around the house

pear-flavored iced green tea with peach-flavored jelly cubes
dirty window sills
jackets in baskets
giggles, tattoos, and silly faces

our backyard

for 6 1/2 months now
it wasn't til last month that I looked up
and saw that we are once again surrounded by lucky beans
but somehow not too many of them fall on the ground
maybe it's a seasonal thing

but see, we have a system
someone here set up men on posts, instructed to report beans as they hit the ground
we have eight men stationed in the woods
all beans will be spotted and collected

she wants her soup

There hasn't been much going on around here lately; but I said I'll be here more, so here goes...



This is pretty much what we do around here. Eat. :)
And this is pretty much the whole house. To the left is the rest of the kitchen. The door on the left leads to the laundryroom which leads to the backyard. Right across the stove is our bathroom. I took the pictures sitting on our couch. Behind it are two rooms, one is our bedroom and the other our everything room. Our front door is somewhere to the right.
There is no space unused. No dim hallways. No dark corners. Just windows. Lots and lots of windows. :D

more than a puddle

After two days of heavy rain, our backyard is now a pond.
In one afternoon we've had countless paperboat and flip flop races, spider rescues and dragonfly chases. We stayed out there until we started to get this really crazy itch.


Next time it floods I think I'll surprise them with a rowboat.

And just one more photo because Maku wanted to show everyone he was wearing his heartburn shirt.

not quite quiet

Spring break is over and it is quiet in the house again. For a whole week, life was all fun and games. We had a lot of outside fun, I got rid of my farmer's tan and now have the worst tan line ever - sunglasses tan. I never thought I'd end up with reverse-raccoon eyes but I guess there is a first time for everything.

And since I am in the topic of raccoons, we were awakened (again) last night by their squealing. They mate quite viciously. It is almost the end of their mating season and almost the end of our season of sleeping with windows wide open so I say that was a pretty good finale.

the forest, the plan

We finally cleared the path that leads from our backyard to an oak-pine preserve. There was something so captivating in walking through trails where all the nighttime grunts and growls, cracklings and weep-woppings that we hear from our bedroom window come from. We hiked a few yards through a soft carpet of pine needles until we reached a creek. Another trail led to an open field -- just perfect for flying kites, playing tag and soccer practice. It sure beats our old fairy spot.
Dave will be at the creek today clearing out some dead branches and thorny vines. He thought he had the reason he's been waiting for to own a machete until I suggested that the garden scissors will do.
Snow's birthday is coming up, we will surprise the children with a small picnic. Raccoons and opposums invited.

here's to 99 more

A lovely morning to you all. Celebrating my 99th post with a cuppa.
Kissing Maku's pillow-creased cheek and smelling the faint sweet smell of dried up drool across his little face. Ew. Maybe sweet to me but sour to everyone else.
I haven't been posting much since the move. I somehow lost my routine and am still figuring things out in the new place. I want to paint the kitchen walls pink. Doesn't everything look yummier in pink?

I moved the children's books from their bedroom to the living room, which Snow now calls the room of knowledge. We have books of the week on display for discussion. One of last week's pick was Hansel and Gretel, we are still taking votes on who is more clever.
We spent the afternoon at the beach yesterday. It turned out to be the most interesting and memorable visit yet. I'll tell you about it later, my cuppa is getting cold.

stage fright

The musicians are out of the box and on a shelf.

A shelf that is a bit too low and Maku now sees them as irresistible target practice.
Bonk. Bonk. Bonk. Kapow!

so far so good

This was breakfast on the second morning in our new 'old' home.
It has been over a week since we moved in and done are the days of take-out food and guilt-free use of paper plates and napkins.
The garage is still a mess, the shower leaks and the dishwasher is not draining properly but the coffee maker is set up and the bidet installed - and that's all that really matters. ^.^

The children are keeping busy designing board games. This is Snow's game, a path from our new home to the pet shop.

And this is Jin's. A fun and challenging game that walks you through the new neighborhood. It even comes with detailed instructions.

I am so happy to be back. ^o^ There is so much to catch up on.

the Monday after

The girls are back to school after a five-day break. Snack time was lonely with two seats empty but Maku and I kept busy.

One of the things we did was play hide-and-go-seek.
"Maku, why don't you go hide while I start the laundry."
"Okay, Mom. I'll be hiding in the hammock just in case you can't find me."

Captain Sniffles and First Mate Sneezies

My apologies for the unexpected break. Maku and I had the flu (so much for a good week). We are feeling much better now but sadly it is my niece's turn to be sick. (Feel better soon, Jin! )

Strange things happen when you are all cooped up in the house looking out to a beautiful sunny day --

the couch becomes your ship...

...and you easily fall overboard!

the office

What was supposed to be Maku’s bedroom was Dave’s office for a short while. He was hardly ever in there so I claimed it as mine. ^o^
I've barely finished painting and fixing up my space and now it's not mine anymore. The room is now our craft room but we still call it the office.

That's my sister Elaine's sewing machine; she trusts me enough to let me use it. I haven't figured out how to thread it, but red seems to work...for now.