I thought she wasn't there........

I thought she wasn't there.  Now, admittedly she's not one to miss a party.  So, where, oh where was Mossy?

I ask you.......how many pedicure baby showers have you been to?  Now, as I know the answer you would give, I ask this....... don't you wish you had?  Seriously?  What could be better than warm wraps, massages, and sparkling toes?  All of this while dining on to-die-for-cookies, sugary mounds of mini-bundts, and sipping punch?  ALL OF THIS, to celebrate a beautiful-soon-to-hatch be'be' boy and his very special mommy.  Yet, despite the lure Mossy was MIA and missed moments of pure delight with those so very precious to me & her or so I thought.....   

Today told another story.  I found her sitting in the punch dispenser, still in a box, still sitting in the car!  Her clothes were a tint of blue-green and seemed to be molded to her.  Mossy looked up at me as I looked down at her.  Her head tilted slightly, her smile slowly spread and a tear gathered just as slowly and began a slow descent.  I knew exactly what she felt.  I crawled into the back of the car, sat Indian style beside that box.  After awhile she began to describe precious moments........for you see she'd not missed a second, but oh how she was missing them now.

Eventually, we both moved.  Me, because old bodies do not allow you to sit Indian-style without exacting a payment and her because the bees had discovered her sugary clothes.   Let's just say she moved ever so much faster than I!!!    The bees moved in like a swat team on mission and Mossy's mission was too ESCAPE!   Neither one of us managed, however to escape that occasional tear that seemed to meander down our cheeks, yet would pass a smile along its way.

 Parting is such sweet sorrow.......

Mossy & Me.  We had an incredible week.  So many precious sweet moments, the sugary ones above just a few.  As well,  there is no longer a where-oh where-is Mossy.  Her path is well marked.  Just follow the trail of ants.......  When, oh when, will she change????

a grape slushy......

Spring has sprung,  arriving FINALLY to my backyard!  Has it in yours?  I truly hope so, for your sake.  Was this not a winter to remember?  Jeepers creepers, it would just not give up-I began to picture the Death Eaters from Harry sucking up all warmth that attempted to circumvent all of those cold air masses.  Certainly, any tiny tendril that crept up for warmth received icy shock therapy.  How does the saying go.....a picture's worth a thousand words?

April '14

March '14                        

If your counting, here's a few more to add to the current count of three thousand and eighty.  They are of a tale of a small gnome, 16 fish, and a backyard pond.   Large ice pellets blasted us one Sunday afternoon, intermittent with snow and rain.  What ensued was a very icy pond.  It looked like a giant grape slushy! I had a "Glee moment" as Mossy splashed by me to stick her face into the icy mixture.  Why, indeed would she even consider doing such a thing?  I wasted my breath and asked.  And to no one's surprise, received no answer.   What she did do, however was whoop and holler like a banshee on fire as she raised her face from the icy depths!   Coming up for air, she  plunged waist deep back into the pond.  What a sight!  As her top half became submerged, her legs went straight up.  Short & squatty they are, with a tendency to look like tree stumps.  I could only stare!   Suddenly, I realized the issue.  Several inches of floating ice was secondary to the antics of her beloved finned friends.  They were escaping.  Yes, as ice, snow, and rain battered my Pandora (backyard) the boundaries of the pond were loosing ground.  Leaving with the boundaries were Mossy's finned posse.   It was an Alcatraz moment, this time!   Shivering from the heaven's onslaught,  I watched Mossy dive, chase, and slide to collect her chicks (well finned friends not feathered)-all 16 of them.   I knew the dangers.  As quickly as the waters rose, they would dissipate, leaving stranded the finned: beside the potted pine, upstream behind the falls, peering up below the glider........  You see the problem, too, don't you?  Have you every held a fish?  Experience tells me that this is not one of their favorite activities.    Mossy's fingers I can only describe as cousins to her legs, so add frozen to their condition and lets just say this round-up took a while!  In fact, I truly wish that I had had the wherewithal to snap a pic.  It looked as if not just ice had fallen from the sky, but fish.   Small fish, large fish, orange fish, white fish, spotted fish......sorry,  I digress.  Dr. Seuss would be proud, though!

 Wow, I'm afraid I truly digressed,  for what Mossy & I truly wanted to say is HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!    

Flipper

Time for a confession......I'm addicted to Pinterest!  A serious PINHEAD!  Give me an extra few moments at any time and BAM!  I'm  searching for home design, a new juice recipe, or how to clean a water stain,   I'M SERIOUS!  Nary a day passes that at least one pin does not appear on my boards.   With 127 boards and close to 14,000 in number of pins its like the ultimate mag!  One that is totally tailored to your favs!  Well, or so I thought until I found a board I did not create.  The issue with that statement is that's it under my account and bears the name of such Koi that swim the waters of my backyard pond.  Hmmmmm.......

 mosSSSSSSYYYYY!

 The dastardly little minx is pinning!
 Who gave her my password?   Can a gnome pin?  Does it surprise me she would choose to pin her buds, Yellow Boy, Red-Head and Iron Man?  Nope.  She loves her Koi crowd.   I can only liken it to humans fascination with dolphins.  From Sea World to Atlantis, we want to touch, swim with and document it all with a pic.   Disney's 1964  Bottlenose dolphin, Flipper enthralled a certain 7 year old with tales of angst and victory.  They called him Flipper, Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning.......  comes to mind just as quickly 49 years later.  Fact, Jack......Flipper could overcome any obstacle and save the day on land or sea!  Now here's another fact, Jack.......look out Mossy the Pin-ster,  I'm on to you!!

For a blast from the past check out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EifnM3pRLdQ

partNErs iN cRIme.....

Butchey & Maizy

Yes, yes I realize it's not New Years Day!  I post a pic of these infamous two because of their recent exploits with the infamous moSSy!  I dared to leave the house for 2 hours this Friday evening and WHAT?  A zip line.  A complete total zip line with thrills & chills!  The thrill came as you scaled the bookcase to get to the mantle.  Only to then grab on for the ride-of-your-life, crossing the living room to an open doored frig whereby your landing was into a bowl of left-over cranberry sauce slopping then into tidbits of turkey.  Truly a brilliant move and one I could quickly see the pure genius of.  Mossy had enlisted maiZy and butchey to pull the zip line along greatly increasing the thrill factor.  One of them was also poised in front of frig to give several large laps to each participant (for purely selfless motives) as they slid to the floor on a slab of bacon!  Helping all into their harnesses and helmets was Thomas (mossy's big brother).   Standing at an open kitchen window was Mossy .   Here are a few of the jaw-droppers in this scene:  a line of squirrels and gnomes (12-15ish in number) in and out on the window ledge, mossy exacting a payment of a perfect pecan for each ride,  helmets that were made up of acorn tops tied on with zebra grass,   gnomes screaming in delight or was it fear, squirrels chatter-squealing in what seemed like pure abandonment as they sailed above my dining room table.  

Please pray-tell, how does one respond to such nonsense?  After several moments of jaw-dropping, toe-tapping.......... it was clear (not of cranberry sauce)...........

 I had just enough dental floss to reach from the refrigerator to the kitchen sink!   And wasn't there an extra bag of mini- pumpkin marshmallows to soften that landing?  After-all didn't I have a craving for pecan pie just last week? 

What lives in your Christmas Tree?

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-BaBy-FAIRY-FAce-MOlds-BOdy-sculpture-DvD-/11042638110

My answer to this question is be'Be'.  Many of you may recall that be'Be' made her first appearance with mOSsy upon her return from Yellowstone.  Her immediate fascination and claim to our Christmas tree was delightful and thoroughly enjoyed all season.  Much to my dismay her appearance throughout the remainder of the year is sporadic at best.  So imagine my delight when I came upon this picture of a doll.  Is it not AMAZING!  I couldn't believe it when I found it on one of my recent Pinterest forays.   Someone else has seen a Be'Be' too!!!  This is incredibly close to what mOSsy's little friend looks like!  I so wish I could study her as I've been able to this adorable doll.  Do you remember that she moves like a hummingbird?

This is however the time of year that I do get extra time with the beautiful fairy.  Her fascination with Christmas trees is palatable.  It would seem the more excited she gets the more of the effervescent glow & glitter she leaves in her wake.   Now I must say that I've not even brought the Christmas tree into the house and already her glittery path has been woven throughout a vase of bittersweet!  I had to check with mOSsy on the reason for this only to find out that indeed she "knows" it's coming. 

It has also suddenly dawned on me that be'Be' has not aged.  That is to say she has not moved into a toddler stage.  Her baby rolls are as adorable today as they were 2 years ago and the cherubic face complete with dimples has not a single line.  Ooooooh imagine, no wrinkles!!  This unfortunately is a reality met in your 50s, for if it doesn't wrinkle it seems to sag or bag.  Okay, okay, I can hear you wince.....back to be'Be'!

Anticipation:  a wrapped gift,  the aroma of your favorite cake baking, a friend's arrival,  looking for a gnome or two, etc.etc......
 I feel it in the air.  I SEE it in the air.  Glitter trails circle the room.    They are as entrancing as the multitude of twinkling lights that will soon adorn the Christmas tree.  So for now, I shall just anticipate along with be'Be.........someday soon that ole tree is bound to make an appearance!   And until then........I've got glitter on my nose and my clothes!  Who could want for anything more?

Gobble Gobble

Bucket List:  #1 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.   What can I say?   Childhood dreams are just sometimes as real at 54 as they were at seven!   Look at those tail feathers!  Look at his hat and the twinkle in his eyes!  Okay, I get it.  As my son stated Thursday...."ENOUGH WITH THE PARADE!" 

Did you gobble til you wobbled?  Mossy did.  I awoke excited-the first to get up or so I thought.  I opened the frig door for a touch of cream and there she was looking a little frost-bitten.  "Mossy, why are you sitting on the turkey?"  Absolutely not a word came from her tiny blue lips.  "Mossssssyyyyy, are you okay?"  I cried as I shook her by the shoulders and this time a large very ungnome-like burp came from those blue lips.  Which then smacked, as she sprang from the turkey to the shelf above.  Now I say, sprang.  Nope.  It was an attempt to spring but splat and wobble was a much more realistic description.  Mossy promptly winked, stretched out on the shelf using a stick of butter for a pillow and asked that I shut the door.  I did.  But not before, I heard her say, "Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a goodnight!"

Confused? 

As I snickered and sipped coffee, I thought of our fast-paced holiday season.  Turkeys are running rampant all through my house.  That is, momentarily.    How quickly, though, will they jump in their box, head for a shelf and make way for reindeer?  Do we not watch Tom the Turkey's float roll by only to conclude with Santa and his sleigh?  Now I'm not trying to suggest we oust Santa from the parade.....just  this one wish...............savor the moment.  Mossy was.  She stopped to enjoy her turkey.  I wish for you the same.    So, from Mossy & me.........Happy Thanksgiving!  May you stop and enjoy your turkey time!!!!!!

Don't open that dooooor..............

Okay, fess up!  You have them too.....it's the "I cram everything into a cabinet, so don't open that door until you've prepared mentally with at least an Advil or two.  Mossy does NOT adhere to any such warning nor does she take Advil!   She's more of the I'm-a-reason-you-would-take-Advil!   Last week while weaving (no not from spirits) on my early morning path down the hall, I wondered why this door was partially shut.  Then I wondered why the door would not open.  Oh mercy me!    The little holiday decorating freak had been rooting around stirring it ALL up!  Pumpkins, and an Easter egg and Santa and a turkey or two laid strewn about the floor.  I believe she must have stood inside and dropped kicked the entire collection out.  Was she anywhere around?  No.  Well, I should actually say, she wasn't showing herself or answering my call, but most definitely around.   You see, there was the lightest humming of Here Comes Santa Claus from the tub!   Pestering is too nice to say of what her actions have been lately.   You see the little stinker is OBSESSED with holiday decorations.  I mean, you could say, to the Dolly Pardon's character of Steel Magnolia's magnitude.  Tooky, would be my adjective.  Trashy, might be yours.  "Uncle!" I cried, with a need for some coffee.  Be it tooky, or trashy, or scary to you the pumpkins are rolling out and I guarantee the little minx will too!