Just Ducky

Mom loves that duck.

She talks to it.

She clears the little fuzzies from its eyes so it can see, just like she pushes my hair back.

While one hand is making it quack, the other hand is holding the bill shut so it can't quack.

She tells it her secrets.

And just generally has a good time with it.

Yep. she loves that duck.

Musical Ducks

In keeping with the toy theme started yesterday, here are a couple of Mom's favorites.

My friend P recently sent the one on the left. Mom tucks it into her left arm and carries it around like she does Judy. Press the left foot, and it plays the "Chicken Dance". Mom loves polka, so this always gets her dancing. Who can resist? Every time, I'm doing the chicken dance too. The duck moves as the song is playing. You might be thinking, why a duck, not a chicken? Well, in Germany the song is known as the "Ententanz", Ente meaning duck, so it makes perfect sense.

The duck on the right is a hand puppet. You put your hand up its, uh, you know, and move the bill together. As you do, it quacks three songs, "Old McDonald" , "Brother John", and "London Bridges". It quacks the melody, you just need to make it quack to the right tempo. The thing is, Mom can do it! And she sings along, ee i ee i oh. Mom loves that duck. I'll show you a bunch of pictures tomorrow evidencing this.

I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions yesterday. I have found a lot of great toys I'm very excited about, including some simple musical instruments. I'll let you know how it turns out when I get them.

Ever heard of these?

I don't really have anything to say, but wanted to ask if anybody has heard of or used these?

They look like something Mom might enjoy. They are big enough she can't put them in her mouth, yet can make stuff with them.

I have had to take away many things that she used to enjoy messing around with, because they are small and she puts them in her mouth. She likes to carry around pretty stones, but I had to hide those away. If they are big enough to discourage putting in the mouth, they are also too heavy for her to carry around easily. Imagine Mom's pants falling down because of the stones in her pockets.

I've had to put away the set of colored dominoes too. She liked to match the colors to each other.

Do they make giant Lego type things? Something she can build with, but not fit in her mouth? I'm going to have browse a toy store. This close to the holidays? As anti-social as I've become? The mind reels. Ok, online. Anybody have favorite on-line (bargain) toy purveyors? Or a toy suggestion?

Storm yarn

Ursa liked the roving too, I guess. I left the roving ball on the couch. I'd like to know how she managed to drape herself around it without moving it an inch. Is it the same skill that allows the cats to leave perfect pyramids of mouse intestines on the porch right outside the door?

It is very gray out, so this looks even more muted than it actually is. It is mostly muted sage green, olive, gray, blue gray, with occasional lighter streaks of almost baby blue. It's a bit overspun, I had planned on plying, then changed my mind. Plying would mess with the colorplay, and I like it the way it is. It is also a bit thick and thin. I'm not used to spinning 100% wool like this. Excuses, excuses.

250 yards or thereabouts. It might need to become a hat. Or a really short scarf. Maybe a neckwarmer? Little fulled bag?

Those Crazy Librarians!

I totally stole this from my friend MJ. It's nice having extremely generous friends that work at high end adventure/outdoor gear outfitters that starts with a P headquarters. She sent me a bomber jacket that I can do some, as she put it, "serious backcountry (tundra, not alpine) sh** " in. Like walking to the mailbox in January!

Nov 8 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MADISON, Wis. - Librarians shook out their buns and dusted off their dancing shoes to compete in the Wisconsin Book Cart Drill Team competition. The Baraboo Bookers took first prize Friday at the Wisconsin Library Association's annual conference. Teams of librarians created short choreographed dances and rocked out with their book carts. The Baraboo Public Library team danced to the rock 'n' roll classic "Born to be Wild" with four carts and a dolly. They competed against the Mad City truckers, graduate students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who used an Indiana Jones-themed routine. The Baraboo team advances to the national competition in Chicago next summer and also gets a $250 gift certificate.

East and West

Last night's view to the east.

Last night's view to the west.

Look's like we're having a bit of an ice storm. I'm glad I don't have to drive anywhere today. Crap, as I was typing that, I remembered that I only have one more disposable underwear for Mom. Crap! Maybe it will warm up a little and the roads will improve later today. Crap!

One of those days

Ever have one of those days where you think the universe is trying to tell you to just go back to bed? I'm having one of those days.

I went out to feed the animals this morning. I was starting a new row of hay, so had to pull a bale out. It was wedged in very tightly, so was pulling with all of my strength.

Then the string broke. I went flying backwards, slamming into the steel tube gate I use to separate the llamas from the hay, before slumping to the ground. I think I'll have three lines of bruises across my back from when I hit the gate. The ground had a nice layer of hay, so at least my landing was soft. I didn't have my cell phone with me, so I'm glad it wasn't serious.

Then I was giving a llama some shots. I managed to stick myself with the needle first, enough to draw blood. I was just thankful it wasn't the penicillin one, since I'm allergic.

That was all before breakfast.

I'm going to take a few ibuprofin now.