Come to my garden

Spathiphyllum/Peace Lily, purple penta, gnome, originally uploaded by bossamama.

Go over to my Flickr site and see lots more pictures of my growing garden. Just click on photo.

Jar Mania

Candy Jar!

How can I take time to write about jars? I love a good jar. It is one of the simple things in life that makes me very happy. I guess that might be odd. When I see an empty jar, I thrill with the ideas of what I can jam into it. I love to see lots of little things gathered together in a kaleidoscope fashion. I like to see things, not put them in covered boxes and hide them away. So many things are pretty to look at- soap, candy, buttons and who can resist a jar full of googly eyes?

Bathroom Jars

Craft Room Jars

I save jars from spaghetti sauce, jelly, whatever looks interesting. I have a cabinet in my kitchen devoted to empty jars. Now that the girls are getting older I don't have to worry so much about having so much glass around. Although I am awfully clumsy and do break things occasionally. But I've cleaned up so many broken things, it doesn't scare me much anymore. Just sweep it up! Today as I was browsing Anna Marie Horner's blog I discovered her passion for jars as well and a link to a jar mecca that I previously did not know of. Now, it's just a matter of figuring out where else I can jam some jars into my house!

Pantry Jars

Too much nature

All this nature is starting to freak me out. Yesterday it was hawk-mockingbird wars. Then we discovered that the pile of wings and bloody remains in our yard were probably from a mockingbird, meaning that the hawk had already eaten one unfortunate soul. That's why he was just sitting there in our yard letting the other birds peck at him. He was eating and he wasn't going to be bothered. Thank goodness this morning, I saw both Mabel and Marvin show up and sit next to each other on the wire above their nest. I was so happy to see them and told them so. They just looked at me.

Then later this morning we came across this:


A turtle digging and apparently laying eggs right out in the open by our back gate. It was a pretty big turtle and seemed totally undisturbed by us watching it as it dug. I looked up turtle egg gestation and it's around 60-90 days. So we'll keep an eye out. Though, I have a feeling the raccoons who like to use our back yard as a latrine will soon sniff them out and have a snack.

It's like Mutual of Omaha around here. Anyone remember that show? So just when I thought I was finally safe and ensconced in the house from nature... I opened the garage door to find this:


I was horrified. Snakes are okay out in the yard but not in my garage where I walk barefoot and do the laundry. Mickey just stood there and would not come in the house. I knew Minnie would soon run out there and grab the snake and bring it in, she's done it before. So I slammed the door shut (and then got the camera.) I coaxed Mickey into the house and then I tried to pick the snake up with our handy broom and stick dustpan. I've done it before, when I absolutely had to get a snake out of the kitchen. I tried to scoop up the snake, but it started coming up the steps toward me! I was screaming and trying to stop it, but it wouldn't stop!!! Then I started pushing it back down the steps with the broom and it finally slithered off under the washing machine! I pray that it doesn't die under there, because we have learned that snakes smell very bad when they die in a hot garage. It didn't look injured, so I hope it is smart enough to get back outside under the garage door. I will be freaking out every time I do laundry now.

I don't think I would do well living out in the woods or something. This is why I don't like camping. I love nature and animals, but I like them outside, not inside my home- being nice and not killing each other in front of me! This happens to me each year I realize, when I spend a lot of time outdoors. I just get plain freaked out by nature.

Rumble in the Front Yard!

Photos used for dramatic reenactment, the hawk was on the ground

and Mavis, Mable and Morton were attacking from the roof of our house!

Red Tail Hawk

Today we arrived home from piano lessons to find our Mockingbird couple, whom we have since named Mabel and Marvin, viciously attacking a hawk that was at least 4 times their size! There was even a third Mockingbird involved, perhaps Mabel's brother Morton? At first all we could see were the little birds squawking and flapping their wings and dive bombing. I was sure they were trying to protect their nest and we approached to see if we could help. Suddenly this large hawk ( I think a Red Tail like pictured) flew off from where it had been sitting on the ground. It left behind a big pile of feathers and what looks like some red flesh (eww.) I ran over to see if it had eaten the eggs already and thank goodness it hadn't. I looked it up and read that Mockingbirds are one of the most vigorous defenders of their young. I'll say! Bravo Marvin and Mabel (and Morton!)

Listen...

Not a video, but someone was nice enough to post the song on youtube, odd choice of picture though.

My latest find. The Long Lost. Not new, but new to me. Heard on local college radio. I am always a sucker for a bossa nova or samba beat. Also if I hear a flute softly playing that gets me. This band is interesting. A husband and wife duo- they dress in a sort of shabby Victorian style. The husband has large mutton chop sideburns and the wife wears very long straight red hair. Their songs are extremely quiet, perfect for a quite evening or to calm oneself after a busy afternoon. I often listen to them while driving. This song is the peppiest on the album. Here they are...

I'm just passing through

That's what this little boy named Carlos said to me today. I was at school collecting art for our second annual all school art show. I have spent the past few weeks meeting with each and every child asking them to pick their favorite piece of art to display from a year's worth of work. It has been fun meeting all the kids, except one fifth grade class- who were particularly difficult. And in the end I felt bad for them, all having been pegged as behavior problems. But today, Carlos took me aback. I asked him to pick his favorite piece and he said "I won't be participating in the art show" (He's in third grade.) I told him this was an art show for everyone and that he didn't have to come that night if he didn't want to. Maybe he thought he had to be there. Anyway, he then said "I'm just passing through." He kept saying it. Then he said his mother wouldn't come on a Friday night because she has something she always does- I didn't understand the word he used. He eventually just wandered off and I didn't notice at first because a bunch of other kids had gathered around me. When I noticed I called him up and told him he could take all his artwork home, he wouldn't take it. I asked if he was sure he didn't want me to pick something for the show. He again said "I'm just passing through." Finally, I just picked something and forced his folder into his hand as he left the class with the others. I think he said it again as he was going out the door. "I'm just passing through."

It's the weekend. Foux Du Fafa

Mockingbirds

Last weekend this Mockingbird couple decided to build a nest in our arbor. They spent a week building the nest, bringing tiny bits of things every few hours and meticulously weaving them into a beautiful nest. The nest is right at my chin level so I can peek right in!



I'm so excited because I found 3 eggs in the nest this morning. It was hard to get a good picture because I was terrified that the birds were going to attack me. I love looking at birds and I think they're amazing creatures and want to learn more about them. But if they come too close to me, I get a bit freaked out. Now, we'll wait and see if 3 baby mockingbirds hatch. I'm just amazed that these birds picked this spot, I walk through the arbor everyday to water and garden. We can also see the arbor from the girl's bedroom. Maybe we'll get to watch the babies hatch and grow!

If you like cats...

... you'll adore this one! Found this on the NPR website. This is the most relaxing five minutes to watch, that ends with you giggling hysterically. This cat is awesome- I've never seen such a thing. Stick around to the end- it's worth it. You can also find more videos of Maru here. He's addictive.

For Diana!

A drop of golden sun!

Hope

Our school may be closed, but then merged with the local middle school. This would be great news for us, continuing our language program and opening it up to more children. Not such good news for the middle school. It's curriculum would change drastically and many children would be rezoned to go to other schools.

It's a give and take. A bittersweet proposition. This economy.

Love Neko Case

Neko Case creates the kind of music that must be listened to turned up loud. It's best blasting in a car on a moonlit night with all the windows open. The music echos and Neko's voice floats out on the wind. I would like to listen to it in a canyon or in the woods. It has a dark quality, but of a woman calling out letting us know she's still out there waiting. It causes me to try to be poetic.

Second day of March

Sunflower with ants, originally uploaded by bossamama.

It's extremely cold in my house, a strange March cold snap is to blame. It's warming up outside I'm sure, but I'm housebound with laundry and potty training today. I found this picture that I took a few years ago and forgot. I love looking at it. I enjoy being able to capture a moment with creatures in action. I can't seem to catch a bird, I think I need a better camera for that.

Fried

February Gone!

I realized the whole month of February had passed and I hadn't blogged. Been spending a bit too much time on Facebook. I have also been uploading lots of stuff on Flickr. You can see how my garden has been progressing. I have been worrying over our school closing and spending a lot of time thinking about that. Been wondering whether to hook all this up to Facebook, so that my friends there might check this out. I think most of my friends there already know- well actually, there are all those high school friends and other friends, that I don't know extremely well. This is public, so anyone can see it- but honestly who comes here? Especially when I don't update too often. Have to say summer is a more productive time here around the blog! Here's a peek at the garden.

My High School Sweetheart

My boyfriend.

I was not much of a dater in high school. Not for lack of wanting, just didn't get asked. Then my one fumbly experience turned sour. So my real high school sweethearts were the pop stars that I fell absolutely in love with. First there was Sting. I was obsessed and had pictures of him everywhere. Immediately after high school and my terrible boy experience- I discovered the Smiths and specifically Morrissey. It was perfect timing- I was so disillusioned and scared of boys. Morrissey was there and completely caught my fancy beyond even Sting. Why? He was attractive, sensitive and well-read but mostly because he was gay and a self proclaimed celibate. He sang about unrequited love and never being able to find the right person, plus he was a little naughty sometimes in a British way. Each song was calling out to me and comforted me in a way that Sting never did. (He was much too grown-up for me- I now realize.)

It reminds me of a review I read of the Twilight movie- the critic supposed that teen girls love the vampire heartthrob character because he adores the girl character, but cannot have sex with her and she finds that ultimately non-threatening and romantic (as opposed to um- him being a blood sucking vampire?) But come to think of it, maybe that's why my "love" of Morrissey was so strong- he was safe. I knew that if I was caught alone with him, even though I might have wanted to totally make out with him or at least swoon- he wouldn't have touched a hair on my head. Gay and celibate- that's as good as a vampire to a girl. Oh, and then the fact that I could never possibly ever meet him.

What got me thinking about Morrissey? His new album- which is being heavily advertised right now. I have every Smiths album and the first few solo Morrissey albums that I still listen to frequently and can sing to by heart (it's in my DNA now- I'm sure my girls will know the songs too.) But somewhere around the mid 90's I lost track of my sweetheart and got involved with other bands, other genres of music, it became less about a late night companion to swoon over and more about really appreciating music. And maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was married to a real man.

So, today I went to Morrisey's website, inspired by Facebook and all that reconnecting with old friends. I listened to his new single- not knowing what to expect. And guess what? The music sounds exactly the same, his phrasing, his lyrics- still singing about the "absence of human touch." It's like he's in a time capsule! I don't know how to feel about it. Other artists from that era - such as David Byrne- have expanded and gone all over the place. But there's Morrissey, same hairstyle and haughty chin-up pose, just a little doughier around the jawline. Is it comforting or disturbing? The music is good- as I look back on other bands I was into- I realize that the Smiths were just a plain good band, they stand up to scrutiny. But my old boyfriend- he's caught in a time warp- rehashing his youth over and over. Should I be concerned? He seems happy, maybe I'll just let him be. We had some good times and he got me through some rough spots. I'll thank him for that. Next time I don't see him.

My boyfriend 20 years later.

Kind of Blue

This year is the 50th anniversary of the release of Kind of Blue. It still sounds fresh and cool. What geniuses. Witness the real thing--Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb April 1959

An awesome way to start a day

Watch Hammerdance videos and dance lessons at DanceJam.com

As is often the case, I do not know how I ended up on this website watching this video. But I just had to share. It's fun, funny and this kid is pretty good at the Hammerdance. I couldn't figure out whether to watch him or his mom quietly knitting behind him on the couch. She seems unperturbed by her son dancing wildly and hopping around in front of a video camera inches away- this must be an everyday occurrence at their house. Also, he doesn't seem to think having his mom sitting behind him will lessen his cool. How he does this grand dance in that tiny space between the couch and the TV and his use of every available space is impressive!

And I just discovered you can watch many, many more people doing the Hammer dance by clicking on the link above. Quite entertaining indeed.

Another word about the Inauguration

After my heady week of watching non-stop Inaugural coverage, I'm ready to get back to work.  I swear, I just got weepier with each moment.  Maybe it was that I was tired.  One night I watched "The Daily Show" and found John Oliver making fun of Obama.  I didn't like it.  I didn't like it one bit, then I suddenly felt a shock of realization- is this what it felt like for Bush followers all these years?  Have I become a blind follower of what one person in the NYT called a "demagogue?"  I have to be honest, I had to look that up.  I mean sure I've heard that word a million times, but did I really know what it means?  I guess not- "a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument."  But-- also in ancient Greece and Rome- "a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people."  So yeah.  I guess that could describe Obama, you could take it as a negative or a positive.  By the way, it's about time the spellcheckers of the world added Obama to their lists of correctly spelled words!  Just type it and see what I mean.

A peek into our morning...