Oh Chute!

Do you have a laundry chute? Was there a laundry chute in your childhood home? Do you have any good laundry chute stories?

When I was a small girl I had a good friend whose home was outfitted with a laundry chute. There were five children in Beth's family and I'm sure the laundry chute came in very handy. One day my friend and I discovered a wonderful game. It was somewhat similar to a game the children in my mother's daycare used to call "Garbage Truck". We found it great fun to drop stuffed animals, dolls, and blankets down the chute, run downstairs to retrieve them, and then drop them down all over again. Running up and down the stairs was good exercise and Beth's mom didn't seem to mind the game. It was one of our favorites. I do think I recall her father stepping out of his office on occasion to quiet the ruckus we were making. He was the minister at our church and his office was at the bottom of the stairs. All was well with the laundry chute game until one day we decided to put all of Beth's toys down the hole in the wall; stuffed animals, dolls, blankets, dishes, little people... whatever toys were in her bedroom. Evidently we overdid it that particular day because her mother was no longer amused and put a quick and sudden stop to the fun.

It's been forty years since we played the laundry chute game and the memory still brings a smile to my face. Beth's family moved away to Massachusetts when we were just six or seven. I went into the parsonage years later as a teenager, found myself glancing at the little door in the hallway wall, and imagined Beth's toys spilling out onto the floor.

I always secretly wished for a laundry chute.

Going Green

I've not a lick O'Irish in me and yet there be a pot o' corned beef a simmerin' on the stove. I feergot to wear green but theer be two little lady leprechauns a resting in me living room who remembeered. They come home from preeschool wit pockets full o'gold coins! They say they found a leprechaun!

Tell me. Ist der a holiday vere de Dutch are honored?

I Forgot...

Ever have your children say that? "I forgot..." Well, sometimes moms forget too. Nathan reminded me Sunday night that I had promised to make him a lemon meringue pie. I had forgotten... So yesterday I made two more pies, one for Nate and his friends at the apartment, and one for my people still here at home. I was told it was very good. I didn't eat any as I am once again attempting to go gluten free. I had tapioca pudding instead and it is one of my favorites.

Through the Window

Forty-five years ago another small child stood on this spot and looked out the window and into the world outside. Often my mother had left me there and gone off to find my severely autistic brother who had once again disappeared. She would leave me standing at the window to watch and wait. This was back in the days when that was perfectly acceptable and I would be watching when she returned.

Years ago there was always something going on outside; children playing in the street, dogs running through the neighbor's yard, or birds hopping about in the grass. The neighborhood is much quieter these days. There are still the occasional walkers, and birds still hop about on the lawn, but the children who once filled the streets are gone, grown up and moved away.

Do children still play in the street? I see them on occasion, but nothing like the days of childhood, before the advent of so many organized sports and computer games. Long before the wii was invented children actually played outside, even in wet, gloomy weather. Sometimes they still do. Lucas was watching Hannah, Audra, and Alicia play catch with a "ball" they made out of an old plastic container, some newspaper and tape.

Going Nowhere, Fast

The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.
Psalm 29:10

I am quite certain that our house will not be selling anytime soon. No one in their right mind would really take a second look at a place with this kind of water issues. This does not throw me. I know God has a plan. We have a plan too, which includes trying to fix this water problem, but that plan can not be implemented right now. If only we were raising crawdads...

I have to smile a bit because we really do not know where we will go if our house does sell. Do we want it to sell? Does the water annoy us or amuse us? It isn't in our basement, just trapped in the lower lying area like water in a bowl, a big bowl, and unfortunately, it is here to stay until we get ready to pump it out again. Of course, maybe that is really a good thing. Who knows?

Dreaming...

It was a cold and rainy day in upstate New York. The sun did not peek through the clouds and rain pelted the windows. The good thing about spring rains is they wash away the remainder of lingering winter snows. The bad thing is the ever growing "puddle" in my backyard. It looks especially bad this year. I'm kind of missing the rock wall we had buried in the fall. It broke up the landscape and added some interest...

So anyway, I am dreaming of sunshine, warm weather, and green grass. I'm dreaming of flowers in my gardens, chairs on the back porch, and Jasmine tanning herself in the yard. (She's due home any day now...) I'm dreaming of cookouts, long walks, and no mud. I'm looking forward.

There is a "For Sale" sign in my front yard. I'm not sure any potential buyers will be interested in this kind of "waterfront" property... Anyone have a dinghy we could borrow? maybe I'll just stay...

Legal Documents

Sign on the dotted line... I met my sisters at Mom's house this morning and we signed legal papers; one set to give me power of attorney, another to make Rachel health care proxy, and a third to add all three of us to the deed to Mom's house. This bit of business had been weighing on my mind since soon after the holidays and I am glad to see the task accomplished. I'm sure it could save us all a lot of grief later on. I promised my dad that we would take care of Mom and want to see that we are able to accomplish the job.

One of the benefits of going to see Mom is getting to see my little grandson at the same time. He thinks having visitors is fun and likes the attention from us as well as we like it from him. He runs around the house, shows us his toys, points and grunts, and steps gingerly over his great grandma's oxygen hose as he goes along. He will be very good at jump rope one day as he is getting lots of practice.

Rachel did not stick around very long after the papers were signed as she had things to do. Priscilla and I visited with Mom for a bit while the girls chatted and Emma played with the Playmobil dolls and furniture. (Bella stayed home with her daddy today.) We decided to take the girls out to Moe's and get some lunch. Hannah and I shared a burrito while Emma had a quesadilla.

I returned home at about 1:30 pm, just in time to wash the dishes and run the vacuum cleaner before the realtor arrived at the house. We have decided to list our house for sale and see where the Lord will take us. Yes, we signed the papers... scary and not scary at the same time. It is not a snap decision but one we have agonized over and prayed about for many months. God does not speak in a loud, audible voice, so we must trust Him to work out the details as we go, to guide our steps, and light the way. I am not an adventurous person by nature. I like to know what is happening from day to day so this will be an exercise in faith for me. (Sure, go a head and pray that I can relax and enjoy the ride...)

Stone Soup

It is a yearly project. Mrs. Kay reads the story and then the children get to make Stone Soup. She has kept the same stone for 28 years and it is still working! All the children were asked to bring in some kind of vegetable for the soup. There were carrots, potatoes, green beans, onions, celery, and snow peas! Mrs. Kay added some ground beef and macaronis and it was perfect. What a great soup! The best part is parents and babysitters are invited to join in for the meal. Bella asked for seconds.

Unfortunately, not all three and four year olds like soup. Emma was sure she didn't want any. The bread and butter looked much more interesting to her. She would have been content to forget the soup altogether, but Hannah had her taste it anyway. Colton didn't want his bowl anywhere close to him. He pushed it all the way to the other side of the table and filled up on bread and crackers.

It is a gorgeous day, close to sixty degrees and still sunny. The yard is wet and muddy. The driveway is wet and muddy. If I dared to send the kids outside, they would be wet and muddy. It seems almost a crime to keep them in on such a great day. It seems a crime to keep me in on such a nice day.

Say Cheese!

These birds are not camera shy, especially if the photographer is holding a handful of bread. If you think geese are intimidating, you should meet these swans!

Just Imagine

Spring is making a valiant attempt at arrival. The skies have been sunny and clear for several days, the temperatures mild. The snow is melting and it was a wonderful day for a walk.

Since I was unable to take two sleeping, bootless girls out for a mud walk, I decided to go on an imaginary walk by myself. (Bear with me here. I don't get out much...) I pulled on my boots and jacket, and trudged through the thick, slushy snow in the back yard and made my way to the orchard road. The trees were naked and cold looking, and I could see all the way to the lake from the top of the hill.

The Canada geese had left web-footed footprints in the soggy ground near the snow-covered pond. Though I had previously heard loud honking, the flock was nowhere to be found, only scattered feathers and goose droppings in the mud and snow.

Down a row of apple trees I met a stranger. I know better than to walk in the orchard alone, so I asked if he would accompany me but he just stared and waved me on without saying a word. A rather cold fellow I decided.

Though the sun shone bright, there was still a bitter, cold wind blowing off Lake Ontario. My ears were starting to ache deep inside and I put my mittened hands over them to warm them up and turned for home.

I was glad to get back inside and sit by the wood stove with a cup of hot tea. The girls were just starting to stir. One of them opened her eyes and said, "Martha, I'm hungry."

Overwhelmed

I am feeling overwhelmed today...

The Number Two

It was a beautiful day to go out; sunny and mild. I needed to stop at the bank and get groceries in Webster, so decided to make a quick run down to the Irondequoit Bay outlet before they pull the bridge out for the summer. I took some unwanted cereal along to feed the ravenous crowds.

Though I made several trips to the bay last winter, this was my first stop this year. Ben and Hannah stayed in the van while I got out and tossed old Cheerios to squawking seagulls and suspicious Canada geese. The swans didn't bother to climb out of the water today, but were more than happy to gobble up whatever I chose to share.

Maybe one day I will actually take those two little girls out to feed the birds, though sometimes the birds at the bay are slightly intimidating. Reminds me of that old Alfred Hitchcock movie every time as flocks of screaming seagulls fly overhead.

And a Dash of Drama

Along with small girls comes a little bit of drama. We had an episode yesterday on the way to school when M told B she was sick.
"No, you're not!" replied B.
"Yes, I am!" said M, "I fell off a ladder yesterday and now I am sick!"
"M's faking." B told me as I climbed into the van after buckling the little boy passenger into his seat.
"Is she?" I replied.
"Yeah," said B.
An argument ensued. By the time we drove down the street and around the corner, M was working up a rather healthy crop of tears. She scrunched up her face and poured on the drama. By the time I opened the door to unbuckle her, I'd seen enough. "Stop that crying right now!" I said. "You have nothing to cry about."
She looked surprised and attempted to stifle her now full force act. She sniffled as we walked toward the school and I took her hand. I think she had forgotten all about why she was crying in the first place and was now heartbroken over the fact that I had gotten after her. She continued to sniff and gulp air. Once she had her jacket off I took her in my arms and gave her a hug. "I still love you," I said, "Are you okay now?" She shook her head and held on. We sat for a little while until she collected herself and went off to play dollhouse with B.

Today we had another piece of drama. I wasn't watching but Ben says one tried to grab from the other. Loud "no's" were exchanged. One small child jumped up from the floor and threw her face into a pillow on the couch. Loud wailing followed. The other child cried quietly in the corner. They were no longer friends... but that was ten minutes ago, before I told the wailing child that she had cried long enough. Now they are friends again, playing toys and chatting happily.

Why do these exchanges amuse me so?

Far Away, in the Land of Enchantment...

Far away, in the Land of Enchantment a young couple is getting ready for a wedding. There has already been a bridal shower, a party or two, and a rehearsal. They have spent their last nights alone. Tonight they will be man and wife, Mr. and Mrs.

Here in the Land of Ice and Snow, the aunt, uncle, and cousins wish them a life filled with joy and blessings. Inside they wish New Mexico was not quite so far away. They wait (somewhat) impatiently for photos to appear online so they can smile along with all who were able to attend the ceremony.

We have missed many family occasions. Mandy was four before we got to meet her for the first time. Passels of children kept us from making the long trek cross country more than a time or two, but we are grateful for the few times we did have and wish her and Eric a wonderful wedding day! We love you!!!

PS. Aha! A picture!!! They haven't seen each other yet... I really do love the internet.

War Paint and Tears

Josh came over. He played markers with Hannah. She drew him a nice picture and he colored it. Josh had a dot of marker on his cheek which he tried to "wipe off" with another marker. Looks a little bit like war paint to me. He even managed to get stripes on both cheeks. Pretty talented.

We went to Lukie's house. He was glad to see us and ran back and forth through the living room. He showed us his toys. He showed us the vacuum cleaner hose. His Grandma made a noise in the other end. Lukie didn't like it. He cried. (Isn't he cute?)

A Pie for My Guy

We went to church in town on Sunday evening. They always have desserts. James had a piece of pie; lemon meringue. He likes lemon meringue.
I said, "If you want me to make one, just say so."
He said, "So."
"Tell me when," I said.
"When," said he.

This afternoon I gathered my pie making supplies and put on my cook's cap. I cooked up a beautiful pie. It came out of the oven looking like a winner; golden crust, lightly browned meringue. A prize winning pie? Maybe.

Sadly, an hour or so later, the meringue had shrunk and pulled away from the sides of the crust. (This always happens.) I looked up "shrinking meringue" and found that not enough sugar will cause the topping to shrink. Next time I will try adding an extra tablespoonful or two of sugar. The good news is, it tastes yummy either way.

A Little More of the Same and Then Some

I will likely continue doing the shuffle for many days to come. I am cleaning drawers and cabinets, peeking into closets, and filling boxes. "For everything a place, and everything in its place". If it has a place, that is. My goal is to greatly reduce the load and become more "fluid". (More on that another time...)

The bathroom projects are finally finished. We were temporarily slowed by our trip to California, but not much. It has been painting the cabinet doors that has really been the holdup. Now they are finished and hung, the towel hooks are installed, and all that is lacking is a home for a roll of toilet paper. Little detail. My husband did a beautiful job and I am blessed.

What will be next? I'm not sure. Big changes could be on the horizon. One never really knows, but as the pressures of life build, so does the desire to simplify. Where will the adventure take us? Only the Lord knows.

Do the Shuffle!

I could hear the music playing in my head as I moved things from here to there this morning. The photo albums came off the bookcase and went into the little dresser/commode in my bedroom. The framed pictures came out from behind the dresser doors when the albums went in. Some of the pictures went down to the bookcase and some went into a covered box under the dresser. (Do the shuffle!) I cleaned my upstairs hallway. The boxes of things to get rid of came down to the dining room. The pack and play crib went up to the hallway. (Do the shuffle!)

Bella and Emma were also doing the shuffle. They were shuffling toys around the house. The Beanie Babies came out of the baskets and went onto the floor. Toys were removed from the shelf and scattered across the rug. Books, almost all of them, graced the coffee table. Fisher Price people had been removed from the bucket and lay staring at the ceiling. The girls were busy and I was busy.

I had downsizing on my mind; sorting and selling, boxing and bagging, tossing and trading. We once again have too much stuff. It is time to clean out and thus I am shuffling things from here to there in a concerted effort to put away the things I want to keep and haul away those I can do without. It appears a monumental task. Anyone else up for doing the shuffle?

Sunday Scripture

"For You [are] my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29

There are times in life when we wonder just where the Lord is leading us and how we will ever arrive in that place. Such is this time in our lives. God rarely tells us how the details of life will work out, rather He calls us to trust Him. I don't pretend to be in the spot where I have learned complete trust, but I am working on it, or rather God is working it in me. Learning to trust takes practice and practice is never easy.

Winter...

You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.
Psalm 74:17

The snow machine is working well. Now that it is up and running, how do we turn it off?

I have to smile. The end of February and the first week of March always seem to bring the biggest and best snowstorms. Winter's last blast. It will soon be over and those apple trees will be covered with pink blossoms. For now though, the snow is up to our knees in some spots and we are grateful that Dave has a plow on the front of his truck. We are not stuck in the driveway.

The Flag Box

My father in law retired from the United States Air Force. After the military ceremony at the funeral his wife was given the folded American flag. My husband is a wood worker. In honor of his father he built a flag box which will soon be shipped to California. It is beautiful.

Wishful Thinking

My blog says spring, but out the windows it still looks like winter. No school today, no little girls. We slept in and the house is quiet and still. I think the worst of the storm is over. We were blessed with wet, heavy snow, the kind that's good for making snowmen. The kind that nobody wants to shovel. Good thing for the "man with the plow". Thanks, Dave!

Going the Extra Mile

On the wall in my parents house is a small plaque that reads something like "Grant that I may not judge my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins." Last night I walked a mile in my own slippers (on the treadmill) and it got me to thinking...

My slippers are not very pretty anymore. They attract dirt and wood chips cling to them. The decorative little fuzz balls have come off the right foot leaving the pair mismatched. Though I have thrown them through the wash several times since receiving them (at Christmas), they still look rather, um..., "well loved"? I wear them around the house every day and they even traveled along with me to San Francisco two weeks ago. They are comfy and my feet are happy wearing them, but I'm not sure anyone else would find them very appealing.

Of course, real moccasins(or shoes) is not what the proverb is referring to. It is rather an encouragement to stop and take a look at life through the eyes of someone else. Instead of being quick to judge the words or actions of my brother, it is a call to look at life from a different perspective, to figuratively "put on the shoes of my neighbor" and "take a little walk".

I try to follow that bit of advice, even though the shoes of another often feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they are too big and other times they pinch a bit. Rarely do shoes other than my own feel completely comfortable and, quite honestly, there are times when just hobbling down the driveway in someone else's footwear would be painful. I prefer to wear my own for a variety of reasons.

Obviously the writer of this little proverb didn't expect one to wear the shoes, walk the mile, and then feel free to judge and criticize. Instead it was a warning against being hasty in judgment, to look for understanding. The Bible has its own warning, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20.

If I step on your toes, I'm sorry. It is not my purpose in this blog to judge or criticize. Instead I am looking inward, reflecting on my own heart and actions, hoping to catch a glimpse of life from another perspective and be an encouragement to others.

I Am Smiling Now

"Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He turned 90 in February. The song is Old Grey Bonnet."

My darling daughter will appreciate this video that I found on my friend's Facebook account this morning. (Beth, I think this is the "real" Silas and Miranda...)

It is good to know that growing old can be as much fun as being young. Makes me wish all the more that I could play the piano. Do you think it's too late to learn?

Adjustments

It has been a year of testing and trials. God is working in our hearts and lives, molding us, shaping us, and drawing us closer to Him. It has been almost five months since my father took his leave from this life (two and half weeks for James' dad) and we continue to adjust.

Mom is doing fairly well. She has completely entrusted Dad into the care of her Savior and does not fret over his passing, though I am sure she misses him every day. She often keeps herself busy doing puzzles and is quite entertained by the antics of her great grandson. Dave and Leta have pretty much settled into living there with her and do a good job of keeping up with her needs. My sisters and I are incredibly grateful to Dave and Leta for their presence at the house and sleep much better at night for it.

Mom's age seems to be catching up with her and she finds it difficult to remember little details during the course of a conversation. She will often ask the same question two or three times. I must admit, it is disconcerting but does not get me ruffled. It has been difficult to watch my parents grow old, much more than I'd ever imagined, and I love them in a whole new way. I have a new appreciation for those before me who have dealt with both aging parents and teenagers, and am grateful my teenagers are fairly mild.

I am very much looking forward to spring and the wonderful ability to sit out on Mom's back porch and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with her. Maybe the bird feeders will get refilled and, quite possibly, Dad's little rabbit friends will once again reappear.

Happy Birthday, Little Sister

Happy 10th birthday to Imani!
I hope it was a good one.

Games Little Girls Play...

These little girls play some very interesting games. I'm not sure which one thinks up the best, but they always keep me guessing... and telling them to settle down. I'm not sure this game needs an explanation...

Auntie Martha's Pie Making Class

This is how my mom taught me to make a pie. I honestly haven't tried anything too fancy. Simple pies are some of the best, especially fresh fruit pies in season. I use Crisco because I have found cheap shortenings hard to work with, and I add water just one tablespoon full at a time and stir it with a fork. Why? Because Mom said to and it works. When I divide my dough for a two crust pie, I make the ball for the top crust slightly smaller than the bottom. I dampen the edge of the bottom crust before placing the top one and make sure the edges are sealed up. It's always a good idea to place your baking pie on some kind of a tray to prevent messes in the oven unless you don't mind the beeping of the smoke detector.

1-CRUST PASTRY

1½ c flour
½ t. salt
½ c. shortening
4-5 T cold water

Stir flour and salt together. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water one tablespoon at a time stirring lightly with a fork. Add only as much water as is needed to gather dough together in a ball. Roll on lightly floured surface. Place in pie plate, roll and crimp edges before adding filling.

To bake unfilled pie crust, prick bottom and sides will with a fork. Bake in very hot oven (450°) for 10-12 minutes or until golden


TWO-CRUST PASTRY

2 c. flour
½ t. salt
⅔ c. shortening
5-7 T. cold water

Make as one crust pastry dividing ball of dough in half before rolling. Roll on lightly floured surface. Place in pie plate, add filling and top with second crust. Crimp edges together and bake as directed.

Just had to add a photo of the finished product. (Thanks, Priscilla!)

Family Friday

I think they look a little bit alike... Okay, I think they look a lot alike. Look at those eyelashes! And they both have blue eyes too. And, if Lukie's hair wasn't all soaped up with shampoo, their hair would look the same too.

I think it's fun to find family look alikes.

Sprinkles

"The candy man can cause he sprinkles it with love and makes the world taste good."

Thirteen things about sprinkles...

1. They're colorful
2. They're tasty.
3. They go with everything.
4. They look like little pills.
5. They stick to wet fingers.
6. We call 'em "Jimmies".
7. They're made of wax (maybe).
8. They make cookies beautiful.
9. Sometimes they're chocolate.
10. I buy them in bulk.
11. They make birthday cakes special.
12. They're good for what ails ya.
13. They put the smile on top of a cupcake.