Sunday, September 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
chipmunk wars

I'm blaming the chipmunks. My mother-in-law says it could be birds and a friend says it could be squirrels, but I saw the hole coming up in the middle of the tomatoes and, after I stopped that one up, in the cucumbers. The chipmunks have been attacking my garden. Small veggies disappear, leaving behind a stubby stem. Big veggies have big bites chomped in the side (see above).
I shouldn't complain. We've had a great haul this year, the best ever thanks to my husband's reading up on sheet composting. We managed to avoid store-bought lettuce for two solid months. We've eaten more turnips that I've had in my entire life combined. We've gotten sick of yellow squash. But we've lost most of the cukes and now the chipmunks are getting into the tomatoes, just when they turn red. Wartime.
I've been scanning the net for battle plans and so far I've tried two.
1. Juicy fruit gum. The net says that the chipmunks hate the smell and this will scare them off. My neighbor, Dan, says that this is an urban myth put out by the Juicy-Fruit People. Dan's probably right and my attempts haven't worked so far, but I still have some extra packs. When I see a hole, the gum is going in.
2. Cayenne pepper. I've plugged up three sprayers trying to get my own mix on the garden so I finally resorted to a red pepper spray, purchased at Ayers, the greatest hardware store in Northern, Va. It hasn't worked so far. This morning we went out and found more tomatoes bitten than ever before. My son thinks the chipmunks are angry and looking for revenge. I'm angry, too, but not so angry that I'm ready to try the third battle plan I found on the internet, the so-called Bucket of Death.
They're too cute to kill. I may be ready for some humane traps, though. I think they need a nice little vacation several miles away...
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Muppets
A couple of years or so we saw an ad for a Muppets Exhibit at the Smithsonian. We went and found a glass case containing some of our favorite Muppets but ... nothing more. Sure, the Swedish Chef was there, and that counts for a lot. But we left disappointed. We were NOT disappointed this weekend, though, when we journeyed over to the International Gallery, nextdoor to the Smithsonian's Castle, to see "Jim Henson's Fantastic World." Storyboards, early sketches, posters, drawings, and video footage of some of Henson's early commercials, including those for Wilkins Coffee and for the La Choy Dragon, running in an endless loop. Hard to see everything with little kids in tow, but just reading the timeline at the beginning of the exhibit is enough to make you realize you're in the presence of genius ... if you hadn't already realized it before. (We had.) In this exhibit you'll find Kermit and Ernie and Bert, along with Rowlf and the puppets from Mahna Mahna. Swedish Chef is sadly absent, as are many others. ("WHERE'S FLOYD PEPPER?" my daughter demanded, very loudly. If anyone knows, please post...) He was there in spirit, if not plushy flesh. And I definitely spotted the pen drawing of Dr. Teeth. The exhibit also has apuppet theater for the kids, a make-a-face station, and a little counter where the squeakers can work on their own storyboards while you check out everything that's hanging on the walls. That probably would have been easier for us if we'd gone on a weekday; we went on a Sunday and it was packed. We're planning on going back for a closer second look. The exhibit is in D.C. until the beginning of October, when it goes South to Florida, Kentucky and Georgia. If it goes near you it's definitely worth a look.
For more information visit jimhensonlegacy.org
For more information visit jimhensonlegacy.org
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
gender differences
Thursday, June 19, 2008
summer reminders
Tomorrow is the first day of summer. Earlier today I posted a few pictures that I thought captured the essence around our house so far. Feel free to send a link to your own pics if you've got 'em.
Meanwhile, I wanted to remind those of you with kids to sign up for your local summer library reading program. Our library in Arlington has incentives for preschoolers through teen-agers.
My friend Leigh Anne turned me on to the Barnes and Noble reading program, too. They don't need the extra publicity, but YOU NEED FREE BOOKS so I want to take a minute to make sure you check out the program, too. It's a good deal: Your kids, grades 1 to 6, read eight books and say what they like best about each one. Turn it in and you get a coupon for a free book from a list of eligible titles. In normal something-for-nothing land, that would mean your kids would be bringing home How to File Your Fingernails with a Back Hoe or Gourmet Cooking with Sawdust. Only I checked out the titles in my son's age group and they included: Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the Tale of Despereux, and Clementine. Since the kids are going to be reading anyway, may as well fill out the paperwork!
Meanwhile, I wanted to remind those of you with kids to sign up for your local summer library reading program. Our library in Arlington has incentives for preschoolers through teen-agers.
My friend Leigh Anne turned me on to the Barnes and Noble reading program, too. They don't need the extra publicity, but YOU NEED FREE BOOKS so I want to take a minute to make sure you check out the program, too. It's a good deal: Your kids, grades 1 to 6, read eight books and say what they like best about each one. Turn it in and you get a coupon for a free book from a list of eligible titles. In normal something-for-nothing land, that would mean your kids would be bringing home How to File Your Fingernails with a Back Hoe or Gourmet Cooking with Sawdust. Only I checked out the titles in my son's age group and they included: Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the Tale of Despereux, and Clementine. Since the kids are going to be reading anyway, may as well fill out the paperwork!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
whoopee
Last night my husband and I went through a bunch of junk we didn't need anymore. We made a pile for the thrift shop and a pile to get rid of. Unfortunately my son found the get-rid-of pile as soon as he woke up and rescued from the top a broken Whoopee Cushion.
"I think we should fix this," he said.
"I think we should just get a new one," I said.
"No, Mommy," he said. "Reduce, reuse and recycle."
Time to bring out the Duct Tape.
(Note: The Duct Tape worked. Good Old Duct Tape. Further proof that my husband's theory of parenting is on target: All you really need is a ball, a stick, and a roll of Duct Tape.)
"I think we should fix this," he said.
"I think we should just get a new one," I said.
"No, Mommy," he said. "Reduce, reuse and recycle."
Time to bring out the Duct Tape.
(Note: The Duct Tape worked. Good Old Duct Tape. Further proof that my husband's theory of parenting is on target: All you really need is a ball, a stick, and a roll of Duct Tape.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)