Rainy Day Stories

"Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall.  Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll."  ~Author Unknown

I heard a rumor the other day....

I heard someone say that it's almost June, but I don't believe  it.   Yes, it's still raining and we are now beginning to break records for not only the wettest May, but also the coldest.  Anyone tired of me whining yet?  I'm tired of hearing me whine, lol.    Yesterday was 47 degrees, today was 48.  We've had rain for the past week, and there is no end in sight.  As I type, we are being pounded by a nor'easter.  The wind is howling outside, and at this hour it sounds eerie, ghost-like.  Wind gusts are up to 50mph....  If I were a very religious person, I would be taking my cues from Noah and begin building that ark .....now.   

On Monday, during a very brief lull in the rain, I decided it was time to plant my garden.  I rented a 20' X 40' garden plot from a neighborhood church for $15.00.  Although I have a large yard in which I could have planted a garden, I thought that it would be more fun being part of a community garden.   Besides, I don't exactly have a green thumb, so my crops can use all the divine intervention they can get....  When I got to the field, there were no other plots planted.  But I was determined to get my plants into the ground before June.  I had only been working for about 15 minutes when the rain began again.  I put on my windbreaker and continued to work for 2 hours in 50 degree temps and rain.  I planted 4 bell pepper plants, 19 tomato plants, 6 cabbage plants, 11 broccoli plants, a package of carrot seeds, a package of snow peas, and then I planted wild flowers along the perimeter. 

By the time I finished I was soaked and covered in a thick layer of mud.  But it was worth it, I accomplished what I set out to do, and as I left the garden I felt quite proud of myself.  That is, until I climbed into the  van and realized that the van was stuck in the mud.  Really stuck.  What a sight I must have been walking home in the pouring rain, covered in mud.   When Mike got home he had to use the truck to tow me out of the mud hole that the van had sunk in.  I'm hoping that my tiny plants can hold up to this storm.  I guess we'll see....       

Last weekend Mike, Spencer and I went white water rafting.  In the rain of course, but hey, at least it was a balmy 52 degrees.  We went with a bunch of my co-workers and their families, 22 of us in all.  No, we weren't alone in our insanity.   Spencer fell out of his raft in a class four rapid.  He didn't spend too much time in the water, and was pulled back in very quickly.  We all had such a blast that we are planning another trip in July.  Hoping for warmth and sunshine. 

The last bit of sunshine in our lives this week is in the picture above.   Since we have had no luck with bunnies, we have been thinking of getting a kitten for Sammi.  We were planning on this summer, but this little tiger kitten came into our lives sooner than expected....  A co-worker has a mother cat who gave birth to five kittens... then she found 3 abandoned kittens from another litter outside.  After rescuing those three and thinking that the Mother cat would never notice, she slipped them in with the other five.  Well, Mom didn't appreciate that.  Not only did she reject the three extra kittens, but she rejected her five other kittens too.  So my co-worker had been hand raising all eight kittens since they were 3 weeks old.  When this little kitten was given to us, it was 6 weeks old.   

Sammi took one look at this little kitten and decided that his name should be Gilbert.  Because no one could tell exactly what sex he was, I agreed that Gilbert was a wonderful name.  On Tuesday, we took the kitten to the vets.  Everything was perfect except that Gilbert is definitely a girl.  I suppose in time we'll shorten her name to Gilly.  This little 1 lb creature is a bundle of energy, making us all laugh with her funny antics.  It's been years  since I've had a kitten around, I had forgotten how much fun they are.  She's fearless and has had no problems trying to make our 50 lb dog back up when it gets too close for comfort.  Sammi has hardly taken out any toys since the kitten arrived, and if I didn't make her put the kitten down, it would be carried all day long.  Hoping that this kitten won't mind getting dressed up in clothes, because I can tell that  will happen in the near future.  Little Mikey can breathe a sigh of relief, Sammi has someone else to dress up now....

                       ....and someone new to love

                             

"Into every life, a little rain must fall"

"Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit." - R E Shay    

Nope, no luck here with bunnies....  Last June we lost Hoppy and this year on Mother's Day, we lost our little Miffy. :::sigh:::  Why can't we keep our bunnies alive?  As much as I love bunnies, I give up.  Apparently these creatures are too fragile for me to care for.   I feel a little guilty about Miffy dying.  I should have noticed that she didn't have any poops in her litter box, but I didn't, until it was too late.  Was too busy with life; working the night shift, ending 4 year feud's with my brother, attending a birthday party, the prom and celebrating Mother's Day & my birthday.... 

When I noticed Miffy's litter box on Sunday morning, and then saw her leaning heavily into her food dish.... I knew it was bad.   Miffy was barely breathing and very cold.  I couldn't bring myself to pick her up, so Mike put her gently in her hutch.   We both looked at each other and said,  "What will we tell Sammi?"   You see, last June when Hoppy got sick, (and died), we decided to tell Sammi that Hoppy went to live on a farm with other sick bunnies.  Even though she wasn't quite 3,  I don't think she ever bought that explanation.  But I felt the need to protect her from the sometimes sad realities of life.   Now at 3 years 10 months, I still feel the need to protect her, however, we can't keep telling her that the animals that disappear from her life go to the farm.   

We decided to tell both of the little ones the truth in terms we hoped they could understand.   We told them that sometimes animals get sick and die.... that Miffy had died.  Sammi's first question was "Did her heart go away?"   We got into the topic of how God has special places for little animals when they die.   She asked so many questions about "Who's God?"  "Can Miffy come back someday?"   .... Hard deep questions that I sometimes have trouble wrapping my mind around.  How does one explain God to a 3 year old?  I still don't know.  

We gave Miffy a funeral in the backyard while standing in the rain.  We sang her the song we always sang. "Miffy, is a cute little bunny...."  And then Mikey piped up in a very sad little voice, "I'm gonna miss her...."  I almost cried, but didn't.  Moments later, his sadness passed and he was helping his dad pack down the dirt.  

Three days have gone by and they are still talking about Miffy.  They have told anyone who'll listen that they had a bunny, but now she's gone under the dirt.  Yesterday, while driving in the car the little ones both told me that they thought Miffy wanted to come back.  I asked them why they thought that, and Sammi said, "Because I heard her."  I played along and said, "you did?"  She replied, "yup".  And then in the cutest little bunny voice she could muster she squeaked, "Miffy said, "I wanna come back up, I don't like it under here."  Made me wanna cry and laugh at the same time.   I guess they don't quite get it, but there's one thing I do know for sure....  

               The sandbox shovels are going to be put away for awhile....        

The Jr. Prom

And so my weekend continues....

After my niece's birthday party on Saturday, I rushed home to help Spencer get ready for his Jr. Prom.  Unfortunately, I arrived home just as he was leaving to pick up his date, corsage in hand.  I'm happy to report, that there were no encounter's with a rubber ball the night before his Jr. Prom this year.  So, at least he didn't need me around to help him with his make-up to conceal one of the largest hickies I had ever seen.  Honestly, I stll laugh when I see this picture....(read here  Warning!!!) 

Although there were no hickies to contend with, the weather was a different story.  A nor'easter blew in the day of the Jr. Prom....  Our swing blew over, large tree limbs fell and our patio furniture danced around the the deck from the 60mph gusts.  So much for pictures in front of the flowering cherry tree. 

Luckily for the masses of parents with camera's poised, the school held a promenade for the prom attendees.   This was held before the prom, so that parents and friends could see them all dressed up and take pictures.  Mike was at a woodturning seminar all day, so I had to be the photographer.  The picture above was the best shot I took, but it doesn't do them justice.  They really did look great, ahhh well, I was just happy I didn't cut off their heads in the picture.

          ......Hey, is that a scar from the rubber ball I see on his forehead?   

First Step

 

       Four things happened in my life this weekend; all deserve their own entry.  You see, although it's STILL raining here in New England, the clouds have lifted from my mind....                                 

                      ...and more importantly, from my heart.  

The almost four year feud I've had with my oldest brother Rick, has ended.... Four years of silence, four years we can never get back.  Both too stubborn or proud to take the first step to heal the rift, until his daughter forced the first step....   A week ago, I received an email from my niece Katie, inviting me to her 12th birthday on Saturday.  On it she wrote, "Please say you'll come Aunt Michelle.  I love you...."    How could I say no?  And so the first step was taken....  

As I pulled up outside of their house on Saturday afternoon, anxiety filled my mind.  Questions bombarded me, almost paralyzing me.  "Will they welcome me?"  "What happens if they don't?"  "Is this a mistake?"   If I didn't have the two little ones with me, I might have been tempted to quietly drive away.    Instead we walked to the front door.  Sammi, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside of me, reached up and rang the door bell.    When my brother answered the door and I saw his face, all my anxiety disappeared. 

He smiled and immediately gave me a hug & kiss.  "So good to see you, come in, the partyis  downstairs."  Yes, he took the next step!  When I went downstairs the first person to greet me was my sister-in-law, Dee.  She smiled and when she hugged me, she whispered, "Thank you so much for coming..."  Emotion filled my heart and my eyes began to tear up.  All I could mutter was, "I've missed you so much...."   She replied, "I've missed you too, we'll talk later.  Do you want to be in the pie eating contest?"  I swear that my heart felt 100 pounds lighter, who needs Weight Watchers?  

Although there were some awkward moments, I mostly felt at peace.  All, was once more right in my world.   I watched my brother from afar.... It was the first time in almost four years, that I really looked at him.  Now I could look at him without feeling hurt, anger, or fearing rejection.   When did my brother start to look so much like our Pepere Lavallee?   Of course the thoughts of "what happened" and "why" are still there, but those reasons are really not important anymore.  Forgiveness is a wonderful thing.... 

When it was time to go, goody bags were handed out.  And then because it was my birthday the next day, Dee handed me a gift and said "Happy Birthday."  Although I love the candle they gave me, the real gift I received on Saturday couldn't be wrapped with paper and bows.  I have my brother (and family) back.                                               

               ....Thanks Katie and Happy Birthday. 

                                                           I love you too ....

"A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons."  ~Jonathan Livingston Seagull

 

 

I've been trying to do a journal entry for the past week, but like the seemingly never-ending rain here in New England, my mind too has been cloudy....  So much to say, yet can't seem to put more than a few thoughts together.  Not sure why I'm in this funk, life is good.  I did receive some sad news yesterday about a childhood friend, but that news only added to the clouds in my mind, it's not the reason.  

 

Hoping for sunshine soon....