Make Yourself at Home, Why Don'tcha

If you hang around this blog long enough, you're going to hear about moose. A moose highway happens to run behind our house, and the skinny-legged twig eaters are constantly zipping past our family room. I knew we had a problem when, a few days after moving into our home, I was unpacking a box in the living room and heard a slow clop clop clop coming from outside. What the Sam Hill? Is someone riding their horse up my driveway? A mother moose and her calf meandered over to the large picture window and shot me the evil eye, then hung out ON THE DECK until they were good and ready to move on. I think they were sending me a message, and it wasn't Welcome to the Neighborhood.

They are so common around here that I honestly don't even think to document most of the moose sightings. If I did, I'd be spending all my days photographing the moose eating our lilac bush or the moose trying to hide behind a skinny birch tree or the moose who gave birth in our yard or the moose napping underneath the girls' swingset. Frankly, they don't impress me. In fact, they annoy me.

The nerve. This rude cow just laid her fat butt right down outside my bedroom window and stayed there for hours. Daisy barked herself hoarse and the twins worked themselves up into a tizzy shouting, "Moose, Mommy! Moose!" Yes, girls, I see the moose. Yay. Isn't this exciting. Woo. Yes, she's taking a nap. WHICH IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.

Dinner last night: Italian sausage soup with cheese tortellini, biscuits

Finally, a Place to Smoke Cigars and Sip Brandy

A funny thing happened on the way to Lent. On day 2 of "40 Bags in 40 Days," I was organizing the bookshelves in my bedroom. These are the only real bookshelves in our house, partly because we have twin toddlers who pull everything off from any surface they can reach and partly because most of our books are still sitting in boxes out in the garage from when we moved to this house three years ago.

I was culling and dusting and re-positioning items, when I realized that I barely have enough books to fill two shelves. The rest hold DVDs, framed pictures, and objects d'art. I sat back on the floor and thought about that awhile.

I've always loved to read. Prior to kids, my husband and I had large shelving units in our home, overflowing with books. We were usually the exception among our family and friends. Most homes I've visited do not display books; this has always secretly surprised me, especially when I know the occupants are college-educated and were required to read all sorts of books to get through school. Did they just throw them away? Are they hidden in a secret room?

I've come to realize that bookshelves look cluttered, and most people don't like the mess. Many people who do read for pleasure use the public library and don't buy their books. And, of course, in the past few years the Internet has eliminated the need to keep reference materials such as encyclopedias or a dictionary/thesaurus or a collection of famous quotations on hand. Even knowing all I do about clutter and frugality and wasted space, as I sat there on my bedroom floor looking at my measly collection of books, I realized that I LOVE BOOKS. And I've missed seeing some of my favorites. I've been wanting to re-read Cold Sassy Tree, but haven't bothered yet to check it out from the library or buy it, because I know it's stored somewhere out in the garage. So I made a decision right then and there. I'm going to go find some bookshelves and make myself a library.

We've got this really wide hallway that has been sitting empty. It connects the "old" part of the house with the new addition (built prior to our buying this home). I've never quite known what to do with this space, but I think it makes a perfect library. The fact that I found these bookshelves on clearance confirmed that I was making the right decision! I went through all my boxes of books and got rid of a lot, so there's plenty of room to add new ones, and—once the twins are a little older and not so destructive—I will incorporate a few of my favorite things, like my carousel music box and my grandmother's vase and the kids' pottery.

The library decor is far from finished. I have a beautiful Tiffany-style lamp, still in its box, that's been waiting a good year or more for the right spot. I also will hang more art on the walls to go along with the picture you see there, which was painted by my dad. Until we replace the carpet with hardwood flooring, I will lay down a pretty rug. I know, I know, you're not supposed to put rugs on carpeting, but this is MY library and I'll do as I please. Even if everyone else thinks it's messy and a waste of money.

Dinner last night: macaroni and cheese

Saturday with Sterling

My daughter's been 12 for less than a week, and already she's changing. After never expressing the tiniest interest in boys, she asked me this past weekend to take her to the mall so that she could meet Sterling Knight. If you're like me, you're thinking, "Sterling who?" Even though we don't receive cable TV, she knows that he is a popular Disney actor and singer, and took a deep breath to calm her nerves before explaining this well-known fact to her clueless mother.

Obviously, if I have never heard of this young man then he is not famous. Sonny With a Chance? Please. Now, Lawrence Welk re-runs on PBS . . . there's some talent for you. I'll bet you any money this Sterling kid can't play an accordian, tap dance, and sing at the same time. Grandpa? Is that you? Next I'll be lecturing my daughter that she should be listening to a real singer like Perry Como, instead of that hippie named Elvis.

I may be a pop culture ignoramus, but I'm also a big sucker, so my girl succeeded in convincing me to drive her to the mall so she could say hi to this Knight character. She assured me she would use her very own birthday money to pay for his autograph and picture, but I had to promise to take her 45 minutes early in case there was a line. Her instincts were correct. At least 150 restless adolescents were already waiting, and the line that quickly piled up behind my daughter was UNbelievable.

Maybe this guy IS popular.

I left my daughter in line with a couple of friends who had also shown up, and went shopping for awhile. Just as I was returning to the meet-and-greet area, I heard a murmuring from the back of the line . . . the rumbling grew and grew in volume, then morphed in pitch, until it was a cacophony of screams and laughter. Here he comes! I was ready to take a picture. The only problem? I have no idea what he looks like, so I just started snapping pictures of the entourage and hoped he was in there somewhere.

Later, when we reviewed my shots, I found just one picture in which you can actually see the person I was supposed to be photographing.

I was greatly amused watching shoppers who just happened to be passing by with no clue as to what was going on. Reactions ranged from "This must be the line to the restroom" to "OMG! It's Sterling Knight!!" *thud* as they fainted to the floor.

My daughter asked me in all seriousness if she should try to get his phone number; I kept a straight face as I told her that this event was more like a job for him and he probably wouldn't be giving out his "digits" to strangers, even those as beautiful and charming as she. She nodded, "You're right, Mom. He'd probably give me the number of his agent."

The future Mrs. Sterling Knight.

Dinner last night: curry chicken, noodles, cinnamon carrots