My Little Soapbox

One of my favorite times of the day right now is after the hustle and bustle of breakfast when I have my morning coffee while the boys have their morning playtime. For some reason we’ve fallen into what I’ve begun to love a quiet, easing into our day. I’m letting them choose how to play but they are consistently choosing to start with some quiet building or action figure play. Me - well I’m sipping my coffee, checking my blogs, catching up on emails and looking out my window.

Today the boys were playing quietly building structures with legos. When it happened that I was glancing out the window while gathering my thoughts on wording for a sentence (working on a website update).  I suddenly caught by a quick flicker of movement. I was then delighted with the view of my ruby-throated hummingbird visiting my hosta flowers. I immediately wished for my camera but I knew it was to far away. So I just stopped. I just stopped and watched my pretty flying friend.

And I enjoyed the view out of my window.

I still don’t have pictures yet but I have a new set of batteries. So progress has been made! I realized two months ago that if I don’t make a conscious effort to pick up the camera I’m letting it sit for days. I want to have lots of blurry photos to choose from so I need to make sure to pick my camera up a few days a week!

Our phones are out which sucks just a little because one I was on the phone when the land line was cut. We’re assuming a construction issue since it was abrupt and audbily “snapped” off. And my cell is on the fritz too. I’m blaming the wind and rain because I really don’t want to think that I’m going to be stuck with crappy phone coverage for two years. We should just give up and admit we live in a cell phone dead zone. We’ll have fantastic coverage everywhere but here. It is the one reason we still have a land line.

And finally the constant slow moving storms of this week are sucking the sleep right out of my night. I was up last night watching as the latest one rolled through. The wind was very strong so I popped on the TV to check the weather. Prairie City had a tornado/severe winds nearby - that is a little to close for comfort. So needless to say it wasn’t until it finally rolled on past I relaxed enough to sleep.

Well yesterday was a very full day for myself and the boys. In the morning we had to take both Gram & Gramps over to the eye doctor. Driving after having ones eyes dilated isn’t such a good idea so we drove. While they were busy getting said eyeballs checked the boys and I ran a few errands.

First stop was to checkout a new dog kennel for Harley. First problem is that we are trying to hedge our bets where he’ll end up when he’s full grown. Second problem the crates are all folded up and in cardboard boxes so it was difficult to get a visual. (The one’s the store had set-up were way up top on the highest shelves! Hello?! I’m only a little over 5ft tall people *rolls eyes*) After a quick call to Mr. Numbers we decided we probably would be getting the one sized crate they didn’t have in the store. Ah well on to the next stop….

Next up was a local children’s thrift where we were to be looking for a baby container/exersaucer for our baby-sitting job next week. No luck there but as long as we were in the store I though “let’s check the dress shoes” Jr. has managed to be outfitted in a fairly nice khaki pants and yellow dress shirt but we still needed shoes. How’s this for a score: Doc Martens in Jr.’s size that look practically brand NEW for $15! Awesome!

Then a quick stop by another children’s thrift - no luck there either. Finally my brain kicked in and I called a friend. Luck is with me she’s got an exersaucer I can borrow!! Then we were off again this time for a short stop at the fabric shop. Found some cutesy fabric for my clothes pin apron! Then to the spice store where I picked up a new chili powder mix for chili. (Ate chili made with it last night Yum!)

Then a quick dash back to pick up the grandparents. And a healthy chuckle on the way after getting a phone call from a friends saying “you just walked past us!” Too funny! Picked up the grandparent and the children implored them for LUNCH. Which we grabbed. Then since were already over on that side of town we squeezed in three more errands. One being to the learning store which didn’t have what I wanted but at least now I know. And two for the grandparents.

Finally headed home at 2pm. I was feeling pretty good about all that we packed in for the day and TIRED. After we got home we headed outdoors for awhile and puttered in the gardens. We’re still trying hard not to get ahead of the weather but its tough when you see all that dirt waiting to be filled up with plants!!

We’re spring cleaning here at our house. Purging old and putting things back in the proper places. It’s keeping us busy that’s for sure. I’m also doing some spring cleaning here at the blog too so if something gets wonky let me know though it may take me a full day or two to get it all done. Time to myself is at a premium yet for the next week and a half.

This week has been dreary as hell and its putting a huge damper on us all. I’m am hoping fervently for a warm up and a day full of sunshine.

With Mr. Numbers still only having one full day off of work a week, we have been slowly falling into a very large state of chaos. This year is easier on many counts than say the last five but on one its been much harder to manage. This year the boys are both more vocal about missing Daddy and they can say it in ways that hit right to your heart.

So yesterday in an attempt to ward away the chaos and fill the boys’ time meters we were outside and busy all day long. This was good on many counts! One the boys spent time with us and were happily helping with the work. Two we managed to dig, rake and scoop a pretty good chunk of our main lawn out from under the leaves. And finally it was nice to settle into a routine of working and discussing with Mr. Numbers. The caveat to tax season that often goes unsaid here is that the boys get Daddy first and well…..I just have to wait. By some miracle we have managed for the last six years not to significantly fall off the deep end and have still gotten bills paid all without really talking to each other for about the last four weeks of tax season.

So it was nice yesterday to be spring cleaning and just talking. I think it made everyone feel better and more strengthened for these last few weeks of busy, busy Mr. Numbers.

For awhile now I’ve been of the serious opinion that there is a power that is generated in a circle of women. And that its sole purpose is to imbue each of us within it the energy to recharge ourselves as women, mothers, daughters and friends. To empower us to do what needs done in our respective lives.
What a refreshing breathe of air after such a long winter it was to sit with several of my women friends. Its been a good long while since I’ve sat with a circle of women and just enjoyed the banter and most importantly the laughter. The laughter I sometimes think is the real power that we share between ourselves