A rat named Steve.

We live out in the boonies and have empty barns at the moment. A rat. Yep a real one has decided that he likes us. Now, we have four. Yep count them FOUR inside cats. Large Maine coon cats. Cats the size of medium size dogs. And this rat,(Whom I've named Steve) just walks right past them on our lower outside mud room landing. The cats just look at him as if he is a long lost friend. They don't pounce, hiss, jump or act like they are going to devour him in any way. He just takes his time and walks on by. The first time he popped out I swear the entire house heard me scream and run back into the house slamming the kitchen door behind me. The cat looked at Steve, he at the cat as if to say..."What the heck is with her? why is she making all that noise?" What could he possibly have to blackmail my four cats with? that's what I want to know? why else would he still be around and not have become 'Steve tar tar' by now.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. May your day be filled with love and peace, ever how you celebrate. Whether it is loud or quiet. Crowded or alone. May it be exactly what you wish it to be.

living in the tundra

On Friday we survived an ice storm. Everything is still covered in two inches of solid ice. The cars, house, every surface. Yet we never completely lost power. Yeah, it blinked on and off dozens of times, but never stayed off for more than a few seconds. But we didn't far so lucky yesterday. The storm with winds and wind chills blasted through the Midwest with a fury. The wind chill here stayed at around -30 below. Our power went out at around 9am. It finally came back on for us at nine thirty last night. It took all night with the furnace running non stop for the house to finally get warm.

I finally went back to work yesterday for four hours of all days. The cashiers actually had to wear hats and gloves because it was so cold at the front of the store. And the store was packed because so many people had no power at home. Our power at work kept blinking on and off all morning to I guess.

And this week...snow. But, I'd take snow over the ice and Arctic blast anytime.

Dear Santa

On my Christmas list this year Dear Santa, there are a few people that I would like it if you could could drop a city crane right down on their little stress inducing heads. That just would be a fine and dandy gift. And if you can't get around to it Santa, I'm sure your good pal Paulie three thumbs could manage. Yes, Virginia, Santa is Connected. How else do you think he manages to get though five boroughs so fast without any permits or (add air quotations) any ""hangups"".

Sam

We've come to the conclusion that our youngest dog Sam...is either reincarnated-or just the run of the mill nut job. Leaning towards the latter.
Every morning he has somehow gotten a steak knife and has it lying on the sofa. EVERY MORNING.
The other morning the there were TWO knives I asked in if he were a ninja?
This morning? a knife and a soup ladle and in my best Julia Childe voice I said 'TODAY, WE ARE MAKING BORSCHT' So, there he's Julia come back. Megan said "Maybe he pretends to cook" lol. I have no idea he does. But they are all strange. But somehow they fit in with the rest of us misfits.

A Halloween gift.

Look what the universe gave me today. Halloween babies. Isn't he cute? I was walking into my kitchen and heard little mewing. I looked around, pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and there he was with his mama lying on the chair. I honestly didn't know she was due already. I thought another week or two. I'm surprised he didn't fall off the chair. But he was already clean and dry when I heard him.

Since taking this picture his mama has added to her brood. Another all white kitten and two gray striped babies. All so cute. Mama cat is black and white. Mostly white. We've never had a solid white one before and now we have two.

Costumes

I was watching something last night and they were talking about 'what was the worst costume you ever had?'
My kids and I started trying to think of a few.
We couldn't think of the worst per se but I did come up with the not so brightest one.

When my son was in kindergarten. I had planned his costume, made the costume and stuck him to it.

Back story: my mom was really sick. She was dying. And as chance would have it she died the day before Halloween. Well, even though you expect something, you really don't have a clear head. You just go through the motions.
I had already made the costumes, everything was set and ready to go. The morning of Halloween I dressed my kids, tucking and pinning and glue gunning them to perfection....Yes, glue gunning. I don't know what I was thinking. Probably about the hundred other things that had to get done by six pm before the wake began, but as I was putting my five year old into his scarecrow costume....I glue gunned his sleeves tight over his wrists so the raffia would stay in place. I never thought anything of it. Not until I picked them up after school to take them trick or treating before heading forty miles to the wake. I noticed his sleeves weren't the same and asked about it. Poor thing gave me a look...
"Miss Goodman had to cut me out." Why I asked innocently. "Cause I had to PEE! mom you glue gunned me in. I couldn't get out to go to the bathroom."
OMG I was so embarrassed. And to the teachers credit and my un dying gratitude she laughed it off bless her heart.

So that was the year that my kids all attended their grandmothers wake dressed as a scarecrow, Vanna White and a Rock star.