Yesterday Layn went for his two week check up.  I guess he must be getting good care here.  He started out life at 6lbs. 11ozs.  Yesterday he weighed in at 8lbs. 1oz.  Not bad for a little guy.  Of course all he does is eat and get loved.

Oh, he spends a fair amount of time sleeping too. 

Sometimes he helps me with my schoolwork.  You are never too young to begin your education.

So, Friday I called Dog Control to see if anyone had found my naughty dogs.  Long story short they were at someone's house well fed after having slept inside where it was nice and warm all night long.  I drove over and picked them up to bring them home, gave them a good scolding.

Isabella looks like she is just waiting for the next time someone lets her our without her radio collar on to escape again.

Brutus just looks pitiful.  Sort of like one of my sons when they were little and trying to get me to feel sorry for them.  It worked then and it is still working now.  Okay, I admit it I have a soft place in my heart for soulful brown eyes and a pitiful look.  Right after this picture he proceeded to lay his head on my leg and slobber all over my jeans, that was the clincher.

Outside my window.......the sun is trying to shine and the temp is 48.  I am hoping that it gets a bit warmer today. 

I am thinking.....about all that there is to do.  Matthew and Mary-Kate have three weeks of school left and then things will let up a bit for me.

I am thankful for......a husband and son who do the housework that I am not allowed to do.

From the schoolroom.........nothing is happening until I get Matthews plans written and I log onto my school.

From the kitchen........there is a large question mark in my mind.  I am open to suggestions.

I am wearing......jeans and a navy blue polo shirt.  Had to get dressed and going early today.  The neighbors dog Edna got out and I had to catch her and take her home.  Consequently I not only got wet with dew but dirty with whatever Edna rolled in.

I am creating......weed free gardens

I am going......nowhere today.  I need to spend the day studying and sewing.

I am reading........A Secret Garden for my origins of the English language course

I am hoping.......that the pollen count goes down to a manageable level soon, like before my head bursts!

I am hearing.....two washers agitating, my husband going out to work, Matthew at the other computer, and the dogs whining to get back in.

Around the house.....it is clean and tidy now it is up to me to think up supper and get the laundry done.

One of my favorite things.......finishing up things.  Finishing school, finishing lists, finishing jobs.

A few plans for the rest of the week......tomorrow I have to go for a mammogram, wooo hooo! and I have to work in the afternoon so I guess tomorrow is shot.  The rest of the week is set for studying and sewing.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you......

Layn a week old.  He is a bright and alert baby, and very intelligent.  He sits on my lap while I do my schoolwork and helps me.  He is already beginning to appreciate the classics.  I have been exposing him to such great poets as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, and Keats.

Ian and Matthew sharing some brother time together.

Getting the last of the fencing down and cleaned up on this farm.  Saturday Ian started plowing ground for corn and oats.

Someone let the dogs out yesterday without their radio collars on.  Now they are gone!  

If one more family member tells me they will come back I am going to slug them.  It's not like Brutus to go without eating, now he has missed two meals.  It's not like Brutus to be at all adventurous, but he is a follower and he probably followed Isabella.  Sounds a bit Adam and Eve-ish.

Isabella on the other hand is totally adventurous.  She would go anywhere she wanted to. 

So if any of you out there see my dogs please tell them that they are missed and we would like them to come home.  Tell Brutus that his supper and breakfast are waiting for him.

Edit:

You Xanga people rock.  I spoke to dog control and some people about 1 1/2 miles from here had the dogs.  They are dog people too!!! They fed them last night and let them sleep inside all night.  Thanks for the tip.

That's my dad when he was younger.  To steal one of his phrases and apply it to him; he's one saxy man!!!!

There are days when the aches and pains of approaching old age make me wonder why.  Why get up, why go on.  I know it isn't all that bad yet but I have spend a lifetime abusing this old body and it is beginning to let me know that was the wrong thing to do. 

Then I hear this little guy cry from the room down the hall and I know the reasons for everything.  I may not jump out of bed, my jumping days are over, but I get up with a smile and a feeling of contentment in my heart knowing that the reason and purpose for life is stirring in the little bed in the bedroom down the hall.  That his mom and he need us and me and that as long as I am around and can give it he will have all the love and care that one little boy could ever ask for, and more.

Outside my window......the sun in trying valiantly to shine and warm us up.  The thermometer says it is 36 out and the weatherman says it is supposed to get into the 60's.  Here's to hoping! 

I am thinking.......about all that there is to do and about deadlines.  I shouldn't worry about deadlines this late in my life but I find I can't get them out of my mind.  The closer I get to them the more apprehensive I get.  Then rather than work harder to complete my project I tend to procratinate.  Not a good trait at all.  There is a fault that I must work harder at, think I will start today.

I am thankful for.......my patient and loving husband.  Another migraine this weekend and he just patiently pulls out his arsenal of tricks to help me get through it.  Whatever did I do to merit the love of such a man.

From the schoolroom.......all is silent.  Matthew is doing his chores and I am procrastinating.  Later though after my shower and his chores are done there will be the sound of learning going on.

From the kitchen........pork chops, potato salad, green salad, and I think I will make a cake for dessert.

I am wearing......an oversize tee shirt and baggy pj pants.  Remember I can't think of getting dressed for the day until I am fully awake which doesn't happen until after noon sometimes.

I am creating......a peaceful and loving environment for my family to live and thrive in.

I am hoping......that this week goes a bit more smoothly than last week.  The moral of the story from last week is never put off for tomorrow what you can get done before the pregnant lady goes into labor.

I am hearing.......Matthew on the other computer checking his mail and the sound of Doug bringing a tractor down so he can load hay to be sold this week.

Around the house......mount washmore has risen again from the laundryroom floor and is threatening to take over, the army of dust bunnys are in formation and preparing to launch an offensive against the inhabitants of the house, and the piles are beginning to obscure the decor.  In other words laundry, cleaning, and tidying need to be done before we cannot live here anymore.

One of my favorite things.....teenage boys who clean up kitchens so that I can write their lesson plans for the week.

A few plans for the rest of the week.......work on Tuesday and Thursday, keep on top of my schooling and Matthew's and get through until the weekend when MK gets to come home.  Four more weeks of school left for both of them!!!!!

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you........

A beautiful sight indeed.  MK finally gets to hold Layn.  He is home with us now and is getting all the love that a little boy should have.  She didn't want to go back to school and miss a whole week with him.

My latest acquisition.  The big guy bought his mother a quilting machine.  Now all he needs to do is buy her some time to figure out how to use it.

This has been a dream of mine for a very long time.  Big dude you cannot know how much I am looking forward to creating with this.

Yesterday afternoon Matthew and I picked up my cousin Kay and went down to visit with Melissa and Layn.  Kay is the most important treasure that this family has.  She is 85 years old, I think, and she is as young as can be.  She is loving and shocking and wonderful and everyone in this family loves her.  When Melissa came to live with us she fell for Kay the first time they met and I know that Kay felt the same way.  That is part of why Kay is our treasure, she loves without reserve and without condition.

Of course Matthew had to hold the little guy.  They became buddies from the first and Layn settled into Matthew's arms like he was meant to be there. 

I had to take this shot of Kay and Layn looking at each other and sizing each other up.  I think that she is going to spend even more time at our house in the future.  Now we have two treasures.

Can you tell I am a foot person.  Those are some big feet.  If little boys are like puppies then this boy has some serious growing to do to fit those feet.

Early this morning Melissa had the baby.  It's a nice healthy boy 6lbs. 11ozs.  Layn Austin.  Mom and baby are doing very well and I am pleased to say that this family has still got it where it counts.  I just got home from the hospital and left Melissa sleeping soundly after nursing Layn. 

It does even my hard heart good to see her looking safe and contented.  The young lady who feared she would have a long difficult labor and all kinds of other things yesterday is sitting pretty and happy with the little prize snuggled nicely in her arms.

God is good and here is the proof.

Can you tell that this past winter was a bit more than this old curmudgeon could take?  All I seem to do lately is look for signs that spring is truly here.  Yesterday I took a long walk and discovered that it has taken a firm hold of all the little nooks and crannies of the farm.  Come hell or high water I don't think that spring is going to give up too easily here.

I found the strawberries trying to take over the blueberries.  Guess I will add that to my list of things to do in my spare time.  Note to self, tame the strawberries so that we don't become overcome by the little buggers.

The dogtooth violets are making a lovely carpet of yellow in the woods out by the pond.  The next thing to come will be the trilliums, both white and red.  I think I will hunt for them later this week along with the jack-in-the-pulpits.

The sorrel is up too and making a lovely carpet of pink and white and the smell is absolutely heavenly, that is until I get so plugged up that I can't smell anything then I get overwhelmed with sneezing.  But I know it is there nonetheless.

Even the veronica is carpetting the front and side lawns with a light dusting of blue.  It is so pretty that I hesitate to mow the lawn and make it all go away.  Makes me wish that I was an accomplished poet so that I could rhapsodize about springtime.  Oh well.