Things can happen at home on rainy days. . .

Things can happen at home when you go to the YMCA to work out.

Good things can happen.

A guy can show up and finally install the beautiful copper cupola you have had stored for almost 4 years.  You can pull in the driveway and see a copper rooster shining from the top of your almost finished roof.  It is a joy and you will look at the sky, bending your head between the windshield and steering wheel to get a good look at it.  And you won't focus on how having a bright, shiny new cupola really makes the old grey green insulbrick look even more awful.  No - you won't concentrate on that for a minute!

Which is exactly what your husband wants because the bright, shiny cupola will distract you from this:Roscoe - a Pembroke Welsch Corgi that your dear husband found for free on craigslist.  He mentioned it to me the other day saying a lady was giving one away for free.  I assumed (silly me) that we would discuss it more - weigh the pros and cons, etc.  Turns out, the lady called Erik today (conveniently while I was at the Y) and when she found out where we lived, what we did, and how Roscoe would be treated and loved, she told Erik, "I'll meet you in Cranberry Twp.  He's yours!"  Apparently, Roscoe previously lived on a farm and his owner had to leave said farm.  She has been keeping him caged in her new place and he was just sad to live like that.  

So, we are the owners of this silly looking, cute and no doubt loveable dog.  The kids think he is wonderful - Will calls him "baby" - well, because Will calls everything smaller than him baby.  Maggie said she's just going to call him "Chasey" and I suggested that since his name is so similar to Rocco's, we might try calling him a new name.  I thought "Hank" sounded good - but we'll see what happens.  Roscoe has lived with his name for 3 years already and he may not take to a change.  Although the way he's running around the place lifting his leg on everything, I'm going to guess change isn't all that hard on our new dog.

             

He's taking every advantage to explore the property.  The other dogs aren't too sure how to handle this guy though.  

Rocco is relying on his sheer size to intimidate.  "Hey buddy - this is my place!"

       

**Imagine an audio caption with this photo - remember when Joey Lawrence played on that show, "Blossom" - we'll I'd insert an audio clip of him saying his trademark   "Whoa!" here.**       

I think Maverick is trying to pretend he doesn't exist, which just inspires Roscoe to get right up into Mav's face.

I can't even show you the pictures of how Roscoe is acquainting himself with Chloe.  I could be brought up on distributing dog pornography charges or something.  

Running total for Goodness Grows Farm?  

70 some odd goats

2 geese (and mother goose is sitting on a nest)

1 donkey

7 ducks (with mother ducks sitting on at least 2 nests)

2 cows

2 cats

2 guinea hens

4 dogs

3 children

1 husband

50 chickens

I am officially outnumbered and I have given up even pretending anymore that I have any control over what happens on these 40 acres. 

And I may have to stop going to the Y if things keep showing up like this - especially on rainy days.   

Before . . .

Oh - look at this scraggy ragamuffin!  I've been struggling with what to do with Will's hair for many months now.  It was too long and Will ALWAYS puts his food in his hair wreaking havoc with any styling I try to do.  

After these last few HOT days, and the slathering of the sunscreen, I decided tonight it must be cut.  So I did it!

Below, you will see the result.  I now have two big boys.  

Excuse me while I cry.

Before I indulge, let me forewarn you that hopefully in the next few days I will be blogging photos of our trip to Colorado.  If you have chosen to receive emails letting you know when I update the blog, you may want to unsubscribe to the feed so you don't get a million emails telling you I've made a new post to the blog.

Ok, resume reading my hair cut story and pretend to sympathize that my baby has lost his baby hair!  I'm going to bed to cry now! 

Will's first haircut

Will's first haircut, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Well, I broke down and did it. I almost made it 18 months and 1 week. After the kids had their shower tonight, I was combing hair and as I pulled the comb through Willie's baby hair, I noticed I was combing almost to his mid shoulder. Not so appealing for a baby boy. So, I cut his hair. Maggie & Walker sat enthralled watching me comb the hair over and over as I marveled at how Will has changed so much in such a short time. I am one of those Mom's that is hair attached. I knew his hair was long overdue for a cut, but, I clung to it seeing that wispy mess as the last of his babyhood. When I cut off that hair, I cut off the last of my baby. Boy hood has been fast approaching since his birthday, but I try to avoid it. Out of uncertainty, I suppose. Part of me knows things are so easy right now - we can gather up and go with little effort, no bottles, nursing, etc., to worry about. But part of me wonders if a baby might still be in our future. I'm not saying it is - I'm not saying it isn't - I just know that keeping Will as a baby allowed me to stave off that internal discussion for a while. Now I will really have to examine my feelings and how it would affect our family.

But, for now - Ode to Willie! He is a big boy and getting smarter, stronger and FASTER every day. My biggest enjoyment with him right now is to watch him run. His little feet go so fast - they almost look like paddle wheels- like those Flintstone cartoons where the feet would paddle wheel and the legs and body would stay still - his favorite game is to get his brother or his sister to chase him and run. Luckily they all enjoy that game.

Will is really starting to talk now too. He says the usual, "Momma, Daddy, ball, baby, Mimi" and he tries to say Walker, but usually says, "Bubba" and I'm not sure half the time if his "Ma" means Maggie or Goat. A few weekends ago, Erik took Walker and Maggie to my Dad's for the opening day of fishing season. I was home alone with Willie and the first night we were home alone, I had fed Will supper and bathed him and was going to put him to bed. I was playing with him, smelling his arms and legs saying "Mmmm - you smell good!" So he imitated me by trying to smell me. I laughed and said, "Ooh - Momma smells stinky!" He sniffed at me again and said "Stinky" So now we can say, "How does (insert name here) smell?" and he will sniff at them and say, "Stinky!" It is very funny.