Les Mis. Oh Yeah.

Joe and I snuggled down to watch Les Miserables tonight.  While I was in one of the first showings in the theater, with a bucket of popcorn all to myself, Joe is a bit too, um, antsy? to sit through movies in the theater.  In all honesty, it is a well established family fun fact that the last movie that Joe went to with me was RENT, circa 2005.  I will say that we are half way through, and while he has done quite a bit of dancing, Joe has not even broken a tear yet...what is wrong with him???  I'm sobbing! (and singing ;).

Coco started up in her room, watching something else, but migrated downstairs, drawn in by the singing.  When I was about her age, my parents began taking us to "adult" musicals.  Toledo always had an amazing line up of traveling broadway shows come through each year, and my amazing parents spoiled us year after year.  Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom, Chicago, etc, etc...and Les Mis countless times.  I had so many t-shirts and sweatshirts with the little face of Cossette on them (seen above) from our yearly excursions.

We are better for it...this began my life long passion for singing...which is fervently being passed on to my little one.  My parents always made sure there was money and time for my voice lessons...they let me follow my passion from a very young age.   Furthermore,  my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins came to every little recital and concert, in every little coffee shop or church in Toledo.  Thank You!!!

And here we are, singing along to Les Mis as a family on the couch...and this is what life is made of.  And, since I'm not getting off the couch to record me singing or something more ambitious, I give you the Huron River Players puppet version of One Day More.  This is one of my best friends, her children and family.  Home made puppets, credits...high class good old fashioned family fun.   Seriously, click it. I am proud say that these are my people!

Enjoy!

One Day More, puppet version.

xoxo, e.

Behind Curtain No.1...

I've been quiet here, but I've been busy!  Spring so easily lends itself to obsessive organization.  The weather outside has only been cooperating for a small part of the time, so I've been dictating the inside chores rather feverishly.  After the mudroom, Joe's next chore was to build some more shelving in the craft closet in the laundry room.  Seriously, nothing feels better than having everything in it's place.

What's behind curtain number one?  Coco's craft baskets...

Sewing notions on Grandma Dorothy's metal cart, shop packing materials, shop free gift purses...

Coco coats, shop goodies laundered and ready to be photographed!

Nothing better than packing up all of the bulky winter coats and sending them to the basement!  Things are shaping up around here, and warmer days are soon to come.   I am longing for long evenings spent putzing around the garden - chickens, dogs, ducks, cats...all following close behind.   We had a sweet spring rain last night, and I slept with the windows open...spring is well on it's way!

And these little sweeties got dropped off today!

The only instructions they came with were "They'll do anything for peas."

Amen to that!

xoxo, e.

Build Me A Mudroom.

So, I have this hallway at the top of the basement stairs.  It's just a walk through space, really, to the laundry room.  We end up kicking off our boots and shoes there, and those piles of boots and shoes drive me nuts.  The sweet little hallway was just such a waste of usable space.

So I said "Joe, build me a mudroom."   And he did.  And I love it.  Old wood, rusty hooks and nails...just a few of my favorite things.  A bench for Coco to put on her shoes, a closet for the vacuum and Joe's obsessive collection of swiffers.  Hooks, shelves, and baskets to stuff things into and hang things on....all so perfect.  A lovely rug, some pillows and some drying Sweet Annie to tie it all together.  Yes please, and thank you.  I may sleep in there tonight...just maybe.

And in other news, I scored this at the thrift store this week.   More on accordions and my polish catholic upbringing at a later time.  But know that I will play this for you, and you will love it.

And still in other news, we taught the farming chapter at Coco's school.  Little hands planting little seeds, excitedly learning where their food comes from.  And then Coco projectile vomited and daddy carried her home.  The End.

p.s...clearly I found instagram and all it's magic.  

Oh Virginia!

In an attempt to fill my empty womb, I've been surrounding myself with animals (that sounds dramatic, but it's kind of true).  We had a very special delivery this weekend (and by delivery, I mean my dear friends caught them in their pen, bagged them up, and brought them to me...dressed in party clothes. Cuz that's how they roll)....Meet Montgomery, Virginia, and Opal.  And I love them.  They are giant, and beautiful, and always appear that they are dressed in their finery, waiting for me to bring them a cocktail.  

I'm certainly no expert (yet), but I believe we have India Blue peafowl.  The plan was to keep them in the barn for a while, so they knew that they were "home."  Then, as they did at their previous home, we would let them free range.  Ready for a good story?   Sit back, here we go.

A few days ago, Joe was taking some leafy greens out to the barn for the fowl.  As the barn door was open, Mr. Monty flew right over Joe's head, past the big barn, across the corn field, and into the woods across the street.  Like a little robin, he flew like nobody's business.  I was sitting on the couch, and saw a huge bird land....and then I saw Joe running after him with two hands full of leafy greens.  Damn it!

I was in the car in a second, and Joe and I drove over...thinking we would find a giant blue bird in a completely brown woods in like two second.  Wrong.  He completely disappeared.  We hiked the woods for hours.  My lips froze.  I was in crocs with no socks.  And I was furious.  

I cried.  I made a flyer.  We talked to all of the neighbors, who are amazing, and who invited us in to share a cocktail over our lost peacock fate.  All eyes were peeled for the missing Cesarz peacock!

Fast forward 24 hours.  Joe was making dinner when neighbor Al called.  "There is a peacock in my yard, you kids should come see it!" "That's our peacock Al!!!!  We'll be right there!" Joe yelled excitedly.

When Monty saw us, he flew into the swamp.  Neighbor CJ heard the commotion and wanted in on the action.  He brought Joe his waders and a fishing net, and perched himself as the lookout to direct Joe in the swamp.  You would not believe how a huge blue bird can disappear and blend in in a swamp! 

*pause*  In the middle of the peacock hunt, I saw a huge crazy face opossum walking through the sunshine towards my barn.  What in the hell?  F$#@er!  I screamed for Joe, ran and got the gun, and he and CJ cornered and shot the little bugger.  Then went back to catch a peacock!

There was chasing and diving.  And about a 1/2  an hour later, Joe came walking up the drive with an angry (and in trouble!) peacock.  Monty is sooo grounded.

We put a net over the top of the outdoor pen so they can sun themselves for awhile before they get another chance at "free ranging"!

Have a Beautiful Day..And a very Happy 7th Birthday to my little Coco Rose!!

xoxo, e.

Goats and Peacocks and Possums...Oh My!

Part One of Two.

The last few weeks have been spent whistfully and wonderfully waiting for spring...and I've been snuggling and acquiring animals whilst I wait!

First a quick update - Infertility - 2, Erica - 0.  Round two was bad.  I think that the hormones were messing with my body so much that I started an entire week late.  An entire week that I took pregnancy tests like a crazy person, because I wasn't starting...so how could I not be pregnant?  Again?  Sigh.  I'm taking a breather.  We'll regroup and try again in a few months.

Now onto the animals!  Kelly's goats have been popping out babies for a solid month now.  Most of them nurse on the mamma just fine, but a few mamma's didn't make it, and a few didn't bond with their babies....so bring on the bottle babies!  Their moms or moms with extra milk get milked, and bottle babies get hand fed with that milk.  One never seems to have enough hands, or bottles.  They will nurse on your fingers, or your double chin (they're not really picky :) while they are waiting their turn.  Oh my God I love those little babies!

I'm the most popular girl in the barn. (when I have the milk).

Oh, Hello Ladies!

Babies in sweaters.  Seriously.

There are still plenty of pregnant mammas, so if you want to go love on some little lovey goats, just let  me know.  I know people.

xoxo, e.

p.s.  This post was feeling long winded...so, tomorrow I give you peacocks!