ClaraJane’s New DO

Posted on 2019/12/10 by circuskitchen

Tuesday, December 10th 2019

She is donating her hair to Locks for Love.

2019-12-10 CJ’s New Do! [1:12]:

https://youtu.be/0S5_DWWTmTE

Love you BabyWoman Girl, no matter how you look! Moreover, Mommy is proud of you making your own decisions.

😻

💇💕

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Mary’s 5th Birthday Party

Posted on 2019/12/07 by circuskitchen

Saturday, December 7th 2019

2019-12-07 Mary’s 5th Birthday Party [3:13]:

https://youtu.be/wxglcJj5tT4

https://youtu.be/wxglcJj5tT4

The McSweeney Crew!

ClaraJane, Mary, Gavin & Miles

My current fave shot of my sister, in her glory.

Rowan keeps Growin’

Painting by Baba ❤️

I even got this rad thank you note a few days later!

👧🎂🎈

Posted in animals, art, childhood, comedy, cousins, domestic life, face painting, family, food, Friendship, health, juggling, learning, love, making art, mental health, music, parenthood, parenting, Performing Life, Secret Juggler, siblings, work-life balance | 2 Comments

AT RISE: Mother Daughter Bedtime

Posted on 2019/12/06 by circuskitchen
Friday, December 6th 2019

mother daughter kitties.jpg

 

AT RISE:   It is bedtime.  Mom and ClaraJane are settling down after a lot of horseplay, giggling and nonsense.  They are snuggling as ClaraJane reads Harry Potter (#6!) in bed.

Mom:  [Interrupting.]  ClaraJane I need to tell you something.

CJ:  [Stops reading.]  You love me?

Mom:  [Mouth agape, incredulous.]  How did you know?!

CJ:  It’s not exactly a secret.

Mom:  [Nods in agreement.]  Fair point.

CJ:  [Resumes reading.]

[Pause.]

Mom:  [Interrupting again.]  ClaraJane there’s something else I have to tell you.

CJ:  [Stops reading again.]  What is it?

Mom:  You’re a terrible person.

CJ:  I know.  [Resumes reading again.]

Mom:  You don’t even care do you?

CJ:  Yeah I don’t!

Mom:  [Resumes snuggling.]

SCENE. 

♥♥

Posted in animals, childhood, comedy, domestic life, evidence they get along, faith, family, Friendship, health, love, mental health, parenthood, parenting | Leave a comment

OHIO Visit – Thanksgiving 2019

Posted on 2019/11/30 by circuskitchen
November 27th-30th 2019

 

2019-11-30 OHIO Visit with Oberhausers & Fincks [5:25]:

 

*      *      *      *      *  

2019-11-29 FARMHAUSER Night at Pete & Anna’s [3:07]: 

 

 

*      *      *      *      *  

 

2019-11-29 Grandpa’s Class Act Kids [2:18]:

*      *      *      *      *  

 

2019-11-29 Gavin’s Gun Training with Uncle Pete [1:02]:

 

*      *      *      *      *  

2019-11-30 Woodbridge Tree Farm [2:18]:

 

 

*      *      *      *      *  

 

See also:  2019-11-29 STORY TIME – Grandpa Paul’s Greatest Hits [pending]:

 

♥♦♥

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OBERHAUSER STORYTIME with Grandpa Paul 2019

Posted on 2019/11/28 by circuskitchen
November 29th 2019

TOP: Sue and Paul BELOW L-R: Jesus, Anna, Sue, Jane, “Little” Paul, Paul Sr., Janelle, ClaraJane, Joseph, Gavin, Roger, Alicia, Pete, Jackson, Daryl (photo by Jennifer)

 

Lordy the man can talk.  Does he have some good stories though!

So go on; empty your bladder, grab a snack and get comfy ‘cuz this is gonna take a while.

      *       *       *

We pick up this story during a blizzard which took place during Paul’s senior year in high school, in November of 1953.

2019-11-29 STORY TIME – Grandpa Paul’s Greatest Hits [1:16:00]:

[Production Note:  No apologies for the quality of the spontaneously generated video.  It is what it is; priceless!]

♥♦♥

Posted in animals, childhood, comedy, cousins, domestic life, evidence they get along, faith, family, food, Friendship, grandparenthood, health, history, learning, love, making art, marriage, mental health, nature, parenthood, parenting, patience, Performing Life, politics, spirituality, travel | Tagged | Leave a comment

Yoga Suggestions for GrownUp Babies Like Me

Posted on 2019/11/25 by circuskitchen

Some offerings to perhaps help coax someone (I don’t know who)… onto the mat for a change:

For “Reducing Anxiety:”

Yoga Poses for Reducing Anxiety

For “Reducing Anxiety”

 

“Hip Openers:”

del hip openers for beginners.jpg

 

 

For “Back Health:”

Yoga BACK PAIN HEALTH.png

 

For “Hip Flexors:” 

del yoga hip flexors.jpg

 

Hmm…

♥

Posted in activism, art, faith, fighting Fascism, health, learning, love, making art, mental health, nature, patience, spirituality, work-life balance | Leave a comment

Church on Sunday

Posted on 2019/11/24 by circuskitchen

Sunday, November 24th 201

On Sunday I return home from my gig to our beautiful (affordable!) condo in the former “Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary” to find;

– Dear Hubsand in the kitchen researching how to fix the leak in the shower,

– Dear Daughter practicing typing on her Chromebook,

– Darling Boy researching places he might be able to invest in a parcel of *land* where he can be himself (you know, test out the latest crossbows he made and stuff like that),

– And the occasional odd fur baby sauntering through.

I pinch myself and want to ask; (cue David Byrne): “WELL, HOW DID I GET HERE?!”

But my mamma taught me not to question miracles.

🌈👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏡

Posted in animals, art, border family separation, childhood, domestic life, evidence they get along, faith, family, fighting Fascism, global inequity, health, learning, love, mental health, money, parenthood, patience, work, work-life balance | Comments Off on Church on Sunday

Cascade of Health Care Bills – A Tiny Tale of Bureaucratic Nonsense, Grit, Gratitude and Plain Luck

Posted on 2019/11/22 by circuskitchen

Friday, November 22nd 2019

img_6312

These many papers…

 

This afternoon I get another surprise: 19 identical envelopes in my mailbox.   Medical bills.  Each for $25.

This is bullshit.  Miraculously I have some time so I start ripping them open.  They are for doctor visit co-pays for some ongoing treatment one of us has been receiving over the past year and a half.  I didn’t even know we had co-pays for the treatment, much less why the bills would cascade all at once.

I call the phone number listed on the bills and try making sense of them as I wait to get through.  Long story short, the Health INSURANCE Company –Tufts Health Plan– just processed all of these bills recently for some reason.  So they paid our provider –Cambridge Health Alliance -their part.  Then the provider passes on the balance -the co-pay amounts- to us.  Nevermind the timing.

As ridiculous as this is, the truth is; the service we receive is totally worth it.  And we are lucky enough that $475 is not going to break us right now.

So before I’m even off the phone, I’ve paid the lot, and even check and pay all other  balances for everyone in the family.

Our balance is zero.  Bullet dodged.

We are healthy, safe, and with access to medical care should we need it.  Holy crap I never felt so wealthy in my life.

But that EVERYONE could have access to the healthcare they deserve.

Which is of course why we need #HEALTHCAREFORALL.

 

del medicare

Go Bernie Go.

 

#ThankYouBernieThankYou… for teaching us what is right and how to fight for it.

He #WroteTheDamnBill

#Bernie2020

♦

Posted in activism, Bernie Sanders, faith, fight, health, history, learning, mental health, money, parenthood, parenting, patience, politics, Social Democracy, Socialism?, The Progressive Movement, work, work-life balance | 1 Comment

It’s Open Honey, Go Ahead

Posted on 2019/11/22 by circuskitchen

Friday, November 22nd 2019

 

When the children hop off the yellow school bus this afternoon, us moms are still mid-chat.  Rain is pouring down, so ClaraJane starts trying to physically pry me from the conversation.  And because I have the car parked right there on the corner, I say, “It’s open honey, go ahead!”

After parting ways with the moms, I turn around and the car is empty.  I look around and where is she?  I peer inside the little bespoke coffee shop on the corner and see her at the counter.  I go inside just in time to hear the barista say, “OK, hot chocolate?  Small or medium?”

“Medium please,” ClaraJane replies.

“I meant go inside the CAR honey!” I say, “Wow.  My back is turned one moment and you’re ordering HOT CHOCOLATE?”

She starts giggling.  “You said, ‘It’s open go ahead!'” says ClaraJane.

“That’ll be five dollars and eight cents,” says the barista.

 

img_6310

Well played, big little girl!

Mom:  0

ClaraJane:  1

Gypsy Place Cafe:  $5.08 (plus tip)

 

A costly error on my part.  (Imagine; momentary indulgence in grownup conversation, the horror!)  Adorable manipulation on my daughter’s part.  We find a spot by the window to enjoy her cunning coup.  I nod to a deep gratitude that we can afford this random indulgence, and marvel at the priceless joys of parenthood.

 

♥

Posted in art, childhood, comedy, domestic life, faith, family, food, forgiveness, global inequity, health, learning, love, mental health, money, parenthood, parenting, patience, work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

In Your View by Emilie Mover

Posted on 2019/11/22 by circuskitchen

Just watch it:

 

 

#EmilieMover

#InYourView

♥

Posted in activism, art, border family separation, camping, childhood, comedy, faith, family, fighting Fascism, Friendship, health, learning, love, making art, mental health, music, nature, parenting, patience, Performing Life, social justice, Socialism?, spirituality, travel, ukeoke, ukulele, work, work-life balance | Leave a comment