Ecosystem Changes

 

 

 

Greetings from the world's newest rain forest.

I never really thought about habitating in a rain forest before.  From pictures in books and specials on NatGeo they look very beautiful.  However, I am not a fan of constant damp conditions.  I am also not a fan of immense rainfall.  Perhaps that is why I was born into being a North Carolinian and not some psychedelic marked up highly poisonous tree frog.

The newest rain forest is nestled in the state of North Carolina.  We have had rain for the past oh I don't know two weeks?  It has fell gingerly against the blades of grass and it has fallen with great fury knocking down crops and flowers and happiness.  The rains have taken the summer and turned it into a muddy, steamy, mosquito ridden mess.

I'll take steamy any day....but muddy no way.  Mosquitoes....just come with the territory.

Last night the skies opened up to a big, fat, angry thunderstorm.  The thunder was the sound of Armageddon and the lightning was threatening enough that I made my way to the first story of my home and kept watch over the back of the property.  A minimum of fourteen days of rain - lots of rain - and a large grove of Poplar, Oak, and Beech trees, mixed in with some horrific lightning could only be a recipe for the potential of the need to yell out:  TIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMBBBBBBBEEEEEEERRRRRRRR!

Luckily, nothing fell victim to the storm.  Except thirty minutes of my night time sleep.

I can tell you that the rain forest isn't much for people who have sensitivities to the barometric pressure scale.  The right side of my mouth wages wars with my sinus cavities when the damp, wet weather arrives.  It feels terrible to say the least.  Imagine a really bad toothache covering your face.  The only help for it is sunshine and that is no joke.  Between the rains yesterday the sun shone beautifully, I was able to get outside and within moments the pain was gone. 

I must say I am not cut out for rain forest life.  I am extremely grateful it hasn't turned into flood plain life but I am very unhappy with the constant rains.  The reality of it all is this:  if it continues the ground is going to say to the clouds - no more.  Then the water is going to do more harm.  We just don't need that.

I'm ready for a hot dry summer.

No, this is not my house but the pics are compliments of Google.

To those who pass by our home - my apologies.

I normally make sure my front flower beds are weeded and have nice flowers growing in them and the boxwoods are manicured. 

This year I have not done that.

I can imagine anyone who drives by who has seen it in previous years is going - "what in the world" - I am so sorry it has looked like an eye sore. 

I had thought my basement and foundation issues would have been attacked and repaired by now.  However, there is an old adage:  If you want to see God laugh tell him your plans.

Not my basement but some day:  this picture courtesy of dreamstime.com

That is very true.  If the world were all strawberries and sweet cherries then the basement would be completed, the interior of the home now would be under construction. Unfortunately, it is not.  In our minds we would have started in June but there were other plans that none of us saw.  I can say that it is well.  Had the work started when we had initially thought... it would have been pushed back until the monsoon pattern ended.  That means that we would be sitting in a muddy mess right now - even muddier than it already is - a yard torn up and a mote around the place.  The interior job would probably be put on hold because there is always someone ahead of you on the list and when its bad outside the carpenters are working inside.

We are now looking at a September start.  Just looking Big Man not writing it in ink....go ahead with your plans.

Had I known this I would have paid more attention to the front of my little home.  I would have happy little flowers blooming and manicured boxwoods.  With it being a new ecosystem I wish not to plant anything and therefore it will continue to look boring and blah.

I did get out and get the bushes trimmed up yesterday and the beds weeded.  Kudos to me.

Just wait til next spring....



xx
Brownie

Sunday Mornings

The best morning of the week around here is the one that belongs to Sunday.

We get up with ease at 7am.  I head out to get the Sunday paper from the driveway while the other half gets the baby his morning nourishment (phase 1).  The coffee is dripping and all you hear is the weatherman saying we're in for forty more days of rain.

I take care of feeding the baby his oatmeal (phase 2) while he screams because I'm not quite fast enough on shoveling it in.  The little princess is comatose in the playroom on her couch (her weekend sleeping spot that is so cool to her).  After the baby has had his fruit (phase 3 and the final phase of breakfast) he'll go into the living room and watch some baby television and play. 

Meanwhile the adults will sip the coffee, read the paper, and then turn to the computer to see what social media can feed our brains....the paper is way cooler.

Breakfast is lazy.  Eggs, melted cheese and toasted whole wheat buns.  My hubby's with mayo and mine with Texas Pete.  Light chit chat....more coffee.

The baby falls into a short slumber and we start making the difficult decision of what to wear to church.  Slacks?  Jeans?  Dress?  Skirt?

The princess is still deep in dreamland.

Eventually we'll be dressed and ready to take the drive to the church.  We'll enjoy an hour of worship and then the day will take on a Saturday feel as we head to the pool or to mow.  Mowing on a Sunday?  How dare we?  But we enjoy it and if you enjoy it then it cannot be a sin....taking care of the lawn which was created by the Almighty creator.  If we deemed it "work".....well we'd still do it.

Who cares about that....lets just enjoy this Sunday morning......

The fourth on the fifth

                                  She is five years old and embeds the American dream....she can be whatever she wants to be and she can do anything she pleases.  She doesn't know that other parts of the world would limit her due to her being a female.  She is sheltered from a foreign view that girls are to be abandoned on hills, roadsides, and in orphanges.  She is blessed to live where women and men are more equal.

  Five years old minus a tooth.  Thirty-one minus make up.

 An All American Lunch - the hotdog. 

 Happy birthday to the country that hails this flag. The old stars and stripes that once signified a country of strength, promise and great power.  Today more of us are wondering when the days of "glory" will return...when we will once again find that We the people do matter.  When the focus is no longer out there, over there, and anywhere but right here.  When the nation's leadership focuses less on the I and more on the We. 

   July heat = July Pool

  My tough cookies!

  Got it made....in the shade!

Here's hoping you and yours had a good USA birth-day. 


xx
Brownie

Fourth Day of the Seventh Month

 

 

I hope you all have a great Independence Day!

I pray your focus is on all the good that surrounds you and yours in the nooks and crannies we call home in the USA. 

Don't dwell on the negatives - they don't deserve your time. 

Celebrate all the positives that you have had by being a part of this place we call America.

Now, cue the Lee Greenwood....



xx
Brownie

Oh Sand-y!

 

I don't think you can think of the season of "summer" and never ever think about sand.  Beaches are made out of the stuff, your kids or your cat may have a sandbox to play in, and all those sand art crafts available in the boxed kits at Michael's....sand is everywhere.  Yes, it can be the most annoying crap on the planet but so can the Oprah Winfrey Network.

This week I've been digging around for some cool uses for sand.  I wanted to share my findings with you!

Five Sand Uses

1.  Protecting your lawn and garden tools.

Supplies:  5 gallon bucket, 50lbs of contractors sand, 1 quart of motor oil (not used). 

How to do it:  Empty your sand into the bucket, pour the motor oil in, and stash your tools in (pruners, clippers, etc).  The oil will keep them greased, the sand will prevent rusting.  And no one will steal your stuff (its too heavy to run with).

If you don't want to use the motor oil that is fine.  The sand alone will prevent rusting.

2.  Traction in the winter or summer.

When you buy a bag for your kids also buy a couple bags to keep in your car.  They could be used in icey conditions to help you gain traction.  If you're roughing it this summer in a vehicle that doesn't have 4WD you can use the sand to help get "unstuck" --- I could have used this trick about 13 years ago when I went to a popular NC Beach spot and was stuck in a silty spot.  (We ended up using beach towels to get traction and get out.  Very thankful for the minivan driving daddy of three who came to my rescue...)

3.  Do you ever need a third hand?

Say you need to fix something that has broken but its awkward to hold.  The sand can work as a third hand if you put the heaviest part of the item into the sand and use your own hands to fix the broken piece.  Unlike dirt or gravel the sand works to manipulate the item down so you can work with ease.

4.  Beauty buffer for skin!

You've felt the way the sand scrubs against your skin when your at the beach.  Guess what? The combination of salt water and sand does miracles for sloughing off those dead cells and giving you a softer complexion.  You can use store bought sand to help you have that beach exfoliation in your own home.  A little sand, a bit of baby oil and some water....viola!  (I would do this on the back porch....I hate sand and sugar and salt in my tub....)

5.  Add a little sand to your planting.

My grandma always could grow dirt.  She could take a cutting and within a few hours she'd have a full scale tree (ok just kidding but it seemed that way).  Her secret?  Putting a little sand in the dirt.  She said it worked for anything.  All I can assume is the sand helps to lock in the water.  Cuttings need LOTS of water to establish themselves.

So get to enjoying the sand.... 

xx
Brownie

Back Pain & BIG Bang BOOM (what?)

Over the weekend I slept in my little girl's bed.  Saturday she couldn't seem to fall asleep so I did my parental duty and said I would lie down with her - temporarily - until she fell asleep.  The reality of that is:  she fell asleep, I fell asleep and we both woke up the next morning in the same bed.  Temporarily meant fifteen minutes and fifteen minutes really must have meant eight hours.

I don't know what it is about young children but they thrash about in their beds and contort themselves into the weirdest sleeping positions.  Perhaps it should be named "sleeping youth yoga" - this child threw her legs at angles that I could not fathom doing asleep or awake.  Her arms became weapons of mass destruction.  Her head was a demolition ball that she would twist around with massive force and pound against my chest.

Yes, I remember this because it would wake me up for a few moments but I would just crash back into slumber. 

Last year that full size bed was the most comfortable in the house.  Her mattress is the newest so of course the support was great.  This year that mattress could be the worst!  My back is in knots and hurting like mad! (Ok maybe it wasn't the mattress but the karate assailant who it belongs to). 

The pain my back is reminiscent of that pregnancy induced back pain.  You remember it --- central back brought on by carrying an eight pound human being in your abdomen and about two pounds of fluid not to mention the boobs that are suddenly basketballs.  Every way I turn I feel a ting of pain 

I decided to go work it out at the YMCA.  Get back on my work out schedule and get the pain out.  I dropped the kid at childcare and made my way out....on the way an angel (named Debbie) appeared and said - "Are you coming to yoga?"

I wasn't planning on going to yoga.  I was planning on tearing myself to shreds in the weight room.  I was planning on being stupid.  I didn't stutter or waffle I said - sure I'll do yoga.

Oh boy am I glad I did.  The pain has subsided a great deal.  I needed those stretches and balance work BIG TIME.

Today, the back pain was still there.  I didn't sleep in my kid's bed but in my own.  I'm realizing something is up with my sleeping position(s) and I have to combat that.  This morning I took on a pilates class.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It helped me wake up my joints (ouchhhhh) and release some of the tension that was bearing down on my spine.

So the moral of this blog post is:  if you have some back pain brought on by motherhood or fatherhood don't grab the pills or call the chiropractor just yet.  Go take a good stretching exercise and see if that helps.  Don't over do it just take the low road and work your way up.  You can thank me later. 

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If you hear of a band called Big Bang Boom playing in your area, don't think twice just go see them.  Wait....if you have kids go - otherwise you'll look a little weird.  Yesterday a friend texted (thx Molly C) to see if we were going to our local library's Monday night program (for kids, summer fun reading).  I hadn't really planned on it but she said there was a Big Band thing going on.  I immediately was taken back to third grade and learning about the music of the 30s/40s.  I thought about it a while and decided - why not - some me and the big kid time.

I am so glad I did.  What I had envisioned when I heard "music at the library" was some middle aged, leftover hippie who suddenly had a huge love for Puff the Magic Dragon in song rather than in hobby.

Boy was I wrong.

Turns out there were two 30 somethings with their bass guitar and electric guitar who took children's music to a parent friendly level.  Their songs were what kids music is made of (animal sounds, manners, good ideas for kids to embrace) but had that slight alternative feel to it that makes you think - if I ignore the lyrics I could so hear this on 106.5 The End.

The guys are Chuck & Steve and they are pretty amazeballs at captivating the audience and keeping the parents entertained as well.  They were amazing.  I will probably order a CD because it is pretty cool to find some kids music that mom and dad can jam out to as well.

Here's a little bonus to this:  the Chuck guy reminded me of a band out of Chapel Hill I remember back in the late 90's (am I dating myself).  He kind of looked and sounded like the Ben dude that played a piano and sang a song about a trip he and his girlfriend took the day after Christmas (yeah not very kid friendly in more ways than one).  Anyhoo after the show was over and we were awaiting on our ice cream, I Googled the band and low and behold home dude is Chuck Folds - Ben Folds little brother - Ben Folds Five remember?  Anyone?  Ok so how cool is that.  Connections made.  I should be a detective or something.

Moral of this:  Go see the Big Bang Boom Band when they play your area.  They are very fun.

Website link:  http://bigbangboom.weebly.com/index.html

xx
Brownie

Make ya banana pancakes....

.....and pretend that it's the weekend - (My favorite Jack Johnson song - Banana Pancakes.)

 I have came to the realization that Jack Johnson's music is probably the perfect soundtrack to my summer weekends.  I don't really buy music anymore so on Sunday, while the princess was with her Nana (she doesn't seem to reside at home during the summer), and the prince was snoozing away the rest of the afternoon, I turned on my Jack Johnson Pandora Station and became productive.  If you turn on his music and do the chores they seem to lose their "ugh chores" feelings complete with a sigh and eye roll - and turn to "ahhh stuff to do"....thought I would share.

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How was your weekend?

I cannot complain about mine.  It did not include anything that bled, screamed, or left me spending money I didn't have - so it was great!  It did include some spray paint, a free lunch compliments of my little brother, flowers, and a successful visit.

Here are some fun things we did this weekend (er I did):

Painted the old swing grey!

My hubby picked out purple - good choice!

A friend (Nicole K. in NC) posted on Facebook that she had updated her plastic Adirondack chairs.  I have some old metal chairs (think 1950's) that require painting due to chips and fades every two years or so.  The last time I had painted them was four years ago (eeeek).  They were a nice blue - think ocean, beachy, summery, nice!  After four years they became a faded blue with orange scuff marks.  After a run to Lowe's - they are....purple!  While I was painting them I started thinking about when my friend Jennifer (Jen B. in NC) bought her home and we spent some time with some spray paint updating some wicker for her sun room.  We had tons of fun that spring!  Updating furniture, painting some canvases, and working in the flower beds (that we later found out her HOA would take care of due to them all having to be similar across the property).  Fun times.

I also found some orphaned flowers at the local Lowe's Home Improvement that had been watered until they nearly drowned.  We brought them home so I could replant them and help them make their way back to blooming.  I just love some horticulture CPR.  I am happy to announce that the pink petunias are thriving and have already gave me fresh new blooms and the mixed pot of petunias and a creeping member of the lantana family are also thriving nicely having pulled a complete 180 from the shape I purchased them in.  (One day I will think to take before and after pictures....)

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Many of my readers and friends know that my little family has been on the hunt for a new place of worship on Sunday mornings.  Our home church just doesn't have the opportunities for our children that I believe are quite critical during the early years.  It is a nice, small, homey church that is greatly compatible for those who do not need programming for younger children.  The minister is fantastic and the people are nice it just was no longer a good fit for us.  Therefore,  a few months back the decision was made to go elsewhere.  It was a hard decision to make.  We are both members there, it is very convenient to our home, we know everyone there, it is my family's church.  However, it wasn't giving us what we needed spiritually.  When we attended on Sunday mornings I had a baby who was ready to move around and play (no active nursery unless I took him back on my own - why even go?  I can play with my child at home) and a five year old who needed some Christian inspiration away from a three minute children's sermon and then back to the pew to eat a snack and grow weary after ten minutes.  (Not to mention she needs to hear things from people other than mom....)

We were utilizing VBS events to get a feel for churches in our area.  Some we adored but didn't feel that pull.  This past VBS week really made the impact on my child and myself.  I knew in my heart of hearts we had to try this church.  There was a pull - a magnetism.  It isn't terribly far to go, I didn't feel they would be down our throats to quickly abandon our ties to our home church, and yes we knew a few people there.  Not to mention the voids were filled: an active nursery, an active children's worship experience, time for my husband and I to hear a sermon and be allowed to think about it without getting bits and pieces because the baby decided that was a perfect time to get agitated!

So yesterday we piled up and headed down the road.  Can I tell you we had a great experience (and the choir was awesome).  I feel certain we'll be back.

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What better way to wrap up a good weekend than with some flower picking - there are some stray Black Eyed Susan's on our little piece of earth - I clipped them to let the summer come inside.


xx
Brownie