The Wohlgemuts on Willow Bay

Coconuts.

2012-01-28T14:42:00.006-06:00

Mason has been asking for a coconut for some time now, and when I saw one in the store last week, I thought I'd give him one as a reward for getting through all four of his exams and his drama monologue this week.

Since he's starting a Cabinetry Course on Monday he thought it might
be good to practice with a power tool again.

Both forward and reverse.

Evan and his friend looked on in rapt fascination.

Then, the handsaw....the hard work it took to get into this nut
made me wonder who was the first person to think that there would
be something good to eat inside....and how did they get in?

Peter took a turn with the saw. Of course, the main reason we were so careful was because we wanted to cut them nicely so we could play with them in the fashion of Monty Python's "Search For the Holy Grail". There was much clattering around with them after.

Today Peter is baking up a storm as he agreed to provide the baking for a coffee house at PVBC for next weekend, on the condition that Tobin would come pick all of it up and take it back to camp so we wouldn't have to drive it out. He has about four kinds of cookies to send along, and next Saturday morning will make pans of brownies (best fresh).

After cleaning house, doing laundry and errands, I am ready to sit back and enjoy the books and relax for the rest of the weekend.

I hope you're enjoying this, our last weekend of January!
(And there was much rejoicing, "Yay".)

Irony

2012-01-24T13:09:00.002-06:00

Recently I heard about a school that is trying to suppress certain information that they did not think was fit for students in the school. The powers that be made sure that this information was not visible or available anywhere in the school. Then they sent home a letter to say they had done this, but also sent a copy of the suppressed information on the back of the letter. The letter was put into a sealed envelope and was given to EACH STUDENT to take home. Guess what? Curious and snoopy kids ripped open that envelope on the way home from school and read all the information that was supposedly suppressed. More students read this than had ever had access to the information in the first place.

I'm giving my head a shake. Who comes up with these ideas? Ha!

Oh yeah, hi.

2012-01-22T17:00:00.005-06:00

Peter made cupcakes with buttercream frosting (real butter!) and sprinkles.
Because we needed them.

It's been a while. I guess I've been busy with a few things. And also because it's January- the time of year when everyone in our house slows down like the proverbial molasses, the dark keeping us deep in our beds, as the thermometer has plummeted deep into its bed as well.

We've also been dealing with some issues at church, which could potentially have caused some splits, but fortunately has not. We've come through with a deeper warmth for each other, I think, even though we continue to disagree. Talking openly and honestly about an issue is so crucial. At least we are willing to listen to each other without anger, and it became apparent that whatever side of the issue we were on, we were still committed to our church and to loving our neighbour as ourselves. Today our church was filled with more warmth and kindness to each other than I have seen in a while, and it felt good. We also have a potential interim pastor who will likely start in April if all goes well with the vote at the annual meeting in two weeks.

Peter is dealing with a similar issue at school as the one at church. That one isn't fully resolved yet, but we will continue to pray about it. So, I haven't really felt like writing here much because I've been so busy praying about so many things, and for so many people.

We suspect Mason has shingles. Apparently if you get meds. for the virus within 72 hours you can stop the painful part, but who thinks about shingles in a 16 year old? I've always thought of it as a Seniors' disease, but obviously I'm wrong. He felt it was painful and itchy but there were only a couple of little bumps under his arm- nothing really there and because it was in his armpit we simply told him to switch anti-perspirants. The next time I looked it was a huge ugly raised rash that had spread across to his shoulder blade and had raised red pustules. When I looked up rashes on the 'web the shingles rash looked the most like what he had. However, it had been a week between the pain/itching started and when we went to the Dr. Poor guy. With cream from the Dr. the itch and rash are going away, but the pain still jumps out and bites him now and then. He had terrible chicken pox when he was a kid. Yuck, that was ugly.

We realized today that Mason still has another 8 of the 24 hours he needs for driving, and he could do his test as early as April 7th, which when you realize that we are getting closer to February, is only a couple of months away. Hmm. We haven't been going many places, but obviously we'll have to deliberately make more trips farther afield than our weekly drive to church 12 minutes away.... Annoying, as we try to use the car as little as possible, but we'll just have to "suck it up" and get it done. We'll likely work on the whole parallel parking thing during Spring Break. It will be so much easier for him in our little Focus than it was for Tobin in our 17 foot long Windstar.

However, there's also been some good news:

My cousin and his wife announced that they are expecting August 5th. That is exciting. I now have four cousins on one side of the family due within six months, starting later in February. I am the oldest cousin, so it's fun to watch my cousins who are 39 years old and younger starting or continuing their families, while my kids will be 20, 16, and 14 before all these babies are born. I loved my kids when they were small, but as I've said before, my kids are now independent, useful, and witty, and I REALLY like those things.

A couple in church announced that after waiting for three years and nearly having all their hopes dashed, they will be adopting a two year old girl from Ethiopia to join their adopted four and a half year old son, who also came from Ethiopia. We are very happy for them, and happy to see that more children will be joining our church- it's been a bit skimpy for the preschool crowd lately.

Evan will be playing the role of "Genie" in the school's production of "Aladdin" this spring. I think rehearsals start this week, as do the season games for his basketball team.

Peter has been asked to co-present with his last Prof. at the provincial Science Seminar this spring, based on the work he did on a project working with students within his school to examine waste management reduction within the school. His current course is "Sustainability in Culture" and is very pertinent to "the issue" he is facing in school, and it is the focus of his next large project. It should be fascinating and enlightening to many people who aren't aware of the social climate in our local microcosm.

Mason is entering this coming week of exams with a 90% average after a very heavy workload this semester. We're really impressed with his responsibility and determination this year.

I continue to work 3-4 days a week, and still enjoy the variety. I like it best when I get to revisit classrooms I've been in before- it's like dropping in to visit young friends, and colleagues. I think it might be something I'd miss a bit if I were to get one of the positions I know are coming up. Although there would be good things to be said about getting one of those positions, too. I suppose I'm saying that "I have learned to be content in all circumstances." A good lesson to be learned, and one that's been very good for my health. French grammar, more specifically, conjugating French verbs is something more of a challenge, but helpful in understanding the language. I guess.

With everything happening, both good and stressful, January has been going very quickly. And that's a good thing!

Home Alone

2012-01-11T12:39:00.004-06:00

This is the only day I don't work this week. It's odd to think that a week ago I had NO days scheduled for this week. I'm not complaining, but I'm certainly glad to have today at home as this is the first time in three weeks that I've been home alone. This morning I took the time to quietly put things to rights and know that they'd stay that way for more than five minutes. I had time to catch up with things in the kitchen by making cereal, chocolate sauce, handy powdered mixes for cream soup and white sauce where all you have to add is water and cook it up, and a casserole for tomorrow supper as I'll be farther away and will pick up cheaper groceries while I'm in the larger center. $1 less for each gallon of milk is worth it if I'm already there.

I did a couple of loads of laundry and took the time to remove the lint off the bottom of each chair and stool leg and replace the felt pads where they'd gone missing. Sweeping floors, washing dishes, bringing a lunch to Peter who had forgotten he was on call at lunch today and called home to tell me why he wouldn't be at home for lunch.

Evan came home for lunch. He always talks more about himself when it's just the two of us. He is probably the most introverted of the five of us. He can seem outgoing for short periods of time, and he, like me, can put on a persona of wild exuberance like others might put on a brilliant feather boa, but eventually we take it off, glad to be on our own. Needing to recharge in silence. Without people, noise, or distraction. Content with silence, and with our own company.

How to Be Alone

The Second Day of Epiphany

2012-01-07T09:51:00.003-06:00

I finished my Penny Rug Candle Mat last night!

It sits on the desk-turned-hutch I plan to refinish this summer.

The scene from our back window- it looks more like November than January.

A friend gave us a calendar called "Salt of the Earth" that divides into the Liturgical year. The church year begins on the first day of Advent, which was the last Sunday of November. Advent went until Dec. 24th, then we turned the calendar page. Christmas lasted from the 25th until January 5th, and we turned another page to Epiphany. Epiphany gets two pages, as it lasts until Lent, which this year begins February 22nd. I have never observed a year in this way, but it makes me more aware. I see that tomorrow, the 8th, is the Sunday when Jesus' Baptism is celebrated. Who knew?

Yesterday I read a short excerpt from Friedrick Buechner that says that the Wise Men brought valuable gifts, but not the best gifts; the best gifts would have been themselves- their hearts, and lives. It made me reflect on the giving season just passed, and how often we gave things and not self. This past year we worked on needing less. Perhaps a goal for this coming year is to give more of ourselves.

Shear My Sheep

2012-01-05T17:48:00.004-06:00

Jesus said, "Peter, do you love me?"
"You know I do."
"Feed my sheep."

I said, "Boys, do you love me?
"Yeah, I guess."
"Get a haircut."

After.

Thank you. Much better.

Today, January 5th, it was sunny and 11 degrees here. (ABOVE zero!) I rode my bike on wet streets that were draining like small rivers. Our back ditch had water running from the streets draining. People were out shoveling the ice off their driveways, and ours was actually drying off. We took down the outdoor Christmas lights today, and Peter was running around doing small fix-it jobs in only a light fleece. In January. I know!! I'm loving this weather, and trying to ignore the small little buzz in the back of my mind that tells me that we'll pay for it later. I'm livin' in the moment, thank you very much! Today is beautiful, and that's all we have for sure.

Tomorrow our indoor Christmas decorations will be packed away for another year. We've already sorted through some CD's and DVD's that we decided not to keep, and we may look through and discard still more ornaments so that we have less to store.

On Tuesday we went through the utility room and discarded a large amount of clutter in there. We made the decision that we would no longer store the high chair, no matter how nicely collapsible it was. We decided that if someday down the road we ever had Grandkids we would go out and buy the latest, safest thing on the market that would fit on a regular chair. We went through all the dress up clothes, and basically gave everything away as the boys have grown so much that everything was too small. If they want a costume, they can go to MCC and buy what they want for a couple of bucks and then donate it back after. We gave away a number of kids toys and puzzles as well, keeping all the favourites that have stood the test of time. When we were done, we had one bag of trash and about 6 lawn and garden bags to give away. That was the last area of the house that needed to be culled so deeply.

Now I have started going through the house again. Yesterday it was going through the bathroom cupboards for all those toiletry items that have been sitting there for a long time. I decided to throw out the can of hairspray whose scent I hated- no matter how little I used, I could smell it on myself all day. Yech. (I don't even use hairspray much, but in summer when it's humid, it keeps me from getting Texas-style "big hair".) I decided to put other items out where I could see them so that I would use them up. I have some bottles of hand soap from Bath and Body Works that were given to me as a gift. I loved the scent, but something in them made my skin burn after I used it. Not good. I've been putting a few pumps in my toilet brush crocks as needed and use it to clean my toilets- my toilets are clean and smell great, and the soap never touches my skin. Win!

I will continue to go through a room or two a week, and keep filling a giveaway bag of items that others may need/love/use, and they will no longer be taking up dust-gathering space in our cupboards.

Another thing we did was defrost our large chest freezer, and the extremely over-frozen freezer in our basement fridge. We had neglected that fridge for a long time, and about 5 gallons of liquid drained into the bucket overnight, which did not include the slabs of ice we managed to pull out and dump on their own. Oops. Maybe we'll check that freezer a little more often. In the big freezer, we cleaned everything out, then organized what was there. We discovered that we had a LOT of frozen pumpkin. We still have fresh pumpkins sitting in the pantry.... What to do? Peter made three pumpkin pies, and four pumpkin loaves. He also made a cherry pie with a container of cherries that was from two summers ago. We had friends coming down for dinner so we decided that this was "special occasion" enough. It was so good. Our goal is to eat up everything in those "Mennonite Tupperware" containers (sour cream and yogurt containers) by summer so that we can start fresh next summer. And what's not to love about frozen berries and applesauce in January? I think tomorrow's dinner will be waffles, sweet milk sauce, and berries.

We're already looking through our seed catalogues and are making mental plans of all the things we want to plant, and the things that go over well when we look for them in the freezer or pantry. Last year our cucumbers were pathetic, so we didn't get to make a single jar of pickles. Next year the cucumbers are getting a piece of prime real estate in the garden, and we will water from the tap if necessary, bet we're getting cucumbers! And lots of green beans. We're out of zucchini, so Peter will grow what I call "canoes" (he likes them big) to grate and freeze. We'll grow more garlic and pamper it properly, as we learned at the end of the season and see if it will make even bigger cloves. We'll try Swiss Chard and give turnips another try...in this weather, gardening season doesn't seem so far off.

I've made good progress on my Penny Rug candle mat, and hope to finish putting the stems and leaves on the last three apples. Peter's out at Quilting tonight, so I'll probably put on a "Chick Flick" from our collection, and stitch away.

Always something fun to do around here!

New Year: 2012

2012-01-02T07:32:00.006-06:00

The week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day is often a time out of time at our house. It's one of those weeks where we're not sure what day it is, but it doesn't matter. We live in the moment and enjoy the rest and quiet, trying not to get restive when it's too quiet. This year we ate, slept, read, watched DVD's, went walking, and did more of the same each day. One day we went to see the Tin Tin movie in the theatre (one of the gifts we gave the boys) and we all enjoyed it. One evening Peter and I went to the house of friends where we were served homemade sushi, stir fry, springrolls, and also had dumplings and other Asian goodies.

For New Year's weekend we had Peter's youngest brother and his family out from Ontario. We find it funny that Peter and I had our three boys first, Peter's first brother and wife had their three girls next, and finally, Dan and Jenn had Addison (5) and Timmy. Timmy is our only nephew, and he is nearly two. From Tobin's 19 1/2 to Timmy's almost two is a long stretch of kids.

There were rounds of Dutch Blitz, Rummikub, and a New Year's Eve edition of Apples to Apples.

These were among the many toys and fun items we dug out of the space beneath the steps. The basement was a riot of well-loved toys that have stood the test of time. Tim made a snowman decorated with cookie cutters, and Addison made meticulously decorated gingerbread men.

Tobin did join in the fun too, although so much hair often left Timmy wide-eyed and wary.

We stayed up til 11:05 (It's midnight in Ontario- Happy New Year!) and headed off to bed, getting up New Year's day for brunch. Tobin left to go to his church and back to camp -9 days in town was more sedateness than he could handle- and our other guests left to go back to Jenn's family members in the city around 12:30. The four of us who remained put the house back to rights, and marveled at how quiet it seemed with only four of us again.

This week will have more work in it:

I need to file my church choir's Christmas music and choose music for our service at the local Seniors' homes on the 15th, and choose music to learn for Lent (starts late February) and maybe look ahead to Easter.

We're going to clean out the Utility room today- one room that has far too many things in it for a room of its size, and one in which the boys will go drag out something and then you can't walk in there. Grr. Time to toss.

We're leaving the tree and other decorations up until Epiphany (Friday 6th) where we'll pack it all away for another year- and maybe give away a few more things.

The boys have haircuts tomorrow. (HURRAY)

There will be two or three more get-togethers with friends.

I'd like to make more progress on my Penny Rug candle mat- I'm down to doing apple stems and leaves before stitching the top and backing together. I should probably be doing that while watching DVD's....

We'll be eating left overs from this weekend, but sometime I'll likely have to make a menu again. I realize that I have LOTS of food in the house, and now need only to buy a few perishables each week over this month. After all the entertaining we've done these holidays, (we love to serve and eat delicious food with friends) the food budget and our waistlines could probably use trimming! The freezer is in the Utility room, and we're going to clean out and organize that, too, so we know what is in there, and where it is. Evan will help, because he relearned the concept that liquid expands and can overflow its container when frozen. He had been told that a Jones doesn't freeze. Hypothesis overturned.

I recently read a Blog post about making a Love List for the New Year and I really liked it. I find that resolutions are often made to correct perceived flaws in yourself. Although I am not in any way "unflawed", I like the idea of making a list of things that I'd love to do "just because". I haven't made it yet, but some of the things I'm thinking about learning or doing more of follow:

Living in the moment more often.

Ending each day with a few moments for gratitude, and writing them down.

Being less afraid to stand up for others as I truly live the new things I am learning about what I believe.

Learn to make spring rolls at home.

Learn to crochet a rag rug from old clothes. (After I finish my Penny Rug.)

Refinish the old table that used to be the desk in my bedroom when I was a girl.

Continue learning French. I have plans to learn more grammar over the next few months, and my Oral Language evening class starts the first Tuesday in March.

Laugh on my own or with others more often.

These are a few I can think of right now; I'd say that all of them except the table, which I plan to work on in summer, are things on which I want to focus in the next three months. Around Easter I may have some new ones to add.

Every day is a gift. I plan to enjoy each one as much as possible.

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T09:12:00.007-06:00

The sun is shining. The grass is brown....?? There may have been a grass-showing Christmas in my past, but this is first that I recall. I'm not complaining, it's just odd. Usually we enter Christmas concert season with hopes that they won't be stormed out and postponed, and often go to them when the wind chills are somewhere between bitter and vicious. Yesterday Peter and I went walking in plus 0 temperatures on dry bare sidewalks. Interesting, and not unpleasant.

Yesterday we had genetic family down for turkey dinner with all the trimmings, then excused concert goers, and later we all went to my Mom's to open gifts there and wind up our evening.

This morning everyone was up before seven (with Tobin receiving a little help from his brothers in that area) and we opened gifts before having baked French toast and bacon for breakfast.

"Head and shoulders...." I remember towering above my Grandmas at the same age.
He looks glum because he had a fever yesterday.

By next Christmas Evan will be in High School, and Elizabeth will have finished and likely be in University. Tobin will be 20, Mason should have his Driver's and Madelyn her Learners. They've sure grown up in the last four years. See here.

Evan wearing his new warm up jacket from Scott and Anne. He's holding the merchant container of Tootsie Rolls Nan bought him. She got the store that sold them like this to order a whole container for him. Since he's been denied them the whole time he wore braces he was thrilled to get them. Okay, this face is a little tired, but he was jumping around too much when he opened them last night to get a decent shot.

Tobin got him a serious bush knife. Since Tobin will be leading Canoe Trips for Camp this summer, Evan is thinking that he'll likely give that a try. Less poison ivy....

His brothers got him up a little early for his tastes.

Mom keeping watch over the shenanigans of the boys.
A little like keeping watch over flocks at night...

Peter opening his Tony Bennett Duets II CD he's wanted since we heard about it in September.

Tobin tranquil and smiling without irony or mischief. No knives or dead animals in sight.
It must be Christmas. Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards men (and animals).

Someone else who got a long-awaited hope fulfilled. Tobin also gave him a knife, although smaller than Evan's. "You're not going to survive in the woods", said Tobin. "Yeah...hey...what?!" When at breakfast Mason said he was going hunting today, I sat up hopefully and said, "You mean you're going outside today?" He went o.O and said, "Well, no....my game..." Ah. I see. How foolish of me.... I did strongly suggest that since the weather will be so nice today that he go and spend some time outdoors this afternoon anyway.

When Tobin had a joint gift for Peter and me, Peter told me to open it. I was actually a little wary of what would be in it, but to my surprise, he gave us the mouth-blown Swiss tea set, with two double-walled glasses and the press built into the pot. I was impressed. "There's hope for you!" I blurted. He also gave us the black tea packages. The ornate bag with ginger tea bags is from Mason, two of the Teaopia bags are from French Immersion friends because I accompanied their students at the concert, and the others are from Peter. I did get other gifts as well, but this is just one fine example of how this is a beau-tea-ful Christmas!

At least as pleasant for us will be our get-togethers with "chosen family" over the next few days. That and more good food, movies, books, and naps. Best of all, there is now time to have quiet in order to sit in God's presence and to ponder all His good gifts in my heart.

Blessings upon each of you this holiday season, however you choose to celebrate.

Christmas Programs

2011-12-21T22:10:00.003-06:00

Preparing for his "Ralph Herdman" role.

Well, finally, they're done. I've seen about 6 or 7 concerts this year- and this was the year I wasn't directly responsible for ANY, so I have to laugh at the irony of that. I enjoyed accompanying the French Immersion students at Ecole West Park School this year at both of their performances, and tonight I saw Evan's school concert.

He and the other Herdman kids were big hits. Evan came home with a performance high, glad that his roles in Grade 8 Band, Jazz Band, Grade 8 Choir and the drama were done. The Jazz band was especially good, and I was proud of how well he played on his trombone- an instrument he's been working on for less than two months.

So one more day of school tomorrow and then we'll officially begin the holidays! And there was much rejoicing, "YAY!!"

Twas the Week Before Christmas....

2011-12-17T16:03:00.004-06:00

Twas the week before Christmas and scarce trace of snow,
I pedal my bike when to work I do go!

This was December 11th, and it looks pre-e-e-ety brown out there for December.

Over the meadow and through the woods, to Great-Grandma's Care Home we go....

The boy knows the way to carry the sleigh....

So that was one gathering, short and sweet, including caroling, seeing Grandma just before her 93rd birthday (not that she could remember her birthday was coming- her short term memory is less than 5 minutes now) cousins, and cousins' little children...compared to our big galoots.

I have done the majority of the Christmas prep, so in order to be an equal opportunity partner, I sent Peter out to "hunt and gather" our Christmas turkey. He had been staking out his hunting territory already and was prepared to make his move. He donned his Hunter's Orange clothing, and put on his stealth hat and shades. His weapon of choice? A pre-loaded IGA gift card, which handily bagged him this 23.76 pounder, ready to go into the oven at 8 am next Saturday. Good work!

Today was "Christmas haircut" day. After two months, it was getting a little shaggy.

Here it is, tamed down, and has some subtle highlights that I get done below the crown so I never have to deal the root situation when they grow out. If you look closely you can see a couple of them in my bangs and on the right. I always like how it looks better when I style it myself, but this gives you an idea.

We're counting down to the holidays now. Tomorrow is Music Sunday in Church, and also the last church service our small church will have until January 8th because we are still looking for a pastor, and so many people will be away over the holidays. Peter's school concert is Tuesday (and I have a small accompanying part), Evan's school concert is Wednesday and he's in Gr. 8 Band, Gr. 8 Choir, Jazz Band and has a small part in the Drama. I might even have to go early to get a spot closer to the front this year.... Thursday is the last school day of the holidays! I wouldn't mind if I weren't booked for that day; we'll see what happens. Friday will be cleaning day, Saturday is my extended family (all 10 of us including the 5 in our house) and Christmas day is for our family at home. The final preparations are being made.

I'm sure that there will be much fun and merriment yet, and we're all planning on staying WELL for the holidays!

Enjoy this last week of anticipation. May it be stress-free and pleasant.

Gifts

2011-12-10T15:20:00.004-06:00

Hey! I'm feeling a lot better, thank you for all your well-wishes. I believe my silly stone has moved its way out of the danger zone (there was a risk that if it blocked a tube my kidney would swell up in an unhappy way), and I'm optimistic that the stone will keep working its way out without any more drama. I worked four full days this week, and I'm nearly off all meds. That is a gift. We often take our health for granted until suddenly we don't have it.

Today I also finished with all the Christmas gifts for those on our lists, and they are wrapped up and ready for presentation. The few cards we did this year are on their way, the tree and decorations are up, most of the baking/goodies are done, and we have the majority of our Christmas specialty food items bought and stored away.

It's concert season, and I have had the opportunity to see a few already, and to teach a few songs for Musical colleagues who had to be away during this season and kindly trusted me with their kiddies as the clocks tick down to concert day. I was also just asked on Friday to accompany a song for one of the French Immersion classes at their concert. "Why not?" I have time, and can share something that comes easily to me with those who need it.

On the flip side, I have also been on the receiving end of a couple of gifts. Do you remember the "Pay it Forward" project? I received my item last night, and was delighted:

Amy made me a cupcake toque complete with cherry pompom and sprinkles. How awesome is that? Peter has taken to calling me "Cupcake".....I'm not certain about how I feel about that....
Thanks, Amy! Check out her other creations on her blog "Confessions of a Wooloholic" .

Recently I also mentioned a painting by Gail Sawatzky called Sod House. Well, Peter and I both loved it so much that we bought it the first evening we saw it. It's our Christmas, Valentines, and maybe even Anniversary gift. We both felt so "grown up" having purchased a work of art, and now that the show is over, Gail delivered it to our door and it is hanging up on the dining room wall that was standing empty, waiting for just the right thing to go up. We can work in the kitchen, knead bread, mix cakes and cookies, and just look at it.

Recently my Mom shared a story I had never heard before. When my Grandfather was a young man living with his family in a Russian Mennonite village, the village became too full to support all the young men who were growing up and wanting a plot of land and some fields. A number of families moved out onto the steppes and began a new village, my Grandfather's family among them. My Grandfather got his plot of land, and built and lived in a semlin until he could build his own more traditional house.

Today's weather is also a gift. I walked outdoors, doing my errands "downtown" (ha- downtown in my little town...) and realized that it smelled like Fall, and that it wasn't COLD. Although I hope there is more snow soon for the sake of the perennials who could use a bit more insulation, I am not complaining about walking and driving on clear, dry roads in December.

Best wishes to all of you as we approach the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Water through a Tea Strainer

2011-12-02T15:44:00.002-06:00

The very next day after writing my post called "Water" I became very ill during a half day at a local school and had to leave early. After deep breathing for 10 minutes while sweating through my clothes and feeling I was going to faint, vomit, or both (while my class was off in Music, thank the Lord) I managed to get down to the office to tell them that I was having a kidney stone attack and would need to leave half an hour before finishing my morning. Once they knew why I was pale, panting, and sweating, they were very kind and covered for me. Fortunately I left when I did as there was a short lull where I could still manage to walk the two blocks home. My two previous stones were uncomfortable, but NOTHING like this.

At home I called Peter at school to take me to the hospital. As I waited for him to come home I sat and cried helplessly because I was in so much pain. The three minute ride was interminable and at the hospital they got me into a room right away as soon as they learned what was happening to me. Unfortunately, they were also busy with a more serious trauma and I had to tough it out on my own for at least half an hour before anyone could see me. The worst part was that I was so cold, and that it hurt so much. Poor Peter could do nothing but pray for me as I cried, groaned and writhed on the narrow exam table. Finally a shot of Tramadol came. Peter said that the nurse jabbed it into my hip and I did not even flinch- I didn't actually feel it. Within half an hour I felt more myself again.

I tell you truly that I would rather have been delivering Evan on the side of the road with no drug meds. again than go through what I experienced Wednesday morning. At least in transition you have a few seconds pain free here and there and it's for a good purpose. Evan was 9 lbs 9 oz., this stone was measured at 9 mm on my CT scan in summer. Baby was easier.

Now I'm on a med. that is usually given to men with certain "flow issues" but is also given for kidney stones. I was also given some good pain meds for when I need them. I find that during the night is the worst for pain and I take the meds then, and that I'm a little wrung out during the day but don't need the meds.

The good part of all of this is that this situation spurred me to finally switch to a new Dr. here in my town instead of going to the one in the next town over. I'd been waffling over the issue for some time. I liked him, but I had always found that getting answers out of him was like pulling teeth, and when I had spoken to him about my situation this summer and had a follow up, he was unable to answer most of my questions, including what I should do if this last large stone started to move.

On Wednesday, my nurse was appalled that I hadn't been given a plan for when this happened and felt terrible for me. My Dr. at the hospital also asked me more pertinent questions in five minutes than my former Dr. had asked during two appointments to discuss this situation. This new Dr., a young Muslim woman, although very busy with the trauma patient, took time for me, and when I asked if she would accept me as a new patient, said "Yes." She immediately told me to see her again in five days and that she wanted me to order my medical records right away as she wanted to see my original CT scan and develop a plan with me if the stone hadn't passed by then.

Yes. Thank you. How interesting.

Since then I've continued to drink copious amounts of fluids, and yes, my 'water' is passing through a tiny tea strainer lined with black cloth for the time being. (Blech). We're praying it will break up and pass on its own over the weekend as that would be the simplest. We'll see what will happen. God willing, this will be the last one I ever have. I am definitely motivated to keep drinking water.

Water

2011-11-29T14:12:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about writing this post for a while. I know we've all heard ad nauseum that we should drink water for health. Blah, blah, blah. For years I ignored it and did my own thing: "I teach- I don't have time to go to the bathroom whenever I please." or "I'm fine- that's all nonsense, anyway." Then one day last summer I realized that what made me feel like I was halfway through labour all weekend was a kidney stone. NOT FUN! Back when I started wearing contact lenses at 18 I learned that my body "spilled" calcium (Strike One); after about three months, my lenses were spotted with irritating calcium deposits and had to be replaced. So, I started wearing monthlies. "Problem solved", I thought. Then a family member struggled with kidney stones more than once. (Strike Two) "Oh shoot, that's too bad. I hear you should drink a lot of water for that." Yeah.

One of the things I learned from research after that weekend in summer is that a lot of people suffer needlessly from "CUD"- Chronic Unintentional Dehydration- when a person always drinks less than his/her body needs, and becomes used to being that way. (Like me. Strike Three.) I also learned that a certain body fluid should be nearly colourless, not...um... angry neon. (Oh....who knew?) Without the extra fluid to flush out my kidneys, I was likely spilling calcium into my kidneys where it started amassing into bigger stones- a couple of them alarmingly large. Happily, I have reason to believe that most of them are gone now, but I now have to be careful not to let any more build up- as far as it depends on my choices.

Since then I've followed this rule: Drink roughly half your body weight in ounces each day. (250 ml is roughly 8 ounces.) The photo above is roughly what I drink in a day, most of it in water, some in soups, hot chocolate and tea, and I limit myself to about 2 alcoholic drinks a week, often less. What you see in the photo above (78 oz) is more than half my weight in ounces, but that's because I want to make sure that I avoid future problems.

Now, you say, thanks for sharing, but what's that got to do with me? Good question. Here are some other benefits I've discovered after five months of this discipline:

My skin is great and needs very little makeup- I let the glow show through now.
My headaches have virtually disappeared- I used to get nasty sinus headaches several times a month, and could always feel it when the barometric pressure changed.
Less irritability and dragging myself around. I can work a lot harder and get more done in a day because I have the energy and improved mood to do it.
I used to take a 24-hour loratidine pill for my allergies every day, year round. I take maybe one a week now.
I have so far skipped colds and flus that are going around.
At the risk of Too Much Info, let's just say I don't need Activia to keep all systems go.

(Keep in mind that the above also means $$ saved, because I'm not using as many health care products, and my increased energy means that I am cooking and baking more from scratch, and can better resist impulse buys in the stores.)

However, my favourite benefit is that several inches of what I call "body clutter" that was hanging around between my ribs and knees are gone. About 6 pounds worth. Granted, I don't know if I can claim it was solely the water as I am experiencing a lot less stress than I was six months ago, and we have also made some changes towards eating more plant-based foods. However, I still eat as much as I want, including desserts, and haven't really changed my exercise routine that much since then. Now, I didn't mind the number I saw on the scale six months ago, but I didn't feel that there was any need for those extra pounds to come together to set up a tent city and Occupy Thighs, and then inspire its neighbours to the North to Occupy Midriff. REALLY! The water must have sent out eviction notices and they peacefully dispersed. No pepper spray or violence needed.

I didn't decide one day, "Okay, I'm going to start drinking half my weight in ounces of water NOW." It took time to train my body to accept that much, and many annoying trips to the bathroom the first month or two. (It was a good I started in summer when I was home!) Over time, my body starting adjusting; it became easier to drink one of those glasses in a couple of minutes, and it also reduced my need for bathroom trips.

Even if you don't have the genetic predisposition that brought about the first two strikes against me, you still could be at risk for CUD, or maybe you might like to see if some extra water helps bring about some of those benefits I am experiencing. Start slowly- add an extra 4 to 8 ounces a day for a week at a time, and see what it does for you. Then tell your body, "You're welcome".

Advent 2011

2011-11-26T15:44:00.007-06:00

Our busy Christmas Elf (a giant for their kind) is building the tree in front of "Holiday Fire" while listening to Christmas tunes this morning.

Our Christmas Pest was busy going through the tissue paper and other extra wrapping things that I decided to let go. She pounced on tissue, batted bows, and nibbled on ribbon to her heart's content. After we had down-sized the Christmas decorations, we had a bag of trash, and a large bag and box for MCC- and that was after we had given a lot away at the end of last Christmas season.

We put on white lights and our favourite decorations from over the years, then put others away for another year. A few gifts are already under the tree. We're doing that simply this year, too.

Apparently this is what shoveling the driveway looks like when a friend is over. They were able to roll snow up like you'd roll a pair of white socks- it was perfect packing snow, with green grass underneath.

This is a time of year I love, and this year even more. Last December had numerous stressful components, not the least of which was doing three Christmas concerts in two weeks. By the time Christmas Concert season fully arrives this year, I will have had the opportunity to work with various groups of students on their concert, but will not be responsible for the full accomplishment of any concerts this year. When I attend a few, I will enjoy it even more because I will be familiar with the songs and will hear how they've improved since I last worked with them. This is a treat I will not take for granted, as next year I could well be back to doing at least one Christmas concert a year for the rest of my career. I am enjoying this respite.

Earlier this fall I was talking with a wise woman I know from my church, telling her that I had asked God to put me where He wanted me to be this year, and this was where I was. She nodded sagely and said, "You needed a REST. (I wasn't aware that she had been paying that much attention to my life, but you know how it is- people talk, even if they never approach you directly about hard situations.) As I consider this woman to be something of a prophetess- at least, she has been for me- I listened to her words as if they were a message from God. I think that has been a part of my contentedness this Fall. I am supposed to be resting- although He's sending me to many different places for a resting person!

Back to Advent- I find it interesting that to many people this weekend is about over-eating, about "saving yourself poor" (Hey- I spent $1000 dollars I didn't have on things I don't really need, but I SAVED $500!) and about a sports event, whose arrival always catches me unaware- "Oh...football? Is that why there were more empty benches in church today?"

For me, this is a time of preparation: a time for praying, thinking, giving, watching, and waiting. For remembering that Israel awaited (and many still await) the coming of the Messiah, and that Christians are awaiting the return of Jesus. However, I know that Jesus -and Heaven- are already in the hearts of those who believe, seek, and serve. The anticipation of Christmas is often better than Christmas Day itself, but I know that the anticipation of Christ's return will be only a shadow of better things to come.

Sweet 16

2011-11-24T18:42:00.002-06:00

After stroking each day off on the calendar all month, the long-awaited birthday arrived. Shrimp, chicken, herb-baked potatoes, Caesar salad, and a Ponderosa cake to finish it off. (It's a banana cake with cinnamon, brown sugar and chocolate chips sprinkled in the middle of the batter and on top. VERY good.)

Even after he and Peter had consumed a whole pound of shrimp, and there were two helpings of dinner, he still was the first one done his large size dessert.

Peter even did the dishes for him because it was his birthday. Sheesh. That, and Season 4 of Big Bang, going off to see a play with Drama class tomorrow (Romeo and Juliet done from the slant of the families being Palestinian-Israeli- I want to come along to see that!) and lovely cards'0'cash from caring relatives have made this a pretty great birthday- except that I'm a mean Mumma and am making him finish the homework due at 9 am before he's allowed to go out.
There are limits to indulgences, and he is NOT a morning person. Consider it another gift.

Don't turnip your nose at rutabagas.

2011-11-19T13:36:00.004-06:00

After working four full days last week, it was nice to have Friday off to stay home to catch up on our baking and have a nap. Four loaves of oat bread, a gallon of granola cereal, six dozen whole wheat breadsticks, six dozen butter caramel sugar cookies (in Wintery cut outs), and a big pot of chili.

Today's work included an adaptation of a Christmas cookie recipe I've had for a long time. The original recipe requires you to dye half the dough, then take bits of each colour, roll them out, and then twine then into dozens of tiny candy canes. SO TEDIOUS, and then the guys would eat them up as fast as possible. I have refused to make them unless the boys helped in recent years, but this time they had other ideas: why don't you swirl the colour into the dough so it's marbled, and then just make little balls like round peppermint candies? Indeed! Why don't I?!

It took about 15 minutes to make this batch, and then about 10-12 minutes in the oven. They taste just as good, are still cute, and are so much easier to do.

Either way you want to make them, here's the recipe:

1 cup butter or margarine (butter tastes so much better)
1 cup sifted icing sugar
1 egg
1 tsp peppermint flavouring
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour.

Mix butter and sugar, add egg and flavourings, mix. Stir in flour and salt. The original recipe said to chill at this point, but I have always found it makes it harder to handle, so I don't.

Candy Canes:
Divide dough and add red food colouring to one half. Take a tsp of each dough, roll out into short pencil shapes , press together side by side, twist like a rope and bend into candy cane shape, then dip into granulated sugar before putting on the greased pan. Bake 9 minutes @375

Peppermint Drops:
Put a few drops of red food colouring onto the dough, and work it in to create a marbled effect. Take a tsp of dough, roll into into a ball, dip in sugar and placed on greased pan. Bake 9-12 minutes @ 375.

*FYI- rubbing alcohol takes food colouring off countertops. Just sayin'.

Another new thing I learned this week was that there IS a difference between turnips and rutabagas- I thought they were interchangeable, until I actually looked at them in the store:

The rutabaga is on the right. The apple is about the same size as a turnip. Ah. There is indeed a difference. Another good thing is that rutabagas were about half the price of turnips, so I bought one to go into today's beef vegetable soup. When the boys were unpacking the groceries they looked through the plastic bag and asked, "WHAT is THAT?!!" as they thought I'd bought the head of some poor creature. (Yes, we're trying new foods, but I'm not THAT adventurous!) We've had turnips in soup before and Peter likes the cooked texture better than he likes potatoes in soup. We'll see how the flavour compares. I may also take one of the little squashes from the pantry and chop it up as well.

Next week I am already booked for 3.5 days, and we'll see if I get called in on Monday. Mason's birthday is next week, including a party Friday, and we're looking forward to next weekend as we'll put up the tree in preparation for Advent starting next Sunday. I think I like Advent season even more than Christmas Day. It lasts longer and has so many small joys along the way. There will be many pleasant things coming up this week at our house.

I hope you have a good week, too! I'm off for a lovely afternoon nap to build up energy for next week.

Rode my bike to work in mid-November!

2011-11-15T18:18:00.007-06:00

Okay, it was only 2 1/2 blocks each way, but I still did it. Going against wind was cold, but I figured, "Rather two minutes of cold than six..." I might just do it again tomorrow as I'm at the same school. Not Thursday though, because I'm going further afield, and it's not easy balancing 5 grocery bins while cycling the 201. At least, that's what I'm guessing. There may be people from other countries who would have no trouble, I'm sure, but I'm just not that skilled. ANYway, the main point is that our region is finally beginning a winter where the temperatures go into a gradual cooldown before snow falls, instead of having a rainstorm that overnight turns into a blizzard leaving us with 2 inches of black ice coating the roads until January as seems to have happened more often than not over the last few years. As someone who has commuted longer distances for far too long (until this year), I can tell you that clear, dry roads are a blessing and I do not take them for granted.

So, we also recently had this time change thing, and really, it bugs my system far more than it did when I was a kid. It took me until this past long weekend with a nap every day of said weekend to be able to stay awake past 9 pm and to sleep past 4:30 am. (Mutter mutter mutter) Now we should be "all good" until April when we muck it up again. The cats shared my pain- at 4pm they'd yowl for food, and not give a rip when I pointed at the clock on the stove and told them they had to wait an hour. Their bellies were telling them that it was 5:00, and they would not stand for any such nonsense as the arbitrary green glare of a digital display. With a week of gradual time shifting, the kitties and I are more settled.

The Christmas lights are up, and the guys chose to do a "minimalist" display. Lights only on the eaves and some garlanded lights on a couple of stakes along our sidewalk. It seems that the majority of our neighbours are cutting back as well. Works for me.

Evan plans on joining the Jr High Jazz Band this year. Last year he began on baritone (Euphonium), this year he transferred to tuba. As I suspected that few of the other Grade 8 trombone players would join the Jazz band, and that it would be more versatile in the future, I suggested to his band director that Evan would be willing to learn trombone and I could teach him what he needed. The result was that he brought home a trombone (there's only one other trombonist in the Jazz band) yesterday and spent an hour learning to play it. He already has the basics and was playing the old campy Batman theme: Nana nana nana nana nana nana nana nana- BLAT! BLAT! He got a kick out of that. Now we'll see what kind of music comes home for Christmas concert and listen to him as he juggles (well, I hope not literally) two instruments.

So it seems that Sick Teacher season is upon us. Including last week and this week there are 8 possible teaching days (Remembrance day last Friday and Report Conference day this Friday), and I'm working 6.5 of them. Now I have to work on staying well. It's a little daunting when you are holding a sub plan in your hands and the teacher is writing in pen saying, "Thanks so much for coming, I'm feeling so lousy." Gah! Germs! Oh well, too late. I'll keep taking extra Vitamin D. Two more (outside of the home) workdays this week before my weekend (and all the inside-of-the-home work I'm not doing because I'm out working in place of sick people)!

Keep well! Sleep well! Enjoy the good things of the season!

Evolution of a Smile!

2011-11-07T15:01:00.004-06:00

The long-awaited day has finally come! After 1 year, 2 months, and 13 days, the hated braces are finally off. Although a year of full-time retainer wear is ahead of him yet, at least there will be freedom while eating and brushing. No more rubber bands! No more banned-for braces foods! I think the final smile says it all.

August 24th, 2010
Braces went on the next day. He felt miserable so we won't include a picture.

November 29th, 2010
Over the following year, he learned of the many different ways to use rubber bands.

1:45 pm, November 7th, 2011 Final hour.

3:10 pm November 7th, 2011
We will take him to Wpg. this evening for a final
full-cranial x-ray, and to get the temporary retainer.

It was worth it!

Kildeer, Kids on the Roof, and Semlin Struggles

2011-11-05T13:06:00.010-05:00

As I write this, I hear two unusual sounds. One of them is the sound of Kildeer calling in our yard as they fly around. Kildeer? In November? I expect to hear them at the end of March, but I don't recall hearing them hanging around on the way back South before. The other sound I hear is the steady thump of size 13 shoes tramping around on the roof- since it's "Put up the Christmas lights" day, Evan is taking advantage of the opportunity to run around up there. I told him "No flip flops, and no falling." He grunted at me the way 13 year old boys do.

Tallying which colours were burned out and needed replacing.

This year we are protecting our rock from the elements. Last year's cycle of snow-thaw-freeze wreaked havoc on the paint, and this fall Gail had time to come back and repaint areas where the paint flaked off. We hope that some styrofoam and the tarp will protect it until Spring.

Yesterday we were at the Pembina Hills Arts Centre in Morden for the official opening of the "Mennonite Women Evolving in Art" exhibit, on for the whole month, and featuring Bev Friesen and Gail Sawatzky (the artist who painted our rock). Since we've been following Gail's growth as an artist for some time, I have to say that we are constantly amazed at each new exhibit. Her art has a vividness and life that catches the eye, and in the last several years she has also begun adding texture to some of her paintings. Peter loves her use of orange and yellow, and I love her use of blue. Something that astonished us last night were the two pieces she did in gray tones from historical photographs. Even without the use of colour, they still had a vibrancy from her use of light. We spoke with her and she told us, "I wrestled with it. Do I stay true to the original photographs or do I add my own slant?" We were pleased with her foray into gray.

Our favourite piece of the show was called, "Sod House" and it displays a semlin (sod house) on an Autumn prairie, under a blue sky. In case you are unfamiliar with this, the semlin was the first house that many Mennonite pioneers built when they first came to the prairie because a) There were next to no trees to turn into lumber, b) They had little money to buy much (or any) planed wood from whatever mill was around, if there was one, and c) Depending on when they arrived, cold weather was coming fast. They stripped the sod off a future field, cut it in strips and stacked it up, after digging underground a ways for added insulation from the winter. The sod strips that they laid on top for the roof continued to grow.

If you've ever visited the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, you may have seen the one they have there that they recreated, sharing anecdotes of one family's winter in their semlin. I try to imagine having to live in that situation, perhaps with several children. Records say that "when it rained for a day outdoors, it rained for two inside". The most heart-wrenching connection I have to that semlin was learning that during a terrible blizzard that lasted for days, the baby died. Since they could not get out, and their house was basically one room, they put the baby in its cradle and hoisted it up to the rafters until the storm stopped and they could get out and arrange a burial. To me, Gail's painting of a semlin was the most symbolic of the struggle that the first Canadian Mennonite women faced.

We've come a long way, Bäbe.

Food for Thought

2011-11-02T19:21:00.002-05:00

11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team
(or workplace/family/church, etc.)

1. Help each other be right- not wrong.

2. Look for ways to make new ideas work, not for ways they won't.

3. If in doubt, check it out. Don't make negative assumptions about each other.

4. Help each other win and celebrate each other's victories.

5. Speak positively about each other and about your (workplace/family/church,
etc.) at every opportunity.

6. Maintain a positive mental attitude, regardless of the circumstances.

7. Act with initiative and courage, as it if all depends on you.

8. Do everything with enthusiasm; it's contagious.

9. Whatever you want- give it away.

10. Don't lose faith- never give up.

11. Have fun!

I found this while blog surfing; it was originally posted in a Canadian daycare. I think if more people lived this way, daily life would be even better for so many.

Random Bits and Pieces

2011-11-01T18:57:00.007-05:00

Evan's getting his braces off next Monday afternoon, getting dental molds done, and being fitted for a temporary retainer. That evening we go to Winnipeg to get his full-cranial x-rays done as a conclusion to this 14 month journey. He got some Tootsie Rolls from his Nan and he's saving them for next week. He also says that his supper that evening will be a giant mixing spoon of peanut butter. He's craved it for a long time. There will be pictures coming. (I'll spare you close-ups of Mr. Peanut Butter Face.)

This week stores have been putting out Christmas items. Yech. I'm not ready to go there yet. I was especially appalled that Ten Thousand Villages, associated with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) had their mini Christmas trees up and lit in the front of their store on October 31st. Was it a backlash against Halloween? I don't know, but I didn't like to think that MCC is joining the "Christmas-is-for-sales" school of thought. I'm thinking ahead as to how our family can make this year's celebration less reliant on consumerism and become more of a reflection of our faith. Send me your ideas for things you do to reject consumerism at this time of year.

The teacher in my "favourite room in which to sub" has called in sick for tomorrow, so I'm going to go be her. I'm conflicted- I don't want her to be sick because she's a good friend, but on the other hand, I'm a little pleased she's sick 'cause then I get to go have a great time with her kiddies. Am I terrible? Maybe a little. To make up for it I wish her a happy, restful day tomorrow and a quick return to health.

I've been realizing how happy I am. Although I'm not bringing home the same paycheque I had last June, we also need a lot less because the amount of travel I need to do for work has been radically reduced, and there's a direct co-relation between the amount food costs to the amount of time it takes to prepare it. Since I have more time to cook "Slow Meals" our monthly grocery bill has gone way down. The best part to me has been achieving a better balance between work and home. I've seen several jobs posted in the Division in which I used to work, but after briefly thinking about them, have decided, "No, thank you" as they are counter-intuitive to achieving my future goals. When I ask myself, "Do I have enough for today?", the answer is always, "Yes, and more."

In a recent post I wrote about a white shirt I was working on. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but last night after looking at embroidery images I came up with an idea that pleased me.

If you look closely, you can see the pink/white edging I put on all the hems.

Then I got started on embroidering a flower garden, at least around the front. We'll see how long it takes me. Stitches I learned as a girl are starting to come back, but I'm much more careful now than I was then- now it's for fun.

Last night we watched that "Benjamin Button" movie with Brad Pitt about the man who started off life as an old man, and grew younger over time. I didn't know how I'd like it, but even though it was 2 hours 45 minutes long, it was worth it. I gave it 4 stars/5. The icing on the cake was the lovely soundtrack.

Our weather is still lovely for this time of year, but I'm glad the boys have Friday off. (Report writing) They can do a final raking of the yard, and pull up the last of the annuals. Rain and cooler weather is predicted starting Sunday. It just may be time to put the yard and garden "to bed" for the winter and turn our thoughts to more indoor pursuits.

Chocolate Popcorn

2011-10-31T09:59:00.004-05:00

We're not big on Halloween at our house. Of course, the boys (and we) like candy and treats as much as anybody, but we've never been big on dressing up and wandering door to door. When the boys were small and we lived out in the country, we went to visit the nearby relatives who always gave them ample amounts of sweet treats to fill their little bellies until it was time for Christmas treats. When they got bigger, they went to Nan and Grandpa's house where there were huge bowls of candy to eat there, and huge sacks of candy to take home.

Tonight, however, we'll be basement dwellers with a few treats and a DVD. Here's a new one I had not heard of before:

Chocolate Popcorn

Ingredients

2 quarts popped popcorn - 1 cup unpopped kernels or 1 bag of microwave popcorn
1 cup peanuts (optional- I left them out)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Oil a 10x15 inch baking pan with sides.

2. Place popcorn/peanuts into a large, metal bowl, and set aside. Stir together the sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Stir in the vanilla, then pour over the popcorn. Stir until the popcorn is well coated. Spread the popcorn into the prepared pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, stirring several times.

4. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool to room temperature. Break into small clumps, and store in an airtight container.

I was reading a book called The Night Circus by Kristin Hannah where they made mention of chocolate popcorn, and I thought to myself, "Is there really such a thing?!" An internet search this morning told me that, yes indeed, there definitely is. It takes only a few minutes to make, especially if you use one bag of microwave popcorn, and takes just a bit of stirring in the oven to dry it. Now I'm off to go dig out The Nightmare Before Christmas from where I think it was packed with the Christmas items (another thing that will be severely minimalized this year) and we'll see where the evening takes us.

Happy Halloween, however you're choosing to enjoy this evening!

Weighed Down?

2011-10-29T16:37:00.005-05:00

We cooked at Camp for a small Mens' group Friday evening and Saturday. While there, we also baked cookies, rice krispie cake and 10 loaves of bread for the year-round staff to enjoy. After our bread was done, there was still plenty of time before Peter and I had to begin work on lunch so we went for a walk. On a whim I said I wanted to walk the trail that would lead us to walk up the toboggan run- I'd say it has more than a 45 degree slope. On the way, we saw where Tobin and some of the guys had been cutting and hauling dead wood for the wood furnace. We saw a tow rope and a heavy chain lying on the trail and picked them up- "someone will need them and they shouldn't lie out over winter". We climbed higher. On the way, we saw two perfectly good pumpkins and picked them up. We continued our climb but began to breathe a little more loudly. My duck shoes were also a little low on traction, and were wet as well, so each step had to be a careful one. About three-quarters of the way up we saw two more pumpkins and said, "Why not?" So we picked them up as well. Finally we reached the top, panting, and I wondered if my heart would "asplode".

How many times have I done this in my Spiritual life? I face a steep hill, and could do it with the strength I have been given, yet on the way I pick up heavy chains that weigh me down, "because they might be important". Then when I start to tire, I continue to weigh myself down with even more things that aren't really valuable. When we finally reached the top, Tobin saw the pumpkins and said, "Oh- the youth group that was here was having pumpkin throwing and pumpkin rolling contests earlier this week". Yeah. It's like the joke about the rich man figuring out how to bring bars of gold to heaven, and St. Peter meets him at the gates, looks at the gold bars and says, "Oh- why did you bring paving stones? We have plenty."

I need to take those pumpkins that are weighing me down, put them on the trebouchet and fling them out of existence, exulting in watching them fly through the air before seeing them smash spectacularly. Then I can walk away unladen to do better things.

I need to remember to take time to rest and reflect. To take more time for silence. I am reading Revelations again, and recently read the chapter where the Lamb (Jesus) at last opens the seventh and final seal on the scroll so it could be read, and the response was: "and there was silence in heaven for about half an hour". All of heaven stopped what they were doing. I don't know what they did- watched, pondered, prayed?- but they stopped. If you've ever done a minute of silence at Remembrance Day, you know that can be a long time. Thirty minutes could feel like an eternity. This seal was a BIG deal and the inhabitants of heaven knew it, and responded by being quiet and waiting to see what God would do next.

Since I have begun a more measured study and practice of contemplation as a spiritual discipline, my reading, especially in the Bible, shows how many times and places that people were blessed when they took time to stop, reflect, and be silent- and I believe that includes mental silence. I have experienced much more clarity of thought, a more relaxed state of being, and better focus when I take some time out of my day to sit and empty my mind from what the Buddhists so aptly call, "chattering monkeys" and put my focus on listening to God and simply being. It's very easy for me to get busy with the invaluable things, and I need to increase the frequency with which I practice mental silence.

Best of all, we should remember to eat fully of the Bread of Life each day, and ask God to open us up to the blessings He would like to give us so that we can pass those blessings on to those we meet along that journey up the steep hill.

Drop the chains and the pumpkins that are weighing you down, and know that I have prayed a blessing for you as you read this.

Seussian Success!

2011-10-25T18:45:00.003-05:00

"Penny Rug" coasters. Peter thinks they look "Seussian".

Wrapped with a ribbon and ready for giving.

So I started this project Sunday evening, and quickly finished one. Then I decided that since I had plenty of material, I'd do three more and have a set of four for giving. I did this while I watched DVD's in the evening, and I found it both relaxing and creative. That this style of work doesn't have to be "perfect" is very freeing!

I few months ago I bought a plain white 3/4 length t-shirt, but haven't really worn it yet. Now I've been eyeing it and thinking that I could dress it up by blanket-stitching the hems and adding some embroidery. That will likely be my next "fun" project as I still want to work on my stitching a bit, and I also want to think through the templates for my "Apple Cobbler" candle mat- I *paid* for that fabric so I don't want to mess it up.

This could be a winter full of fun and creative evenings!

Penny Rugs

2011-10-22T19:17:00.002-05:00

"Apple Cobbler" Penny Candle Mat
This will be the first penny rug project I work on.
*Candle not included. And what is that in the bowl, anyway?*

Peter is a quilter, but the size and scale of it is too huge for my tastes and patience. When it comes to creative things, "instant gratification takes too long" (Meryl Streep in 'Postcards from the Edge') is more likely to be true in my case. Maybe that's why I like blogging- it's immediate, and if I make a mistake I can go back and fix it easily. I used to cross stitch, but it was a strain on the eyes, and at times, the frequent changes in colours and the picky work literally made me cross. I've thought about knitting and crocheting, but really, I'm not sure I need more afghans or scarves, and yarn isn't cheap.

However, among the many lovely things at the Quilt Show each summer, I kept seeing some beautiful art pieces like the one above, made with wool and felt pieces stitched with a simple blanket stitch. I love the warm colours, the folksiness of it, and the simplicity. "I love this!" I said to myself, and then came the realization, "I could do that!"

When we were in Ontario in a quilt shop this past August, I came across patterns and wool/felt pieces and decided that along with learning how to bake bread, redoing my kitchen cabinets, and learning French, this was something I would learn to do this Autumn. The bread and the cabinets are checked off my list, I'm well into learning French (second day of subbing in French Immersion K and Gr.1 classes coming up Monday) and now that the yard and garden work is winding down and the dark evenings are starting, it's time to get out my kit and figure this out.

I referred to this in an e-mail to a couple of friends as "wool-work", for lack of a better term, and they wrote back and said, "What? Like, you do things with clumps of wool? I don't get it." Today I finally sat down and started doing some internet searches and came up with the correct term: "Penny Rugs".

Penny Rugs date back to at least to the Civil War era in the States (it may actually have come earlier from another country, but the Americans are calling it 'theirs') when women saved scraps of wool or felt, burlap or sugar and flour sacks and used coins to cut out small circles so they wouldn't waste fabric -thus the name, "penny rugs". They weren't actual rugs, but were used as decorative table runners, candle mats, or runners for on their beds and dressers. Traditionally, these were made by layering small circles onto larger, contrasting colours and designs were made. Stars, hearts, small domestic animals, flowers and birds were often used as well.

Of course, if you look online, you will be able to find many patterns, many kits, and many lovely pre-cut packages of wool or felt, packaged and ready for purchase. (Cha- Ching$$) However,I did find one site where I found a kindred spirit -

"Go to the thrift shop and by wool scarves or wool sweaters in colours you like and create your own patterns from your own ideas. If you've ever accidentally shrunk a wool sweater in the dryer, you already know how to felt wool!"

-Why, as a matter of fact, (I thought) I have done just that, and I happen to know a handy dandy thrift store just a few blocks from my house.

"Don't worry if your stitches aren't perfectly even or perfectly spaced- it adds to the primitive charm and originality of the piece."

-Thank you, thank you very much. My first attempt will likely be very charming and original!

So, one of these days, I will take the plunge and actually cut up the pieces, but I think I might want to practice blanket stitching with a few pieces of an old wool blanket Peter cut up before I start on my kit pieces. I don't want it to look cave-woman primitive! I saw an online pattern for coasters, so maybe I'll try a test run first.

The Folded Napkin

2011-10-19T11:36:00.007-05:00

My cousin posted about this on fb and I had never realized this before:

Why did Jesus bother to fold the "napkin" that covered His face in the tomb?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over
the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes:

"Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I
don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was
folded up and lying to the side."

Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to
understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded
napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this
tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it
was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out
of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not
dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his
fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and
toss it onto the table.The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because..........the folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

No matter how well you know your Bible, there is always more to learn.

Fall Clean Up

2011-10-15T15:35:00.007-05:00

This was a busy subbing week for me- Monday was Thanksgiving, and Tuesday morning I was home baking bread and cereal, but I worked for the rest of the week so had to do all the housework I usually do during the week today. Peter had to get up early to go to Winnipeg for his class. I was up before him and got a head start on my day.

Heavier frosts are predicted to start early next week, and as I'm working every day next week except Wednesday morning (so far!) I had to get outdoors today to bring some things in. I thought I'd try bringing some of our herbs in- I have thyme on the left, chives in the middle, and mint on the right. I had to go out and buy more rocks because that pesky Astrid was digging in them the minute my back was turned. Mmmm.

I decided to cut and take in the gladiolas that came into bloom after that heavy September rain. I can't wait for the pink ones to open. Soon I'll have to dig up those bulbs and bring them in so they won't get eaten by squirrels, or freeze too hard in our winter.

Here's the amaryllis with all three flowers open- soon it will be time to put it into dormancy until I can bring it out in Winter to bloom again. I had to go pick up the drawer hardware we ordered and while at the hardware store I saw that they had fall bulbs on sale. Bulbs keep on giving, right? Well, today I planted yellow tulips and some grape hyacinth in the front flower bed- it's one of the earliest beds to thaw out. Now that I know that the trick to great spring bulbs is a lot of water in fall, I'll keep dousing them all until freeze up.

Evan did a lot of raking today, and then I got the boys to till trenches in the garden, rake them out, fill them with the leaves and bury them. The horse manure Tobin brought home a couple of weeks ago got turned in with it.

Mason is sitting chest deep in the leaf pile from our big maple. Next week they'll likely get another pile this big. They're hoping that the rest will drop this week so that it will be done for the year. If it freezes as hard as they are predicting, they may get their wish.

Today I framed this print that Peter got as a door prize years ago. It had been sitting in the large tote where I keep my art supplies, and after the kitchen reno I was looking for something different to put up so I dug it out. It will look great above our folded table against the wall- but I'll wait until Peter is home to hang it up, especially as it might need a drywall anchor.

I'm not crazy about winter, but I do feel a certain satisfaction in "battening down the hatches" and letting the outdoor gardens rest. The lawn furniture is put away, the gardens are nearly empty (still a few flowers here and there), and the lawn got what could be its final mowing today.

It's going to be a few months before fishing season comes around again.

Fall Photos

2011-10-09T13:50:00.006-05:00

Tobin, age 19. Photo by Daniel Loewen.
"This is my son, with whom I am well pleased."
(Ooo-the sacrilege!)

Mason, age 15, Grade 10
"Mo-o-o-om- don't touch my hair!"

Evan, age 13, Grade 8.
"My 'stache isn't dark enough in this picture."

"Remember- as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family."

Yeah, right!

Painting is DONE!

2011-10-08T18:56:00.006-05:00

Today was the big day. After T.S.P.-ing the walls, filling, sanding, de-glossing, and re-washing, it was finally time to paint. We used "Aura" paint, and to tell the truth we're not sure we'd use it again. The nice things are that it's low odor and dries quickly. The downside is that it dries QUICKLY- Peter would cut in a section, and by the time I could roll it, the cut in parts were drying and a bit streaky. We needed to do two coats, and it took nearly the whole "gallon" (3.69 l) to complete the job. This paint was also $70/bucket. Hmm. I did several coats on 27 cupboard doors, 9 drawers, and all the panels around the room, and I still have a half of a $38 bucket of melamine paint left over, and it went on a lot smoother. Hopefully this paint will wear well. It took over 5 hours of painting from start to finish. Ugh.

The colours didn't seem so different until you contrasted them side by side.

Peter is amazing- he can cut in without taping. He cut in for me
and I was still constantly wiping up 'mistakes' I'd made.

Everything is back in place, and is a warm, even, smooth colour.

I even took the opportunity to wash and iron the vertical blinds before rehanging them.

Instead of replacing the cherry wood curio shelf, I dug out a numbered print that Peter had won as a door prize and I am currently looking for someone to frame it so we can hang it over this table. I'm also planning to start the woolwork table mat kit I bought when we were out in Ontario.

As I had taken out all the decorative objects before painting, I also have the opportunity to think about what will go back in the room or on the walls. I want to keep a streamlined, uncluttered look without it looking too stark.

Peter even had time and energy to make a pie shell and three pumpkin pies for Monday's home Thanksgiving celebration. I need to go plan the prelude and offering music for tomorrow- and our choir is also singing. This is definitely a full and busy weekend, but I'm hoping that the next two days will be more fun and relaxing than today!

I'm thankful that it's done and that it looks the way I hoped it would!

31 Degrees in October? I LIKE it!

2011-10-06T05:41:00.006-05:00

All week they've been predicting high-20's, but it hadn't reached the predicted high most of the week. Yesterday they were predicting 28, but when I got home from an afternoon of Grade 2, I discovered that it was 31 out. It was hard to believe, but I'm not complaining. We've only had the furnace heating for an hour or two on a couple of nippy mornings, and I love that our hydro bill will continue to stay low for another month.

Friends of ours came out to our town yesterday and we went to try out the new coffee place, "Once Upon a Bean", a branching of a restaurant called "Jasmine Tea Room" which has lovely lunches and specialty teas. As of the latter half of September, this restaurant is open Wed. to Fri. evening from 6:00-10:00 and features specialty coffees, chai lattes, mini cheesecakes, regular cheesecake, and cake pops. I had a Caramel Lovers coffee, Peter and one of our friends had the Reeses Pieces coffee, and the other had the Chai Latte. The guys ate full cheesecakes, my friend had a mini cheesecake (cupcake size) and I had a toffee crunch cake pop- just the right size for me to enjoy without feeling overfull after. This place was given an "Eight Thumbs Up". However, Peter and I aren't used to caffeine in the evening. He went around madly like a squirrel, working double speed and getting a LOT of work done until 1 am, and then was up again around 5:00. I looked at the clock at 2:51, and have been awake since. Maybe I'll have to try one of the teas next time....

While there, the couple who is out at Peter's school doing a week of Fubuki Daiko (a Japanese Drumming group) with the students came by to check this place out. They're a friendly and talented couple who are enjoying everything our town has to offer. If I'm not called in to sub on Friday, I'll go by the school to see the closing concert.

Although the weather is still warm enough for flip flops, we have had little time to lounge around the yard. Peter and I both have full days and the weeks are flying by. If I'm not subbing I'm working on our projects. I am looking forward to completing the painting project, although I'm already considering re-finishing an older table that was handed down to me. It's about desk size, but it unfolds and pulls out to about 7 or 8 feet long with four leaves. The finish needs some work and I'd like to restore it to its original colour. We'll see if the weather holds and what my coming weeks look like. Subbing is starting to get busier.

I bought this Amaryllis for Peter two Christmases ago, and this spring I read about being able to put them out in the garden. It took its time, but the long, hot fall has brought out these gorgeous flowers. It even looks like it could have a third flower before long- we've only ever had two. When it's done blooming we'll pot it, let it go dormant, and then bring it out again in January or February so we can have it flower again. I'm definitely going to put it out again next summer.

Our flowering kale is starting to take on more purple again- it does that when the weather starts to cool off, and is hardy to light frosts. It looks best at this time of year, so I love putting it into my front flower bed.

This geranium is one of two that we have behind the rock. Peter took one and potted it to take to school, but this one is going strong, in part because it's so sheltered.

Another fall favourite is the Dusty Miller that also loves the cooler weather. Even after a heavy frost or even snow on the ground, it continues to look the same.

So I was doing Music for my good friend at a school two blocks from home on Monday, and I had a chance to practice some of my beginning French with the French Immersion students in the school. Yesterday the principal of the school called me and mentioned that one of the French Immersion teachers had heard me speaking French. At the moment they have no French Immersion subs and he asked if I'd consider being one. "J'apprends un PEU francais!" (I'm learning a LITTLE French!) I responded. I told him that I could probably handle Basic French classes, but not a full day of speaking French. He said it didn't matter- that I had a little French and was a certified teacher was already good enough for him, and he was okay with me mixing French and English as needed. I agreed to give it a try. Well! I definitely have motivation to keep studying and practicing my French skills, now focusing on phrases and vocabulary for a regular French classroom! Yikes, but exciting! Life is funny.

Before and After Shots

2011-10-04T19:57:00.002-05:00

Cabinets before.

Cabinets after.
Natural wood and nickel finish knobs.

I've already begun work on preparing the walls for painting on Saturday.

October!

2011-10-01T19:38:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are- September is done, we've survived another start to the school year, and, except for the Reno project (see previous post) we're getting into more of a routine.

Today I washed the pumpkins in bleach water (it kills any external bacteria that would cause them to rot), and put them on paper on the pantry shelf in the basement. Last year's pumpkins lasted until August of this year. We don't have as many as last year, and some of them need to ripen more, but they will, just as my green tomatoes are turning red in their cardboard box on the shelf below the pumpkins. It has something to do with the dark triggering the ripening hormone "ester".

Our garden is now empty of all vegetables, and there are only a few flowers left here and there. Yesterday Tobin came home with his truck box loaded down with horse manure from Camp, and he and his brothers spread it on the garden. He says he'll bring another load next weekend, and then we'll till it all in. Woo hoo!

I didn't get the Grade 1 position for which I applied , but I'm okay with that, as I know that God will put me where He wants me to be in His time. Besides- my reno project would have taken a LOT longer if I was gone from 8-5, Monday to Friday. I've been subbing about two days a week, and I have some sub days booked into December already. I could have booked into 2012, but deferred that at this point, willing to take bookings only until Christmas for now.

Peter is working on a paper for his University class and baking pumpkin pies for our Church Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow. He has the better touch with pie crusts. I baked coconut oatmeal cookies (Mennonite Treasury) to which I added raisins. I hadn't baked those in years, and they're as good as I remember.

I've still been reading blogging posts on Minimalism from time to time, but I was appalled at one who said that the "maximum" number of items of things to have in your wardrobe was 25- and she went on to elaborate by saying, "25 pairs of pants, 25 shirts, 25 pairs of shoes, 25 dresses, 25 sweaters, 25 coats...." I had to give my head a shake and wondered if she was messin' with me as this seemed so out of character from what I'd already read.

For fun, I've also been reading some "Frugal Living" blogs, and I have to smile when I read them, as things like, "Plant a garden, can or freeze your own fruits or vegetables, eat out less, try to cook at least one meal a week at home, unplug appliances when not in use or use power bars, pay off your credit card every month, turn the thermostat down....are things our family has been doing for years, and some of them our ancestors have done for generations.

Interesting things I have discovered:

*Peter pointed this out to me: If you buy your salt in boxes off the grocery shelves, read the ingredients- I was shocked to read that there is SUGAR in the salt. ?! Who knew? Coarse (aka Kosher) salt is pure salt without any added sugar.

*The big "bunny" bottle of chocolate syrup is about $10 where I regularly buy it. One day I read the ingredients list, then looked online for a syrup recipe, and sure enough, the ingredients were the same except for the chemical ones whose names are harder to pronounce:

1 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups sugar
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla

Stir together until smooth, boil 2-5 minutes. Store in the fridge since it doesn't have all the preservative chemicals. I made a double batch, put it in an empty "bunny" bottle, and we all like it better. I also like the price better- it makes up for the cost of milk going up again. Grr.

*Roasted vegetables taste even better than boiled, and have more nutrients as they aren't leached out into the boiling water. You can use beets, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc- whatever turns your crank:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put vegetables on a cookie sheet, trying to make sure that the pieces are roughly the same size for even cooking. Pour a little oil over them (we like extra virgin olive oil) and stir the vegetables around so they are evenly coated. Sprinkle a little kosher salt over them and roast until tender. Broccoli will be done earlier than denser vegetables like beets or carrots, and it will also depend on the size you have them. Fork test them. I often do this when I'm doing a meat dish and baked potatoes.....

*Which reminds me...I've always been told that when you bake potatoes, you wrap them in foil. However, if you want the skins that tough/crispy texture, what you need to do is simply poke holes in them with a fork, and put them right on the oven rack at 375 for 45-60 minutes. (No pan to wash, either- Bonus!) Russets work the best for this, and the boys always want me to do extra so that they can have fried potatoes or potato soup another day.

Well, that's enough "Domestic Diva" for one day! Enjoy your weekend, and I hope you're enjoying the sunshine wherever you are.

Kitchen Reno.

2011-10-01T18:59:00.005-05:00

1977 cupboards, complete with 'door knocker' pulls and trim that had to be cleaned with a toothbrush. The reddish tones didn't really match the counter or the flooring, and made the kitchen dark.

Trim chiseled off, glue spots filled.

Because of the etched glass in the doors, I left the trim on these two.

Fill, sand, fill sand. Filthy work, but satisfying. Hmm. I think I may also spring for some better drawer liners...I think these have done their duty over the last 34 years...

(Peter ambushed me in this shot as payback for all the pictures where I've caught him working.)

Priming to seal.

I painted these doors where they were, again because of the etched glass.

I did primer on each side and edges, then did two layers of colour on the outside, but only one coat on the inside. Five times painting all these doors was enough.

Sample of the doors. I've been calling the colour "toffee", and in some lights it is; in this light I'd say "Maple Fudge". We hope to do the walls a more complementary colour next weekend- lemon and toffee/maple are not the best mix of "flavours". The rest of the doors are curing in the garage over the weekend. I've found a nickle and wood-look knob that matches best with the doors, and we're debating on whether or not we'll put them on the upper doors, or just the lower ones. The drawers have finger pulls at the bottom, so they won't need knobs. We put the drawers back on Friday night, and it was good to have all the utensils out of bins and off the counter. We may start rehanging doors on Monday evening. I could take them down by myself, but I can't balance them with one hand, and put in six screws with the other....maybe Mike Holmes could, and I give a nod to his "handiness".

I have to say that after working on this project for the last three or so weeks I have a new appreciation for how simple things like....oh, washing windows, cleaning toilets, vacuuming, are. And just as Peter and I both know that we'll likely never strip wallpaper or scrape off a textured ceiling again, as we did when we moved in here, this is a job I may likely never do again. Although we liked all the results.

Autumn is Coming/L'automne Vient

2011-09-22T13:49:00.008-05:00

I continue to sand my cupboards out in the garage- a dusty, powdery job, but fairly simple thanks to Peter's palm sander. Today I entered into what is called "flow" - a time when you are so engrossed in what you are doing you are unaware of anything else- and in no time, over two hours had gone by and I had worked on 14 doors. Our kitchen looks a little odd without most of its cupboard doors, but I see this as an opportunity to make sure that the cupboard contents are organized and tidy. Peter said that he likes it without the doors, as it's easier to see and reach for things, which is true, but those doors are going back on ASAP!

This afternoon I took advantage of the sunshine (we had over 60 mm of rain on Tuesday!-that's about 2 1/2 inches in Imperial) to go out to the Nature Pond and climb to the top of the hill. The autumn colours are just beginning to come to town, so I took my camera out to get some shots. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't do justice to the subtlety of the colours, but it will give you a taste, and maybe get you to go out and look for Autumn in your area, too. These golden days of Fall are some of my most favourite of the year, and I'm glad I got to experience it- on a weekday, too!

Money is Necessary, But Not Important

2011-09-20T10:04:00.006-05:00

I received, among other things, a lovely and diverse array of dark chocolate for my birthday.

Some people haven't been sure what to say when I tell them I am subbing, partly by choice. For the more ambitious types (usually teachers themselves), I sometimes sense a bit of arrogance, an unspoken "Sucks to be you!", in others their expressions betray an undertone of, "Why didn't you take any job out there so that you could make money and use it as a stepping stone to something else?!" Others who have children, or have aging parents who need more care, think for a moment, nod sagely, and say, "Good for you." To these people I answer, "Yes, it has been good for all of us right now."

Peter and I were discussing the school start up, and we agreed that this was, for our household, the easiest and most laid-back start up our house has experienced since the year before I went back to University. Forms were signed, cheques dispatched, I could deal with a couple of small issues that came home with a couple of prompt e-mails, I could hear about the boys' day at lunch or right after school. I told Evan yesterday that if I wasn't called to sub today, I would bake bread. He promptly answered, "I hope you don't get called...I love fresh bread for lunch." My days are full- I sub some days, and on others I carry on with various projects. There is always something to do- house, garden, prayer, lectio, bigger biceps, et mon français s'améliore.

Last week I learned of a Grade 1 teacher who is planning a leave of absence because her husband was diagnosed with bone cancer, and it's already in his spine. They have teenaged children at home. I saw this position advertised, and saw that it would be full time, in a school about a 30 minute drive away until at least mid-November. I'm guessing it could be longer. Nearly every day I tell God that I volunteer for whatever He has planned for me. I thought about it carefully, applied for it, and again asked God to put me where He wants me.

I'm a little torn about it- I know that if I got this position, it would mean that it would allow us to put more money into savings, and to pay down a personal loan more quickly- one of our financial goals for the next year. However, it would also mean that meals, baking, cleaning, my cupboard project (Oh my word- the spackling is done, and a friend saw it and described it as "Gingerbready". An apt description.) would be on hold, perhaps until Christmas. Commute, packing lunches, driving in potentially bad weather, evening and weekend prep, staff meetings.... Don't get me wrong- I love teaching, but this month I've been subbing closer to home, and I love the days when I can walk or bike to work, come home for lunch, and can leave home later and come home earlier. I've always worked at least a 20 minute drive away from home, so my recent experiences have been an epiphany about what could be a future reality.

Money is necessary, but it doesn't seem as important as what I am giving to my family right now. If I were to be offered this job, I would take it as God's leading, that this teacher could give her family the gift that I am now giving my family. I could give her the gift of knowing that her classroom would be in good hands so that she could give the gift of time to her family.

We shall see what God has planned for me this week. For now, I have my bread in the oven, and I know what I'm making for supper.

The Compass or the Clock?

2011-09-13T19:40:00.004-05:00

“What comes first, the compass or the clock?
Before one can truly manage time,
it is important to know where you are going,
what your priorities and goals are,
in which direction you are headed.

Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going.

Rather than always focusing on what’s urgent,
learn to focus on what is really important.”
–Author unknown

PVBC "Festival" Day

2011-09-12T13:39:00.005-05:00

Tobin invited us to come up for Camp's Festival Day- all the events- archery, climbing wall, horses, Mountain Bikes, etc, were open, and there was a barbecue fundraiser-by-donation supper. As we're trying to follow through on avoiding "Nature Deficit Disorder" (see "Unplug and Get Outdoors" post) we put aside our desire for Sunday afternoon nap, and piled in the car, bringing along garden produce and muffins so that Tobin will have more to eat than wieners, bush greens, squirrels, and coffee. The camp DOES provide better food, but these are a sample of his choices.

Both boys at the archery site. Evan killed a practice turkey numerous times.

An enjoyable way to rebuild his wrist strength.

We were very pleased to see that he'd gotten rid of the biker 'stache, and that he's trimmed his beard back. He also mentioned that he found a hairdresser who could trim his hair. No more dead ends and singed bits?! Hurray! He took us hiking around the camp, chatting about his work the whole time, and ended up with showing us the beaver pelt he's drying. Yech. The beavers are damming too close to the camp and leaving trails flooded, so the camp was given permission to thin the numbers a bit. The boys asked if he'd eaten the meat, but Tobin recoiled in horror. "NO!! That STANK!"

This was a brotherly "pat-a-cake" game. The three boys also ganged up on another counselor to "Wohlgemutize" him. This included a number of silly things, and when they were done, the guy looked at Peter and me and asked, "Oh boy, am I a Wohlgemut now?" We looked at him and grinned in a maniacal way. He hadn't seen the family acorn war that had occurred five minutes earlier.

Peter and I hiked around the trails for an hour or two, enjoyed the shady view of the observation deck, and then hung out and watched the boys at the archery range where most of the summer counselors and many teens were hanging out, telling stories and goofing off with buckets of water and other hijinks. At one point Peter said, "I feel like I'm on duty during noon hour at a high school- except generally better behaved..."

By 7:30 we were heading back for home, full-up of fresh air and exercise, and glad to head to bed.

First Week Done

2011-09-10T13:09:00.003-05:00

The grapes are ripening on the East side of the house now, as well as the South. The boys' job is to pick, wash, and freeze them in water for future wine use. No whining allowed. (kee hee)

We planted broom corn in the flower garden up front, and to my surprise it is about 8 feet tall, and the "broom" part has these grains on them. Who knew? I wonder what they taste like?

In the ferocious heat of the last week, my canteloupes suddenly began to ripen all at once. I also pruned back the extra fronds from my tomatoes so that the green tomatoes would be exposed to the sun and would ripen faster. Next week's forecast for this area is predicting lows of 2, 1, 2....which is getting dangerously close to the "f" word. I've decided that I'm not going to cover anything this year, but will rather pick what I want and let the rest take its chances. Because of the dry season, my garden is looking very empty already. We're waiting for a frost to sweeten the carrots before we dig them, and there are also more pumpkins and beets out there, but they're hardier and shouldn't be bothered by a slight chill.

We got everyone through the first week of school relatively unscathed. Mason was a little overwhelmed the first day, but by the second was finding his stride again. Evan's week was deliberately laid back, and he even had Friday afternoon off, so he had a good start. His wrist scabs are healing over, and chiropractic appointments and home-physio exercises are straightening a few things out. Just in time for soccer season- tryouts start Monday. Peter was a little shell-shocked and hoarse from all the energy needed to get the kiddies into routine, but a good weekend will also build him up.

I got a good start on my cabinet project in terms of taking off trim and spackling. I certainly appreciate the cupboards where they were more frugal with glue or used nails- far less fill work to do! We've also decided on colours. "Boardwalk" for the cupboards, and "Sundial" for the walls. Aren't those indicative words? Yeah. The darkest colour on the strip is "Maple Syrup", so if you go from there to "Boardwalk" being the colour of caramel, and "Sundial" being caramel and cream, you'll get a better idea.

I continue with my home-French studies, and am registered into my Oral French class for next Spring. I spent an afternoon as the "Guest Curator" at Gallery in the Park (open until September 25th) and I also have lined up several sub days in our area. My first afternoon of work will be Tuesday, and life will only get busier from there.

All in all, a good week with a lot accomplished, and many things to anticipate for next week.

Unplug and Get Outdoors

2011-09-05T19:34:00.008-05:00

"Unplug, boot it down, get off-line, get outdoors, breathe again, become real in a real world." That's the theme of Richard Louv's book, The Nature Principle. He claims that adults and children are likely to have what he calls, "Nature-Deficit Disorder". Health and emotional well-being improve from being outdoors, even if people don't enjoy it. (Manitoba winters come to mind!) There are tiny particles that we breathe in when we're around plants, trees, and soil, that benefit us in many ways. Our mood and health improve, our stress levels decrease when we are connected to nature. Spending time with trees, gardens, flowers, grasses, seeing wild animals (I'm talking birds, deer, rabbits, not bears and lynx!) make us more connected to nature. "The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need."

Interested in testing this idea, I've been spending several hours a day outdoors lately, and have sent the kids out, too. For parts of the day I have tried to invent some work for them to get them out, and for other parts I tell them, "Go play!"

Mason loves using the axe and cutting branches. Here he's attacking the stump of an apple tree that died and that we cut down earlier in the season.

After Peter, Evan and Mason dug up all the corn stalks (we ate the last of the corn on Sunday) and Peter cut out all the dead raspberry canes, it was time for Evan to mow the lawn.

Peter found a rogue hosta growing in the garden (we only have one, and it's not the same variety) so he dug it up and put it in with the Lily of the Valleys.

I pruned tomatoes so that the remaining green tomatoes will ripen faster, pulled up pumpkin vines with no pumpkins on them. I was busier cooking and dealing with ripe tomatoes today, so wasn't out in the garden as much- that left more for the guys to do.

Mason has been playing a "Man-Tracker" game with other kids in the park nearby over the last few days. On Saturday, Evan got onto his roller blades for the first time since July 1st (the day he broke his wrist) and I'm encouraging him to hit the tennis ball against the garage, although he doesn't think his wrist is strong enough for it yet- it will be good therapy and will strengthen it.

Peter and I have deliberately been outdoors more, and today walked on part of the Trans Canada trail just on the outskirts of town down from the old railway tracks. In the old area of town called "The Village" we saw what looked like either a rabbit hutch or a chicken coop, and by another yard saw a sign offering honey for sale.

For us, the results of being outdoors are easily apparent. Those boys are definitely happier, livelier and actually feel tired at the end of the day. Evan is feeling muscles he hasn't used in a while. The yard looks great- I don't think we've ever had this much of the yard and garden cleaned up by Labor Day before.

Tobin was out from Pembina Valley Bible Camp for the weekend, where he lives among nature year-round. He told us about seeing wolf or lynx tracks near the camp gate. He sees deer, beavers, porcupines, rabbits, and squirrels. He got restless at home as although we have a relatively large and well-treed yard for our town, and have a school soccer field right off our backyard, a Nature Pond and Prairie Grass area, as well as the local Park just beyond that, it's too domestic for him, and he went back "home" to the Valley. I was chatting with him on fb before I began writing this post, and I asked him what he ate for dinner. "Two squirrels- fried. I put the smaller parts in a pot and need to go get some greens yet and boil them up for stew." Although it seems strange to me to eat squirrel, in some parts, it's a regular part of life. Not part of mine, but part of his. He is happier out in the bush than I've ever seen him before.

Now that the weather is cooling down, and school is set to start within days, we've told the boys that we expect them to spend less time with electronics and more time outdoors during their non-school hours. We plan to do the same, and I know we'll be all the better for it. Yes, there will be grumbling and eye-rolling beforehand, but when we come back in we'll all be happier people.

Although the garden is almost done, there will be plenty for them to do in a few weeks....

.....the tree will start to shed its leaves again, and the near-daily job of keeping up with the raking will begin. I love Autumn!

September Long Weekend. Already?!

2011-09-03T07:13:00.013-05:00

This, and the geese overhead all week have been offering me "reality checks" about what is coming in the next week.

One of the big things about this weekend is that we have made the move to being a one vehicle family. Since Peter walks to work every day, and I'm planning to gradually (okay- as soon as possible) make the move to subbing/working here in town more often, we realized that we did not need two vehicles. Since last month's hailstorm resulted in Peter's truck being written off for as much as we paid for it, we made the decision to give it up and not replace it. Perhaps next year we'll buy a small utility trailer and get a hitch put on the car for when we want to haul bigger things, but for now, we made sure we got the bigger stuff taken care of before we gave it up. We think it's a good move that better fits with the minimalist choices we continue to make.

From November- August. A nice little truck, but more than we need.

Apparently the day to cut analog and move to digital signals arrived last week. Peter and I kicked the tv habit this summer, and didn't notice. The boys were a bit more chagrined as their newer tv doesn't pick up as much as they hoped, but as I told Mason, "Now you have the opportunity to read more or develop new hobbies." We still watch DVDs and subscribe to Zip, but I'm not sure our tv upstairs has been on at all this week.

Wearing Peter's hat.

Evan is doing better. With the help of his antibiotics (for symptoms of Lyme Disease) the lethargy is gone and he's more like himself. He's down to one band aid on his wrist as the smaller of the holes has scabbed over. The larger hole is also looking much better. He's looking forward to taking a "normal" shower without a plastic bag on his arm, and he can start doing that once the larger hole has scabbed. He's had a crazy summer. I told him that he's learned about many things this summer, especially related to pain and illness. He had been feeling sorry for himself, but I told him about the student at my school who had gone through a year of cancer treatment with courage and dignity. It's all relative. I told him that his experiences will likely build his compassion and empathy towards others- and besides, won't he have interesting things to write about when his teacher demands that he produce pages of anecdotes? Kee hee- he was not amused, but he did enjoy his increased mobility and energy when we played Dutch Blitz last night.

Many of the rods on our dishwasher were getting rusty (it's 8 years old and has had constant use) but we discovered that to replace just the racks would be $250. !! That's almost as much as we paid for the whole dishwasher brand new! Peter did some searching online and learned that you could buy rubber caps and "Ubergoop", a type of vinyl paint. Where did he get it? Amazon, of course. (Who knew?) With some work with his Dremel and time to let it dry, this job was accomplished for about $20.

I was paging through my Simply In Season Book (a cousin to More With Less) and discovered a nifty grape juice recipe. I did a test jar last week, and since Evan was bored I taught him how to do more:

Sterilize jars and snap lids, keeping them hot. I put my jars in the oven on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 300 degrees. My lids are in a bowl with boiling water.
Put one cup of washed Concord-type grapes into the hot jar.
Add half a cup of sugar. (Next year we might alter it if we think this is too much.)
Pour boiling water over the back of a spoon so as not to crack the jar, to about half full.
Stir the sugar to dissolve, and then fill with boiling water to roughly an inch from the top.
Put on lids, and then just leave them. They snap on their own without the canner! Huzzah!

When we did the first jar the grapes weren't as ripe so it took longer to diffuse to the purple colour, but these diffused overnight. We'll let them sit on the shelves til at least Thanksgiving so all the grapey-goodness seeps out. I'm curious to see how strong this is- I don't think it will be as "thick" as commercial brands, but who knows? Next year I could add more grapes as well if I think it needs more.

I've known for a while that school is coming, but I got another hit of reality when I was making the menu for next week, and realized that these meals would be meals for after a school day. Whoa. This coming week will be a week of filling out and signing forms, information overload, and writing cheques for school fees- although I already paid the tuba rental for the year. The first week is crazy and chaotic, but this year, as I expect most teachers to choose to be at school for the first few days, I'll likely have a few days home alone to get things sorted and will continue with the tomatoes and my kitchen project unperturbed. The week after it will probably be Open Season.

I realized that I should pick these, but I'm also eating so many of my huge tomatoes that I've overlooked these. Later today.

Enjoy your long weekend, and Happy "New Year".

Fall project and Madmen

2011-08-30T19:09:00.006-05:00

So here are my circa 1977 cabinets. We've lived in our house for 8 years now, and I have never really liked them. One of my goals for this fall is to do a "simple" reno by removing the hardware, chiseling off those dust-and-grime-catching trim pieces, filling in the holes, sanding, and painting them. We might put in round knobs on the corners if we feel it needs something, but after years of having cleaned these cupboards with a toothbrush to get the dust out of all those pesky corners and little fine lines, I am looking forward to having flat, clean, wipeable fronts. I'd also like to repaint the kitchen after that, depending on how this goes. The good part about this project is that I don't have to live without my kitchen, and can work on a few doors at a time, as I have time. Peter has some plans to redo some of the drawers with better hardware (And there was much rejoicing-YAY!), and would like to convert at least one lower cupboard unit to have pullout sliding shelves. We shall see how this goes.

Step 1: Hardware removed. I also did a test run on chiseling and spackling one drawer that Peter plans to discard in order to make a larger drawer out of two smaller ones, and so far my plan is working pretty well! I already prefer the way this looks compared to the original.

No- there is no photoshopping in this shot. We were out in the garden, looking at the watermelons, and Evan wanted to know how to tell when watermelons were ripe, so I showed him "the spoon and the curl" as my Grandma Braun always called them, and how when they were dried up, the melon was ripe. He found this little one and said that they were both dried up on this one so we took it in. He got such a kick out of it as he could cut it up and eat it in the same way he likes to eat an orange. I'm waiting for our (much larger) honeydews to be ripe. We'd already eaten one watermelon about three or four times this size.

Yesterday Evan began learning another skill- how to swallow pills. Years ago he had a choking incident in a restaurant and since then has had a mental block about swallowing things like pills whole. However, he's being treated for symptoms of Lyme disease, as we didn't want to wait the six weeks to see what showed up on the unreliable test when this disease can do so much long- term damage. He's on large antibiotic capsules for 21 days, three times a day. He truly didn't think he could handle it. Yesterday we had to stir the powders from the first capsule in water as he kept spitting it back up until it was too soggy. After that we hit on the idea of getting him to swallow mini fruit marshmallows whole. He practiced that for a while, and then this morning, after a few test runs with more marshmallows, he managed to swallow his pill. He was so excited. This is a very good thing since he's 6 feet tall and starting to fill out- children's chewables just weren't working so well anymore when he was sick.

The pins from Evan's arm. One was about 3 inches, the other 3.5 inches.

Today he got his cast and his pins out. His cast had gotten loose from the muscle loss after 8 weeks, and he had jarred his arm once or twice, which made complain about pain in the area around his pins a few times. When they cut the cast off we saw that one pin had jarred badly and left something of a gaping flesh wound. Imagine a birthday candle on a cake with thick, soft icing. Imagine that the candle gets knocked around a bit- the flesh around the pin looked like the icing would look. Eww. Even the Dr. and nurses made some grimaces at it. When Evan saw his wrist he got a bit shocky- he sweat through his t-shirt, but was shaking with cold and his teeth chattered uncontrollably. I had to talk him through his breathing to get him to calm down.

The Doctor who was taking care of him is the best surgeon in the region, especially for orthopedic cases, and when the time came to pull the first pin, he nonchalantly took his "pliers" and with a swift windmill movement it was out and on the tray. Evan stared at his arm, looked this well-respected man in the face and declared, "YOU'RE A MADMAN!!" The nurse turned her back and her shoulders shook. When the time came to do the second one Evan said, "No- wait not..NO!' but it was out too. By this time, the "shockiness" had gone on to babbling and the nurse and I both started rolling our eyes at the Drama Prince routine. He has to keep the wrist wrapped and dry, and checked carefully to avoid infection over the next week. I suppose that the antibiotics he's on might help with that. The Mars bar he ate later on helped restore his equilibrium.

This was our first picking of corn, which we ate on Sunday. It was also our best picking of corn, as it was such a dry summer. We ate more today, and we might have one more meal of it before it's time to pull the stalks up.

Tomorrow: Salsa. And hopefully no more madmen- practitioner or patient!

Approaching Harvest

2011-08-27T10:25:00.004-05:00

If you read the previous post about our travelogue, you learned of our adventures out in Ontario. Now back for a couple of days, we're readjusting to home.

We did mountains of laundry, bought a few groceries, worked through the piles of mail, checked the garden and managed the produce. We were delighted that the kitties weren't "angry" at us for leaving them for a week.

We baked bread, cooked a couple of meals, and checked out our favourite websites in order to catch up.

We've slept in our own beds (lovely) and wandered around the house in our pajamas for parts or most of the day. We're trying out the new teas and mate'.

We learned that the results of my CT scan from the morning of our trip showed that I have stones in both kidneys. Which explains a few things, including why I have felt tired and "off" since May. And that I likely did pass a stone the weekend of the local Festival, and likely passed at leased one smaller one during our trip. Which also might explain to Ontario family why I at times may have seemed even more withdrawn than usual. Too tired, and at times, too uncomfortable. I'm seeing my Dr. again in a few weeks to get a bit more information. I'm relieved that it's not something worse.

Peter had a chiropractic appointment which cleared up a few issues for him as well. He's standing taller, and his stomach doesn't get as upset.

We're reconnecting with family and friends here. We're going out walking. We're reading.

We rearranged the rec room, throwing out the small hide-a-bed couch that was too wretched for MCC, gave away the Little Tikes molded plastic toy box which was a catch all for many little toys that didn't have another home, and sorted through some other things. As as result the room has a more "adult" look, better for entertaining teen-aged friends, looks twice as roomy, and is less cluttered and better organized, which also means, easier to clean.

We're lying low this weekend, as we know that next week has a number of demands. Peter will be working at school more often. On Monday Mason and I will go to school to fix his wonky class schedule. On Tuesday Evan hopes to get his cast/pins removed. On Thursday the staff from Peter's school will be at our house to welcome the new Principal at the fall kick-off. And that will be September already. Peter will prepare a sermon and I am on for piano/hymns that first Sunday.

Since we've come home we've heard geese flying overhead every day. To me, this is a bad sign, as in my opinion it's WAY to early for geese to be heading south for the winter! But the garden is showing signs, too. Garden plants are going to seed, the cucumbers are almost done producing, our corn will be ready quite soon, and the pumpkins are turning orange.

The turn of the season is in the air, and the "new year" is nearly upon us. Although I don't want the summer to end, I am anticipating my new experiences coming up in fall. Although it wasn't my first choice to be working as a substitute teacher this fall, I had asked God to put me where He wants me, and this is where I am, and as is His way, I have already greatly benefited from it. Over summer I've discovered and explored minimalism, and as a family we are adapting to this way of life and thought. Our house is less cluttered (easier to clean), we eat meat less often (and don't miss it), and we are spending less. We have plans to pay off our (relatively small) debt faster- yes-even with me working "casual" for the time being! I have watched no tv, and only a few DVD's, and have more time for reading, exercise and spontaneity. I have become more contemplative in thought and in religious pursuits, actively seeking more time for solitude, spiritual reading, and prayer. This latter result has been the most significant in my life.

With time to "become who I already am" as Carl McColman writes of stripping away the attitudes that the outer world wants us to adopt, I have time to explore new things. I discovered an opportunity to begin learning the wool work that I've admired in the local Quilt Show each year, and have the materials ready to begin my first project. I have plans of refinishing the kitchen cabinets, which I haven't liked since we moved in 8 years ago. I have my choral music chosen until Christmas, and the songs I've chosen reflect, in part, my new understandings. I have made decisions about how/when/where I will choose to work as a substitute that make me happy, and more in control of my work life than I ever have been. The time and season for what some would call a more "stable" career will come at the right time. For now, I am content.

In talking with extended family out in Ontario, I was rather taken aback at how it seemed (based on what a number of people were telling me) that important things in life included having a Masters, Doctorate, tenure, the "right program" for your child's education, your status, the quality of your house and belongings, and doing things in the "right order" were. I came back home thinking that I am so glad that is not how we are living- and that we are not living there, because in the eyes of a few, Peter and I would never be "enough" because of the choices we have made for our family.

God tells me that I am already enough to be worthy of His love, and through this I face the dichotomy of being enough in His eyes, while at the same time realizing that He encourages me to draw nearer to Him and more truly become the being that He knows I am. I want this. The experiences of planting new thought patterns during my "Spiritual Retreat" summer are giving way to a harvest of new ideas for the coming fall in ways I would never have guessed in June.

Ontario Travelogue

2011-08-27T07:57:00.009-05:00

back: Jenn, Wendy, Joel, Mason, Peter, me
middle: Dan, Lauren (11), Mom, Katrina (8), Evan
seated: Rachel (13), Addison (4 1/2), Dad, Tim (1 1/2)

Evan finishing the bowl of trifle.

The trip started out on the 17th, Wednesday afternoon. Honestly, Peter and I were quite reluctant to leave home, and I was just shy of tearful. We love home and hate to be uprooted, especially for a whole week. Our garden, our cats, our routines, our projects, all on hold. We hit hideous traffic once we hit Route 90 in Winnipeg; it took about an hour to get to the city, but then it took another hour to get from the perimeter to the airport- usually about a 20-25 minute drive. The flight was uneventful, but our bags were the last off the plane in Hamilton. Then from Hamilton to Kitchener the traffic was again horrendous-road construction happens at night- and they'd changed the road signage from when we were last there and...to make a long story short....we were tired and cranky travelers by the time we got to our destinations much later than first expected. One of the first things out of Peter's mother's mouth (as we predicted) was "What TOOK you??!" Mason and Evan stayed with Grandpa and Grandma for the week, and we stayed at Dan and Jenn's, a few blocks away.

Tim-who-reminds-me-of-Mason-at-that-age.

After a good sleep and a shower we felt much better. After lunch we drove out to London to spend time with Peter's eldest brother Joel, and family, and enjoyed their lovely home and the forested walking trail right behind their house. Apparently one of our nieces can quote the numerals of Pi to about 500 digits. Fortunately, I can only attest that she knows about 100..... We stayed overnight there and had brunch with them before heading back to Kitchener where we went to one of the malls to check out a store called Teaopia, which sells high quality tea leaves. The young man who was working there was super nice and helpful, and opened as many canisters as we liked to waft the scents. We ended up buying Vanilla Mint mate' (ma-tay), Matecchino, Sangria (which has pieces of fruit and flowers mixed with the tea) and Peaches and Cream teas. ($Ca-Ching)

Addison of the pink wardrobe, off to Senior K next month.

That evening the 15 of us (we're 16 with Tobin, who stayed working at camp this time 'round) gathered at Mom and Dad's where we had a turkey dinner. She had cooked a 31 pounder which everyone else called an ostrich. It was more than a little cozy in their dining room with all those people around, and Mason started getting a little panicky when he was stuck in his seat and another cousin decided to sing the "Fresh Prince of Belle Aire" rap at the table. (The boys enjoyed their girls cousins to a limit- these highly verbal and intelligent young ladies' energy became overwhelming to them after a while.)

Dancing Girls.

Early Saturday morning Peter and I headed out at 7:00 to go to the St. Jacob's Farmers Market. I loved looking at all the produce- the freshness, quality, and low prices are things you don't see in the stores. Inside the permanent buildings were, among other things, the meat cases, and it was astonishing to see so much meat in one place. Coils of sausages wound round as big as a truck tire, stacks of pork chops available for individual sale, sea food, lamb, beef, veal, pork, dried summer sausage in muslin bags that never needs refrigerating.... actually, the smell of all that meat was a little sickening as it reminded me of hog butchering, but it was still astonishing to see. We picked up corn, cucumbers and a Sugar Baby watermelon for Peter's Mom before the 15 of us met at a restaurant called "Crossroads" known for its Saturday morning brunches. Waffles, French Toast, Quiches, two kinds of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, oatmeal, yoghurt, toast, fruit salads, various cut fruits, whipped cream....for $8/person. We usually don't eat much breakfast, be we decided that this would be brunch and ate up. Peter's Dad treated the whole clan. Thanks, Dad! It was great.

Cookie Monster is his favourite.

After breakfast, Peter's parents headed back home, but the rest of us went back to the St. Jacob's area to wander through the free galleries, museums (the boys learned a lot about how Maple Syrup is collected and processed) and (not free) shops. We wandered through Quilt shops, fudge shops, saw how straw brooms were made, leather and fur shops, a toy shop in a former church. After wandering through all the shops, we went back to the candy store and bought three slabs of fudge (buy two, get one free!) to bring home. The four of us went to an ice cream caboose and had either ice cream sodas or fruit smoothies with the scoops of frozen fruit (choose two!) and slabs of frozen yoghurt mixed in right in front of you.

Old and newer fashions- chatting at the Schneider Haus.

We went back to Peter's parents to sit in their back yard and watch the air show "free". We saw the jet fighters zoom overhead and saw the Snowbirds fly in perfect formation of up to nine planes at a time.

Peter's Polish-born Aunt Eva.

Sunday we went to the Kitchener MB church with Peter's parents and Dan and Jenn. I was impressed that the young associate pastor there gave his entire sermon standing away from the pulpit, without notes, fully memorized, and knowing exactly which references he was using where. I don't see that very often. It was communion Sunday so we had the rare opportunity to sit and have communion with family. That afternoon was the 70th birthday celebration for Peter's parents at Dan and Jenn's house. 45 people were attending, and we got the back yard set up, and people started arriving around 4:00. Then at 4:30- downpour. 45 inside, so thankfully Dan and Jenn's house could manage it with kids in the basement, adults on the main floor, and Mason and Evan hiding up in Dan's office, playing a gardening and zombie game virtually the whole time in order to avoid chattering strange-to-them relatives. All those strangers were too overwhelming for them, but they weren't the only ones. When I went upstairs to check on the boys I looked out the window. Underneath my feet was the rumble of many conversations, but outside the window I saw the guests of honour, Peter's parents having their meal under the sheltered tent with Mom's brother and his wife. They had not cared for all the noise and fuss either, but having a "do" on the 70th birthday is what her family does, and cousins had called Jenn up in January to ask when the party would be. Yikes. Anyway, after Joel did a tribute accented by our dancing nieces, the cake was presented, and soon after, since it was already past the time that had been indicated on the invitations (4-6), I began to collect dirty dishes and fold chairs that weren't being used, and eventually people took the hint and started to move out. By 8:30 we had the house looking presentable again and could start to unwind.

Laughing at the birthday tribute.

Peter's cousin Kristen. Likely more than 10 years since we've seen her.

Joel and Wendy and family went back to London that evening, and the next morning, Dan and Jenn went to work and the two tots went off to daycare. The four of us and Mom and Dad went to Doon pioneer village, and because we spent time interacting with the various interpreters there, three hours had passed before we knew it. This village was set up to the year 1914 in Kitchener. A train ticket from Kitchener to Wpg cost $34 (we wish!). An Ontario Reader was 4 cents. We went through an Old Order Mennonite home and salivated over the beet and potato soup cooking, and saw the quilt that the interpreters allowed guests to help with. (You could see that the stitching showed various levels of competence). We went from the whitewashed stone cellars up to the wide-planked attic.

Mason sweeping up at the Doon Village barn.

We went back to Peter's parents for a late light lunch and a rest. Peter and I made another trip to Teaopia to buy more teas so we'd have some to give to our dear neighbours who were taking care of the kitties for the week. The same helpful young man from last time recognized us and came right over to us with a smile and helped us out again. This time we bought some Bourbon Vanilla and a Caramellissimo, which has tiny chunks of caramel and some hazelnut brittle among the tea. We also bought a box of blooming tea balls. These balls are made of carefully sewn together tea leaves, and when put in a clear put, makes tea and makes an underwater bouquet. Each ball can be used to make three pots of tea, and I'm thinking that it could also make a lovely centerpiece just to have sitting.

Evan examining produce in the whitewashed cellar of the Old Order Mennonite House.
Check out the ancient jar of white pickled eggs in the middle. Yech!

We took Peter's parents out to a restaurant of their choice, and on the way went to a furniture/household gallery run by some of the horse-and-buggy people. This was a region I had not driven through before. It's a lovely countryside with rolling hills, tall brick or wood farmhouses, and huge wood barns, some set into the hills. We saw numerous horse and buggies on the road, and boys with their hair cut straight around at ear length, wearing their button down shirts, suspenders and black shoes, the girls and women in dresses and aprons and bonnets. The furniture in that store was crafted from gorgeous solid wood pieces, you could buy every kind of household furniture, dishes, quilts, art for your walls, and more. We spent at least an hour wandering around that shop, and I had to chuckle when Peter's mom held up a package and said, "Look Rainer! It's half price!" and Peter's Dad responded, " Oh! What is it?" They bought some new curtain sheers for the kitchen, and a Pumpkin Spice candle which we later protested when she insisted on lighting it at home. "No! It's only August- keep it for Thanksgiving- it's too early for Pumpkin Spice!!" We were very tempted by the solid wood cushioned glider rockers which the four of us agreed were very comfortable. If we can't find the equivalent out here, we will save up our pennies to buy one and have it shipped. A savings project for something lovely for our living room.

Playing for the service in Doon village.

On to Anna Mae's, a charming Mennonite bakery and restaurant. Most of us had the special: Choose one of: Soup or Salad- Green salad or Caesar, Potato Ham soup, or Beef Barley. Then choose one of: Sausage (about 9 inches worth), Roast beef (none of us chose this one) or Broasted chicken (three large pieces), add one of: Mashed potato, Scalloped potato, Potato Salad, or fries. Then choose: green beans, cooked carrots or cole slaw, white bun, whole wheat bun, cheese bun. Dessert was included: choose from 15 pies, three cheesecakes, three cakes, or ice cream desserts. $10.99 for everything. !!! And it was all delicious and made on site.

Tuesday was more laid back. We took the boys to see the Farmer's Market as since it was during the week we could go later in the morning and not be so crowded. We bought two of the dry summer sausages to take home. After a rest in the afternoon we took a short tour to the Schneider Haus which was almost 200 years old. It also had a modern quilt art exhibit attached.
Dan and Jenn and kids joined us for supper at Mom and Dad's and we had a quiet evening.

Yucking it up at the dinner table.
Either that or frantic about his poison ivy.

Wednesday morning we packed up and tidied up after ourselves, then went to make sure the boys were packed up. At long last, the poison ivy that Evan had contracted at Survivor Camp and which had spread over most of his torso, was starting to ease up. The poor kid had his sleep interrupted, had scratched and scratched, been half knocked out by the Benadryl, and was coated in calamine lotion. Now that we were going home it started to quit. After saying good-byes, we headed out to pick up a couple of snacks for the plane, and made a calm and uneventful trip to Hamilton. We were back early, and after airport security we basically had the large waiting area to ourselves, and got to sit in an arrangement of leather-type armchairs around a coffee table to read or play our games in peace, watching the antics of two sparrows that had flown inside the terminal. Although we had to wait on the tarmac an extra 15 minutes because of a huge thunder storm that was roiling up, and buck a bit more turbulence than when we had come, we had an uneventful flight, and I had the seat next to me empty for the whole flight!

When we left the airport, the first thing I smelled was all the ripe grain in the air, and that scent followed us all the way through the city (where we stopped at a Dairy Queen for a quick, late supper) and all the way home. We got home at 10:50 pm, windows rolled, down, heads out the window, quietly rejoicing to be back home.

It was a good trip, but the best part is always coming back home!

Time flies....

2011-08-14T15:25:00.007-05:00

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. We're at yet another weekend.

Tobin's "new" truck- a 1982 Ford F150, a beast of a thing on which he plans to learn some basic mechanics. Looks like he found a good specimen on which to learn. (yeesh) However, he is very proud of it.

Evan came home from Survivor Camp in one piece, having enjoyed himself immensely. "It feels like home." and he misses it already. He has decided that next year he will go for the two week counselor training program, and the year after go work there as a counselor. So, I take it that it was a very good experience for him. *Update: He has poison ivy rash on his arm and chest, but says that it isn't really itchy. My research says that the rash lasts 5-12 days.*

Peter had been looking for a larger aquarium as he learned that the red-eared slider (turtle) he has at school needs a tank of roughly 100 gallons for its size, and had currently been residing in a 20 gallon tank, part of which he'd walled off so that he could also keep plants and small fish in the same tank. We looked into getting one made at Red River Glass, but that estimate came to over $1000, so that was a no-go. He put out a mention of it on facebook and one of his friends had an 85 gallon tank sitting in her garage with all the pumps, etc, that he could have for $200. This seemed much more reasonable. He's somehow managed to have this large tank flow into the smaller tank we already have and circulate it back, and has also built a basking area where the turtle can be out of the water. He's been very excited about this and spent all of yesterday building the necessary stand, etc. and taking it to school. Now he has it filled with water and is waiting for it to warm and clear of chlorine, and soon he'll move the old tank to school and get the turtle (who he had thought was male, but now suspects has always been female) to school into her new home.

Tomorrow I'm using the Mother's Day gift certificate Peter got me for a mani-pedi in the morning, and I also have a massage in the afternoon. I saved this certificate for now as we're flying out to Ontario on Wednesday so I won't be doing any real work that would wreck my nails for about a week. Our whole family feels uprooted when we're gone for more than a few days, but Peter's parents both turned 70 this year so there is a large birthday celebration happening while we are there. The boys are very excited that we are flying and not driving.

So, if you don't hear from me for a while, know that there will be an interesting post when we get back.

Zen Harvesting and Mini Renos

2011-08-10T07:58:00.009-05:00

Tobin brought two grocery bags of apricots from the tree at his friend Tyla's house, so Monday morning we sat around the table in our pajamas and pitted them. They were so freestone that you could shake them and hear the pit rattle around. Although tiny compared to the types from warmer climates, they tasted just like their bigger counterparts and made some of the best jam I've ever eaten, tart-sweet. We think we'll try to put in a couple of apricot trees this fall or next spring.

I did one batch of jam the old-fashioned way from The Mennonite Treasury, and one batch with Certo. The old-fashioned way is a 4:3 of fruit and sugar, with some lemon juice. You boil these together, "Until it reaches the jellying point." ?? Internet research told me that novices to this (that's me) should use both the thermometer and the sheeting method. The jam in the pot should reach about 210 degrees F. , and then you should use a cool metal spoon to dip some out of the pot and see if it begins to coat the spoon as it cools. The blister currently at the base of my right thumb is a demonstration as to what 210 degree spitting fruit and jam do to skin. Yowch! This jam was spitting everywhere and I had to stand well back with a towel over my stirring arm. It took at least 10 minutes of stirring at this temperature with this method, and when done I had to wash down the kitchen, as well as wash the floor twice as we were still sticking to it.

The Certo method had a 5:7 fruit/sugar ratio, but no spitting or thermometers necessary and the whole batch was done in less than ten minutes. We opened up a jar that happened to be a Certo jar, so I'm curious to see how the "old-fashioned" jam measures up for flavour. I'll have to see if less sugar, less expensive, more mess, and burns is prefereable to more sugar/paying for Certo/safer and cleaner. Personally, I'm leaning towards the pricier and safer method.

We harvested our garlic yesterday. In looking up how best to "cure" them for winter, I learned that these bulbs like to be watered frequently and mulched. Heh, heh. Oops. These aren't as big as the bulbs you can buy in the store, but maybe that's why? This is the first time we've grown them, and I think we'll do it again next year- maybe with a bit more pampering. You basically grow and harvest them like onions. Now that the dirt is dry, we'll shake them off, and then keep them in the garage for a couple of weeks so that the outer papery part can toughen to protect the inner cloves for winter storage.

We (I) decided to harvest the "Bulls Blood" and the "Dertroit Dark Red" beets. We had short rows and I like to can them in baby beet form. The annoying thing was that after two hours in the canner I discovered that the fifth jar had cracked out its bottom. Ooo, I hate it when that happens. We also grow an Italian variety called Chioggia (key OH djuh) that is the best beet we've ever tested. It's a pale golden colour with purplish rings, but they don't can well. I did a bunch last year against internet advice, and ended up with six quarts that look like over-boiled potatoes. They still taste good, but I don't like to look at them. I may use those up this winter by disguising them in soups. So, this year, the Chioggia are for fresh eating only.

We pulled up the bean plants and the bolted lettuce, with the later plantings of Buttercrunch (one-person heads of finely-textured greens that makes eating Romaine feel like eating damp papertowel) left. I also harvested Lavatera seeds, the beautiful annual hollyhock-like plants with bright pink flowers up and down its 30 inch stem, which live up to my Grandma's name for them: "Loveliness".

On Monday, before we brought Evan and Tobin to camp, we did the "back to school" clothes shopping. Every year it gets simpler. Shoes for Evan as Mason's from spring are still good, two pairs of jeans each, and a bag of socks for each of the boys. Evan is in his last year of "tax exempt" clothing. We're buying him mens' 12/13 shoes, and inseams of 32 inches, but we still get the tax break. Yesterday, with him gone, I organized his closet, and Peter finally put in a new clothes bar. Evan's closet had a spring-fit bar that wasn't working so well as his clothes got bigger (heavier), so Peter put in a heavy wooden dowel supported by two by fours and I organized to see what fit, and added a few hand-me-down long-sleeved sweaters from Tobin from the time when he was still wearing clothes I bought him (as opposed to black concert t-shirts and MCC flannel shirts). Maybe we'll add a t-shirt from our up-coming Ontario trip yet, but otherwise, they're good to go. I'm thankful that none of my kids are fashionistas who demand the "in" clothing. Whatever that might be at the moment- we have no idea.

Now, except for the jam on Monday morning, and the thought that "since we have to take them through Winkler anyway, we might as well do the clothes now", we've been following something of a "Zen" schedule. We get up each day with no real plans for what we'll do during the day, but somehow, we get a lot done each day. We live in the moment , and, except maybe for the odd blistering burn, are enjoying each moment as it comes. I wonder what we'll do today?

Another Weekend?

2011-08-07T16:52:00.007-05:00

We had a "monsoon" with an inch of rain, as well as some hail on Thursday morning. Our end of town didn't get nailed nearly as bad as other parts of town. Some of our corn leaves are ribboned, and a couple of cucumbers got dinged, but otherwise, I think we were all right. Both car dealerships have a lot of hail damage, and other gardens were chewed up.

On Friday afternoon, Peter rented a log splitter and he and the boys split ours and the neighbour's wood piles in a couple of hours, and have them both down to manageable sizes.

Saturday evening we sat around the fire, and Evan made bannock on a stick and cooked it over the fire. He enjoyed most of it with our fresh strawberry jam.

He even shared a couple of pieces with us because of the advice we gave him.

This afternoon we drove down to Tolstoi (basically 45 minutes east of our place) and hiked through the Prairie preserve there. My opinion was that there were too many trees for it to be prairie, and it turns out that I was right. On the interpretive map we got, the "creeping forest of the lowlands" was sticking its tree roots where they didn't belong. If you managed to mentally delete the trees, the grasses and flowers did seem more like prairie.

Our capable chauffeur for the afternoon adventure.

This is Tyla. Tyla has been a part of Tobin's (and our) life for a few months now. She graduated from Garden Valley Collegiate in June, and has been a counselor at Pembina Valley Bible Camp for several weeks this summer. She's been a regular at our household's weekly Sunday faspa's.
In a few weeks she is going to Briercrest Bible College in Saskatchewan to earn her Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate.

I usually comb Tobin's hair once a week (otherwise it would never get done) but since he was going to meet more of her family I gave her the hairbrush and she helped him to look presentable.

I think he likes her. Hee hee.

She also brought us a couple of plastic grocery bags full of apricots from her family's apricot trees. They are about the size of unshelled almonds or hazelnuts, but taste like their larger counterparts and are easy to split open to shake out the pit.

One of our first tomatoes- and it's HUGE. I think this is one of the "Oxhearts".

On tomorrow's agenda: apricot jam, and packing Evan up to send off to Survivor Camp until Saturday night.

Mini-Makeover

2011-08-03T10:28:00.003-05:00

Today we did a mini-makeover in the front yard. Peter called up the local company that delivers soil/gravel and what-not and got them to bring a load of gravel to our driveway. The last load lasted eight years, and we're hoping that we will actually cement the whole driveway before this new load wears thin- that however, will go with the "whole package" of new windows, siding, roofing, etc., which will come sometime in the future.

Peter called at around 8:40 this morning, and the guy arrived by 9:10. He dropped the whole load very evenly, so there was next to no shoveling or raking for the boys to do. (And there was much rejoicing: "Yay.")

Our rock had also settled over winter and Peter was going crazy that it was crooked. He got the guy to lift the rock about six inches and then put bits of brick and gravel underneath to shore it up. He now sighs in relief every time he sees it. (Just a little OCD? Maybe.)

So there we go, another two projects done in 20 minutes. Maybe I can get him to finally put a railing on our precipitously steep front steps? We're off to check out possible options now.

It's August

2011-08-01T10:07:00.005-05:00

The view of our rock and flower garden from the house.

I know that for many people this is a "Long Weekend". We keep track of it only so that we know that it doesn't make sense to go check the mail or do other errands today. Sundays are actually our most challenging day of the week right now, as we all have to be out the door by 9:40, something that doesn't happen any other day of the week during the summer.

Peter came home having had an excellent time at camp, including a standing ovation for the roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, his fresh-made buns, and a berry crisp for dessert. The camp director literally licked his plate and looked around for more. He would like Peter to come for two weeks next summer (we'll see) and would like Peter and me to come cook at camp for some retreat weekends (quite possible) over winter.

Now that his courses are done, the quilt show is over, his camp week is complete, and his latest sermon is done, he's feeling a bit at a loss as his time isn't scripted for the next two weeks. He'll need to give his head a shake, and find ways to keep himself busy with smaller things at home. Finishing Mason's quilt will take a few more hours.

By 9 am today, we had most of our "chores" done, including gardening, three loads of laundry, a batch of granola, and Peter's bread ready for a second rising. Peter drove Tobin back to camp this morning. (Tobin is in the process of buying a truck, but it wasn't quite done the safety by Friday as it was promised, so he was left without his own ride. He hopes to have it by next weekend.) Now that the heavier work is out of the way, we can do quieter indoor things during the hot part of the day.

Yesterday I saw that there were many Blue Jays helping themselves to our ripe cherries, so I went out and picked them, and we had cherry fritters for faspa. We resorted to watering plants from the tap last night as they are so very dry, and we actually want our cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons to produce. There is suggestion of more rain in the forecast, but I'll believe it when I see it. This year we planted our pumpkins among the corn (I read about it in Laura Ingalls Wilder's FARMER BOY years ago and thought to try it) and it has worked very well. They have different root systems and feeding habits so they can co-exist. The corn shades the pumpkin plants so that the pumpkin leaves don't wilt in the heat of the sun. The pumpkins keep the weeds out of the corn patch. We already have a number of pumpkins setting on. I pollinated a few, but decided that we didn't want as many as last year (we still have some sitting in our pantry) so any others that show up will have made their own way.

July went by so very quickly. It seems like just the other day that we got out of school, but I encourage the boys by telling them that they still have more time off than they've had so far. I know that it will go quickly, too, but the thought that they've had 4 weeks off, and still have 5 1/2 weeks left satisfies them for the moment. Me too. "Living in the moment" is a good strategy to enjoy life to the fullest.

William Butler Yeats and the Slow Movement

2011-07-26T21:28:00.003-05:00

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

Yeah...that.

New Adventures

2011-07-25T13:32:00.005-05:00

Peter and Tobin headed off to camp just after noon today, to feed the hungry campers and staff until Friday. Peter was feeling a little jittery about trying to feed 60+ people on time, but I know that once he does one meal, he'll be just fine.

In the past months I have been thinking about, and looking for an alternative to, all those increasingly thin produce bags. I am serious when I say that I have lifted one of those bags from where I had filled it with fruit, turned to put it into my cart and had the bottom fall out in less than two feet of space. That frustrated me. Peter heard about mesh bags that could be had at Home Outfitters, and a couple of weeks ago when I was in the city, I bought a set and discovered how much I like them. A set of 8 was sold for $5, and as you can see, they take up almost no space when not in use.

Then I thought about what to do to bring home things from the bulk bins, like beans, lentils, flax, and sunflower seeds. One day I saw Peter squeezing out juice in a little organza juicing bag he'd bought. I went to the local fabric store and bought half a meter of organza for $3.50 and sewed seven cloth bags in two sizes. They are very strong, translucent, and easy to wash and dry.

With these, my shopping bins, and my larger cloth grocery bags, I will not need to bring nearly as much plastic into the house, which means that I won't need a cupboard shelf to store empty plastic bags that can't be trusted to hold their own weight.

I like that.

Weekend Happenings

2011-07-24T07:20:00.006-05:00

The heat wave has actually subsided for a few days, and it is lovely to be able to have the a/c off, windows and doors open, and to be outside without feeling that you need gills to breathe. It was also great to get a few projects done that we had deferred because of the heat. Evan is lying on the cement, "helping" Peter to wash the car.

Mason is sanding his bedside table from his Woods class. With the cooler temps here this coming week, we hope that he can get it done and out of the garage.

This past year in the Heirloom Quilters club, one of the challenges that some of the Guild members took on was to reproduce a greeting card in cloth. This was my favourite, by Damaris Rempel. The photo doesn't do it justice, but this piece has a 3D texture, and I especially loved the way she sewed the sleeves to be puffy or ruched up, just as a shirt like this would do when sleeves are rolled up. The textured embroidery for the hair-quills is also fabulous.

There is no formal judging at the Quilt Show, but I always like to choose my own personal favourite, and Sharon Schmidt's "Affairs of the Heart" was my choice for "Best In Show". Each of those little coloured dots you see was a hand sewn circle- the smaller the circle, the greater the difficulty. Her use of a black background makes each square jump out- it's like looking at 36 kaleidoscopes at once. Exquisite workmanship and eye-grabbing use of colour.

Another viewer favourite at the show was Peter's "Cat and Mouse" This quilt is for Mason. Peter sewed together strips of a batik jelly roll (you can buy them in quilt stores- a jelly roll is a stack of cloth strips in complementary fabrics and colours ) and then cut the cat figure out in the shape of a cat statuette I have. He appliqued them onto muslin, then embroidered whiskers and tails on each. He sashed each block using more of the batik, then embroidered tone-on-tone scroll work to quilt it. As a final touch, Peter embroidered a mouse into each square using tone-on-tone thread and challenged viewers to find them.

When the show is over Peter will finish it- the longer panels with two cats that go around the edges weren't fully finished; because Peter's University courses were taking about 18 hours of his day, he ran out of time before he had to submit the quilt for hanging. There are at least 8 (likely more) hours of work left before this can go on Mason's bed. One of the viewers told Peter that at first she thought each cat was a strapless dress and wondered why this quilt would be for a boy....then she saw the whiskers. Once she mentioned it I could see what she meant, but no, they're CATS. I personally think that this quilt is reminiscent of Andy Warhol.

And, here's Saturday's birthday boy himself, enjoying the ice cream cake made with the recipe I wrote about in a June blog. We had chicken pizza and ice cream cake, his choice.

Today Peter has another shift at the Quilt Show, and in the evening it will come down and be put away for another year. Tomorrow afternoon he's off to cook at camp, and he's VERY glad that the temperatures are staying in the mid-20's range.

Are you happy?

2011-07-23T09:56:00.002-05:00

From a Post by Dusti Arab

2011-07-21T11:38:00.002-05:00

I read a guest post from the "Be More With Less" blog this morning, and wanted to share a part of this with you:

A short list of affirmations to beat fear

You are enough.
You are already everything you need.
This is an opportunity in disguise. (Albeit a darn good one.)
You are beautiful.
The universe wants you to succeed.
You have a choice.
Your passion matters.
You are more than this situation.
Your creativity is unique and inspiring.
You are a good mother/father/husband/wife.
You are worthy of love.
You are fully capable.
Someone admires something you do naturally.
You are worthy of being treated the way you want to be.

Have an excellent day being you.

Filling the Freezer, "Emptying" the House.

2011-07-20T10:32:00.006-05:00

I came across a pair of Evan's baby shoes. I'm not sure he could put his big toe in them now. These are in perfect condition so I've kept them in case there are grandchildren someday. No rush!

We're well into raspberry picking season; the boys aren't terribly happy about me getting them up at 8 am to go pick the raspberries, but I tell them that it's a lot cooler at 8 am than it is at 11 am. We pick a small pail (1.5 litres) every day, and we've been freezing a tray full every other day or so. We've also been picking beans, although the severe heat is slowing them down- they're looking a little fried. We had a bit of rain, but nothing as much as we could have, and we have broken down and watered at least once.

I have been systematically going through the house, and when I finished, I started again and we still have more to give away. I'm being thoughtful about why I've been keeping things, and have been able to let go of a number of things that we've kept for no really good reason. We have another truckful ready to take to MCC, and we had massive loads of recycling to send out today- good thing there are no limits to that.

Peter "finished" his quilt -he'll have a few more embellishments to put on at a later date- and it's handed in for the quilt show, which they are beginning to set up today and tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon some Seniors from the local care home are coming through to look at it at their own pace, then it opens to the public Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. It's coming up to Sunflower Festival weekend here in town, but except for seeing the quilt show, I'll be passing on all of the other events. I've been enjoying solitude and simplicity lately, and this weekend's events constitute neither for me.

Peter's birthday is on Saturday, so we're making a few plans for that. He hates birthdays, and when I mentioned the birthday cake the other day, he had to ask, "For whom?" Although he did tell me what he wants....

I promise that I will have some more pictures soon....I just remembered a couple more places I want to sort through before the truck goes out.

11 New Things I Learned This Week

2011-07-15T16:37:00.004-05:00

It's been a good week, and I'm gradually beginning to feel that I'm more caught up with myself. As I continue to think about minimalism, learn French, and have time to think without having to time myself in 30 or 40 minute slots, I've learned several new things:

I realized that I use my microwave less than 3 minutes a day. It consumes power 1, 440 minutes a day. I now unplug it unless I'm using it, and I haven't missed that second digital clock.

Vinegar works better than commercial "Rinse Aid" in the dishwasher. I noticed the difference right away- the dishes are actually squeaky clean, and the the glasses are shiny. Works for me.

I made more bread using the recipe I made last week. As I was going through the recipe, I read, "Two tablespoons shortening....SHORTENING??? I seem to have missed that the first time. Heh heh. Adding shortening and more flour made for even better loaves this time. (Who knew?) Peter always braids his loaves, but this time I left one un-braided with the slashes on top like French bread you'd buy in the store, and the boys and I agreed that we liked that loaf better. It also takes less time and less handling to make. Win!

I have watched almost no TV this week- we had two of our Zip videos come, but otherwise nothing. I haven't really missed it. Huh.

We have community mailboxes coming to our area. As of Aug. 15th, mail should be addressed to our street address, and apparently we're getting a new postal code, too. (I don't know what it is yet.) Fortunately, mail will be forwarded to our new box from the Central Post Office for a full year. I'll post more on that once I have our full address. Since our boxes are right at the entrance to our Bay, it will be even easier to pick up and drop off mail. I'm not looking forward to all the address changes we'll have to do, though. Meh.

Quatre-vingts-dix neuf = 99 in French. (Four twenties, ten, nine) Really?!! People say English is a crazy language. Ha! I learned that I already have enough French to take Beginner Level 2 . Not bad for two weeks work. I hope to take French through Red River's Winkler Campus this next year. It's still a hot commodity in the local school divisions, and I will personally benefit from having more knowledge of our official second language. Learning languages is fairly easy for me, so I don't have a hard time sitting down with it an hour a day. For fun.

I hadn't really thought about this before, but in reading the June 13th edition of the Canadian Mennonite, it struck me when the editor pointed out that Mennonites are a big reason that the Conservative government was elected , especially in Southern MB. However, the Federal Conservatives are pro-military and have been taking steps that seem to be contrary to Social Justice. (Moving to privatize Health Care, and refusing to agree to label asbestos as a hazardous substance at the UN meetings as they want to be able to continue to export it to 3rd world countries are two things to come to mind.) Does this seem contrary to Anabaptist beliefs to you? It certainly does to me. The Conservatives do not seem to exemplify a "love your neighbour as yourself" agenda. So why are so many Mennos voting for them? Hmm hmm hmm.

Evan's cast has to stay on til August 30th. July 1st- Aug. 30th. And....there's a summer!

I learned to make "jello" with unflavoured gelatin and lemonade. It went down well.

I learned to make Hindustani Chai tea from scratch.

I learned that my cousin's baby girl really looks nothing like her brothers, but she's darn cute.

It's been a good week. Wonder what I'll learn next week?

Memory Lane

2011-07-14T15:06:00.002-05:00

Today Mason and I took a drive out to the country to deliver the "Pay it Forward" project to my cousin. Mason drove in order to get driving experience, and it was the perfect opportunity for him to learn how to handle loose gravel, rutted dirt roads, and country roads where the grader had left heaps of gravel or dirt in the middle of the road.

While out there, we drove past the country yard where we lived for 11 years before moving to town. The house has been re-sided and has new windows, the little Scotch pines we planted as four inch fingerlings are now full, big trees, more than 15 feet tall. The two story sandbox and play house looked like it was getting new shingles. The garden is still in the same place. They've fenced in the pasture, but we didn't see any livestock- maybe they were out behind the pond in the back.

We also drove by the yard where I grew up. The original house was moved off (it's now been redone and is here in Altona) and the house my parents built and moved into the year Mason was born is still there. A group of Hutterites from the Starlite colony out by Portage bought the whole farming operation from my Dad and two Uncles, and they use the house and yard as a layover place. Although the lawn is not mowed, they have one of those blue above ground pools in the front yard. Eventually the colony is going to "seed" itself and they will send a number of couples out to live and start a new colony. The trees were what I remembered, although they also were taller.

Mason bounced us around on the rutted dirt roads, and I rolled down the windows and smelled the canola. I have happy memories from my years out there, but I certainly appreciate paved roads, and our yard in town. I don't miss mowing six hours a week (with a riding mower) or wishing I had a wife when I had to tend the huge garden, can or freeze all the produce, mow the lawn, paint the house every other year, watch three small kids, and then cook dinner at the end of the day on top of that. They were good years to look back on, but I am more than content now, too.

Pay It Forward

2011-07-13T11:13:00.005-05:00

At the beginning of January one of my facebook friends posted a "Pay It Forward" project in which the person promised to make something for the first five people who commented. The only caveat was that you were to repost the status and also make something for the first five people who commented on your post. I decided to challenge myself and do this.

I don't know if it's a comment more on my creative abilities, or whether people were afraid that they in turn would have to be creative, but the only one who commented was one of my cousins. Hmm. Then came the situation, "Oh no- now I have to *make* something! I thought and thought. I decided that I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone: the dreaded sewing machine! Gah!

Since I also have been leaning towards simplicity, and more recently, minimalism, I decided that I would re-create from something already made. Off I went to MCC, and found two homemade cloth bags made from navy twill. Both together were $1. I washed them, picked opened the seams, cut them, and finally, this month, stitched eight dinner napkins with a red zigzag. Peter only bought his 1960's Singer last summer so I had never used it before, but the machine's tension was perfect, which lessened mine. The cloth will hold up well, and the dark colour will hide many stains that are bound to come from their three small children. Best of all, cloth napkins are reusable!

To sweeten the pot, I put in a jar of the jam I made last week, and packed it all into a basket that I was ready to pass on. It feels great to look at this and say, "I made that!" , and it feels even better to say, "I'M DONE!"

Slowing Down to Think

2011-07-09T12:25:00.003-05:00

Recently I came across a blog title that said, "Be More With Less" (see it and the blog Zen Habits by clicking on them on my sidebar). It immediately reminded me of the "More With Less" cookbook that I've been rereading (and using) lately. This blog is not written by a Mennonite woman, nor is it related to the cookbook. It has more to do with rejecting consumer society:

Not allowing our happiness to be related to things.

Not doing a job you hate because you need the money to buy more stuff to help you unwind from the job you hate.

Letting go of "stuff" that we're hanging onto simply because it has guilty* sentimental value or the "I-might-need-it-someday" factor.

*As in, "I know I never use it, but I can't give it away...Tante Agathe gave me the dreadful thing as a shower gift...." as opposed to photo albums with the kids' baby pictures....although this blog may argue against those as well. I'm not there yet.

As a result of my reading, I have been doing a lot of thinking about many things related to our lifestyle and our "consumer choices". I also viewed this thought-provoking video (about 20 minutes) http://www.storyofstuff.com and did some more thinking. (The idea that the majority of things we buy were designed to be obsolete in six months made me mad. As did all the toxins in a mother's breast milk related to various toxins we have ingested over the years.) The interesting thing is that Peter is in his Sustainability class and is coming home with many of the same ideas, including mention of the video I had just watched.

In starting to clear out the things I/we don't need any more, I soon learned that we're not missing the things I removed. For instance, I removed about 20 decorative items from the living room earlier this week, and today I asked Peter if he noticed which ones I had taken away. First he went, "What?" Then I told him that I'd taken about twenty things out; could he name them? He looked around and eventually waved his hands around the room and said, "the things on the shelf...a couple of instruments....the things from the chest.... he couldn't name them all, and even missed a couple of areas. Mmm. Earlier this week I also removed numerous items (including books I knew I'd not read again) from all of the main floor rooms. No one has said, "Hey, where's the.....?" Today when I did my weekly dusting it took me less than half the time it usually did.

I did buy a new sheet set each for Mason and Evan when I was in the city on Wednesday, but gave a clear lawn and leaf bag full of bedding that we won't use away to MCC. (The premise for buying new items is 1 new thing in, 1 (preferably two or more) out. Now there's room in that cupboard to put linens and blankets there without wedging them in.

We have never had cable or satellite tv. (Okay, wait, when we were first married and living in Wpg we had basic cable for about $14.95/month. We left the city and haven't since.) Our roof has an old antenna. However, with analog signals being phased out next month, we began researching cable vs satellite vs a decoder box. Bruce Springsteen's old song "57 Channels and Nothing On" came to mind as we looked at the option packages. Why do we want to pay a minimum of $50/month for all those nonsense channels, when we already were watching too much tv with three or four?! The boys' TV is newer, so may pick up digital signal, but our TV upstairs was bought with wedding money 21 years ago (and how many of the newer TVs will actually last 21 years?) so likely won't pick anything up. We are thinking that we will try a few months without either cable or satellite and see how that goes. We get Zip movies in the mail on a weekly basis, and $50/month can rent/buy a lot of DVD's that we really want to watch. Maybe we'll even use our evenings differently if we're not tied to "It's Monday, gotta watch House."

I still have a lot more to think about, and a lot more of the house to sort through, but I like what I see so far, and I like the way I've been using my time. I'm reading these blogs, thinking about what would work for our house, and slowly (or not so slowly) implementing them into our lifestyle.

(And check out the post below with photos, to see how else I've been using my time.)

A Berry Good Week

2011-07-09T11:58:00.007-05:00

After diligent studying all week, Mason passed his knowledge test and got his Learner's License! What a happy day. We spent 45 minutes on our first actual driving lesson, and now he wants to drive everywhere we go......

...including the local berry farm, where in about 30 minutes one-armed Evan, Mason, and I picked 5 buckets of excellent berries, some of them almost the size of those red or black plums you can buy. (The ones in the photo weren't the largest- we just didn't want to dig through the buckets to find them.)
The boys nicely helped me to hull all of them, and in return I made 18 pints of jam for future faspa use.I've been teaching myself new things this summer; I sewed a reversible headband yesterday as a prelude to doing some other projects, I'm learning some French, and: Voici du pain que J'ai fait.
(Here is the bread I made.) Next time I will add a bit more flour to the mix to make them rise higher instead of wider.

I had made four loaves, but by the time I got to taking this shot, one was gone, devoured with butter and fresh strawberry jam. Another half loaf disappeared by the time they were done. We called it brunch.

In garden news, the peonies and radishes are almost done, we're eating our lettuce, peas, and beet leaves, and will likely be eating baby beets by Wednesday. The raspberry bushes are loaded and beginning to redden. I believe that the rain we had last night will make the berries double in size, and if the heat they are forecasting continues, we will be picking by next weekend. Most of our garden is looking excellent, but our cucumbers are looking wimpy. They are in a section of the garden where we are rebuilding the soil where pine trees once stood. Those roots are persistently slow to rot and the soil is still low in nitrogen, even though we are consistently adding organic matter (and a little chemical fertilizer, although we would like to get away from that). Next weekend my manure tea will be ready and I'll give the poor little plants a good (diluted) shot of that. I put our potted amaryllis bulb out into the front flower bed a couple of weeks ago and it immediately shot up with huge, green leaves, that have never grown that way indoors. (It *is* a tropical plant, after all.) I wonder how it will bloom....new things to see out there every day.

Oh Gimme a Break!

2011-07-04T17:49:00.003-05:00

So...Evan was out at the Nature Pond on July 1st with his friends, skipping around on the rock wall...while wearing flip flops. Which brought about a flip and a flop, and suddenly one of his friends was ringing our doorbell telling us that Evan couldn't walk. Fortunately the Nature Pond is just across the school grounds from our place so we could go check it out easily. His right wrist was ugly- deformed and swollen ugly. His knee was also scraped raw, he had a scrape on his head and had bitten his tongue. So from 4:45 til 7:00 they were in Emerg. here in town. Most of that was sitting and waiting time of course, but eventually it was x-rayed and given a temporary wrap and he was given a referral pass to the Boundary Trails hospital for Saturday morning. Apparently if you inject local anaesthetic right over the growth plate area when a child is still growing it can hamper future growth, so he needed to see the orthopedic surgeon from Winkler and get general anaesthetic. "It will take only 30 seconds or so to set it."

Ha! They had to be there at 8 am. At 11:15 Peter calls and tells me that they hadn't gone in yet. And that he needed pins to hold it in place. They finally got back around 2:30. Since Evan doesn't swallow pills, they mashed up T3's in jam for him, so he was a groggy, loopy boy when he got home, and his fingers around his blue fibreglass cast were swollen like shiny sausages. I looked up the whole "pins" thing on youtube and learned that they look a lot like the metal poultry skewers my Grandma used to use when she stuffed a bird. I also learned that to remove them, the Dr. uses pliers to pull them straight out, and they are several inches long. (Eww)

He's doing much better now.... On the 12th we're to go in again and have it x-rayed again to make sure that it's healing properly, and from there we'll hear how long it will take before it can come off. He might wear it to Survivor Camp yet, but hopefully have it off during our Ontario trip.

We knew it would be an interesting summer, but we weren't expecting so much "fun"!

Canada Day

2011-07-01T09:19:00.004-05:00

Evan with his PACE-setter award. It's his school's version of an "All-Around Good Student" award. He's also sporting his summer haircut. And no, his face isn't dirty, he's very proud of that 'stache. Mason also had a very respectable grade point average from High School. We're waiting for the mail to bring his schedule for next fall.

Peter brought his aquarium home for the summer as he doesn't have the time or inclination to go to school every couple of days to feed the critters. This tank has already been an object of deep fascination for the cats.

This morning Astrid was batting at the turtle through the slot at the top. He seemed quite unperturbed- hopefully he doesn't nip at her paws!

So another school year is wrapped up and we're all officially done for the year. It didn't end as successfully as I hoped regarding a position for next year, but I will sub in two school divisions this fall until something more regular turns up. Since I know that God doesn't make mistakes, and that He has plans for me, I am not not nearly as upset as I would have been in the past. I suppose that shows growth. At least I won't spend this summer learning five band instruments, and I will hold down the fort and have time for some other things I didn't have much time for last summer. Every summer is different, and this one is no exception.

Happy Canada Day! Although I'm not always pleased with the decisions our government makes, I am thankful to live in this great country.

Father's Day

2011-06-20T10:12:00.007-05:00

Sunday Burgers

Radish bouquet.

Tobin's crossbow.

The Pembina Valley from the Camp observation deck.

View? Meh, who cares? When do we eat?

A solid aluminum rolling pin.
Peter checks out the kitchen where he'll
be head cook for the last week of July.

Tobin planted this and other flower beds to beautify the camp.

So there you saw a glimpse of our Father's Day. Earlier that day, our church choir (which includes Tobin, Peter, me, three cousins, an Aunt and Uncle, and several other welcome singers) sang our season closer until September when we'll begin again. The choir and our Adult Sunday School class (which has many of the same members) are very important to me- the core of my/Peter's church family. Summer Sunday services that start at 10:00 are welcome during the summer months, but I think I'll miss the closeness we've developed. All the more reason to put together great music for fall, and to have something to look forward to.

After a great lunch and an afternoon nap we drove out to the valley and avoided most of the frost boils out there. (Yeesh) We got another tour of the things Tobin accomplished over winter and the things he plans to do yet this summer. We all managed to avoid the prolific poison ivy, and we ended up with a picnic lunch out on the observation deck. After that, we left Tobin behind, and went to DQ in Winkler. Hmm. After having to correct the server several times on our order (for some reason she thought we wanted three of everything!) and wa-i-i-i-iting for them to fill our order, we decided that in future our business will go elsewhere. We got home tired and all too ready to clean up the picnic lunch and retire to the couch to watch more DVD episodes of Babylon 5 with, Peter continuing work on the quilt he wants to finish by the end of June.

A good day.

We're slowly whittling down the number of days to holidays. Mason's holidays start after his exam Tuesday afternoon, Evan's start the 29th, and ours the 30th....we have so many projects and plans for July, that it almost seems that our work is getting in the way! We'll get there, yet.

Mid-June

2011-06-16T07:45:00.005-05:00

Early morning chives

Boy in a tree, reading Calvin and Hobbes.
It looks like summer.

So I'm still job hunting. I had an interview in Altona this week, but didn't get it. I'm still applying for jobs, but as the end of June is nearing, I am thinking harder about what God has planned for me, and trying to come to terms with the idea that it may mean I might not have a regular classroom for fall and I may be back to being a substitute until something opens up. That is hard for me. Sometimes I think that jobs come so easily to other people- I've seen young girls straight out of University walk into a permanent contract, and I have to stop and tell myself, "That's what God has planned for them. God has other plans for you." I don't know why it's been this way, but I do know that my faith has grown stronger, and that I am closest to Him when things are hard. I've heard that it says somewhere in the Kabbalah that "God counts the tears of women." I confess that I've given Him some counting to do in the last week as I am trying to understand His plans for me.

Yesterday was another interesting day. Here's what I wrote to a couple of friends about it, with some editing for those of you who don't know everyone I'm talking about:

"So, today, I find out after the fact that today's Early Dismissal Meeting turned out to be, "Good-bye staff who are leaving" day, which I always thought was done at the final luncheon on June 30th. I was already still a little down from yesterday (my unsuccessful job interview) so felt emotionally unprepared to speak. So they call people up and give gifts and cards and lovely little speeches and I steel myself for my name, which didn't come. They forgot me. Somebody must have then told them that they forgot me. Barb (principal) quickly scheduled in a short 15 minute "let's all go eat more ice cream break" as someone scrambled to get to Gingerwood Lane and back in time to fill out a card and gift certificate. Heather (teaching partner) did a lovely, if teary, job of presenting the card after the break. I think someone quickly asked her to do it. I held it together and made a not-too-teary thank you and the expected "pat all of you on the back" speech. Sheesh. The meeting ended at 4:10 but we were told that we were not allowed to step out of the building until 4:30, so I sat and waited with a patient look on my face for another 20 minutes. Will this school year NEVER end? Okay, I'm still bummed, but I'm starting to see the humour in it. Sorta like an episode of The Office?"

So I'm thankful for friends, and a sense of humour, and the ability to process awkward situations through writing about it after. Anyway, enough about my work life. Although it's an important part of my life, I have many other wonderful things in my life that bring me a lot of joy.

I'm not sure I've mentioned it in my blog yet, but in the beginning of July, Peter will be starting his Post Baccalaureate degree in Sustainability at U of Winnipeg. He has "Intro to Sust. I" the first week and "Intro to Sust. II" the second week. 8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday. He realized this past weekend that this means that he will likely be getting up at 5:30 am. IN JULY. I laughed because I am usually awake around 5:30, so this isn't that big a deal to me. Mason will be doing his Driver's Ed the same two weeks and has to be at school 9:00-12:00 or 12:30 Monday to Friday with some driving instruction hours in the afternoons. Evan is going to work on making the switchover from baritone to tuba this summer (not a lot of adjusting to do), and if I'm not preparing for a classroom this fall, I'll work on improving my French. What I know comes from Sesame Street and product labels. We all have plans to learn something new those first two weeks of summer. Plus a lot of down time for those of us not at school all day.

Mason has two exams- one the afternoon of the 20th and the second the afternoon of the 21st. He'll work on cleaning up and signing out of school and then will be done Grade 9. His Woods project is coming home today, so he'll also have the summer project of sanding and staining it. (Pictures to come.) Evan will be done school on the 29th, Peter and I on the 30th, although I'm doing final testing, and will be doing wrap up work and wind up parties starting Monday. With swimming and talent show/hobby fairs, and marks needing to be in by the 22nd (my school) we're quickly approaching the end.

The garden is coming up well. With the heat, humidity, and rain, I suppose we will soon see fast growth of Rainforest-like proportions. I could do with more sun and less rain and cloud. We ate our first radishes the other evening, and I plan to go pick some more very soon. Oh wait...they might not go well with the pancakes we have planned for supper- maybe tomorrow.

This Father's Day, we plan to go up to Pembina Valley Bible Camp for the afternoon as Peter has agreed to be Head Cook at the end of July, and he wants to go see the kitchen so he knows what he'll have to work with. If the weather looks good and if Tobin can report that it's not too buggy, we may pack a picnic.

Our choir is winding up this Sunday, and then we'll pack our binders away until next Fall. They've been a great group, and having my cousin Trevor be the accompanist this year has been great for us all- it means that I can conduct, instead of conduct and play, which can be done, but is much harder for everyone.

I'm sure I'll have more pictures and more to write about after this weekend, but I wanted to catch you up on where my head's been the last while.

God is my hope and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. I am thankful for many good things.

Tobin's 19th

2011-06-04T20:00:00.005-05:00

Preparing the birthday "Barbarian" Smokies.

19 and Bashful.

Blowing out the candle.

I heard about a great (EASY) recipe for an ice cream cake:

A box of 24 rectangular ice cream sandwiches
1 tub Cool Whip
Roasted peanuts
Chocolate Sauce
Caramel Sauce

Layer about 12 sandwiches on the bottom of a 9x13 pan, cutting to fit.
Spread half the tub of Coolwhip over the sandwiches.
Spread peanuts and sauces.
Repeat.
Freeze.

The hardest part about this cake was unwrapping all the sandwiches. Seriously, it took 15 minutes from start to finish, and it tastes great! You could also use your choice of toppings and sauces.

We actually had a couple of warm days this week, and even the corn is up now. The lilacs are in full bloom, including one of the new ones we put in a year or two ago. This new one is purple with white edges, and is wonderfully scented. I've enjoyed the smells of all the flowers, but my eyes certainly don't like all the pollens.

We went to see Gallery in the Park's spring season on Friday night. Although the main floor, with its wall of paintings about meat was a little odd, the upstairs, as usual, holds some marvelous works. Margruite Krahn from Neubergthal (South East of Altona) had some gorgeous paintings of Dryberry Lake, where I spent portions of my summer from the time I was in Grade 7 and through High School and University. Even before I saw the titles, I saw the paintings and said, "It looks exactly like the lake." Gail Sawatzky's painting skills get better and better each year. Her painting "Escape" is, in my view, one of her recent best. Neighbour Ken Loewen's metal work has also evolved tremendously over the years. His piece "Trio" made me smile and "Family" , although I thought it looked like a happy face, on closer scrutiny became reminiscent of a Nativity scene. If you haven't yet seen it, come check it out. This show will be at the Gallery until just before the Sunflower Festival, when the second show will open and be displayed until the end of September.

This morning about 20 people converged on our church to clean it up now that the basement concrete work is done. One of the ladies and I cleaned up the former pastor's small office and collected an industrial-sized trash bag of recycling. (It seems that our dear pastor was something of a paper pack rat, with many old manuals, catalogues, camp flyers, college brochures and phone books going back to 2002 when he became the pastor of our church.) After a three week absence, we'll be back in for services on Sunday. Hurray!

We have our first backyard fire ring tonight, and in a few minutes will go sit around it with some friends we only recently learned had moved to Altona. Vive le Campfire Meeting!
(Update- we haven't laughed so loudly or so often in a LONG time. A 50-something Francophone Peter knows from the Teacher's Society married a 50-something man from Altona last summer. She's having a bit of culture shock, so you can imagine the hilarity.)

The Colour Green

2011-05-28T08:29:00.006-05:00

Grape Hyacinths

Rhubarb and Raspberries

Perennial Egyptian Walking Onions

Siberian Iris

Flowering Crab

Radishes- two leaf stage

Ferns and Columbines
We bought two blue columbines this spring and are looking
forward to seeing them bloom.

After the previous week's heat wave and lows of 15, it was a downer to go out and have to cover all our bedding plants two nights in a row as we had frost. grr. They all came through well, and it was worth two loads of laundry for the cover ups rather than repurchase and replant bedding plants. Now they're predicting several MORE days of rain showers, but the temperatures are higher.

I suppose that the good thing about the mediocre weather is that it's not totally stifling in school so the kids haven't TOTALLY shut down yet. My EAL kids tend to be more transient, and their value is in family, not education, so I'm often missing girls who are home "helping Mom" for the afternoon, have already lost one whose family moved to Ontario in April to be field workers for six months, and am losing another whose family is moving to Alberta next week. A third will go as soon as her family home sells, which may give her til the end of the school year here. It's almost testing season to see what they've gained in three months, and soon enough we'll be winding down to June 30th. It may be very quiet in Room 135 by the end of June! On the flip side, I did three mornings of subbing this past week, so that kept me busy.

Peter and Mason have been in Winnipeg since Wednesday. Peter is co-chairing the annual general meeting of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, and Mason is a page. Peter phoned this morning and said it's been going well, but I can hear the fatigue in his voice. Mason has been having a great time with the other pages. Apparently as soon as a delegate holds up a message to be passed the pages race to see who can get there first. Peter says that the delegates enjoy the prompt service. Mason has also been eating seafood every chance he gets- it's not something we get a lot of at home, so he's been loving it. Today they are voting in a new Vice President, and voting for new seats on the executive, then they have 40 more resolutions to go through. Peter thinks that they won't be home until this evening, so this will likely be one of the longest running AGM's he's ever been to. Yikes. Better them than me.

Our church is cancelled again for this Sunday as the cement work is still setting up in the basement. We were at the community center last Sunday, but it's booked for this weekend and supposed to be rainy tomorrow. Peter will likely sleep late and then we'll have brunch and a quiet day at home so he can recuperate before heading back to school to see what happened there while he was gone.

Evan and I have been holding down the fort, but we expect Tobin home sometime today to tell us all about last weekend's camping adventures in Cavalier with his "just friends" girl and her family. ("Just friends" my eye!)

Less than five weeks and this school year will be wrapped up and on the shelf. Five more weeks of adventure to go.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

2011-05-14T11:50:00.007-05:00

I know. I've been away for a few weeks. Life's been busy and I haven't been up to blogging about it. I'll try to catch you up on the highlights.

Evan is wearing rubber bands as rectangles on his teeth for this month, and it's possible that he could have them off by the end of June. He says that the first thing he will do is take a wooden kitchen spoon full of peanut butter and eat it straight off the spoon. It's been the hardest thing for him to give up this past year.

Tobin and a "just friends" girl (yeah, right) were down for dinner on April 30th. The boys quickly got over their "singing frog" silent period (You have to know about the Looney Toons cartoon where a guy finds a singing frog that won't sing in front of anyone else but him) and then I almost wished that they had gone back to the silent period. All three boys and Peter were outrageous, and I found myself laughingly apologizing to her for their behaviour. You know, as in Mason following up on a conversation we had earlier in the day about King David marrying Michal: "Hey, if Tobin marries you, he'll have to go and get 200 foreskins!" or Tobin calling Peter a "stallion" and Peter blurting out, "Not anymore!" and not getting what he had said until he saw my look of utter horror that he had said this in front of the poor girl on her first time meeting us. They all roared and she sat there laughing in shock with her hand over her mouth and her eyes staring straight ahead. Oh boyyy... She obviously has an excellent sense of humour. Good thing. She'll need it if she is to visit again.

Peter was baking again the other weekend.

Two older gentlemen passed away in our church within a week. One was 96 and had said earlier that he had never really known ill health or had a headache in his life. He was restless late one evening, getting up and wandering around, and when he went back to bed he died in his sleep a short while later. A week later his 91 year old wife fell and broke her hip and had surgery. She's spunky, so depending on her spirits, I think she could make a strong recovery.

Our church basement has been fully dug out and the concrete work is being done. Our church services are cancelled for tomorrow, as the workers thought it best not to have the weight of our congregation on top of it as it sets. Next Sunday we'll be in the community center.

The snow on May 1st was quite revolting. The constant dark skies and rain of the past week made us feel as cheerful as a bag of weasels.

I have finished co-teaching two Social Studies units. One on the Maya, and one on Ancient China. The students and I had a lot of fun with this as we made Maya temples out of salt dough, made glyphs of our names, ate foods from both cultures, including learning how to use chopsticks, made scrolls and codices, and painted our names in Chinese calligraphy. Grade 8 Social Studies is hands down the most interesting Social Studies curriculum from K-12. Now we're all galloping through the Middle-Ages, as there's still the Renaissance and the Reformation in about six weeks of class time (with interruptions as always, of course).

Evan is done Badminton and got a 1st in Shotput at their track meet, but is declining to go on to other track meets as he doesn't really like track (they were all expected to compete in 4 events for Phys. Ed. marks) and didn't want to have to catch up on a day of school work for only one short event. Now he has more time to prepare for the Spring concert, and then his school exams after that.

Yes, we have achieved another rite of passage. Two sons who need to shave. On May 9th, Mason and I were standing in line with other parents and their 15.5 year olds at the Autopac agency at 9:00 am to get him into the summer Driver's Ed. course. It takes only about 30 kids, there are over 50 kids who are presently 15.5, and they were saying that the next course wouldn't be until November. So, two weeks at the beginning of July will be dedicated to class time, driving observation (you sit in the backseat and watch) and driving instruction (you're behind the wheel). Then there's 24 hours of parent/child driving to do. 9 months from the time he gets his learners he can go for his driving test. Next April, if all goes well. Hopefully on clear, dry streets.

I came down with a bladder infection whose only symptom was a shocking change of colour in a certain body fluid. I had felt a bit tired and under the weather a day or two before, but seeing this sent me to the emergency room for two hours on a Saturday afternoon, after cleaning, errands, gardening, and mowing the lawn and otherwise feeling good. Hmm. The drugs they gave me were worse than the symptoms- slight nausea, exhaustion, low spirits, and feeling like I was covered in fleas. Not that I ever have been- but it was how I imagined it would feel. I took my last one this morning and hope that it is fully cleared up now. Sheesh. I have better things to do.

I wished I was her this past week- sleeping and shutting out the world around me, waiting for my next bowl of kibble and an affectionate head scratch. Today the sun is out, so I'm hopeful that life will look better this next week.

Today I made a rhubarb cake with fresh rhubarb. It's not very tall yet, but the stalks are thick.

My bulb garden is doing very well this year. I understand in part that it's because we had so much rain in fall that the bulbs had enough strength to bloom. I hadn't known that before, so will make sure that they are well-watered this fall, and will move my tulip bulbs out of the dry box bed against the house that I thought would be so nicely sheltered.

I'm still busy with my job hunt....or should I say job watching. This week I subbed for a teacher while she had an interview. (I have not had one offer of an interview yet.) Fortunately it was not for a job for which I had applied- that would have been very irksome. At the moment they are hiring terms and shuffling permanent people, and I am waiting in line to be noticed. I suppose a better way to say that would be that the job God wants me to have hasn't yet come open. God and I have had a number of conversations about all the lessons I have been having regarding patience. I am slowly pulling up roots in my present school as I know I won't be there next year, and have been taking home a book or two, every day, not volunteering for as many "extras", mentally disconnecting when people talk about school plans for next year. And waiting.

I am very thankful for my home life and all the other good things and lovely people in my life. And that I serve a higher power than my School Division's hiring team.

Happy Easter!!

2011-04-24T13:33:00.005-05:00

This was last Sunday when in a rare moment he let me brush it out- it reminds me of what my hair looked like when I was in my early 20's.

My rhubarb is coming up at last~!

Favours from Jason (cousin) and Audrey's wedding. These were name places on the tables. The most interesting thing about that wedding was that if you wanted the bride and groom to kiss, you went up to the head table, made a donation to Cancer Care, and rang a little bell. What a great idea. It was a lovely wedding.

Astrid was horning in on the Easter goodies this morning. Fortunately she was more interested in the basket than what was inside it.

Mason happy about his Easter i-tunes card.

As a result of Peter's toe surgery, he made major progress in his latest quilt over the last 10 days. There's still a lot of work to do, but he's catching up to where he wanted to be by now. Ideally, he'd like to have it done by the end of June, but he'll have to keep at it. He's going back to school tomorrow and hopes he won't be too tired out by the end of the day.

On Good Friday, we were all given a nail as we entered the service. When we departed, we all went up to put that nail in a bucket by the cross- a symbol of our sins. This morning, in the multi-generational Sunday School, we had the kids hunt in pairs for Resurrection Eggs- hollow plastic eggs with a symbol from the Passion story and a scripture reference inside. The kids took turns reading the story and scripture in order. After that, Peter offered a small meditation on whom to blame for Jesus being on the cross. "Not the Jews. Not the Romans. Jesus chose to go up on that cross and stay there and die- because of the sins of each of us and because of His great love for all of us."

We all got a piece of paper and a pencil, and he told us that part of our Christian growth was to ask God to forgive us for our sins, and to let go of a specific recurrent sin in our lives by nailing it to a beam that resembled the wood of the cross that stands in our church. Those who finished early began nailing, and for about 15 minutes, you heard the sounds of nails being driven. I think that the older we were, the more meaningful that was to us. During the church service we saw that same beam- all the nails removed but one, and the paper that was held there by that nail said,

"Forgiven!"

And that is why Easter is even better than Christmas.

He is Risen! (He is Risen, Indeed!)

Snowy Palm Saturday

2011-04-16T11:54:00.003-05:00

Change of plans for today.

Peter's big toe, which is getting him a second "Spring Break".

His staff even felt sorry for him and had flowers delivered today.

My rosebush is blooming.

We started the week sitting outside on the deck with friends, hailing all the neighbours who were coming out of their winter hibernation as well. Then, this. Gah. Oh well, it's already melting.

On Wednesday Peter had that infection cut out of his toe, and he's been hobbling around a bit more today. He's getting the dressing changed this afternoon and then we'll see how it's going from there.

Our garden seeds arrived yesterday, and as I brought the box to the car, the snowflakes were melting on my face. Mmph.

Our tax refunds came this week, and we have the pleasure of thinking of a few places we could give a little "gift".

Passion week begins this week. This year Lent has had more meaning for me, as the things I've given up/have taken on have led me to think more about self-discipline and choices, and it has spread into other areas of choice as well.

Tobin's just come home for the weekend, so I'm off to be with all my guys. A happy, happy thing.

April Thaw

2011-04-12T19:18:00.004-05:00

So Spring finally seems to be coming our way. The front yard is basically all thawed and virtually puddle free, but the back yard, which faces North, had all the heavy winds and snows blow off the Junior High soccer field and up against our house. In an earlier post, you saw Mason standing in a bit of a tunnel of a drift. Now we're digging channels through that drift. Every Spring I start singing that old hymn "Channels Only..." and the boys groan as they knew that it meant they had to go and dig through the snowdrift again. We've been doing it every spring since we got here, but never have we faced a drift so daunting.

We dug through in about five places, and scattered the snow out where the sun shines more often. Slowly it's diminishing, but we still have a ways to go. Another week of warm weather and persistent drift scattering should bring us closer to the sight of level ground and green grass.

Tobin was home for most of last weekend, and he brought home his "new to him" guitar. He practiced diligently but, oh boy... Creedence Clearwater Revival for two hours at about this pace:

Iiiiiiii.....(pause...search for tab...find it on strings) want to kno-o-o-o-o-o-owwww.....(pause...search for tab....find it on strings....mistake...look again....find it on strings....)have you ever.......(pause....search for tab....find it on strings....) seeeeeennnn.......the rain..........

This was making time spent outdoors seem even better. Then it was "Stairway to Heaven" in much the same vein. Yikes. However, when I think of the family who buried their 16 year old son just over two weeks ago, having him home and playing guitar is a joy, no matter how bad it sounds.

Sunday afternoon was our church's annual bowling and pizza event. This year it fell only two weeks after our Pastor and his wife stepped down, and more people came to this event than have ever come before. I think it was a way of everyone saying that we would all pull together and be all right, even without a pastor right now. We still have all but two of the loving, caring, and talented people coming together using the gifts to serve God and each other. We'll be all right.

An exciting thing is that we started a huge basement reno in the church this week, with the money coming from donations outside the regular giving- and the money is coming in quickly.
We stepped out in faith, thinking that we could do this, and that God had gifted us enough that we could all give a little bit extra this year. Some people might see losing a pastor and having to redo the basement before it caves-in as a crisis, but I think of it as an opportunity to use the skills and talents of our members, and to talk together as a group in ways we never have before. We are learning more about each other as we hear about wonderful things, about other things that until now have been silent hurts, and are becoming a closer community. I am curious to see where God will take our church in the next year.

Peter has had trouble with one of his big toes for almost a year. After some prompting (and then some more insistent prompting) he finally went to see the Dr. The doctor took one look at it and said that there was an infected growth that had to come out (I'll spare you the gruesome details). Peter said, "Oh- and then I'll be back at school the next day?" The Dr. smiled, and wrote him a note for 10 days off his feet. The procedure is tomorrow and the 10 days will take him out of school until Easter Monday (25th). He plans to get a lot of work done on Mason's quilt while he's laid up. And read books. And likely play computer games. Mmph. Oh well. Hopefully that will clear it up for good now.

Evan went with his Grade 7 Band to the band festival in Wpg. It sounds like they got to drive back on the 75, which was predicted to close today- I haven't checked yet to see if it has. Hopefully you're dry where you are.

One of the women from our church lives out in the country and she saw a Common Loon swimming on the dyke near her place. I told her to tell her husband that it was still too cold for swimming. nyert nyert. (She thought it quite funny.) So many birds have come back in the last week, and early in the morning I step out barefoot on the frosty deck for a minute or two to listen to the Dawn Chorus. Astrid sits at the window and her tail switches back and forth rhythmically like one of those kitty clocks and if she could, she'd use her laser eyes to make holes in the window and get out to chase those birds that way.

After the long, hard Winter, it's wonderful to see Spring come again.

Room Reno and Birthday

2011-03-31T11:18:00.004-05:00

Room reno: Before shot.

Room reno: after. We're waiting for the paint to cure a bit more before putting books and posters up.

MORE pictures for the blog?!

Then I shall ham it up.

Birthday cake as ordered: Tall chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding, covered in chocolate whipped cream, and strawberries on top. The pink candles are 5's, the yellows are 1's.

Ready to blow out the candles.

So the room reno was basically done in three days, with time off in between for drying time, etc. The room looks radically different now- amazing what a clean up job and a coat of paint can do. Mason happily moved in and has spent a lot of time there. The remaining things that Tobin still has at home fit in the closet and shelves of Mason's old room, and Tobin still has a place to sleep if he chooses to stay over.

Evan had his birthday sleepover from Tuesday to Wednesday. It is so much easier doing birthday parties than it used to be- we supply the food, they dwell in the basement or outdoors and although we hear them, we are not otherwise obligated to entertain them. Like. He will officially be 13 on Monday morning.

Peter bit the bullet and did our tax returns yesterday. It is obvious that God is answering our prayers and supplying our needs as our return looks to give us almost double what I expected we might get. Thank you!

We've been having a lovely week off, and the rest of the week looks to be even better now that we've gotten those projects out of the way. We'll order our garden seeds, visit with other friends, we have another "deck meeting" planned for Saturday, and more books than we will be able to read this week. So many books- so little time.

I'm off to go have lunch with my Mom, and then go to Winkler for a bit of shopping after that. Ha! And some people think they need to go away to enjoy Spring Break. It's good to be content with small things.

Hard Week

2011-03-28T06:53:00.006-05:00

Our bouquet in full bloom. Unfortunately, Astrid liked them, too. Except for this picture, we had to keep them in our closed bedroom so that she wouldn't keep tipping them over and dragging flowers and pussy willows across the floor.

This past week was a very challenging one for many of us in this area. On Monday morning, Peter got a call around 7:15 am to say that three schools in our area were canceled because a mentally unstable and suicidal man had broken into his parents' house and had barricaded himself inside with unspecified weapons. This house was about 75 m from our house- we can see the back of their house from our back deck. We later learned that the next door neighbours were evacuated from their houses at 5 am. Peter called up all the families we knew with young children on our Bay to make sure that they knew not to send their children to school. Peter drove Mason to High School (which was still open as it was across town) in a way that avoided the area, and took Evan to school with him for the day so that he wasn't home alone with the incident happening so close to our house. Fortunately the incident ended safely and the man was taken into custody. We were relieved to hear that the parents were away on holiday at the time.

The next thing happened on Wednesday morning, when a 16 year old was killed as he drove to school on his ATV. He was usually very careful, but a bridge near the area and the very high snowbanks that resulted from the Municipality cleaning out ditches obscured his vision and he pulled out to check and was struck by a car. Although he was wearing a helmet, the impact was too great so he was likely brain dead at the scene, and was pronounced dead in Winnipeg that afternoon. The older brother of this boy has been Tobin's very good friend since Kindergarten. The boy who died was a very close friend of my niece. The family is showing wisdom, courage, and grace, and it is a great comfort to know that the boy's faith was so strong. The funeral was yesterday and the large church was packed.

We will continue to pray for this family as they begin to learn how to live with a hole in their life. So many people are surrounding them right now that it's almost too much for them. I've learned to check in with grieving families a month later when others have started going on with their own lives. We remember how after Peter's accident so many people came to visit, and although we appreciated their kindness, we were exhausted from entertaining well-meaning people at a time when we were so stressed, and our stomachs were upset from trying to eat all the food that was so kindly given to us.

The next hard thing was that my cousin's wife's father was driving his pickup near Plum Coulee and was struck by a semi on Wednesday evening (the same day as the boy's death). Many of his bones on the left side of his body are broken, and there is some organ damage, including a collapsed lung, but he is not yet stable enough for surgery so as of yesterday he is still sedated and on life support. My cousin and his wife had their third baby a month ago, so juggling three small children while worrying about their Dad's health makes life stressful. Our prayers are with them.

Then: Stupid election. What are they thinking? Why now? Enough said. Pray for our leaders. Are we getting the ones we deserve? Think about that for a minute.

On Sunday we had a farewell morning for our Pastor and his wife. They have served our church faithfully for 8 years, 8 months, and soon plan to go off to Africa for a few months to see friends they have made there, continue with their mission work they had begun, and visit the school that was founded in his name. We had a farewell breakfast, the service, and then after the service were various tributes and blessings, some laughter and many tears. Our church has already begun the process of preparing to select a new pastor. With some help from our conference in how best to do this, and a lot of prayer, we are confident that God will bring us the person that we need. Starting next Sunday, it could well be guest speakers until we find that person. Mm.

All of that in one week. We have hopes that the most interesting news events for the next while will be watching the snow melt and hearing the birds return. My Aunt saw a robin in Rosenfeld on Saturday.

On Saturday morning I heard some noise outside and saw a camp van in the driveway, but no Tobin. I went around to the back door where he was trying to pick the lock to get into the house so he wouldn't wake us. Silly boy. He had shaved his beard off to get rid of that 70's biker look and there was just a bit of stubble. I did offer him a razor.... He was home for the morning, and we all had breakfast together.

Since he was home, we came up with the impromptu idea that we should do the room switch we had talked about. Tobin has the largest bedroom in the basement, and Mason the smallest. Since Tobin rarely even sleeps over here anymore, we'd told him that we would soon move his things to Mason's room for storage and he could have a bed there when he needed it, and Mason could have Tobin's room and all the space that went with it. I tell, ya, it took us ALL morning to clean out all the things Tobin has accumulated in that room in the almost 7 years we've been in this house, and that doesn't count all the stuff he's already taken to camp. Bags of garbage and recycling, several boxes for storage, and many, many more things to MCC. That was the hardest part. Washing the walls, mudding, and choosing paint were the work of an hour.

These pictures were taken when the room was half-emptied already:

Today- Monday- starts the sanding and the painting. We got a type of eco-friendly latex paint that dries so quickly it has special instructions for how to use it. If it does cover and dry as well as they claim, Mason could be in his new room tonight! We shall see how this all goes.

Last Tuesday ( the one good day of the dreadful week) Evan and I took the day off to go to Wpg for an optometrist appointment. I was a little nervous as they had been predicting a big storm day, but since they kept downgrading it we went in the hopes of getting in and out quickly as I had made this appointment two months ago. The day kept getting better and better. Dr. Book said that Evan's eyes were a little worse than they had been, but were still almost 20/20. He said that he doesn't like to prescribe glasses for kids if he doesn't have to, so if Evan couldn't see the board, he should go sit closer. Works for us! When we came out of the appointment the sun was shining, and when we were eating lunch (At Wendy's- Evan's fav.) we overheard one of the workers talking with customers and saying that the storm was going to totally miss this area. With that, we took off for St. Vital Mall and did a few more things there, including buying Evan a number of books for his upcoming birthday- and believe it or not, we managed to find some in the Teen section that weren't about vampires. It IS possible!! Finally, a stop at Timmies' for a dozen doughnuts to take home to the rest of the family. We had such a great day together. I am thankful.

Tomorrow he's having some friends over for a birthday sleepover. As requested, we're having Peter's "famous" cheeseburgers, and we're supposed to have a tall chocolate cake, filled with chocolate pudding, covered with chocolate whipped cream, and topped with strawberries. All right then. At least he knows what he wants.

Other things on the agenda for the week aren't as fun. Taxes (ptooey) school prep, trying to get rid of some of that very high snowbank on the north side of the house before it potentially turns into a problem for our basement, etc. I'm sure we'll have to fit some other fun things in there, too. I know that this week will go all too quickly.

Hug your kids and tell them you love them every day.

Spring Equinox Weekend Part 2

2011-03-19T13:27:00.003-05:00

The pussy willows are out!

Peter just brought them in, so they are shedding their black shells.

The boys have shoveled a tunnel from the back garage door to the deck.

Yesterday they cut it away with saws to get through.

And successfully got the barbecue onto the deck.
The sun has even come out!
Baby steps...little baby steps.

Spring Equinox Weekend

2011-03-19T12:31:00.003-05:00

Oh, it is so time for flowers and green things again.

I even serendipitously came across the Cancer Society ladies this year!

Peter, all tuckered out from another round of Student Led Conferences.

The Muffin Man 2.0.

So. This week:

We got the deck mostly cleaned off, and opened up the patio doors again so we can access the deck from them.
Conferences are done for this school year. ('Rah)
Mason got his bike down and resumed biking to school.
I got through a heap of paperwork given me by the High School. They're testing Grade 8 EAL kids. The kids are not happy and I can see why. At our school they work hard to integrate into the regular classroom, then the HS comes and says, "You're an immigrant, we need to test you so we know what to do with you next year." , even though they may be doing better than some Cdn born kids who won't be tested. Mm. 'Nuf said. I bought the kids treats to sweeten the two hours of testing they'll get on Monday.
I have been exercising, but I find that I'd rather think about it than do it. The happiest part is when I'm done for the day.
We ate asparagus and strawberries yesterday. I know- two or three months early for Manitoba, but a taste of hope is better than no hope.

Happy Spring Equinox. The days are now longer than the nights!

Mason's Baptism

2011-03-13T13:48:00.003-05:00

Giving his testimony.

Thinking in between.

Pastor Walter offering the mike for encouragement.

Tobin and Nan offering words of encouragement.

Listening to the encouragement of others.

Mason answering questions affirming his faith.

Preparing for Baptism.

He was Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.

He had a circle of people to pray around him, and then Walter raised him up with the right hand of fellowship. We followed this with his first communion, welcoming him as a member of our congregation. After that we had a fellowship potluck as a celebration. Pastor Walter and Marlene are stepping down as our pastor couple on the 27th, so we are glad he stayed to do this ordinance for Mason. Mason was overwhelmed by the kindness and encouragement of the members of our congregation, and twice we had applause to celebrate. As a family we wanted this to be a joyful celebration within our church, and I think it was. On the way home he asked, "Now can I vote?" and we said, "Yes. Now you can vote." He had been at our Annual meeting in February but had not been allowed to vote on anything yet. Now he's excited because his opinion will matter more, too.

For faspa, at Mason's request, we're having shrimp and cheesecake, two of his favourites. This was a big day, and now we're glad it's done, and that it went so well.

Here's looking forward to warmer temperatures VERY SOON!

Marching On

2011-03-06T19:43:00.003-06:00

Moustache March.
He's got mutton chops on the sides and this configuration. What a goof. But something good to see is the sparkle that was missing from his eyes for the last few months.

His latest acquisition to his weapons store is this crossbow.
"I'm gonna be ready for the Zombie Apocalypse!"
(He also plans to hunt deer in fall.)

March came in like a lion. High winds during the night and early morning on the 1st left zero visibility so school was canceled in Border Land- but again, not in my division. However, I was coming down with a cold, and decided that it wasn't worth it for me to try to drive out when I couldn't see, so I took a sick day. I've had the most miserable cold I've had all winter, but am slowly improving.

Report writing is next Friday so all the teachers I know are doing their testing, mark collating and other such things. Although I don't have that many reports to do, I do have to work on transitioning reports for 10 Grade 8 EAL students who will be tested by High School personnel to see where they will be placed, and that will take place the week before Spring Break. There's a High School tour coming for all the Grade 8's as well. March will be busy.

Peter will be facilitating the Church Forum at our church tomorrow night as we as a congregation try to discern what we are looking for (need) in a pastor. All the youth and kids were invited as well, as we welcome everyone's input. I think it's a good thing to know what we want and need before we actually send our committee out searching.

Mason read scripture in church this morning for the first time, and he did an excellent job. We were so proud of him. Next Sunday he will give his testimony and be baptized. He has asked Peter to stand as his mentor, and Mason and I chose the songs for Sunday, as I'm on for Prelude and Congregational singing. It will definitely be a family celebration. Our church service starts at 10:45 and you're all invited to come and to stay for the potluck lunch after.

Everyone in our house is tired of winter. Mason wants to start riding his bike to school again, so he can leave later. Evan wants to go rollerblading, and he's already said that for his birthday he'd like a longboard- apparently it's a longer skateboard and you can get a pole for it so you can pole yourself along. I'm looking forward to sunshine and warmer weather. For the most part, I'm simply sick of snow. And cold.

My Uncle who was diagnosed with prostate cancer was back in church for the first time since his surgery over a month ago. He will be monitored carefully but right now needs no other treatments. I am thankful.

This week Lent starts, and with it, I will be sedentary an hour less a day. Boo. Giving up desserts during the week is easy- going out and exercising will be harder. Inertia is a strong force, but I know I'll be better for it, and it will definitely be a sacrifice! I want the weather to warm up so I can be outdoors to do it.

In time.

February's Odds and Ends

2011-02-27T17:17:00.005-06:00

Fresh for Faspa!

We've had Astrid for three months now, and I have hope that she is through the worst of the "teen-aged" stage, as she's 9 months now. It's been a week since she's knocked over a plant, eaten the leaves off a plant, dug the dirt out of the plants, and more than that since she chewed through a set of ear buds. She has not dashed madly over someone's head, dragged things out of the sink, or spilled a bucket of cleaning water on the carpet. She still knocks over garbage cans and searches in the recycling in search of "toys", but now that we've discovered her love of milk caps, we keep her supplied and she is leaving other things alone. We've never had such a....spunky....kitten before. However, our kids have all been through this stage...Evan is still somewhat in that stage, and we've survived. Three months of "teen-aged brain disease" in a kitten is still easier than three years of it in a boy. And generally less costly.

So here we are in the last weekend of February, and I have to say that the month went quickly. I suspect that March will go even more quickly because of all the events at work/home/church, and before we know it we will happily be arriving at Spring Break!

Evan finished basketball yesterday. They didn't have a great season in terms of wins...I think they won one game all season, and Evan didn't play that one...mmm. But, he did get a lot of exercise and I think he had fun. Badminton starts on Monday and will go til the end of April and it is a sport he enjoys even more than Basketball.

Evan doesn't have to wear rubber bands at all for the next month, and then they will assess if his bite has stabilized. The thing he misses most is peanut butter, which is on the "not allowed" list for the duration. He talks about how when his braces come off, he wants to take the biggest wooden spoon we have, fill it with peanut butter, and just sit and eat it off the spoon. O-kay.

Mason is coming up to two weeks to his baptism. Since November and his first declaration of the desire to be baptized we have seen him grow and become more settled. I have seen it even more so since his name was announced as the one seeking baptism, and the prayers of our congregation, as well as family have been with him. We continue to look forward to this celebration.

My cousin and his wife had their third baby on Friday, and their first girl. Welcome, Nadine! Now I will have to get going on my Pay It Forward project!

Tobin is hosting a group at camp this weekend, so we haven't seen him. = ( I hope he is home next weekend.

This morning our church choir served at Eastview and Ebenezer, the two Seniors-Care complexes in town. I always enjoy doing that. Today we sang a couple of "old time" gospel type songs that I got from a book my Grandma Braun owned. I happened to look at the faces of the residents as they listened, and watched their faces light up and grow soft. It made my day. Peter later said that he admired our Deacon, Mr. Herman Kuhl, for the way he could mingle and talk with the residents, something he himself finds hard to do. I told him that Herman likely knows every one of the people there, and I asked him to imagine down the road, when many dear older friends from our church may move there, and then he understood how it would be easy to mingle.

Peter was a delegate for the Mennonite Church Manitoba meeting on Saturday, and he took his quilting along and got a lot done; he'd been very busy with other things and had not had as much time to sit down with it. His goal is to have this quilt done by the end of June. I suspect that a lot of stitching will be done during Spring Break.

I am preparing for Lent. I am starting early- on the 1st I will give up eating sweets during the week, and allow myself sparingly on the weekends. Starting on the first day of Lent (March 9th) I will give up being "sedentary", which means that I will work on exercising and being more active for an hour a day. Both of these are definitely sacrifices- the exercise probably more than the sweets. However, I've always found that when you make sacrifices with the right frame of mind, you also experience growth.

Are you giving anything up for Lent?

The Wohlgemuts on Willow Bay

Coconuts.

Irony

Oh yeah, hi.

Home Alone

The Second Day of Epiphany

Shear My Sheep

New Year: 2012

Christmas 2011

Christmas Programs

Twas the Week Before Christmas....

Gifts

Water through a Tea Strainer

Water

Advent 2011

Sweet 16

Don't turnip your nose at rutabagas.

Rode my bike to work in mid-November!

Evolution of a Smile!

Kildeer, Kids on the Roof, and Semlin Struggles

Food for Thought

Random Bits and Pieces

Chocolate Popcorn

Weighed Down?

Seussian Success!

Penny Rugs

The Folded Napkin

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed overthe face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatlyfolded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes:

Is it really significant? Yes!In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have tounderstand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The foldednapkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew thistradition.

Fall Clean Up

Fall Photos

Painting is DONE!

31 Degrees in October? I LIKE it!

Before and After Shots

October!

Kitchen Reno.

Autumn is Coming/L'automne Vient

Money is Necessary, But Not Important

The Compass or the Clock?

PVBC "Festival" Day

First Week Done

Unplug and Get Outdoors

September Long Weekend. Already?!

Fall project and Madmen

Approaching Harvest

Ontario Travelogue

Time flies....

Zen Harvesting and Mini Renos

Another Weekend?

Mini-Makeover

It's August

William Butler Yeats and the Slow Movement

New Adventures

Weekend Happenings

Are you happy?

From a Post by Dusti Arab

A short list of affirmations to beat fear

Filling the Freezer, "Emptying" the House.

11 New Things I Learned This Week

Memory Lane

Pay It Forward

Slowing Down to Think

A Berry Good Week

Oh Gimme a Break!

Canada Day

Father's Day

Mid-June

Tobin's 19th

The Colour Green

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Happy Easter!!

Snowy Palm Saturday

April Thaw

Room Reno and Birthday

Hard Week

Spring Equinox Weekend Part 2

Spring Equinox Weekend

Mason's Baptism

Marching On

February's Odds and Ends

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over
the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes:

Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to
understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded
napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this
tradition.