To the Lake

Very exciting news on the home front:  Our new septic tank and system is being installed today!  Okay, I didn't say it was going to be exciting for all but for us, wahoo!  After months of not being able to take showers one right after the other without seeing a puddle form in the backyard, we are very excited.  It hasn't been easy to get the approval from all the right "people".  Apparently, it is preferable to local government to let sewage seep into the creek rather than let homeowners repair and upgrade the system because they are to close to the creek into which said seepage is occurring.  I have had a difficult time understanding the viewpoint of those who said no since the new septic system is more environmentally friendly than the present system.  After treatment through the system, the final water is much cleaner than the raw sewage that runs through the city pipes to the treatment plant which, by the way, is located about 50 feet from the shores of the lake.  Hmm.  Enough about sewage . . .

Rather than watch men and large machinery dig a huge whole in our backyard, Quinn and I decided to spend part of the morning at the lake.

When we arrived home, Quinn spotted this little guy on the outside of our basement window.

After watching him for a minute, I realized that he was stuck and wouldn't be able to jump out of the hole.  He  needed our help.  The plan:  Bring a box outside and hope that he would jump into it after which I would bring him to the creek.  I asked Quinn if he wanted to come help me.  "Mom, he looks pretty gross."  That was a "no".  The plan was successful and the little guy is safely down by the creek.  This rescue mission was much less messier than last year's when I helped a rainbow trout who was stuck between some rocks in the creek.  I didn't realize the trout would be that slippery.

If You Can't Find Me . . .

If the rain isn't falling and there isn't something else more pressing I should be doing, I can be found in my new favourite room of our house.  Mind you, those two conditions mean that I on't find myself here a lot.  It has been a very wet and cold spring and who doesn't often have something else they should be doing.  Regardless of that, if I can sneak away, this is where I go, usually with a book and a cup of tea.

the deck leading out from our bedroom

I love this space.  I really love this space.  And I'm not the only one.  The boys can often be found out here too, with a snack, a pile of books and often whatever else they are willing to haul out there.  It seems to be the perfect place when you don't have the energy for outdoor playing but still want to be outside.

  Special little touches are being added.  Like the herbs that were doing well in the garden but just seemed out of place.  They seem to have found their place here.

The ceiling and three walls of our new room:

Each time I step outside I feel like I finally have the treehouse I always wanted as a child.

All are invited for tea, coffee, maybe even a glass of wine if the mood should hit.  Just ignore the mess as you pass through our bedroom.  I blame it all on the boys.

Wordless Wednesday

These are a Few of My Favourite Things

I may or may not have mentioned here before that I am not a gardener.  I have come to terms with it but that doesn't mean that I am going to stop trying to be a gardener.  Each year I learn something new and have a little more confidence in the garden.  This is a weed.  This isn't.  Should I move this?  yes, I should.  I could dwell on what I still need to do, what I shouldn't have planted and what I should know but don't.  Instead, I am going to focus on the few things I really like about my garden at the moment.

Purple Iris

 
When I purchased this purple iris a few years ago, I was afraid I was being a little cocky.  Irises just seem like a fancy flower, you know, a flower I shouldn't be able to grow successfully.  It makes me happy to see it each spring.  I only wish the blooms lasted longer.  Oh, and this is not a special speckled iris.  Those bright splotches are pine pollen sticking to water droplets.  We have several large pines in our front yard and for the past three days, they have been sending out plumes of pollen, coating everything in a fine yellow powder.  It is quite cool, actually.

birthday present from my brother-in-law

lupin seedlings

I planted lupins a couple of years ago.  Last spring I noticed some lupin seedlings and this year, there are even more.  They are scattered throughout my perennial bed.  I have high hopes of some year just have one huge bed of lupins.  They remind me of my grandmother and Atlantic Canada and I am always hope to bring a little bit of the East to our home.

Is there anything extra special in your garden today?

From My Soap Kitchen

Soap Kitchen.  I was thinking about these words yesterday, preparing to write another post about the soaps i have been busy making.  I was thinking about how strongly the food that comes out of the kitchen, whether it is my kitchen, my grandmother's kitchen or that of a favourite cafe, influences my soap.  Coffee, lemon, oatmeal, honey, chocolate, beer.  Are you seeing the pattern too?  Food seems to be quite important to me.  I just wish I enjoyed cooking more.  Oh well, on to the soap.

Nan's Lemon Pie

Nan's Lemon Pie is scented with lemon essential oil and has a sprinkling of coconut on top, just like my grandmother used to serve her lemon pie.

Vanilla Bean Soap

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Soap

You had to know cookies were going to make an appearance.  Colloidal oatmeal and cocoa powder make this soap a little extra special.  A combination of oatmeal milk and honey and chocolate fragrance oils make it smell really yummy and kind of decadent.

Lavender Oatmeal Soap

Now to introduce my new fun soaps.

Hippy Half Pint

I have been wanting to make beer soap for awhile and I finally got around to stealing one of Mike's beers.  Okay, so it was his last beer and I may have gotten a dirty look the next time he went to the fridge but it was totally worth it.  I love the deep caramel colour.  I scented it with patchouli and lavender essential oils, thus the name Hippy Half Pint, and it smells musky and warm and spicy.  Love it.  And don't worry about Mike.  I went and bought him a case of beer today.

Breakfast of Champions Half Pint

Made with a wheat beer my father brought back all the way from Nebraska and then kindly donated to my soap making adventures, much to Mike's dismay.  Why Breakfast of Champions?  More oatmeal and scented with sweet orange and lemon essential oils.  My Half Pint Soaps will be ready just in timre for Father's Day.

This last photo isn't so pretty but let me explain.

Yep, I know.  It looks like . . . mud, let's call it mud.  It is a facial cleanser I formulated (Ooh, that sounds so important, doesn't it?  I just can't think of a better word at the moment.)  It contains ground almonds, rhassoul clay, rice bran oil and lavender essential oil and it is wonderful.  It is my new favourite facial cleanser.

Okay, gotta go pick up the boys.  Have a great Thursday, people!

Wordless Wednesday

Have Box, Will Travel

Inspired by a recent episode of Dr. Who.  (And yes, I just revealed a side of myself that leans towards dorky, geeky, whatever you want to call it.  I also have a small collection of graphic novels.  The husband has come to terms with this side of me.)

"A boy and his box exploring the world."  Words similar to these were spoken near the end of the latest episode of Dr. Who.  As the mother of two young boys, these words struck me and this was the image that popped in my head.

I would like to think that with a good book (or several) and whatever we as parents are able to share with them ( an old cardboard box, words of advice, a hug), each of our boys will set out into the world, exploring in a fashion best suited to who they are as individuals.