My lovely children have discovered Minecraft.  Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration.  They had known about it for awhile.  Then they coveted it.  Then they purchased it but couldn't use it due to hardware issues.  Don't EVEN get me started on how this crazy-pixelated game needs a better graphics card than we had.  

In any case, they now have Minecraft.  I am trying my best to stay ignorant of Minecraft, still, I hear things.  Things like, "what do you feed your pet villagers?"  Ok, no.  I don't care if it is a game, we do not keep PEOPLE as pets.  No.  Just no.

But there are other things I hear that are amusing, in a WTF kind of way.  Things like:

• I tried putting a saddle on a sheep
• My pig's house is wool
• Would a zombie be happy in here?
• My chicken is on a slime
• This is my new cow-mushroom hybrid
• Are silverfish flammable?
• What do you feed monsters? Poop.  Not rotting flesh? No, that's for dogs.
• How do you make a blistering watermelon
• I don't think that's a cave....

Ok, that last one is probably only funny if your mind is in the gutter.  And well, mine is there often so it was funny to me.   YMMV.


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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

An anonymous painting of Loki from an Icelandic illuminated manuscript, http://norse-mythology.org

Today as I was working, taking pictures of houses for insurance companies, I reflected back on the times that we've actually used our homeowner's insurance.  Once was for a new roof.  It was damaged from hail, and therefore the insurance company deemed it an "act of god" and covered the damages by paying for a new roof.  The second time though, they did not pay.  That was when our electricity went out in half the house because the main line into the house had a nick in it which corroded.  This was not considered an "act of god."

I was thinking I needed to take issue with this definition, "act of god."  Which god is doing the acting? Obviously, Thor is covered, what with his lightening and hail. Why not Loki? I mean I could totally see Loki causing the trouble with our electrical line, yet he is not covered? What gives?

Probably they can't cover those trickster gods because they cause so much trouble, there would be no end to claims.  Ok, insurance companies, I'll give you that.  But really, in the future, it might be good to note which gods' acts you will be covering.  Got it? Thanks.



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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

How do you spend $100+ without trying? Without gratification? Without much to show for it? Without wanting to?

As it turns out, it's really fucking easy!

• Pack of 25 blank cards and envelopes, for end of year teacher notes, 4.99
• Fish oil supplements, required by dr, 9.59
• Clif bar, for work tomorrow, 0.99
• Gas, for work tomorrow and general running kids everywhere, 44.89
• Cord for Nook, to replace broken ones because they SUCK, and because kids break them much more quickly than adults, and because they are a proprietary connector, 24.95
• Binders, 1 per 4H project, couldn't get from thrift store because they don't have enough of the ones with the clear front pockets for cool project photos, 2.64 x 5
• 2 packs of sheet protectors, for 4H binders, 3.67 x 2
• 2 packs of tape, for attaching things to pages that will go into 4H binders, 0.67 x 2
• Sprinkler, to replace the broken one, 9.88

Grand total: 117.17 (not including tax)

So...nothing for me.  Nothing fun.  No entertaining retail therapy.  No, just regular old stuff that I had to buy but didn't actually want to buy.

It sucks.

Blah!

And have I mentioned I hate summer? I do.  It was 85 degrees today, in other words HOT, so I'm surly.  It will get worse before it gets better.  Be prepared, dear readers, be prepared.

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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

This is how feeding yourself works, when you are me.  Thankfully, you are not me.

Breakfast - Figure out a healthy breakfast, eat that every day for years until you can't stand it anymore.  Repeat process when you can't possibly gag down favorite breakfast anymore.

Lunch - become hungry and figure it must be time for lunch. Seek out lunch but find no interesting food in house that you can eat without effort (effort is dependent on the day. Some days, toasting bread is too much effort. Most days frying an egg is too much effort. Almost every day making a salad with the chopping of various things is too much effort.)  Figure you aren't really that hungry yet and go do stuff.  Realize later that now you are super hungry.  Also realize there is not a single thing you can think of that you'd like to eat.  Go about your business because why eat food you don't want.  Realize that it is hours past lunch and you will soon become a raging bitch if you don't eat something.  Eat whatever is handy, like an apple and a dried out piece of cheese or a random disgusting meal-bar thingy.  Call it good.

Snack - repeat lunch scenario only with less eating.

Dinner - thank all that is good that your husband cooks so you don't have to repeat the lunch scenario again.

After dinner snack - choose least healthy item that you can possibly find in the house.  Five stale jelly beans and a spoonful of nutella is perfect.  Eat that while wishing you had better resolve.  Vow that tomorrow, you will have better resolve (you won't.)

If you are in a self-loathing, non-healthy phase of life (not currently,) then replace above lunch and snacks with chocolate of some sort.

And that my friends, is why I will never be a grown up, I can't fucking feed myself without an existential crisis. 


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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

Quasi-school ends for the year next week, today being the last full day.  I wanted to make sure I didn't waste those precious alone-time hours.  So here is how I spent my day.
 
First I took a nap, the dogs joined me in this endeavor:

 

Then I played a few games:

After which I was productive.

I cleaned and organized the top of the tv (notice the new spotted bin for remotes) :

I hung pictures - one print and two art frames.  The art frames hold the kids art while highlighting one piece. :

Then on the way to pick them up, I stopped at the thrift store and picked up this pretty dress for Stella for tonight's program:

And just so Sandis isn't left out, here she is with one of the baby bunnies (which had little to do with my day other than I did move 3 of the babies into their own cage today. )

After that, restful day was done because I had to pick up the children, zip home, feed them, get them clean and dressed so I could rush them off to the program.  And once we arrived at the program, I had to go back home and get the recorder that Stella forgot.  Still arrived with minutes to spare before the program started.  Whew!



--------------------------------

Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

After years of being a music, dance, drama and all-around art enthusiast, this past February, Stella began violin lessons.  The culmination of that work to date is the recital she gave this evening.

All dressed up and ready to play!

Post-recital s'mores (minus marshmallows due to vegetarianism)

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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.

We are not an urban farm.

I would love to be an urban farm.  I have chickens.  I have rabbits.  With a little (ok, a lot) of work, I could have vegetables in a few years. 

Still, we are not a farm.

I went away for a lovely weekend in the mountains with some girlfriends.  I came home and one of the dogs had mauled a chick.  Of course, it was Stella's favorite chick, Caramel.

Caramel was alert and seemed happy as Sandis carried her around the house wrapped up in a towel.  You might be thinking, "well, there must have been something wrong for the chicken to put up with that."  But no, they are used to being toted around, even riding in bike baskets.  The girls made her "Get Well, Caramel" cards.

Later I was able to check her out.  It was bad.  I was pretty sure her upper leg bones were broken.  She had one bite near the top of her leg where it met her back where there was a large hole and you could see all her muscles.

It was really bad.

Somehow I steeled myself against taking her to the vet.  Partly because of the high bill that would be inevitable but also because I didn't feel confident that there was a lot that could be done for a chicken in her condition.  Sure, maybe with several thousand dollars, CSU could have operated on her leg, maybe.  But to what avail? She could have easily died from the treatment. Or even simply as a result of her injuries despite treatment.  I told Stella that a vet couldn't do anything more than put her to sleep, and I truly believe that.  I wouldn't, even with unlimited funding, put a 10 week old chick through a surgical ordeal that she would have a slim chance of living through.

That was Monday. 
On Tuesday, Caramel passed away in Stella's arms.

You may think I have already proven, through my even considering a chicken vet, that I am too soft hearted for an urban farmer.

But wait, there's more.

Yes, Caramel has been cremated and her remains will stay with Stella forever, just like Sirius'.  For some reason, having the ashes gives Stella comfort and a sense of closure.  One that no one else in the family feels.  For us, the photos, the memories, that is what matters.  For Stella, that physical having of the ashes is important.

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Now, as a side story, I must tell you about Stella's amazement at cremation.  When we left the pet crematorium yesterday, she asked where they would bury Caramel.  I was confused, bury her? She was being cremated.  I told Stella that after they burn the body, they put the ashes in the box for you and there is no body left to bury, but we could bury the ashes, if she'd like.  She responded, "THEY ARE GOING TO BURN HER!!!!"  Apparently, this step in the process somehow slipped by in Stella's mind.  She wasn't sure how they got the ashes from the body before burial, but it was NOT by burning.  Trauma on top of trauma.

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As another side story, Brian never again wants to raise chicks.  The poop, the children carrying the poop machines around the house, the getting the two groups of hens used to each other without killing each other off, the dying and cremation...it's all too much for him.  Maybe we'll buy pullets the next time around.

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And Amy, if you are reading this, don't worry.  It is totally our fault for not paying attention to the dogs in the garage and letting them get at the chicks.  Next time your pups come, the chicks will be in with the big chickens and it will not be an issue.  It was one slip-up.  Not a great one, mind you, but not your or your dogs' fault. (and we don't know for sure which dog anyway)


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Did you know that clicking is scientifically proven* to be good for your health and well-being? True**! And you can vote for me and my blog by clicking! Coincidence***? Improve your health today by clicking here.  Or here.  And once again here.  Just for good measure, click here.  Your body will thank you later****!

Fine print
*       - not even scientifically studied.  If it has been, I have not read about it.
**     - not true
***   - totally NOT a coincidence
**** - your body won't care at all.  Thanks will not be forthcoming.