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!

Wow . . . where to start?

It has been 10 months since I last blogged. Life and all I guess got in the way. But today I have time as I am home with two sick kids. The luck of the Irish had to run out sometime . . . especially for a family that sports a German last name. Cameron still thinks he is going to play in the soccer game tonight - HA. Momma knows better: as the sun goes down, the fever goes up. Seeing that his game isn't until 7:15, I bet he will be back to three digits. You gotta respect his determination though - the boy is a hardcore soccer player.
We have had some fun and not so fun stuff going on in our household. Let's see . . . going all the way back to February, Larry was laid off rather unexpectedly from his job. Didn't see that one coming at all. So daddy got a good taste of everything momma did staying home with the kids all those years. I think he has a new found respect. Not to mention a whole new attitude. He is way less stuffy and serious since getting out of an engineering office. He swallowed his pride and just before the beginning of the school year, he tested for his commercial drivers license and took a job driving a bus for the district. A fraction of the income, but I think he is really having fun doing it - especially driving the high school band on Friday nights. He has also had more free time and is coaching Cam's soccer team and doing a great job at it!
We took our annual trip to Galveston with the in-laws again this summer. Lots of fun was had by all. The kids saw more sharks this year on the beach, which they thought was really cool.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go camping with Meg's Girl Scout troop. I am not very good at roughing it but we had a lot of fun despite having to sweep the daddy long leg spiders that were the size of my hand off of the tent walls and ceiling before going to bed. Needless to say, I overcame may anxiety and fears over the weekend. But we did learn to kayak and painted our nails with glow in the dark polish.
And if that wasn't enough fun, this past weekend the kids entered their hamsters in a Hamster Ball Derby. We do have champion hamsters . . . Muffin took 1st place and Chewy took 3rd. It was very cute and we won enough hamster supplies to keep the little guys fed and fluffed for at least a month or two.
Well, the girl wants to play a game of chess so I guess I will oblige. She is way too pathetic all sniffly, stuffy and feverish to turn down.

A Quiet Christmas

Well it was a pretty quiet Christmas around here. We all went to Austin on the 20th and came home on the 23rd. Mom and dad went too. It was nothing like the Griswald's Christmas Vacation. No loose squirrels, obnoxious lights, or cousin Eddie. Mom did get a new puppy for Christmas though - that was lots of fun!

I guess the kids were good this year as Santa brought them their number 1 wishes on their lists. C-man wanted a shiatsu message chair - yes, you read that right (not sure if I spelled it right!) - and M wanted a teddy bear hamster. Santa did mess up on the hamster and got 2 dwarf Chinese hamsters which were a bit of a disappointment so I had to return them and get 2 teddy bear hamsters the day after Christmas. Who knew there was such a difference in hamsters? I kind of had the thought that a rat is a rat is a rat. Not so. I have to admit these are fun little pets. The kids put them in there exercise balls and they have races down the hall. Very cute . . . kind of like Rhino in the movie Bolt.

The other big and exciting gift was Rock Band. Yes, we have moved up from Guitar Hero that only one of us could play at a time to a full band of guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. It is a full family affair - and quite a sight!

It's funny, since going back to work full-time, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks have felt more like a vacation than they have in years. Lots of sleep, lounging, and shopping - things I usually have no time for.

Hope you too had a peaceful Christmas!