The Squirrels Are Becoming Too Clever

 As I was washing dishes Friday afternoon, I spotted this.  We have a large population of gray squirrels around here, and lately they've become rather comfy and complacent.  However, this didn't smack of complacency, but of something else entirely.  That squirrel was tired.
 

 He was plumb tuckered out.

 In fact, he could barely keep his head up.  I stood there, transfixed--so were the girls, for that matter--staring at this lazy, pooped out squirrel.  Then, it dawned on me, he'd been eating from the "squirrel proof" feeder.  That bar at the bottom of the feeder spins, sending the squirrels on a ride. 

 Unless, of course, you are a smart critter who has figured out how to grasp the railing with your hind legs and the spinner with your front paws.  Here, take a peek:



See how he grabs the feeder and holds on for dear life?  Check out his biceps.  They're really rather terrifying.  I'm positive, one day, I'm going to find Holly tearing for the door, chased by the Popeye of the rodent world as he threatens to do her massive bodily harm.  ;o)

I suppose all that grabbing and holding on for dear life provides him with quite the workout, so he then collapses in a jelly-like quivering heap of exhaustion.  He then catches his breath, pops up and does it again. 

In fact, I found yon squirrel lying prostrate on the railing again today.  Quite frankly, I think it's more effort than it's worth, and surely he's burning more calories trying to hold that thing still than he's eating.  But, who knows what goes through a squirrel's mind...

In other news, I'm afraid I told a fib.  Yes, I'm about to inundate you with massive images of flowers once again.  *ducking and running*

I'm sorry!  I can't help it. 

 First off, I hadn't shown off this lovely lady yet.

 I planted heaps o' glad bulbs last year, and they're coming up and blooming in fits and starts.

 I've had the yellow edged with pink, and now a couple of these have appeared.  I find them absolutely stunning.

 I'm torn, for on the one hand I want to leave them out for everyone to enjoy, but on the other, it's so miserable outside right now (did someone say 99 degrees today?!?) I'm not out for any great length of time to truly enjoy them and want them in the house with me (and the A/C!).

Another daylily is blooming.  This one is a beautiful pale peachy-white.

This one continues to put forth blooms.

 As does this one. 

 This is another new bloomer.

 Again, I'm not sure what it is.  I suppose I'll have to cruise on over to the Oake's Daylilies website to see if I can identify it.

 Of the 10 calla bulbs I put in last year, only two have brought forth flowers.  I found this one fascinating because it has produced three different colored blooms.

And, another new bloomer.  This one is a beautiful dusty rose. 

 Ahhhhh.

 So, as to that whole "do I cut them" quandary...you can see I caved. 

 Oh, and I also had this gorgeous creamy white glad blooming.  So far this was the only one.  I'm sure more will, though.

Please note that ugly brown colored wall behind the flowers, for this will hopefully be one of the last times you see it.  We had a phone call yesterday from the first gentleman we contacted about painting the house.  He lost our name in the busyness of the spring exterior painting glut, and then refound our number.  He called rather sheepishly, asking if we still needed the house painted.  He'll begin tomorrow and should be finished by Friday.  WOO HOO!!!!  I'm BEYOND chuffed! :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  That squirrel is too funny!
2.  I saw the ittiest bittiest inkiest dinkiest little toad out front.  It was ADORABLE!
3.  All my plants are STILL alive--meaning I've braved the heat (although, I confess, I may have said something along these lines) and humidity and watered my darlings.
4.  My Nook.  I adore that thing.  I was able to pick up the new JQ at 6:30 this morning--while still in my pj's, and in the comfort of my own a/c.  No waiting for the stores to open, no loading up the kids and strapping them in and lugging them around and all of us sweating to death.  Nope.  I just purchased it and downloaded it lickety split.  Awesome.
5.  I've SO many plans for things to do once my walls are painted...I can't wait!
6.  B got an A on his last project for school and now has one last project to complete before he graduates.  I can't WAIT!

No milestones.

Memorial Day 2011

Arlington National Cemetery

 To those who have served, thank you.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 To those who fought and lost their lives, we thank you for fighting to preserve those rights and liberties we hold dear.  We remember.

Virginia Tech War Memorial

For today is not simply a holiday for BBQing and shopping great sales.  It is a time to stop and remember and give thanks for those whose lives have been lost. 

Those pylons up there are inscribed with the names of Virginia Tech students and alumnus who have fallen in war.  There have been far too many additions in the past 9 years.

WWII Memorial

We remember the "Greatest Generation". Each of the wall's 4,000 4.5" gold stars represents 100 American servicemen who died in the war.  We remember.  We thank you.

Both my Pawpaw and my Grandfather served in WWII, Pawpaw as a Marine in the South Pacific, and Grandfather at home in the motor pool, chauffeuring Generals.  They both had/have amazing stories to tell.  Pawpaw never really talked about the combat, though, not really.  He had PTSD towards the end of his life and would awaken in a cold sweat, shaking.   I know he was not alone in this.
 

Korean War Memorial

The things our young men and women have seen and experienced through the years and wars is simply unimaginable.  Today, we send whole boys and girls (for, really, 18 year olds are still so very young to me) off to war and so many come home broken and battered, missing vital parts of their bodies and souls.  We remember them as well. 

So, for those who have served their country, 

Vietnam War Memorial

We remember, we remember, we remember.  And, thank you.


We sang "America the Beautiful" in church this morning and even though I've sung this song hundreds of times through the years, I became so choked up I found it difficult sing.  The words were beautiful and stirring and I'm posting those verses here:

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved <--(these two lines did me in)
And mercy more than life! 
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Thank you.  Thank you all.  We remember.

Hold on to Your Hats...

...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.  This post is going to be all over the place tonight, so hang with me.  I'm starting with Miss Cutie Pie Bean just because.

She is turning out to be such a clever puss.  She helps dress herself, giving arms, legs and feet at appropriate times.  If I tell her, "No, the other foot," she tucks that foot away and gives me the other.

 She loves (and when I say "loves", I mean LOOOOOOOOOOVES) music.  We are one of those households that would dearly love to be free of noise making toys because Miss Beanie here will push every button on every toy to have them all playing at the same time.  And then, she just bounces and dances and claps right along. 

 She is a funny kiddo too--B and I are always laughing at something or other she has done.  I remember when Lil was a baby I kept comparing her to Hannah--not because I wanted to, but because Han was what I knew, and as humans, we have a tendency to compare the unknown to the known.

It's funny, but I really don't compare that much now.  The unknown is now the known.  Is that what comes with having your third?  And, I find that things I was absolutely positively I was SURE I would remember, and remember which of my delightful girlies said it, I don't.  Oops.  Let this be a warning to you--WRITE IT DOWN!

 She's sleeping better once again as the cold runs its course.  Her nose is still a disgusting faucet of goop, and those two eye teeth are hovering thisclose to the surface.  Surely they'll break through soon.  Right?

 Ah, here we are, this is not an accidental blur--as so many photos of the Bean are.  Nope.  This next series is my girl telling me she is "all done".

May I just tell you how helpful this sign is?  We don't have a lot of screeching and screaming because I find between Lil and I, we are able to decipher what the child wants/needs.  As any of you with toddlers who are not yet verbal know, this is a HUGE deal.

One other note: the child doesn't want me to leave her sight.  Ever.  Well, except when I put her to bed.  If I go to the garage and close the door behind me, she flips out.  If I go out the front door to check the mail, she flips out.  If I go to the bathroom and shut the door...yeah, then too. 

(Okay, so the mama who just a couple of paragraphs ago said she doesn't compare much any more is making a liar out of herself here.)  Because Miss Monkey and the Bit were in daycare, they were good to go with me leaving.  Sure, they might have squalled a bit during that separation anxiety stage, but the minute I was out of sight, they were fine.  And, they got to the point where I could just drop them off and they would take off and play and not even tell me goodbye (yeah, that feels good too...).  Not this little Beanie.  :shakes head:

 Okay, and so I posted this one (in spite of the blur) because of the devilish glint in her eye.  She's up to no good this one.  ;o)

 And this photo?  It just makes me laugh.  Oh, and check out those eyes.

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Okay, post part two.

I've been feeling down a bit of late.  I don't know if it's hormonal or if it's post project letdown.  Doesn't that sound weird?  I'm so delighted to be finished with those two projects, and the rooms look SO wonderful, and yet, I'm bummed. 

So, I've decided I need a new project or six or twelve.  ;oP  Brien told me to go back to work. Ha!

These are the projects I've come up with so far:

• Paint the areas of the main living area I can reach.
• Paint the dining room.  I know, I know, so many people LOVE the color.  I've just never really warmed to it.  
• Have B put "picture frames" in below the chair rail in the dining room.
• Redo the downstairs bathroom.  I have fallen in love with "Sea Salt" by Sherwin Williams (I think I may have mentioned that before) and need to use it somewhere in my home. :oP  I also want to put in board and batten in there--it just looks so nice, you know?
• Make faux frames for the mirrors in my bathroom and the downstairs. 
• Paint Lil's room and put in bead board.  As my friend Amy said, I guess I'm the bead board queen.  I like how clean it looks, what can I say?  
• Paint a couple of shelf-y things I have that have seen better days.

I think that should keep me busy for a while, no?  ;o)

Since I used Behr paint in the laundry room, and that's the paint Lil wanted in her bedroom, we headed to HD to pick up another gallon (Behr is on rebate right now!) so I can have it on hand when I'm ready to get started.  I have a few other odds and ends to pick up, but I have to take inventory of my painting supplies before I do. 

Anyhow, we went to HD.  We arrived around 5:30.  We left the store at 6:30.  Yes, you read that right, it took that long to get ONE GALLON of paint.  O.M.Goodness.  There were only two people in front of me at the paint counter.  Two.  That's it.  It was hot in there.  I don't do hot (I may have mentioned that before as well).  I had a squirrely Bean.  I had a bored Bitty.  It was BAD.  The thing is, they were both so dang good, I couldn't see leaving, for surely my turn would be soon, right?

The nice lady in front of me is restoring a cottage on the York River--I'm sure it's utterly delightful--and she and I chatted while I wrestled with a squirmy Beanie. Lil?  Was an angel.  The child was absolutely utterly perfect.  She stayed out of the aisle, she didn't touch anything she wasn't supposed to.  She didn't interrupt the adults' conversation.  She stood patiently and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  I don't when I've more proud, because, let me tell you, I was miserable, and I'm the adult.  What a wonderful little girl.  I really am blessed. 

And Bean? She didn't fuss or fret or scream, she just wanted to be held.  Right up against me.  In that heat.  Oh, and help me cool down by pulling down the neck of my shirt.  Again.  And again.  Thanks, Sweetie.  :shakes head:

At any rate, I'm feeling far more chipper and more me today.  Whew.  :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  We have toads, folks:

2.  And frogs too!

3.  Yes, yes, I know, plant overload.  I'm sorry.  Forgive me.  I was just really lovin' the lighting this evening, and Han would have loved them, so definitely a sparkly. :o)

I promise that's the last you'll see of the flowers for at least a week. ;o)

4.  Feeling more the thing today.  Whew.
5.  A/C and Sonic limeades.
6.  Lily in Home Depot.  What a kid!
7.  Magnum bar coupon in Sunday's circular (okay, okay, so I only just got to going through my coupons this week...)

No milestones.
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I'm not going to go into it now, for really, it needs its own post, but I'm having a difficult time with having a five year old again, and the memories of one sweet five year old being supplanted by another.  :oS  It's something I need to think about and put into words and work through, but tonight's not the night.  I just wanted to jot it here as a reminder I need to do so.

A Rambly List--of Sorts

 1.  Lil and I harvested peas today.

Sorry for the blurry pic--this child is NEVER still.

2.  They made an excellent snack--for everyone.
3. We had the most um, interesting dinner conversation this evening.  It covered everything from the mechanics of baby-making to having a boyfriend, and when it would be appropriate, and how to be friends with boys.  Oh my head.

4.  Ellie is currently helping herself to all "snack" items in the pantry.  Why am I not stopping her?? :shakes head: 
5.   Home improvement blogs are me newest addiction.  Holy cow!  I have a bajillion ideas coursing through my head!

 6.  This one is learning to be a ham in front of the camera again.  When she was teeny she was good to go.  Then she wasn't.  Now, she is again. She jumped in front of the lens for this one. :o)

7.  Ellie helped with the laundry today.  She helped me move things from the washer to the dryer.

 8.  Then she stayed to watch the clothes tumble around in both.

9.  A new daylily has bloomed.  I have no clue what this one is, but it's another beauty.  Daylilies are absolutely worth the money!
10.  I managed to clean up all the toys and plasticware in the kitchen--only to have Bean help me remedy that.  Thanks, sweetie.
11.  Ellie is making her needs very well known--she just brought a bag of yogurt melts to me and signed "please" while saying, "ees?"  She pretty much does that for EVERYTHING she wants now.  If she can't carry it, she points to it and signs and speaks.
12.  I made it out to water the hanging baskets again today--and didn't melt, although I was sure I would.  Yucky yucky weather.  I know some folks love this, I just don't happen to be one of them.
13.  We also discussed expectations for school next year and Lil's dislike of people telling her what to do and always questioning EVERYTHING.
14.  The cicadas are beginning to go away...veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly.
15.  The Bean has been removed from the pantry and is now trying to get back in.  She chirps something along the lines of "bookabooka dah!" and signs "please".  Hm.
16.  I managed to vacuum and dust today.  Go me.  I'm trying to get back on my cleaning routine.
17.  I'm going to gain 12,000 pounds from the Magnum bars.  :oP
18.  I can only do laundry while the Bean is sleeping since she helps me (un)fold the laundry.  Meaning I have three loads to fold once she's in bed.
19.  Bean is still chipper even though she's obviously not feeling her best.
20.  Lil has been quite the happy, helpful girl today.  She has just been happy and joyful and fun to be around.  I LOVE those days!
21.  It came to me last night my girlie will be starting school next year so I really need to be enjoying these last couple of months we have together before she goes.
22.  We have NOT watched "How to Train Your Dragon" today.
23.  Lissie is back in Virginia.  :o)
24.  I may not "get" her, but I confess, I'm really enjoying Ms. Gaga's newest release.  I got it for Miss Bit and Miss Bean (they really like that strong beat and bop right along), but find I like it too.  Yes, yes, she's this generation's Madonna, I get that but still don't quite get her.  Or, that whole Justin Beiber thing...:shakes head: It's official, I'm getting old.  :oS
25.  I just put this in so I could end with a number that was a multiple of five.  I have issues, what can I say?