Lucky Stars

I thank them.

I was just surfing around, and found blogs that had posts on the destruction of the flooding, from the huricane. I also have friends that were up here in the midwest, that were removed from there home by boat. The nearby town of Morris flooded severly, my parents just moved there two year ago. And thank god they didn't by the house 1/4 mile from the river with the walk out basement. The house flooded, and the basement walls caved! And my friend Theresa in Munster, Indiana was hit too, with water damage, but much luckier then others nearby her. She was not one of the evicted.

I am thankful that I still have my home, my belonging, and a safe warm place to stay. I don't have money to give, I can't just up and go help with raising two babies while Ed works. But I can offer my thoughts and good wishes to all who have been effected.

I know we all go on and on about our crappy government, I just wish instead of saving starving children in foreign countries, or rebuilding in countries that are unknown to most. Instead of raising my taxes out my ass, and still closing our state parks, instead of having luxury homes in Springfield and Chicago. Why not fix our home here instead?

I know there is devistation and hunger so much worse then I will ever know, but I just see so much needed help here. So maybe if we used ALL the big fancy campaign millions (mind boggling isn't it?) to good use. Like to rebuild homes from all the hurricanes, and tornados, and flooding... no? Oh cuz you gatta look good to the other countries and save them? And you need to pay the different brodcast channels LOTS of money to put your add on t.v. when not many people really want to watch them anyway.

I am just lucky to have what I have, and I do wish that things were different. But don't we all? Eh, I am getting off my soap box. Have a lovely Sunday!

Nightlights, sunder, ighning and all

I guess tonight marks Mia's first thunderstorm. Not that we haven't had thunderstorms in the past 27 months. But this is the first on that really affects her. Her room faces big windows that when the lightning hits it shows all the light, she yells that her and Darby are scared.

Sigh, since I started this post about 8 minutes ago, I have been in her room about 3 times. I am usually a "cry it out" or CIO mom. But in situations like this I need to teach her that the rain is outside, and thunder is just a noise. You can look at lightning and enjoy it from the inside.

Since it was so dark in her room. I put this cool night light my mom brought us from Washington D.C. that changes colors. She likes it but it still doesn't seem to be enough to keep her from being scared. I even have her door open, I am at the computer just outside her door.

Maybe I will see if she wants to sleep by me for a while... we will see...

Mmm. Rain, cool weather, and September

It rained last week. As always we up here in Chicagoland get the Hurricane leftovers. A good rain, and cool weather, add in that it is already the 10th of September and you get fall.

The nights got cool really fast, and I took it as a motivation to get my garden in order, and to bring in my plants. I am going to try and keep some of my water garden plants inside again this winter. At least my fiber optic plant and maybe my parrot feather too. I also cut back my bleeding heard, propped up my crazy poppies, and cut my day lilies down to the ground. My mums are doing well and ready to bloom soon. I also checked the pepper plants for the last time.

We still need to cut down the tiger lilies, but there are so many its a days work just for them. We finally filled in the electrical trench Ed and my dad dug for the pool. And Ed, myself and Mia all cleaned out the garage today. We can park the truck there, and the car next week once I move my art supplies down stairs (yes more!)

I loved the rain, after all my yard was together, it was so nice to be stuck inside. To have to play inside with Mia, and Alex. Usually a wonderfully long morning of breakfast in the art room. Followed by some lunch and Tigger and Pooh, a nap, for both little ones. Then dinner and more play time.

Now don't get me wrong. I do love a warm sunny day, out on the deck with the kids. But there is something all us Midwestern people have built in us. It's after a long hot summer. The thought of cool nights, hoodies, hot coffee, and the up coming holidays. Well it does something to all of us.

So I welcome fall, and all it's rain, cold, and inside days. I will embrace them, and make the best out of it!

Happy Fall!