Tuesday

Can you guess where my dear husband is? On this St. Patrick's day, he is at a hotel within blocks of a very famous parish by that name and a raucous annual parade to boot! I consider myself blessed to have a husband who would rather go to Mass to celebrate this feast day than go drinking at a pub.
Our day in suburbia was a little quieter. Although I'm operating on three hours of broken sleep, so my day had its own kind of stress and chaos! After a trip to the grocery store, the weather had finally warmed up and dried out enough that John and I could plant the "white linen" California poppy seeds my dad had stuffed in my Christmas stocking.

Dad: I've since realized that the drier vent blows air right above where the flowers will be. I know poppies like it hot and dry, but is that going to kill them? (See the vent in the photo below.)

The garden is waking up after winter! Our red bud trees:

Lenten rose:

Mahonia macrofila:

The carpet of Vinca minor:

The pink shrub roses:

Viburnum doublefile:

Today I let John watch a cartoon for the first time in eight days. I just needed him to be still for a few minutes. After I got my wits back about me, I tackled how I was going to take out the garbage can by myself (normally Chris' job). I know it sounds like nothing, but I had to think about my plan. I didn't feel comfortable leaving such young kids in the house alone (more John than Mary, as she can't get into much trouble yet!). But it's a bit of a matter to haul a heavy garbage can down a sloping driveway while bringing along a baby and a toddler who bolts toward the street. I ended up wearing Mary and hauling the trash can with one hand while clutching John's hand with the other hand. At one point the can started to tip, but there was a car coming and we were only five feet from the street, so I simply had to keep gripping John's hand. All's well that ended well and I kept the can upright. (Chris is laughing right now that only an English major can make a whole story out of taking out the garbage.)

John has been learning how to help with changing the kitchen garbage bag. If we open up the bag, he can insert it and get the edge of the bag all the way around the edge of the can! (Then he claps at his accomplishment.)

As much as I would rather have kept watching TV, or basically done anything that could have kept me prone, I escorted the kids out for a walk in the nice weather to keep a certain toddler from becoming stir crazy. While Chris is gone, I am trying to keep up with many structured activities to keep John happy because when John is a whiny pill, I lose my temper and I don't have a wonderful husband to help relieve me right now. Better to take away opportunities for losing my temper! (John, being two, refused to look at me for the picture.)

After a wholesome dinner of boxed macaroni and cheese (at least John ate something), cleaning up the kitchen and den, and reading probably 17 books to John, all children are asleep and quiet has fallen on the house!