Relegated to the Sidelines...

Doesn't this look like fun?

How could you not want to get involved with this?

Especially when you've got a chicken, an eagle, and a...something in your hands.

But you better think fast, because sister has a whole scenario in motion.

If you are not up to the task, the best you can do is sit on the sidelines and hang on.

And if you think your pet opossum can join, you'll be sorrily disappointed when the cafe owner screams "Rat!"

This restaurant is for the elite only.

I know, it's daunting, isn't it?  The way a girl's brain works.

She's got the kitchen set up.....

The customers all assigned to tables...

The menu decided upon...

And the table set.

You can jump in any time boys, but it might be safer just sitting there watching.

Time Out For Cardinals

Isn't this cool?  Todd took it.  You can click on it to see the mid-flight pose more clearly.

After we watched the Cardinals for awhile, we realized they had quite the personality.

Don't cock your head at me, Mr. Tuftnoggin.

Pretty cool pool, Mr. Tuft.  I know you came here to drink, so don't let me bother you.

CAT!   Just kidding.

Am I bothering you?

Uh-oh.  Company.

YOU ask him if he has a reservation.

I get the feeling you'd rather be alone, Mr. Tuft.  

Fine, fine. I'm leaving.  See?  I'm leaving.

"I know you're back there."

"I can still see you."

Ugh!  You're exasperatingly perceptive.  Okay, okay,  I just have one last question for you. 

How do you feel about snowballs?

Duck!

Sorry.

I'll leave you in peace now, Mr. Tuft.  I can see by the look on your face that it's been a wonderful experience.

What Cool Looks Like

How do they know what's cool?  At one time this was cool...

 

(Actually, he's always cool.)

And then, everybody thought this was cool.

Didn't Footloose come next?

Or was it Valleygirl?

  And this was very cool.  I wore my jeans like that.

  But today, this is cool.  

And this is how they interpret it:

The coolest guys wear silver beads.  Don't ask me how they know.

Never mind these beads were last worn in 1984 in a long knotted style over a sweater with raglan sleeves.

Cool guys squint when they look at you.

And make meaningful hand signs.

Only their moms know that they have no idea what the hand signs mean.
Only their moms know that their beaded gold necklace was bought in the late 80's to go with a Christmas outfit.  Monet.

Cool guys still have to do their school work.

And this is what happens when their mom says, "Look at the camera."

They may look cool.  But it lacks true conviction.  Underneath is just a bunch of munchable sweetness.

Anyone with a puppy on their hat has to have some vulnerability in there somewhere.

Nutmeg Looks a Lot Like Kibble

Although I would not recommend using the two interchangeably.   My nutmeg grater has been broken for some time.  It use to have a handy little pocket that held the nutmeg...nut?  I suppose it's a nut.  Anyway, up 'til now it has only been annoying that the nutmeg kept falling out into the spice cabinet and getting lost.

But today it became significant, because the nutmeg fell on the floor.

Enter--

Daisy.

Who loves her kibble.

And wouldn't you have made the same mistake?

"One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just isn't the same...."

Is This Mean?

"Mom, can I come in now?"
.

"Mom?"
"Are you there?"
.

Oh, dear. How can I resist this face?
.

"Please let me in."
"It's cold."


What would you do?
.


Just kidding. He was really very happy out there. And he went right back to his very important business...
.

Snow balling.
It takes quite an arsenal to be ready for our neighborhood.

He Caught Me...

I was making breakfast, and let the butter brown in the pan too long. It made the eggs a funky brown color on one side. But never fear, I pulled the ol' Place-the-funky-side-down-so-they-won't-balk routine. Here's what he thought of that.....


Not all Mom tricks work all of the time.

Remembering The Face

Remember A Face For All of Us ? That was almost two years ago. Poor Sawyer remembers it like it was yesterday. We were waiting at the Canadian border for them to process our papers and it took a loooooooong time.
For those of you that have never dealt with borders, this is what it looks like to cross into the US...


We love the new, big majestic sign proclaiming our entrance to the greatest country on earth. We pass it each time we make a trip to Grandma's house.

But this time on our trip back to Canada, Sawyer saw the outbuildings at the Canadian border crossing and he said, "Oh, NO. THAT place? I hope we don't have to go to THAT place again."
"He's remembering when we had to wait forever while they processed our papers that one time." I told Todd.
Sawyer piped up from the back seat, "Well, I did get chips."
We both laughed. It wasn't a total loss if chips were involved. And these weren't just any old chips. These were vending machine chips. Remember the vending machine when you were a kid? It was like a miniature Disneyland. The awe of gazing at all that goodness just beyond your reach, and the slight heart dip as you realized the amount of money you had limited you to a certain section of the goodies. And then the soaring feeling of discovering that one of your most favorite treats was the price you had to stick to? I always felt so relieved.
Here's the Face for All of Us again...

The face that only vending machine chips could cure.