Another Visitor

 Before the mother of all heat waves captured and tortured the midwest, there was a day where it was nice enough to open the windows. No, really, there was......... I know it is hard to believe........... I am serious!

Willie and I went through the house and happily opened windows to let the air come through. Our house has about 20 windows in it and with the shade trees outside, it ventilates and cools very well, even when the temperatures reach into the eighties. I sleep much better with the windows open, we open them every chance we get.

 This last time we had a chance to open the windows we found a little visitor hanging out on one, literally, hanging out. He was on the outside of the screen. He seemed to have his feet tangled in the screen.  At first it took us a while to figure out if he was even alive. We poked at the screen and he didn't budge. We wiggled the screen more and still he held perfectly still. Willie said he thought he saw him move. I thought it was just jiggling with the movement of the screen. We watched him for a little while and he didn't move a muscle. I decided, as much as we had banged on the screen, and he hadn't flown off, he must be dead.

Then suddenly a wing moved. Did it move voluntarily, or did it just fall? We watched carefully again. We saw no other real movement. About this time, we started trying to figure out how we were going to get a dead bat off of the outside of the window screen. Then his head popped up. He started looking around. He was alive! I was so happy!

Turns out he was a sleeping baby. He was not stuck at all. Once he was fully awake he started moving around on the screen. He moved down the screen and over to the side. I was captivated. I sat on my knees watching him until my knees screamed in agony. Then I went and got a pillow and watched some more. Every once in a while a much bigger bat would come to check on him. Finding him fine, she would fly off to eat more bugs and mosquitoes. I kept watching. I must have watched this little guy for two hours. The sun was still bright in the sky when we found him and it was dark night when I finally left him alone.

The next morning, as excited as a giddy child on Christmas,  I went to see if he was still there. His mother must have come to get him in the night because he was gone. I was disappointed, but glad he was being taken care of. A few days later we saw a bat climbing up the side of the house. As long as they don't decide to live in my house they are welcome to stay. We have more than enough mosquitoes for them, and I am happy to let them devour as many as they can.

Best Weekend

 The weekend before last was a great one. Why was it so great? What made it so special? Valerie, Alyssa, Shane, and Kahlen came to visit. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Josh and Caitlin had been able to make it, too. It had been two months since I had seen any of them. I was so happy to see them pull up!

Kahlen had changed so much since the last time I had seen her. She has so many words now. She can tell you exactly what she wants, and you can understand her! She has gotten so tall. I have a spot in the kitchen where I measure her. It is where the family that lived here before us had theirs. I decided to leave theirs and add Kahlen to it. Kind of a little history of the house. Since we moved in here in November, Kahlen has grown 3 inches. Amazing!

The weekend was spent going to favorite restaurants, talking wedding and spending time together. We went to Heron Park one afternoon. Kahlen got to see swans and listen to bullfrogs. There are many, many bullfrogs to be heard there. She saw big carp plowing their way through the algae in the water. But I think her favorite part was riding on Daddy's shoulders and bossing everyone around.

My favorite part was just having all of us together. It is what I miss most being so far away. I even miss my kids arguing and yelling at each other, well, a little anyway. Maybe for my birthday I'll ask Alyssa to get mad at Josh and throw something at him...... Nah.

Of course the weekend went much too fast. It just feels a little more like home when the house is full. Knowing the rooms aren't empty. Having laughter fill the air. Saying goodbye is always so hard!

The one consolation was that Kahlen was staying with us for a week and a half. I know how hard it is on Alyssa and Shane when she is here with us, but I am so very, very grateful that they let us have her now and again. She just brings a sparkle and energy to the house. Days with Kahlen are always an adventure!

The Under Stimulated Brain

I was wondering today, why does sausage thaw faster than hamburger? Is it the higher fat content? Is there more water in sausage? What is it about sausage that it that it defrosts faster? Does it make a difference if it is pork or turkey sausage? Sausage tastes better than hamburger. You would think that it would, for that reason, thaw slower, in an attempt to not get eaten. This particular sausage is Italian sausage and  fated to become meatloaf with the hamburger.

So, that is but one strange question that has entered my under stimulated brain cells today. Since getting my iPhone I find myself googling things more and more. It is just so handy. Is Redd Foxx still alive? Google. How old is John Cusack? Google. What is Jeremiah Weed? Google. Why does my spell check not like "Foxx"with two X's but "Redd" with two D's is ok? And why doesn't it like "ok"? You know the important questions in life. Oh, and why did I use a picture of a flower for this post? Well, you won't find the answer for that on google. I just thought it was pretty and the grass hopper is cute.

I said my brain was under stimulated, you were warned.

Hot Summer Drive

Bazinga and I took a long drive through rural Illinois today. It was hot and sticky, the air conditioning in my car doesn't work. Bazinga didn't seem to mind, he spent most of the first part of the drive with his head out the window. He'd turn to look at me, with a wind blown face and seemed to smile. He was enjoying being a dog on a hot summer day.

As we drove along I noticed how the fields that just a few months ago were full of roaring water and absent of life, were now flourishing. There was green everywhere. Fields of soy beans for miles and miles. Rows of corn seemed to turn the county highway into a tunnel, with a sweet smell that made me wonder when sweet corn stands would start popping up.

 There was a thick humid haze in the air. The corn was thriving in it. You could almost see it grow right before your eyes. The wildflowers lined the edge of the road like sentries protecting  the corn from the sparse traffic that drove swiftly by without a second glance.

There is so much beauty in rural areas. Life renewing itself. Life that sustains other life. Without the bounty of these fields there would be no life as we know it. Without the acres of soybeans there would be no tofu for the city dwellers that look down their noses at the people who produce every scrap of food they eat.

The Midwest quite often gets dismissed by those who live on the coasts as a place they fly over to get to the important places. New York City seems to like to believe that the world, and the universe orbits around it alone. If you don't live there, surely you must want to. Do they realize how quickly their city would fall into collapse if the American farmer decided to quit feeding them? But they won't. The hard working farmer continues the American tradition of feeding, not just New York City, but the world in general. Happy he lives in the quiet countryside that others just fly over. Glad that the snobby high society is away in the city where such folk belong.  He feels sorry for them, they will never know the joy of a sweet smelling breeze on a hot summer day. They will never experience the beauty that he sees all around him. A fleeting beauty that must be experienced day to day to be appreciated fully. They will always look past such mundane things in search of something they can't attain. He is sad for them, but very happy they aren't here to spoil it for him.

And, on a different note.... This weeks pumpkin patch pictures. It seems to be slowing down on its pursuit of the yard and is using its strength to produce pumpkins!

This looks like a white pumpkin, but it's getting pretty darn big already.

Looks like I have some gourds too.

The Great Mowing Adventure as Retold by Bazinga the Brave as Dictated to Becky the Great, (he made me write that)

Today was yard work day. That big fat lazy Mia, was no help at all. Willie, Becky and I had a lot to do. (No, I don't call Willie and Becky, Mom and Dad. My mom's name was Izzy and my dad's name was Pig, they look nothing like them. Besides, why would I call my pets, mom and dad?)

One of my jobs, being the most important, of course, is to chase the horrible and terrifying creatures from the back yard. The humans call these, squirrels and birds. I call them natures excrement and devil spawn. My names don't seem to translate well, that must be why they call them their weird names. I am very efficient at my job. One day I will catch one and show them that this is my yard, they must stay out!

Another of my jobs, is to eat all of the sticks in the yard. If I don't do this the big grass eating machine with tear them up and throw them away. This is a huge waste of a perfectly good stick.

 

 That is when the big noisy grass eating machine comes out. I am not a fan of the grass eating machine. It not only eats the grass, but also eats all of my puffball sticks and sweet clover pops as well. When it is done it takes days for my puffball sticks to come back. These are my most favorite treats, that greedy grass eating machine shouldn't take them all.

The the other noisy thing that always comes out is the scary rock throwing thingy. This is something that only Willie the Strong is ever allowed to use. It starts up and pulls him all along the fence and trees throwing rocks and sticks and dirt all over the place while it does. Willie seems to be the only one that has any control over this beast. He seems to be its lead dog. He controls it well, though it often throws  rocks at his ankles in protest.

Becky uses the grass eating machine. She does not seem to have the same control over it as Willie has over the scary rock throwing thingy. It pulls her all over the yard. It takes her around in circles. It pulls her through the jungles, and the dog eating trees. She tries very hard to control it but I see her struggle. Though, it looks like she is having fun.... I think she is just putting on a brave face. I try to rescue her from the grass eating machine, but for some strange reason, she ties me to the deck. I think this is very stupid of her. I would be very useful.

 Finally, Becky stops for a break and Willie the Strong comes in and rescues her. He has much more control over the grass eating machine. He is able to make it go exactly when he wants it to. He makes it go in straight precise lines. Maybe that's why he does the front yard. That's what people can see. His part always looks so much better.

Then, as a finishing touch, I come back in and polish the cut grass. This is the very most critical part and I do it well. I roll and roll and roll in the grass. It is exhausting, but if I didn't do it everything else would be for not!  (Besides, and don't tell Willie and Becky this, it is fun! And the best part! I don't want them to know, because I don't want them to do it instead. I LOVE this part!)

Wedding Flowers

I've been working on wedding stuff for Alyssa's wedding. She is getting married in the fall and has decided on orange and brown for her colors. She loves star gazer lilies, so I've been trying to use as many as I can.

I haven't been making all of the arrangements the same though. They are all different, I hope she is ok with that. This is the first time I have ever done anything like this.  My biggest fear is that we will get them to the reception hall and they will have fallen apart. I think looks wise I am doing ok, I send Alyssa a picture of each one when I'm done, so far all's good. She will get to see them in person in ten days. Not that I'm counting.

 Valerie, Alyssa, Shane and Kahlen are coming for a visit on the 15th. I am not only counting the days, but the hours and minutes as well. I cant wait! I haven't seen any of them since May. I am definitely in severe withdraw!

We get to have Kahlen for almost a whole week too! I may just let her help with an arrangement too. They can put it on a very special table. A Kahlen table. I think a Kahlen table is a very good idea.

I'm having a lot of fun making these. My hand is sore and swollen from the wire cutters, but it has been so worth it. I feel so removed from the plans, this way I feel a little more involved. I just hope I get to help out with Josh's wedding to somehow.

Still have so much to do! I need more tiger lilies!

Happy Independence Day!!!!

 A parade went down my street this morning. I forgot to take any pictures. It was full of firetrucks and old cars and kids on four wheelers. There was candy thrown and kids with bags to catch it. People stood for the flag and watched kids do tricks on bikes. It was a typical small town 4th of July parade celebrating the birth of our country. It was fun to watch and made me glad to live in a small town that takes pride in our country.

I spent a little time in the garden this morning before the parade. I'm still trying to figure out what these strange bird looking flowers are. The point their "beaks" at the sun. They almost look graceful in the evening as they all point toward the garage.

It seems there are seeds inside the little white pouches. They are starting to split open. It has taken quite a while to get to this stage. I just wish I knew what they are.

I am anxiously awaiting the ripening of the first tomatoes. I can't wait for my first bacon and tomato sandwich, or tomato and cucumber sandwich, or tomato and tomato sandwich, YUM! I am very impatient this year. While I don't want summer to be over, I definitely want to devour some red ripe tomatoes.

 These little guys are just not growing fast enough. Perhaps they know their future. Perhaps they are aware that they will soon be on a sandwich, or salad, or just sliced on a plate with a little salt, (Shhhh, don't tell my cardiologist.)

My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'll have to get some fresh mozzarella cheese, and pick some basil from the garden, and slice the tomatoes. I can't spell the word for the kind of salad that is. I can't even come close enough for spell check to be able to figure it out. My mouth doesn't care though. It still tastes good!

 Of course the one thing that is growing very quickly is the pumpkin patch. Here are this weeks pictures. We should have plenty of pumpkins for the wedding.

Have a great 4th!

More Heron Park Photos

Nothing much to say today, so I thought I'd post a few more pictures from yesterday. After I loaded them on the computer I realized I took over 100 of them.

Pood out pup

Plentiful Sunshine

 I looked at the weather forecast yesterday, and the words "plentiful sunshine" were used for today. Plentiful...... Sunshine...... could you find two words that go better together?

Plentiful... Is there anything you can put that word in front of that it doesn't sound good? Plentiful money, plentiful hugs, plentiful chocolate, all sound good to me. It is even a fun word to say, p-l-e-n-t-i-f-u-l.

Sunshine... well, who is going to argue with that? This spring and early summer have been so full of gloomy, rainy, gray and dreary days, the word sunshine seems almost magical, even surreal. Having a beautiful, sunshiny day almost makes a person want to break into song. I won't though, I promise. My friends from Walgreens could tell you how painful that can be.

To celebrate our rare abundance of plentiful sunshine, Bazinga and I got into the car and headed out. No exact plan in mind we drove toward Danville. We saw a sign for Heron Park Boardwalk and decided that sounded like a good place to go.

Heron Park is a county park in Vermilion county on the north side of Danville. It is a wetlands preserve. This, in Danville, who knew?

 Bazinga and I took our time walking around on the boardwalk. I was busy taking pictures, which seemed to frustrate him. He wanted to roam and smell and keep moving. I kept stopping and ruining his good time. He ended up hot and thirsty and I had forgot to bring his water bottle. As a result, Bazinga decided that jumping off of the boardwalk into the water, sounded like a marvelous idea. I caught him just before splash down, only the back feet got wet.

After his attempted suicide, Bazinga wanted to rest for a little while and settled down under a bench. I found it necessary to keep a little more of an eye on him, and kept his leash a little shorter.

 It wasn't a huge park, and we had most of it to ourselves. Wednesday mornings are a good time to go to such places. They are usually a little quieter, a little calmer.

We could hear a chorus of bull frogs calling out to each other. We saw bumble bees gathering pollen, dragonflies, um, multiplying. We even heard a large fish jump from the water. Didn't see it though.

By the time we were done with our walk, Bazinga was very hot and very thirsty. Apparently, even little white dogs get over heated. I figured it was time to go home. As we were pulling out of the parking lot I saw a sign for a nature trail across the street. Will have to return on another plentiful sunshine day, with water bottle in hand, and explore that.

The Brave and Wonderful Adventures of Mia and Bazinga

Mia and Bazinga were busily sleeping the day away, when suddenly a strange, loud, screeching noise woke them both with a start. "What did you do?" Mia growled at Bazinga.

Bazinga looked at Mia, and just as he was about to answer they heard the noise again. "What is that?" Bazinga asked Mia. They both looked at each other in horror, not knowing what to expect next.

They carefully slunk down the stairs, peaking around the corner to see what was at the bottom. Seeing nothing, they continued down until they reached the living room. There they heard the noise again. Where was it coming from?

They peaked their heads around the corner and looked into the kitchen. The back door had an ominous shadow darkening it. "What is that?!" Bazinga said with a shudder.

They slowly approached, the back door. They hid by the refrigerator waiting to here the sound again. "You go look,"Mia demanded, "you've been out there before. You must know what it is."

Bazinga slowly crept up to the door. His body trembling more and more with each step. He got to the door and stood on his hind legs to see what was going on. As his head rose up to be able to see out, the shadow of the mighty beast on the porch poured over him. He looked up, and up and up. There it was, looming over him, the scariest thing he had ever seen.

He slowly backed away from the door, and slunk back to Mia. "We need a plan," he whispered. He looked around the kitchen, and found a perfect weapon of self defense... a rawhide stick. He picked it up and handed it to Mia. She shoved it back at him. They stared each other down waiting for the other to take the lead. Bang, bang, bang! Came from the back door. They both jumped and turned in terror.

They looked at each other, and with a nod decided to act. They picked up the rawhide, together and ran full speed at the door. They crashed through the door, leaving a huge hole in their wake. They turned to face the intruder. Its shadow covered them. They ran forward to gain the advantage. Suddenly they were lifted from the ground. Entangled in vines and leaves and being poked by tiny spears.

It had truly happened! They had been warned by many and they scoffed at the idea. They now knew that life would never be the same. Out of the shadows, they could now see the evil attacker. It smiled an evil smile at them as it held them high in the air.

It was..... the pumpkin patch! It had taken over the yard and now had its eye on the house. Mia and Bazinga had to do something. They found a way to break free and get back into the house. The pumpkin patch extended a leafy vine in through the hole in the door.

There was but one thing to do. Bazinga, as a diversion, barked ferociously at the intruder. Mia, quietly and sneakily, snuck back over to the door. She took a deep breath, looked back at Bazinga, and stepped toward the gangly arm. She then, rubbed up against it, leaving behind a smothering layer of clingy fur. The pumpkin vine recoiled in disgust. It started coughing and choking. It pulled back out of the house. Bravely, Mia went out after it. She ran thru the patch and left her fur flying throughout the monstrous plant. Bazinga close behind barked and growled until finally the patch returned to the garden and promised never to stretch beyond it again.

Proud of their brave accomplishment, Mia and Bazinga went back into the house. They knew they had just saved the world. They needed a nap!

Nature vs. Technology

Yesterday Willie and I spent most of the day outside getting yard work done. He spent a lot of time in the garden clearing an area for the pumpkin patch to expand into. (Personally, I don't think Rossville is big enough.) I finished mowing the back yard.

I only mow the back yard. Willie is a little more particular about how the yard looks, where people can see it. I tend to mow in an erratic, whatever way is easier manner. He mows in a more particular and organized fashion. Therefore, Willie mows the front, I mow the back. He tells me that I don't need to mow at all, but the yard is huge. I don't want him to have to waste his whole day off, picking up after the Mia Tree and then mowing. It is one thing I can do to make his life a little easier. I let him do the weed whacking though, I despise that.

After a day out in nature, we came in to have supper and relax vegging out in front of the TV. Willie and I have different viewing habits. Very different. He likes sports and reality shows, and that weird hoarders show. I like cooking shows, comedies, and old movies. I usually don't mind giving the remote over to him, what I like to watch I can record on the DVR. They aren't like  sporting events that would get ruined if someone told me the score. While he watched what he wanted, I played on the computer. I knew that I had DVR'd the food network show, The Next Food Network Star, and knew I could watch it later.

Today, after the children I babysit left for the day, I settled on the couch and grabbed the remote. This is the first season I have ever gotten into the Next Food Network Star. I have never ever liked reality TV shows. Willie loves Survivor. Sometimes I end up watching that with him. I can't stand watching grown ups act like vengeful little children. After the episode would be over I'd feel, cranky and angry. I don't like feeling that way. I guess that's why I like comedies.

I pulled up the list of shows recorded and highlight Next Food Network Star. I have a few favorites that I would really like to see win, and only two that I really want to see go away. I like watching them plan their meals and adapt when they don't have the ingredients they need. I like watching when they work well together, and kind of like watching them mess up..... they are human.

Watching the episode today, I found myself more than ever wanting one particular person to go home. She was even more annoying and irritating than ever, not why I like to watch the show. They got to the final challenge. They made it look like her dish burned with out her knowing. It came to the part where her dish was about to be served...... THE DAMM DVR STOPPED!!!!! It didn't record the whole episode! What was THAT all about! AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! I am going to have to wait till the rebroadcast now to see what happened! I do know she wasn't sent home. I don't know who was for sure though. I will find out Wednesday I suppose.

Technology, can't live with it, can't run over it with a truck. Well, you can, but then you just have to pay $1,000 to Direct TV.

The Mia Tree

 We have a sycamore tree in our yard that is at least 90 years old. It is provides much appreciated shade. Our backyard is usually ten degrees cooler than it is walking  down the sidewalk in front of our house. This is all very nice when you have to go out and mow the backyard.

As much as I love and appreciate this giant tree, I have named it The Mia Tree. It is huge,(like Mia), it is beautiful, (not so much like Mia) and it........ SHEDS!!!!  It sheds as much and as often as Mia.

Every time there is a storm, or strong wind, or a neighbor playing a clarinet, this tree drops branches. This does not make mowing easy or fun.

 It took me two hours to pick up the sticks before I could even think about mowing yesterday. The sticks filled the wheelbarrow twice. And yet... somehow... I was still getting pelted with stick shrapnel  with every step I took. It hit me in the leg, it hit me in the arm, it hit me smack in the middle of the forehead! I was not amused.

Like Mia, who loves to jump up, in the middle of the night, land on my stomach with her 20 pounds of fat, the Mia Tree was bound to torture me. And like Mia, tomorrow the tree will be comforting and nice to have around all over again.

I thought I'd add a weekly picture of the pumpkin patch. If you check back to last Sunday's post, The Best Part of Summer Rains,  you will see how much it has grown this week.  Bazinga is not convinced that it isn't going to eat him.