End of the school year wrap-up by Delia

Oh, the chaos that ensues at the end of the school year!  I work with the food program at our local school so I'm trying to get all those end of the year government reports filed while I still can.  It's kind of like filing lunch lady taxes, only instead of money, I'm counting chicken nuggets and tater tots.  It's exhausting, people.

Both of my still-at-home kids are in track, though one in high school the other at middle school, so I've been averaging 3 track meets per week for the last month and a half.  Usually I don't mind being a track mom, but the weather this spring has certainly dampened my enthusiasm for the 400 meter relay and the shot put.  But now that that's all over, my evenings are starting to be mine at last.  At least they will after this week, when I'm done with 8th grade graduation, spring sports award ceremony and a retirement party for the outgoing elementary school principal and our wonderful superintendent.  Though I do have my evenings, I still don't have a vehicle since my son keeps using it to go to one of the gazillion graduation parties he's been invited to.  Next year he graduates and the spring craziness will ramp up a few levels.

Now that the spring stuff is almost over, we move on to the nutziness of summer.  I've got kids spending the week at friend's cabins, one is doing FFA camp, the Midwestern Rodeo is a must-do event on my family's agenda, though in my opinion, if you've seen one guy get thrown from a horse, you've seen them all.  Unfortunately, my husband and kids don't feel the same way.  But, in an  upside to that, my two out-of-state kids are both going to be home for the rodeo and I'll have all four of my babies under my roof at the same time in about a year and who knows when it'll happen again.  In honor of that, I've scheduled photo time with a real live photographer so we'll get those family pictures taken that I've been threatening to get taken for years now.

I like to think things will settle down eventually, and I'm sure it'll happen, just not in the near future.  Next year I'll have two kids in high school, which is not conducive to calm and quiet.  But, before I know it, all my babies will be out the door and it'll just be hubs and me.  Things will be quiet, probably too quiet, and I'll look back on these crazy days and smile.

Could it be...Spring? - Donna

It seems as if everyone has been waiting forever for the arrival of Spring here in Northeast Wisconsin. Oh, the actual First Day Of Spring came and went...followed by snow, sleet, ice storms...sigh.

I had just about given up hope, but today, the last of the snow on our property melted--Hallelujah!!! I walked around the house and was thrilled to see my chives popping up (time to make a cheeseball!), as well as several of our perennial flowers finally making an appearance. It won't be long before the trees are full of leaves, the daffodils are blooming, and my husband is fighting to get our ancient tiller started.

And my puppy...well, she's a 90 lb. black lab/Shepherd mix, but she's still my little Sassypants...is as happy as a pig in...mud. *grin* She knows once the weather warms she'll be spending a lot more time outside. Not that the bunnies are very happy about that. She's already caught three this year (one managed to wiggle free and race under the porch to freedom). Since I don't want to have to find anymore half-eaten bunnies, I now hold Sassy's collar for a few seconds when I open the door, just to give the plump little buggers a fighting chance.

Sorry, I digress. What else was I going to mention? Oh, my seedlings! Because it's been unseasonably cold, my poor little tomato & pepper plants have been growing at a snail's pace (though the cabbage plants don't seem to mind the cold *shrug*). But once the sun burst through the clouds, I could practically see them doing a happy dance. I can't wait to get out there and start planting my gardens. I have big plans this year. So here's to hoping the bad weather is behind us, and there's nothing but Spring showers and May flowers ahead. :-)

If you look closely, you can see the rabbit killer skulking in the last picture, just waiting for Bugs to make an appearance.

Thanks for letting me bore you to tears with my late night ramblings!

~ Donna