The Over-publicized Garden

(as opposed to the secret garden)

“This week, First Lady, Michelle Obama, and a group of local school children broke ground on the first White House Lawn Food Garden since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden during WWII. This organic garden will feed the Obama family, be used for White House events.”

Um, excuse me while I gag. Somehow I’m not seeing Michelle Obama out weeding in the afternoons, watering every morning, or canning tomatoes like a fiend in September.

So next week are they getting a cow, to show how they support farmers?

Blech.

I am sick. The dog has piddled on the living room carpet three times already (after a 100% perfect day yesterday! Argh!). The kids did the rock-bottom minimum of school. And now it’s time to make lunch . . .

Puppy Addendum

One unexpected perk to having a puppy in the house – the kids have to constantly have all of their toys picked up if they don’t want to have them chewed to pieces. So, for an unprecedented four days in a row, the living room has been clean ALL DAY!

Did I mention that I love this puppy???

No, I haven’t taught her to fold laundry yet

Puppy Love

 

Here she is – our sweet little Wisteria (this is the only picture I have of her with here eyes open – if she’s not sleeping, she’s moving too fast to catch a shot of her!) We almost didn’t get her away from Grandpa (my dad, who has wanted to get another Weim for years, and who Wisty was VERY attached to), but she’s been part of our family now for a week, and is settling in nicely.

We have two reasons for choosing her name: 1) I had a Weimeraner when I was little named Daisy, and so I wanted to continue the botanical theme; and 2) of course a Westendorf Weimaraner from Wisconsin needs to have a name that starts with a W!  

She is such a sweetheart – very smart, very snuggly – but also very much a puppy, who loves to play (which means jumping at the kids and nipping at them with her VERY sharp little teeth). I have come to realize that having a puppy is a lot like having an infant who doesn’t yet sleep through the night (she only got me up once last night! yay!), a one-year-old who gets into everything (I already had one of those, thank you very much!) and a two-year-old in the midst of potty training (we’re running out of carpet cleaner), all rolled into one adorable bundle of cuteness.

*Weimaraners generally need a lot of interaction with other people and dogs, or they get very posessive of their families and don’t like other dogs. So please come visit and play with our puppy! Really, it’s part of her training!

I’m Back!

That’s right, I’ve been stuck in the dark ages again – Peter loaned our laptop to a co-worker who was going on a business trip, “just for the weekend” – forgetting  that said co-worker wouldn’t be back until Wednesday, and not into the office until Thursday (at least he said he didn’t do it on purpose – but he has been saying I spend too much time on the computer lately . . .) And of course Thursday night is our Bible study night, so now, Friday morning, is my first chance to go online in a week.

So Kirsten, you can stop emailing me nasty comments   Joel can stop calling (although I did enjoy our chat the other night!), and Emily, I will catch up with the bookclub as soon as I can!

****

I must admit, though, I do get a lot more done without the computer in the house. It’s amazing how those quick email checks as I walk past seem to swell into hour-long research sessions on chicken feed or ketchup recipes or vermicomposting or stoneware muffin pans . . .

Karaoke Fun

The Saturday before last, we hosted a karaoke party in our basement. Never having done karaoke at all before, I was a little apprehensive, but it was incredibly fun (you should try it!). Especially when your husband and his brother have a couple of drinks in them (you really haven’t lived until you’ve heard Peter and Trevor sing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – I have video, if you’re interested!)

I think I may have to invest in a karaoke machine of my own, just to relive that particular moment . . .

Except that . . .

I just had one of those magical movie moments when a guy sees the woman he loves across the room, throws his drink to the floor and runs to her adoring embrace.

Except that it was a sippy cup, and the guy was my not-quite-two-year-old

*****

The kids are currently memorizing part of the Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed, specifically the part which reads: “And he was crucified under Pontius Pilate”

Except that Naomi invariably says “Conscious Pilate” (which invariably makes me giggle) even after I’ve corrected her daily.

It’s Great to Be Alive – Right, Dave?

This one’s for the Westendorfs

This weekend we had a shower for Meg

And for your pardon I would beg

As I ramble on, all out of joint -

I promise you, this has a point!

Her tummy’s full of twins, they say,

Who should come out this coming May.

And Natalie, Pete’s twin, said she

Is ready to pop ASAP!

Which all, of course, leaves little me

Astonishingly baby-free!

And though, at moments, I would pine,

Don’t worry – I will be just fine.

For I’ve a little one in store,

Who I can snuggle and adore.

We’ve thought a lot about this step,

Done all the research and the prep,

And so, with no ifs, ands, or maybes -

We’re getting a puppy.