Circus!

Before we left to go to the circus, we stopped to talk to one of our resident dragons, a 'northern fence lizard', so Google informs me.

Two seconds after taking this shot (while leaning over the railing - this is actually upside down) he jumped onto Brent's jeans (seen above) and crawled down to his feet, to much shrieking and laughing.

And we headed off to the circus.

Slowing it down

After 2 1/2 weeks of school, we're getting our routine down. At 7:00 the boys come tumbling down the hallway, wrapped in blankets and rubbing their eyes. My thought is usually about how adorable this is, followed by worrying if I'll get their hair in any kind of shape not resembling a birds nest within the next hour. So far we're about 90% on that.

If they wake to find me on the back porch nature watching, they scramble out and go to their favorite place on the deck - the sacred pee spot overlooking the woods. I send out the normal instruction - don't aim for each other. And yes, I have to make sure I say that every time...

Hey, if I was a five year old boy, that's what I'd want to do. Plus it keeps the deer away from the house.

We learned early on to conduct a final inspection before walking out the door. Things to watch for:

1) Is there a ring of toothpaste circling their mouth, resembling an inverse Ronald McDonald?

2) Has there been, in the two minutes since wiping and blowing their nose, a gravity defying spill that has even traveled somehow to the forehead a time or two?

3) Have they transitioned from pajamas to school clothes (don't laugh, sometimes it manages to escape my attention)?

4) Bookbags? Snacks? Library books? Daily sheet signed? Homework in the folder? Ice cream money? Little miscellaneous things they need to take to and from school - designed by the teacher, I'm sure, to ensure I have to have at least one cup of coffee in the morning just so I remember everything?

The morning drive necessitates a shifting of places in the backseat, so that everyone is properly rotated out of the dreaded sun spot. And if it happens to be Brent's day to visit it, I can plan on listening to a lot of whining.

For the first two weeks, we were lucky to hand them their backpacks before they tore out of the car. But the last two days Brent has turned around to say "I love you Mommy! Have a great day!". Today I even had a hug request, a rare phenomenon these days.

Once I get back, I take a few minutes (and usually another cup of coffee) and plan out my day. I've become very attached to the daytimer my boss got me a couple months ago. Since I am essentially doing the same work as I did in the office, I spend at least a couple hours getting little tasks out of the way, and the rest of the day is dictated by whatever situation crops us. For at least a couple hours a day, I am basically on call, but have freedom to roam the property as long as I keep my cell phone handy and don't stray too far.

I couldn't take a picture including the camera, but that's a main ingredient on my mid morning walkabouts. Armed with my garden scissors, hand pruner, utility knife, gloves, cell phone, and pen & paper (which all fit in my four jean pockets amazingly), I head out to explore.

Yesterday I pruned any small trees and grasses along the path down to the lower part of the field, as well as any overhanging branches I could reach. I'm hoping to cut down on a) the many spider webs this time of year, and b) ticks and bugs falling into our hair.

Today I ventured a bit toward the spring back behind the chicken house. When it comes to clearing into the woods I'm a bit more careful. I like to study the layout of the trees and vines, and work with them. Plus if I come across any nests or homes, I give them berth as much as possible. A lot will have to be cleared through the winter, when the woods are napping. As I make my way further in toward the spring, I want to tag any trees I want to keep and prune out some of the others for firewood.

Here's a closeup of my gloves (my second pair this year actually) - a testimony of the gardening and wandering I've done this summer:

And my office is where I spend most of my day right now. My desk has been upgraded, and I finally got the fax/scanner/printer down here to clean up and get running. On the left I have my work computer, daytime, and other folders/papers. On the right are various open projects I have going - a pair of leather earrings, assorted leaves I've been collecting to identify, wood burning projects and painting supplies. In the middle, my personal computer. On the window, a phone and my woodburning equipment. And behind me, a tackle box full of beads, wires, tools and accessories.

I get more done in one day now than I did in three before. And by the time the boys come home, I'm more than ready to hear their daily renditions and stories, help with homework, cook dinner in this beautiful kitchen, then give the boys their baths. Sometimes we divide and conquer when it comes to bedtime reading, other times one of us will just lay in bed with them and all read together. Either way, their minds are ready to rest by 8:00, and we can sneak off to unpack a few boxes, go outside and watch the moon come up, then catch some tv before bed.

Then off to start another perfect day.

Spider Pictures

Some before school photos:

And also, I'm rolling out my new Etsy shop. The beginnings are here! http://www.etsy.com/shop/featheredtreasure