Happy Birthday to my First Born Son!

His birthday was yesterday, but this IS his first full day of being 21 after all!  Born 6#'s 3oz., this @ 7:30A on October 2, 1991.  He is a guy I'd want to know even if he wasn't mine, I really believe that.  Of course I love him, but I really like him.  I always have.  He was such a good baby and such a fun toddler.  We were buddies.  There was only one point, age 15.5-17.5 that neither of us really liked each other, though we always knew we loved each other.  But other than that 2 year period, I can honestly say I have always really liked him.  He is a Sophomore now @ Kendall School of Art & Design and resides in Grand Rapids with his girlfriend Carly Cox, whom I also really like (as Colin says, "she's definitely part of the family").  He's matured so much even over the last year, finding his niche with his art and knowing what his strength's and weaknesses are in general and working with it and through them well.  He has brought much light and laughter to everyone who knows him and I'm very proud to call him son.  Happy birthday Casey - you are a fine lad!

Additionally I wanted to share some fun facts about life here on Terceria Island in The Azores of Portugal.  For the past few days I have begun weeding out the perennial flower beds of their HUGE garden.  I keep my worst pr of jeans and an old shirt hanging in the garage.  Especially viewing from my 3rd floor - the section I've done shows an amazing difference.  I was, however, not neurotic enough to take before and after photo's, but I've unearthed buried border rock and realigned things.  It is fun for me and as I've always loved to dig in the dirt - I get things sorted out, inside myself out there as well.

Wendi's husband, John is a permaculturalist and it was fascinating to walk the garden with him and how he knew, what I might mistake for a weed, by smelling it that it was a viable plant that I should avoid pulling out.  He grows things through the house and finds cooking to be a creative outlet.  Wendi and I have the ability to cook, but we are like minded in thinking, why should we ever deprive him of such an outlet.  Here are some things on the kitchen counter.

When he came out with these, he looked to Wendi and with very genuine pride, asked her, "Isn't this beautiful?"  Like me, she would never think Sauer Kraut and beautiful would be words that go together, but being a supportive wife, with a straight face, she said, "Those are beautiful!  What exactly is it again honey?"

This is Kefir and I have consumed it.  It is fermented something and I can't say that I have tasted it - though it definitely has been in/on my food that he has served.  I just don't know that it has or hasn't added any flavor that I could decipher.

And, over the weekend, on his day off, we'd thrown together peanut butter and banana sandwiches for lunch and Wendi called out to him, "John, if I use your left over Indian food from last nights dinner, can I make a lunch plate for you?"  After a long pause and Wendi almost pleading with him to please let her make him a plate, I inquired as to why it was such a big deal.  She said, "Because, when John makes something for himself for lunch - THIS is what it looks like!" and showed me the photo below:

oooooh - okay, totally get it.  Note to self, never EVER offer to make a plate for John for lunch or any other meal!

I called my youngest son Colin last night, needing to hear his voice.  I am hoping that by next week we will be able to Skype.  He warned me first, "I have some sad news mom and it's not about Bleu."  Me: "Okay good.  But what?"  Colin:  "The cat was hit by a car - I found her by the mailbox this morning.  I placed her back by the tree to bury her."  My mind reeled for a moment, "What?! Why?", thinking it must be because we'd all left and he didn't return home for a week.  She is....was, an indoor/outdoor cat and she had a routine - outside in the evening to keep the rodents at bay, then in for the day to sleep, have her saucer of milk between 4-5pm and out for the night.  It's been that way for 2 years!  I've left her for a long weekend, but never a week, but then I always came home.  This time I didn't come home.  I'm so sad.  Colin didn't care for her one way or the other, but I do believe he will miss her presence when the mice spread the news that there's no more kitty prowling around.  Then I realized that there is no explanation, it's just a risk we took having a cat out to roam.  In addition, I am grateful I wasn't there to find her.  I'm glad that my last memory of her was curled up on her favorite counter chair, purring when I'd stop to scratch her neck.
Colin also told me that Bleu is sad and not eating, but that had Bleu the ability and demeanor, he would have done cartwheels when Colin picked him up from Ray and Wendy's on Friday.  My last month home, I swore Bleu knew something big was about to happen, for which he would not be included.  The house was echoing and boxes were being packed, but then we'd go for a walk, so everything was good!  I dropped him off to my trusted and dear friends Wendy & Ray to be cared for while I left and Colin had his U of M annual appointment only a few days later.  I can imagine his confusing thoughts, "Okay, so Colin picked me up.  I'm home.  But mom's not here and the rooms are all changed around and there is unfamiliar furniture and smells coming in the house.  Will she be back?  I KNEW something was going on.  I KNEW I felt her sadness of and on for the last few months.  Just tell me she'll be back and I'll adjust.  Why would she ever leave me at all?"
I probably should be downstairs, helping Wendi wrangle kids while John is cooking, but for a moment it's too much work to blink back my tears.  I'll go down in a minute.  My emotions are bothersome to me because when I'm alone and I have time to just get it all out, my tear ducts dry up like a desert!  But when I'm walking down a street or need to be around people, things suddenly hit me and there come the tears!  I received the news last night and I went up to bed.  I tried to think about it, but "it" just wouldn't compute...or something.  But today, when there's 3 little kids around and my niece needs help, I'm weepy.  Really?  So this is what I do.  I give myself permission to take 10 minutes to feel it a little and then visualize in my head to set it aside and I will pick it up later at a more appropriate time.
On a side note, when I hugged my boys and Carly goodbye @ the airport, none of us cried.  I had suspected that I would cry the entire flight from GR to Chgo - nothing.  I still haven't cried and I know myself well enough to know, that...those tears are going to come.  I just don't know when or where I'll be.  Just as long as I don't scare the children :)!

I left my home....

What began as a joke between my niece and I, has become a reality of my life! I now live in The Azores, Lajes Portugal - Porta Martins (pronounced Marteench) with the Kitsteiner family of five. Wendi is my niece, 35 year old daughter of my eldest sister; her husband John, their sons Isaac (4), Elijah (3) and daughter, Abigail (1). They are stationed here for 2 years as John is a Captain and family physician in the Air Force. They've only arrived here 3 months ago, from their 2 year station in Turkey.  They've attained a 3 story home (off base) w/a built in pool and large garden here in the Azores.  They discussed having help, but Wendi just did not have the energy to put the "help wanted" sign out there.  Not knowing that, when she posted the question on my FB, "want to come nanny over the sea?"  I responded, "yes please!"  to which she did not comment.  A few days later, I added, "Seriously, just say the word and I'll sell everything but my books and dog and be on the next plane."  No comment...until a day later I received a long email from her asking if I was in any way serious.  Though we had kept updated with each other through Facebook and her blog, we didn't really know each other since she was a little girl herself.  At any rate, I responded that while I was sort of serious, my response extended was without any idea that they were.  To make a very long story short - they booked my airline tickets w/in a week of that exchange and I began the process of sorting every single thing in my house into groups of storage, sell or send.  To make that very long story short - after my sons made their choices of things they wanted, I stored about 10 furniture pieces and 6 large bins; I shipped 5 large + 3 small boxes here, and sold everything else.   I finished up my part-time job @ the local newspaper on 09/14 and left my home of 15 years in Petoskey, MI on 9/21 to have dinner and spend the night with my eldest son and his girlfriend in Grand Rapids.  We "lucked out" that the GR Art Prize 2012 was going on & saw some of Casey's work hung in the halls of Kendall after dinner @ GAI (yum!).   This is Casey (21 on 10/2) and Carly Cox (21):

We set our alarms for 4:30am and arrived @ the airport by 6a...and we said our goodbye's by 7:30A.  I flew 1 hr to Chgo/O'Hare, waited 1.5 hrs. and flew to Boston arriving by 2p.  I spent the day w/Anna Burkee, walking to Newberry Street and we had dinner @ Thai Basil...then met her boyfriend at a wonderful bookstore/coffee shop.  This is Anna w/a bit of close to Newberry St. culture:


I arrived back @ the airport to check in for my flight 10:30P flight by 7P...only to find it was delayed until 8P the next day, due to Hurricane Nadine swirling the skies of Portugal.  SATA Airlines put me up @ The Hilton @ Boston Logan Airport, and gave me a dinner and a breakfast voucher, for my inconvenience.  They didn't know how much they'd thrilled me!  I'd only had the opportunity to wash up that morning and when I saw the long delay, all I could do, was look @ my luggage wondering how comfy of a bed it would make in a corner of the airport.  Rather, I found myself in a luxury hotel, slept in a luxury room in a king size bed with the ability to have a long shower, w/no rush getting ready as they extended check-out to 2pm.  On Sunday, afternoon, I checked out @ 2pm, then curled up in this ridiculously deep, comfy chair: 

in the expansive, bright hotel lobby, until such time that I needed to walk the sky-walk back the airport.  I checked in for my flight @ 4:30P, and was given another dinner voucher, so having 3 hours before boarding, found the nicest restaurant and settled in for a healthy dinner, called my parents and went through security.  I arrived safely in The Azores @ 12:30A or 4:30A Azores time.  The rest is best viewed in photo's below:

The first photo is directly across left of this, my bed with blanket & pillows from home.

 

The photo above is directly across R from said bed in the center is the clothes closet

 

This is the sitting room as I look out from my bed.  I am on the Tres Quatch (3rd floor)

This is the sitting room sofa & coffee table.  Camera left is my kitchenette - basic necessities:  frig, coffee pot and microwave!

Tres Quatch, sitting room, looking from sofa L

Tres Quatch from sofa R - center is small balcony overlooking driveway & garden.  I can also see the North Atlantic beyond that.

To make me feel @ home, Wendi made this photo collage of my life that I left behind.

My view from sitting room balcony

Another view from sitting room balcony

Looking into sitting room from balcony

View from entry into sitting room.  My bedroom is through the center doorway.

This view is from my bedroom balcony - undeveloped land...and the North Atlantic

Another view from my bedroom balcony.  This is where I enjoy my morning coffee

So...I have given you the tour of my private quarters.  Just outside of the sitting room doorway is a very small bathroom, that is only really good for refuse or washing my hands.  Beyond that are 2 connected rooms for guests.  At first Wendi suggested that I would be sharing my sitting room with guests that come, but that John did not agree.  I'm pretty sure I didn't put it in question form, rather said, "But...this is my apartment.  Guests get a bedroom and share the bathroom, but all of their other needs are easily met throughout your house.  They're merely guests, whereas I am living here and understood I would have this small apartment to call my own, not just a bedroom."  She laughed, easily agreed and said, "That's exactly what John thought."  Phew!

Wendi told me that I was on Observation Only my first 2 weeks here, however, from day one, I have found it impossible not to chip in where needed.  The kitchen quickly became my domain....well as far as keeping cleaned up and orderly....I gladly pass the baton to John for the preparing and cooking of food.  Wendi and I are kindred spirits as far as having the ability to keep children fed and watered and we CAN cook....but as far as healthy hot meals, why should we, when there is John who loves to cook as a creative outlet?

As I write this, I have completed day 6 and other than my first 2 days, this was my first that I "worked" less than 3 hours.  Dishes and laundry were my only tasks on those 1st 2 days and today.  With a 4 yr. old Dalmation and 3 children, ages 4, 3 & 1, I was unable to justify the Observation Only rule and Wendi never noticed I broke a rule!  It is also hard to describe as work, when it just feels like living.  Taking Scrubby for an hour walk along the ocean-side, keeping the kitchen/dishes cleaned up (collectively 2 hours per day), helping out with the kids, nap duty (meaning mom can shut completely down and I am the ears, hands and feet should the children need or unexpectedly wake prior to nap time end), laundry and cleaning up 2 stories of the house while Wendi runs an errand are all included.  On Wednesday, she took me to base and I was an extra good listener since, @ the start, she bought me a triple shot skim latte, no foam, extra hot with 1 pump mocha!  By the end of that excursion (the BX, grocery, indoor playground, visiting daddy @ the clinic and lunch) it did start to feel a little like work :).  On Thursday, Wendi let me drive to Base to meet up with whomever showed up to join her for a MOPS Activities Group excursion to a Dairy Farm where the kids could have ice cream.  I drove on a highway here on the Island.  You drive 70 km's (now paying attention to the little #'s on vehicle speedometer) and suddenly there's a round-about! and then the highway continues. 

Wendi organized this MOPS Group for Military mom's here and she has a formal group the first Thursday of each month, with the other Thursday's of the month being strictly activities. She keeps it very simple, by thinking of somewhere she'd like to take her children and inviting the other MOPS to join.  If other MOPS join her, she's happy, if not, no big deal, she takes her own children to the decided upon excursion.  Eleven MOPS joined....averaging 2 preschoolers each - it was a busy, fun and very loud time had by all.

This is Wendi's middle child Elijah (who goes by Sidge) who was looking into the camera a nano-second prior to this, but he can't sit still much longer, so is ready to sprint here.

On Friday, mommy and all 3 kids had "HAD IT", so we stayed home.  Wendi gave me the puppy eyes and I did nap duty....little did I know all 3 kids would sleep (usually only Abigail sleeps, the boys just have quiet time with books) so mommy got a good nap and I got caught up on some some correspondence.  Abigail sat with me, very content, for a good 15 minutes before her mommy came down and stayed content in my lap even @ the sight of Wendy.  This is huge - evidence that I am in the Abigail club!!  cha-cha-cha!

John had Saturday and Sunday off.  He is an avid gardener to put it mildly.  In fact, I'm not even sure mere gardener is the word as things grow in jars in the kitchen, like kefir and fruit floating in liquid that will, @ some point be something we ingest.  At any rate, we compost here, so he needed fresh horse manure for his garden and compost, so I rode out with him and the boys to a horse farm.  Anxious to go beyond the 4 block radius of the day prior and see more of the Island, I've added some photo's of that day below:

Making our way home, traffic jam because of cow herd, most which are in front of cars ahead.  This gal is a very pregnant lolly-gagger as are 2 behind our vehicle.

Just driving along - the views were just stunning.

Split Rock, near Porta Judeau

I loved this - ocean front, home on R and drive, center - hard to capture

It was a beautiful drive and I am so glad I went.  John is very easy to be around and I am very interested in his passion for sustainable living.  I loved my flower gardens @ home in Michigan and though I don't know much about it, I do love to dig in the dirt and see good things come from it.  He has no problem with those of us who don't know, but are willing to learn.  I learned about healthy soil and I am better for having learned it.
The weather here has been just amazing!  It is, however, getting close to the end of pool season, so Saturday was hot enough to warrant some little ones splash time.  Here's some of that:

 This is middle child, Elijah (aka Sidge)

 Mr. Scrubby responding to my, "Hey Scrubs"

 Scrubs gives a more regal pose

 Wendi cleaning up the pool toys

 View from far end of pool - toward house (neighbor's house across street)

 view from far end of pool toward garage 

We all decided to take a walk in the evening.  John wanted more of that mushgoo (seaweed) for his garden and compost.  A beautiful evening to take a walk along the ocean.

 JB gathering seaweed for his compost & garden, as boys & Scrubby bounce in the spongey Mushgoo

 Looking toward the downtown of Porta Martins (Marteench)

JB standing L to R:  Elijah, Isaac, Abigail, Wendi & Scrubs

So here I am - catching up on my first week here @ the start of my new chapter of life.  I miss my dog and the sound of my boys' voices.  But I am happy here.  I am interested to see what is in store, how this will all flush out.  Right now, I feel like a contributing guest.  I wonder how long it will take to feel differently.  Wendi says when I am driving and going places on my own.  More to come!