Wildlife Friends (Part 2)

 Last week I wrote about seeing observing some of our wildlife friends and enjoying their beauty. 

On Tuesday, I was watering my flowers and admiring their prosperous growth. My flowers really have provided me with joy this spring/summer. They have bloomed prolifically and all the rain we have had made it easier for me to take care of them as well.

This long, shallow concrete planter is one that Mike had here when we joined forces. I have never had much that would prosper in it except Moss Roses or Portulaca, a blooming succulent plant. The picture above shows what they looked like when I first planted the four little plants out of a blister pack from the local greenhouse nursery.

Those things had really grown and were heaped up and full of blooms - about twice the size of what is shown above. I was so pleased with them and smiled over how well they were doing for a few days. I thought about taking a photo but decided I would wait till I finished my watering. Then, I was so hot that I forgot all about photo taking. 

The next day, I went out to water and noticed that the flag holder was rocking back and forth. I noticed it because there was quite a breeze but didn't think it was such that it would blow the little metal garden flag holder that doesn't even have a flag in it. But, I quickly set to filling my watering jug. My watering routine is to water the pots that are the furthest distance from the spigot first. So, I went to the pots at the ends of the retaining wall first.

Then, I went to the long, low, concrete planter. Boy was I shocked! Our wildlife friends must really like the taste of Moss Roses! Plus, she must have been munching right before I opened the door and bumped into the garden flag holder. 

I knew that deer don't like Lantana and all of the other pots down at the basement entrance have a little Lantana in them. So, I guess that is why they are still growing and looking pretty and not nibbled gobbled up. Every single pot that has Lantana in it is still completely untouched.

While I enjoy seeing these beautiful creatures munching in our hay field and yard, I don't really want them wiping out my flowers. So, next year, all the planters will have deer resistant flowers in them for sure!

Goat Business

My husband is an animal lover. He is a putterer. He is a nurturer. He needs something to keep him busy. So, while I want as few responsibilities as possible, he has been talking about taking on more responsibilities and does not seem to take my discouragement of such endeavors.

Back in the fall, he mentioned to our son, Stephen, that he would like to have some goats. A goat herd has been something Stephen has kept for several years. While I love to watch the little kids jump and run and climb, I am satisfied to do so from afar. Mike, on the other hand, wanted some to pet on and putter with. Stephen finally relented and gave him a pair of females. They were part of a set of triplets and were small and didn't really fit with Stephen's other goats who were twins and singles of that age-group. After consulting with several of the grandchildren, the girls were named Lulu and Billie.

Goats in a trough

The two little goats were set up in a stall in the barn. Shortly thereafter, Mike went to an auction and bought a couple of feeders and a crate for hauling a goat in the back of a pickup truck. So, he was officially in the goat business. He began watching online auctions and visiting goat herds and looking at goats. He had a canvas cover made for the goat crate so that transportation during cold weather or a rain storm would be safer for a goat. He spent time visiting with the goats and feeding them to get them tame enough to pet on. 

Lulu

Billie

Well, this past weekend Mike did a little goat business with what I would call some professional goat guys. They have their own delivery business and equipment. These two young gentlemen delivered a buck to Mike's barn so that the young fellow could become friends with Lulu and Billie for a while. 

Professional Goat Guys

Making a Delivery

This is to be a temporary friendship and the only cost for us will be the feed that the young buck eats while visiting Mike's girl goats. Mike got lots of instructions from these professionals. He was instructed to watch the goats closely so that the two girls would not pick on the new guy. He was told to watch and make sure they didn't crowd him out or butt him away from the feed and water troughs. There were many instructions imparted. Plus, there was a promise that the guys would check back in after a day or so to see how things were going.

Wisdom Being Shared

The customer relations representative also made a visit. She had her chauffeur bring her down the hill to check things out during the delivery transaction. (The chauffeur was not photographed, however.) She supervised and oversaw the introduction of the new visitor. She seems to be quite the company spokesperson and shared friendly smiles and information about goat names, habits, and friendships as well.

The Goat Guys and Gal

Now that Mike is dealing with this highly regarded group of folks, it will be interesting to see how things go and whether his goat business will grow and prosper. Stay tuned for updates in the future!

Summer Project #4

Mike tells me that I need to go back to work.  He says I'm finding too many projects!

The other day I ordered a filter for the fridge.  The sensor on the door indicated that a new one was needed.  I thought I had one here and dug around in the pantry looking for it to no avail.  So, I ordered the one I thought we needed.  I took a picture of the tag inside the door and saw that it said Whirlpool.  So, I ordered the one I thought would fit.  My memory told me that the filter required only had one thing poking up and I looked at what was listed under a search for Whirlpool water filters and ordered.  

When the filters were delivered, I thought they didn't look like what we had used before but I also know that my recall ability is not as good as it once was.  So, I went to the fridge and took the filter out.  Sadness abounds.  It was a different filter.  

I went back to the pantry and started pulling things on the junky bottom shelf out only to discover a bigger mess and no filter on hand.  So, I created another project for myself.  However, that is another story for another day.  Today I needed a filter because experience told me that if the old filter was returned to the fridge, the water would be black and we would have to run loads of water through it and throw out several batches of ice.  

I went back to the fridge to get the info again and noticed that the tag on the door says Maytag.  I looked back at the tag inside to find the serial and model numbers and sure enough, it does say Whirlpool. So, I wasn't quite as crazy as I feared.  

I looked online at places like The Home Depot and Lowe's to see if there was a local store which had a filter.  Then, I remembered that we now have a local Ace Hardware store only about five miles down the road.  So, I picked up the phone and called and voila! They had one of the filters I needed and would hold it at the counter for me. Oh happy day!!!

I masked up and entered the store and there were a couple of people at the counter checking out so I did a little browsing at the paint counter to social distance.  Remembering that I'd never painted the laundry room entry door that was installed two summers ago, I picked out a paint color that I thought would look good for our back doors and asked a woman to mix me a quart of paint.

I came home and installed the filter and knew what my plan was for the following day - painting!

I love a small painting project.  It is so fulfilling because there is instant gratification of immediate change - and usually for the better.

I got up early and did my morning puttering.  Then, got a tub of soapy water and washed down the French doors and the laundry room door.  I let them dry and gave them an inspection.  There was still some grungy looking mold or mildew or something clinging to the window trim on the French doors.  I hadn't planned to paint that part because I wanted it to stay white.  

You see, the new door has what looks like window pane muntins between the panes of glass and they are white.  So, I decided that the vinyl around the window and the muntins on the French doors needed to stay white.  I decided that I would try a bit of bleach in water to see if that would clean up the 'woodwork' around the windows.  When I came inside to mix that up, I saw that I had some Clorox cleaner and decided to just spray that on to see how it would turn out.

That is one of the greatest products ever!  I sprayed some at the top of the first window casing and it started to drip down and left a clean path in its wake!  No scrubbing was required.  So, I sprayed all the vinyl really well and came back inside to get another spray bottle of plain water for rinsing.  By the time I got back outside, both doors were shining like new!  I rinsed and left them to dry.

By the time everything had dried well, it was almost lunch time.  I was finishing up the first coat of paint on the French doors when Mike came in for lunch.  He didn't seem too enthused with the color I had chosen but I was enthralled by how beautiful it was looking already and kept mentioning how much I loved the color.  He finally started laughing at me every time I said how much I liked the color.

By the time I had finished the first coat on the second door, the first door was dry.  So, I just went right on painting and added a second coat, exclaiming how much I liked the color every few minutes.

I took a break to eat a bite of lunch and then painted the laundry entry door.  By this time the temperature on the back porch was in the ninety-degree range.  I sat down and had a cool glass of water and by that time the first coat was dry and I painted the second.

I love how sometimes the light will make the color look sort of blue and sometimes it looks sort of green.  The three doors in a row really look fabulous and stand out across all the white on the back of our house.

My project turned out to take longer than I'd anticipated and was far hotter than I wanted.  However, in just a few hours the entire back of our house was transformed.  I just love the color!  (Mike admitted the next day that he really likes the look of it, too!)

By the way, the color is Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore and did I mention that I just love it?!

Genetics

My hairdresser called to let me know that she would be glad to reschedule my appointment for a later time.  Yet, we had no idea when would be a good time to reschedule.  How long will we be staying home?  So, we exchanged pleasantries about our families and promised to stay in touch and just schedule later. 

I may be Rapunzel before this is all over and I'm able to get a hair appointment for all I know.  I just know that I cannot schedule something when there is so much unknown.

My hair has been a wild mess, for the most part, ever since we have been staying at home.  You see, I have a lot of hair.  It is thick.  It is coarse.  It has just enough curl or body to it to be unruly.  I'm not one who is into spray or products that hold it just so.  So, it gets a little out of hand.

When I get out of bed each morning, I think something beyond bedhead is what I would classify it.  I generally laugh and refer to my morning look as Medusa Head.  Yep.  Imagine that wild look of monstrous snakes going in every direction.  That is the look every single morning.

The children have been sharing photos of our granddaughters during this time of staying at home.  Mike made the comment the other day that he thought my granddaughters must have inherited my hair.

Here is an example of how Lillie has tamed hers as best she could without having to go into a deep dive of products and tools to tame it.

When my  hair is long enough to contain with a ponytail holder, that is exactly what I've done.  Just sort of wad it up into a knot and keep it away from my face. 

Luci also has demonstrated a bit about how being active and busy can sometimes cause her hair to escape the confines she attempted.  Her hair can get a little bit unruly like mine.

When I've worked outside and get a little wind-tossed or am doing a chore like picking up fallen limbs, mine can get a bit out of hand as well.

Then, Linley recently demonstrated a look that I have gotten at times.  There is just enough curl that it flips here and flips there and some is in her eyes and some is curled out there.  Nothing tame and styled.  Just a bit of everywhere.

Even though I don't have a photo of Lydia with a wild hairdo, I know that she has a good look like us every now and again.  I think Mike might have a point about them inheriting that hair thing from me.  I apologize to their mothers and to them about it sometimes. 

Then, I think, at least that is not an awful thing to have inherited from me.  It certainly could have been a lot worse!

Dare Devils on Wheels!

We always love getting photos of the grands!  Each of the random photos below brings a smile to my face every single time I see them.

Every.

Single.

Time!

My first thought when I saw this one of Levy with his helmet, elbow and knee pads, and sporting Spiderman ensemble from head to toe made me smile.  Doesn't he look like a dare-devil.  We would have called him Evel Knievel back in the day.  Bicycle training wheels and all, this five-year-old looks like a wheeled sport to be reckoned with!

Then, there was this guy!  At the top Easton was shown riding his dinosaur four-wheeler with superhero knee and elbow pads, dino helmet, and swinging a badminton racket to heard goats out of the yard and back into the pasture.  The close-up just does not do justice to this dare-devil's speed and flexibility with those scampering goat kids!

Big Stuff!

I am ever so grateful that our children share pictures of what is going on in their lives.  I'm so thankful that they frequently send us videos and pictures to share windows into the lives of our grandchildren.  I think I am ever so much more grateful lately than ever before.

This past week we got some photos which shared some big stuff that is going on in Bryan and his family's life.  While they are somewhat accustomed to being at home more than most folks because Bryan and Jessica both work from home, the break from school and preschool and church and just getting out and about has still been a bit of a strain on them, I think.

Rainy days which keep the littles inside are always tough for children who thrive outdoors.  So, when Jessica sent this photo of Linley with her bowl of pop-pop this week, we couldn't help but laugh out loud.  Mike also said he wished he had a big ole bowl just like that and could sit beside her in front of the TV and munch all afternoon long during a rainy afternoon!  Big stuff for this girl!

Then, at the end of the week when the skies were blue and the temperature was warm, we got photos from Bryan sharing a bit about the fishing trip that he and Harris made, we had another opportunity to smile and enjoy.

I love the serious look on Harris's face and how he is holding his mouth just right to get the job done.  In the moving shot, we could hear Harris say, "Oh Gosh!" and when we saw the fish, we could certainly see why!

It seems like another boy was pretty excited about their haul as well!

After seeing the message below, I really wish I had seen the action shot of Jessica!  I recall a time when she and Bryan were visiting on a football Saturday and Mike fried fish.  She showed us how much she liked fried fish that day and I'll bet she got her fill at this old-fashioned fish fry as well!

Big stuff!

Soup In A Cup

Oftentimes children have to be coaxed into liking different foods.  I fondly recall that my children were 'good eaters' but that doesn't mean that they liked everything I ever served.

Bridgette, Bryan, and I often will bring up stories from their childhood which cause us to chuckle.  Generally it is in relation to something that their own children are doing.  One thing that we have chuckled about for years is my fondness for tomato soup and the fact that, as a child, Bryan did not share that fondness.

One day I served up tomato soup and we probably had grilled cheese sandwiches as a side item.  Instead of pouring our soup into bowls to be eaten with a spoon, I served the soup up in a mug or a cup.  

Bryan was having none of that.

Honestly, I don't know if he wound up eating something else or if I was that awful mother who told him to do without till dinnertime.  Miraculously, he survived my horrible parenting - whichever option I provided.

That afternoon when we went to the dairy farm to do our chores, Bryan was tagging along with my Daddy and he asked him, "Papaw, do you wike soup in a cup?"  I'm sure my father had a wise response or perhaps asked him a question to find out what type soup was being referenced.  Bryan clarified, asking, "Do you wike wed soup in a cup?" (red soup in a cup)

I can imagine Daddy not criticizing the red soup but not expressing delight either because I don't think it was one of his favorite options.  Daddy was more of a meat, beans, and potatoes kind of a guy and would have wanted something more like beef stew.

Finally, Bryan informed him, "Well, Papaw, I don't WIKE soup in a cup!"  There it was.  His preference stated.  And it was a fact that we all chuckled about when Daddy shared the conversation with us later.

To me tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich warms me up like no other meal.  So, when we had a cold, grey, damp, rainy day last week, I warmed up my favorite go-to.  Just like almost always when I have this menu delicacy, I sent Bryan a picture and the message, "Good day for soup in a cup!  Hate you missed it!"

Practically Perfect In Every Way - More Snow Day Activities

Just in case you don't know my grandchildren, let me tell you that they are practically perfect in every way.  After all, I'm their grandmother and I cannot imagine any grandmother thinking differently about her grands.

This week we learned that one of the grandsons has learned how fun it is to climb stairs.  He is almost two-years-old and seems to be training for quickness at an Olympic rate.  We understand he's gotten quite adept at it and can get up the stairs lickety-split before his parents even realize it.  Isn't that practically perfect? 

I thought you would see it my way.

We also had a Hangout with some of the granddaughters and saw that they calmly sit and watch a classic video and share snacks and play cooperatively with the dollhouse.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

For some reason, our grandsons - and at times even the granddaughters - have all been described using one word at some point or another and I think it is meant as a compliment of their energy, quick thinking abilities, good health, and vigor.  I know that the official dictionaries use synonyms such as boisterous or rowdy or wild or unruly but I'm still choosing to see the descriptor used as a compliment and reference to their positive character, their enthusiasm for life and learning, their curiosity, their exuberance.  The descriptor Mike and I have heard their parents use is:

rambunctious

See?  Don't you think that is a good thing?  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

These snow days have been hard on our grandchildren's parents.  They aren't accustomed to staying in one place for very long.  After all, they cart their school-aged children off to the schoolhouse or trek to the store with their toddlers or work outside on their rural homesteads.  They aren't accustomed to having their exuberant children cooped up inside for so long.  After all, those children usually burn energy, running, and playing in a gym at school or practicing basketball with their team or shooting hoops, and riding bicycles, and running through the grass.  They tag along after their parents who run errands and grocery shop and load feed sacks for customers and landscape and build birdhouses and care for livestock and hunt big game and enjoy the great outdoors.  Yet, when these snow days have limited all that activity and left the grandchildren with four walls to contain them.  Well, let's just say it has been hard on their parents.  After all, it isn't a problem with the grandchildren, it is a problem with their parents.  The grandchildren are practically perfect.  Right?

I thought you would see it my way.

We got some photos the other day from part of the grandchildren's parents letting us know that at least one of the grandsons had forced his mother into creating activities for him to enjoy.  She saw it as a way of occupying his time and keeping him focused and a little less - rambunctious.

Look at that concentration.  Look at the finesse.  Look at all the intellect popping out.  I hate that I'm not savvy enough to share this the way it was sent to me in one of those short moving picture sort of thingies on my iPhone.  The seriousness of his work really shone through on it.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

(Mom also spent a bit of time creating a matching game for our grandson.  Didn't she do a good job?  Can you guess that she has a master's degree in elementary education?) 

The real genius-ness of the matching game was the result, though.  Look at that attention to detail.  Look at the fine motor skills used to accurately line up each little piece.  Look at the enthusiasm used for learning.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

Luckily, baby sister got in on the act.  After all, I'm sure she is a bit rambunctious at times, too.  Right?  I hate you can't see the moving picture thingy sent via iPhone, she was kicking and cheering her brother on as he crafted an artwork masterpiece.  Isn't that  practically perfect in every way?

I thought you would see it my way.

Of course, the finished product says it all.  Look at the Picasso-like coloring.  Look at that proud smile.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

I don't know why these practically perfect grandchildren's parents think rambunctious has a negative connotation.  I don't know why they have problems with the energy and exuberance of our grandchildren.  After all, I think they are practically perfect in every way!

Coaching

Coaching is a part of my job and, to be honest, has been for the entire time I've been in the education business.  Basically, what all teachers need to be doing is coaching students to learn.  Well, recently, another family member entered the world of coaching.

Our granddaughter, Lydia, informed her mother that she would play basketball in the recreation league again this year but only if her Mom served as her coach.  So, of course, Bridgette agreed.

We have been hearing tales of her experiences and how the young girls - second and third graders - are learning and growing as athletes.  Now, for those of you who don't know our daughter, Bridgette, you may not realize that she takes things seriously.  She is competitive and she doesn't mess around.  When she does something she intends to do it right.  By taking on a responsibility, she is All-In. 

So, the tales we have been having in regard to her coaching these children who are between the ages of six and nine, we have chuckled a few times.  You see, Bridgette also played recreation league basketball when she was about the age of her daughters.  I want to think she started at about sixth grade.  There were not enough coaches for the number of girls who signed up to play in the community league.  So, the mother-in-charge of coordinating the league asked a co-worker, an accountant who was a newlywed with no children of his own to coach a team.  There was only one girl who had played on a recreation team before.  The rest of the girls were newbies like Bridgette.  So, the team was probably a group of misfits and unknowns - a basketball team of Bad News Bears.  Coach Dan did a great job of teaching the girls plays, working on developing skills, and, really, just teaching them a bit about the game of basketball.  They didn't win a single game during the season.  Yet, they played and had a big time and they learned and grew as athletes and young women.  When the county tournament came along, this team of misfits and unknowns won game after game and wound up in the finals.  Sadly, they lost their last game, primarily because two of the girls fouled out - Bridgette was one of them.  Along the way, Coach Dan was amazingly patient with them and he and his wife became lifelong family friends.  We still chuckle at times over things that happened in practice and those games. 

Advance the clock about twenty-five years and Bridgette has found herself in the shoes of her former coach.  Her team was assembled by a blind draft.  Most of the girls have never played on a team before and those who have are not little girls who have played with older brothers or sisters all their lives and know the game - far from it!  So, Bridgette has found herself saying many of the things we chuckled about over the years - things like, "Dribble.  The.  Ball!"

From the first practice, these little girls have learned drills to develop their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills.  Bridgette claims she even told another coach, "We aren't here to just play around.  We are going to learn the game of basketball!"  (He spent his first practice allowing the girls to do some loose shooting and play around a bit in order to get to know one another.) 

If the little girls have had half as much fun as Bridgette, the venture has been a success!  Bridgette seems so pleased with their progress and when we went to their first game Saturday morning, it was obvious that they had learned some plays and had practiced rebounding.  Oh, there is still lots to be learned by these little athletes as was evidenced by their losing score but on another day, the numbers could easily have been reversed, I think.

Throughout the game, Coach Bridgette is clapping, cheering, encouraging, reminding, and, well, coaching.  Even when one little girl fouled out before the end of the game, she was complimenting her for going after the ball and for being aggressive. 

During a break between quarters, she asked the girls, "Who wants to score some points?"  Hands went up all down the row of hydrating little girls.  So, Coach Bridgette said, "Well, let's get out there and get some rebounds, go down the floor, and shoot!"

Mike and I have teased Bridgette and told her that she is trying to be the next Pat Head Summit!  You know, her intensity is almost measurable and her eagerness to motivate and prepare the little girls is quite admirable.  Even at the end of the game when she and her family were on the road to another gym for Lillie to play her game, Bridgette confessed to us that she was already thinking of what they would do at the next practice and how she needs to guide them differently and plan for the next game.  She thinks she needs to add some options and knows that there are a few things that need to be tweaked.

I think Pat would be proud.  I'm pretty certain Coach Dan would be.  And, I know that Mike and I certainly are!