Lily texted this morning to tell me that Maggie was refusing to eat breakfast until she got to our house. I think she wanted our eggs although the eggs in her house come from my hen house too. But I understood and only laughed at that bit of sweet ritual for her. Before she ate she wanted to go out to check for eggs and she grabbed her little basket where I keep it on a low shelf and although we only found one egg, she was happy. It was warm and as fresh as an egg can be and her brother Gibson mixed it up with another for her breakfast. Owen peeled her apple and cooked the eggs and I toasted and buttered sourdough for us all. Everything was proclaimed delicious.
I had such a good time with those children today. They were sweet and funny and played pretend games and Lincoln Logs and didn't fuss or fight. When it came time for meals they set the table without being asked. I was SO impressed. One of the main things they played was "Business." This was inspired by the old fashioned telephone they love to play with and although I am not sure what all "Business" entailed, it seemed to involve some Lincoln Log products, and the rating of various stuffed animals. I gave Maggie a pad and a pen to take notes and she was an excellent employee, I think.
They also took turns being boss.
Maggie and I got out the paper dolls that May gave me years ago and I cut out some of the dresses and Maggie dressed the dolls.
This did not hold her attention for too long but it was fun while it lasted.
The best thing, I do believe, was the Go-Kart rides.
I did not, unfortunately, get a picture of Gibson on his ride but he loved it too. That little thing goes fast!
There was also sitting-on-the-swing-porch and reading a few books and talking about memories. I apologized to Owen for once trying to get him to take a nap by letting him cry it out in the Pac'n'Play. I doubt I let him cry for more than three minutes but it still breaks my heart to think of it. I was never any good at letting a child cry it out. But I remember him, probably about eighteen months old, standing up in the little bed, crying and calling out, "Mer! B?"
I always said, "BRB! Be Right Back!" when I had to leave the room for a second and I think he was asking why I wasn't being right back in the nap-incident.
I almost cried, telling him the story. He laughed. Of course.
I almost cried, telling him the story. He laughed. Of course.
Maggie made ME laugh with some of the things she said today. At one point, she noticed that Boppy had made the bed and I thanked my husband for doing that- I usually do it. "Boppy- you are so sweet to Mer!" she said. "You are doing her chores!"
She gave us both pictures of hearts that she drew with her name on them. She told us at lunch that her name really is Magnolia but she likes Maggie better because she can't spell Magnolia.
I understand. She also likes the fact that both Maggie and Mary start with the same letter. She's a smart little child.
I understand. She also likes the fact that both Maggie and Mary start with the same letter. She's a smart little child.
Lunch was a big hit. Maggie wanted cheesy noodles because she always wants cheesy noodles at my house. The desire for ritual is deep in children. I also baked the pizza I made last night for them and cut up cucumbers.
The pizza I made for them was plain cheese pizza whereas the one I made for Mr. Moon and me last night had ALL the stuff on it. Both were good in their own ways. And there's not a bite left of either.
When it was almost time for Lily to get off work I asked them to clean up their toys and they did. And then we played matching game and Battle until Mama got here. She got about fifty hugs and kisses or maybe more. I got a few hugs and kisses myself before they left.
It really was just the sweetest time with them.
Mr. Moon finished the mulching in the garden and now the sprinkler's on. In a few days the miracle of those tiny seedlings breaking ground will happen.
The chickens have been very quiet all day. Although I know that there is no way that they understand the changes that have taken place in their world lately, I am sure that they recognize that there have been changes. And my math was wrong! I am down to thirteen chickens! Which is good. Jessie reports that they now have four roosters in the freezer and one in a pot and that all went well and painlessly. Mr. Moon has gotten his smoker out and is just now putting the duck sausage in it.
Liberace has just brought the girls in to forage under the feeder and around the camellia bed. I've hardly heard him crow at all today. I so admire the way he stands tall and watches so vigilantly as his sister-wives go about their evening feeding. They are talking amongst themselves in their soothing cluck language, rustling through the fallen pecan leaves.
For just this moment, at least, everything seems peaceful and as it should be. Even my very old hen, Little Violet, seems more at ease now that the other roosters are gone. I am hoping that Fancy Pants is enjoying his own very small flock of ladies with a sense of pride. He finally has an outlet for his rooster yearning to protect and defend, to tid-bit and, yes, love. By which I mean have sex with, of course.
I am a contented wife, grandmother, and chicken tender tonight.
Hell. Maurice even let the children scratch her head today without biting them. The fact that she didn't leave her cozy nest on a soft blanket on the couch when they came in the room is a sort of miracle and I'll take it.
Hell. Maurice even let the children scratch her head today without biting them. The fact that she didn't leave her cozy nest on a soft blanket on the couch when they came in the room is a sort of miracle and I'll take it.
Love...Ms. Moon
Idyllic post. Yes, I know everything isn't perfect but it certainly sounded it here.
ReplyDeleteYou know- for life on earth, it was pretty darn close to perfect. Like Mary Poppins- Practically Perfect!
Deletewhat a perfect day all around! Such beautiful children.....a balm for the heart and soul
ReplyDeleteSusan M
They were such sweeties.
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too! e- I cannot get a comment to go through on your blog. I don't know what's going on.
DeleteRituals with the grands are absolutely precious! One of my grands wants MawMaw’s famous salad (fun fact: it’s regular salad stuff with LOTS of cucumbers and a vinegar and oil dressing), another wants Snickerdoodles, and another is happy to be reading to her son (my GREAT grandson!) Sleep Tight Elmo. I feel sorry for people without those precious grands (and great grands, too!)
ReplyDeleteI think that people who don't have grandchildren may not even realize how precious that relationship is and that's probably good. Although I know that a lot of parents of grown kids do indeed put pressure on their children to give them grands.
DeleteYour salad sounds delicious and Snickerdoodles always are. Enjoy all those babies of all ages!
And today two of my grandsons offered to come and help me on their respective day off. I looked at that text for half an hour, and finally replied I'd take them up on it come spring and time to clear the garden. But thanks to each of them from the bottom of my heart.
ReplyDeleteThat's just beautiful. I love it.
DeleteSomewhere in the world, Lloyd, there is peace and kindness and love and that's enough for me right now.
ReplyDeleteAt least in my house there was! I wish I could have shared some with you.
DeleteIn the far off ( before covid) days when my 2 eldest grands used to eat here after school), I always gave them the same things. Sometimes fairly plain ( bought) pizza, or more usually a burger in a bagel for G....no butter or sauce or anything else and a tin of Heinz ravioli for E. Disgusting stuff but she likes it! At least that way I knew they would actually eat what I had prepared! I blame their mother, my ex DIL for feeding them " junk food" as babies and toddlers.
ReplyDeleteKids can go through weird eating phases no matter what they're given as little children but they certainly are more apt to enjoy more and different foods if they were presented to them very young.
DeleteIt must be nice to have the chickens back down to a manageable level, though I still feel bad for the roosters. They must have had very very bad karma from previous lives to be born as a male chicken. LOL
ReplyDeleteKids are funny how they love the familiar. I guess it's a product of evolution -- sticking to familiarity makes it less likely they'll get themselves into trouble!
Well, at least those roosters had a free and happy life until Vergil broke their necks painlessly and quickly. So there is THAT!
DeleteYou know, there could be an element of evolved safety in children wanting to eat the same things and do the same things. They know those things won't kill them. Ha!
not much beats a go cart ride. sounds like a wonderful day and isn't it great when the siblings get along.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes and YES!
DeleteIsn't it funny how we can guilt ourselves for years over "letting them cry for hours" and they don't even remember it? I guilted myself for years for letting my kids grow up in a violent household and while they definitely do remember it, they knew I wasn't responsible for it - they put the blame where it was very definitely deserved!
ReplyDeleteI never, ever let a kid cry for hours. I just couldn't. I am literally not wired that way.
DeleteI'm sorry your kids had to grow up in that atmosphere. I'm glad they know that it was their father who was the one who instigated it.
Off on a tangent: just found this and thought you might like it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpdfacoj_-Q
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Switzerland
a
Looks great! I will watch it a little later! Thanks, dear Anne. Greetings back to you!
DeleteWhen my brother got divorced the first time, my mother wept and thought it was because she had let him cry for hours one night when he was a baby. I'm not even joking. Love seeing your beautiful grandchildren so full of industry and joy.
ReplyDelete