The "ens" are here!

Kittens.

Yep. I currently have three day-old kitties at my house, and I think that I am officially considered a certified cat-midwife. Her birthing plan started out rough, but ended the way we wanted.

I arrived home on Thursday night and B.K. (my cat) greeted me at the door as usual. I looked at her and instantly knew. "B.K.! you had kittens! where are they?!" I then heard a small cry in the hallway, and lo and behold...there was a little kitten, fresh and new. So I take the little one to the "birthing area" that Todd and I had set up days ago and showed B.K. that this is the spot for baby kitties. Not the hallway. I then think about it.....are there more? At this time I lock Gaeb up in his room because I am sure that if there is another kitten about he will find it and the end result will not be a good one. Sure enough, tucked away in my closet was another tiny little guy. I searched the rest of the house over until I was certain that the two were the only ones. I then let Gaeb out and made sure that B.K. and the two kittens were locked away in the birthing room safe and sound.
Well through the night there was another birth that I was able to be there for and watch. All I have got to say is that Heavenly Father and Mother Nature are pretty clever. It is a wild thing to watch, and then to watch the instant instincts of my cat. I really think that it is pretty amazing all of the different ways that things come into the world. In a strange way it was a humbling experience.

But now they are all well and B.K. is a good little cat-momma who doesn't leave their side. (I was really worried when I first found the two). And hopefully after she is done feeding the young I can take her into the vet to be fixed with out him telling me that she is already pregnant.

Garden...agian.

Well it's a good thing that Gaeb and I went out and did all that we wanted to in the yard yesterday...because today we wake up to snow. I know, I know. I have lived in Utah long enough to know about the warm before the storm....But I couldn't resist. I had to get all that I wanted done in the yard this weekend before I start work again. I know how difficult it is to keep up when you are working full time, and now I have a tiny beast too. That's right. After a full year I am officially going back to work full time. It is going to be different that is for sure. I really have enjoyed being at home with Gaeb and being able to run the house like a tight ship, but it is time. I know once I get back into it I will really like it. I have worked since I was fourteen and so I really think that it is just in me to get in there and do it. I am really excited and also a little intimidated. I think that is natural though, it is always really intimidating starting a new job, and to be honest this is the first "new" job where everything really was new in eight years. So I really don't know what to expect. But back to the yard. So yesterday Beast and I did all that we needed to get the yard ready for spring (yes. snow today, we already covered that.) We moved all the garden rocks that we needed to, prepped the veggie gardens (All we need now is warm enough weather and plants.) And put out all of our new pots for our potted garden. Gaeb ran all over the yard. He has learned quick that he needs to stay on the lawn or else he gets yelled at. We were outside for about three hours, and when we went in for lunch the little guy was so worn out that he fell asleep right in his plate. ( I should have taken a picture, but I felt so bad that I picked him right up and put him to bed.) I am really excited for the garden this year. (If you can't tell from this and my other posts.) If only we were able to fix up the ugly side yard....someday.....maybe.....we can always dream.

Old School

Yeah that's right. I'm going old school 'cause I'm too cool today. Right now I'm doing the running man in my chair, and I think that you all should join me. (Even though it does make it difficult to type.) Sometimes I just like to listen to my old school tapes,(yeah that's right, tapes, what of it?) because it takes me back to a time where my main worries were how to dance (still haven't mastered that one yet) What was on T.G.I.F, and how I was going to torture my little sisters that day. Ahhh. It warms my heart. Come to think about it not much really has changed. I still listen to my favorite music, probably way too loud, and dance to it (If no one is watching), and I still torture my little sisters. (Ask Kate about the "old School Style" as I sing the Perfect Strangers theme to her.)I guess the only big difference is that I no longer have sleep-overs with my girl friends in the living room or on the trampoline. Maybe I need to arrange that this summer....Hey mom, can I borrow the tramp for a night or two?




*If you would like to hear some old school music that still makes me groove (and I know that you do) check out my playlist on the side.......

When I'm Sixty-Four

I think that I may be sixty. Recently I was asked four of my hobbies. This was my answer.
1. wild bird watching
2. Gardening
3. Antique collecting
4. Hiking

The sad truth of the matter is that these are all true. I do love to watch the wild birds in my back yard. In-fact I have a chart of all native wild birds with marks on all of the ones that have visited our back yard. (I do have to say that an impressive majority of the birds have been marked off.) And nothing gives me a bigger rush than finding a really cool antique and getting a great deal on it. This weekend Todd, Geab and I went out antique finding and I found a Mr. and Mrs. ballroom chairs for an amazing deal. At first I only bought one, but later went back for the other. Now all we need is a nice Victorian couch and the front room will be a proper parlor. (See I told you that I thought I was sixty.) All day I have been walking by that room and admiring my chairs. We had to move the smaller couch out of the room and into the other because it now just did not look right at all. I think that I am going to go have some nice chamomile tea and read now......

Valentines Day

Yesterday Nanna brought Gaeb over a Valentines day surprise. It was a little tin with packs of m&m's, a five dollar bill, and two heart ballons. At first he was only interseted in showing Nanna around the house, and the M&M's....but after a few minutes he remembered what fun balloons could be. He had one in each hand and he ran his guts out all over the house. He even wanted to take them to bed with him, but that is where his mean mom drew the line. So first thing he did this morning as his diaper was being changed? You guessed it! Ran to find those darn balloons!
Kate and I had a sister craft night on Wed. It was alot of fun. We made LOVE blocks, which was perfect for me because I got to use power tools and spray paint, and perfect for Kate because she got to use her cricket. It was really a fun day. I drove up to her school and got to see her classroom. It was so cute! You can tell that her kids really enjoy her. It really is funny to see your little sisters name on a plaqe on a classroom door. Just what she always wanted to do. It makes me smile. We then went to go pick up her boys at day care, stopped by to visit Pappa,to McDonalds drive-through, and then to Kates house. As we were munching on our nuggets it came out that Kates oldest son, John had taken some of his toys to school that day and had lost them. Now let me preface the next part of this story. There are times that we are at my dad's house and he gives my little brother, Nick, "the look" Still to this day, at twenty-nine, I see that look, and straighten up. This is absoultly true. Now here I am at the table of my little sister, and she starts to lecture her son. I close my eyes, and I swear to you I am that five year old, and I can hear my mom. Kates tone, her words, her actions, everything was my mom. I opened my eyes, and laughed to myself.

Happy Valentines Day!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Ten Happy Things Today

Today I think that I am going to sit down and write about a few things that make me happy. I think that it is a good thing to do every once in a while.

1. Eating fresh cookies out of the oven for breakfast with Gaeb.
2. Gaeb's laugh
3. Gaeb's teeth. (I think that they are the cutest baby teeth I have ever seen)
4. Hundreds of birds in my back yard.
5. Talking to my mom.
6. Talking to my sisters.
7. Music that I can sing to.
8. A clean house.
9. When Todd calls on the phone for no reason other than to say "Hi".
10. Snuggle cats wanting you to take a nap with them.

It is a good day.

Still Not Spring?!

The spring fever continues. We went to the zoo today, which is a usual family activity. It was so nice because we didn't need to bundle Gaeb up as much, and the elephants and the rinos were out. It has been a while since we have seen them because they keep them in from the cold. (I know....Utah weather isn't excatly Africa weather.) But I could feel the sunshine. We then got home and another sign of spring was in my back yard. Both of the feeders that I had filled this morning were empty. It is unusal that I need to fill the feeders twice in one day. So that means one of two things; we are about to get a really big storm, or the birds are ready to nest. I'm hoping that it is the later of the two. I saw about five robbins in the front yard today, and that gave me such large hope. We have had one of them nest in the front tree for the past two years. I am hoping that she chooses the same tree again this year so I can document it from day one. I would love that. We also had a flicker at the feeder again today, which is another sign of spring. I can tell by the flickers colors though that it won't be spring for a few more weeks because it was still pretty dull....BUT it WAS at my feeder. (O.K.....so maybee I really am searching for spring.) I just love it. I swear I saw a patch of really blue sky today....NOT the hazy blue....but spring blue. (There really is a big difference.)
Todd and I were talking about Logan again today, and I really think that if he had the right job he would move us back there in a heartbeat. I love Logan. But they don't get spring until at least late April, late May. (If you don't believe me, really ask someone who lives up there.) I just don't think that I will be able to hang with that. For college it was great.....but honestly? Not having my hands in the mud until May?! It makes me sad in my heart.

Spring

It's getting there, and I can feel it officially in my toes. I have spring fever. It happens every year to me. As soon as the snow begins to melt and we get any sort of hint of warmer weather I get into full blown spring mode. This happened yesterday to me. I got so excited I went out to the yard, prepped the gardens and put out my (new) large metal flower decorations. Yes. I am well aware that it will snow again. If not in the next three days, soon. But as much as I like winter, I LOVE spring. I just want to run outside and put my hands right into the mud. I want there to be life and color in my yard again. Not just grey. I cant wait to get out and run without my lungs being burnt by the bitter cold. I cant wait to feel the warmth of the sunshine on my lawn. I'm getting anxious just thinking about it. My mind is a swirl of what I am going to plant, and where. What colors I want to incorporate this year. What yummy veggies are going to sprout forth. Is this going to be the year of the berries? I hope so. I think that I am going to attempt the blue, black and raspberry bushes this year. Think of the jams! Thank goodness I have my grandpa John for advice. He can grow anything. Speaking of which...I should do grapes too. So I can make my favorite jelly just like my mom used to. It is still one of my favorite memory smells. Coming home to have grape jam in the pressure cooker. I'm not so sure how Todd is going to feel about the year of the berries.... I think that it will be a good thing. Who can resist fresh berries? The strawberries did well last year, so why not add more? I have the chills I am so excited. I think we are going to attempt corn this year as well. Even though I am a little intimidated by corn. Don't ask me why. I guess it is because it is such a large, tall veggie. But I think I will be brave and try it out. I can't wait. Blogging about this was a mistake. I now want spring even more. Spring....Where are you?

Ba, Ba, Black Cat

It was a sad day at the Bacon house. Our eldest cat Sheeba lost her fight to kidney disease. She was a good cat. She was our first little kitten and I fondly remember her in our first appartment running to the door to greet Todd when he used to get home at two, three, or even four a.m. (She could hear his car lock from three stories up) She was always our queen bee, and she will be missed.

The Home Depot

I'm usually a champion at the home depot. In fact....I usually rock. I saunter in with the face of "Yeah, that's right...I know what I'm doing, and no,I don't need your help, in fact, let me show YOU how to tile..." Yeah...usually that's how it is...showing the folks at home depot up. But this Saturday I was not in my finest form.
I Saunter in, and because I am not at my home familiar turf Home Depot, I am lost. Usually, I would bee line right for the Sheetrock Aile with no qualms about me, pick up my s...tuff and go. But no. I am turned around. Officially lost, and reduced to looking at the big orange ilse signs to better my direction. This, in turn, leads to several associates asking me "Can I help you find anyhting?" "No. I'm Fine." And to the sheet rocking ailse I go. Now in the madness of it all I have forgotten to grab a long cart, and at this point I am refusing to do the walk of shame across all of the isles to grab a cart. I'm sure I can hold what I need in my hands. So I grab the corner pieces that I need, ten of them, and they are twelve feet long. Here I am. Ready to joust six feet in each direction. That's fine. I can handle this. The mud I need is at the beginning of the aisle. Just need to turn around...and apparently the aisles are shorter than twelve feet. I find this out by knocking into items on either side with my jousting sticks. I'll just back up to the beginning of the aisle. As a back up I hear a grunt, I turn my head, and see that I have successfully jousted a man wearing a flannel shirt in the stomach. If I was a gladiator I would have my freedom because that was a kill shot. "Sorry, sorry, sorry." I say as I continue down the aisle, grap the mud and make a mad dash to the checkout counter. Checkout goes like a breeze, and out to the car the same. I pop the trunk and already had the seat down and ready. I then hear "That's not going to fit." Flannel man. Now if I had been on my game he wouldn't have said anything. He may have thought it, but he wouldn't have said it. I turn around, smile and say, It really doesn't look like it today, but I've done this before, slide the posts right in and shut the trunk. Flannel says "You could fooled me". At least I got them in the car without incident. If not, I would have hung up my pink tool belt forever.