How We See Ourselves

Keegan, myself and Quinn

First, gather the supplies (paper and oil pastels).  Second, gather the troops -- two little boys who like to do crafts but it has got to be the right project.  So our project for the day was to draw self-portraits.

I enjoyed seeing how our image of ourselves manifested itself on each piece of paper.  Keegan didn't veer far from reality, even to the green shirt he was wearing.  Quinn is not blonde but he thinks he is.  He does have much lighter brown hair than Keegan and I.  I may have once compared his hair to his father's who had blonde hair when he was just a little guy.  Hence, he always draws himself with blonde hair.  Pretty cute.  I think I stayed true except for one thing.  Do you see that light dusting of freckles on my nose?  I may actually have more freckles than that.  In fact, as I was adding the freckles, Quinnie said, "Don't forget the freckles on your neck, Mommy."  I chose to include just a few across the bridge of my nose.

Inspiration found here.

Strange Sensation

In the car this morning, I experienced the strangest sensation.  It felt as though I had forgotten to wear pants.  A quick glance down assured me that I was wearing pants and still am, by the way.   Regardless, I could not seem to shake the feeling that I had forgotten my pants.  So strange.  Kind of weird too.  I often feel like I`ve forgotten something but don`t know what.  This time it was very clear what I thought I had forgotten but hadn`t.  Some time on my yoga mat seemed to help.

``Don`t create a problem.``  -- Steve, yoga instructor.

I`ll end with a picture of Toby just because he is one handsome cat.  And he has no choice.  He can`t forget his pants.

Snails on the Brain

This morning I woke up thinking of snails.  I'm not sure why.  I certainly haven't seen a snail in ages.  But there you have it.  Snails.  So perhaps when I should have been getting Keegan's lunch ready, I was drawing snails. I do take partial responsibility for those mornings when we miss the bell.  It all comes down to my inability to focus on what needs to be done and instead do what I want to do.

Since I believe snails are hermaphrodites, I'm not trying to make any point about male/female priorities in a relationship.  I just thought it would be cute.  If I'm wrong about the hermaphroditic snails, please don't tell my invertebrate zoology lab instructor.  The man still scares me as much as I admire him.

Wishing everyone a small moment during the day in which to do what you want to do.

My Daytime Book

When I was younger, I would often read more than one book at the same time.  In university, it was essential.  But when the boys came along, my reading time was drastically cut.  As a result, I find that trying to read more than one book at a time just doesn't work for me.  I need to stay focused.  That really should be my mantra.  I was not aware of having a focus issue until one evening a couple of months ago when I was doing the dishes while Mike was helping Keegan with his homework. As with most things in day to day life that he doesn't really want to be doing, Keegan often has trouble focusing on one thing at a time.  All we can do is help him realize how quickly things get done when you focus your attention.    As we were discussing this, I rip off the rubber gloves and exclaim, "That reminds me of something."  Five minutes later Mike finds me in the living room reading a magazine and mutters, "I can't imagine where he gets it from."  Huh?  What?  Oh yeah.  Lightbulb flashes.  Since this epiphany, I have noticed this beahviour more than once during my days.  In fact, I am subjecting you to one of those moments right now.  Focus, Tara.  Focus.

Anyways, back to books.  One book at a time for me except under special circumstances of which there are two.  The first:  my fiction-loving-self decides to read a non-fiction book.  Regardless how good that non-fiction book may be, I have to have a novel going at the same time.  Just the way it is.  The second circumstance: my scaredy-cat-self decides to read a scary book.

  
When this happens, I have what I call my daytime book and my nighttime book.  You guessed it.  The daytime book would be the scary book, in this case, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's book The Fall.  It is the second book in a vampire trilogy and these are not Twilight vampires, people.  These are the vampires of nightmares.  I can't read this book before bed.  Heck, when I was reading the first book last spring, I remember sneaking out to the backyard for some alone time reading and then running right back inside a few minutes later because I didn't want to be alone.  That's how my mind works sometimes.  It doesn't matter how curious I am about the fate of our vampire-fighting heroes, when the night falls, I'll be snuggling up with Diana Gabaldon's The Outlander.

I decided the vampire book needed a little brightening up so I made a bookmark for it.  It has absolutely nothing at all to do with vampires.

 

Sammie would like to congratulate Anushka!  I'll be contacting you soon, Anushka, and the mittens will be on their way to you soon.  I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway.  I appreciated each comment thank you for your extremely kind words.  It was also ridiculously fun and hope to host another giveaway in the future.

Happy weekending, everyone!

Sammie the Sock Monster was knit from a pattern designed by Rebecca Danger. http://www.etsy.com/shop/dangercrafts

All About Him

I had originally planned a very different post, a post, well, pretty much about me.  I don't mean to sound vain but it is my blog.  (Wow.  That really does sound vain but that is not at all how I mean it.  I mean, I could talk about Mike but I've been given strict orders not to do so.)  But when I woke up this morning, the sun was glinting off a little fresh covering of snow and I knew that I was going to make this day all about him.  

See, Keegan has not been well since the weekend -- low grade fever, sore throat, lethargic and no appetite.  His last four days have been spent moving from his bed to our bed to the couch and then back to bed.  Our home has been much quieter but not in a good way, you know.  The days have tended to be all about him, but also not in a good way.  So yesterday I brought him to the walk-in clinic and he has tonsilitis.  Just hours after starting antibiotics, he was feeling better.  Today, even more so.  And for someone who dislikes artificial flavours oh-so-very-much, he has taken his medication (cherry-flavoured) like a trooper which tells me how yucky he was feeling.  We kept him home from school for one more day of rest and I took advantage to make this a day all about him but in a good way.

After a breakfast popsicle, I bundled him up and we headed to the bookstore.  A new book and a cupcake is a pretty good start to the day.  We watched a movie, we played some video games and we played Lego.  And for a spatially-challenged person such as myself, Lego was a bit of a struggle but I did it for him.  And for supper tonight?  Spaghetti and meatballs, as requested for his first meal in four days.  You know I love you when I voluntarily stick my hands in raw meat and eggs -- a good barometer for relationships.

With Keegan in school full time now, days like today, when it is just the two of us, are rare.  I'm glad I took advantage of it.

Another reminder about the giveaway which closes tomorrow at 8 a.m. Just leave a comment with this post (the last post).

Pass the Bread, Please

Life is full of entrees.

Don't fill up on the bread.

 A local bistro has this on their outdoor sign.  The first few times I passed by I thought, "I know.  Grab the bull by the horn.  Don't say 'no' to opportunities.  Go skydiving."  Yada, yada, yada.  Then the last time I drove by, I thought, "But I like bread."  Toast, sandwiches, french toast.  With butter, jam, peanut butter.  Fried, baked.  I like bread. A lot.

And then I started thinking that I also like the bread of every day life.  A good book.  Coffee and conversation with a friend.  Watching the boys play.  Listening to my oldest sing as only a 6 year old can.  Spending the afternoon with my mom, chatting and watching curling.  (Yes, curling.  We are Canadian.)  Knitting in the evening while watching . . . Wait.  Should I admit this?  Maybe I shouldn't.  If I said a documentary would you believe me?  Okay, The Bachelor.  There.  Darn this honesty thing.

So, yes, I like bread.  I also like risotto.  And curry.  A good pot of soup.  Did I mention dessert?  But rarely does a day go by that I don't have bread.  So pass the bread please.

The giveaway is still open. Just leave a comment with this post (the last post).