(flakiest wife, flakiest daughter...), I have completely pulled out of the move-to-the-renthouse-plan. 

It is all just too much.  If things were smoothly falling into place, it would be different.  But trying to paint and get the flooring in by our deadline, and also trying to pack and complete the finishing touches on our house simultaneously is just not working out. 

I realized that I could pack this house up and put almost everything in storage, live with the essentials, and save time, effort, and money. 

This is not the ideal living situation, but I think we can tough it out for a few more months.  Once dh and I get everything to storage, I will take the boys and go stay with him for a few weeks or something...

But, yeah...I feel like a flake...

Please keep my little Sailor boy (5) in your prayers.  The swollen lymph node is still on his neck--same size.  He had to have blood drawn today (pediatrician's checking for infection) and he is going to an ENT specialist next week.  I am trying to not worry about it (kind of a struggle--I am a huge worrier!) because many people have told me that they've had lymph glands stay swollen for months, even years, without it being anything serious.

About the bloodwork today--this little guy amazed me by not crying or anything while they took his blood!  He was completely calm and even smiled once the needle was in his arm (must take after dh, who gives blood monthly!).

We will get the painting bid by Thursday, but it looks like we might change tweak our plans a little...  The painting company is booked until June.  My dh has five days off starting on Friday, so we might just have a painting party at the rent house this weekend.  I had the electricity turned on and can prep the house on Friday while he buys paint and supplies, then we could get an early start on Saturday morning. 

The flooring guys can come in some time next week and do their job.  If they get in and out, and if my dh and I can finish packing this house on the weekend of the 16th, we could move during his vacation time later that week.  It's kind of a tight squeeze--if the flooring takes longer, we'll lose moving time and might have to move on the first weekend of June.  But, it wouldn't be the end of the world.  We would be here with everything but essentials packed, prepared and waiting (catching up on schoolwork, probably!!).

So, we'll see how it goes!  I might be scarce on xanga for the next week, but I'll try to check in and read subs!

• called about turning on water at rent house
• searched on-line for best electric co. for rent house
• dh called because 1st paint bid did not show! 
• called ^ painter, left messages
• called BIL for bid on blowing insulation into rent house and referral for painter
• called another painter, set up appt. for bid on painting rent house
• called SIL to RSVP for niece's graduation and graduation dinner

Boxes packed today--0 so far!!! 

Things are getting hectic around here.  I have been making calls for the rent house:  two companies for bids on flooring, two companies for bids on painting.  I find it ironic that we are going to have the rent house painted, but we are not painting our house, LOL!  Truly, our house is not in dire need of painting, and I am sure that whoever buys it will want to pick out their own colors, etc.  The rent house is another story!!  D-i-r-e need of paint, *fer sure*.  I still have to call about the water and electric at the rent house...

I am trying to find someone to get the yard in shape over there--my parents said that there might be poison ivy behind the garage, and the people who "rented" (my parents were too nice) the house last year left a lot of odds/ends stuff in the back yard.  If I could find someone to clean it up, edge it, etc. before we get there in two weeks (time's a-flyin'), then I am going to have my husband buy a trampoline to set up for the boys.  This would give them something to play on while we are working on the house, unpacking, etc. 

More later...

Lamb took this picture of Tess at the little beach house in March.  I have been taking Tess to the vet every week to be dipped for mites.  She has some kind of inherited mite that, while not contagious to us, made a spot of hair fall out on her back.  She will need 4-5 treatments; yesterday was her third treatment.  At $30/dip, I am hoping the fourth treatment is the last!  I could have dipped her at home for $20/dip, but after hearing about all of the hazards of the dip, it was worth it to me to pay more and take her to the vet once a week!

I discovered this recipe years ago when my sister and I were hosting our annual Mother's Day Tea (a tradition that might be revived this summer, since we'll be living so close again!!  We'll have to make it a "Summer Tea" instead, LOL!).

Iced Tea Punch:

2 liter bottle of ginger ale

1 cup of Lipton Iced Tea Mix (raspberry, peach, or lemon)

Mix well one cup of  Iced Tea Mix together with two liters of ginger ale.  Add crushed ice. Optional garnishes:  spearmint leaves, raspberries, lemon slices.

Our family favorite is the raspberry--I make it by the pitcher or by the glass (I just do it by taste, but it might be about a tablespoon of mix to 12 oz. ginger ale).

This past week, I bought the Walmart knock-off brand of iced tea mixes (peach and raspberry).  We had a pitcher of raspberry tea last night and it was delicious--I did not notice a significant difference in taste, but some might prefer Lipton.

Woo, my heart is still pounding!  There was a 3-foot snake playing in my front yard today.  When my son went out to get the mail, the snake fled to the ditch, which is still holding water from Friday night's storm.  He was out on the lawn again when Lamb took our puppy outside. 

I am so grateful that some of my neighbors were home--two guys next door and another gal mowing her lawn on our other side.  She brought a hoe and the guys brought a 22 rifle!

I gladly surrendered my shovel to one of the guys~for all of the snakes we have out here, I have always been able to find someone to kill them for me, if my husband is not at home.   

The snake was in the water-filled culvert of the driveway.  He would poke his head out of one side, but swiftly avoided the shovel, hoe, and gun (not all happening at once, LOL). 

He finally tried to make a "run" for it--and one of the guys was able to get him with the shovel.  I was worried that he was a water moccasin or copperhead (we have a creek behind our house and we never know what might show up), but it looks like he might have been a big rat snake.

Spring is the time of year when we have to check the front and back yards before we let the boys run and play.  Our cats?  They haven't brought me a snake, yet!!  They leave us gifts of birds, moles, lizards, frogs...but no snakes!

Sailor planted sunflower seeds last week and they have already sprouted:

We won't eat these, but there is a great post about sunflower (and other) sprouts here!

Our first strawberry of the season, from our one and only plant, LOL:

My bucket is patiently waiting to collect rain~I have left it out for the past few overcast days, hoping for a little (or big!) shower to fill it up.

Because, dear reader, I want to rinse my hair with rain water!  I have been reading the above book and at the end of each month there is a creative to-do list with "Joyful" suggestions.  Victorian women believed that rainwater made their hair softer, and since it is something I have never tried before and is *free*, I set out my bucket! 

My "Joyful Simplicities" list for you:

• Go on an early morning or evening walk, while the air is cool
• Make suntea
• Browse a bookstore
• Light a candle, fill your bath with hot water, and add half a cup of powdered milk and a fourth of a cup of honey~softens and smooths skin!
• Bring flowers in from outside or buy a $3.00 bouquet when you shop for groceries
• Play a piano or earth-sounds CD while the children work on their lessons
• Spritz on your favorite perfume every day

Update:  8:58 p.m.--Flashes of lightning and lots of thunder--maybe my bucket will be full for tomorrow, LOL!