absconded

   We went down to check the hives this past weekend.  I never got them wrapped for the winter, so we thought, since it was very warm - in the 50s, we would wrap them now.  Armed with tar paper, and our stapler, we headed out.  Better late than never.
   I put my ear up to the Flower Hive - thought I felt some warmth and heard buzzing, but wasn't positive.  So my husband knocked on the hive.  The girls were definitely home and NOT pleased with the  disturbance!  Over a dozen bees flew out and started checking us out.   This was wonderful to see.
   We checked the Blue Hive in the same way - nothing.  Ear to top hive opening, I had my husband bang on it.  Rather than a bee in my ear, I got nothing.  We decided to take a quick peek into the hive.  Prying off the top, which had been glued shut with propolis, we saw one dead bee, and nothing else.  Maybe they were in the bottom box?  We finally got the top pried off of the bottom hive body and saw - nothing.  There was plenty of capped honey, both boxes were good and heavy, but no bees.  They had absconded (taken off with the queen to a new location).  So I think we have now  experienced just about all major bee crises (with the exception of the dreaded disease, American Foul Brood - which I hope never to experience as it means you must burn EVERYTHING - hives, bees, the works).   So we have one  hive that we hope will make it to the Spring, and an empty hive.  Are the powers that be trying to tell me I should only have one hive?   Nah!
    On a related note, I made  " bees wax lotion bars" this year.  Very nice.  Soothing to dry skin, but not messy.  Put it on your hands before going to bed and they are so soft in the morning.  YUM!
     

Expectations and letting go

  I think every parent has an expectation that Christmas is going to be the way it was in their rosy childhood memories.  As the parent of a child with autism, you need to let go of this.  For years I tried to make the Christmas we were celebrating be like Christmas from my youth, and in the process, I stressed myself to the point of snapping,  I stressed out the kids and no one had a great time.
   So now, I create things that we can do together or not.  We were making cookies today.  My eldest is best at eating them, my middle child at stressing over her youngest brother "messing things up" and the youngest just wants to get through the process.   I make the cookies - they eat them, it works.  Do we have huge decorating sessions?  No - too much pressure.
   We are having a Christmas dinner which is less than traditional: ham, mashed potatoes, corn (because the boys do not like mashed potatoes), french fries - see previous explanation, cranberry bread, green beans but without any sauce or stuff on it so the boys will eat them, salad - just in case the youngest won't eat the beans, apple pie and pecan pie.  No pumpkin because between picky eaters and lactose intolerant  intestines, I would be eating it alone.  No sweet potatoes for much of the same reasons.
   We will open presents and hang out until  we want to eat, then eat, maybe take the dog for a walk, and hang out some more.
   I am taking the younger two to church tonight, so Christmas morning has no "have to's" attached to it.  It is all about  trying to enjoy the time - everyone in their own way.  If this means watching movies - daughter, okay.  If it means knitting - me, fine.  Doing puzzles? great. Sleeping? fine.  Learning to let go of expectations has been the toughest part of living in  an autism family.  Maybe it is the same in any family?  Ultimately, it is about peace - on Earth, towards your fellow man/woman, and more importantly, for us, peace under our own roof.
  Have a Merry Christmas.

Christmas is A'comin'

     My youngest woke me at 6:10 this morning.  We watched the snow falling - enough to feel festive, not like a chore.  After eating breakfast I finished up some Christmas present knitting. (No posts for the 52 Project since a lot of the uses are for Christmas gifts.)  We went to the store to get ingredients for some special presents we are making.  After returning we discovered that the washing machine is acting up and may, indeed be broken.  I finished drying my son's Cub Scout shirt with the hair dryer and  we went to the retirement home to sing carols.  We took my daughter along to insure some extra vocal power.  It was a great hour or so of singing and visiting, and drinking chocolate milk and eating cupcakes.  We were shown all the Christmas decorations in the great room, and told the history of some of them. (They were the decorations that graced the windows of Bresee's Department Store, which was a major store on Main Street until  about 5 years ago when they closed.)  The residents and I had a wonderful chat about the history of it.  I was so proud of my son.  He talked to most of  the residents, shook hands, and even danced for a pair of the ladies! Not too shabby for age six.
    Tonight we head off to a party with many of our theatre friends.  Last night  my husband and I went to dinner and a movie. (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows  - a fun romp!)  I am not certain  if I can handle two social outings in one weekend - it is so unusual for us!
    I hope you all have a wonderful week leading up to Christmas.

Anniversary

  Twenty years ago my husband and I were married.  So much has changed and so much has remained the same over the years.   That little baby I am holding is now 20 years old and about 6'3" and my sweet little flower girl niece is finishing her masters degree.  Our ring-bearer nephew is much taller, has a degree from Georgetown University, but he still looks good when he dresses up!  My husband and I are the proud parents of three children, have moved more times than I want to count, and we keep unusual hours due to our two chosen professions.  But over all it is a great life and I am looking forward to the next twenty years

Tommy, Aunt Barby, MP and Panda

Eating wedding cake and almost choking on it! (really!)

Drew and his Gran
(I want my legs to look that good when I am 86!)

Things you do not want

   This afternoon, after dragging all the Christmas boxes out of the attic, a former student and friend of my husband's dropped in unexpectedly.  It was great to see him, and later, his wife, but timing was not good.  Then, while he was there, our eldest had a meltdown - quite common as the holidays approach.  While this was happening I was in the kitchen making popcorn for stringing on the outside trees.  I heard my eldest race out  the front door screaming at the top of his lungs, wearing no coat and no shoes (it was mid 30s today), and then my youngest crying upstairs.  I ran up to  check on/comfort my youngest, and after a few minutes of patting and reading a book, I smelled something.  At that same time, so did our guest, and so did my husband  - who  had just walked in the door with our eldest in tow.
    The kitchen, dining room and foyer were rapidly filling with smoke from the burnt popcorn.

An open window is not what I suggest on a cold winter day...

unless this is waiting on the stove

I thought the pan was a complete goner, but it is cleaning up better than I thought it would

Our entire house still wreaks of it, even though we opened every door and window,  I have been washing things, burning candles, spraying Lysol and Febreze and generally doing whatever I can to rid the house of  the stench.  Please feel free to give me any suggestions as to how to rid the house of the smell.  Short of an ozone generator, I am out of ideas.

Sending Christmas Cards

  I used to be a lot better at this when the kids were smaller.  I do not know how?  Maybe I wrote them after they went to bed?  Maybe I was better organized?  I do recall one year starting to write them in October while sitting in the waiting room of my son's gymnastics class each week.  A gentleman passed  me, stopped and walked back and said, "My wife would hate you!"
   In hope of getting the children - or at least my youngest involved, we will make a few today.  here is a link for some good images: http://countdown.tentwostudios.com.  You get new images of Christmas past each day for free or you can download the whole bunch for  a price.  I am frugal, so one a day is fine for me.
    I think  making cookies is in order for the day as well!

Dinosaur Decorations

    We are currently the proud owners of a designer Christmas tree, decorated by our resident paleontologist.  We put the tree up last weekend, but did not have time for decorating until this weekend. So our youngest took it upon himself to add a touch of whimsy to the tree.

a reptile/dino tree

a solar flashlight - because all trees need lights!

T-rex will keep you from peeking at your gifts too soon!

the velociraptor ready to leap on naughty children

I won't even try to guess.