Monkey See, Monkey Do

Monkey's Fist to the Max! Last summer, we made our usual beach trek on one of the glorious uninhabited islands off of the cape. As we always do, once the boat is anchored, we walk the beach and climb rocks, step over stones, hunt and gather random treasures washed ashore by some storms.

Hunting List:
Sea glass

Gathering List:

1. Buoys
2. Beach balls
3. Boat line
4. Flags
5. Occasional tire
6. sneaker or single flip flop
7. tennis ball
8. Fishing lures
9. Fishing line
10. Pail
11. Shovel
12. Beach chair
13. Cooler
14. Tattered tacky beach towel
15. Boat ladder
16. Frisbee
17. Goodyear tire
18. Tugboat dock lines
19. 14k Gold and sterling silver bracelet
20. Cell phone

** #18...huge hunk of big clunky tugboat line stuck in the rocks...most intriguing ...especially to the kids. To repurpose? Huh? Ta-da! It's been hauled from boat to dock to beach to little red wagon to...home, made into a Mega Monkey's Fist like sailors made for their ships long ago. How will this be used? We're not quite sure...but we painted it anyway!

**#19...a shimmer of gold caught my eye one day...pushed away some sand with my toes and voila! simple abundance! A treasure that I treasure...for it's reminder of the abundance in our world.

Buoys Will Be Buoys

When The Paints Go Marching In

Well not quite. The paint crews arrived on the cape Saturday. Paint brushes. Check. Paint. Check. Enthusiasm. Check. Experience? Some. Many hands make light work is a saying Grace and T.J. know well around our house.

Somehow, out of state, on Cape Cod, at a beach house, with friends like family, Memorial Day weekend, with music, laughter and catching up....many hands make light work turns out to be much more fun....lightening the load than home sweet home.

And what fun we had today! 4 parents, 4 kids, 2 grandparents and one stereo...painting the porch, prepping the house, stopping for lunch and a quick jaunt to the beach, coffee, clean up.

What a gift! All of it. Even the paint on my toes. Life's better barefoot! With family and friends! With music! With enthusiasm to welcome summer!

Fitzy Again?

NO! Are you as surprised as we were when we got home from the movies? Remember, we're on the cape...so unless Fitz followed us....I don't think she got to the pizza. Daisy? Never! But Quigley?

Yes! He seemed to be running wild while we were out...was it a party? We think he was worried he was left behind. Ooh! Did he look guilty when we got home! Guilty and full!

Guilty As Charged!

"Losing Isaiah" Our Saturday Night Movie At Home

What a movie. Beautifully done. Powerful. So many questions. Who are we to judge? Which situation is best? or better?

A very good movie ...at home..on Netflix. Biff and I both really enjoyed the acting.

Beachy Keen

The boat is at the beach! T.J. took it out today for the season's maiden voyage...beautiful afternoonf or beach, picnics and sailing....and friends!

Beauty And The Beach

Fudge, Fudge, Call The Judge!

Mama's got a newborn bayyy-by...... well, I guess I forgot to sing some of our old jump rope songs while jumping rope yesterday. Maybe it wasn't so much "forget" as it was "couldn't sing AND jump at the same time".... Nope...not a blonde joke! For real.

Even Biff said I looked so serious that my face seemed to be frozen with fear...well, maybe that's just my determined face? Nope....it was concentration!

There were some technical difficulties...how can jumping rope have technical difficulties?

1. The rope was too long
2. I seemed to have lost my rythym...maybe that's what all of the songs were for!
3. Biff was counting for me...I felt jump rope performance anxiety!

Initially, I could barely get to ten. After adjusting the rope, I felt my six year old spirit fly.... twenty...twenty five....thirty....and I got it back! Biff walked the dogs along side while I skipped down the hill and circled back up the hill.

It sounds like a cute little hop, skip and a jump doesn't it? Well....no. I was sweating...not like a soft and dry commercial but like a marathon runner south of the border. I was panting, desperate for water. My hair was as poofed out as it could be. My legs were shaking...maybe up the hill was pushing it. But really? I'm not over the hill yet...or am I and I just didn't get the memo!

Then I remembered I had to be at an event in 25 minutes...the fun and games were over...literally! I had just showered hours before after walking the dogs to the beach...and being wagged on! Back to shower again.

I went to the event and hours later I collapsed into bed. When I woke up this morning it wasn't clear, at first, why evvverrryyyy-singggg-lllleee bone in my body felt stiff. Did I have whiplash? Fitzy doesn't pull that hard at the beach. Wow! How hard did I whip those sticks out in the water for Daisy? Lifting a few groceries?

As I plunked my body down the stairs, one step at a time, it came to me. Jump rope. Something as innocent as jump rope? Really?

I treated myself to a pedicure today! After pounding on those piggies, they needed a little lovin'. After all, it's Memorial Day weekend....beach season is official! Uh oh....better get out that jump rope again....or maybe hop scotch will do...hide and seek? or stick with low impact catching lightning bugs.

Cat-atonic?

Are you tired or listless? Do you poop out at parties? A semi-quote from.the I Love Lucy TV show. Is little Boo depressed? He's been jumping up at this commercial. Then again, if we all listen carefully to this commercial we'll all be depressed. Just listening to the advertisement is depressing! It's like they want us to be depressed...

On A Clear Day

Not! We've gone from spring to summer in 24 hours. Hazy, hot and humid...sweaty, sweatier and sweatiest. I win the prize. The dogs had a swim...smelly, smellier and smelliest. They win. I hope! What of it's me? Oh don't worry, the kids will be home soon...they'll tell me. One thing about teenagers, they tell it like it is!

just a few...
"mom! the dogs smell"
"what are you cooking? it smells gross!"
"mom, dad, please don't embarrass us"
"dad...I hate to tell you but your jokes aren't funny. So stop. Really"
"mom, what is that lipstick color? it's just wrong."
"Dad...please don't come to my game after mountain biking. You're a mess."

That's just the tip of the iceberg! Funny how each one is all about them! Except for the lipstick...and Grace was right. It wasn't my color!

Lights Out!

Do You See What I See?

To Do

I know. I know. A place for everything and everything in it's place, as mom used to say. The lawn was just mowed. the lawn. I went outside with the dogs tonight ...we have a light out in the backyard... it's out...as in needs a new bulb. It's been out for awhile now.

Life gets busy. When we enter the house in daylight, we don't think of replacing the light. When we come home in the dark, it's not a good time to replace the bulb. I suppose other people might write it on a to do list. By the time I get inside I'm on to the next thing....kids, kitties,dogs, groceries, dinner.

Tonight, I took the dogs out ...very dark...tripped over the lawn mower...walked into the front... fell over the flat motor in the front and kept going until i hit the push handle with my forehead and landed on the pushing handle...with the motor tipped up in the air behind me...my feet up in the air and out of my clogs .

It happened so fast...it hurt so much...it surprised me...it was late...i was alone. Then I realized Daisy and Fitzy were standing by me...more confused than me! I told them what happened, my frustration, my hurts....they listened. I felt better.

Head Over Heels For The Lawnmower

Sun, Sun, Sun, Here We Come

Wow! Waking up to sunshine is a delight. I feel a bounce in my step again! I feel blessed to have the energy to take on any little thing that comes my way. Most days. I especially appreciate this since my "hypothyroid" slowed me down...before I was aware of this common 40 something occurrence in my body. Slow was not a speed I was too familiar with.

Slow. Sleepy. Lethargic. Like swimming through seaweed. Was it depression? Certainly there were many life events....loss..family illnesses... big life changes that could have made that a consideration. How could that have been a possibility when l was given so many blessings for which I was most grateful. Depression isn't a flaw. It's not about grateful vs. ungrateful after all. It's chemistry.

So many things to consider when a body isn't performing at top speed! As a mom, we don't always take the time to stop and listen to our body and it's signals. Its not convenient. We have so many others to look out for.

My body finally called out. I was even becoming clumsy. That was what stopped me in my tracks....quite literally. I fell off Biff's bike(too tall) and hit my head...got a concussion...doctor...catscan...tests ....my blood test showed low thyroid which explained so much!

The change was incredible once I began taking my thyroid supplement. My energy level slowly returned. I felt like me again!

The sun is out today after weeks of very gray days! Those gray days had me wondering....is it me? Why do I feel so slow and tired? Guess what? I think the weather was taking a toll on many of us. Today is a new day with brightness and the energy all over seems better. Phew! I'm. off for a good long walk with the dogs...as usual, but with sunshine! And T.J. Oh. Did I forget to mention he was feeling under the weather today? He stayed home from school. I'm getting him out in the sunshine too, sore throat or not. The sunshine is healing....for everyone!

Snack Time!

Oh wait! Grace and T.J. are teenagers. Then why are all of the kitchen cabinets still open? They can certainly reach them these days. How about the dishes in the sink? How is it possible to fill a sink so quickly? Hey! The garbage isn't full...that's good news. Oh...not quite. Everything's all over the counters. There's more on the kitchen table. Follow the trail.....to the kids in the family room. T.V. is on. IPhone in use. Computer has music playing. The blackberry is beeping. The white noise of family.

Nevermind. I'm grateful they're home. I'm grateful that their crumbs are in our floor. I'm grateful they're sitting and talking with me. I'm grateful they're laughing together and having fun. It's all good.

It's a good thing I'm not perfect....I can lower my expectations!

No! It Was Clean YESTERDAY!

Here We Go Again

Cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. I potted the Geraniums for the deck...Impatiens in the blue ceramic pots on the front steps and Coleus for the window boxes in the back.

Inside.. so clean UNTIL the kids take over the kitchen for after school snacks. Outside...dirt...dirty...dirtier...dirtiest...all of the planting...no gloves...really dirty ...oops. Inside with sneakers...white floor...not so much anymore!

Back to the drawing board!

We Are Family

Cousins. These days it's not so easy to get everyone together....distance..family scheduling..kids' activities...work. We do our best.

Sometimes we have.to think like Nike,"Just Do It!" rather than wait. Sometimes we wait....trying to get everyone at the same time, in the same place, with the same people. That's quite the challenge.

Thanks to Facebook, we were able to coordinate a wonderful day with cousins...from Biff's side...although since we've been married, Biff and I have no "sides"....we have "our" family. It's such fun to get together at home ...share the dogs,cats, kids and tbe beach, laugh, tell stories, see things and family from a different perspective, learn little bits of family history...and have the time to really know each other...now, as adults, on our own terms.

Biff, the kids, the cousins and I had a blast! And they brought cake and cookies from one of my favorite bakeries! Coffee and bagels, beach, dinner, home for dessert and coffee...talk and a funny movie. A vacation in a bottle day!

Best of all, they're coming back soon. Think of what we might have missed if we waited until....until...until. We just did it and we're so glad we did. Simple abundance...family fun.

.

Cat Scratch Fever

Daisy and Fitzy averting their eyes ... inside they're thinking, c'mon already. You're a cat!

Just Hanging Around

Boo suddenly jumped, flew through the air and clung to the screen of the window....latched himself onto the screen. Hanging there, he seemed to be trying to prove to me that he meant to do that. Yup. Uh huh. Here I am attached to the living room window screen. Weee! Lookk at me Daisy, Fitzy, T.J. and mom! Now I'm really having fun. You bet! I'm loving it!

I sometimes feel embarrassed for Boo when he gets himself into this kind of predicament. Really. It's awkward! For all of us. HmmmmMmmmm...we' not paying attention Boo. It's. not like we feel your pain..la-di-da.

He jumps up at the windows and doors when he sees a fly, a moth or a leaf. Sadly, he jumps up on the glass and goes plummeting down...bump. Oh sure, like he meant to do that. I wasn't born yesterday. Doesn't he have any dignity?

Frankly, I don't like to offer help in these situations. I mean, Boo is a cat...it may leave him feeling less than feline. It may diminish his confidence as a cat. Maybe we won't have to let the cat out of the bag....ssshhhhhh.

To Market, To Market

Here in Connecticut, spring is officially here when the farmer's markets fill the town greens. Each market has it's own energy. Staying at the local market or visiting out of town, it's a taste of the simpler life and natural goodness.

With folk music, flowers, herbs, fish, soaps, meats and cheeses. Folks of all ages bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets scattered all over green grass, toddlers dancing and spinning, babies in backpacks, grandparents with grandchildren, tourists and teenagers

Imagine how it was long ago...the town green...the meeting place...news...families...happenings ...activities
...politics...music...the place to be. Now, some find it kitchy. Ironic. Everything old is new again.

Sun, Sun, Sun, Here We Come

Another gray day. Until it/ changes ...for awhile. I change my clothes. Grace and T.J. arrive home after school as the sun begins to shine. Yay! It's Friday. I love the weekends. Always have, always will.

The kids are exhausted by Friday. It's nice to have them laying low after school...relaxed having some "chill time"...for now. Grace has to babysit. T.J. has no plans...til tomorrow. After making some "indoor s'mores" and chatting, I was off to walk Daisy and Fitz.

We walked down to the beach....in sunshine. "Walking in Sunshine," as the song goes. Beautiful.

Kayaks are beginning to spot the racks...soon these racks will be full with colors like a pack of Lifesavers candy. The pop of color delights my eyes and reminds me it's time to get our kayaks to the beach...and the sailboat too.

Dogs swim and shake sell over...me. Who cares! It's sunny! Sea glass sparkles on the dry sand....heaven. Heavenly. Life is good. I'm grateful for the little things....I go home and change clothes...it's a bit damp. Here we go again!

Mud Room

Yes, it's true. It's Connecticut after all. Everyone has a "mud room" at the back door. Well, almost everyone. We have the back door. Oh wait...sometimes the front door. There are mud rooms that are as formal as the Oval Office and there are mud rooms as basic as hooks and a bench with everything in between. I'm not sure when the mud room came into existence…it is definitely a New England thing…certainly now that our living is just a bit  more rural than suburban. Now we have dirt, boots, sand, sneakers, dirt, hiking shoes,  sand, sandals and shoes….and paws! Lots of paws…with dogs who could use their own mud room. For the dogs, we have the ever coveted Billy Maes ShamWow as seen on TV! Don't laugh! It works! I'm a real live testimonial!

Growing up in my lovely suburban bedroom community, we didn't have mudrooms...we kept our shoes on. There was a mat to wipe our feet, even in our upscale community...just a mat. Kids just kept their shoes on....unless a mom was the type that didn't want the kids in the living room. The front door was a clue, an unwritten kid code that signaled the type of house we were entering.

As we walked in the door, instantly we could sense the atmosphere. Shoes...on or off. Check. Everything perfectly in place with no sign of life. Check. Volume in the house. Check. Some houses were ultra quiet, uncomfortably quiet. Check. Whoop! Whoop! Playdar! Our playdar went off! This is a show house....this house is fun! The mom has lots of rules. Check. Playdar let us know how to behave. Tiptoe shoes off house or skip shoes on house? By the way, the skipping, shoes on house had better snacks too!



Houses are different. Families are different. Energy kicks in right at the door...or mudroom. Just wondering, is Martha Stewart reponsible for the mudroom? What kind of energy does your home have? Really, all that matters to me...to make everyone welcome.

I try not to send the signal that I'm one of "those" moms. I don't want to be THAT mom, as Grace and T.J. say. Funny but I'm not thinking I stand a chance to be THAT mom. Byt thte way, THAT mom might run right out of our house without a specific place to keep her shoes….and we don't often wear slippers…we're not THAT family either! Don't get me started. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Weather Or Not

Weather. Everyone's talking about it. Rain. Wind. Damp. Windbreaker. Slicker. Polarfleece vest. Pants. Rainboots. Sandals. Shorts. Skirts. Sneakers. Sweater. Tee Shirts. Baseball cap. Socks. Sweatshirts.

All of the clothing worn in the last 2 days....hot. cold. steamy. damp. sunny Wndy. Blue skies. Thunder. Chilly.

3 clothing changes before 5 p.m.

Do you know what all of this means? It's back to the dungeon with a gigantic pile of laundry! Happy weekend? Don't worry...the weathers report is for partly cloudy wit some rain and maybe some sun...probably damp until it dries up...in which case it may be warm with a breeze it cold with wind unless the sun peeks out and heats things up. Maybe. Sometime. Or not.

What's a Connecticut girl to wear?