Lord help me - it's a slumber party!

My two daughters are having a slumber part at our house tonight with two of their friends.

That means four girls in our house - ranging in ages from 7 to 12. It's not the first time we've done this and I love having a house full of kids, but I do need strength. Maybe another round of Diet Dr. Pepper to bolster my strength!

Animal Week on Tammy Planet

This has been quite a week for animals in distress.

First, Monday morning I was out for my morning walk and spied a turtle trying to cross the road. He was stuck in the middle of one lane while traffic tried to dodge him while trying to also dodge me.

I was sure he was going to splattered at any moment. When I was able to get close enough, I darted out into the road (no traffic nearby!) and grabbed him, then moved him the three feet he needed to go to the side of the road. I hope he didn't try to venture across the road again.

That evening as I was walking in front the driveway, I heard a kitten crying. I grabbed a flashlight then headed in the direction I heard the noise. Eventually I found myself in the neighbor's yard where a tiny, black and white kitten sat crying forlornly. As soon as he saw me and heard me talking to him he stopped crying and sat waiting for me to get to him.

I knew my neighbor didn't have any cats or dogs so I picked up the little guy. He was pitiful: One eye was matted shut and he was nothing but a tiny bag of bones covered by some furry skin.

I took him in and we cleaned him up and tried to get him to eat. We fixed him a box with a warm blanket lining it. The next day I bought some kitten replacement milk for him and we tried to get him to eat that. I had seen this illness before in a kitten and knew what the outcome was going to be - but I wanted to try.

We called him Moses - because I had found him. Unfortunately, Moses didn't make it - on Friday morning we found that he'd died in the night. He was with us such a short time but he quickly made a spot in our hearts. We thought that Thursday he was getting better and seemed to be trying to eat. He was even following us around the yard when we'd take him out to play.

The animal rescues continued with a baby guinea keet that fell into my mom's garden pond and almost drowned. She fished it out, and cleaned it up but the mother wouldn't let her get near to put the little guy back. I started thinking about her cat (who is actually my cat) snacking on the little guy (popcorn chicken snack!) - so I told her to bring him to me and I'd try to nurse him back to health.

I'm passing him off to someone else today (woohoo!).

I need to work on having a cold, black heart of stone instead of the gooey, mushy soft one I have.

Nice little vacation

Had a nice two-day vacation with the family (including my parents) this past week. We went to Holiday World/Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana.

It was a nice trip and the kids had a great time - actually, we ALL had a great time! I'm currently working on some articles for Associated Content about Holiday World and the hotel we stayed at - Santa's Lodge.

We only had to travel about two hours away from home - which made this an easy-on-the-budget getaway.

Keep watching my AC page to catch the articles when they are posted!

Hair coloring project

I posted last night on Facebook that I was undertaking a new hair coloring project. One friend who commented wondered how coloring hair could be considered a "project."

Well, I decided to put crayon red streaks in my hair - something I've always wanted to do but never put forth the effort to actually do.

I decided to give it a go - and I am thrilled with the results! I'll post a pic later.

I used to be terrified of doing anything that would show my individuality - I was always afraid of what people would think. Now that I'm older - I don't care what anybody thinks. I want red streaks in my hair - it's my hair, my choice.

And I loooove it!

Needing to update. . .

I've been lazy the past couple of weeks (or so). I've not invested much into my writing, but after chatting with a friend last week - I got a new motivation.

I decided to make some goals for myself and do some writing I had been putting off. I finally got around to submitting an article and a photo to Constant Content. I submitted a piece to a paying blog and book project. I submitted a poem to an online site.

Those, besides my regular writing gigs, have made me feel productive. This week I have more goals - we'll see if I actually complete them!

Another rainy day

I fell asleep last night to the sound of pouring rain.

I woke up - in the middle of the night - to hear reruns - all night long.

It's nippy outside, and everywhere I step I have to slog through mud. It's enough to make an optimist sad!

I know that the rains must come to remind us of how much we appreciate the sun. During the summer, we complain when it's hot and sunny, but we fail to appreciate what the seasons mean.

We must get plenty of rain in the Spring to saturate the earth and prepare for the coming Summer when rain might be scarce. Fall and Winter must come to give the plants and trees a season of rest.

Although I prefer all seasons except winter, the cold and frosty days of January make me long for even the chilly, rainy days of Spring - about which I am now complaining!

I'll try not to complain any more, though - ever day brings what it is supposed to bring - and we should take it as it comes - and make the best of it.

Soon enough, the plants that are hinting at beauty right now will be ablaze with color and encouragement - and I'll be able to sit outside next to my butterfly garden and enjoy.

I can't wait!

Eco-Friendly Activities for Kids

Are you looking for some fun ideas to help your kids go "green?"

Here are a few links that might help you out.

Check out Green Games for Kids for some earth-friendly games.

How about some general activities? Green Activities for Kids provides some ideas.

10 Tips for Helping Your Kids Help the Earth can give you some more ideas to get your kids involved in eco-friendly activities.

It's never too early to teach kids about recycling, reusing, and reducing waste!