Saturday

June 29, 2013 Image

I baked the cake I promised my boys yesterday, after I said, “No” at the grocery store. They were both drooling over a display of square cakes near the bakery decorated in patriotic red, white and blue. Two heart shaped chocolate cakes are cooling atop the oven now. Those two cake loving boys are still sleeping which meant I got to lick the beaters, bowl and spatula all by myself. It’s a good thing I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror to clean the telltale chocolate cake batter off of my face before they wake up. I’m tackling the thistle roots in the garden next. It must be Saturday morning.

June 29, 2013

June 8, 2013

kitchen thoughts

blue skies and sunshine today
birdsong too
the boys in my house are still sleeping
even that big dog, Blue
once home from our walk
he fell back asleep
looks like he’s crashed for awhile
I’m putting coffee on and cooking an egg
“blue skies and sunshine”
the title of the painting I did
as part of a public mural
one rectangle among many
to decorate the downtown
I painted within a panoramic rectangle
sized 10’ wide by 3’ tall
while balancing atop scaffolding two stories up
that was a year ago
(yet it seems further away)
today I’m reminiscing
because it’s mural dedication day
complete with blue skies and sunshine
which feels very apropos

June 8, 2013
as of 7:40 a.m. on Saturday morning

May 25, 2013 Image

I found a seven of hearts while on my morning walk with Blue today. Of course I picked it up, sort of unearthed it, from where it was lying. The whole card is there, folded over and stuck together, with grass and dirt in the middle. Does anyone know the name of the movie where the male lead found playing cards in random places and ALWAYS picked them up? I know I didn’t imagine it, and admittedly it’s driving me crazy that I can’t quite recall. Google doesn’t often let me down, but today it did. I KNOW this was a plot point in at least one romantic comedy. The question is, WHICH ONE?! (Perhaps it’s time to have some coffee?) ~ Janean

May 25, 2013

May 18, 2013 Image

I’m letting Blue dog curl up next to me in the empty love seat spot
There is a doorknob jangle
Nearly 8:00am
First boy is out of bed
My oldest, The Early Bird (like me)
He saw Blue on the love seat and said, “Oh boy. Mom!”
Then he pet Blue and said, “Look at him. He likes this I betcha.”
Yep. He does. Spoiled rotten love him too much Blue dog.
Nearly 9:00am now
Youngest son joins us in the family room and says, “There’s another Blue on the couch.”
To the dog he says, “Blue, you’re in my spot.”
What follows made me laugh aloud…
Youngest boy climbs across arm of love seat, surprised dog gets down, then once my nine year old son is tucked tightly up against my side, Blue jumps up again in the space remaining
Quiet from earlier is replaced with a WWII show from History channel being played back via DVR
Saturday morning has truly begun
Blue is even sleeping on the floor
Breakfast for the boys is next
Good morning

May 18, 2013

May 18, 2013

morning calm

quiet stillness
except for a l’il birdsong
dog’s tags jingle
children sleeping in
my breakfast gone
one cup o’coffee left
Saturday morning

P.S. All I have to do is say or think, “Ahhh, quiet” and it disappears in less than two seconds. Next thing I knew Blue was wild woofing out the front window. Silly dog doesn’t understand that on Saturday his boys get to sleep in because there is no school today. Once the woofing stopped he started racing around like Rodeo Dog going for first prize in the Barrel Racing Competition. Now?! Well, I shouldn’t admit it, but I let him curl up next to me on the other half of the love seat. We’d done such a good job keeping the dog on the floor until recently when he sort of snuck up onto the couch to try it out. I shoo him down again…eventually. Amazingly enough, my two sweet boys are still sleeping, tuckered out from the last five day school week, with just a few more days to go before Summer Vacation arrives. That last cup o’coffee is nearly gone.

May 18, 2013

March 18, 2013 Image

On Friday at the post office, I thought of my Grandma Thompson as I selected several sheets of “pretty stamps.” I chose Rosa Parks. Along the side reads in great big block letters, “COURAGE.” Quiet, strong, steady, resilient, tough, unwavering, standing tall, because she knew she was right, woman kind o’courage. Best of all, other than that initial confrontation, she didn’t stand alone.
~ Janean

written Saturday, March 16, 2013
posted Monday, March 18, 2013

February 9, 2013 Image

At 10:30 a.m. this morning my youngest son and I indulged in ice cream. Don’t judge. The M&M bowl was for him. I’m in full on Mom Mode today. First, I ate the two unwanted heels of bread toasted, with my over easy egg. THEN, I scooped strawberry ice cream into my bowl, after carefully just dishing chocolate and vanilla for my sweet boy. Doggone neapolitan. The ice cream aisle was sorta bare that day…

February 9, 2013

December 8, 2012 Image

I very much enjoyed the ISU String Project concert this morning. My oldest son is the violinist third from the left in front. *yes I know he looks like a white and black spec, but it’s him* I tapped my booted toes, smiled my proud mama smile, sang along to The Monkey Song and took the ipad away from my youngest son for the three songs his big brother played.