Hooters!

We have a family of Western Screech Owls living in the trees connecting our yard to Awesome Neighbors' yard. A few days ago we were in the yard with the kiddos and heard some strange noises coming from the trees - noises which resembled those of the little owls we'd seen in the yard last year. On closer inspection of the apple trees, we spotted at least 5 babies (5 or 6, I don't remember) plus one watchful mama on a nearby branch (above). They are ADORABLE. Awesome Photog Neighbor took the above picture, plus this one of the babies:


Wook at their cute widdle iddy biddy owl toes! The kiddos were very excited, and commenced hooting at the owls. Mama owl was none too thrilled with our presence, so after lots of pointing, hooting (from Doodle and little neighbor A) and photographing we left them alone. We have seen them a couple of times since, but not all clumped together like this.

beware the Romas

I really think you should read this. I think the author is right on about corporate agriculture. Remember the spinach scare? Seems like a new thing every spring/summer that we should be afraid about. Maybe we should just start growing our own food, or buying from local farmers we trust. Seems like an easier solution to me.

Odd utterances

This morning I heard myself utter this phrase:

"Miss Doodle, we do not throw dead mice!"1

What odd things have you caught yourself saying?

1) Context: I pulled a (dead) mouse out of the freezer to thaw and feed to one of our snakes. Doodle wanted to see it. I handed it to her, letting her hold it in its plastic bag. When I asked for it back, she ran to the living room and started climbing on the couch to get away from me. I asked for it back again, grabbing onto her. It was then that she threw the mouse - perhaps better for it to be lost to everyone than for the dreaded MOM to get it? Anyhow, that's when the above phrase was uttered.

...like the grown ups do

We have dabbled a bit with Elimination Communication (EC) with Doodle. EC basically means communicating with your little one about pottying, and when possible giving them "potty-tunities" to relieve themselves someplace other than their diaper (usually a little potty, bowl, sink, etc.). We're fairly inconsistent in offering "potty-tunities," but every once in a while Doodle will make it known that she needs to go and we'll remove her diaper so she can do so. This came in handy on our Epic Hike, as she would hold it until she was out of her backpack. Thus we were able to pee her at stopping points along the hike and only went through three diapers that whole time.

She will also sometimes wait until morning to relieve herself. So some mornings she wakes up dry, then we plop her on a potty and she does her thing. But sometimes she pitches a fit (usually when she's not fully awake yet) and we have to give her some time before she's ready. Yesterday was a variation on the not-ready theme.

Doodle woke up happy after sleeping in. We nursed, read a couple of books, and then I figured I'd change her diaper. But lo - She was still dry! So off to the bathroom we went. I offered the little potty, and got a stern "NO" from Doodle. Offered to sit her on the big potty (I sit on the seat, and put her in front of me so she feels supported), and she nodded. We got situated and she started yelling in protest. I figured she wasn't ready. I set her down, and she ran into the bedroom. I followed, only to see her grab a book: Llama llama red pajama. She then carried the book into the bathroom. I asked her if she wanted to read on the potty and she nodded an emphatic "yes". So we sat back on the big potty and started reading Llama llama. Apparently that was all she needed because she was able to complete her business and was happy as a clam about it.

Was it that potties are boring, and she needed outside stimulation? Just needed to get one more reading of Llama llama in before she was ready to start the day? I don't know. I'm not even sure that she's seen either J or myself ever reading on the potty, so I don't think that was her inspiration. Either way, it worked!

Strange.

Upcoming show

Club Cairo is coming up!  I'll be performing a choreographed duet (see Inara on the flyer?  That's me!), plus dancing with troupe Saffron.  Come join in the festivities - it'll be a blast!

Last one

Okay, here's one last photo from our trip. You can see how much fun Doodle was having playing in the dirt at her Auntie T's wedding reception. Look at that dust fly!

City of Rocks

Sunday was our first trip to the City of Rocks. It is a beautiful place. Doodle and I played around while J and YogaFriend climbed. It was great to be outside all day. We saw lizards, flowers, solitary bees, tenebrionid beetles, mayflies... tons of cool stuff. YogaFriend even brought a hammock, which Doodle and I played in for a while. It was great. We will definitely be going back, hopefully soon.