BACK TO SCHOOL?

My recently graduated son Alex and I were sitting on the back porch watching the chipmunks and squirrels scurry around in the back woods collecting anything and everything they could find to make it an easy winter for themselves.
“I have to say, I know how they feel.” I said as I pointed to one very busy chipmunk running back and forth across the yard seeming to get nothing done but making very good time doing it. “For the last twenty years I’ve spent every fall running around getting someone ready for another school year.” I sighed. “This fall just didn’t feel the same without someone going back to school.”
“Yeah, it’s nice isn’t it?” Alex asked as he leaned back in his chair to get some sun on his face.
“I don’t know, I kind of missed all that running around this year.” I watched as a squirrel slowly made his way down a tree, grab an acorn off the ground, slowly look around before stuffing it into his mouth and frantically running back up the tree as if someone were right behind him ready to take it away. “Those days of feeling like that squirrel where we’d be running from department stores to grocery stores to hardware stores, then over to the office supply store trying to get you ready.” I smiled at him as he looked over at me. “And when I say ‘we’ you know I really mean ‘me’. Because there was no way you were going to get supplies, pack, and make sure everything was just right for your first day of school no matter where you were going.”
Alex smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m not looking for thanks.” I quickly added. “I’m just saying I can relate to those guys out there.” I waved my hand in the general direction of the woods. “Once you feel the temperature start to drop there’s some strange need that comes over you to get busy doing… I don’t know…” I shrugged my shoulders,”Stuff.”
“So now that you’re not getting me ready for school, what stuff do you feel you need to do?”
“I’m glad you asked.” I smiled as I looked over at him. “I’m thinking of taking a class, maybe something on-line that I can take whenever I’m ready to start.”
Alex sat up. “Really?”
“I don’t know, I’ve been looking at a few on-line colleges and there’s one or two classes that seem interesting.” I took a sip of my tea, “It just seems like the right time for me to start taking them.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Alex said.
“Really?” I said. “Because it’s been years since I’ve taken a class and these classes can be pretty intense. I might need a little extra time to study.”
“Well, sure. Take all the time you need.”
I felt a sigh of relief come out of me. “I’m glad you’re being so understanding, because between work and studying I might need some help around the house making dinners, cleaning bathrooms, going grocery shopping you know, stuff.”
“Sure.” Alex said. “Just let me know what you need.”
“Wow.” I had to smile. “Thanks.”
“Hey, I’m happy for you.” Alex swatted a mosquito off his arm. “I’m just glad I’m not the one going back to school this year!”
“Was it really that terrible?” I asked looking over at him. “You’re not going to miss anything about school?”

Alex smiled. “I don’t know.” he said. “Why don’t you let me know how you feel around Thanksgiving.”

FEEDING FRENZY

I love the fall, and one of my favorite things to do since I’ve moved into my new house has been to sit on my deck and watch all the activity in my little backyard woods. I was watching the leaves slowly twirl to the ground, loving all the different colors, when I realized I hadn’t been seeing many birds lately.
Over the spring and summer my backyard had been filled with birds. My birdhouse had been twice filled with families. I loved listening to the babies cry for Mom and Dad to hurry up with the next snack. I also felt sorry for the parents as they rushed back and forth on their never ending search for food. In a way I sympathized with them because I too had children, (although they were older,) whose never ending chant was, “There’s nothing to eat in this house!”
But now my woods seemed sadly quiet. That’s when my husband Steven came out to sit with me. “Beautiful day out isn’t it?” he asked as he sat down next to me.
“It is.” I agreed. “But have you noticed there are a lot less birds back here, now that fall has started?”
Steven shrugged his shoulders. “They’re probably looking for food for the winter.” he said. “If your not going to feed them, someone else will.”
That was all I needed to hear as I got up, grabbed my purse and headed for the front door. “Be back in an hour.” I called.
Within the hour I was back on my deck sitting next to Steven as we both looked at the new feeder I’d set up at the edge of the woods. “How long do you think it going to take for the word to get out that we’ve got food?” I asked.
Steven never got the chance to answer as the first chickadee landed on the feeder and just as quickly flew away with its seeds.
As the hours went by I got busy doing chores around the house but each time I went by the back windows I checked on the feeder. “There must be a dozen chickadee’s out there now!” I called to Steven, who I’m sure wanted these updates.
“That’s great.” he called back. He didn’t sound as enthusiastic as I was but I knew in time he’d be enjoying the feeder as much as I was.
As dusk began to fall I was back on the deck with Steven, both of us watching the feeding frenzy that was happening at the feeder.
“You know I liked when the chickadee’s were enjoying it but now that the blue jays and squirrels have found it I’m not loving it as much.” I complained as I watched a squirrel hanging upside down emptying out the last few seeds from the bottom of the feeder. “Am I the only one in this neighborhood with a feeder!”
Steven looked over at me as I grabbed the bag of seeds ready to go out and fill the feeder again. “Wasn’t it just this morning you were complaining that our backyard was too quiet?” he asked.
“Yes, but I wanted to feed house finches and chickadee’s. Not these guys.” I said with disgust as I pointed to the four blue jays yelling at one another from the nearby trees.
Just then a little chipmunk scurried under the feeder, quickly trying to grab some seeds. “Oh my gosh, isn’t he the cutest thing!” I cried as looked back at Steven to see if he could see him from where he was sitting.
That’s when the blue jays started swooping down at the chipmunk, chasing him through the underbrush.
“Hey!” I called out. “Leave him alone!” I was waving my arms trying to scare the jays as I headed toward the feeder.
I could hear Steven laughing as he called out, “Has anyone mentioned that you can be a roller coaster of emotions at times?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I said as I tried not to laugh as I refilled the feeder.

FLOWER BOXES DONE

I’d run to the grocery store to pick up a few things, and as I pulled in the driveway my husband Steven opened the front door. “Do you need help carrying in the bags?” he asked.
“I could use a little help.” I admitted as I went around to the back of the car and popped the hatch. “I got a little carried away.”
“Hey that’s what the pantry is for.” he said as he walked down the driveway to meet me at the car. Steven loved a fully stocked pantry and in some ways I’m a bit of a disappointment to him in that regard. I’m more of a daily-run-to-the-store kind of gal and at times it drives him crazy.
“I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything back here that can go in the pantry.” I said handing him a flat of geraniums. I watched as a few of the tiny red petals got caught in the breeze and floated to the ground. “Aren’t they beautiful!” I said as I reached in the back and pulled out the second flat of geraniums in the same beautiful shade of vivid red.
“Weren’t you going to the grocery store?” he asked as he carried the flat up to the front porch.
“I did.” holding the flat in one hand I reached in the front seat and grabbed the small grocery bag. “I just needed hot dog rolls, chips and some mustard for dinner tonight.” I called to him. “It’s so beautiful out I thought we could eat out on the back porch.”
“Sounds good.” he placed the flat down and turned around looking confused. “Wait, did you just say you bought mustard?”
“Yeah, for the hot dogs.” I handed him the bag.
“Did you check the pantry first?” he asked. “I was sure we had a few extra mustard’s down there.”
“Whoops, I forgot.” I started to place the small pots of flowers into our window boxes. “Can you get the flat of vinca in the back of the car for me?” I started moving the pots around leaving room for the vinca vines to go.
“You know if you checked the pantry first you wouldn’t have to run to the store so often.” Steven handed me the flat of vinca.
“I know.” I started placing the pots in between the geraniums. “Why don’t you take that mustard down to the pantry, bring one of the pantry mustard’s upstairs to the kitchen and then we can both be happy.” I suggested.
“That’s not how a pantry is suppose to work.”
“Well, it seems to be working that way for me.” I smiled but then looked at Steven shaking his head at me. “Don’t worry, some day I’ll get used to going down there first. I promise.” I added.
“I hope so.” Steven said taking the mustard out of the bag ready to head into the house and down to the pantry to fix my mistake.
“Wait!” I called as I placed the last pot in the window box then stepped back to take it all in. “Isn’t it beautiful!” I cried.
Steven stepped back with me and smiled as I made a grand sweeping motion with my arms like I was Vanna White presenting him with a new car.
“It looks nice.” he said. “But aren’t you suppose to wait until after Mother’s Day to plant?” he asked.
I shrugged my shoulder. “Not when you’ve had a winter like we just had.” I declared. “Then the rule is, first warm day and everyone is at the garden center!” I said.
“Was it busy?”
“You had to see the lines, it was ridiculous.” I smiled. “By the time I got out of there and to the store I’m lucky I remembered we needed mustard for the hot dogs tonight.”