the circle of life (simple gifts update)

While my children were recently away on a trip, I noticed that I didn’t see much of Missy, the cat. She didn’t bring in the nightly catch of moth or worm, and made herself scarce. It became quite obvious that I am not her favorite person (probably because I am the one who “kidnapped” her from her previous home, took her to the dreaded vet for shots and surgery, and shoo her off my bed at night). I could tell she was quite glad when the children came home, for she was back to her usual routines and her gift-giving resumed. Now I know for sure that the gifts are for Hannah, her favorite.

It is as though Missy senses that Hannah will be leaving for college soon, for she has stepped up her gifting yet again, bringing in a mouse a few days ago and last night not one, but two fledgling doves. At bedtime we discovered them. One she had killed in the bathroom (feathers everywhere) and was eating in the guest room. The other was unharmed, but shaken, cowering in the dining room. What to do? If we let the thing outside, could it find its way home before Missy caught it again? Should we try to take care of it? We decided to sleep on the matter so fixed a little bed for it in the cage with our parakeets, causing no small stir in their sequestered existence. Hannah gave Missy quite a lecture on the value of life and her own satisfaction, if not delight, with the heretofore simple gifts of bark, worms and moths.

This morning our little guest seemed ready to find his own way in the world and as soon as we took him outside, he flew off to the safety of some tall plants. As a precaution, we kept the cat indoors for the afternoon to give the bird a good head start. But, alas, when Missy’s pleadings made us finally relent and let her outside, it wasn’t long before she tracked down that same bird and brought it in again. It was immediately rescued and released outdoors as we locked up the cat again, Isaac muttering all the while, “evil cat…” We watched the little bird regain his composure for a half hour or so on our windowsill, then fly off, landing in the street where it was run over by a car.

Sometimes the “circle of life” loses out to the “food chain.” I just wish we weren’t in the middle of it all. My only solace is the hope that perhaps the gift-giving will stop altogether when Hannah goes off to school in three weeks.

take five

When my children were little and much of my day seemed to be taking one step forward and two steps back, I came up with the “five or five” principle as a way to help manage things. The “five or five” principle involves either taking five minutes in a room (to put away or clean up as much as possible) or doing five things. I’d do it anytime I was in any room. For example, any time I’d go into the bathroom, I would do five things before leaving: replace the roll of toilet paper, re-hang the fallen hand towels, wipe down the mirror, replace the trash bag, close the shower curtains… whatever needed to be done to keep the place in good shape. If I could spend 5 minutes I would do more, scour the sink or scrub the toilet. If I put the baby down for a nap, I would put away five things before slipping out, or take five things with me that needed to be put away elsewhere. It is amazing what a difference even five things can make, and how little time it takes, even children can manage that. It is really amazing what a difference five minutes can make, especially when your children learn the principle and you make it a family blitz: set the timer and everyone chooses a room for a whirlwind five-minute pick-up.

The “five or five” principle is still a part of my make-up, and still helps me to manage things: I will pull five weeds when I go out for the paper or take out the trash. I’ll spend five minutes working in the sewing room when I put the laundry in the dryer. I put away five things before I leave the kitchen after I’ve had a drink of water. The “five or five” principle doesn’t eliminate the need for thorough cleaning, you can’t really manage dishes by washing only five at a time or weeds by pulling only five a couple of times a day, but “five or five” really cuts down on the clutter that can so quickly become overwhelming. When things start to feel too much to handle, I jut remind myself that doing only five things will make a difference and I can handle that, or I have the energy to spend five minutes and maybe that is all it will take… So give it a try!

our pew

I recovered our pew today, taking advantage of the time while the children are away on vacation to do a few of the bigger projects.

the cheesie-scone

Isaac returned home from a week at scout camp and we decided to make one of his favorite foods for lunch today. The debate was on, should it be grilled cheese sandwiches or scones (the Utah scone, not the British type). He suggested we combine the two, encasing a slice of cheese in the bread dough and frying it up. So, in keeping with the American creative spirit of innovation (and on Independence Day no less), the “cheesie-scone” was born, and it is delicious! We had ours plain, but I can see them especially delicious dipped in catsup. Ahh, only in America. Well, OK, maybe not ONLY in America…

Avey's Quiet Book

I made this quiet book for grand-daughter Avey for Christmas. I have since had several requests for the pattern. I didn't use a pattern, I just designed and made the pages as I went. So I have gone through the painstaking process of making a pattern fromthe finished product and it is now available ($15).