NEXT!

Ben still hasn't practiced with the team yet but they played their first game Saturday before last and won 3-1. Ethan has had one baseball practice so far but not sure what will happen tonight since thunderstorms are expected. They already canceled the track meet in Millington but Fox still stayed after for practice. Rain is anticipated for most of the week, this will be great if the weekend is nice, it will make things more easily pullable in the gardens if you know what I mean.

This weekend we had a family outing to the Flint Youth Theatre to see a production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." It was excellent as was to be expected and a nice afternoon out together, we even had the "diva" with us! Not many places you can see quality entertainment with a family of six for well under $100.

Alexandra is excitedly finishing up her second college semester with most of her finals under the belt but just a couple make-up quizzes in guitar to take care of and then freedom.... till fall. Ta ta for now.

Much Ado About the Willows

Well, we're still waiting for spring to kick in for good around here, we've had a couple teases but still the winter wants to linger. First photo is Benny's latest putt-putt golf creation, indoors of course using K'nex, pillows, and a putting practice set.

Next is a quick snap of Fox getting ready for the North Branch Broncos Invitational meet. He did pretty well and since he was the only entry in the Sales category he actually medaled. Still some polishing to do before state meet at Wayne State University the last weekend of the month. He's also officially set to run the 1 Mile, 2 Mile and 4 by 800 race for this year's track season. Coach Friend said we'll have to clear a seat on the bus for the ride home from meets so Fox can 'pass out.' He's really not phazed by the task and is excited to really show the endurance he's worked up from keeping in shape and running all winter long. His mile is at 6:13 right now which is good.


This week I got to go with Ben's 5th grade team to The Willows in Lapeer for a great ecology unit. All the lessons were designed to get the kids to think about our relationship with nature. It was a bleary morning as we started out to our first class (Spear throwing) we were getting snowed on, it let up fairly quickly however and the rest of the day was just cold and wet.

DAY 1

Arrival meeting and splitting into groups.

Spear Throwing Class.

Ben Man makes fire!

Learning about the Flint Watershed and playing 'Pooh sticks' to judge how fast the water is moving.

Last class, the basics of orienteering, or how to use a compass 101.

DAY 2

First class was in the Wigwam talking about Native American culture and habitats. Then they used their spear throwing skills to play the Chucky game and also try some other organic tools.

Next they made mud and worked on a native structure..... ew, yucky!

Orienteering Part Two, out on the trails with map and compass to find the flags and punch your cards.

Last class was Mud Oven! Learned about the technology then went inside, ground some wheat for flour, rolled out dough and made thin crust pizza that we cooked in the mud oven and they also churned up some ice cream! As you can see from the pictures day two was much more pleasant weather-wise than day one.

Yummy! This is all right in the backyard of Chatfield School, as our group was getting ready to leave for the day the students were coming in for their Ecology and Lego Robotics classes. Ben really liked this experience and is rather interested in becoming a Chatfield student now that he's seen some of the cool things they get to do as part of their regular studies.

Lovely Staycation

Greetings. It's been a while again, just haven't been as motivated to blog lately. Last week the kids were on their spring break from school and Rob took a few days off also so we were all home together (except for the 18 y.o. who is always on the go). The decision to not go to Florida was a good one, it was nice to just be home and work on stupid little decluttering tasks that never get your attention. There are a lot of projects around the house to do but before we begin we have to be able to get to those areas so that is the current focus. Every time I take a load to the thrift shop I am elated. The beginning of June we have a "dumpster day" at the township hall so a lot of junk will go there and also our church hosts Care & Share Days which is basically a huge free rummage sale (or swap) where people bring things in good condition they don't need and others take what they do need. We always make a considerable donation and I really try not to bring a new batch of junk home with me.

I've also been working on my VP of publicity duties for the Lapeer County Concert Choir, getting contacts at newspapers, filling out forms to use public marquees, and preparing to start procuring ad space. Click HERE to see an article from the LAView. This from a press release I sent out, they only changed one sentence but unfortunately didn't use the photos I sent.

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The boys, Rob and I also took advantage of the time together to have a marathon game of RISK that started on Monday and didn't end until Saturday! It was an interesting adventure but it will be some time before we'll have the luxury of doing that for a while. Ben's soccer coach called, practices start this week. Ethan's baseball coach called, practices will start probably next week. Fox is already practicing for track, first meet is at the end of the month....so it is gonna get crazy!

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Finished John Grisham's "Testament" over the break too, one of the few books I've read in a long time that I didn't want to end and was surprised at the way it did end. For several days after I began writing the continued story in my mind, what I would like to have happen to the characters and their situation. I'm also still reading about and minutely applying Feng Shui principles, there's a lot to it not sure how serious I'll get about it but I do know I need to get the mirror out of my bedroom so I don't keep "looking back at old emotions." Still plugging away at "The Creative Call" and doing some assignments from the book in order to get a fresh shot of inspiration for future endeavors.

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When the weather broke on Saturday we were all outside working, my favorite work outside weather, sunny and cool but not hot. Made the rounds on the property and picked up runaway trash, cleaned out some perennial areas, pruned the spireas and started putting wood chips down, got the Gramma Garden done first and laid it on thick just like gramma used to. Ben and I had fun sharing 'gramma-isms' about gardening as we worked. The boys would go down during spring break every year and help her with her gardens so they knew the drill when it came to the wood chip procedure, Ben said when they were finished working gramma would always exclaim 'whose beautiful garden is that? isn't that beautiful? is that the most gorgeous garden you've every seen!?' It's weird as soon as he said it I could totally hear my moms voice in my head saying it and I could see her decked out for working in her gardens (gloves, sunglasses, big hat). I really hope the rose bush makes it, I pulled it on my last trip down to the house and it was still blooming. When I first replanted it, it looked pretty grim but I'm hoping it will bounce back....I'll let you know.

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Sorry there's not more excitement going on at the moment, things have been pretty laid back and that's just fine with me. I leave you with a Sonnet from which the text is used in one of the pieces the LCCC is working on called "I Am In Need of Music." Such a beautiful arrangment to these words. --

I am in need of music that would flow

Over my fretful, feeling finger-tips,

Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,

With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow.

Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low,

Of some song, sung to rest the tired dead,

A song to fall like water on my head,

And over quiviering limbs, dream flushed to glow!

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There is a magic made by melody:

A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool

heart, that sinks through fading colors deep

To the subaqueous stillness of the sea,

And floats forever in a moon-green pool,

Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.

~Elizabeth Bishop (1911-79)