Onward

Onward, because tomorrow is a new day (and I really have no other acceptable choice anyway).

Last weekend was fueled by a neglectful stupidity, the high-magnitude type that spirals from bad to worse in a particularly horrifying domino effect. When I looked back and realized that the moment the frazzled cashier cussed her computer out in front of my kids was actually one of the better moments, I had the choice to either sigh in defeat or laugh at the insanity of it all. Except by that point I was far too tired to laugh.

Driving onward, with lessons learned.



Those lessons will be useful, I suppose, the next time my husband is in The Netherlands and calls at 2am to calmly say that none of his credit cards are working. Because now I'll know that the bank that does the immediate Western Union money transfer doesn't have their lobby open on Saturdays, and they don't do that through the drive-through. I'll know not to attempt to purchase too much Western Union "Go Cash" at Family Dollar or the computer will lock up for an unspecified expanse of time while accusing me of fraud (and I'll even know the correct location of said dollar store - the only place in town that has it). I'll also know they only accept cold hard cash as payment. And I'll be certain that when it can't get any worse, it will. And no, really, you don't want to hear the other half of the story.

Tomorrow is a new day. Can I get an Amen?

Honestly

Mimi

This is Mimi. Notice her fancy light blue earlobes - all natural, I promise.



I almost almost named her Volta, on a friend's suggestion. But when my clever and sarcastic sister (that should really narrow it down for those of you who know us) mentioned the resemblance to Mimi from The Drew Carey Show, well, I had to admit she was really on to something.

See? Can't deny it.



I may not personally own a curling iron or even a thing of mascara, but I am aware that eyeshadow is not the same as earlobe coloring. Still... you see the resemblance, yes?

I had every intention of writing about her months ago, but you know how good intentions are, especially when combined with a white frizzy chicken. And besides, I had better things to write about, like tiny roosters gettin' it on with large hens.

But yesterday. Yesterday I thought Mimi was dead.

It is not easy for an animal to fool me into thinking it is dead. I have quite a bit of experience with living (and dead) critters. Somehow she managed it, though. I even turned to the dog (not that she cared), and said, "Oh my goodness. She's dead!". Maybe Mimi was in some sort of pre-egg-laying hypnotic trance. I still don't understand it. All I know is she scared me. Scared me bad. Because I only have one Mimi, and please don't take her away.



Then I realized I had never really blogged about her.

And I just can't blog about Mimi if she's dead.

But she's not.

So you get this. A completely meaningless and pointless post, with no real valuable information (except maybe for the bit about her smashingly pretty blue earlobes - which Arnold himself has finally noticed).

You're welcome.

Finished hibernating

I walk back into our house, with sun-kissed skin and wind-whipped hair, and a basket overflowing with outdoor scented shirts and pants fresh off the line. That comforting old-farmhouse-wood smell has returned in our front entryway. There is green grass beginning to grow around the yard. If my windows weren't all caulked shut, I'd have every one of them wide open. Barefoot mud-splattered kids shriek as their bikes whiz down the driveway. I convinced one boy to take his training wheels off yesterday and he is proud.

It hardly seems worth mentioning this weather anymore. These oddly warm days that feel like May (or even June?) have become such a fixture that they almost feel normal. February, really, was the only month that looked and felt like winter. It's easy to endure one month. It's easy to forget that this weather is an unusual gift.

The frost is already out of the ground, and with it, a gigantic beetle that had had enough of hibernating.


I have no fear (unless spiders are involved).

Those of you who live in more... ahem, tropical climates, may not agree that this is a large beetle. It's all relative, I guess. Around here, they don't come much bigger than this. We were sufficiently impressed.

We proceeded in the way my Dad always did with me. He gets the credit for my love of small critters. Ye Olde Insect Identification Book failed to deliver what we were looking for, though. Thank goodness for The Great Internet.

It's a Large Diving Beetle, we decided. Not to be confused with the Small Diving Beetle. Yes, we measured him. With a florescent yellow ruler that didn't make it into the picture. And yes, we're pretty sure he's a boy. And these pictures look like they could use a bit more red or something, no? Oh well, I'm not gonna fix them now.



All the kids held it (even if one held it very briefly and screamed - it still counts).

We even had a bit of drama. It was swimming around in our tub (you don't let gigantic beetles swim in your tub?) until somebody pulled the plug. Luckily one of the boys was quick to snatch it out of the water, although I have my doubts that it would have fit down the drain anyway.

A lot of the bugs from my childhood ended up pinned in a display box.

Not this one.

Sister was concerned that the stinky slough wasn't a good home for him.

The boys convinced her it was okay.



It's mid-March, people. In North Dakota. I looked a year back in my blog just to remind myself of what we have. I should be close to going stir-crazy, exhausted with this frozen tundra. Instead? We're soaking up an amazing early Spring.

Stuck

Our neighbor called and said they had one that was stuck. Really stuck.

The vet was on his way over. Me too? Oh, yes please!

It was a week ago. It was a bit cold out. It was awesome.

Here is your warning that the links in the following paragraphs may not be for the faint of heart.

I want to share these - even if (or despite) having one of them on facebook for all of about twenty minutes, until it was gently suggested that perhaps someone was being insensitive to those with weaker stomachs by posting it publicly. Then I took it down and stared at my bedroom ceiling in the dark for two hours thinking about what it all meant, even though it was clear from the thumbail and my caption that you click at your own risk. I know. Oh, goodness do I know. The audacity. Me? Post stuff like that?

These aren't nearly as exciting in black & white, but maybe that's the whole point, since obviously I'm unaware of the general public's tolerance to things like this (okay, I admit that one is worse). This first image is in full gory glory color on flickr if you're brave enough to look (and you should, it's way more awesome).

So a calf was born by c-section that night.









I see my world and sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a picture that moves me. Real life is not always pretty, wrapped up in ribbons and bows. Sometimes the gritty details might make you squirm. Apparently I'm okay with that.

Incompatible species

Soft pink little morsels wrapped in mud. It's just too much to resist. She's an eating machine. It takes a lot of fuel, I guess, making eggs all the time. She sneaks in for a closer inspection. They may be toes, but they just might be edible.


But now what about this wiggly white tipped tail?

It's not actually attached to him is it?


Oh, well. Cat doesn't sound that good anyway.


If the other girls haven't finished it off already, I know there's a sheet of delicious Styrofoam in the garage.

March 10 on 10

A very good day.

7:42am
So tough to stop playing long enough to eat your breakfast. Such is life.


8:46am
One of the boys has been begging to do this experiment.

The time is an hour off because we've been pushing our clocks ahead gradually all week. The Daylight Savings change is too hard on the kids (one in particular) otherwise. Today we ran the full hour ahead, which was much less confusing for this mom rather than the odd minutes we were off the rest of the week.

10:03am
Already a gorgeous day outside. The beginning of what is supposed to be amazing weather this week.

When the sun is this lovely, these birds sometimes toss a wing up in the air and flop a leg to the side, to soak up as many rays as is poultry possible. And they don't care one bit how ridiculous it looks.

10:46am
Okay. Not only did we have sun... we also had mud. Lots of mud. Did I mention glorious?


11:51am
Just part of a busy builder's pre-lunch project.


1:13pm
An exercise in symmetry?


2:48pm
So I gave the kids mini-marshmallows and toothpicks and told them to go crazy.


3:45pm
This. Wielding two and a half pounds worth of camera with my right hand. Holding a curious little Bantam upside down with my left hand. Dangerously close to my minimum focus distance, which calculates generously to a depth of field of less than half an inch. *dramatic curtsy*

Didn't bother to sharpen for web, but heck yeah, I nailed my focus.

4:39pm
Sad story here. I'd like to pull out my free-pass "damn thyroid excuse" please. I'll be spending some money on seeds this year, and I bought a nice plastic storage box so I don't end up with soggy seed packets again.


6:43pm
Squishy mud + crazy jumping + snow pants + little girl who wasn't going to waste time going to the actual bathroom when she can just do it in her pants. Clothesline. Fantastic day.



Linking up with A Bit Of Sunshine Ten on Ten Project