I thought I might take a moment to remind you all just why this blog is entitled “The LUMBERJACK’S Wife.”
Before Sweet Pea and I left camp on Friday night, David was in charge of harvesting the wood for the campfire.
I can assure you that this task did not begrudge him one bit. When David goes for campfire wood, his motto is: “Go Big or Go Home.”
Case in point:
Stand down, readers! I know the picture is a bit blurry! Daisy Mae was the photographer. You can rest assured that if I was the photog, all images would be crystal clear.
This tree was about 30 feet.
You may ask: “Taylor! Why on earth does your husband do such things?”
Well. Because he can.
Look! Here I am in a picture!
I am the mother near the truck in the jean not-so-short shorts removing my wanna-be-Lumberjack, Little Dude, from the line of action.
So, that’s all the pictures I have from the camping trip because Sweet Pea and I left soon after that. (In case you missed it, our dog died tragically right before we got to camp. You can read about that here.)
Sweet Pea and I had a really nice time together just the two of us. I realized just how easy, peaceful, and CHEAP life is with just one child.
We went shopping. I did not have to use my angry eyes or have anyone ask me about my “unit” in the dressing room.
We ate lunch. It was less than $7.
We went to the library. I did not have to shush anyone. AND I got to visit with an adult.
I stopped for coffee. And I bought her a special drink, too. (I know. Mom of the Year, right?)
I cooked dinner. We shared one chicken breast.
We went to the movies.
It was a much needed one on one weekend for us. And neither of us had to help anyone wipe their bottoms. Score!
I was supposed to get into the shower ten minutes ago, so we are going to have to switch this post to a list fashion.
Please. Hold on to your pants. Things are gonna get pretty crazy.
1) Sister Meagan came to visit with her dog, Ellie, last week. Here is a picture of the dudes with Ellie.
Ellie was such a good dog and very well-behaved for a pup. I told Meagan she needs to find us a pup and train her for a few months and then give her to us. She didn’t really answer, but I am sure she loved the idea.
2) I feel like we need to take a moment to recognize the awesomeness of Handsome Dude’s Space Man Goggles.
They have not broken.
Ever.
Holla, Space Man Goggles!
3) Remember how I told you that we, as a family, grab our nets and chase animals about our lands?
I was not lying.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
It’s what we do. It’s who we are.
4) Peter the Cat feels like we have created the ginormous garden just for his own personal use.
He attacks the corn hourly. And look at me with my big girl gardening pants on! There is stuff actually growing out there!
Teller the Gardener! Who knew?!
5) The kids are showering Tank the Dog with extra love, on account of losing his sister this weekend.
Although I fear extra food is the last thing he needs.
6) We buried Miley near the garden and put an arbor over her.
We are thinking we need some sort of climbing plant to grow on the arbor.
Thoughts?
In other news, David’s grandmother is turning 90 and there is a big bash for her this weekend. My girls are supposed to do a presentation on how much the world has changed since Grandma was born.
And since I never procrastinate or get too busy to remember things I have committed to, I thought maybe you guys could throw out some ideas on how the world has changed since the 1920’s.
Perhaps? Maybe? Please?
Please Advise.
Clematis is a beautiful flowering vine that would be great for your arbor, or wisteria. I love the smell of wisteria. I am not sure of your super secret location, so I’m not sure if the wisteria would do well there. Assuming you are in the northern part of the country, clematis would probably be a better choice. Wisteria is more of a southern plant, I think.
1920+ everything has changed. Computers, space flight, the internets, microwaves, cell phones, facebook, indoor plumbing, Starbucks, moosetracks ice cream, ease of travel, clothing styles, GPS, air conditioning… There are a few things to help get you started.
Changes since the 1920s: Well, there was that whole Prohibition thing, WWII, Rock ‘n’ Roll, cell phones, computers, the internet. Indoor plumbing, electricity in homes. Hmm…without my trusty history book, I’m out! 🙂
Biggest change since 1920s gotta be granny?! X
If you wanted chicken for dinner you went out back and butchered one. Now, you just go to the grocery store and buy one in a plastic bag…….except for Teller. 🙂
Here are a couple of linkshttp://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1920timeline.htm for info for your little history project!
http://www.murietaonline.com/forum/f27/if-you-were-born-before-1980-you-1756/
Good luck with it!
I just wanted to say I have been thinking about your girls. Reading about Miley just hurt me. I love my dog so so much so it was really hard to read. Glad you and Sweet Pea got to spend the weekend together. Hope they are doing ok. You have the sweetest family.
Changes since 1920: transportation: cars, planes, etc.; fast food; technology: computers, TV, radio; toilets: indoor vs. outdoor; clothing styles; women’s rights; the world map.
Clematis and a climbing rose are all I’ve got. I think you needed that weekend just as much as your little girl did too. There was no tv when gran was a kid.
Morning Glorys. Let Sweet Pea pick out the color. My heart breaks for the loss of your sweet dog. We had a rescue dog for several years that fell out of a pickup and the owners could not affort the medical bills so we took him in. He never walked the same again but at least he did survive it. We found a large dog crate at a garage sale and it kept him safe and secure in the back of our truck. We anchored the crate and covered it to protect him from the sun.
Will grapes grow there? Grapes climb I think.
Since the 20s . . . maybe you could zero in on progress in women’s lives? Like washing machines and microwaves and equal rights and super absorbent . . . well maybe skip that one.
Kudzu is a Japanese favorite for climbing vines. It has a ton of uses. It can be quite beautiful, but there is that whole invasive species. You don’t want that. Believe me! When I was in college, my friend Michael loved this beautiful vine that was growing by his trailer when he moved in…until it took over the trailer!
hmm…go with the clematis – you don’t want to chance your arbor (and your chickens and your rabbits, and your….well, you get the point) being over-taken by kudzu .
I read about a large family that made a point of each child having a special one on one time with the parents each week/month. After reading about your lovely day, I can see why it made such a lasting impression upon each of the children.
Can’t wait to read your report on how the world has changed in the last ninety years. My kids can’t believe stores used to be closed on Sundays and after six pm, no ATM’s, it was the bank or grocery store or out of luck for money, and if you wanted to see a movie, it was called going to the movie theater, not popping a Disney movie into a machine. Looking for a pay phone instead of having a phone in your purse. And going to the library to research instead of To The Google. This in just the last thirty years.
Climbing roses are beautiful. And Ivy. (Has Ivy been outlawed by designers everywhere now, though? Hmm. Check on that one. Wouldn’t want you to be “with” the times!)
Your time with Sweet Pea sounds precious. And much needed. For both of you. I really enjoyed reading about that.
Things have changed since the 20’s in that we now wear our headbands on top of our head and not around our head. And our shoes are flatter. Or higher. Um, we can write “letters” to people we’ve never met online on these things called blogs. What else? Devil dogs and twinkies. Excellent advances, both.
You did not lose or drop your phone. You anticipated things instead of getting them instantly. You made do with what you had. Usually didn’t run to the store for everything. Clothes were made to fit you. Treats were more fun and more rare. More things were homemade. Folks had to use their brains to entertain themselves with hobbies, crafts, letter-writing, sewing and needlework, carpentry. Kids had to invent games and entertainment like plays and school and scavenger hunts. Lots of toys and dolls were made then. Don’t know about the ‘rag days’. But washing and belts and all that stuff was probably pretty bad. Don’t know how they stored their leftovers without baggies or plastic wrap. Doing laundry and washing diapers was a lot more of a chore, especially in cold winter areas. If guests came to the house you always fed them, there weren’t any fast food places or all night markets. You should visit with her and ask her. I’d be curious to know about shampoos, and personal products.
Yeah, morning glories and clematis. Ivy takes over. So does Wisteria. The others will die back in winter.