2.28.2009

Lesson for the day....Monkey Puzzler





I have been fascinated with these trees since moving to the PNW and finally got around to finding out about them. Their long tail-like branches look like giant green pine cones to me. But they aren't a pine tree. They are a conifer called Monkey Puzzle Trees. In France they are called Monkey's Despair but they didn't evolve to keep monkeys from climbing them. They evolved their prickly long branches to keep away grazing dinosaurs. (Don't forget, I believe in evolution). So what are these Chilean trees doing in Portland? They were given out as seedlings in 1905 at the Lewis and Clark expo by the Chili Exhibit. So the ones that are here are about 100 year old giants by now. They were given out in Seattle in 1962 at the Seattle World's Fair so they are about 50 years "smaller" there. The tree is either male or female. Above is a picture of a female tree and it has a large globular cone. The male cones look like cucumbers.....go figure.....

These pictures are of a tree next door to Carson's new piano teacher. Another story altogether...

2.25.2009

sam's sleeve tattoo


Like I said.....he gets a tattoo when he takes his dose of Amoxicillin. Look at his fevery eyes and rosy cheeks.

The Sick House



Carson, Sam, and I all have Strep Throat. Yuck. Sam and I are staying in today and "resting". Actually, I am plopping him down in front of the TV and using it as a babysitter. I am sure his eyes will be permanently crossed by the end of the morning. Luckily, Carson started her antibiotic on Monday and she can go to school. She is feeling much better than she was. Yesterday I cleaned the whole house with clorox and clorox wipes. EVERYTHING got wiped down. Sam hates the bubblegum flavored meds and really puts up a fight. He now gets a temporary tattoo for every dose. 17 more doses to go. We are working on a tattoo sleeve for him so he can be just like mommy. He wanted to know if there were any temporary tattoos of a big snail.
Sharon is feeling healthy and fine.....figures. Last night I actually told her that I hope she gets sick. Does that make me mean?