The Summer of the YARD

Last year we spent most of our time working on the interior of our house.  It's come a long way and it feels like our own. For 2013, we're going outside.

Late last year, just before snow started blowing, we ripped down the fence on east side of our house. It was falling over so badly that previous residents had chained it to a tree. I enlisted the brawn of our friend John and a bit of help from my li'l guy. Cooper LOVES to get in the middle of whatever we're doing. Especially if it's Dad and power tools, a rake, a shovel, the list goes on.

He'll get his tools (for a while it constituted a stack of hammers) and get right down in the middle of everything. It makes getting stuff done next to impossible. This afternoon we worked in the yard and I nearly took off his foot with a shovel or smacked him with a hammer a few times. It's nerve-wracking, darling, terrifying and endearing all in the same instant. Hopefully, he's learning something... at least not to bonk yourself in the head with a rubber mallet. 

So, back to my original point... We've declared it, "The Summer of the Yard."

First on the list is Cooper's Pirate Ship.

Yes... One of these:

It may not sail the Spanish Coast, but it'll do fine plying the alleys near Lee Street. I'd like to say I'm not encouraging this, but I am... I'm just about as desperate as he is.  And every time he calls out, "Raise the sail, matey!" it only concretes my resolve.

The plans are on order, but first we have to move a playhouse, level the yard... and the list goes on.

Happy Mother's Day!

A li'l drum solo

We bought Cooper a drum kit.

He's been practicing.

I'm pretty proud.

Of my two-year-old son.

BTW... Cooper hates to be recorded, but he loves to watch himself after the fact.  It's a little hard to get anything on tape.  He wants to watch before he's done anything; hence, the anxious, "OK, I'm done!"

He wants to see the results!

10 Tactics to Prevent Colds & Flu

It's flu season and in Higher Ed, that means keeping bodies in seats through awareness, prevention.  It's your call whether you get vaccinated (I didn't this year), but everyone can wash a little longer and more frequently.  These posters went up around our locations last week... I thought I'd share the love... and a tip sheet for ya'.

Gross Sickness Avoidance Tip Sheet

1.    Wash Your Hands and Avoid Touching your Face – Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact and the germs can live for hours on keyboards, phones, etc., only to be picked up by the next person. These viruses enter the body through the nose, mouth and eyes. This is a key way that children pick up germs and pass them on to parents, siblings and friends.

2.    Use Clean Towels and Cups – Change or wash your hand towels every three or four days during cold and flu season. When washing, use hot water to kill the germs. Also, keep a supply of clean cups in each restroom.

3.    Keep Surfaces Clean – Keep a regular cleaning schedule and thoroughly sanitize those areas that a lot of people are in contact with.

4.    Drink Plenty of Fluids – Water flushes the toxins from your body and prevents dehydration. The typical adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids a day.

5.    Go Outside – Regular exposure to fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when indoor heating can dry you out and make your body more susceptible to colds and flu viruses. Open your windows a crack every now and then to circulate the air.

6.    Stay Physically Fit – Aerobic exercise helps increase the body's natural defense cells so join the local gym with a friend, or jump on a treadmill and walk while you watch your favorite show. A fit body is better equipped to fight off germs.

7.    Eat Plenty of Fruits and Veggies – Colorful fruits and vegetables are natural disease-fighting foods that contain high amounts of phytonutrients. Consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and choose from those that are fresh, canned, dried, frozen, or in juice form.

8.    Don't Smoke – Smoking zaps your immune system and dries your nasal passages. Studies have also shown that smoke paralyzes cilia, the delicate hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs. Cilia play a key role in sweeping viruses out of your body.

9.    Rest and Relax – Studies have shown that stressed individuals have up to twice as many colds as non-stressed people. Meditating and relaxing daily can strengthen your immune system by increasing interleukins (important for immune system response) in your bloodstream.

10.    Keep Tissues in All Rooms – Starting in October, make sure you have a box of tissues in every main room of your home, your car, and at your workplace. You need tissues widely available so that anyone who has to sneeze, cough or blow their nose can easily grab one and reduce the spread of germs.

Winterize Your Medicine Cabinet
A survey on medicine cabinets found that cold and flu medicines are the number one item missing when they are needed. When cold and flu medicines are found in the medicine cabinet, they are likely to be expired. Since it's important to have the proper medicine on hand when you need it, take some time this month to give your medicine cabinet a much-needed clean out and make it ready for cold and flu season. What every medicine cabinet should have:

• A thermometer
• A first aid tip sheet for quick medical reference
• A cough suppressant
• A cough expectorant
• A supply of lozenges and throat spray
• A daytime, non-drowsy cold remedy
• A multi-symptom, nighttime cold remedy
• Pain reliever (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin)
• Allergy and sinus relief (antihistamine, decongestant)
• Digestive health (anti-diarrheal, anti-gas, antacid)
• Any updated prescription medications

Source: Cheryl Bell, MS RD CDE

Christmas

It seems one of the common conversation topics I get into around the holidays is "How far ya' goin' this year?"  It may seem I'm keeping an unofficial tally of those who have to hit the most houses in the 48 hours of Christmas... kinda like running the Le Mans or something.  So far, that couple duck hunting around Kirksville this week gets my vote for the most turkey dinners this year.  You know who you are.  Wear that badge with pride.

Our family does T-Day in St. Louis and C-Day in Moberly.  Christmas Eve is always at the Hlavacs and The Day Of is at my mom's.  Four minutes of travel time for us.  Trust me... I've done the 7 hours from Chicago in blowing snow.  I'm perfectly fine with this commute.

So, the events are over and it was nice to hang out with the Schrader clan (Suzi's sister).  Over there is the annual family shot on the couch that Jan started many moons ago.  I keep that torch burning.  A bunch of the Taylors showed up at my mom's for the week... we're missing a few, but it's been awhile since we've seen Stuart & Laura, so it's cool to have them up north.

And... on to presents, I suppose, for a lack of other topics at 2AM. Speaking of Stuart & Laura... I got a little box all wrapped up with a bow.  Gotta say thanks for my first box of hollow-points!  And Hornaday at that!  Cooper's big gift this year will be another post... suffice it to say, "It might get loud..."  This partial family shot below is compliments of Ray... Bags of Texjoy seasonings, a south Texas tradition since 1921!

There are a lot more pictures over here... So, Merry Christmas to all... and to all a Good Night!

Speed Lights, Softboxes & Stuffed Up Models

I'm playing with a new softbox and speedlight set-up. 

It's hard to get models to stand still for long periods.

Lucky for me, I've got plenty of stand-ins laying about.

Meet Cooper the Chef, Arnie, & Scout.

Super (Stuffed) Models.

Merry Christmas