I am so ready for overwhelmed to stop being my understatement!

A friend of mine posted that on her fb several weeks ago and I just keep thinking of how perfectly she hit the nail on the head! I have never been so mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. A room full of 6 and 7 year olds can take a toll on an out of shape woman my age!

Don't get me wrong, I am loving it, there is just so much to do and not nearly enough hours in a day, days in a week, or weeks in a year to get it all done in. Then to come home and muster up more energy to help with homework, grocery shop, cook, clean up, do some laundry, rush off to soccer and swim practice, pay too many bills with too little money, take care of the critters, deck the halls...you get the point.

This was a marathon that I was not adequately trained to run so I am building my stamina the hard way. So far the cost has been losing "me time" completely, losing my patience on most days, and by far the biggest cost has been losing my sense of humor. I am missing it and could get through this learning curve of life much easier if I had it back. Any information on it's whereabouts would be greatly appreciated. Even tips on where to start looking for it are welcome.

It is Thanksgiving and I do have plenty to be thankful for...my family {even when they drive me nuts}, my job {even when it sucks me dry}, financial stability {even when there is not a dime left over at the end of the month}, my friends {even when our lives get so busy we don't see or talk to each other for weeks}, and my Saviour {even though I continually fall short of who and what he wants me to be}.

I know I won't be so overwhelmed forever - at least not by the same things that are leaving me feeling so overwhelmed right now. So onward I go, up and out of this chair to make cakeballs to take for Thanksgiving dessert (yeah, I know it's not pumpkin pie, but the in-laws are choco-holics and this was the request) I wish you both - I think I might have two readers who stop by - a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

I found this on another blog and loved it so I thought I would share . . .

If I were a month I’d be April

If I were a day I’d be Saturday

If I were a time of day I’d be 7am

If I were a font I’d be Harrington

If I were a sea animal I’d be a dolphin

If I were a direction I’d be South

If I were a piece of furniture I’d be an hammock

If I were a liquid I’d be water

If I were a gemstone I’d be a sapphire

If I were a tree I’d be a live oak

If I were a tool I’d be a paint brush

If I were a flower I’d be a pincushion flower

If I were an element of weather I’d be sun

If I were a musical instrument I’d be a piano

If I were a color I’d be blue

If I were an emotion I’d be content

If I were a fruit I’d be a canteloupe

If I were a sound I’d be laughter

If I were an element I’d be silver

If I were a car I’d be a '47 Buick Roadmaster or '91 Jeep Wagoneer

If I were a food I’d be fruit

If I were a place I’d be home

If I were a material I’d be cotton

If I were a taste I’d be lemon

If I were a scent I’d be lilac

If I were a body part I’d be an eye

If I were a song I’d be Into the Mystic by Van Morrison

If I were a bird I’d be a chickadee

If I were a gift I’d be homemade

If I were a city I’d be small

If I were a door I’d a Dutch door

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be flip flops

If I were a poem I’d be The Grass So Little Has To Do ~ Emily Dickinson


So, what would you be?

The Circle of Life

It was a sad week at the Baum Farm. We lost a family member of the four legged variety. Choowey, Cameron's teddy bear hamster, died. It was the first time we have ever had to address death with the kids. It just broke my heart to see my boy holding his lifeless friend cupped in his hands, perfectly still, as the realization set in the he was gone. The face of my son who is generally happy, turned to one of total dispair and a sob that I have never heard came pouring forth. After lots of hugs and incomprehendable mutterings from him, we found just the right box for Choowey and placed him inside. The next morning Cameron told me he had thought of just the right place to bury him. He wanted to put him next to the rosebush outside the kitchen window. He said he would be protected from the dogs or anything else getting him because of the thorns. While he was at school, Daddy dug the hole right where Cameron wanted it. When we all got home from school, we gathered around the hole, place the box inside, and all said something nice about Choowey. We filled his grave and then Cameron and Daddy had to head off to soccer. After they returned from soccer, Cameron assured me that he is still only 8 (about to be 9) and that he would recover from this tragedy when he asked immediately if I would take him to the pet store to get another hamster. We went. Now we have CJ. That is short for Choowey Jr. Ah, the circle of life.

Way Too Many Projects Going On . . .

It has been a busy week at the "Baum Farm" this week. The babies arrived on Tuesday and they are as sweet as can be. They are changing already. Wow! And I thought Meg and Cam were growing up too fast! I have gotten two very different reactions from people who know we chickens now: "THAT IS SO COOL!" and "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU THINKING?" Both said with equal emphasis. There is no in between, no casual "yeah, that's nice." But as for me and the kids, we couldn't be more thrilled! I will post pics as soon as I find my battery charger for my camera.

We also started the garden this weekend and I still have some plantings to finish up this week. We have tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, green beans, canteloup, chives, and Meg wanted to try corn - that one should be interesting! Our peach tree only has 4 blooms on it...I really hope that is not a sign of it not producing much fruit this summer. I think I almost have Larry convinced that we should add a pear tree and a plum tree to the yard too. We will see, our yard isn't that big.

Mom was here today to help paint Meg's room. It has been the same bright yellow with a bunny chair rail border for over 11 years and as her 11th birthday approaches, we thought she should have a room that reflects who she is now. Though I will miss the bunnies, the calming tropical hues of blue, green, beige and brown certainly says "This is Meg's space!" Again, pics to follow once the camera is charged and working.

I also have a garage sale find bookshelf that I was hoping to show off as my first addition to "Metamorphosis Monday" hosted on Between Naps on the Porch but alas, with no camera, there are no pictures to post just yet. Now, even though I don't have my first Meta Monday posting, I already have project no.2 in the works too.

Oh, and did I mention I just finished knitting my first cap and scarf. I think I said something about way too many projects going on. =)

I'm sorry, do I know you?

As middle age creeps closer and closer, I find myself looking in in mirror and barely recognizing the reflection looking back. The morphing middle aged woman's body that stares back doesn't fit with the 20 something image my head is still clinging desperately to.

It all started with the kids. Boy, I sure do love them and the mark they have made on my heart but the marks they left on my belly. . . um, not so much. I addapted to the "decorated" belly, and accepted the fact that I would never in my life wear a two piece swimsuit again.

Now, y'all probably don't know this, but I love rabbits. Been collecting them for years. But the gray hairs on my head don't have the same appeal as the cute hares hiding all around my house. But for lack of my willingness to deal with the upkeep of coloring my hair, I am learning to embrace the changing appearance of life's seasons on my head.

Fast forward a decade from when the changes first started to take hold and Larry is hit by a lay off. By my calculations, which should be accurate as I am a math teacher afterall, I have found 1.33 pounds of "comfort" for every week Larry spent out of work. This, I am not so accepting of. Especially since he is working again and I certainly haven't lost a pound for every week that he has been employed! It is time to take action. It is time to start moving.

Now, I don't have hopes of becoming the next spokesperson for nutrisystem, jenny craig, or weight watchers and shopping to replace a wardrobe at a size that I have no desire to stay at is out of the question so . . . the more affordable alternative would simply be to eat better, and get off of my fanny.

This is all part of my decision to finally bring the country to the burbs. I can teach the kids (both my offspring and students at school) all kinds of things from raising the chicks, planning, planting, tending the garden, and composting (there is math and science and writing opportunities hiding all over the place in those tasks). And . . . I have to get up and move . . . A LOT. And the end result will be healthier food for my family, a healthier mom physically, smarter young 'uns, and the dream of being a country girl achieved (even if it looks a little different than I always imagined it would). Not bad. I think it could be fun getting to know the stranger staring back at me . . . she sounds kinda cool!

I know the due date!!!

If you read my last post then you know that I am expecting . . . baby chicks. I just got the conformation email about when my new brood will be arriving. They will hatch on either March 8th or 9th and I should have them by the 10th or 11th!!! That is almost a whole month earlier than expected. I just hope I am ready by then. In case you are wondering how I will get the chicks . . . they will travel via the US Postal Service. Scary, huh? They are shipped when they are just a day old so that they have the nutrient of their yolk sack and have to be sent in groups no smaller than 5 so that they have each other for warmth (along with something they ship with them to help keep them warm) . . . crazy!

There is still lots of work to do: setting up the brooder and finishing the coop. Meg and Cam are so excited. We get to cash in the change we have collected in our "chicken jar" so we can finish getting supplies. I hope we actually have some decent weather coming so we can work outside. We need to get the garden started and the coop ready, but with the foot of snow we got last Thursday that has all melted, the yard is a muddy, messy swamp. I'm sure all will work out, the baby chicks will have to spend their first 5 to 6 weeks in the brooder anyway! Just had to share the news!!

There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens . . .

I have officially lost my mind. I am the expectant mother to 5 Silkie Bantam chicks! I think I am more excited than the kids. All of those years that mom and dad wouldn't let me have all the different animals I wanted, I am making up for lost time. With 2 dogs, 3 hamsters, and 5 chicks I just wonder what will be next. Rabbits? Goats? I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I probably shouldn't say anything since we have a pretty strict HOA. Currently there are no rules or regulations against having these animals but I have little doubt that as soon as someone catches wind of the critters on the Baum's Suburban Farm they will be all over creating new rules about them just because they can. Don't you just love those personality types? You know the ones that like to create rules for the sake of creating them and enforcing them just because they can, but when it comes down to it, they are not subject to follow the same rules. Yeah, that is our HOA. Oh well, what can I say, this city girl has always had dreams of the country and the reality is I probably won't get there, so I am doing what any determined woman would do and I am bringing the country to the city and lovin' it!