Happy Birthday, JoJo

Baby JoJo is growing into a fine young lady.
Today is her first birthday and she's already preparing herself to carry her young master and mistress.
Mr. B is her grazing companion here. He takes good care of her, shares his food with her, and never (hardly ever) loses his patience with her, no matter how badly she behaves toward him.

Today may also be the birthday of a much older human whom you know as Fat Suburbanite Dad.
http://fatsuburbanitedad.blogspot.com/

Dog Soccer

Scott playing goalie.

Spring Soccer!

Two games, two wins. That's what happens when Charlotte County plays!
Katie is in yellow. It takes two boys to slow her down- and she scored a goal anyway.
Laura is in teal. Nobody gets the ball past her!

Annabeth the Setting Hen

Laura brought the camera up to me and said simply, "Alfred Hitchcock."
Annabeth's expression could certainly inspire a horror movie involving birds.
(She's actually a very tame and friendly lady.)

Spring has Sprung

My week has been rather grim. All three girls sick with various infections and me feeling a little exhausted and unwell myself made me long for some sun and cheer. Becky provided cheer in the form of this dogwood and red bud branch bouquet. Since this picture was taken, we've had bright sun, too. And best of all, we are (thanks to the wonders of antibiotics) feeling fine again.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Last night at about 3 a.m., a squall line blasted through Charlotte County and shook us out of our beds. Between medicating (and worrying about) sick girls, and checking to see what was flying through the yard (hoping it wouldn't be a horse or cow) I searched for the source of the bumping noise. I looked in my closet, fearful that it was a cat scratching for a bathroom. Nope. I looked in the attic, since it seemed to be coming from there. Nope. I shined the spotlight around outside, looking for a loose object that was hitting the wall. Nope. This morning, I found the mystery noise that had never once let up on the thumping sounds. It's now completely detached and ready for Danny to conveniently climb to the highest room of the tallest tower to rescue his fascia in distress.

Undocumented Workers

I think it's just terrible that some Americans have people doing their landscaping who have no legal documentation.
So I made sure my landscaper was of pure Anglo blood, and checked his papers before I allowed him to start mowing.
Yep, he's a card carrying member of the jokey club.

Priorities

I want new leather furniture in my living room. And I want a complete new bedroom set in both girls' rooms. I also want to finish painting my walls. And the landscaping, that needs more money poured into mulch again this year. I feel a definite urge to get the upstairs finished and have a bathtub big enough for me to soak comfortably. (Yes, FSD, I know there will be a comment about this sentence.)
Deep sigh.
But would that bring fulfillment? How much better would my daily life be if I traded our financial margin for these things? I don't know the answer, and may never know the answer.
I do have enough experience by now to know that in the past, more often than not "stuff" doesn't change my life for the better.
If we were swimming in cash and didn't have a list about two feet long (in small print, to boot) of things that urgently need to be paid for, it would be a very good thing for my house to be more beautiful and classy.
For now, I'll get out a bucket full of hot water and Murphy's Oil soap, throw in a few microfiber cloths, and scrub the old, dog-scratched leather couch. Then I'll pile some youngsters onto said couch to read some of the free books we've just acquired.

Horsin' Around

Yesterday, Laura got loads of entertaining footage of these four musketeers kicking up their heels. Unfortunately I'm putting up a short take since I don't edit and the other, better rears and spins are on long videos.