Getting used to all the animal chores around here.

Tonight, I went up to the chicken coop too early and they were still happily wandering around the yard. Asking them nicely to now return to the coop, the day was over, did no good. I tried picking a few up and stuffing them in the coop, only to find that they would just pop back out again. I got stern and scolded and they just clucked at me. I mentioned that I'd seen a hungry coyote in the neighborhood and they clucked at me again. Defeated, I decided I'd have to wait a bit for the poultry cocktail hour to be over. I was hoping to get it done earlier because of the rats. There's a whole mess of them that live under the coop and while they're quite cute during the day, I don't relish the idea of tripping over one in the dark and rather slippery chicken yard.

I turned to the door of yard, I'd return when it was a bit duskier, only to find that my semi-responsible eldest had locked the door in order not to let the chickens out while I was in there before she returned to the house. At least, I hope she did not lock the door in order to keep me in. I had said no to a movie that was starting too late for bedtime and I pictured the witchlets down the hill, snug in the house, watching the movie until all hours. They'd let me out later. They wouldn't do that, would they? The house is not close to the chicken yard and there are no other adults here right now. I yelled my head off for about 10 minutes but the only one who responded were the cranky chickens and Bobby, the sort of feral barn cat.

I could hear the rats in the eves of the coop and I started to wonder what they were doing up there. Remember the rats of Nimh? I started screeching again and this time Skyler came scurrying up the hill in her jammies and bare feet. I remember how happy I was to finally see her when she was born, this came a close second.

And now it might be dark enough for me to try again. >.

Skyler is wrapped in a towel, dripping from her shower.

Skyler: My Valentine's shirt is in the car! (don't ask, the children treat Ellie like a suitcase/home away from home)

Me: I'll bet if we ask your sister nicely she'd go and get it for you.

Skyler: What if she says no?

Me:... Just ask her nicely, please!

Skyler: But what if she says no???

Me: Tegan! Your sister has something to ask you.

Skyler: Would you get my shirt from the car...please?>

Tegan: *pauses for calculations. Annoy sister or please mother. Decisions, decisions* Sure!

Tegan trots off to the garage. Skyler gapes for a moment and then...

Skyler: But what if she HAD said no????

Crazy, I am. Crazy in love with these two. My Valentines.

http://kijjohnson.livejournal.com/456061.html

I couldn't agree with her more. Thanks, Kij, for the reminder.

Tegan: Argh! These pants are awful!

Me: I can fix them! (folding up legs and adjusting waist) Voila!

Tegan: Perfect!

Me: Magical Sparkle Mommy can fix anything!

Tegan: You can't fix the toilet or the computer or the car. Face it Mommy, your Magical Sparkle powers are pretty limited.

Me: ...

From the backseat:

Stay out of my bubble!

My bubble touches your bubble!

Mom! Tegan is trying to pop my bubble!

A bright full moon on a clear Fall night

Pumpkin gelato made just right.

So the day after tomorrow I leave for Germany. My brain is oh-so crowded with things left to do. I'm trying to get enough sleep so that I won't be tired to begin with, but that's difficult right now.

I'm not leaving at the best time for work, people are frowning disapprovingly. Still, I gave them notice of this in June before the last school year ended. The current problems we are facing are none of my making, I knew the program was going to grow this year when we went back to a traditional school year, why weren't we staffed or allotted more room for it? The first week brought us double the amount of students we had last year with the same staff and the same space. Duh. Really, duh.

The witchlets are vaguely unhappy about my leaving as well, though they are looking forward to the time with their grandparents. They're right, it is a long way away and I've never been gone this long before. Oh, and yeah, Will is coming to visit them while I'm away. Fantastic. At least he'll be staying at my parent's house this time, because he can't afford a hotel.

I'm going to miss them so much, I wish I could be in two places at once. I know my parents will take excellent care of them...agh, that reminds me, need to write notes to their teachers telling them who to contact next week if they need anything What is it about parenting and guilt? The two seem to be bosom buddies.

Every once in awhile I allow myself to remember I'm going to see the Mosel, the Berg Eltz...Paris and I start getting excited again. I'll prolly be grumpy until I get on the plane Friday night though. Poor everyone who has to deal with me in the meantime!

Anyway, time to get ready for the day, forecast is 104 and I'm not supposed to have the kids out for recess in that heat. Yeah, I may have to steal the gym for recess but that's gonna bump Homework time and that's a problem too. Yargh.

Applying for my passport today. It's really a renewal but I guess my first one is so old I basically have to start over. Ahem.

I resolve to never let this one expire!

You heard me.

And while I'm at this pimping thing....

http://www.world-tree-rpg.com/marriage.phtml

sythyry has just had A Marriage of Insects published and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy! I had the lovely honor of reading a bit of this long ago and I've been waiting for more ever since.

I watch Kyle's blog and enjoy his art immensely. He has a book that's just come out called Armed America, this is a video on the process of his making the book. I think it's really interesting, and I'm not someone who would ever own a gun.

Also, he's promised if this book does well he'll do another: Cooking with Roswell! Roswell is one of the most adorable cats in the universe!