Horse Feathers

Blonde Girl, at long last, got horse riding lessons.  She was VERY, VERY pleased to receive this gift.
In fact, she was prepared for her lesson several hours in advance.

She felt she could tell the horse what to do with her mind.  They were one.

Love Man took her and she was fun to watch.  He is taking her again this week.

The horse properties in Phoenix are like being in a whole other world.  Large open spaces, huge street covering trees and lose animals running around.

Ugly Sweaters are In!

See this hideous sweater?   In the eighties this stuff was in and now it is back in style.  This ugly sweater has been to three events this Christmas.  It may have a busier social calendar that I do!

Miss Brunette and Blonde Girl have both worn it to school.  It even attended an ugly sweater gathering.
I am not sure if it won, but it was a contender.

I may have to refer to it as "Holly" or "Merry Bell" rather than "It".

Black Thursday is the New Black Friday

So, yes, did Black Thursday.  We headed to the Old Navy around 6:30 on Thanksgiving night.  The girls would not even let me stop at the Circle K for a sodie.  We attended the 50% off of everything Old Navy event.  It was great!

They had a guy on a podium entertaining the people waiting in line.  I got $5 and $1 off my order, by having my shopping list in my hand and having an Old Navy reusable bag.  Both times, I yelled,  "right here buddy!"

Side note: the girls find me embarrassing.

We then headed to Walmart and bought these fabulous $15 stainless steel garage cans.  Two.
We also purchased a blue ray with wi-fi capability, which we LOVE.

Sadly, I returned to the Walmart scene of the crime Thursday, Friday, Sunday and today.  Don't ask me why.

Photo Bombed by a Cat

There really is no explanation for Cooper.
He was later locked in Miss Brunette's room.
What can you do?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunrise

Miss Brunette took this picture after we heard on the news that the sunrise was awesome.  It was.  Her parents made her submit it to the "Today Show", as they are looking for sunrise pictures.

I am just saying.....

Running a Fowl

I ran into a rooster standing by the doors of the Winco.  It was a black rooster by the garbage can. Seriously.  I live in the 6th largest city in the U.S. and I can't go for milk and eggs without running into a damn, male chicken.

I demanded that they catch him after I explained that it was a rooster and not a chicken.

"Ohhh, the chicken."

"Rooster, I know these things."

Halloween at Our House

Blonde Girl went as grapes.

                                       
                                            Miss Brunette went to a party as Coco Chanel.

No Excuses

I don't know why I have not posted on this blog for so long.

First of all, we did go to Montana for fall break and that accounts for some of the loss of time.  It was fun, cool weather and gorgeous leaves.  OMG.

Miss Brunette drove my car to the Target to pick up ink for the printer and someone hit my car.  She was so upset.  Target looked on the surveillance tapes, but did not find the perp.  I told her, "just come home."  I called the police, but they were no help as it occurred on private property.

We have a $500 deductible on such things and this was the car we were driving to Montana in two days.

The turning signal was broken and the side of the car was scratched.

I said to Love Man, "why can't we go on a online junk yard and get the light?  It will be cheaper than $500."

Love Man bought one for around $75 including the federal express shipping.

The old light clipped off,  the new light clipped on.

I wonder why a certain auto body shop took 5 days to install a former broken headlight??

Miss B is still traumatized.

I will post more,  sorry Cousin Sue!

Tree Drama

This giant tree that we have is not doing very well.  It presently has no leaves.  The boys from the Parks and Rec department where Love Man works say that it sometimes happens during a hot, dry summer.

We hope the tree recovers.  It is pretty and also shades half of our house.

It is messy, though.  It sheds leaves, pods and yellow flowers.  The nursery that we bought it from said it did not lose leaves.  Trees that do not lose leaves are big in Arizona.

State Fair Entry

This is Miss Brunette's entry for the Arizona State Fair.  It is required in her photography class and is why they have the summer assignment.  They have to be able to get the entries done as soon as school is out.  I will let you know if she wins a ribbon.

It was taken in the aftermath of the Yarnell, Arizona fire that killed 19 Prescott Hotshots.

I think she may get something.

Thunder Shirt

Abby is a mess when it rains.  She shakes and runs from person to person seeking comfort - but it does not help.  Miss Brunette decided she needed a thunder shirt.  It works.

Now she stands and barks when it starts raining.  We put the shirt on and she is fine.

It works great!

Don't Tread on Me

Don't kick those tires!

On August 22, after 20 days, I got my replacement tire.  First one lost during the journey from Tucson and the other came very slowly from California.  The boys at the tire store each had a story about how they got this tire.  By then, I didn't really care.  I meant to fuss and say that I did not need to pay the warranty fee.
But, in the end I paid it and left.  I just wanted to drive away from the whole mess.

First Day

Tiring Ordeal Part II

So, the tire is now missing.  It was shipped from Tucson on August 2 and is now lost.  They are working on finding it with Federal Express.  LOL.  I am still using the used in good condition tire from the store.  Idk.

I feel like the car rides a tad bumpy, but there is really nothing that I can do.

The tire store workers are so sorry and are trying to find the tire.

A Tiring Ordeal

Same flat, different day

I have a giant hole in my tire.  I took the car in after having Tripe A come and blow it up.  This all happened at high school registration.  The guys at the tire place said the hole was too bad to repair and that they did not have my tire.  The entire city of Phoenix tire chain did not have my tire.  Michelin had a nationwide back order on this tire.  The tire helper guy finally found one in Tucscon.  I have a used temporary tire on loan from them until this one shows up.

We get more nails.  The guy suggested "we should consider horse transportation."

He is funny.

Money, money, money

We have completed our back to school clothing shopping.  Tomorrow, Blonde Girl and I will go to her registration.  Friday, Miss Brunette and I will go to her registration.  Both of them will cost some money.
It is a fun week.

We are dreading the start of school.

Uggghhhhhh!

Spin Cycle

The man finally came today and fixed the dryer.  It was the heating element.  He was trying to work me in, allegedly, on Tuesday.  But, I did not hear from him.

I had to call him this morning as he did not call the night before to give me the time frame.

He was going to come over between 11:00 and 3:00 today.

It is all good.

Royal Airing

More towels than this.

We have been waiting for the birth of the Prince of Cambridge.  Miss Brunette has been watching the
hospital doors streaming it from her iPhone.  LOL.

In other unroyal news, my dryer is not drying and I have things all over my pool fence.  It is a sight and I have an inordinate amount of rags out there.  Blonde Girl has a friend over and she seemed a bit surprised by the spectacle of our rags and towels.  Sadly, I have about 5 - 6 loads of laundry out there.

I tried to get it all dry yesterday, but it kept raining.  I put them out and then would have to take them off the fence.  Love Man washed it for me, so the laundry would not get dirty.

I am waiting for the man to call me to schedule when he can come and fix it.

It is All Good

We are good.  I spend most of my time taking two girls to two separate pools.  They are doing great.
They are busy enough to keep them out of trouble.

A secret swimmer, who comes to the city pools and fakes drowning came and proceeded to drown.
Seriously, I could not make this up.  Miss Brunette blew her whistle and pulled him out of the water.
She was on slide duty at the time.  He was under water for 18 seconds.

I guess that is good.  I had no idea that the city lifeguards were so well trained.

Swimming Time

Here it is, the official photo.

Yes, Miss B is that tan.  How do you like Blonde Girl's glasses?

Happy 4th of July

Point A to Point B

Her bubble may never burst.

I spend my days driving girls to and from their city pools.  Miss Brunette is brown as a bear despite wearing spf 50.  Blonde Girl has been asked to volunteer at her pool, assisting with guarding and swim lessons.

She was guarding from the deck and she had to tell some kids to, "slow it down girls."

That is very ironic.

Oh Rob!

Now, that the birthday and Father's Day celebration is over and the last bit of German chocolate cake has been eaten - I would just like to sigh a sign of relief that it is all over.

Miss Brunette claimed to have eaten only one piece of cake and Blonde Girl did not have any because she does not like the frosting associated with German chocolate cake.  That leaves two people who have eaten the cake.  I am not saying who, just two.

The Jublilee

Love Man's birthday is right around Father's Day and sometimes it is on Father's Day.  Last year,
we stated calling the weekend of his birthday and Father's Day - his Jubilee.

I don't know why.  It is funny and he lives with women.  Partly it is the fault of the Queen of England.

This year, he added Jubilee to everything.  Last night, he wanted to eat dinner in his Jubilee chair.  Previously he had Jubilee ice cream.  In essence, we have created a Jubilee monster.

Today we are taking him to a regional airport very near us for breakfast.  They have this buffet and the restaurant is situated so you can see all the planes.  I called yesterday for a reservation and the man said I wouldn't need one because we only needed a table for four.  I told him, "my husband is going to want to sit by the big window, so he can see the planes."

We got our table.

This Just In

Miss Thing made Junior Life Guard!

Almost Done

Tomorrow is the last day of summer school.  I will only need to drive the girls around to their stuff and work on my house.  I need to organize and clean - just a bit.

I swore I would never do crafts again, but after the prep was done - I am now thinking crafts is not so bad.  It did require a lot of extra time.

We will see.

Still at It

I am almost done with summer school.  Miss B is working at the pool teaching swimming lessons and life guarding.  Blonde Thing is going to basketball camp and volunteering at my school for service hours for confirmation (different church, but it all works).  Today was her interview for Junior Life Guard.

I finished work at 1:00.  Miss B had to be at work at 1:00 and Blondie had her interview at 1:30.

I was telling it all to Love Man.  It also involved a drop off at BB camp, me being at work at 8:30 and a pick up at BB camp.

"I think you should drive me to work," was his only comment.

I did.

Next week, I will only have to schelp them all around.  Easy peasy.

Bird Brain

The crock pot came back, after Miss B's biology teacher scrubbed it to death.  I don't know.  I ran it through our dishwasher a couple of times and I am going to attack it with a Brillo pad before I use it.

In other bird related news - I had to assist at my preschool a bird rescue.  It seems a baby bird was caught in the remains of his egg.  At least one leg was stuck.  The mother bird was gone.  I climbed up on a picnic table, with another teacher holding onto me.  I said, "kids, this is how I broke my arm.  Don't try this a home."

One little girl piped up, "It is true (pronounced trew), this is how I broke my arm standing on the sofa."

There you have it.

I got the nest down into a box.  Another teacher assisted the one formerly holding onto me and they got him out.  The bird was taken to a sanctuary.

This entire operation involved about four teachers and every child on the playground watching us.  We were all in the covered sand area.  LOL.

"You're from Iowa, what should we do?" one teacher said.

Do I dare tell her the truth?

"Well, I said.....to be perfectly honest my dad would have taken a shovel....."

You know what I said.

The bird was in great condition and will be released when he can fly.  I am not sure what kind of bird it
is.  Usually mourning doves are under the roof of the sand area.  Another teacher thought it was a wren.

I still do not like birds and I even let the bird hang out in my room.  After a bit, he started singing.  As long as he did not fly around.

Would You Do It?

It doesn't look like this.

Miss Brunette and Blonde Girl have been working very hard at school.  In addition, Miss B has had to take a lot of classes regarding being lifeguard and swim instructor.  She also got her license, although we are not letting her drive all over.

The first night she had her license, she and Blonde Girl went to the good-bye party for the old elementary school.  I watched them drive away and BG had the window down and her elbow sticking out!  She thought she was very cool.  I told them to drive there and where to park.  "By ourselves" is what I heard.  "Yes, it is just down the street."

Last night, we went to the movies and the girls drove down to the local pizza place and picked up a pizza.  They also collected their movie from (still my favorite) Red Box.  All within the confines of our neighborhood.

The next subject that I want to discuss if one you know I hate.  Chickens!  They are dissecting chickens in Miss B's biology class.  The mass emails/phone calls went out to collect crock pots.  I got out  my old one for her.

"Mom, it is a whole chicken with all of it's parts and feathers.  This crock pot won't work.  I need you big, oval one."  OMG.  Are you kidding me?
My nice, beautiful crock pot holding a chicken with feathers!  I protested and left the other one out.  "Make it fit" was my only comment.

In the end, I was in the shower and she asked through the door if she could take the black crock pot.
"Go ahead, but you will be scrubbing it to death."

Ewww.  I may be in the market for another crock pot.

Appreciate This

It was a zoo.

 

Today was Teacher Appreciation Day.  I did get a Starbuck's card.  I forgot completely about an email I needed to do to have the children bring a ball to school.  Completely forgot it.  I lost my list with that reminder on it and recreated it.  But, that little fun fact was left off.

Then, I handed out the May calendar from 2012.  I don't know why or how.  Maybe it just happened to be in the file folder I was taking things to school in.  I am at a loss.

It was a little confusing. 

I fixed up my May calendar, sent it as an attachment and am having copies made for tomorrow.

Stage Mother

That ship has sailed.

 

 

 

I noticed upon review, that when I was talking about Miss Brunette's summer job - I referred to it as "we got the job" at the pool.  I sort of feel that way.  We have driven her to lessons, swim team and synchronized swim.  Not too mention the meets.  We have also driven her to swim tests, cashier's test,life guard class, star swimming instructor class, etc.  I am sure I could think of more - but this is a limited blog.

We, in many ways, got the job.  We will be driving her to several training classes and an orientation.

We also think it is worth it.

Wrong Side of the Church

 

 

We usually sit on the gospel side of the church.  When I say "we", I mean me and my friend Mrs. Right.  She was on the epistle side and send me a text wondering why I was where I was.  I moved after communion.  Yes, I did, I moved and she scootched people over.  Scootched them.  That was a couple of weeks ago.

Today, when I was handed the blood/wine, I dropped it and my wafer went flying.  She and her husband, just about died laughing.  I went to the restroom for a wet paper towel.  Then, I went back to my seat.  I decided I would get in line again.  I told Mrs. Right, "what are they going to say, that I was over-served."  I don't think so.

Ta Da!

We went to a tea yesterday afternoon, it was good.  We dressed up and wished we had hats.
Another time.

The girls are good.  Busy.  We keep trying to be prepared as possible for April and May Mania.
The school year is winding down.

Back to tea,  I don't want a hat - I want a fascinator.  I long for a fascinator.

Girl Talk

I have a lot of girl news.

For the last two nights, we have been watching the Junior High's performance of "Bye, Bye Birdie".  It is really cute.  Our Blonde Girl is great in the play.  You ought to see her sing and dance.  She is very animated. 

Miss Brunette has a job this summer at a SSI swimming teacher.  You all remember that she is a certified life guard and got her swimming teacher certificate a month or so ago.  Wednesday was the draft and each pool director got two picks.  We don't know if she was a top pick, but we got a job at the pool we have spent every summer going to and from.  It is fairly close to our house and we are all super happy about it.

She also started driver's education today.  Another milestone!

We are happy about it all!

Going to the Dogs

Relations between un-Neighbor John are still not the best.  In fact, John may have accidentially or on purpose squirted Love Man with his garden hose or sprinkler.  Love Man was not amused.

In fact, Love Man yelled at John.

One of the perps!

We try not to let our dogs bark in the daytime for more than three minutes and they n
ow run in like maniacs if we even speak in a normal tone the word "treat."

I don't know what else to say about this

Undefeatable Fan

The University of Montana got a shellacking last night.  Love Man watched it until the bitter end as
Syracuse beat them soundly.  Miss Brunette said, "it's not looking too good, dude" and  went into her room. 

Blonde Girl was simply too busy dancing and singing in her room.

I sat with him for a bit.

I had to put out the Grizzly flag in case any one doubted his loyalty, of course that was before the game.

Long Arm of the Law

Yesterday, I started physical therapy for my arm.  It was good.  But, now my arm hurts.

I broke it when I was working at a soup kitchen for this charity organization that is for moms and daughters.  Our organization and one for sons was prepping for painting the interior and exterior.
The person that was to bring the ladders did not.  I was using a step stool, but after I threw something away - it was gone.  I started using a ladder. 

We had to move to another room and I was almost done putting the tape on the ceiling to protect it from the new paint.  I don't know if I was stepping to the ground or setting to the bench.  But, the bench was really rickety and I fell.  I landed on  my back and then hit my head.

I did not pass out.  I remember thinking as I was falling, "I am going to be hurt."

Two nurses were working on the painting and iced me to death.  After much discussion, my friend Mrs. A. drove me home to get my insurance card and Love Man took me to urgent care.  They said I was fine.  They did a x-ray and sent me on my way.  They did not even wrap my arm.

Love Man thought I should go back down there and work.  My car was there and so was Miss Brunette.  We stopped for a sodie and he drove me back.  I did not get on a chair to paint, but touched up for the rest of our time.

The next day I said to Love Man, "I ought to be able to turn my palms up."  I drove Blonde Girl to confirmation and went to church. 

I wasn't using my arm very much.  But, I wrote my article about the event for the local "paper".  I may have also vacuumed.

Love Man kept telling me, "don't hold your arm like that" and "you have got to use your arm."   Etc.
You get the picture.

My cell phone rang, it was the urgent care place, "the radiologist has read your report and you have a fracture, you need to come here immediately for a splint."

Someone in our house felt bad.

Spring Break

I have no idea why this photo is upside down, but I am going with it.

 

 

 

I know, I know - I have many stories to tell.  How I broke my arm.  The arm update.  What we are up to.  Yadda yadda yadda.  We are also having a bit of trouble with un-neighbor John.  I will get to all of this and more this week.

Right now, our handyman is here because when Love Man was rinsing the dishes - the wand that you pull out to do so, sprung a leak.  He could not get the faucet off and we had to get our long suffering handyman to come over on a Sunday night.  Let me just say this, he has the right tools and the know how.

We are going to shop for dresses and skirts this week for the girls.  And, a nice pair of shoes for Blonde Girl, who is not so blonde right now as we cut off about 5 inches of her hair.  What we cut off was the platinum from last summer.  Now, she wants highlights.  I told her that she would be really blonde again in no time.

Miss Brunette is now a certified swimming instructor having passed the Star Swimming Institute training.  Next up Driver's Ed classes which is not a part of the curriculum, but separate in Arizona.
She is exhausted from a gazillion projects and tests, 36 hours of SSI instruction and charity work for NCL.  She is determined for us to earn an award for mother daughter combined hours.  Don't think we are too fabulous, we are earning the lowest rank of awards - a 50 hour mother/daughter combined service hours.  Who whoooo!  But we are going to make it.  I have done that last 10 with a broken arm!  Maybe I should get a special award for that.

I Told You I was Sick

Old picture.  Room is completely purple now. 

We are doing fine.  Blonde Girl had to get picked up from school this morning.  Her throat hurts and she is gaggy.  She looked pale.  I wasn't even at work before she was texting me with her ailments.  I told her "go to the nurse."  I was at work for about 45 minutes subbing.  I told them, "don't bother paying me."  I had one phone call and many texts.

While talking to the nurse, we had a fire drill.  I said, "okay, now there is a fire drill.  Have my daughter text me what I am supposed to do."  I stayed for the drill and then left.  OMG.

Maybe they were a little glad to see  me go.

I am Back

The saguaro before its sad demise and this is still Love Man's screensaver.

I have had computer problems and am now back in business.  In the time that I have been away from this blog our oldest turned 16, the youngest is busy playing basketball and in the teen chorus for the junior high play and I broke my arm.  It has also be unusually cold here.

But, we are all fine.  Love Man must wonder why he lives with three women.  His parent's clock is now working.  I guess mantel clocks need to be level and it is nice to hear the lovely tick tock in such a strong voice. Thank God it only chimes on the hour.  I hate annoying clocks almost as much as I hate chickens.

We are all good.

Weather Report

 

 

Have you ever smelled the dessert after it rains?  OMG, it is  great scent and ought to be bottled.
It has softly rained on and off today.  That is the best kind of rain.

It turned warm earlier this week, in the 80s, but today it has been cool and rainy.

When I got home this afternoon, for some reason, the remnant wood pieces in our fireplace were really fragrant.  Why was that?

Big Chill

We are all good.  Miss B has been sick, but has recovered from it all.  The one day of school that she missed, warranted her a lot of homework.

Come in the water is freezing!

Blonde Girl has been going to play practice and basketball practice.  She is busy, busy and does not have time for what she calls "me time."  She needs her "me time."

It has been cold here.  In fact, I had to dig up extra sheets and blankets for our trees and shurbs.
A lot of our stuff is still covered with blankies and I can see the frost burn on the older, bigger stuff that we did not cover.  A lot of children reported ice on their swimming pools.  We covered ours.

And the Winner Is....

Nominated for worst behaved dog when a doorbell rings!

I have spent much of the weekend at the movies.  On Friday, we saw "Zero Dark Thirty" and is was good.  I also saw "Les Miserables" with Miss Brunette who had been hot to see it, and it was good.

The Oscars are just around the corner.  I think I have seen most of the movies.  I thought "Lincoln" was awesome and the three nominated for Oscars certainly deserved it.  I also loved "Argo".  I was so great!  I do think Ben Affleck should have been nominated for best director.  But, there are a lot of "best directors".

"Silver Linings Playbook" was also good, but strange.  I also felt sorry for the characters.  I mean they were sick.  Mental illness is still an illness.

The movie that I am pulling for is "Beasts of a Southern Wild".  It is the most incredible movie and that little girl deserved to be nominated for best actress.  I told Love Man when the credits were rollling, "she is going to get an Oscar for that".  She has a complicated name, but it begins with a "Q".

This film is now available on Red Box and you all need to rent it. 

TTYL.

The Borrower

Oh, the horror!

One of Miss B's friends borrowed this sweater for ugly sweater day at her school.  It has not been returned.  Why would she keep that thing in her closet.  It is a mystery to me.  I would have brought it back by the following day.

This sweater would win the ugly sweater prize everytime.

Paperwhites

We started growing our paper whites before Christmas.  It did nothing for a couple of weeks.  Love Man thought we got a dud.  I moved it to the dining room, which has less light because I was sick of looking at the bulb.  It took off and is growing a lot every day. 

This is not a picture of the growing bulbs.  For some reason I can not get into my pictures from blogspot.  Hopefully, it will work another day.

In Training

 

 

Love Man is presently at the doctor.  He came home last night barely able to speak and before I could protest, he said "I have a doctor's appointment at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."  He is also scheduled to jump in this ice cold lake or pool for the "Polar Plunge" tomorrow.  I said, "you are not doing that."

 

"You have been sick.  You just get better and go for a hike.  It was cold that day.  I have two words for you LONG PANTS."  That man wears shorts for all occasions, except for work.  He does not dress for winter here, which for him would be a sweater or long pants and perhaps a coat.  And, oh does he get chilled.

 

And, it has been cold.  We even turned our heater on.  Something we usually don't do until mid-January.  It is running as I write this.  We had to cover our plants and newer trees because they have on the news what is called "freeze warnings".  Yes, Iowans, freeze warnings are broadcast on the news. That ought to give you something to laugh about every morning until April.

 

Well, after Love Man's first hike - he was a little sicker.  Then, he took a second hike wearing jeans and that wore him out.  Now, he is waiting at the doctor's office..........

 

 



 

 

He wanted me to wake up the girls to get them ready for the dreaded, not talked about event on Monday.  "Why?"  They can go to bed early on Sunday night and it will be okay.  They have been sleeping until about 10:00 every morning.  A friend of mine has two teenagers and about a year about inherited two more - she reports all four of them sleep until about noon.  I used to sleep that late........

 

He wants them to be ready.  We will cope on Monday.  But, not until Monday.



 

 

 

Under Protest

We have done nothing, nothing, nothing on our break.  Read.  I have read a lot.  Do you know you don't have much laundry if you only wear pajamas.  Bliss.  Love Man is better.  Miss B still feels tired, but is doing okay.  A lot of people seem to be sick. 

None of us girls want to go back to school.  We don't even want to talk about it.