the hover thing and some balloons just for fun. June 30th was an absolutely wonderful day.

Toilet is leaking pretty much, but that will be tomorrow or the next day's worry.

Air conditioner is dead

bria's blankie
Originally uploaded by noearlybird.

Bria found her blankie, but she's not going to need it for warmth today. Jack our faithful a/c man is on his way. Hope he can fix it before we all melt. Jack came and stayed for more than an hour, first thought the unit was low on freon. He told me to go inside and check, that it must be getting cold inside. I went and checked and nothing was coming out. He then checked the furnace fan, I guess that's what pushes the cold air through the ducts. Furnace fan motor is dead, or at least the switch is.

He will be back tomorrow later afternoon to try again. Will we make it until then without melting? I just don't tolerate the heat like I did when I was younger. And the kids are way too spoiled to know anything different. I used to love sleeping with the fan blowing the cold early morning air into the room. Hope that tiny window fan will do this tonight.

Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.

This poor little froggie had quite a day, one day before solstice. I did convince the kids to let "Billy" (that's what Brady named him/her) go. Hopefully he is out among the bushes telling all his frog buddies what a intolerable day it was to be held captive by that wild little kid. Why they are probably even sucking down frog brews exaggerating how bad it really was.

I love this day and wait for it to come every year. It always come so quick and is over with before I can breathe. The kids swam in the pool for the first time, I did not get a nap but it was an absolutely beautiful day to be alive, at least here.

Sending out some very good thoughts for all the frogs captured by kids and anyone else who might be in harms way today.
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First Bug of the Month

I am fifty-five years old and this is the very first bug picture I have ever taken. This week's assignment on my camera list is entitled "Bugs". I know nothing about taking pictures of little things. I couldn't manage to get the little bugger very sharp. Going to have to put up the tripod in my yard. My neighbors will have some very interesting conversation considering the flamingos that Ellen sent me are there too. I just cannot stand it where there is something I can't do. I will master this bug week somehow.
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Morning Sky
Will have to go and get some new pictures of "The Moon", the corn is getting higher there. I love this view each day, don't want to say the word ~morning~ in place of day because morning views are best of one's pillow.
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It's going to be a long summer Mom.
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Finished day 189 of service today. Minimal stuffing of items in places where they don't belong, I am proud. Even managed to disconnect and store Kitty's computer pieces next door for next year. Got all the plants home plus the refridgerator. I am truly getting better with age. Did not experience nearly as much panic and frenzy today as in years past.

A bit of panic and frenzy seemed ill-placed with my children however. Upon arriving home, four out of five little ones were screaming injustice of some sort. Also came home with report cards in hand (I asked for them from the respective teachers to circumvent USPS and save my school a whopping 37cents times three. Brett, Brooke and Brigitte did very well, academically, I thank them very much.

This means we will be off to the treat/reward store tomorrow. Hopefully that black plastic Darth Vader mask will not become an Ollie chew toy too quickly.

Speaking of treats, I am not the proud owner of $45 of gift certificates for Treat Street, an ice cream delight venue near us. Hope they have something besides ice cream there, even my large family cannot consume forty-five dollars of ice cream in one setting. Do they actually think my family needs or wants all this ice cream? Perspective again, they were just being nice.

Avalon Pond Revisited
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The pond was cool and still. The grass was green and dry. Summer has arrived, the fans are spinning. My friend has begun her retirement. The kids fought all day over everything and nothing.

I spent most of the day arguing with Brett over the fact that he shouldn't have to need "things" to keep his daily existance going. Most of the morning was dealing with the Darth Vader mask and why it looked so good and powerful on that website but would not appear as such two days after it is pitched on the floor by the toybox.

Seven more days of school. I'd like to do some different things with the kids this week but there won't be much time to plan. What was the funnest thing I did with teachers in the last week of school? Don't remember, I most likely endured until the clock indicated it was time. Watching those busses take off for the last time is always a feeling. I'm just not one of those that see it as an end.

I want to keep the weeds out of my gardens this summer. I want to get some rest. I want to help the kids to get along and not fight and carry on power plays over which seat they have in the van and which television show they are watching. How can I socialize Ollie so that he will want to do something other than chew up every shoe in the house? With this many feet at his disposal, it has to be a challenge to him.

I want to move some junk out of my house and closets. I want to get the rest I need without guilt.