Lesson 1572- Life lessons I want my kids to know

More views from the Cape. (and a big announcement in the next post) There is beauty everywhere.

Teal Vans on a black and white checked floor. Sublime.

On the Cape there is art everywhere – you simply have to look for it

Even the beaches are interesting.

Weathered pier at Provincetown.

People hide treasures all over the place. This Buddha was tucked within a garden.  Cape Cod is an incredibly tolerant place.

Need to calm down? Follow this view to the ends of the world.

Evening walk with my daughter on the beach.

The weather changes quickly on the Cape. When we arrived at this beach it was sunny. Within a few minutes we were told to get out of the water. A few minutes later we were told to evacuate the beach. A minute later we were told to run. Respect the weather.

These are the last photos from our family vacation, but check out the next post to see what’s coming.

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

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Lesson 1571- Life lessons I want my kids to know

More views from the Cape. I miss early morning book reading on the porch with a cup of coffee, taking sandy shoes off by the door, and going to the beach at a moment’s notice (who wants to go for a swim?)

This is a painting that someone did on plywood, I could gaze into it for hours.

The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. When I was young and my family vacationed on the Cape, my very clever parents told us that they’d wait at the bottom of the monument to take a photo of us waving from the top. By the time we climbed and then descended those hundreds of stone stairs we’d return to the cottage ready for an afternoon nap. Such smart parenting.

Obligatory, multi-colored kayak photo.

 

If they have anything in Provincetown, it’s a good sense of humor.

Flowers in August on the Cape.

More flowers.

Finally, you never know what you’ll find in the sands of the Cape.

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1570- Life lessons I want my kids to know

We just back from a family vacation on Cape Cod. It’s the one week of the year that we all go barefoot, drink cold beers in the afternoon, read books in the early morning, talk together for hours, and basically learn how to breathe again.

I thought I’d share a few views from our past week.

Not smelling this one.

The entire family visited the Edward Gorey museum. Filled with absurd, bizarre things and a twisted sense of humor, it’s right up our alley.

Didn’t wear anything but flip-flops on my feet for the entire week.

Fisherman knots and nets were everywhere reminding us that much of our food came from the ocean right outside our front door.

And here you go. I pretty much existed on sweet, sweet clam (strips), fish, and oysters (yes I like raw oysters) all week. Add a Cape Cod Blonde Ale and I was as happy as, well – a clam.

 

I’ll post more photos from the Cape later this week (including a thunderstorm beach photo that looks like end-times are here.)

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1569- Life lessons I want my kids to know

This is a love letter of sorts.

Years ago, before I was even married, I picked up a buttercup yellow Life is Good nightshirt. I’d always been a tee-shirt sleeper kind of gal and this certainly fit the bill (while giving me the necessary modest protection advocated by my mother if I ever needed to evacuate my home in the middle of the night.)

That nightshirt has seen much over the years.

A rescued greyhound that had to learn how to trust me after being horribly abused. Eventually he felt comfortable enough to sleep on my bed.

A boyfriend who then became a husband.

A move into a new town, a new house.

Baby, after baby, after baby, after baby, after baby, after baby.

My nightshirt and I got up countless times in the night to sooth a child awakened by dreams.  “Hush, little one, there are no monsters here.”

Countless times I nursed infants in that shirt. The raised fabric cradling my babies. I’d hold the bunched fabric under their chins. “Yes, you like butter” I’d coo.

As my kids grew and learned language and colors, they called it my “sunny” shirt when I came into the room. Comforted by the reminder of sunlight, a new day coming with the always positive message of “Life is Good.”

As I’d leave their room to go back to my bed, they’d be reminded one last time by the image on the back of every mother’s prayer for her children – Life is Good.

Life is Good.

My kids are older now. Some have moved out, more are planning to.

My nightshirt has done its job. It’s filled with holes and is kitten-fur soft from all the wear, held together only by memories woven through broken threads.

The colors have faded into a dim recollection of what they once were.

I really should retire it.

But it’s those memories that cause me to hesitate.

Because even though threadbare, it holds a message that I will always want my kids to hear.

No matter how old they get.

No matter how old I get.

Life is Good.

Life is Good.

Lesson Learned – Always remember your mother’s prayer for you –

Life is Good.

Life is Good.

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1568- Life lessons I want my kids to know

I am a list maker, have always been one. It’s how I get so much accomplished during the day. If I write it down it doesn’t get forgotten and it usually gets done.

Which is exactly why I created this list years ago when the kids were little. I was going through some old papers last night and found this ancient piece of our family history.

It seems an appropriate time to post it for others who may have younger children during the often-unstructured last month of summer.

This simple list, posted in the living room, helped me during August when (at least once a day) I’d hear from one of the kids – “I’m bored.”

My response was – “Go check the list and pick out something to do.”

There was no argument and I didn’t have to spontaneously come up with ideas, there are already there in black and white.

Win for the kids. Win for the mom.

 

Lesson Learned: Preemptive organization and planning saves an awful lot of headache.

 

 

 

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1567- Life lessons I want my kids to know

My kids are getting older and are starting to ask questions like – how did you know Dad was the one?

Well, when Marc and I went on our first official date (he thinks a meeting for drinks after work was the first date but it wasn’t, it was simply a meeting after work – our first date was in Boston.) We spent the entire day together walking around Boston, eating dim sum in China town, and talking.

And talking.

And talking.

By the time we got home late in the evening, we just *knew* that we’d be spending a lot of time together.

A lot.

But something that elusive is not really helpful to my kids in their quest for finding “the right person.”

So instead of that experience, here’s how else I knew that Marc was the one for me.

When we shared a bag of chips, he went for these – his favorite kind.

And I went for these – my favorite kind.

A perfect match, no?

So my advice to my kids if they start getting serious with someone is to share a bag of chips.

And then take it from there.

 

Lesson Learned – When it’s time to decide if someone is the *right* person, pay attention to the little details of compatibility.

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1566- Life lessons I want my kids to know

 

I don’t have much time left on my knee. Each year I can see the degenerative progression. And while I’m managing the pain pretty well, there is no way to stop the ravages of time.

But it’s not like I haven’t had a good run.

In high school, after I was hit by a car, I was told to quit sports instead I ran track at the University of Connecticut.

Three times I was told I would never be able to walk independently following surgeries, instead I simply got up and left my doctors in the dust.

I was told that my body could never hold the weight of pregnancies, instead I went ahead and had 6 kids.

I was told that eventually I’d need a knee replacement to which I said – “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

I think I’m very close to that bridge.

It seems like I’m losing a little more stability each day.

When I see seats reserved for the elderly and/or handicapped I now use them preferring to sit rather than stand.

I have to be careful about what shoes I wear.

How high steps are.

Whether the ground is level.

This weekend I had a discussion with Marc about using a cane in crowds so that people won’t bump into me – the curse of death for someone with balance issues.

I’m going to do my Cape Cod walk this summer and although it’s going to be fun, it’s not going to be easy.

That bridge is within my sights and it’s getting closer and closer.

 

 

But it’s all good – no one expected me to get this far.

And just think how much father I’ll go when my knee no longer protests.

 

 

 

Lesson Learned – Resisting is good, but sometimes it’s okay to take a seat. Use the time to be quiet and listen to the world.

 

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1565- Life lessons I want my kids to know

 

 

Me: Oh look it’s The Red Balloon!

Son: More like the calling card from that creepy clown in It.

 

Lesson Learned: 

Your views are based on what you’ve been exposed to.

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1564- Life lessons I want my kids to know

This past Sunday I participated in a 5K Cinco de Miles road race.

I’ve been doing quite a few of these 5K races since I discovered that people could participate as walkers.

I used to run distance track in college, but years of surgery on my legs (me vs. a car – it wasn’t pretty), 6 pregnancies, and good old-fashioned time have done a job on my legs and joints. Some days it was tough just being upright.  In fact, four years ago while sitting in my doc’s office I remember putting my hands above my knees and telling him “If you could just cut off both of my legs right here, I’d be fine.” I though living life in a wheelchair was better than living with constant pain. I was holding my life together with narcotics and OTC pain killers and it wasn’t working.

Chronic pain sucks.

Lesson 1563- Life lessons I want my kids to know

When I was young, an abused Golden Retriever who lived next door to us began spending most of his time at our house. Our previous dog had died and we missed having a canine friend in our lives. We fed and played with this dog. At some point my mother confronted our neighbor and we took official ownership of Geoff.

Geoff was a gorgeous dog, grateful that he had constant food and a safe place to sleep. We adored him and treated him like the gentle giant he was. Geoff went with us everywhere and always joined in our neighborhood games of dodgeball and kickball. He was our friend.

I eventually went off to college and Geoff, who had gotten older just like us kids did, started to have medical problems. He had some kind of ear/cancer tumor problem that required extensive surgery. The surgery didn’t work, so they did it again.

And again.