Blister Beetles – Did you know Texas has 120 varieties of a horrible little bug called a blister beetle? We see them everywhere and only recently learned what they are. One of the girls found one in her bra last week. Right now my 22 month old nephew has blisters all over his arm, blisters that [...]
Filed under: gone awry | 35 Comments »
Hubby carpools with my brother-in-law to work several days/week when their schedules permit, and on those days our van stays at the park-n-ride just a scant 5 miles from the house. On other days the carpool only includes a one-way ride to work. On those days hubby either has to drive alone just so he’ll [...]
Filed under: gone awry, pregnancy/labor | 16 Comments »
Last night, I had an old dream with a new twist. It was the common nightmare about losing your teeth – do you have that one? I’ve heard that it’s very common especially among control freaks (who? me?) and generally means that you are afraid of having the “real” you revealed – having people see [...]
Filed under: deep thoughts, gone awry | 24 Comments »
We have some broody chickens in our hen house. The Buff Orpingtons in particular think they are ready to be mothers, but they invariably let others have turns in their chosen nesting box, and the result is 18-24 eggs under one hen in the course of 2 days, far more than she can hope to [...]
Filed under: food, gone awry, pets | 35 Comments »
This morning several of the kids were down on the trampoline. The house was peaceful, but the sound of screaming drifted across the hills. I wondered aloud whether they were happy screams and Deanna voiced her opinion: Assume they’re happy until you see the blood. Actually, she’s right. That pretty well sums up how I [...]
Filed under: burning questions, gone awry, parenting | 44 Comments »
It finally happened today, in a fast-food restaurant of all places. I was forced to use the handicapped stall in the restroom because my belly was too big to let me close the door in the regular stall. I generally prefer the roominess of the handicapped stall anyway – is it bad to use it [...]
Filed under: gone awry, pregnancy/labor | 24 Comments »
We made it through my birthday without the traditional freezing of the pipes, but 2010 is a new year with troubles of its own. We woke up Friday to dry taps in the tub, and only cold water in the kitchen and bathroom sinks. We’re hardy, pioneering stock so we didn’t panic. We heated water [...]
Filed under: gone awry | 16 Comments »
There’s a first time for everything. Today as I was leaving Costco, I was rear-ended by the vehicle behind me. Legally, I’m sure it was her fault, but under the circumstances I completely understand why it happened and I feel partly responsible. I was turning left out of the Costco driveway. There was no traffic [...]
Filed under: gone awry | 11 Comments »
If the water in the toilet is going up instead of down, let go of the handle. NOW. If the water in the toilet bowl is already overflowing, it’s still a good time to LET GO OF THE HANDLE. NOW. If you are transfixed with horror at the growing flood surrounding you and your hand [...]
Filed under: gone awry | 12 Comments »
Yesterday, The Boy took a long nap in my bed. When he finally woke up, he headed straight for his room and shut the door. “What are you doing in there?” I called after him. “Oh, I’m changing my clothes. I peed when I was sleeping.” “You what?!” He emerged looking a little sheepish and [...]
Filed under: Boys, gone awry | 23 Comments »
…to shut the door! The weather has cooled beautifully here in south Texas. The sweating has come to an end, and we’re enjoying the sort of fall weather that leaves us with silly grins on our faces. But the mornings can be chilly sometimes, and we’re putting off the trip to the storage shed for [...]
Filed under: gone awry, madness, mom needs sleep | 15 Comments »
Becca just came to me out of breath, straight from the henhouse. “Mom! I think one of the chickens is sick!” me: “How do you know, honey?” Becca: “She was still on the roost, and I was petting her and she was making a noise like this: wheeze! gasp! wheeze! gasp! hack! hcckhpbbt! And then [...]
Filed under: gone awry, pets | 25 Comments »
Heart attack #1 I had my first heart attack of the day a few minutes ago. I’m out grocery shopping. At my first stop, I used the restroom. An employee had just finished cleaning and was leaving as I went in. It was quiet, and I thought the restroom was empty. I entered the stall [...]
Filed under: gone awry, mom is neurotic | 18 Comments »
Today did not go according to plan. We left the house at 6 AM – all 11 of us, dressed according to the highest Vision Forum code. We were wearing our khaki skirts and white shirts for the annual staff photo. We didn’t technically have to leave at 6, but leaving later just doesn’t leave [...]
Filed under: gone awry | 18 Comments »
I think we all have this list tucked away somewhere, and everyone’s list looks different. Here’s the Headmistress’s list. I would love to know what’s on yours. First, a few basics: If you learned it from Calvin and Hobbes, it’s probably not allowed. Emulate The Three Stooges and Little Rascals with great caution. Don’t be [...]
Filed under: gone awry, humor, madness, parenting | 33 Comments »
