Why I had ice cream for dinner...

It's been a rough couple of days here at Shiny Red Houses.

The cranky factor had reached eleven by Friday when the children asked me to look at "things" about four hundred times an hour. What "things" you ask? Dance moves, barbie outfits, drawings, rocks, melted crayons, dog scabs, stuffed animals, freckles, and dogs.

Sometimes a mother does not want to look at one more thing.

Sometimes a mother would rather not hear about the cool new Webkinz maze or the new episode of Danny Phantom or why you think your room is not messy even though all evidence suggests otherwise.

Sometimes a mother needs a day off and so Sunday morning I left my house with plans to be out all day long.

I junked and meandered and had a lovely time. Finally, around 3:30 I began my journey home. All was peaceful.

Until.

Until the Volvo in front of me stopped when I thought they would go and I rear ended it.

I was okay. The kind woman in the Volvo was okay. My car... a little bit crumpled. The hood, the bumpers and the Toyota symbol on the front are not looking so hot. The kind lady in the Volvo had a bit of damage to her bumper, but not too bad. We exchanged information and drove away.

The problem with spending twelve years in the company of nuns is that when something bad happens the only explanation is that you are being punished by God. It's true. This was my indoctrination and it stuck, completely and utterly.

When I got home after my automobile accident I was despondent. I was being punished for being sick of my children by an angry god who has obviously never been a mother.

While I was being despondent in the kitchen, contemplating my new life as a woman who rear ended a Volvo, I smelled something. The something I smelled was not a good smell, though I am sorry to say, it was a familiar smell.

Reader, thank you for sticking with me. I am so, so, so very sorry that I have to tell you this.

THERE IS ANOTHER DEAD BABY BIRD IN THE EXHAUST VENT!

Dear lord, why have you forsaken me??!!!

Today has been great. I called in my accident claim. I killed flies. Then, I killed more flies.

David seems to have recovered from his pro-bird stance and is now ready to wage full on war against the offending avian death stench. Our handyman friend will be coming by this week to remove the corpse and cover the vent with wire.

As of today I have killed seventeen flies and that my friends is why I had ice cream for dinner.

EDITED TO ADD: It was Edy's French Silk Slow Churned yummy lowfat blah blah yum yum.

Had myself a ball in a small town...

This weekend was very special because with it brought Town Night and Town Day.

We had been waiting weeks for Town Night. Town Night is held in a large field across from the local Boys and Girls Club. There are pony rides, a train ride, face painting and a bounce house. The most highly anticipated events of Town Night are the dog show and fireworks.

The girls have been eagerly awaiting Town Night because this year we entered the pugs in the dog show.

We put them in costumes.



I tried to get a better picture of them but they weren't really cooperating. Sophie kept trying to shake her dragon hood off and Pugsley, well, I suspect Pugsley was too consumed with the shame of being dressed as a lady bug to try to get out of his costume.

Luckily the costume contest was first. Guess what?


They won third place! Rebecca and Lily were thrilled. In fact they are still talking about it and each are trying to claim ultimate possession of the ribbon.

After the dog show we released the dogs from the misery of their costumes and waited for the fireworks. You know what is splendid about fireworks at the end of September? They start at 7:30 and everyone is home by 8:15. We sat with some good friends and I was warmed by the sweet delight of living in a small town. Over the course of the evening we ran into so many good friends, some of whom we see often and others whom we run into only occasionally. Each hello and hug felt like home to me and I loved it all.

This morning we headed to Massachusetts Avenue, the very same Massachusetts Avenue where Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride.

In honor of Town Day Mass Ave. is closed to traffic and all of the local businesses, restaurants, schools and organizations set up booths to promote themselves and say hello to the community.



First Rebecca and Lily decorated free cookies. Two wonderful words. Free. Cookie.


Yummy!


There were many many things which my children begged me to buy for them.

Check out these flowers.


They are made out of corn starch!



The children begged for these crowns and tutus.





Lily got her face painted.



Some lunatic woman tried to convince me that I should let my kids get lizards.



Because that's exactly what my house needs. I shooed my kids away from there speedy quick!

These puppets were cute...


but Rebecca spent the bulk of her begging on these marionettes.



She stood by them for so long she ended up getting her picture taken by a newspaper photographer.

I distracted her from the marionettes by suggesting that she draw a picture of our house to enter into a contest.


And then, just like that, the moment I had been waiting for had arrived....

The number one reason to attend Town Day....



Sausage and peppers. Perfection. Bliss. Magic. Heart attack. Forget that last one. I only allow myself this delight once a year because I fear if I ate them more often I would become addicted. I'd eat them everyday. Then I'd need a muumuu. Maybe it would be worth it...

And with that culinary delight another Town Day ended. We came home tired but well fed and still basking in the glow of being a part of a small town.