Lines and Circles

I have begun making my annual summer list of projects, both large and small. It has large things like "clean the garage" and small things like "pull weeds" and medium things like "prune pussywillow branches."

I've even started checking off some of those items. My shady corner in the backyard is now weed-free. I started with the tallest thistly-dandeliony things and worked down to weeds with yellow flowers disguised as octopi. I have no idea how the weeds became two feet tall or grew tendrils creeping into the mini-roses. Honest, I had it pretty well cleared out in early Spring! It is so bare after the snow melts that it is easy to see and attack the unwanted multitude. I can only guess that there were some seeds that germinated when my back was turned, or possibly some few uninvited guests were teensy and didn't get eliminated on my first pass. I'll admit that it's not perfect even now, but it's a lot better. I'm grateful for all the gloriosa daisies, feverfew, daylilies, sweet woodruff and violets that returned and shaded or choked out many of the intruders. It could have been a lot worse. This is only of the small items though.

The large items are not faring as well. Every time I begin on one of the major items, I get sidetracked. I'll head out to the garage to begin reorganizing so Kharma can eventually spend time without either endangering herself with bags of lawn fertilizer or making my gnash my teeth when I find chewed remnants of soccer gear. On my way out, I'll clean the coffee table and put another load of laundry in. I'll move two boxes into the car for transport to the SPCA Thrift Shop and find myself pruning the bearded iris that have finished blooming and watering the tomatoes. Then it's lunchtime and I never return to the garage.

Even worse, the list is not growing. I may need to have it surgically attached to my body so that every time I see a potential project as I cruise through the house, garden, or garage I can write it down. I know I'll never get lots accomplished unless I have possibilities written down. Lists keep me organized. They keep me focused. It worked last summer.

On the other hand, I have only two items on my daily do-it-for-myself list and I did them both today. I walked the trails for 45 minutes and it felt good. And I snacked on yummy strawberries and blueberries.

I also accomplished some training time with Kharma. She almost has the dead-dog pose down when I point my finger and say "bang!" Isn't that an awful trick to teach the cutest pup in the world?! Her new favorite toy is the box from my two-pack of Costco milk. I literally choked on my saliva when I looked up from weeding and saw her cavorting across the yard wearing it on her head. Oh my!

Bittersweet

School is out. I am officially on vacation. I need this time to unwind and I deserve every free minute of it. My watch is hiding in a drawer, the alarm clock is off, I've stashed the school teacher clothes in a box and broke out all the shorts, tees and tanks. I'm making a list of a million fun things I want to do. I am one happy camper!

But. (Why is there ALWAYS a but? Why can't life just be simple?) As I was saying. But, all this comes with a price: I had to let all my precious kindergarten babies grow up into first graders. I try to console myself. Yes, I'll get to see them next year at recess. Yes, they'll come back and visit us. But (again!), it'll never be the same. I'll never have those lovely smiling faces each day. They will grow tall and lose more teeth and learn to read and practice jump-rope and learn new songs and improve their handwriting and add new journal entries and I won't be there to enjoy every second of it.

Why can't those adorable little babies who enter our classroom each September turn into gangly, evil-tempered brats that we would be glad to see leave? Instead I looked around with only ten more minutes of kindergarten left and thought that they were just as cute on Day 180 as they were on Day 1.

It doesn't help to know that next September a whole new crop of younguns will arrive and steal my heart again.

I love you, boys and girls! I miss you already! I feel as sad as Nikki's monkey.

The Casita

Pierre is getting settled into a new place. He is sharing a newer house with his significant other and her daughter. Although he'd been dreaming for nearly a year about place with a garage that he didn't have to share with a million roommates (all of whom would borrow and lose his tools), he'd been so busy that he never seemed to be able to find a housemate. Recently he needed to find a place quickly and unexpectedly, and his girlfriend really wanted a house, so they combined their resources and found a place close to her parents and the school.

It seems to be working out well for them. He doesn't have a good track record when living with girlfriends, but he warned her beforehand...at least he has his communication skills up and running! He's finding out that he is saving money by living here and he has dreams of a down payment on a place of his own sometime soon.

He is loving his two-car garage. He has so many projects going--car, wordworking, yard--that he makes good use of the space. He brings home work and now has an office in which he can spread out (as opposed to a basement bedroom that was cramped at best).

As you can see, Dee has really worked to acquire some furniture and make their space into a home. And little Ally is enjoying a very cute little bedroom all to herself.

We hope they continue to enjoy their new nest, new neighbors, and new lifestyle together!

Street Legal

Kharma is 15 weeks old now and we wake up in the mornings and wonder how she managed to grow overnight! We've let the collar out 2 notches and her paws now look almost small compared to the long legs that have arrived.

Best of all, she got her last puppy shot almost a week ago. We have been so busy now that she can go anywhere.

She has had a zillion walks around the neighborhood (and is doing great on the leash). She has had her first couple puppy playdates with our neighbor, Echo, who was a teensy puppy at this time last year and has matured into a large friendly lab. Kharma wasn't too sure about this very large dog at first (and neither was her over-protective mom), but we have both relaxed. Echo seems to know the limits with a younger pup and Kharma just loves playing with her. I enjoy watching them.

Home Depot is another favorite spot. We get dog cookies from the lady at the return counter and lots of petting. It's fun talking with other dog people and like any proud parents, we are happy to chat about the apple of our eye.

Maybe the most fun was taking her to soccer practice. She was so good about not jumping up on the girls and not using her mouth on any hands. She came when I called so that I eventually felt comfy letting her off leash. She decided that scrimmaging was the most fun ever as she chased the ball all over and pretty much outran and outmaneuvered my girls. In return, the girls were fabulous with her.


I will hate to see the school year end, but I'm happy that there are only 3 more days and then I can spend my days with Kharma.