A Random Hodge-Podge of Partial Thoughts

It has been winter for a very long time, it seems. And this is one of the first days that I have been so extremely cold that I wonder if I will ever warm up. Neither quilt, coffee, or furry dog is helping much. Why is it, I wonder, that I really haven't felt the cold much until now?

And our gas bill dropped substantially over last year. Keeping the thermometer at an even 62 degrees 24/7 has help. Next year we may try for a degree or two lower, except of course when there is a baby present. Which I'm hoping will be often.

Tuesday THGGM got out of work at noon. We were able to go out to lunch and do a bunch of errands during daylight hours. Soon we are hoping to have our backyard fenced in. I am sooo excited about this. Not just for the grandkids, the dog, and to keep out skunks, but for privacy. Actually, I cannot remember living ANYWHERE where we had anything even remotely resembling privacy - so maybe it is over-rated, but I would not know. This should be a good time to do it, since our lovely elderly neighbor whom we 'over the chain-link fence' visited with quite regularly has moved into a 'home'. Our other neighbors are great too, but we've already talked to them about it. I'd give up a foot of property just to give them the numerous Yucca plants that I do not enjoy but I don't think they'll go for that.

Anyway, while THGGM visited Lowe's to price fencing I shopped for various and sundry things at Hobby Lobby. I LOVE Hobby Lobby, but I do not shop there much. They have too much stuff, too many great deals, and too many places to get lost. But those are only part of the reason. They play the same music as the funeral home. I'm not opposed to that kind of music but find it difficult to shop while mentally harmonizing to Crown Him with Many Crowns while pricing discounted fabric remnants. And of course, even though I wasn't in there more than 30 minutes (Lowe's does not have their fencing out yet) they played the song In the Garden. Normally I'm not one to sob in craft stores. Usually I do other weird things like get bags of mesh balls stuck to the button on my shirt, or have giant plastic Easter eggs crash to the floor right beside me. But In the Garden gets me almost every time. I just might have to start calling ahead to find out where on the play list that song is and shop at a different time.

Have you noticed? Sometimes it's just very difficult to be me.

One of our other stops was to an antique mall where I found something I've been looking for for years, an old wooden trellis! Someday I might remember where I wanted to put it and when and if I do, I'll be sure to post a picture. Right now it's with the ladder I had to have but cannot use until certain children come of an age as to not want to climb things. Of course one cannot really fault someone for wanting to climb a ladder, as that is what they are used for.

Last night I watched Hoarders - Buried Alive. Truly the irony is not lost on me.

The grandchildren have been exceptionally delightful lately. THGGM was helping Jonge with something and apparently Pake messed up on some directions. "Not THAT pile!", Jonge promptly said, "THIS pile! Why don't you listen to me?" Which THGGM thought was hilarious coming so seriously from one so young. Famke seems perfectly happy with the thought of having another brother. She's figured out that now she will be the ONLY princess! Two-year molars are appearing in Kado's nineteen-month-old mouth, which make for an occasionally miserable-feeling little boy. This does not stop him from grabbing Zeke by the jowls and kissing him straight on the mouth. I've repeatedly told him that it is NEVER a good thing to put ones face so close to a dogs mouth, but he seems unconcerned, Zeke seems unbothered, and I remain ever vigilant. Wednesday afternoon I entered my kitchen to find Kado with his arm deep into the box of 'good boy bones' with a VERY happy Zeke chomping down the bones that lay in a pile at his feet.

March DID storm in like a pride of lions for some very close family members. But like in the story of Daniel those mouths have been shut. It is not my story to tell, or I would. Believe me, I would. All I can say is that bullying is not just a problem in the school yard among children.

Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly. That's all that is required.