It's a Man Cold

Mike has been a bit under the weather this weekend.  I hope I don't come across as sounding cold-hearted because he is sick.  I recognize that.  But there comes a point when you want to say, "Dude, it's just a cold."  I'm not alone in this, right?  Have others experienced the man cold?

I couldn't help  but think of this British comedy skit from a few years ago.  Take two minutes and watch it because you will giggle.  Unless you're a man.  I remember Mike not thinking it was nearly as funny as I did when we came across it a few years ago.

Woman's Work?

A few weeks ago, Keegan (who is 7 years old) and I began watching cooking shows together.  Not often.  Once a week or so.

One of the shows we have watched has self-proclaimed terrible cooks pitted against each other as they learn to cook from professional chefs.  During the last episode, Keegan loudly says, "I get men not knowing how to cook but how does a woman not know how to cook?!"  Huh.  Who would have thought that those stereotypes can be ingrained at such a young age?  I think it's time to get going on those cooking lessons.

i also think it's time for Mike to cook a little more often.  

Knitting for My Boys

Winter, if not yet knocking on our door, is definitely walking up the front steps.  Although I may not be emotionally ready for it this year, as far as wardrobe is concerned, the boys are ready for it this year.  Mittens.  Check.  Neck warmers.  Check.

I do believe his mittens are on the wrong hands.

Knitting for the boys was a much easier task than taking pictures of those hand knits on said boys.  Quick and dirty photo session.

For those of you interested, the neck warmers were knit using Amanda's Wintry Weather Cowls pattern found in her latest book The Rhythm of Family.

My Life with Boys

Keegan came home from school the other day with a large piece of paper, poster board size, in his backpack.  When unfolded, there were the answers to a series of questions a classmate had asked as part of an interview.  In large orange letters:  "My favourite subject is art.  My favourite animals are dogs.  My favourite planet is (you know what I am going to write, don't you?) Uranus."  Even several days later, it still makes me giggle proving that one is never too old for a good Uranus joke, if such a thing exists.  I actually have to take the blame for this one since I was the person who decided, over the summer, that they boys were ready to learn the subtle humour behind the word "Uranus."  I was right.  They were ready but I misjudged their ability to filter the humour in public.  Ooops.

A couple of days ago, I had to quickly explain to Quinn the inappropriateness of taking a picture of one's penis.  I'm not sure that they quite got it as he and Keegan crept upstairs a few minutes later  with giggles and whispers.

On this dreary, wet fall day, I had the urge to look back at some summer photos.

  

Over Tea

There was a point this afternoon when I so wanted to sit down with my youngest and, over a glass of red wine, discuss what had gone wrong with the day.  Instead we shared a pot of tea and the day suddenly got much better.

If you haven't already done so, read this  post for a chance to win a bar of my hand made soap.

A Good Decision

Tuesday was a busy day.  From the moment I woke up, it seemed I was doing something that had to be done right then or perhaps even 10 minutes ago.  Although I had spent the entire day with the boys, I felt like I hadn't really spent any time with  them.  So when the time arrived to begin preparing supper, I thought of the anxiety of feeding two hungry boys ("I'm hungry!"), of the number of times I would have to tell a little person that I couldn't read a book or go outside at the moment because I was preparing supper and I made a decision.

I grabbed the picnic blanket, a glass of wine, a bowl of homemade salsa (so I had kind of contributed to the meal), a bag of tortilla chips and some books and we headed outside to the backyard for some much needed outdoor time.

 

This last photo made all of us giggle.

If nothing else, I made one good decision that day.

I was There

While camping, we managed to sneak in a little hike.  Our initial suggestion was met by protests from the Little Guy that he doesn't like hiking.  Funny how that once we actually start the hike, he is laughing and running along the path the entire time, almost as if he is enjoying it.  Hmm.

I seem to always be trailing behind these three.  Every so often, they would stop and wait for me to catch up.

It was around this time last year that I realized my existence in family photos was practically non-existent.  Always behind the camera, I was never a part of the action.  So last summer, I began to occasionally take a picture of myself as proof that I had also taken part in these adventures of ours.  Combined with my non-photogenicity (is that a word?  i don't think so but you know what I mean), it is not an easy task.  So much to think about.  Where to aim the camera.  Smile or no smile.  Look to the side and maybe upwards a bit to minimize the chin.  Maybe try to look soulful, thoughtful.  Anyways . . .

Proof that I was there, trailing behind, yelling words of caution to those ahead.

Just Us and the Waves

A camping trip on the shores of Lake Huron at Pinery Provincial Park has become a family summer tradition for us.  We began camping as a family four summers ago and this was our third summer at Pinery.  As a couple, Mike and I had always camped, usually at Algonquin Provincial Park, a place that from the moment I first saw it has been special, almost spiritual, to me.  Mike had even convinced me to do a back country canoe trip there many summers ago.  Quite a feat considering I had never canoed before then.  In Algonquin, one can experience almost true solitude in nature.  However, by the end of each trip, I had had my fill of dehydrated food and would have some serious cravings for potato chips.  (Yeh, I know.  After all that dehydrated food you were expecting me to say I wanted some fresh fruit and veggies.  Nope.  I wanted chips.  I think I was even chanting "Chips.  Chips"  with the last few paddle strokes of that canoe trip.)  Not so at Pinery.

The campgrounds at Pinery are more populated and the camping is easy.  You can easily have a large cone of ice cream each day at the ice cream hut.  No feelings of deprivation here.  Not much solitude either.  I sometimes saw Mike cringe at the number of people surrounding us.  (A natural born hermit, he may be.)  But the boys love it there and it wouldn't be summer for them without a trip to Pinery.  And who can blame them when this is what greets you once camp is set up.

  
It didn't take long for us all to fall in love with Lake Huron.  Mentally prepared for salt water, the first taste of fresh water is always a surprise.  The lake likes to pretend it is an ocean.  So do I.

The boys, especially Keegan, love the big waves that Lake Huron often offers.  On our first day, it was like the lake knew Keegan was coming and made the waves just for him.

More than the lake though, I love the time that this camping trip allows us to spend together, just the four of us.  No TV.  No video games.  No outside obligations.  No obligations to anyone but each other.

 

An Ode to Home

We returned home last night from a little family trip, exploring a little more of Ontario.

Before moving to Ontario 17 years ago, I admit that when I thought of Ontario, I thought of Toronto and that was it.  When Mike and I moved here to Guelph from New Brunswick (he's from New Brunswick and I am from Newfoundland.  We met while at Mount Allison University.), we were overwhelmed by the number of people and the pace of life, much faster than the pace to which both of us were accustomed.  For several years, we ached to be home, for we did not consider Ontario home but rather the place where we lived.

And then we began exploring this province where we now found ourselves.  And as we explored, we realized just how big Ontario is and just how diverse and beautiful.

Beautiful.  Did I mention that this place is beautiful?

The above is a photo of the gondola we took to the top of Blue Mountain near Collingwood.  The boys loved it and I was terrified the entire time.  Images of us plunging to our death flitted through my head the entire time.  I think I managed to mask my fear from them fairly well though.  But maybe not.

With each road trip we take, I fall in love with another part of Ontario.  At the end of each trip, I realize a little more that we are home.

Feeling a Little Lighter

Quick question:  Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff around them?

I am.  Everywhere I go in the house, piles of stuff are staring back at me.

Daring me to walk to the window without experiencing stabbing pain in the soles of my feet.

Taunting me and my less than perfect housekeeping skills.

I can't seem to focus.  I feel frazzled and frustrated.  Lately, the only place in the house where I feel calm is here.

Yesterday, enjoying coffee at this table with a good friend, I realized why I like this space so much.  The trees, the sun and the perspective are a given.  It is also the lack of stuff.  A table, couple of chairs and some plants.  That's it.  That is all we need when we are in this space which got me to thinking that there are so many other places in the house where we don't need as much as we have.

So I am setting to work today, on this the last day of the school year.  I won't get it all done today but it's a start.  And when our summer officially begins this afternoon at 2:10, I will feel a little lighter.

The Countdown

As much as I wish I could move at a much more leisurely pace this morning,  I'm afraid that is not quite possible.  I'm off with Keegan's class for the last field trip of the school year.  The countdown has begun.  Four more days.  That's it.  Then I can move as slowly as this little guy.  Heck, some mornings, this little guy will be leaving me in his dust (or slime).  And that will be just fine with me.

Happy Monday, all!

Tea with the Ladies

My mother is one of eight sisters and as a result, I spent most of my formative years surrounded by women.   (I did not know my maternal grandfather but have been told he was a gentle, quiet man.  Living with nine women, I sometimes think he didn't have much choice.)  When I think of those years, the picture in my head is of my mother, grandmother and me in the middle with my seven aunts rotating around us.  Kind of like the sun and the planets.  Does that make the men in our lives the moons?  Interesting because up until the moment I wrote those words I have always associated women with the moon.  Hmm.  Different circumstances, I guess.

Geography meant I saw some of my aunts more often than others.  Whether in a small group or all together at the same time, I have never known a group of people to laugh as much as my mother's sisters.  As a quiet child, i would simply sit at the kitchen table with these women, listening, laughing along, sometimes without really understanding the joke but laughing anyways.  They were a good group of moons to have rotating around my little world.

Two days ago, I joined my mother, three of my aunts and my cousin for afternoon tea.

Tea.  Scones with cream and homemade jam.  Sorry.  No picture of the scone.  It was too good and I had eaten it even before taking a picture entered my mind.

Laughter.  This picture has convinced that I think I'll stop wearing my hair back in a ponytail.

Having our tea leaves read at the table.  Entertaining.

To continue the tea drinking theme, I thought I would show you my new necklace.

Pretty cute, huh?  I just noticed that it matches my tea cup from the tea room.  The necklace was made by the lovely Shawne of Necks to Nature .  I had the pleasure of meeting her at my second craft show and have since been admiring her jewellery.  I like the jewellery maker as much as I like her jewellery and that seems to make the necklace that much more special.

A Good Start

It's a PD (Professional Development) Day here so no school for the boys today.  I slept in a wee bit, got up, made coffee and climbed back into bed with coffee mug in one hand and my book in the other.  I was soon joined by the boys.  While I read my book, Keegan read out loud to Quinn.  Sip, read, glance over, give a little hug.

Late breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup.

The sun is showing itself.  Later we will head out to the farmer's market for fresh veggies and strawberries, along with the kettle corn to which Quinn and I seem to be developing an addiction.  Also heard there is a tea lady there on Fridays.

Looks like it's going to be a good day.

For One Short Evening

For one short evening we had the world's biggest sandbox in our backyard.

And with the kind permission of the workers, the boys played like only boys can play.  I believe a squeal of delight was heard when Mike threw the bag of sand toys down into the pit formerly known as our backyard.

Let's not worry about the dirt.  It is easily washed away and swept up.  And sweep I did.

And don't forget about the mighty machines left to rest for the following day.  The workers suggested the boys climb in.  Such nice men but the boys didn't need the invitation.

Keegan: "Can we keep it like this?" Us: "No."  Keegan:  "Well, then can we do this once a year?"  Us:  "That's funny. . . No."