Happiness is...

...being a Puppy

...if you're a little boy. :) Which reminds me of a story I've (possibly) told before.
Summertime, big family gathering. Sister 1 and Sister 2 each have little boys about the same age. Sister 1's little boy is potty trained; Sister 2's little boy is not potty trained. The 2 little boys are playing together and both run up to Little Boy 1's mom (Sister 1). Little Boy 1 says 'Mom, I have to tinkle' (use your imagination- shouldn't be too hard). Sister 1 thinks- Aha! I'll take Little Boy 2 along and we can show him how it's done! Off they go to a shrub (or tree...or something). Little Boy 1 takes care of his business. Little Boy 2 is watching with BIG eyes. Auntie- Is he a puppy? teehee Those 'little boys' must be about 17 or 18 now. 

...having a cat who loves (?) appreciates (?) acknowledges/accepts you; soaks up your affection.... or at least deigns to sleep on your sofa. ;)

I'm not kidding. I love this cat. She lives in the town of Ostroh, near the apartment I frequented in February. We'd come home after having been gone an hour or all day or 3 days...and she'd be waiting for us; jump up, meow in the most questioning way and run to the door, meowing...and run into the apartment ahead of us, heading for her favorite spot on the sofa, in the sun. And because we're such softies, we let her spend the night. Who knows what kind of life she led when we weren't around... must be tiring because she'd be in the exact same spot and position the next morning.... and also ready to leave and take care of business the cat way. ;)
 

... a for real toilet. (I'm not kidding.) See this one? The seat is attached. Affixed. Won't slide. Won't come off. Oh Hurray.

 Also there's a lid. I'm telling you, we are uptown, we are! (I'll bet you wish I had a pic of what we had before this one, don't you? Well, subtract the lid and imagine an unattached 'floating' seat. You really don't need a pic. Trust me. And trust me that this is a thing of beauty. 

(And did I ever tell you my other throne story? As in the throne that occupies the smallest room in the house? *throat clearing noises* Well, Once upon a time, Little T and I moved into an apt that had no furniture and just barely had a toilet. As in No seat, never mind lid. Just the ceramic base...and wherewith to flush. We move in. The landlords are there, all pleased and happy. Oh- You don't have a TV, they say. We'll bring you one. We have one we don't need. We'll bring it right over.
T and I look at each other. You know what we'd like more than a TV, we say? A toilet seat.
WHAT?! They say. Listen, if you want a toilet seat, go to the bazaar, get a cheap one and when you leave take it with you. They're not expensive.
I am NOT hauling my own toilet seat around Ukraine, I say. We'd like you to get one (it can be cheap, no worries) and we'll leave it when we move out.
And they did.
And we were TV-less and happy.

.... darling little nieces who grow up WAYYY too fast but are adorable along the way. Oh My Little B... you do thumpy things to me heart.

 .... this mouse catcher is pretty warm-fuzzy feelings inspiring, too.

This one is quite possibly my favorite of all... as far as cats, go, anyway.

...this duvet cover. I got to be with it again for the month of February. It just.... makes me happy. 

 ...this chocolate. A touch of salt in/on it.
Break it into pieces and put into a teflon-coated small pot with milk. Heat until the chocolate's melted and it's all mixed together nicely. Add hot red pepper to taste. Drink it.
It Is So Delicious. It warms your tummy-tum-tum in the most cozy way.
The real stuff is made with hot pepper syrup but...that I've never seen in a store. 

....and of course- Happiness is when your friend who had cancer and zoomed home 2 years ago for chemo and radiation and the works comes back, healthy and happy and raring to go!! Welcome back, Little T!

When I came downstairs this morning, I found my sister's oldest crashed in Mom's easy chair. He'd gotten up early and then crawled into the chair and slept another 3 hours at least! ;)

Currently, there is fierce competition over who gets the couch each night! 

dreams are...

And last night, I dreamed about my new niece. And that was the best mind party ever!!! <3 <3 <3

More Monkeys

Nephie OJ lives with his Mom and Dad and Big Brother in a small town. Dad is outside late one afternoon working on something near the street. Local cop cruises by. Asks what he's doing. It's after 5 the cop says. It's Miller Time! 

Fast forward a few weeks, first Sunday in August. Nephie OJ zooms outside the house, yanks off his tie and shouts- It's Miller Time! While his dad turns beet red.

Overheard:
-Miki: JennaMae, I'm not going with Mommy and Daddy, I'm staying home.... so- YOU can play with me!

Nephie Talents Auntie Smiles

Mom turned some of the nephies' art into t-shirts! 

OJ's fish painting on a T for me. I love it!

I'm not so sure about the words but the heart is something F made (in 1st? grade) several years ago; it's a favorite of mine.

One of the nephies (F) also did this pic. Beethoven (I think). Done from a well known painting.

Dogs

I'd saved these comics quite awhile ago and just now found them again. I know I've been licked by dogs. Lots of them. And by a few cats, too. Cat tongues are a lot rougher than a dog's in case you didn't know an were actually wondering. I don't know if I ever liked it. I suppose I didn't mind it once long ago in an earlier version of me. I don't really like it anymore. I found that out when I met my sisters' 2 dogs. Princess and Baby. Baby's not so into licking. But Princess is. Yup. Just quietly sitting at the table minding my own business, eating or working or just yakking. And- eeep! Really Dog- I don't mind you but I don't like having my feet licked. Nope, not at all. It tickles. And besides all that- it's been quite awhile since I was ignorant of what all a dog does lick with that tongue. I.Just.Don't.Like.It. But thanks all the same. 

I'm sorry I 'nged' at you...

What? you ask. 'Nged' at you?

Yes. 

What's that?

Good question. But it's something a 5 year old can do to her 6 year old sister and make her cry. 

And there are 1001 other ways to make a 6 year old sister cry. Or a 5 year old sister. Or an 8 year old brother. Amazing. 

And you know what? I enjoyed it. OK, not the 'make them cry' bit but being with them! They're such little bundles of personality and imagination and creativity. Everything is part of The Game. Everything. Every day they played The Game. The details varied from day to day. Once a witch came and turned them into stones (but if you are tortured while you're a stone it doesn't hurt at all... because a stone, after all, doesn't feel a thing!); often they were all horses. And had to whinny while talking. (You try keeping a straight face while your 5 year old niece chats with you and whinnies every 4th or 5th word.) Sometimes they were gorilla monster toads. (I've never really figured out what a gorilla monster toad does but I guess it's terribly scary.)

And of course, the standard 'He's in my space', 'She touched me', 'He's laughing at me', 'She's looking at me'. Really- the crimes that were committed here every day are staggering and horrifying in nature. And the tears! A heart can be broken and healed a hundred times a day. With the 'tears' to 'prove' it... crocodile tears do count Don't they???
I'm trying to remember if we were like that. I reckon we were. I've just conveniently forgotten it. Thankfully. 

We did figure out one solution. Every night someone had to/got to sleep on the love seat in Aunt Nita's room. It didn't seem to matter that it was too short to stretch out on. And Aunt Nita was pretty happy with that arrangement, too. I sort of missed seeing that sweetheart on the love seat last night. 

In spite of the tears and squabbling and broken hearts- these kids are little darlings. They're brilliant. They're Aunties little angels. And they give good-night kisses (well- the girls do!)- and who wouldn't love that?!

My Boys

I have some pix to eventually post but they're still being held hostage on my phone!
I wrote about seeing my sister's kids for the first time. I have a brother who has 2 boys. And I've seen them, too!

The first thing I always notice about those 2 boys is how blonde they are. Especially the little guy. We've had some blondies in our family (my sis, in fact, does) but none are quite as blonde as Owen. And his white-blonde hair and gorgeous eye lashes punched me in the heart yet again. He's tall for his age and very quiet for the most part. But he's a little clown and loves to make you laugh. And then there's Forrest, the big brother. And his cow lick. Honestly, it's the most amazingly beautiful cow lick. And if ever there was the perfectly placed cow lick, his is that one. Just off center in his hairline high on his forehead. I had to make myself not touch it constantly. I mean- who wants Auntie constantly caressing their hairline? No one, likely.
When Ken and Miss arrived that first Sat am, I was blown away by their tall 'little' boys. They were quiet at first but got down to the business of roughhousing playing with their cousins fast enough. But they had big hugs for Auntie first!
I just spent the weekend with them.
Owen's voice is this soft low gravelly sound. He sounds older than he is. He's a sweet boy. He reminds me of a little hobbit- bravely following the big people but not quite sure he's ready to be where they are but very sure he doesn't want to be left behind so on he goes! And those eyelashes. Oh My Goodness. (Did I already mention them?) You've not seen eyelashes quite that long and gorgeous in a long time, I'm pretty sure!
Forrest loves Elvis, has a bit of a twang when he talks (not exactly but there's this 'something' in his voice- it cracks me up).
O & F have a cousin whom I've known since he was born. He's always been a big kid. When he was 3 1/2, he was working back in the salads with us at Menomonie and people thought he was 6. In the 2nd grade maybe. (He's 16 now and everyone still thinks he's older than he is but that's beside the point!) Well... 'my' little Forrest. My little nephew. The very first there was (for me). My Forrest is taller at the age he is now than his cousin was at the same age. Gulp. I'm not really ready for this. These are my babies. My little brother's kids. And I don't want people to think they're 21 when they're just barely 16. I don't want them to look 5 years older than the little kid that they are. I want them to be little kids for a lot longer yet, thank-you-very-much. Ok. 'Nuff of that. 
It was soooo nice to be with these 2 again. To see them play hard and get dirty and dusty and in need of a bath-y. To laugh with and at them. To smother them in chocolate and hot cinnamon! :) And I'm hoping to do it all again very soon!! xo

home

I'm home. At my folks'.
My oldest brother was in the yard playing with my sister's kids when we pulled in last night. Dad came strolling out of the house. Mom, Gina and I spilled out of the car. I headed for the kids. How could I not?
JM was in the swing being pushed (far too high, I'm sure) by Uncle Paul. She was loving it, of course. Touching leaves with your bare toes as you soar up into the tree- that's fun when you're 6. She was happy for a hug and to give a hug. She kept swinging, twisting around to look at me. I haven't seen you since... Well, I don't remember, she confessed (in her fairly deep and sober voice). I laughed. I had to. I mean- she was 18 months old when I left for Ukr the last time. But she was trying to be all grown-up about this 'My It's Been a Long Time' thing...
Miki came tumbling out of Uncle P's tent in the garden. With a hug. And a sober look up at me. You were a baby when I saw you last, I said. I guess you're 5 now (Auntie is the queen of clever comments, for sure.) Yes, she says. Madi is my twin; she's 5, too. She has a new bandanna from *Momy. It's purple- her favorite color- but apparently not the right shade. It makes her scowl a bit. But- she's stunning in it. Truly. I tied it around her head in typical Ukr village woman style and she's a knockout in that color. I don't think she believed me, though. She gave me a 'Yeah Right' look.
J-boy was in the tent, too. He roared around in embarrassed 8 year old boy fashion for awhile, charged me like a bull but stopped for a hug, too. Then caught fireflies, a frog and 'flew' the fly (rain cover) from Uncle P's tent like a kite... sort of. It involved a lot of running around and hanging on of anchor ropes... a job for 2 people, of course. Ask him a direct question and he shyly ignores it or runs away. But then he comes flying up with a treasured bit of J-boy trivia in his soft voice. He's not too big, either, for some serious pushing on the swing. Uncle P can really get them into the tree leaves. I hope that rope's strong, I said. Don't worry, he said. I've done this before and gone higher. It's not the first time. (heh. No more worries. For sure.)
Madi came zipping out of the house to whisper into her momma's ear, give Auntie a hug and then zip back in again. She'd been in the swing, too, but doesn't quite have the love of flying that her siblings do. She got swoopy feelings in her tummy and then got cold and quit. Apparently one can only convey these things to one's mother in a tiny whisper. ;) Later she came back out with a yellow sweatshirt Momy had found for her (and told her it was 'just the thing for her'- it's funny what registers and becomes Very Important Stuff in a 5 year old's mind).
Oh my- they've grown, these babies. All gangly legs and arms and bare feet, flying everywhere at the speed of light. And their voices. Much lower pitched than I'd imagined (I have, after all, had lots of skype chats with them. Maybe skype doesn't always convey everything like it is?).
My brother and his family come up tomorrow. I reckon their 2 boys will be a surprise, too.
But how sweet to be with them! And how sweet to be here for a bit. I'm going to just soak them up! Little Sweethearts!!

*Momy is my mom, the kids' grandma; it's the typical title among Amish and our family still uses it. Grandpa is 'Dawdy'.

Spring! :)

this was my favorite tree in my favorite park about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Lots of sun and warm temps since then... and rain rain rain 3 of the last 4 days.

'my' park a week ago.

the tulips just starting to bloom on Fri, April 29 

trees beginning to show color and forsythia in a gorgeous state of affairs, Fri, 29th.

village north of us on Sat. Oh do I love this!

view from our kitchen on Mon, 2nd.

ditto the above

and ditto. (You can see the war memorial in 'my' park in the center top of the pic)

yest, 3rd, downtown. This is a chestnut tree in bloom with what looks like its summer leaves nearly... 

yest, 3rd, downtown; Lilacs!! 

Easter and the 1st of May holiday made for a nice long weekend. The city is all dressed up in spring and clean and the streets are nearly empty. It was a great time to go pay the phone bill! (Surprised the office was open...) This city- with its crews of people working to keep it cleaner than I've been used to here plus all the crews of people planting and maintaining flower beds is one of the most up and coming I've lived in here. Downtown is well-maintained and orderly. Clean (mostly). An easy city to love. 

yest, 3rd. It's cooled way off so the tulips should have a long run (barring major wind).

Someone was selling blue pansies a few days ago. Downtown's literally covered in them! Love them!

ahhh- and the tulips in the park today! Gorgeous!!

today; parks crew out planting annuals.

and they turned out to be marigolds! 

this gives you an idea of the private plots of garden down the side of the hill and in the valley beside the park. 

forsythia still going strong today although green leaves starting to poke through. I love forsythia for their early spring punch of color. 

And- just a note. My dad was back in the hosp over the weekend. He likely had another heart attack although not sure when. Heart cath on Mon (same 2 arteries in bad shape again) and 2 stents put in. Mom brought him home late yesterday. I was glad to chat with them tonight via skype with a web cam. He's still tired but a few more days should show a great improvement. 

some favorite pix

I'm digging through files trying to delete (why is it just as hard to delete endless jpg and bmp files as it ever was to sort through and purge 100 photos?) and came across some I hadn't seen in awhile. So, without further ado, I bring you: 

My sis and her babies. 

my 3 nieces.

one of my all-time fav's. 4 oldest babies in the family riding the wild bucking (or not) sofa! 

'Літний душ'- Summer shower. Outside, gravity operated. :)

Мура/Murra- the best cat on earth... or she was. I'd tell her off for sneaking in and hiding under beds and in bedding storage- and she'd bring me a mouse. She died this past winter and is one cat I miss.

preps a few years ago. Loved it then, love it now.

gypsy woman's skirt. I stepped on it as I followed her down the bus steps... and I wasn't hot on her heels, either. It just really flowed/dragged/something out behind her. ;)

Love this one of Mom's oldest brother, my Uncle Larry. Mom and some of her sibs took a trip out to the West coast with their dad and had a blast. I don't have many pix of my extended family so treasure each one.

grape harvest, southern Ukr. Some of the best grapes I've ever tasted.

Little boy full of vigor and vim and living in desperate circumstances- most days, his meals consist of macaroni with ketchup or oatmeal. A tea bag is shared among the whole family. His mom is disabled (likely because of an old head injury) and desperately trying to hold her family together. Officials keep a close eye on the family, asking the children if their coats and boots were new this year or are last season's, asking what they get to eat. This kid always sparkled, though, and was happy to chat and be fussed over. Love the teeth... or lack of! In many ways, he's a typical 7 year old. 

Little Princess. But pic mostly memorable because of the memories of that day. oh me oh my. 

Hard to remember these days... had lots of the white stuff this winter. 

This kid lives her life as a blur so the pic is very appropriate. We see her each Thurs; she's usually finishing her nap when we arrive and then comes sliding in after awhile. Like a lot of kids, she has a favorite item of clothing- a pair of yoga-type pants, in her case. heh. Hers are so loved and well worn that there is very little left of them, really. I mean, most of her backside hangs out not to mention her knees. They're literally worn to shreds. Her parents and 2 big sisters looked like they'd die the first time she showed up in them. We roared. She fled. :)

You'd have to know him to fully appreciate the pic. He's all rough and gruff on the outside but a whole lot softer inside than he'd like you to know. 

These dogs must surely come from the same gene pool. Do litter mates spend the rest of their lives as best friends? hmmmm

even though I don't do a lot of Dew anymore, I can't help but automatically check the cold drinks in case PepsiCo has decided to begin importing it into Ukr... Not yet, apparently.