Monday, October 10th

Harper is always the first one to wake. She went downstairs and found Dolly Parton on Roku. "I Will Always Love You" was on. She snuck back upstairs. Trying to gently wake me she says, "Mommy, the sky is really blue, and purple and pink. And, Dolly Parton is on. And, purple."

We go to Weaver Street for breakfast. Ava is still on break, and it's one of our favorite things to do. I read parts of the newspaper with Ava. Carrboro, like many other towns is having a problem with over-population of deer. They are playing around with the idea of allowing bow and arrow hunting of deer. We're trying to come up with solutions, when I say, "what about a dog catcher (I explain dog catchers to Ava) but, you have someone who catches deer. I'm implying that the deer are relocated (I know, now, this will not work). Ava says, "who can have a deer for a pet?"
And, I tried to explain Occupy Wall Street to Ava.
We went to the library, and I showed Ava, Grandma Mary's photo in the newspaper. Mary was caught hooping at an Occupy Louisville event.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=B2&Dato=20111009&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=310090052&Ref=PH

After we picked up Harper, we went to a play date at Anita's house. This usually involves outside play for the kids, and coffee for me. We do a lot of playing, too. Then, we took Harper and her buddies to dance class.

We have lots of yarrow growing in our yard. The top photo is a photo of yarrow. Mark Bittman has a recipe for shrimp with yarrow. I tried a variation of this recipe, and the gentle herb with the shrimp was delicious.http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/shrimp-with-yarrow-and-baked-lemon I packed up the shrimp with mashed potatoes and pan fried shishito peppers in my favorite covered basket. And, we went to Saxapahaw for choir practice. We had a new member tonight, Chelsey. Chelsey is the granddaughter of a choir member. She is in the sixth grade, and has brought the "show" to our show choir. Chelsea and the girls became instant friends, and were allowed to dance on the stage (photo above). Colin and Harper made Lincoln log cabins.
Today was a great day!

Sunday, October 9th

Today started with knowing we had three parties to attend and the Friends Meeting. We all knew that was not possible, so we started by missing the Friends Meeting. We had a nice, big breakfast. We try to have pancakes and sausage or bacon for breakfast either Saturday or Sunday. Harper had her fingers in her ears saying, "la la la la."
Harper: "Mommy, What does this mean?"
Me: It's very rude. And, means I'm not listening to you."
Harper: "But, they do it in movies."
Me: "They do a lot of things in movies. Some of them are nutballs. We don't do everything we see in movies."
Harper: "Mommy, you look beautiful."

While I was cleaning up breakfast, I thought the girls were playing with Colin upstairs. About twenty minutes later, Harper comes downstairs yelling, "Who has a stamp for the North Pole?" The girls had written their letters to Santa.

Letter to Santa from Harper.
Dear Santa,
I love you very much! For Christmas this year I want:..
1. Big Pink Tedy Bear!
2. Jewery SET!
3. if your elfs can manage to make this I want a Big Pink chandeller in MY Big Bed room!
P.S. How old are you?

Letter to Santa from Ava.
To: Santa
from: Ava (aka live in NC) (aka Fairway place)
DEAR, Santa! for Christmas this year...
1. A Flatscren TV for my Family!
2. Makeup set!
3. A Hot Pink fuzy Big Papasan chair!
P.S.! Santa, I just want to thank you for all the things you do for people in one hole night. And I think we should thank you. Love Ava
And I love Christmas.


The first party was a play date with our "little gnomies" (Harper's friends from Little Gnome Nursery). It was so great to see these friends, that we had not seen since the September 11th peace retreat/camping trip in Virginia. We celebrated Ada's belated birthday with a gluten-free cake. This top photo shows most of the kids on a tire swing.

Party number two was Dylan's birthday party. The kids painted pumpkins, pulled strings on a pinata, and raced around the yard in toy cars. Ava and I both agreed that the screened-in porch, where they had pizza and cake, was our favorite room. Lili made a wonderful cauliflower salad. Colin missed this party to go to the third party at OCSC. It was OCSC's 10th anniversary party. Everything was fine until we tried to leave the second party, after their second piece of chocolate cake for the day. Total melt-down. Harper cried, "I want to go home." And, I knew the third party was not going to happen. At least Colin was able to spend some time there.

We came home and crashed from this whirlwind of a day.

Saturday, October 8th

We have lived in Hillsborough for 17 months, now. And, this was our first trip to the Historic Occoneechee Speedway. This 44 acre site along the Eno River, was first settled by the Occaneechi of the Saponi Nation in the seventeenth century. In the early 1900s the land became known as Occoneechee Farm, owned by General Julian Carr (who Carrboro is named after) who trained horses on his half-mile oval track. Years later in 1947, the land was developed into one of NASCAR's main venues. The three mile trail takes you along the banks of the Eno and the only surviving speedway from NASCAR's inaugural 1949 season. From the brochure, "The 1-mile oval Occoneechee/Orange Speedway was active from 1948-68, attracting the best stock car drivers and thousands of spectators." Earlier this morning, while I was at the Farmer's Market, I spoke to the "egg man" about the Speedway. He didn't know about the speedway, but his neighbor at the market had a lot to say about it. I love this farmer with his heavy eastern NC accent. I can honestly only understand every other word he says. But, he said "Orange County was the first county offered a much larger speedway. And, do you know where that speedway is now? Talledega! Orange County only cares about houses with 10 acre lots." It's hard to imagine what Orange County would be like today, if Talledega were in our backyard.
In the photos above you'll see Harper cheerleading. We like to say she got that gene from Mimi. The girls got into the cold water of the Eno. In the photo of Harper and Colin, you can see Harp's red pants drying in the sun. The Halloween decorations belong to our "country neighbors" the Wagoners. They have alpacas, Shetland ponies, goats, and more. We're going to ask them if they can bring a pony over for Harper's birthday party in November.

It was a funny night at work. A high school exchange student from the Ukraine was on a date. He secretly asked one of the servers if they would buy flowers from the grocery store. Laurie couldn't resist this romantic gesture. The whole scene was really sweet to watch. The girl was so nervously excited, I could see her wiping her sweaty hands on her pant legs under the table.

Friday, October 7th

The La De Dodd family was a little grumpy this morning. It was an angry, rush to the Park + Ride. After breakfast, we worked on our quilt squares, which have turned into pockets for the Little Gnomes. The pockets are the perfect size for acorns and other treasures. We also vacuumed, folded clothes, and cleaned the kitchen. Pandora, through the Roku, has become our background music. We listened to the Cat Stevens station, which played Sir Elton John. Ava declared her love for Sir Elton John. She is my girl.

The only thing we had to do today was go to Dr. Maura Partrick's office, Ava's orthodontist and our family friend.
Me: "I think we should stop at Starbucks, next to Dr. Partrick's office, and get a strawberry smoothie. Since she's going to adjust your retainer, and your teeth might be sore."
Harper: "Me, too- cause my foot is sore."

Colin went to a "fancy" luncheon in Cary today, near Dr. Partrick's office. Red Hat was voted one of the best companies to work for in the Triangle. The theme for the luncheon was 1950s sock hop; with sock hop dancers, 45 records on the tables, and root beer floats. Since we were around the corner, we picked up Colin at Embassy Suites. And, I didn't get lost in Cary.
Harper: "Mom, you have something."
Me: "What's that?"
Harper: "You go and you get there!"

On the way home, the girls were playing a riddle game. Here is a little video.




Off to work. The highlight of the night was the adorable 70-something year old, former Playboy Bunny/Persian cat breeder. True story.

Thursday, October 6th

This morning was a little frantic and rushed to get to the Park & Ride. Harper asked me, "please zip up my jacket to make the birdies kiss." After taking Harper to school, I took Ava to Weaver St. for breakfast. Ava ate almost two chocolate chip pancakes, tofu scramble, and a hard boiled egg. I read part of The Daily Tar Heel with Ava. We talked about Steve Jobs, the construction delay on the Chapel Hill library, and John Harrison's Minus Sound exhibit.


We hiked Occoneechee Mt. and saw lots of trash near one of our favorite spots. The spot is where the state park ends and crosses over into private property. There is a large rock that hangs above a rope swing. Apparently, high school kids hang out there during the summer, and don't clean up after themselves. Ava and I want to clean it up, and leave a sign. We're open for suggestions for our sign. Respect Your Mother?

I let Anita borrow a vintage dress for a 'Mad Men' party. I can't wait to see the photos. We watched a little 'Dancing with the Stars' and rested. Ava cheers for Rickie Lake, I think because I told her, Rickie was in the original 'Hairspray'. Ava is a big 'Hairspray' fan.

On the way to Girls on the Run, Tiny Dancer came on the radio. A favorite song for all three of us. Ava asks, "Is she really tiny? Is she a human? Does she love him? Does he love her back?" Big questions. Then, she ran 2.5 miles. Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" came on the radio, a favorite of Harper's.
Harper has been a little worried about going to Mexico. She says, "This is all the Spanish I know- cuantos, cinco, say."
I'm off to work.
During the ride home from work, I massage Ava and Harper's feet. We talk about Steve Jobs' adopted parents, and our regret over missing Sharon Jones at Shakori Hills.

Wednesday, October 5th

Harper: "I tickled Daddy's feet while he was asleep. hee hee. Armpits, and chins are the tickle- AND feet are the tickle-ist spots."

Ava and Harper really want to have a Halloween party. Ava (looking through old Martha Stewart magazines) "Mom, we have to take everything new out of the house. It needs to look like an old abandoned house. We can keep the fridge, but we have to put cob webs on it."
Me: "Are there any recipes?"
Ava: "Mom, Martha has LOTS of recipes."
After Harper's drop off, Ava and I went to Weaver St. for breakfast. We ran into our friend Nancy. We chatted and played catch up during breakfast. We talked about Ayr Mount and how her house is near this incredible, historic property. What I didn't realize is her two acres backs up to to Ayr Mount. Ava and I immediately think of Mimi and her love for Ayr Mount. Nancy says, "give me a couple of years and I'll sell it to her."
Its Wacky Wednesday at the thrift store. Multiples of four are 50% off. We found a BBC Earth game, a rubber bat, a parrot Halloween bag (perfect for Harper's Halloween parrot costume) and a bag of quilting scraps.
Our friend Reya came over after school, and we cut out quilting squares. We decided to make pockets instead. They also played dress-up. Harper was a dragon with fire in her belly.
Luckily, Colin was home by 5:30 again. And, I was off to work.
I waited on a couple who at the end of their meal the man says, "what kind of iced tea is this?"
I say, "I'm not sure, Lipton's?"
The man: "This isn't Lipton's."
Me: "Really, it doesn't taste like the Lipton's you make at home?" "I'll find out."
I come back and say, "It doesn't taste like Lipton's because its Luzianne." The couple roared with laughter.
On the way home, Colin and I talked about Steve Jobs.


The photo above is of the girls working on quilting squares. And, yes we have a saddle in our living room.

Tuesday, October 4th

The girls were playing "mean girls" in the bed.
Ava: "I'm the prettiest in the family."
Harper: "Mom, who is the prettiest in the family?"
Me: "me."
Harper to Ava, "Mom and Dad are the prettiest in the family."
This conversation continues over breakfast, where of course Colin claims he is the prettiest.

Then, we see two baby goats (kids) butting heads on the way to school. Coincidence?
Harper has been a little concerned about missing snow on Christmas this year. We're going to Mexico. But, we'll be in Tennessee the day after Christmas. Harper is thinking about the snow we played in last year and the sled Papa built. She says, "I love Papa, he works all day and all night."
After drop off, we go to Weaver St. with Anita, Luke, Lisa, and Rowan. I love these mamas and kids. Ava, Luke, and Rowan are all on Fall Break. They had a great time running around in the fall breeze. We decided to walk down Churton to see the scarecrows for the Orange County Historical Museum scarecrow contest. There were only four scarecrows- because they didn't advertise. Seriously, if I didn't know about it until it was too late to enter the contest? We all agree that the museum should hire me for their publicity.
After school, we let Anita borrow our big crock pot (from Grandpa Terry). She's going to make spinach lasagna. Yes, spinach lasagna in the crock pot. You don't have to boil the pasta! We rush home to make lunch, hang Halloween decorations, and mop the kitchen floor. We have a mystery squash or pumpkin growing in the compost bin.
We go to Girls on the Run at 4pm. Ava ran 2 miles. I swam with Harper. Colin made it home by 5:30. Red Hat bought a $160M company. I'm off to work.
I waited on a woman tonight who said, "you have such a calming presence about yourself. It really is a joy." Ha! And, I overheard a couple talking about Halloween costumes. One says, "zombie T.S. Elliot."