1. For the past few nights after dinner, I have been retiring to the computer for a few moments after dinner while the kids have "wrestle time." They have outfits and everything. They occasionally bonk body parts pretty fantastically, but come back for more each night. The funny thing is, I'm not much for the rough play. But it's so cute to hear them say "wrestle time!"
2. Magic shell. Organic mint chocolate chip ice cream.
3. 6 to 7 eggs a day coming in right now, soon to be doubled by the dark and lovely young Rhode Island Red ladies.
4. The sour plum trees are spilling over with delicate white blooms. No green leaves yet. Just bursting forth with white. The bees buzz.
5. The kids did the dishes tonight, after a few sassy comments at dinner. They did a great job with almost no complaining and I got the rest of the living area straightened up. Huzzah!
   

1. Shopping at Ward's, a locally owned grocery store, makes me so very happy. Today I went all out. Lots of bulk foods, lots of produce and spinach pies still warm from the oven.
2. I have unrealistic expectations for my time. What I thought would take a quick 20 minutes today took a solid three hours.
3. The kids and I often play 3 goods and a bad when I pick them up from school as a way to get filled in on the other person's day. Yesterday Lily pointed out that my bad is almost always the same: I didn't get done all that I hoped I would. She told me that if I let go of my expectations and just did what I was doing, I would be happier. Perhaps a young Buddhist walks among us?
4. Glass class needs new sparkers and glasses.
5. I have also planted more seeds, because seedlings are my friends. Currently incubating are - Early Girl Tomato, Sweetie Baby Tomato, Bell Pepper, Scarlet Red Hibiscus, Florida Cotton (picked on a walk with my sister's family in Sarasota), chives and a beautiful marigold variety called butter and eggs. It's time for a garden plan!
   

1. Slept in until 11:30. 11:30!! I woke up with a big ol headache. I only drank 3 rum and cokes throughout the 8 hours I was out, and I told the bartender specifically to make them wussy drinks. I just have a sensitivity to alcohol, and can't handle any quantity.
2. I checked the hive today. I found lots of brood and uncapped larva in a dense pattern. This is a sign of a good laying queen! But, I saw almost no capped honey, which makes me believe I may have harvested too soon. So I prepared a baggie feeder of 2:1 sugar water and put it in the hive. I'm hoping it didn't leak all over the bees. The baggie method seems kinda clumsy.
3. During my inspection, I managed to squirt a bunch of sugar syrup on myself and almost set the yard on fire with my smoker. Patrick, working on his treehouse, got a good chuckle out of watching me stomping out the flames in the grass in my sugar coated boots.
4. The Miller clan was here from about 4pm till 10pm last night. They are very sweet boys. We gathered up all the bows and arrows we could find (4 bows and about 25 arrows) and took to the archery range next door. The kids really enjoyed shooting each target and tallying their scores. There was even a 3D target- a huge foam bear. Yardley thought it was a real bear and raised his hackles and growled to protect his people! After we returned home, the kids headed to TV/ computer land and I fed them steadily- beans and rice, sliced cucumbers, mint tea, popcorn, more mint tea, more popcorn, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The idea of a sleepover lost popularity around 9:30 pm and their parents came and scooped them up.
5. When Lotus and I cuddle, he calls me the "warm bug." Last night, he said "Warm bug in da house!"
   

1. A little guy puked on his desk during art yesterday. The smell almost caused 4 other kids to join him.
2. The Expressions silent Gala was last night. I have a hard time coming up with nice formal wear. I wound up rocking a Frida Kahlo look, with a long black dress, black flower in my hair and my red "cape." It was fun and festive and well attended. I danced the cha cha and chatted with lovely folks like Kay Weigal, Donna Waller, Kana Handel, Olapatun, and more. Donna Waller is taking groups of anthropology students into Ecuador. I'd like to find out more.
   
3. I was the head cashier again this year. This process must be streamlined! I think I've got a better way. One table for collection of bid sheets, one for payment. It was a pile up this yera.
4. After the gala, I went to Juan and Amanda's bonfire potluck. It was heavenly. There I joined Ivor, Lisa, Amanda and many others singing under the moonlight. We had a 4 part string section for a while- mandolin, guitar, violin and stand up bass. We sang some slow gospel tunes and some classic songs lots of people know (Gillian Welch, Wagon Wheel, Neil Young) and some more chanty trancy stuff. It. was. heavenly.
5. I need to try and sing every day. The skill of remembering lyrics sharpens the mind and the singing softens the soul.
   

1. On tonight's agenda is painting a ragged medieval tapestry to be hung in Fiona's castle for the set of the Shrek play. Aaah, procrastination.
2. I had a lovely day of art today with a nice lesson from DeepSpaceSparkle. The K-1 guys made some beautiful cardinals in the bare branches of winter with a crisp blue shimmering sky.
3. Tomorrow is the first time I've seen the 4th 5th grade in quite a while, due to holidays and the medieval fair. I painted cardboard canvases gold today for use in a lesson tomorrow about Gustav Klimt.
   
4. Tonight's dinner was authentic matzoh ball soup, courtesy of Paul. He has a way of getting the kids excited about the meals he's cooking.
5. I spent about an hour repotting tomato seedlings this afternoon and am still not done! Come to my house for salsa in a few months, k?
   

1. Gotta be quick- it's past the kiddos bedtime.
2. I received a large bolt of ground cover/ weed barrier for the garden today. I'm going to use it in my experimental plot. Muahahaha for experimental plots.
3. The Ones to Blame are playing at 8 seconds tonight- yep, the one that's painted like a cow. Sadly I must resist. First, Sky's still not home from Ornametalsmith Bill's house. Second, kindergarten art awaits me in the a.m.
4. I must admit to being a fan of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. And DVR.
5. Lasagna is delicious and makes most people happy.
   

1. Great glass class tonight. Yes it was below freezing. Yes, there were only 4 of us. But it was awesome. I demonstrated crystal shaped glass stones with a mushroom inside and a frog on top. Everyone's frogs came out adorable!
   
2. My toes are freezing. A warm bath and new book await.
3. We got to bring home the awesome Mayan calendar project Lily did for her history project. I'll have to think about how to best display it.
4. I get a lot of pleasure from growing baby vegetables.
5. Paul Shatz, the quirky, cigar smoking, kid loving, booming photographer is back in town.