YouTube Video Credit: HaseenA Shaik
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Monday, February 26, 2018
Muffins with Mom – The Squirrel Whisperer
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| Innocent squirrel |
Reclined on
the coach watching the evening news on T.V., my mother was settled in for the
night…until. She heard a scratching sound somewhere in the room, but did not
investigate. Moments later, she glanced away from the T.V. and looked over at
her staircase. She saw something of a shadowy figure.
As mom’s
eyes focused, she made contact with the black bushy tailed squirrel who was
peering at her between the spindled rails of the staircase. Before she could [AV1] blink, it dashed back up the stairs
and into one of the rooms. And that was just the beginning.
It took mom
a little while to collect herself and trudge up the stairs to the bedrooms. She
did not hear the pitter patter of little feet, nor did she search for them.
Instead, the quickly closed the bathroom and bedroom doors. And retreated back
to the living room couch, where she slept intermittently.
The
scratching continued the next day and mom had enough. She called me and asked
if we were still planning to have lunch together. I said, “Yes, as long as it’s
not at your house.” During lunch we discussed a strategy for getting the
squirrel out of the house. We decided to call my teenage son.
My son met
us at mom’s house. He strolled through the door like a sheriff from an old
western movie. He put his clenched fists on his waist like Superman and began
giving orders, “Ma, you take broom and Granny can use the mop.” We opened the
front door and propped the screen door open with a kitchen chair.
My son
climbed the stairs carrying his broom, he didn’t hear a sound, but he saw
evidence of the squirrel. Sawdust was sprinkled across the front of a closed bedroom
door. He opened the door slowly, using the flashlight on his cell phone to
search for the squirrel. The squirrel wasn’t moving. My son pushed the door
open wider and stumped his foot on the floor to rouse the squirrel.
In a matter
of seconds the squirrel shot from the room, began to descend the stairs in my
direction. I screamed, the squirrel tried to run back upstairs, but my son, blocked
him with his broom. The squirrel scrambled back down the stairs and headed in
mom’s direction, she guarded a corner with her mop. The squirrel escaped
outside. Whew.
I felt like
we were playing floor hockey. My son, the squirrel whisper, wild animal tamer,
had devised a plan that worked. Sometimes it’s okay to listen to your children,
teach them to be resourceful and not fearful.
 |
| This is the squirrel I envisioned coming from the bedroom. |
Have you had
any encounters with wild animals?
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Cluck-A-Doodle Valentine - 3rd Annual Valentiny Writing Contest
It's time again for Susanna Leonard Hill's Annual Valentiny Contest. The rules were to create a story in which someone is hopeful, using a maximum of 214 word. Below is my entry.
Cluck-A-Doodle Valentine
(214 words)
(214 words)
Quack, Oink,
Moo, cluck a-doodle-doo. Animals in an uproar. Barnyard friends love Cora’s Valentine
cupcakes but, Cora has a broken wing. And a bad squawk.
Who will
bake cupcakes for the Valentine festival?
Pig dumped
flour into a bowl.
“Mooove
over, let me add the milk.”
“Too much
milk,” said Pig.
“How do you
know? No one can read Cora’s chicken scratch.”
Duck waddled
over to help. She flapped to the table, “Sugar is what we need.”
“Squawk,”
Cora wailed.
“Don’t get
your feathers ruffled,” Pig snorted. Tap, tap, crunch. Pig cracked eggs…
…a little too
hard.
“We must prepare
the Cluck-a-doodle cupcakes for the festival or everyone will be heartbroken,”
said Duck.
“I hope we
can follow Cora’s recipe,” said Pig.
“Mmmm, more
eggs,” Cow moaned.
Eggs were
beaten, milk poured and batter stirred.
“Red drops,”
Pig bellowed.
“Squawk,”
Cora wailed.
“Hush Cora,
we’re almost done,” said Pig.
Cow slowly opened
the oven and slid the mixture inside.
Everybody
waited. Cow grazed, Duck went for a swim and Pig took a mud bath.
As the sun began
to hide, it was time.
Hot from the
oven, the cupcakes were… flat. Tiny.
The festival
must go on.
Quack, Oink,
Moo, cluck-a-doodle-doo. Valen-tiny cookies for all of you.
“Cluck-a-doodle
yum,” said Duck.
“Squawk,”
wailed Cora.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Muffins with Mom – Chase the Lion-A pursuit of your dream
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| photo credit:amazon.com |
Deep in snow, away at college, my son called and asked how
much snow we had here at home. “The forecast is predicting 7-9 inches,” I said.
“That’s one thing I like about being at school…I don’t have
to shovel snow.”
My son had his own perspective on the benefits of attending
college. His comment opened the door to a teachable moment. Stating the
obvious, I told him, “College could help you in the pursuit of your dreams.”
In his quick wit he responded with, “Ma, I know you can’t see
me, but I’m rolling my eyes.”
My son’s response was sarcasm, meaning he understood what I
was implying. I’ll share with you as I shared with him, a book that I just began
reading. The title is Chase the Lion – If
Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small, by Mark Batterson. Here’s the
hook. Go after a dream that is bigger than you are.
Batterson says, “Set God-sized goals. Go after a dream that
is destined to fail without divine intervention.” I was drawn into this book at
page one. Batterson says that we are dreamcatchers, not just dreamers. According
to Batterson, our greatest legacy is the dreams we inspire in others. While you’re
chasing your dream, encourage someone else to do the same.
Suit up in your armor, get ready for battle, and chase your
lion.
In pursuit of his dream, my son drives through snowbound
roads daily to football workouts. Football is one path along his journey. I
encourage him, as I encourage you, face your fears and chase the lion.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Fun Friday – 5 signs you have extremely dry skin
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| photo credit: livestrong.com |
Dressed in a
knee length skit and tights, I was ready for the work day. My son shared a ride
to work with me. During our drive, I rubbed my hands across my tights while
sitting at a traffic light. My son said, “What is that crackling sound?”
“My hands?!”
Yes indeed,
my hands were causing a crackling, popping sound as I rubbed them across my
leg. It should not sound like a fire kindling when my hands touch nylon/cotton
fabric. Do you think you may have extremely dry skin, but you’re not sure? Just
for fun, here are 3 signs that you have dry skin.
1. Sandpaper like hands
2. Spaces between your fingers are white
3. Your feet create a popping sound as
they glide across a blanket
4. Your lips hurt when you smile
5. Cuts on your fingertips
When winter
weather wreaks havoc on your skin what can you do? Take extra precautions. Here
are 3 simple things you can do to protect your skin.
1. Moisturize your skin – experts say
you should apply your lotions to damp skin as this helps to seal in moisture.
2. Wear Chapstick
3. Keep your skin covered – wear gloves,
hat
On the drive
home from work, while stopped at another traffic light, I reflected over the
day. This time, rubbing hands across my tights, there was no snap, crackle,
pop. I kept my hands moisturized and I was wearing gloves.
What tips do
you have for taking care of extremely dry skin?
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Monday, February 5, 2018
Muffins with Mom – Healthy eating – 3 tips for supporting your teen
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| When a teen decides to adapt a healthier eating lifestyle |
“I’m going Vegan.”
Those were the words my teen son announced to me one day. He said, “I going to
go vegetarian first, then move into Vegan.” The following day my young adult
son made his announcement. “Ma, I’m going to become a Vegan.”
I told my
boys, “What you’re GOING to do, is finish that three pounds of ground beef you
had me buy last week. After you make those tacos you wanted, you can go Vegan,
Vegetarian, or become a Veterinarian (just needed a ‘V’ word), but you’re not
going to waste that food.”
Healthy lunch prepared by a teen
It’s
heart-warming to see your child taking an interest in their health and you want
to support any positive action. Is becoming a vegetarian, vegan
____________fill in the blank, right for your child? Here are three tips to
help your child determine if a change in eating is tight for him.
1. Determine the motivating factor –
what is driving this change for your child? Was it something she read or saw on
T.V.? Is it something that a friend is doing? Is he preparing doing this to get
in shape for a sport?
2. Research – let your child research
this area (with your assistance as needed). He should learn what it means to be
Vegan or Vegetarian. Talk to someone who is living this lifestyle. Seek recipes
that are simple.
3. Consult a nutritionist/physician –
does your child have health concerns? Will this be a drastic change in eating
for her?
Disclaimer:
I do not have a background in the medical field. These are things I learned
through parenting my boys.
If you tips
for teens seeking to become Vegan, please share.
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