Rain or Shine

Mother Nature is very uncertain as to what to provide in April. It was amazing at my home last night. Out to the east was huge dark clouds.

Out to the West was incredible sun.

I can relate to that completely. When I can't decide what to plant in the garden, flowers or vegetables, I just buy the variety mixture packs. A little of everything, no rhyme or reason. Yep that's me alright.

Other than a crooked picture of my home and a shadow of me looking at the horse barn, these are neat pictures. Maybe I will photoshop them later and do a before and after.

Yeah unhuh...wish me luck on that one for sure.

The Bassinet

The bassinet in the picture has a long history. It is 74 years old.

It was my fathers first cradle as a new born baby in 1935. My fathers brother also was cradled in that same bed. This bassinet cradled my brother in 1957, myself in 1959, my sister in 1974. It cradled my precious babies too. Tonya in 1979, Kristina in 1981 and Beth in 1986. This summer it will cradled my first grandbaby. Four generations of family will have shared this same bassinet. I think of the mommys past and those still to come.

Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that I laid my newborn babies down in it. I can remember so clearly the way it felt to come home from the hospital, so surreal, leaning over and setting them down for the first time. I couldn't help just staring at how precious they were. I was scared. Scared that I didn't know what to do or how to be a good mother. I felt that my heart would just burst, because it was so full of love. I remember the feeling of amazing softness of baby skin, the smell, their breathing, the incredible innocence of babyness...The purest realization of a miracle. I couldn't help just staring at them sleeping. I was sure if I went to sleep I would wake up and it would all be a dream. I was so young. I just turned 20 right before I had Tonya.

I can hardly believe Tonya is having her first baby. I see her and watch her. She is so beautiful. In her I see myself too. She is becoming a mother. "Wait" I yell, "I am the mother". How can this be? I imagine she will be feeling the uncertainty of becoming a mother herself, as I too felt so many years ago. That familiar feeling in the back of my mind now whispering-how will I be a good grammy, while still being a mother too? What do I do?

It's a reminder of the circle of life. Shifting roles within family, the passing of the torch. My mom- a great Gramma, me a Grammy, Tonya a momma. Kristina and Beth becoming aunts. My brother and sister becoming great aunts and uncles.

Tonya and Ryan will make a wonderful loving mommy and daddy. They might not know that yet, but I know.

remember... mommy's know everything :) grammys too.

Potting Barn

I mail ordered some plants. They arrived this week. I have ordered plants through the mail before and was NOT successful at getting them to grow. However, after learning more about plants I realized before that I may have planted them upside down (roots facing up)!!! I was reminded of this when I opened the box and saw these bare root perennials. I had forgotten about my previous experience. Somehow I just thought they would arrive in safe little pony packs like you get when you go the nursery. I had anticipated the weather would be spring like today, but NO... It is windy and overcast. Not exactly a great day to be out at the barn. I put on a coat and scarf, turned on the lights in the barn and gathered up my planting partner, Molly.

This is my planting helper today.
MOLLY :)

Potting (tack) room in the barn.

My other helper, Wiley.

I hope this is the plant and NOT the roots.

It was windy and cold but still felt good to be outside. I hope this time all the plants flourish. We'll see.

Worm Moon

I love the Full Moon...

Tonight is the Full Worm Moon -
As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. For this reason, the March full moon is often known as the Full Worm Moon. Northern Native American tribes knew this moon as the Full Crow Moon when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter. They also used Full Crust Moon because the snow cover became crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night.

The Dakota Sioux named it Moon When Eyes Are Sore From Bright Snow. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is a Colonial American variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon. It was considered to be the last full moon of winter.

(article and picture courtesy of "Famer's Almanac") NO.. I am not really that talented.

Who's Bringing Up Baby?

As history progressed for "woman's rights" in the workplace, it has regressed for the woman who wants to stay at home and provide the stability that is so lacking in the American family. The dual income has forced inflation to rise to the point that a single income cannot possibly provide even the basic of necessities. The tug of war has only changed sides.
Once again women really do not have a choice whether they choose to work outside the home or stay at home, just as before. Women are forced to choose between family and work. It is simply not fair. Have we really made any progress?

Haven't we just traded one set of adversaries for another?

(this article appeared in the San Jose Mercury in the mid-late 80's)

WHO IS BRINGING UP BABY?
Remember the old days when it was the new, independent trend for women to take jobs outside of the home? These days the double income is the norm.Only the above-average incomes have allowed some of the nearly-extinct single income families to survive. This gives us a rare opportunity to look at different families and ask the question: does the lack of a parent in the home cause the growing trend of adolescent pregnancies, drug abuse, gang violence, and high school drop outs?
There is no need to lay a guilt trip on women. Whether driven from a need or a desire to gain more material possessions, some women don't have a choice when it comes to working or staying at home to grow the children.
Besides, that, the thought of mere housewifery is downright boring for some. The variety and satisfaction provided by working outside the home gives the edge to the self-actualization process.
But the cost of this is splashed across the news pages and broadcast into our homes on the evening news. Gang violence. Drug running. A country's youth with nothing else of value to which they can gives their lives.
What is it that we work our whole lives for anyway? In the end the goal is to reproduce ourselves, to carry on the work to make the world a better place. Perhaps a better investment would be to spend time raising the children. The day to day presence of an adult in the home tells the children they are important, worthy, and able to make something of value out of their lives.
This may mean a different career for the man or woman of a parental pair. For some couples it would mean sacrificing a higher standard of living. For still others no change is in order, a free country is a free country.
If part of the humans drive to work is to "save the world", perhaps now that effort would be best spent in the home raising those who are our future?