Beans, Scouts and Teens

Can you tell our focus is on the garden in the Spring? The good news there is that the beans are starting to come up! It's so much fun to see the curled stems lifting the dirt, and knowing that there will actually be little bean plants showing the next day.

My experiment with soaking the bean seeds for several hours before planting does speed up germination. The beans in the first bed are just a bit ahead of the ones I planted almost a week later, but soaked before planting. Okay, so it wasn't a controlled experiment. I used different varieties, and some of the seeds were older than others, and they were planted at different times, etc. So, where's the elementary-schooler needing a science fair project???

Kid news:
Miriam is off to Richmond with her school chorus, and won't be back until Saturday night late. The kids are with Pratt this weekend, so I don't have to stay up to go get her, but I don't get to hear about the trip until Sunday evening, but I'll update then.

Samuel received six merit badge cards at Wednesday's Court of Honor, but only received five of the badges, because the trip to the boy scout store had already occurred by the time Samuel got his card signed. He'll get that badge the next time someone makes a trip to council.
The campout for his first Hornaday service project was approved by the Troop Committee, and the director of USNA Security, who has to approve the use of the site, just happens to be a friend of ours from Japan, and affiliated with the troop! The final details will be worked out over the next week or so. If anyone is available to help install nest boxes and predator guards on Saturday, June 24th, just let us know!
The Troop Committee decided to schedule a Saturday Board of Review so that Samuel can will be able to meet the time requirement for his next advancement prior to the November Court of Honor! It also looks to be one of the largest Boards of Review ever held by this troop, with more boys ready for advancement than we've had ready at one time. Amazing what happens as momentum builds! We had two small Boards of Review this month, and have already had three boys advance!

Liza's big thing these days is fighting Senior Slump as the school year draws to a close. Gee, I'm glad she didn't get promoted to Senior until this month!

And Tori??? Don't know. She received notice on Monday that, due to her continued non-compliance with our expectations, she needed to move out. (It's not as short notice as it seems. I did have a hardline talk with her two weeks earlier-bills paid & two hours of household maintenance completed by noon each Monday, or move out by Tuesday. We've been trying to make this work for all involved since her return from Spain last November.) She stayed somewhere else on Tuesday, but was back Wednesday for a nap, shower, and came back to sleep after James & I had gone to bed. She "wasn't available" for a conversation last night while the other kids were at their dad's, so we spent the time moving her clutter out to the driveway instead.

Parenting is a tremendous growth experience! And just when I think I've figured out one challenge, they grow again, and I have a whole new set of challenges to master! Is this why grandparents seem to sit back and grin???? I'm just so glad I have James at my side these days!

Goldfinches

have found the thistle feeder! It has been up a week, or is it two? Today is the first time I've seen finches on the feeder. The male came by, checked it out and flew off. A few minutes later, he was back with a female. I just had to call James to share the excitement! (Simple pleasures)

I planted the three sisters-corn, beans & squash- on Tuesday, along with more bush beans and soybeans. For corn, we chose calico popcorn. I couldn't decide between acorn squash and "nutty delica" squash, so we have two hills of each. And then half the bed is planted in scarlet runner beans, and the other half in Rattlesnake beans-speckled pods that curl into spirals.

The first beans I planted, ten days ago, are breaking into the sunshine!


By the way, the azaleas are gorgeous (if you want to come by, you're welcome). James and I are planning to head into DC to visit the National Arboretum sometime this weekend. If you haven't seen a hill covered in azaleas in full bloom, I'd recommend the experience!

Wisteria and kid news

Tried to post this one yesterday. Let's see if it works today. . .

I forgot to mention the wisteria started blooming last week. Our neighbors got home from Florida, and she said I could take seeds from hers later this summer. I have plans for at least two plants, maybe four. Would anyone else like me to save seeds for you???

Eventually, I'd like to get some ever-blooming wisteria, but these trees/vines bloom heavily for a couple of weeks in the Spring, about the same time as the lilacs. I saw one this weekend that appears to have been pruned severly, and resembles one of the miniature weeping maples in shape, but heavily draped in blossoms. (Picture a mound of lavender bunches of grapes, and you'll be close to what I saw.)

James says he likes where I put the lilies of the valley. He had to go look at them this morning, since he missed them when he got home last night. Something about basically six hours in the car. . . Another good reason to move to the country!

Kid news:
Tori's play finished last night, so her theater load will be much lighter. I think she said her store closed this weekend also, so she suddenly has a great deal more time to look for a new job and figure out where she's going next. Stay tuned for further updates.

Eliza spent the weekend with several friends from the Rotary Exchange program, and enjoyed that immensely. She has also been gloating (to her sibs especially) because she'll be taking senior exams and getting out of school on June 6th. Of course, she won't get her diploma until she finishes her English course at the community college at the end of the month. I got a call last Friday that the principal approved excusing Liza from her high school classes to take a class during the day. She will have finished her AP exams the first week or so of May, and most of the time her English class will only overlap with AP classes, so that's not a big deal. Except that it means more driving for Mom!

Kyle was here Thursday through yesterday. His big news was his Band trip to Florida. After all that excitement, he somehow found the energy to play their role-playing game with Samuel, but was pretty quiet otherwise.

Samuel's news is Scouting-focused. He has found a place to do many of his Hornaday conservation projects-the Greenbury Point Nature Center. He's putting together a campout proposal for the Troop Committee to consider at this week's meeting. He also passed off two more merit badges on Saturday. Other than needing another two hours or so of service, he's just waiting for the clock to tick until he's eligible for promotion to Star Scout on May 11th. And he's already started on the three required merit badges he'll need for Life Scout in November. His service hours there will be covered by his bird-focused service project at Greenbury Point.

Miriam is looking forward to her Chorus trip this weekend, and then State Festival the next week. She's less than thrilled with the idea of Samuel joining her at SevernRiver Middle School next year, but that's the price of being a twin. Poor kid, oops, teenager! I finally got to read a couple of her poems a week or so ago-at the library! And she's been doing some beautiful artwork also.

More Blossoms!

The azaleas are just about in full bloom. The lilacs are out, and I'm looking forward to mine growing & blooming in future years.

We've done quite a bit of driving this weekend- Liza & her Rotary friends had a get-together in Gettysburg. I took advantage of the trip to get together with George & Alexandra, our friends from Raphael Inn. We'd spent some time during our visit earlier this year talking about gardening, so I went laden with black-eyed susans and echinacea from our garden, along with lilies from across the street, and an extra aster plant received from a friend this morning.

After a pleasant chat and tea in the garden, I came home with more plants for our garden.

We'd already been over to a local friend's house to pick up some asters and strawberries, and came home with oregano and larkspur also. Those were safely tucked into the ground before I headed north. I came home from PA with a purple "weed" and planted it into the wildflower garden. We'll just have to clear unwanted weeds and lay the path around it. Identifying the plant is a research project for tomorrow.

George & Alexandra's neighbors came out when they saw us wandering around the garden. They are in the clear the weeds & start-over process, with lots of lovely, sunny beds to play with. Tim and I discussed his plans, and I just had to rescue the little lilies-of-the-valley he was going to pull out and throw away, because they wouldn't fit with what he planned.

I have those tucked in safely now. Sure hope James likes where I put them!

I also planted about 6-8 square feet of peas. It's late in the season to put them in, but here's hoping! I did give them a bit of a boost by saking them for several hours (like all the time I was gone to G'burg) before planting them. I have also planted a package of yellow wax beans (about 4 square feet) earlier this week. Those are actually in right about on time.

After bringing in six strawberry plants from Ann's house today, we're thinking the side bed below where we put the canteloupe hills is going to become our strawberry bed.

The oregano has been planted out onto the herb hill. I'll run across the street and clip some purple sage at some point this week. Once the clips have rooted, they'll get to move out to the herb hill also. We've got basil seedlings started in the side bed. Anyone have some dill I can adopt?

It feels really silly to be furiously pulling strawberries (wild) from one side of the house, while planting them on the other, but that's what we're doing! We're going to turn the East side yard into a wildflower meadow. This week's projects include pulling all the wild strawberries and laying a meandering wood-chip path. James intended to get the path down this afternoon, but he got caught in traffic taking Kyle to meet his mother, and didn't get home until after 8 PM. No fun there, but we enjoyed a few minutes sitting on our new furniture in our gazebo after he got home. We're looking forward to making progress in the meadow over the next few days.

Garden Report

The daffodils are on their way out. Only the last of the late bloomers are still around, and James has been "chopping their little heads off" as they wilt. . .so that all the energy goes into filling the bulbs for next year, rather than attempting to make useless seed.

The tulips are blooming better than they did last year, and Samuel was quick to tell me when he spotted the first of the purple ones last week. Our azaleas are starting to open. The only one that is in full bloom right now is the peppermint candy-striped one, but the others are teasing us with buds, so we expect the end of the week will be gorgeous!

Our redbud is in full bloom, as are the wisteria and dogwood and cherry (wood) trees in the neighbors' yards.

We've pretty much found all of our hostas coming up around the yard. And the treat for the day is the number of lilies-of-the-valley that are coming up. Since the ones at my brother's house, and on the west side of the house are getting ready to bloom, we were afraid we'd lost the clump by the front door when we couldn't find them. Good news, a dozen or more finally made it through the mulch today!

James's "vacation" time (waiting for his clearance to be picked up by the new company) has been well spent, preparing garden beds and doing other yard work.

This morning he moved the clematis from a tiny box on the back patio out to surround the mailbox. He had an extra one, so we put it up on freecycle, and had five takers within fifteen minutes, and several others even after we said it was taken. We've had fun with the freecycle crowd this weekend. We also put up three bags of pachysandra from the bean bed, and had sixteen people jump for that. Three of them even want to come dig some more, so we're getting other spaces cleared out-without having to dig it ourselves! James also dug up six little redbud seedlings from across the street. Otherwise, they were going to be yanked and composted. We couldn't have that!

We made a trip to Bowen's (farm supply) this afternoon to pick up black oil sunflower seed for the platform feeder he found up in the shed, and to pick up a few more seeds for the garden. Unfortunately, they didn't have the three sisters (corn/beans/squash) seeds I wanted, so I had to get on line and wait until they're delivered. We did pick up a goldfinch feeder and thistle seed for that, clothesline to hang that feeder from a tree, two more straw bales to be a backdrop for Samuel's archery target, and a couple of interesting seed packets.

While James was running Liza to class (on the scooter), I planted the lupine seeds on the front hill. I don't think they'll bloom this year, but they should be ready to bloom most of next summer. I've had the yellow wax beans soaking this afternoon, and will get them in tomorrow morning. By the time James got back from taking Samuel to kung fu (again on the scooter), I had the thyme dug up to move to the back herb hill. We spent an hour or so digging holes in the hill, brutally tearing the clump of thyme into little pieces, and planting them into the hillside. It's taking shape! I'll root some purple sage from my neighbor's plant, and put those on the hill for color. I think we'll buy a dill plant, and the basil is starting in the perennial bed (better soil and easier to tend). James picked up another variety today at Bowen's, so I'll be starting that tomorrow also.

Have I mentioned I love Spring?!?!?!

It's Spring!

Spring is here, and we're loving it! Today we are enjoying a glorious sunshiny day, with a gentle breeze, and lovely warm temperatures. The daffodils are beginning to fade, but the tulips are taking over. Our red bud tree is blooming, as are the cherry wood trees and dogwoods in the neighbors' yards.

Being a gorgeous Saturday, it seems the whole neighborhood is out doing yard work. We just got a head start on them! While I was saying "how-do?" to the neighbors up the road, James disappeared. I heard the log splitter going across the street, so I'm guessing he is over there splitting the rest of the cherry tree pieces to get them out of the Mosses' yard before next Friday. We hauled 8-10 wheelbarrow loads of wood last night-all that was split, and all that Billy helped us split before we ran out of daylight. "Look, James, I got you a tree for Easter!"

The fun part is that while we were sitting on our glider, enjoying the evening sounds, we talked about getting a wood stove insert for our fireplace. And today, while I was chatting with a neighbor, he mentioned he is planning on getting rid of his! He also is going to re-do his driveway and retaining wall, and offered us the bricks currently in use there.

Guess we're getting something of a reputation for scavenging in the heighborhood. . .We'll call this a good thing, since it means people think of us when they are getting rid of something that might be useful. Besides, it's so much fun to mortify the kids!

James got his "mid-life crisis toy" yesterday- a lime-green mini scooter. He rode it home from the store, took the twins for rides, and then turned it over to Eliza. Unfortunately, he forgot to explain the breaking process before explaining the motion process, and she relied on obstacle braking-right into the back of his car! Liza's the only one who doesn't seem to find this absolutely hilarious, and she's not appreciating the teasing.

Got to get back out to the sunshine (never mind I've been out four times since I started this post!), and get some things done.

More perspective

We're so excited. It looks like Beck and family will be adding three more soon! For now, we're eagerly awaiting the latest update and pictures of the new ones.

I kept busy yesterday, sorting papers & helping with details across the street. I think today will include much less time over there, running a few errands, and getting the house ready for overnight guests tomorrow. It is wonderful to have so much abundance to share.

The kids have been wonderful helping the Mosses across the street. They've helped prepare food, and carry it over and run back & forth for things we've needed from over here. Samuel pulled weeds to help get the yard ready for the supper there after the funeral. Things are settling down a bit as the worst of the initial shock wears off. For now, the family is holding it together, taking care of details, and holding on to each other.

Ebb & flow of life. Cycles. Challenges and joys. All part of this experience we call life.

Love to all!

Death puts Life in perspective

The last couple of weeks have been a bit stressful. . . James's job ending, the job hunt, Kyle's grades, trying to coordinate summer plans between all these households, Eliza's travails at school, thirteen-year-olds copping attitudes, an eighteen-year-old who really wants to be on her own, but doesn't want to at the same time, adjusting to coming of my meds, a challenging ex, etc.

Somehow, my perspective changed suddenly about 10:55 this morning. I was upstairs typing on my computer. James was out back cleaning the patio for my new gazebo. Under the sound of the mower mulching leaves, I thought I heard someone knock on the front door. Checking, I found a frantic Jeff Moss standing on my porch, asking for someone to come help with CPR.

Everything pales in comparison to the thought of waking up to find your father sprawled on the kitchen floor. And when we turned him over to start CPR, it was obvious it was too late, from the cool temperature of his body and the way the blood had drained into his face as he'd been laying on the floor.

It's not the first time I've handled a body after the spirit has left. But there is a tremendous difference between a body that has been prepared by the mortuary for the family to do the final dressing, and a body that has been laying alone on the floor for 4-6 hours. And there's a tremendous difference in what it takes to share each of those experiences with the person's child.

Somehow, those issues that seemed so significant yesterday, and demanding of attention, just don't seem to matter.

I'd started to get to that place as I heard the results of my nephew, Evan's, latest MRI. And now this.

Guess I'm getting some pretty strong messages about how good I've got it.

Please keep Evan Moss and his family and doctors in your prayers for healing, and comfort for the family and friends of James Moss. (Yes, that's right, another Moss. Some sort of cousin-just to see the family resemblance that was clear!-but I don't remember the exact relationship. His side of the family stayed in North Carolina, while my father's side left for Oklahoma a couple of generations back.)

Another beautiful day

The rain cleared out and left this morning gloriously bright. The plants appreciated the water, and seem so much more vibrant this afternoon. With a good breeze and sunshine, I decided it was time to do the laundry and hang it out. There's something so delightful about being out in the sunshine, feeling the breeze, listening to the birds, and enjoying all the spring fragrances as I hand the laundry on the line. And that spring freshness comes right in with the clothes when we take them down.

James finished splitting and transplanting the hostas in the yard. He's really been working hard on the back yard in the last month or two, and it definitely shows! The framework of the landscaping back there is just about finished. We'll plant groundcovers on the slopes and in the hosta bed/s. Rosemary and thyme are planned for the slope by the patio. The play/picnic areas have already been seeded. There's a bit of prep work to do on our "garden" plot. And a few more yards of mulch will finish things off until it's time to plant bulbs in the fall!

My stress level is greatly reduced from yesterday. The gorgeous day helps. And I took Grandma Kniskern's advice-stop trying to plan around schedules that I can't control. Make your plans, let people know, and then they can choose what they want to participate in. I also worked out guidelines for kid activities, so I don't have to fight to get the kids away from the idiot box all summer. Beware all residents of 15 Beechwood Rd . . .It's time for another Red House Memo!

Love a laptop!

We've got a hail & thunderstorm going on, yet I can unplug from power surges and still blog!

Had a wonderful weekend with James's family in C'burg. It's amazing how much Jessica grows up between visits, but I guess that's what happens with four-year-olds. Kyle is so good with her, and she relishes the attention from her big cousin!

Today has been challenging. I left my PMS meds home this weekend, and conducted an unplanned experiment. I had been wondering if they were contributing to my probable sleep apnea (ie-not formally diagnosed, but James will testify that I was waking him several times each night as I stopped breathing and then startled and gasped for breath). I had some really weird dreams, might be stress-related, but at least I slept long enough to dream! Since I've felt a bit more rested after just two nights, I'll be going in to discuss this with my doctor this week.

Stressors?
James was informed last Tuesday that the contract his company (& thus he) has been working on was cancelled to shift funds to another project. Two weeks, plus or minus, to find another job or have a pay lapse. Glad we've been managing to build up our savings (since we stopped the simultaneous court cases)!

Tori still hasn't decided that she's staying here (so we can arrange things for her to put & keep her stuff out of the way) or moving out. And she's keeping a schedule that doesn't allow her to participate in household activities or discussions about finances or schedules, etc. And she hasn't been living up to the conditions she agreed to as part of staying her. Rather than trying to schedule a later time at her convenience (which it never seems to be), I insisted on a discussion this afternoon, since she's so rarely home. And, mean mom, I insisted that she pay her car insurance bill, per our agreement (or a month late for that) or I would be removing her car from my policy tomorrow. She wasn't happy about that, as you can imagine.
You couldn't pay me enough to be 18 again!!!

Liza's doing well, but she has a meeting for her exchange trip this weekend, I have a seminar, Kyle's here so James isn't available, and transportation from the other household is iffy-even tho' the kids are over there this weekend.

Kyle seems to think that nearly half his grades (in average level classes) as C's should merit his father's support of his participation in marching band next Fall, but Dad doesn't agree. Any suggestions?

Samuel's his usual high-energy self, and going more directions at once than I can keep up with. Wish I had his energy. Since he's been missing time and shared activities with friends, we're talking about him going back to school next year (8th grade). That will/would free up quite a bit of time & energy in my schedule. (And I've been home long enough that the idea of going out to work is beginning to appeal. I'm sure I'll come to my senses soon after I get back into that routine, but it will help us clear debt and build our country-home savings fund!)

At least Miriam is a fount of calm this week, even if she "hates" the idea of sharing a school with her twin again. That's the price of being a twin, kiddo.

And then there are the co-parenting issues. . . It's so much fun (not!) trying to coordinate summer plans between three households. If anyone has suggestions/requests/ideas for summer plans, please let me know! (After all, my favorite means of dealing with stress is to create structure, so I'm working in that direction now!)

On the positive side of things, I really do have a fabulous family! And . . .IT'S SPRING!!! Our yard is full of daffodils. The bright-yellow earliest ones are beginning to fade, and the forsythia is dimming as those leaves come in, but the yard is full of various other daffodils. The hostas have started coming up, and James has been busy splitting and transplanting them throughout the yard. The edge of the hill in the back has been planted with hostas split from the front, and the front yard has had gaps filled in. The rain will be great for all our thirsty plants. The back patio is settling in, and the thyme will soon be ready to split and plant back there. The ornamental cherry trees throughout the neighborhood are bursting out, and they're glorious!

It's just so much fun to wander through our neighborhood, and especially our yard, and watch things come alive!

I had to laugh at the squirrel that was digging in the front beds today. It seems James mulched over his acorns, and he was having the dickens of a time finding them. And Kit was going crazy watching all the activity through the window!

Life is good.