This could be dangerous

If one were the narcissistic type, the Photobooth feature on my new computer could captivate all your time. It actually takes reasonably good pictures and has all kinds of fabulous effects to play with.

Robbie had to go out of town for two days, so Riley and I took some pictures to send via email as a surprise. The really colorful, pixelated effect that I used is called 'Comic Book'. How fun!

And just a quick note to say that the McClendon family is waiting with bated breath for the annual Dia De Los Muertos festival! It's held at a local gallery where they utilize every single inch of space to create an absolutely awe inspiring visual feast for the eyes. We weren't able to stay for the event last year because Riley was under the weather, but we walked through to see the alters and were totally goggle eyed. It's a family friendly event, with a parade, kids activities, dancing and food. They always have a big musical act and this year they have the fabulous Flaco Jiminez and his band! We will be there with bells on! I wish it were tomorrow--that's how excited I am!

Kisses! 

The comic book effect makes it look as if I have braces in this photo! 

I don't. ;-)

Riley is tiring of the whole affair at this point. Moments later--Poof! Gone.

Hello, I'm mugging for a wee square camera on my computer. This must be the future.  

Party time!

Who knew a Monday afternoon could be so fun?! 

Our little neighbor, Elizabeth, celebrated her 4th birthday today and we attended her party. All the little folks had a fine time and left grubby and smeared with cake, as it should be. 

Riley, taking a breather after jumping, jumping, jumping in the inflatable bouncy toy

Bella, the love of Riley's life. Who can blame him, huh? 

Bella's sister, Clementine. She's in Riley's class at Redmont! :-)

The birthday girl herself in full regalia. I had to go for the gusto with the effects on this one.

Late harvest! Any ideas?

You'd think it was a bit late for this, but apparently the tomatoes and peppers we planted are the 'Late' variety, because only now, right before the cooler weather really sets in, the plants are totally blasting off with their production. There are dozens of tomatoes and countless peppers all coming on. The issue I'm having is a quintessential one, I guess, but I'm finding myself wondering what in the world to do with all these peppers.

The tomatoes are a cinch--make a sauce and can it up--but the peppers are a different question. One plant is poblano, so I guess we could use those and some of the tomatoes to make a mildish salsa, but we haven't decided what to do with the sweet red peppers yet. I thought they were hot at first, but I must have grabbed a red poblano by mistake. I was thinking about making a tomato/sweet pepper sauce to can up but haven't looked for a recipe yet. Anyone have any ideas or recipes using sweet red peppers?

Aren't they pretty? :-)

And don't laugh at our ugly heirloom tomato. They look pitiful but taste fabulous!

Cozy nest

We rearranged Riley's room recently to accommodate a new (old) chifforobe and ended up with an awkward space between the bed and bookcase. Given our limited options, we decided to make the detriment into a plus and we created a cozy nest space for reading, hiding and playing. It's been very popular with the youngster! It's also had the added benefit of adding some much needed lighting, which has made book selection much easier.

 Riley cuddled up for a bit of pre-bed reading with his new Spiderman counting book. 

Doesn't this nest make you just want to curl up and read?

Sir Riley!

I hope you won't be afraid by these frightening images of this brave knight--brace yourself! 

YA!! He's in a fierce battle and going to the rescue! 

(note the very jaunty action stance)

SWIPE! SWISH!! Look out--he's a real swashbuckler!

Riley's trusty dog fought bravely alongside him. 

(Actually, Hank was quite puzzled and concerned about the whole activity, as you can see by his worried expression)

Finally!

I need to post an update on Leon's recovery. The chest pain that he was having was identified as fluid (actually blood) which had built up against the lung causing terrible pressure. Night before last they were able to remove it, and by yesterday evening he was feeling much, much better. He was still in discomfort, given that it had required another incision, but the pressure was relieved and he was able to breathe normally. 

We're all so glad to see him feeling better and it's hoped that he will now be able to continue down the path that leads him right out the door and into the comfort of his own home. If all goes well it shouldn't be much longer. 

It's settled

Hank is officially a Good Dog.

We've been adhering pretty closely with the Cesar Millan style of training and Hank has been responding very favorably, so getting him settled into the McClendon pack has been going well. In addition to learning various commands, some of which he already knew, a big element in the training is sufficient exercise. Given how tired out the guy gets after we walk him, we are pretty certain this is more exercise than he's ever been given. The foster family did tell us that he was kept in a crate while they were at work, and they ran a very tight ship even when they were home, so all this walking hither and yon is pretty new to him. And honestly, it's new to us too, but we all welcome the change, especially since we get to start it as the weather is just beginning to cool off. 

One thing I've discovered today is that he gets really confused by the camera. I get down on his level, which is different, and then I hold this thing out at him and flash a bright light. Not cool, says Hank. He got downright agitated about it earlier today, so I had to nix the session. 

Not loving the camera

Pet drama

You all know the feeling when you first add a new pet into an established household? As everyone gets acquainted and feathers get ruffled it's easy to wonder if it was a big mistake. It really tips the balance when a new creature is added. Especially a large canine one. 

Atticus continues to be simply appalled that Hank is here, though for the most part it seems to be resolving itself. Hank's trying his very best to be solicitous, and when Atticus is near he'll turn his head away and walk slowly past or flop down onto the floor in an attempt to be friendly. Hank desperately wants to sniff Atticus, and that'd probably be ok, but since he's still a pup in many ways he is utterly lacking in tact and finesse, and thus far the lope-right-up-into-the-cat's-face technique has not worked. 

Tonight I made the error of moving quickly across the living room and set off a stampede of animals ahead of me. Hank thought we were all having a jolly time, but no one else agreed. Atticus is still hiding under the bed. Poor old guy--some golden years, huh? 

First day of pre-school

Whew, what a day. 

Today was Riley's first day at the Waldorf pre-school, and while he had a pretty clear idea what to expect, it was a HUGE transition for him. Dropping him off went well and I was able to leave with no stress on his part, but as the day wore on on he became very sad and missed me a lot. His teacher said that he cried a long time and mostly stood by the gate watching for me to come back. How heartbreaking is that?  I asked her if he'd accepted comfort from her and she said no, he didn't want to be held, but that he'd been able to tell her how he was feeling and talk to her about it. He also had an accident in his pants, which has not happened for a very long time. :-(  I think the issue with wetting his pants today was that it wasn't clear to him how to let someone know he needed to use the bathroom. We'll make sure we get that worked out.  

She did say that he was not frantic though, and she felt that his response is very much what she sees in other children who are new, so while we'd all much rather he'd not felt so very sad, we're prepared for him to become more comfortable as he gets more familiar with the people and surroundings. 

When I went to pick him up I called out to him and when he turned to find me his expression was unreadable; glad to see me, but also something else that I've not seen before. And when he spoke his voice was hoarse from crying. It was hard for me not to cry too. These are such big steps for us. I decided not to mention what his teacher had told me and to just let him tell me about his day in his own words, so imagine my surprise when I asked him to tell me about school and he said, with utter sincerity, that it had been fine! I've asked some questions though and he said that he missed me and that he'd just wanted to come home. 

It's hard for a little guy who has spent just shy of four years at my side to make such a dramatic shift all at once. He's spent the afternoon at his grandparents many times, and even stayed for short stints to play with a friend at her house, but this is worlds away from those familiar environments. Today he was among strangers in a place he's only visited briefly on two occasions. From his perspective it was pretty scary. He goes again tomorrow and we're going to get there plenty early so we can have time to get well acclimated before it's time for me to go. 

Of all the steps he'll take along the path to his adult independence, this one is definitely a small one, but in proportion to his size it's a doozy. 

Hank!

Well, we've found our doggie pal and his name is Hank! We adopted him yesterday from a home where he had been fostered for the last six months. He's described as a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer mix and is one year old. He's been socialized with children, dogs and cats, taught basic commands, crate, house and leash trained. He's a friendly, happy-go-lucky guy and just a joy to have around. 

Hello, I'm Hank! 

Riley and Hank are great pals! Check out Hank's crinkly worry-brow. The crinkles, paired with the inquisitive head tilts, make for some pretty cute expressions.

Here's Hank assuming his Super Dog pose! 

Of course Riley had to do Super Dog too. 

Apparently Rodesian Ridgebacks are known for resting in this position. 

We'll close with this bit of silliness. The hand dryers in the restrooms at the hospital are like convex mirrors--perfect for a bit of goofy mugging. ;-) 

Comments

A friend pointed out to me that I apparently had the 'comments' function of this blog set so that no one but myself could make comments. Given that I seem to say quite enough as it is, I've changed that, so if anyone ever gets a hankering to pipe up and give their two cents worth, or to tell me to hush up already, you're now able to do so. ;-)

Worrisome

Yesterday morning we got a call from one of the nurses at the hospital saying that Leon was having severe pain in his chest. We already driving in the car, so I just took Robbie directly over to the hospital. The doctors are uncertain what is causing the pain, but from from Robbie's description, they're trying all possible solutions to relieve it and we're hoping that there will be some improvement this morning. 

And in other dad related news, I got a call from my sister, Reggie, yesterday telling me that our dad, Ed, had taken a bad fall. He was knocked unconscious by the impact and was taken to the hospital where, thankfully, they discovered that he was not badly injured. We were all very worried about his arm, which is still healing from his accident earlier this year, but there was no injury to it, thank goodness. 

Happy Day!

Two really fine bits of news to report today. 

First, Robbie's dad, Leon, is out of ICU and in a private room, as of day before yesterday, and is doing really well. He's up walking twice a day and receives his visitors while seated in a comfortable chair. The significance of the surgery and the impact it'll have on his quality of life is just enormous. 

Second, Robbie, Riley and I went back to Redmont this afternoon for the parent/teacher interview and learned that Riley will be able to start pre-school next week! I'm so psyched I can't even begin to say. The prospect of little smatterings of time in which to have some uninterrupted thought and activity is so heavenly. 

Orville--A Dog Story

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big blubbering sap. It's just how I am, and when I get moved by things and start tearing up there's nothing to do but just grab a tissue and ride it out. 

I mention this because I checked out a book from the library that totally did me in. Given our current interest in dogs, we checked out a variety of books about dogs for kids and adults. One in particular, Orville--A Dog Story, I sought out after reading about it yesterday. It's written by an author named Haven Kimmel, who I admire greatly (she's as smart as they come and makes me laugh out loud) and who has a deep and abiding love for dogs. This book is shelved in the children's section and is supposedly for kids, but it's so devastatingly moving that I think it'd break a little kids heart. It nearly broke mine, though everything turns out in the end. Find the book and read it--it's fabulous. 

I cannot bear suffering of any innocent creature, and this book speaks eloquently of the deep suffering that homeless dogs endure and how desperately they crave love and compassion. I'm going to start crying again just thinking of it, but then, what's new? ;-) 

A Date with a Dog

The McFamily is in agreement that we'd like to welcome a canine friend into our household, so we've been taking measures to find said canine. There are plenty of dogs in the metro region who need homes and we've been searching Petfinder.com to learn who's out there. We have an appointment with a local rescue service to look at some potential pals this Friday.

No Jasper after all

It's a sad dog day here. We discovered that the dog we took in had slipped out of his collar a month ago and had been away from home since then. Someone else must have tried to keep him because he'd clearly had a collar on recently, but only he knows that story. We reunited the dog with his owner with heavy hearts today, but Robbie, Riley and I all decided that our brief time with Jasper (Simba, actually, as we came to learn) has shown us that we would enjoy having a dog friend live with us. 

Riley's sad but he understands what's going on. 

Meet Jasper

What I didn't mention yesterday is that in addition to all the enormous, life changing events that transpired, we also became the surprised new owners of a dog!

Robbie was working on the porch when he heard panting and looked down to see a dog standing right next to him. The dog was clearly a stray and was nearly starved, but very friendly, so we gave him some food and water. He stayed near by and let us pet him and he and Riley became fast friends, so we decided that we'd better take him to the vet to see what sort of shape he's in.  It turns out that he's in fine shape and is around 2-3 years old and as good natured a guy as you could meet!

All this dog needed in the world was a friend. 

A friend has been found! 

(note the ribs--poor guy)

Jasper's teaching Riley new ways of bathing.

What a day

Two things to note today that I could go on about at length, but I'm too tired. 

The greater McClendon clan has had two significant events in the last couple of days. On Thursday, Robbie's aunt Glenda Ann, a wonderful, loving woman, passed away.  Today, as we dressed to attend her funeral, we were notified that after months of waiting, Robbie's dad, Leon, went in to the hospital to receive a lung transplant! 

Riley and I attended the funeral, which was beautiful and moving and Glenda Ann was sent forth with a great deal of love. Robbie went to the hospital where Leon's surgery went perfectly and he is going to be ready to receive visitors in the morning! We're all worn flat out. 

Good news? Maybe.

We went to the Waldorf school yesterday morning to do our observation and were told by the admissions woman that she may have some good news for us within the next couple of days. Apparently there's some movement in one of the classes and there's a strong possibility that a spot may open up, which was indeed good news. 

It was a fun visit to the school and Robbie and I both enjoyed seeing the way the class starts the day. Each morning, weather permitting, they take a short nature walk around the back of the school. They return to the toddler playground and join in a circle for a welcoming song and then break for unstructured playtime. 

Riley was very content there and fell right in with the other kids. We were all happy to see that there are plenty of boys there, which we've been somewhat lacking in our own immediate circle of friends. The differences in boys and girls begins to become very apparent at this age and the rambunctious rough and tumble style of boy play definitely calls for the company of other boys. 

Speaking of boys and what makes them tick, I found another good book called It's A Boy. The book talks at length about the physical and mental differences between boys and girls, which I find really helpful in understanding our precious boy. To understand what is normal boy behavior and what to expect as he grows helps me set realistic expectations. Robbie, of course, having been there himself, already knows what being a boy is about. ;-) 

Gotta love this face

Riley was blowing his bubble blower as if was a trumpet. Brrrrppppt!  

As you can see, the sound was hilarious. 

Our friend Anna came over to play and the youngsters had a fine time! 

Bang!

Wow, I hope they know what they're doing with the Large Hadron Collider.  I don't remember being asked if I was comfortable with the possibility of black holes or strange matter that could devour the planet. :-/

Pictures

No ranting or blabbing on at length today--just some pictures! :-) 

Riley and Isabelle jamming out! 

The song of the night: All Around the Kitchen (cock a doodle doodle doo!)

All of the sudden Riley's began figurative drawing! This is his first. It includes our immediate family (in blue, at the top, with Atticus on the left) and also Darth Vader (in black, with his red light saber) some storm troopers and random planets and stars. 

Under the weather on Sunday and needing many cuddles. 

Feeling better and transformed into Wizard Riley! 

He looks positively magical, don't you think? ;-)

How in the world did we end up here?

From a story on NPR today: 

The U.S. buys a lot more from China than China's consumers buy from America each year. Because of that gap in trade, China ends up with about a billion new U.S. dollars each day. 

What do the Chinese do with all that money? They lend it back to the U.S. so Americans can buy more from them. China doesn't just give Americans credit cards or a bank loan. Instead, one of the main ways China lends that money to the U.S. is by buying bonds issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 

Geez. I guess it's not enough that we give away all our manufacturing jobs and import all our crap from China instead. Looks like now we're just giving away the store. Whose idea was this arrangement?

And while I'm ranting, I also heard a fabulous interview on Fresh Air today with a journalist named Thomas Friedman who has written a book called Hot, Flat and Dry. (his prediction for our planet if we stay on our destructive course) He makes a strong argument for rebuilding America by leading a so called Green Revolution. The Amazon link for his book has a video of him speaking. I haven't watched it, but if it's anything like his interview today it'd be worth seeing. 

Wow--again?

Yesterday Riley began looking a bit off; kind of pale and droopy and lacking his normal three-year-old energy. Robbie asked him at one point if he felt ok and he said yes, but he began going downhill as the day went on. By mid afternoon he said he was freezing and when I felt his forehead he felt decidedly warm. I took his temp and it was 101.7--just high enough to make the little guy feel cruddy. 

It's weird that we go almost four years with only one real fever and now, within two months, we end up with two of them! It's not as if I had kept him sequestered either--we've always gotten out and socialized with other kids, but he didn't get sick like he's doing now. I guess this is the difference between him nursing and not nursing during the sick season. (he hasn't nursed in nearly a year, but I guess this is the first time we've been surrounded by sick people) Gotta love a milk that makes the kid impervious to germs. 

Well, dang.

We've been talking to Riley about pre-school for a while now--going over what kind of place it is, who he'd be likely to see, what they'd probably do etc. For quite a while he was dubious about the whole arrangement and told us he didn't want to go, which was fine, but now he's really ready to go romp with the other kids, so we turned in our application at the Waldorf school. 

We'd taken the tour early last winter and were assured that whatever month or day we chose made no difference and they had plenty of room. Well, that was then. They are now completely full and have no room for Ri, which is a complete bummer for everyone. We're going to be on the waiting list in the event that someone leaves, but in the mean time we're in a holding pattern. I'm sure there are other programs available at other places, but I don't want to just stick him any old place and then move him when his spot comes open, so we'll just continue doing our thing out in the world till there's room for him at his school. 

Heaven help us

I'm just ill. 

From the AP news today: 

The state of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin announced Wednesday. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts. 

Now that's setting the priorities straight. 

I understand also from the news today that she doesn't believe that the current environmental changes we're experiencing are due to human activity and industry. Either she's dim witted or she has some big players deeply embedded in her pocketbook. 

So this is who'd be waiting in the wings, a heart beat away, as they say? Does she not give a single thought to the dismal future of our children (and grandchildren) if we keep destroying our only home? It is so disturbing. 

A trip to the country

We spent the day yesterday with Robbie's family up at his grandma and grandpa Hinkle's house in Cullman, AL. Riley and his cousins had a fine time galavanting around outside being wild creatures. ;-) 

The Three Amigos!

Robbie's grandpa Hinkle makes these super cool birdfeeders.  

Riley's five year old cousin, Andrew, borrowed my camera to take this picture.

Digging for bugs is always popular! 

Andrew playing guitar