Home Time

Looking forward to some real down time at home this weekend. Hopefully the weather holds (as in no snow storms) so we can spend some time in the yard.
There are still two bushes to plant and a big bag of bulbs that need to find a spot. The boxwood needs trimming and there are pots to be stored. Hopefully this will be the last of the yard work for a while.

Oh and leaves to rake. We haven't had the chance to jump in leaf piles yet this year.

This is Going to Hurt Me More Than You

My little one is in the dental chair today getting her baby teeth filled or as they say at her kid friendly dentist "getting rid of the cavity creeps". Yesterday was one of the those parental lows. I felt awful when the cavity count came in, a parental failure.

She has a beautiful smile and brushes her teeth regularly which was not enough to overcome the fact she still drinks milk at bedtime. The cavity creeps took advantage this nighttime snack - big time.

Now I'm in a waiting room while my little one faces the world of dentistry. I'll face the bill later. Luckily, we have dental insurance and the balance, I'll view as my penance for those night time warm bottles and any skipped brushings.

Now, I'm just sitting here worrying if she's okay. Parents have to wait outside because they cause more anxiety than comfort. Yesterday she had so much fun during her check up and was thrilled to go back this morning. I'm hoping she doesn't walk out and look at me with a "what did you do to me" face.

Her tooth brush is in my hand bag and from now on I'll be sticking it in her mouth every chance I get.

Monday Inspiration: Break the Rules

I know it's Tuesday, but I found this today and I'm using # 24 on the list as my excuse to post it. Hmm, breaking the rules is fun.

A Wintery Halloween

The drastic weather from this past weekend had me scrambling to find a warmer Halloween costume for my daughter. Her butterfly costume was set aside and instead she made the rounds as a "baby witch" in a very over sized hat. I in a coordinating costume, went as the "mommy witch".

The funny thing was she didn't want to be in matching costumes. I had my witch gear left over from last year, so I thought she'd be pleased (and warmer) with her own witch costume. Well she was, but she stated very strongly that everyone should have their own costume and I should go as a duck.

Well I love her madly but that's where I draw the line. Even if I could have found a duck outfit, there was no way, I was going around the neighborhood as a giant water fowl. Hmm, was that witchy of me? Or her? I mean a duck, really? I wish I knew where she gets her ideas. They are so wonderfully kooky.

Image: ANDY WARHOL Witch, from Myths

To Fright or Not to Fright

Do you like scary movies? Personally I'm not a horror movie kind of girl. I can probably count the number of scary movies I have willingly sat through on one hand.

I remember watching Bela Lugosi walk slowly towards his prey in Dracula (1931). I was at a friend's house and while our parents chatted away in another room, the Transylvanian import was wrecking havoc in England. This was a movie that would not likely have aired in our den at home. I remember that the female victims were light deer in headlights, mesmerized by his terrifying gaze. I, too was frozen in fear and thankful when my mom walked in and said it's time to go home.

Unfortunately, my new fear of vampires didn't stay behind, but came home in the car with us and settled in for good. Now, I worried that sounds at my window might be a vampire bat trying to get in and opened closets with the notion a terrifying figure in a black cape might emerge. I had no interest in joining or even rubbing elbows with the undead.

So now all these years later I still avoid scary at all costs. My list of "Scary Movies I Have Endured" is like a badge of honor, a list built on personal acts of courage and great determination on my part. So here it is the list of scary movies I've watched (at least the one's I have not completely blocked from my memory.) Laugh away you terror fanatics. You are braver souls than I.

Rosemary's Baby
The Birds
Godzilla
Coma
The Omen
Psycho
Jaws
The Shining
Poltergeist
Alien
The Others
Sleepy Hollow

What Lies Beneath

The Sixth Sense

I know, I know, where are the really scary slasher films? Hmm, not on my list.

Classic Jack-o' Lantern

Of all the Jack-o' lanterns on google search this is my favorite. There are fancier ones, but I like how straight forward this one is. I'm looking forward to carving our own "classic" this weekend.

Is it Monday Already?

The weekend flew by too fast as usual. We managed to squeeze in the dance class, soccer class, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Other than that we mostly just chilled out at home which was fine with me.

Summer clothing needed paring down & packing up. And more bags were filled for the goodwill. I'm continuing my attempts at lightening our load and clearing space.

This week the focus will be on getting spooky and into the Halloween spirit.

Boo!

Hurray for Friday

It's been one of those weeks and I couldn't be happier that it's Friday. I'm trying not to over plan the weekend but there's a ton of stuff I'd like to get done.

I've got huge to do list of chores, but I'm also trying to come up with a fun fall outing for us. What are your favorite Fall activities?

Still Life by Henri Matisse.

Lady Bug on the Loose

Lady bug, lady bug
fly away home

Wednesday night we found a lady bug in the bedroom and my daughter became very concerned about it's welfare and instantly attached to it. The little thing had no spots which made it a bit of an oddity and perhaps more deserving of sympathy.

I scooped it up on a card and it ended up flipped over on it's back. Once we got it righted, it was very still. My daughter was very worried that it wasn't moving any more.
I told her it was scared and she looked very sad and asked "Is it scared of me?" I reassured her it was just scared. I blew on it gently and it started to move. She was delighted.

I asked her if we should put it outside. Her lower lip went out and tears were immanent. "No, I'm going to miss that ladybug." It was pouring outside, so putting it out the window did seem cruel. After a discussion of where it should live and more concern about Lola the cat getting it, we settled on leaving it near her dollhouse in the other room. Of course it made off and now there is a ladybug on the loose, but tears were spared.

Quilting blocks designed by Phyllis Dobbs. Pattern available at the TLC.

You Are a Very Clever Mommy

The other night I caught my four year old using flattery to get me to put together her Lego Thomas set. I kept insisting it was bedtime, while she kept encouraging me to bend to her will by handing out compliments.

"Don't worry mommy, you're a very clever mommy, you can put it together" or "Good job, you're a very clever mommy." Clever is obviously a new favorite in her arsenal of vocabulary words. Of course it was hard not to take the bait or the compliments, so Thomas and his carousel were built before bedtime. You are a very clever little daughter.