L'aventure américaine

She is only 15 months old, but I envy her hair. That feels weird to say, but it is time to admit. I am jealous of my daughter’s hair. Curly, naturally highlighted, a gorgeous brown. It is fairly fabulous.  In other news, books are being read, plants are being planted, hours are being worked. (Mostly.)  April has reached its end. It has been a weird month, a long month, but a good month. I am lucky to be quarantined with some good folks.  Happy almost May. 

My last post didn’t make it. You just can’t trust the internet these days. Try, try again.  We have loved this beautiful weather. Trees are blooming, the lettuce is popping up, and we have to mow regularly. And in other exciting news, this kid moved up in the world. Literally. To the top bunk. We’re trying to keep things exciting here, and sometimes (thanks to Randal), we succeed.  

It sure is beautiful. We are lucky for our space and our place    Happy Earth Day!

Yesterday, it was just beautiful outside. And I thought, “I don’t want to work! It’s too nice to stay inside and work.” Today, it rained all day. And I thought, “I don’t want to work. It’s the perfect day to curl up and watch TV.” There seems to be a common theme.  I’ll let you decide what it is. In the meantime, here is a cutie patootie. 

Coronavirus has broken Milo. He is laughing uncontrollably and can’t settle down and it feels like those stories you hear about contagious laughter that can’t be stopped.  I think we all know how this will end. In tears.  You think you will never tire of the sound of children’s laughter. But, I can attest that you can.  One minute later... there are tears. Marian’s. Because Milo woke her up. Of course.  One more minute later. I am having a beer and letting Randal handle this. Thank god for a two-parent household. 

Randal doesn’t read the blog regularly, but he caught up on it recently and said, “I would be jealous of our life.” And I asked if he thought it was honest and he said that it was, but I was leaving some of the reality out of it.  So, here’s a behind the scenes sneak peek of our quarantine.  Milo is very pesty right now and has to do everyone that Marian does. It wasn’t too long before he tried to edge her off the windowsill.  Felling this tree took a long time. It also fell pretty far away from where it was intended. Fortunately, the gate was still smashed since the last time Dad cut down a tree and it fell in the wrong place, so nothing new was harmed.  Milo whined about going canoeing for an hour before we finally lugged everything out. I had to make lunch, so we got a solid 20 minutes. We then left the oars outside and Dad gave me a hard time.  It was really cold. Milo only ate French fries.  This walk took forrrrrever because Marian refused to ride in the stroller or be carried. S

We started using that word a year ago, but mainly because I thought it was funny when dad said, “it’s FRI-YAY!!!” Now, of course, it has stuck.  Rainy day, but it’s nice to be quiet and drink wine tonight. It means I might stay up until 10pm too. These are crrrrrazy days.  The kids have fun while randal and I are away.  125 birds in there. They are cute for two weeks and then are kind of gross thereafter.  But, oh, they are soooo cute.  It’s green and beautiful like Ireland. Milo named the bridge today too. Henceforth, it will be known as “Creek Bridge.” Clever, eh?

 There's actually too much news.  I feel like I have to dip my toe in the news waters periodically, but I can't go swimming in it because I'll drown.  I watched the PBS News Hour with Mom two night ago and it was too much. But, there really isn't much news from the Pope/Jochim front.  So, here's a photo of Milo looking exceptionally ready for the water on Monday. And here's a joke for all of those Germans in the audience: How many Germans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One.  They're very efficient and not very funny.  Bahahahaha.

In Easters of yore, Easter morning is jam-packed.  The Easter bunny comes and we hunt for eggs and then we scramble around trying to get ready for 40-50 people who are coming for a pitch-in and a big Easter Egg Hunt.  There have been years where there have only been about 20 people, but this year, there were just six. And we didn't scramble around as much.  There was no furniture shifting.  We didn't have to mop up muddy footprints.  And, for better or for worse, the house was a whole lot quieter. The Easter Bunny did come, bringing baskets for everyone!  Milo was thrilled with his new lego airplane and Marian has been sporting her Easter boots since she got them. We still had a pitch-in.  Everyone had to bring a dish or two to share and because of that, we had a delicious Easter meal.  We knew what everyone else was sharing as well, which was new.  (There was no lemonade.  There were no tahini noodles.  It was not the same.). But, we still had it buffet style a

Oh, little voices. They can be so cheerful. They can be so... grating.  I love Milo’s laugh. I love Milo’s sweet voice. I love when he says “happy Easter.”  But, when I am putting his sister to bed and he decides to come in and wish her a happy Easter, I do not relish the sound. Now, I am listening to Marian cry in the back and scolding Milo when he laughs too loudly.  I am not relishing their voices right now.  But, it is Easter eve and so eggs are dyed, baskets are ready for the essential worker, the Easter Bunny, to arrive tonight.  Both kids are crying now.  Little voices. Please hush.  Favorite color. This egg was also dyed red as an enhancement.  Beautiful eggs with beautiful people. 

Big day at the Jochims yesterday. The baby chicks arrived and will grow grow grow for the next six weeks until they’re big enough to be sacrificed for the cause of our hunger.  They are so cute right now.  It did bring up the thought that we might have to slaughter 100 chickens ourselves with two kids. That will be... difficult. Clear up coronavirus!