Mama Memories

Kacey at Wine on the Keyboard has a photo contest going on, and the theme is motherhood. Midnight tonight is the deadline for submission.  Sorry to be so late with this.  But I've had company.  Fred and Bessie are lovely guests, but they can be some work.

Any hoooo.  You may have noticed that I have been facing my looming empty nest with some mixed feelings.  Motherhood has so many meanings.  This is nothing new.  Ask any mother.

After Kacey's post yesterday, I decided to make my motherhood theme based on my little angels' progress through school. Their creations can still bring a tear to my eyes.  My only problem is I don't know what to send to Kacey.  Help me out please.  And make sure to send Kacey your own motherhood shot.  Fame and fortune fun await you!

1.  Sigh

2.  3-D Creations and High School Frustrations

3.  Sigh

Sometimes I did their lonjry!

Vacation Skywatch

This continent, an open palm spread frank before the sky.

-James Agee

Skywatch Friday is the genius of Wom Tigley! 

Pay him a visit.

Bird Talk

mama:  Do you like my blog?

bird: Yes.

mama: Does it embarrass you?

bird:  I pretend it does.  But it really doesn't.  It is funny when my friends come up and ask me about my driving tiara.

mama: Will you please write a guest post for me?  I am so tired.

bird: I will, but I don't know what to write.

mama: Are you excited for the coming summer?

bird: Do you honestly think I wouldn't be?  I already have a good base tan.

mama: What are you looking forward to for your Senior Year?

bird:  I will be at the top of the food chain.  

mama: Are you excited for college?

bird: Yes.  I can legally run away.  Just kidding.

mama: What will I do when my babies leave?

bird: You can blog about us and put up pictures of your used tissues.  I will call sometimes. WAIT.... Aren't you all about how you're coming with me?

mama: I might come along...

bird: I think Ally wants you to go with her...

mama: Ally loves me.  So does Bridget.  Don't you want Augie to go to college with you?

bird: No.  But he can come to visit me.  I want him to go to school close to me. (mama crying)

mama: What will you miss the most of home?

bird: My bed, my sheets, driving my car, my tiara.  I guess I'm supposed to say I'll miss you.

mama: No.  You don't have to say that.  I understand.   But....are you going to miss me?

bird:  I'm really going to miss your shoes.

mama: *sigh

ABC Wednesday

S is for the Sea.

And sipping by the sea...

Until I get serious about this excess weight.

Monday.

Yeah, Monday.

ABC Wednesday is the baby of Mrs. Nesbitt

Check it out.

Mental Pounds

Anyone care to join me in a virtual weight loss group?  I have never been so glad to see the end of a holiday weekend arrive.  As I sit here in my stretchy pants this morning, I am remembering my calorie-laden adventures of the past few days.  These midlife pounds pile on faster than I ever imagined they would.  But I don't really help matters any.  I actually raced 30 little children to an ice cream truck yesterday.  I had a Klondike Crunch. It was really good.  And pizza for dinner on top of that.

I am probably 20 pounds heavier than I was 2 years ago.  I would like to lose those pounds, but would be happy with 10.  Anyone else out there care to join me?

Honor

Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures;

it is our gift to each other.

-Elie Wiesel

Beach Reading

What is on your beach reading list this weekend?

I'm reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham. 

 Most excellent book.  Remember the movie?

Skywatching Out the Front Door

After a week of unsettled weather inside and out,

a double treat for the eyes and soul.

Happy Friday everyone!

Skywatch Friday is the brainchild of Tom Wigley at Wigger's World.

Things That Kept Me Awake Last Night

Why do we need Jet Dry nowadays?  My mother never had to use the stuff, but if I don't use it, my dishes come out all wet.

What ever happened to that Biosphere thing?

When did I go from a tall drink of water to a big gulp?

Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't watch American Idol?

Does anyone think a man invented the mammogram machine? Or a woman?

Is it wrong to keep shooing the ducks away?

Fun With Fred and Bessie

We're gonna party 'til the cows come home.

Fred gives Bessie pre-party instructions pep-talk.

See how well she listens.

Just like Annie, Jules and I listen to our bulls husbands.

Bessie likes hanging with her girls.

Her chardonnay peeps.

Her new BFF's.

Her soul sistahs.

Her...

Whoops.

Go Bessie.  Go Bessie. Go Bessie.

Fred is not amoooosed.

They make a quiet departure.

Their Mama Flea taught them some nice manners.

Bessie didn't even sass him.

You know, you sure can learn a lot from a cow.

Almost as much as your kids.

Blue Mama

So, I've been a little blue the past few days.

No real reason, just a little low.

It'll pass.

And this morning,

I go into the kitchen to see the Baby Bird off to school,

and she's wearing her tiara.

And I say to myself, "Snap out of it, Mama."

If The Bird can go happily off to school at 7 am,

with a smile and a tiara,

then I can just hold my head a little bit higher, too.

Thank you, Birdy.

For the constant inspiration.

I love you.

Life is...

...a bowl of_________.

Blessings?

Whiskers?

Pulled pork?

All Bran?

Cotton Squares?

Smiles?

Chex Mix?

Love?

Sighs?

?

Monday Meme

Well, this front yard/back yard meme has eluded me for a nice long time.  I must say I was happy not to be tagged because for most of the year, if you look out either our front or back doors, it is none-too-exciting.  Winters are loooong in Connecticut.  But Country Girl Kate has finally done it.  She wins the prize for the best views hands down.  Check it out.

This time of year is always a celebratory one.

Everything looks so fresh and green.

We moved to this house three years ago.

The only thing I could think of was how we needed a pool.

So practical when the pool season is, maybe, 5 months long.

Squazz wasn't so sure.

~~~

We put in this small pool.

Peace reigns throughout the land.

The Back Yard - Mental View.

The Back Yard - Moo View.

The Front Yard.

All View.

I love this Dogwood.

I am not tagging anyone in particular, we are very busy with our bovine buddies, and will have an update on their activities tomorrow.  A hint: they had a little visit with our friends of Cocktail Corner yesterday.  

Things got, um, interesting?

Mama

Where thou art,

that,

is Home.

--Emily Dickinson

Photo credit: Westportnow.com

Mental Moo-Ma

Dear Mama Flea,

We have arrived in Connecticut.

We are so happy that we cannot stop smooching.

That bubblewrap is very suffocating.

We had to sell Dlyn's truck to buy more butter.

Turns out, Bessie does not travel well.

She demanded UPS class.

But we are safe.

And Bessie is happy.

This new lady is nice.

And a little weird.

But we are not scared one bit.

She is so happy to have us.

She fed us very well.

Dessert was interesting.

What is this meno-pot she keeps on talking about?

It was late, but Mental Moo-Ma let us catch up on your news.

We don't think you sound like Philadelphia.

As a matter of fact, we can't figure you out at all.

Ha. Ha. Just Kidding.

She has lots of little bedtime treats for us.

Bessie is gonna get spoiled.

Mental has this table near our bed with all these potions.

Maybe we both will get a little spoiled.

We are so tired from our trip.

This weekend is going to be fun.

Sweet dreams.

Luv, Fred

PS. We hope you feel better soon.

Friday Fun

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
The South
North Central
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The Inland North
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Flea had this little exercise up on her site yesterday.  I was intrigued, so I took the test. It appears I have no accent.  That's funny because I was born in Mississippi, raised in Tennessee, and now live in Connecticut.  All I ever hear is how southern I sound.  Go figure.  The bright side in this is that I have a good voice for TV and radio.  This is helpful since I am looking for something productive to do with myself when my babies go off to college.  So be on the lookout for me.  I'll apparently be the one without any accent.

This quiz is highly specialized and scientific.  Very detailed.  If you're looking for something to do today, or just taking a break from all your spring cleaning, you should try it out, and let me know your results!

Listen to Your Mama

Mind your manners.  It shows respect for others.

There is great peace of mind in admitting that you don't know everything.

Always be interested.  It makes you interesting.

Make sure you can laugh at yourself.

Dream big and act to make it happen.

Eat more vegetables than anything else.

Do not smoke. Ever.

There is no such thing as perfection.

Being afraid is okay, just don't let it stop you from doing your best.

Hold your shoulders back and your head high.

Be thankful for everything you have.

Smile.

Know that you are loved and cherished.

To be continued.

Any others out there?

The Mental P Mallards

Come and listen to a story about a duck named Ned

A green headed mallard with big ideas in his head,

Then one day he's floating without a care,

And right through the pond came the Missus on a tear.

Hormonal she was, to a tee.

Well the first thing you know ol' Ned's a swimming fiend,

Kinfolk said Ned, she needs a new scene

Said Mental P's the place you really ought to be

So they loaded up with eggs and moved to Mental P's.

Mama's that is.

Swimming pool, and the dawg don't care.

The Mental P Mallards!

Dawg don't care.

~~~

Nope, not at all.

Mental P?

She cares.

She doesn't want these prizes in the pool.

Please.

Please?

Site of the Day

I'd like to take a break in all the bird action to bring you all the following public service announcement.  My daughter introduced me to an amazing site for free e-cards. It is called Someecards, and it will knock your socks off.  There is a card for any occasion or non-occasion you can imagine.  I will post some of my favorites.  Well, not really all of them, because my real favorites are a little bit vulgar unladylike.

I don't want to offend anyone since I am always so proper and all, so here are the PG ones I like:

I wish I had thought of that all those years ago.  

My dogs are smarter than most of the sitters we've ever had.

I don't feel that takes any explanation.

Or this:

Well, unless you have the audacity to steal my songbirds.

Read: please don't tell anyone I can't fit into anything.

I know many people who feel that way when they go into a Starbucks with me.

And, I just want to go on record right here and apologize.

Not really.  

So, if you're looking for something unique, funny, raunchy or just plain old random, this is worth a visit.  You'll probably bookmark it immediately.  Let me know what you think.

See what I mean?

Annie Check Your Pond!

Got Mallards?

Not only do I have all the goldfinches,

I've got the ducks, too.

Sorry Ann.

Well, not really.

Are there any left in your pond?

Aren't they cute?

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard,

Out for their morning dip.

Happy Day

I spent many years wishing for a baby.

It was a long and often sorrowful path.

So I wish each and every one of you a beautiful, blessed day, today.

Whatever your own path may be.