Thoughts of home

There is so much more than four walls and a ceiling to a home. It's also more than a place to go for shelter.
It is where so much life happens. It's where your kids play with their toys. It's where your pets chase each other across the floor. It's where you cook, sleep, clean, laugh, cry, dream and hope. And mostly love.

It has been one of those days that I found myself reflecting on my immediate life.
Why? Because I am happy. Sure, I could use more money, and would be great if I got all that I've lent out back. Promises promises, right??!
But I can't help but smile.
I love my family (including my boyfriend in that statement!), my home, my goofydoodle Dixon.
After school today, we came home and played outside with her flying horses. Mine chased hers, hers knocked mine out of the sky (!). Then we had a simple dinner and decided to go to the park.
I chased her as I usually do, around the playground. Caught her as she came down the slide backwards. "Daddy, don't forget to catch me!"
Lots of laughing, lots of smiles- like a good, warm spring day should be.
On the walk back she asked if I could carry her. I asked if she wanted to ride on my shoulders (always the best for the back!), and she said no, to hold her. So I picked her up and she wrapped her arms around my neck and said in a tired voice she loves me. That made the ache go away, the walk go a little faster, and my heart swell even more.
It's no wonder I am happy!

Mom's Day

Mothers Day!
If I were a person who designed cards for a living and needed to come up with one that embodied what my mom means to me, I think it would be the largest card EVER!
Some words to describe her would be:
Loving
Caring
Kind
Teacher
Nurturer
Wound healer (both physical and emotional)
Role model
Wonder woman
Enabler of our dreams
Thoughtful
Awesome grandmother, awesome mother
Protector
Very giving
Selfless for her children
Generous

So, as I am sitting here in my office at work writing this and getting all teary eyed, I'm also laughing, because as a card writer, how in the heck would you make that all rhyme?!?!
So, Happy Mothers Day, MOM!!! I love you, Olivia loves you, and I can speak for all my siblings, WE ALL LOVE YOU!!

I had a few hours yesterday to myself and decided to take Dixon, our puppy, to the dog beach.
We got there, and he was so excited! He bounced around before taking off to meet new friends.
Now there were big dogs, little dogs, hairy dogs, skinny dogs, fat dogs- dogs of all varieties!
Dixon, in his floppy puppy self doesn't discriminate against any dog- any is fair game for a potential play buddy!
One dog in particular wouldn't leave him alone- it was some sort of chihuahua mix that was barking, snarling, jumping all over him. This happened for half the length of the park. The owner tried getting him, but he was more interested in antagonizing Dixon. Through the whole experience, Dixon didn't flinch. He tried engaging the dog in play, but the other dog wouldn't have it. Dixon would run up to another dog to play with the little guy bounding at him- Dixon just let that dog do what that dog wanted to do. So me, the guy who tries finding meaning in events that happen around me, came up with this: I should be more like Dixon!
He knows what he wants: play. Someone tries to squish his plans, and annoyingly so: but he continues his quest for play. How cool would that be if we had our eyes on what we want and not let the annoying people who don't want us to achieve our goals get to us? And more importantly, realize that sometimes it is us who are afraid of reaching our goals and sabotage what we want.
So I am not going to let the chihuahua mixes get in the way of keeping my goals!
Thanks, Dixon, for the lesson!

Although this past Sunday was Easter, we colored our Easter Eggs today.
It was so much fun, even though we used several colors a month ago (we couldn't wait!) and had three to use today!
We left some in a very long time, some not so long, and another batch right in between the two.
After the eggs dried, Olivia painted them. She had fun, and said this was the best day ever! And my sister Midge reminded me of us using the cracked eggs, too- and I remembered the cracks taking on more dye, and the egg whites being stained with whatever color bled through!
Coloring Easter eggs was always a fun thing to do growing up- we used PAAS dyes! I remember the box with the push out holes, the white crayon to make designs, and the transfer stickers that came in the box. Such fond memories! Definitely something we will always do in our household, too! It was always family time when it came to coloring the eggs, which SOMEHOW made it into our Easter baskets! Smart bunny! :)
I love hearing about others Easter traditions- so feel free to drop me a line and tell me yours!
Happy spring everyone!

Got a puppy or dog with a diahrea problem and can't get to the vet right away? I found a simple solution when Dixon started getting a little, uh, poopy!
Boil one package of ground chicken.
Make double the rice.
So, the mix is two parts rice and one part chicken. Mix them together.
For a medium/large size dog, give one teaspoon (that's all) of organic (if possible!) pumpkin. Not in the food, but mine loves licking it off the spoon!
Of course, take your dog into the vet if you think anything is wrong. This isn't a cure, but will definitely help with the poopies!
And, they love it!

Yes, I bemember when...

It's hard to believe that April is upon us. The daffodil's, tulips, and day lillys are popping up through the ground. A couple days of warm weather will make them grow even faster. The ancient crab apple in the front yard looks like it is going to bless us with many white and pink blossums again this year- I think of that tree as just too old and cranky to give up the ghost, though every year we seem to lose a major branch of it.
And then there is Olivia. This is going to be her fifth spring come May. For me, she is the most glorious flower I have ever helped "grow". Watching how she has grown from a wobbly toddler to someone that runs, turns corners quickly without falling... wow. And her laugh. That laugh that I sometimes want so badly to hear that I engage her in a game of "Tickle Monster". Every year is full of amazement. She is unfolding into the most amazing girl. We share the love of animals, of nature, art. And stories. It makes me happy to hear her start a sentence with "Papa, bemember when...." and she'll recall something from the past, sometimes right on, or sometimes with her own twist. She has a very healthy imagination, as most kids do, and I feel so priveledged to be a part of her life. My little flower.