Step Right up...

Sorry about being late, but we have been very busy, busy, busy. I've been researching which chicken breeds would thrive here. Yogi is reading over my shoulder,

"Chickens, uh, I like chickens. Tastes like chicken."

And the garden has come alive with chard and lettuce, and the tomatoes are ripening on the vine.

"Hey, get back to the chickens", Yogi whimpers in my ear.

I plan to add chickens to our compound and rabbits, and maybe goats too.

"Ooooh, rabbits, tastes like chicken", Yogi is drooling on my shoulder.

Anyway, that is the goal, I'm just trying to decide about whether to have a coop or tractor for the chick...

"Chickens! I love chickens!!" Okay, Yogi, we all know you like chicken.

Calm down and stop dancing the cha-cha. The difference is that a tractor is like a movable house for the...shhh,...chickens. This gives you "free range" with out so much predator trouble. Then I will need to order the varieties. Some layers and some meat-chickens...

"MEAT ! Yup, chickens have tasty meat. Can I have some?"

He is so cute when he tilts his head that way. So now I'm headed back to the garden for some veggies,,,

"Yuck! I don't like veggies",

It is okay Yogi, I won't make you eat them. Peace and love to you all....

Join Boy Scouts...it is economical...

Yup, that's what they told me. I took the Scout Parent program and the main thrust was "economics". Football costs exceed $500 and there is no guarantee that your kid will play...or even be any good. Basketball and baseball camps are out of sight in their costs and soccer, give me a break. But scouting, $15 bucks (ten when we signed up our son). Yup, $15 bucks and you are good to go....oh, and a handbook ($15), otherwise the little tike won't know what to do. (and $12 for Boy's Life because only Boy's Life readers really get scouting) But that is ALL YOU NEED for your kid to make it in scouting. $15-$45 dollars...that is it....really.

Of course you will want your precious to be able to wear their accomplishments...right? Well, then you need a uniform, shirt, pants, belt and socks, SOCKS? Oh yes, socks, not hat or neckerchief, those items are optional except that the scoutmaster and troop will embarrass you into buying them. Oh, did I mention the patches for the shirt are extra? One uniform, $100. Oh, don't forget the sash or you won't be able to wear your merit badges. Cha-ching.

Okay, so you are still ahead, right? Well, were are you sending your son for summer camp? Has the troop made a choice? Does it offer the badges your son wants? More importantly, does it have running water? Showers, a working sewer system? How much did you say that was? Well, at least they teach leadership...maybe. If you really want your son to learn something, you will need to send him to a leadership program. NYLT- National Youth Leadership Training followed by NAYLE- National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience. These are exceptional instruction programs... if you can afford them. Okay, about 4 years of scouting, with leadership classes, about $2000. Then there is the cost of merit badges and camping experiences, let's say another $1000, but that is it...except for the new uniforms for growth and the second uniform required for National Camps (cha-ching) camping gear (oh dear lord, I have to sell a kidney) Oh, did you want to go to a Jamboree, chance of a lifetime experience, shouldn't be missed ? That alone costs about $3000.

Perhaps your son heard about a special camp with unique merit badges, $750 no refunds, even if you find out that your son can't participate in that "special merit badge" after the fact. Like my son did. The camp offers SCUBA, $ 750 for the camp including travel, $350 for the SCUBA certification, plus merit badge cost, online test and additional medical permission forms.... Oh well, at least it didn't cost as much as say...private school. And you learn so much. The BSA scouting program is an exceptional program for youth to learn. It is inexpensive (yeah, right) teaches leadership (if you can afford it) offers unique experiences (again if you can afford it) chance of a lifetime ($$$)

Of course you as an adult must participate or you won't have any idea what these volunteers are teaching your son. My son learned about nepotism, lying, bullying, breaking rules (and laws) disunity and alcoholism from some of his leaders. But after much searching he found a good leader and a nice troop. He earned his Eagle with palms and had some fun. But, was it worth it? He will have to be the judge.

His grandfather, father and uncles all earned their Eagles for what we spent on one year of scouting. But he learned some things too. As to whether he could have learned this thing else where, only time will tell. Scouting is on the decline, too expensive, unreliable, poor quality adult involvement, moral turpitude who can say. I saw it in Girl Scouts pushing cookies and now in Boy scouts pushing camps. But at least it teaches economics...

Peace and love to you all....

Mother's Day...

Does anyone know why Mother's Day breakfasts become so much better as the children grow up? I do. When the kids are small you will get a breakfast that can be lethal in large portions. It includes coffee (or tea) with grounds floating in lukewarm fluid, presumably water, but it could be soda. Runny eggs with shells and a mound of salt accompany charcoal toast which is consumed as a poison control. Oatmeal-crete which is used to balance the tray on your lap, please don't eat this. Luckily there is a vase with a single flower present as well, this is delicious and can help sustain you until lunch.

The true purpose of the "early Mother's Day breakfast" is to toughen you for the latter years. After the cozy and cushy time of gestation, delivery and the terrible twos, you need to go to Mother's Day boot camp to prepare you for the TEENS. These early breakfasts help you to stomach the later years.

This Mother's Day I was served a perfect cup of coffee, followed by fluffy, bright yellow and flavorful scrambled eggs. These eggs were joined by a STACK!! of beautiful, light, golden and perfectly round pancakes...butter gently melting across the top. The sun was glowing through the window; the birds were twittering in the trees and I could smell the new rose blooms through the open window. + sigh +

Then in the distance I could hear, " ...my card first, I made the pancakes so I go first..." overlapping, " Oh I don't think so, eggs are harder to make." Followed by, " BITE ME !!, you never vacuum when mom asks so she doesn't love you as much as me", "oh yeah, well I always take out the garbage, you should be happy I don't take YOU TOO!!"... Ahhh, now that's why I need a more nutritious breakfast. This is REAL motherhood. It requires the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the first aid kit of a licensed paramedic. Hope your day was a great as mine was. Peace and love to you all.....

CONFIRMATION !!!...

My daughter was confirmed yesterday. She was up early, hair and makeup perfectly applied, dress, excuse me "The Dress" carefully slid past hair and makeup. She was beautiful. She glowed and her eyes sparkled. I gave her a silver and turquoise cross on a silver chain. Tears formed in her eyes, "Thank you mommy, I'm really pretty now. It is all perfect. But you better get dressed or I'm leaving your butt behind".

We had to be there very early so that they could get their last instructions, and get lined up. It was a good thing too, the place was packed. There was an antique car show at the museum next door and the patrons were using the church's parking lot. The entire drive to church my daughter kept repeating, "Please don't let the Bishop choose me...please don't let the Bishop choose me.." Guess who he chose?

The Bishop cast his beady eyes across the teenagers and came to rest on my daughter. He walked forward like a cat approaching a little sparrow that had fallen from it's nest. He extended his hand, bending slightly forward and said, "Would you like to come up here and talk with me, young lady?" My daughter made a soft response. The Bishop's face, which was wearing a gleeful little smile in anticipation of the torment he was preparing, suddenly fell in confused sadness. "Did you say 'No'?" he asked with a squeaky voice and a trembling lower lip. I thought I could see a tear welling up in his confused little eyes.

She did not say no, she went up and answered his questions pretty well and he thanked her. She was surprised at how easy it was. We went home, changed clothes, (Mom, I'm so glad I didn't get the really high heels) had a party, had cake and shared stories of my baby growing up. The weather was perfect, the food was wonderful and my baby was beautiful

...peace and love to you all