How about now? Can we play outside now, daddy?

Baby Jane spent some time relocating rocks around Mama's garden. This dude was found laying low in hopes that the tiny lady would pass by.

Them bradford buds be blooming.

Baby Jane learns to fly while Mama lays a phat bowl of mulch.

The most fun a kid can have with a sandbox full of plastic and rain water.

The most chill a kid can get in a tub full of bath bubbles.

These are the days of water and sand

There is something happening here

In short

My dad (who really is a hero of mine) had a birthday this week and is celebrating by spending the week with his lady partner (my mom) just south of the hoosier state. I wanted to write about how rad he is and how we both just finished this mindbending book and discussed plans for deeper discussion.

However, it is 2:54 in the a.m. and me thinks the pillow it beckons me.

So instead, here's an incredibly flattering out-of-focus photo from the early nineties of the two of us in dope shorts singing a song that has haunted me on every return visit to olivet since.

Sweet dreams.

Take your shoes off

Let them piggies dangle in the cool breeze.

Hide your kids, hide your wife

This shady dude is the embodiment of baby-snatching. He's a bastard and he'll try and trick you with enchanting yo-yo tricks. Beware.

Thank you, pat benatar

The preceding has been a partial song-writing demo recorded for the purpose of streaming through the interwebs.

Say something for pete's sake

Pony thoughts

Sometimes the kid just says things that merit being said by a talking pony.

Tell me i'm gonna be a great big sister

Oh spring, where are you now? (In lake wobegon?) You came and went and appear to be coming back ’round once again. Won’t you stay a little longer this time around? We miss you so.

We’re weeks, maybe days away from the arrival of Itty Bitty. Baby Jane is apparently wearing this princess bandage over her forehead until the arrival. At least that’s what i’m assuming since she’s going on day four. And just in case you’re curious, there is no head wound of any kind beneath its protective surface.

I also wondered if maybe she wasn’t trying to keep her creative ideas from spilling out onto paper too quickly for her to keep up with. After all, take a look at these recent pieces…

Here's compacted snow in your eye, kid

In case you live in Indiana and you just so happen to have missed one of the days sandwiched between Springlike weather when Olde Man Winterbone stopped by for a sit-and-spin, here’s a look-see. Baby Jane and i spent one afternoon digging snowfingers, building snowdudes and hurling snowsaucers at our new friends, each other, and ourselves. Therapeutic, to say the least.

Then several days later we turned a chicken into a fish…

Magic.

Mister mopey eggs

Lately, i get it. 2-year-olds like to say “i don’t know” an awful lot. Sometimes, things get hairy and everyone’s left with weepy eyes. No need to fear. This dude with the strawberry lips and the sunshiny nose gives all the ladies a smile. Other times, things gotsta go on top of the fridge for a time out…

Sometimes, even new shoes are a privilege to be taken away.

And also fireman helmets.

Fine. And you?

Round ye olde Rockey home, we’ve been enjoying the likes of some newly acquired record LP’s what we’ve been spinnin’ ’round the table. Plenty of booty-shakin & goodness-sakin’ to the tune of Nilsson, Wilco, Willie, & the Heads amongst others. If Willie & The Heads isn’t already a band name, i do believe i’ll claim that one for one of my imaginary bands right now. Hands off.

Baby Jane done went and gone graduated to a big-girl bed. I suppose it’s all downhill from here on out. But for reals, she’s snoozin’ like an olde pro on that thing. Now, what shall we do with that crib that’s just hangin’ out in her room with nobody in it? Hmmmmmmm…

The Mustard Room keeps a tweedley-deein’ along. We’re movin’ t-shirts and gettin’ ready to print up another big batch o’ hoodies this afternoon for some olde pals. Why, we even put together THIS TIMELY CATALOG of last year’s t-shirt line for your enjoyment. All february shipments have gone out with bonus prizes like this here hand-drawn likeness of Mr. Zippy. Congratulations if that were you.

Roundin’ out the month of February, we got a rare public performance of sing-songing comin’ up at Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Comany in good olde Fountain Square. The night will also include the magical harmonious tones of Old Thyme Eskimo (aka Scott Hensley & Court Wilkins). Details can and will be found at the following location: HERE

Now, while you’re adding that data to your pocket calendar, enjoy this outtake from the Kiss It All Goodbye sessions titled… Glorybound

Y’all come back now. Y’hear?