Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Adventures In Grand Childrening



The young men arrived this morning ready for adventure and excitement and possible TV watching and their grandmother made them pose with a chicken on their heads. I know someone gave me that funny, flat little hen but I can't remember who. She always sat on the range hood and when Mr. Moon took it out last Sunday, I removed her and threw her in the wash for a good cleaning. 
She needed it as would anything that sits that close to a stove top for a long time. 
And let me assure you that although Levon looks a bit sad in that picture, he was just holding very...very... still so that the chicken would stay perched. 

I made oatmeal for everyone with raisins and apples. The boys had already had a breakfast or two but they happily ate a bowl of the gluey goop. 
I can't stand oatmeal. I used to love it and I think I ate way too much of it over the years and now I would just rather not. Thank you, though. I do manage to get a bowl down every now and then but today was not one of those days. And please don't tell me to try the Scotch long-cooking oats or to add this or that to the oatmeal to make it more, uh, edible, because I've tried everything. 
Trust me. 

There was a lot of fun to be had this morning. Mostly with Boppy. Some TV watching. Then out to the yard where the sky was blue and the air was crispy, to pick up sticks. August operated the grabber and Levon pulled the cart. They make an excellent team. Mr. Moon and I helped without the aid of a grabber and we got a nice cartful to put on the burn pile. Then it was time to get out the metal detector. Or, as Levon called it, the metal protector. 
Either way it had to be put together. 



How I love all their hands, their grandfather's so big and theirs still so small but so capable. Levon's hands are pudgy little boy hands and August's hands are, and have been since he was born, slender and rather elegant. One of the things I respect most about these guys is how they listen and follow directions. When it came time to put the batteries in, Mr. Moon showed them how to do it and instead of yelling, "Let me, let me! I know how!" August watched quietly and carefully and when Boppy said, "Okay, you do this one," he was able to do it perfectly. And Levon is so patient with the process. He knows that his time will come. 
They didn't find anything today while detecting but that was okay. They had a good time. They came in and I gave the boys some bowls of soy yogurt with strawberries cut up in it which they loved, and I cooked their dairy-free, gluten-free pizza and they got to watch more TV while they ate it. While the pizza was cooking, we read a few books. 
And then it was time to go. Mr. Moon had traded cars with Jessie so that she could run her errands in my car and he could take the boys into town in her car so that there was no moving of the car seats which is a real challenge and chore. 

It was so quiet after they left and I finally made myself go back out and pull up the rest of that probably-turmeric. It was even harder this time because it was all around the bananas, choking them. And this was a bigger clump of it but I finished it up. 


Doesn't look very impressive, does it? But the cart is filled with prunings of the plants and that black yard bag is filled with roots. So I got that part done and it won't be long before the bananas come back and I'll be planting whatever it is that I plant in that little space. I'm not sure yet what that will be. My next yard chore is definitely to get the potatoes and peas into the ground. It is time. I just need to consult with Farmer Moon to get his thoughts on where and how to plant. He has his theories and I have mine...
It's all a learning process, even after all these years. 

The misery and deaths caused by the winter storms and power outages have not abated and I cannot possibly imagine what it's like to be quite literally powerless in that situation. When I lived in Denver I constantly wondered what people would do in the frigid cold if all the power went out. I looked around at the lack of trees and thought, "There isn't even any wood to burn."
It's horrifying and more storms to come. 
Meanwhile here in North Florida, the temperatures are mild. We are probably going to start getting more rain tonight through tomorrow but that's nothing. More water in the aquifer. 

I have been informed by my husband that no, tomorrow is NOT the day the stove will be hooked up. It's merely the day the stove is going to be moved into the house. I am not sure where it's going to be stashed but we'll figure it out. The actual installation requires a backsplash made of stainless steel, the range hood, and the conversion of the system from one sort of gas to another. This must all be coordinated like a rocket launch and it ain't happening tomorrow. 
Oh well. Life will certainly go on. Pinto beans and cornbread will be eaten eventually. 

Today August declared that his grandfather should be called "Humongous." This amused me to no end. I am just grateful that he did not say the same to me. 
I sure do love those boys. And their grandfather, Mr. Humongous. 

Stay warm, people. Stay warm, stay safe, stay sane. 

Love...Ms. Moon

31 comments:

  1. I love your blog and that chicken thing is a total hoot!

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  2. you have had a fun and very busy day, Mer! Yes, I love Augusts fingers and hands....like a pianist- those fingers. He looks so much like Vergil..... whereas Levon looks like Jessie. A beautiful pair. And I am waiting on pins and needles (almost) for your new stove to be installed. It is a process......like meeting a new person unknown to you as of yet.
    Susan M

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    1. I did have a very fun and busy day. I think that whatever August does with those beautiful fingers will be done well.
      Stove-replacement in process!

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  3. I think about those cold people in Texas, too. Think about keeping infants and toddlers warm and fed, and backsides marginally clean. Old people with special needs. It's criminal.

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    1. I know! The babies and children! The people on O2 and who need med pumps. Hospitals, nursing homes. It's a damn mess. And not just an inconvenience. As you said- criminal.

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  4. I’ve developed the same aversion to oatmeal. I ate so much as a kid, but never started disliking it until about ten years ago. I’ve tried all kinds of oatmeal; I’ve even tried putting it in my spice grinder to make the flakes smaller. Apples, banana, brown sugar white sugar, and even caramel ice cream topping didn’t make it any less disgusting. I just can’t.

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    1. I hear you. If I eat it with maple syrup I can get it down but it's not a pleasure.

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  5. Thanks fir making me smile, glad you had a good day. I only eat oatmeal in desperation.

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  6. I'm afraid I'm an oatmeal fan, probably from being raised by an oatmeal-loathing mother so I never ate it as a child. But I certainly respect people who would much prefer anything but for breakfast.

    How nice that the boys are patient listeners to directions. That's a rare skill, especially at that age. Part of it, I suspect, is that Boppy is a good explainer and a sharer of the fun.

    Your turmeric extraction is impressive! And I couldn't agree more about the situation in Texas. Desperate for so many. Inexcusable.

    Chris from Boise

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    1. More power to you for liking oatmeal. I wish I did! It's so good for you.
      I think that Vergil has had a lot to do with how well the boys listen when it comes to projects like that. He's a great explainer. And so is Mr. Moon.
      I'm sure I didn't get all the turmeric and it will come back but I'll try and pull it as it arises.
      I sure hope this horrible experience will help Texas to see the error of its way.

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  7. Where did August get that word from....Mr Humongous indeed! It made me laugh. I love reading your blog posts....I have started leaving you til last to look forward to! Fabulous pics of the boys with the chicken on their heads...I feel I know those 2 gorgeous little
    chaps quite well now.( I wish I could send you pics of my grandkids, the 8 and 10 yr olds I haven't seen for months and the 3 yr old not seen apart from on facetime for weeks!)I am just off to have my excitement for the week........visit to the supermarket ( Waitrose) to buy food for the next 5 days. It feels almost normal apart from wearing the mask and hardly anyone else in there.

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    1. Humongous is a rather big word! He's listened to a million books and he and Levon both have excellent vocabularies.
      I love the idea of saving my blog for last. I always save my favorite thing on the plate for the last bite.
      I know you miss your babies. I am so lucky to be able to see mine.
      Yes. I do understand the wild excitement of an outing to the grocery store.

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  8. Sir Hugh Mongous and his wife Lady Mary Mongous arrived at the banquet in a German limousine. Sir Hugh was attired in a tuxedo and Lady Mary wore a Barbie pink satin ball gown specially created by her favourite French couturier. They refused to speak with waiting reporters before enjoying a spectacular menu in which Scottish porridge with apple and raisins was the culinary highlight.

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    1. Haha! My new nom de plume- Mary Mongous! I love it! Thank you, Mr. P.
      And I would rather eat Scottish oatmeal than haggis. But I'd eat neither in a Barbie pink ball gown. No way.

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  9. i ate a ton of oatmeal this week in the form of peanut butter oatmeal scotchies- weight watchers did NOT approve of this vacation dietary deviance! i do grind the oats down which helps but i'd rather have grits or cream of wheat with butter butter butter and brown sugar any day over oatmeal.

    stay warm- the storm dropped close to a foot of snow on us but no snow day as a) we are all virtual still and b) on break....

    le sigh

    xxalainaxx

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    1. Ha! Oatmeal is so good in cookies! And I'm sure it's still extremely healthy! I do really like oat bran cereal. Have you ever tried that?
      Well, enjoy your snowy break. I guess. Spring will be arriving one day. I swear it will.

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  10. As the snow/sleet/freezing rain falls here this morning, I have prepared for outages...this includes filling all available water containers (on a well/septic--lose power and you lose water/the ability to flush/etc). All chargeable devices at full power, including battery block chargers. Yesterday, I brought up large stacks of wood by the front door should we need to heat the house with the wood stove. Been through this drill more than a few times (summer and winter), including an horrendous ice storm back in the 90s which took nine days for the electric company to restore power. Hopefully, we won't need any of these things, but good to be prepared. Folks in TX clearly didn't know how crap their power structure truly is--and that especially includes their governor.

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    1. It's like us when we are getting a hurricane. Filling up containers with water, making sure there's fuel for the generator. Etc. You're right- better to be safe than sorry.
      Texas is certainly learning how crap their power structure is. And I don't think they're happy about it.

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  11. Our furnace died when the temps where in the minus twenties. We had two electric heaters and the gas fireplace on so it wasn't bad. The guy came to fix with and everything was back up and running six hours later thank goodness. Thank goodness for the space heaters and the fireplace and the money to pay for the repair because otherwise I guess we'd have to pack up and go to a hotel.

    I didn't know Texas ever got storms like that. We get ice storms in Eastern Canada which always kills people, usually due to carbon monoxide poisoning while they're trying to stay warm.

    I'm making baked oatmeal as I type this. It's not my favorite but I'm still having pain on chewing and I can't stand regular oatmeal, too slimely, so I'm with you there.

    Humongous is a big word for a little guy and quite appropriate too:)

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    1. I would die of fear if that happened to me, Lilycedar. I swear. I'm so glad you got it all fixed up. And it's mighty good to have a back-up plan.
      I don't think that Texas really ever does have storms like that. And yet...there they are.
      I've never had baked oatmeal. I wonder if I'd like it at all.
      August has a humongous vocabulary.

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  12. Very cute pictures of the boys and I love the flat chicken! What is it made of? It looks like wicker but I guess it's obviously something that can go through the washer.

    I used to eat oatmeal but I haven't in a long, long time. I wouldn't mind it, I just never do. (The secret to palatability is the brown sugar.)

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    1. The chicken is made of stuffed cotton. So yeah, it's washable.
      I always ate brown sugar on my oatmeal. Even that doesn't help anymore.

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  13. Lucky to spend time with your grandsons! I will be so happy to see my grandchildren again...probably in March! Yippee!
    No yard work to do here - everything buried in snow!
    Stay safe!

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    1. March is right around the corner!
      Nope. No yard work for you. I guess that's one benefit of snow.

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  14. August's vocabulary is quite extensive! I too loved that photo of their precious hands, all of them congenially focused on the task at hand, what a endless source of wonderful discoveries you and Boppy are to your grands. As for Texas, their leadership cut corner unforgivably with the laying of power lines, and now the people are suffering. There was that one mayor who said the government owed the people nothing, that the power company owed the people nothing, and I thought then why are the people paying taxes and utility bill. I imagine that idiot mayor's career is over.

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    1. That mayor will be lucky if he's not taken out and shot. What an asshat.
      I think that one of my most favorite things about grandchildren is being able to share things with them. New knowledge, skills. It must be an evolved behavior. I can see how it would be a valuable thing to pass on. A need to pass on? Yes.

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  15. Oatmeal - or porridge as I knew it. In winter my mom would make a bucket load of the stuff to fill our stomachs and add golden syrup to it (a bit like maple syrup). It stuck to our ribs and I'm pretty sure if it snowed heavily it could also be used to wedge under your tyres to get your car out!

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    1. Yes! Oatmeal (porridge) could easily be used for a variety of other things. Caulking the tile in the bathroom, perhaps. Gluing on wallpaper. But I know that it has probably been the savior of many a family when it comes to providing calories for cheap.

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