Not a Real Job?

Why is it that friends and family persist in treating small business owners like dirt? I know we aren't the only ones to feel this - we've talked to many other entrepeneurs like ourselves that get this reaction. This morning, Phil left early to run a quick errand before "work" and ran into a long-term acquaintance. We've known her for years, but never closely, and certainly not to the level where we would confide our family finances to!
She asks"So, where are you off too?"
Phil, who is half in costume, answers that he is going to be the Hobo Magician for the day.
"Oh, so you still don't have a real job. So Cedar must be working, then."
"No, she's at home still, raising the four kids and running the office."
With a tone of disbelief, she queries, "Neither of you have real jobs?"
Phil, feeling disgusted and put-down, tells her that we are doing just fine running our own business and makes his escape.

Now, why do people do this? We work hard at what we do, pull in a middle-class income, and have the time to parent our children, to boot. They aren't in daycare all day, and even if I'm in the office a lot they still ahve access to me if they need. Running our own business is a lot harder tahtn simply holding down a 'real job' as we are responsible for not only one aspect of a business, but all of it. Phil and I make a great team. We've heard many envious comments from peers who wish they had a supportive spouse. Phil and I know that if we fall down on the job we make a big difference in our family's livliehood. In a 'real job' we could call in sick, slack off, not have to be constantly studying and training to keep up with the demands of our business. Do these people expect us to go out and get a "real job" so it will be easier on us? Or just because we don't conform to their viewpoint of what life should be?

I'm so frustrated and sick of this today. Even those who should know better if they stopped to think insist on telling my children - my kids! who don't need to hear about this, have the guts to talk to Phil and I directly! - that their father is lazy. OOOH!

Well, off my soap box for the day. I have too much to do today to dwell on this for long, and Phil has not only a long day today, but no time off until Aug 26. So for his sake I keep this house as peaceful as possible, and reassure him that I am committed to making this business a sucess. We've made it 8 years, this year will be our best ever, and I'm not going to let the doomsayers win. We're Good at what we do. We bring joy to kids and adults everyday and that is a worthy mission.

Busy Summertime

Juliet with the balailaika. Phil is learning to play it, my hands won't quite stretch to all the chords so I don't know if I will try. Juliet wants to learn to play Uke, like Phil and I. This was during the week and a half her sisters went to Pennsylvania with Nana and BoPop. Juliet got to be the princess while they were gone, and we celebrated her 8th birthday on 8/8/08!

I made pies with all the lovely berries the kids (and Dad and I) have been picking all summer long. Assembly-line production meant 4 pies for the freezer took no longer than one.

Johann is such a lovely little man! Fully potty-trained now, Wahoo! No more diapers. Here he gives Papa kisses.

Summertime!

Wow, it has been a while since I posted! Sorry, everybody. Life has been crazy, as we launched the Summer Reading Show June 24, after more than a month of preparation and rehearsal. Then came last week, the busiest week of the year, with 4th of July festivities. We did take time out for Family, though, and got together up at Toad Hill to meet Nikki, Paul's lovely bride.

Phil is doing well, considering the punishing schedule this summer. He's tired but not burning out, and not sick of his job (yet! LOL - poor guy loves doing this, but every sumer there comes a point...). You can check out our calendar at the website, www.mrphilandco.com, and be sure to check there through the summer, as we have hired a new web-guy who will be helping us upgrade the site. Woo-Hoo! that has been on our minds for too long.

The girls are doing well... mostly. Today they are driving one another crazy. Johann was having trouble with the heat the last couple of days... poor little doo-dad. We had to postpone his Birthday celebration because he wasn't feeling well. He did turn 3 yesterday, though! Yay! He's so big now - I can hardly believe it has been that long. The girls got haircuts Tuesday. They look adorable. My camera is broken, but I sill gat a picture soon to put up here. Glady went for just a trim - she wants he hair long and as she has been taking care of it well enough I don't mind. Pippa and Juliet got bobs - Phil calls it the mushroom cut! - and Juliet had long enough hair to donate hers to Locks of Love.

I am good. The heat isn't getting me down as much this year, and other than being really busy I have been enjoying summer. I will hopefully post again soon!

Everything stops for Tea

Glady brought an English custom home with her, Tea! The girls take turns being the tea hostess and serving out the sugar and milk. Today it was Juliet's turn, and Glady was showing her how to use the silver sugar cube tongs she brought home with her. I find it so charming to listen to them talking about the hostess serving herself last, and how they do that in other ways during the day, too. Of course, hearing them seriously ask "one lump, or two?" always makes me want to giggle - but I don't.

They aren't the old-fashioned girls of yesteryear, but I want them to grow up to be little ladies. We teach them manners constantly, which they never remember at home, but always seem to out in public. I started Glady on embroidery last year, and this spring Juliet and Pippa insisted on joining that parade. I don't know how useful a skill it really is, but they love doing it. Glady wants to learn how to sew, and now that my machine is in the shop (it broke down last fall and I have been missing it!), I will set aside some time this summer to teaching her.

More and more as time goes by I realize that I may never teach them at home full time, but that doesn't mean I'm not teaching in every day situations. This summer I may do some formal lessons - I'm leaning towards Latin - to feed their minds. They have a tendency to veg in front of the tv too much, so Phil and I shut off the tv last week - and may not turn it back on until football season! Hah! We've had so much fun playing games together, both inside and out. Juliet has been reading aloud to Pippa and Johann, and Glady is starting to read GA Henty (woo-hoo!).

I need to go and check on my little ones. They are far too quiet in there - I don't know what I am going to do with Johann next year when it is just him home! Yikes! At least right now he and Pippa play nicely together.

I can smell the lilacs and honeysuckle through the office window. MMMMMM... intoxicating. The side-yard is looking so much better this year. I still have to get it mowed, but one battle at a time.

Oh... anyone have any ideas on how to bait a trap for a woodchuck? We have big hungry one hanging around the garden I need to get rid of!

They grow up too quickly

Phil and I had a rare opportunity today - to spend most of the day with Glady. Nana and BoPop took the two younger girls up to visit Uncle Austin and Aunt Bobbie, so it was just the four of us. Johann has been feeling a little under the weather, so he napped from noon until 4. Phil and I taught Glady how to play Risk - and for her first time she did an excellent job! How cool to finally have a child how can and does share our joys. She only whined once, and took great delight in teaming up with her Papa to "dominate Mama! ha'ha'!"

Then we watched a little bit more of Fiddler on the Roof. Around here we almost never watch a movie from start to finish - it's always in thirty minute or so chunks. We watched the sad parts - where Huddle leaves home and Havalah runs away. It amazes me how much this movie has changed for me since having children. I think the last time I watched the movie itself (we listen to the music from it all the time) was before we had any children. Phil and I now associate ourselves much more with Tevya and Golda than we used to. I know I used to be most empathetic to Tseitel... Now it is the scenes of the daughters growing up and away that had both of us weeping. Glady didn't get the anti-Jewish scenes, so that required a history lesson, too.

Glady made dinner for us - Phil left for his gig, so it's just three here and seeming awfully quiet! - she made Toad-in-the-Hole. It smells wonderful, so I will go and hang out with my eldest and youngest and enjoy this quiet time with them.

Grampa's Buzzys

The early blueberry bush is in bloom. The bees will pollinate this bush full of flowers and turn it into berries for us. The seedling apple behind the house is blooming, too. This tree sprang up from a dropped apple many years ago, it wasn't cultivated at all, but it still has sweet fruit.
Dad checking on the bees.
The tan lump at the lower corner of the hive tool is a queen cell. This nucleus hive is small, but trying to grow their own qeen, as they do not have one now.
The bees were very calm this evening. Also, if you look at the comb in the foreground you will see the nectar they have spent all day gathering. It is hard to see - a little glint in the combs.

I caught Dad checking on his bees tonight. He's got a few hives this year, and bought some more nukes (nucleus hives). I think he plans to take them up to Toad Hall to pollinate the orchard soon. Johann met "Grampa's buzzys" a couple of weeks ago - he was stung on the arm so now he stays away!

Sometimes they make us laugh

For all that the kids sometimes drive us crazy (like Juliet sitting on the arm of my chair right now reading over my shoulder!!!) they also have the ability to crack us up like nothing else...

A few days ago Pippa came running out of her room with a pair of tights on her head and announced that she was a new superhero! Ninja Bunny! and of course, Johann had to get into the act! Now our little Ninja bunnies appear at unlikely times to dance around and accomplish special tasks, like Pippa's chore of keeping the shoes in the entryway organized.

This morning Johann trotted out of his room to go outside with his sisters who were waiting for the bus. I was laughing too hard to take his picture, but Phil did... As you can see, he dressed himself!

Juliet loves to tickle me to make me laugh. She wasn't feeling well this afternoon (we've had a tummy bug going around) and she told me that she loves cuddling me. I felt a little like a mother hen with her chick under her wing as Juliet snuggled under my arm.

Glady likes to make jokes and pull pranks. She is the biggest Goober of them all, and we have a bunch of them in the family!

Dad jumped out behind Phil and I in the parking lot at the clinic and thumped on the car. It wasn't funny at the time, because we both jumped so high (from a sitting position, even more impressive!) but it was later.

Phil was debating naptime in the car with Johann this afternoon...
"Yes, nite-nite" (Phil)
"No nite nite"
"Yes nite-nite"
"no nite nite"
"No nite nite" (Phil)
"No! you say yes nite-nite, I say no nite nite!"

OK, reverse psychology doesn't work on this kid....

It's almost summer!

My girls all ready for picture day! Bopop at Pippa's birthday celebration.
Nana and her dress-up dolls.
Nana and the lad.
The frog goes for a slide!

Such a lovely day today. Sun and flowers, bees and birds singing through them. The kids have been outside as much as possible, I've been out there a little, but also trying to get work done in here. I really should get out my ukelele next and start trying to catch up to Phil - who is well on his way to becoming proficient on his. I wanted to take a minute though, and post a few pictures so everyone can see Pippa, who is six now! and all the other big kids we have around here, too! LOL.

She's Home!

Our Family is whole again. She and Dad got into Logan around 2 yesterday afternoon and Phil was there waiting for them. After they got home Glady buzzed around like and excited bee for about an hour and then collapsed into bed around 5, to sleep for twelve hours. She was up at 5 am and Phil brought her up to be our little Welsh cuddlecakes and talk our ear off in bed for a hour! LOL - she's been talking non-stop since she got up. I talked to Nana this morning and she says Glady was like that over there, too. Johann and Pippa (Juliet went to school already) have been clinging happily to her.

She will head back into school and normal routine tomorrow, but we thought we'd keep her home a day and let her acclimate again. Phil's off to a daycare show in Goffstown, so it's just the four of us at home right now. Not exactly peaceful, but good to have everyone where I know where they are.

Looking Back

Two little girls who aren't so little anymore... This was taken in Winter 2001, not too long before Pippa was born. It's hard to believe Pip is going to be 6 in a month! One thing hasn't changed - they all still love to dance whenever I put music on. Even Johann, although his style consists mostly of hopping up and down rapidly and flapping his arms.

Got some pictures of Glady

She was invited on a field trip with a welsh calssroom and here are a couple of pictures of her at the farm they visited!

We miss Glady!

A week to go until she comes home. We've been busy around here, as usual!

A Snowy Saga pt 1

It all started this last Saturday - well, really it started before that.... I was hired for a facepainting gig - a four hour stretch at Gunsotck ski area. I was to be apainting the young racers and their families at the Bill Koch Youth Ski Festival, which is an event of the NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Assoc.). He told me I would be in a tent attached to the big tent where people were hanging out and getting warm. Okay, I can manage that.

It dawned on me later that I would be standing on snow, so I dug out my Bunny Boots (military issue arctic gear, good to about 70 below zero - I know, I've tested them at almost that cold!) and relaced them with cool lime-green laces. Voila! clown boots. I figured the rest of my wordrobe would work just fine. I'm good to go...

Friday; Phil looks at the weather and sees a big storm headed in for that night and Saturday morning. He calls me on his way up to a gig out past Gunstock and tells me we should get a room at the Gunstock Inn if at all possible so we will be on site and not risk missing the gig. So I do - they have only one room left, but it will work. So when Phil got home from the Diner at 9pm, we got him changed, I had already packed, and we were ready to go. Oh, yeah. and I'd spent most of the day without water as the bathtub faucet sprang a leak... fortunately Dad fixed it easily when he showed up around 8pm.

We get checked in and gear unloaded at the hotel at almost 11pm. At this point Phil tells me he hasn't eaten since lunch - and he tends to get grumpy when he's hungry! There was no way we were going to get a delivery up there at that time of night, but there was a chinese place open in Alton... and if I'd had any idea how far that was going to be we would have just gone to sleep! By the time we drove into the snowy night, which started just as we left and was quite heavy by the time we got back, and returned with food it was midnight. Yikes!

They are on their way...

She's ecited - he doesn't look too sure about this!Dad and Glady are traveling to the land of daffodils... quite a change from our snowbanks!

Dad and Glady left this afternoon to spend some time in Wales with Nana and BoPop and Aunt Pam. They will be home on the 19th, so I will be without my little girl for more than two weeks... She has been sooooo excited the last couple of days she could hardly sit still. Poor Phil has been worrying about this trip since we first started planning it with the grandparents. She has a camera and a journal and some homework along, so in addition to all the traveling they plan to do she will be too busy to be homesick. I believe they plan to take her to Strafford-On-Avon, where Shakespeare lived; and Stonehenge, amongst others!

So far her sisters and brother seem not to have noticed - besides a lot of hugging and kissing goodbye this morning. It felt strange to make dinner for only three little people to me, though.

Thursday thoughts

Here is one of the lovely headshots our friend Christie did for Phil and I last month. We are wearing our Naswa costume - which we refer to as the "Island Phil" look. I still wear glasses - they just make a lot of glare in photos.
Pippa is singing in the kitchen... "Three little cuppies, all in a row, one fell down and now there's two... chocolate milky yummy in your tummy, and it's good for you too!" to the tune of Five Little Monkeys. She has definitely inherited Phil's knack for making up songs on the spur of the moment.

They finally got their room clean... it is vacation week so they have been in it a lot more, with brief forays out into the winter wonderland we live in. More snow predicted for tonight! And now I plan to reward the girls with a Barbie movie.

Our friend Mo the Clown (also known as Mo Fun) came over to play yesterday. We had a good Jam. We played with making faces out of a blossom - Phil made a great one that looked like a muppet. Mo taught us his motorcycle - it is an improvement on the one Phil knew already. Since Phil will be playing at the Naz Bar during Bike Week, he needed a good one. We are still working out costuming for that event. And a better name for the character than "Biker Phil". So much to do - so little time!

We did write and pull together a really great Easter Magic Show together. That was fun. He's off at a daycare this morning doing it - and Leap Magic, too.

Oh, and in my last post, I didn't identify the large snowy lump... That is our 8 passenger van in the driveway! Completely covered! It isn't running right now, so all it has done is collect snow all winter.

Will-I Nill-I

Well, as I feared, the Nor-Easter brought with it a foot of snow to grace the mounds we already have on the ground here. It was perfect snow-ball snow - just moist enough to pack without being too wet. Good thing the kids are on vacation to enjoy it this week!

I'm not too upset about the amount of snow this winter - we've had a very lucrative season working with ski-areas. It is inconvenient nights like tonight, when Phil had to turn back from his gig at Steele Hill because he got to the worst part of the hill and started to spin - no show tonight! Fortunately, he didn't get stuck, either. He's safely on his way home. Oh - and this is because we get another inch or so tonite! HA-HA!

Snow More!

Somebody loves his "Key-Key".My big helper girl... they all love helping with the goodie boxes, actually.
And washing dishes is a fun novelty (at least for now).
They all love to help with cooking. Alton Brown is a hero in our house!

No more snow! Oh, well, it's not like we have a choice... Looks like a Nor'Easter is on it's way for tomorrow, and it is already one of the snowiest winters in recent memory. The weather had been grand for the last couple of days, and the kids love it, of course, but we're getting more. The kids are on vacation this week, which means that at least school won't be canceled for them, but Phil has a busy schedule, which complicates life.

And yes, for those of you who talk to my chatty kids, I was in the hospital for a day and a half. I'm home for good - weak as a kitten, but but better. All I can say is - don't skip your flu shot and drink lots of liquids even if they won't stay down!

It's been too long...

The last couple of months have simply flown by - October was a whirl of over 35 shows, November I spent sick, and December is slipping by quickly. I am not ready for Christmas, but at least the house is mostly clean. And we had a dinner party Saturday. That was so nice. I love to do things like that. Good times, good food, good friends.

This is the winteriest winter we have had in recent years. Lots of snow, and more predicted tonight and tomorrow. The kids love it - I don't mind, although I miss having the time to go out and play in it! I don't even own snowpants anymore.

Pippa and Johann are both on their tummies in their room, feet kicked up in the air, making a train layout with the wooden tracks. Johann is getting so big. He is our silliest kid yet, with a great sense of humor and a great big temper. He cracked Phil up the other night by interrupting a telling of SkippyJon Jones and when Phil looked at him he just shrugged with this look of "what?" Pippa loves Kindergarten. I'm not sure she really learns anything, but she is the social butterfly of her class, always checking on her classmates to see how they are and ready to help when she sees one struggling. Juliet's teacher commented on this smae trait in her class.

Juliet is having a rough year. She feels like she has no friends, but we talked to her teacher, and we all agreed it is in Julie's head. She is following in Glady's footprints, and that doesn't help. Glady has been officially labeled gifted, which was no surprise to us. Juliet is as smart, just not as passionate about perfection as our drama queen is. So Phil and I have been subtly trying to give her a little boost of confidence, which makes her blossom.

Glady is currently devouring the Harry Potter series, having just finished off the Narnia series... the last Potter book she read in threee days, leaving Phil to look at me and say "She's YOUR daughter!" She's just ended a Math Club afterschool program which she loved, getting to stay after and play games with 4th and 5th grades. She has been put into 5th grade spelling and vocabulary. So she is happy in school, and at home is struggling with having sisters - she'd rather be an only child right now, most of the time!

I must go and do some laundry - Johann has developed an art form we call Poo-casso (three guesses, and the first two don't count!). Hopefully I will get back to updating this blog every week - hey, It's almost a New Year's Resolution! Hah!

It's almost October..

Busy little guy - that's his sister's Picture!Glady doing homework - she's reading Raold Dahl's autobiography.
Pippa and Johann... She's ready to head off to school!
Gosh, isn't she cute

It's beginning to feel like Fall

The view from our Gig Saturday!Ribfest cooking going on!
I don't want to know what's going on out here!
Big boy britches!
And this was back on the first day of school!

We haven't yet had a good frost, but Dad slept out in his tent the other night and came up in the morning saying there had been a patchy frost. The asters are in full fling - I have a few in the garden I have been encouraging gently. They are wild, and I am never sure whether they will stay where I want them! The trees are beginning to show a little color in places.

We had Ribfest on Labor Day, as is our tradition, and it was a success. We split the time between hanging outside near the grill and ate indoors, away from the bugs. The ribs were perfect, the company was good, and we had a long and rich day. The perfect capper to a very busy summer.

Johann has started to go on the potty chair - he walked in last Saturday, took off his diaper and sat down and went! All very casual, like he had been doing it forever. We still have a few more months of diapers, I think, but then he will officially be a Big Boy.

Phil ad I were the entertainment yesterday at a wedding reception - it was a lovely day, on an island out on Lake Winnepesaukee. He did balloons, and I painted - I knew it was going to be a good gig when the father of the groom, who was ferrying us across to the island, told me he wanted me to paint him first! It was a day of firsts - for him, at 70, having his face painted for the first time, and for Phil and I, going to a gig on a boat!