Tales From The Bonny Blue House

Don't Know Nothing

An excellent article. Co-written by Danielle Bean's brother. Talent runs abundantly in the family.

It's official.

I'm sick. I've been avoiding admitting it for about two weeks. I've been feeling bad and blaming it on a cold but yesterday morning I woke with a fever and a sore throat that was incredibly painful. This morning Erin woke up crying with the same symptoms. I IM'd Dave, he was on the train enroute to the city, and he ordered me to make appointments for us both to see our respective doctors and as soon as he arrived at Penn Station   he hopped the next train back home. I saw my doctor while he took Erin to the pediatrician. Erin has a strep throat and I have a strep throat and an ear infection.

Sigh...

So here I sit in my bed while Dave takes over the normal Tuesday routine, my busiest out-of-house day, and I finally have the time and inclination to blog.

To add insult to injury I was told by the doctor that I would likely take a while to feel better since I am getting a little old to be fending off these kinds of illnesses.

What the....?

Oh well. 

Don't feel too bad for me. I was ordered to bed by my dear husband (getting quite high-handed with the orders here today) and I have a laptop, tv for Food Network, some medicinal chocolate (he's high- handed but spoils me rotten) and a devastatingly handsome younger man. He's blonde with big blue eyes and a heart melting smile. Toothless and drooly but heart melting all the same.

 

Every woman should have such a companion.

I have a few draft posts I am going to try to finish up tonight or I might just bag it and sleep.  We'll see.

Have a blessed evening.

Today, being the first day of spring Chris thought we should do a nature craft.  She has a large collection of craft books and this little nature book craft appealed to both of us because the little ones could do it as well as the older kids.  Chris cut computer paper into strips and we taped eight sheets together lengthwise. Then the kids folded them accordian style. Katie cut up some colored file folders to use as covers and we let the kids deocrate them.  The results were very cute and they enjoyed recording their observations in them. Chris and I sent them out to the yard to see if they could find signs of spring. Of course, we had to wait until it stopped snowing. 

  Now if the weather would only cooperate.

Have a blessed springy day.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

That one is for Jamie (my beautiful niece who gave Brendan this wee t-shirt).

Brendan Joins The Club

Beautiful godmother
The big moment
Proud Nana
 Time for a big Irish party. Lots of relatives, lots of food and lots of fun.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window. . Grey and dreary. Damp and chilly. There were some fierce thunderstorms in the night. I actually enjoy a stormy day once in a while.

I am thinking. . . I need to get on track with Lent. We’ve all been sick since it began and I’ve been remiss in creating a Lenten atmosphere. Or maybe that’s it for us this year?

I am thankful for. . . A husband who worked insane hours last week, honestly he crammed seven days into five, and then spent the whole weekend doing house projects for me. He is the best.

From the schoolroom. . . Those that are not feverish and hacking will do school but a slower pace this week. Daddy has tomorrow off and then Nana, Papa and Aunt Maureen arrive Thursday.

 From the kitchen. . . London broil, baked potatoes, broccoli.

I am wearing. . .Pink t-shirt, jeans, brown loafers, pink hoodie. Nothing earth shattering.

I am going. . . To the school district office to hand in the paperwork for Erin to perform at NYSSMA. Other than that no where.

I am reading. . . Educating the WholeHearted Child. I won it from Margaret

I am hoping. . . This cold/virus leaves soon and that Brendan does not come down with it. I’ve been a real mother tiger in protecting him from the germier among us. Thank God for the immunity benefits that come with breastfeeding.

I am hearing. . . The Wiggles with Bridget and Sean singing along. Which makes it tolerable.

Around the house. . . Laundry (what else) and a general pick-up. I have to buy some curtain rods and put up curtains upstairs, Dave installed blinds this weekend so we are no longer living in a giant blue fishbowl.

One of my favorite things. . . Triaminic chewables.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . Irish dance, guitar lessons, visitors, hopefully no doctors for the first time in weeks.

Here is picture thought I am sharing. .

She had a birthday yesterday, seven years old and sweet as pie!  Happy Birthday Kelli belle. Mommy loves you.

Go visit all the other daybooks at Peggy's

Fresh Air Freak

Anyone else live with one? The first warm breeze and my dear husband opens every window in the house. Every single window. I am not adverse to some fresh air considering we've all been sick off and on for four weeks but it is hardly balmy out. Spring like in the upper fifties it is certainly pleasant, but not my idea of warm.

So I sit here and shiver.

Fresh air freaks. There should be a law against them.

MY ARMS WON'T GO IN

she screams in a fit of two year old frustration.  Of course that's because she's trying to wear her big brother's underpants as a dress.

I am sure I will live to regret posting this photo when she is picking my nursing home.

Have a blessed day.

Savor the moments

He’s here. Our little boy arrived a few days early on January 24 at a healthy nine pounds, two ounces with a head full of platinum blonde hair. He is a content baby, sleeping well and generally ignoring the chaos around him. He has apparently fully embraced as his eighth child motto, “Don’t complain, no one will listen anyway.”

Brendan Michael, named after a great Irish saint and his grandpa, is the first child I have been blessed with in my 40s. I have now had children in my 20s, 30s and 40s, and I must say it is getting harder. I do not bounce back the way I did when my older children came. One gift that comes with this age, though, is serenity.

Read the rest of my column here...

Felt food and a baby picture

This is my newest obsession. Giddy with success over my quilt squares I started making felt food for the twins.

We bought them this beautiful little kitchen set for Christmas from Nova Naturals. I wanted something that would last and be pretty enough to live in the dining room or living room. I am totally over plastic toys.

 It lives in my dining room and blends nicely. Don't look at the garbage piled in the background. It was snowing and I was waiting until there was a lull until I sent Ryan out with it.

Reality blogging...

Back to the felt food.

I first saw this on Jess's blog Star Cottage. Jess has lots of nice craft ideas on her blog. I was enchanted and wanted to make some but it has taken me a while to get my act together.  The snow day gave me the opportunity. The kids did school but I played hookey from all responsibility and made felt food all afternoon.

 I made fried eggs, a banana, raviolis, orange slices, ice cream pops, and pancakes. I'm going to work on some veggies next.  It was such fun.

Now for a gratuitous baby picture to reward you for looking at my felt food.
Pretty darn cute, isn't he?