Slip and slide fun

Susie and her friend on the slip and slide on Friday....

sunset 3

S'mores time

Last night we headed out to Elk Island Park to have s'mores while the sun set. We got there around 9:30pm and most people were leaving so we had the place pretty much to ourselves which of course we love (we're so anti-social lol).

The children played at the playground and Lloyd lit the fire and everyone had s'mores. I walked down towards the beach to take photographs of the sun setting over the lake and the island.

Laurie and Lloyd played soccer for a while, Abigail and Sam watched the squirrels up in the tree for ages. Then around 10:30pm we put everything back in the truck and then we went for a walk around the boardwalk. We saw the American pelicans landing in the water - they flew right over our heads! Then on the path ahead of us were two brown lumps! It was a Mommy and baby porcupine! I got a few pictures but it was too dark to get very good pictures! The Mommy ran off and left the poor baby there! So we changed our path and went a different way!

We headed back through the park and drove around the bison trail which we love as its getting dark! The bison tend to circle the truck :)

Ok blogger is driving me nuts and not letting me add the rest of my pictures...

I hope you are all enjoying the gorgeous weather we are having :) I am LOVING it :) LONG LAST SUMMER!!!!!!!

And HAPPY CANADA DAY to you all for tomorrow :)

When we got home we saw a big white creature moving sloth-like into the bushes by our garbage bin at the end of our driveway. We pulled up slowly and shone the headlights at it and got out to go and look. Turns out it was an albino porcupine! So we went and got out garbage cans and recycling and brought that down with a torch to have another look for it and we found it climbing the tree - so we have an albino porcupine on our land! It's almost all white with kind of gingery patches here and there! Its BIG though and slow moving....very cute! Odd looking! :)

sunset 2

sunset 1

For Val!

Two Pelicans landed by the boardwalk on Astotin Lake last night and they made me think of Val :) I was reminded of the story of the lady who was speared in the face on the beach in Florida by a Pelican! Val had said it was another reason NOT to move to Florida lol! As I watched these birds land last night I could quite see how sharp their beaks were and how painful it would be to be hit by one!!!

I'd still rather recover by the pool in Florida than here in Alberta though ;)

Sorry Val ;)

Katies Crossing

We always celebrate the first day of the summer holidays by going out for ice cream! So on Friday we picked up two friends and headed to Katies Crossing in Ardrossan. Katies Crossing is an old Engine and Caboose. The kitchen is in the engine and the restaurant is in the caboose....then afterwards you can walk around outside where there are all kinds of carriages and old tractors and cars and trucks etc etc to climb on and investigate :)

the kids had a blast on the haybales and at the old station, climbing in the rails and just having fun together :)

In bed with another guy....

Lloyd caught me in bed with a young blonde guy ;)

Lily in the rain

Anyone know this flower?

This is a bell shaped flower - very delicate with a clover/club shaped leaf. Lloyd found it hiding amongst my daylilies and we transplanted it into my main flower garden. I am hoping it reseeds. I'm not sure if its a perennial/ biennial or a wildflower (or perhaps something that came from one of the seed packets I scattered? I have scattered various packets of seeds some a mixture of flowers) - I can't find it in any of my books and I have some of perennials of Alberta and some of wildflowers of Alberta.

It's so pretty and I was so happy Lloyd found it for me!

Hummer in the evening sun....

Just a short clip because my camera battery was dying - I'm charging it now so hopefully will catch a longer video over the next few days.....if the Hummingbirds are happy to play along of course....they're so temperamental ;) Today they have been drinking out of the Scarlet Honeysuckle which is amazing to see :) I didn't think they would really drink out of the tiny flowers but they really do!!!! The honey suckle is COVERED in flowers this year!!! The birds LOVE them :) The weather hasn't been too great this year and I haven't spent as much time out on the porch as I normally do - I haven't tried to hand feed the hummers as I wanted to....that was going to be my goal this year - to feed the birds by hand but I'm not sure I have the patience this year. I know its possible though. Maybe I'll feel differently over the next few days when the temperatures are going to be hovering around and above 30c...

Edited to add: Ooh just watched that for the first time and it looks like the hummingbirds wings are beating really slowly....isn't that weird? Maybe its because it was so windy out because it was after a storm? Or maybe its just a really bad recording? I'm not sure....but its not a very example of a hummingbird on a feeder :) I'll try for a better example lol.


Hahahaha that wasn't much better and my battery has died totally - try again tomorrow :)

Last Day of School

Last day of peace and quiet. And I am having a very lazy day. I can't believe how fast this school year has gone. Seems like only yesterday we waved the children off on the school bus - including Abigail on her first day of kindergarten - she was so excited until the bus pulled up and she put one foot on and then took it off and got off the bus :)

And now the year is done!

Susannah took all the teachers gifts and cards with her today. And the gifts for the school bus drivers. The boys are too old for that nonsense now! But not too old to get gifts from the bus drivers of course! The bus drivers give out freezies :) And even though the boys weren't on the bus this week the bus drivers made sure to give freezies to Susie for the boys! Which was really nice of them!

Today Chris and Laurence have gone to Galaxyland (the indoor amusement park at West Edmonton Mall) for the day and will stay afterwards to go swimming at the Water Park. A very cool last day of school I must say! Susannahs last day of school is being spent bowling in town and then at a pizza party in town! I'm sure she'll have great fun despite the fact she has inherited my crappy bowling genes!

We have been sorting the recycling. I sat in bed last night reading the local paper - almost the whole paper was full of articles on the new recycling program in our County. So many letters of complaint about it and to be honest it pisses me off - all these petty complaints about it - there was a news report about it on tv as well - they are giving it two months and then if there are enough complaints they may change it - which really saddens me because I don't think two months is long enough for people to get in a routine with it and get used to it. People need time to get used to this new way and they need at least 6 months!

There is a letter by Jago Powell in the paper that REALLY pissed me off because her/ his letter makes so many petty mistakes and points and is completely wrong and it ends in saying that he/ she is refusing to take part and is now going to stop recycyling and just not take part in it at all - I mean why??? when he/ she just hasn't read the book properly and isn't doing it properly anyway?

This program HAS made big changes to our lifestyle and MUCH more work for ME personally - garbage is now MY job and not the kids job because I want to make sure it is done properly but I am thrilled with this new program. I am LOVING it - I love the difference it is making.

Strathcona County has reduced the amount that is going to the landfill by 52% already!! In just the first 2 weeks! Thats wonderful! Yet still people are being petty! And in the one road they filmed on tv yesterday I saw bins with their lids not shut and bins with their recycling bags right next to them....Why can't people bloody read!!!!!! That makes me nuts!

Ok anyway...a storm coming in. Lloyd just phoned to stay its downtown right now and I can see the dark clouds rolling this way so I'm going onto the porch with my cup of tea to watch it come this way......

For those of you with kids who finish school today - HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!!! :)

Charlie's treat

Charlie enjoys a treat...

Thinking of a friend!

A friend of mine is going through a very difficult time right now and I just want to let her know that she is in my thoughts. She knows who she is ;)

X

Hump day.

Blah day. Its so lovely and sunny outside and I should be oustide enjoying it - Sam and Abby are. I'm just not in the mood. Had to run some errands today. Picked Laurie up from his exam and ran into town. Grabbed some teachers gifts (nothing like doing things at the last minute lol) and some birthday cards and gifts that I needed, some groceries and a basket for golf balls that we needed. We had lunch out. Got a few other things we needed to do. Sam was a real pain in the butt - to the point that one lady said 'Ooh you have your hands full don't you' OMG like I really needed to hear THAT!!! I felt like throwing something at the old bag! Actually no. I felt like giving Sam to her while I did my shopping in peace and then coming back for him later. Or not.

He's playing with that bloody horn on his bike again. Stupid bloody horn. Bloody stupid idea to buy that!!!! I love you Lloyd but what a stupid fucking idea to buy him a horn! I have a funny feeling that horn is going to disappear never to be seen again!

Hump day. Can you tell I'm not in the greatest mood today. Lloyds on his way home thank Gawd. I can't even blame it on PMS. t is what it is. A bad mood. I'm tired. I read an article the other day in the local paper. The Sun. Sorry Sun readers but I don't buy the Sun because I'm a snob and its a Gawd-awful paper! The Sun here is just as awful as The Sun paper in the UK. and I'm a snob like my Mom. But they have them to read in Timmies and I was reading it in there and they ahd an article about how in Summer everyone in Edmonton looks dog-tired because its light almost ALL night because it gets dark after 11pm and light at 3am so no one gets any sleep so they are tired all day and look like shit.

Thats me! I'm not sleeping well. I can't get to sleep at night because its so bloody light out and then its light so early I'm awake again. Sod the kids, its ME that needs black out blinds! I nearly came off the road today because I'm so tired and I drive along sucking my thumb which is fine until I take the other hand off too to rub my wrist! NOT a good idea! Laurence starts screaming at me that I'm an unfit driver!!! But we got there and back in one piece didn't we??? Geez!!! It was just the roundy bit slip roady bit coming off of Hwy 14 onto Wye Rd I had trouble with...its hard to turn in a circle while you're sucking your thumb - thats all!

Chris is at work again today. Not sure what time he's finishing. Lloyd is home now - just come up the driveway. Susie is at a party. We have to pick her up at 7pm.

Oh and yesterday two teachers retired and the janitor - so as the school is next to a little airport - the kind with those boats that land on water....they took the teachers and janitor up in an airplane and flew them over the school twice - and all the students and teachers went out onto the playing field and the staff held up signs that spelled out 'we will miss you'!! Isn't that lovely?

Well I'd better go! Lloyds home!

A letter from Margori

We got another letter from Margori and her family today - the little girl we sponsor in Peru! Actually its written by her Mom Marilu, but there is a picture from Margori. The letter thanks us for one of the packages we went her, so it's lovely to know the things we send them actually arrive there! It mentions the photographs we sent, so I know they got the pictures of us we sent. By now they will have received another two packages from us since the ne they mention, but it takes so long for them to arrive from World Vision!

The other girl we sponsor, Malle, lives in Mali in Africa. I'm in the middle of getting together another package to send off to the girls - I love collecting things together to send to them but its limiting because everything has to be flat, so it's stickers, bookmarks or very thin books (in Spanish or French) etc etc...and the children draw pictures.....I write letters and the children do too...that kind of thing. I made them a red heart out of felt each last time too to hang in their home....

I really enjoy sponsoring through World Vision - more so now I know they don't push Christianity onto those who are not Christian! Malle is Muslim and we have been told to respect her religious beliefs and I love this! It means that World Vision, a Christian organisation is also respecting her religious beliefs!!! :) This completely reflects my beliefs too :)

If you are considering child sponsorship please do contact World Vision - you won't regret it :)

(oh and yes we all laughed when we read the BAD translation of Marilu's letter - I really hope they did NOT eat Margori in winter.....)

Summer in Alberta :)

Summer seems to finally be here, which means hot days followed by thunder storms in the evening :) Last night the children grabbed the umbrellas and ran back out into the rain before the storm thunderstorm arrived :) They were on the trampoline when the rain first started and came running in to grab the umbrellas :)

Parcel from my Sister

I had a nice parcel from my Sister in the mail! Susie and Abby cycled to the mail box for me - unfortunately Lloyd got me the wrong inner tube so I haven't been able to use my bike yet! But the girls went for me and got the parcel. I got a great reusable bag from the UK Homesense stores and this gorgeous Welcome sign for the house with a Bee Skep on it and honey bees :) There was also this really sad story about a bee swarm from their local paper but that was originally published in the paper 50 years ago but I think I will write that on my bee blog when I have time....and some other goodies from Homesense in the UK - including a jellybean tin that opens and closes ina cool way which Lloyd says makes me a bit of a nerd!

So thank you Karen (Commode) - it was nice to have a parcel just for me for a change!!!! :) Makes a change :) (hint hint Mom!!!!!!!!) lol!

Company for dinner

We had company for dinner tonight...one of my bees joined us :) Well, it was in the kitchen when we were serving up our dinner, and we couldn't very well put it outside because there was a thunder storm going on outside and bees can't fly in the rain.....so Lloyd put some of the syrup we had cooling on the stove, on a plate and we put the plate on the table and the bee joined us at the table :)

I'm sure our children think we are crazy :) but growing up in our house certainly isn't boring :)

Not many kids can say they have dinner with bees :) Abby offered it some of her Spring roll but the bee wasn't interested lol and just wanted its syrup :)

Jesus Feast

Yesterday at school Susannahs class had a celebration for the end of the school year (actually one of many as it seems to be all parties now - as it does in many schools I guess - they took all their school work home last week and there is no work being done any more - just fun, fun, fun!)

Yesterday they had to go to school dressed as people dressed in the time of Jesus Christ, and they had to take food to share that people would have eaten in the time of Jesus Christ. Of course we completely forgot until Sunday evening and so Sunday evening Lloyd and I drove into Sobeys muttering Jesus Christ! lol! There is me walking around Sobeys asking Lloyd what Jesus would have eaten and Lloyd making sarcastic comments about taking one fish and getting Jesus to turn it into enough to feed the whole bloody class...or just sending Susie with a bottle of red wine in a pair of fishnet stocking because wasn't Mary Magdalen a prostitute? Ah well....I'm not sure prostitutes in those days wore fishnet stockings Lloyd ;)

In the end we chose cranberry juice for the red wine and some bread to share with some goats cheese and Susie said it was a BIG hit :) And we looked up the painting of the Last Supper and sent her with a sheet that she draped across one shoulder as they all did in that painting :) Many people sent pita bread...someone else took honey which disappointed me as I was going to send some honeycomb that the kids could have dipped their fingers in!

On the subject of Jesus Christ, He makes for some interesting conversations in this household. I am atheist. Susannah s a strong Christian who attends a Catholic school. lloyd is agnostic who believes we were left here by aliens at some point. Christopher is Atheist. Laurence pulls his hoodie over his head when religion is discussed.

I say Susannah is a strong Christian but really I believe she is just easily led - always has been. I could place her midst any religion or cult and it wouldn't be long before she believed whatever anyone told her. But Christianity is fine as far as I'm concerned so if thats what she wants to believe in then thats fine with me :) lol but some of it makes me laugh of out loud and some if it makes me cringe and I have to step in and tell her that she needs to watch what she says and reword how she says things to people because I don't like how she says it.

Yesterday we were in the car with Sam and Abigail and Lloyd and I were saying something and Abigail laughs and says 'Dad thats terrible and you're going DOWN! And when you go down you get so scared you die again and again'. But I'm going up with God. She was laughing the whole time she was saying this by the way. So we were we too and I asked who told her that and she laughed and said Susannah! And she Susannah was going up with her but I was going down with Dad lol! She was giggling :)

Now see, what I don't like about this isn't that she told her little sister but that she tells her as if its fact! So I always tell Susannah to add 'I believe that....' to all her stories. Because I think its important that you should never push your beliefs on someone. Its ok for her to believe that but she shouldn't make out that that is fact because she doesn't KNOW that - no one does. She may believe that but she doesn't know that and I don't believe that that is true at all in fact I BELIEVE that that is UTTER BOLLOCKS..... thats what I BELIEVE......

If there truly was a God there would be no need to scare people into loving him/ her. thats what I believe.

But I think the Jesus Feast was a nice idea and I do believe a man named Jesus Christ lived a long time ago and died on the cross - along with many other people who died on the cross...I just don't happen to believe he was the son of god though.....

I have many wonderful friends who do though and I totally respect their beliefs though. I know they respect mine too and I love them for that.

Stickles!

This is what Stickles look like and this is my collection so far :) I love them :) I've always liked glitter and this is a yummy way to use glitter :)

Ice skating...

One afternoon last week we spent a while at one of the local rinks...we haven't been skating for ages!! A really enjoyed being back on the ice - I think we may check out some lessons in the Fall!

End of year concert..

A's drama class had their end of year concert last week - it was at the big theatre in town and was wonderful :) A's play was called 'whose shoes do you choose?'. She got to choose her own costume, learn her own script and she just had so much fun! She wants to take pert in this class again in the Fall but will have a new teacher as her teacher is due to have a baby in October.

A made several new friends in the class and swapped numbers with a few of them. One of her new friends told us about a week long drama class taking place near us in August - one is in July but we can't do that one sadly but its taking place in August possibly too so we are hoping to sign A up for that one! We'll see!

Todays scrapbook pages....

I'm loving My Stickles - thanks Tess for the recommendation! I used the Copper Stickles around the wings on Susannahs shoulders.

Our Sunday....

It's been raining all day and its been lovely! Lloyd has been busy working on the we bathroom. I have scrapbooked. The girls have played and watched movies. Sam has helped Lloyd. Laurence was at his friends after his sleepover.

Chris started work at 9am and I phoned at 4pm and asked where he was - he was still working! He said he'd be home around 6pm! He said he was wet and tired but has was having so much fun he didn't care! So he is loving his new job! Outside in the rain shovelling horse poop and painting fences and cutting grass - oh he just walked in the door hang on!

So he was redoing insulation in the horse stadium and barn - all kitted out in proper gear and safety stuff said he had so much fun is working again Wednesday after school.

Has also asked if he can have a group of friends camp here later this week...

Laurence ahd fun at his sleepover - hs friends parents work at a local golf club and the whole family play golf - Laurie has played with them quite often and had several lessons both with them and with Lloyd - so yesterday he played an 18 hole round with them! And then afterwards they gave Laurie one of their old sets of golf clubs and his own bag! How cool is that????? Wow!!!! He is thrilled!

I have been sorting the recycling to go down to the end of the road tonight. I refilled all the hummingbird feeders on the porch. And scrapbooked so I have pictures to add....Oh and I filled in my registration papers for the Provincial Apiarist so I am registered for the year and thats all done and mailed.....

Now we are making salmon for dinner :)

Oh and last night we played golf outside until it got dark and then watched 'I am Legend' before falling asleep way after midnight.....

Homeschooler or not this is worth going to!

4 Your Mind is an Edmonton store for homeschoolers carrying curriculum,
teacher resources, and new and used books (and lots of fun stuff). For all
you early birds, eager beavers, or just those who want to pick up some fun
things for easy summer learning, we will be having 2 open houses this coming
week (details are below). If
these times do not fit your schedule, I am always happily available for a
time that better suits your needs - just call to set something up.

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 24 &
Thursday, June 26

6-9pm each evening

SPECIALS: Tuesday- 10% off our already low prices on Playmobil items

Thursday- 10% off Knex and Klutz

WHERE: 10515- 82 street, located in Forest Heights near Capilano/Bonnie
Doon(south side of river)

CONTACT: Loralee by email at loralee@interbaun.
com or by phone at either
485-0969 or 469-4615.

Happy Birthday Lianne!

I want to wish a VERY VERY Happy Birthday to my Wonderful WONDERFUL friend Lianne for today (Sunday). Happy Birthday Lianne!!! Here she is in a piccy she sent me last week :) With two of her four gorgeous children (one of whom I have never met but I did help create :) lol Lianne I'm not sure people will be able to work that one out :)

And the piccy I believe was taken in North Wales which is somewhere that Lianne and I went on holiday together with six children (seven including the extra we took as our 'helper')...we had a wonderful time despite crappy weather.

I would give ANYTHING to be able to pop over to Liannes for coffee this week - it feels like only last week I was there and I remember her house so well although I know it's changed a lot since I was there but I spent so much time there - we were always at each others homes.....or at Julies house - our other friends home (who has sadly died since).

Anyway.....I miss you Lianne - so so much - I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!! I was thinking of you! :)

Lots of love
Jane
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Honey Thief

While Lloyd and I were doing a hive inspection today ( and had our hands full lol) Sam was driving us crazy by stealing honey from the bees!!! He wasn't even supposed to be with us and was supposed to be sat up on the hill watching from a distance but he refused to listen and kept coming down and over to the frames we hda leaning by the table...he kept poking his finger in and saying 'mmmm it really tastes like honey....Mmmm thats great it tastes like real honey'!!! Poor bees!!!! Now they have squished comb to fix!!!

Saturdays goings-on

I love Summer! I bloody LOVE Summer :)

Summer started at 5:59pm Friday evening :) Did you know that???? :)

Right now its 27c outside. OMG I LOVE Summer :) LOVE it :)

Chris started his new job today. Yesterday he didn't have job. Then I got mad at him about something and he started sulking and went out on a cycle ride and came back with a job! So I sorted that out with his new boss who seems like a really nice guy and is in fact one of our neighbours and has been friends with our other neighbours (who Chris also works for) for YEARS...so today Chris started work! He will work every weekend from 89am until 3pm and will be cutting grass, painting fences, and generally doing odd jobs for this guy who has his own business organizing horsing events etc etc.....

This guy has hired students for the last 15 years. He feeds Chris and gives him drinks all day and generally tels really bad jokes but Chris came home from his first day tired but happy with his job. He goes again tomorrow.

Abigail was invited to a birthday party today but we ended up being really late for it - Telus came to fix our phone line - turns out they could fix it quite cheaply and temporarily and then come back once the renos are done and move it all properly. So we have a phone line but were late for the party. Finally got there and had fun and it was nice for me to chat with Jennifer and Trish while Abigail played with her friends. Susie came too but stayed with me the whole time.

We went into town to buy Susannah a new bike. So finally we all have bikes that work! We can finally all go for a cycle ride together! We got Sam one too but stupidly Lloyd bought him a horn for his!!! OMG I swear I'm going to take a knife to it!!!! Why on earth would you buy a horn for a migraine sufferers child??????

We dropped Laurence at the twins house and he is sleeping there tonight - it was their birthday this week so we sent Laurie with some birthday gifts and some flying saucers to share!

Chris came home from his job and then his friend arrived and they have gone off to the movies so basically we only have three children here again - its funny because my parents had three children and I thin of Sharon who has two children.....and thats normal to her......Jennifer is about to have her second child and that will seem a lot to her to begin with.....

Yet to me...three seems so few...and when I only have three here I always think there is no point in cooking for just five of us! So tonight I am not bothering to make dinner - because there is no point - there are only three children here so whats the point in cooking for just three? Whats the point in cooking when there are just the five of us? And sometimes we will go out for dinner because there are only the five of us....lol....its funny how you think differently when there are normally seven of you :)

What else did we do today? Oh I bought Oprah magazine because it looks like such a good issue! Also Lloyd and I did a bee hive inspection on Flora and Fauna - its been over two weeks since we put the new Queens in and we wanted to see if they had laid eggs - I will update the bee blog a little later so you will have to check there for the answer :)

Tonight Lloyd and I are playing golf just outside here - tomorrow we may go to the driving range for a while :) Lloyd is off on Monday too - I am so glad its a three day weekend for us :)

Oh and Lloyd moved and replanted the Lilac - which was actually two Lilacs so we planted one by the workshop and one on the sledding hill and we took cuttings like my Mom advised. My Mom calls it a Buddleia and everyone else calls it Lilac so I have no idea what it is but I'm calling it a Lilac as its easier to spell lol!

It's been a busy day but good fun - I got to spend some time at Jennifers house which is always something I enjoy as she is such a great person and so comfortable to be around! Susie got her bike which she has wanted for a long time - she didn't have one last year so this is a very good thing :) Chris started his new job and gets to go to the movies with friends :) Laurie is sleeping at friends :) Best of all Summer is here - Did I tell you I love Summer?

7 days - day 7 - Me Deere

My last image as part of the 7 Days self portrait project. It was a fun project to take part in - there were some wonderful images in the project - I haven't had much chance to comment on them the last couple of days so I plan to do that tomorrow! If you have a chance check them out at:
www.flickr.com/groups/sevendays

35,001

Over 35,000 visitors!!!

And Sharon - I think you were my 35,000th visitor!!!! Congratulations!!!! :)

Not that theres a prize or anything but just thought I'd mention it lol!

Another hobby to share...

I guess it's not really a new hobby to share as it's something we've done in the past. In Scotland we used to play golf in our apartment - we'd set up mugs on the carpet and we'd hit golf balls into them and play against each other (lol) and over ehre we've been to the driving range on date night before. And we've always said we'd have lessons together and when the children are older we'd play golf together, have lessons and join a golf club - and if we get a place in the South it will be somewhere with golf courses so we can play golf a lot. So this is just a step towards one of our plans for the future :)

Thank you Lloyd - it was a lovely surprise - even if I did seem a little unsure and a little less than enthusiastic lol....I LOVE that you want to do this with me :) I'm just not so sure I'm going to be good at it lol!

And Donna if you read this:


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!