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December 10, 2012 Image

I’ve been wearin’ my cowgirl boots everywhere, except to sleep in, for several months now. I slide ‘em on with my pajamas in the early morning to walk the dog, sometimes barefoot, if thick socks aren’t at the ready. Today I had a doctor’s appointment…just an annual check up…the girl kind. Couldn’t help but smile, as I sat waitin’, all gowned up, and caught a glimpse of my discarded street clothes with boots at the ready, for when it was time to go. Home now. Glad that’s over for another year. It’s now mid-afternoon and time to walk the dog again. Boots on the sidewalk. Paws too. Haulin’ ass and tail. ~ Janean

December 10, 2012

November 26, 2012

good mornin’

I remembered to feed the dog today without a reminder from Nebraska.
Blue returned the favor by actually walkin’ on our early mornin’ walk today.
The moon was aloof and hidin’ but the stars were twinklin’ in a clouded black, still dark as night, sky.
~ Janean

November 26, 2012

November 10, 2012 Image

Note To Self: Don’t kneel on the nearby shelves while trying to rehang the drooping bedroom curtain rod, when you really should go get a proper stepping stool, because now the cheap ass shelves are broken and the curtain is all the way down. Now you have to go get the step stool anyway to fix it, stack up the books that suddenly find themselves without a home, and drag the busted shelves to the curb for garbage day on Monday. No do overs. *sigh*
~ Janean

November 10, 2012

November 10, 2012 Image

takin’ the train
and headin’ south
leavin’ town
just for the day
runnin’ to my heart home
where the eagles fly
and white tail play
goin’ to the big brown house
sittin’ high atop the bluff
the home place
thick with woods
and wild things
lookin’ out o’er the river
the mighty Miss-is-ip
Grandpa’s River
since always
travelin’ round trip

written Thursday, November 8, 2012
as I rode the southbound train from Normal to Alton, Illinois
the first leg of the trip

November 1, 2012 Image

My favorite part of today’s Art Club, with 16 students in 3rd-5th grade, was hearing one girl say on her way out the door, “I wish Art Club could be every week.” Today they drew continuous line self portraits with a black felt tip marker. No erasing was possible. Then they added color with washable Crayola markers. I made one too. *happy sigh* Now it’s time to store their artwork in a portfolio, clean up the scattered supplies, move tables and chairs, and finally head home. ~ Janean

“you’re on my optic nerve”
by Janean M. Baird
9” x 12”
marker
November 1, 2012

October 29, 2012 Image

I began writing this post on our last day of vacation in Orlando, Florida. The day we headed home. In the midst of packing suitcases, carry ons and getting everyone and everything ready to GO, I tried to post this photo and story about my youngest son, but of course when you’re time crunched is when you’re most likely to have technical difficulties. So, I quickly saved as “draft” and decided to wait and post when I could finish a thought again. It’s now Monday morning. My husband is working, my children are at school, the happy-to-be-home-again-dog is sound asleep at my feet and the glad-we’re-home-but-mad-the-dog-is-back-too-cat is plotting from the floor above. Ah, q-u-i-e-t. Just what I needed most. 

On October 26, 2012, my youngest son (age 9) woke up happy and said, “Yeah! It’s Friday! We’re not going to the parks today!” Sweet boy who is happy to be going HOME. It’s his safe spot. I packed a patterned blanket, in shades of golden brown, on his request. It’s a comfort to him. He likes the cozy, softness it offers at night – it feels like something in between fleece and velour. It was worth the luggage space I gave up to bring it along for him. He needed that extra bit of home with him this wonderful week away. A week spent under palm fronds blowing in gentle breezes and a clear blue sky above. The gray clouds and rainy moments never lasted long or dampened the fun of the trip.

We made our own fun, he and I. He was my apple this week. The crowds were a bit too much. Rides not really his thing. Especially fast, dark and loud ones. Up and at ‘em rushing to eat breakfast and catch buses didn’t feel like vacation to him. Extra desserts agreed with him just fine though! So we swam in the hotel pool nearly every day, played video games at the hotel arcade, split brownie desserts down the middle, tucked in early and watched TV or read books in the quiet of the room while his big brother and dad rode the wild rides and stayed up late, adding to the crowds. Most of my vacation pictures are of him (palm trees come in second), caught my oldest son, husband and in laws a few times too. The memories will last. The smiles too. It was a lovely vacation. ~ Janean

October 29, 2012

October 23, 2012 Image

white puffy clouds
bright blue sky
palm trees too
a day made for dreamin’
though the sun
played peekaboo
sighing sighs
the happy kind
serene smiles too
unwindin’
from the inside out
vacation days
go by too soon
real world thoughts
try to intrude
not yet
go away
it’ll keep
awhile longer
today is for palm trees
even though
the soon to be bare
maples and oaks
wait for me
at home

October 22, 2012

October 17, 2012

October 16, 2012

my day ended much the same way it began

walking my dog beneath a dark, yet starlit sky

I woke too soon this morning

4-something instead of 5-ish

I tried to go back to sleep

by 4:45am I’d given up 

and murmured to my husband, “My brain’s awake.”

as I rolled out of bed

he wryly replied, “I don’t think it ever shuts down.”

perhaps not

there are those crazy dreams sometimes

the ones I remember in a vague, bizarre way

the day itself was a good one

drove my boys to school

and I went in with ‘em

spent the morning there

sittin’ in a 5th grade classroom

mounting Art Club art on colored paper

writing out title cards for each piece

then usin’ my three step stool

to hang this mini art show in the hall

in time for Grandparent’s Day on Thursday

home around 11 to walk Blue again

made a phone call, texted with a friend

ate some soup for lunch

napped

a luxury

set my phone alarm so I’d be up in time

to walk the dog again before school let out

picked up my children

fed my parent’s cats

home again

early supper

not a fancy one

make up soccer game at 5:30

for the one we didn’t play in the rain

the sunset was spectacular

my son’s team won the game too

home for the night this time

Blue and I went ‘round the block again

evening spent in the kitchen

dishes, bills, papers

then that last starlit walk

last one ‘til early mornin’ anyway

bedtime

everyone else is tucked in

my turn…now

‘night

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

October 16, 2012