tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74605565487888643062012-02-06T09:21:56.511-05:00celebrating parenthood, childhood, and the beauty of small momentsCounting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.comBlogger501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-46240028578627465562011-06-10T15:58:00.001-04:002012-02-05T16:00:55.369-05:00

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-11998017085898681962011-04-16T12:32:00.010-04:002011-10-22T21:37:56.711-04:00

This was a big day. My graduation from bee school. This was far from a cap and gown affair, though.   Donned in my bee veil I joined my colleagues, fifty or so other hobbyists of varying degrees of eccentricity, to receive not a diploma, but a box of 18,000 bees, and their queen. Yes, this was a moment of truth. After hours of Saturday morning bee classes and much reading on the

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-69989645569063200672011-04-09T14:33:00.002-04:002011-05-05T14:43:16.346-04:00

Yes, fresh snow on the ground here and yet we reached a sunny 70 degrees on the deck. Such is spring in our neck of the woods.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-66753742735609225172011-02-02T14:48:00.002-05:002011-05-05T11:42:26.308-04:00

A year ago we were a family of four sans pets. At one point the boys kept an ant farm, but beyond that their pet ownership had been limited to the frogs they have corralled in a variety of containers, none of which have ever been truly frog proof. Last July, when my friend was fostering a puppy for Almost Home Rescue, we gave in to the desperate pleas of our boys. The most heartfelt came from

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-21889285238905690772011-01-03T13:48:00.004-05:002011-01-03T13:56:37.991-05:00

This reversible egg-to-blue bird nestled in his nest just makes me smile. A gift to my sister and my first [of many] knit project from Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-75253894517720777772010-10-18T07:20:00.001-04:002010-10-18T11:19:57.175-04:00

This has been a shamefully long hiatus. Last year around this time I thought I'd give NaNo a go. The plan was to start writing November 1st and finish the month with a 50,000 word novel. Sounds great, right? It was a failed attempt, but it did successfully devour any blogging time I had. Soon after that I accepted a position as program and volunteer coordinator for a local food distribution

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-11714283920347775022010-08-25T07:58:00.009-04:002011-05-05T12:00:33.924-04:00

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-65671581331115929992010-08-25T07:35:00.007-04:002011-05-05T14:52:40.855-04:00

This summer could be called The Summer of Bird Watching, by Six.With his binoculars in tow, he's spent hours examining our backyard birds. One morning were able to enjoy several minutes with a Scarlet Tanager. His library picks have a consistent theme and this week I caught him sound asleep clutching his favorite.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-59271950358847898712009-11-05T11:39:00.008-05:002009-11-09T08:50:26.575-05:00

I woke this morning to Five singing Jingle Bells. My eyes began to focus on what I thought were heavy frost prints on the skylight, then I turned my head to look out the back windows and saw the snow flying. Unlike last month, when I had a mild panic attack watching the Pats play in a driving snow, this was a welcomed sight. It is, after all, November. This snow won't last, but the next one

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-79703495144009858092009-10-29T12:39:00.007-04:002009-11-09T08:50:02.231-05:00

Around here, we practice creative recycling. Seven designed and crafted this sling shot gun using a shoe box, rubber band, and tape. The toilet paper roll is the scope, for zeroing in on his target. The bullets? Slips of paper balled up and color coded (yellow for Seven, blue for Five), then wrapped in tape for durability. Of course it's no fun just shooting unarmed bystanders, so he made

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-65090827037645022952009-10-29T10:34:00.005-04:002009-11-24T15:11:00.579-05:00

Since we won't make it back to the orchard this fall, I'm faced with the decision of what to do with our last few family picked apples. It wasn't tough to decide on apple cake. Now this recipe is not healthy (with the possible exception of the whole wheat unbleached four, but that is a staple in our house anyway). Over the years I have attempted to make it less fattening, substituting oil for

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-60574280721953684142009-10-29T10:03:00.004-04:002009-11-11T15:44:14.177-05:00

This month we've had our fill of apples. I love that the only traveling our apples have done is in our own car. The only hands they've been in are our own. And I love that we've had Warm Curried Chick Peas with Apples on the menu all October.For those of you who like curry, here it is. I'm pretty sure I got this, or a variation of it, from vegweb some time ago.Warm Curried Chick Peas with

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-16127702915093132992009-10-18T12:27:00.016-04:002009-10-26T11:54:13.801-04:00

I love October. I really do. The anticipation and change that comes with September naturally evolves into a comfortable, familiar routine every October. These days the only thing changing is the leaves. All year I look forward to this time when the sun reflects from this tree in our backyard, flooding our home with red and orange hues. For a short time, our kitchen cabinets, walls, and

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-35948851475197197292009-10-10T19:15:00.007-04:002009-10-10T19:50:00.462-04:00

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-40093789693895726922009-09-15T10:46:00.006-04:002009-11-11T15:46:36.902-05:00

Since entering the precariously unstable world of freelance writing, I've had some time on my hands. I've learned that keeping baked goods in the house is an extremely bad idea. Wearing sweatpants, also very bad. And after spending several days sitting in a chair designed purely for utilitarian purposes, I've decided to perform an experiment to determine the correlation between comfort and

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-23836234606277388972009-09-09T12:09:00.012-04:002009-09-15T11:01:01.592-04:00

Last month, as part of my continued effort to purge all baby paraphernalia from our home, I sold our double jogger stroller. I was about to delete this picture (used in my ad) but decided it wasn't right to let this occasion pass without paying homage to the role this jogger played in the life of our young family. For five days a week, in all kinds of weather (it has an all important wind/rain

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-14934632225897898222009-09-09T09:31:00.010-04:002011-05-05T12:25:01.184-04:00

With two weeks of school under our belts, we're back into our school days routine, adding some new necessary organizational tools now that both boys are in school.Each morning we meander up our big hill. The boys, donning their backpacks, stand hand-in-hand waiting for our bus driver to give them the nod before trotting across the street and marching up the steep school bus steps. Settled

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-91953415575619534572009-09-04T09:23:00.011-04:002009-09-04T12:11:24.629-04:00

"Beautiful, like you."

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-83508717261579213462009-08-11T09:10:00.006-04:002009-08-11T15:07:40.269-04:00

...that his socks are always pulled up and his shirt is always tucked in.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-5859096933700423892009-07-22T17:24:00.015-04:002009-11-09T08:47:34.597-05:00

Six decided to use his quiet time this week to create this pillow, which he finished this afternoon. Over the past several months his interest in sewing has been renewed. He has completed a pillow similar to this one, and several pillow cases, all with the help of either me or his Memere. This project, however, he did completely on his own, and he is quite proud.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-82484836671080539292009-07-13T16:20:00.014-04:002009-11-09T08:47:07.410-05:00

We spent much of this very wet June having stay home days. The boys built forts - we just dismantled the living room fort, which had been up for a month and was starting to feel like a permanent fixture in our home - they had stuffy parties, put on concerts, and danced and sang with the unbridled enthusiasm that is five and six. Now that summer has reappeared, enduring the wet, cloudy days has

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-6531459009410268642009-06-24T12:26:00.014-04:002009-11-09T08:46:30.102-05:00

A couple of weeks ago Six put his tee ball hat in the freezer to cool off. I know we'll see those warm (even hot) days again soon, but for now the cool temperatures and the constant thick blanket of cloud cover is starting to get to us. Well, it's getting to me anyway. After several days of getting soaked outside, the boys don't seem to have a problem with the inside time today. They're

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-51010615671691373972009-06-11T14:42:00.003-04:002009-11-09T08:46:07.538-05:00

We celebrated Five's birthday in style with these banana split cupcakes from my new favorite dessert cookbook, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Terry introduced me to this great find, which at times reads more like a fun beach book than a cookbook. One of these days I'm going to make every cupcake in this book. I see a cupcake party in my future...this summer perhaps...Yummy!!

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-47961357836533048662009-06-10T11:29:00.022-04:002009-11-09T08:45:37.948-05:00

Five years ago this afternoon I was keeping track of contractions on a Post-It note while working on a project at work. I needed to call a colleague in Florida. I waited for the next contraction to pass, then picked up the phone. I needed to talk with someone on the other side of the office. Again, I waited, then speed walked through the maze of cubicles. In the end I waited a bit too long,

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-17841019362314462232009-06-08T13:58:00.004-04:002009-11-09T08:44:47.708-05:00

These days almost every meal is enjoyed on the deck, and most are punctuated with juicy watermelon drips...Four calls these Happy Meals. I couldn't agree more.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-78333043359253156872009-05-26T18:44:00.011-04:002009-11-09T08:44:28.972-05:00

Sunday began with heavy cloud cover and morning rain, causing the boys to worry that they might not go on their fishing trip, the first of the season. But by early afternoon the sun was out and it was even hot. A perfect day to relax on the rocks at our local pond and watch my boys fish.Six baited his hook for the first time.No luck, again. But thankfully the boys continue to patiently await

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-53871662578880980522009-05-15T19:22:00.020-04:002009-11-09T08:43:34.898-05:00

Wall-e was a big hit at our house when we watched it for the first time a few weeks ago. Shortly after the movie, Six retreated secretively to the craft room, emerging some time later with this creation (the Wall-e on the left). Four then created the Wall-e on the right, so that Six's Wall-e wouldn't be lonely. The two have been fast friends and often work along side one another. Just as the

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-78847064541664714712009-04-28T18:02:00.020-04:002009-11-09T08:42:48.323-05:00

We had an April vacation filled with bird watching (and listening), bike riding, snake spotting (not catching - I just can't go there), Earth watching, worm racing, playground romping, Lego building, baseball playing, simple, unbridled fun. And most of our days were filled with a familiar perfume...sunscreen...let there be sun.On the last day of vacation, a beautiful summer like day, the boys

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-16214581052910186652009-04-18T12:18:00.021-04:002009-04-18T19:24:58.247-04:00

After dying our hard-boiled eggs, the boys decided to decorate them with halloween stickers, rather than Easter stickers.  As a result, we had a dozen pastel colored eggs with scary eyes and angry eyebrows huddled up with their wooden counterparts, which my friend Monica picked up for me at the Mill Store for 79 cents each - thanks Monica.  I painted my wooden eggs with the Roasted Sesame Seed

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-68142817181475532482009-03-28T16:33:00.023-04:002009-10-10T17:16:57.288-04:00

On a recent visit to the toy store I picked up something I knew could save an otherwise uneventful day. It's not that this Saturday was becoming boring, there is much fun to be had in the mixture of mud and snow that is currently our yard. But when the boys were on their third set of pants and socks by noon, and every type of footwear they own, including their rubber boots, were soaked, it

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-86976286672962157092009-03-19T14:34:00.025-04:002009-11-09T08:40:44.847-05:00

While the start of winter is almost always undeniable with the first coat of snow blanketing our yard, the end of the season is much less defined, often measured through a series of subtle changes. Some changes, like less frequent interruptions from our furnace, might go unnoticed. Others, like feeling the warm sun on our faces, are quietly celebrated. And some, like the spring equinox, are

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-91599244960127325642009-03-06T15:27:00.003-05:002009-11-09T08:39:25.210-05:00

Four is always full of style. He is particular about selecting his outfit each day, and prides on looking cool - usually in khakis, a tucked in t-shirt, and button down shirt. Recently, he came to me with his favorite flannel shirt in one hand, scissors in the other. He asked for help cutting the sleeves off so he could 'make a vest'. Since the sleeves were becoming too short, and he had been

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-86290024601108056572009-03-01T11:24:00.012-05:002009-03-09T11:24:35.228-04:00

In like a lion...I was hoping that the big March storm arrived one week early this year when 14 inches of heavy, wet snow fell last week and left us powerless for three days. But, alas, another storm is on the way. We have had some difficult times lately, and the weather has offered no comfort. Now, faced with another foot of incoming snow, we are trying to prepare and trying to stay positive.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-51501110109275621402009-02-10T11:51:00.026-05:002009-11-09T08:38:20.132-05:00

This Sunday the mercury rose to a spring like 51 degrees at our house. We took the opportunity to explore our woods, following deer tracks from our backyard, through our wooded winter wonderland. The tracks led us to three circular areas of packed snow nestled in a cluster of trees. Four thought the deer beds were cozy and laid in one of them long enough for me to get several pictures. Our deer

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-63846007393250431152009-01-26T19:10:00.029-05:002009-11-11T18:49:03.228-05:00

I spent the week and much of the weekend entirely consumed with John and Abigail's story. More about love and friendship than I realized, it has evoked tears and laughter and prompted me to plan a trip to visit their home in Quincy. Their story has truly touched my heart and I'm indebted to David McCullough for making it accessible through his book. Their love letters, which are passionate and

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-24212656188174195062009-01-21T15:52:00.016-05:002011-05-15T10:23:39.364-04:00

This long weekend saw the end of a cold snap that nearly compelled me to begin a surely ill-fated project. I've been told that hanging wallpaper is the ultimate litmus test for any marriage. I fear that removing wall paper could pose a similar examination, particularly if the process is hastened by cabin fever. Fortunately for all, the mercury climbed to a balmy 32 degrees, allowing us the

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-50157090724174974982009-01-14T19:41:00.025-05:002009-11-09T08:34:27.950-05:00

Finally I have captured my little knitters in action! Four just became interested in starting his own project this week. He's working on a foot warmer (I think this has something to do with my leg warmers) for mousey, who sits on his lap as he carefully knits each stitch. Six continues to work on his scarf. They are both so proud of their projects. My friend, Monica (aka genius photographer),

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-53797855453679290862009-01-12T19:04:00.015-05:002009-01-13T10:32:04.066-05:00

This afternoon I donned my ice grippers, a gift from my three boys last Christmas, and took off on one of my most beloved walking adventures, a triangular dirt road route not far from our house. I almost didn't go. The route is between school and home and as I drove past the place where I usually park, I began to rationalize why it would be more reasonable to go straight home. As I visualized

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-84329306395580142402009-01-11T19:02:00.010-05:002009-10-07T14:55:28.887-04:00

After a busy Saturday of basketball, a birthday party, and an afternoon play date skillfully arranged by two first graders, this Sunday was spent tying up some loose ends (my leg warmers are done!) and hanging out in pajamas. The boys had fun painting and assembling two wooden models. I bought ten of these at Michaels more than a year ago at $1 each. They've been worth every penny.Now that my

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-36423314642936072522009-01-07T10:29:00.008-05:002009-01-07T14:44:20.861-05:00

Okay, I promise this blog won't be all about knitting, but I need to indulge my new obsession for a bit, to nurture it until I can comfortably say that it is a part of me.  Today my furnace afforded me an opportunity to do just that.  My first indication that the day would be different came at 3 am, when noises from the basement caused me to stir enough to notice that I had the bed to myself.  As

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-88704248182206917182009-01-04T20:09:00.009-05:002009-11-09T08:32:39.998-05:00

What began as a way to pass the time on a recent train ride to Boston has evolved into an obsession this week. Having just finished reading Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, I was still relishing my time with Jacob and Marlena, unwilling to meet any new characters, but wanting to be productive on the train. Feeling guilty that I still did not know how to knit, even though my sister had taught

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-87333110208499521362009-01-02T16:42:00.005-05:002009-11-09T08:31:42.322-05:00

Our first snowman of the year is also our first with hair. Six stuck pine needles on his head, giving him straight, green hair that stands on end. Nestled in a secluded clearing in our wooded yard, this man has grapes for his eyes and nose. Our creation led me to think of the snow people we have made in the past, whose faces have been made with brussels sprouts, raisins, and of course, carrots

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-46624341804583164902008-12-26T07:11:00.006-05:002009-11-09T08:31:03.969-05:00

The merriness reached fever pitch on Christmas Eve. Yesterday morning, as the boys opened their gifts under the tree we cut from our backyard, the scene was more peaceful than we expected. Their favorite gift was the pirate ship they each received from Nana and Grandpa. Together they played pirates until bedtime. Six's Teddy received a sweater, which I knit for him. There are few occasions

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-83630050218747957002008-12-21T09:57:00.014-05:002009-11-09T08:29:45.694-05:00

After a Saturday of grocery shopping, laundry, dishes, vacuuming and dusting, I'm relishing this Sunday morning as the official start of my two week vacation. Six and I spend the first hour of the day knitting side by side on the sofa while watching Playhouse Disney. Now that breakfast has been served and the kitchen is clean again, the boys are playing in their room, giving me some time to

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-92171933629243118372008-11-28T09:11:00.008-05:002009-01-13T20:39:46.235-05:00

While I was away on my yoga weekend the boys had a sleep over with Auntie and together they created this gratitude tree.  I love this physical reminder of what they are thankful for, including Mom and Dad, each other, snow, veterans, grocery stores, their bathroom - for baths, bees, flowers, and toys.  I'm going to use this idea with my kids yoga classes.

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-49659559985074674882008-11-13T18:51:00.011-05:002009-11-09T08:27:44.127-05:00

This morning I woke to find the bright moonlight illuminating my sleeping four year old, who had slipped into bed next to me during the night, undetected. The glow peeking in through the window rested on his head and naked shoulder. I watched him breathe. Watched his lips purse together, then apart. Watched the gentle twitches in his face. I tried to imagine what he might be doing, seeing,

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-29948797403536729502008-10-17T17:38:00.006-04:002009-11-11T18:51:07.370-05:00

On a daily basis I am grounded by my children. Somehow they instinctively know when to be the most poignant. Last week when my four year old dropped his latest anchor on me, I went scrambling for the manila folder stuffed with papers of various sizes and colors, all with the familiar hen scratch handwriting I'm ashamed to say is my own. It took a while to locate, and longer to decipher, but it

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-61990045263241107302008-10-16T16:38:00.003-04:002009-11-09T08:24:24.413-05:00

I'm not generally weepy over birthdays. We all know time goes by quickly when we're watching our children grow and change. But this number caught me by surprise.Of course I knew Five was turning Six. I know what year it is and though I may not always appear sane, like the time I called my friend crying from the closet, or the infamous grocery store incident that led to my husband doing the

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-50753999946555387332008-10-14T19:48:00.002-04:002008-12-27T21:34:28.472-05:00

This morning I glance up from my laptop to find my son pulling apart the tuna fish sandwich I have just made, at his request. He has taken the top off and is beginning to pick at the tuna with his fingers. I let out an audible sigh, a mixture of exhaustion and frustration that I often feel but seldom express. When did I become a slave to this small child? I try to muster a kind voice, one

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460556548788864306.post-79604264475412904292008-10-11T16:29:00.000-04:002008-10-17T19:26:30.917-04:00

On cool summer mornings at camp, I would wake early, wrap myself in one of the stiff, warm wool blankets that covered my bed, and join my grandmother on the front porch, where she sat in her rocking chair looking out at the lake.  A morning fog usually blanketed the water at this hour. Sometimes we would see a canoe gliding in nothingness and would raising a friendly hand to the fisherman.  We

Counting Duckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09322424998464688426noreply@blogger.com0