August 11, 2008

taking this show on the road

August 11, 2008/ molly balint

I'm writing from the road today. Late last week, my sister called to tell me that the surgery we've been hoping for, for our yellow Lab has finally come together. He's been living with two torn knees for too long and a veterinarian in the practice where she works has agreed to do the surgery for a price that we can actually afford.

We'll be dropping him off in the morning and spending a few days here at my mom's house until he has recovered enough to go home. Though traveling is never easy, especially sans husband, I'm anxious to see him (my dog, not my husband..thanks for pointing that one out, dad! :) have a little relief. He's got many good years ahead of him. Good boy.

I'm guest blogging today over at Grace's blog as part of her "Summer Is..." series. Be sure to check it out.(*as soon as I get my kids down for naps, I'll put my post up!*) I'll be in some good company over the next month or so, as some other bloggers step in to help Grace out while she takes a little break.

Meanwhile, this little one has become a full-time job. As I knew she would, she hit the ground running, now that she finds getting around on two feet much easier than knees and hands. And climbing? Don't get me started on the climbing. I'm considering outfitting her in a helmet at all times. You have no idea how many little prayers are uttered under my breath, for the child's safety.

I took this first picture of her the other morning. And as I snapped the picture, in my mind I was thinking, "Look at Miss Independence." And I kid you not, the girl walked over to the overgrown hostas, reached inside and pulled out this tattered American flag. A leftover from the girls' fourth of July decorations. Hello twilight zone!

Happy Monday everyone. More soon.

Latest Bushel and A Peck can be found here....

August 05, 2008

the fair report and other new business

August 05, 2008/ molly balint

The 4-H meetings that I remember from my younger days don't look any different from the ones that I've been attending with Emma the past few months. Now, officially a "clover" (a young 4-Her) I'm getting to relive my 4-H days with her. And who knows, maybe she'll follow in her mother (and aunt's) royal footsteps and some day wear the county fair queen's crown. ha.

Every meeting begins with the 4-H pledge, which I still remember thank you very much, and then we move on to the old and new business. So in the spirit of a good 4-H meeting, shall we begin?

I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living. For my club, my community, my country and my world.

Is there any old business?
Why, yes. Yes there is. Last Thursday sweet Emma rode in her first horse show. It was hot, there was lots of waiting and entertaining of an antsy toddler, but it was worth every drip of sweat trickling down my cleavage to see my little girl decked out in her fanciest of riding apparel, parading a Paint pony around the ring. There's nothing like watching your little girl in her first horse show to make you feel like she's growing up too fast. My goodness.

Aside from coming home with three shiny green rosettes, a bucket full of treats, brushes and teeshirts from our local feed store, one of the best parts of the day(for me) was watching Emma push herself and experience success.

She was nervous about the first showmanship class and kept coming to me with her pleading, "Mommy, I don't want to do this. I'm trying to be brave and not cry in front of all these people, but I really don't want to do this" eyes. But I knew, we all knew, that she could do it. It wouldn't be anything more than she could handle and the whole thing would be a good experience. If she'd just get in there and try.

Sensing her hesitation, the lady who trailered the horses to the show swooped Emma up, gave her a pep talk and sent her into the ring--with a tactic that would have been much different from my own. She did it all with kindness and Emma's best interests in mind--but her approach was different.

As I walked behind her and Emma and listened to them talk, my nurturing side wanted to rescue her from the situation. I didn't want her to have to do something she didn't feel comfortable with or that she thought would be too hard. But I kept it to myself.

Dan was walking beside me and must have been sensing my unspoken desire to come in and rescue her: "This is good for her." he said.� "It's good for her to learn from another person besides you" And then he said something else profound about the key to confidence is to conquer something you're afraid of, or nervous about. That man. I need to get a moleskine for his back pocket, too.

But everything he said was true. I didn't come to the rescue. I didn't jump in and save her from a slightly uncomfortable situation. I stood back and watched--for I had more confidence in her, than she had in herself, at the moment.

And did she fail? Absolutely not. The girl set her jaw, marched into the ring and showed her heart out. She emerged from it all, beaming, proud, ready for more and of course, sporting a large green rosette.

And I think the first words out of her mouth: "When do I go in again?"

Success.

.....I"ll save the new business for tomorrow.

New Bushel and a Peck posts here and here, if you please.

A ridiculous amount of pictures in the whole Farm Fair set, here. As well as some amazing diving dogs, the chicken lady, my favorite cow, and Emma's ethusiastic head cheerleader.

July 30, 2008

looking forward, looking back

July 30, 2008/ molly balint

Just popping in to share some pictures from this morning. I took Emma over to the barn to get a little practice in before tomorrow--her first horse show. She is showing at the county 4-H Fair in lead line classes. My little sister will be bringing her pony and taking Emma through the events. Emma is excited and admittedly nervous. But the prospect of show clothes and ribbons has her grinning from ear to ear.

Mary, of course, got a ride in as well--always dressed for the occasion in her pink cowgirl boots and ruffled skirt. It's also ninety-plus degrees and humidity is hanging in the air like a damp towel--but she's in a long-sleeved, long underwear top. I've given up my fight with this child. The long sleeves were a compromise. I talked her down from jeans and a fleece zip-up hoodie. I just have to let her sweat it out, until she agrees to take off one of her many layers.

My littlest sidekick learned the joy of climbing gates and finding a comfortable seat. And she became best pals with a persistent little farm dog--rolling a gritty brown tennis ball back and forth until she tired of the game.

On the way home she fell asleep in the car.

The road to the farm is one of my favorites around here--the majority of it is not paved and it winds along a beautiful, clear creek. When Elizabeth was a little babe and I needed to get out of the house for a break, the girls and I would often pile in the car and drive this road so I could catch my breath in the world of mother-to-three. The vibration of the stones under our tires, the flickering of sun and shade through her window, always seemed to lull her to sleep.

I watched her in my rear view mirror today while I drove. Her eyes were always out her side window, looking up into the treetops. When I looked back the last time, she was sound asleep. My sweet little babe.

July 11, 2008

my blogging honey

July 11, 2008/ molly balint

All my children are passed out in their beds upstairs. We just had another fun afternoon with the Urchins--eating, swimming in the pool (which is full, blue and cold) and watching our children obsess over the kittens.

I tell you, sometimes you feel kind of odd about the relationships you have with blogging friends. But when you get the privilege of meeting in person and you feel like you're friends that go way back, it just confirms what an amazing community of people this is. I always feel so blessed to be a part of it. Jennifer, next time, the aquarium , right? And Emily will hopefully be joining us as well.

I think little Mary summed it up so well as we were walking back inside after waving goodbye:
"Mom, it's sad to see our blogging friends leaving, isn't it? Is she your blogging honey? She's one of your 'blogging honeys'?" Yes, Mary she is. My blogging honey.

***I'm closing the book swap. Thanks so much for the great response. It is nice to have an easy simple swap for the middle of summer. I'll be getting back to you all soon with partners.******

Happy Weekend.

May 27, 2008

things I've learned, please be sure to read no. 3

May 27, 2008/ molly balint

1. There are certain milestones you look forward to your children reaching--first smile, first tooth, first time they reach for you to pick them up, first shaky steps across the floor...however, the one milestone I'm less than thrilled about Elizabeth reaching this week is how to pull herself up on to the sofa. Where she finds it quite comical to stand up holding on to the back, then let go and allow herself to do a free fall plop down on to her rumpus, and/or back, depending upon how she sticks the landing. And of course a baby masters how to climb up on the sofa without a firm set of safety precautions established in her repertoire, or a means for getting down from said sofa that doesn't require tears and bruised cheeks, or help from her mother. I've been spending a lot of time on my sofa the past few days.

2. You will always be able to find someone else in a situation that is worse or harder than what you are going through. But that doesn't diminish or negate what you are experiencing or feeling. When a person needs a shoulder to cry on, an ear to complain in, be that shoulder or that ear. And in that moment, don't remind them that other people have it worse or harder. It's like the person who has one child and is experiencing a struggle can't complain to the person who has three or four children because how could her simple life, with only one child ever be as complicated as the person with three? That's just not fair. And life can't be broken down so simply. You have a right to feel what you are feeling, to struggle where you are struggling. And you have the right to be comforted and to give comfort.

3. You all do number two perfectly. I'm not sure I can say that I've ever read my blog comments through teary eyes, but this weekend and this morning, I did. I just needed that little bit of 'chin up' understanding and encouragement that came through in your words. When I talk to people who don't know blogging, the first thing I remark on is the community. But not the kind of community where the neighbors growl and groan behind closed doors about this person's noisy kids or that person's weedy front garden. But the kind of community where people wander from front porches, and linger together on the sidewalk. And share a cup of coffee, or pass along an extra quart of strawberries, or pick up their neighbor's tipped over garbage cans that have blown into the street. It's a community where people go out of their way to be nice, to encourage, to support, to help. Thank you. Over and over.

4. Is there much in this world that tastes better than strawberries that are still warm from being plucked from the vine? I don't think so.