Backyard Visitor

This new visitor has been causing a stir in our yard for a few weeks now.








We think it is a female Merlin and we know when she is about by the number of bird strikes to the windows (despite the decals) as the sparrows and finches attempt a getaway.

We now know, if the yard is quiet, she must be lurking.



Beauty comes in many forms.

For you Sue

My blogger friend Sue was asking about my clematis. Because I am rather proud of it, I will answer in a post. :)

I planted my clematis a few yrs back. Can't remember how many years. It was one stalk, maybe 2 feet tall. Looked happy, but up against the 12 feet of lattice, I am sure the poor thing felt it had rather big shoes to fill. And fill it has. It has grown from one tiny stalk a few years ago, adding each year to this year where I gave up trying to count the stalks. Every year it grows more.

Last year



















This year - it hit the top


















A few tips I have for growing clematis.

It loves hot and sunny spots. This is the hottest and sunniest spot in our yard.

It likes to have it's roots shaded. I used to plant flowers below it. Then I had a lovely plant come in from our neighbors yard. This year, the sunflowers did the job.

For winter... In warmer climates then mine, it will survive and grow from where it left off. In my climate, if I want it to continue to grow, I should lay it down in the fall and cover it. Then put it back up in the spring. Sorry, that is not going to happen. What I do is leave it all up for the winter. We put a bird feeder up and the birds move from dry vines and lattice to the feeder. It is right by the kitchen window and makes for a lovely winter show. We have already seen the sparrows start to take cover.















In spring, once it starts to grow, I cut back the dead vine. Last year, up to a foot survived. Other years, I have cut it back to the ground.

I love my clematis.

Back to St. Louis

We are booked. Heading back to St. Louis on October 4 for an appointment on October 5 with Dr. Dobbs. Back on October 6. I hate to pull Matthew out of school for two days just as he is finally easing into it but I had no choice.

I am excited to go back and see what he has to say about Matthew's progress, but at the same time, I am nervous to go back and see what he has to say about Matthew's progress.

The End Of Summer

I love summer. I love the heat, the sun, the green grass, the flowers, the wind in the leaves. I love summer.

And, I especially love our backyard in the summer. This year, we had some surprises. The bird seed that the birds knocked out in winter started growing and we now have a small sunflower garden. It is located in a beautiful spot below our deep purple clematis flowers. It has become my favorite spot in our yard.

Clematis


Potential





Sunflower



And, for night time, I wove 400 mini lights for added enjoyment. We love sitting out in the evening, enjoying a glass of wine, chatting with our neighbors here.

I am sad to say that my clematis flowers are falling and today is cool and cloudy. I fear that my summer heat will have to wait until next year. It is just out of reach, and yet, I miss it already.

And That Is What It Is Supposed To Be Like

Today is Ryan's first day of kindergarten. I can't believe my baby is in kindergarten!

He woke up early, excited, couldn't sleep. Mommy, is it time to go yet? Mommy, I am a big boy today! Mommy, can we go now?!

I had to drop Matthew off at his door a few minutes early so Ryan and I could get around the school to his door in time. Matthew had a few tears but we have been practicing deep breathing (blowing out the candles) and that helped. I told him he could do this, that his friends were right there with him, turned and left.

Ryan got to his door and lined up like he had been prepped. The teacher came out a minute later and took them inside. Ryan turned to me, smiled, waved and said Bye Mommy!

And that is what it is supposed to be like.

Whack-A-Mole

Do you ever feel like your life is one big Whack-A-Mole game?

I dropped Matthew off yesterday afternoon and he did great! He was so happy he wasn't crying that while he was standing in line, he turned around, pointed to his eyes and smiled at me. I was so relieved!

Then, after school, he was to play with his buddy J for a few minutes. He came out of the door happy and turned to wait for his new friend. J came out, went to him mom and said "Can I play with D right now?" Matthew's smile faded and he was so confused. Awww. Poor kid.

Then, after 15 min I had to take him to physio. He lost it. He had a 20 min meltdown in the car on the way. And again on the way home. And again as I was setting the table. And again as food was placed on the table. And again as food was placed on his plate. And again as he attempted to eat.

And, as of last night, the nightmares are back.

Got rid of the stress in one place, only to have it pop up in another. I suppose that was inevitable.

Whack-A-Mole games do end sometime, right?

I love It When A Plan Comes Together

I am thrilled to say things are looking up. And by looking up, I mean good for us. I would think that for most parents, where we are now would still be considered difficult. But we are far from where we have been.

Matthew woke Monday morning sobbing at 7 am. Many tears and protests later, I was able to get through to his teacher before school started. I asked if she could introduce the outdoor supervisor to him at recess. She said no problem. I took him to school and he sobbed and told me he was scared of the bell, of all the kids, of all the kids rushing to the building when the bell went. He sobbed in line until he went through the door.

I fretted all morning. Wondering how it was going, wanting to be a fly on the wall... but only if the news were good.

I picked him up for lunch and he said his morning was good! Then he told me he only cried two times. But, really, it is his perception that counts. He felt it was good, so it was good. We added a sticker to our calender. He said he liked being with the teacher at recess, apparently stuck to her like glue. Again, better then sobbing at the door for 15 min.

I dropped him off for the afternoon and was confronted by the playground supervisor. Apparently adults are NOT allowed on school grounds during the lunch hour without a visitor badge. I apologized and said I was unaware as it was not stated in the handbook. To which she replied (rather curtly I might add) that she in fact had never read the handbook but this is the rule. She was so confrontational that it started Matthew crying, who by the way had at that point gone the longest without crying. So now, I have to stop in the office and get a visitor badge every lunch time.

Dropped him off again sobbing. Kids around looking at him wondering what was wrong. Had to detach him from me to get him to follow the line.

Picked him up after school to another it was good Mommy comment. Again, maybe not the best in some people's eyes, but better then where we were.

The mom of the little boy asked if Matthew wanted to play on the playground afterschool rather then go our house. They did play for a few minutes. That was good, but it was not the connection I was hoping for. I wanted the boys to be one on one. No other kids to distract their play. Better connection that way. But better then nothing.

This morning, there were tears again but his teacher said that he actually played on the playground at recess as she was the supervisor today. Her goal for him is tomorrow to play with a friend for the whole recess. She also mentioned that he seemed to be terrified of the toilet flushing. Yup, that's Matthew.

So, not tear free, not "I love school" but much much better. And better days are coming.