Gather up the animals 2 by 2!

     Today I heard that someone posted a "pre-owned" ark on Craig's list, gently used - only 40 days and 40 nights.  A few days ago the weatherman said that we had gotten 18 inches of rain so far in April.  Everybody says that this is a crazy spring.  On Good Friday night we sat in our basement waching the storm on TV.  There were 2 storms in the area and the one with a confirmed tornado was traveling right our way.  There was damage in New Melle, then a spotted funnel cloud in Lake St Louis, then a touchdown in Dardenne Prairie (about 2 miles from our house).  This storm was traveling down Hwy N right for us.  After we heard that Dardenne Prairie was hit it seemed to get really calm outside and very bright - the sky was almost yellow.  The next thing they were saying on TV was that the storm had gone by St Charles, but the other storm was tearing through Maryland Heights and the airport.  The news has been showing the damage to the American Airlines terminal at the airport, but the damage around the airport is unbelievable.  On Monday morning when Jim and I were headed to the airport we saw the path of destruction - whole neighborhoods with the roofs gone and blue tarps instead.  There was a cement block warehouse up on a hill with big holes in the walls, the blocks from the walls in a pile of rubble down the hill and the inventory still on the shelves inside.  Crazy is an understatement.   Now we're ready for a couple of clear days before the next week of rain in the forecast.  Meanwhile, we actually have geese swimming in the "puddle" in our backyard and rivers running through it.

But our neighbors are getting it worse - one of their pastures floods completely.

And still, life goes on.....................

Brennan's Room



Before



     I finally had a chance to hang Bren's curtains and pictures and pick up the toys long enough to get a couple of pics.  This room was the worst of the bedrooms - it had permanently attached wallpaper.  While we were stripping the wallpaper, we also stripped the paper off the drywall.  The chair rail was put up after the wallpaper, so we had to take that down to get the wallpaper off.  The walls were really torn up and after about 7 skim coats of drywall compound it was only a little better - so we put up the molding on the bottom of the wall as camouflage.  Jim's sister, Linda, picked the color - I love it. 




 

Another week, another medical emergency

  3 weeks ago the ambulance was called for Jim's mom.  She had a mild heart attack and spent about 3 days in the hospital.  The doctors did the test where they put dye in her heart and put the camera thing in her vein (artery?) in her leg and up to her heart (that's the technical description).  Thank God, the doctors didn't find any damage.
     Last week was the infamous "Lego incident".  Bren's siblings will never let him forget that one. 
    Tonight I ended up rushing the dog, Maggie, to the animal hospital because she was listless and vomiting.....after an examination, xrays, and $150.25 she was diagnosed with "gas".  It was much to do about nothing - but we're thankful it really was nothing.   Now Maggie's on a diet of rice and boiled turkey for a week - and I get to cook for the dog too.
     "They" say these things go in threes - hopefully "They" are right.

Another Brennanism......................
     Last weekend we were in Omaha.  Aunt Sandy asked Brennan if he had missed her, he said, "no".  Uncle Craig asked Bren if he missed had him, he said, "nah".  Cousin Shawn asked Brennan if he had missed him, he said, "nope".  A little while later Bren asked Sandy for a drink, she handed him a cup of water and while he was drinking it he poured the whole cupfull down the front of his shirt.  Brennan looked at Sandy and said, "I missed you that time!"  

Wildlife

  There are a pair of mallards that live across the street at the neighbor's pond - for now.  This morning they came right up to the porch and were looking at our house.  I'm trying to entice them to come and visit more often by throwing bread crumbs out the front door and then watching from the window.  So far I'm just scaring them (or maybe it's Maggie in the yard scaring them - I guess I didn't realize she was outside).  
     There are geese everywhere - even swimming on our yard when it was flooded.  They are not afraid of us (we're a little afraid of them though - they can be aggressive).  As it's warming up we seem to have fewer and fewer of them.




taken about 3 weeks ago

     In one of the trees there is a pair of cardinals.  They like to hang out in the oak tree by the dining room window.  So typical of St Louis - Cardinals...................you'd think it was Husker football or something.
    On occasion, there has been a large crane hanging out at the pond, however he's a bit camera shy -  whenever I run to get my camera he flies away.   His wingspan must be about 6 feet and he's a light gray or white color.  Also in the pond is a beaver or an otter or something that swims into a hole in the bank of the pond.  We've only seen him a couple of times - he seems to come out if it's raining or overcast.

     Brennan discovered a bird in a nest on the old owner's aerial antenna under the deck - her name is Mr. Bird.

Creek and "Orchard"

     Now in the back yard there must live something a little more ominous.  One day we found a headless rabbit laying in the grass - the next day the body was gone................not sure what that is.  Yesterday morning when I looked out Brennan's window I saw a large house cat (?) or something else.  It was black and lurking around by the creek near the horses.  I'm not sure what that has to do with the rabbit but...........

     Here's the latest pictures of  "the ugly tree" - it's getting green leaves on it and the helicopters are growing.  It got a pruning yesterday so we can at least mow under it now.  I'm still waiting (and hoping) for an incredible transformation.................

We have these cute little wild flowers in the field - a few of these and thousands of dandelions.

Interesting day

Today Bren and I met a very nice pediatrician ............after he stuck a lego up his nose.  They got us in quickly and got it out.  Later he asked me what happened to the lego, I said I threw it away - he said, "That's OK, it was slimy."  Never a dull moment.  And no, it wasn't a toddler lego.

On another note................

Check out this great story about our friends, the Carlyles

http://omaha.com/article/20110409/NEWS01/704099877

It's so typical of Jess to rescue her friend in need.

1 Month ?!?

Last Friday marked 1 month since we closed on our house here in Missouri. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it seems much longer.  Cassidy really loves here new school - she's at Christian High School and her sophomore class has about 65 students.  By the 2nd day she had joined show choir and is really looking forward to color guard and jazz band next year.  Karryn loves her gymnastics here.  They placed her in level 4 (she was in level 3 in Papillion).  The first night she didn't want to tell the coach that she didn't know how to do certain things so............she did a handstand twist dismount off the beam for the first time, she vaulted on a real vault for the first time, and she went from the low bar to the high bar for the first time.  Brennan just wants to go exploring in the back yard - he usually takes a stick along and ends up very muddy.  My favorite thing is having dinner on the deck - we've had such good weather that about half of our dinners have been out there. 

Brennanisms:
Bren has been looking for a good exclamation - he had slipped into the OMG and we worked to break that little habit.  He tried out a few like "Oh my peanut butter!" which was fun for a time but now he's looking for something new.  The other night in the car he tried out a new one, "Oh my nuts!".  We were a little surprised and I was trying to explain to him that that probably wasn't a good thing to say (while Jim was trying to control his laughter).  Bren seemed to understand my point of view and said, "Oh yeah, that's just for squirrels".

Ongoing Projects

We have a few projects that we're working on this week. 

• This was the first time mowing............it took Jim about 3 1/2 hours on the tractor - but he got a good tan. 
• I've been trimming trees - I should take pictures of our growing brush pile.  One of these days we'll have a giant bon fire (first we just need to buy a few more hoses in case it gets out of hand)   I have about 8 trees done and about 89 more to trim.  I really do want a chain saw for Mother's Day! 

• Jim started work on the stairs.  The problem with the stairs is that each riser is a different height.  They vary from 6.5" to 8.75".  Also, we have this crazy kitty corner step on the landing (must have been a good design in  1984).   First I tore off the carpet.  Today Jim started installing lights on one side.  He has to take off all the treads and cut them off flush with the riser then reattach them.  Then he'll add the tread on top. The lower stairs need to be brought up, leveled, and treads replaced.  The landing needs to be rebuilt and Jim is building a newel post. 

• I've also been trying to find things for the front porch:  The good news is we have a 50 foot front porch - the bad news is we have a 50 foot front porch. 

I found these planters at Gordman's - I wanted a pair but after going to 2 locations (they are more spread out than in Omaha) and calling the other 2, this is what I could come up with. 

So, we actually like our little projects and fixing things up.  We just need to work a little in between to finance our trips to Lowes. 

By the way, the "ugly tree" now has those helicopter things on it - I hope this turns into a "beautiful swan" soon (it's next on the list for a good trimming)

OOPS - I have to go - the air conditioner upstairs is leaking into the kitchen - another project!

Jim's Trip



Big Ben and The Tower of London




The Eye and Big Ben / Parliament




King Henry the 8th's castle and The Tower of London














Jim got home last night from England - here are a few of his pictures from his phone.

Back Yard

We have this fountain in the back yard that is obviously not turned on - I don't know how...  but the trees were so pretty I didn't want to miss it.

On another note, does anyone know if that ugly tree could be a red maple?  Do they start out wierd like that?  PLEASE comment if you know (Sonja?)

Our Bloomin' Saturday

the ugly tree?

Jim is still in England.....and we are having a nice, quiet Saturday.  I took my camera and my coffee outside to take a couple of pictures and ended up walking all over in my bare feet.  Last Sunday we had snow and today our high is 75!?!  The Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom, the Forsythia are still going strong (this is their 3rd week)  the Magnolia (of some sort?) is blooming, the daffodils still look good and the crab apples are starting.  And then there is the mystery tree - it's really ugly and it has been this way for a while - if anyone knows what it is and if it will look better soon please let me know.