Texas

My kids have been in Houston all week and they come home tomorrow. My husband and mother-in-law came up with a plan for a visit and I went along. I agreed that seeing their grandmother was important, just so long as I didn't have to go with them.* It's been a mix of emotions all around.

Early on as a mother I had the realization that these kids of mine are not just my kids. I may have brought them into this world and love them more than anyone else ever will, but they are their own people. They need to forge their own relationships and find their own way in the world. I can't do it for them. Letting go so they can spend time with another part of the family comes with the territory.

At the airport, my oldest daughter was concerned that the plastic case they gave her to wear around her neck to hold her ticket clashed with her outfit. My youngest was worried that they weren't going to sit in the same seat, even though that didn't make any sense. I even gladly parted with my last cash to buy them a bunch of candy and gum at the newspaper stand.

The airline made me wait until the plane was in the air before departing, which made it feel even more final. As I left, I felt very sad. You may as well have taken my arm away from me.

It got easier. And harder. My mother-in-law called me to tell me they landed. And I didn't speak to them again for a few days. I had to work in between, so there were distractions, and I took on a big project to keep me busy (while they were out of my hair.) They were never far from my thoughts.

Yesterday at work I got a call from my oldest to ask if my youngest could have permission to watch Friday the 13th. I was trying to find a way to say no without being Mean Mommy by asking the rating of the movie. I said if it was rated G, knowing full well that it wasn't, that she could watch it. Shortly after that call ended, I got a call from my mother-in-law informing me that she had no intention of letting her watch the movie and I needn't worry about that.

And now they're coming back tomorrow. I have that urge to clean the house spotless as if they're company. As if I'm trying to impress them upon their return. I also know full well that when they're home, everything will return to normal and they'll drive me crazy again in no time.

I can't wait!


*I like Texas. It's the heat, humidity and traffic that I don't like. I've never been to Austin and it would have been fun to drop my bags and see that city with some of my favorite bloggers who live there. And Lyle, that's right, I'm not from Texas but Texas wants me anyway!

Donuts

I would love to lose weight. I know it would be good for me and my life would be easier and more healthy. The thing is, I just love donuts. It's hard to give them up. Have you had one? They're just yummy!

And just so you know, Entenmann's Pop'ems just don't compare to Hostess Donettes. ;)

Farm Lust...Later

Being a genuine homemade doctor and all, I got some information off the internet to treat my eyes. I would do just about anything to make this nonsense go away and this came pretty close.

First, I went to the farm to pick up my girls and stopped to take this picture:

I call this picture "Beautiful."

Then I picked them up and drove home. On the way home, I stopped at Whole Earth to pick up some Herb Pharm Herbal Eye Wash because of the recommendation at this site. My daughter couldn't help but comment on the hippie smell in the store and to ask why there are so many hippies there. 

And what do you know? My eyes feel so much better! I don't know if they're still as red as the color of evil, but there is definitely something to this remedy. I also went around wiping down knobs and cleaning all over the place. This sucks and if there is anything that I can do to stop the pain and irritation, I'm going to try it. Did I mention that I threw all of the towels and my pillow case in the wash? I did. 

This keyboard probably needs it next...

Farm Lust

I'm feeling a bit Cranky Crankbutt right now. Yesterday I woke up - after nearly clearing the pink eye in my right eye - with both eyes just raging red. I look like some sort of demon. I'd post a picture, but I do not want to have such hideousness out there forever. This is making me miserable. Let me tell you!

This morning my daughters went to a farm camp. Basically, it's what I would like to do this week instead of my suburban camp-like life. They're going to hang out with goats, sheep, chickens, organic vegetables and a pond full of frogs. And it took me an hour to get there and an hour and a half to get home. I gathered from the conversation I had with the guy running it that I was supposed to get something like directions but I never did. I had to base it on the address on the camp documents (which were the guy's house and not the farm) and my memory from the field trip that brought us to the farm in the first place. It's going to be great, I'm sure, but I was not happy driving to and fro trying to find the place.

At some point while living in very cramped quarters in San Francisco before expanding our square footage in Marin, I became enamored with farm life. I wanted a nice big farm. I'm sure it was a response to our lack of space, but it has burrowed its way into my psyche and I am envious of all things farmer's do - or at least mostly what they do. I try to grow things all the time and have toyed with the idea here and there of having chickens like my neighbor does.

I must admit, however, that sometimes just caring for her chickens while she's away gives me enough of a fix to get me past that desire. Take yesterday, for instance. My other neighbor went next door to see if she could get an egg from their coop. Walking to the coop she saw tons of feathers forming a trail out of the yard then only counted four chickens inside the coop. They had five.

She called my house to see if I was caring for them and if I knew anything so I met her outside to take a look. Sure enough, there was a feather trail and four chickens ready to go out and peck. The coop looked secure and I know that my daughter and I put away five chickens the night before, so it appeared as though some animal was able to get into the coop after all. We scanned the coop for anything obvious and could not find anything. Then we saw the lifeless chicken inside. I went in to get a closer look when we discovered that it was alive! The chicken was brooding, and while I didn't know what that meant when given the instructions a few days ago, took it to mean that the feathered girl wanted to hang out in the coop all day. So she was.

All's well that ends well except my other neighbor never did get an egg. There weren't any. I must say that finding dead chickens is one unappealing aspect of chicken ownership, as is the rats that are attracted to their food. We'll see. The jury is still out, but I do have a fenced yard now.

I am planning on going to a seminar with these two women next week to learn about bee keeping. That might help that my Farmer Lust. That and planting the geraniums that I just bought to replace the previously mangy-woody ones I just tore out. And planting the basil and parsley that I picked up at the same time. I'm going to go chew some twigs now...

The Eyes Have It

I thought I'd take a few moments to complain a little. I don't know how, but I've gotten pink-eye. Conjunctivitis. The stink-eye. Whatever it is or whatever you'd call it, it's miserable. My eyes are runny and tired. I don't really want to keep them open except that it's more convenient when you're awake to leave them open.

My daughter is home again for the second day from camp. I feel badly for her since it was supposed to include an over-night tonight. It's a Girl Scout Camp and it seems totally fun. I forgot from last year just how many lanyards come home from this place. It's like Lanyardville around here. Always unfinished, too.

The worst part about the eye-thing, besides all of it is that it would seem as though I've spread it to the other eye. That familiar itchy/granular feeling is in the other one now. I have medicine that I'm using in both eyes now and I'm hoping that it actually works. It's creepy how when you put goo in your eyes you can eventually taste it. I don't really consider that connection very often. Ick.

I just accidentally touched my eye (chasing an involuntary tear) and had to get up and wash my hands. Again. I think it may be time for a nap. Since I can. And my eyes want to close anyway.

New Trouble

The rat is gone. The ants have been subdued. Because my life cannot possibly be simple or carefree, a new pest has come into my life to torment me.

Fleas.

My dog and cat have been itching like they're prepping for an Olympic event and I was a little slow to apply their Frontline. Next thing I know we've suddenly been plagued by "mosquito bites." This was not an inconceivable conclusion given the sighting of a few mosquitoes, but then...

I was in bed and my feet were under the covers when I felt a little nip. Then I felt it on my face. I went into the bathroom and saw a REAL LIVE FLEA on my foot. At that point I couldn't deny it any longer.

My battles always start with research into the psychology and habits of the critters then finding the eco-friendly solutions. Stay tuned...