BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN...

OK...not really. I feel more like I have one foot in the stirrup and I'm being pulled by a horse that acts like it's going to stop, but doesn't...it just runs in a different direction. What a crazy, CRAZY week! We had Mace's heart worms treated and since he has terrible separation anxiety, I can't leave him. So "camp mom" has hit a plateau. But we are keeping busy and trying not to think about all the cool places we could be going or fun things we could be doing. We do have to leave him tomorrow afternoon for a little while and Friday afternoon to go get Tiff. She is at camp and it looks like she is having a good time. I found this picture on the web and thought I would share...And before I forget, Mace has separation anxiety...not stranger anxiety. So if anyone wants to come pet sit the bundle of slobbering love, just let me know. He loves to make new human friends and we would love to go to Target...

I will get the beach pictures posted when I find the little camera. I let Harrison use it and I can't wait to see what he got. I know it's around here somewhere. I still have to post July 4th pictures, too. until then... Whoopi-ty-aye-oh!

UPDATES...

we leave for the beach tomorrow, so I thought I would do one last post before we drop off the radar for a while. so here it is in no particular order...seriously... as random and unorganized as my packing skills...

our neighbors are the best and so is the watermelon they bring us back from the watermelon festival each year. just ask mace... whatever critter lives in the gutter drainpipe must still be alive...

the boys are enjoying one of the best parts of "camp mom"
...sleeping in!

we finally made it to see mama! she is doing well!
my pet black widow, windy, has gone to the
great spider web in the sky...
yes- God knew what he was doing when he gave me boys :)
in other news-
I gave in and bought the rodney atkins song sully has been asking for...the one that talks about scooby doo and happy meals, BUT harrison and I found a JBT song that talks about a gameboy...I may have found a way to reach my children....just like the advertisers.

go-go plant sale is on hold until we get enough rain to soften the ground enough for harrison to dig. he still has fresh rosemary for $1 a bunch. he has made $37.75. please let us know if you are the person that left $11 on the back door a couple of weeks ago.

I think last night was the final night of my prednisone insomnia.
(yeah...that post is coming later.)

and one year ago today, bob and I watched the sunrise from the watchman's hut on machu picchu. it was the trip of a lifetime. it's odd how the biggest and best vacations are the ones that make you feel the smallest...

I'm going to stand in front of the ocean now!

AT-CT

The AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport ), designed to favor "fear over function", can carry five speeder bikes and 40 Imperial Stormtroopers. The walkers themselves carry two blasters and two laser cannons. Their armor is resistant to standard blaster weapons; however, the "neck" column of the walker holds no such invulnerability and, if shot, can cause the entire walker to be destroyed.
Star Wars guidebooks describe the AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) as a "reconnaissance or defensive vehicle that is lightweight and built for speed". Their agility allows them to defend the slower AT-ATs or support other Imperial ground forces. They are 8.6 meters tall and seat a pilot and co-pilot. AT-STs are armed with laser cannons on the "chin" and sides, feet claws for destroying small defenses and side-mounted concussion missile launchers.

The AT-AT and AT-ST's predecessor, AT-CT (All Terrain Canine Transport), is depicted as an assault vehicle that was supposed to appear at the Battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones and in various Clone Wars media. Its four legs and flexibility increase its speed but its mobility and stability are affected by its attitude. It has been known to become depressed after the completion of the droid loading. It will lay down on the floor and mope. The canine is armed with doggie slobber, a powerful projectile poot, feet claws for any Jedi and Republic Forces that like to hide like chipmunks and heavy aromatic armor. Like his counter part, the AT-AT, the AT-CT has a weakness in the neck area. Unfortunately, the droids are scattered before reaching the battle when the AT-CT gets an itch. This made the AT-CT useless as an attack vehicle, but still able to lend a voice to Chewbacca.

NUTRITION 101

If it taste bad, it must be good for you
and vice versa...

Sully decided that we needed a new tradition for celebrating the 4th and that pancakes and bacon were in order. I mean what's more American than pancakes? Ok...maybe not since Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia all have a Pancake Day. Don't tell Sully or he'll want to move out again. He threatens to about once a week and it wouldn't matter that we celebrated Shrove Tuesday this year. We don't call it Pancake Day and that would be enough to make him go country shopping. He's still telling people that he's moving to Chicago...

The bacon was a bust because I tried the veggie stuff. I should have snapped a picture of their faces or yelled, "April Fools!" I'm usually a big fan of the meatless meats and we put away an incredible about of soy products in these parts, but I think I could have made better bacon with a fruit roll-up and liquid smoke. It was nasty. Mace liked it, but that's not saying much since he spends a considerable amount of time licking his boy parts. anyway...

The breakfast wasn't a total bust. The grocery store was out out of the Cherry Brook Farms mix that we LOVE. So we tried Bob's Red Mill Pancake Mix and it had this recipe for a spread on the package-

1/2 cup of softened butter (I used Smart Balance Light)
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

We put the ingredients in the stand mixer for a spin and spread it between the layers with a little swirl of syrup on the top. It was so. so. so. yummy! And more importantly...I think it might have made up for my crimes against bacon.

Happy 4th!

CANOPIES

Harrison and Sully are little obsessed with canopies, but not the kind that covers a bed like I had growing up...lego canopies! We have a bucket dedicated to them and Sully tries really hard to make sure every ship has an airtight cabin that is anchored on all four sides. He's asleep right now with one on his nightstand.

Harrison built this ship and couldn't find a canopy that covered the knight, policeman, storm trooper, alien, mars mission, skeleton, and aqua raider...so his solution? add trees. He said the trees made oxygen since there wasn't a canopy to keep it inside...very clever!
Unfortunately, the knight and police officer didn't make it. The oxygen supply was insufficient. He's trying to get to the root of the problem. It was a total debarkle! I will keep you all posted on which idea that superseeds this one...ok I'll stop now...

WALL.E REVIEW

me: did you like it?

sully: yes.

me: what was it about?

sully: I don't know.

me: harrison, did you like it?

harrison: uh-huh

me: what was it about?

harrison: robots.

me: and what happened to them?

harrison: one almost gets crushed.

and that folks is all they got out of the movie, but those geniuses at disney will still make millions on merchandising. the movie was way over their head, but we had a good time. I love summer! I love being able to go to the movies on a school night and catch fireflies and just be bums for no reason except that is what you should do when school is out. I can't believe it is already july... :(