The Queen B

My Heart Is In A Puddle

I was so totally excited to get this picture yesterday!!

The King was really nervous that La Princesa wouldn't know him.  Like maybe the whole thing was a product of our imagination or something.

She went right to him.

He said it took her a few minutes to completely warm up, but then she was glued to him!  They were able to play for about 2 hours.

My heart is so full.

I didn't realize how much I needed an update from her. I think that I've put the whole thing in a box so that it doesn't spill out all over the place.  I've tried not to dwell on how she is or what she's doing or if she remembers us.

God has put some sort of weird insulation around my heart.

My love for her has grown, but my mind has very specific boundaries.

Does that make sense?

I didn't think so.

I'm looking forward to getting updates on all of the kids that we met.

I wonder if The King is going to get any work done?

The King and I didn't plan on talking on the phone while he was in Guatemala.  It is really expensive.  We can email, though.  I'd prepared myself for just email.

Imagine my delight when the phone rang last night and a sweet little voice said, "Hola".  

Then she rattled off something that I couldn't begin to understand.

So I asked her how she was.  And she said she was good.  

And that was the point at which I extinguished my Spanish vocabulary.

So she rattled some more.

And I talked back to her in English.

And then she rattled.

And then...in English, that sweet little voice said, "I love you".

MELT. MY. HEART.

I'm sure The King told her what to say.  But I don't care.

I'm starting Rosetta Stone today.

The Flying, The Flu, The Earthquakes...Oh My!

The King is leaving on a jet plane today.

He's headed back to Guatemala.  

He's traveling with Jason and another friend, Tim. Their goal is to finish much of the construction of Jason & Lacey's home.

The King's goal is to spend a little time with La Princesa!  

We are hoping that he will be able to get some good information on exactly what is going on with our adoption.

I am so excited to see some new pictures of her.  

We asked what her favorite color is and she was quick to tell us "Light pink...not dark pink.  Light pink."  Needless to say, The Princess and I have sent The King with plenty of light pink.

I'm just sayin'.

Please pray for his safety.  Even though our trip went smoothly last month, it is still a dangerous country.  

This flu business is in the back of my mind.  As are the multiple quakes that Casa has felt over the past few weeks.

However, this trip is different for me than the last.  I still have fears that are wanting to creep into my mind, but this time I have peace.  

True peace.

The peace that passes understanding.

I know that God is blessing him with the opportunity to spend some time with La Princesa.

I'd also ask for you to pray for his expectations.  Our last trip was incredible.  I know that every trip can't be that life-changing.  I want him to experience that same joy, though.  

Thank you for praying.  

(I know that you've already started.)

The Animals

I realize that I haven't shared much about our animals in a while.

You're welcome.

Here's a brief update:

Heidi had emergency surgery last week.  

Of course she did. 

(She'll be fine.) 

(And she's now worth more money than a champion show dog.)

Ruby killed 9 moles last week.  

Nine.  

And brought each and every one of them to the back door as a token of her affection.

Oliver & Chester exist in a near-perfect world.  

They eat, drink and sleep at will. 

They ignore everyone until they decide they'd like some affection.  

And they are beautiful.

This is how I found them yesterday morning...

Really.

I'm so glad that we can accommodate their needs.

How are your animals?

A Stinky Adventure *Updated*

Sorry about the whole self-imposed blog ban thing last week.

I'm over it.

***

The King had to make an emergency flight to Milwaukee on Saturday.  He found out he had to go at 9 a.m. and was in the air by noon.  

We don't normally roll like that.

And that is a good thing.

***

I need some house building advice, but I'll give you the details in a minute.  

A few months ago, The King called me from a restaurant supply store in another town.  

He was so proud to tell me that he'd bought me a range.

Now.

The kitchen is the one room that I am absolutely sure about.

(And by "absolutely sure", I mean that I sorta kinda know what I want.)

I love to cook, and I had planned my entire kitchen around a range with a commercial feel.

I knew that they were really expensive, but I was prepared to search for a great deal.

However.  I wasn't necessarily prepared for The King becoming my personal shopper.

He'd dropped in this store (its name is pretty close to Jimmy Joe's Kitchen Shop) and saw one he liked and bought it.

It cost about the same as a regular range at Lowe's.

I had some reservations BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN IT.

But I was cool and grateful and only asked him what in the world he was thinking twice.

Or 15 times.

I can't recall the exact number.

Fast forward to Friday.

The King picked it up and brought it to our town on a trailer.

He locked it up at the farm but said we'd need to cover it because it didn't have any protective wrapping and wasn't boxed or anything.

And then he had the emergency flight to Milwaukee.

So my mom and I took several rolls of saran wrap and headed to the farm late Saturday afternoon.

I knew that it was locked in one of the buildings.  

It happened to be in the one building that I'd never entered.

The one without electricity.

Or a floor.

Mom and I opened the door and were immediately attacked by a dangerous pterodactyl.

The gigantic bird came right for my head and tried to kill me.

It seems that the pterodactyl has a nest above the door.

Whatever.

After we recovered, we tiptoed to the range.

Don't tell The King, but he did a really great job. It is just perfect.

He even had red knobs added so that it kind of looks like this Wolf range...

One point for The King.

Mom and I began wrapping the range from the bottom.  As my eyes adjusted to my surroundings, I focused on something that caused me to scream.

Mom immediately yelled, "Is it a snake?"

It wasn't a snake.

Though I'm certain they were all around.

There were two little bony hands sticking out from under the range.

Remember when the bad witch was smashed by the house on The Wizard of Oz?

Exactly what we were seeing.

Only it was A SKUNK SMASHED  BY MY BEAUTIFUL APPLIANCE.

There were tufts of black & white hair sticking out.

And the smell?

No words, my friends.  No words.

We had to bend down right beside it.  

Around and around and around we wrapped.

Every time we wrapped the bottom?

Face to face with the skunk carcass.

Once, my foot bumped one of the larger tufts of hair and the dust of death blew out.

I wish I were kidding or exaggerating.

And so does The King.

Because that one point that he gained for buying me a rockin' range has been negated by the 37,000 points that he lost for setting it on a skunk.

Mom's entire day was ruined. She was nauseous for the next 6 hours.

My entire day was ruined.  I had to listen to mom complain about being nauseous for the next 6 hours.

And the skunk smell is still in my nose.

Ok.  If you're still reading (which is honestly pretty doubtful) I need advice.

I have to pick a dishwasher and a refrigerator.

There are 9 million options and that gives me the shakes.

I'd like stainless with the freezer on the bottom.

The Princess wants me to tell you that she'd like shaved ice.

I'd like a quiet dishwasher. 

Oh, and I can't spend a fortune.

Any suggestions?

*Update* 

I should have explained how the range ended up on the skunk.  The King didn't make it to the farm until it was already dark on Friday night.  No electricity.  Lights from car didn't shine far into the building.  He and his dad carried it inside and set it down without being able to see what was below them.  I'm certain the skunk already dead.  Bless its nasty little heart.

All In Favor Of A King Cam Say Aye

Nothing makes me want to post more than a good let's-all-make-fun-of-The-King kind of story.

So we are moving to a farm.  

We don't have farm animals (oh my word...I almost typed the word "yet") but The Gentleman still occasionally sticks some of his cows in the corral that is temporarily on our property. 

A new calf was a bit under the weather, so The Gentleman had placed it and its mama in the corral.  

(The King lacks farm cred.)

(It is about to become obvious.)

There was an extra cow wandering around our property, and it could have gotten in the road.  The King thought he might shoo it in the corral.

Which, truly, I'd have paid big money to see.

Somehow, he managed to actually get the rogue cow in there.  But it doing so, he got a little close to the calf.

Mama charged him.

Came running.

Full speed at The King.

Which, truly, I'd have paid big money to see.

Thankfully, The King is still pretty fast on his feet, and he climbed the fence and threw himself to the other side in what I'm pretty sure was record speed.

I get a little teary when I think of the joy that could have been shared if I'd been there with a camera.

Opportunity missed, my friends.

The best part of this story may be The Gentleman's response when The King told him what happened...

"If human mamas took care of their babies like cow mamas, the world would just be better."   

Amen.

This edition of Laughing With (Not At) The King, reminds me of the funniest thing that I never told you.

In Antigua, all 35 of us walked around together in a group.

In matching t-shirts.  

(Did someone say try to blend in?)

We'd been walking for an hour or so when The King piped up, "How do we keep ending up on this same street?"

Seriously.

*Disclaimer:  The King is fully aware that any of his actions, statements and/or questions are potential blog fodder.  It is his responsibility to declare something off the record.  

Wiped

Hi.  My name is Queen B and I'm overwhelmed.

Somewhere in the middle of the house building, adopting, final-3-weeks-of-school-ing and Princess-is-in-2-yes-2-plays-ing...I've become tired.

Forgive me if my attendance is a bit spotty over the next week or so.  I want to be here.  It just keeps getting pushed down the list, you know?

I know you know.

I will be back soon.

(Maybe even tomorrow.)

(If I get a nap.)

(Or a secretary.)

Oh, and keep the adoption process in your prayers.  The court date has been moved back again.

I will not be discouraged.  

I will not be discouraged.

I will not be discouraged.

Weekend Wonderfulness: Backwards Edition

My mother-in-law, Nana, is a really great cook.

However, she's a fly-without-a-recipe kind of gal.

That is usually a positive.

Except for the no-bakes.

Every holiday/event at Nana's brings out the ginormous cookie & bar display.  She always makes the familiar favorites.  There are some new ones thrown in each time, but the standards are always available.

Here's the issue:  You know the chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies that have been made by generations for millions of years?

Nana's lost her no-bake mojo.

She used to rock the no-bake.

(Key words = used to)

She's had some problems with dryness.  I think that each family member has brought her 12 different versions of the recipe, trying to get back what we've lost.

It hasn't worked.

No one is more frustrated than Nana.  I am pretty sure that it is constantly in the back of her mind.

So.  Because the entire King family is in desperate need of a solution, Nana has requested your help.

She recalls that her original recipe - The Good One - required bringing the cocoa, milk and sugar to a boil (she thinks for 3 minutes).  After the (possible) 3 minute boil, the mixture was removed from the heat and THEN (apparently this is where all other recipes fail) the butter is added.  Also added are the peanut butter, vanilla and oats.

She has no recollection of the measurements.

If any of you have a no-bake recipe that could heal the wound, please let me know.

PLEASE.

Or if you have a different no-bake recipe that is consistently NOT DRY, she'll try it.  

We'll make her.

Thank you for your support.

Now Don't Be Shy *UPDATED*

So tell me.

How do you really feel about claw foot tubs?

I'm thinking The Palace Relocation Committee is a pretty good thing...I give you a decision that needs to be made and 99% of you tell me that what I was thinking is a horrendous idea.

I love it.

It may not be so very much fun for you, but it is quite terrific for me.

And it is my blog.

In other news:

No news on Maria.

It is SO hard to wait.  

I know that we have to be patient.  I really, really do know that.  

I think this particular decision (whether or not she is adoptable) will be the toughest.  Once I know that she will be ours, I can rest in God's timing and wait.  

Oh, I know that this part is in God's timing, too.  I'm just so scared to put my heart all the way in, you know?

If you think about it, pray for the judge's heart...that we will catch him on a good day and that he will look at what is best for Maria.

Also.

I've narrowed her bloggy name down to Lady M or La Princessa. 

(I know y'all don't know The Princess' name, but it starts with an M, too!)

(Couldn't have planned it better!!)

I'm leaning toward La Princessa.  Equality rocks.

I'm off to my great-grandmother's house to look at her doors and light fixtures.  I want an old door for my pantry.  Having it come from her house would be so special.

Though Nannie left me with a warning last night...I am going to have to watch where I step because apparently the floor has rotted in spots.

So tune in Monday to see if I break my leg (or, more likely, in how many places).

*UPDATED*  Nannie's floor is not rotted.  She cannot have you thinking that her floor is rotted.  It is her mother's house.  Nobody lives there.  It has been empty for a few years.  The end.

Opinions Needed: STAT!

Here's the deal.

Plumbing stuff begins tomorrow.

(And no.  I cannot elaborate on "stuff".)

This is my tub inspiration...

Photo:  Kitchen and Bath Ideas Magazine

In fact, this is my bathroom inspiration.  

I'm not going to do the glass shelves because hello!  dust!!

I can't afford the fancy faucet.  Or the marble decking.

So pretty much I want a tub (without whirlpool) surrounded by bead board and sitting under a window.

That's been the plan all along.

Until.

I began looking through all of my Dream Bathroom photos, and the majority have a claw foot tub.

Photo: Kitchens & Baths Magazine

(I know that there are no feet on this tub.  But I dig this bathroom. Go with it.)

My great-grandmother's house has a REALLY OLD claw foot tub that needs serious work.  But I can have it if I want it.

DILEMMA:  

The claw foot has to be plumbed differently than the regular tub.

Did I mention that is happening tomorrow?

ISSUES:

A.  Not a fan of scratchy cast iron.

B.  Not sure how much refinishing the claw foot would cost.

C.  Not sure how the claw foot would look surrounded by the bead board.

D.  Not sure about cleaning the scratchy cast iron.

Advise.

And be quick about it.

That's About Right

I cannot post today.

I am questioning every decision that I have made regarding the house building.

I think that I have just discovered my style and, unfortunately, that discovery has occurred about 3 weeks too late.

I have to go stare at websites and pour through magazines and second-guess myself a bit more.

Photo:  Country Home (which, sadly,  happens to be as defunct as my decorating self-confidence)