Crazy like a fox?

Destroyed Fuse 

It was such a crazy day for April 21.  We had two rounds of storms, trees down all over the area, lightening stuck the fuse just outside our home.  Thankfully, we never lost power but everyone south of us did.

Adorable! 

Youngest texted me with a picture of a puppy that was found at church between some storage buildings, between the crazy storms.  He has a bit of a soft heart for critters like the rest of our family.  Said it was going to be taken to the pound if someone didn't take it. I told him to send it home with Daddy and we would care for it until it was Adoptable age.  Poor thing still had it's eyes and ears closed.  A lady, who works with Gerber Baby foods was at the church preparing for a special Mom and Baby event they do each year at our church, rushed out and bought a bottle and some puppy formula.  Youngest had already named it Bear, cause that was written on the box he sent it home in.

Honey said it was up to me because I would be the one taking care of it all the time, so while the kids napped, I fed the pup from a medicine dropper and kept it warm.  Can you see a "but" coming? As I was holding in, I started to notice that it didn't look like a normal puppy, at least not one I had seen before. It's nose and toes looked different, it was larger than a normal puppy, and it wasn't soft.   I called my cousin who raised Golden Retrievers, and as we talked, and I shared a few pictures of it, she said "Oh, I think it's a fox cub!"  That started a fury of research and googling (that's a word right?), and it did look like a fox pup.  I found out that foxes are legal to keep as pets, so I started to get excited a little bit, until she texted me that she didn't think it was a fox after all.

Lady was NOT impressed nor happy

Yummo!  Feeding time! 

Funny toes and nose

I found a lady in Austin that runs a rescue organization for wild abandoned/injured critters (raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, ettc.) and after a 45 minute conversation with lots of pictures and questions, she determined it was indeed a coyote pup!!!   That started a debate what it's name should have be:  Todd, from Fox and the Hound Disney movie, or Carl, after a man from our church who's last name was Fox. What do you think?

Since they are predatory to small children, and it was a COYOTE, I knew it couldn't stay.   Oldest and I ran back into town and returned it where it was found, and decided to return after dinner to check on it.  We knew it couldn't crawl off on it's own, but it was hard to leave it there defenseless.  I know, I must have been crazy to be worried about this critter. The hard thing about returning it was I knew that at some point, someone would probably shoot it when it reached adulthood, due to coyotes in the city.  So sad!

Thankfully, when we returned, it was gone.  It's momma had returned and claimed it, which was an immense relief.  I really wasn't looking forward to trying to keep this one alive and find a place that takes in coyotes.  So there is my yarn about the day I held a coyote pup, loved it, and was in total awe and wonder about the sweet and rare opportunity we had.

Ordinary Moments

Yep, I tried to eat a stick

Pulling a tractor

The weather during the last week of school was pretty nice, so we headed outside for some fun after naps.  I love watching the kids chase bubbles, pick clover and dandelions, and just play in the dirt. They do not really care that the toys are about 15 years old, but that they roll in the dirt.  With five kiddos to care for on most days, venturing outside is not always ideal, but watching them play makes it all worth it.  I love their laughter and dirty hands!  I do love my "mommas", as each is unique as her child.  Three are seasoned moms with an older child, and the others are learning that it's okay to say "no", set limits, routines are good, add some laughter and a few sweet teas, and all will be okay. Kinda...

Cutie Pie "L"

Honey and his supervisors

One of the "perks" of home ownership?  Searching for that hidden water pressure gauge installed back in 1994 that is now faulty and causing low water pressure.  I'm not sure who is more tired, the dogs watching us dig or Honey and I.    After digging for over an hour and only discovering some great fishing worms, a snake we accidentally cut in half, lots of mud, and only water pipes that seem to be going deeper into the ground, we gave up.   Guess we'll call the plumber tomorrow.

Wednesday, I got some contractor grade gravel to fill in the "pot holes" in our driveway.  It zapped my energy for the next few days, but it was worth it!  Do you have those projects that you put off, but desperately need to do?  This was one of them.  It was like riding a bucking horse pulling into our driveway!  

begging for attention

Poor Bandit is feeling the absence of Oldest, after he left for church camp and has desperately tried to distract me.  There are only so many times I can let the poor guy out for him to turn around and come back in.  I have a feeling he'll be sleeping close to me tonight!

Oldest and Youngest left for church camp today.  It's going to be a quiet week for us!  Honey has a ton going on at work with upcoming renovations and  moving to a temporary building this week.  Not sure I'll see him much.  This is my first summer in years to have some days off each week, as I will only have one child doing part time.  I'm so excited, but know my summer will get away from me quickly.

 Do you have any special projects/home improvements planned for the summer? do you have any projects you've been putting off?  Our list seems to be growing by the week, but I'm considering doing Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine which one to do first. I'm having carpal tunnel surgery on Thursday and will not be able to use my hand for two weeks,  so I'm leaning towards just painting the bathroom this week.

• the house needs to be power washed and treated sealer applied
• clean out the gutters (can I confess we have, eh hem, trees growing in ours
• find that pesky water pressure gauge
  
• get a DQ Blizzard 
• replace the front door knob
• dejunk
• paint the kids' bathroom
• fix treadmill
• clean honey's new temporary office before Wednesday
• take a nap
• Kiltz paint the shed

Thanks for visiting today.  I'd love to hear about your latest project you want to accomplish this summer! 

Come Saturday Morning...

I think all kids come pre-programmed to wake up early on Saturdays.  Seems that during the week we had to drag them out of bed, literally. Made for very grumpy kids and parents.  But come Saturday morning... Yes, you know what is coming.  The feet would patter quietly down the hall, whisper and giggle at our door,  until somehow they inched their way to our bedside.  Oh keep them shut, don't blink, don't move... Oh, I can feel them staring at me, breathing, bumping the bed...  "Mommy..."  they whisper.  I lay still, fake a snore... Maybe they'll go to the other side and wake their daddy up. 

Bandit and Penny

I just wonder what would happen if parents woke up early on a Saturday, before their kids, sneak into their rooms, and jump on their beds begging them to get up so we could watch some home improvement show or go to the store for groceries, lumber, fabric, or car parts.

We are working towards the Empty Nest.  Youngest is 16 and clearly loves his sleep and it has been many years since we've had someone romping on the bed begging for us to wake up... Until last weekend... *sigh*

5:30 a.m.  Yes, 5:30 a.m., these two goofballs bounded up on our bed with tennis balls and chew tire.  Honey attempted to hide the ball under the covers, but Penny the hound, dove under the covers and frantically began searching. Covers were flying, dogs were growling and barking.  We ended up laughing our heads off.    I've got to teach these dogs that Saturdays are days to sleep in!

Friendly prayers

I was running errands,  when I entered our local grocery store and spotted a friend's son, who just finished basic training and was home on leave.  He seemed a little down, but said he was getting groceries with his two younger brothers.  So I gave him a side arm hug and told him we'd been praying for him since he entered the Marines.  The button of his jacket scratched my arm as I felt tears hit at the same time.  I started to pray for him then, but I felt something scratching my face...

Sheesh!  I woke up to find our daughters coon hound pup practically sitting on me, licking my face.  I need to find a safer place to nap!

Lynnet