Take Me to the Fair

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do,

something to love, and something to hope for."

~Joseph Addison

As I mentioned last week, Little Chick loves going to carnivals. So, once again, I surprised her with another fair. Boy was she happy!! I get such pleasure seeing her giggle and smile at everything as she walks through and goes on the rides. It all seems so simple to us adults, but so grand to our children. In regards to this particular quote, this is something we love to do. Little Chick and her adorable smile is something to definitely love. And more carnivals is something we both hope for. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Smile Sunday

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." ~Mother Teresa

A Picture says a thousand words!

Have a great holiday!

Silver Linings

"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content." ~Helen Keller

Today a friend confided in me that she felt sad and downtrodden by many disappointing circumstances that have arisen in her life over the past few years. At a recent event she had been surrounded by other mothers and wives who appeared to be so happy and giddy, making her feel even worse about everything going on in her world.

It is so easy for all of us to "compare" our lives with other people we come in contact with. We all do it, and as much as we try to focus on our many blessings, a sad heart must be able to truly feel the pain in order to make sense of what our reality is so that we may move on. I am not sure how many of us have gotten the "life we planned on", but I do know for sure that we have to hold on tight to the life we were given and give thanks.

I wish I could help my friend's anguish and grant her wishes so that she could feel that sense of fulfillment she so desperately needs at this time. She is the example of what we all feel at points in our lives. It is how we deal with it that makes all the difference. As I said in my post yesterday, I turn to nature, music and poetry to help heal my soul. As cliche as it sounds, there is always a silver lining behind every dark cloud. The only thing I can do is be there for her and let her know I love her. I know she will get over this hurdle even stronger, because it is through adversity we learn and grow.

Kiss the Tears Away

"My heart is happy, my mind is free.

I had a father who talked with me."

My Dad was always the one to make "everything" better in my life. He was the one who kissed the tears away. When my father passed away I turned to my love of music and poetry to help me through the pain. I also found myself driving to the reservoir, the beach and anywhere I could feel at one with nature. Who or what helps you to feel better?

It is amazing how we can rely so much on someone or something to help us get through the icky parts of life. We realize what we had when we no longer have it. For me, I was fortunate to have such a profound passion for the Arts and nature. It truly helped soothe some of the angst I was going through (and still do at times) .

I wonder if this inherent love for music and nature and instinctive relying on it can be taught to Little Chick? I will always be there to kiss her tears away, but I want her to have these strong helpful friends when she is in need of a "renewal" of spirit and hope.

Thanksgiving Thursday

"Not what we say about our blessings,

but how we use them,

is the true measure of thanksgiving."

It is Thanksgiving Thursday again and I am happy to take the time to reflect on the things that mean so much to me. Last week I started my post with the quote by Oprah Winfrey saying that we should keep a grateful journal and write five things we are thankful for each night. I wrote the five things I am most thankful for, which started with Little Chick and my family. I then gave thanks to having security (shelter, food, etc.) and for the gift of being able to see and hear this wonderful earth we are blessed with. I could and would always start with these on my list of five things. So this week I will of course put Little Chick and family first and then choose a different four. Here are my five blessings I am truly grateful for today:

1.) Little Chick and my family.
2.) Air conditioning (it was over 90 degrees today and humid).
3.) The ability to read.
4.) To live in a country where we have freedom and women's voices can be heard.
5.) To have a family who loves me so much!

What are your five blessings you are thankful for today?

Moments of Wonder

"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood."

I find this quote rather powerful! Everything for Little Chick is a wonder and exciting! Her eyes open wide and her smile is so genuine when she wakes up and sets out for the day. Every morning when we open the front door she bursts out and talks to the birds, then starts running a bit and playing with sticks and flowers. She doesn't care if the grass is wet and her shoes get soaked from the early morning dew. She just wants to enjoy what she is surrounded with and "seize the moment".

I often find myself telling her that we need to get in the car or it is time to go. This quote really makes me realize that although there are schedules to keep and be on time for, if I truly reevaluate what is important, I would have to say being late a couple of minutes so Little Chick can have her moments of wonder.

Having read this quote, I will try to make it a point to leave the house a couple of minutes earlier so Little Chick can bask and romp in nature's gifts. I will also try to renew my sense of looking at the world as "fresh and new and beautiful". We all know it, but do we really take the time to have a "clear-eyed vision" of how amazing it really is?

Viewing Things Differently

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

~Elizabeth Stone

Isn't it funny how different we become and view things once we are parents? We are no longer number one - our children's needs and wants come first. It is a time we instantly grow up and learn to prioritize. Along with this comes the worry and desire to stay healthy and to eliminate risks.

When I was younger I loved to save my money and travel every chance I got. I drove in my Jeep Wrangler (a very bumpy ride I might add) from Connecticut down to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and found myself an apartment for three months. I did not know anybody there at the time and when I look back now I think about the many risks I took traveling alone in another country. I ended up living there for two years.

This was a time that I also started skydiving. I had a huge fear of heights so I figured I would jump out of a plane in order to conquer it (13,500 ft jump and 6000 ft free fall). I did this many times up until the year before I had my daughter. Would I ever do it again? Never! I am in a different place in my life now and my daughter comes first. I don't want or need to take unnecessary risks.

My adventures now include Little Chick! I plan on traveling with her and sharing the most amazing journey together as mommy and daughter!

Make sure to enter this week's raffle! Details on the left!

High Expectations or Poor Manners?

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak,

but their echoes are endless."

~Mother Teresa

Recently I had a few scenarios that caused me to question whether or not I have high expectations for people or if they simply do not have manners. All of these situations gravitated around not understanding why people don't say a simple thank you anymore. As I have said in past posts, it does not take much to just say a kind word to someone else.

By nature I am a "giver". I tend to want to go way beyond the call of duty to help others and to hopefully see them smile. Oddly, I get more thank yous from Little Chick (a three year old) then I do from adults who should know better. But this is my conundrum! Do they know any better? I know I wrote a post last month called "When You Give, You Get" and it talked about not expecting reactions from the people we give to, but to give because we want to. I believe that, however, there is a point where I truly wonder when people start taking the kindness of others for granted.

We live in a society today where there are many excuses about being so "busy" and "over scheduled" that it seems like people think its OK to hide behind this and at times be, quite frankly, rude. My nature and personality always tries to look at the good side of everything, but when do we stop and say, "Hey, where are your manners?"

We teach our children to say "please" and "thank you", but there are many adults who don't do this themselves. My feelings got hurt quite a bit lately because of this scenario and what I have learned from it is to make sure I am always conscientious of taking the time to be thankful and to say it when it is do. Perhaps my expectations from others will lead to more hurt in the future, but at least I know I am doing the right thing and Little Chick can learn this from my example.

The winner of Sunday's raffle is Amy at Marvelous Mommy! Congratulations!

Smile Sunday

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may
look back and realize they were the big things."

Little Chick loves to go to carnivals! Last year we went to at least five and this year we are aiming to go to as many as we can! To see her face light up when we arrive at each fair is so beautiful! So far we have been to three.

Today I did not tell Little Chick where we were going, but I said I had a surprise for her. Both she and I LOVE surprises!! The entire ride in the car she asked me what her surprise would be. I explained that it would not be a surprise if I told her, but that she would really like it. She enjoyed this little game we were playing. When we arrived and I parked the car, Little Chick still could not see any rides. As we walked over a small hill, across the street and passed some trees, all of a sudden Little Chick started jumping up and down yelling, "The fair, the fair!" The next thing I knew, she grabbed my leg, kissed it, and then looked up at me with an enormous smile and said, "Oh thank you mommy. I am so excited. Thank you!!" I wanted to cry. It was the most sincere thank you I have ever gotten.

We had so much fun! Little Chick went on every ride they had for little munchkins. She also loved feeding the llamas, goats, and donkeys. It was a really great time and Little Chick had a smile from ear to ear. Happy Smile Sunday!

I will announce the winner of the raffle on Monday!!

Radiant Smile

"You will find, as you look back upon your life,

that the moments that stand out are the

moments when you have done things for others."

I have always found that I am happiest when I am giving of myself to others. Right now my main focus is to give all that I can to Little Chick and to seize any opportunity the day may bring to be helpful and kind to someone else. As I have mentioned before, I would like my daughter to learn from my example to be considerate and to have compassion for her peers.

There are so many occasions that arise throughout each day that we can choose to do something thoughtful. It is easy to let these moments slide due to our busy schedules. I am also guilty of missing certain opportunities to do a kind gesture for someone. However, I am trying to make myself conscientious enough so that when they do make themselves present, I do something about them.

One thing my father taught me was to beam a smile when I walk into a room, greet people with a warm hello, and to always say a huge thank you when someone does something for me. I never really realized how often I do this until Little Chick and I were in the deli the other day. The woman behind the baked goods counter asked me if Little Chick could pick out a cookie and I said yes. My daughter walked over to the counter and with a large smile she said, "Good morning, nice lady!" It was like watching my Dad walk into a room all over again carrying this ever present light. The woman handed her a cookie and she immediately said, "Thank you so much, that is so nice!" Everyone was smiling, including myself. Although it was something so small, Little Chick was able to light up a room and spread some smiles all around!

There are big things and tiny ones that we all can do throughout our days to bring a little joy to someone else. Obviously my Dad's friendliness and radiant smile has left a lasting impression in my life. It did not cost anything nor did it take up any extra time out of his day. What it did do was make a positive difference in the generations following him.

Spreading Light

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be
The candle or the mirror that receives it."

We have the power to be extremely influential in the lives of others. I learned this from my father, who had touched so many lives through his kind and loving spirit and his huge giving heart. I feel blessed to have known such a man and even more grateful that it was my own father. I am hoping through my actions Little Chick will learn to be kind and giving to others.

My Dad died twelve years ago and it was a devastating time for me. I had been finishing up my Masters in Education and doing my Student Teaching in the inner city. There was a point after his passing that I felt that I could not go on. Then one day I received cards from my 3rd grade students. They told me they missed me and they wished I would come back. There was one particular card from a student whose home life was extremely difficult. He had drawn a picture of my father up in the sky with wings and he and myself below looking up. The card said, "Your father is an angel up in heaven now. Please be our angel in school again." That moment I realized that everything my father had given to me needed to be passed on to my students. This boy was an example of how difficult things could be in life, yet he always entered the classroom with a huge smile on his face.

I loved teaching! I just received cards from students thanking me for being such an influence in their lives and asking me to go to their graduations. I don't know if my father knew what an influence he had been on so many lives, and I am not sure what role I have played in my students lives. However, I do know that we all need to give of ourselves as much as we can. We don't know just how much we may influence a life.

Thanksgiving Thursday

"Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change your perspective of your day and your life."
~Oprah Winfrey

Once again it is Thanksgiving Thursday! This is my day to truly take the time to reflect. I really love this quote from Oprah Winfrey, because it is something so simple, yet can have such a profound impact on how we think. It is a way that we can reflect each day and truly give thanks for all of our blessings.

Here are my five things that I am grateful for today:

1.) Little Chick and my family!

2.) Security (safe home, food, clothes, essentials)

3.) My ability to see this amazing Earth and to hear the incredible sounds in nature, as well as, music and most of all Little Chick's adorable little voice!!

4.) My gift of a healthy agile body. I can dance, run, climb and play with Little Chick!!

5.) My ability to see that there is so much to be grateful for.

Yesterday I was very sad thinking about my desire to have another child. I spent the day running around with my daughter outside and it put things back into perspective. Reflecting and writing our blessings may not take away all of the pain and longing I may have to create a sibling for Little Chick, but it does put the perspective in place - I am truly blessed!

Make sure to enter the raffle!! Details on left.

We Should Dance

"Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here we should dance."

My friend sent me this quote a couple of months ago and I just loved it!! I have been blessed with so much love in my life and all the essentials for daily living. I am very thankful for that. However, lately (well, longer than lately) I have been getting rather stressed about wanting Little Chick to have a sibling. Yesterday my friend came over and I held her adorable six month old baby. That kicked in my "mommy clock". As I mentioned in my About Mama Hen page, I went through years of longing to be a mom and then God blessed me with the most incredible gift - Little Chick!! I am just having "guilt" feelings that she won't have any one to share her special thoughts with and complain about me to as she gets older.

It always comes down to me wanting the absolute best for Little Chick! When I was younger I had a vision of "what it would be" as an adult. In that picture, Little Chick had a sibling. As much as it is important to set goals and reach for the stars, there are just some things that are not God's plan. It is something I have to work on about myself and accepting that things don't always turn out the way we expect them to. I know that Little Chick does not know any different that she is an only child at this point. I just want to be able to give her the moon! The mind is a powerful thing and we need to find acceptance in the things that are not within our control. So, while the vision is not what I had planned on, I am going to make sure that Little Chick and I dance every day!!

Thank you so much Tiffany at My Crazy Kind of Wonderful for presenting me with the One Lovely Blog Award!

The rules of the "One Lovely Blog Award" are as follows:Accept your award and post it on your blog along with a link to the person who has sent it to you. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. You must contact the person to let them know that you have chosen them to receive the award.I will be passing along the One Lovely Blog award to:

The Thoughts and Travels of Rachel Cotterill, Ashlee Comma Love, Midatlantic Mommy , Lissy in Italy , Glitter Shoes, Polka Dots & Pink Lemonade , Taking It All In , 29 Lincoln Avenue, The Mommyhood Memos, In a Nutshell , Beautiful calling , Welcome to Anything Mom, Twenty Little Toes, Little Miss Momma, A Mama Stork Knows

Congratulations ladies! You deserve it!

Make sure to enter the raffle! Details are on the left!

Up in Heaven

"Our Creator would never have made such

lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to

enjoy them, above and beyond all thought,

unless we were meant to be immortal."

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

One of my earlier posts mentioned the passing of my fourteen year old dog, Cuddles. It was a very difficult time for me and especially painful to tell Little Chick about why her little furry buddy would not be back to snuggle up with her and play with her. It happened a few months ago and she has dealt with the thought of him being up in Heaven pretty well until this week.

When it first happened it had taken me a while to get the courage up to tell her. I made excuses about where the dog was and I simply could not get the strength or heart to divulge the truth. I finally explained that Cuddles was up in Heaven with her Granddaddy and Uncle George. She liked the idea that they were way up like the birdies watching over us and keeping us safe.

The other day Little Chick woke up and asked if she could take Cuddles for a walk. She said that she did not want him up in the big sky any more. My eyes welled up with tears as I had to explain to her that Cuddles would not be back, but that he was looking down on us from up in Heaven. She said she didn't want him there any more and that she wanted him to come home. She got very quiet and then said, "Mommy, I really miss him."

As a parent we want to protect our children from anything and everything that would ever hurt them, but the reality is that we can't always protect them. It is a hard lesson for both parent and child. We can only try our best to soothe their beautiful little hearts and souls.

Come and enter the raffle to the left!

I Go to Nature

“I go to Nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in tune once more.”

I have always been a “nature” lover. I crave the beach and the salt air blowing all around me. I also love the woods and the calm I feel when I am sitting in the middle of God’s masterpiece. Since I was little I have started the habit of “looking up” when I am in the midst of nature. It is symbolic of what I want to create in my inner being - a sense of peace and positivity.

I want to instill this passion for nature in Little Chick, however, I think children already come with it. It is something that needs to be nurtured and held onto. We all can get lost in the craziness of “schedules” and it is up to us to make sure we don’t allow it to take away from the simplicity of what’s all around us.

When it is nice out I make sure we spend as much time outdoors as possible. Little Chick loves to help me water the flowers, feed the birds, and do some planting. She enjoys running around our yard with our dog Pudding chasing after her. Whether it is Winter in the snow or Spring with the flowers we love to settle down in the grass and simply “look up”. We watch the trees dancing in the wind and listen to the symphony of nature.

Little Chick helps me to revisit all the most important things in my life.

Smile Sunday - What an Honor

Mommy just got three awards from her wonderful fellow bloggers!! I am so proud of you mommy!! This flower is for you!

I have just been given three awards and I am ecstatic that two very special ladies thought so highly of Mama’s Little Chick. I want to say a huge thank you to Ashlee from Love Comma Ashlee for awarding me the Sunshine Award and also the Super Comments Award. Another mammoth thank you goes to Tiffany at My Crazy Kind of Wonderful for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award.

Both Tiffany and Ashlee are wonderful writers and their blogs were placed in my “favorites” the first time I saw them!

The Versatile Blogger Award

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

1.) Thank the person who gave you this award.

Thank you so much Tiffany! I am truly honored!!

2.) Share 7 things about yourself.

~I love to dance! I spent many years as a competitive ballroom dancer.
~I used to live in Mexico for two years and I have always considered it another home.
~I did a lot of theater when I was in my teens and twenties. I miss acting!
~I love the beach and taking Little Chick as much as possible when the weather is nice.
~I used to date a famous rock star for over two years.

I wanted children and he wanted to win more Grammies, so we split.
~I love to write poetry.
~ I love, love, love a nice cup of coffee!

2.) Pass the award along to 10 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic! I added an 11th because there are so many amazing blogs!!

Mrs. F at As the Forest{e} Grows

Ashlee at Love Comma Ashlee

Neelam at Being Zara and Zidan
Allison and Team at No Time For Flashcards

Gina at The Ish Blog
Stacey at 29 Lincoln Avenue
Cheryl at Boots in the Doorway

Big Fat Mama at Big Fat Mama
The Girl with a Plan at Ready.Set.Plan
Veronica at Of Rice and Ramen
Alysha at The Tarr Pit

Thank you so much Ashlee for honoring me with the Sunshine Award! I really appreciate it!!

I pass this award along to:

Mrs. F at As the Forest{e} Grows Tiffany at My Crazy Kind of Wonderful Wanda at At Last...We Are Family Pamela at Music for Special Kids Gina at The Ish Blog

Once again Ashlee, thank you so much for yet another award! I feel so honored!

The Comments Award!!

With this award comes 10 questions that Ashlee has made up for me:
1.)Why do you blog?
I love to write! I enjoy sharing the amazing journey my daughter and I are on, as well as trying to inspire others.
2.) What are your three best memories?
Being blessed with Little Chick!!!!! Sunday breakfast with my beloved Dad and family. Going to the beach with Little Chick! 3.) If you had to change your real name, what would you change it to?
Got me thinking!! Hmmmm! Soraya. 4.) What are 5 things you can't live without?
Family, shelter, food, camera and pictures, and the beach. 5.) What are the the 4 best books you have ever read?
The Ultimate Gift, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, The Kite Runner, The Sacrifice of Tamar 6.) Tell me something unique & interesting about yourself?
I am a hopeless romantic and very old fashioned. I wish I could have lived in the “ballroom days” and danced with Fred Astaire. 7.) What do you love about yourself?
My enormous love for others!
8.) What is the best movie ever made?
Gone with the Wind 9.) If you have a Freaky Friday experience who would you want to trade places with and why? A young Ginger Rogers so I could dance the night away!! 10.) What's the best part about being a woman?
Being a mommy!!!!!

I pass this award on to:

Tiffany at My Crazy Kind of Wonderful Neelam at Zara and Zidan

Congratulations!! Now answer the ten questions, pass the award on to your favorite bloggers and create your own ten questions for them.

I want to thank Tiffany and Ashley once again for giving me these three wonderful awards!! What an honor!!

P.S. I have had some computer issues, so please disregard the spacing above. It is not how I set it up!

"I have learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one
of the most peaceful feelings in the world."

Remember the other day when I mentioned how I reunited with an “old friend” of mine? My beloved poetry and quote books. Well, I have been going through them with such fervor and loving every second of it! Today I stumbled upon a poem that I remembered had such a profound impact on me the first time I read it years ago. It was yet another “reminder” about certain things in my life that I need to take a closer look at. I have posted this poem called “Life Lessons” in my Get Inspired sidebar (at the right). Please take the time to click on Mama Hen’s Inspirations and read it. It is the first poem. It is a definite keeper and one that I know “everyone” will get something out of.

Reading it made me think about the things “I have learned” so far in my thirty-nine years of life. To begin with, God has thrown quite a few painful life lessons in my past years and I have truly learned that we need to pick ourselves up no matter what and move on no matter how hard it may be. I have also learned that as much as we plan for things, we better be prepared for detours and bumps along the way. I have learned that no matter how hard we try to obtain something, God has the ultimate plan for us and we need to be patient and trust in Him. I have learned that perhaps His plan is completely different then my own. AND finally, I have learned that His plan is by far much greater then what I had envisioned.

As I wrote about in my “About Mama Hen” page, I waited a very VERY long time for Little Chick and went through quite a bit before she got here. I am so pleased to be able to share our special stories with you! I know I keep saying it, but she truly is the greatest blessing in my life!

Belly Laughs

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.”
~Angela Schwindt

Yesterday when I picked Little Chick up at preschool it was such a lovely day (after all the rain and cold weather we just had) that many of the moms just let the kids play with each other out on the front lawn of the building. The teacher in me (or maybe it was the child) started to sing some counting songs with them. All of the children were giggling and running around.

One child discovered that there was a little hill of grass that sloped down towards the school. He went right to the top, plopped himself in the lawn, and proceeded to roll down. Little Chick saw this and, of course, jumped into this fun game! Before you knew it, all of the little munchkins were climbing up and rolling down. They bumped into one another and all you could hear were belly laughs. They were sweaty and their hair was covered in freshly cut grass, but they didn’t care! Watching this filled my soul with such happiness! I began singing, “There were ten in the bed, and the little one said, roll over, roll over.” The kids kept asking me to sing more each time the song ended.

It was so “simple” and so “perfect”. It was one of those moments you want to capture in time. I wondered how many of us allow the inner child to roll through the grass like we used to? The children were so silly and the laughter was contagious. At what point do we start to get “serious” and lose a bit of the “silliness”? I always try to be silly with Little Chick, but as with all of us, things have to get done (endless dishes, laundry, bills, cooking, etc) and we can get tired. I took a mental note, however, of what simple and free fun all of the kids had. It reminded me to let lose and let my inner child come out more often!

Little Chick on Mother's Day happy running around with the ribbon from my present!

Little Chick is my greatest gift!

Thanksgiving Thursday

“A single grateful thought towards heaven is the most complete prayer.”

Well, it is Thanksgiving Thursday again and I can’t believe how fast this week has passed. This is where I need to “stop” and really think about the things I am thankful for. In the hustle & bustle of life we are always getting caught up in the “daily necessities” and it truly can be very difficult to put on the breaks and just “take a moment.” A moment for ourselves, a moment for our children, and a moment to breathe in and simply say “thank you".

If I think about my many blessings, Little Chick will always be first. I waited a long time for her (as I talked about in my About Me page) and since God blessed me with my baby in 2006, I never let a day go by without thinking about what an absolute miracle it is!

I am so grateful for the shelter I have. Sometimes I think we can take things like this for granted. It started raining last night and it got really cold in my house. I grabbed an extra blanket and turned the heat back on. Yes, the heat! I thought about the people out there who don’t have heat, or a blanket (let alone an extra one), or even shelter!

I think we all feel thankful throughout our days, but it is not until we truly “take a moment” and think about how much we really have, that it starts to resonate within us.

Here is Little Chick and her new tire swing! It finally came! Thank you jungle gym company! You made one little girl very happy!!

What Keeps You Going?

"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply,

to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed."

What keeps you going? For me, first and foremost, it is Little Chick, family and living life! When I hear her sweet voice in the morning my heart just melts! She keeps me going in a way that I have never known. I have always been a go-getter and one to set goals with a determination to accomplish them. However, at this point in my life my goals are wrapped around providing the best home and life possible for Little Chick.

The other day I bumped into an old friend of mine. It was like seeing my “first love” after all these years. My heart raced and my face carried a smile plastered from ear to ear. That friend was my good old faithful poetry and quotation books. Yes, BOOKS. They had been settled at my mom’s house for the past four years or so, because we moved a few times. I wanted to keep them safe at moms. I had been missing them, because all of my life I referred to them with such a passion and devotion. They were there for me through the good times and the bad! They always kept me going!

So, now that we have purchased our home and should be staying a while I was ready to go and fetch my old pals. I have to say that it is you, my bloggy friends, that made me realize that there was a yearning for my fine references. They have always inspired me and I want to pass that inspiration on to you and Little Chick.

Little Chick is what keeps me going!

What I Wouldn't Do For Little Chick

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet."

Last Tuesday I called the guy who put our new jungle gym in our backyard and asked him when he would be bringing the door to the little house that came with it (something they forgot when installing). I also told him to bring a tire swing for a tree we have out back and an extra swing (to avoid any sad munchkins when there are more than two on a playdate). I gave him my credit card number and asked when he would be coming. He said as long as I have the chain on the tree they could come the next day. I said, "Great! I am heading to the hardware store right now. See you tomorrow."

So I picked up the chain and went home to take a look at the tree. Hmmmmmmmm! It was pretty big and very tall!!!! So, I journeyed to the garage and picked up the heavy ladder and walked it down our big hill out back. I proceeded to stretch it as long as it would go (about 14 feet or so) and then leaned it on the tree. As I was climbing I had some strong mommy thoughts. "What if I fall? What would Little Chick do?" The chain was heavy, but I got it over the branch. Feeling a bit shaky I scooted back down the ladder.

I went and called a friend of mine and told her I needed to get this chain up so they could deliver and hang the tire in the morning. I explained that I was afraid of falling and needed someone there just in case. The great friend that she is, she packed her three kids (ages four, two and five months) and came right over. We headed down the steep hill and while looking at the tree she gave me an "Are you crazy look." Anything for my Little Chick! Like a monkey I started to climb once again and it began to pour. So there I was scared and hanging from the branch with the chain around my neck trying to secure it. Thunder and lightning were added to this wonderful event and kids were running up the hill and by God I got it done. An entire week has passed and they seem to have forgotten to bring the swing. It's all good though! Little Chick will be so happy when they finally come! They say tomorrow! Let's hope!

The "Dog"wood Festival

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

We had such a great day! We started our morning by going out for breakfast. It was so nice not having to cook (or do dishes). Then we told Little Chick that we were going to the Dogwood Festival. This is a really nice event that has taken place here in Connecticut as far back as I can remember. In the car Little Chick said she could not wait to get to the "Dog" Festival. I told her that it was the Dogwood Festival, but she didn't care. She went on and on filled with excitement about the "Dog" Festival! It was the cutest thing!

When we arrived and saw all the tents and people Little Chick yelled, "The Dog Festival! The Dog Festival!" We bundled up (it has been ridiculously cold here) and started walking around. To my utmost surprise, what did I see, but dogs EVERYWHERE!! In all the thirty something years I have been coming to this affair I have never seen people with their dogs! Little Chick was smiling from ear to ear chasing after every four legged friend she saw and I was running right behind her saying, "Make sure you ask the owner if you can pet the dog." This went on the entire time we were there. Here are just a few of the many "dog" pictures I got. Little Chick must have greeted at least twenty of her furry friends.

It truly was the DOG FESTIVAL!